A cleaning tool includes a tool body and an extension part that extends from the tool body and that includes: a head that presses a cleaning element onto a cleaning target on a pressing surface; an inner guide part through which the head is inserted; and an outer guide part through which the inner guide part is inserted. When cleaning a first optical connector, an outer peripheral portion of the outer guide part guides the head with respect to a ferrule endface of the first optical connector. When cleaning a second optical connector that includes a housing having a different shape from a shape of a housing of the first optical connector, the outer guide part retracts and the inner guide part is exposed toward the second optical connector.

A sample testing system includes a test receptacle support structure, an optical element positioned for transmitting electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a sample disposed in a test receptacle supported by the test receptacle support structure, a cleaning member, and an automated transport arm configured to (i) detachably couple the cleaning member, (ii) move the detachably-coupled cleaning member into a position proximate to and/or contacting the optical element, and (iii) decouple the cleaning member.

A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.

An optical connector cleaning tool includes a tip (44) for cleaning in a distal end portion. The tip (44) has a distal end face (51) in which a delivery hole (53) and a winding hole (54) for a cleaning medium are formed, and has an outer circumferential surface (52). The distal end face (51) has a first inclined surface (56) and a second inclined surface (57) forming the distal end portion of the tip (44) into a mountain shape in cross section, and has a convex curved surface (58) for connecting them to the outer circumferential surface (52). The first inclined surface (56) crosses an axis of the tip (44), and inclines at an angle smaller than an inclination angle of a distal end face of an APC connector. The second inclined surface (57) is formed such that an offset line (61) (a ridgeline) at the distal end of the tip (44) is positioned between the axis of the tip (44) and the winding hole (54), and inclines at an angle equal to or larger than the inclination angle of the distal end face of the APC connector. The convex curved surface (58) inclines at an angle equal to or larger than the inclination angle of the distal end face of the APC connector. This makes it possible to provide an optical connector cleaning tool capable of properly cleaning both a PC connector and an APC connector without using a rotation mechanism for rotating a tip.

A cleaning tool includes: a head including: a pressing part that presses a cleaning element against an object to be cleaned in a pressing direction, and having a first dimension in a width direction orthogonal to the pressing direction; and a neck part having a second dimension smaller than the first dimension in the width direction; and a housing that houses the head such that the pressing part and the neck part protrude from the housing in the pressing direction. A length of the housing in the width direction is equal to or greater than a length of protrusion of the pressing part protruding from the housing in the pressing direction.

An optical fiber alignment assembly may comprise an alignment fixture including a groove configured to engage first and second optical fiber ferrules, a first clamping mechanism configured to selectively apply a force on the first optical fiber ferrule to constrain motion of the first optical fiber ferrule within the groove, and a second clamping mechanism configured to selectively apply a force on the second optical fiber ferrule to constrain motion of the second optical fiber ferrule within the groove.

A fiber optic alignment device includes a first and a second alignment block and a first and a second gel block. A fiber passage extends from a first end to a second end of the fiber optic alignment device. The fiber passage is adapted to receive a first optical fiber through the first end and a second optical fiber through the second end. An intermediate portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first and the second ends. The intermediate portion is adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks. A first portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The first portion extends between the first alignment block and the first gel block. A second portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the second end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The second portion extends between the second alignment block and the second gel block. End portions of the first and the second optical fibers may be cleaned when slid between the alignment blocks and the gel blocks. The fiber passage may include an undulating portion.

An optical system may include an objective lens system having a primary optical axis and a relay lens system having a relay optical axis. The relay optical axis may have a first angular offset with respect to the primary optical axis. The objective lens system may be configured to provide light from a light source to the relay lens system and provide light from the relay lens system to an image sensor. The relay lens system may be configured to provide light from the objective lens system to an end face of an optical fiber, where the end face has a second angular offset with respect to a cross-sectional axis of the optical fiber. The relay lens system may provide light reflected from the end face to the objective lens system.

An optical system may include an objective lens system having a primary optical axis and a relay lens system having a relay optical axis. The relay optical axis may have a first angular offset with respect to the primary optical axis. The objective lens system may be configured to provide light from a light source to the relay lens system and provide light from the relay lens system to an image sensor. The relay lens system may be configured to provide light from the objective lens system to an end face of an optical fiber, where the end face has a second angular offset with respect to a cross-sectional axis of the optical fiber. The relay lens system may provide light reflected from the end face to the objective lens system.

A device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber may apply a vacuum to a solvent tank, where the device includes a vacuum generator to apply the vacuum and the solvent tank. The device may receive, from a solvent reservoir and in response to applying the vacuum, solvent with the solvent tank. Additionally, or alternatively, a device for cleaning an end face of an optical fiber may apply a pressure to a solvent reservoir, where the device includes a pressure port to apply the pressure and a solvent tank. The device may receive, from the solvent reservoir and in response to applying the pressure, solvent with the solvent tank.