Automated Fiber Optic Ferrule Wiping System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual wiping of fiber optic ferrule front ends is inefficient and prone to damage, lacking in precision and automation.
Innovation Solution
A wiping system comprising a support table, conveying unit, carrier holding device, carrier pressing device, and a mechanism for sliding the carrier back and forth to contact a wiping belt, ensuring controlled movement and prevention of belt deviation, with a cleaning liquid injection for effective dust removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual wiping is used to clean the front end face of fiber optic ferrules, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but wiping efficiency is low and the risk of damage to ferrules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical wiping with an automated mechanical system consisting of a carrier pressing device, sliding mechanism, and wiping belt. The carrier holding device automatically positions multiple ferrules on a carrier, the pressing device applies controlled pressure, and the sliding mechanism moves the carrier back and forth to wipe ferrule end faces against a wiping belt, eliminating manual intervention and improving both efficiency and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automated wiping where the carrier holding device automatically positions ferrules, the pressing device applies pressure, and the sliding mechanism performs the wiping motion without manual operation. The system serves itself by integrating all wiping functions into an automated sequence that operates independently once initiated
2Productivity
If automated wiping systems are implemented to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: the carrier holding device combines ferrule positioning and carrier holding functions, the pressing device integrates pressure application and alignment, and the sliding mechanism unifies movement control with wiping execution. This consolidation improves productivity while managing complexity through functional integration rather than separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier serves multiple functions: it holds multiple ferrules simultaneously, provides a sliding interface for the pressing device, and enables batch processing of ferrules. The wiping belt serves dual purposes as both the cleaning surface and the receiving medium for removed contaminants. This multi-functionality increases productivity without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A wiping system includes: a support table (210); a conveying unit configured to convey a wiping belt (400) onto the support table (210); a carrier holding device configured to hold a carrier (10) on which a plurality of fiber optic ferrules (11) are mounted; a carrier pressing device configured to press the carrier (10) on the support table (210), so that a front end faces of the fiber optic ferrules (11) mounted on the carrier directly contact the wiping belt (400) on the support table (210); and a first base (101) constructed to mount the support table (210). The carrier holding device and the carrier pressing device are slidably mounted on the first base (101), so that the carrier (10) pressed on the support table (210) is movable back and forth relative to the support table (210) in a first horizontal direction, so as to wipe the front end faces of the fiber optic ferrules (11) by means of the wiping belt (400) on the support table (210). The wiping system may realize the automatic wipe processing of the fiber optic ferrules in batch, improving the wiping efficiency of the fiber optic ferrules. Furthermore, it may effectively protect the fiber optic ferrules from being damaged during wiping the fiber optic ferrules, ensuring the quality of the fiber optic ferrules.