JP2011227298A - Optical fiber tape core wire, optical fiber cable and wiring form - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To excellently discriminate an optical fiber element having numerous types in an optical fiber tape core wire in which a plurality of the optical fiber elements are connected in parallel, and also discriminate the optical fiber tape core wire even when the optical fiber element is used as a unit by preventing reduction in discriminability due to aged deterioration and peeling off the taperized fiber.SOLUTION: For every predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction, a marking 4 having different one for each optical fiber element 1 is applied to the surface thereof, and the optical fiber table core wire is covered with a translucent colored layer having the same color for discriminating the optical fiber tape core wire.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are connected in parallel, an optical fiber cable configured using the optical fiber ribbon, and a wiring configuration.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Literature 1, an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are connected in parallel has been proposed. Such an optical fiber ribbon is formed by coating a plurality of parallel optical fibers with a taped material (coating material).

  In such an optical fiber ribbon, in order to identify each optical fiber constituting the optical fiber ribbon, the surface is colored in a different color for each optical fiber. Moreover, each optical fiber strand which comprises an optical fiber tape core wire is distinguishable also by giving a different marking to each optical fiber strand.

  Alternatively, each optical fiber can be identified by coloring or marking the surface of the covering material covering each optical fiber.

  Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which the surface of an optical fiber is colored by covering the surface of the optical fiber with a transparent coloring layer.

JP 2007-178883 A JP 2004-012680 A

  By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional optical fiber ribbon, when the surface of the optical fiber is colored, the number of colors that can be used is limited, and thus the number of optical fibers that can be identified is limited. Even if an intermediate color is used, the discrimination is not easy, and the discrimination becomes difficult. Moreover, even if it identifies with the combination of colors, identification is difficult. In addition, since the color of the optical fiber is identified through the taped material, good discrimination cannot be obtained.

  In addition, when marking is performed on an optical fiber, the color discriminating by the color of the optical fiber is deteriorated because the color of the optical fiber is blocked by the marking.

  When marking the surface of the taped material, the marking deteriorates over time due to the influence of temperature, humidity, etc., and the discriminability is lowered. In this case, when the taped material is peeled off and the optical fiber is used alone, the marking is lost together with the taped material.

  Furthermore, if the positions of the markings are dispersed in the longitudinal direction in the optical fiber ribbon, it becomes difficult to identify the combination of markings, resulting in a decrease in distinguishability.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and in an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are connected in parallel, many types of optical fiber ribbons are excellent. In addition, there is no decrease in the discriminability due to deterioration over time, and the optical fiber can be identified even when the optical fiber is used alone by removing the taped material. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber ribbon that is configured as described above, an optical fiber cable that is configured using the optical fiber ribbon, and a wiring configuration.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the above object, an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention has any one of the following configurations.

[Configuration 1]
In an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and covered with a tape material, the plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged at predetermined distances in the longitudinal direction. Different markings are applied to the surface, and the optical fiber tape core is covered with a translucent colored layer of the same color to identify the optical fiber tape. The taped material is made of a colorless and transparent material. It is characterized by that.

[Configuration 2]
In an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and covered with a taped material, the plurality of optical fiber strands have a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction except for a predetermined one. Different markings are applied to the surface of each optical fiber for each distance, and the optical fiber tape core is coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon. It is formed of a colorless and transparent material.

  Moreover, the optical fiber cable which concerns on this invention has the following structures.

[Configuration 3]
A plurality of optical fiber ribbons having the configuration 1 or the configuration 2 are used, and each of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons includes a plurality of optical fiber strands forming the optical fiber ribbon. Except for the predetermined one or all of them are covered with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon, and the color of the colored layer is different in different optical fiber ribbons. However, the color of the colored layer makes it possible to distinguish between the optical fiber ribbons.

  The wiring form according to the present invention has the following configuration.

[Configuration 4]
A plurality of optical fiber ribbons having the configuration 1 or the configuration 2 are used, and each of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons includes a plurality of optical fiber strands forming the optical fiber ribbon. Except for the predetermined one or all of them are covered with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon, and the color of the colored layer is different in different optical fiber ribbons. However, the color of the colored layer makes it possible to distinguish between the optical fiber ribbons.

  In the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, by having the configuration 1, the plurality of optical fibers are marked on the surface with different markings for each optical fiber at predetermined distances in the longitudinal direction. And is coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon, and the taped material is formed of a colorless and transparent material. It is possible to easily identify the optical fiber ribbon due to the applied coloring (colored layer), and by combining this color with the marking type, it is possible to increase the type (number) of optical fiber strands to be identified, Further, the visibility and discrimination of the marking are good, and the coloration (colored layer) of the optical fiber is easy to identify. Furthermore, even if the taped material is peeled off, the marking and coloring (colored layer) remain, so that identification is possible.

  In the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, by having the configuration 2, a plurality of optical fiber strands are provided for each optical fiber strand at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction except for a predetermined one. Are coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon, and the taped material is made of a colorless and transparent material. Therefore, it is easy to identify the optical fiber ribbon by coloring (colored layer) applied to the optical fiber, and the type (number) of optical fiber that is identified by the combination of this color and the marking type Further, the visibility and discrimination of the marking are good, and the coloring (colored layer) of the optical fiber is easy to identify.

  Further, the optical fiber cable and the wiring form according to the present invention are configured by using the optical fiber ribbon having the configuration 1 or the configuration 2, and in each of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons, the optical fiber tape Except for a predetermined one of the optical fiber strands constituting the core wire, or all of them are coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color for identifying the optical fiber tape core wire, The color of the colored layer is different for different optical fiber ribbons, and the color of this colored layer makes it possible to distinguish between the optical fiber ribbons. Makes it easy to identify the optical fiber ribbon, and by combining this color with the marking type, it is possible to increase the types (number) of optical fiber strands to be identified. Visibility, distinctness is good and it is easy to identify the coloring of the optical fiber (colored layer).

  That is, the present invention can satisfactorily identify many types of optical fiber ribbons in an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are connected in parallel, and can be distinguished by aging degradation. In addition, the optical fiber ribbon, which can be identified even when the optical fiber is used alone by peeling off the tape material, the optical fiber tape An optical fiber cable configured using a core wire and a wiring configuration can be provided.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the optical fiber strand which comprises the optical fiber tape cable core which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the optical fiber strand which comprises the optical fiber tape cable core which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a top view showing composition of an optical fiber tape cable core concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of a structure of the optical fiber strand which comprises the optical fiber tape cable core which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the optical fiber cable which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the Example of the optical fiber tape cable core which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of the comparative example of an optical fiber tape core wire. It is a top view which shows the kind of marking in an Example and a comparative example.

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

[First Embodiment of Optical Fiber Tape Core]
The optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel, and these optical fibers are connected to form a tape.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an optical fiber that constitutes an optical fiber ribbon according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an optical fiber 1 constituting an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is configured by coating an optical fiber 2 made of glass or quartz with a fiber coating 3. A predetermined marking 4 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the fiber coating 3 and is further covered with a translucent colored layer 5.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the optical fiber constituting the optical fiber ribbon according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the marking 4 is provided for each predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and is visible from the outside through the colored layer 5. In the colored layer 5, each optical fiber strand 1 constituting an optical fiber tape core wire described later is colored in the same color for identifying the optical fiber tape core wire.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the optical fiber ribbon according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical fiber ribbon according to this embodiment has a plurality of optical fiber strands 1 arranged in parallel and covered with a tape forming material 6 to be taped. The tape forming material 6 is made of a colorless and transparent material.

  In this optical fiber ribbon, each optical fiber can be identified by the type of the marking 4 and can be distinguished from other optical fiber ribbons by the same color of the colored layer 5. It can be carried out.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the configuration of the optical fiber that constitutes the optical fiber ribbon according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

  The marking 4 does not need to be applied over the entire outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1 and may be applied only to a part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1 as shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is different in marking for each optical fiber 1 for each predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction except for a predetermined one of the plurality of optical fibers 1. 4 may be applied to the surface and covered with a translucent colored layer 5 of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon. In this case, a predetermined single optical fiber 1 may be covered with a translucent colored layer 5 having the same color as the marking 4.

[Embodiment of optical fiber cable]
The optical fiber cable according to the present invention is constituted by using a plurality of optical fiber tape cores according to the present invention and covering the optical fiber tape cores with a jacket made of a synthetic resin material.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the optical fiber cable according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical fiber cable 10 according to the present invention is, for example, a center tube type optical fiber cable, and a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 11 are assembled in a bundle state, and a cable core is formed. Forming. In this optical fiber cable, a thermoplastic resin 8 is extruded into a tube shape on the outer periphery of a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 11 assembled in a bundle, and the outer periphery of the tube is sheathed with a jacket 9 such as polyethylene. It is configured.

  In the optical fiber cable 10, a plurality of optical fiber ribbons excluding a predetermined one of the optical fiber strands 1 constituting the optical fiber ribbon 11 or all of the optical fiber ribbons are all The optical fiber tape core wire 11 is covered with a translucent colored layer of the same color, and the color of the colored layer is different in different optical fiber tape core wires 11, and the color of the colored layer varies depending on the color of the colored layer. Identification between the fiber ribbons 11 is possible.

[Example of optical fiber ribbon]
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

  As an example of the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, an optical fiber ribbon was formed using an optical fiber 1 having an outer diameter of the fiber coating 3 of 250 microns. The marking 4 was intermittently applied in the longitudinal direction with a marking length of 2 mm and a marking pitch of 50 mm. On the marking 4, for the optical fiber strand 1 constituting one optical fiber ribbon, a colored layer 5 of the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon was coated. Another optical fiber strand 1 constituting another optical fiber ribbon was coated with another colored layer 5 of the same color.

  Four optical fiber strands 1 were arranged side by side, and each optical fiber strand 1 was covered with the tape forming material 6 by using an ultraviolet curable resin as the tape forming material 6 to form a tape.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration of a comparative example of the optical fiber ribbon.

  As a comparative example, an optical fiber ribbon was made using the same optical fiber as in the example as shown in FIG. In this optical fiber ribbon, each of the optical fiber strands 1 constituting the optical fiber ribbon was coated with a colored layer 5 of a different color.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing types of markings in Examples and Comparative Examples.

  In these examples and comparative examples, the marking 4 has four types as shown in (a) to (d) of FIG. That is, 4 (1) without marking (a), 1 with 2 mm marking (b), 2 with 2 mm marking (c), and 3 with 2 mm marking (d) It is a kind. Here, the state without marking is also considered as a kind of marking.

  When the discriminability of the optical fiber tape cores is compared for the optical fiber ribbons of these examples and comparative examples, the optical fiber tape cores of the examples in which the colored layers 5 of all the optical fiber strands 1 have the same color In FIG. 5, it was confirmed that the identification property of the optical fiber ribbon was significantly improved and the identification property of the marking 4 was also improved as compared with the optical fiber ribbon of the comparative example.

  Moreover, even if each optical fiber strand 1 was isolate | separated into single core, it confirmed that the marking 4 given to each optical fiber strand 1 could be visually recognized favorably. The optical fiber 1 divided into single cores could be easily identified by the combination of the marking 4 and the color of the colored layer 5.

  As for the marking, as shown in FIG. 4 described above, even when the marking is applied to only a part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 1, the marking 4 can be distinguished from the optical fiber ribbon of the comparative example. Was confirmed to be extremely improved.

  Various combinations of the color of the colored layer 5 and the marking 4 are conceivable and are not particularly limited. For example, the colored layer 5 may have various colors such as clear, purple, light blue, white, brown, gray, pink, and orange. Moreover, the color of the predetermined one colored layer 5 of the optical fiber strands 1 constituting the optical fiber ribbon may be the same as the color of the marking 4 of the other optical fiber strands 1. In this case, the predetermined single optical fiber is the same as the marking 4 on the whole in terms of visibility.

  Further, the number of optical fiber strands is not limited to four as shown in the embodiment, and may be any number.

  Furthermore, the above-described optical fiber cable cores may be used as subunits, and a plurality of optical fiber cable cores may be connected to form a separate type optical fiber cable core. In this case, the optical fiber cable core wire serving as the subunit has the colored layer 5 of the same color so that each subunit can be identified by the color of the colored layer 5.

[Example of optical fiber cable]
(1) SZ type optical fiber cable In this example, a 100-fiber SZ type optical fiber cable was prepared. An SZ type optical fiber cable includes a core having a slot groove formed by repeatedly reversing left and right on an outer peripheral surface, an optical fiber tape core housed in the slot groove of the core, and a core and an optical fiber tape core. Consists of a sheath covering the wire. In this embodiment, a core in which five slot grooves are formed is used, and five four-core tape core wires are accommodated in each slot groove. As the optical fiber ribbon, the four-fiber ribbons shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 were used.

  In each optical fiber ribbon, the color of the colored layer is different for each optical fiber ribbon according to the number of each optical fiber ribbon.

  Using these optical fiber cables, the discrimination was compared. The identifiability corresponding to each number was confirmed for the five optical fiber ribbons taken out from the slot grooves. When comparing the discrimination characteristics, together with the optical fiber cable of the embodiment, for comparison, the optical fiber tape optical fiber by the tracer method which is the identification method of the optical fiber tape optical core used conventionally is used. We also confirmed the fiber cable.

  The tracer method is an identification method in which the color of an optical fiber used as a tracer is different from that of other optical fiber ribbons, and is generally used for identifying optical fiber ribbons. For example, a typical example is a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon in which optical fiber strands used as a tracer and white, brown, and gray optical fiber strands are arranged. The optical fiber tape core No. 5 is distinguished from blue, yellow, green, red, and purple. White, brown, and ash are the same for all optical fiber ribbons, and each optical fiber ribbon is identified only by the tracer color, so check the color of the tracer, not the entire optical fiber ribbon. There is a need. That is, it is necessary to identify one color that is a tracer among the four thin optical fiber strands arranged side by side.

  In comparison between the optical fiber cable using the optical fiber ribbon shown in FIG. 6 and the optical fiber cable using the optical fiber ribbon shown in FIG. 7, the optical fiber according to the present invention shown in FIG. In the case where the optical fiber ribbon is used, the visibility of the colored layer 5 shown in FIG. 7 is overwhelmingly better than when the optical fiber ribbon is different for each optical fiber 1. .

  Also in comparison with the conventional tracer type, it was confirmed that the optical fiber tape core shown in FIG. 6 has better discrimination. In the case of the tracer type optical fiber ribbon, it is necessary to specify the color of the optical fiber that becomes the tracer. When the optical fiber ribbon shown is used, as described above, the identification can be performed in units of the optical fiber ribbon, and the identification is easier than the tracer type.

(2) Center tube type optical fiber cable In this example, a center tube type optical fiber cable was prepared.

  The center tube type optical fiber cable is a cable in which a space for storing an optical fiber ribbon or an interposition is formed on the central axis of the cable and the periphery is covered with a sheath. In such a cable, several to more than a dozen or more than 20 optical fiber strands or optical fiber ribbons are stored in the storage space. The present invention is effective in discriminating an arbitrary optical fiber ribbon from a large number of optical fiber ribbons in such a cable structure.

  The produced center tube type optical fiber cable is a 48-core optical fiber cable in which 12 sheets of 4-fiber ribbons are accommodated in a storage space on the central axis. As the optical fiber ribbon, the marking shown in FIG. 6 is applied, and the colors of the optical fiber strands are blue, yellow, green, red, purple, white, brown, ash, peach, and water. 12 optical fiber ribbons, clear and orange, were used. For comparison, an optical fiber cable using an optical fiber ribbon produced by a tracer method was created, and the discriminability of the optical fiber ribbon was compared. In the tracer method, in the same way as in the embodiment of the SZ type optical fiber cable, in addition to having to discriminate each tracer color, 12 tracer colors must be used, and in order to use multiple colors. For example, it is difficult to distinguish between red and pink, which are similar colors, and red and orange. On the other hand, when the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is used, a plurality of optical fiber strands 1 of the same color are arranged side by side. The discrimination of the core wire was good.

(3) Application to optical fiber coupler The optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is effective when it is desired to easily distinguish a plurality of optical fiber ribbons, such as various wirings, in addition to the optical fiber cable.

  As an example, an optical fiber coupler for simultaneously connecting a plurality of optical fiber ribbons was prepared using the optical fiber ribbon shown in FIG. Also in this case, as in the case of using the optical fiber cable, the optical fiber tape core wire has good discrimination and an improvement in workability is recognized. A plurality of such optical fiber couplers are used in closures, optical termination boxes, termination racks, and the like. Even when this optical fiber coupler is housed in a closure using a termination box or a splitter unit, the optical fiber tape core wire has good discrimination and improved workability.

  The present invention is applied to an optical fiber tape core wire in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are connected in parallel and an optical fiber cable configured using the optical fiber tape core wire.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber strand 2 Optical fiber 3 Fiber coating 4 Marking 5 Colored layer 6 Tape material

Claims (4)

In an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and covered with a tape material,
The plurality of optical fiber strands are provided with different markings on the surface for each predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction, and the same color for identifying the optical fiber ribbon. Is coated with a translucent colored layer of
The optical fiber tape core wire, wherein the tape forming material is made of a colorless and transparent material. In an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and covered with a tape material,
The plurality of optical fiber strands are provided with different markings on the surface for each predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction except for a predetermined one, and this optical fiber tape core. Covered with a translucent colored layer of the same color to identify the line,
The optical fiber tape core wire, wherein the tape forming material is made of a colorless and transparent material. An optical fiber cable configured by using a plurality of optical fiber ribbons according to claim 1 or claim 2,
In each of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons, one excluding a predetermined one of the optical fiber strands constituting the optical fiber ribbon or all of them identify the optical fiber ribbon. Coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color for
The optical fiber cable is characterized in that the color of the colored layer is different in different optical fiber ribbons, and the color of the colored layer enables discrimination between the optical fiber ribbons. A wiring configuration constituted by using a plurality of optical fiber ribbons according to claim 1 or claim 2,
In each of the plurality of optical fiber ribbons, one excluding a predetermined one of the optical fiber strands constituting the optical fiber ribbon or all of them are for identifying the optical fiber ribbon. Are coated with a translucent colored layer of the same color, and the color of the colored layer is different in different optical fiber ribbons, and the color of this colored layer makes it possible to distinguish between the optical fiber ribbons. Wiring configuration characterized by

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