JP2009258153A - Optical fiber cable and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily take out an optical fiber in an optical fiber cable housing a protection wall material. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber cable 1 composes a long optical element part 13 from: an optical fiber 3 composed of one or more primary coated optical fibers, secondary coated optical fibers or optical fiber ribbons; at least a pair of tension members 5 arranged in parallel on both sides in the width direction interposing the optical fiber 3; and a jacket 11 coated on the outer periphery of the optical fiber 3 and the pair of tension members 5. Flat plate-shaped protection wall members 9 which interpose the optical fiber 3 in substantially parallel to a plane 7 of X-axis passing through the center of the optical fiber 3 and the pair of tension members 5 are disposed in the jacket 11 and a splittable weakened part 25 the strength of which is reduced is provided on the protection wall members 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber drop cable or the like that is installed between utility poles when an optical fiber comprising one or more optical fiber strands or optical fiber core wires or optical fiber tape core wires is drawn into a small-scale building or general home. The present invention relates to a fiber cable and a manufacturing method thereof.

  Conventionally, FTTH (Fiber to the Home), that is, home or office, can be used to transmit and receive high-speed broadband information such as ultra-high-speed data, from an access optical fiber cable extended from a telephone station, to a building or general home. An optical fiber composed of an optical fiber, an optical fiber, or an optical fiber ribbon is drawn down to a subscriber's home, and an optical fiber drop cable is used for wiring the optical fiber. In other words, the optical fiber drop cable is used when drawing the optical fiber from the branch closure of the trunk cable on the utility pole into the home, and is mainly applied to the optical fiber drop cable (outdoor line) and a longer installation span. For this purpose, a small-core optical aerial cable with an increased support line size is used. The indoor drop cable is an optical fiber cable used when an optical fiber is drawn into each room in a home or office building.

  Referring to FIG. 10, a conventional optical fiber drop cable 101 includes an optical fiber 103 made of an optical fiber, an optical fiber core or an optical fiber tape, and parallel to both sides of the optical fiber 103. At least a pair of strength members 105 arranged, a jacket 107 made of a resin having a rectangular cross-section covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber 103 and the pair of strength members 105, and the optical fiber 103 and a pair of strength. Formed on the surface of the jacket 107 that is perpendicular to the first plane 109 that passes through the central axis (X axis) of the body 105 and that is separated on both sides of the second plane 111 that passes through the central axis (Y axis) of the optical fiber 103. A long optical element portion 115 is constituted by the notch 113 formed.

  This long optical element portion 115 and a cable support line portion 123 integrated with a sheath 121 made of a resin covering the suspension line 119 via a neck portion 117 on the left side of the jacket 107 in the optical element portion 115. And is composed of. In addition, a plane passing through the central axis (X axis) of the suspension line 119 coincides with the first plane 109.

  With the above configuration, in the conventional optical fiber drop cable 101, the optical element portion 115 and the cable support line portion 123 are separated by partially cutting the neck portions 117 at both end portions as shown in FIG. The one end 123A of the one cable support line 123 is fixed to the outdoor wire retainer 127 of the utility pole 125, and the other end 123B is fixed to a part of the house via the retainer 127.

  One end portion 115A of the optical element portion 115 is cut off to take out the optical fiber 103 from the inside, and the optical fiber 103 is connected to a branch closure 129 on the utility pole 125. In the branch closure 129, the optical fiber branched from the access-system optical fiber cable 131 on the utility pole 125 and the optical fiber 103 taken out from the end 115 </ b> A of the optical element unit 115 are connected. On the other hand, the other end 115B of the optical element 115 is cut off and the optical fiber 103 is taken out from the inside, and this optical fiber 103 is connected to an indoor OE converter or termination box 133. At this time, the takeout property of the optical fiber 103 when the optical element portion 115 is torn is important.

  Further, the optical fiber drop cable 101 suffers from the frequent occurrence of accidents in which the optical fiber 103 is disconnected due to insect bites and the transmission becomes impossible. There are various causes of stab wounds. One of the causes is, for example, when a bear moth lays eggs, the egg-laying tube is pierced into the cable 101. The egg-laying tube pierces toward the optical fiber 103 along the notch 113 to lay eggs, and the optical fiber 103 is disconnected. When the optical fiber 103 is stabbed, the stress concentrates on the part that has been stabbed due to the stress over time, and the optical fiber 103 breaks and breaks down.

  As a countermeasure, a method such as mounting a “protective wall material” so as to protect the upper and lower sides of the optical fiber 103 has been proposed and adopted.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to protect the optical fiber 103 from the spawning tube of spider in the portion corresponding to the optical element portion 115 in FIG. 10, the optical fiber 103 is surrounded by a protective wall material that is harder than the jacket 107. Is described. As a method of enclosing the optical fiber 103, (1) the optical fiber 103 is put in a pipe-shaped protective wall material, (2) the optical fiber 103 is covered with a split pipe, and (3) FIG. As shown in the figure, the optical fiber 103 is covered with a flat protective wall member 135, and the like.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, an optical fiber is pinched | interposed with a protective wall material from both sides, and the damage of the optical fiber by a stab is prevented.

Moreover, in patent document 3, intervention is arrange | positioned on the line | wire which connects notch 113 which opposes. Even if a spear pierces the laying tube and pierces the above-mentioned intervention, it does not pierce the optical fiber 103.
JP 2002-90591 A JP 2006-195109 A JP 2006-251770 A

  By the way, in the conventional optical fiber cable 101, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the cable 101 is torn by using a tearing tool such as a detacher during construction work, and the optical fiber 103 is pulled from the inside. When taking out, the protective wall members 135 arranged in parallel to the tearing direction of the cable 101 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12A) were torn to the left and right as shown in FIG. 12C. Since it remains in any one of the jackets 107, there is a problem that the take-out property of the optical fiber 103 is deteriorated.

  If the optical fiber 103 can be taken out poorly, it takes a lot of time for the construction work, or in the worst case, the construction is impossible. Furthermore, if the optical fiber 103 is forcibly taken out, there is a problem that the optical fiber 103 is broken, or an abnormality is caused in the UV resin or the like covering the optical fiber 103 to cause characteristic deterioration. .

  An object of this invention is to provide the optical fiber cable which made the taking-out property of the optical fiber easy.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the optical fiber cable of the present invention includes an optical fiber composed of one or more optical fiber strands, an optical fiber core wire, or an optical fiber tape core wire, and the optical fiber sandwiched between them. In an optical fiber cable constituting a long optical element unit from at least a pair of strength members arranged in parallel on both sides in the width direction, and a jacket covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members ,
A flat protective wall member is disposed inside the jacket so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members, and the protection The wall material is provided with a weakened portion that can be divided by reducing the strength.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, the optical element portion is provided with one or more notch portions on a surface of a jacket parallel to the plane of the X axis, and the weakened portion is the notch portion. It is preferable to be provided on a line connecting the tip of the part and the optical fiber.

  Further, the optical fiber cable of the present invention is configured such that, in the optical fiber cable, the weakened portion intermittently arranges slits penetrating both surfaces of the protective wall material in a longitudinal direction of the protective wall material. It is preferable.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, the slit width is 0.01 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm, and the ratio between the interval between the slits and the slit length is 1:99. It is preferably in the range of ~ 99: 1.

  Further, in the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, the weakened portion intermittently or continuously arranges a thin portion provided on at least one side of the protective wall material in the longitudinal direction of the protective wall material. It is preferable that it is comprised.

  In the optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the thin-walled portion is a slit that does not penetrate the protective wall material in the optical fiber cable.

  Moreover, the optical fiber cable of this invention WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said thin part is a dent part which makes a dent shape in the said optical fiber cable.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, when the optical fiber is an optical fiber array of two or more cores in the optical fiber cable, the weakened portion on one side of the protective wall materials on both sides is the X-axis. The weakened portion on the other side of the protective wall members on both sides is arranged at a position on one center of one end of the optical fiber array in the direction, and 1 on the other end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction. It is preferable to be arranged at a position on the heart.

An optical fiber cable according to the present invention is arranged in parallel on both sides in the width direction with an optical fiber composed of one or more optical fiber strands, an optical fiber core wire, or an optical fiber tape core wire sandwiched between the optical fibers. In an optical fiber cable constituting a long optical element portion from at least a pair of strength members and a jacket covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members,
At least two plate-like protective wall members are arranged in parallel on both sides so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members. In addition to being disposed inside the cover, the interval between the protective wall materials is provided at a position passing through the optical fiber in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, the optical element portion is provided with one or more notch portions on a surface of the jacket parallel to the plane of the X axis, It is preferable that the interval is provided on a line connecting the tip of the notch portion and the optical fiber.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, it is preferable that an interval between the protective wall materials is 0.01 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, when the optical fiber is an optical fiber array of two or more cores, one of the at least two flat protective wall members on both sides is provided. An interval between the protective wall materials is arranged at a position on one core of one end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction, and on the other side of the at least two flat protective wall materials on both sides. It is preferable that the interval between the protective wall materials is arranged at a position on one center of the other end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction.

  In the optical fiber cable of the present invention, in the optical fiber cable, it is preferable that a long cable support line portion in which a support wire is covered with an outer sheath is integrated with the optical element portion in parallel with each other.

The optical fiber cable manufacturing method according to the present invention includes at least one optical fiber, at least a pair of strength members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber, and the optical fiber and a pair of strength members. A flat plate-shaped protective wall member arranged so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the plane of the X axis passing through the center of the optical fiber, the sent optical fiber, the pair of strength members, and the When manufacturing the optical fiber cable by covering the outer periphery of each protective wall material with a jacket,
A plurality of convex blades projecting outward at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the rotating plate on each of the protective wall materials delivered before being covered with the outer cover, The slits penetrating through are formed intermittently in the longitudinal direction of each protective wall material.

The optical fiber cable manufacturing method according to the present invention includes at least one optical fiber, at least a pair of strength members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber, and the optical fiber and a pair of strength members. And at least two plate-like protective wall members arranged in parallel on both sides so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the plane of the X axis passing through the center of the optical fiber. When manufacturing an optical fiber cable by covering the outer periphery of the pair of strength members and the respective protective wall materials with a jacket,
By cutting and dividing one protective wall material delivered before being covered with the outer cover, the at least two flat protective wall materials arranged in parallel are formed. To do.

As will be understood from the means for solving the above problems, according to the optical fiber cable of the present invention, when the optical fiber cable is torn with a cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher or by hand, At the same time, the protective wall material is also divided at the weakened portion and is torn, so that the take-out property of the optical fiber can be improved. In addition, the construction time of the optical fiber cable is shortened, and it is possible to avoid situations such as the conventional optical fiber breakage and characteristic deterioration during construction.

  Further, according to the optical fiber cable of the present invention, when the optical fiber cable is torn with a cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher or by hand, it is separated at the same time as the jacket at an interval between at least two protective wall materials. Since the structure is torn, the takeout property of the optical fiber can be improved. In addition, the construction time of the optical fiber cable is shortened, and it is possible to avoid situations such as the conventional optical fiber breakage and characteristic deterioration during construction.

  Also, according to the optical fiber cable manufacturing method of the present invention, an optical fiber cable is efficiently manufactured online while intermittently forming slits penetrating both surfaces of the protective wall material in the longitudinal direction of each protective wall material. can do.

  Also, according to the optical fiber cable manufacturing method of the present invention, since one protective wall material is cut and divided on the production line, at least two flat protective wall materials arranged in parallel are on-line. An optical fiber cable can be efficiently manufactured while being formed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an optical fiber indoor cable as the optical fiber cable 1 according to the first embodiment will be described as an example. The optical fiber cable 1 includes an optical fiber 3 in which a plurality of optical fiber strands, optical fiber core wires, or optical fiber tape core wires are arranged in parallel in a row, and the width direction of the optical fiber 3 The optical fiber 3 is sandwiched between the optical fiber 3 and the plane 7 passing through the central axis (X axis) of the optical fiber 3 and the pair of tensile members 5 arranged in parallel on both sides of the optical fiber 3. And a cross-sectional shape covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber 3, the pair of strength members 5, and the protective wall member 9, which are arranged on both sides of the optical fiber 3 in the thickness direction thereof. An elongated optical element portion 13 is formed from a rectangular outer cover 11 made of resin.

  In addition, said protective wall material 9 comprises the principal part of this 1st Embodiment, and it mentions later in detail.

  In addition, in the cross section perpendicular to the plane 7 passing through the central axis (X axis) of the pair of strength members 5, the surface of the outer cover 11 on both sides of the protective wall member 9 in the Y axis direction perpendicular to the X axis A notch portion 15 is formed. In FIG. 1, the two notch portions 15 are located on the Y axis.

  Although FIG. 1 shows a case in which the notch portion 15 is formed on the outer cover 11, the outer cover 11 having a flat shape may be used without the notch portion 15. In this case, it can be torn with a cutting tool such as a detacher (not shown).

  For example, the optical fiber drop cable as the optical fiber cable 1 according to the first embodiment includes the long optical element portion 13 in the above-described optical fiber indoor cable, as shown in FIG. A cable support line portion 23 integrated with a sheath 21 made of a resin covering, for example, a suspension wire 19 as a support line via a neck portion 17 on the left side of the jacket 11 in the optical element portion 13. Yes. In addition, a plane passing through the central axis (X axis) of the suspension line 19 coincides with the plane 7. In the first embodiment, the jacket 11 of the optical element section 13 and the jacket 21 of the cable support line section 23 are made of the same resin.

  Next, the protective wall material 9 will be described in more detail. The protective wall material 9 has, for example, a flat cross section in a cross section perpendicular to the plane 7, and the Y axis direction with respect to the optical fiber 3. Are arranged on both sides of the optical fiber 3 so as to be sandwiched at a distance from the optical fiber 3 so as to be substantially parallel to the plane 7. Further, in order to protect the optical fiber 3 against spider laying tubes inserted from the oblique direction of the surface of the jacket 11, the protective wall material 9 is sufficiently larger than the width of the row of optical fibers 3 composed of a plurality of cores, for example. Are arranged in a wide width.

  Further, the protective wall member 9 is provided with a weakening portion 25 that can be divided at a low strength in order to improve the lead-out property of the optical fiber 3. The weakened portion 25 of the protective wall material 9 can take various forms. In FIG. 1 (A), only the lower protective wall material 9 is shown extending in a diagonally downward left direction for easy understanding.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B) and 3 (A), the weakened portion 25 of the protective wall material 9A of Example 1 is a slit that penetrates both surfaces of the protective wall material 9A. 27 is intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction of the protective wall material 9A. That is, since the slits 27 are intermittently provided in one direction, the strength of the portion on the line where the slits 27 are provided becomes weakened portions 25, so that the protective wall material 9A can be easily divided. .

  In addition, since the shape of the spawning tube of the moth is generally 0.4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length, considering this point, the slit width C of the slit 27 is 0.01 mm or more and 0 Less than 4 mm is desirable in terms of preventing insects from entering the oviduct. Moreover, when the ratio of the slit interval A to the slit length B is in the range of 1:99 to 99: 1, the protective wall material 9 can be easily divided, and the slit interval A is stabilized to lay eggs. This is desirable in terms of preventing tube penetration. That is, when the ratio of the slit interval A is increased, the partitionability of the protective wall material 9 is decreased, and conversely, when the ratio of the slit length B is increased, the strength is decreased.

  The protective wall material 9 can be made of not only plastics such as polyethylene, polyamide, and PET, but also super engineering plastics and metals.

  Referring also to FIG. 3B, the weakened portion 25 of the protective wall material 9B of the second embodiment is different from the protective wall material 9A of the first embodiment in that a thin portion 25A is provided. The thin-walled portion 25A is a recessed portion 29 having a recessed shape, and the recessed portion 29 is provided intermittently in the longitudinal direction of one surface of the protective wall material 9B. Accordingly, each of the recesses 29 forms a thin wall portion 25A having a partially reduced strength on the protective wall material 9B, so that the protective wall material 9B can be easily divided.

  In addition, the above recessed part 29 may be provided in the single side | surface of the upper side or lower side in FIG. 3 (B) of the protective wall material 9B, or may be provided in both surfaces. That is, when the protective wall material 9B is mounted inside the outer cover 11, it can be provided on at least one of the surface on the optical fiber 3 side and the opposite surface. Moreover, you may provide the above recessed parts 29 continuously toward the longitudinal direction of the protective wall material 9B.

  3C and 3D, the weakened portion 25 of the protective wall material 9C of the third embodiment is different from the protective wall material 9A of the first embodiment in the shape of a slit. That is, the slit 31 that does not penetrate, for example, the protective wall material 9C as the thin wall portion 25A is continuously provided in the longitudinal direction of one surface of the protective wall material 9C. Accordingly, the slit 31 forms a thin portion 25A having a partially reduced strength in the protective wall material 9C, so that the protective wall material 9C can be easily divided.

  Note that the thin portion 25A of the slit 31 as described above may be provided on one side on the upper side of the protective wall member 9C as shown in FIG. 3C, or is shown in FIG. 3D. Thus, it may be provided on one side of the lower side of the protective wall material 9C or on both sides of the protective wall material 9C. That is, when the protective wall material 9C is mounted inside the outer cover 11, it can be provided on at least one of the surface on the optical fiber 3 side and the opposite surface. Further, the thin portion 25A of the slit 31 may be provided intermittently in the longitudinal direction of the protective wall material 9C as in the case of FIG.

  4A to 4G, another embodiment of the thin portion 25A as the weakened portion 25 of the protective wall member 9 is shown, but this is not restrictive. For example, in FIG. 4 (A), the cross-sectional shape of the protective wall material 9 is a dumbbell shape such as an iron array, and the thin portions 25A are formed on both sides of the protective wall material 9 at approximately the center of the width of the protective wall material 9. Yes. FIG. 4B shows a shape in which the thickness of the protective wall material 9 is inclined toward the approximate center of the width, and the thin wall portions 25 </ b> A are formed on both surfaces of the protective wall material 9.

  4C is a modification of the dumbbell shape of FIG. 4A, the outer sides in the width direction of the protective wall material 9 are not rounded and are rectangular, and the thin wall portion 25A is the protective wall material 9 of FIG. The protective wall material 9 is formed on both sides at approximately the center of the width. FIG. 4 (D) is a modification of FIG. 4 (B), in which both outer sides in the width direction of the protective wall material 9 have a rhombus shape, and the thin wall portions 25 </ b> A are formed on both sides of the protective wall material 9. It is formed at almost the center. In FIG. 4E, small V-shaped notch portions are formed on both surfaces of the protective wall material 9 at approximately the center of the width of the protective wall material 9, and a thin wall portion 25A is formed by the notch portions.

FIG. 4 (F) is a dumbbell-shaped deformation of FIG. 4 (A), in which the thin wall portion 25A is placed on the opposite surface of the optical fiber 3 inside the outer cover 11 at approximately the center of the width of the protective wall material 9. Is formed. On the other hand, FIG. 4 (G) is a dumbbell-shaped deformation of FIG. 4 (A). As described above, the thin wall portion 25A of the protective wall material 9 according to this embodiment includes the surface on the optical fiber 3 side and its surface when the protective wall material 9 is mounted inside the jacket 11. It can be provided on at least one of the opposite surfaces. Further, as in the case of FIG. 3B, the thin portion 25A can be provided intermittently or continuously in the longitudinal direction of the protective wall material 9C.

  Further, the arrangement of the thin wall portion 25 </ b> A of the protective wall material 9 so as to be positioned on the line connecting the tip of the notch portion 15 and the optical fiber 3 (Y axis) improves the lead-out property of the optical fiber 3. Is desirable.

  With the above configuration, when the optical fiber 3 is taken out from the inside of the optical fiber cable 1 of the first embodiment, a cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher is used as shown in FIG. When the outer cover 11 is torn to the left and right starting from the opposite notch 15, a crack is generated from the tip of the upper notch 15 in FIG. 5A, and this crack is upper in FIG. 5B. The protective wall material 9 reaches the weakened portion 25, and the protective wall material 9 is cracked so as to be divided from the weakened portion 25 having low strength. On the other hand, a crack is also generated from the tip of the lower notch portion 15 in FIG. 5A, and this crack reaches the weakened portion 25 of the lower protective wall material 9 in FIG. Cracks so as to divide from the weakened portion 25 having low strength.

  When the outer cover 11 is further torn left and right, the upper and lower cracks reach the optical fiber 3, and the outer cover 11 is torn to the left and right leaving the optical fiber 3 in the center as shown in FIG. It is. At this time, the upper and lower protective wall materials 9 are separated from the weakened portion 25 to the left and right together with the left and right outer jackets 11. Therefore, since the optical fiber 3 can be easily taken out, the time required for the construction work of the optical fiber cable 1 is shortened, and it is possible to avoid situations such as breakage and characteristic deterioration of the optical fiber 3 during the conventional construction work.

  Next, an optical fiber cable 33 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, since it is substantially the same as the optical fiber cable 1 of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, only a different part is mainly demonstrated, the same member attaches | subjects the same code | symbol and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Referring to FIG. 6, this optical fiber cable 33 is different from the above-described optical fiber cable 1 in that when the optical fiber 3 is an optical fiber array having two or more cores, in the second embodiment, three cores are used. The weakened portion 25 of one of the protective wall members 9 (upper side in FIG. 6) on both sides in the Y-axis direction with respect to this optical fiber column is the X-axis direction. The optical fiber array is disposed at a position over one core (optical fiber 3) at one end (right end in FIG. 6). On the other hand, the weakened portion 25 of the other protective wall member 9 (lower side in FIG. 6) of the protective wall members 9 on both sides is 1 in the other end (left end in FIG. 6) of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction. It arrange | positions in the position concerning a core (optical fiber 3).

  With the above configuration, in FIG. 6, when a cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher is used to tear the jacket 11 of the optical fiber cable 33 left and right starting from the notch 15 facing each other, the tip of the notch 15 is removed. After the generated crack enters the weakened portion 25 of the protective wall material 9 on both sides, the crack reaches the optical fibers 3 at both the left and right ends in FIG. 6 of the optical fiber array.

  That is, a crack reaching the right end optical fiber 3 in FIG. 6 of the optical fiber array after entering the weakened portion 25 of the upper protective wall member 9 in FIG. On the other hand, a crack reaching the leftmost optical fiber 3 in FIG. 6 of the optical fiber array after entering the weakened portion 25 of the lower protective wall member 9 in FIG. As a result, when the jacket 11 is further torn left and right, the jacket 11 is torn to the left and right leaving the optical fiber 3 of the optical fiber array in the center, and the upper and lower protective wall materials 9 are respectively left and right. Are separated from the weakened portion 25 to the left and right together. Therefore, it becomes easy to take out all the optical fibers 3 of the optical fiber array.

  Next, an optical fiber cable 35 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, since it is substantially the same as the optical fiber cable 1 of 1st Embodiment mentioned above, only a different part is mainly demonstrated, the same member attaches | subjects the same code | symbol and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  7A and 7B, the difference between the optical fiber cable 35 and the optical fiber cable 1 described above is that the optical fiber 3 is sandwiched (on both sides of the optical fiber 3 in the thickness direction). ) It is in the structure of the arranged flat protective wall member 37. Other points are the same as those of the optical fiber cable 1 of the first embodiment described above.

  The protective wall member 37 will be described in detail. Inside the outer cover 11, the optical fiber 3 is placed substantially parallel to the X-axis plane 7 passing through the centers of the optical fiber 3 and the pair of strength members 5. At least two flat protective wall members 37 are arranged in parallel on both sides so as to be sandwiched. In FIG. 7A, only the lower protective wall member 37 is extended in the diagonally downward left direction for easy understanding.

  In this embodiment, in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, on the upper side, two flat protective wall members 37A and 37B are provided with a gap 39 in order to improve the lead-out property of the optical fiber 3. 7A and 7B, two flat protective wall members 37A and 37B are spaced apart from each other at the lower side in FIGS. Are arranged in parallel. The interval 39 between the protective wall members 37A and 37B is provided at a position that passes through the optical fiber 3 in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis.

  7A and 7B, the upper and lower protective wall members 37A and 37B have, for example, a flat cross section in a cross section perpendicular to the plane 7, and the optical fiber 3 has the above-described cross section. They are arranged on both sides in the Y-axis direction so as to be sandwiched between the optical fiber 3 and at a distance from the optical fiber 3 so as to be substantially parallel to the plane 7. Further, in order to protect the optical fiber 3 against spider spawning tubes inserted from the oblique direction of the surface of the jacket 11, the total width of the protective wall members 37A and 37B is, for example, an optical fiber having a plurality of cores. It is configured and arranged with a width sufficiently wider than the width of the third row.

  In addition, since the shape of the spawning tube of the moth is generally 0.4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length, in consideration of this point, the dimension D of the interval 39 between the protective wall materials 37A and 37B is: It is desirable that it is 0.01 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm from the viewpoint of preventing the insect's oviduct from entering.

  In FIGS. 7A and 7B, for example, an optical fiber indoor cable as the optical fiber cable 35 is described as an example, but the same applies to the case of an optical fiber drop cable. The optical fiber cable 1 has substantially the same configuration as the optical fiber drop cable 1 and will not be described in detail.

  With the above configuration, the action of taking out the optical fiber 3 from the inside of the optical fiber cable 35 of the third embodiment is basically the same as that of the optical fiber cable 1 of the first embodiment described above. is there.

  That is, when the cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher is used to tear the jacket 11 left and right starting from the notch 15 facing each other, a crack is generated from the tip of the upper notch 15 in FIG. The crack passes through the gap 39 between the upper protective wall members 37A and 37B in FIG. 7B and reaches the optical fiber 3. On the other hand, a crack is also generated from the tip of the lower notch 15 in FIG. 7B, and this crack passes through the gap 39 between the lower protective wall members 37A and 37B in FIG. Reach 3

  When the outer cover 11 is further torn to the left and right, the outer cover 11 is torn to the left and right leaving the optical fiber 3 in the center. At this time, the upper and lower protective wall members 37 </ b> A and 37 </ b> B are separated from the gap 39 to the left and right together with the left and right outer jackets 11. Therefore, since the optical fiber 3 can be easily taken out, the time required for the construction work of the optical fiber cable 35 is shortened, and it is possible to avoid situations such as breakage and characteristic deterioration of the optical fiber 3 during the conventional construction.

  Next, an optical fiber cable 41 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since it is almost the same as the optical fiber cable 35 of the third embodiment described above, only different parts will be mainly described, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Referring to FIG. 8, this optical fiber cable 41 is different from the above-described optical fiber cable 35 in that when the optical fiber 3 is an optical fiber array of two or more cores, in the fourth embodiment, three cores are used. The distance 39 between the protective wall members 37A and 37B (upper side in FIG. 8) of the protective wall members 37A and 37B on both sides in the Y-axis direction with respect to this optical fiber array is X In the axial direction, the optical fiber array is disposed at a position on one core (optical fiber 3) at one end (right end in FIG. 8). On the other hand, the distance 39 between the other protective wall members 37A and 37B on the both sides (the lower side in FIG. 8) is the other end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction (the left end in FIG. 8). ) At one core (optical fiber 3).

  With the above configuration, in FIG. 8, when a cable jacket tearing tool such as a detacher is used to tear the jacket 11 of the optical fiber cable 41 left and right starting from the notch 15 facing each other, from the tip of the notch 15. The generated crack passes through the gap 39 between the protective wall members 37A and 37B on both sides and reaches the optical fibers 3 on both the left and right sides in FIG.

  That is, a crack that reaches the right end optical fiber 3 in FIG. 8 of the optical fiber array through the gap 39 between the upper protective wall members 37A and 37B in FIG. On the other hand, a crack that reaches the leftmost optical fiber 3 in FIG. 8 of the optical fiber array passes through the interval 39 between the lower protective wall members 37A and 37B in FIG. As a result, when the outer cover 11 is further torn left and right, the outer cover 11 is torn left and right leaving the optical fiber 3 of the optical fiber array in the center, and the upper and lower protective wall members 37A and 37B are respectively left and right outer sheaths. Along with the cover 11, the gap 39 is separated from the left and right. Therefore, it becomes easy to take out all the optical fibers 3 of the optical fiber array.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the optical fiber cable 35 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings based on the optical fiber cable manufacturing apparatus 43. In addition, the structural member of the optical fiber cable 35 of 3rd Embodiment mentioned above attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits detailed description.

  Referring to FIG. 9A, as an optical fiber cable manufacturing apparatus 43, one optical fiber 3 and two strength members 5 are respectively supplied from bobbins (not shown), and an extrusion head of an extrusion molding machine 45 is provided. 47 is sent. A pair of strength members 5 are arranged in parallel on both sides of one optical fiber 3 and supplied to a predetermined position in the extrusion head 47 of the extrusion molding machine 45.

  Further, on the upper side of the optical fiber 3, a single flat protective wall member 37 is supplied from a bobbin (not shown), and this protective wall member 37 uses an upper slitter 49 at a position substantially in the center of its width. As shown in FIG. 9 (B), it is divided into two flat protective wall members 37A and 37B. As shown in FIG. 9C, the two divided protective wall members 37 </ b> A and 37 </ b> B are arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween and sent into the extrusion head 47 of the extrusion molding machine 45.

  On the other hand, on the lower side of the optical fiber 3, a single plate-shaped protective wall member 37 is supplied from a bobbin (not shown), and this protective wall member 37 is formed by using the lower slitter 51 at a position substantially at the center of its width. As shown in FIG. 9B, the plate is divided into two flat protective wall members 37A and 37B. As shown in FIG. 9C, the two divided protective wall members 37 </ b> A and 37 </ b> B are arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween and sent into the extrusion head 47 of the extrusion molding machine 45.

  A nipple portion (not shown) is provided in the central portion of the extrusion head 47, and a die hole having substantially the same shape as the outer peripheral shape of the cross section of the optical fiber cable 35 in FIG. A die part having the above is provided. Between this die part and the said nipple part, the flow path through which the thermoplastic resin P as the outer cover 11 is extruded is provided.

  Accordingly, the one optical fiber 3, the two strength members 5, the upper protective wall members 37 A and 37 B, and the lower protective wall members 37 A and 37 B sent into the extrusion head 47 are respectively connected to the corresponding nipple holes. As shown in FIG. 9 (D), the molten thermoplastic resin P travels to the right in FIG. 9 (A) and is extruded from the flow path of the die portion. An optical fiber cable 35 having a configuration can be obtained. The upper and lower protective wall members 37A and 37B are accommodated in the outer jacket 11 in a state where the optical fiber 3 is sandwiched between the upper and lower sides and arranged in parallel with a dimension D of the interval 39. The

  As described above, on the production line, one flat protective wall member 37 is cut and divided by the upper and lower slitters 49 and 51 on the upper side and the lower side, respectively. The optical fiber cable 35 can be efficiently manufactured while forming two flat protective wall members 37A and 37B online.

  Next, a manufacturing method of the optical fiber cable 1 of FIG. 1 will be described in the first embodiment described above. Since this manufacturing method is substantially the same as the manufacturing method of the optical fiber cable 35 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9A described above, only different parts will be mainly described, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed description will be omitted.

  The difference from the method of manufacturing the optical fiber cable 35 of the third embodiment is in the method of manufacturing the protective wall material 9A as shown in FIG. 9 (E). That is, on the upper side and the lower side of the optical fiber 3, a single plate-shaped protective wall material 9A is supplied from a bobbin (not shown), and each of the protective wall materials 9A has a vertical position at a position approximately at the center of its width. Using slitters 53 and 55, as shown in FIG. 9B, slits 27 penetrating both surfaces of the protective wall material 9A are intermittently formed in the longitudinal direction of each protective wall material 9A. In the slitters 53 and 55, convex blades 57 protrude from the outer periphery of the rotating plate 59 at a preset interval (slit interval A). By increasing the size of the rotating plate 59, the interval between the blades 57 can be changed, and the slit interval A can be set. Moreover, the slit length B can be changed by changing the circumferential length of each blade 57. Each protective wall material 9 in which the intermittent slits 27 are formed is sent into the extrusion head 47 of the extrusion molding machine 45. Others are the same as the manufacturing method of the optical fiber cable 35 of 3rd Embodiment mentioned above.

  As described above, by using the upper and lower slitters 53 and 55, the slits 27 penetrating the both surfaces of the protective wall material 9A are intermittently formed in the longitudinal direction of each protective wall material 9A, and light is efficiently emitted online. The fiber cable 1 can be manufactured.

  Next, on the basis of the first embodiment described above, the test product 1 of the optical fiber cable 1 shown in FIG. The material of the protective wall material 9A is PET. In addition, the upper and lower protective wall materials 9 were formed by forming slits 27 intermittently with slitters 53 and 55 immediately before the sheath to create a protective wall material 9A, and this protective wall material 9A was mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the upper and lower protective wall members 9A are mounted so that the optical fiber 3 is sandwiched so that the slit 27 is positioned on the Y-axis line connecting the tips of the notches 15. did. The slit width C is 0.1 mm, and the ratio (= A / B) between the slit interval A and the slit length B is 1. The width of the protective wall material 9A is 0.8 mm, the thickness of the protective wall material 9A is 0.2 mm, the long diameter of the outer cover 11 is 3.1 mm, and the short diameter of the outer cover 11 is 2.0 mm. It is.

  Further, based on the above-described third embodiment, the test product 2 of the optical fiber cable 35 shown in FIG. The material of the protective wall material 37 is PET. Further, the upper and lower protective wall members 37 are divided into two by slitters 49 and 51 immediately before the sheath to create the protective wall members 37A and 37B, and are mounted at positions where the interval 39 between the protective wall members 37A and 37B is set. . Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the upper and lower protective wall members 37A and 37B sandwich the optical fiber 3 so that the gap 39 is positioned on the Y-axis line connecting the tips of the notches 15. Implemented. In addition, the dimension D of the space | interval 39 of each protection wall material 37A, 37B is 0.3 mm. The total width of the protective wall members 37A and 37B is 0.8 mm, the thickness of the protective wall members 37A and 37B is 0.2 mm, the major axis of the outer cover 11 is 3.1 mm, The minor axis is 2.0 mm.

  The following evaluation was performed for each of the above-described test product 1 and test product 2.

(1) Optical fiber extractability The success rate when the cable ends of the test product 1 and test product 2 are pulled by about 10 mm with a detacher, then the cable is torn about 1 m by hand, and the internal optical fiber 3 is taken out. As a result of the investigation, it was confirmed that the optical fiber 3 can be taken out with a probability of 99% or more in both the test product 1 and the test product 2.

  Further, when the success rate when the optical fiber 3 was taken out by tearing the cable about 1 m by hand from the cable ends of the test product 1 and the test product 2 was evaluated, It was confirmed that both the product 1 and the test product 2 were able to take out the optical fiber 3 with a probability of 99% or more.

(2) Confirmation of the effect of semi-countermeasures Samples 1 and 2 were collected after laying in West Japan for about three months from June to September, the period of appearance of bear pupae, We investigated damage such as disconnection of optical fiber. The number of spawning marks by bear cocoon of test product 1 was 32 and the number of spawning marks by bear candy of test product 2 was 27, and although many were confirmed, there was no disconnection.

(3) Confirmation of transmission loss An optical power meter was connected to the cables of the test product 1 and the test product 2 laid at the time of the verification in the above (2), and the respective transmission losses were confirmed. The cable length is 100 m and the wavelength l. When a 55 μm continuous monitor was investigated in 3 months, both the test product 1 and the test product 2 showed a favorable transmission loss fluctuation of 0.01 dB / km.

(A) is a perspective view of an indoor cable as an optical fiber cable according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical fiber cable of (A). It is a perspective view of the drop cable as an optical fiber cable of a 1st embodiment of this invention. (A)-(D) are perspective views which show the Example of the protective wall material mounted in the optical fiber cable of 1st Embodiment. (A)-(G) are sectional drawings of the protective wall material of other embodiment mounted in the optical fiber cable of 1st Embodiment. (A)-(C) is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the extraction of the optical fiber in the optical fiber cable of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber cable of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view of an indoor cable as an optical fiber cable according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a longitudinal sectional view of the optical fiber cable of (A). It is sectional drawing of the optical fiber cable of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view of the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber cable of 1st and 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the conventional optical fiber drop cable. It is a state explanatory view when drawing in each subscriber's house using the optical fiber drop cable of FIG. (A)-(C) are operation | movement explanatory drawing of the extraction of the optical fiber in the conventional optical fiber cable.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical fiber cable (of the first embodiment)
3 Optical fiber 5 Strength member 7 Plane (X axis)
9, 9A, 9B, 9C Protective wall material 11 Jacket 13 Optical element portion 15 Notch portion 17 Neck portion 19 Suspension line (support line)
21 Outer sheath 23 Cable support line portion 25 Weakened portion 25A Thin portion 27 Slit 29 Recessed portion 31 Slit 33 Optical fiber cable (of the second embodiment)
35 Optical fiber cable (of the third embodiment)
37, 37A, 37B Protective wall material 39 Spacing 41 Optical fiber cable (of the fourth embodiment)
43 Optical Fiber Cable Manufacturing Device 45 Extruder 47 Extruder Head 49, 51 Slitter 53, 55 Slitter 57 Blade 59 Rotating Plate A Slit Spacing B Slit Length C Slit Width D Spacing 39 Dimensions

Claims (15)

An optical fiber comprising one or more optical fiber strands or optical fiber core wires, or an optical fiber tape core wire, and at least a pair of strength members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber; In the optical fiber cable constituting the long optical element portion from the outer sheath covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members,
A flat protective wall member is disposed inside the jacket so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members, and the protection An optical fiber cable characterized in that a weakened portion is provided on a wall material so that the wall material can be divided at a low strength.   The optical element portion is provided with one or more notch portions on a surface of a jacket parallel to the plane of the X axis, and the weakening portion is provided on a line connecting the tip of the notch portion and the optical fiber. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1.   3. The optical fiber according to claim 1, wherein the weakened portion is configured by intermittently arranging slits penetrating both surfaces of the protective wall material in a longitudinal direction of the protective wall material. cable.   The slit width is 0.01 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm, and the ratio between the interval between the slits and the slit length is in the range of 1:99 to 99: 1. The optical fiber cable described.   The said weakening part is comprised by arrange | positioning the thin part provided in the at least one surface side of the said protective wall material intermittently or continuously in the longitudinal direction of the said protective wall material, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The optical fiber cable described.   6. The optical fiber cable according to claim 5, wherein the thin portion is a slit that does not penetrate the protective wall material.   The optical fiber cable according to claim 5, wherein the thin portion is a dent portion having a dent shape.   When the optical fiber is an optical fiber array of two or more cores, the weakened portion on one side of the protective wall members on both sides is arranged at a position over one core of one end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction. The weakened portion on the other side of the protective wall members on both sides is disposed at a position on one center of the other end of the optical fiber array in the X-axis direction. The optical fiber cable in any one of 1-7. An optical fiber comprising one or more optical fiber strands or optical fiber core wires, or an optical fiber tape core wire, and at least a pair of strength members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber; In the optical fiber cable constituting the long optical element portion from the outer sheath covering the outer periphery of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members,
At least two plate-like protective wall members are arranged in parallel on both sides so as to sandwich the optical fiber so as to be substantially parallel to the X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fiber and the pair of strength members. An optical fiber cable, wherein the optical fiber cable is disposed inside a cover and is provided at a position where the protective wall material passes through the optical fiber in a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis.   The optical element portion is provided with one or more notch portions on the surface of the jacket parallel to the plane of the X axis, and the interval between the protective wall materials is provided on a line connecting the tip of the notch portion and the optical fiber. The optical fiber cable according to claim 9, wherein the optical fiber cable is provided.   The optical fiber cable according to claim 9 or 10, wherein an interval between the protective wall materials is 0.01 mm or more and less than 0.4 mm.   When the optical fiber is an optical fiber array having two or more cores, an interval between the protective wall members on one side of the at least two flat protective wall members on both sides is the optical fiber in the X-axis direction. The optical fiber is disposed at a position on one core of one end of the row and the distance between the other protective wall members of the at least two flat protective wall members on both sides is the optical fiber in the X-axis direction. The optical fiber cable according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the optical fiber cable is arranged at a position over one center of the other end of the row.   The optical fiber cable according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a long cable support line part in which a support line is covered with a jacket is integrated in parallel with the optical element part. One or more optical fibers, at least a pair of tensile members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber, and an X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fibers and the pair of tensile members. Flat protective wall members arranged so as to sandwich the optical fiber in parallel are sent out respectively, and the outer periphery of the optical fiber, the pair of tensile strength members, and the protective wall members that are sent out is coated on the outer periphery. When manufacturing an optical fiber cable coated with
A plurality of convex blades projecting outward at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the rotating plate on each of the protective wall materials delivered before being covered with the outer cover, A method of manufacturing an optical fiber cable, wherein slits penetrating through the protective wall material are intermittently formed in the longitudinal direction of each protective wall material. One or more optical fibers, at least a pair of tensile members disposed in parallel on both sides in the width direction across the optical fiber, and an X-axis plane passing through the centers of the optical fibers and the pair of tensile members. At least two plate-like protective wall members arranged in parallel on both sides so as to sandwich the optical fiber in parallel are sent out, respectively, and the sent out optical fiber, the pair of strength members, and the respective protective walls When manufacturing an optical fiber cable by coating the outer periphery of the material with a jacket,
By cutting and dividing one protective wall material delivered before being covered with the outer cover, the at least two flat protective wall materials arranged in parallel are formed. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber cable.

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