Combination of optical connector cleaner and holder jig

An optical connector cleaner and holder jig for cleaning multifiber ferrule end surfaces of a multifiber optical connector which includes a plug body and a ferrule, said cleaner comprising:

• (a) a cleaning cloth woven with ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier;
• (b) a casing formed with at least one opening, for protecting said cleaning cloth from dust;
• (c) a ratchet mechanism for intermittently shifting said cleaning cloth exposed in the at least one opening for cloth renewing, after the ferrule end surface has been rubbed with said cleaning cloth along the opening formed in said casing;
• (d) a guide member formed with a set of circular and slot guide holes arranged in series in a direction in which the ferrule end is moved with a diameter and a width slightly larger than a diameter of the ferrule end, respectively, the guide member being disposed at the opening formed in said casing and over said cleaning cloth, for guiding the ferrule end surface along inner edge surfaces of said guide holes with the ferrule end surface brought into pressure contact with said cleaning cloth;
• and
• (e) a holder jig adapted for holding said multifiber optical connector to facilitate cleaning of the multifiber ferrule end surfaces, said holder jig including:
• (i) a U-shaped cross-section jig housing formed with an opening for holding said multifiber optical connector plug body therewithin such that the ferrule of the optical connector projects from said jig housing;
• and
• (ii) an elastic body attached to said holder jig housing and disposed between an inner surface of said holder jig housing and an outer surface of said plug body of the multifiber optical connector, for applying an appropriate cleaning pressure to the optical connector via said holder jig, when the optical connector housed in said holder jig is fitted into one of the guide holes formed in said guide member.