JP5864119B2 - Optical fiber ribbon manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In order to improve the workability when connecting optical fibers, the optical fiber cores housed in the optical fiber cable are a plurality of optical fibers arranged in parallel and covered in a lump. Is used. In general, such an optical fiber ribbon is stored in a slot having a slot structure in order to resist various stresses applied during cable formation in a later process and various stresses applied after laying.

  However, there is an increasing demand for reducing the diameter and increasing the density of the conventional optical fiber cable, and there is a demand for an optical fiber ribbon that can be accommodated in an optical fiber cable having a slotless structure.

  In general, if bending is applied to a small-diameter / high-density optical fiber cable, the internal optical fiber ribbon is distorted, resulting in an increase in loss. Accordingly, there is a demand for an optical fiber ribbon having a structure that reduces the strain as much as possible. Furthermore, there has been an increasing demand for post-branching from an optical fiber ribbon to a single wire (single-fiber branch), and methods and means for intermittently fixing optical fibers to facilitate single-fiber branching have been proposed. .

  Patent Document 1 describes a structure in which a plurality of connecting portions that intermittently connect two adjacent optical fibers are intermittently arranged in two dimensions in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the optical fiber ribbon. Has been.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of single-core coated optical fibers are arranged, and the single-core coated optical fibers are arranged so as not to contact each other, and adjacent single-core coated optical fibers are continuous in the longitudinal direction by a connecting portion. The structure to be connected is described.

  In Patent Document 3, a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged on one plane, and are coated with a resin and integrated into a tape shape, and the same portions of the upper and lower surfaces are coated with a resin. An optical fiber ribbon is described which is divided into a portion and a portion where a plurality of optical fiber strands are exposed without being coated with resin.

Japanese Patent No. 4143651 International Publication WO / 2010/001663 Publication JP 2000-227532 A

  In the structure described in Patent Document 3, there is a merit that optical fibers can be connected in a lump because there is a portion in which the optical fiber is coated with resin, but a plurality of optical fibers are in the same portion. When the optical cable is bent due to the connection, distortion occurs in the optical fiber ribbon, and it is difficult not only to make the bending distortion below the allowable value, but also to split the single fiber. There is a problem.

  In the structure described in Patent Document 1 or 2, since optical fibers adjacent to each other (single-core coated optical fibers) are intermittently coupled, it is possible to reduce optical fiber distortion during cable bending. In addition, there is a merit that it is easy to branch a single core, but optical fibers adjacent to each other are intermittently connected two-dimensionally in the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the optical fiber. The coupling force of the coupling part is weak, and problems such as breakage of the coupling part have occurred in the optical cable forming process. Further, in the structure described in Patent Document 2, a gap is formed between all the adjacent optical fibers, and the optical fibers are joined together in a lump since they are coupled in the longitudinal direction. There were problems such as difficult alignment work when connecting connectors.

  In view of this point, the present invention makes it easy to perform alignment work when a plurality of optical fibers are fused or connected together, and provides a strong coupling force at intermittent coupling points between adjacent optical fibers. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber ribbon structure that can provide a single-core branching workability and can reduce optical fiber distortion during cable bending.

The present invention is composed of four or eight single-core optical fibers coated on the outer periphery of the optical fiber, and two kinds of resin portions for bonding two adjacent single-core optical fibers to each other in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The optical fiber tape cores are arranged intermittently at a plurality of locations, and the two types of resin portions adjacent in the width direction are separated from each other by a non-resin portion in the longitudinal direction and do not overlap in the width direction. In line
One connecting resin part that connects two single-core optical fibers at the outermost side and two single-core optical fibers that are adjacent to each other is formed on one side of the single-core optical fiber. It is formed by resin discharged from the side, and is arranged on both the upper and lower sides of the outermost single-core optical fiber and the adjacent single-core optical fiber to connect these single-core optical fibers. And the other connecting resin portion that connects two adjacent single-core optical fibers formed in the other resin portion is formed by the resin discharged from one side surface of the single-core optical fiber, and the inner Part of the resin ejected from one side surface of the center line when connecting the centers of these adjacent single-core optical fibers through a minute gap formed between adjacent single-core optical fibers. Across the center line and reach the other side An optical fiber tape core wire formed by connecting two adjacent single-core optical fibers on the inside, wherein the one and the other two connecting resin portions are both in a three-dimensional structure. I will provide a.

  The present invention also provides an optical fiber ribbon, wherein the one connecting resin portion is arranged to overlap in the width direction.

The present invention is composed of at least four or more even numbered single-core optical fibers coated on the outer periphery of the optical fiber, and two types of resin portions for bonding two adjacent single-core optical fibers to each other in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the two types of resin portions adjacent in the width direction are intermittently disposed in the width direction, and the two types of resin portions adjacent to each other in the width direction are separated from each other through the non-resin portion in the longitudinal direction, and are disposed so as not to overlap in the width direction. in the method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon, the connecting resin serving as one of the resin portion of said two kinds of resin portion, the high-speed pulse on one side of the upper surface and the lower surface side of two adjacent single-core optical fiber ejecting the formula UV resin discharge device or Lapa pulse shape, and by passing the die and UV lamp in sequence immediately after the one of the resin portion formed in a similar shape to the die shape, wherein the two single-fiber Optical fiber is intermittently connected And, wherein the other resin portions become consolidated resin of two kinds of resin portion, one of the single-core optical fiber of the two single-core optical fibers connected by the one of the resin portion, the single core optical fiber discharge adjacent and to the single core optical fiber and the top and bottom surfaces one side to the high-speed pulsed UV resin discharge device or Rapa pulse shape of the single-core optical fiber which is not connected by the one resin portions Immediately after that, the other resin part is formed in a shape similar to the die shape by passing the die and the UV lamp in order, and the two single-core optical fibers are intermittently connected. An optical fiber ribbon manufacturing method is provided.

  The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an optical fiber core, wherein the die maintains the distance between the formed minute gaps as it is.

  The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an optical fiber core, characterized in that the dice are maintained with a narrow gap formed therebetween.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon , wherein the minute gap is formed by controlling a distance between single optical fibers by a mechanism that maintains a desired distance. .

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon , wherein the optical fiber ribbon is composed of four or eight single-core optical fibers .

  In the present invention, as described above, any single optical fiber adjacent to each other is bonded by a resin having a three-dimensional structure, so that the single optical fibers are collectively fused or connected by connectors. It is possible to reduce the strain of the single-core optical fiber when bending the optical fiber cable while facilitating the alignment work at the time, and the tertiary coupling formed by the strong coupling force between the adjacent single-core optical fibers It is possible to provide an intermittent optical fiber ribbon that provides an original structure and good single-core branching performance.

  Moreover, according to this invention, workability | operativity is improved by setting it as the application | coating operation | work from one side surface, and the manufacturing method of the optical fiber tape core wire of the said structure can be provided.

The schematic block diagram of the Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of resin discharge. The figure which shows an intermittent type optical fiber tape cable core structure and a manufacturing method. The figure explaining the function of an intermittent application dice apparatus. The figure which shows the space | interval maintenance state of a micro gap | interval. The figure which shows the structure of an optical fiber tape core wire. The figure which shows the state which expanded the four-core optical fiber tape core wire of the completed intermittent type | formula of the three-dimensional structure in the width direction. The figure which shows the state which expanded the completed 8-dimensional optical fiber tape core wire of the three-dimensional structure in the width direction. The figure which shows performance comparison.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  A schematic configuration of an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100 having an intermittent structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.

Since the optical fiber cable using the four-core optical fiber ribbon has mainly a slotless structure, the optical fiber ribbon unit is folded and stored in a random direction when viewed in the cable cross section. Therefore, when the optical fiber cable is bent, the optical fiber ribbon unit is bent not only in the thickness direction but also in the horizontal direction, that is, the unit width direction.
In the following, one optical fiber is referred to as a single-core optical fiber, and four single-core optical fibers to an optical fiber tape core are referred to as a four-core optical fiber ribbon, and this example will be mainly described. .

  In FIG. 1, a manufacturing apparatus 100 for a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon is composed of an intermittent coating die device 1, an ultraviolet (UV) irradiation device 2, a microscope device 3, a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon drive device 4, and a UV resin discharge. The apparatus 5 includes a single-fiber optical fiber delivery device 6 and a 4-fiber ribbon optical fiber winding device 7.

  The intermittent application die apparatus 1 includes an upstream intermittent application die 1A and a downstream intermittent application die 1B. The upstream intermittent application die 1A has two elongated optical fiber passage holes 12 in the upstream die cross section 11. The downstream intermittent application die 1 </ b> B includes one elongated optical fiber passage hole 14 in the downstream die cross section 13. Reference numeral 9 denotes a single-core optical fiber, and 10 denotes a four-core optical fiber ribbon.

  The ultraviolet irradiation device 2 includes an upstream UV lamp 15 and a downstream UV lamp 16, and the upstream UV lamp 15 is disposed between the upstream intermittent application die 1 </ b> A and the downstream intermittent application die 1 </ b> B. The UV die 1B is disposed on the downstream side of the downstream intermittent application die 1B.

  The microscope apparatus 3 has a built-in high-pixel camera inside the microscope body, and the captured optical fiber tape image is enlarged and displayed on the display 19, and at the same time, the signal processing unit processes the image data with the signal processing unit, and the alignment is performed. Acquire data at the time of work and UV resin coating.

  The four-fiber optical fiber ribbon drive unit 4 includes a drum 17 and a take-up belt 18 and drives the four-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 to be conveyed. As the four-core optical fiber ribbon 10 is conveyed, each single-fiber optical fiber 9 is conveyed.

  The UV resin discharge device 5 includes control units 21 and 22, an upstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 23, a downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 24, a parent count timer 25, an upstream child counter 26, and a downstream child counter. 27. In FIG. 1, the high-speed pulse UV resin discharge devices 23 and 24 are provided only on one side surface, but may be provided on both sides.

  The parent count timer 25 generates a count number necessary for resin discharge, and gives the generated count number to the upstream side child count timer 26 and the downstream side child count timer 27. The child count timers 26 and 27 are preset with a count number required for UV resin ejection and a count number for UV resin and ejection interruption. These set count numbers are transmitted to the control units 21 and 22 over time. The control unit transmits a UV resin discharge signal to the upstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 23 and the downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 24 in accordance with a count number set in advance along the time axis. A required amount of UV resin corresponding to the number of counts designated at the time designated by the count timer is discharged and applied to a desired position of the 4-fiber optical fiber ribbon. By changing the discharge count number, discharge nozzle diameter, and pressure of the upstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 23 and the downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 24, the discharge amount of the UV resin can be adjusted.

  FIG. 2 shows a timing chart of UV resin discharge. The upstream intermittent application die 1A and the downstream intermittent application die 1B are UV resin applied with a time difference.

  In FIG. 1, a single-core optical fiber sending device 6 is composed of four single-core optical fiber sending sections, and one single-core optical fiber 9 is sent from each single-core optical fiber sending section. In this example, four single-core optical fibers 9 are sent out, and a four-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 is formed. When eight single-core optical fiber delivery sections are provided, an eight-fiber ribbon cable is formed by providing four elongated optical fiber passage holes in the upstream intermittent application die.

  The four-core optical fiber ribbon winding device 7 winds the four-fiber ribbon 10 as a finished product transported and driven by the four-fiber ribbon drive device 4.

FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the structure of the four-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 and the intermittent application die.
As described above, the single-core optical fibers are connected to each other by being discharged by the upstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 23 and passing through the optical fiber passage hole 12 of the upstream intermittent application die 1A. The two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes are produced by molding the connecting resin portion in a similar manner to the die shape and then curing with a UV lamp. Further, the two-core intermittently connected optical fiber tapes are discharged by discharging the connecting resin with the downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharging device 24 and passing through the optical fiber passage hole 14 of the downstream intermittently applying die 1B. The two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes can be bonded to each other by forming the portion into a shape similar to a die shape and then curing with a UV lamp.

  As a result, the single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B and 9c and 9D are intermittently connected and connected on the upstream side, and then the single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C are intermittently connected and connected on the downstream side. A tape core is manufactured.

  The four-core optical fiber ribbon 10 of this embodiment has a structure capable of performing a fusion-splicing operation in the same manner as a conventional intermittent optical fiber ribbon, and reduces optical fiber distortion when bending an optical fiber cable. Therefore, the connecting and connecting portions of the four-core optical fiber ribbons are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction so that there is no portion where the four single-fiber optical fibers are connected and connected at the same position in the longitudinal direction. An intermittent structure is adopted. In addition to this feature, the intermittent four-core optical fiber ribbon of the present embodiment is characterized by a structure in which a three-dimensional coupling is ensured to ensure coupling strength.

  In FIG. 3, a four-core optical fiber ribbon 10 is conveyed from the upper right side to the lower left side as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the 4-core optical fiber ribbon 10 is composed of four single-core optical fibers 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D from the upper side. The single-core optical fiber can be easily identified by using colored fibers in advance. The single-core optical fibers 9A and 9D are the two outermost single-core optical fibers, and the single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C are the adjacent single-core optical fibers. The same applies to the case of an eight-core optical fiber ribbon composed of eight single-core optical fibers. The single-core optical fibers 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D are arranged in parallel on the plane, and the single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B are in close contact with each other in the width direction on the plane, and there is no gap between them. . The same applies to the single-core optical fiber 9C and the single-core optical fiber 9D. A minute gap 30 is provided between the single-core optical fiber 9B and the single-core optical fiber 9C in advance.

  An upstream intermittent application die 1A and a downstream application die 1B are arranged along the production line shown in FIG. These dies are made of UV resin 28, 29 in which a crushed resin is discharged between two single-core optical fibers from high-speed pulse type UV resin coating and discharging devices 23, 24, and single-core optical fibers 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D has a function of forming and applying a shape similar to a die shape.

  As described above, the upstream intermittent application die 1A includes two passage holes 12A and 12B (12 when both are shown), and the passage hole 12A closely contacts these two single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B. A space through which the two single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B can pass with a margin is formed. By setting the marginal space, the UV resin that is discharged and applied with a gap between the single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B allows the marginal space between the passage hole 12A and the single-core optical fiber to be spared. For example, the UV resin layer is formed from the upper surface side to the lower surface side, and the UV resin is applied to both the upper surface side and the lower surface side of these two single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B. Since there is no gap between the single-core optical fiber 9A and the single-core optical fiber 9B, the UV resin is not discharged from between them and does not flow downward. Further, there is no need to provide a gap between the single-core optical fiber 9A and the single-core optical fiber 9B.

  In this way, the connecting resin portion is formed, and the two adjacent single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B are connected. The connecting resin portion has a three-dimensional structure in the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, there is one feature in that a three-dimensional connecting resin portion that connects two adjacent single-core optical fibers 9A and 9B is configured in this way.

  The downstream high-speed pulse UV resin coating device 23 and the downstream intermittent coating die 1B also form a connecting resin portion in the same manner for the two single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C adjacent inward.

  In FIG. 3, the connecting resin portion formed on the upstream side is indicated by a connecting resin portion 31, and since there are two, they are indicated as upstream connecting resin portions 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B, respectively. These upstream connection resin portions 31 are set to have a connection length in the longitudinal direction corresponding to a preset count number, and this connection length is arbitrary.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the connecting resin portion 31 </ b> A and the connecting resin portion 31 </ b> B are overlapped at the same length in the width direction, but may be formed in a zigzag shape without overlapping. For this purpose, the upstream intermittent application dice 1A may be separated into two pieces.

  The two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes 32A and 32B are formed by stopping the discharge of the connecting resin by a predetermined count number. This intermittent region is called an intermittent region 32.

  In FIG. 1, the two formed upstream connecting resin portions 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B are irradiated with UV light and cured by the UV lamp 15 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 2.

  In this way, the upstream connection resin portions 31A and 31B are formed.

  The outermost two single-core optical fibers 9A and 9D and the downstream-side connecting resin portion 33A that connects the two inner single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C adjacent to each other are on the outermost side. The single optical fibers 9A and 9D and the adjacent single optical fibers 9B and 9C are arranged so that there is no gap between the single optical fibers 9A, 9B and 9C, 9D on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side. Arranged. As a result, the single optical fibers 9A, 9B and 9C, 9D are connected.

  The downstream intermittent application die 1B has substantially the same configuration as the upstream intermittent application die 1A, but the shape of the passage holes 14 of the four single-core optical fibers 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D is different from that of the passage hole 12. .

  Although two passage holes 12 are provided, one passage hole 14 is provided, and the passage is formed in an elongated shape in the width direction so that a pair of two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes 32A and 32B can pass together.

  One passage hole 14 is formed because two single-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes 32A and 32B have already been formed by the first die 11, so that all the single-core optical fibers pass through one. This is because it is necessary to simultaneously pass the holes 14.

  As described above, the gap 30 is provided in advance between the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C of the pair of intermittently connected optical fiber tapes 32A and 32B, and the downstream high-speed pulse type is centered on the gap 30. The UV resin is discharged from the UV resin discharge device 24 in a crushed shape.

  FIG. 4 shows the function of the intermittent application dice apparatus (1A, 1B). 4 (1) is a plan view, and FIG. 4 (2) is a perspective view thereof.

  As described above, the intermittent coating dice apparatus 1 uses a resin that connects two adjacent single-core optical fibers, and the distance between the single-core optical fibers is desired between these adjacent single-core optical fibers. When connecting the centers of these adjacent single-core optical fibers through a desired gap formed by controlling the distance, a part of the resin discharged from one side surface of the center line is centered. Formed so as to reach the other side beyond the wire, and thus connecting two adjacent single-core optical fibers on the inside, the length of the optical fiber tape core wire in both the one connecting resin portion and the other connecting resin portion A three-dimensional structure in the direction, width direction, and vertical direction.

  In FIG. 4, a gap adjusting mechanism 20 is provided between the downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 24, which is intermediate between the upstream side and the downstream side, and the upstream UV lamp 15. The gap adjustment mechanism 20 can maintain the interval 30 at a desired value. The gap adjusting mechanism 20 can adjust the gap with two screws (bolts).

  Thus, in order to keep the interval 30 at a desired value, as illustrated in the gap adjustment mechanism 20, the downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device 24 and the upstream UV lamp 15 may be interposed as necessary. The interval 30 may be controlled by using a die for maintaining a desired interval or by providing a mechanical mechanism for forcibly maintaining the interval.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the UV resin droplet ejected on the upstream side is made larger than the UV resin droplet ejected on the downstream side.

The UV resin discharged in this way is adhered to the upper surface side between the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C, and passes through the gap 30 formed by the downstream intermittent application die 1B, and a part of it is passed. A part on the lower surface side between the single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C is filled. Further, when the UV resin is applied in a low viscosity state, the entire space on the lower surface side is filled with the UV resin, and since there is a gap 30, the UV resin is adjacent to the single-core optical fiber when passing through the downstream intermittent application die 1B. When the centers of 9B and 9C are connected, the center line, that is, the shortest portion of the gap 30 is reached and the lower surface side is reached. Thus, the downstream connection part 33 by the formed UV resin is formed between the single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C. This downstream side connection part 33 becomes a connection body of a three-dimensional structure by exceeding the center line.
In the configuration of the coupling body, the two adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C are slightly drawn toward each other, and a slight gap is formed between the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9A and 9D. The close contact state may be maintained. In the conventional structure, since the adjacent single-core optical fibers are in close contact with each other, the connecting resin does not exceed the center line of the single-core optical fibers and is formed only in the upper space portion, so that it is a two-dimensional configuration. In addition, since a flat plate-like connecting body is formed by providing a gap, the connecting body has a two-dimensional structure.

  FIG. 5 shows the maintained state of the ejected pulsed UV resins 28 and 29 and the minute gap 30 formed between the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C. Corresponding to the size of the passage hole 14 formed in the downstream intermittent application die 13, the gap 30 is adjusted as shown in (a), (b), and (c). In the case of (a), the interval at which the gap was originally formed is maintained. In the case of (b), the interval is maintained by being halved. In the case of (c), the two are almost bonded. In this example, the UV resin passes through the gap 30 and flows into the gap 30 before bonding, so that a part of the UV resin remains between the gaps. In this example, an extremely thin resin layer is only formed at the interval between the formed minute gaps.

  In this manner, the UV resin 28 corresponding to the predetermined count number is discharged, and the connecting resin portion 33 is formed. A non-UV resin section 32 of only a single-core coated optical fiber corresponding to a predetermined count number is formed between the upstream connecting portion 31 and the downstream connecting resin portion 33 formed by the upstream intermittent application die 1A. The side connection part 31 and the downstream connection resin part 33 are irradiated with UV light from the UV lamp 16 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 2 shown in FIG. 1 and cured.

  As described above, the two adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C arranged inward by the downstream-side intermittent application die 1B form a two-core intermittent optical fiber tape 33A.

  Thus, the connection resin part 31, the intermittent area | region 32, the connection resin part 33, and also the intermittent area | region 32 and the connection resin part 31 are formed.

  The connecting resin portion 33 is formed as the other resin portion. The connecting resin portion 33 that connects two adjacent single-core optical fibers inwardly maintains the minute gap 30 formed between these adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C, so When the center of the optical fiber is connected, it is ejected from the side surface on one side of the center line, and a part of the core optical fiber is formed in the minute gap beyond the center line to reach the other side. By connecting the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9C and 9D respectively inward, the two connection resin portions 31 and 33 described above as a whole have a three-dimensional structure. That is, the two connecting resin portions 31 and 33 are both three-dimensional structures. By having a three-dimensional structure, the connecting resin portion is formed on both the upper surface side and the lower surface side.

  As described above, two or more types of resin portions that are composed of four or eight single-core optical fibers and bond two adjacent single-core optical fibers are intermittently disposed in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The two types of resin parts adjacent in the width direction are separated from each other by a non-resin part in the longitudinal direction, and are disposed so as not to overlap in the width direction, and have the above-described characteristics A four-core optical fiber tape 10 or an eight-core optical fiber ribbon having a configuration is formed.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a three-dimensional structure intermittent type four-core optical fiber ribbon 10 manufactured by the apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the upstream connecting portion 31 is composed of two two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tapes 31A and 31B, the length of which is set to 80 mm, and the connecting portion 33 forms one two-core tape. The length is also set to 80 mm. In the intermittent region 32, there is no connection between the single-core optical fibers.

  In this example, the upstream connecting portion 31 and the downstream connecting portion 33 have a length of 80 mm and the intermittent region 32 has a length of 20 mm. However, these lengths may be reversed or the same length. It is good. Moreover, you may make it the length of the upstream connection part 31 and the downstream connection part 33 differ. These lengths can be arbitrarily set by the control of the control units 21 and 22 of the UV resin discharge device 5. The same applies when eight single-core optical fibers are connected.

  As described with reference to FIG. 3, since the gap 30 is set in advance, when the centers of the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C are connected, the discharged UV resin is the center line, that is, the shortest of the gap 30 It reaches the A line, B line or C line on the lower surface side beyond the part. A three-dimensional structure in the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the vertical direction, in which the degree of adhesion is controlled, is formed. Here, a connecting body made of UV resin beyond the center line is called a three-dimensional structure, and a structure in which the connecting body is formed only on the upper surface or the lower surface side is called a two-dimensional structure.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the completed four-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 having a three-dimensional structure is expanded in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tape in which the four single-core optical fibers are connected and the upstream connecting portion 31 and the downstream connecting portion 33 are formed can be expanded in the width direction. In the intermittent region between the upstream side connection part 31 and the downstream side connection part 32, it can be separated into four single-core optical fibers 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D. And according to a present Example, as shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional structure shown in FIG. 5 can be provided by discharge of UV resin from one side.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which the completed three-dimensional intermittent 8-fiber optical fiber ribbon is expanded in the width direction. When manufacturing such an 8-fiber optical fiber ribbon, fine-tuned optical fiber passage holes 12 are provided at four locations on the upstream intermittent application die 1A, and 2 cores × 4 pairs of connecting resin portions 31A, 31B, 31C. , 31D, and then a UV resin is applied only between 9B and 9C, between 9D and 9E, and between 9F and 9G by the downstream UV resin discharge device, and is provided with one fine piece provided on the downstream intermittent application die 1B. As in the case of the 4-core optical fiber ribbon, the UV resin flows into the opposite side from the coated surface through the dimming fiber passage hole 14, and the connecting resin portions 33A, 33B, and 33C are formed by the downstream UV lamp. Will be. In this way, it is possible to provide an intermittent 8-fiber optical fiber tape in which the connecting resin portion has a three-dimensional structure.

In general, intermittent optical fiber ribbons are mainly used when manufacturing slotless optical fiber cables for the purpose of increasing the density. And are stored in random directions when viewed in the cross section of the unit. Therefore, when the optical fiber cable is bent, the optical fiber tape core wire in the optical fiber unit is bent not only in the thickness direction of the tape but also in the horizontal direction, that is, the width direction. In the conventional optical fiber tape, due to its anisotropy, a large increase in distortion occurs in the bending in the width direction. However, the intermittent optical fiber ribbon of this embodiment is not a four-fiber optical fiber tape structure. Since the structure is such that two single-core fibers are only bundled intermittently, these distortions can be relieved greatly.
As described above, the following effects can be obtained by employing the intermittent optical fiber ribbon of the structure of the present embodiment.

  ・ Because it can be made to have a structure close to a structure in which four or eight single-core optical fibers are partially in close contact with each other, it can be aligned and collectively connected to provide fusion-bonding properties. is there.

-By discharging UV resin from one side and passing through a die, the resin connection part is made into a three-dimensional structure, and the adhesive strength of the resin connection part becomes stronger, resin connection in the optical fiber unit forming process and optical fiber cable forming process Damage to the parts is reduced. (Good workability, overall three-dimensional structure, strong adhesive strength.)
・ Since a two-fiber intermittently connected optical fiber tape structure is adopted, single-fiber branching performance is excellent. (Excellent single-core branching performance and improved work efficiency.)
・ Because the structure is bonded intermittently, it can be easily deformed without anisotropy when the optical fiber cable is formed, and the bending strain when the optical fiber cable is bent can be reduced. (Improvement of strain resistance of optical fiber core)
FIG. 9 shows a summary of the optical fiber tape of the structure of this embodiment in comparison with a conventionally known optical fiber tape.

  Comparative Example 1 is an example in which all four single-core optical fibers are in close contact with each other and a connecting resin portion is formed on both the upper and lower surfaces. In Comparative Example 3, all four single-core optical fibers are closely attached, and the connection resin portions that connect adjacent single-core optical fibers in the width direction are arranged intermittently in the longitudinal direction. Comparative Example 4 is an example in which four single-core optical fibers are spaced apart with a gap, and a connecting resin for connecting adjacent single-core optical fibers in the width direction is intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction. Comparative Example 5 shows an example in which a single optical fiber adjacent in the width direction is continuously connected in the longitudinal direction with a flat connecting resin, with a gap between four single optical fibers. . For example, it is an example of the structure described in Patent Document 2.

  FIG. 9 shows the single-core branching property, the optical tape core wire strain resistance, the fusion splicing property, the overall three-dimensional structure, and the overall evaluation of these comparative examples and the examples of the present invention. did. In producing the structure shown in Comparative Example 1, it is necessary to discharge resin from both sides.

  According to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the example of the present invention is excellent in any evaluation item, and the example of the present invention is excellent in the comprehensive evaluation.

  According to this embodiment, the following steps are adopted.

  The two outermost single-fiber optical fibers and the two connecting resin parts that connect the two single-core optical fibers adjacent to each other are connected to the outermost single-core optical fiber and the adjacent single-core optical fiber. It is formed of resin discharged from one side of the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the optical fiber. The resin part is formed so that there is no gap between these single optical fibers, and thus the single optical fibers 9A and 9B are connected.

  The resin portion that connects two adjacent single-core optical fibers inward is made to maintain a minute gap formed between these adjacent single-core optical fibers, and these adjacent single-core optical fibers are When the center of the fiber is tied, the resin is discharged from one side surface of the center line.

  As a result, the resin portion is formed so that a part thereof reaches the other side beyond the center line in the minute gap. In this way, the adjacent single-core optical fibers 9B and 9C can be connected inward, and the two connection resin portions as a whole have a three-dimensional structure by being connected in this way.

  According to the three-dimensional structure formed in this way, the bonding strength is strong in the discharge direction from one side, the single-core separation performance is excellent as described above, the cable deformability is good, and the distortion at the time of cable bending is reduced. Can be small.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Intermittent application die apparatus, 1A ... Upstream intermittent application die, 1B ... Downstream intermittent application die, 2 ... Ultraviolet irradiation apparatus, 5 ... UV resin discharge apparatus, 6 ... Single fiber optic delivery apparatus, 7 ... Four-core light Fiber tape core winding device, 9 (9A, 9B, 9C, 9D) ... single core optical fiber, 10 ... 4 core optical fiber tape core, 11 ... upstream die cross section, 12 ... passage hole, 13 ... downstream side Die cross section, 14 ... passing hole, 15, 16 ... UV lamp, 21, 22 ... control unit, 23 ... upstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device, 24 ... downstream high-speed pulse UV resin discharge device, 25, 26, 27: count timer, 30: gap, 31: first connecting resin part, 32: intermittent region, 33: second connecting resin part, 100: optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus.

Claims (6)

Two types of resin portions that are composed of at least four or more even numbered single-core optical fibers coated on the outer periphery of the optical fiber and that bond two adjacent single-core optical fibers in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. An optical fiber tape core that is intermittently disposed at a plurality of locations, the two types of resin portions adjacent in the width direction are separated from each other by a non-resin portion in the longitudinal direction, and does not overlap in the width direction. In the manufacturing method of the wire,
Wherein one of the resin portion to become consolidated resin of two kinds of resin portion, two adjacent single-core optical fibers of the upper surface side and lower surface side on one side to the high-speed pulsed UV resin discharge device or Rapa pulse shape of The two resin fibers are intermittently connected to each other by forming the one resin portion into a shape similar to the die shape by passing the die and the UV lamp in that order in order.
Wherein the other resin portions become consolidated resin of two kinds of resin portion, one of the single-core optical fiber of the two single-core optical fibers connected by the one of the resin portion, adjacent to the single core optical fiber and, and discharged to the single-core optical fiber and the top and bottom surfaces one side to the high-speed pulsed UV resin discharge device or Rapa pulse shape of the single-core optical fiber which is not connected by the one of the resin portion, Immediately thereafter, a die and a UV lamp are sequentially passed to form the other resin portion in a shape similar to the die shape, and the two single-core optical fibers are intermittently connected. A manufacturing method of a fiber tape core.   2. The resin discharged to form the other resin portion flows into a minute gap formed between adjacent single-core optical fibers while passing through a die. Manufacturing method of optical fiber ribbon. 3. The method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to claim 2, wherein the dice maintains an interval of the formed minute gap as it is. 3. The method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to claim 2, wherein the dice maintains a small gap between the formed dies. The small gap is, a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to any one of single core optical fiber according to claim spacing between are formed is controlled by mechanisms to maintain the desired spacing 2 to 4. The optical fiber ribbon is, four or eight process according to claim 1 or an optical fiber ribbon according to any one of the 5, characterized in that it consists of a single-core optical fiber.

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