JPH07119861B2 - Pseudo ribbon core wire manufacturing method and core wire alignment apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a pseudo ribbon core wire and a core wire alignment device for a single core optical fiber.

[Prior art and its problems]

Nowadays when optical fibers are used for public communication, there is a strong demand for rationalization and facilitation of coating removal, cutting, and fusion splicing technology accompanying the manufacture of optical fiber cables.

As a cable structure of an optical fiber, a ribbon-shaped core cable is one that achieves such an object. As shown in FIG. 6, this is a ribbon-shaped one in which single-core optical fiber cores are juxtaposed at a predetermined pitch, and it is possible to remove, cut, and fusion splice multiple optical fibers at once. Can simplify the construction process and reduce costs. However, Proceeding of Enropean Conference on Opt
ical Communication 1982 “Mass fusion splices for h
As described in "igh density optical fiber units", only the application to the ribbon core wire has been studied so far.
On the other hand, the structure of the optical cable currently used is Journal
of Lightwave Technologies Vol.LT-4 No.8, August 1
986 “Fiber Cable for Public Communications; State-t
There are various types as described in "he-Art Technologies and Futures", and it is not limited to the ribbon core structure.

Conventionally, in the collective fusion splicing technology, there has been a fusion splicing of optical fibers manufactured in advance in a tape shape, but there has not been a fusion splicing technology in which a single-core optical fiber has a ribbon structure. Therefore, in the case of fusion splicing single-core optical fibers, the coating removal, cutting, fusion splicing, and reinforcement are individually performed, and the splicing process becomes complicated, and there is a drawback that cost and labor are required.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of simplifying the connection work process, reducing costs and labor by using a single-core optical fiber core wire as a ribbon-type core wire. Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above-mentioned object most rationally, and to provide a compact aligning / mounting device capable of aligning single-core optical fibers at a predetermined pitch with a simple structure.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a pseudo ribbon core wire in which the core wires of a plurality of single-core optical fibers are aligned in a plane at a predetermined pitch and fixed to form a ribbon core wire. A stretching step of stretching the tape in one direction, an aligning step of aligning a plurality of optical fibers so that the optical axes of the optical fibers are aligned on the same plane as the adhesive tape and in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape, It is characterized by comprising a wrapping step of wrapping and fixing a plurality of optical fibers aligned on the adhesive surface side by folding back the adhesive surface side of the adhesive tape.

Alternatively, in a single-core optical fiber core line aligning device for aligning the core lines of a plurality of single-core optical fibers on a predetermined plane at a predetermined pitch, a tape supplying an adhesive tape for adhering the plurality of single-core optical fibers Supplying means, tape fixing means for fixing the adhesive tape stretched from the tape supplying means on a plane, and optical fiber positioning for positioning a plurality of optical fibers on a plane in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the stretched adhesive tape It is characterized by comprising means.

[Action]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the operation of the ribbon structure can simplify the construction process and reduce the cost and labor.

Alternatively, the action of the adhesive tape can fix a plurality of single-core optical fibers arranged at a predetermined pitch.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In the description, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

1 and 2 are views and process drawings for explaining an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a pseudo ribbon core wire according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a core wire alignment device for a single-core optical fiber. FIG.

First, a core wire aligning device for a single-core optical fiber will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the adhesive tape 4 is mounted, FIG. 3 (b) is a plan view of the device viewed from the A direction, and FIG. 3 (c) is a device viewed from the B direction. It is a side view.

The base plate 3 is provided with mounting bases 3a, 3a for mounting the adhesive tape. The upper surfaces of the mounting tables 3a, 3a are formed of flat surfaces and have a width sufficient to lay at least the adhesive tape. Introductory holes 3b, 3b for guiding the adhesive tape are provided in the rear part of the mounting tables 3a, 3a. The introduction holes 3b, 3b must be at least wider than the tape width, and the tape must be able to pass through smoothly. Tape fixing means 5, 5 are attached to the front parts of the mounting tables 3a, 3a for fixing the adhesive tape 4 on the mounting tables 3a, 3a. In this embodiment, the pressing member is configured to be openable and closable, but the tape fixing means is not limited to the one shown in this embodiment as long as the adhesive tape 4 can be fixed to the mounting tables 3a, 3a. .
For example, it may be a magnet or another adhesive tape.

An optical fiber positioning means 6 is provided between the two mounting tables 3a, 3a on the same plane as the mounting tables 3a, 3a. The optical fiber positioning means 6 may be any one that can fix a plurality of optical fibers. In this embodiment, a plurality of V-shaped grooves are provided so as to be orthogonal to the introduction direction of the adhesive tape 4, but the shape of the grooves is not particularly limited to the V-shape, and it may be an inverted trapezoid or an ellipse. It may be a part. In addition, the groove spacing of the V groove is appropriately selected depending on the use of the pseudo ribbon core wire.

According to this embodiment, the adhesive tape 4 is arranged at the rear side of the mounting, and one end of the adhesive tape 4 faces the introduction holes 3b, 3b.
Be led to. One end of the guided tape is a tape fixing means 5,
It is fixed on the mounting tables 3a, 3a by 5.

A plurality of single-core optical fibers (not shown) are sequentially arranged in the V-shaped groove. Since the V-shaped groove is formed so as to be orthogonal to the introduction direction of the adhesive tape 4, the optical fibers are aligned on the adhesive surface at a constant pitch in the direction orthogonal to the adhesive tape.

In this embodiment, an apparatus capable of using two adhesive tapes is shown, but it goes without saying that the number does not matter. Therefore, one adhesive tape may be used, or four or more adhesive tapes may be used.

Further, a tape fixing means having no introduction hole may be provided at the rear portion of the device. Particularly, since the tape fixing means 5 and 5 as shown in FIG. 3 have a structure that can be opened and closed, there is an advantage that the mounting of the adhesive tape can be further simplified.

Next, an embodiment of a method of manufacturing the pseudo ribbon core wire will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the stretching step 101, one end of the adhesive tape 4 is stretched in a fixed direction. The amount of the adhesive tape to be stretched should be at least the length necessary for producing the pseudo ribbon core wire. Therefore, if an optical fiber with an outer diameter D is
In order to manufacture the ribbon core wire used in the present invention, it is necessary to draw out at least a length of {2 · (N−1) · D + πD}. Actually, since the ends of the adhesive tape are fixed to each other, it is necessary to pull them out a little longer.

Next, in a mounting step 102, a plurality of single-core optical fibers are mounted in a groove having a constant shape, which is formed so that the adhesive tape pulled out in one direction is orthogonal to the direction at a position orthogonal to the direction. Since the groove portion is provided in the direction orthogonal to the adhesive tape, the optical fiber is sequentially moved to the first position due to the fixing action of the groove.
It is aligned as shown in FIG. These optical fibers 7,7,
Since 7, ... 7 are placed on the adhesive surface 4a of the adhesive tape 4,
Due to the action of the adhesive tape, the optical fibers 7, 7, 7, ...
Fixed on top.

In the next wrapping step 103, the mounted optical fiber is
Wrap 7,7,7, ... 7 with adhesive tape 4. Since the plurality of optical fibers 7, 7, 7, ... 7 are still fixed in the groove described above, the optical fibers do not shift at this stage. Also,
The end of the adhesive tape 4 (the part that wraps the outermost end of the optical fiber)
Even if there is a gap in C, the optical fibers 7, 7, 7, ... 7 are strongly fixed by the upper and lower adhesive tapes, so that the positional deviation does not occur later. What is important in this wrapping step 103 is that a plurality of optical fibers can be wrapped with an adhesive tape while maintaining a state where they are aligned at a predetermined pitch. This is due to the fixing action of the groove and the adhesive tape.

After wrapping the upper parts of the optical fibers 7, 7, 7, ... 7 With the adhesive tape 4 (FIG. 1 (c)), the excess portion D of the tape is cut off to form a pseudo ribbon core wire.

Although the V-shaped groove is used as the optical fiber fixing means in this embodiment, it is not limited to this embodiment as long as it fixes the optical fiber. For example, the shape of the groove may be an inverted trapezoid or a part of an ellipse, and may be a convex portion instead of the groove.

FIG. 5 shows an application example in which the pseudo ribbon core wire manufactured according to the present invention is applied, and is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a heat-shrinkable tube reinforcing portion.

The optical fibers 7 and 7 wrapped with the adhesive tape 4 are fusion-spliced together, and the polyethylene heat-shrinkable tube 9 is used.
It is fixed inside together with the hot-melt adhesive 10. In this case, a heat resistant tape, for example, a glass filament-containing adhesive tape is used as the adhesive tape.

In this way, by heat-shrinking and fixing with a part of the heat-resistant tape inserted in the polyethylene heat-shrinkable tube,
It is possible to prevent disconnection of the optical fiber core wire between the heat shrink tube and the adhesive tape.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above in detail, even if the optical fiber adopts the single-core optical fiber structure, the single-core optical fiber core wire is a cable having a ribbon structure. Since multi-core batch fusion splicing can be applied, the construction process can be simplified and the cost and labor can be reduced.

Alternatively, single-core optical fibers can be aligned at a predetermined pitch with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for manufacturing a pseudo ribbon core wire according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a process drawing thereof, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a core wire alignment device for a single-core optical fiber. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of a main part showing an application example of the pseudo ribbon core wire according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a ribbon type core wire cable. 1 ... Optical fiber core wire, 2 ... Ribbon type core wire cable, 3 ... Base plate, 4 ... Adhesive tape, 5 ...
Tape fixing means, 6 ... Optical fiber positioning means, 7 ...
… Optical fiber.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a pseudo ribbon core wire in which the core wires of a plurality of single-core optical fibers are aligned in a plane at a predetermined pitch and fixed to form a ribbon core wire, wherein an adhesive tape is stretched in one direction. A stretching step, an aligning step of aligning the plurality of optical fibers so that the optical axes of the core wires are aligned in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape on the same plane, and an adhesive surface of the adhesive tape A method of manufacturing a pseudo ribbon fiber, comprising a wrapping step of wrapping and fixing the plurality of optical fibers aligned on a side by folding back the adhesive surface side of the adhesive tape. 2. A single-core optical fiber core line aligning device for aligning a plurality of single-core optical fibers on a predetermined plane at a predetermined pitch, comprising an adhesive tape for adhering the plurality of single-core optical fibers. Tape supplying means for supplying, tape fixing means for fixing the adhesive tape stretched from the tape supplying means on the plane, and a plurality of optical fibers in the plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the stretched adhesive tape An optical fiber aligning device for a single-core optical fiber, characterized in that it is provided with an optical fiber positioning means for positioning it above. 3. The single-fiber optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein said tape fixing means is a holding member sandwiching an upper surface and a lower surface of the adhesive tape, one of which is a magnet and the other of which is a magnetic body. Core alignment device. 4. The optical fiber aligning device for a single optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein the optical fiber positioning means is a stage having a V-shaped groove formed therein. 5. The optical fiber aligning device for a single-core optical fiber according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive tape is a heat-resistant adhesive tape.