JPH0569403B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a method for removing the outer coating of an optical fiber tape, and in particular, a method for removing the outer coating of a long optical fiber tape by forcing the outer coating over a part of the tape. The present invention relates to a method of peeling it off.

``Prior Art'' As shown in FIG. 3, an example of which is shown with dimensions, the optical fiber tape 1 is very thin and has a thin outer coating, and has a plurality of fibers (five fibers in the example shown) lined up. The protective coating 3 of the fiber wire 2 is covered with an outer coating 4 formed by extruding an ultraviolet curing resin or the like. The individual optical fibers 2 are separated from each other or with the outer coating 4 in a non-adhesive state in order to facilitate the branch connection work of the optical communication circuit. It is said to be a so-called single core separation type.

In addition, when configuring a communication line, a slot-type optical fiber cable 5 made up of a large number of optical fiber tapes 1 is installed supported on utility poles, etc., and as shown in FIG. One (single core) optical fiber 2 is drawn out from the fiber tape 1 and branched and connected to the user 6 via a connection box 7 as appropriate. When performing such branching, a part of the outer coating 4 of the optical fiber tape 1 shown in FIG. It is necessary to branch-connect one or more lines 2. Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned case, a portion of the external covering 4 may be peeled off indoors as necessary.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, while the thinner the optical fiber tape 1 is, the more advantageous it is to miniaturizing the communication circuit network, on the other hand, the outer coating 4 of the optical fiber tape 1 is In the example, the thickness is about 75 μm, which is very thin. Therefore, the outer coating 4 is peeled off, for example, by peeling with a knife, and the optical fiber 2 is removed.
We are in an extremely difficult situation due to this exposure. This is because there is a risk that the optical fiber wire 2 may be cut.

The present invention attempts to solve these problems by easily peeling off the required portion of the optical fiber tape, and by removing the outer coating, it is possible to apply a large external force to the optical fiber wire. The purpose is to provide a method that does not affect the

"Means for Solving the Problems" The peeling method of the present invention is such that the optical fiber tape has a plurality of optical fibers aligned in parallel or flat, and a non-fused outer coating is applied to the outside. When the outer coating is to be peeled off, a patch member is adhered or adhered to the part of the surface from which the outer coating is to be removed, and a separating member is inserted between the optical fiber tape and the patch member, and the separating member is removed. By moving it forward, a part of the outer covering of the optical fiber tape is forcibly peeled off from the optical fiber strand together with the backing member, thereby exposing the necessary parts of the optical fiber strand. .

"Example" Hereinafter, an example of the method for peeling off the outer coating of an optical fiber tape according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

When attempting to peel off the outer coating 4 of the single-fiber separation type optical fiber tape 1, as shown in FIG. Prepare a backing member 8 made of a material with high strength, such as a belt-shaped aluminum tape or a hard vinyl chloride board, place the backing member 8 on the part of the single-fiber separation type optical fiber tape 1 to be peeled, and connect the backing member 8 and the optical fiber. The upper surface of the tape 1 is bonded with an instant adhesive (for example, cyanoacrylate adhesive) over a range of about 10 mm in length to integrate it. As shown in FIG. 1, the member 8 is bent in advance at one end, for example, at an angle of θ ₁ /2.

Further, another backing member 8 is placed on the upper surface of the optical fiber tape 1, and the space therebetween is bonded and integrated with an instant adhesive.

Then, apart from the bonding point of the backing member 8, and at a position facing the bent portion 8a, a split-shaped separation member 9 shown by a chain line in FIG. The separation member 9 is made of a material that is non-adhesive to instant adhesives and has low frictional resistance, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., and is used to connect the two halves 9A and 9B. Used in the state and one half 9A
A slit 9a through which the optical fiber tape 1 is inserted is formed in the slit 9a, and a wedge-shaped inclined surface 9b with an angle θ ₂ is formed at the tip facing the peeling point.
is formed. It is desirable that the angle θ ₁ and the angle θ ₂ be approximately the same, for example, 30 degrees or less.

Next, the bent portion 8a of the adhesive member 8
A separating member 9 is inserted between the optical fiber tape 1 and the adhesive member 8, and the adhesive member 8 is separated both upwardly and downwardly from the optical fiber tape 1 using the inclined surface 9b.

At this time, since the pair of backing members 8, 8 and the optical fiber tape 1 are bonded together, when a force is applied to separate the backing members 8, the optical fiber tape 1
A phenomenon occurs in which a part of the outer coating 4 is peeled off from the surface of the optical fiber 2 while still being adhered to the backing member 8, resulting in a separated state as shown in FIG.

Furthermore, when the separation member 9 is advanced, a part of the thin outer coating 4, for example, about 75 μm in thickness, is forcibly torn off, as shown in FIG. It is peeled off as a piece 10, and the optical fiber strand 2 is exposed.

In this case, the exposed length of the optical fiber 2 is almost determined by the bonded length, but after peeling off a part of the outer coating 4, the original non-bonded state of the optical fiber 2 can be restored. It can be used to peel off the skin in the longitudinal direction, just like peeling the skin.
You can freely set the exposure distance.

Furthermore, when the outer coating 4 is peeled off, since the separation member 9 is made of a non-adhesive material, the adhesive hardly causes an adhesive reaction, so that an uncured portion of the adhesive exists and does not adhere to the adhesive. Even if this happens, it will not be integrated with the outer sheath 4 or the backing member 8, and the peeling of the outer sheath 4 will not be hindered.

[Other Embodiments] In place of the above embodiments, the following may be used.

Do not use epoxy-based adhesives or adhesives other than instant adhesives.

Gluing or adhesion to only one side of fiber optic tape and peeling off the outer coating.

In the above case, the outer coating of the optical fiber tape to be peeled off is peeled off from both sides.

The shape of the separation member and the angle of the tip may be arbitrary, and the bent portion may be omitted.

The separation member is divided into two spatula-shaped pieces spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the optical fiber tape.

When moving the separating member forward, do so while pulling the peeling piece and the rear part of the optical fiber in a taut state, that is, in a state where tension is applied.

After the abutment member is slightly peeled off in advance, the separating member is inserted under the peeling piece.

To use a backing member on both sides of an optical fiber tape as a reinforcing material by peeling off only one side and leaving the backing member on the other side.

The backing member may be made of a relatively durable plastic board such as acrylic resin that can be bonded or adhesive, or any other arbitrary material.

Use adhesive or adhesive-coated tape as the applying member.

xi A spacer made of a non-adhesive material is interposed between the pair of backing members and on both sides of the optical fiber tape to prevent the backing members from adhering to each other due to leaked adhesive.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, in the method for peeling off the outer coating of an optical fiber tape according to the present invention, a pressing member is applied to the surface portion of the single-core optical fiber tape from which the outer coating is to be peeled off. By adhering or adhesion and peeling off the backing member from the optical fiber tape while advancing the separating member, a part of the outer coating of the optical fiber tape is forcibly peeled off from the optical fiber strand together with the backing member. Because of this, branch connections can be made without cutting the optical fiber tape in the middle, and in this case, the outer covering of the optical fiber tape where it is necessary to be exposed can be removed by advancing the separating member. It can be easily peeled off and removed to expose the optical fiber.

Furthermore, since the adhesive or adhesive portion between the backing member and the outer coating is mainly peeled off to expose the optical fiber, it can be applied to any location, and one optical fiber This has the effect of reducing the need to concentrate force on.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the method for peeling off the outer coating of an optical fiber tape according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state of the optical fiber tape peeled off by the method shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a general optical fiber tape, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of branching from a communication circuit network. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Single core separation type optical fiber tape (optical fiber tape), 2...Optical fiber wire, 3...Protective coating, 4...Outer coating, 5...Optical fiber cable, 6...User, 7... …Connection box, 8…Attaching member, 8a…Bending portion, 9…Separation member, 9
A, 9B...half body, 9a...slit, 9b...
Inclined surface, 10... Peeling piece.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Adhering or adhering the backing member 8 to at least one surface of the optical fiber tape 1,
A separation member 9 is provided between the optical fiber tape and the backing member.
A part of the outer coating 4 of the optical fiber tape is peeled off from the optical fiber strand 2 together with the abutment member by inserting the separating member and advancing the separating member. Method.