TWI621888B - Optical cable, optical cable manufacturing method, and optical cable dividing method - Google Patents

Abstract

Providing a manufacturing cost that does not cost, and the fiber is taken out Industry is an easy cable.

The optical cable of the present invention is provided with: a rolled tape package An optical fiber unit in which an optical fiber is housed, an anti-tension body that is disposed to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction, a sheath that covers the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body, and has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the predetermined direction. The outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body.

Description

Optical cable, optical cable manufacturing method, and optical cable dividing method

The present invention relates to an optical cable, a method of manufacturing the optical cable, and a method of dividing the optical cable.

Patent Document 1 describes a flat cable in which a buffer sleeve for accommodating an optical fiber and a counter-tension body are covered by a sheath. The cushion sleeve of Patent Document 1 is filled with a filler such as a gel, thereby waterproofing the cushion sleeve.

[Previous Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 7,454,107

In the structure of the optical cable described in Patent Document 1, a buffer sleeve (also referred to as a loose tube) that accommodates a filler such as an optical fiber or a gel is extrusion-molded, and then the buffer sleeve is attached to an anti-tension body. Covered ground The outer skin is extruded. Thus, two extrusion steps are required, which is more costly.

Further, in the structure of the optical cable described in Patent Document 1, when the optical fiber is taken out, it is necessary to perform the step of removing the outer skin and the step of removing the buffer sleeve, so that the workability is poor. Further, in the structure of the optical cable described in Patent Document 1, since a gel or the like is filled around the optical fiber, it is necessary to perform a step of wiping the gel after the optical fiber is taken out from the buffer sleeve, so that workability is further inferior.

The present invention is directed to providing an optical cable which is easy to manufacture and which is easy to take out.

In order to achieve the above object, an optical fiber cable comprising: an optical fiber unit in which an optical fiber is wrapped by a rolled tape body; and an anti-tension body in which the optical fiber unit is sandwiched from a predetermined direction. And covering the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body, and having a relatively long cross-sectional shape in the predetermined direction, the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body.

Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the specification and the drawings.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an optical fiber cable which does not consume a manufacturing cost and which is easy to take out an optical fiber.

1‧‧‧Intermittent fiber optic ribbon

3‧‧‧Fiber

5‧‧‧Connecting Department

7‧‧‧Unconnected Department

9‧‧‧Resin

10‧‧‧Fiber unit

11‧‧‧Compression tape body

20‧‧‧Anti-tension body

30‧‧‧ 皮皮

30A‧‧‧ incision

50‧‧‧ Manufacturing System

51‧‧‧Fiber guide

52‧‧‧Band forming department

53‧‧‧Extrusion molding machine

54‧‧‧cooler

55‧‧‧Roller

100‧‧‧ optical cable

1 is a cross-sectional view of fiber optic cable 100.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of another example of the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon 1.

3 is an explanatory view of a manufacturing system 50 of the optical cable 100.

4A to 4C are explanatory views of a method of dividing the optical cable 100 (pull-out method).

Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing the optical cable 100 according to the first modification. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the optical cable 100 according to the second modification.

At least the following matters can be clarified by the description of the specification and the drawings described later.

An optical fiber cable is provided, comprising: an optical fiber unit formed by wrapping a fiber with a crimping tape; an anti-tension body configured to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction; and covering the optical fiber unit and In the above-described outer skin which has a cross-sectional shape and a relatively long cross-sectional shape in a predetermined direction, the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body. According to this optical cable, it is possible to realize a fiber optic cable which is easy to manufacture and which is easy to take out.

The size of the outer skin formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body in the predetermined direction is preferably 0.7 mm or less. And before the formation between the optical fiber unit and the aforementioned tensile body The size of the outer skin in the predetermined direction is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. Thereby, the work of tearing the outer skin at the time of taking out the optical fiber unit becomes easy.

It is preferable that the above-mentioned crimping belt body is formed of a water absorbing belt body. Thereby, the cable can be made waterproof.

It is preferable that the adhesive layer is not formed on the outer peripheral surface of the above-mentioned tensile body. Thereby, the work of taking out the tension body from the optical cable becomes easy.

The optical fiber unit is preferably configured such that a plurality of optical fibers constituting the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon are enclosed by the rolled tape body. The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon can be rolled into a tubular shape (bundle shape) or folded, so that a large number of optical fibers can be accommodated at a high density.

Preferably, the optical fiber unit has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the predetermined direction. Thereby, the concentrating of the optical cable (increasing the number of cores of the optical fiber) can be achieved without thickening the optical cable.

The optical fiber unit preferably has a cross-sectional shape that is longer in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. Thereby, the multi-core of the optical cable can be achieved without widening the optical cable.

A method for manufacturing an optical cable is disclosed in which a fiber unit in which an optical fiber is wrapped by a crimping tape is supplied to an extruder; and an anti-tension body is supplied in such a manner as to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction. To the extruder; and, in the extruder, extrusion molding the resin, thereby coating the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body, and flowing the resin into between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body, and A skin having a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the predetermined direction is formed. According to the manufacture of such a cable The method can be used without cost.

It is known that a method for dividing the foregoing optical cable is: preparing a fiber optic cable, the optical fiber cable comprising: a fiber unit formed by wrapping the optical fiber with a crimping tape body, and a pair configured to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction a tension-resistant body, a sheath covering the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body, and having a relatively long cross-sectional shape in a predetermined direction; the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body; and along the longitudinal direction of the optical cable A slit is formed on an outer side of the predetermined direction of the tensile body; the tensile body is taken out from the slit; and the outer skin formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body is torn, and the optical fiber unit is taken out. According to the method of dividing the optical cable, the optical fiber removal operation is facilitated.

===This embodiment === <Configuration of Cable 100>

1 is a cross-sectional view of fiber optic cable 100.

The optical cable 100 has an optical fiber unit 10, an anti-tension body 20, and a sheath 30. The optical fiber unit 10 has a plurality of optical fibers 3 and a rolled tape body 11.

The optical cable 100 has a flat shape and a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in a predetermined direction (width direction). Here, the cross section of the optical cable 100 has an elliptical shape. However, the optical cable 100 is not limited to an elliptical cross section, and may have a rectangular cross section (rectangular shape) or a rectangular shape with rounded corners. The optical cable 100 is formed in a side by side direction of the anti-tension body 20 broad. Here, the direction in which the anti-tension body 20 is arranged is the long-axis direction of the elliptical cross section.

In the following description, a direction parallel to the optical cable 100 (a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1) is referred to as a "longitudinal direction". Further, the wide direction of one of the flat-shaped optical cables 100 (one of FIG. 1 against the direction in which the tension bodies 20 are arranged) is referred to as a "width direction". Further, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction is referred to as a "thickness direction".

The optical fiber unit 10 accommodates a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers 3 in an assembly of the rolled tape body 11. The optical fiber unit 10 is also referred to as "core of optical cable 100", "optical fiber core", "core unit", and the like.

The plurality of optical fibers 3 are composed of a plurality of intermittently connected optical fiber ribbons 1 here. The 1-segment continuous connection type optical fiber ribbon 1 is composed of a plurality of optical fibers 3.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1. In the following description, the direction parallel to the optical fiber 3 is referred to as "longitudinal direction". Further, the direction in which the plurality of optical fibers 3 constituting the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1 are arranged is referred to as a "bandwidth direction".

The intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1 is an optical fiber ribbon 1 in which a plurality of optical fibers 3 are juxtaposed and intermittently connected. The adjacent two-core optical fibers 3 are connected by a connecting portion 5. The plurality of connecting portions 5 that connect the adjacent two-core optical fibers 3 are intermittently arranged in the longitudinal direction. Further, the plurality of connecting portions 5 of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1 are intermittently arranged in the two-dimensional space in the longitudinal direction and the bandwidth direction. The connecting portion 5 is formed by applying ultraviolet curable resin 9 as an adhesive and then curing by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. also, The joint portion 5 can be formed of a thermoplastic resin. A region other than the connecting portion 5 between the adjacent two-core optical fibers 3 is a non-connecting portion 7 (separating portion). In the non-connecting portion 7, the adjacent two-core optical fibers 3 are not restrained from each other. Thereby, the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon 1 can be wound into a tubular shape (bundle shape) or folded, so that the majority of the optical fibers 3 can be accommodated at a high density. However, instead of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1, the optical fiber unit 10 may be constituted by a general optical fiber bundle which is coated with a plurality of optical fibers side by side in the bandwidth direction.

FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram of another example of the intermittent connection type optical fiber ribbon 1. As described above, the number of cores of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 1 can be appropriately changed. Further, the connection portion 5 that is intermittently arranged can be appropriately changed in arrangement.

The crimping belt body 11 is a member that encloses a plurality of optical fibers 3. The optical fiber 3 is wrapped by the crimping tape body 11, whereby the optical fiber 3 can be prevented from being buried inside the outer skin 30 (biting) when the molten resin constituting the outer skin 30 is coated. As the crimping tape body 11, a polyimide tape, a polyester tape, a polypropylene tape, a polyethylene tape, or the like is used. Otherwise, a non-woven fabric can be used as the crimping belt body 11. In this case, in the case of non-woven fabric, a polyimine, a polyester, a polypropylene, a polyethylene, or the like is used as a belt. The rolled tape body 11 may be a film obtained by bonding a film such as a polyester film to a nonwoven fabric.

The roll belt body 11 is configured to adhere (or coat) the water absorbing powder to a belt-shaped base material. Thus, the crimping belt body 11 also functions as a water absorbing belt body. A water-absorbent powder is a water-absorbent granular or powdery substance (water-absorbent substance). The water absorbing powder may be attached (coated) to the surface of the belt-shaped substrate, or may be arranged to be sandwiched between two non-woven fabrics. Between the substrates. When water is absorbed (when the water absorbing powder absorbs water), the granulated or powdery water absorbing powder expands and becomes jelly (swelling). Examples of such a water-absorbent powder include starch-based, cellulose-based, polyacrylic-based, polyvinyl alcohol-based, and polyoxyethylene-based superabsorbent materials having a particle diameter of 5 to 30 μm, or a mixture thereof. The jelly absorbent powder will plug the internal gap of the cable 100, thereby making the cable 100 waterproof. Further, the substrate itself may have water absorbability. Further, the rolled tape body 11 may not have water absorbability.

The tensile body 20 is a member that resists the contraction of the sheath 30 to suppress the torsion or deflection applied to the optical fiber unit 10 (particularly, the optical fiber 3) due to the contraction of the sheath 30. The tensile body 20 is a linear member that is buried inside the sheath 30 along the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 100. As the material of the tensile body 20, a non-metal material or a metal material can be used. As the non-metal material, for example, glass FRP (GFRP), Kevlar (registered trademark) reinforced aramid fiber reinforced plastic (KFRP), polyethylene fiber reinforced polyethylene fiber reinforced plastic, etc. can be used. Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). As the metal material, a metal wire such as a steel wire can be used.

The anti-tension body 20 is embedded inside the outer skin 30 so as to sandwich the optical fiber unit 10 from the width direction. Further, a surface to which the tension body 20 is coupled is a neutral surface when the optical cable 100 is bent, and a line connecting the tension-resistant body 20 is a line on the neutral surface. When two or more tension members 20 are disposed on the left and right sides, the neutral surface of the optical cable 100 is one of two or more of the tensile members 20 and the other two or more of the tensile members 20 The surface to which the intermediate position is connected.

The outer skin 30 is a member that coats the optical fiber unit 10 (the plurality of optical fibers 3 and the rolled tape body 11) and the anti-tension body 20. In the present embodiment, the outer shape of the outer skin 30 is relatively long in the width direction, and specifically, the cross section has an elliptical shape. However, the cross section of the outer skin 30 is not limited to an elliptical shape, and the cross section may be a rectangular shape (rectangular shape) or a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

As the material of the outer skin 30, for example, a resin such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), nylon (registered trademark), fluorinated ethylene or polypropylene (PP) can be used. Further, as the material of the outer skin 30, for example, a polyolefin composite containing a hydrated metal compound such as magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide as a flame retardant can be used.

When the molten resin is extrusion-molded to form the outer skin 30, the optical fiber unit 10 (particularly, the optical fiber 3) is twisted by shrinkage of the outer skin 30 during cooling, and as a result, the signal loss of the optical fiber 3 is increased. Then, in the conventional optical cable, the tensile strength body 20 coated with the adhesive material on the outer peripheral surface is embedded in the outer skin 30, thereby improving the adhesion between the tension resistant body 20 and the outer skin 30, whereby the load on the outer skin 30 is contracted. It is applied to the tension body 20 so that the load is not easily applied to the fiber unit 10.

However, since the optical cable 100 of the present embodiment has a flat cross section and a cross-sectional shape that is thin in the thickness direction, the amount of resin constituting the outer skin 30 can be made smaller than that of the optical cable 100 having a circular cross section. . As a result, in the optical cable 100 of the present embodiment, when compared with the optical cable 100 having a circular cross section, the load due to the contraction of the outer casing 30 during cooling is caused. It becomes small, and even if the adhesion between the tension body 20 and the outer skin 30 is low, it can be tolerated.

Therefore, in the optical cable 100 of the present embodiment, the adhesive material is not applied to the outer peripheral surface of the tension body 20. In other words, in the optical cable 100 of the present embodiment, the adhesive layer is not formed on the outer circumferential surface of the tensile body 20. Therefore, it is easy to take out the tension body 20 from the outer skin 30 (described later: see FIG. 4B).

The outer skin 30 is also formed between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile body 20. In other words, the resin constituting the outer skin 30 enters between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile strength body 20. By forming the outer skin 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile strength body 20, the outer skin 30 is a partition wall portion that separates the optical fiber unit 10 from the tensile strength body 20, even if the optical cable 100 is bent, or The side pressure is applied to the optical cable 100, and the tensile force body 20 can be prevented from biting into the optical fiber unit 10 by the partition wall portion. Further, it is assumed that the outer skin 30 is not formed between the optical fiber unit 10 and the tension member 20, and when the optical fiber unit 10 is covered with the outer sheath 30 in a state in which the optical fiber unit 10 is in contact with the tension resistant body 20, since the partition wall is not formed, the optical cable 100 is used. When the bending or the side pressure is applied to the optical cable 100, the tensile body 20 bites into the optical fiber unit 10, so that the optical fiber 3 is subjected to the lateral pressure from the tensile body 20, which may cause damage to the optical fiber 3 or an increase in the loss of the optical fiber 3 signal. Therefore, the width W1 (the dimension in the width direction) of the outer skin 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile-resistant body 20 is preferably greater than 0 (W1>0).

However, in the case of a cable with a circular cross section, there will be no Since the method is limited to predict the direction of the load applied to the optical cable, etc., in order to prevent the tension member 20 from being bitten into the optical fiber unit 10, it is necessary to size the outer skin 30 (partition wall portion) formed between the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile body 20. (corresponding to the width W1) becomes thicker. On the other hand, since the optical cable 100 of this embodiment has a flat shape, the direction of the punching which is predicted to be applied to the optical cable 100 can be limited to the thickness direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an effect of making the width W1 of the outer skin 30 between the rolled tape body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tension resistant body 20 thinner than in the case of the optical cable having a circular cross section. Specifically, as long as the width W1 is 0.05 mm or more, the case where the tensile force body 20 bites into the optical fiber unit 10 can be suppressed.

Table 1 shows the relationship between the width W1 of the sheath 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile body 20, and the workability of the operation of tearing the sheath 30. In addition, the evaluation of the "workability of the tearing work" in Table 1 is "good" if it is easy to tear the outer skin 30 (described later, see FIG. 4C), and "good" if it is tearable outer skin 30. If it is difficult to tear the outer skin 30, it is "not".

As shown in Table 1, the width W1 of the sheath 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile body 20 is preferably 0.7 mm or less. When the width (dimension in the width direction) of the outer skin 30 between the crimping tape body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile strength body 20 is larger than 0.7 mm, it is difficult to perform the work of tearing the outer skin 30 when the optical fiber unit 10 is taken out. Further, in order to facilitate the operation of tearing the sheath 30 when the optical fiber unit 10 is taken out, the width (the dimension in the width direction) of the sheath 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile-resistant body 20 is 0.5 mm or less. good.

Therefore, the width W1 of the outer skin 30 between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tension-resistant body 20 is more than 0, and preferably 0.7 mm or less. Further, the width W1 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

Next, the relationship between the thickness (the dimension in the width direction) of the outer side outer skin 30 of the tensile body 20 and the presence or absence of the blade of the dividing tool (see FIG. 4A) is shown in Table 2. In addition, in the evaluation of "the presence or absence of the blade" in Table 2, the slit 30A (refer to FIG. 4B) which can reach the tension body 20 is continuously formed in the longitudinal direction and is judged as "good", and the slit 30A which can reach the tension body 20 is obtained. The intermittent formation is judged as "OK", and the inability of the slit 30A to reach the tensile body 20 is judged as "not possible".

As shown in Table 2, the thickness of the outer skin 30 of the tensile body 20 is preferably 1.2 mm or less, and preferably 1.0 mm or less.

<Manufacturing System 50 of Optical Cable 100>

3 is an explanatory view of a manufacturing system 50 of the optical cable 100. The manufacturing system 50 includes a fiber guiding portion 51, a belt forming portion 52, an extrusion molding machine 53, a cooler 54, and a drum 55.

The fiber guiding portion 51 is a guiding member that bundles a plurality of optical fibers 3 and sends them out. The fiber guiding portion 51 is, for example, a tubular member, and a plurality of optical fibers 3 are inserted into the internal space of the tube. The plurality of optical fibers 3 (interrupted connection type optical fiber ribbons 1) are supplied to the fiber guiding portion 51 from a supply source (not shown), and are bundled at the fiber guiding portion 51.

The tape forming portion 52 is formed into a cylindrical (vortex) molding member so as to enclose the plurality of optical fibers 3 so as to enclose the plurality of optical fibers 3. The downstream end of the fiber guiding portion 51 is inserted into the belt forming portion 52, and the belt is formed The portion 52 is formed into a tubular shape so as to enclose the downstream end of the fiber guiding portion 51. The belt forming portion 52 supplies the optical fiber unit 10 in which the plurality of optical fibers 3 are wrapped by the rolled tape body 11 to the extrusion molding machine 53.

The extrusion molding machine 53 is a device for extruding the outer skin 30 of the optical cable 100. In the extrusion molding machine 53, the optical fiber unit 10 and an anti-tension body 20 are supplied. The optical fiber unit 10 and an anti-tension body 20 are inserted from a die hole (not shown) of the extrusion molding machine 53, and the molten resin is extruded from the elliptical die hole, thereby manufacturing the outer skin 30 to coat the optical fiber together. The unit 10 and an optical cable 100 formed by the tensile body 20.

Further, in the present embodiment, the adhesive material is not applied to the outer peripheral surface of the tensile body 20 supplied to the extrusion molding machine 53. Therefore, since it is not necessary to apply the adhesive material to the tension body 20, the manufacturing process of the optical cable 100 is simplified.

The cooler 54, which is a cooling device for cooling the outer casing 30 of the optical cable 100. After the outer skin 30 is cooled, the outer skin 30 becomes contracted. However, the load at the time of contraction of the outer skin 30 at the time of cooling is applied to the tension body 20, so that the distortion of the optical fiber unit 10 (particularly, the optical fiber 3) can be suppressed.

The drum 55 is a member that winds up the cable 100. The manufactured optical cable 100 is taken up by the drum 55 and shipped.

In the method of manufacturing the optical cable 100 of the present embodiment, since the optical fiber unit 10 in which the optical fiber 3 is wrapped by the crimping tape 11 is covered with the outer sheath 30 together with the tensile body 20, the extrusion molding step can be simplified. Chemical. It is assumed that the optical cable is manufactured by covering the loose tube (buffer layer cable) with the outer skin. In this case, it is necessary to perform the step of extruding the loose tube and the extrusion forming step for covering the loose tube with the outer skin. Therefore, the extrusion molding step is increased as compared with the present embodiment, and the manufacturing cost is relatively expensive.

<Method of dividing optical cable 100>

4A to 4C are explanatory views of a method of dividing the optical cable 100 (pull-out method).

First, the operator prepares the optical cable 100 and the dividing tool shown in FIG. The dividing tool has a pair of blades facing each other in the width direction of the optical cable 100 as shown in Fig. 4A.

The operator sets the optical cable 100 between one of the cutting tools and the blade to move the optical cable 100 and the dividing tool relatively in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the blade of the dividing tool reaches the tension body 20 from the outside in the width direction, and the outer skin 30 in the width direction of the tension body 20 is cut. At this time, a slit 30A is formed on the outer side in the width direction of the tension body 20 along the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 100. In the present embodiment, since the outer skin 30 (partition wall portion) is formed between the pressure-strip belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tension-resistant body 20, even if the blade of the dividing tool reaches the tension-resistant body 20 from the outer side in the width direction, it can be suppressed. The case where the tension body 20 bites into the inner fiber unit 10.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the operator takes out the tension body 20 from the slit 30A of the outer skin 30 formed on the outer side in the width direction of the tension body 20. In the present embodiment, since the backing material is not applied to the outer peripheral surface of the tension body 20, the tension body 20 is taken out from the outer skin 30. Homework is easy.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the operator attaches the outer skin 30 (the partition wall portion that separates the optical fiber unit 10 from the tensile strength body 20) formed between the crimping belt body 11 of the optical fiber unit 10 and the tensile strength body 20. The fiber unit 10 is taken out by tearing in the thickness direction. At this time, the operator puts a finger into the slit 30A of the outer skin 30, and expands the slit 30A to tear the outer skin 30, so that the operation of tearing the outer skin 30 in the thickness direction is easy.

The operator, after the division of the optical cable 100 as shown in Fig. 4C, unwinds the rolled tape body 11 of the taken-out optical fiber unit 10, and takes out the optical fiber 3. Compared with the operation of removing the optical fiber 3 of the loose tube, the present embodiment does not require the wiping operation of the gel (filler) of the loose tube, so that the removal operation of the optical fiber 3 is easy.

<Modification>

Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing the optical cable 100 according to the first modification. The optical fiber unit 10 of the first modification has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the width direction. Specifically, the cross section of the optical fiber unit 10 is an elliptical shape having a long axis in the width direction (an elliptical shape having a short axis in the thickness direction). As described above, when the optical fiber unit 10 has a relatively long cross-sectional shape in the width direction, the number of cores of the optical fiber 3 can be increased without making the optical cable 100 thick. Further, even if the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber unit 10 is not elliptical, if the optical fiber unit 10 has a relatively long cross-sectional shape in the width direction, the number of cores of the optical fiber 3 can be increased without making the optical cable 100 thick.

Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the optical cable 100 according to the second modification. In the second modification, the optical fiber unit 10 has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the thickness direction (the direction intersecting the width direction). Specifically, the cross section of the optical fiber unit 10 is an elliptical shape having an ellipse in the thickness direction (an elliptical shape having a short axis in the width direction). As described above, when the optical fiber unit 10 has a relatively long cross-sectional shape in the thickness direction, the number of cores of the optical fiber 3 can be increased without increasing the dimension of the optical cable 100 in the width direction (without widening the optical cable 100). Further, even if the cross-sectional shape of the optical fiber unit 10 is not elliptical, if the optical fiber unit 10 has a relatively long cross-sectional shape in the thickness direction, the number of cores of the optical fiber 3 can be increased without increasing the dimension in the width direction of the optical cable 100.

===Other ===

The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and are not intended to be construed as limiting the invention. The present invention can be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the present invention naturally includes such equivalents.

Claims (9)

An optical fiber cable comprising: an optical fiber unit in which an optical fiber is wrapped by a rolled tape body; an anti-tension body disposed to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction; and the optical fiber unit and the pair of the optical fiber The tensile body has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in the predetermined direction, and the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body; and the optical fiber unit has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. The optical fiber cable according to claim 1, wherein a size of the outer skin formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body in the predetermined direction is 0.7 mm or less. The optical fiber cable according to claim 2, wherein a size of the outer skin formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body in the predetermined direction is 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. The optical fiber cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure-reel tape body is configured by a water absorbing tape body. The optical fiber cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an adhesive layer is not formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tensile body. The optical fiber cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optical fiber unit is configured to form a discontinuous connection type optical fiber ribbon. A plurality of optical fibers are wrapped by the aforementioned crimping tape. A method for manufacturing an optical cable, comprising: supplying an optical fiber unit in which an optical fiber is wrapped by a crimping tape body to an extruder; and supplying an anti-tension body to the extrusion in a manner of sandwiching the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction And discharging the resin in the extruder to cover the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body, and flowing the resin into between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body to form a cross-sectional shape a relatively long outer skin in the predetermined direction; the optical fiber unit has a cross-sectional shape that is relatively long in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. A method for dividing an optical cable is: preparing a fiber optic cable, the optical fiber cable comprising: an optical fiber unit formed by wrapping the optical fiber with a crimping tape body, and an anti-tension body and a package configured to clamp the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction a sheath that covers the optical fiber unit and the anti-tension body and has a relatively long cross-sectional shape in a predetermined direction, and the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body, and the optical fiber unit has a cross-sectional shape in a predetermined direction The direction of the intersection is relatively long; a slit is formed on the outer side of the predetermined direction of the tensile body along the longitudinal direction of the optical cable; the tensile body is taken out from the slit; and the foregoing is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body The outer skin is torn and the aforementioned optical fiber unit is taken out. A method for dividing a fiber optic cable is performed by: Preparing a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable comprising: an optical fiber unit formed by wrapping the optical fiber with a crimping tape body, an anti-tension body configured to sandwich the optical fiber unit from a predetermined direction, covering the optical fiber unit, and the foregoing anti-tension a skin having a relatively long cross-sectional shape in a predetermined direction, wherein the outer skin is formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body; and a slit is formed outside the predetermined direction of the tensile body along a longitudinal direction of the optical cable; The tension-resistant body is taken out from the slit; and after the tension-resistant body is taken out from the slit, the slit is expanded, and the outer skin formed between the optical fiber unit and the tensile body is torn, and the optical fiber unit is taken out.