JP7024422B2 - Optical fiber manufacturing equipment, optical fiber manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus and an optical fiber manufacturing method. Specifically, the present invention relates to an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus having a coloring die for applying a coloring layer to an optical fiber strand using a plurality of colors of ink, and optical fiber. Regarding the method of manufacturing a fiber.

In an optical fiber, a two-layer coating layer is generally provided on the outside of a glass fiber forming an optical waveguide, and a colored layer is further provided on the outside thereof. An optical fiber composed of a glass fiber and two coating layers is also called an optical fiber strand.
In the past, a colored layer was provided on the optical fiber wire to identify the optical fiber in the optical fiber cable by color coding, but with the increase in the number of cores of the optical fiber cable, the optical fiber can be identified by a method other than color coding. There is a need. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a die capable of forming a vertical stripe pattern mark on the surface of an optical fiber strand.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-29787

The die described in Patent Document 1 has a fiber insertion hole (insertion hole) through which an optical fiber wire is passed, and a plurality of ink supply paths (color material supply pipe) for supplying ink into the fiber insertion hole. , Ink is supplied to the optical fiber strand from the nozzle of each ink supply path. However, the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is widened at the tip of the nozzle, and the ink from each ink supply path is collected in this widened area (reservoir) and then supplied to the optical fiber wire. Color inks are mixed and the distinctiveness of the optical fiber is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber, which are difficult to mix inks of a plurality of colors and have good distinguishability.

The optical fiber manufacturing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention is an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus having a coloring die for applying a coloring layer to an optical fiber wire using inks of a plurality of colors, and the coloring die is , A fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which an optical fiber wire is inserted, and a die outlet that communicates with the die inlet and discharges an optical fiber core wire colored with the ink, and inside the fiber insertion hole. An ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the fiber and an ink supply port formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole and arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. The inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet, and the coloring die is the first die into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and the first die. It is divided into a second die which is arranged below the first die and has the fiber insertion hole, and the ink supply path is placed on the upper surface of the second die and the first die which is placed on the second die. A quadrangular groove portion in a cross-sectional view formed between the lower surface of the die and the ink supply path having a plan view fan-shaped flow path, and a main part of the fan shape is connected to the fiber insertion hole. It is connected to .
The method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an optical fiber in which a colored layer is applied to an optical fiber wire with a plurality of colors of ink by using a coloring die. In the fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and a die outlet in which the optical fiber core wire colored with the ink is discharged, which communicates with the die inlet and the fiber insertion hole. It has an ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the fiber, and an ink supply port formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole and arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. The coloring die is divided into a first die into which an optical fiber wire is inserted and a second die arranged below the first die and having the fiber insertion hole, and the ink supply path is divided. Is formed between the upper surface of the second die and the lower surface of the first die mounted on the second die, and the ink supply path has a flow path in the shape of a plan view fan, and the fan. The main part of the shape is connected to the groove portion having a quadrangular cross-sectional view connected to the fiber insertion hole, and the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet. The fiber insertion hole includes a step of supplying ink from the ink supply port into the fiber insertion hole.

According to the above, the distinctiveness of the optical fiber is improved.

It is a figure which shows the example which forms the colored layer on the optical fiber wire which applied the manufacturing method of the optical fiber by one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the coloring die of Example 1. FIG. It is a perspective view of the 2nd die. It is a top view of the main part of the 2nd die. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the 2nd die. It is a table explaining the evaluation result of the distinctiveness. It is sectional drawing of the coloring die of Example 2. FIG. It is a perspective view of the 2nd die. It is a top view of the main part of the 2nd die. It is sectional drawing of the main part of the 2nd die.

[Explanation of Embodiment of the present invention]
First, the contents of the embodiments of the present invention will be listed and described.
The optical fiber manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is (1) an optical fiber manufacturing apparatus having a coloring die for applying a coloring layer to an optical fiber wire using a plurality of colors of ink, and the coloring die is , A fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which an optical fiber wire is inserted, and a die outlet that communicates with the die inlet and discharges an optical fiber core wire colored with the ink, and inside the fiber insertion hole. An ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the fiber and an ink supply port formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole and arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. The inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet, and the coloring die is the first die into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and the first die. It is divided into a second die which is arranged below the first die and has the fiber insertion hole, and the ink supply path is placed on the upper surface of the second die and the first die which is placed on the second die. A quadrangular groove portion in a cross-sectional view formed between the lower surface of the die and the ink supply path having a plan view fan-shaped flow path, and a main part of the fan shape is connected to the fiber insertion hole. It is connected to.
Since the fiber insertion holes are formed to have the same diameter from the position of the ink supply port to the die outlet, it becomes difficult for inks of multiple colors to be mixed when applying a colored layer to the optical fiber wire at the ink supply port. The distinctiveness of the optical fiber is improved.
Further, it is divided into a first die and a second die, and the ink supply path and the ink supply port can be easily formed as compared with the case where the ink supply path and the ink supply port are formed by drilling a hole in an integral object.

(2) In one aspect of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of ink supply ports are arranged to face the axial center of the fiber insertion hole. If the ink supply ports are arranged so as to face each other, it becomes more difficult for inks of a plurality of colors to be mixed. Therefore, the optical fiber can be reliably identified.
(3) In one aspect of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, an ink storage unit for storing ink that is supplied into the fiber insertion hole and is not supplied to the ink supply port is further provided at a position upstream of the first die. .. The ink storage portion is provided outside the section from the ink supply port to the die outlet, specifically, at a position upstream from the first die, and the base portion of the colored layer can be applied over the entire circumference of the optical fiber strand. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the parts that are not colored with ink (the parts where the surface of the wire of the optical fiber can be seen). Therefore, colors other than ink do not appear on the surface of the optical fiber core wire, which also contributes to the improvement of the distinctiveness of the optical fiber.

The method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to the present invention is (4) a method for manufacturing an optical fiber in which a colored layer is applied to an optical fiber wire with a plurality of colors of ink by using a coloring die. In the fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and a die outlet in which the optical fiber core wire colored with the ink is discharged, which communicates with the die inlet and the fiber insertion hole. It has an ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the fiber, and an ink supply port formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole and arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. The coloring die is divided into a first die into which an optical fiber wire is inserted and a second die arranged below the first die and having the fiber insertion hole, and the ink supply path is divided. Is formed between the upper surface of the second die and the lower surface of the first die mounted on the second die, and the ink supply path has a flow path in the shape of a plan view fan, and the fan is provided. The main part of the shape is connected to the groove portion having a quadrangular cross-sectional view connected to the fiber insertion hole, and the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet. The fiber insertion hole includes a step of supplying ink from the ink supply port into the fiber insertion hole.
Since the fiber insertion holes are formed to have the same diameter from the position of the ink supply port to the die outlet, it becomes difficult for inks of multiple colors to be mixed when applying a colored layer to the optical fiber wire at the ink supply port. It is possible to provide an optical fiber with improved distinguishability.
Further, it is divided into a first die and a second die, and the ink supply path and the ink supply port can be easily formed as compared with the case where the ink supply path and the ink supply port are formed by drilling a hole in an integral object.

( 5 ) In one aspect of the manufacturing method of the present invention, the plurality of ink supply ports are arranged to face the axial center of the fiber insertion hole, and the plurality of ink supply ports are arranged in the fiber insertion hole. Ink of different colors is supplied at the same time through. If the ink supply ports are arranged so as to face each other, it becomes more difficult for inks of a plurality of colors to be mixed.
(6) In one aspect of the manufacturing method of the present invention, the coloring die further has an ink storage portion for storing ink supplied into the fiber insertion hole at a position upstream of the first die. Further includes a step of supplying ink from the ink reservoir into the fiber insertion hole. Since the base portion of the colored layer can be applied over the entire circumference of the optical fiber wire, it is possible to eliminate the part that is not colored with ink (the part where the surface of the optical fiber wire can be seen).

[Details of Embodiments of the present invention]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus and the optical fiber manufacturing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of forming a colored layer on an optical fiber wire by applying the method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The production line shown in FIG. 1 includes a feeding bobbin 10, a guide roller 11, 14, 16, 18, a coloring die 12, an ultraviolet irradiation device 13, a capstan roller 15, a dancer roller 17, and a winding bobbin 19.
An optical fiber strand f is wound around the feeding bobbin 10. In the optical fiber strand f, the outer circumference of the glass fiber is covered with a primary resin layer, and the outer circumference thereof is further covered with a secondary resin layer.

The glass fiber is an optical waveguide having a core portion and a clad portion and having a standard outer diameter of, for example, 125 μm. This glass fiber is composed of quartz glass. The primary resin layer is, for example, a coating layer made of a soft ultraviolet curable resin having an outer diameter of about 190 μm to 200 μm and having a relatively low Young's modulus. The secondary resin layer is, for example, a coating layer made of a hard ultraviolet curable resin having an outer diameter of about 240 μm to 250 μm and having a relatively high Young's modulus.

The optical fiber strand f is fed from the feeding bobbin 10 and enters the coloring die 12 via the guide roller 11. A plurality of colors of colored resin can be supplied to the coloring die 12 from a tank (not shown). When the optical fiber wire f is passed through the coloring die 12, the colored resin is applied to the outer periphery of the secondary resin layer of the optical fiber wire f. This colored resin is composed of, for example, an ultraviolet curable ink, and is formed, for example, having a thickness of about 5 μm to 10 μm.

This colored resin is cured through the ultraviolet irradiation device 13 to become a colored layer for identifying an optical fiber.
The optical fiber core wire F provided with the colored layer is taken up at a predetermined linear speed via the guide roller 14 and the capstan roller 15, and is taken up by the take-up bobbin 19 via the guide rollers 16 and 18 and the dancer roller 17. Be done.

(Example 1)
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the coloring die of Example 1. 3 is a perspective view of the second die, FIG. 4 is a plan view of a main part of the second die, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the second die.
As shown in FIG. 2, the coloring die 12 includes an inner sleeve 25, a point (also referred to as a nipple) 30, a first die 40, and a second die 50 in the die holder 20.

The die holder 20 has, for example, a cup-shaped outer sleeve 21, and ink passages 24a and 24b penetrating in the radial direction thereof are provided at appropriate positions of the outer sleeve 21. The ink passages 24a and 24b are arranged so as to face each other with the axis of the die holder 20 interposed therebetween.
The upper portion 22 of the outer sleeve 21 is covered with the lid 29, and a central opening 29a that exposes the point inlet 34 described later is formed in the center of the lid 29. The optical fiber strand f from the feeding bobbin 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 enters the coloring die 12 from the point inlet 34.

Further, a bottom opening 23a is formed at the center position of the bottom 23 of the outer sleeve 21, and the optical fiber core wire F provided with the colored layer comes out of the coloring die 12 from the bottom opening 23a.
An inner sleeve 25 coaxial with the outer sleeve 21 is provided inside the outer sleeve 21. The inner sleeve 25 has upper passages 26a and 26b above the formation positions of the ink passages 24a and 24b of the outer sleeve 21. The upper passages 26a and 26b are arranged so as to face each other with the axial center of the inner sleeve 25 interposed therebetween, and for example, an ink passage of the outer sleeve 21 via a communication passage (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 25. It communicates with 24a.

Further, the inner sleeve 25 is thickly formed toward the bottom opening 23a, and has lower passages 27a and 27b below the formation positions of the ink passages 24a and 24b. The lower passages 27a and 27b are also arranged to face each other with the axial center of the inner sleeve 25 interposed therebetween, but the lower passages 27a and 27b are, for example, via a communication passage (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 25. , Communicats with the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21.

Inside the inner sleeve 25, a point 30, a first die 40, and a second die 50 are provided coaxially with the outer sleeve 21. In this embodiment, an example in which the first die 40 and the second die 50 are divided will be described, but it is also possible to integrally form the first die 40 and the second die 50.
The point 30 is located in the vicinity of the lid 29 and is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 25. A fiber insertion hole 33 through which the optical fiber wire f is passed is formed at the center position of the point 30. The fiber insertion hole 33 extends along the axial direction (hereinafter, also referred to as the vertical direction) of the outer sleeve 21 and penetrates the point 30.

The fiber insertion hole 33 has a point inlet 34 provided in the vicinity of the lid 29 and a point outlet 35 provided in the vicinity of the first die 40, and the point outlet 35 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the point inlet 34. To. The point outlet 35 is mirror-finished, for example, by wrapping.
A first ink storage unit 36 is provided between the point 30 and the first die 40, and the point outlet 35 is open to the first ink storage unit 36. The first ink storage unit 36 can store ink (for example, red) supplied from the ink passage 24a of the outer sleeve 21 via the upper passages 26a and 26b of the inner sleeve 25. The first ink storage unit 36 corresponds to the ink storage unit of the present invention.

If the first ink storage portion 36 is provided at a position upstream of the first die 40, the base portion of the colored layer described later can be formed over the entire circumference of the optical fiber strand f, so that ink (for example, red) can be formed. It is possible to eliminate the part that is not colored by (the part where the surface of the wire f of the optical fiber can be seen). Therefore, colors other than ink do not appear on the surface of the optical fiber core wire f, which also contributes to the improvement of the distinctiveness of the optical fiber.

The first die 40 is located below the point 30 and is placed on the second die 50. At the center position of the first die 40, a fiber insertion hole 43 through which the optical fiber strand f exiting from the point 30 is passed is formed, and extends coaxially with the fiber insertion hole 33 at the point 30 in a vertical direction to form a first. It penetrates the die 40.
The fiber insertion hole 43 has a first die inlet 44 opened in the first ink storage portion 36 and a first die outlet 45 opened in the lower surface 41 of the first die 40, and the first die outlet 45 is the first. It is formed to have a smaller diameter than the die inlet 44. The lower surface 41 of the first die 40 is mirror-finished, for example, by wrapping.

The second die 50 is located below the first die 40 and is mounted on the bottom 23 of the outer sleeve 21. As shown in FIG. 3, the second die 50 is composed of, for example, a large-diameter flange portion 51 and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 52 located above the collar portion 51, and a second die 50 is located at the center position of the second die 50. A fiber insertion hole 53 through which the optical fiber strand f emitted from the 1 die 40 is passed is formed, and extends coaxially with the fiber insertion hole 43 of the 1st die 40 in a vertical direction and penetrates the 2nd die 50. The fiber insertion hole 53 corresponds to the fiber insertion hole of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the fiber insertion hole 53 opens in the upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52, has a second die inlet 54 facing the first die outlet 45 shown in FIG. 5, and a lower surface 52b of the cylindrical portion 52. It has a second die outlet 55 opened in. The second die inlet 54 and the second die outlet 55 are both circular in cross-sectional view and formed to have the same diameter. The second die inlet 54 corresponds to the die inlet of the present invention, and the second die outlet 55 corresponds to the die outlet of the present invention. The upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52 and the fiber insertion hole 53 are mirror-finished, for example, by wrapping.

As shown in FIG. 2, a second ink storage portion 46 having an annular shape in a plan view is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52 of the second die 50 to store the second ink. The portion 46 can store ink (for example, blue) supplied from the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21 via the lower passages 27a and 27b of the inner sleeve 25.
The second ink storage unit 46 and the fiber insertion hole 53 of the second die 50 are communicated with each other by an ink supply path 56 extending in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the outer sleeve 21 (hereinafter, also referred to as a horizontal direction). There is.

As shown in FIG. 5, the ink supply path 56 is provided between the lower surface 41 of the first die 40 and the cylindrical portion 52 of the second die 50, one step lower than the upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52. .. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ink supply path 56 has a fan-shaped flow path, and the main part of the fan shape is connected to the groove portion 56a having a rectangular cross-sectional view, and the groove portion 56a is connected to the groove portion 56a. It is connected to the fiber insertion hole 53.

As shown in FIG. 5, an ink supply port 58 having a rectangular cross-sectional view is formed at a connection position between the groove portion 56a and the fiber insertion hole 53, and the ink supply port 58 passes through the fiber insertion hole 53. Facing the fiber strand f.
As a result, the ink (for example, blue) supplied from the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21 described with reference to FIG. 2 passes through the lower passages 27a and 27b of the inner sleeve 25, the second ink storage unit 46, and the ink supply path 56. , Is supplied into the fiber insertion hole 53.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole 53 is uniformly formed from the opening position of the ink supply port 58 to the second die outlet 55. More specifically, in the ink supply port 58, the inner peripheral surface of the first die outlet 45 and the inner peripheral surface of the second die inlet 54 are formed flush with each other, and the second die inlet 54 is a corner. It is formed of less than R0.2 (mm), for example, R0 (also referred to as a pin angle).

In this way, the optical fiber strand f that has entered the coloring die 12 has passed through the fiber insertion hole 33 at the point 30 described with reference to FIG. 2, and then is supplied into the fiber insertion hole 43 of the first die 40. The ink (for example, red) from the first ink storage unit 36 is applied to the base portion over the entire circumference.
Next, the ink of the second ink storage unit 46 is supplied from the ink supply port 58 described with reference to FIG. 5 into the fiber insertion hole 53 of the second die 50 via the ink supply path 56, and is supplied to the entire circumference. The optical fiber strand f to which the base portion is coated is further coated with ink (for example, blue) from the first ink storage unit 36 for half a circumference to provide a line-shaped coloring layer, and a coloring die is provided. 12 Go outside.

FIG. 6 is a table for explaining the evaluation results of the distinctiveness.
When the second die inlet 54 described with reference to FIG. 5 is formed with an angle R of less than 0.2 (mm) as in Example 1 (indicated as “without R” in FIG. 6), the fiber insertion hole 53 provides ink supply. Since the diameter from the position of the port 58 to the outlet 55 of the second die is formed to be the same, the ink (for example, red) of the base portion for the entire circumference of the optical fiber wire f and the ink applied in a line shape (for example, red). For example, the boundary with (blue) became clear, and it was evaluated as A.
On the other hand, when the linear velocity and the ink pressure are set to the same values, but the second die inlet 54 is formed with an angle of R0.2 (mm) (indicated as “with R0.2” in FIG. 6), Since the ink in the base portion of the entire circumference of the optical fiber strand f and the ink applied in a line shape were mixed and the boundaries between them became unclear, the evaluation was B.

(Example 2)
In the first embodiment, an example in which a base portion is formed on the surface of the optical fiber wire f with ink of a predetermined color and then formed in a line shape with ink of another color has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the base portion for the entire circumference is omitted, and a line shape for a half circumference is formed on the surface of the optical fiber strand f with ink of a predetermined color, and a line shape is formed for the opposite half circumference portion with ink of another color. May be formed in.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the coloring die of Example 2. 8 is a perspective view of the second die, FIG. 9 is a plan view of a main part of the second die, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the second die.
The coloring die 12 of Example 2 is the same as the coloring die 12 of Example 1 except for the inner sleeve 25 and the second die 50. Therefore, the description of the outer sleeve 21, the point 30, and the first die 40 will be omitted, and the inner sleeve 25 and the second die 50 will be described in detail.

The inner sleeve 25 shown in FIG. 7 has lower passages 27a and 27b below the formation positions of the ink passages 24a and 24b of the outer sleeve 21, and the upper passages 26a and 26b described in FIG. 2 are provided. Not. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, on the outer peripheral surface of the inner sleeve 25, connecting passages 28a and 28b extending in the vertical direction are provided. The lower passages 27a and 27b are arranged to face each other with the axial center of the inner sleeve 25 interposed therebetween, the lower passage 27a communicates with the ink passage 24a of the outer sleeve 21 via the connecting passage 28a, and the lower passage 27b communicates with the connecting passage 28b. It communicates with the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21 via the outer sleeve 21.

As shown in FIG. 8, the second die 50 is composed of, for example, a large-diameter flange portion 51 and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 52 located above the collar portion 51, and a second die 50 is located at the center position of the second die 50. A fiber insertion hole 53 through which the optical fiber strand f exiting from the 1 die 40 is passed is formed, extends along the vertical direction, and penetrates the second die 50. The fiber insertion hole 53 corresponds to the fiber insertion hole of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the fiber insertion hole 53 opens in the upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52, has a second die inlet 54 facing the first die outlet 45 shown in FIG. 10, and a lower surface 52b of the cylindrical portion 52. It has a second die outlet 55 opened in. The second die inlet 54 and the second die outlet 55 are both circular in cross-sectional view and formed to have the same diameter. The second die inlet 54 corresponds to the die inlet of the present invention, and the second die outlet 55 corresponds to the die outlet of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, a D-shaped second ink storage portion 46 in a plan view is provided between the lower passage 27a of the inner sleeve 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52 of the second die 50. The second ink storage unit 46 can store ink (for example, red) supplied from the ink passage 24a of the outer sleeve 21 via the lower passage 27a of the inner sleeve 25. The second ink storage unit 46 and the fiber insertion hole 53 communicate with each other by an ink supply path 56 extending in the horizontal direction.

Similar to the first embodiment, the ink supply path 56 is provided one step lower than the upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52, and has a fan-shaped flow path as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The main part of the fan shape is connected to the groove portion 56a having a rectangular cross-sectional view, and the groove portion 56a is connected to the fiber insertion hole 53. An ink supply port 58 having a rectangular cross-sectional view is formed at the connection position between the groove portion 56a and the fiber insertion hole 53, and the ink supply port 58 faces the optical fiber strand f passing through the fiber insertion hole 53.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, another second ink storage portion 47 is provided between the lower passage 27b of the inner sleeve 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 52 of the second die 50. The second ink storage unit 47 is also formed in a D shape in a plan view and does not communicate with the second ink storage unit 46. The second ink storage unit 47 can store ink (for example, blue) supplied from the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21 via the lower passage 27b of the inner sleeve 25. The second ink storage unit 47 and the fiber insertion hole 53 communicate with each other by an ink supply path 57 extending in the horizontal direction.

The ink supply path 57 is also provided one step lower than the upper surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52. The ink supply path 57 and the ink supply path 56 are arranged so as to face each other with the axial center of the inner sleeve 25 interposed therebetween, and the ink supply path 57 also has a fan-shaped flow path as shown in FIGS. The main part of the fan shape is connected to the groove portion 57a having a rectangular cross-sectional view, and the groove portion 57a is connected to the fiber insertion hole 53. An ink supply port 59 having a rectangular cross-sectional view is formed at the connection position between the groove portion 57a and the fiber insertion hole 53, and the ink supply port 59 faces the optical fiber strand f passing through the fiber insertion hole 53.

As a result, the ink (for example, red) supplied from the ink passage 24a of the outer sleeve 21 described with reference to FIG. 7 passes through the connecting passage 28a of the inner sleeve 25, the lower passage 27a, the second ink storage portion 46, and the ink supply passage 56. It is supplied into the fiber insertion hole 53 via the fiber insertion hole 53. At the same time, the ink (for example, blue) supplied from the ink passage 24b of the outer sleeve 21 passes through the connecting passage 28b of the inner sleeve 25, the lower passage 27b, the second ink storage portion 47, and the ink supply passage 57, and the fiber insertion hole. It is supplied in 53.

As shown in FIG. 10, the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole 53 is uniformly formed from the opening positions of the ink supply ports 58 and 59 to the second die outlet 55. More specifically, in the ink supply ports 58 and 59, the second die inlet 54 is formed with an angle of less than R0.2 (mm), for example, R0 (also referred to as a pin angle).

As described above, in the case of the second embodiment, the optical fiber strand f entered in the coloring die 12 passes through the fiber insertion hole 33 at the point 30 and the fiber insertion hole 43 of the first die 40, and then the second die. Enter the fiber insertion hole 53 of 50. The ink (for example, red) of the second ink storage unit 46 is supplied from the ink supply port 58 described with reference to FIG. 10 into the fiber insertion hole 53 of the second die 50 via the ink supply path 56. At the same time, the ink (for example, blue) of the second ink storage unit 47 is supplied from the ink supply port 59 into the fiber insertion hole 53 of the second die 50 via the ink supply path 57. For this reason, the optical fiber strand f is provided with a line-shaped colored layer in which half a circumference is coated with the ink (for example, red) from the second ink storage unit 46, and the ink from the second ink storage unit 47 is provided. A line-shaped coloring layer is provided on the opposite half circumference portion (for example, blue), and the ink goes out of the coloring die 12.

Also in the second embodiment, when the second die inlet 54 shown in FIG. 10 is formed with an angle R of less than 0.2 (mm) (“without R”), the second die inlet 54 is formed with an angle R0.2 (mm). ) Was evaluated (“with R0.2”), and in the case of “without R”, it was applied in a half-circle line shape to the optical fiber wire f as in Example 1. The boundary between the ink (for example, red) and the ink (for example, blue) applied in a line on the opposite side became clear, and the evaluation was A.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of claims, not the above-mentioned meaning, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

10 ... Feeding bobbin, 11, 14, 16, 18 ... Guide roller, 12 ... Coloring die, 13 ... Ultraviolet irradiation device, 15 ... Capstan roller, 17 ... Dancer roller, 19 ... Winding bobbin, 20 ... Die holder, 21 ... outer sleeve, 22 ... top, 23 ... bottom, 23a ... bottom opening, 24a, 24b ... ink passage, 25 ... inner sleeve, 26a, 26b ... upper passage, 27a, 27b ... lower passage, 28a, 28b ... connecting passage, 29 ... lid, 29a ... central opening, 30 ... point, 33 ... fiber insertion hole, 34 ... point inlet, 35 ... point outlet, 36 ... first ink reservoir, 40 ... first die, 41 ... bottom surface, 43 ... fiber Insertion hole, 44 ... 1st die inlet, 45 ... 1st die exit, 46, 47 ... 2nd ink storage section, 50 ... 2nd die, 51 ... flange section, 52 ... Cylindrical section, 52a ... Top surface, 52b ... Bottom surface , 53 ... Fiber insertion hole, 54 ... Second die inlet, 55 ... Second die outlet, 56, 57 ... Ink supply path, 56a, 57a ... Groove, 58, 59 ... Ink supply port.

Claims (6)

An optical fiber manufacturing device having a coloring die that applies a coloring layer to an optical fiber wire using inks of multiple colors.
A fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and a die outlet in which the coloring die communicates with the die inlet and discharges the optical fiber core wire colored with the ink. The ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the inside of the fiber insertion hole is formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole, and is arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. Has an ink supply port and
The inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet .
The coloring die is divided into a first die into which an optical fiber wire is inserted and a second die arranged below the first die and having the fiber insertion hole.
The ink supply path is formed between the upper surface of the second die and the lower surface of the first die mounted on the second die.
The ink supply path has a fan-shaped flow path, and the ink supply path has a fan-shaped flow path.
An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus in which a main part of the fan shape is connected to a groove portion having a rectangular cross-sectional view connected to the fiber insertion hole . The optical fiber manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ink supply ports are arranged to face the axial center of the fiber insertion hole. The optical fiber according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising an ink storage unit for storing ink supplied into the fiber insertion hole and not supplied to the ink supply port at a position upstream of the first die. Manufacturing equipment. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber in which a colored layer is applied to an optical fiber wire with inks of a plurality of colors using a coloring die.
A fiber insertion hole having a die inlet into which the optical fiber wire is inserted and a die outlet in which the coloring die communicates with the die inlet and discharges the optical fiber core wire colored with the ink. The ink supply path for supplying the ink toward the inside of the fiber insertion hole is formed at a connecting position between the ink supply path and the fiber insertion hole, and is arranged to face the optical fiber strand in the fiber insertion hole. Has an ink supply port and
The coloring die is divided into a first die into which an optical fiber wire is inserted and a second die arranged below the first die and having the fiber insertion hole.
The ink supply path is formed between the upper surface of the second die and the lower surface of the first die mounted on the second die.
The ink supply path has a fan-shaped flow path, and the ink supply path has a fan-shaped flow path.
The main part of the fan shape is connected to the groove portion having a quadrangular cross-sectional view connected to the fiber insertion hole.
A step of supplying ink from the ink supply port into the fiber insertion hole in the fiber insertion hole in which the inner diameter of the fiber insertion hole is set to be constant from the opening position of the ink supply port to the die outlet. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber, including. A plurality of the ink supply ports are arranged to face the axial center of the fiber insertion hole, and inks of different colors are simultaneously supplied into the fiber insertion holes through the plurality of ink supply ports. Item 4. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to Item 4. The coloring die further has an ink storage portion for storing ink supplied into the fiber insertion hole at a position upstream of the first die.
The method for manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a step of supplying ink from the ink reservoir into the fiber insertion hole.

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