JP2012088454A - Optical fiber unit and optical fiber cable including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber unit allowing a person to perform branching work by pulling out coated optical fibers without separating them; and to provide an optical fiber cable including the same.SOLUTION: An optical fiber unit 10A is formed by bundling the circumference of a bundle of a plurality of coated optical fibers 11 with two bundle materials 12 and 13, and the bundle materials 12 and 13 are mutually and intermittently bonded at intersections A. Both of the bundle material 12 and 13 are spirally wound around the circumference of the bundle of the plurality of coated optical fibers 11, the bundle material 13 of the bundle materials 12 and 13 is spirally wounded in the reverse direction to that of the other bundle material 12, and the reversely wound bundle material 13 is bonded at the intersections crossing with the other bundle material 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber unit in which a plurality of optical fiber cores are bundled with a bundle material, and an optical fiber cable including the same.

  As an optical fiber cable used for an optical network, there is one in which one or a plurality of optical fiber units obtained by unitizing a plurality of optical fiber cores are accommodated in an accommodation unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The optical fiber unit accommodated in such an optical fiber cable is integrated by spirally winding a thread-like or tape-like bundle material around a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber core wires (for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3) or two thread-like bundle materials integrated by winding in opposite spiral directions (for example, see Patent Document 4) are known. Moreover, what integrated by providing the resin coupling part which consists of adhesive resin between several optical fiber core wires is also known (for example, refer patent document 5).

JP 2003-302559 A JP 2007-10918 A JP 2007-10917 A JP 2007-10919 A JP-A-10-160987

  By the way, in an optical network using optical fiber cables, a desired optical fiber unit is selected from a plurality of optical fiber units when branching one or several optical fiber cores at an intermediate portion of the optical fiber cable. If it is selected and taken out, the bundle material of the optical fiber unit may slide with respect to the bundle of optical fiber core wires. If the bundle material slips with respect to the bundle of optical fiber core wires in this way, the bundled optical fiber core wires may be scattered, and branching may be difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber unit that can be taken out and smoothly branched without breaking the optical fiber core wire, and an optical fiber cable including the same.

  The optical fiber unit of the present invention capable of solving the above-mentioned problem is an optical fiber unit in which the periphery of a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber cores is bundled with at least two bundle materials, Is intermittently adhered.

In the optical fiber unit of the present invention, each of the bundle members is spirally wound around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber core wires,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is wound in a spiral shape opposite to the other bundle materials,
It is preferable that the bundle material wound in the reverse direction is bonded at an intersection that intersects with another bundle material.

In the optical fiber unit of the present invention, at least one bundle material among the bundle materials is disposed substantially parallel to a central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires,
The other bundle material is spirally wound around the bundle of optical fiber cores,
It is preferable that the bundle material wound spirally and the bundle material arranged substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle of optical fiber cores are bonded to each other at an intersection.

In the optical fiber unit of the present invention, at least one bundle material among the bundle materials is disposed substantially parallel to a central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires,
The other bundle material is wound around the bundle of optical fiber core wires in an SZ shape,
It is preferable that the bundle material wound in the SZ shape and the bundle material arranged substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle of the optical fiber core wires are bonded to each other at an intersection.

In the optical fiber unit of the present invention, each of the bundle members is wound around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber core wires in an SZ shape,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is wound in an SZ shape opposite to the other bundle materials,
It is preferable that the bundle material wound in the reverse direction is bonded at an intersection that intersects with another bundle material.

  The optical fiber cable of the present invention is characterized in that the outer periphery of a cable core formed by bundling a plurality of the optical fiber units of any of the present invention is covered with a jacket.

  According to the present invention, the bundle material that bundles a plurality of optical fiber cores is intermittently bonded to each other, so that when the desired unit is picked up at the time of intermediate post branching, the bundle material can be prevented from being displaced. Thereby, it is possible to perform the branching work by taking out the optical fiber without breaking the optical fiber, and the intermediate post-branching work can be facilitated.

It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the structure of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber unit which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the slotless type optical fiber cable which is one Embodiment of the optical fiber cable of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the slot type optical fiber cable which is one Embodiment of the optical fiber cable of this invention. It is a side view of the optical fiber cable which shows the intermediate | middle post branching operation | work in an optical fiber cable.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of an optical fiber unit and an optical fiber cable provided with the same according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the optical fiber unit according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the optical fiber unit 10 </ b> A according to the first embodiment has a plurality (seven in this embodiment) of optical fiber cores 11. These optical fiber core wires 11 are obtained by coating the periphery of a glass fiber made of a core and a clad with a jacket made of a synthetic resin.

  In the optical fiber unit 10 </ b> A, six optical fiber cores 11 are arranged around a central optical fiber core 11 to form a bundle, and around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber cores 11. Two linear bundle members 12 and 13 are spirally wound, and a plurality of optical fiber cores 11 are bundled by these bundle members 12 and 13. As these bundle materials 12 and 13, it is preferable to use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn, cotton yarn, polyester yarn, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tape, and stretched polyethylene (PE) tape yarn.

  These bundle members 12 and 13 are wound in a cross bind in which the directions of the spirals are opposite to each other, and an intersection A around the bundle of optical fiber core wires 11 is bonded and fixed by an adhesive. Has been. As the adhesive, an ultraviolet curable resin that does not adhere to the outer sheath of the optical fiber core wire 11 but selectively adheres only to the bundle materials 12 and 13 is used.

  The spiral pitch P of the bundle members 12 and 13 is in the range of 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less because both unit identification and branching workability are good, and is preferably about 150 mm. If the spiral pitch P of the bundle members 12 and 13 is too short, the optical fiber core wire 11 is likely to be bent when the desired optical fiber core wire 11 is taken out from the optical fiber unit 10A, resulting in an increase in optical transmission loss. Cause. If the pitch P of the spirals of the bundle members 12 and 13 is too long, the integrity of the optical fiber core wire 11 in the optical fiber unit 10A is weakened, and a desired optical fiber unit is selected from the plurality of optical fiber units 10A. The unit identification when selecting is deteriorated.

Next, the case where the above optical fiber unit 10A is manufactured will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the manufacturing apparatus 20A for manufacturing the optical fiber unit 10A includes two bundle material winding apparatuses 21 and 22. The bundle material winding devices 21 and 22 are sequentially fed with bundles of optical fiber core wires 11 that are fed out from the supply reel 29 and combined into one bundle.
Then, first, the bundle material 12 is spirally wound in one direction (for example, S winding) by the upstream bundle material winding device 21 with respect to the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11.

  Next, the bundle material 13 is spirally wound around the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11 in the other direction opposite to the bundle material 12 by the downstream bundle material winding device 22 (for example, Z winding). To do.

  This bundle material winding device 22 is provided with an adhesive application device 23, and the adhesive is continuously applied to the bundle material 13 wound around the bundle of optical fiber cores 11 by the adhesive application device 23. To do.

  Thereafter, the bundle of optical fiber cores 11 around which the bundle materials 12 and 13 are wound is sent to an adhesive curing device 24 including an ultraviolet irradiation furnace provided on the downstream side of the bundle material winding device 22 and the adhesive is supplied. Cured and wound on a take-up bobbin 25.

  In this way, the two bundle members 12 and 13 are spirally wound in opposite directions around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber core wires 11, and the intersection A of the respective bundle members 12 and 13 is bonded. An optical fiber unit 10A that is intermittently bonded and fixed by the agent is obtained.

  In addition, although the bundle materials 12 and 13 are bonded as an adhesive applied to the bundle material 13, only the bundle materials 12 and 13 are used by using an adhesive that is not bonded to the jacket of the optical fiber core wire 11. Can be bonded at the intersection A.

  As described above, according to the optical fiber unit 10A according to the first embodiment, the bundle members 12 and 13 for bundling a plurality of optical fiber cores 11 are intermittently bonded to each other, which is desired at the time of intermediate post branching. When the unit is picked up, it is possible to prevent the bundle materials 12 and 13 from shifting.

  In particular, since the two bundle members 12 and 13 are spirally wound in opposite directions and the intersection A is adhered, the plurality of optical fiber cores 11 are longitudinally connected by these bundle members 12 and 13. It can be kept in a well-balanced state and can be kept in one bundle.

  Moreover, since the two bundle materials 12 and 13 are always visible, extremely good unit identification can be ensured. Moreover, since the two bundle members 12 and 13 are both spirally wound, the optical fiber core wire 11 is maintained in a unified state even when the bonded portion at the intersection A is removed. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the bundled optical fibers 11 are separated, and the unit can be easily taken out.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an optical fiber unit according to the second embodiment will be described.
In addition, the same component as 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the optical fiber unit 10B according to the second embodiment, one bundle member 12 is spirally formed with respect to a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber cores 11 (seven in this embodiment). The other bundle material 13 is vertically attached in a straight line in the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires 11. Also in the case of this optical fiber unit 10B, the intersection A of the bundle members 12 and 13 is bonded and fixed with an adhesive.

  The spiral pitch P of the bundle material 12 is preferably 40 mm or more and 150 mm or less. By setting the pitch P within this range, both unit identification and branching workability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the manufacturing apparatus 20 </ b> B for manufacturing the optical fiber unit 10 </ b> B includes a bundle material feeding device 26 instead of the bundle material winding device 22 on the downstream side.

  In this manufacturing apparatus 20B, the bundle material 12 is spirally wound around the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11 by the bundle material winding device 21, and then the bundle material 13 is fed out from the bundle material feed device 26 and the optical fiber core. Append vertically to the bundle of wires 11. At that time, the adhesive is continuously applied to the bundle material 13 by the adhesive application device 23 provided in the bundle material feeding device 26. Then, after the bundle material 13 is vertically attached, the adhesive is cured by the adhesive curing device 24 and wound around the winding bobbin 25.

  Also in the case of the optical fiber unit 10B according to the second embodiment, a desired unit is picked up at the time of intermediate post-branching by intermittently bonding the bundle members 12 and 13 that bundle a plurality of optical fiber core wires 11 together. At this time, it is possible to prevent the bundle materials 12 and 13 from being displaced. As a result, the bundled optical fiber cores 11 do not come apart, the unit can be reliably identified, and the take-out operation can be easily performed.

  In particular, since the winding is simplified by vertically attaching one bundle material 13 in the longitudinal direction, labor during manufacturing can be reduced. Further, by providing the bundle material 13 vertically, the productivity can be improved by facilitating the application of the adhesive.

  Further, as a device for supplying the bundle material 13, a bundle material feeding device having a simple structure can be used instead of the bundle material winding device. Thereby, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by facilitating the manufacturing and reducing the equipment cost.

(Third embodiment)
Next, an optical fiber unit according to the third embodiment will be described.
Note that the same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical fiber unit 10C according to the third embodiment uses one bundle material 12 for a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber core wires 11 (seven in this embodiment). Another bundle material 13 is wound around the fiber core wire 11 in a straight line in the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle. Here, the bundle material 13 is wound in a so-called SZ shape in which the winding direction is periodically reversed. In the case of the optical fiber unit 10C, the bundle material 13 intersects (or overlaps) the bundle material 12 at the reversal point in the winding direction, and the intersection A of the bundle materials 12 and 13 is bonded and fixed with an adhesive.

  The winding pitch P of the bundle material 13 is preferably 40 mm or more and 150 mm or less. By setting the pitch P within this range, both unit identification and branching workability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the manufacturing apparatus 20 </ b> C for manufacturing the optical fiber unit 10 </ b> C includes two bundle material feeding apparatuses 26 and 27.

  In this manufacturing apparatus 20B, the bundle material 12 is vertically attached to the bundle of optical fiber core wires 11 from the bundle material feeding device 26 on the upstream side, and then the bundle material 13 is fed from the bundle material feeding device 27 on the downstream side. At that time, the adhesive is continuously applied to the bundle material 12 by the adhesive application device 23 provided in the bundle material feeding device 26. Further, the bundle material 13 drawn out from the bundle material drawing device 27 is swung by the rocking device 28, whereby the bundle material 13 is wound around the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11 in an SZ shape. Then, after the bundle material 13 is wound, the adhesive is immediately cured by the adhesive curing device 24 and wound around the winding bobbin 25.

  In the third embodiment, a hot melt adhesive is used as the adhesive, and an air cooling device that cools and cures the hot melt adhesive is used as the adhesive curing device 24.

  Also in the case of the optical fiber unit 10C according to the third embodiment, a desired unit is picked up at the time of intermediate post-branching by intermittently bonding the bundle members 12 and 13 that bundle a plurality of optical fiber core wires 11 together. At this time, it is possible to prevent the bundle materials 12 and 13 from being displaced. As a result, the bundled optical fiber cores 11 do not come apart, the unit can be reliably identified, and the take-out operation can be easily performed.

  In particular, since the winding is simplified by vertically attaching one bundle material 12 in the longitudinal direction, labor during manufacture can be reduced. Further, by providing the bundle material 12 vertically, the productivity can be improved by facilitating the application of the adhesive.

  In addition, as a device for supplying the respective bundle materials 12 and 13, a bundle material feeding device having a simple structure can be used instead of the bundle material winding device, and the manufacturing cost can be facilitated and the equipment cost can be reduced. Can be reduced.

  Moreover, the other bundle material 13 is wound in an SZ shape, and is adhesively fixed to the bundle material 12 with an adhesive at the reversal location in the winding direction, so that by removing the adhesion location of the bundle materials 12 and 13, The optical fiber core wire 11 can be easily separated, and any one optical fiber core wire 11 can be easily taken out.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, an optical fiber unit according to the fourth embodiment will be described.
Note that the same components as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 7, an optical fiber unit 10D according to the fourth embodiment includes two bundle members 12 and 13 for a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber cores 11 (seven in this embodiment). , Wound in an SZ shape.

  In the case of the optical fiber unit 10D, the bundle members 12 and 13 intersect with each other at the reversal points in the winding direction, and the intersection A of the bundle members 12 and 13 is bonded and fixed with an adhesive.

  The winding pitch P of each of the bundle members 12 and 13 is preferably 80 mm or more and 200 mm or less. By setting the pitch P within this range, both unit identification and branching workability can be improved.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the manufacturing apparatus 20D for manufacturing the optical fiber unit 10D includes two bundle material feeding devices 26 and 27, and these bundle material feeding devices 26 and 27 handle the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11. It is arranged at the opposite position across.

  In the manufacturing apparatus 20 </ b> D, the bundle materials 12 and 13 are fed out from the bundle material feeding devices 26 and 27 to the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11. At that time, the adhesive is continuously applied to the bundle material 12 by the adhesive application device 23 provided in the bundle material feeding device 26. In addition, the bundle members 12 and 13 drawn out from these bundle member feeding devices 26 and 27 are swung in opposite directions by the swinging device 28, so that the bundle material 12 with respect to the bundle of the optical fiber core wires 11. , 13 are wound in an SZ shape. After the bundle materials 12 and 13 are wound, the adhesive is immediately cured by the adhesive curing device 24 and wound on the winding bobbin 25.

  Also in the case of the fourth embodiment, a hot melt adhesive is used as the adhesive, and an air cooling device that cools and cures the hot melt adhesive is used as the adhesive curing device 24.

  Also in the case of the optical fiber unit 10D according to the fourth embodiment, a desired unit is picked up at the time of intermediate post-branching by intermittently bonding the bundle members 12 and 13 that bundle a plurality of optical fiber core wires 11 together. At this time, it is possible to prevent the bundle materials 12 and 13 from being displaced. As a result, the bundled optical fiber cores 11 do not come apart, the unit can be reliably identified, and the take-out operation can be facilitated.

  In addition, as a device for supplying the respective bundle materials 12 and 13, a bundle material feeding device having a simple structure can be used instead of the bundle material winding device, and the manufacturing cost can be facilitated and the equipment cost can be reduced. Can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the two bundle materials 12 and 13 are always visible, extremely good unit identification can be ensured. Moreover, since the two bundle members 12 and 13 are wound in an SZ shape, and the bundle members 12 and 13 are bonded and fixed to each other at an inverted portion in the winding direction, the bonding portions of the bundle members 12 and 13 are attached to each other. By removing, the optical fiber core wire 11 can be easily separated, and any one optical fiber core wire 11 can be easily taken out.

Next, an optical fiber cable according to the present embodiment including at least one of the optical fiber units 10A to 10D will be described.
As shown in FIG. 9, the optical fiber cable 30 according to the present embodiment includes a cable core 31 in which any one or a plurality of the optical fiber units 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> D described above are arranged in a plurality of groups via a buffer layer 32. This is a slotless type optical fiber cable accommodated in a pipe-shaped sheath 33.

  Inside the sheath 33, tension members 34 are provided above and below the cable core 31. Further, for example, a support portion 35 having a support wire 35 a formed by twisting a plurality of steel wires can be used by being connected to the sheath 33 via the connection portion 36.

  Moreover, what is shown in FIG. 10 is the optical fiber cable 40 of another structure. This optical fiber cable 40 is a slot-type optical device in which any one of the above-described optical fiber units 10A to 10D is accommodated in a slot groove 43 formed on the surface of a slot rod 42 having a tension member 41 as a strength member at the center of the axis. Fiber cable. In this optical fiber cable 40, the outer surface of the cable core 48 including the cable core 42 having the slot groove 43 that bundles and stores the optical fiber units 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> D is covered with the sheath 44.

  Similar to the optical fiber cable 30, the support portion 45 having the support wire 45 a can be used by being connected to the sheath 44 via the connection portion 46. In this example, five slot grooves 43 are provided, and each of the slot grooves 43 can accommodate five optical fiber units 10A to 10D. The numbers of the slot grooves 43 and the optical fiber units 10A to 10D are not limited to this. Further, an identification mark 47 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the slot rod 42 so that the predetermined slot groove 43 can be specified.

The optical fiber cables 30 and 40 may branch off one or several optical fiber core wires 11 at an intermediate portion of the cables.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the intermediate post-branching operation is performed, at the branch portion, the sheaths 33 and 44, the buffer layer 32, or the slot rod 42 of about 500 mm in the intermediate portion of the optical fiber cables 30 and 40 are removed to remove the optical fiber. A predetermined unit is taken out with the units 10A to 10D exposed. And the predetermined | prescribed optical fiber core wire 11 branched from this predetermined | prescribed unit is pulled out.

  At that time, the optical fiber cables 30 and 40 are provided with the optical fiber units 10A to 10D which are excellent in unit identification and facilitate the operation of taking out the unit. The unit can be identified and removed. That is, an optical fiber cable excellent in intermediate post branching workability can be obtained.

10A to 10D: optical fiber unit, 11: optical fiber core wire, 12, 13: bundle material, 30, 40: optical fiber cable, 31, 48: cable core, 33, 44: sheath (outer jacket), A: intersection

Claims (6)

An optical fiber unit formed by bundling a bundle of a plurality of optical fiber core wires with at least two bundle members,
An optical fiber unit, wherein the bundle materials are intermittently bonded to each other. The optical fiber unit according to claim 1,
The bundle material is spirally wound around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber cores,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is wound in a spiral shape opposite to the other bundle materials,
The optical fiber unit, wherein the bundle material wound in the reverse direction is bonded at an intersection that intersects with another bundle material. The optical fiber unit according to claim 1,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is disposed substantially parallel to a central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires,
The other bundle material is spirally wound around the bundle of optical fiber cores,
An optical fiber unit, wherein the bundle material wound spirally and the bundle material arranged substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires are bonded to each other at an intersection . The optical fiber unit according to claim 1,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is disposed substantially parallel to a central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires,
The other bundle material is wound around the bundle of optical fiber core wires in an SZ shape,
An optical fiber unit, wherein the bundle material wound in the SZ shape and the bundle material arranged substantially parallel to the central axis of the bundle of optical fiber core wires are bonded at an intersection of each other. The optical fiber unit according to claim 1,
Each of the bundle materials is wound in an SZ shape around the bundle of the plurality of optical fiber core wires,
At least one bundle material among the bundle materials is wound in an SZ shape opposite to the other bundle materials,
The optical fiber unit, wherein the bundle material wound in the opposite direction is bonded at an intersection that intersects with another bundle material.   An optical fiber cable, wherein an outer periphery of a cable core formed by bundling a plurality of optical fiber units according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is covered with a jacket.

Images