JP2015137995A - Optical fiber screening test apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent strand slapping accompanying the sudden stop of the rotation of a take-up bobbin when a low strength part of an optical fiber is broken and, at the same time, preventing positional misalignment of wound layers by the take-up bobbin by inertia, preventing occurrence of strand detachment right in rear of a tension application unit, and preventing occurrence of transmission loss of wound lower layers due to excessive winding tension.SOLUTION: Provided is a screening test apparatus unwinding an optical fiber from a delivery bobbin, traveling the optical fiber in a tension application section, and winding the optical fiber around a take-up bobbin, configured so that an incoming-side take-up machine, an outgoing-side take-up machine, and a final take-up machine are disposed in a travel route from the delivery bobbin to the take-up bobbin in order, an interval between the incoming-side take-up machine and the outgoing-side take-up machine serves as the tension application section, an interval between the outgoing-side take-up machine and the final take-up machine serves as a strand storage section, each take-up machine receives drive torque to apply tension to the optical fiber, and the strand storage section is constituted by a plurality of freely rotatable pulleys.

Description

  The present invention relates to a screening test apparatus for detecting and breaking a low-strength portion of a manufactured optical fiber such as an optical fiber to ensure product strength.

  As is well known, in the manufacturing process of an optical fiber, for example, in the manufacturing process of an optical fiber, in order to guarantee the strength of the optical fiber shipped as a product, while running the optical fiber continuously in the final stage, A tension test is applied to the optical fiber strand and a continuous tensile test is performed to disconnect the low-strength portion, and the disconnected optical fiber strand is discarded or the vicinity of the disconnected portion is removed. This type of continuous tensile test is called a screening test. The strength of the optical fiber that has not been broken by such a screening test is guaranteed, and thus this type of test apparatus is sometimes called a proof tester.

As a conventional representative apparatus for performing the screening test as described above, that is, a screening test apparatus, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 4 is known.
In FIG. 4, the optical fiber 1 to be used for the screening test method is wound in advance on a delivery-side bobbin 3, and when performing the screening test, the delivery-side bobbin 3 is attached to the delivery machine 4. Then, the wire 1 is continuously fed out from the delivery side bobbin 3. The fed optical fiber 1 passes through the delivery side dancer device 5, is wound around the incoming side take-up machine 7, the plurality of turn pulleys 9 a to 9 e, and the outgoing line-side take-up machine 11 in that order, and continuously runs. It is wound up by a take-up bobbin 15 attached to a winder 14 via a take-up dancer device 13.

  Here, the delivery-side dancer device 5 is configured to apply an appropriate tension to the optical fiber by a tension applying means such as a weight. That is, a relatively small tension necessary for drawing out from the delivery-side bobbin 3 is applied to the optical fiber 1. On the other hand, when the incoming wire side take-up machine 7 and the outgoing line side wire take-up machine 11 are given torque by a torque applying means such as a motor (not shown), the optical fiber 1 has a low-strength portion unsuitable as a product. It is comprised so that the comparatively big tension | tensile_strength for fracture | rupturing the low intensity | strength site | part may be given between the incoming line side take-up machine 7 and the outgoing line side take-up machine 11. FIG. Accordingly, the portion from the incoming line side take-up machine 7 to the outgoing line side take-up machine 11, that is, the part that travels while being sequentially wound around the plurality of turn pulleys 9 a to 9 e corresponds to the tension applying unit 9.

  If there is a low-strength portion unsuitable for a product in the optical fiber 1 subjected to the screening test, it is given at the tension applying section 9 between the incoming wire take-up machine 7 and the outgoing wire-side take-up machine 11. Due to the tension, the optical fiber 1 is disconnected at the low strength portion. An example of the broken portion is indicated by a symbol P in FIG. On the other hand, the strength of the optical fiber 1 that has been normally wound by the winding bobbin 15 without breaking in the middle is guaranteed.

By the way, in the optical fiber screening test, when the optical fiber strand is broken, the end portion (the portion on the broken end side) where the strand is broken is wound on the outer periphery of the take-up bobbin 15 and is wound. In addition, a phenomenon may occur in which a normal wire (optical fiber wire on the outer periphery of the winding bobbin) already wound on the winding bobbin 15 is hit. Such a phenomenon is generally referred to as “line hataki” or “line hitting”, and is referred to as “line hataki” in this specification.
If such line scratches occur, the optical fiber already wound on the winding bobbin 15 may be damaged or the performance may be deteriorated, resulting in a defective product. That is, the optical fiber is generally made of hard and brittle quartz glass and is extremely thin. If the pre-winding wire on the outer periphery of the winding bobbin 15 is hit by the winding of the broken end portion as described above, Winding strands are easily damaged or broken. Especially when conducting a screening test at high speed, the optical fiber strand travels at high speed. Because it is struck by the wire, the pre-winding wire is easily damaged.

In order to prevent the wire flaking, conventionally, when the optical fiber is broken in the middle, the wire bobbin 15 is suddenly stopped by detecting it by some disconnection detecting means. Yes. In other words, if the rotation of the take-up bobbin 15 is suddenly stopped so that the broken terminal portion can be prevented from reaching the take-up bobbin 15, line flaking can be prevented. However, if the rotation of the take-up bobbin 15 is suddenly stopped, the wound wire on the outer periphery of the bobbin is caused to move in the circumferential direction with respect to the bobbin due to the inertial force in the circumferential direction, even if the wire boring can be prevented. A phenomenon that shifts may occur. Such a phenomenon is referred to as “position shift” in this specification.
If such misalignment occurs, the pre-wound wire layer on the outer periphery of the take-up bobbin may collapse or a side pressure may be applied to the wire in the pre-wound wire layer, resulting in optical fiber transmission. Problems with loss are likely to occur.

  Further, even when the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 is suddenly stopped as described above, after the disconnection of the optical fiber strand is detected and the disconnection is detected, until the rotation of the winding bobbin is actually stopped. Therefore, when a screening test is performed at a high speed, the broken end of the optical fiber reaches the winding bobbin before the rotation of the winding bobbin actually stops, and line fluttering occurs. There was a case.

  Here, the problem of the misalignment of the pre-winding element wire with respect to the bobbin in the case of the sudden stop method described above is that the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 is gently stopped (slowly stopped) when the optical fiber element wire is disconnected. It is possible to avoid by. In that case, however, it is impossible to prevent the occurrence of line scratches.

  By the way, as a method for preventing the occurrence of line fluttering and also preventing the occurrence of the above-mentioned positional deviation, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the winder 14, A number of pulleys 31 a to 31 e that can be freely rotated are provided, and the length of the travel path (pass line) of the optical fiber 1 between the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 and the take-up bobbin 15 is determined in the conventional manner. It has already been proposed to make the length significantly longer than a screening test apparatus, that is, to provide the pass line extension 31 between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the winding bobbin 15 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  As shown in FIG. 5, a pass line extension 31 is provided between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the take-up bobbin 15 so that the take-up bobbin is gently stopped (slowly stopped) when breakage occurs. By controlling, it becomes possible to prevent line flaking while preventing the occurrence of the above-mentioned positional deviation. That is, in this case, the inertial force in the bobbin circumferential direction of the pre-winding element wire when the winding bobbin stops rotating can be reduced by gently stopping the winding bobbin when breakage occurs. The occurrence of misalignment can be avoided. Further, in this case, by providing the pass line extension 31 composed of a large number of pulleys 31a to 31f, the length of the pass line from the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 to the winding bobbin 15 is ensured greatly. Even if the take-up bobbin stops slowly when the strand breaks, the take-up bobbin rotates after the optical fiber strand breaks at the tension application section and before the broken end reaches the take-up bobbin. Can be reliably stopped, and line fluttering can be avoided.

However, when the pass line extension part 31 is provided between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the winding bobbin 15 as shown in FIG.
That is, since a large number of pulleys 31a to 31f are provided as the pass line extension 31 between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the take-up bobbin 14, the frictional resistance against the rotation of the pulleys 31a to 31f in the pass line extension 31 The air resistance against the rotation of the pulleys 31a to 31f and the traveling of the optical fiber 1 is also increased at the same time. Such an increase in resistance in the pass line extension 31 reduces the strand tension at the upstream side in the pass line extension 31 (the side closer to the outgoing line take-up machine 11), and as a result. Immediately after the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11, there is a possibility that the strands loosen and come off the pulley due to insufficient tension, and the smooth travel of the strands may be hindered. In this specification, the phenomenon that the strands are detached from the pulley immediately after the outgoing line side take-up machine is referred to as “out-of-line”.

  In order to prevent such a line disconnection, a tension of such a magnitude that does not cause a line disconnection is secured at the upstream side in the pass line extension 31 (on the outgoing line side take-up machine side). The tension from the downstream side of the pass line extension, that is, the winding tension may be increased. However, if the take-up tension is excessive, the optical fiber strand is wound on the take-up layer with a large tension in the take-up bobbin, so that the strand is strong on the lower side of the take-up layer (lower wound layer). This causes a problem that the transmission loss of the optical fiber becomes large at the portion. Such a phenomenon is referred to as “lower winding loss increase” in this specification.

  As described above, when a pass line extension comprising a large number of pulleys is provided between the take-out side take-up machine and the take-up bobbin, the problem of off-line and the problem of increased lower-winding loss are in terms of tension. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to simultaneously prevent the problem of off-line and the increase of lower winding loss. Even if an appropriate winding tension that can prevent both problems is found, the range of the appropriate tension must be narrowed. It was difficult to prevent problems simultaneously and reliably.

  As described above, in the conventional proposed method of providing a pass line extension portion including a large number of pulleys between the outgoing line side take-up machine and the take-up bobbin, even if the problem of line fluttering and misalignment can be prevented, A problem of off-line or an increase in lower winding loss will occur.

  After all, conventionally, it has been difficult to simultaneously solve the problems of line fluttering, misalignment, line deviation, and increase in lower winding loss. In particular, recently, with the increase in the speed of optical fiber production, the traveling speed of the optical fiber in the screening test is also increased, and the screening test is performed while the optical fiber is continuously traveling at a high speed of several tens of meters / second or more. In such a high-speed screening test, one of the above problems is likely to occur at present. Therefore, there is a strong demand for the development of a screening test apparatus that can simultaneously solve these problems.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-114537

  The present invention has been made against the background described above. As a device for performing a screening test on an optical fiber, when the low-strength portion of the optical fiber is broken, the winding bobbin is rotated. At the same time as preventing the occurrence of wire scratches due to sudden stops, the optical fiber already wound on the take-up bobbin during a sudden stop of the take-up bobbin is displaced with respect to the bobbin due to inertia. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of line detachment immediately after the tension applying section, and the winding tension in the winding bobbin becomes excessive, and the lower winding due to the pressing of the optical fiber strand in the winding lower layer It is an object of the present invention to provide a screening test apparatus capable of preventing an increase in loss.

  As a result of repeated experiments and examinations by the present inventors to solve the above-described problems, a new separation has been made between the take-up machine on the downstream side of the tension application unit (outgoing-side take-up machine) and the take-up bobbin. A take-up machine (final take-up machine) is provided, and the area between the take-out side take-up machine and the final take-up machine is used as a storage section for increasing the length of the pass line, and between the storage section and the take-up bobbin. It is found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved all at once by preventing the tension (winding tension) from the winding bobbin side from directly affecting the storage section by the final take-up machine interposed in the belt. The present invention has been made.

Accordingly, an optical fiber screening test apparatus according to the basic aspect (first aspect) of the present invention is:
The optical fiber is continuously fed out from the delivery-side bobbin, and the optical fiber is continuously run through the tension applying unit that applies tension to break the low strength portion of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber after passing through the tension applying unit is wound. In an optical fiber screening test device that is continuously wound around a take-up bobbin,
In the traveling path of the optical fiber from the delivery side bobbin to the take-up bobbin, the incoming side take-up machine, the outgoing line side take-up machine, and the final take-up machine from the delivery side bobbin side to the take-up bobbin side. They are arranged in that order, and the tension application section is between the incoming line side take-out machine and the outgoing line side take-up machine, and a predetermined length is provided between the outgoing line-side take-up machine and the final take-up machine. In the storage section for running the optical fiber, the incoming line side take-out machine, the outgoing line side take-up machine and the final take-up machine are each configured to apply a driving torque to apply tension to the optical fiber, In addition, the storage line portion is constituted by a plurality of pulleys that can freely rotate.

  In such a screening test apparatus according to the first aspect, a storage section is provided on the downstream side of the tension applying section and the upstream side of the take-up bobbin for increasing the length of the optical fiber pass line. Therefore, the traveling distance of the optical fiber from the optical fiber breaking position (usually near the exit of the tension applying unit) to the winding bobbin can be increased, and therefore, the rotation stop of the winding bobbin when the optical fiber is broken, A slow stop can be achieved (rotational deceleration is reduced). In this way, by making the winding stop when the optical fiber is broken slowly, the occurrence of a phenomenon (line flutter) in which the broken end of the optical fiber hits the already wound layer of the winding bobbin strongly can be prevented. Similarly, since the rotation of the winding bobbin when the optical fiber is broken can be stopped slowly (rotational deceleration is reduced), the winding bobbin is already wound by the sudden stop of the winding bobbin. It is also possible to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon (position shift) in which the layering layer moves in the circumferential direction with respect to the winding bobbin due to inertia.

  Furthermore, the final take-up machine for applying a new tension between the take-out machine on the outlet side of the tension applying part (outgoing-side take-up machine) and the take-up machine (winding bobbin) for applying the take-up tension. Is arranged, and a space between the outgoing line side take-up machine and the final take-up machine serves as a storage section for increasing the length of the optical fiber pass line. Therefore, the tension relationship from the outgoing line side take-up machine to the take-up machine (winding bobbin) is divided by the final take-up machine. In other words, since the winding tension does not affect the storage section, the tension of the final take-up machine is too low near the entrance of the storage section (near the exit of the take-out side take-up machine). By setting the size so as to avoid the occurrence of a phenomenon that the fiber is detached from the pulley (out of line), it is possible to avoid out of line in the vicinity of the storage section entrance. At the same time, it is not necessary to make the take-up tension excessive in order to prevent the occurrence of wire disconnection near the exit of the take-out side take-up machine. Occurrence of a phenomenon (transmission loss increase) in which a transmission loss occurs due to strong pressing of the layer can be avoided.

  An optical fiber screening test apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the screening test apparatus according to the first aspect, the outgoing line side take-up machine is constituted by a belt wrap type capstan. To do.

    According to the optical fiber screening test apparatus of the present invention, when a low-strength portion of the optical fiber strand is disconnected, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the line fluttering with the stop of the rotation of the winding bobbin. At the same time, when the winding bobbin stops rotating, the optical fiber already wound on the winding bobbin can be prevented from being displaced due to inertia, and in the vicinity of the entrance of the storage line. Generation | occurrence | production of line | wire deviation can be avoided and generation | occurrence | production of the problem of the increase in lower winding loss by the winding tension | tensile_strength in a winding bobbin becoming excessive and the optical fiber strand of a winding lower layer being pressed can also be avoided.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a screening test apparatus of the present invention. It is a rough perspective view which shows another example of the storage line part used for 1st Embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a screening test apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the conventional general screening test apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows another example of the conventional screening test apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the screening test apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the same elements as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS.

In FIG. 1, an optical fiber 1 is wound in advance on a delivery-side bobbin 3, and this delivery-side bobbin 3 is detachably attached to a feeder 4. The specific configuration of the feeding machine 4 may be the same as that of a general screening test apparatus. For example, a winding bobbin is wound around a winding drive shaft that is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism such as a motor or a speed reducer (not shown). What is necessary is just to set it as the structure which attaches 15 so that attachment or detachment is possible.
The strand 1 continuously drawn out from the take-up bobbin 15 is subjected to a screening test during the continuous running, and is finally taken up by the take-up bobbin 15 attached to the winder 14.
Similarly to a general winder, the winder 14 is configured so that the take-up bobbin 15 is detachably attached to a take-up drive shaft that is rotationally driven by a drive mechanism such as a motor or a speed reducer (not shown). Good.

  The travel path of the optical fiber 1 from the delivery-side bobbin 3 attached to the unwinder 4 to the take-up bobbin 15 attached to the winder 14 is connected to the winder 14 from the unwinder 4 side. To the side, the delivery side dancer device 5, the incoming line side take-up machine 7, the tension applying part 9 made up of a plurality of turn pulleys 9a to 9e, the outgoing line side take-up machine 11, and the storage part 21 made up of a plurality of turn pulleys 21a to 21e, The final take-up machine 23 and the winding-side dancer device 13 are arranged in that order.

  The delivery-side dancer device 5 is for bringing the optical fiber 1 drawn from the delivery-side bobbin 3 to the incoming-side take-up machine 7 without loosening or jumping up, and is a conventional screening test device. The configuration may be the same as the dancer device used in the above.

  The incoming wire side take-up machine 7 applies tension to the raw wire 1 for pulling out the optical fiber strand 1 from the delivery side bobbin 3. Further, the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 is necessary as a tension for the screening test, that is, an optical fiber strand product, between the incoming wire side take-up machine 7 and the outgoing line-side take-up machine 11 (tension applying unit 9). This is for applying a tension for breaking a low strength portion that does not satisfy the breaking strength. Here, the incoming line side take-up machine 7 and the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 are each constituted by a belt wrap type capstan in order to ensure the effect of preventing the slippage of the strands. That is, the incoming line side take-up machine 7 and outgoing line side take-up machine 11 are capstans of the type in which endless annular belts 7b and 11b are pressed along part of the outer circumferential surface of the capstan rolls 7a and 11a along the circumferential direction. The rolls 7a and 11a or the belts 7b and 11b are configured such that a driving force (torque) is applied by a driving mechanism such as a motor or a speed reducer (not shown).

  The tension applying unit 9 is provided with a disconnection detecting means (not shown) for detecting that the strand 1 is broken. The specific configuration of the disconnection detecting means is not particularly limited, and may be the same as that of a conventional screening test apparatus. For example, a rapid change in tension due to disconnection is detected by a roller tensiometer, or A laser transmission type optical sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an optical fiber in the pass line in the tension applying unit 9 is used, or a dancer roll is additionally provided in the pass line in the tension applying unit 9 to provide the dancer roll. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which disconnection is detected by a sudden position change.

A configuration in which a final take-up machine 23 is disposed between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the take-up bobbin 15, and a storage section 21 is provided between the outgoing line-side take-up machine 11 and the final take-up machine 23. This is a characteristic configuration of the present invention.
In other words, the storage section 21 does not wind the winding bobbin 15 when the strand 1 is broken by the tension applying section 9 even if the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 is stopped gently (stopping at a slow speed). In order to earn a wire pass line in order to reliably stop the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 before the broken end portion of the strand reaches the winding bobbin 15 after the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 stops. It is a provided part, and is configured to include a plurality of turn pulleys 21a to 21e that can be freely rotated around which the wire 1 is wound sequentially. By providing such a storage line portion 21, it becomes possible to avoid line fluttering. Note that the number and interval of the turn pulleys 21a to 21e constituting the storage section 21 are set in accordance with the pass line length necessary for preventing the occurrence of line scratches as described above.

  The final take-up machine 23 located between the storage line 21 and the take-up bobbin 15 is configured so that the take-up tension applied from the take-up bobbin 15 to the upstream strand is via the storage part 21 on the outgoing line side. In order not to directly affect the exit side of the take-up machine 11, tension is once applied to the strand at a position downstream of the storage portion 21 and upstream of the take-up bobbin 15. And it is provided in order to divide the continuous relationship of the tension between the storage portion 21 and the winding bobbin 15. In the illustrated example, the final take-up machine 23 is constituted by a capstan roll 23a to which a driving force (torque) is applied by a drive mechanism such as a motor or a speed reducer (not shown). 11 is applied to the wire 1 with a relatively small tension that is sufficient to be pulled out from the wire 11 and pass through the plurality of turn pulleys 21a to 21e of the storage portion 21.

  Here, the tension applied to the element wire 1 by the final take-up machine 23 is set to be smaller than the tension applied to the element wire 1 in the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 so that the element wire does not break in the storage line portion 21. desirable. However, if the tension applied to the strand 1 by the final take-up machine 23 is excessively small, the tension immediately after the outgoing-side take-up machine 11 (near the entrance of the storage section 21) becomes too small, and the pulley in the vicinity thereof Since there is a possibility that the line will be off, it is desirable that the tension in the final take-up machine 23 is set to an appropriate value in consideration of these factors.

The strand 1 taken up by the final take-up machine 23 is taken up by the take-up bobbin 15 from the exit side of the final take-up machine 23 through the take-up side dancer device 13. The winding-side dancer device 13 is provided for winding the wire 1 on the outer periphery of the winding drum of the winding bobbin 15 without loosening, and may have a configuration similar to that of the conventional dancer device.
Here, the winding tension applied to the winding bobbin 15 by the winding machine 14 is such that the strand 1 is smoothly wound around the winding bobbin 15 from the exit side of the final take-up machine 23 via the winding side dancer device 13. What is necessary is just to make the tension to be taken. Here, since the storage line portion 21 for increasing the length of the pass line is provided on the upstream side of the final take-up machine 23, the winding tension is determined based on the pass line length of the storage line portion 21 and the number of pulleys. Regardless of the winding force, an appropriate tension may be set only from the viewpoint of winding.

  Next, the overall operation and action of the screening test apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as described above will be described.

  The optical fiber 1 wound in advance on the delivery-side bobbin 3 is continuously drawn out from the delivery-side bobbin 3 by the tension (drawing tension) applied by the delivery-side dancer device 5, and enters through the delivery-side dancer device 5. It reaches the side take-up machine 7. Furthermore, the strand 1 is continuously pulled out from the exit side of the incoming line side take-up machine 7 by the tension (screening test tension) applied between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the outgoing line-side take-up machine 11. The tension applying unit 9 including the turn pulleys 9a to 9e continuously travels to reach the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11. That is, the screening test tension is applied to the strand 1 while continuously running the tension applying unit 9. Subsequently, the wire 1 is continuously drawn out from the exit side of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 by the tension (final take-up tension) given by the final take-up machine 23, and the storage section 21 comprising a plurality of turn pulleys 21a to 21e. To the final take-up machine 23. Thereafter, the strand 1 is continuously wound around the winding bobbin 15 via the winding-side dancer device 13 by the tension (winding tension) applied by the winding machine 14.

  In the above process, when a low-strength portion that does not satisfy the strength (guaranteed strength) required for the optical fiber product exists in a part of the optical fiber 1, the strand continuously passes the tension applying unit 9. During the run, the low strength portion breaks due to the screening test tension. In the present embodiment, the screening test tension in the tension applying unit 9 is given by the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 on the downstream side of the tension applying unit 9. In addition, the strand 1 is wound around the plurality of turn pulleys 21a to 21e in the tension applying unit 9, and the tension is reduced mainly by the frictional resistance against the rotation of the pulley. Therefore, in the tension applying unit 9, the tension decreases from the downstream side toward the upstream side. Therefore, the maximum tension (the screening test tension given by the outgoing wire take-up machine 11) is given to the element wire 1 at the most downstream location in the tension applying unit 9 (between the turn pulley 21e and the outgoing wire take-up machine 11). It is done. Therefore, usually, the low-strength portion often breaks at the most downstream portion (between the turn pulley 21e and the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11). The broken portion is indicated by a symbol P in FIG.

  If it is detected by the breakage detecting means (not shown) that the low-strength portion of the wire 1 is broken at the breakage portion P in the tension applying unit 9 as described above, the winder 14 is gently stopped. That is, the rotation of the winding bobbin 15 is gently decelerated to stop the rotation, and the winding is gently stopped. In this case, the final take-up machine 23 and the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 are also usually decelerated and stopped in synchronization with the winder 14.

  Thus, when the low-strength part of the strand 1 breaks at the breaking part P and the winding is gently stopped, the part on the downstream side of the breaking part until the winding is completely stopped. In the meantime, it travels toward the downstream side and is taken up by the take-up bobbin 15. However, a storage section 21 is provided between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the final take-up machine 23 in the wire travel path from the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 to the winding bobbin 15. Since the pass line length is large, the portion near the breakage portion P (breakage end portion) reaches the take-up bobbin 15 by appropriately setting the length of the storage portion 21. Can be effectively prevented. Therefore, the broken end portion of the strand is wound on the outer periphery of the take-up bobbin 15 and the normal strand already wound on the take-up bobbin 15 (the optical fiber strand on the outer periphery of the take-up bobbin) is replaced. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of the line flapping phenomenon that strikes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a defective product from being generated by damaging the optical fiber already wound around the take-up bobbin 15 or degrading the performance due to the wire peeling.

  Further, since the take-up bobbin 15 is not stopped suddenly but suddenly stopped when the strand breaks, a phenomenon (position shift) occurs in which the pre-winding strand on the outer periphery of the bobbin is displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the bobbin due to inertia. Can be avoided. Therefore, the above-described misalignment prevents the pre-rolled wire layer on the outer periphery of the bobbin from being crushed or the side pressure from being applied to the optical fiber wire in the pre-winded wire layer. be able to.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a final take-up machine 23 is disposed between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the take-up bobbin 15, and a pass line from the outgoing line-side take-up machine 11 to the take-up bobbin 15. Since the storage section 21 for securing a large length is provided between the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the final take-up machine 23, there is a problem of a line disconnection or an increase in lower winding loss as in the case of the prior art. Occurrence can be prevented.

  That is, the storage section 21 is provided with a large number of turn pulleys 21a to 21e, and the strand 1 is wound around the turn pulleys 21a to 21e sequentially so that the storage section 21 runs. The friction resistance with respect to each rotation acts on the multiple turn pulleys 21a to 21e, and at the same time, the air resistance against the rotation of the multiple turn pulleys 21a to 21e and the air resistance against the traveling of the optical fiber. These resistances act to reduce the tension of the wire 1. Accordingly, the tension distribution between the outlet of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 and the final taker 23 (in the storage section 21) becomes smaller from the final taker 23 toward the outlet of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11. Therefore, unless the tension applied to the optical fiber 1 running in the storage section 21 from the downstream side of the storage section 21 is increased to some extent, the vicinity of the outlet of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 (storage section 21). The tension in the vicinity of the entrance of the storage portion 21 becomes small, and the phenomenon that the optical fiber is disconnected from the turn pulley 21a in the vicinity of the entrance of the storage section 21, that is, the above-described phenomenon of off-line may occur.

  Here, in the case of the present invention, a final take-up machine 23 is disposed between the storage line portion 21 and the take-up bobbin 15, and the optical fiber 1 is drawn from the storage line portion 21 by the final take-up machine 23. Therefore, the tension (final take-up tension) applied to the optical fiber 1 of the storage section 21 does not cause the above-described line disconnection regardless of the take-up tension. Such a size, that is, an appropriate size can be set so that the tension in the vicinity of the exit of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 (near the entrance of the storage section 21) does not become excessive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the problem of off-line occurrence.

  On the other hand, in the case of the conventional proposed technique shown in FIG. 5 described above, no take-up machine (capstan) for applying tension is provided between the outgoing-side take-up machine 11 and the winder 14. The winding tension acts directly on the pass line extension portion 31 (the portion corresponding to the storage portion 21 in the present invention). Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of line disconnection near the entrance of the pass line extension 31, the pass line is extended so that the tension in the vicinity of the exit of the outgoing line side take-up machine 11 (near the entrance of the storage section 21) is not excessive. In order to increase the tension applied to the portion 31 from the downstream side, it is necessary to increase the tension applied by the winder 14 (winding tension) itself. In that case, as already described, the optical fiber strand is strongly pressed and crushed on the lower side (lower winding layer) of the pre-winding layer, and the transmission loss of the optical fiber strand increases at that portion ( There is a risk of lower winding loss). On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, the tension relationship between the storage portion 21 corresponding to the pass line extension 31 and the winding bobbin 15 in the case of the prior art of FIG. Thus, the winding tension does not substantially act on the storage portion 21. Therefore, the winding tension can be set to an appropriate magnitude, that is, an appropriate magnitude that does not cause an increase in the lower winding loss, without considering the problem of line disconnection near the entrance of the storage section 21. . Therefore, it is possible to reliably avoid the occurrence of the problem of increasing the lower winding loss while preventing the line from being disconnected.

In other words, tension setting for preventing line disconnection (tension setting by the final take-up machine 23),
Since the winding tension setting (tension setting by the winder 14) can be performed independently of each other so as not to cause an increase in the lower winding loss, it is easy to remove the line without any particular difficulty in setting the tension. This problem can be solved at the same time as the increase in lower winding loss.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the storage section 21 is shown in a state where the turn pulleys 21 a to 21 e are arranged in parallel so that their rotation center axes are parallel (planar arrangement). However, in an actual screening test apparatus, it is desirable to configure each turn pulley 21a to 21e so that it is rotated about the same axis every other turn pulley. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 21A and the shaft 21B are horizontally and parallelly spaced apart from each other, and the upper turn pulleys 21a, 21c, and 21e are disposed on the upper shaft 21A in the axial direction thereof. A configuration in which the lower pulleys 21b and 21d are attached to the lower shaft 21B so as to be freely rotatable and spaced apart from each other in the axial direction (three-dimensionally). It is desirable to have an arrangement).

  In FIG. 1, the tension applying unit 9 is also shown in a state where the turn pulleys 9 a to 9 e are arranged in a plane. However, in the actual screening test apparatus, the tension applying unit 9 is also similar to the storage unit 21. It is desirable that the turn pulleys 9a to 9e are arranged in a three-dimensional manner.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tension applying unit 9 applies a tension (screening tension) for breaking the low-strength portion to the element wire by the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 that is a belt capstan. However, in some cases, a dancer roll with a weight is interposed in the middle of the pass line in the tension applying unit 9, preferably close to the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 (for example, the turn pulley 9d is connected to the dancer roll with the weight). The screening tension may be applied to the element wire by the weighted dancer roll.

  Further, with respect to the storage section 21, a dancer roll with a weight is interposed in the middle of the pass line, preferably close to the final take-up machine 23 (for example, the turn pulley 21c is configured as a dancer roll with a weight). The weight of the dancer roll with the weight gives a tension for pulling the wire from the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 (relatively small tension that does not cause a disconnection near the entry side of the storage portion 21). It may be configured. In this case, the final take-up machine 23 has a minimum driving force or control enough to divide the tension relationship between the upstream side (storage portion 21 side) and the downstream side (winding bobbin 15 side). What is necessary is just to set it as the structure to which power is given.

  Here, as the optical fiber product, a colored product may be required. In that case, in order to effectively use the long storage section 21 in the screening test apparatus, a coloring facility is incorporated into the storage section 21 so that the storage section 21 can increase the pass line length and simultaneously perform the coloring process. Also good. An example of such a case is shown in FIG. 3 as a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the tension applying unit 9 is constituted by turn pulleys 9a to 9d, of which, for example, a color changing turret function is provided as an apparatus for applying a coloring paint on the upper part of the descending traveling path between the pulleys 9a and 9b. A coloring die spot 41 is arranged, and below the die spot 41, for example, ultraviolet (UV) curing devices 43A, 43B, and 43C are arranged as paint curing devices.
In such a second embodiment, the coloring process can be performed during the screening test process, and therefore, when manufacturing a colored optical fiber, the efficiency of optical fiber manufacturing can be improved, Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide a coloring facility separately from the screening test apparatus, the facility cost can be reduced.

In the second embodiment as well, similar to the supplementary explanation with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pass line in the tension application unit 9 may be overlapped in some cases, preferably at a place near the outgoing line side take-up machine 11. A dancer roll with a weight may be interposed (for example, the turn pulley 9d may be configured as a dancer roll with a weight), and the screening tension may be applied to the strand by the dancer roll with the weight.
Further, with respect to the storage section 21 in the second embodiment, a dancer roll is interposed in the middle of the pass line, preferably close to the final take-up machine 23 (for example, the turn pulley 21d is configured as a dancer roll). You may comprise so that tension | tensile_strength (relatively small tension | tensile_strength which does not produce a line | wire disconnection near the entrance side of the storage part 21) for taking out a strand from the outgoing wire side take-up machine 11 may be provided by a dancer roll. . In this case as well, the final take-up machine 23 has a minimum driving force or a level that can divide the tension relationship between the upstream side (the storage section 21 side) and the downstream side (the winding bobbin 15 side). What is necessary is just to set it as the structure to which braking force is given.

  Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is of course not limited to these embodiments. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical fiber strand, 3 ... Winding bobbin, 4 ... Winding machine, 7 ... Incoming side take-up machine, 9 ... Tension application part, 9a-9e ... Turn pulley, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Outgoing side take-up machine, 14 ... Winding machine, 15 ... Winding bobbin, 21 ... Storage line part, 21a-21e ... Turn pulley, 23 ... Final take-up machine.

Claims (2)

The optical fiber is continuously fed out from the delivery-side bobbin, and the optical fiber is continuously run through the tension applying unit that applies tension to break the low strength portion of the optical fiber, and the optical fiber after passing through the tension applying unit is wound. In an optical fiber screening test device that is continuously wound around a take-up bobbin,
In the traveling path of the optical fiber from the delivery side bobbin to the take-up bobbin, the incoming side take-up machine, the outgoing line side take-up machine, and the final take-up machine from the delivery side bobbin side to the take-up bobbin side. They are arranged in that order, and the tension application section is between the incoming line side take-out machine and the outgoing line side take-up machine, and a predetermined length is provided between the outgoing line-side take-up machine and the final take-up machine. In the storage section for running the optical fiber, the incoming line side take-out machine, the outgoing line side take-up machine and the final take-up machine are each configured to apply a driving torque to apply tension to the optical fiber, An optical fiber screening test apparatus, wherein the storage section is composed of a plurality of freely rotatable pulleys.   2. The optical fiber screening test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing line side take-up machine is constituted by a belt wrap type capstan.

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