JPH06148487A - Method for detecting array deviation of optical fiber element line of optical coated fiber tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the method which irradiates the optical coated fibers tape with light, measures the distance between the light irradiation part and traveling optical fibers from the quantity of reflected light, and continuously detects the array deviation of the optical fibers from the distance. CONSTITUTION:After plural optical fibers element line 3 which travel in parallel are coated with resin successively and the resin is cured the optical coated fiber tape is irradiated with the light, the quantity of the reflected light from the optical coated fiber tape 3 is measured and compared with the previously measured and stored reference reflected light quantity of a reference tape of optical fibers coated with the same resin as the resin 20 applied to the tape of the optical fibers, and the array deviation of the optical fiber element line 3 is continuously detected from the difference between the reference reflected light quantity value and measured reflected light quantity value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon and, more particularly, to detecting misalignment of optical fiber strands when a plurality of optical fiber strands are arrayed in parallel while being run and coated with resin. The present invention relates to a method for detecting misalignment of optical fiber strands of an optical fiber ribbon which can be performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical fiber has a remarkably different physical or mechanical characteristic from that of a conventional copper conductor. Various characteristics and easy handling. However, in the case of making a cable, if a large external force such as lateral pressure is applied to the optical fiber strand, a slight bending (microbending) occurs in the optical fiber core wire, which increases the transmission loss. Need to be considered. Considering this point, there is a spacer type as the structure of the optical fiber cable. This spacer type fiber cable
The structure is such that the mechanical characteristics of the cable are improved, and particularly high reliability against lateral pressure is obtained.

The optical fiber strand is a glass fiber that is drawn from an electric furnace and spun in an optical fiber drawing device, and is subjected to a primary coating and a secondary coating. In this state, the surface of this optical fiber strand is easily scratched and its mechanical strength is weak.Therefore, a single-core optical fiber core made of resin coating or multiple optical fiber strands arranged in parallel. To form a multi-fiber optical fiber ribbon which is lined up with and coated with a resin to form a tape.

This optical fiber tape core wire is conventionally shown in FIG.
It is manufactured online by the optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. That is, a plurality of pieces (for example, four pieces) supplied from the supply device 110
Optical fiber strands (six, eight, etc.) 120 (colored for selection in advance) 120 are supplied to the coating head 140 via the guide member 130. In the coating head 140, a plurality of (for example, four, six
(8, etc.) arranged optical fiber strands 120 are coated with a UV curable resin 150 such as acrylate resin such as acrylate, acrylate or acrylic resin as shown in FIG. Then, UV (ultraviol)
et) In a resin curing furnace 160 such as a furnace, the UV curable resin 150 coated on the plurality of optical fiber strands 120 is cured to form a multi-core (4-core, 6-core, 8-core, etc.) tape core wire 1
80 is manufactured, taken up by the take-up device 190, and taken up by the take-up device 200.

In manufacturing the tape core wire 180, the optical fiber element wire 120 whose surface is colored beforehand is used.
Are lined up, and the UV curable resin 150 is extruded and coated on the plurality of optical fiber strands 120 by an extruder. The UV curable resin 150 cures when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and when cured, contracts toward the center in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

[0006] The tape core wire 18 manufactured in this way
0 is stored in a storage groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the strength member (tension member) in the longitudinal direction of the strength member, and is wound and pressed by a press-winding tape, and a jacket (sheath) is placed on the press-winding tape. The optical fiber cable is manufactured by coating.

[0007]

As described above, an optical fiber tape core wire manufactured by arranging a plurality of optical fiber wires in parallel while running them and collectively coating them with a matrix material (acrylic resin) is It is difficult to arrange the optical fiber strands in parallel because they have a small diameter and are easy to move in the coating head even if they are arranged in parallel and run. In particular, it becomes more difficult to line up each optical fiber strand in parallel as the number of parallel optical fiber strands before resin coating is increased,
When multiple fibers are arranged in parallel, an array shift as shown in FIG. 6 may occur.

When the optical fiber ribbon is misaligned as shown in FIG. 6, when an external stress is applied to the optical fiber ribbon, each optical fiber wire constituting the optical fiber ribbon receives the optical fiber ribbon. A difference in stress occurs, and the transmission characteristics and mechanical characteristics of the optical fiber tape core wire deteriorate.

However, there is an effective means for detecting the misalignment of the optical fiber element wires constituting the optical fiber tape core wire manufactured in the online manufacturing process by the optical fiber tape core wire manufacturing apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. Without
There is a problem in that the array displacement of the optical fiber strands cannot be detected, and array information in the middle of the strip length cannot be obtained.

According to the present invention, a plurality of running optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and continuously coated with a resin to be cured, and then the optical fiber ribbon is irradiated with light, and the light irradiation portion is used based on the amount of reflected light. Provide a method for detecting the misalignment of the optical fiber ribbon core fiber by measuring the distance between the optical fiber and the running optical fiber and continuously detecting the misalignment of the optical fiber strand from this distance. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the method of detecting the misalignment of the optical fiber strands of the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention, a plurality of running optical fiber strands are continuously arranged in parallel. Before or after the resin is coated and cured, the optical fiber ribbon is irradiated with light and the amount of light reflected from the optical fiber ribbon is measured,
Compared with the reference reflected light quantity of the reference optical fiber tape core wire coated with the same resin as the resin coated on the optical fiber tape core wire previously measured and stored, the reference reflected light quantity value and the measured reflected light quantity value The arrangement shift of the optical fiber strands is continuously detected from the difference.

[0012]

The light (for example, laser light) is applied to the reference optical fiber tape core wire in advance, and the amount of reflected light from the optical fiber wire is measured and stored. Then, the optical fiber strand is supplied from the supply device, and the optical fiber strand is coated with the UV curable resin by the coating head from the supply device via the guide member. This UV curable resin is coated, and light (for example, laser light) is applied to the optical fiber tape core wire output from the coating head or the resin curing furnace, so that the optical fiber tape core wire Measure the amount of reflected light. From the difference between the measured reflected light amount value and the reference reflected light amount value, the array displacement of the optical fiber element wires is continuously detected.

[0013]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a method for detecting the misalignment of the optical fiber strands of the optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a tape ribbon from a plurality of optical fiber strands. Reference numeral 2 is a supply device for feeding out the optical fiber element wire 3 wound around a drum in a constant running. The supply device 2 is provided with the number of drums of the optical fiber element wires 3 corresponding to the number of core wires for manufacturing the tape core wires.

Reference numeral 4 is a guide member for guiding a plurality of optical fiber element wires 3 supplied from the supply device 2 in a flat shape. Reference numeral 5 is a coating head, and a plurality of (for example, four, eight, etc.) optical fiber strands 3 arranged in a flat shape guided from the guide member 4 are provided with an acrylate, an acrylate, an acrylic acid. A UV curable resin such as an acrylate resin such as a resin is extrusion-coated. This UV curable resin has a property of being cured by being irradiated with an ultraviolet ray, and usually has a property of being cured by 90% or more just by irradiating for about 1 second after coating the UV curable resin. In this coating head 5, a plurality of colored optical fiber strands 3 are arranged side by side, and a transparent or semitransparent matrix material (liquid) is attached to the outer periphery thereof.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an array shift detector which, after passing through the coating head 5, irradiates the optical fiber tape core wire 10A coated with the UV curable resin (liquid) 20 with light by using an optical fiber probe or the like. It is for detecting reflected light. The array shift detector 6 has a structure as shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 61 is a light irradiation / reflected light receiving unit, specifically, an optical fiber probe. In the light irradiation / reflected light reception unit 61, as shown in FIG. 2A from the light irradiation unit, light (for example, laser light) is emitted from the coating head 5 in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber tape core wire 10A traveling. Irradiate. This light (for example, laser light) is reflected on the surface of each optical fiber element wire forming the optical fiber ribbon 10A, and as shown in FIG. 2B, reflected light reception of the light irradiation / reflected light reception unit 61. The reception is detected by the department. The distance L (illustrated in FIG. 2) from the tip of the light irradiation section of the light irradiation / reflected light receiving section 61 to the surface of the optical fiber element wire forming the optical fiber ribbon 10A can be measured from this received light amount. The amount of reflected light received by the reflected light receiving unit depends on the distance L to the surface of the optical fiber strand, but also changes depending on the coloring of the optical fiber strand surface forming the optical fiber ribbon 10A. Therefore, in FIG.
As shown in, it is necessary to previously obtain the relationship between the amount of reflected light and the distance L to the surface of the optical fiber elemental wire with differently colored optical fiber elemental wires. Reference numeral 62 is a light source / light detector.

The relationship between the amount of reflected light and the distance L to the surface of the optical fiber element wire, which is measured in advance and is different from each other in the optical fiber element wires, is stored in the comparison operator 7 and the comparison operator 7 is stored.
In, the actual measurement value (measured reflected light quantity value) is compared with the reference value (reference reflected light quantity value) that serves as the reference, and when this measured value and the reference value match, the array of optical fiber strands If it is determined that there is no misalignment and there is a difference between the measured value and the reference value, it is determined that there is misalignment of the optical fiber strands. The calculation result is displayed on the display device 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light irradiating / reflecting light receiving unit 61 is constructed so as to be movable in parallel with the arrangement direction of the optical fiber strands in the optical fiber ribbon 10A, and the surface of each strand. By detecting the reflected light from, it is possible to measure L up to each strand, and by comparing the values, it is possible to determine the misalignment of the fibers in the optical fiber ribbon. For example, when the values of L are the same, there is no misalignment of the fibers, and the fibers are arranged in parallel. The measurement accuracy is as shown in FIG.
1. Depends on the capability of the light source / light detector 62.

Reference numeral 9 is a resin curing furnace, for example, UV (ult
Raviole) furnace. The resin curing furnace 9 in this embodiment is a UV furnace because the resin coating the optical fiber element wire 3 is a UV curable resin. When the UV curable resin coated on the plurality of optical fiber strands 3 is cured in the resin curing furnace 9, a plurality of cores (4 cores in this embodiment) of the optical fiber tape core wire 10B is manufactured.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a take-up device, which is an optical fiber ribbon 10 coated with a UV curable resin in a resin curing furnace 9.
Is pulled by a predetermined tension. Reference numeral 12 is a winding device that winds the optical fiber ribbon 10 drawn by the drawing device 11 onto a drum or the like.

The optical fiber tape core wire 10 manufactured in this manner is stored in a storage groove formed in the longitudinal direction on the outer peripheral surface of the tensile strength member (tension member), and is wound and pressed by the press-winding tape. An optical fiber cable is manufactured by covering a wrapping tape with a jacket (sheath).

[0023]

Industrial Applicability According to the present invention, a plurality of running optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and continuously coated with a resin to be cured, and then the optical fiber ribbon is irradiated with light so that the optical fiber ribbon is exposed. The amount of reflected light from the optical fiber tape is measured and compared with the reference reflected light amount of the reference optical fiber tape core wire coated with the same resin as the resin coated on the optical fiber tape core wire that has been measured and stored in advance. Since it is configured to continuously detect the misalignment of the optical fiber strands from the difference between the light intensity value and the measured reflected light intensity value, multiple running optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel and continuously resin coated. After curing, the optical fiber ribbon is irradiated with light, the distance between the light irradiation part and the running optical fiber element is measured from this reflected light amount, and the optical fiber element array is arranged from this distance. Gap It can be continuously detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a method for detecting misalignment of an optical fiber element wire arrangement of an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing the arrangement shift detector shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a reflected light amount characteristic chart for each color of an optical fiber element wire.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing a conventional method of detecting a misalignment of optical fiber element wire arrangements of optical fiber ribbons.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tape core wire illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the optical fiber tape core wire manufactured by the conventional optical fiber tape core wire manufacturing apparatus has a displacement of the optical fiber element wires.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 …………………………………………………… Optical fiber ribbon manufacturing equipment 2 ………………………………………… Supply equipment 3 …… ……………………………………………… Optical fiber element 4 ……………………………………………… Guide member 5 …………………… ……………………………… Coating head 6 ……………………………………………… Alignment deviation detector 61 …………………………………… ………… Light irradiation / reflected light reception unit 62 ……………………………………………… Light source / light detection unit 7 ………………………………………… …… Comparison unit 8 ……………………………………………… Display device 9 ……………………………………………… Resin curing furnace 10A, 10B ………………………………………… Tape ribbon 11 ………………………………………… ... take-up device 12 ................................................... take-up device 20 ................................................... UV curing resin

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon, wherein a plurality of optical fiber strands are arranged in parallel while being run, and a resin coating and curing are performed to produce a plurality of running optical fiber strands. After the resin is coated and cured, the optical fiber tape core wire is irradiated with light, the amount of light reflected from the optical fiber tape core wire is measured, and the optical fiber tape core wire that is measured and stored in advance is coated. Compared with the reference reflected light amount of the reference optical fiber tape core wire coated with the same resin as
An optical fiber element wire misalignment detection method for an optical fiber ribbon, wherein an array misalignment of optical fiber wires is continuously detected from a difference between the reference reflected light quantity value and the measured reflected light quantity value.