Optical Connector Cleaning Tool Head Unit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning tools for optical connectors face issues with the cleaning element dropping during rotation, leading to a reduced pressing surface area and ineffective cleaning due to the narrowing of the pressing surface by the insertion hole's wall thickness.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool design featuring a head unit with a tubular member and a pressing surface, where the cleaning element is disposed in a clearance between the head member and the tubular member, preventing dropping and enlarging the pressing surface area while maintaining secure attachment during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cleaning element is inserted through an insertion hole formed at the leading end part of the head member, then the cleaning element is prevented from dropping during rotation, but the pressing surface area is reduced due to the wall thickness of the insertion hole
Solution Approach 1:
The head member is divided into multiple functional parts: a pressing surface portion for cleaning, an insertion hole portion for securing the cleaning element, and a guide groove portion for element placement. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function without compromising the others, maintaining both retention reliability and pressing surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide grooves are introduced as intermediary structures that mediate between the insertion hole and the pressing surface. These grooves provide a pathway for the cleaning element to be properly positioned and retained without requiring the insertion hole to directly reduce the pressing surface area, thus resolving the contradiction between retention and cleaning effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If the cleaning element is disposed in a guide groove, then the structure is simplified, but the cleaning element may drop during rotation of the head member
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove structure is merged with the insertion hole structure to create an integrated retention system. The guide groove leads into the insertion hole, combining the simplicity of groove-based positioning with the security of hole-based retention, maintaining both low complexity and high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove is nested within the head member structure, with the cleaning element sequentially passing through the groove and then being secured in the insertion hole. This nested arrangement provides a progressive retention system that maintains simplicity while ensuring the element cannot drop during rotation.
3Area of moving object
If the pressing surface area is enlarged, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the structural integrity and retention capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the head member are assigned different functional qualities: the pressing surface area is maximized for cleaning effectiveness, while specific localized regions (insertion hole, guide groove) are designed with enhanced structural properties for retention. This local differentiation allows large pressing surface area without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The head member employs asymmetric design where the pressing surface occupies the majority area for effective cleaning, while the retention structures (insertion hole and guide groove) are strategically positioned in less critical areas. This asymmetric distribution optimizes both cleaning effectiveness and structural integrity simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning tool includes: a tool body; and an insertion part provided projecting from the tool body, the insertion part being configured to be movable in a predetermined direction with respect to the tool body, the insertion part including a head unit, the head unit being configured to press a cleaning element against a cleaning target with a pressing surface, wherein by relatively moving the tool body and the insertion part, the cleaning element is supplied and recovered, and the head unit is rotated in a rotation direction with the predetermined direction as an axis, the head unit includes a head member and a tubular member, the head member including the pressing surface, the head member being inserted into the tubular member with the pressing surface in a projected state, the cleaning element is stretched around the pressing surface.