JP2001140178A - Linear object - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily distinguish and take out an objective linear object from many linear objects. SOLUTION: In an optical fiber cord 10 where distinguishing marks 4 are printed at regular intervals or intermittently on a helical curve 5 having a pitch of 1-0.1 m on an outside coating layer 3 of the cord 10, the marks 4 are constituted by being placed in such a way that a pair of same characters, figures, signs, colors or their combination are mutually reversely confronted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a linear body having an identification mark on its surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a case where it is necessary to identify and take out only necessary ones from a bundle of linear bodies such as optical fiber cords, electric wires and wires. For example, between indoor optical communication devices, a large number of optical fiber cords are usually wired and the wiring needs to be changed frequently, so a target optical fiber cord is selected from a bundle of wires composed of a large number of optical fiber cords. It is necessary to quickly identify and retrieve. Further, there is a case where a target wiring is taken out of a large bundle of wirings and repair is required.

[0003] For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 4, characters such as numerals are attached as identification marks 4 on the outer coating layer 3 of the optical fiber cord 10, or the actual thickness of the optical fiber cord 10 is increased as shown in FIG.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 220, an identification means such as attaching a symbol such as a bar code has been proposed.

[0004]

However, when it is desired to take out a specific linear object from a large number of linear objects, if there is an object located on the back surface opposite to the direction in which the identification mark is observed, Unless the identification mark is turned in the direction of the user by twisting the linear body, identification cannot be performed. In this case, it takes a relatively long time to identify the target linear object, and the linear object may be damaged when twisted.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to improve the conventional method illustrated in FIG. 4 to increase the number of rows in the longitudinal direction of the identification mark 4 and perform printing at a constant interval in the circumferential direction. Therefore, there is a problem that the printing cost increases. With the method of adding a bar code symbol, it is not possible to quickly select and extract only a specific linear object.

[0006]

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the identification mark is formed on a spiral curve having a pitch of 1 m to 0.1 m on the surface of the linear body. It is a linear body attached so as to be located at regular intervals or intermittently.

According to the present invention, since the identification mark is attached on a helical curve over the entire circumference of the linear body, each line is taken out when a target linear body is to be taken out from a large number of linear bodies. There is always an identification sign pointing in the direction of the line of sight with respect to the linear body, which makes it easy to visually identify and extract the target linear body from the outside. Further, since the identification marks are arranged on one curve, printing on the surface of the linear body becomes easy.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the identification mark has an inversion pitch of 1 m to 0.1 m on the surface of the linear body and an inversion angle of 2 m.
It is a linear body characterized by being provided at regular intervals or intermittently on an SZ-shaped curve of 70 degrees to 450 degrees. According to the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the identification mark is constituted by arranging a pair of identical characters, figures, symbols, colors or a combination thereof in a direction facing each other or facing each other.

According to the present invention, by using a pair of the same characters, figures, symbols, colors, or a combination of these arranged in a direction facing each other or opposite to each other, the length of the linear body 10 can be increased. Regardless of the direction in which the image is observed, characters, figures, symbols, and the like that are correctly oriented in the direction of the line of sight can be present in the identification sign.
Accordingly, the present invention is preferable because the target linear object can be more quickly and easily identified and taken out.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the linear member is made of an optical fiber cord.

[0012]

1 and 2 show an optical fiber cord with an identification mark according to the present invention. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same portions are assigned the same numbers, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the identification mark 4 is attached to the optical fiber cord 1.
FIG. 2 schematically shows a state in which the elements are arranged at regular intervals along a spiral curve 5 on zero. In FIG. 1A, the identification marker 4 is simply abstracted by a rectangle for the purpose of showing the spiral arrangement state, and FIG. 1B shows a specific example of the identification marker itself.

FIG. 2 shows a case where the identification mark 4 is attached to the optical fiber cord 1.
FIG. 2 schematically shows a state in which the pixels are arranged at regular intervals along the SZ-shaped curve 5 on the zero. As in FIG. 1A, the identification mark 4 in FIG. 2A is simply represented by a rectangle for the purpose of indicating the SZ arrangement. As the identification mark itself, the same one as in the case of the spiral curve can be used, and FIG. 1 (b)
An example is shown below.

FIG. 2B and FIG. 2D respectively show FIG.
2A shows an arc-shaped curve formed by projecting the SZ-shaped curve on the optical fiber cord 10 shown in FIG. 2C in the axial direction, and shows an arc-shaped curve on the optical fiber cord 10 in the circumferential direction where the SZ-shaped curve exists. Represents the angle range, that is, the reversal angle β. The reversal angle β in the case of FIG. 2A is 360 degrees, and the reversal angle β in the case of FIG. 2C is 270 degrees.

(When Identifying Marks are Arranged on a Helical Curve) The positional relationship between the identifying marks 4 on the optical fiber cord 10 is determined by the distance A in the longitudinal direction and the central axis of the optical fiber cord 10 shown in FIG. When the identification marks 4 are arranged on the optical fiber cord 10 according to a positional relationship determined by the longitudinal direction interval A and the rotational angle θ, the trajectory thereof is traced along the longitudinal direction interval A. And a spiral curve determined by the rotation angle θ is formed on the optical fiber cord 10. It should be noted that the helical linear shape 5 in FIG. 3A is drawn for the sake of explanation, and the helical linear shape 5 is not actually drawn on the optical fiber cord 10.

The pitch P _R of the spiral curve is determined by the longitudinal interval A and the rotation angle θ. Pitch P _R is higher discrimination capability smaller the interval, there is a lower limit from the viewpoint to the P _R because the printing speed in the longitudinal direction is reduced, empirically about 0.
1 m. The upper limit of the pitch P _R is Sadamari terms of the identification marker 4 at a distance of pitch P _R is set to fall within the range of the visual field, it is empirically about 1 m.

(Components of Identification Marker) The identification mark 4 can be composed of characters, figures, symbols, colors, or a combination thereof. Characters naturally include numbers.

(Arrangement direction of identification mark) When the identification mark 4 is attached so that the direction of the characters and the arrangement direction is the same as the longitudinal direction of the linear body, the characters and numerals included in the identification mark 4 are provided. This is preferable because it becomes easy to read and the identification becomes easy. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1B, the identification mark 4 is provided with a pair of the same characters, graphics, symbols, colors, or a combination thereof in such a direction as to face or face each other in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cord 10. By arranging and configuring, even if the identification mark 4 is observed from any direction in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cord 10, it is possible to make a character or the like correctly oriented with respect to the direction of the line of sight. And taking out the optical fiber cord 10 described above becomes easier.

(Outer Shape of Identification Mark) In FIG. 1B, a case where the outer shape of each identification mark 4 is rectangular is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a triangle, a square, a circle, a flower, and the like are also possible. is there.

(Linear Object) The linear object to be identified is not limited to the optical fiber cord 10.
The present invention can be applied to a columnar linear body such as a relatively small-diameter wire, string, or electric wire, or a cylindrical linear body such as a tube or a pipe.

(Printing Method of Identification Mark) As a device for printing the identification mark 4 on a linear body, a method using an ink jet printing apparatus is preferable. According to this printing method, the identification mark 4 is placed on the linear body in a spiral or SZ-like shape.
On the curve of the book, it is possible to easily print at a high speed using a simple printing apparatus with one ink jet head, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the printing cost is reduced.

(Case where Identification Marks are Arranged on SZ-Shaped Curve) FIG. 2 also shows a case where the identification marks 4 are arranged at regular intervals along the SZ-shaped curve on the optical fiber cord 10.
As illustrated in (a), substantially the same effect as in the case of arranging at a constant interval along the spiral linear shape can be obtained. In this case, the positional relationship between the identification marks 4 is as shown in FIG.
The identification marks 4 are specified on the optical fiber cord 10 according to the positional relationship determined by these parameters in addition to the longitudinal interval A and the rotation angle θ shown in FIG. A curve is formed on the optical fiber cord 10.

Although the value of the reversal angle β can be set to 360 degrees or more, the discrimination function does not change even if the angle is increased in this range, but the printing speed in the longitudinal direction decreases. . Therefore, the inversion angle β is preferably set to 360 degrees, and the upper limit is about 450 degrees. The lower limit of the inversion angle β does not necessarily need to be 360 degrees when, for example, the bundles of linear bodies are arranged in one layer, and FIG. 2C illustrates the case of the optical fiber cord 10. In some cases, the discrimination can be sufficiently performed even at about 270 degrees.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Case where an identification mark is printed on a helical curve on an optical fiber cord) A tensile fiber layer 2 is vertically attached on an optical fiber core 1, and a polyamide having an outer diameter of 1.1 mm is used.
The optical fiber cord 10 was manufactured by coating the outer coating layer 4 such that By rotating the ink jet head around the optical fiber cord 10 by an ink jet printing apparatus, each identification mark 4 was printed on a spiral curve as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

(Identification Mark) As shown in FIG. 1B, the identification mark 4 has a pair of a combination of a numeral and a symbol consisting of, for example, a numeral "12" and a symbol "-". And are arranged in a rectangular outer frame. In this case, the size of the font is 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width, the length B of the rectangular outer frame of the identification mark 4 is 40 mm, and the width C is 1.
5 mm.

In the same format as the identification mark 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 (b), the number sign is changed from 1 to 64, and the identification mark 4 including any of these numbers is illustrated in FIG. 1 (a). As shown in FIG.
But at 70 mm, it arranged so that the rotation angle θ is 45 degrees, the locus of its center position is printed so as to form a helical curve 5 the pitch P _R of 560 mm.

(Identification Test) The time required for identifying and extracting a target optical fiber code from the bundle of 64 optical fiber codes with the identification mark is shown in FIG. Was compared with the case of In this case, the distance A between the conventional identification marks 4 in FIG. 4 is 70 mm,
The same identification mark 4 was used.

First, 64 optical fiber cords 10 printed with the identification mark 4 including any number from 1 to 64 are simulated in a state where the optical fiber cords 10 between indoor communication devices are bundled. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3, two positions 20 cm from the end of 64 bundles having a total length of 2 m were bundled with the string 20.

The time required to take out the optical fiber cord 10 on which the identification mark 4 consisting of 10 numbers, which was randomly extracted from the numbers up to 64, was taken out from the central portion of the bundle was measured. The required time was measured under the same conditions for the conventional optical fiber cord 10 shown in FIG. Table 1 compares these results.

[0031]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, the optical fiber cord 10 of the present invention
In comparison with the conventional optical fiber cord 10 illustrated in FIG. 4, the average time required to identify and extract the target optical fiber cord 10 is less than half, and the identification and extraction characteristics of the optical fiber cord 10 are remarkable. It can be seen that it is improved.

The required identification time differs between the case where the target optical fiber cord 10 is located on the surface of the bundle, that is, the outermost circumference, and the case where it is located inside the surface (see FIG. 3B). In the former case, it is possible to immediately identify and take out the optical fiber cord. However, in the case where it is inside, the time until the target optical fiber cord 10 is identified and found by separating the bundle of optical fiber cords 10 from the outside is found. Extra is required.

The values listed in Table 1 are these average times. The optical fiber cord 10 of the present invention can reduce the required time for any position of the optical fiber cord 10 as compared with the conventional optical fiber cord 10 illustrated in FIG.

(Case where the identification mark is printed on the SZ curve of the optical fiber code) In the case of the embodiment in which the identification mark 4 is arranged on the helical curve (hereinafter, simply referred to as "helix case"). Accordingly, on the surface of each of the 64 optical fiber cords 10, an identification mark 4 including any number from 1 to 64, which is the same as in the case of the spiral, is provided with an inversion cycle P _sz of 560 mm and an inversion angle β of 360 degrees. Printed on SZ-like curve. In this case, the distance A between the identification marks is 60 mm,
The rotation angle θ was 30 degrees.

In this case, the same discrimination test as in the case of the spiral was performed. As shown in Table 1, as in the case of the spiral, the target optical fiber cord 10 could be taken out in about half the time as compared with the conventional identification mark 4 illustrated in FIG.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the identification mark is provided on the spiral or SZ-shaped curve on the linear body over the entire circumference thereof, so that the target linear body can be selected from a bundle of a large number of linear bodies. When attempting to remove, regardless of the direction of the line of sight, there is always an identification sign pointing in that direction, and it is possible to identify and extract the target linear object visually from the outside. It will be easier.

In particular, when a pair of identical character groups composed of characters, figures, symbols, and the like are arranged in a direction facing each other or opposite to each other to constitute an identification mark, any one of the longitudinal directions of the linear body can be used. Even when observed, characters, figures, symbols, and the like facing the direction of the line of sight can be made to exist, so that it is easy to read and the target linear object can be more easily identified. Therefore, according to the present invention, the work involving identification of the linear body is facilitated, the work period is shortened, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber cord of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows an optical fiber cord in which identification marks are spirally arranged, and FIG. 1B shows a specific example of the identification marks in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another optical fiber cord of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows an SZ in which the reversal angle of the identification sign is 360 degrees.
FIG. 2B shows the optical fiber cords arranged on the curve, in the case where the reversal angle is 270 degrees.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a bundle of optical fiber cords. FIG.
(A) is a plan view, and (b) is AA ′ in (a) of FIG.
1 represents a perspective view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional optical fiber cord.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Optical fiber 2: Fiber layer 3: Outer coating layer 4: Identification mark 5: Spiral curve 6: SZ-like curve 10: Optical fiber cord 20: Band cord

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masao Tachikura 2-3-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shigenori Uruno 2-3-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph Telephone Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H046 AC08 AD22 AZ13 2H050 BB03S BC17 BD02 3B153 AA02 AA16 AA33 AA40 AA45 CC22 CC42 CC52 FF40 GG40 3B154 AA08 AA13 AA16 AB14 BB31 BB51 BF06 BF16 DA30 5G315 JB05 J03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A linear body characterized in that identification marks are printed at regular intervals or intermittently on a helical curve having a pitch of 1 m to 0.1 m. 2. A linear body characterized in that identification marks are printed at regular intervals or intermittently on an SZ-shaped curve having an inversion pitch of 1 m to 0.1 m and an inversion angle of 270 to 450 degrees. . 3. The identification mark according to claim 1, wherein the identification mark is formed by arranging a pair of identical characters, graphics, symbols, colors, or a combination thereof in directions facing each other or facing each other. 3. The linear body according to 2. 4. The linear body according to claim 1, wherein the linear body is an optical fiber cord.