Optical fiber tape manufacturing method, abnormality detection method, and manufacturing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10078194-B2
Application number	US-201515033969-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2015
Priority date	Jan 26, 2015
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

[Objective] To detect abnormalities in optical fibers by using a phenomenon specific to optical fiber tapes including plural optical fibers arranged parallel to each other and connected together intermittently. [Solution] This optical fiber tape manufacturing method involves: a step of forming connecting parts that connect together adjacent optical fibers among a plurality of optical fibers arranged parallel to each other while applying tension to the optical fibers, and thus forming an optical fiber tape in which the connecting parts are intermittently disposed; a step of reducing the tension applied to the optical fiber tape; and a step of measuring a thickness of the optical fiber tape with reduced tension from a direction parallel to a tape plane on a path of the optical fiber tape.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape, the method comprising:
forming connecting parts that connect together adjacent optical fibers among a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a tape width direction and parallel to each other, while applying tension to the plurality of optical fibers, and thus forming an optical fiber tape in which the connecting parts are intermittently disposed;
reducing the tension applied to the optical fiber tape; and
measuring a thickness of the optical fiber tape with reduced tension from a direction parallel to a tape plane on a path of the optical fiber tape, said thickness being in a direction perpendicular to a tape plane of the optical fiber tape, said tape plane being parallel to the tape width direction and being a plane formed by arranging the plurality of optical fibers parallel to each other.

2. The manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape according to claim 1 , wherein an abnormality in the tension applied to the plurality of optical fibers is detected based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

3. The manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape according to claim 1 , wherein an abnormality in line length difference in the plurality of optical fibers configuring the optical fiber tape is detected based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

4. The manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape according to claim 1 , wherein the forming of the optical fiber tape is controlled based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

5. The manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape according to claim 4 , wherein the forming of the optical fiber tape is stopped based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

6. The manufacturing method for an optical fiber tape according to any one of claim 1 , wherein:
a pull-in unit is disposed between a tape forming section that forms the optical fiber tape and a tension reducing section that reduces tension applied to the optical fiber tape, the pull-in unit pulling in the optical fiber tape from the tape forming section; and
a tension of the optical fiber tape at an upstream side of the pull-in unit is made to be different from a tension of the optical fiber tape at a downstream side of the pull-in unit.

7. An abnormality detection method comprising:
forming connecting parts that connect together adjacent optical fibers among a plurality of optical fibers arranged parallel to each other while applying tension to the plurality of optical fibers, and thus forming an optical fiber tape in which the connecting parts are intermittently disposed;
reducing the tension applied to the optical fiber tape;
measuring a thickness of the optical fiber tape with reduced tension from a direction parallel to a tape plane on a path of the optical fiber tape; and
detecting an abnormality in the tension applied to the plurality of optical fibers based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

8. An abnormality detection method comprising:
forming connecting parts that connect together adjacent optical fibers among a plurality of optical fibers arranged parallel to each other while applying tension to the plurality of optical fibers, and thus forming an optical fiber tape in which the connecting parts are intermittently disposed;
reducing the tension applied to the optical fiber tape;
measuring a thickness of the optical fiber tape with reduced tension from a direction parallel to a tape plane on a path of the optical fiber tape; and
detecting an abnormality in line length difference in the plurality of optical fibers configuring the optical fiber tape based on the thickness of the optical fiber tape that has been measured.

9. A manufacturing system for an optical fiber tape, the system comprising:
a tape manufacturing device that forms connecting parts for connecting together adjacent optical fibers among a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a tape width direction and parallel to each other, while applying tension to the plurality of optical fibers, and thus forms an optical fiber tape in which the connecting parts are intermittently disposed;
a dancer roller that reduces the tension applied to the optical fiber tape; and
a sensor that measures a thickness of the optical fiber tape with reduced tension from a direction parallel to a tape plane on a path of the optical fiber tape, said thickness being in a direction perpendicular to the tape plane of the optical fiber tape, said tape plane being parallel to the tape width direction and being a plane formed by arranging the plurality of optical fibers parallel to each other.

10. The manufacturing system for an optical fiber tape according to claim 9 , wherein:
a pull-in unit is disposed between the tape manufacturing device and the dancer roller; and
a tension of the optical fiber tape at an upstream side of the pull-in unit is made to be different from a tension of the optical fiber tape at a downstream side of the pull-in unit.

11. A manufacturing system for an optical fiber tape, the system comprising:
a tape manufacturing device manufacturing an intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape, said intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape including a plurality of optical fibers, said plurality of optical fibers being arranged in a tape width direction and parallel to each other, adjacent ones of said plurality of optical fibers being connected by intermittently-disposed connecting parts;
a dancer roller; and
a sensor arranged in a direction parallel to a tape plane of the intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape, said sensor measuring a thickness of the intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape whose tension has been reduced by the dancer roller, said thickness being in a direction perpendicular to a tape plane of the intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape, said tape plane being parallel to the tape width direction and being a plane formed by arranging the plurality of optical fibers parallel to each other.

12. The manufacturing system for an optical fiber tape according to claim 11 , wherein:
a pull-in unit is disposed between the tape manufacturing device and the dancer roller; and
a tension of the intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape at an upstream side of the pull-in unit is made to be different from a tension of the intermittently-fixed optical fiber tape at a downstream side of the pull-in unit.

Assignees

• Fujikura Ltd

Inventors

• Sajima Yoshie
• Isaji Mizuki
• Osato Ken
• Yamanaka Masayoshi

Classifications

• G01M11/088

  of optical fibres; Mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres · CPC title

• B29D11/00721

  involving preforms for the manufacture of light guides · CPC title

• G02B6/448 Primary

  Ribbon cables · CPC title

• B29D11/00951

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title