Optical Connector Cleaning Head Rotation Without Spiral Cam Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical connector cleaning devices face challenges with cylindrical cam mechanisms that require significant space, are difficult to mold, and have complex structures, limiting their applicability and ease of manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A rotary mechanism that includes a rotary shaft with a protrusion and a wall on the cleaning device body, allowing rotation through parallel movement, eliminating the need for a spiral cam groove and enabling easy molding and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cylindrical cam mechanism with a spiral cam groove is used to rotate the distal end portion, then the rotating operation and feeding operation are performed simultaneously by a single insertion operation, but the space required increases approximately twice the operating stroke and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the rotation function and feeding function into independent mechanisms. The rotation is achieved through a protrusion moving along an inclined plane on the wall, while feeding is controlled separately, eliminating the need for a complex spiral cam groove that combines both functions in a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the rotation-generating feature from the traditional cylindrical cam mechanism. Instead of forming a spiral cam groove on a rotating cylindrical portion, the patent uses a simple protrusion on the rotary shaft that interacts with an inclined plane on a stationary wall, significantly reducing the space required for the rotation mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a spiral cam groove is formed on a cylindrical portion of the rotary shaft, then the rotating operation is achieved, but the cylindrical portion requires significant thickness and it becomes difficult to apply to thin-walled structures
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a complex spiral groove on the rotary shaft (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by placing a simple protrusion on the rotary shaft and creating the inclined plane on the stationary wall. This reversal eliminates the need for complex machining or molding of the rotary shaft itself, making it suitable for thin-walled structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a simplified geometric representation (protrusion and inclined plane) that copies the essential function of a cylindrical cam without requiring the complex three-dimensional spiral groove structure, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and material requirements.
3Ease of operation
If a cylindrical cam mechanism with a complex three-dimensional spiral groove is used, then the rotating operation is achieved, but the mold becomes complicated and the demolding process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex three-dimensional spiral cam groove with a simplified geometric model consisting of a protrusion and an inclined plane. This copying of the essential functional relationship in a simplified form dramatically reduces mold complexity and facilitates easy demolding while maintaining the rotation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the cam mechanism into simple, separable components (protrusion and inclined plane) that can be easily molded independently. This segmentation avoids the need for complex multi-cavity molds or difficult demolding operations required by integrated spiral cam grooves.
4Ease of manufacture
If a rack-and-pinion mechanism is used for cleaning medium feed, then the feed operation is achieved, but the button must be moved in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, requiring two operations in different directions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the feed mechanism operation with the insertion operation. The button is moved in the same direction as the insertion (axial direction), and this single operation simultaneously drives both the rotation mechanism and the feed mechanism, eliminating the need for separate perpendicular button pressing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The button mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously controls the rotation of the distal end portion and the feeding of the cleaning medium during a single axial insertion operation. This multi-functionality simplifies the user interface and reduces the number of separate operations required.
Data Source
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AI summary
The optical connector cleaning device includes a cleaning device body; a rotary shaft (input shaft (18)) supported on the cleaning device body so as to be rotatable and movable in parallel; a cleaning head provided on the rotary shaft; a cleaning medium which is folded back in the cleaning head and which rotates together with the rotary shaft; and a rotary mechanism (6) for rotating the rotary shaft. The rotary mechanism (6) includes protrusions (first protrusion (21A), second protrusion (21B)) provided on the rotary shaft (input shaft (18)); and a wall (first to fourth vertical walls (52A-52D)) which is provided on the cleaning device body and which extends along the rotary shaft at a position adjacent to the rotary shaft. The wall includes a contact portion (side surface (53a), curved surface (54a), upper surface (55a)) with which a protrusion contacts while moving when the cleaning device body moves in parallel relative to the rotary shaft. The cleaning device body moves in parallel relative to the rotary shaft while the contact portion contacts the protrusion, thereby applying a rotational force to the rotary shaft. It is possible to provide an optical connector cleaning device including a rotary mechanism, that is compact, has a wide range of applications, and that allows easy molding and demolding.