Low-Residue Optical Connector Cleaning String for Oil-Free Wiping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for cleaning the tip end face of a single core optical connector using cotton swabs or similar tools are inadequate in wiping performance and rely heavily on operator skill, and cleaning strings formed from chemical fibers with smaller diameters than optical fibers fail to prevent oil components from adhering to the connector, leading to increased light loss.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning string is produced by twisting multifilaments made of chemical fibers, washed with a surfactant-containing solution and organic solvent, and dried to achieve a residual oil content of 3 mg/g or less, with a twist coefficient of 2 to 150 and a fineness of 50 to 5500 dtex, using polymers like polyester and polyamide to enhance wiping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a multifilament made of chemical fibers is used as a cleaning string, then the cleaning string can be formed, but oil components adhere to the tip end face of the single core optical connector, increasing light loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by washing the multifilament with a surfactant-containing solution before it is used as a cleaning string. This pre-treatment removes oil components from the fiber surface in advance, preventing them from adhering to the optical connector during the cleaning process. The washing step is performed before the cleaning operation, ensuring the cleaning string is ready to use without transferring oil to the connector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of oil components (which normally adhere to chemical fibers during spinning) into a beneficial outcome by using a surfactant-containing solution to remove these oil components. The washing process transforms the contaminated state into a clean state, allowing the multifilament to function as an effective cleaning string that does not transfer oil to the optical connector.
2Ease of operation
If a cotton swab is used for cleaning, then the cleaning string can be formed, but the wiping performance is insufficient and depends on operator skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical and chemical properties of the cleaning string. The multifilament is washed with a surfactant-containing solution to change its surface properties, reducing oil adhesion. Additionally, the twist coefficient is controlled within a specific range (2 to 150), and the fineness is controlled (50 to 5500 dtex), optimizing the cleaning performance and making it less dependent on operator skill while ensuring consistent wiping results.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the multifilament is washed with a surfactant-containing solution, then the residual amount of oil components is reduced to 3 mg/g or less, but additional washing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The washing with surfactant-containing solution is performed as a preliminary step before the multifilament is used as a cleaning string. This pre-treatment ensures that oil components are removed in advance, and the washing is incorporated into the manufacturing process flow, making the additional step acceptable as it enables the cleaning string to function properly without transferring oil during use.
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 cleaning string effectively removes oil components, ensuring high wiping performance without adhering to the connector tip end face, thereby preventing foreign matter attachment and reducing light loss.
Implementation Method 1
a step of removing oil components adhering to multifilaments made of chemical fibers by washing with a surfactant-containing solution
Implementation Method 2
removing oil components adhering to multifilaments made of chemical fibers by washing with a surfactant-containing solution
Implementation Method 3
a step of washing with an organic solvent before or after washing with the surfactant-containing solution
Implementation Method 4
a step of drying
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a cleaning string for cleaning a tip end face of a single core optical connector, which contains a quite small residual amount of oil components and has a high wiping property without the attachment of oil components to the tip end face of a single core optical connector. Further, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a cleaning string for cleaning a connector which can suitably remove oil components adhering to a multifilament made of chemical fibers. A cleaning string for cleaning a connector formed by twisting plural multifilament made of chemical fibers, wherein a residual amount of oil components is 3 mg/g or less. A method for producing a cleaning string for cleaning a connector which comprises a step of removing oil components adhering to multifilament made of chemical fibers by washing with a surfactant-containing solution in a form of knitting, reel, or honeycomb wound before or after twisting plural multifilament made of chemical fibers, a step of washing with pure water, a step of drying and a step of unwinding the form.