JP2003075695A - Split type four-fiber optical fiber tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a split type four-fiber optical fiber tape that is easy to split. SOLUTION: In the split type four-fiber optical fiber tape, a unit optical fiber tape 3 comprising two optical fibers 1 arrayed in parallel and covered all together with a coating layer 2, is horizontally laid out in a pair with a space apart and again integrally covered with a connecting coating layer 4. On the surface of at least one side of the connecting coating layer, which is situated in-between the two unit-optical fiber tapes, there is formed a slot 5 continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber tapes.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber tape mainly used in an optical communication network, and more particularly to a structure of a split type four-core optical fiber tape which can be easily torn and divided by hand. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A multi-core optical fiber tape used in an optical communication network uses a two-core or four-core optical fiber tape as one unit of optical fiber tape, and a plurality of one-unit optical fiber tapes in the width direction. There is known a split type optical fiber tape that is aligned and gathered into one tape shape.

When branching and wiring the optical fiber tapes, each unit optical fiber tape is torn by tearing a portion of a connecting resin coating layer for connecting the unit optical fiber tapes to each other at a tip portion thereof for a required length. A lot of work is done to divide into.

That is, a split is made at the tip of the split optical fiber tape with a fingertip or a tipping tool, and both sides of the split are pinched by the fingertips and pulled in opposite directions, whereby the split optical fiber tape has a required length in the longitudinal direction. It is necessary to advance the crack by that much and divide it into each unit optical fiber tape.

As a cable structure invented for the purpose of facilitating this division work and preventing breakage of the coating itself of the unit optical fiber tape, JP-A-9-197210 and JP-A-9-218328 are disclosed. , Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-231042,
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-266973 and the like are known.

[0006]

The split-type multi-fiber optical fiber tapes disclosed in the above documents are designed so as to have a certain physical property such that a 2-fiber or 4-fiber unit optical fiber tape can be easily torn. They are integrally connected via a connecting portion or a connecting coating made of a synthetic resin such as an ultraviolet curable resin.

In the split type optical fiber tape described in the above-mentioned document, the physical properties of the resin forming the connecting portion or the connecting coating such that the unit optical fiber tape can be easily torn and divided, for example, Young's modulus and elongation at break. There is a problem that the rate, the yield point stress, the adhesion force between the unit optical fiber tape and the connection coating, etc. must be strictly designed and selected so as to be within a predetermined range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the case of a split type 8-fiber optical fiber tape in which unit optical fiber tapes of 4 fibers are aligned in parallel and formed into one tape, the width thereof is 1 mm or more. It is not so difficult to manually tear and divide this, but the split type four-core optical fiber shown in FIG. 3 is formed by aligning the two-core unit optical fiber tapes in parallel and forming one tape. In the case of a fiber tape, since its width is about 0.6 mm, it is extremely difficult to tear and divide it by hand, and there is a problem that work efficiency is extremely poor.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a split type four-core optical fiber tape which can be easily split manually.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further comprises two unit optical fiber tapes which are formed by aligning two optical fibers in parallel with each other and coating them with a collective coating layer. A split type four-core optical fiber tape, which is arranged in a plane with a gap between each other, and which are integrally covered with a coupling coating layer, the coupling being located in the gap between the two unit optical fiber tapes. Notched grooves are provided on at least one surface of the coating layer continuously or intermittently along the length direction of the optical fiber tape.

A second means for solving the problem is arranged such that the tip of the notch groove is located between the edges formed by the collective coating of the unit optical fiber tapes.

The operation of the first means for solving the problems is a split type four-core optical fiber having good splittability (convenience of splitting each unit optical fiber tape into two parts) without selecting a specially designed resin. The tape is obtained.

The function of the second means for solving the problem is that there is no possibility of cracks progressing in the collective coating itself covering the unit optical fiber tapes when the unit optical fiber tapes are torn and divided into two.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Two optical fiber strands (hereinafter, simply referred to as an optical fiber) 1 are aligned in parallel and coated with a synthetic resin, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin on the outside thereof to form a collective coating layer 2 having a width. Is about 0.50 mm to 0.60 mm, and the thickness is about 0.25 mm to 0.40 mm.

Further, this unit optical fiber tape 3 has 2
Sheets, drawn in a plane with a slight gap between each other, and synthetic resin on the outside of these unit optical fiber tapes.
For example, an ultraviolet curable resin is coated and the coupling coating layer 4 is coated, and two unit optical fiber tapes are integrally coupled to form a split type four-core optical fiber tape.

Then, a notch groove 5 is continuously or intermittently formed on one surface of the coupling coating layer 4 that fills the gap between the two unit optical fiber tapes 3 along the length direction of the optical fiber tapes. To be done. The cutout groove 5 can be formed on both surfaces of the connection coating layer 4.

The tip of the notch groove 5 is located between the edges of the collective coating 2 on the unit optical fiber tape 3.

When the tip portion of this split type four-core optical fiber tape is torn to a required length, a crack is formed in the portion of the connection coating layer 4 located in the gap between the unit optical fiber tapes.
The crack does not reach the collective coating 2 of the unit optical fiber tape.

Table 1 shows the results of a comparative examination of the splittability of the split type four-core optical fiber tape according to the present invention and the conventional type shown in FIG.

[0021] The three subjects are the conventional ones shown in FIG.
When the average value of the time required to tear each of the 00 tip parts by 50 cm with a fingertip is set to 100, the tip portion of 100 pieces according to the present invention is 50 at the fingertips.
The average value of the time required to tear cm was determined. As a result, it was found that the splittability of the split type four-core optical fiber tape according to the present invention was improved by about 30%.

[0022]

【table 1】

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the resin of the connection coating layer is filled in the gap of the unit optical fiber tape, and at least one surface of this portion is continuous or intermittent along the length direction of the optical fiber tape. Since a notched groove is provided in the optical fiber tape, when the tip end of the split type four-fiber optical fiber tape is torn over the required length, the cut line is formed along the portion of the connection coating layer located in the gap of the unit optical fiber tape. Propagates as a unit and does not reach the collective coating layer of the unit optical fiber tape.

Further, the existence of the connection coating layer filled in the gaps of the unit optical fiber tapes makes the width of the product somewhat wide, so that the workability of tearing with a fingertip is improved.

Further, it is necessary to select a resin in which the physical properties (Young's modulus, elongation at break, yield stress, adhesive force between the unit optical fiber tape and the coupling coating, etc.) of the resin of the coupling coating layer are strictly designed. Absent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, since the depth of the cutout groove is located between the edges of the collective coating of the unit optical fiber tapes, the tip of the split type four-core optical fiber tape is torn. At this time, there is an effect that the break easily propagates along the connecting resin located between the edges of the collective coating of the unit optical fiber tapes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a split type four-core optical fiber tape according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a conventional split type 8-fiber optical fiber tape.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a conventional split type four-core optical fiber tape.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical fiber 2 batch coating 3 unit optical fiber tape 4 connection coating 5 Notch groove

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Keiji Ohashi             1-5-1 Kiba, Koto-ku, Tokyo Fu Co., Ltd.             Inside the jigla F term (reference) 2H001 BB15 BB19 DD23 FF00

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A unit optical fiber tape (3) comprising two optical fibers (1) aligned parallel to each other and covered with a collective coating layer (2). A split type four-core optical fiber tape, which is formed into a uniform shape and is integrally covered with a connection coating layer (4), wherein at least the connection coating layer is located in the gap between the two unit optical fiber tapes. A split type four-core optical fiber tape configured such that a notch groove (5) is continuously or intermittently provided on one surface along the length direction of the optical fiber tape. 2. The split mold 4 according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the notch groove (5) is arranged between the edge portions (2a) of the collective coating (2) of the unit optical fiber tape. Optical fiber tape.