Optical Connector Cleaning Tool With Shutter-Safe Head Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
The shutter of a shutter-equipped optical connector can get caught on the head of a cleaning tool, preventing its detachment during cleaning operations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool design featuring a head with a pressing part, a narrower neck part, and a shoulder part protruding outward, housed in a housing with a length equal to or greater than the protrusion length of the pressing part, includes ear parts to prevent the shutter from catching on the head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the head protrudes from the housing to enable cleaning element pressing, then the cleaning function is improved, but the shutter may get caught on the head preventing detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The housing length is designed to be equal to or greater than the protrusion length of the pressing part, creating a preliminary geometric constraint that prevents the shutter from catching on the head during insertion and detachment operations. This preliminary design feature eliminates the harmful effect before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the critical parameter of housing length relative to pressing part protrusion length. By ensuring the housing length is equal to or greater than the protrusion length, the geometric parameters are optimized to prevent shutter entanglement while maintaining cleaning functionality.
2Manufacturing precision
If the head has a narrower neck part and shoulder part structure, then the cleaning precision is improved, but the risk of shutter entanglement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing dimension in the width direction is designed to be equal to or greater than the protrusion length of the pressing part, creating a preliminary protective constraint that prevents the shutter from accessing the narrow neck part and shoulder part structures during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary protective structure that mediates between the precision cleaning head structures and the shutter. By controlling the housing dimensions, the patent prevents direct interaction between the shutter and the narrow head structures that could cause entanglement.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
[Problem] To suppress a shutter from getting caught on a head. [Solution] A cleaning tool according to the present disclosure includes a head and a housing. The head includes: a pressing part configured to press a cleaning element against an object to be cleaned; and a neck part having a dimension narrower than the pressing part in a width direction orthogonal to a pressing direction in which the cleaning element is to be pressed against the object to be cleaned. The housing is configured to house the head in a state where the pressing part and the neck part are protruding in the pressing direction. The length (w) of the housing in the width direction is equal to or greater than the protrusion length (h-t) from the housing to the pressing part protruding therefrom.