Optical Connector Cleaning Tool Tubular Member Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector cleaning tools face difficulties in smoothly collecting cleaning tapes due to bending issues, which can cause the tapes to get stuck between the tape support shaft and guide pipe, leading to jamming and inefficient collection.
Innovation Solution
The optical connector cleaning tool features a tubular member with an inner hole that accommodates the cleaning shaft, where the cleaning element passes between an inner surface and a facing portion with specific gap configurations, allowing for smooth collection by reducing friction and preventing jamming, utilizing a wider first gap between the inner surface and the first region compared to the second gap, and employing a driving mechanism to rotate the winding bobbin for efficient tape collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning tape is collected around the winding reel by pulling the tape support shaft, then the cleaning tape can be gathered for disposal, but the tape support shaft may be bent upward causing the cleaning tape to get stuck between the tape support shaft and guide pipe
Solution Approach 1:
A guide component is introduced as an intermediary element between the cleaning tape and the winding reel. This guide component directs and controls the cleaning tape's path during collection, preventing it from getting stuck between the tape support shaft and guide pipe while enabling smooth winding onto the reel.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide component is positioned in advance to pre-direct the cleaning tape's trajectory before it reaches the winding reel. This preliminary guidance ensures the tape follows the correct path and avoids bending or sticking during the collection process.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning shaft is made movable to enable forward and backward movement for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the cleaning tape may get stuck between the tape support shaft and guide pipe during collection
Solution Approach 1:
The guide component serves as a mediator that separates the cleaning shaft's movable operation from the tape collection process. It ensures that the cleaning tape follows a controlled path independent of the cleaning shaft's movement, preventing jamming while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is divided into separate functional segments: the movable cleaning shaft for cleaning operations and the fixed guide component for tape direction control. This segmentation allows the cleaning shaft to move freely for effective cleaning while the guide component independently manages tape collection without interference.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical connector cleaning tool includes a supplier that supplies a cleaning element having a belt shape, a cleaning shaft including a head having a pressing surface that presses the cleaning element supplied from the supplier against a connection end surface of an optical connector and a supporter supporting the head part, a collector that collects the cleaning element from the pressing surface, and a tubular member having an inner hole accommodating the cleaning shaft such that the head protrudes from the inner hole. The cleaning element collected from the pressing surface to the collector passes between an inner surface of the inner hole and a first facing portion of the head facing the inner surface. The first facing portion includes a first region in which the cleaning element is interposed between the inner surface and the first facing portion and a second region adjacent to the first region.