JPH11305092A - Manufacturing equipment for overhead optical cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide manufacturing equipment which can easily change the form excessive cable without crossing and contact of an intermediate product, when an optical cable has excessive length for a support wire. SOLUTION: An excess-length forming device, which slackens an optical cable by making the traveling speed of an intermediate product N faster than that of a support wire, has rolls in the shape of a frustum arranged circumferentially. Then grooves 32a,..., 321 for determining the winding position of the intermediate product N are formed on the flanks of rolls 30a,..., 301 obliquely from the roll 30a at the intermediate product N winding start position of the excess-length forming device to the roll 301 at the winding end position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a self-supporting overhead optical cable in which a support wire main body and an optical cable are connected and integrated at a connecting portion, and the optical cable has a slack (excess length). In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable, which can easily change the conditions of the extra length forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present invention has previously proposed Japanese Patent Application No. 8-10436 for an aerial optical cable and its manufacturing method.
FIG. 5 shows an example of an overhead optical cable proposed in the prior invention. This overhead optical cable is roughly composed of a support wire 11, a connecting portion 12, and an optical cable 13. The support wire 11 includes a support wire main body 14 made of a galvanized steel twisted wire or the like, and a covering 15 made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene which covers the support wire main body 14.

[0003] The connecting portion 12 is composed of a support wire 11 and an optical cable 1.
3 is used to suspend the optical cable 13 with the support wire 11 and to hang down from the bottom of the support wire 11 and extend to the top of the optical cable 13 and have a continuous thickness of about 1 to 4 mm. And made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene. Optical cable 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes an optical cable core 16 containing a large number of optical fiber cores, and a sheath 17 made of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene and covering the optical cable core 16.

The connecting portion 12 has a support wire 11
Multiplicity of separation parts 18, 18 intermittently cut out along
... are formed. The length of the separation part 18 is, for example, 5
The distance between the adjacent separating portions 18 is, for example, about 5 cm.

[0005] Further, the separation portions 18, 1
At the formation position of 8, the optical cable 13 has a slack, and the slack is formed on the side of the support wire 11 by changing the direction substantially alternately. In other words, the optical cable 13 is meandering in the left-right direction with respect to the linear support line 11.
It has an extra length (sag) of about 0.7%. With this structure, the overhead optical cable does not apply or reduces a tensile force or distortion due to the tensile force on the optical cable 13. Further, at the time of aerial laying, since the cross wind from the side of the cable passes through the gap formed by the separating portion 18, the lift (force acting in the upward direction of the cable) due to the cross wind is less likely to be generated.
As a result, dancing (low-frequency vibration of the cable) caused by the lift is less likely to occur.

Next, an apparatus for manufacturing such an overhead cable will be described. FIG. 6 shows an example of this apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a cross-head die for extrusion coating attached to an extruder.
The optical cable core 16 and the support wire main body 14 are simultaneously fed into the crosshead die 21 from the insertion opening,
Further, a molten resin such as polyethylene is supplied from a resin injection device (not shown), and is extruded so that the resin is coated around the optical cable core 16 and the support wire main body 14, and the intermediate product N in which the connecting portion 12 is formed. Is obtained.

[0007] As shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate product N is continuously led out from the outlet of the crosshead die 21 so that the support wire 11 is located below and the optical cable 13 is located above. The supporting wire 11 which becomes heavy in this way
Is arranged downward, so that the connecting portion 12
Is formed in a straight state.

On the outlet side of the crosshead dice 21, a separating portion forming device 22 is provided. This separation portion forming device 22 has a sharp blade (not shown),
The blade is intermittently advanced or retracted toward the intermediate product N, and while the resin constituting the connecting portion 12 of the intermediate product N coming out of the crosshead die 21 is still in a semi-molten state, the resin is straightened. Are formed intermittently to form the separation portions 18, 18,.... As shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate product N in which the linear separating portions 18, 18... Are intermittently formed substantially at the center of the connecting portion 12 by the separating portion forming device 22 is then sent to the primary cooling tank 23. Here, the resin is primarily cooled, and the resin on the surface thereof is semi-solidified and sent to the extra length forming pulley 24.

The extra length forming pulley 24 has a diameter of 30 cm to 2 cm.
It is an annular thing of about 00 cm, and is designed to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The intermediate product N is wound around the extra-length forming pulley 24 over one circumference and runs in the direction of the arrow. At the time of this winding, the support wire 11 and the optical cable 13 come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the extra-length forming pulley 24 as shown in FIG.

Since the diameter of the optical cable 13 and the supporting wire 11 are different from each other and the diameter of the optical cable 13 is larger, the winding diameter of the optical cable 13 among the intermediate products N wound around the extra length forming pulley 24 is different. It becomes larger than the winding diameter of the support wire 11. Since the extra-length forming pulley 24 rotates at the required speed, the peripheral speed of the optical cable 13, that is, the traveling speed is higher than the traveling speed of the support wire 11. Thereby, the intermediate product N is transferred to the extra length forming pulley 2.
4, the traveling speed of the optical cable 13 becomes faster than the traveling speed of the support wire 11.

The difference between the two traveling speeds is caused when the intermediate product N moves away from the extra length forming pulley 24 when the optical cable 13
Are partially separated from the support wires 11 at the separation parts 18, 18,..., And appear as slack (excess length) at the separation parts 18, 18,. Therefore, the intermediate product N moving away from the extra-length forming pulley 24 has its optical cable 13 slackened at the positions of the separation parts 18, 18,..., And exhibits a meandering state as shown in FIG.

The intermediate product N in a meandering state is immediately sent to the secondary cooling tank 25, where it is completely cooled by secondary cooling, and the resin is solidified to form a product. Thus, an aerial optical cable having the appearance shown in FIG. 5 is continuously obtained, taken up by the take-up device, and then taken up by a take-up drum or the like as appropriate.

According to such a manufacturing method, the resin coating on the optical cable core 16 and the support wire main body 14, the formation of the connecting portion 12, and the formation of the slack in the optical cable 13 are performed in one step in one manufacturing line. Thus, the intended overhead optical cable can be manufactured extremely efficiently.

However, in the above-described manufacturing apparatus, when winding the intermediate product N around the extra-length forming pulley 24, the winding start position and the winding end position of the intermediate product N intersect on the extra-length forming pulley 24. Contact. At this time, since the resin constituting the outermost layer (the covering body 15, the connecting portion 12, the sheath 17) of the intermediate product N is not sufficiently solidified, the intersection may rarely deform the outermost layer. there were. The state of formation of the extra length (the extra length) depends on the diameter of the extra length forming pulley 24, that is, the winding diameter of the support wire 11 and the winding diameter of the optical cable 13, but the extra length is changed. In such a case, it is necessary to replace the extra length forming pulley 24 with a different diameter, which is costly and requires a lot of work.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an overhead optical cable manufacturing apparatus in which an optical cable has an extra length with respect to a support line, and in which an intermediate product does not cross or contact an overhead product. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical cable manufacturing apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing an aerial optical cable that can easily change the state of forming the extra length.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided an intermediate product in which a support wire main body and an optical cable core are collectively extruded and covered, and a support wire and an optical cable are integrated at a connecting portion. Extruder, a separation section forming apparatus that forms a separation section intermittently in the longitudinal direction at the connection section while the resin at the connection section of the intermediate product is not solidified, and cools the intermediate product having the separation section A primary cooling tank to be cooled, an intermediate product cooled by the primary cooling tank, a slack forming device for increasing the running speed of the optical cable to be higher than the running speed of the support line, and causing slack in the optical cable; An apparatus for manufacturing an aerial optical cable including a secondary cooling tank that cools the intermediate product after the length is formed again to obtain a product, and a take-off device that picks up the product, wherein the excess length forming device includes a plurality of truncated cones. Roller is circumferential Placed will be on the side surface of these rollers, the grooves for defining the winding position of the intermediate product,
The present invention proposes an apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable, characterized in that the surplus length forming device is formed obliquely from a roller at a winding start position to a roller at a winding end position of the intermediate product.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The apparatus for manufacturing an overhead cable according to the present invention is the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 except that a spare length forming apparatus using rollers shown in FIGS. Configuration. FIG. 6 in addition to FIGS.
It will also be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a surplus length forming apparatus used in an example of an overhead optical cable manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a structure of a roller used in the extra length forming device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the action of a plurality of rollers of the extra-length forming apparatus shown in FIG.
It is explanatory drawing which arrange | positioned these in a straight line for convenience, and showed the state of the intermediate product sent by these rollers.

The excess length forming device 24A of this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG.
, 30l are arranged circumferentially as shown in FIG.
1, the intermediate product N is wound around one round. These rollers 30a, ..., 30l
Are rotated around the center axes 31a,..., 31l, respectively. By this rotation, the intermediate product N after the separation portion 18 is formed in the separation portion forming device 22 shown in FIG. The rollers 30a,..., 30l run in contact with the side surfaces.

Each of the rollers 30a,..., 30l is a truncated cone having sloped side surfaces and a maximum diameter of, for example, about 30 to 200 cm, as shown in FIGS. It is arranged to become.
In the figure, β is the inclination angle of the side surface. Roller 30a, ..., 3
The size and number of 0l can be appropriately changed according to the size of the overhead optical cable to be manufactured, manufacturing conditions, and the like. An intermediate product N is provided on the side surfaces of these rollers 30a,.
32a,..., 32 corresponding to the approximately gourd shape of
1 are provided, and the intermediate product N is wound and sent along these grooves 32a,..., 32l.

FIG. 3 shows rollers 30a,..., 30l which are actually arranged in a circular shape and arranged in a straight line for convenience. The state of the intermediate product N sent by these rollers 30a,. Are also shown. As shown in FIG. 3, when the intermediate product N is wound around the excess length forming device 24A, the grooves 32a,..., 32l are located near the upper side of the roller 30a at the winding start position. It is formed so that it may contact. Then, the roller gradually moves to the lower side of these side surfaces until reaching the rollers 30b,..., 30k, and finally comes out of the extra length forming device 24A so as to contact the lower side of the roller 30l at the winding end position. Is formed.

That is, from the winding start position (roller 30a) to the winding end position (roller 30l), the grooves 32a,.
1, the intermediate product N is wound smoothly from the upper side to the lower side, and is wound at the winding start position (roller 30).
a) or in the vicinity of the winding end position (roller 30l), contact or crossing of the intermediate product N does not occur. The rollers 30a, ..., 30l are arranged such that the area of the upper part is large and the side surfaces thereof are inclined.
The winding diameter of the optical cable 13 of the intermediate product N is larger than the winding diameter of the support wire 11 wound thereunder, and the running of the optical cable 13 is the same as in the case of using the extra-length forming pulley 24 shown in FIG. The speed becomes faster than the traveling speed of the support wire 11, and an extra length can be formed in the optical cable 13.

By the way, the state of formation of the extra length (the extra length) of the intermediate product N depends on the support wire 1 in the extra length forming device 24A.
1 and the winding diameter of the optical cable 13.
In the extra length forming device 24A, for example, by moving the rollers 30a,..., 30l in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 4, the winding diameters of the support wire 11 and the optical cable 13 can be changed. In this way, the rollers 30a, ...,
According to the change of the arrangement position of the 30l, there is no need to introduce a new device, the operation is simple, the cost is low, and it is advantageous.

In the rollers 30a,..., 30l, the winding diameters of the support wire 11 and the optical cable 13 can be changed by changing the depth of the grooves 32a,. Alternatively, roller 30
The winding diameter of each of the support wire 11 and the optical cable 13 can also be changed by adjusting the inclination angle β of the side surface of a,. For example, when the bending diameter of the optical cable 13 is limited, the winding diameter of the optical cable 13 is made constant by changing the winding diameter of the support wire 11 by the following two methods, and the remaining length is changed. Can be adjusted.

The first method is to use grooves 32a,.
In (2), the depth of the groove in contact with the optical cable 13 is not changed so that the winding diameter of the optical cable 13 is not changed, and the groove in the portion in contact with the support wire 11 is made deep (shallow).
At this time, the portions of the grooves 32a,. Then, the traveling speed difference between the optical cable 13 and the support wire 11 becomes relatively large (small), and the extra length can be made long (short). As another method, the rollers 30a,.
The inclination angle β of the side surface is reduced (increased),
The same effect can be obtained by changing the winding diameter of.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the occurrence of defective products can be reduced without contact and intersection of intermediate products in the excess length forming apparatus. Further, by changing the arrangement position of the rollers, or changing the depth of the grooves of the rollers or the inclination angle of the side surfaces, the winding diameter of the support wire and the optical cable can be adjusted, and the formation state of the extra length can be changed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a surplus length forming device used in an apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable according to the present invention, as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a roller used in the extra-length forming device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from a lateral direction.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state of an intermediate product fed by these rollers in order to explain the action of a plurality of rollers of the excess length forming device shown in FIG. 1 for convenience.

4 is an explanatory view showing an operation of changing a winding diameter of an intermediate product in the excess length forming device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of an overhead optical cable manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention and the prior invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable according to the prior invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an intermediate product in a production example of the prior invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an intermediate product in a production example of the prior invention.

9 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of FIG. 6 in an enlarged manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... support wire, 12 ... connecting part, 13 ... optical cable, 14
... Support wire body, 16 ... Cable core, 18 ... Separation part, 2
2 ... Separation part forming device, 23 ... Primary cooling tank, 24A ... Excess length forming device, 25 ... Secondary cooling tank, 30a, ..., 30l ... Roller, 31a, ..., 31l ... Center axis, 32a ... 32l
…groove

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Miyachi 1440, Mukurosaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Inside Fujikura Sakura Factory (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Sato 1440, Misaki, Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture Fujikura Sakura Factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An extruder for extruding a support wire main body and an optical cable core at one time to form an intermediate product in which a support wire and an optical cable are integrated at a connection portion, and an unsolidified resin at a connection portion of the intermediate product. In the meantime, a separation part forming apparatus that forms a separation part intermittently in the longitudinal direction in the connecting part, a primary cooling tank that cools an intermediate product having the separation part, and an intermediate product that has been cooled in the primary cooling tank An excess length forming device for increasing the traveling speed of the optical cable faster than the traveling speed of the support line to cause slack in the optical cable, and secondary cooling of the intermediate product after the excess length is formed again as a product. An apparatus for manufacturing an aerial optical cable comprising a tank and a pickup device for picking up the product, wherein the extra length forming device includes a plurality of truncated conical rollers arranged in a circumferential shape, and a side surface of these rollers. The intermediate product An apparatus for manufacturing an overhead optical cable, wherein a groove for determining a winding position is formed obliquely from a roller at a winding start position of the intermediate product of the excess length forming device to a roller at a winding end position.