JPS5834807B2 - Optical cable manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cable (hereinafter simply referred to as an optical cable) in which optical transmission fibers are collectively twisted.
When a plurality of optical fibers (usually glass fibers coated with resin) are assembled and twisted together, markings are made on the surface of the optical fibers to facilitate identification of the optical fiber cores.

Optical cables are usually made by twisting together multiple optical fibers.

Therefore, it is necessary to identify these core wires during use.

In order to easily identify the fibers, it is possible to color the sheathing in the sheathing process and then bundle and twist it together, but it is better to decide on the combination of fibers in an optical cable after they are sheathed, taking into account their characteristics and length. Because it is convenient, it is inconvenient to color the optical fiber core in advance.

It is also possible to twist the optical fiber together with other identification inclusions in the collective twisting process, but in this method, the optical fiber itself is not identified, so If the line arrangement is disordered, reliability will be affected.

Figure 1 shows an example of the cross-sectional structure of an optical cable, where 1 is a central inclusion or optical fiber core, 2 to 7 are optical fiber cores, and 8 is an optical fiber core.
is a presser tape, and optical fiber core wires 2 to 7 are twisted around a central inclusion 1.

In such a cable structure, two of the optical fibers
If cores, for example 2 and 3, are identified, all fibers can be identified.

The present invention provides an optical cable manufacturing method that facilitates the identification of optical fibers in such optical cables, and solves the aforementioned problems in identification due to extrusion coloring and interposition.

In other words, since the present invention colors the fiber surface with identification ink between the supply bobbin and the gathering die (clip) during collective twisting, there is no need to pre-color the fibers during extrusion, and there is no need to rely on inclusions, which improves reliability. It gets expensive.

Therefore, the optical fibers can be coated with a single resin without coloring, and the fibers can be combined in consideration of their characteristics and length, and markings can be applied when they are bundled together.

Although the marking ink depends on the coating material (for example, nylon, polyethylene, etc.), adhesive inks are generally preferred.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

2, 3.4 are optical fiber core wires, and 12, 13, and 14 are respective supply bobbins.

These supply bobbins are attached to a rotating cage 10.

21 is a collecting die (cap), 22 is a take-off capstan, and 23 is an optical cable winding device.

In order to color the fibers 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 1, the fibers 2 and 3 shown in FIG. 2 may be colored, and ink is applied by a coloring device shown at 32 and 33 in FIG.

Since the exit of the optical fiber cage is generally a fixed point in the cage, it is a suitable location for regularly marking the running optical fiber.

Furthermore, it is possible to install a marking device at a suitable position between the supply bobbin and the collecting die.

As described above, the present invention has numerous advantages in terms of process and quality because the optical fiber identification is performed on the optical fiber itself during the assembly and twisting process.

That is, since a cable can be made by selecting a fiber according to its final characteristics, length, etc., there is no need to perform marking during the extrusion coating process.

In addition, the extruder can stably use a certain resin,
Color has a process advantage because it saves this effort.

In addition, since the fiber itself is marked, there is no need to use other inclusions, and the reliability of identification is increased, which is advantageous in terms of quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optical cable, and FIG. 2 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the present invention. 2.3, 4: Optical fiber core wire, 12, 13° 14: Supply bobbin, 21: Collecting die (base), 22: Taking-off capstan 23: Optical cable winding device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing an optical cable, characterized in that in the optical fiber assembly and twisting step, assembly and twisting is performed while applying identification ink to the surface of the optical fiber between the optical fiber supply bobbin and the assembly and twisting base.