Method for non-contact cleaning of fiber optic connectors and end faces

A method of cleaning an end face of an optical fiber with a cleaning device comprising a nozzle having a nozzle outlet, within which is disposed a needle plug of diminishing cross section in the direction of outward flow through the nozzle and terminating in a pointed tip facing outwardly of the nozzle, the method comprising:

• flowing a compressed gas stream through the nozzle over the needle plug and through the nozzle outlet, the needle plug and nozzle outlet being configured to form an emitted gas jet exiting from the nozzle outlet, the emitted gas jet forming a zone of reduced pressure relative to ambient pressure, the zone of reduced pressure surrounding the emitted gas jet;
• aligning the nozzle outlet with such end face and positioning the pointed tip of the needle plug from about 0.25 inch to about 0.75 inch (0.64 to 1.91 cm) from such end face;
• introducing a liquid solvent upstream of the nozzle outlet into the compressed gas stream, whereby the solvent is atomized in the emitted gas jet, impinging the emitted gas jet containing atomized solvent onto such end face for a cleaning time period;
• and
• discontinuing introduction of the solvent into the compressed gas stream to produce a dry gas jet and impinging the resulting dry gas jet onto such end face for a drying time period to remove solvent by evaporation which is accelerated by the zone of reduced pressure.