Optical connector cleaner

To microscopically clean the ferrule end surface of an optical connector simply, uniformly and securely, the optical connector cleaner comprises a cleaning cloth woven with ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier; a casing formed with at least one opening for protecting the cleaning cloth from dust; and a mechanism for shifting the cleaning cloth exposed in the opening for cloth renewing, after the ferrule end surface has been rubbed with the cleaning cloth for cleaning. Further, it is preferable to provide an elastic member under the cleaning cloth for applying a constant cleaning pressure against the cloth and a guide member over the cleaning cloth for securely cleaning the ferrule end surface. The cloth shift mechanism is operated manually by the user or automatically by a motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an optical connector cleaner for cleaning 
a ferrule end surface of an optical fiber connector at optical connector 
junction job sites or in the manufacturing process. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Conventionally, optical connectors of various types have been used to 
facilitate connection or disconnection of optical fibers. For instance, in 
the case of a single fiber connector, an optical fiber is bonded at a 
center of a cylindrical rod (called herein a cylindrical ferrule); the 
cylindrical ferrule is inserted into a precisely-formed cylindrical hollow 
portion of an alignment sleeve; and then two opposing ferrule end surfaces 
are butted together and connected to each other for alignment of the two 
opposite fibers. Further, in the case of a multifiber connector, a 
plurality of fibers are arranged in a predetermined position and bonded to 
a resin cubic body (called herein a cubic ferrule); and then the two cubic 
ferrules are engaged with each other via two guide pins and two 
small-diameter guide holes so that two opposing ferrule end surfaces of a 
plurality of arranged fibers are butted and connected to each other for 
alignment of two opposite fibers, respectively. 
These optical connectors are widely used in particular, in the optical 
communications field, because the optical connectors are provided with 
excellent connection characteristics. In these optical connectors, 
however, since the two opposite end surfaces of the optical fibers are 
directly connected to each other, in case the ferrule end surfaces are 
contaminated by contaminants such as dust or oil, the connection 
characteristics are markedly deteriorated. 
Therefore, it is indispensable to clean the ferrule end surface before the 
ferrules are connected to each other. Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 
1(A) and 1 (B), the end surface of the ferrule 02 of an optical connector 
01 has been wiped by soft cloth or paper 03 dampened with ethanol and then 
flone gas (a general term representative of fluorocarbon) 04 has been 
blown against the end surface of the ferrule 02 to remove the remaining 
ethanol and cloth or paper dust. 
In the conventional cleaning method, however, there exist various problems 
in that the cleaning work is complicated; the end surface of the ferrule 
02 is contaminated with moisture due to the evaporation heat of the 
ethanol or with a fluid when a flone gas cylinder vessel (bombe) is 
reversed on the ferrule 02. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With these problems in mind, therefore, it is the primary object of the 
present invention to provide an optical connector cleaner by which the 
ferrule end surface can be microscopically cleaned simply and uniformly, 
without being subjected to the influence of the worker's skillfullness and 
without use of any chemicals. 
To achieve the above-mentioned object, the optical connector cleaner for 
cleaning a ferrule end surface of an optical connector, according to the 
present invention, comprises: (a) a cleaning cloth (30, 30A) woven by 
ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier; (b) a casing (20, 22, 25, 27) formed 
with at least one opening (20a, 22a, 60a, 62a), for protecting said 
cleaning cloth from dust; and (c) means (40, 41, 42, 41A, 42A) for 
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. 
In the first embodiment of the present invention, said cleaning cloth is a 
disk-shaped cloth (30); said casing is formed with a slot opening (20a); 
and said shifting means is a shaft (40) for rotatably supporting said 
disk-shaped cloth at a center of said cleaning cloth and within said 
casing. In the second embodiment of the present invention, said cleaning 
cloth is a tape (30A); and said shifting means comprises a supply reel 
(41) for supplying said tape-shaped cleaning cloth and a take-up reel (42) 
for taking-up said cleaning cloth from said supply reel through the 
opening (22a) formed in said casing. Further, in the second embodiment, it 
is preferable that the cleaner comprises first and second guide rollers 
(43A, 43B), an elastic member (50) disposed at the opening formed in the 
casing and under the cleaning cloth to apply an elastic pressure to the 
ferrule end surface, and a guide member (60) disposed at the opening 
formed in the casing and over the cleaning cloth. 
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner further 
comprises: (a) a ratchet mechanism for pivoting said take-up reel (42) by 
a predetermined angle to expose a new cleaning cloth under the opening 
formed in said casing; and (b) a slidable cover (90) associated with said 
ratchet mechanism, for covering the opening formed in said casing when 
said ratchet mechanism is actuated to a first position and exposing the 
opening when said ratchet mechanism is actuated to a second position. 
Further in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the cleaner 
further comprises: (a) a movable guide member (62) disposed at the opening 
formed in said casing and over said cleaning cloth and formed with one 
guide hole (62a) for guiding the ferrule end surface; and (b) an automatic 
take-up reel and guide member driving mechanism for moving said cleaning 
cloth in a first direction (Y) and reciprocating said movable guide member 
(62) in a second direction (X) perpendicular to the first direction on 
said cleaning cloth in association with said slot. 
In the optical connector cleaner according to the present invention, since 
the cleaning cloth is woven by ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier, it is 
possible to remove contaminants such as oil, fingerprint, etc. by rubbing 
the ferrule end with the dry cloth without using any solvent such as 
ethanol. 
When the cleaning cloth is formed into a disk shape as in the first 
embodiment, a new clean portion of the cloth can be exposed by simply 
turning the cloth disk. Further, when the cleaning cloth is formed into a 
tape and wound around the supply reel, it is possible to securely expose a 
new clean portion thereof by winding the used portion thereof around the 
take-up reel. 
Further, when the elastic member is disposed under the cleaning cloth at 
the casing opening, since the cleaning cloth and the elastic member are 
both deformed according to the shape of the ferrule end, it is also 
possible to clean the side surface of the ferrule end in addition to the 
ferrule extreme end surface. Further, when the guide member is disposed 
over the cleaning cloth at the casing opening and the ferrule is inserted 
into the guide hole of the guide member, since the ferrule side is guided 
along the inner surface of the guide hole and further the lower portion of 
the plug body is guided along the upper surface of the guide member, it is 
possible to make uniform the contact or cleaning pressure against the 
cleaning cloth, and also to simplify the cleaning work. 
Here, the relative movement of the ferrule to the cleaning cloth is 
restricted to a circular motion when the guide hole is formed into a 
circular shape and to a rectilinear motion when formed into a slot shape, 
thus standardizing the cleaning work. 
Further, typically, the ferrule of a single fiber optical connector is 
attached to the plug body so as to be axially movable relative to the plug 
body via a coil spring. However, in the case where the ferrule and the 
plug body are fixed to each other as in the case of a multifiber optical 
connector, an optical connector support jig is used in such a way that the 
ferrule end projects from the support jig and further an elastic body is 
disposed between the plug body and the support jig on the side remote from 
the ferrule end surface. When this optical connector support jig is pushed 
against the guide member, a pressure can be applied between the cleaning 
cloth and the ferrule end surface due to the deformation of the 
above-mentioned elastic body. When the support jig is moved under these 
conditions, it is also possible to simplify and make uniform the cleaning 
work of the multifiber optical connector. 
Further, since the distance (L.sub.2 or L.sub.4) between the surface of the 
guide member on the optical connector side and the cleaning cloth is 
designed to be a little shorter than the length (L.sub.1 or L.sub.3) 
between a ferrule end surface (2a or 12a) and an end surface of a plug 
body (1A) of the optical connector (1) or an end surface (70c) of the 
holder jig (70), when the ferrule end surface is pushed against the 
cleaning cloth by deforming the coil spring disposed within the optical 
connector or the elastic body disposed within the optical connector 
support jig and the elastic member disposed under the cleaning cloth, it 
is possible to make uniform the pressure between the ferrule end surface 
and the cleaning cloth. 
Further, when the surface of the elastic member disposed under the cleaning 
cloth is formed into a semicylindrical shape, since the uppermost portion 
of the elastic member is deformed according to the wide end surface of the 
multifiber connector, a uniform pressure can be securely applied to the 
end surfaces of the fibers arranged at the end surface of the cubic 
ferrule, thus it being possible to clean the ferrule end surfaces more 
stably.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Embodiments of the optical connector cleaner according to the present 
invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the 
attached drawings. FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment thereof, which 
comprises a flat square casing 20 splittable into two upper and lower half 
casings 20A and 20B, a circular cleaning cloth 30 rotatably supported on a 
disk-shaped elastic material (e.g. rubber) (not shown) disposed on the 
inner surface of the lower half casing 20B, and a central shaft 40 for 
sandwiching the cleaning cloth 30 between the two half casings 20A and 20B 
in cooperation with a nut 40a so that the cleaning cloth 30 is rotatable 
about the central shaft 40. The upper half casing 20A is formed with a 
cleaning slot 20a into which a ferrule 2 attached to a plug body 1A of an 
optical connector 1 can be inserted and moved therealong in contact with 
part of the surface of the cleaning cloth 30 for cleaning. Further, each 
of the two half casing 20A and 20 is formed with a side opening 20b on 
each side surface thereof so that an outer circumferential portion 30a of 
the cloth 30 can be exposed therethrough and therefore rotated manually by 
the user. 
The cleaning cloth 30 is formed of ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier (a 
unit representative of a weight (gram) of 9-km yarn). The casing 20 is 
made of a resin material, for instance. The width of the opening slot 20a 
is a little wider than the diameter of the ferrule 2. 
In use, the cleaning cloth 30 is rotated a little in a predetermined 
direction (e.g. clockwise as shown by an arrow (CW in FIG. 2) to expose a 
new clean part of the cleaning cloth 30b in the cleaning slot 20a, by 
putting a finger end of the user onto the circumferential surface of the 
exposed arcuate portion 30a of the cleaning cloth 30. Thereafter, an end 
surface of the ferrule 2 is moved along the cleaning slot 20a in contact 
with the cleaning cloth 30 in the arrow direction A. Since the ferrule end 
surface can be slid on or rubbed with the cleaning cloth by deforming the 
cleaning cloth 30 and the elastic material (not shown), it is possible to 
securely clean the ferrule end surface. Further, the cleaning cloth 30 is 
further rotated a little, after the ferrule end surface has been cleaned, 
in order that the used cloth portion will not be used again. 
In this embodiment, polyester-based cloth called Miracreation (Trademark of 
TORE Corp.) is used for the cleaning cloth. Without being limited thereto, 
however, it is also possible to use any (e.g. nylon-based) cleaning cloth 
less than about 0.1 denier, without use of any other cleaning solvent such 
as ethanol. This first embodiment is simple in structure, small in size, 
and handy at work sites. 
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the optical connector cleaner according 
to the present invention, which comprises another square casing 22, a 
supply reel 41 rotatable supported by the casing 22 via a supply reel 
shaft 44A, a take-up reel 42 also rotatably supported by the casing 22 via 
a take-up reel shaft 44B, a pair of guide roller support members 47 
supported within the casing 22, a pair of guide rollers 43A and 43B both 
rotatably supported between the two guide roller support members 47 via 
two guide roller shafts 45A and 45B, respectively, a tape-shaped cleaning 
cloth 30A, and an elastic (e.g. rubber) member 50 disposed under the 
cleaning cloth 30A and between the two guide rollers 43A and 43B. Further, 
as shown, the casing 22 is formed with an upper cleaning opening 22a to 
which the plug body 1A of the connector 1 can be fitted and with a side 
opening 22b on one side surface thereof so that an outer circumferential 
portion 42a of the take-up reel 42 can be exposed therethrough and 
therefore rotated manually by the user. The tape-shaped cleaning cloth 30A 
wound around the supply reel 41 is reeved from the supply reel 41, through 
the two guide rollers 43a and 43B, to the take-up reel 42. 
In use, the take-up reel 42 is rotated a little in the clockwise direction 
as shown by arrow CW in FIG. 3 to I expose a new clean part of the 
cleaning cloth 30a just under the cleaning opening 22a, by putting a 
finger end of the user onto the outer circumference 42a of the take-up 
reel 42. Thereafter, an end surface of the ferrule 2 is moved along the 
inner end surface of the opening 22a in the longitudinal or transverse 
direction A or B of the cleaning cloth 30A in such a way that the ferrule 
end surface is pushed against the cleaning cloth 30A. In this embodiment, 
since the take-up reel 42 is rotated a little further in the clockwise 
direction CW after use by putting the user's finger end onto the exposed 
circumferential portion 42a of the take-up reel 42, it is always possible 
to renew the cleaning cloth 30A at the opening 22A. 
Further, it is also preferable to provide a ratchet mechanism for each reel 
41 or 42 to prevent each reel from being rotated in the reverse 
(counterclockwise) direction, so that the used cloth portion will not be 
returned under the cleaning opening 22a. Further, the elastic member 50 is 
disposed under the cleaning cloth 30A at the cleaning opening 22a. 
However, it is also possible to use a relatively hard material instead of 
a soft material such as rubber. 
FIG. 4(A) shows a basic flat elastic member 50A, by which the ferrule end 
surface can be moved in the longitudinal or transverse direction A or B of 
the cleaning close 30A, as already explained. FIG. 4(B) shows another 
modification of the elastic member 50B formed with a groove 50B-1 with a 
width a little wider than the outer diameter of the ferrule 2 to be 
cleaned. In this case, since the ferrule 2 is moved or slid on the 
cleaning cloth 30A along the groove 50B-1 in the longitudinal direction A 
of the cloth 30A, it is also possible to clean the side surface near the 
ferrule extreme end surface simultaneously. Further, since the cleaning 
cloth 30A is elongated within and along the groove 50B-1 when the ferrule 
2 is pushed against the cloth 30A, the ferrule 2 can be moved smoothly 
under pressure along the groove 50B-1 without scratching the cleaning 
cloth 30A. FIG. 4(C) shows another modification of the elastic member 50C. 
In this modification, a cylindrical elastic member 50C is rotatably 
supported by the two guide roller support members 47 via an elastic member 
shaft 50C-2 and formed with an annular groove 50C-1 having a width a 
little wider than the outer diameter of the ferrule 2. In this 
modification, it is possible to reduce the frictional force between the 
elastic member 50C and the cleaning cloth 30A when the ferrule 2 is pushed 
against and moved on the cloth 30A along the annular groove 50C-1 under 
pressure in the longitudinal direction A of the cloth 30A. Further, FIG. 
4(D) shows the other modification of the elastic member 50D. In this 
modification, a semicylindrical elastic member 50D is disposed under the 
cleaning cloth 30A at the opening 22a. This elastic member is suitable, 
in particular when a multifiber optical connector is moved along the axial 
direction A (the same as the cloth longitudinal direction) as described in 
further detail later with reference to FIGS. 9(A) and (B). 
Further, the above-mentioned elastic member 50 is not necessarily required, 
as long an appropriate tension is applied to the cleaning cloth 30A by 
providing a rachet wheel and a ratchet pawl for each reel 41 or 42. In 
this case, the ferrule 2 is moved along the inner edge of the cleaning 
opening 22a in pressure contact with the cleaning cloth 30A. 
FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment of the optical connector cleaner 
according to the present invention, in which a guide member 60 formed with 
at least one guide hole 60a is additionally provided on the cleaning cloth 
30A. The tape-shaped cleaning cloth 30A is wound around the supply reel 
41, guided by the two guide rollers 43A and 43B, and wound again by the 
take-up reel 42. The flat elastic member 50A and the guide member 60 are 
disposed at the cleaning opening of the casing 22 with the cleaning cloth 
30A sandwiched between the elastic member 50A and the guide member 60. The 
guide member 60 is formed with singular or plural guide slots or circular 
holes. 
FIG. 6(A) shows a single slot 60a-1 formed along the longitudinal direction 
A of the cleaning cloth 30A. The width W of the guide slot 60a-1 is 
designed to be a little wider than the diameter of the ferrule 2, so that 
the ferrule 2 can be inserted into the guide slot 60a-1 and moved 
therealong in the longitudinal direction A of the cleaning cloth 30A. FIG. 
6(B) shows a singular circular guide hole 60a-2. The diameter d of the 
guide hole 60a-2 is determined a little longer than that of the ferrule 2, 
so that the ferrule 2 can be inserted into the guide hole 60a-2 and 
rotated therealong in the clockwise direction C, for instance. FIG. 6(C) 
shows a set of series-arranged guide slot 60a-1 and guide hole 60a-2 both 
formed in the same surface of the guide member 60. Further, FIG. 6(D) 
shows a pair of parallel-arranged sets of series-arranged guide slot 60a-1 
and guide hole 60a-2, by which it is possible to further utilize the 
broader area of the cleaning cloth 30A. 
Without being limited thereto, however, it is also possible to form any 
guide hole into such a shape that the side surface of the ferrule 2 can be 
guided along at least a part of the inside surface of the guide hole 60a 
of the guide member 60. Further, when a plurality of guide holes of 
different shapes are formed, it is possible to the clean various portions 
of the ferrule 2 in addition to the ferrule end surface. In summary, when 
the ferrule 2 is cleaned along the guide hole formed in the guide member 
60, it is possible to standardize the movement distance and the cleaned 
ferrule position more securely and stably. 
FIGS. 7(A) and (B) show the states before and after the ferrule 2 is 
inserted into the guide hole 60a of the guide member 60. In general, an 
optical fiber is bonded at the center of the ferrule 2, and the ferrule 2 
is supported within a connector plug body 1A so as to be axially movable 
by means of a coil spring (not shown). That is, the ferrule 2 is pushed 
into the plug body 1A by deforming the coil spring. 
In using the optical connector cleaner, the take-up reel 42 is rotated to 
expose a new clean portion of the cleaning cloth 30A on the elastic member 
50A. Here, as shown in FIG. 7(B), the ferrule 2 is inserted into a guide 
hole 60a of the guide member 60 so that the lower end surface of the plug 
body 1A is brought into contact with the surface 60b of the guide member 
60. Under these conditions, when the ferrule end surface 2a is brought 
into 
with the cleaning cloth 30A, the coil spring within the plug body 1A and 
the elastic member 50A are both deformed. Therefore, in this embodiment, 
it is preferable that a length L.sub.1 of the ferrule 2 projecting from 
the plug body 1A is determined to be a little longer than a distance 
L.sub.2 between the upper surface 60b of the guide member 60 and the upper 
surface of the cleaning cloth 30A. As a result, it is possible to make 
constant the contact pressure between the ferrule end surface 2a and the 
cleaning cloth 30A. Under these conditions, when the optical connector 1 
is moved in the longitudinal direction A of the cleaning cloth 30A along 
the guide hole 60a and of the guide member 60 as shown in FIG. 6(A), the 
ferrule end surface 2a can be securely cleaned. 
In this embodiment as described above, since a movement distance of the 
optical connector 1 can be determined along the longitudinal direction A 
of the guide slot 60a-1 of the guide member 60 and further the pressure 
against the cleaning cloth 30A can be determined constant, it is possible 
to simplify the cleaning work and make uniform the cleanness. 
FIG. 8(A) shows an optical connector holder jig 70 suitable for use with a 
multifiber optical connector 10. 
As shown in FIG. 8(A), a multifiber optical connector plug 10 is composed 
of a plug body 11 and a ferrule 12 rigidly fixed to the plug body 11. A 
plurality of optical fibers 13 are bonded near the middle portion of the 
ferrule 12 being arranged along a straight line. On the other hand, an 
optical connector holder jig 70 is formed with an opening 70a into which 
one side surface of the plug body 11 can be inserted in such a way that 
the ferrule 12 projects from the lower end surface 70c of the opening 70b, 
as shown in FIG. 8(B). Further, an elastic body 75 is fixed on the upper 
inner surface of the holder jig 70 so as to be sandwiched between the plug 
body 11 and the holder jig 70. That is, the optical connector holder jig 
70 is so constructed as to support the multifiber optical connector plug 
10 via the elastic body 75 disposed in contact with the upper side (remote 
side from the optical fibers 13) of the plug body 11. A projection 
distance of the ferrule 12 from the holder jig 70 is L3, as shown in FIG. 
8(B). 
FIGS. 9(A) and (B) show the states before and after the above-mentioned 
multifiber optical connector plug 10 is inserted into the guide hole 60a 
of the guide member 60, when seen from the direction D in FIG. 8(B). As 
shown in FIG. 9(B), the ferrule 12 is inserted into the slot-shaped guide 
hole 60a by gripping the holder jig 70 so that the end surface 70C of the 
holder jig 70 is brought into contact with the upper surface 60b of the 
guide member 60. Here, since the projection distance L of the ferrule 12 
is determined to be a little longer than that L4 between the upper surface 
60b of the guide member 60 and that of the cleaning cloth 30A, when the 
ferrule end surface 12a is brought into contact with the cleaning cloth 
30A, the elastic body 75 for receiving the optical connector plug 10 and 
the semicylindrical elastic member 50D disposed under the cleaning cloth 
30A are both deformed. In other words, the ferrule end surface 12a and the 
cleaning cloth 30A are in contact with each other under a constant 
pressure. In addition as the width W of the guide hole 60a is designed to 
be a little wider than that W.sub.f of the ferrule 12, the movement of the 
ferrule in the width direction can be limited. Therefore, when the ferrule 
12 is moved in the axial direction of the semicylindrical elastic member 
50D (perpendicular to the width direction of the guide hole 60a) by use of 
the holder jig 70, it is possible to simply, securely and uniformly clean 
the ferrule end surface 12a. 
Further, in this embodiment, the upper surface of the semicylindrical 
elastic member 50D is formed into an arcuate shape when seen along the 
ferrule movement direction or from the cleaning cloth longitudinal 
direction in such a way that the middle portion of the elastic member 50D 
projects upward toward the cleaning cloth 30A. Therefore, when the upper 
portion 50D-1 of the elastic member 50D is brought into contact with the 
part of the ferrule end surface 12a at which the optical fibers 13 are 
arranged, the elastic member 50D can be deformed flat according to the 
shape of the ferrule end surface 12A. As described above, in the case of 
the multifiber optical connector plug 10 such that a plurality of optical 
fibers 13 are bonded near the middle portion of the ferrule 12, it is 
possible to apply a uniform and constant pressure to the end surfaces of 
the optical fibers 13, thus stabilizing the cleaning conditions at the 
ferrule end surface 12a. 
FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the 
cleaning cloth is enclosed within the casing 25 in dustproof structure. 
This embodiment is suitable for use at optical connector work sites. That 
is, the supply reel, the guide rollers, the take-up reel are all arranged 
within the casing 25, and when a reel lever 80 is pivoted counterclockwise 
CCW, the cleaning cloth is shifted a predetermined stroke and 
simultaneously a slidable cover 90 is moved to expose the guide member 60 
on the cleaning cloth. 
In more detail with reference to FIGS. 11(A) and (B), the supply reel 41 is 
formed by two supply reel ratchet wheels 41A between which the cleaning 
cloth 30A is wound, and the take-up reel 42 is formed by two take-up reel 
ratchet wheels 42A between which the cleaning cloth 30A is wound. However, 
it is also possible to fix one or two ratchet wheels to the ordinary 
supply or take-up reel 41 or 42 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, 
without forming each ratchet wheel integral with each reel wheel. 
A reel lever 80 is pivotally attached at the center of the take-up reel 
ratchet wheels 42A, independently from the ratchet wheels 42A. The reel 
lever 80 is formed with a take-up reel drive pawl 81 engaged with a tooth 
of the take-up reel ratchet wheel 42A and a slidable cover moving pin 82. 
A slidable cover 90 is slidably disposed on the upper surface of the 
casing 25 and formed with an inward extending pin guide plate 91 in which 
an open slot 91a is formed so as to be engaged with the slidable cover 
moving pin 82. Further, a bifurcated pawl 45 for preventing each reverse 
rotational motion of each of the supply and take-up reel ratchet wheels 
41A and 42A is pivotally disposed between the two ratchet wheels 41A and 
42A. 
The tape-shaped cleaning cloth 30A wound around the supply reel ratchet 
wheel 41A is guided via a first guide roller 43A, passed between the guide 
member 60 and the elastic member 50, guided via a second guide roller 43B, 
and then wound about the take-up reel ratchet wheel 42A. 
FIG. 11(A) shows a state before use. Under these conditions, the slidable 
cover 90 covers the openings of the guide member 60, and the reel lever 80 
is positioned roughly vertically. When the reel lever 80 is pivoted 
counterclockwise CCW as shown by the arrow, the take-up reel drive pawl 81 
pivots the take-up reel ratchet wheel 42A, so that the cleaning cloth 30A 
is shifted by a predetermined stroke between the guide member 60 and the 
elastic member 50A. At the same time, since the slidable cover 90 is moved 
along two grooves formed at the upper end surfaces of the casing 25, the 
guide member 60 is exposed; that is, the cleaning cloth 30A is exposed, as 
shown in FIG. 11(B). 
Thereafter, the ferrule 2 of the optical connector 1 is inserted into one 
of the guide holes 60a-1 or 60a-2 of the guide member 60 so that the 
ferrule end surface is brought into pressure contact with the cleaning 
cloth 30A on the elastic member 50A. In the cleaning operation, the 
ferrule 2 is moved straight or rotated along the guide hole 60a-1 or 60a-2 
formed in the guide member 60. 
Further, after the ferrule end surface has been cleaned, the reel lever 80 
is returned to the original position as shown in FIG. 11(A). In this case, 
the drive pawl 81 is deformed radially outward and pivoted clockwise 
passing over several teeth of the ratchet wheel, because the two ratchet 
wheels 41A and 42A will not be rotated in the reverse (clockwise) 
direction by the pawl 45. In this third embodiment, since the cleaning 
cloth 30A can be exposed by moving the slidable cover 90 only when the 
reel lever 80 is moved, it is possible to protect the cleaning cloth from 
external dust. 
FIG. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the 
cleaning cloth is enclosed within the casing 27 in dustproof structure and 
further the take-up reel 42 and a guide member 62 are both moved by a 
motor 115 in synchronism with each other. This embodiment is suitable for 
use in an optical connector assembly process. 
In more detail, a movable guide member 62 is disposed outside the upper 
surface of a casing 27 so as to be movable in the direction X 
perpendicular to the cleaning cloth running direction Y. This movable 
guide member 62 is formed with a connector locating hole 62a into which 
the plug body 1A of the optical connector 1 is fitted and with a slot 62b 
extending in the direction Y. Further, the frame 27 is formed with a guide 
hole (not shown) similar to that 22a as with the case of the second 
embodiment shown in FIG. 3, under the above connector locating hole 62a. 
The mechanism for driving the movable guide member 62 and the take-up reel 
42 comprises a motor 115, a drive pinion 116 fixed to a motor shaft (not 
shown) of the motor 115, a driven gear 117 fixed to a drive shaft 118 
rotatably supported by the casing 27 and geared with the drive pinion 116, 
a worm gear 119 fixed to the drive shaft 118, a worm wheel 120 fixed to 
the take-up reel shaft 44B and geared with the worm gear 119, and an 
eccentric shaft 114 fixed upright to the upper surface of the drive gear 
117 and engaged with the slot 62b formed in the movable guide member 62. 
In use, since the drive pinion 116 is rotated by the motor 115 
counterclockwise CCW, for instance, the driven gear 117 is also rotated 
about the drive shaft 118 clockwise CW, so that the take-up reel 42 is 
rotated clockwise CW about the take-up reel shaft 44B to shift the 
cleaning cloth 30A in the direction Y. Therefore, the cleaning cloth 30A 
under the guide hole 62a is always kept exchanged with a new clean surface 
of the cleaning cloth 30A. On the other hand, since the eccentric shaft 
114 is rotated by the driven gear 117 along the slot 62b of the guide 
member 62, the guide member 62 is moved to and fro in the direction X 
perpendicular to the cloth running direction Y. Further, in this case, 
since the longitudinal length of the slot 62b is designed to be a little 
longer than the eccentricity of the eccentric shaft 114, the movable guide 
member is not moved in the direction Y. 
In the fourth embodiment, since the cleaning cloth 30A is always running in 
the direction Y and further the guide member 62 is always moved to and fro 
in the direction X, it is possible to automatically clean the ferrule end 
surface of the optical connector 1 by only inserting the ferrule 2 into 
the guide hole 62a of the movable guide member 62, thus further 
facilitating reliable ferrule end cleaning work despite the simple 
operation. 
As described above, in the optical connector cleaner according to the 
present invention, it is possible to microscopically clean the ferrule end 
surface with a dry cloth, without use of any cleaning solvent, resulting 
in a simple operation. Further, when the optical connector holder jig 
and/or the guide member is used, it is possible to more reliably clean the 
ferrule end surface.