JP4063808B2 - Optical fiber identifier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an identifier for identifying a plurality of optical fiber cores used in an optical fiber communication facility one by one.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an optical fiber cable is led into an optical closure and an optical fiber core wire taken out from a trunk side cable is connected to an optical fiber core wire taken out from a branch line side cable. It is also well known to use colored cores in order to facilitate identification of each of the extracted optical fibers. For example, on page 54 of “FTTH Construction Technology Supporting the Optical Communication Era” (Non-patent Document 1) published by Optronics, Inc., “Technical Explanation (Method for Identifying Core Wires)” It is introduced that there is a method of coloring the optical fiber and using it for identifying the optical fiber core wire.
"FTTH construction technology supporting the optical communication era" published by Optronics Co., Ltd.

  Connect each of the optical fiber cores on the main line side taken out inside the optical closure to each of the optical fiber cores on the branch line side so that the colors of the colored optical cores match. The identification has a limitation in the identification ability in that the types of colors that can be used as the colored core are extremely limited. In particular, when optical fiber cables are densely packed, a large number of optical fiber cores are mixed inside the optical closure, so it is difficult to identify the optical fiber core wires with colored core wires alone. Increase dramatically.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for easily identifying each optical fiber core wire even in an environment such as the inside of an optical closure in which a plurality of optical fiber core wires are mixed. In the present invention and the prior art contrasted with the present invention, when referred to as an optical fiber core, generally, an optical element having a diameter of 0.25 mm, and an optical element with a protective tube having a diameter of 0.9 mm , A two-core fiber tape having a rectangular or oval cross section of 0.6 mm × 0.4 mm, a four-fiber fiber tape having a rectangular or oval cross section of 1.1 mm × 0.4 mm, and the like.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is directed to an identifier that can be attached to the peripheral surface of an optical fiber core to identify a plurality of optical fiber cores one by one.

In this identifier, the present invention is characterized as follows. The identifier includes a first identifier, it is made form attached by a removable second identifier to the first identifier. The first identifier is also the circumferential surface it is possible to partially cover and colorable strip dressing be those extending in one direction while Egaki a spiral, the radial center of the spiral optical fiber accommodating portion extending in the one direction have an inner diameter D for receiving the optical fiber is formed. A gap having a width W in which the optical fiber core wire can be inserted is formed between the strip-shaped covering materials adjacent in the one direction . Each ends defining a length L in the direction of the front Symbol first identifier, the one direction and straight interlinking end face is formed. The second identifier includes a rectangular flat plate-like portion, an arm portion formed and opposed to each of the long sides of the plate-like portion, and a stopper portion formed and opposed to each of the short sides of the plate-like portion. The opposing arm portions are formed so as to sandwich the first identifier from the outside in the radial direction so that the attachment to the first identifier is possible, and the opposing stopper portions are They are formed to sandwich the first identifier from its length.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the length L of the first identifier in the one direction is 5 to 20 mm, and the number of turns of the band-shaped covering material in the spiral is 1 to 4.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter D of the first identifier is 1.2 to 2.0 mm.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the width W of the first identifier is 1.2 to 2.0 mm.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter D and the width W of the first identifier have substantially the same value.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a width F of the band-shaped covering material in the first identifier is larger than the width W of the gap.

The identifier according to the first aspect of the invention is that the first identifier has an optical fiber core housing portion having an inner diameter D in the center in the radial direction, and the strip-shaped coverings that define a spiral have a width W that allows the insertion of the optical fiber core. Since the gap is formed, when the optical fiber core wire is stored in the optical fiber core housing portion using the gap, the first identifier is attached so as to be wound around the optical fiber core wire. Cover a part of the peripheral surface. Such a first identifier is a means for facilitating identification of each optical fiber core by coloring it in an appropriate color. Furthermore, by having the end faces both ends of the first identifier is orthogonal to the length direction of the first identifier, one of the plurality of first identifiers when attached to an optical fiber, the end faces each other gap It is possible to form one large identifier that is easy to contact and stand out. Further, the second identifier of the identifier, the first identifier sandwiched in the radial direction by using the arm portions facing, so as to sandwich the first identifier from the length direction using an opposed strike wrapper portion, first Can be attached to an identifier . Such second identifier, by keeping colored it to an appropriate color, in addition to the identification means, also a means of identification by fill characters to the plate-like portion.

Identifier definitive to one embodiment of the invention, by the length L and 5 to 20 mm, it without interfering with the bending easiness of the optical fiber which is attached, yet the number of turns of the strip dressing Since it is 1 to 4 at most, it does not take time to attach the identifier to the optical fiber.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the identifier is any one of an optical element wire taken out of an optical fiber cable, an optical element wire with a protective tube, and a four-core fiber tape by setting its inner diameter D to 1.2 to 2.0 mm. It can also be attached to.

In the identifier according to the embodiment of the present invention, by setting the gap width W to 1.2 to 2.0 mm, the optical fiber core wire can be accommodated in the optical fiber core wire accommodating portion using the gap.

Identifier according to one embodiment of the invention, by the inner diameter D and the width W of the gap of the optical fiber accommodating portion almost substantially the same, reliably optical fiber an optical fiber that may fall that gap It can be stored in the core wire accommodating part.

The identifier in one embodiment of the present invention is such that a plurality of identifiers placed in one container are not entangled with each other by making the width F of the band-shaped covering material larger than the width W of the gap. It becomes easy to take out from.

  The details of the identifier according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1, an optical fiber 1, a diagram illustrating by parallel and a first identifier 2a of the identifier 2 attached to the optical fiber 1, the optical fiber first identifier 2a is attached The core wire 1 is indicated by a virtual line. The optical fiber core 1 is a well-known and commonly used optical fiber 3 made of glass fiber and a clad covering it and having a diameter a covered with a protective tube 4 made of nylon or the like and having an outer diameter A. The outer diameter of the fiber core wire 1 is equal to the outer diameter A of the protective tube 4. The first identifier 2a is formed in a cylindrical shape by extending in the length direction of the optical fiber core wire 1 while the strip-shaped covering material 6 forms a spiral, and has a length L and an outer diameter E. A tubular optical fiber core housing portion 7 having an inner diameter D at the center in the direction is formed. The band-shaped covering materials 6 have a width F, and the band-shaped covering materials 6 adjacent to each other in the length direction of the first identifier 2a form a gap 8 having a width W. The first identifier 2a also has both end faces 11 extending in a direction perpendicular to the length direction in FIG across the longitudinal direction, respectively and the outer peripheral surface 12 of the first identifier 2a of the both end faces 11 A chamfered portion 13 is formed at the intersecting portion.

In such a first identifier 2a , the length L is preferably 5 to 20 mm, and such a first identifier 2a does not hinder the bending of the optical fiber core wire 1. The inner diameter D of the first identifier 2a is preferably 1.2 to 2.0 mm, and the width W of the gap 8 is preferably 1.2 to 2.0 mm. The first identifier 2a having such a dimension can be used not only for the optical fiber core 1 in the illustrated example but also for various optical fiber cores having different outer diameters. The outer diameter E is preferably 0.8 to 2 mm larger than the inner diameter D. Strip covering 6 to draw a spiral, the length L of the first identifier 2a, preferably has a number of turns of 1-4, first identifier 2a made of such a number of turns, the optical fiber center The attachment to the wire 1 is easy and it is difficult to come off the optical fiber core wire 1. The band-shaped covering material 6 in the first identifier 2a is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polycarbonate, ABS, or polyester, and a reinforced thermoplastic resin made of these thermoplastic resins and a reinforcing material such as glass fiber. It can be obtained by coloring a molding material such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber into an appropriate color and performing injection molding, extrusion molding or press molding. The belt-shaped covering material 6 can also be colored by painting it.

In the specific example of the optical fiber core 1 of FIG. 1 in which the first identifier 2a is used, the optical fiber 3 has a diameter a of 0.25 mm, and the protective tube 4 has an outer diameter A of 0.9 mm. There is something to do. However, the optical fiber core wire 1 to be used for the first identifier 2a includes, in addition to the illustrated example, the optical fiber 3 itself having a diameter a of 0.25 mm, and a radial cross-sectional shape of 0.6 mm. Examples include a two-fiber fiber tape having a rectangular or oval shape of × 0.4 mm, a four-fiber fiber tape having a radial or cross-sectional shape of 1.1 mm × 0.4 mm (see FIG. 4), and the like.

In order to attach the first identifier 2a to the optical fiber core 1, the first identifier 2a is held in one hand, the optical fiber core 1 is held in the other hand, and from one end face 11 of the first identifier 2a. The optical fiber core wire 1 may be inserted into the gap 8 toward the other end face 11, and the optical fiber core wire 1 may be pushed into the optical fiber core wire accommodating portion 7. In such an operation, if the width W of the gap 8 is substantially the same as the inner diameter D of the first identifier 2a , the optical fiber core 1 that can be inserted into the gap 8 always fits in the optical fiber core housing portion 7. Certainty in work is obtained. However, when the optical fiber core 1 is inserted into the gap 8, the optical fiber core 1 is often bent in various directions, so that the width W of the gap 8 is slightly larger than the inner diameter D, for example, by about 0.2 mm. This will make the work easier. Here, the fact that the width W and the inner diameter D of the gap 8 are substantially the same means that when the first identifier 2a is mass-produced, the difference in the degree of sway between the first identifiers 2a is ignored. Is meant to do. When the first identifier 2a is attached so as to be wound around the virtual optical fiber core 1 in this way, a part of the peripheral surface 15 of the optical fiber core 1 is covered with the belt-shaped covering material 6, so that the optical fiber The operator who handles the cable can identify the optical fiber cores 1 one by one by the color of the strip-shaped covering material 6. However, since the first identifier 2a is a minute one having a length L of 5 to 20 mm, two or more first identifiers 2a are attached to one optical fiber core wire 1 so that the end surfaces 11 come into contact with each other . if closer was if 1 identifier 2a, first identifier 2a becomes conspicuous become those substantially longer, identification of the optical fiber 1 becomes easier. If a plurality of first identifiers 2a having different colors are attached to one optical fiber core wire 1, the optical fiber core wire 1 is identified by the color combination of the first identifier 2a in the optical fiber core wire 1. You can also. Even if the first identifier 2a is very small, if the width F of the band-shaped covering material 6 is larger than the width W of the gap 8, a plurality of first identifiers 2a are put in one container. in when stored even, between and if the first identifier 2a, the container there is no necessity that the strip covering material 6 is entangled enters the gap 8 of the another first identifier 2a, a first identifier 2 a one by one It becomes easy to take out.

FIG. 2 shows a usage mode of the first identifier 2a different from that in FIG. The identifier 2 according to the present invention is formed by the first identifier 2a shown in FIG. 1 and the second identifier 22 which is separate from the first identifier 2a . The identifier attached to the optical fiber core 1 in FIG. 2 , the second identifier 22 is attached to the first identifier 2a . The second identifier 22 has a rectangular plate-like portion 23, a pair of arm portions 26 formed on each of the long sides 24 of the plate-like portion 23, and a short side 27 of the plate-like portion 23. A protrusion 29 is formed at the tip of each arm 26. The arm portion 26 formed on one side of the long side 24 and the arm portion 26 formed on the other side of the long side 24 are substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter E of the first identifier 2a. They are formed so as to face each other with a small distance, and the projections 29 of these arm portions 26 are also formed so as to face each other. The stopper portions 28 formed on each of the short sides 27 are separated by a distance that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the length L of the first identifier 2a . Such second identifier 22, as shown, clamp the first identifier 2a in and if the arm portion 26 facing the radial direction, sandwiching the first identifier 2a in and what the opposing stopper portion 28 from the longitudinal As described above, the protrusion 29 of the arm portion 26 is attached to the first identifier 2 to prevent the second identifier 22 from dropping from the first identifier 2a . The preferred second identifier 22 is such that the arm portion 26 is elastically deformed and pressed against the circumferential surface 12 of the first identifier 2a from the radial direction, and the stopper portion 28 is in contact with the chamfered portion 13 of the first identifier 2a and elastically deforms. Proceeding to the end face 11 of the first identifier 2a, it is attached to the first identifier 2a in a state of being pressed against the end face 11. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the end face 11 used as the attaching means for the second identifier 22 is preferably formed so as to be orthogonal to the length direction of the first identifier 2a. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram individually showing the first identifier 2a and the second identifier 22 in FIG. The plate-like portion 23 of the second identifier 22 is flat and can be printed with symbols, characters, etc. or handwritten, and a piece of paper printed with symbols, characters such as barcodes, etc. You can also. Such a second identifier 22 is also made of the same material as the first identifier 2a and is colored in an appropriate color to be used as an identification means for the optical fiber core 1; Naturally, it becomes an identification means. The 2nd identifier 22 will be attached if it presses from the arrow Y direction with respect to the 1st identifier 2a . The second identifier 22 so attached can be detached from the first identifier 2a by pulling in the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction.

  FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing one aspect of the second identifier 22. In the second identifier 22 of FIG. 4, ribs 41 are formed on the peripheral portion of the plate-like portion 23, and a flat portion 42 for attaching a sheet piece on which a symbol or the like is printed is lower than the ribs 41 inside the ribs 41. It is formed as follows. The rib 41 serves as a positioning means when the sheet piece is stretched on the flat portion 42 and also serves to make the sheet piece difficult to peel off.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a four-core fiber tape 31 that is an example of the optical fiber core 1 in which the identifier 2 is used. The four-core fiber tape 31 includes four core wires 3 and a tape-like coating layer 32, and has a rectangular or oval cross section. For this four-core fiber tape 31, the first identifier 2a having an inner diameter D larger than the width G is used.

  The identifier according to the present invention facilitates identification of a plurality of optical fiber core wires.

The figure which shows an optical fiber core wire and a 1st identifier. The figure which shows the use condition of a 1st identifier. The figure which shows a 1st identifier and a 2nd identifier separately. The figure similar to FIG. 3 which shows the one aspect | mode of a 2nd identifier. The figure which shows an example of an optical fiber core wire.

Explanation of symbols

1 Optical fiber core 2 Identifier
2a First identifier 6 Band-shaped covering material 8 Gap 11 End surface 15 Peripheral surface 22 Second identifier 31 Optical fiber core wire (optical fiber tape)
D Inner diameter F Width of band-shaped covering material L Length W Width of gap

Claims (6)

An identifier that is attached to a peripheral surface of an optical fiber core to enable identification of a plurality of optical fiber cores one by one,
The identifier is formed by a first identifier and a second identifier attachable to and detachable from the first identifier ;
The first identifier, the circumferential surface it is possible to partially cover and colorable strip dressing be those extending in one direction while Egaki a spiral, the radial center of the helix said optical fiber being an optical fiber receiving portion formed extending in the one direction have an inner diameter D for housing, said between said strip covering material with each other adjacent to each other in said one direction A gap having a width W capable of inserting an optical fiber core wire is formed , and end faces perpendicular to the one direction are formed at both ends defining the length L in the one direction of the first identifier ,
The second identifier is a flat plate-like portion in a rectangular and, the plate portion of the arm portion countercurrent pairs are formed in the long side, respectively, a stopper portion facing formed on each short side of the plate-like portion possess the door such that said attachment to the first identifier is made possible, the arm portions to each other facing is formed a pre-Symbol first identifier so as to sandwich from the outside in the radial direction, the stopper portion facing etc. The identifier is characterized in that the worm is formed so as to sandwich the first identifier from its length direction . 2. The identifier according to claim 1 , wherein a length L of the first identifier in the one direction is 5 to 20 mm, and the number of turns of the belt-shaped covering material in the spiral is 1 to 4. The identifier according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the inner diameter D of the first identifier is 1.2 to 2.0 mm. The identifier according to claim 1, wherein the width W of the first identifier is 1.2 to 2.0 mm. The identifier according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the inner diameter D and the width W of the first identifier have substantially the same value. The identifier according to claim 1, wherein a width F of the band-shaped covering material in the first identifier is larger than the width W of the gap.

Images