JP2002048955A - Coated optical fiber ribbon and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of rolling up turbulence in manufacturing caused by the existence of constriction parts in the batch coating of a coated optical fiber ribbon, and to solve the problem of deterioration in workability or increase in a transmission light loss when used. SOLUTION: The coated optical fiber ribbons 11a, 11b have a clearance T of 0.1 mm or more between optical fiber 12. The constriction part 15 of a primary coating 13 for forming the batch coating is flattened by a secondary coating 14 for preventing distortion caused when rolled up in manufacturing. Besides, removal of the secondary coating and the terminal treatment of the coated optical fiber ribbon are facilitated by reducing the Young's modulus of the secondary coating 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber ribbon in which two or more optical fibers are collectively coated with an ultraviolet curable resin or the like, and more particularly, to an optical fiber ribbon in which the interval between the optical fibers is widened. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, two or more optical fiber wires each having an outer diameter of 0.25 mm and coated with an ultraviolet curing resin (hereinafter referred to as UV resin) are closely arranged with each other. With the element wire pitch being 0.25 mm, UV
It is formed by collectively covering with resin. However, the optical fiber strand pitch is too small to directly connect the end of the optical fiber ribbon to a device or an optical connector for photoelectric conversion. For this reason, an optical fiber ribbon having a large optical fiber pitch has been known.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a two-core optical fiber core wire in which an interval between two optical fiber strands 12 is widened, or a two-core optical fiber strand as shown in FIG. An optical fiber core wire in which a tensile member 16 is interposed between the wires 12 to stabilize the pitch and shape between the optical fiber wires is known (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-316327). Further, a four-core optical fiber 12 as shown in FIG.
An optical fiber ribbon is known in which the gap between them is 0.2 to 0.8 mm and the thickness of the collective coating 13 at this portion is smaller than that of the optical fiber strand (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-2311).
No. 83).

FIG. 4 shows a general method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon. In the figure, 1 is an optical fiber feeder, 2 is a guide roller, 3 is a concentrator, and 4 is a coating die. The device 5 is an ultraviolet irradiation device, 6 is a tension adjusting device, and 7 is a winding device. First, the plurality of optical fiber wires are converged on the same plane by the concentrator 3 from the feeding device 1 via the guide roller 2. Then, the plurality of collected optical fiber strands are drawn into the coating dice device 4, the pitch between the optical fiber strands is made uniform in the coating dice device, and collectively formed of UV resin near the outlet. Coated. Thereafter, the coating resin is cured by the ultraviolet irradiation device 5, and is wound by the winding device 7 via the tension adjusting device 6.

When an optical fiber ribbon having an increased optical fiber pitch is to be obtained by the above-described manufacturing method,
The optical fibers have a constricted shape as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C. When the optical fiber ribbon is continuously manufactured in a long length, winding by a winding device is an essential requirement. However, if there is a constricted portion in the optical fiber ribbon, the winding state is disturbed as shown in FIG.
As a result, a strain is applied to the optical fiber ribbon, which sometimes causes breakage. Also, when later unwinding from the winding device for use in various applications,
When the optical fiber ribbon is entangled or twisted, the workability is reduced and the transmission loss is increased.

From this point of view, the one shown in FIG. 3 (B) has a flattened optical fiber ribbon with no constricted portion by interposing a tensile strength member between the optical fibers. Therefore, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. However, the addition of a tensile member results in a significant cost increase and is not advisable.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has a problem of winding disturbance at the time of manufacturing due to the presence of a constricted portion in a batch covering of an optical fiber ribbon. Provided are an optical fiber ribbon and a method of manufacturing that solve the problems of reduced workability and increased transmission loss when using an optical fiber ribbon due to winding disturbance.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An optical fiber ribbon having a gap between optical fiber strands of 0.1 mm or more, wherein a narrow portion of a primary coating forming a collective coating is flattened by a secondary coating to manufacture Prevent distortion during winding. Further, by reducing the Young's modulus of the secondary coating, the secondary coating can be easily removed, and the terminal treatment of the optical fiber ribbon is facilitated.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) shows a two-core optical fiber ribbon 11a, and FIG. 1 (B) shows a four-core optical fiber. An example of a fiber ribbon 11b is shown. In the figure, 12 is an optical fiber wire having a nominal outer diameter of 0.25 mm coated with a UV resin, 13 is a primary coating for coating the optical fiber wire collectively, and 14 is a secondary coating applied on the primary coating. Coating.

As a practical optical fiber ribbon, 2
１６16 cores, and the gap T between the optical fiber strands 12 is 0.
It is in the range of about 1 to 1.0 mm. Therefore, if an optical fiber having an outer diameter of 0.25 mm is used, the optical fiber pitch is about 0.35 to 1.25 mm. UV resin is used as the batch coating material, and the primary coating 13 has a Young's modulus of 637 to 1127 MPa (temperature 25 ° C., JIS
K7113) UV resin is used.

The optical fiber pitch is determined by the primary coating 1
Although it is possible to maintain a constant accuracy at 3, a constriction 15 occurs between the optical fibers. This constriction 15
Depending on the optical fiber strand pitch and the Young's modulus of the UV resin,
Although the degree of constriction is different, in any case, the above-described winding at the time of manufacturing causes inconvenience. In the present invention, the secondary coating 14 is applied in order to eliminate the constricted portion 15, and is manufactured and wound so as to have a flat shape as a whole.

As the secondary coating 14, the same UV resin as the primary coating 13 may be used, but the Young's modulus is smaller than the primary coating, 147 to 285 MPa (temperature: 25 ° C., JIS
K7113). This secondary coating 1
By reducing the Young's modulus of No. 4, coating removal of only the secondary coating 14 can be easily performed. This allows
At the time of forming a connection with various devices, optical connectors, and the like by separating and branching the optical fiber ribbon into optical fiber wires, only the secondary coating 14 is removed, and the narrow portion 15 having a thin primary coating is formed. The terminal processing can be easily performed by separating.

The secondary coating 14 may be formed so as to fill the depressions 15. However, the secondary coating 14 may be formed so as to cover the entire primary coating 13 from the viewpoint of forming a batch coating.
Further, the surface of the secondary coating 14 is preferably as flat as possible without irregularities so that the winding can be performed smoothly at the time of manufacturing. If the flatness S (difference between the lowest and highest portions of the surface irregularities) is 0.02 mm or less, 30
It is possible to satisfactorily wind an optical fiber ribbon having a length of km or more by aligned winding.

Next, an outline of the manufacturing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 21 is an optical fiber unreeling device, 22 is a guide roller, 23 is a concentrator, 24a is a primary coating die device, 24b is a secondary coating die device, 25
a is a primary ultraviolet irradiation device, 25b is a secondary ultraviolet irradiation device, 26 is a tension adjusting device, and 27 is a winding device.

A plurality of optical fiber wires are first fed from a feeding device 21 via a guide roller 22 to a concentrator 23.
Are converged on the same plane. Then, the plurality of condensed optical fiber strands are drawn into the primary coating dice device 24a, the pitch between the optical fiber strands is aligned in the coating dice, and the resin is collectively formed by UV resin near the outlet. Coated. Thereafter, the coating resin is cured by the primary ultraviolet irradiation device 25a. Up to this point, it is the same as the conventional manufacturing method shown in FIG.

In the present invention, after the coating resin is cured by the primary ultraviolet irradiation device 25a and the primary coating is formed, the secondary coating is performed by the secondary coating die device 24b and the secondary coating is performed by the secondary ultraviolet irradiation device 25b. The resin is cured. Thereafter, the film is wound by a winding device 27 via a tension adjusting device 26 as in the conventional case.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, an optical fiber ribbon having an expanded optical fiber pitch can be provided in a flat shape without any constriction. In the take-up process, it is possible to perform high-speed alignment winding without causing distortion. Then, the unwinding from the wound bobbin can be performed smoothly, and an entangled or twisted optical fiber tape with little transmission loss can be provided.

Further, by forming the secondary coating with a material having a small Young's modulus, the secondary coating can be provided as an optical fiber tape core wire from which the secondary coating can be easily removed. can do. Furthermore,
According to the present invention, only a die device and an ultraviolet irradiation device for forming the secondary coating are added, and the cost can be slightly increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional optical fiber ribbon.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a conventional method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a conventional optical fiber ribbon is wound.

[Explanation of symbols]

11a, 11b: optical fiber ribbon, 12: optical fiber, 13: primary coating, 14: secondary coating, 15: constricted portion, 21: feeding device, 22: guide roller, 2
3 ... Acquisition device, 24a, 24b ... Coating die device, 25
a, 25b: ultraviolet irradiation device, 26: tension adjusting device, 2
7: Winding device, T: Distance between optical fiber strands.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigenori Takagi 1-chome, Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) in Yokohama Works, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. 2H001 BB19 DD23 KK17 MM01 PP01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An optical fiber ribbon having a gap between optical fiber strands of 0.1 mm or more, wherein a narrow portion of a primary coating forming a collective coating is flattened by a secondary coating. Optical fiber tape core. 2. The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the primary coating and the secondary coating are UV-curable resins. 3. The secondary coating has a Young's modulus of 147 to 28.
The optical fiber ribbon according to claim 2, wherein the pressure is 5 MPa. 4. The unevenness of the flat surface of the secondary coating is 0.02
The optical fiber ribbon according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the diameter is equal to or less than mm. 5. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon in which the distance between optical fiber strands is 0.1 mm or more, wherein the optical fiber strands are collectively coated with a primary coating, and then the secondary coating is performed with a primary coating. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon, wherein a constricted portion is flattened.