KR20030033731A - A High Speed Drawing Type Coating Device For An Optical Fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An optical fiber coating apparatus for high speed withdrawal is provided to prevent coating error of an optical fiber according to external air inflow. CONSTITUTION: The first die(50a) and the second die(50b) are installed in sequence along a withdrawal direction for an optical fiber(20) to be passed and coated. A vacuum pump(60) is installed on the back of the second die for vapors to rise to the surface of an inner cover of the optical fiber, and causes relative pressure difference according to the withdrawal position. The third die(80a) and the fourth die(80b) are installed in serial with the withdrawal direction and are filled with an inner coating material supplied from the second inflow hole(70). And the fifth die(90b) is installed in serial with the fourth die, and is filed with an outer coating material supplied from the third inflow hole(90a).

Description

A High Speed Drawing Type Coating Device For An Optical Fiber}

The present invention relates to a device for coating the surface of the optical fiber in order to prevent damage to the optical fiber, and to increase the bending and tensile strength, and more particularly to prevent the optical fiber coating failure caused by the inflow of external air even at a high speed optical fiber edge A vacuum pump for discharging bubbles introduced by causing a relative pressure difference, and a vacuum space portion for maintaining a vacuum state below the atmospheric pressure by the vacuum pump at all times will be.

The fiber cutting process involves melting a base material to make an optical fiber, measuring its diameter, inspecting the coating quality through a coating device, and finally winding it in a spool. In order to prevent the attenuation of the signal due to mechanical and chemical abrasion, static fatigue breakdown and micro-bending of the optical fiber, the coating material is coated on the surface of the optical fiber. The method of covering the heterogeneous substance of a different property with multiple layers is taken.

The multilayer coating method includes a wet-on-dry (WOD) method for coating an outer layer after the inner layer coating material is cured, and a wet-on-wet method for simultaneously coating and curing the inner layer and the outer layer.

Among these, the conventional optical fiber coating apparatus 17 for realizing the WOW method will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional optical fiber coating apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coating device 19 includes an inner covering die 9 installed to cover the optical fiber 1 to which the inner covering supplied through the inner covering inlet 7 is lined, and an outer covering inlet. The outer covering material supplied through (11) comprises an outer covering die 13 which is sequentially installed along the cutting line direction following the inner covering die 9 so as to cover the optical fiber 1 in a multiple layer.

Accordingly, the optical fiber 1 includes an inner coating layer 15 forming an outer layer of the optical fiber 1 and an outer coating layer 17 forming an outer layer of the inner coating 15.

At this time, the inlet portion 5 of the optical fiber 1 is formed in the upper portion of the optical fiber coating device 19, the coating operation of the optical fiber 1 is to cover the optical fiber by adjusting the inlet pressure of the inner covering according to the cutting speed The inner covering flows through the inlet 5 of the optical fiber 1 located on top of the apparatus 19, thereby preventing outside air from penetrating into the coating apparatus 19 by drag flow. do.

When the discharge velocity of the inner coating material discharged to the inlet portion 5 of the optical fiber 1 located above the optical fiber coating device 19 and the drag flow of the outside air according to the introduction of the optical fiber 1 are balanced, The interface between the outer air and the inner cladding is formed, and this interface is called the meniscus (3), and the inflow pressure of the inner cladding is applied to the fiber to maintain the shape of the meniscus (3) stably. The speed is changed according to the cutting speed of (1).

In the conventional optical fiber coating device 19, the meniscus 3, which is the interface between the inner covering and the external air, changes as the edge velocity of the optical fiber 1 increases, in order to maintain the stable shape, the inflow of the inner covering The pressure must be increased.

When the edge velocity of the optical fiber 1 is increased, the shape of the meniscus 3 formed by the inner covering is sensitive to the change in speed, and thus becomes unstable even in the minute speed change. As the shape becomes unstable, there is a problem that a bubble penetrates into the coating device 19 and exists in the inner covering layer 15 forming the outer layer of the optical fiber 1.

Therefore, bubbles existing in the inner covering 15 of the optical fiber 1 lower the bending strength of the optical fiber 1, and there is a problem that disconnection occurs in the guide rollers before being wound on the spool.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and the first object of the present invention is a high-speed fiber for optical fiber which can prevent the poor coating of the optical fiber due to the external air inflow to enable a high-speed optical fiber of the optical fiber. It is to provide a coating device.

In addition, the second object of the present invention is to cause the relative pressure difference according to the edge position of the optical fiber to remove the external inlet air, so that the external inlet air rises to the surface layer of the inner covering to be removed according to the edge line It is to provide an optical fiber coating apparatus for a high-speed liner to provide a vacuum space portion with a vacuum pump.

The objects of the present invention are sequentially installed in the direction of the cutting line to pass and cover the optical fiber 20 to be drawn, the first die which is supplied with the inner covering material from the first inlet 40 formed on both sides and filled respectively. 50a and second die 50b;

A vacuum pump (60) installed after the second die (50a) to cause the air bubbles introduced into the surface to float to the surface layer of the inner coating of the optical fiber (20) to cause a relative pressure difference according to the cutting position;

The third die 80a and the third are installed in series in the direction of the cutting line so that the optical fiber 20 passes through immediately after the air bubbles are released along the cutting line, and the inner covering is supplied from the second inlet 70 and filled. 4 die 80b;

A fifth die (90b) installed in series with the fourth die (80b) and filled with an outer covering from the third inlet (90a) so that the optical fiber 20 passes through and is covered with a plurality of layers; It is achieved by the optical fiber coating apparatus for a high-speed liner, characterized in that comprises a.

Here, it is preferable that the vacuum space part 65 which can be maintained below atmospheric pressure by the vacuum pump 60 is provided between the second die 50b and the third die 80a.

In addition, the supply pressure of the inner covering is preferably proportional to the cutting speed of the optical fiber 20.

In addition, the supply pressure of the outer covering is preferably proportional to the covering diameter.

Other objects, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the preferred embodiments associated with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional optical fiber coating apparatus,

2 is a block diagram of a fiber optic coating apparatus for a high-speed liner according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a facility for manufacturing an optical fiber according to the present invention.

<Description of the code | symbol about the principal part of drawing>

1: optical fiber 3: meniscus

5: Inlet part 7: Endothelial cladding inlet

9: inner shell die 11: outer shell inlet

13: outer shell die 15: inner shell layer

17: outer coating layer 19: optical fiber coating device

20: optical fiber 20a: inner layer

20b: outer layer 30: meniscus

40: first inlet 50a: first die

50b: second die 60: vacuum pump

65: vacuum space portion 70: second inlet

80a: third die 80b: fourth die

90a: third inlet 90b: fifth die

100: fiber coating device 200: base material

300: furnace 400: outer diameter measuring instrument

500: curing machine 600: guide roller

700: capstan 800: winder

810: Spool 1000: Equipment

Next will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings with respect to the optical fiber coating apparatus for a high-speed liner according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a fiber optic coating apparatus for a high-speed liner according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the coating device 100 relates to coating the coating material on the outer surface to prevent the bending and increase in tensile strength and damage of the optical fiber 20, this type of coating is coated inner covering material After hardening, there is a wet-on-dry (WOD) method for coating an outer coat on the outer layer, and a wet-on-wet (WoW) method for continuously performing and curing an inner coat and an outer coat. It is for realizing the WOW method.

The coating device 100 includes a first die 50a, a second die 50b, a third die 80a, a fourth die 80b, which are sequentially installed in a line direction of the optical fiber 20, and Including a fifth die (90b), a vacuum pump 60 for providing a vacuum space portion 65 to discharge the air inlet along with the optical fiber 20 accompanying the relative pressure difference is provided with an inner covering material The first inlet 40 and the second inlet 70 for inflow of the inlet, and the third inlet 90a through which the outer covering is introduced are formed.

The first inlet 40 is formed between the first die 50a and the second die 50b to supply the inner covering material flowing from the outside, and thus the first die 50a and the second die 50b. The die 50b is covered with the optical fiber 20 which is filled with the inner covering and passes along the edge.

At this time, at the inlet of the first die (50a) is the first end of the optical fiber 20 is introduced into the liner at the same time is filled with the inner covering is discharged, the discharge rate of the inner covering and the external due to the introduction of the optical fiber 20 When the drag flow of air is balanced, the interface between the outer air and the inner covering is formed by the surface tension, which is called the meniscus 30, and the shape of the meniscus 30 is defined. In order to keep stable, the inflow pressure of the inner covering is changed based on the cutting speed of the optical fiber 20.

However, the increase of the high-speed cutting speed results in the inflow of external air, and eventually air bubbles are included in the inner covering, and the vacuum pump 60 is coated through the second die 50b to cover the optical fiber. 20 is driven when the vacuum space portion 65 moves along the edge, thereby lowering the internal pressure of the vacuum space portion 65 to below atmospheric pressure, thereby causing a relative pressure difference to bubble in the primary coated inner covering. To rise to the surface.

In addition, the third die 80a and the fourth die 80b may include the first die 50a and the second die 50b and the optical fiber 20 coated while passing through the vacuum space 65. Where the second coating is passed while the secondary coating, the air bubbles that rises to the surface layer of the inner covering coated in the second die (50b) is discharged when passing through the third die (80a), and immediately the third The optical fiber is filled in the third die 80a and the fourth die 80b while passing through the second inlet 70 formed between the die 80a and the fourth die 80b, and passes therethrough. 20 is continuously covered.

Therefore, the inclusion rate of the outside air contained in the bubble form in the inner covering in the continuously coated optical fiber 20 through a series of processes is significantly reduced.

The fifth die 90b is sequentially installed along the cutting line after the fourth die 80b. The fifth die 90b is formed through the third inlet 90a formed between the fourth die 80b and the fourth die 80b. By receiving and filling the inside, the optical fiber 20 passing after the coating in the fourth die 80b can be covered with a plurality of layers.

Therefore, the optical fiber 20 is coated with an inner covering material from which bubbles are removed to form an inner covering layer 20a, and the outer layer of the inner covering layer 20a is coated with an outer covering layer, thereby forming an outer covering layer 20b.

At this time, the outer covering inflow pressure of the third inlet 90a is adjusted based on the cutting speed in order to make the covering diameter of the outer covering layer 20b constant.

In addition, the first inlet 40 adjusts the inflow pressure of the coating material based on the cutting speed of the optical fiber 20, and as a result, the meniscus 30 is formed. As the shape contributed to preventing air inflow, it was not expected to increase the cutting speed. However, due to the relative pressure difference produced by the vacuum pump 60 and the vacuum space 65, the cutting speed was relatively high as bubbles were removed. Can be increased.

3 is a block diagram of a facility for manufacturing an optical fiber according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the coating apparatus 100 is mounted to the apparatus 1000 that can manufacture and coat the optical fiber 20 continuously, and the apparatus 1000 is the optical fiber 20. Electric furnace 300 for heating and emulsifying and radiating the base metal 200 of the outer diameter measuring device 400 for measuring the diameter of the emitted optical fiber 20, and a coating device for introducing and coating the optical fiber 20 100 and a capstan 700 equipped with a curing machine 500 and a guide roller 600 for curing the inner coating layer 20a and the outer coating layer 20b in the coated optical fiber 20, In order to wind the coated optical fiber 20 supplied through the guide roller 600, the spool 810 is equipped with a winding machine 800 and the like.

Here, the capstan 700 is a kind of winch consisting of a vertical winding of the center portion tapered (捲 胴) and a mechanical part that moves it.

Therefore, when the optical fiber 20 is coated in the coating apparatus 100 and discharged through the curing machine 500, the optical fiber 20 is moved to the winding machine 800 by the guide roller 600, and eventually, the spool 810. ) Is wound up.

According to the optical fiber coating apparatus for a high-speed liner according to the present invention as described above, the external air penetrates into the bubble form as the edge velocity increases, but the relative pressure difference is due to the formation of the vacuum space formed by the vacuum pump and the vacuum pump. Since bubbles are floated and discharged from the coated coating material as it is caused, the bubbles can be removed simultaneously with the continuous coating.

In addition, it is possible to contribute to the increase in production efficiency because the fiber speed can be realized at a higher speed than the existing devices which did not expect a high speed in order to maintain a stable shape of the meniscus due to the inflow of bubbles. .

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the above-mentioned preferred description, various other modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

The first die 50a and the second die are sequentially installed in the direction of the cutting line to pass and cover the optical fiber 20 to be drawn, and the inner covering is supplied and filled from the first inlet 40 formed at both sides thereof. 50b); A vacuum pump (60) installed after the second die (50a) to cause the air bubbles introduced into the surface to float to the surface layer of the inner coating of the optical fiber (20) to cause a relative pressure difference according to the cutting position; The third die 80a and the third are installed in series in the direction of the cutting line so that the optical fiber 20 passes through immediately after the air bubbles are released along the cutting line, and the inner covering is supplied from the second inlet 70 and filled. 4 die 80b; A fifth die (90b) installed in series with the fourth die (80b) and filled with an outer covering from the third inlet (90a) so that the optical fiber 20 passes through and is covered with a plurality of layers; Fiber-optic coating device for a high-speed liner, characterized in that comprises a. The method of claim 1, Between the second die (50b) and the third die (80a) is a vacuum space portion 65 is provided by the vacuum pump 60 that can be maintained below the atmospheric pressure is characterized in that the optical fiber for high-speed tuft Sheathing device. The method of claim 1, The supply pressure of the inner sheathing material is a fiber coating apparatus for a high speed tuft, characterized in that proportional to the edge speed of the optical fiber (20). The method of claim 1, The supply pressure of the outer covering is in proportion to the diameter of the coating fiber coating apparatus for a high speed tuft.