JP2007272099A - Optical fiber ribbon and optical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber ribbon which is excellent in separating at intermediate point into coated single fibers or units (optical fiber ribbons including small number of fibers) and has sufficient mechanical characteristic and thermal characteristic for being endurable to the load given when manufactured or taken out from a cable, and to provide an optical cable using the optical fiber ribbon. <P>SOLUTION: The optical fiber ribbon 10 is composed of a plurality of coated single optical fibers 12 which are arranged in parallel and the outer periphery of the coated optical fibers is coated by a tape layer 14 which is composed of a primary tape layer 14a which is made of a resin having Young's modulus of 150 MPa or smaller at 23 °C and a secondary tape layer 14b which is made of a resin having Young's modulus of 400 to 1300 MPa at 23 °C and provided over the primary tape layer 14a. The optical cable is provided with the optical fiber ribbon 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber tape that can be easily separated into a single core or a predetermined number of cores at an intermediate portion of the cable, and an optical cable using such an optical fiber tape.

  In recent years, with the spread of communication services such as the Internet, FTTH (Fiber To The Home) that connects all sections from a communication carrier to a general subscriber's house with an optical fiber is rapidly expanding. In such FTTH, the optical wiring network in the vicinity of the subscriber's house is generally an overhead wiring using a power pole, and the main method is to drop the wiring cable from the wiring pole to the subscriber's house using an optical drop cable. Has been adopted.

  The wiring cable is provided with a plurality of SZ grooves on the outer periphery of the slot rod from the viewpoint of easy connection between the cables and removal of the optical fiber core at the time of intermediate branching. An optical fiber tape having a structure in which a plurality of single core wires are arranged in parallel and covered with a tape layer, or a structure in which such an optical fiber tape is made into one unit and a plurality of such units are arranged in parallel and covered with a tape layer. A slot-type optical cable is generally used in which a plurality of so-called split type optical fiber tapes are stacked and stored, a presser tape is wound around the outer periphery thereof, and a jacket is provided thereon. In such a cable, after the optical fiber tape or the split-type optical fiber tape is taken out from the SZ groove, it is separated into single cores or units, and then the separated single cores or units are directly or other wiring cables. By connecting to the optical drop cable via the cable, it is pulled down to the subscriber's house.

  By the way, conventionally, when the optical fiber tape housed in the groove is intermediately separated into a single core wire or unit as a connection unit, the tape layer is cut using a blade or a special tool of a shearing type, The method of separating into units is generally used. However, in such a method, not only the workability is bad, but the blade sometimes damages or breaks the optical fiber in some cases. For this reason, the optical fiber tape may be cut together with the unused optical fiber tape in the optical cable without performing an intermediate separation operation, and only one of the optical fiber single fibers may be pulled down. There was a problem that the utilization efficiency of the core wire was lowered. In addition, when there is a hot wire in a part of the single fiber in the optical fiber tape, the transmission loss may increase due to careless bending at the time of operation, which may cause a transmission error. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to use an auxiliary tool that fixes the optical fiber tape with a clamp to maintain a straight line shape, but it is difficult to use the auxiliary tool in an aerial work. For this reason, in general, the work is performed after the line is temporarily stopped, and there is a problem that the work efficiency is further lowered.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, an optical fiber tape that can be easily separated into a single core wire or a unit with a simple tool without using a blade or the like has been developed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). .) Using a tool equipped with a brush piece made of a wire material such as nylon on the top and bottom or one of them, press the brush piece repeatedly on the top and bottom surfaces of the optical fiber tape, or in the length direction of the optical fiber tape in the pressed state An optical fiber tape that can be separated into a single optical fiber by scratching or peeling the tape layer of the optical fiber tape by moving the optical fiber tape relative to the optical fiber tape is an example of such an optical fiber tape. As compared with the conventional method using a blade or a special tool of a shearing type, it is possible to easily and safely separate an optical fiber single core wire or a unit. In addition, since there is almost no increase in loss during intermediate separation, intermediate separation is possible without temporarily stopping the line for optical fiber tapes with live wires.

  However, although these optical fiber tapes are excellent in the intermediate separation property to a single core wire or a unit, a load at the time of cable production, for example, a plurality of optical fiber tapes are stacked or assembled and stored in the SZ groove of the slot rod. There is a problem that the long-term reliability is poor because the tape layer may be peeled or scraped, the single core wire or the unit may be separated due to contact or rubbing with the side or bottom surface of the groove. .

Optical fiber tape is not only used in slot-type optical cables, but also in optical fiber cables that are used for pulling from distribution cables to subscribers' homes and optical cables used for intra-building wiring in buildings and condominiums. Have been widely used for the purpose of improving the efficiency of wiring and wiring work. In such a cable, the optical fiber tape is embedded in the cable jacket, and when connecting it is necessary to tear the cable jacket and take out the optical fiber tape. At that time, the tape layer of the optical fiber tape may be cracked, peeled off or scraped, or a single core or unit may be separated (separated).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-206048 JP 2004-240014 A

  The present invention has been made in response to such a problem of the prior art, and can be easily separated into a single core wire or a unit at the middle of the cable, and can be used as a load when the cable is manufactured or taken out from the cable. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber tape that has sufficient mechanical and thermal characteristics to withstand, and retains good characteristics over a long period of time, and an optical cable using such an optical fiber tape. .

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber tape of the present invention is an optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fiber single-core wires are arranged in parallel, and a tape layer is coated on the outer periphery thereof. It comprises a primary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 150 ° C. of 150 MPa or less and a secondary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 400-1300 MPa provided on the primary tape layer. Is.

  In the optical fiber tape of the present invention, the optical fiber tape unit in which a plurality of optical fiber single fibers are arranged in parallel and the outer periphery thereof is coated with an internal tape layer is substantially in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the optical fiber single fibers. A plurality of optical fiber tapes that are arranged in parallel and are coated with an external tape layer on the outer periphery thereof, wherein the external tape layer includes a primary external tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and It comprises a secondary external tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 400 to 1300 MPa provided on the primary external tape layer.

  Furthermore, the optical cable of the present invention is characterized by comprising the optical fiber tape.

  In the present specification, the Young's modulus is a value measured in accordance with JIS K 7113. More specifically, a test piece made of a resin sheet and molded into a JIS No. 2 dumbbell is used. The Young's modulus obtained by pulling under conditions of a distance between marked lines of 25 mm and a pulling speed of 1 mm / min.

  According to the optical fiber tape of the present invention, the optical fiber tape is easily and safely separated into an optical fiber single fiber or a small number of optical fiber tape units without greatly increasing transmission loss even if there is a live wire. Therefore, the utilization efficiency and work efficiency of the core wire can be sufficiently improved. In addition, it has sufficient mechanical and thermal characteristics to withstand loads during cable manufacture and removal from the cable, and can maintain good characteristics over a long period of time. Further, according to the optical cable of the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical fiber tape having both such excellent intermediate separation property and excellent long-term reliability.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the optical fiber tape of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber tape 10 of the present embodiment has four optical fiber single core wires 12 in close contact with each other on the same plane and arranged in parallel, and a primary tape layer 14a and a secondary tape layer 14b on the outside thereof. A two-layer tape layer 14 made of The surfaces of the primary tape layer 14a and the secondary tape layer 14b are not substantially uneven, and the optical fiber tape 10 has a substantially uniform thickness in the width direction.

  As the optical fiber single-core wire 12, for example, an optical fiber provided with one or more layers of a protective coating using an ultraviolet curable resin or the like, or a protective layer provided with a colored layer. used.

  On the other hand, the primary tape layer 14a is coated with a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less so that its thickness (indicated by t1 in the figure) is in the range of 10 to 20 μm. The secondary tape layer 14b is coated with a resin having a Young's modulus of 400 to 1300 MPa at 23 ° C. so that the thickness (indicated by t2 in the figure) is in the range of 2 to 10 μm.

  The Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of the resin forming the primary tape layer 14a, the thickness t1 of the primary tape layer 14a, the Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of the resin forming the secondary tape layer 14b, and the thickness of the secondary tape layer 14b If any one of t2 is out of the above range, it becomes difficult to separate into the optical fiber single-core wire 12, or the tape is applied to the optical fiber tape 10 due to the stress applied when the cable is manufactured or taken out from the cable. The layer 14 is peeled off, scraped, cracked, single-centered (separated), or the like. In the present invention, the resin forming the primary tape layer 14a preferably has a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 50 to 100 MPa, and the thickness t1 of the primary tape layer 14a is preferably 12 to 18 μm. . On the other hand, the resin forming the secondary tape layer 14b preferably has a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 500 to 1200 MPa, and the thickness t2 of the secondary tape layer 14b is preferably 3 to 8 μm. It is more preferable that it is 4-6 micrometers.

  In addition, as a kind of resin which comprises the protective coating and colored layer of the optical fiber single core wire 12, and the primary tape layer 14a and the secondary tape layer 14b, ultraviolet curable type, such as urethane acrylate resin and epoxy acrylate resin, is used. Resins are exemplified.

  In the optical fiber tape 10 configured as described above, the four optical fiber single core wires 12 arranged in parallel are made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and the thickness t1 is primary of 10 to 25 μm. Since the tape layer 14a and the resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 400 to 1300 MPa and the thickness t2 of the secondary tape layer 14b having a thickness t2 of 2 to 10 μm are sequentially coated together, light is easily and safely emitted. The fiber can be separated into a single fiber core, and the utilization efficiency and work efficiency of the fiber core can be improved. In addition, since there is little fluctuation in optical transmission loss during the intermediate separation work, the separation work can be performed without stopping the line even when there is a live line in the optical fiber tape to be intermediately separated. In addition, the load applied to the optical fiber tape 10 during cable manufacture or when the optical fiber tape 10 is taken out of the cable may cause the tape layer 14 of the optical fiber tape 10 to be cracked, peeled off, scraped, etc. It is possible to have excellent long-term reliability without occurrence of variation.

  Here, an example of the single fiber separation method of the four-fiber optical fiber tape 10 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, a wire 23 made of polyamide (nylon), polypropylene, or the like that is sandwiched between an upper base 21 and a lower base 22 of the separation tool 20 and is erected on both the bases 21 and 22 is optically irradiated. Move closer to the fiber tape 10. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the state at that time. In some cases, prior to this step, one or both sides of the four-core optical fiber tape 10, that is, one or both of the surfaces parallel to the arrangement surface of the optical fiber single core wires 14 of the secondary tape layer 14 b, may be polished paper or The surface may be roughened by gently rubbing about once or twice with an abrasive such as an abrasive cloth.

  Next, when the separation tool 20 is pressed against the optical fiber tape 10, the wire 23 is bent as shown in FIG. 2C, and the tip of the bent wire 23 is strong with the secondary tape layer 14 b of the optical fiber tape 10. Contact. With the separation tool 20 pressed against the optical fiber tape 10 as described above, the optical fiber tape 10 is repeatedly moved relatively in the length direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2C), that is, the wire rod of the separation tool 20. 23, when the secondary tape layer 14b is repeatedly rubbed, the secondary tape layer 14b is scratched or peeled off at the tip of the wire 23 to cause shaving or cracks that develop and break, and the internal primary tape layer 14a also As a result, the optical fiber tape 10 is separated into individual optical fiber cores 12. The wire rod 23 may be repeatedly pressed against the optical fiber tape 10 instead of being relatively repeatedly moved in the length direction of the optical fiber tape 10, or may be appropriately combined. .

  In such a method, the optical fiber tape 10 can be easily and safely separated into the single optical fiber 12 from the intermediate single fiber. Further, since there is almost no increase in the loss of the optical fiber, even when there is a live line in the optical fiber tape 10, the intermediate separation work can be performed without stopping the line.

  In the present embodiment, the number of optical fiber single core wires 12 to be arranged in parallel is not particularly limited. 3 and 4 show such an example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber tape 30 shown in FIG. 3 has two optical fiber single-core wires 12 arranged in parallel on the same plane. The optical fiber tape 40 shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which eight optical fiber single-core wires 12 are arranged in parallel on the same plane in the embodiment shown in FIG. In any of the optical fiber tapes 30 and 40, the optical fiber tape 30 and 40 can be easily and safely separated into single fibers, and even if there is a live line in the optical fiber tape to be intermediately separated, the loss of the optical fiber is increased. Therefore, the separation work can be performed without stopping the line, and the use efficiency of the optical fiber tape and the work efficiency can be improved. In addition, the load applied to the optical fiber tapes 30 and 40 during cable manufacture or removal from the cable may cause cracking, peeling, shaving, etc. in the tape layer 14 of the optical fiber tapes 30 and 40, and unnecessary single-core separation (separation). ) Does not occur, and can have excellent long-term reliability. Moreover, although illustration was abbreviate | omitted, the structure where resin interposes between the optical fiber single core wires 12 in parallel may be sufficient.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the optical fiber tape of the present invention, in which parts common to those in FIG.

  While the first embodiment is an example of an optical fiber tape that can be separated into single core wires, the optical fiber tape according to the present embodiment is a light that can be separated into optical fiber tapes with a small number of core wires. FIG. 1 is an example of a fiber tape, except that two optical fiber tape units 16 are used in place of four optical fiber single core wires 12, and the first embodiment shown in FIG. It is constituted similarly.

  That is, in the optical fiber tape 50 of this embodiment, two optical fiber single fibers 12 are placed in close contact with each other on the same plane, and the optical fiber tape unit 16 is formed by covering the tape layer 15 on the outside. Further, two optical fiber tape units 16 are arranged in substantially the same plane, that is, in the same direction as the arrangement direction of the optical fiber single-core wires 12 and are arranged in close contact with each other. The outer periphery has a structure in which a tape layer 14 having a two-layer structure including a primary tape layer 14a and a secondary tape layer 14b is collectively covered. The surfaces of the tape layer 16, the primary tape layer 14a, and the secondary tape layer 14b constituting the optical fiber tape unit 16 are not substantially uneven, and the optical fiber tape unit 16 and the optical fiber tape 50 Each has a substantially uniform thickness in the width direction. Hereinafter, the tape layer 15 of the optical fiber tape unit 16 is referred to as an internal tape layer 15, and the tape layer 14 that integrates the optical fiber tape unit 16, and the primary tape layer 14 a and the secondary tape layer 14 b that constitute the tape layer 14 These are referred to as an external tape layer 14, a primary external tape layer 14a, and a secondary external tape layer 14b, respectively.

  In the optical fiber tape 50 configured as described above, the two optical fiber tape units 16 arranged in parallel are made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less and a thickness t1 of 10 to 25 μm. Since the tape layer 14a is made of a resin having a Young's modulus of 400 to 1300 MPa at 23 ° C. and the thickness t2 is sequentially covered by a secondary external tape layer 14b having a thickness of 2 to 10 μm, it is easy and safe. The optical fiber tape unit 16, that is, an optical fiber tape having a small number of cores can be intermediately separated. In addition, since there is little fluctuation in the optical transmission loss during the separation work to the optical fiber tape unit 16, even if there is a live line in the optical fiber tape 50 to be intermediately separated, the separation work is performed without stopping the line. be able to. In addition, a load applied to the optical fiber tape 50 when the optical fiber tape 50 is taken out from the cable or when the optical fiber tape 50 is taken out from the cable, the outer tape layer 14 of the optical fiber tape 50 is cracked, peeled off, scraped, etc. Separation (separation) into units does not occur, and excellent long-term reliability can be obtained.

  For separating the optical fiber tape 50 into the optical fiber tape unit 16, a method similar to the method applied to the single-fiber separation of the four-core optical fiber tape 10 described above can be used.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the two optical fiber tape units 16 are arranged in parallel, but the number of the optical fiber tape units 16 to be arranged is not particularly limited, and the optical fiber tape unit 16 is configured. The number of optical fiber single core wires 12 to be used is not particularly limited. 6 and 7 show such an example, and the optical fiber tape 60 shown in FIG. 6 is an example in which four optical fiber tape units 16 are arranged in parallel in the embodiment shown in FIG. is there. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the optical fiber tape 70 shown in FIG. 7 is arranged in parallel with four optical fiber single-core wires 12 in close contact with each other in place of the two-fiber optical fiber tape unit 16. This is an example using a four-fiber optical fiber tape unit 16a in which an inner tape layer 15 is coated on the outside. These optical fiber tapes 60 and 70 can also be easily and safely separated into optical fiber tape units 16 and 16a, that is, optical fiber tapes with a small number of core wires. In addition, since there is little fluctuation in optical transmission loss during the separation work into the optical fiber tape units 16 and 16a, even if there is a live line in the optical fiber tapes 60 and 70 to be intermediately separated, the line is not stopped. Separation work can be performed. In addition, the external tape layer 14 of the optical fiber tapes 60, 70 may be cracked, peeled off, scraped, or the like due to the load applied to the optical fiber tapes 60, 70 when the optical fiber tapes 60, 70 are taken out from the cables. In addition, unnecessary long-term reliability can be obtained without causing separation (separation) into unnecessary optical fiber tape units 16 and 16a. Moreover, although illustration was abbreviate | omitted, the structure where resin interposes between the adjacent optical fiber tape units 16 and 16a or between the optical fiber single core wires 12 paralleled may be sufficient.

  Further, in the present invention, instead of the optical fiber tape unit 16, an optical fiber tape that can be separated into single cores, for example, optical fiber tapes 10, 30, and 40 as shown in FIGS. May be used. FIG. 8 shows such an example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a two-fiber optical fiber tape 30 shown in FIG. 3 is used in place of the two-fiber optical fiber tape unit 16. . The optical fiber tape 80 configured as described above can be easily and safely intermediate-separated into a single-core wire after intermediate separation into a small-fiber optical fiber tape 30.

  Here, the Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of the resin forming the primary (external) tape layer 14a, the thickness t1 of the primary (external) tape layer 14a, and the Young at 23 ° C. of the resin forming the secondary (external) tape layer 14b. Rate, thickness t2 of the secondary (external) tape layer 14b, intermediate separation into single cores or units, and peeling or scraping of the (external) tape layer of the optical fiber tape due to the load during cable manufacture Describes the results of experiments conducted to investigate the relationship with the occurrence of

  In the experiment, first, an optical fiber having an outer diameter (D) of 250 μm, in which a silica glass SM optical fiber having an outer diameter of 125 μm is coated with a urethane acrylate-based ultraviolet curable resin and further provided with a colored layer thereon. While two single core wires are juxtaposed on the same plane, a urethane acrylate UV curable resin having a Young's modulus (23 ° C.) of 1010 MPa is coated on the outer periphery and cured to a width of 0.55 mm and a thickness of 0. A 26 μm two-fiber optical fiber tape unit was manufactured.

  Next, while the obtained optical fiber tape units are arranged in parallel on the same plane, a urethane acrylate UV curable resin having a Young's modulus (23 ° C.) of 50 MPa, 100 MPa, 150 MPa or 200 MPa is coated on the outer periphery and cured. Then, after forming a primary tape layer having a thickness (t1) of 15 μm, a urethane acrylate UV curable resin having a Young's modulus (23 ° C.) of 200 MPa, 400 MPa, 500 MPa, 1000 MPa, or 1300 MPa is coated on the primary tape layer. And cured to form a secondary tape layer having a thickness (t2) of 1.5 μm, 3.0 μm, 5.0 μm, 8.0 μm or 12.0 μm, and manufacturing a 4-core optical fiber tape having a width of 1.2 mm did.

  The obtained four-core optical fiber tape (except for the case where the thickness (t2) of the secondary tape layer in which the uncoated portion was present was 1.5 μm) was obtained by the method described in FIG. Separation into fiber tape units was attempted, and the intermediate separation was evaluated. In addition, a slot-type optical cable is manufactured using the obtained optical fiber tape, and when the optical fiber tape is stored in the SZ groove, the secondary tape layer is peeled off or scraped and separated into optical fiber tape units. The presence or absence was examined. Note that the intermediate separability refers to the number of times the separation tool is moved on the tape layer before the optical fiber tape unit is separated (the movement in one direction is counted as one time), and the amount of increase in transmission loss during separation ( dB). Moreover, the microscope was used for observation of peeling and scraping of the secondary tape layer. These evaluation results are shown in Tables 1 to 4.

  The above experimental results show that the primary tape layer is formed of a resin having a thickness of 10 to 20 μm, a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and the secondary tape layer has a thickness of 2 to 10 μm. When formed with a resin having a Young's modulus of 400 to 1300 MPa at 0 ° C., the separability to the optical fiber tape unit is good, and the secondary tape layer is peeled off or scraped during cable formation and to the optical fiber tape unit. In particular, the primary tape layer is formed of a resin having a thickness of 10 to 20 μm and a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 50 to 100 MPa. When the secondary tape layer is formed of a resin having a thickness of 3 to 8 μm and a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 500 to 1000 MPa, good results are obtained. Which indicates that.

  Next, an optical cable using the optical fiber tape of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an optical cable using the optical fiber tape of the present invention.

  This optical cable 90 is a so-called slot-type optical cable suitable for use as a wiring cable for a subscriber optical wiring network. As shown in the figure, a steel wire, FRP (fiber reinforced plastic), etc. Polyethylene, etc., in which a plurality of (in the example of the drawing, 5) SZ-twisted grooves (SZ grooves) 92 extending in the longitudinal direction are provided at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction, with a tensile body 91 made of The slot rod 93 which consists of is provided. In each SZ groove 92 of the slot rod 93, a plurality of, for example, five optical fiber tapes 94 are stacked and accommodated, and the outer periphery of these is inserted with a presser wound layer 95, such as polyethylene. An outer cover 96 is provided. The optical fiber tape 94 uses the optical fiber tape of the present invention as described above. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 97 denotes a tear string vertically attached to the outer jacket 96 in order to easily take out the optical fiber tape 94.

  In such an optical cable 90, the optical fiber tape 94 can be separated into an optical fiber single fiber or an optical fiber tape unit very easily and safely, and is broken into a tape layer by a load during cable manufacture. Because optical fiber tape is used, which does not cause peeling, shaving, or separation of optical fiber single fiber or optical fiber tape unit, the optical fiber is pulled down to the home of general subscribers. Can be easily performed in a short time and has excellent long-term reliability.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of an optical cable using the optical fiber tape of the present invention.

  This optical cable 100 is an optical cable suitable for use as a so-called aerial optical drop cable, and is composed of a support line portion 101, a cable portion 102, and a connecting portion 103 for connecting them as shown in FIG. The support wire portion 101 is composed of a support wire 104 made of a steel wire or the like and an outer jacket 105 provided on the outer periphery thereof. The cable portion 102 includes one or a plurality of optical fiber tapes 106 (in the example of the drawing, one) and a steel wire G- It is composed of a tensile body 107 made of FRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic), aramid fiber reinforced plastic, etc. (G-FRP having a diameter of 0.4 mm in the example of the drawing), and a jacket 108 provided on the outside thereof. Yes.

  The outer sheath 105 of the support wire portion 101, the outer sheath 108 of the cable portion 102, and the connecting portion 103 are formed by batch extrusion of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and the outer sheath 108 of the cable portion 102. A tear notch 108a is provided at the center of both sides of the optical fiber tape 106 at the portion where the optical fiber tape 106 is located. At the time of cable connection work, the optical fiber tape 106 can be easily taken out by tearing the outer jacket 68 from these tearing notches 108a. The optical fiber tape 106 of the present invention as described above is used for the optical fiber tape 106.

  In such an optical cable 100, the optical fiber tape 106 can be separated into an optical fiber single fiber or an optical fiber tape unit very easily and safely, and at the load when the optical fiber tape is taken out from the cable. Because optical fiber tape that does not cause cracking, peeling, scraping, etc. in the tape layer, or separation (separation) of the optical fiber single fiber or optical fiber tape unit, is used. The optical fiber can be easily separated into a single optical fiber as necessary, and has excellent long-term reliability.

  In the present invention, an optical cable can be configured only by the cable portion 102 of the optical cable 100 shown in FIG. Such an optical cable is an optical cable suitable for use as a so-called underground optical drop cable. Like the optical cable 100 shown in FIG. 10, an optical fiber single fiber or an optical fiber can be easily used for cable terminal processing or the like as necessary. It can be separated into tape units and has excellent long-term reliability.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of an optical cable using the optical fiber tape of the present invention.

  The optical cable 110 is an optical cable suitable for use as a building cable in buildings and condominiums, and as shown in the figure, one to a plurality (two in the example of the drawing) of optical fiber tapes 111, A tensile body 112 made of steel wire, G-FRP, aramid fiber reinforced plastic or the like (G-FRP having a diameter of 0.7 mm in the example of the drawing) disposed in parallel on both sides of the optical fiber tape 111; , And an outer cover 113 provided on the outside thereof.

  The jacket 113 is formed by batch extrusion of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and tearing notches 113a are provided on both upper and lower surfaces of the jacket 113 on both sides of the optical fiber tape 111. Yes. The optical fiber tape 111 of the present invention as described above is used for the optical fiber tape 111.

  In such an optical cable 110, the optical fiber tape 111 can be separated into an optical fiber single fiber or an optical fiber tape unit very easily and safely, and the tape is loaded with a load when the optical fiber tape is taken out from the cable. Necessary for processing cable ends, etc., because optical fiber tape that does not cause cracks, delamination, scraping, or separation of optical fiber cores or optical fiber tape units is used. Accordingly, it can be easily separated into an optical fiber single fiber or an optical fiber tape unit, and has excellent long-term reliability.

It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the intermediate | middle single fiber separation method of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows one modification of 1st Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other modification of 1st Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows one modification of 2nd Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other modification of 2nd Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another modification of 2nd Embodiment of the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the optical cable using the optical fiber tape of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the optical cable using the optical fiber cable of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the further another example of the optical cable using the optical fiber cable of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 94, 106, 111 ... optical fiber tape, 12 ... optical fiber single core wire, 14 ... (external) tape layer, 14a ... primary (external) tape layer, 14b ... secondary (external) tape layer, 15 ... internal tape layer, 16, 16a ... optical fiber unit, 90, 100, 110 ... optical cable, 92 ... SZ groove, 93 ... slot rod

Claims (7)

An optical fiber tape in which a plurality of optical fiber single fibers are arranged in parallel, and a tape layer is coated on the outer periphery thereof,
The tape layer includes a primary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and a secondary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 400-1300 MPa provided on the primary tape layer. An optical fiber tape characterized by   The tape layer includes a primary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 50 to 100 MPa, and a secondary tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 500 to 1200 MPa provided on the primary tape layer. The optical fiber tape according to claim 1, comprising:   The optical fiber tape according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the primary tape layer has a thickness of 10 to 20 µm, and the secondary tape layer has a thickness of 2 to 10 µm.   The optical fiber tape according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the primary tape layer is 10 to 20 µm, and the thickness of the secondary tape layer is 3 to 8 µm. A plurality of optical fiber tape units in which a plurality of optical fiber single fibers are arranged in parallel and the outer periphery of which is coated with an internal tape layer are arranged in parallel in substantially the same direction as the arrangement direction of the optical fiber single fibers. An optical fiber tape coated with an external tape layer,
The external tape layer comprises a primary external tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and a secondary external made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. provided on the primary external tape layer of 400-1300 MPa. An optical fiber tape comprising a tape layer.   The internal tape layer includes a primary internal tape layer made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. of 150 MPa or less, and a secondary internal tape made of a resin having a Young's modulus at 23 ° C. provided on the primary internal tape layer of 400 to 1300 MPa. 6. The optical fiber tape according to claim 5, comprising a tape layer.   An optical cable comprising the optical fiber tape according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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