Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.
• Patent Document 1 describes an optical fiber ribbon having multiple optical fiber core wires arranged in parallel and inter-core connection portions that intermittently connect adjacent optical fiber core wires.
• the method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon described in Patent Document 1 involves first arranging multiple optical fiber core wires in a row with a predetermined gap between them. Next, a tape-forming resin is applied so as to cover the entire periphery of the multiple optical fiber core wires, and then the tape-forming resin between adjacent optical fiber core wires is partially removed before the tape-forming resin hardens. Finally, the tape-forming resin is hardened to produce the optical fiber ribbon.
• the optical fiber ribbon in the manufactured optical fiber ribbon is covered with a substantially uniform and thick tape-forming resin.
• the optical fiber ribbon described in Patent Document 1 contains a large amount of ribbon-forming resin, which makes it difficult to remove the resin during use.
• the object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber ribbon with high resin removability and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.
• a plurality of mono-coated optical fibers coated with resin which are arranged in parallel; a plurality of connecting portions disposed between adjacent mono-coated optical fibers and partially connecting the adjacent mono-coated optical fibers;
• An optical fiber ribbon is provided in which, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mono-coated optical fiber in a region where the connecting portion is not arranged, the ratio of the maximum length to the minimum length in the cross section of the mono-coated optical fiber is within a range of 1.02 to 1.14.
• the distance between the rotary blade or needle and the single-coated optical fiber is set within a range of 0 to 10 ⁇ m.
• the present invention provides an optical fiber ribbon with high resin removability and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.
• FIG. 1A to 1C are diagrams showing an optical fiber ribbon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the minimum and maximum lengths in the cross section of an optical fiber.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus.
• 5A to 5C are side views showing the schematic configuration of the rotary blade of the separating die.
• FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the rotation of the rotary blade.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of forming the connecting portion and the separating portion.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus according to a modified example.
• FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of the optical fiber ribbon 10
• Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1A
• Figure 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 1A
• Figure 2 is a schematic view for explaining the minimum length D1 and maximum length D2 in the cross section of the optical fiber 20.
• the optical fiber ribbon 10 has a plurality of single-coated optical fibers (hereinafter also simply referred to as "optical fibers") 20 and a plurality of connecting portions 30.
• the optical fiber ribbon 10 may also have a plurality of spaced portions 41.
• the optical fiber ribbon 10 of this embodiment has a plurality of single-coated optical fibers 20, a plurality of connecting portions 30, and a plurality of spaced portions 41.
• the optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel.
• the number of optical fibers 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more.
• the number of optical fibers 20 included in one optical fiber ribbon 10 is appropriately selected depending on the application of the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• the number of optical fibers 20 included in one optical fiber ribbon 10 is approximately 2 to 12. In this embodiment, twelve optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel in one optical fiber ribbon 10 .
• the optical fiber 20 has an optical fiber strand 21, a primary coating layer 22, and a secondary coating layer 23.
• the optical fiber strand 21, the primary coating layer 22, and the secondary coating layer 23 can be similar to the optical fiber strand, first coating layer, and second coating layer of known optical fibers.
• a colored layer may be further formed on the secondary coating layer 23 of the optical fiber 20.
• the colors of the colored layers of the multiple optical fibers 20 be different from each other within the optical fiber ribbon 10. This allows the multiple optical fibers 20 to be distinguished within a single optical fiber ribbon 10.
• a tape layer 40 is further disposed around the plurality of optical fibers 20 , and adjacent optical fibers 20 are intermittently connected by the tape layer 40 .
• the region where adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially connected is the connection portion 30
• the region where adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially separated is the separation portion 41 .
• the connecting portions 30 are disposed between all adjacent optical fibers 20, and partially connect the adjacent optical fibers 20.
• the separating portions 41 are disposed between all adjacent optical fibers 20, and partially separate the adjacent optical fibers 20.
• the arrangement of the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 41 is not particularly limited.
• the connecting portions 30 and the spaced portions 41 are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• two spaced portions 41 are arranged between adjacent connecting portions 30 in the short direction of the optical fiber ribbon 10 (the arrangement direction of the optical fibers 20). This allows the number of connecting portions 30 to be reduced, thereby shortening the overall width of the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• the optical fiber ribbon 10 can satisfy IEC standards (IEC 60794-1-31:2018, JIS C 6838:2020) and Telcordia standards (Telcordia GR-20).
• the spaced apart portions 41 are preferably arranged so that adjacent spaced apart portions 41 partially overlap each other.
• the length L1 of the connecting portion 30 when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is viewed in plan is not particularly limited, but is, for example, in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm.
• the thickness T of the connecting portion 30 is also not particularly limited, but is, for example, in the range of 0.26 mm to 0.29 mm.
• the length L2 of the spaced apart portion 41 when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is viewed in plan is not particularly limited, but is, for example, in the range of 45 mm to 55 mm.
• the optical fiber ribbon 10 can be easily wound or twisted along the longitudinal direction when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is housed in a cable.
• the length L1 and thickness T of the connecting portion 30 and the length L2 of the spaced portion 41 are each the average values measured at any five locations within the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• the ratio (D2/D1) of the longest length D2 to the shortest length D1 in the cross section is in the range of 1.02 to 1.14, and more preferably in the range of 1.07 to 1.14.
• the shape of the cross section is not substantially circular but is substantially rectangular.
• the shortest length D1 in the cross section refers to the length of the shortest line segment connecting any two points on the outer edge of the cross section and the center of gravity G of the cross section.
• the shortest length D1 in the cross section is preferably the length in the direction along the arrangement direction of the multiple optical fibers 20.
• the longest length D2 in the cross section refers to the length of the longest line segment connecting any two points on the outer edge of the cross section.
• the line segment corresponding to the longest length D2 is inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the line segment corresponding to the shortest length D1.
• the line segment corresponding to the longest length D2 may or may not pass through the center of gravity in the cross section. In this embodiment, the line segment corresponding to the longest length D2 passes through the center of gravity G.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a manufacturing apparatus 100 for manufacturing the optical fiber ribbon 10.
• FIGS. 5A to 5C are side views showing the schematic configuration of the rotary blade of the separating die.
• FIG. 6 is a side view showing the schematic rotation of the rotary blade.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the process of forming the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41.
• the method for manufacturing the optical fiber ribbon 10 of this embodiment includes a step of arranging the optical fibers in parallel (S110), a step of forming an uncured tape layer (S120), a step of forming the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41 (S130), and a step of curing the uncured tape layer (S140).
• the above-mentioned optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel.
• the optical fibers 20 may be commercially available or may be manufactured.
• the uncured tape layer 40 is formed using, for example, a manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Specifically, while the optical fibers 20 are being transported in the transport direction A, the tape die 50 applies uncured photocurable resin to the optical fibers 20 in a tape shape to form the tape layer 40 .
• connecting portion 30 and separating portion 41 are formed using, for example, a manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. Specifically, rotary blades 62, 64, and 66 of the separation die 60 are rotated relative to the tape layer 40 to remove a portion of the tape layer 40 and form the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41.
• a plurality of rotary blades 62, 64, and 66 are provided facing the exit surface of the optical fiber 20. The rotation of each of the rotary blades 62, 64, and 66 is controlled by a motor, and they rotate in accordance with the transport of the optical fiber 20, with their respective rotation axes coinciding. As shown in Fig.
• a notch 64a is formed in the central rotary blade 64, and as shown in Fig. 5B, notches 62a, 66a are also formed in the side rotary blades 62, 66. As shown in Fig. 5C, the notch 64a of the central rotary blade 64 and the notches 62a, 66a of the side rotary blades 62, 66 are out of phase with each other.
• the process (S130) of forming the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41 as shown in FIG.
• the distance D between the rotary blades 62, 64, 66 and the optical fiber 20 is preferably in the range of 0 to 10 ⁇ m, and more preferably in the range of 0 to 5 ⁇ m.
• the tape layer 40 formed on the side of the optical fiber 20 can be made thinner. This improves resin removal, as described below, and also satisfies the above-mentioned IEC and Telcordia standards. At this time, excess photocurable resin is sucked and collected by the resin suction device 70.
• the tape layer 40 is irradiated with light by the light irradiation device 80 to semi-cure the uncured tape layer, and finally the semi-cured tape layer is completely cured by further irradiating with light by the light irradiation device 90.
• the cumulative irradiation doses of the upstream first light irradiation device 80 and the downstream second light irradiation device 90 are adjusted so that the cumulative irradiation dose of the first light irradiation device 80 is small and the cumulative irradiation dose of the second light irradiation device 90 is large.
• the distance D between the rotary blades 62, 64, 66 of the separating die 60 and the optical fiber 20 is within a range of 0 to 10 ⁇ m, the amount of photocurable resin applied to the optical fiber 20 is small, and the uncured photocurable resin does not wrap around the optical fiber 20 between the step (S130) of forming the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41 and the time when the uncured photocurable resin hardens.
• the ratio of the maximum length to the minimum length in the cross section is within a range of 1.02 to 1.14.
• the separating die 130 shown in FIG. 8 may be used instead of the separating die 60 shown in FIG. 4, and the needles 132, 134, 136 of the separating die 130 may be inserted and removed from the tape layer 40 while controlling their elevation to remove part of the tape layer 40, thereby forming the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 41.
• the distance D between the needles 132, 134, 136 and the optical fiber 20 is preferably in the range of 0 to 10 ⁇ m, and more preferably 0 to 5 ⁇ m.
• the ratio of the maximum length to the minimum length in the cross section of the optical fiber 20 is within a predetermined range, so that the tape layer 40 in the short direction of the optical fiber 20 is thin in the region where the connecting portion 30 is not disposed. This improves resin removal properties and makes it possible to obtain an optical fiber ribbon 10 that meets the width-related requirements of various international standards.
• a single-coated optical fiber with an outer diameter of 250 ⁇ m was prepared by applying a primary coating made of a urethane acrylate photocurable resin and a secondary coating made of a urethane acrylate photocurable resin to a silica glass-based SM optical fiber with an outer diameter of 125 ⁇ m (a process for arranging optical fibers in parallel). Thereafter, using the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 4, 12 single-coated optical fibers were aligned and coated with a urethane acrylate photocurable resin to form a tape layer (a step of forming an uncured tape layer). The rotary blade was then rotated to form the connecting portion and the spaced portion (the step of forming the connecting portion and the spaced portion).
• the length of the connecting portion was designed to be 10 mm
• the length of the spaced portion was designed to be 50 mm.
• the distance between the rotary blade and the mono-coated optical fiber in the step of forming the connecting portion and the spaced portion was set as shown in Table 1. Thereafter, the uncured photocurable resin was cured by the upstream light irradiation device and the downstream light irradiation device to obtain an optical fiber ribbon (step of curing the uncured photocurable resin).
• Table 1 shows the optical fiber ribbon number, the distance between the rotary blade and the single-coated optical fiber, the ratio of the maximum length to the minimum length in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber, and each evaluation result.
• example samples 1 to 3 where the ratio of the maximum length to the minimum length in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber was within the range of 1.02 to 1.14, the tape structure, resin removability, and compliance with standards were all good. This is thought to be due to the fact that the tape layer coating the optical fiber had thin sections. In particular, example samples 1 and 2, where the ratio was within the range of 1.07 to 1.14, had even better resin removability.
• comparative sample 4 in which the ratio was not within the specified range, showed poor conformance to the standard. This is thought to be due to the thick tape layer coating the optical fiber.
• comparative samples 5 and 6 the distance between the rotary blade and the single-coated optical fiber was excessively large (large clearance), and excess photocurable resin was integrated across the optical fibers (not separated), preventing the desired connection and separation sections from being formed.
• optical fiber ribbon of the present invention is useful, for example, as optical fibers used in high-speed, high-capacity optical fiber communication networks.
• Optical fiber ribbon 20 Single-coated optical fiber 21 Optical fiber strand 22 Primary coating layer 23 Secondary coating layer 30 Connection portion 40 Tape layer 41 Separation portion 50 Tape die 60, 130 Separation die 62, 64, 66 Rotary blade 70 Resin suction device 80 First light irradiation device 90 Second light irradiation device 100 Manufacturing device 132, 134, 136 Needle

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• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)

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