Optical Connector Cleaning Tool For Consistent End-Surface Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical connector cleaning tools rely on operator hand-held pressure, leading to inconsistent cleaning quality due to variations in how the operator holds the connector, affecting the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
An optical connector cleaning tool with a guide cap and jig that securely attaches to the connector, ensuring consistent pressure on the connection end surface through a biasing mechanism and defined insertion orientation, stabilizing the cleaning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If operator holds the optical connector plug with fingers to press the cleaning cloth against the connection end surface, then the cleaning operation can be performed, but the cleaning quality becomes inconsistent depending on how the operator holds the connector
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cap serves as an intermediary device that the operator holds instead of directly holding the optical connector plug. The guide cap includes a through hole that guides the connector plug, ensuring it is positioned correctly. This mediator transfers the pressing force from the operator's hand through the guide cap to the cleaning cloth, stabilizing the cleaning quality by eliminating direct hand contact with the connector plug during the cleaning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide cap is designed with a through hole that automatically guides and positions the optical connector plug when inserted. The structure of the through hole and the connector plug interface ensures proper alignment without requiring the operator to manually position the connector. This self-guiding mechanism ensures consistent cleaning quality regardless of operator technique.
2Device complexity
If a simple cap structure is used for cleaning, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning pressure cannot be consistently controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cap acts as a mediator that structures the pressing force. By holding the guide cap and inserting the connector plug through its guided opening, the operator's hand pressure is automatically directed through the cap's structure to the cleaning cloth. This intermediary structure ensures consistent pressure application without requiring complex pressure control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide cap creates a stable geometric relationship between the operator's hand, the cleaning cloth, and the connector plug. The through hole geometry ensures that when the connector is properly inserted, the cleaning cloth is positioned at a consistent depth and angle, creating equipotential cleaning conditions regardless of variations in operator hand position or pressure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tool ensures uniform and stable cleaning quality by maintaining consistent pressure on the connector's end surface, improving cleaning effectiveness and reducing variability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member that is interposed between the cleaning head and the support member and that biases the cleaning head away from the support member
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An optical connector cleaning tool 1 that includes a cleaning element 2 cleaning a connection end surface 311 of an optical connector300 includes a guide cap 200 that includes a through hole 201 having openings 202 and 203, a cleaning head 110 that comprises a pressing surface 121 pressing the cleaning element 2 against the connection end surface 121 and that is inserted into the through hole 201 through the opening 202, and a jig 250 to which the optical connector 300 is detachably attached and that is inserted into the through hole 201 through the opening 203.