Method and apparatus for treating a mating portion of a fiber optic connector

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating a mating portion of a fiber optic connector for reducing an insertion force for the mating portion includes providing a mating portion of a fiber optic connector and treating the mating portion of the fiber optic connector by applying a cleaning and/or lubricating solution thereto to reduce the insertion force of the mating portion.

1 . An apparatus for treating a fiber optic connector for reducing an insertion force, the apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning dispenser;   a solution reservoir in communication with the cleaning dispenser; and   a solution disposed in the solution reservoir, wherein the solution is applied by the cleaning dispenser to a mating portion of a fiber optic connector, the solution being configured to reduce an insertion force for the mating portion.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning dispenser is configured to convert the solution into an aerosol, the aerosol being configured to clean and lubricate the mating portion. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for treating a mating portion of a fiber optic connector for reducing an insertion force for the mating portion, the apparatus comprising:
 a cleaning element; and   a solution reservoir having a solution disposed therein, the cleaning element in communication with the solution reservoir, wherein the solution in the solution reservoir can be applied to the cleaning element.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cleaning element is one of a brush and a swab. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including a resilient element for biasing the cleaning element. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of cleaning elements, wherein the plurality of cleaning elements are brushes having a predetermined spacing therebetween for simultaneously fitting into complementary bores of the fiber optic connector. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including a cleaning strip for wiping a ferrule end face. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for treating a mating portion of a fiber optic connector for reducing an insertion force, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of cleaning elements, the plurality of cleaning elements being brushes having a predetermined spacing therebetween for simultaneously fitting into complementary bores of the fiber optic connector; and   a solution reservoir having a solution therein, the cleaning elements depending from proximate the solution reservoir, wherein the solution can be applied to the cleaning elements.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a resilient element for biasing the cleaning elements. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a cleaning strip for wiping a ferrule end face.