Planetary cleaning motion optical connector cleaner
AssigneeNeptec Optical Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJohn Carberry, Marcella Mirata, Michael Smith, Lisa Carberry, Susan Hubbard, Joe Ewing
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Abstract
An optical connector cleaner. The optical connector cleaner includes a nonlinear path along which an optical connector is moved. By following the nonlinear path, the optical connector is subjected to planetary motion without requiring the operator to twist the connector by hand. The use of planetary motion improves the efficiency and quality of the cleaning operation. In addition, the optical connector cleaner of the present invention provides improved resistance to damage from the ferrule edge during cleaning.
Claims22
An apparatus for cleaning optical fiber connectors, said apparatus comprising:
- a base layer defining a plurality of recesses;
- a cleaning layer affixed to said base layer, said cleaning layer suspended above said recesses to provide a plurality of drum-head structures such that said cleaning layer can deform in response to pressure applied by an optical fiber connector;
- a guide layer affixed to said cleaning layer, said guide layer defining a plurality of guide windows, said plurality of guide windows corresponding in number and position to said recesses defined by said base layer, each of said plurality of guide windows defining a nonlinear path that forces at least one planetary motion to be applied to the optical fiber connector when traveling along said nonlinear path;
- and
- a protective layer removably affixed to said guide layer, said protective layer being sectioned into a number of areas corresponding to the number of guide windows, each section of said protective layer being individually removable to expose a single one of said plurality of guide windows.
An apparatus for cleaning optical fiber connectors, said apparatus comprising:
- a base layer defining a plurality of recesses;
- a cleaning layer affixed to said base layer, said cleaning layer suspended over said plurality of recesses to provide a plurality of drum-head structures;
- and
- a guide layer affixed to said cleaning layer, said guide layer defining a plurality of guide windows, said plurality of guide windows corresponding in number and position to said recesses defined by said base layer.
An apparatus for cleaning optical fiber connectors, said apparatus comprising:
- a base layer;
- a cleaning layer affixed to said base layer;
- and
- a guide layer affixed to said cleaning layer, said guide layer defining a plurality of guide windows, each of said plurality of guide windows defining a nonlinear path that forces at least one planetary motion to be applied to the optical fiber connector when traveling along said nonlinear path.
An apparatus for cleaning optical fiber connectors, said apparatus comprising a cleaning card having a plurality of guide windows exposing a cleaning layer, said plurality of guide windows defining a nonlinear path that forces at least one planetary motion to be applied to the optical fiber connector when traveling along said nonlinear path, said cleaning layer being suspended above an open space under said plurality of guide windows such that said cleaning layer can deform in response to pressure applied by an optical fiber connector.
An apparatus for cleaning optical fiber connectors, said apparatus comprising:
- a base layer defining a plurality of recesses;
- a cleaning layer affixed to said base layer, said cleaning layer suspended above said recesses to provide a plurality of drum-head structures;
- and
- a guide layer affixed to said cleaning layer, said guide layer defining a plurality of guide windows, said plurality of guide windows corresponding in number and position to said recesses defined by said base layer, each of said plurality of guide windows being nonlinear such that at least one planetary motion to be applied to an optical fiber connector when the optical fiber connector is moved through said guide window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.