JPH01150106A - Tape-shaped optical fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable branching by forming the covering layers of one of plural optical fibers and the other optical fibers as separate bodies and integrating these covering layers by a tape material adhered to each of the above-mentioned covering layers. CONSTITUTION:The tape-shaped optical fiber is constituted of 4 pieces of the optical fibers. Coating layers 2b, 2c of the two intermediate optical fibers adjacent to each other are separated apart a specified spacing. Four pieces of the optical fibers, therefore, constitute respectively two pieces of the optical fibers which are integrated by the covering layers 3a, 3b consisting of, for example, an urethane acrylate resin; in addition, the covering layers 3a, 3b are in contact with each other. The long-sized tape material 4 for constituting the 4-fiber tape-shaped optical fiber by integrating these fibers is adhered to the rear face of the covering layers 3a, 3b. The tape-shaped optical fiber can be branched to the one optical fiber contg. the glass fibers 1a, 1b and the other fibers contg. the glass fibers 1c, 1d by tearing or pulling apart the tape material 4 in this case.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a tape-shaped optical fiber core.

[Prior art and its problems]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, tape-shaped optical fibers have been known in which a plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel and collectively provided with a coating layer to form a single optical core. FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of a conventional example.

As shown in the figure, the optical fiber consists of a glass fiber 1 consisting of a core and a glass fiber, and a coating layer 2 coated on the outside thereof. Here, the coating layer 2 is made of, for example, an ultraviolet (UV) curable resin, and serves as a buffer layer to prevent mechanical impact from being applied to the glass fiber 1.

The four optical fiber strands thus constructed are arranged in parallel in a plane and are integrated by a coating layer 3 made of resin or the like as shown in FIG. 3(a). In such a tape-shaped optical fiber core, after removing the coating layer 3 together with the coating layer 2 to expose the glass fiber 1, as shown in FIG. (as shown) or to other optical fibers.

Incidentally, in recent years, the introduction of subscriber optical fiber cables has been progressing, but for this purpose it becomes necessary to branch out multi-core optical fibers.

However, it is not easy to branch a tape-shaped optical fiber into a plurality of cores. Specifically, for example, the third
As shown by the dotted line A in Figure (a), it is not easy to cut a 4-core tape-like optical fiber in the longitudinal direction into two cores (2-core tape-like optical fiber). Furthermore, when the glass fiber 1 is actually cut, the transmission characteristics of the glass fiber 1 are often deteriorated due to stress and the like at that time.

On the other hand, so that this branching can be easily executed,
), a material that is easily separated from the coating layer 2 is used for the coating layer 3 to make it easier to tear or peel off the coating. However, when the core wire is made into a tape shape using such a material, branching becomes easy, but it is inevitable that the strands will be exposed at least at the branched portion. Moreover, if this is done, the outer coating is often peeled off and separated into single core wires (strands) during branching.

On the other hand, there is also a technique of arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a plane and integrating them with an adhesive tape material to form a tape-shaped optical fiber core. This branching of the core wires is done by tearing off the tape material, but in this case, the core wires become single core wires (strands) after branching. For this reason, after branching, the wires must be handled in the state of strands, resulting in insufficient protection from external forces and lack of reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tape-shaped coated optical fiber that can be easily branched into a plurality of coated optical fibers without deteriorating the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber.

[Means for solving problems]

The tape-shaped optical fiber core wire according to the present invention is a tape-shaped optical fiber core wire in which a plurality of optical fiber wires are arranged in parallel on a predetermined plane and covered with a coating layer. Coating layers are separate between at least one optical fiber and other optical fibers adjacent to one side of the optical fiber, and these are adhered to each of the separate coating layers. It is characterized by being integrated with a tape material.

[Effect]

According to the tape-shaped optical fiber core wire of the present invention, the coating layer is separate at the part to be branched, and since these are integrated by the tape material, it can be easily cut here to form a plurality of optical fibers. It can be a core wire.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape-shaped optical fiber core according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure, this tape-shaped optical fiber core has 4
The coating layer 2a of the strands on one side is composed of optical fiber strands.

2b and a coating layer 2c of the strands on the other side.

2d are in contact with each other. The coating layers 2b and 2c of the two intermediate optical fiber strands adjacent to each other are separated by a constant interval. Therefore, each of the four optical fibers constitutes two optical fiber cores (two-core tape-shaped optical fiber core), and these are interconnected by coating layers 3a and 3b made of, for example, urethane acrylate resin. The covering layers 3a and 3b are integrated and in contact with each other. Then, a long tape material 4 for integrating these core wires to form a four-core tape-shaped optical fiber core wire.
is adhered to the lower surface of each of the covering layers 3a and 3b. Here, the tape material 4 is coated with a coating layer 3 by an adhesive.
a, 3b, or may be fixed (adhered) to the coating layers 3a, 3b during curing with ultraviolet light or the like.

According to this four-core tape-like optical fiber, it is possible to easily branch into two optical fibers (two-core tape-like optical fiber). That is, by tearing or peeling off the tape material 4, one optical fiber core containing the glass fibers la and lb and the glass fiber lc are separated.

It can be easily branched to the other optical fiber core including 1d.

At this time, the optical fiber cables have coating layers 3a and 3b, respectively.
Since the wires are covered by the wire, the wires will not be exposed after branching.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a modification of the above embodiment. In the case of the 5-fiber tape-like optical fiber in Figure (a), the 2 on the right side
The optical fiber on one side (2-fiber tape-shaped optical fiber) containing the main glass fiber 1 and the other optical fiber (3-fiber tape-shaped optical fiber) containing the three glass fibers 1 on the left side. Although the coating layers 3 are separate from each other, they are in contact with the optical fiber (optical fiber core), and these are integrated by a tape material 4 on the lower surface. Therefore, when the strength of this tape material 4 is lower than the adhesive strength with the coating layer 3, the tape material 4
It can be easily branched into two core wires by tearing or, if the adhesive strength is low, by peeling it off from the coating layer 3.

In the 6-core tape-shaped optical fiber coated wire shown in FIG. 3
are separate from each other, and are integrated with a single tape material 4. Therefore, by tearing this tape material 4 or peeling it off from the coating layer 3, it is possible to branch into two or three core wires.

In addition, in the 8-fiber tape-like optical fiber coated wire shown in FIG. Although the covering layers 3 are separate from each other, they are in contact with each other. These are integrated from above and below with two tape materials 4a and 4b.

According to this example, the cross section of the 8-core tape-like optical fiber core will not be deformed into a "<" shape, so
Easy to handle.

Furthermore, in the four-core tape-shaped optical fiber coated wire shown in FIG.
The covering layers 3 are separate and in contact with each other. These are integrated by a tape material 4 adhered to the lower surface. Furthermore, a wire rod 5 extending in the longitudinal direction is arranged on the upper surface of the tape material 4. According to this example, the tape material can be torn by pulling the wire 5 downward, so that branching into two optical fiber cores can be easily performed.

The present invention is not limited to what has been described above, and various modifications are possible.

For example, the coating material may be a thermosetting resin in addition to a UV curable resin, and in this case, it is cured by a heater or an electron beam. Further, the material of the tape material 4 is not particularly limited, and various methods of adhesion to the coating layer 3 are possible, such as adhesive or melt-solidification. Furthermore, the Young's modulus, elongation rate, or adhesive strength of the tape material 4 may take various values as long as it damages the coating layer 3 or deteriorates the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber during the branching process. can. Furthermore, the optical fiber core after branching is not limited to a tape-shaped core with two or more fibers! 11
It can be your heart.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above in detail, according to the tape-shaped optical fiber core wire of the present invention, since the parts to be branched are connected by the covering layer or the tape material, it is easy to tear or peel off at this point to create multiple fibers. Optical fiber core wire can be used. Therefore, it is possible to branch into a plurality of coated optical fibers without deteriorating the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber or exposing the bare optical fiber.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ribbon-shaped optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a modified example thereof, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tape-shaped optical fiber according to a conventional example. be. 1.1a-1d...Glass fiber, 2,2a-2d
... Coating layer, 3... Covering layer, 4... Tape material, 5... Wire material. Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim] A tape-shaped coated optical fiber in which a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel on a predetermined plane and covered with a coating layer, comprising: at least one of the plurality of optical fiber strands;
The coating layer is separate from another optical fiber strand adjacent to one side of this optical fiber strand, and these are covered with tapes adhered to each of the separate coating layers. A tape-shaped optical fiber core wire characterized by being integrated with a material.