JP4853460B2 - Optical cable and optical cable manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical cable in which a large number of optical fiber core wires are accommodated in a groove of a slot with a groove, and a rough winding string, a presser winding tape, and a sheath are sequentially provided on the outer periphery of the slot, and a method for manufacturing the optical cable.

  As networking using optical cables progresses with the progress of information and communication, the amount of used optical cables is increasing. However, from the viewpoint of global environmental protection and effective use of resources, measures to recycle optical cables are required. Yes. In carrying out recycling of optical cables, various proposals have been made so far regarding optical cables considering recycling costs, quality of recycled products, and recycling.

  Some optical cables have a single core and more than 1000 cores. As shown in FIG. 4A, a typical optical cable 1 is constituted by a slot 2 (also referred to as a spacer) made of a plastic material in which a tension member 3 is embedded and integrated at the center and a plurality of grooves 2a are provided on the outer periphery. Is done. The groove 2a of the slot 2 is formed in a spiral shape or SZ shape, and a plurality of optical fiber core wires or tape-like optical fiber core wires 4 are collected and stored in the groove 2a.

  In order to prevent the optical fiber core 4 from dropping out of the groove 2a (particularly in the case of an SZ-shaped slot) immediately after the optical fiber core 4 is housed in the groove 2a during the manufacturing process of the optical cable 1, the coarse winding is performed. The string 5 is immediately spirally wound around the outer periphery of the slot 2 at a relatively coarse pitch. On the outer periphery of the slot 2 to which the coarsely wound string 5 is applied, a presser winding tape 6 (also referred to as an upper winding tape) for water insulation in the cable or thermal insulation at the time of forming the sheath is spirally wound or vertically attached. The optical cable 1 is formed by covering the outside with a sheath 7 (also referred to as a jacket). In order to prevent water running, the presser winding tape 6 is made of a material having water absorption.

  In general, a wide tape is used as the presser winding tape 6 and is wound spirally so that a part of the tape overlaps the outer peripheral surface of the slot 2. In general, this winding method is called horizontal winding. Then, the coarsely wound string 5 and the presser winding tape 6 are wound so as to cross each other as shown in FIG.

  When disassembling the optical cable 1 in FIG. 4A for recycling, first, a cut is made in the sheath 7, and this is peeled off and recovered by a recovery means. Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the presser winding tape 6 exposed by removing the sheath 7 is cut by applying a cutter 8a to cut the presser winding tape 6 and the coarse winding string 5. To do. The cut pieces of the presser wound tape 6 and the coarsely wound string 5 are collected and discarded by dropping them forcibly by dropping them naturally or by rubbing the surface of the slot with a die 10 of a dismantling device.

  However, when the presser winding tape 6 and the coarsely wound string 5 are cut by the cutter 8a, the presser winding tape 6 is a wide tape and has a certain amount of friction, so that cutting is easy, but FIG. 4 (B). As shown in FIG. 2, the coarsely wound string 5 may remain without being cut. The reason for this is that when the cutter 8a hits the coarsely wound string in the rib part of the slot 2, the rib part becomes a wall and the coarsely wound string does not escape, so it is relatively easy to cut, but straddles the groove part 2a of the slot 2. The rough winding string may not be cut because it escapes to the cutter 8a. Further, since the loosely wound string with one end cut is loosened in a state where the tension is released, it may escape in the longitudinal direction of the slot 2 without being cut even when the cutter 8a hits.

  When a portion that cannot be cut occurs in the coarsely wound string 5, the string wound around the slot 2 is easily loosened, and the coarsely wound string 5 on the rib portion may not be cut. Therefore, cutting becomes insufficient, and it may be difficult to drop the rough winding string 5 and the presser winding tape 6 by dropping them naturally. Furthermore, even when the surface of the slot is removed by squeezing using a die 10 or the like, the coarsely wound string 5 is accumulated and entangled to become a hairball shape, preventing the presser winding tape 6 from being cut or blocking the through hole of the die 10. Therefore, there is a problem that the failure of the movement of the slot 2 occurs and the cable cannot be efficiently disassembled.

  As a method for improving the above problem, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), after the presser winding tape 6 is exposed, the intermittent cutter 8b is pressed from above the presser winding tape 6 in the longitudinal direction of the optical cable 1. Then, intermittent cuts 9b are made and the coarsely wound string 5 is cut so as to have a short length. Thereafter, the cutter 8a cuts 9a into the presser winding tape 6 and cuts into short pieces for each turn, and the coarsely wound string 5 previously cut short by the intermittent cutter 8b is dropped inside the presser winding tape 6. A method has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, it has also been proposed to use a monofilament, a twisted fiber bundle, a narrow and flat band-like shape, etc., for the coarsely wound string 5 so that the coarsely wound string 5 is not fuzzy or entangled and hardened into a hairball shape. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2007-212522 A JP 2007-212523 A

  When the disassembly method of FIG. 4C is used, it is necessary to separately install the intermittent cutter 8b, and it is necessary to set the cutting timing according to the winding pitch of the coarse winding string 5, and the configuration of the optical cable to be disassembled in advance It is necessary to know the information about, but there are cases where it is impossible to obtain information, and there is a problem that it takes time to prepare for work. Furthermore, it is difficult to use in the removal operation of the intermediate branch of the optical fiber. Moreover, when using a special thing for the coarsely wound string 5 as disclosed in Patent Document 2, even if it can be expected to reduce the occurrence of fuzz and entanglement, it is not perfect, and a special string is used. Cost increases.

  As a method for improving the above-mentioned points, the presser winding tape is formed by an open winding with a gap so that a part of the inner coarse winding string is exposed, and the sheath applied thereon is exposed from the gap. An optical cable having a structure fused with a part of the rough winding string is being studied. This optical cable has the effect that when the sheath is peeled off, the rough winding cord is cut at the fused portion, and at the same time as the sheath is removed, the rough winding cord is cut short. Not only the optical cable is disassembled, but also the optical fiber is pulled down. It is also useful for intermediate branching work.

  However, when the presser tape is wound with a gap, the presser tape that is wound horizontally on the slot slips on the spacer. Normally, the surface of the slot is smooth and slippery, but in the case of lap winding, the frictional coefficient of the overlapping portion is large, so that the slot does not slip. If the presser winding tape is displaced due to the open winding, when it passes through the pass line of the sheath, it is squeezed by a guide roller or the like, and the presser winding tape is wrinkled, and this wrinkle portion becomes a sheath cove by sheath molding.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an optical cable that opens a presser winding tape to improve disassembly and branching workability and does not cause winding displacement of the presser winding tape and its The purpose is to provide a manufacturing method.

  An optical cable according to the present invention is an optical cable in which a rough winding string, a presser winding tape, and a sheath are sequentially provided on the outer periphery of a grooved slot that stores an optical fiber core wire. It is wound in a spiral shape so as to alternate with the lap winding without. Within one cycle consisting of the open winding and the lap winding of the presser winding tape, each of the open winding and the lap winding is wound continuously for a plurality of turns, and the range where the open winding and the lap winding are continuously wound is as follows: It is desirable that each be 500 mm or less.

  Further, the overlap width of the above-mentioned presser winding tape is set to 1/8 to 1/2 of the tape width, and the opening width (gap width) of the open winding is set to 1.0 to 10.0 mm. Furthermore, the overlap width in which the overlap winding of the presser winding tape is continuous, and the open width in which the open winding of the presser winding tape is continuous may be a pattern that varies in a sine wave shape, a trapezoidal wave shape, a rectangular wave shape, or a triangular wave shape. Good.

  An optical cable manufacturing method according to the present invention is an optical cable manufacturing method in which a rough winding string, a presser winding tape, and a sheath are sequentially applied to the outer periphery of a grooved slot that stores an optical fiber core wire. The spiral winding is performed so that the open winding with a gap and the overlapping winding without a gap are alternated. In order to wind on the slot while changing the winding pitch of the presser winding tape, change the rotational speed of the rotary winding device, change the line speed of the slot, twist the slot alternately left and right in the circumferential direction, Etc. can be used.

  According to the optical cable of the present invention, a part of the presser winding tape is formed by open winding, and the inner coarsely wound string is fused to the sheath to improve the removability of the coarsely wound string. Generation | occurrence | production of the shift | offset | difference of winding of a tape can be suppressed, and it can prevent that a sheath cove is made. Further, even during the intermediate branching, the rough winding string can be easily removed without being scattered.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical cable according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating another example. The reference numerals in the figure are the same as those used in FIG. 4. 1 is an optical cable, 2 is a slot, 2a is a groove, 3 is a tension member, 4 is an optical fiber core wire, 5 is a coarsely wound string, 5a is A welding part, 6 is a presser winding tape, 6a is overlapped, 6b is a gap, and 7 is a sheath.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, an optical cable 1 according to the present invention includes, for example, a slot 2 (spacer) made of a plastic material in which a tension member 3 (also referred to as a tensile body) is embedded and integrated in the center and a plurality of grooves 2a are provided. (Also called). The groove 2a of the slot 2 is formed in a spiral shape or SZ shape, and a plurality of optical fiber core wires or tape-like optical fiber core wires 4 are accommodated in the groove 2a. In the manufacturing process of the optical cable 1, the optical fiber core 4 is prevented from falling out of the groove 2a (especially in the case of the SZ slot) after being wound in the groove 2a and before winding the press-wound tape 6. Therefore, the coarsely wound string 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the slot 2 at a pitch of about 10 mm to 20 mm, for example.

  As the coarsely wound string 5, for example, a string-like one obtained by bundling fibers such as a thermoplastic resin such as nylon, polyester-based, acrylic-based, polyolefin-based fibers, or a tape-shaped one is used. Further, when the outer diameter of the slot 2 is about 9 mm, for example, the coarsely wound string 5 is wound with two strings (having a 10 mm pitch) at a pitch of about 20 mm.

  Thermal insulation is provided on the outer periphery of the slot 2 to which the coarsely wound string 5 is applied so that the molten resin material for the sheath heated during the molding of the sheath does not directly contact the optical fiber core wire. A presser-wound tape 6 is applied. For the press-wound tape 6, a nonwoven fabric made of a fiber such as polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene is used, and a tape width of, for example, about 10 mm to 30 mm can be used.

  This presser winding tape 6 has a gap 6b between the wrapping and the winding of the tape winding with a relatively small winding pitch with an overlap 6a so that no gap is generated between the tape winding turns. In order to produce the above, the winding is alternately formed with the open winding wound with a relatively large winding pitch. The configuration example of FIG. 1A is an example in which open winding and lap winding are alternately formed every turn.

  The configuration example of FIG. 1B is an example in which each of the open winding and the lap winding is made to be continuous for a plurality of turns within one cycle in which the open winding and the lap winding are alternately formed. In FIG. 1B, it is preferable that the range in which the open winding or the lap winding is continued for a plurality of turns is 500 mm or less. This is an intermediate branch of the optical fiber, and the removal range of the sheath 7 is about 500 mm. Therefore, if the open winding and the lap winding are alternately formed within this range, when the sheath 7 is removed, At least one cut portion by welding of the coarsely wound string 5 is obtained within the removal range of the sheath 7. As a result, it is cut simultaneously with the removal of the sheath 7, and the coarsely wound string 5 can be easily removed from the starting point.

The overlap 6a formed by the overlap winding portion has an overlap width a and is continuously wound by frictional contact between adjacent winding turns, and the tape winding on the surface of the slot 2 slips and slips. Can be suppressed.
The gap 6b formed by the open winding portion has an open width b, and the welded portion 5a of the coarsely wound string 5 is exposed from the gap 6b portion. When forming the sheath 7, the welded portion 5 a of the coarsely wound string 5 exposed from the gap 6 b is melted by the heat of the sheath resin and is welded to the inner surface of the sheath 7. When the sheath 7 is removed for recycling or for the intermediate branching of the optical fiber, the welded portion 5a of the coarsely wound string 5 welded to the inner surface of the sheath 7 is cut simultaneously with the sheath removal, Removal workability can be improved.

  Next, in order to evaluate the present invention, the press-wound tape is changed in the overlap width a and the open width b of the open winding, and the winding form is alternated every turn in FIG. A sample (indicated as “alternate”) and a sample (indicated by continuous ranges “250 mm, 500 mm”) in which a plurality of turns in FIG. This was coated with a 2.0 mm-thick sheath to obtain an optical cable, and then evaluated for the ability to cut the coarse winding string, the state of displacement of the presser winding, and the transmission characteristics of the optical fiber.

  As a result, it was found that the overlap width a of the overlap winding is 1/10 of the tape width is insufficient to suppress the displacement of the press-wound tape, and is preferably 1/8 or more of the tape width a. When the overlap width a is equal to or greater than ½ of the tape width, a three-layer overlap portion is generated, which is wasteful.

  When the opening width b of the open winding is 0.5 mm, the gap is too small and the coarse winding string is not welded to the inner surface of the sheath, and is insufficient for cutting by removing the sheath, and the opening width b is 1.0 mm or more. Turned out to be desirable. Further, when the opening width b is 13.0 mm, the transmission characteristic of the optical fiber is deteriorated by heat at the time of forming the sheath.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing various winding patterns in which the winding pitch of the presser winding tape is changed in an example in which the open winding and the lap winding continuous for a plurality of turns shown in FIG. 1 (B) are alternately formed. .
FIG. 2A shows a pattern in which the overlap width a and the open winding width b of the lap winding are changed in a sine wave shape to switch between the lap winding and the open winding. From the above evaluation results, the overlap width a is a tape. The width is 1/8 to 1/2, and the opening width b is 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.

FIG. 2B shows a pattern in which the overlap width a and the open width b of the overlap winding are changed to a trapezoidal wave shape, and the range of the overlap width a and the open width b is the same as that in the case of FIG. is there.
FIG. 2C shows a pattern in which the overlapping width a and the opening width b of the overlapping winding are changed into a rectangular wave shape, and the ranges of the overlapping width a and the opening width b are the same as those in the case of FIG. is there.
FIG. 2 (D) shows a pattern in which the overlapping width a and the opening width b of the overlapping winding are changed in a triangular wave shape, and the range of the overlapping width a and the opening width b is the same as in the case of FIG. is there.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a winding control method used to realize a change in the winding pitch of the presser winding tape shown in FIG.
After the coarsely wound string 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the slot 2 with the grooves containing the optical fiber cores 4 to prevent the optical fiber core wires from falling off, the presser tape 6 is placed on the pass line of the slot 2. The slot 2 is wound by a rotary winding device (not shown) arranged in a rotatable manner, and the slot 2 is transferred at a predetermined line speed in the pass line direction (P). A presser winding tape 6 supplied from a tape pad (not shown) is guided to a predetermined winding position by a guide roller arranged in a rotary winding device, and is continuously wound spirally around the outer periphery of the slot 2. Attached.

  In the various patterns shown in FIG. 2, when the line width of the slot 2 is constant in order to change the overlap width a and the open width b of the overlap winding, the rotation speed of the rotary winding device is varied. Can be realized. For example, in order to increase the overlap width a or decrease the opening width b, the rotational speed in the winding direction (W) of the above-described rotary winding device is decreased. In order to reduce the overlapping width a or increase the opening width b, the rotational speed of the rotary winding device is increased.

  Further, when the rotational speed of the rotary winding device of the tape is constant, the line speed of the slot in the pass line direction (P) is changed to change the overlap width a of the overlap winding and the opening width b of the open winding. Can be realized. For example, in order to increase the overlap width a or decrease the opening width b, the line speed is decreased. In order to reduce the overlapping width a or increase the opening width b, the line speed is increased.

  In addition, in order to change the overlap width a of the overlapping winding and the opening width b of the opening winding, when the rotational speed of the rotary winding device of the tape and the line speed of the slot are constant, the slot 2 at the tape winding position This portion can also be realized by twisting the portion in the circumferential direction (R) left or right. For example, in order to increase the overlap width “a” or the opening width “b”, it is twisted in the same direction as the rotational direction (W) of the rotary winding device. This is the same state as when the rotational speed of the rotary winding device is slowed down. On the other hand, in order to reduce the overlap width a or increase the opening width b, it is twisted in the direction opposite to the rotational direction (W) of the rotary winding device. This is the same state as when the rotational speed of the rotary winding device is increased.

By controlling the winding pitch of the presser winding tape by using the various methods as described above, the presser tape can be wound on the slot in various patterns shown in FIG.
In addition, the optical cable formed as described above is an open winding portion of the presser winding tape, and the inner rough winding cord is welded to the sheath to improve the removability of the coarse winding cord, and the presser winding portion is pressed. Generation | occurrence | production of the winding | deviation of winding of a winding tape can be suppressed, and it can prevent that a sheath is formed.

It is a figure explaining the outline of the optical cable by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a winding pattern of the presser tape by this invention. It is a figure explaining the method of winding control of the presser winding tape by this invention. It is a figure explaining a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical cable, 2 ... Slot, 2a ... Groove, 3 ... Tension member, 4 ... Optical fiber core wire, 5 ... Coarse winding string, 5a ... Welding part, 6 ... Pressing tape, 6a overlap, 6b clearance, 7 ... Sheath .

Claims (13)

An optical cable in which a rough winding string, a presser winding tape, and a sheath are sequentially applied to the outer periphery of a grooved slot that stores an optical fiber core wire,
The optical cable is characterized in that the presser winding tape is spirally wound so that an open winding with a gap and a lap winding without a gap are alternated.   2. The optical cable according to claim 1, wherein each of the open winding and the lap winding is continuously wound for a plurality of turns within one cycle including the open winding and the lap winding of the presser winding tape. .   3. The optical cable according to claim 2, wherein the ranges in which the plurality of turns of the open winding and the lap winding are continuously wound in the one cycle are 500 mm or less, respectively.   The optical cable according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an overlap width of the overlap winding of the presser winding tape is 1/8 to 1/2 of the tape width.   The optical cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an opening width of the open winding of the presser winding tape is 1.0 mm to 10.0 mm.   The optical cable according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an overlap width of the overlap winding of the presser winding tape and an opening width of the open winding of the presser winding tape are fluctuated in a sine wave shape. .   The optical cable according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an overlap width of the overlap winding of the presser winding tape and an opening width of the open winding of the presser winding tape are changed in a trapezoidal wave shape. .   The optical cable according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an overlap width of the overlap winding of the press-winding tape and an opening width of the open winding of the press-winding tape are changed in a rectangular wave shape. .   The optical cable according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an overlap width of the overlap winding of the presser winding tape and an opening width of the open winding of the presser winding tape are changed in a triangular wave shape. . A method of manufacturing an optical cable, in which a rough winding string, a presser winding tape, and a sheath are sequentially applied to the outer periphery of a slot with a groove that stores an optical fiber core,
A method for manufacturing an optical cable, characterized in that the presser winding tape is wound spirally so that open winding with a gap and lap winding without a gap are alternated.   The method of manufacturing an optical cable according to claim 10, wherein the rotation speed of the rotary winding device for the presser winding tape is varied.   The method of manufacturing an optical cable according to claim 10, wherein the line speed of the slot is varied.   The method of manufacturing an optical cable according to claim 10, wherein the slots are alternately twisted to the left and right in the circumferential direction.

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