WO2022252328A1

WO2022252328A1 - Optical fiber coating apparatus and coating method

Info

Publication number: WO2022252328A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/103988
Authority: WO
Inventors: 柳林; 王振益; 冷从; 李华成
Original assignee: 南京驭逡通信科技有限公司
Priority date: 2021-05-31
Filing date: 2021-07-01
Publication date: 2022-12-08

Abstract

An optical fiber coating apparatus and coating method, relating to the field of communication fiber processing. The optical fiber coating apparatus comprises: a supporting device (1), a discharging device (2), an optical fiber bending device (3), a liquid storage device (4), a curing device (5), and a receiving device (6); the discharging device (2) is mounted at one end of the supporting device (1); the optical fiber bending device (3) is connected to the supporting device (1) and is arranged at one end of the discharging device (2); the liquid storage device (4) is in communication with the optical fiber bending device (3); the curing device (5) is in communication with the optical fiber bending device (3); the receiving device (6) is in communication with the curing device (5). The optical fiber bending assembly and the liquid storage device (4) are utilized to coat a light barrier material when an optical fiber is bent, so that the continuity of the light barrier material on the optical fiber surface can be increased, and even if the optical fiber is bent during transportation and use, the continuity of the light barrier material can be prevented from being reduced so as to be broken, thereby solving the problem of breakage or even falling caused by the reduced continuity of the light barrier material.

Description

Optical fiber coating equipment and coating method

technical field

The invention belongs to the field of communication optical fiber processing, in particular to optical fiber coating equipment and a coating method.

Background technique

Optical fiber is a light-guiding element that transmits optical signals from the signal source to the receiving end. Unlike traditional electrical signals, the method of preventing electrical signal leakage can be guaranteed by air or by wrapping an insulating layer with a high resistance value on the side of the cable. Arrive at the predetermined position along the conductive wire of the cable, but the medium transmitted by the optical fiber is an optical signal, because light can also propagate in the air, so it is necessary to coat a layer of light-blocking material on the outside of the optical fiber when producing the optical fiber to avoid optical signal leakage and at the same time Strengthen the surface strength of optical fiber.

The existing optical fiber coating equipment is to straighten the produced optical fiber on the optical fiber production line and pass through the liquid storage tank to coat the optical fiber surface coating, and then transport the optical fiber to the curing equipment to realize the coating curing, but the actual transportation and use of the optical fiber is When the optical fiber is crimped, there is a problem that the continuity of the coating decreases when the optical fiber is crimped, leading to breakage or even falling off, which in turn leads to weakening or even loss of optical signals.

technical problem

Optical fiber coating equipment and a coating method are provided to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art.

technical solution

Optical fiber coating equipment is used to coat light-shielding materials on the surface of optical fibers.

The optical fiber coating equipment includes: a supporting device.

The discharge device is installed at one end of the support device.

The optical fiber bending device is connected with the support device and is arranged at one end of the output device for bending the optical fiber.

The liquid storage device communicates with the optical fiber bending device, and is used for outputting the light insulating material to the optical fiber bending device, and coating the light insulating material when the optical fiber is bent.

The curing device communicates with the optical fiber bending device and is used for curing the light-shielding material.

The receiving device communicates with the curing device and is used for receiving the optical fiber that has passed through the optical fiber bending device and the curing device in sequence.

In a further embodiment, the optical fiber bending device includes:

The spiral tube communicates with the discharge device, the liquid storage device and the curing device. The liquid storage device outputs the light-insulating material into the spiral tube and keeps the light-proof material in the spiral tube within a predetermined liquid level range.

The casing is sheathed outside the spiral tube.

In a further embodiment, the spiral tube includes:

The helical body is a helically extended pipe

The feed inlet is arranged on the top side of the screw body and extends a predetermined distance toward the discharge device.

The liquid inlet is arranged above the end of the feed inlet close to the screw body and communicates with the liquid storage device.

The liquid storage device transports the light-insulating material into the spiral tube, and keeps the liquid level of the light-insulating material in the spiral tube at the liquid inlet. By setting the liquid inlet on the feeding port, the optical fiber and the spiral body can be contacted first. The light-proof material is in contact, and the light-proof material is lubricated between the optical fiber and the spiral body to reduce friction and strain.

In a further embodiment, the spiral tube also includes:

The discharge port is arranged on one side of the bottom end of the screw body and extends a predetermined distance toward the curing device.

The liquid outlet is arranged below the end of the material outlet close to the screw body, and communicates with the liquid storage device.

The extension direction of the discharge port forms a predetermined angle with the ground, and the light-insulating material in the spiral tube flows back from the liquid outlet to the liquid storage device. By making the extension direction of the discharge port a predetermined angle with the ground, and with the storage The liquid outlet connected to the liquid device can make the light-shielding material on the surface of the optical fiber and the light-shielding material in the spiral tube flow back into the liquid storage device, preventing the light-shielding material from flowing directly into the curing device along with the optical fiber, and solving the problem of light-shielding material resources. waste problem.

In a further embodiment, the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube is polygonal.

In a further embodiment, the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube is any one of triangular, rectangular or prismatic, and by designing the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube as a polygon, it can ensure that the optical fiber and the spiral tube are in line contact, reducing The friction force is improved, and the contact area between the optical fiber and the light-proof material is increased.

In a further embodiment, the receiving device includes:

The winding power source is connected with the supporting device.

The receiving tray is connected with the winding power source.

The receiving shell is sleeved on the winding power source and the receiving tray, and connected with the supporting device.

The positioning component is installed at one end of the material receiving shell, and the optical fiber enters into the material receiving shell through the positioning component.

The central axis of the positioning assembly passes through the section of the discharge end of the spiral tube.

The distance between the central axis of the positioning assembly and the inner wall of the discharge end of the spiral tube is greater than the radius of the optical fiber, the central axis passes through the section of the discharge end of the spiral tube, and the distance between the central axis and the inner wall of the discharge end of the spiral tube is greater than the radius of the optical fiber. The positioning component whose distance is greater than the radius of the optical fiber can ensure that the light insulating material on the surface of the optical fiber is not damaged during the stage when the optical fiber leaves the spiral tube and the receiving shell, and the light insulating material is not yet cured.

In a further embodiment, the positioning component is a linear bearing fixedly connected with the receiving shell.

In a further embodiment, the coating method based on optical fiber coating equipment comprises:

S1. The liquid storage device outputs the light-shielding material to the fiber bending device, and keeps the light-shielding material in the fiber bending device within a predetermined liquid level range.

S2. The receiving device pulls the optical fiber through the optical fiber bending device and curing device in sequence.

S3. The optical fiber is coated with a light-shielding material while being bent in the fiber bending device.

S4. The optical fiber cures the light-shielding material in the curing device.

Beneficial effect

The invention discloses optical fiber coating equipment and a coating method. The optical fiber coating equipment coats a light-insulating material when the optical fiber is bent through an optical fiber bending assembly and a liquid storage device, which can increase the continuity of the light-insulating material on the surface of the optical fiber, so that the optical fiber is Timely bending during transportation and use can also prevent the continuity of the light-shielding material from being reduced to break, and solve the problem of breakage or even falling off of the light-shielding material due to the decrease in continuity.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an optical fiber bending device of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the bending device of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the positioning assembly of the present invention.

The reference numerals shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 are: supporting device 1, discharging device 2, optical fiber bending device 3, liquid storage device 4, curing device 5, receiving device 6, spiral tube 31, spiral body 311, feeding Port 312 , liquid inlet 313 , material outlet 314 , liquid outlet 315 , receiving case 61 , positioning assembly 62 .

Embodiments of the present invention

In the following description, numerous specific details are given in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without one or more of these details. In other examples, some technical features known in the art are not described in order to avoid confusion with the present invention.

The invention provides an optical fiber coating device and a coating method for coating a light-shielding material on the surface of an optical fiber.

The optical fiber coating equipment includes: a supporting device 1 , a material discharging device 2 , an optical fiber bending device 3 , a liquid storage device 4 , a curing device 5 , and a material receiving device 6 .

The supporting component is fixedly connected with the ground, and an electric pipeline accommodation space is also arranged in the supporting component.

The discharge device 2 installed on one end of the support device 1, the discharge device 2 is used to accommodate the take-up reel, the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the testing machine, in actual production, the discharge device 2 can be an optical fiber production line, directly to the The produced optical fiber is processed, and in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the discharging device 2 can be a free-moving take-up reel with a housing sheathed on the outside, and can also include a discharging power source and a power source connected with the discharging power. The take-up reel connected to the source starts the discharge power source before the receiving device 6 receives the material, so as to avoid excessive pulling force on the optical fiber.

An optical fiber bending device 3 arranged at one end of the output device 2 and connected to the support device 1 is used for bending the optical fiber.

The liquid storage device 4 communicated with the optical fiber bending device 3, the liquid storage device 4 is used to output the light insulating material to the optical fiber bending device 3, and coat the light insulating material when the optical fiber is bent.

A curing device 5 communicated with the optical fiber bending device 3, the curing device 5 may be an ultraviolet curing machine for fixing light-shielding materials.

A receiving device 6 communicating with the curing device 5, the receiving device 6 is used to store the optical fiber that passes through the optical fiber bending device 3 and the curing device 5 in sequence.

Working principle: The receiving device 6 pulls the optical fiber from the discharging device 2 through the optical fiber bending device 3 and the curing device 5 to the receiving device 6, and the optical fiber is coated with light-shielding material while being bent in the optical fiber bending device 3 , the optical fiber bending assembly and the liquid storage device 4 are coated with light insulating material when the optical fiber is bent, which can increase the continuity of the light insulating material on the surface of the optical fiber, so that the optical fiber can be bent in time during transportation and use, and can also avoid the decrease in the continuity of the light insulating material It solves the problem that the light-shielding material breaks or even falls off due to the decrease in continuity.

In a further embodiment, the optical fiber bending device 3 includes: a spiral tube 31 and a housing.

The spiral tube 31 communicated with the discharge device 2, the liquid storage device 4 and the curing device 5, the liquid storage device 4 outputs the light-proof material into the spiral tube 31, and keeps the light-proof material in the spiral tube 31 at a predetermined liquid level scope.

The shell set outside the spiral tube 31 is used to protect the spiral tube 31 and play a role of light isolation. An observation window can also be set on the side wall of the shell. It should be noted that the observation window needs to have a closed door, and the use of the observation window It is necessary to cut off the sunlight to prevent ultraviolet rays from irradiating the light-proof material in the spiral tube 31 to cause the light-proof material to solidify.

In a further embodiment, the optical fiber enters the helical tube 31 . If the optical fiber is directly displaced in the helical tube 31 , there will be friction between the optical fiber and the inner wall of the helical tube, which will cause the problem of straining the outer wall of the optical fiber and the inner wall of the helical tube 31 .

In order to solve the above problems, the spiral tube 31 includes: a spiral body 311 , a feed inlet 312 and a liquid inlet 313 .

The helical body 311 is a helically extending pipe

The feeding port 312 is arranged on the top side of the screw body 311 , and the feeding port 312 extends a predetermined distance toward the discharging device 2 .

The liquid inlet 313 arranged above the end of the feed inlet 312 close to the screw body 311 communicates with the liquid storage device 4 .

The liquid storage device 4 transports the light-insulating material into the spiral tube 31 and keeps the liquid level of the light-insulating material in the spiral tube 31 at the liquid inlet 313 .

By arranging the liquid inlet 313 on the feed port 312, the optical fiber can be in contact with the light-proof material before contacting the screw body 311, and the light-proof material is lubricated between the fiber and the screw body 311 to reduce friction and strain.

In a further embodiment, if the light-shielding material directly flows into the curing device 5 along with the optical fiber, there will be a waste of light-shielding material resources.

In order to solve the above problems, the spiral tube 31 further includes: a material outlet 314 and a liquid outlet 315 .

The discharge port 314 is arranged on one side of the bottom end of the screw body 311 , and the discharge port 314 extends a predetermined distance toward the curing device 5 .

A liquid outlet 315 is provided below one end of the material outlet 314 close to the screw body 311 , and the liquid outlet 315 communicates with the liquid storage device 4 .

The extending direction of the material outlet 314 forms a predetermined angle with the ground, and the light-proof material in the spiral tube 31 flows back into the liquid storage device 4 from the liquid outlet 315 .

By making the extension direction of the discharge port 314 form a predetermined angle with the ground, and the liquid discharge port 315 communicated with the liquid storage device 4, the light-insulating material on the surface of the optical fiber and the light-insulating material in the spiral tube 31 can be returned to the storage tank. In the liquid device 4, the light insulating material is prevented from flowing directly into the curing device 5 along with the optical fiber, and the problem of waste of light insulating material resources is solved.

Keeping the light-shielding material in a flowing state in the spiral tube 31 can also prevent the light-shielding material from accumulating, aging and agglomerating.

In a further embodiment, the existing spiral tube 31 is mainly a glass tube with a circular cross-section for chemical tests, and the optical fiber with a circular outer wall in the cross-section abuts in the spiral tube 31 with a circular inner wall in the cross-section, causing the optical fiber The friction force with the spiral tube 31 is too large, and the problem of insufficient contact between the optical fiber and the light-proof material.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube 31 is polygonal.

Preferably, the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube 31 is any one of triangular, rectangular or prismatic.

By designing the cross-sectional inner wall of the spiral tube 31 to be polygonal, it can ensure that the optical fiber and the spiral tube 31 are in contact with each other, reducing friction and increasing the contact area between the optical fiber and the light-shielding material.

In a further embodiment, when the optical fiber is displaced to the discharge port 314, since the light-shielding material in the spiral tube 31 has flowed back into the liquid storage device 4, if the optical fiber contacts the inner wall of the spiral tube 31 at this time, it will There was a problem of uneven coating.

In order to solve the above problems, the material receiving device 6 includes: a rewinding power source, a material receiving tray, a material receiving shell 61 and a positioning assembly 62 .

The winding power source connected with the supporting device 1.

The receiving tray connected with the winding power source.

The material receiving shell 61 is sheathed on the outside of the rewinding power source and the material receiving tray, and connected with the supporting device 1 .

The positioning component 62 installed at one end of the receiving case 61 , the optical fiber enters into the receiving case 61 through the positioning component 62 .

The central axis of the positioning assembly 62 passes through the section of the discharge end of the spiral tube 31 .

The distance between the central axis of the positioning assembly 62 and the inner wall of the discharge end of the spiral tube 31 is greater than the radius of the optical fiber.

Through the cross-section of the discharge end of the spiral tube 31 through the central axis, and the distance between the central axis and the internal wall of the discharge end of the spiral tube 31 is greater than the positioning assembly 62 of the radius of the optical fiber, it can ensure that the optical fiber passes from the spiral tube 31 to the receiving shell. 61, the light-shielding material has not been cured to avoid damage to the light-shielding material on the surface of the optical fiber.

Preferably, the positioning component 62 is a linear bearing fixedly connected with the receiving shell 61 .

The optical fiber coating method based on the above embodiment includes: S1. The liquid storage device 4 outputs the light-shielding material to the fiber bending device 3, and keeps the light-shielding material in the fiber bending device 3 within a predetermined liquid level range.

S2. The receiving device 6 pulls the optical fiber through the optical fiber bending device 3 and the curing device 5 in sequence.

S3. The optical fiber is coated with a light-shielding material while being bent in the optical fiber bending device 3 .

S4. The optical fiber cures the light-shielding material in the curing device 5 .

In a further embodiment, S5. The light-shielding material in the optical fiber bending device 3 keeps flowing and is in a state of dynamic balance, so as to avoid stagnation, aging and agglomeration of the light-shielding material.

As stated above, while the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, this should not be construed as limiting the invention itself. Various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Optical fiber coating equipment, used to coat light-shielding materials on the surface of optical fibers;

It is characterized in that it includes: a supporting device,

The discharge device is installed at one end of the support device;

An optical fiber bending device, connected to the support device, is arranged at one end of the discharge device for bending the optical fiber;

The liquid storage device communicates with the optical fiber bending device, and is used to output the light insulating material to the optical fiber bending device, and coat the light insulating material when the optical fiber is bent;

The curing device communicates with the optical fiber bending device and is used for curing the light-shielding material;

The receiving device communicates with the curing device and is used for receiving the optical fiber that has passed through the optical fiber bending device and the curing device in sequence.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that,

The optical fiber bending device includes:

The spiral tube communicates with the discharge device, the liquid storage device and the curing device, and the liquid storage device outputs the light-proof material into the spiral tube, and keeps the light-proof material in the spiral tube within a predetermined liquid level range;

The casing is sheathed outside the spiral tube.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that,

The spiral tube includes:

The spiral body is a pipe extending spirally;

The feed port is arranged on the top side of the screw body and extends a predetermined distance toward the discharge device;

The liquid inlet is arranged above the end of the feed inlet close to the screw body and communicates with the liquid storage device;

The liquid storage device transports the light-insulating material into the spiral tube, and keeps the liquid level of the light-insulating material in the spiral tube at the liquid inlet.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that,

The spiral tube also includes:

The discharge port is arranged on one side of the bottom end of the screw body and extends a predetermined distance toward the curing device;

The liquid outlet is arranged below the end of the discharge port close to the screw body and communicates with the liquid storage device;

The extending direction of the discharge port forms a predetermined angle with the ground, and the light-insulating material in the spiral tube flows back into the liquid storage device from the liquid discharge port.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that,

The section inner wall of the spiral tube is polygonal.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that,

The section inner wall of the spiral tube is any one of triangle, rectangle or prism.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that,

The receiving device includes:

The winding power source is connected with the supporting device;

The receiving tray is connected with the winding power source;

The receiving shell is set outside the rewinding power source and the receiving tray, and connected with the supporting device;

The positioning component is installed at one end of the receiving shell, and the optical fiber enters the receiving shell through the positioning component;

The central axis of the positioning assembly passes through the section of the discharge end of the spiral tube;

The distance between the central axis of the positioning assembly and the inner wall of the discharge end of the spiral tube is greater than the radius of the optical fiber.
Optical fiber coating equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that,

The positioning component is a linear bearing fixedly connected with the receiving shell.
The coating method based on the optical fiber coating equipment described in any one of claims 2-8, characterized in that, comprising:

S1. The liquid storage device outputs the light-shielding material to the optical fiber bending device, and keeps the light-shielding material in the fiber bending device within a predetermined liquid level range;

S2. The receiving device pulls the optical fiber through the optical fiber bending device and curing device in turn;

S3. The optical fiber is coated with a light-shielding material while being bent in the optical fiber bending device;

S4. The optical fiber cures the light-shielding material in the curing device.