JP2003227978A - Colored slot for optical fiber cable and method for manufacturing the slot - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a colored slot for an optical fiber cable, that enables a resin of an original color to be reproduced in the recycling of resins, and also to provide a method for manufacturing the colored slot. <P>SOLUTION: The resin-made slot 10 for an optical fiber cable has a plurality of optical fiber storing grooves I-V defined by a plurality of ribs 13 which are divided in the circumferential direction and extended along the longitudinal direction. In this slot, a specific rib adjacent to a prescribed optical fiber storing groove I-V that is specified for identification purpose is colored with a coloring ink A on the outer surface of the rib over the entire slot length. In addition, this coloring is applied to the outer surface of the rib in an ink coating part during the manufacturing process of the slot for an optical fiber cable or in the course of production of an optical fiber cable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a colored resin optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fiber housing grooves which are circumferentially partitioned and are defined by a plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction. The present invention relates to a slot and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber cable having an SZ groove. In FIG. 5, an optical fiber cable 1 is provided with a tension member 2 made of a single steel wire or a steel stranded wire at the center thereof. Slot 3 made of plastic resin
Five spiral grooves 4 (grooves I to V) in which the spiral direction is alternately inverted at a predetermined reversal angle are engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 5 in the five spiral grooves 4. And the sheath 7 is covered on the outermost periphery with the press winding layer 6 interposed.

When this optical fiber cable 1 is used, the sheath 7 and the press-winding layer 6 are torn to expose the tape-shaped optical fiber core wire 5 for wiring, and the optical fibers contained in the grooves I to V are to be wired. Since the fiber core wire 5 does not contain the same kind of optical fiber core wire 5 in all the grooves, it is necessary to immediately determine which groove contains the optical fiber core wire 5 for wiring work. It took time.

Therefore, in order to avoid such a situation,
Conventionally, of the five ribs 8-1, 8-2 to 8-5 forming the spiral groove 4 of the slot 3, a specific rib necessary for identification, for example, a part of 8-1 is used as a sheath. It was formed of a colored resin for the tracer so that it can be recognized from the outside that it is different from other ribs when the 7 and the press-winding layer 6 are torn.

[0005]

However, the optical fiber cable slot 3 having the above-described conventional optical fiber housing groove is composed of the primary color resin portion which is the original slot body and the colored resin for identification. Therefore, if you try to recycle and reuse this slot and re-pelletize it after dismantling, the primary color resin and the colored resin are mixed, and the color with no commercial value (the primary color by the colored resin for the tracer is There is a problem that it becomes a different color). In addition, if the amount of the colored resin is reduced as much as possible to prevent discoloration during recycling, the tracer becomes unclear.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to identify an optical fiber storage groove without using a colored resin so that the primary color of the resin can be reused during recycling. An object of the present invention is to provide a colored slot for an optical fiber cable in which the resin is reproducible and a method for manufacturing the colored slot.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the colored slot for an optical fiber cable of the present invention is defined by a plurality of ribs which are circumferentially defined and extend in the longitudinal direction. A resin optical fiber cable slot having a plurality of optical fiber storage grooves,
The outer surface of the rib adjacent to the predetermined optical fiber housing groove identified for identification is colored with coloring ink over the entire length of the slot. According to this, the colored ink does not change the original color of the resin forming the slot when the slot is recycled.

In the colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the colored rib is two adjacent ribs that sandwich the specified optical fiber housing groove.
According to this, it is easy to identify the storage groove when the optical fiber cable is used, and if the two adjacent ribs are colored with different colors, the order of the storage grooves in the rotation direction can be immediately recognized.

In the colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the optical fiber storage groove is a spiral groove or an SZ groove. According to this, even when the groove is twisted in the length direction of the slot like the spiral groove or the SZ groove, it is easy to identify the groove.

According to the method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable of the present invention, a tension member is inserted into a head portion of a melting machine to which an extrusion die having an opening corresponding to the sectional shape of the slot for the optical fiber cable is attached. A slot for an optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fiber housing grooves defined by a plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction by pushing out from the die while supplying the resin for forming the slot to the outer periphery of the tension member In the manufacturing process of 1, the outer surface of the specific rib is colored over the entire length of the slot when the resin is extruded by the coloring ink application section provided in the extrusion die. With this, when the optical fiber housing groove is formed, the outer surface of the rib can be colored with the coloring ink at the same time, so that the coloring can be easily performed and the coloring can be performed at an accurate position.

In the method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the optical fiber housing groove be a spiral groove or an SZ groove by rotating the extrusion die. As a result, even if the extrusion die is rotated to form the spiral groove or the SZ groove, the coloring ink application portion is provided on the extrusion die, so that the rib outer surface can be accurately colored.

A method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention is made of a resin having a plurality of optical fiber housing grooves which are partitioned in the circumferential direction and are defined by a plurality of ribs extending in the longitudinal direction. In the process of manufacturing an optical fiber cable by accommodating an optical fiber in the accommodating groove in the optical fiber cable slot, an optical fiber having a coloring ink application part in a collecting part accommodating the optical fiber in the plurality of accommodating grooves An assembly die is provided, and the outer surface of the specific rib is colored by the coloring ink application section over the entire length of the slot when the optical fiber is assembled. According to this, the outer surface of the rib can be colored with the coloring ink at the same time when the optical fiber is accommodated in the optical fiber accommodating groove, so that the coloring can be done at a precise position without trouble.

In the method for manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention, the optical fiber assembly die follows a rotational fluctuation of the storage groove position by a rotation detection pin whose one end is inserted into several storage grooves. It is preferably rotatably supported. According to this, since the assembly die can be rotated by the rotation detection pin that rotates in synchronization with the storage groove, the rib outer surface position can be accurately colored.

In the method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention, it is preferable that the optical fiber housing groove is a spiral groove or an SZ groove. According to this, even in the case where the groove is twisted in the length direction of the slot such as the spiral groove or the SZ groove, it is colored by the assembly die when the optical fibers are assembled, so that the coloring position is not mistaken.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view of a colored slot for an optical fiber cable of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the colored slot for an optical fiber cable of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an optical fiber cable of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing a melting machine, for explaining a method of manufacturing a colored slot in a manufacturing process of a manufacturing slot, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of an extrusion die. Further, FIG. 4 is for explaining a manufacturing method of the colored slot in the process of manufacturing the optical fiber cable, (a) is a sectional view of the optical fiber assembling apparatus, and (b) is a part of the assembly die main body. It is an expanded sectional view.

In FIG. 1, a slot 10 for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention is made of a thermoplastic resin having a tension member 12 made of a single steel wire or a steel stranded wire at its center, and has five spirals on its outer peripheral surface. The storage groove V is engraved from the circular storage groove I, and the five spiral grooves I 1 to V are, for example, 4
The tape-shaped optical fiber cores of the core are stored in a laminated state. The outer surface of the rib 13 between the first storage groove I and the second storage groove II is colored with a color ink (for example, black).
The colored portion A is provided.

As described above, when the colored portion A is provided,
Slot 1 for optical fiber cable during wiring work
When the ribs 13 are exposed by cutting through the sheath surrounding 0 and the press-wrapping layer, it can be recognized from the outside that the ribs are different from the other ribs. It is possible to identify, and it is possible to determine which kind of optical fiber is accommodated in which accommodation groove based on these grooves.

FIG. 2 shows a modified example of the colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention. In the above embodiment, the colored portion A is used.
Was applied to only one place of the rib 13, but, for example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the adjacent ribs 13 and 14 of the second storage groove II are provided with colored portions of A and B, respectively, so that the second storage groove II can be specified more accurately, or although not shown, Coloring parts A and B are different and the type of line is different, and coloring parts A to B
The groove is the third storage groove in the direction from (or B to A)
III, 4th storage groove IV ... (1st storage groove I, 5th storage groove
V ...), other storage grooves can be identified immediately.

If the outer surface of the specific rib is colored with the coloring ink for identifying the storage groove as described above, the colored layer that is colored is thinly formed. The color of the resin will be close to the primary color, and the utility value of the resin will not drop.

Next, a manufacturing method in the manufacturing process of the optical fiber cable slot will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3 (a), 15 is a melting machine, and a mandrel 1 for guiding and introducing a tension member 16 into the central portion thereof.
7, a head portion 18 is provided with a heater 19 and a thermocouple 20 for controlling the temperature of the extruded resin, and an extruding die 21 is provided at the tip end portion.

Manufacturing of the slot for the optical fiber cable is as follows.
When the tension member 16 is fed into the mandrel 17 and the spiral storage groove is formed, the molten resin C is placed on the tension member 16 while rotating the extrusion die 21.
Push out.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the extrusion die 21 has a peak portion 21a and a valley portion 21b for forming a storage groove.
The opening 21c is formed, and the coloring ink application section 22 is provided. Since the coloring ink application section 22 moves integrally with the extrusion die 21, it is possible to always apply the color ink to the outer surface of the rib accurately even when forming the spiral storage groove.

Further, a manufacturing method in the process of manufacturing the optical fiber cable will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 25 denotes an optical fiber assembling apparatus, in which a resin-made optical fiber cable slot 26 having a plurality of optical fiber housing grooves is provided with an optical fiber assembling die 27.
It is transferred in the direction of arrow D while rotating inside.

The assembly die 27 has three guide bodies 30 (only two are shown) for aligning the widthwise positions of the tape type optical fiber 28 at the upstream end portion, and the slot 26 at the downstream rear end portion. It has a twist die 31 which is loosely fitted to the outer periphery.
The collective die main body 32 is rotatably attached to the base 33 via a bearing 34. A coloring ink application section 35 is provided on the assembly die main body 32.

The tape type optical fibers 28 are aligned in the stacking direction by the upstream guide body 36, the positions in the width direction are aligned by the guide body 30, and the tape type optical fibers 28 are inserted into the optical fiber housing groove by the twisting die 31 in the stacked state. .

As shown in FIG. 4 (b), the rotation detecting pin 30a projects from the tip of the guide body 30, and the tip of the rotation detecting pin 30a is fitted into the housing groove 37. The die main body 32 follows and rotates. Therefore, even if the storage groove 37 is formed with a deviation, the coloring ink can be accurately applied from the coloring ink applying section 35 to the outer surface of the rib 38 by following the deviation.

As described above, in the present invention, since the coloring ink is used to identify the optical fiber housing groove, the coating layer can be thinned without causing blurring, and therefore, the resin layer can be recycled at the time of recycling. There is no fear of discoloring the color, and the product value will not be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific structure is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the number and shape of the optical fiber accommodating grooves (spiral groove, SZ groove, etc.) can be used. ) Is not particularly limited, and the ink color may be other than black. A thermoplastic resin is preferable as the resin for forming the slot, and a polyethylene resin is particularly preferable.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(A) According to the first aspect of the invention, the colored ink does not change the original color of the resin forming the slot when the slot is recycled.

(B) According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is easy to identify the storage groove when the optical fiber cable is used, and if the two adjacent ribs are colored with different colors, the storage groove can be easily identified. The order in the direction of rotation of can be readily discerned.

(C) According to the third aspect of the invention, it is easy to identify the groove even when the groove is twisted in the length direction of the slot such as the spiral groove or the SZ groove.

(D) According to the invention of claim 4, when the optical fiber accommodating groove is formed, the outer surface of the rib can be colored with the coloring ink at the same time, so that the coloring can be performed easily and at a correct position. Can be colored.

(E) According to the invention of claim 5, even when the extrusion die is rotated for producing the spiral groove or the SZ groove, the coloring ink application portion is provided in the extrusion die. , The rib outer surface can be accurately colored.

(F) According to the invention of claim 6, at the same time when the optical fibers are housed in the optical fiber housing groove,
Since the outer surface of the rib can be colored with the coloring ink, the coloring can be done easily and the coloring can be performed at an accurate position.

(G) According to the invention of claim 7, the assembly die can be rotated by the rotation detecting pin in synchronization with the housing groove, so that the rib outer surface position can be accurately colored.

(H) According to the invention of claim 8, even when the groove is twisted in the length direction of the slot like a spiral groove or an SZ groove, it is colored by the assembly die when the optical fibers are assembled. Therefore, the coloring position is not mistaken.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to the present invention.

3A and 3B are views for explaining a manufacturing method in a manufacturing process of a colored slot of an optical fiber cable slot according to the present invention, FIG. 3A is a sectional view showing a melting machine, and FIG. It is a front view.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a method of manufacturing a colored slot in a process of manufacturing an optical fiber cable,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an optical fiber assembling apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged sectional view of an assembly die main body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber cable having an SZ groove.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Slot for optical fiber cable 12, 16 ... Tension members 13, 14 ... Ribs 15: Melting machine 17 ... Mandrel 18 ... Head 19 ... Heater 20 ... Thermocouple 21 ... Extrusion die 21a ... Yamabe 21b ... Tanibe 21c ... Opening 22 ... Coloring ink application section 25: Optical fiber collecting device 26 ... Slot for optical fiber cable 27 ... Optical fiber assembly die 28 ... Tape type optical fiber 30 ... Guide body 30a ... Rotation detection pin 31 ... twisting die 32: Assembly die main body 33 ... Base 34 ... Bearing 35 ... Coloring ink application section 36 ... Upstream guide body 37 ... storage groove 38 ... rib A, B ... Coloring part C: Molten resin I to V: Storage groove

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akemi Yamazaki             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office (72) Inventor Takashi Matsuzawa             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office (72) Inventor Masayoshi Yamanaka             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office (72) Inventor Michio Suematsu             Fuji Co., Ltd. 1440 Rokuzaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture             Kura Sakura Office F term (reference) 2H001 BB07 DD01 KK12 MM01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A colored slot for a fiber optic cable made of resin, which has a plurality of optical fiber receiving grooves which are circumferentially partitioned and which are defined by a plurality of ribs extending along the longitudinal direction, the identification slot being for identification. A colored slot for an optical fiber cable in which the outer surface of the rib adjacent to the predetermined optical fiber housing groove specified for is colored with colored ink over the entire length of the slot. 2. The colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the colored ribs are two adjacent ribs sandwiching the specified optical fiber housing groove. 3. The colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber housing groove is a spiral groove or an SZ groove. 4. A tension member is inserted into a head portion of a melting machine to which an extrusion die having an opening corresponding to a sectional shape of a slot for an optical fiber cable is attached, and a slot for molding the slot is formed on an outer periphery of the tension member. In the process of manufacturing an optical fiber cable slot having a plurality of optical fiber housing grooves defined by a plurality of ribs extending along the longitudinal direction by being extruded from the die while supplying resin, the slot for the optical fiber cable was provided in the extrusion die. A method for producing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable, wherein a specific rib outer surface is colored over the entire length of the slot by the coloring ink application section when the resin is extruded. 5. The method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber housing groove is a spiral groove or an SZ groove by rotating the extrusion die. 6. An accommodating groove in a resin optical fiber cable slot having a plurality of optical fiber accommodating grooves defined by a plurality of ribs that are circumferentially partitioned and extend along a longitudinal direction, In the process of manufacturing an optical fiber cable by housing an optical fiber, an optical fiber assembly die having a coloring ink application section is provided in the assembly section for storing the optical fiber in the plurality of storage grooves, and by the coloring ink application section, A method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical fiber cable, wherein a specific outer surface of a rib is colored over the entire length of the slot when the optical fiber is assembled. 7. The optical fiber assembling die is rotatably supported by a rotation detecting pin having one end inserted into some of the storage grooves so as to follow the rotational fluctuation of the storage groove position. A method for manufacturing a colored slot for an optical cable as described above. 8. The method of manufacturing a colored slot for an optical cable according to claim 6, wherein the optical fiber housing groove is a spiral groove or an SZ groove.