Manufacturing method of optical fiber cable and manufacturing apparatus of optical fiber cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020003979-A1
Application number	US-201816490168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2018
Priority date	Apr 14, 2017
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical fiber cable manufacturing method using a manufacturing apparatus including an SZ twisting device, an extrusion molding device, and a pressing portion disposed between the SZ twisting device and the extrusion molding device is provided. The method including: twisting optical fibers or optical fiber units in an SZ manner using the SZ twisting device to form an optical fiber bundle; and covering the optical fiber bundle with a sheath using the extrusion molding device while pressing the optical fiber bundle using the pressing portion.

First claim

1 . An optical fiber cable manufacturing method using a manufacturing apparatus comprising an SZ twisting device, an extrusion molding device, and a pressing portion disposed between the SZ twisting device and the extrusion molding device, the method comprising:
twisting optical fibers or optical fiber units in an SZ manner using the SZ twisting device to form an optical fiber bundle; and covering the optical fiber bundle with a sheath using the extrusion molding device while pressing the optical fiber bundle using the pressing portion.

2 . The optical fiber cable manufacturing method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
wrapping the optical fiber bundle with a wrapping tube using a forming device of the manufacturing apparatus, wherein the pressing portion is integrally provided with the forming device.

3 . The optical fiber cable manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein
the pressing portion comprises a pair of rotary bodies that sandwich the optical fiber bundle, and 7≤100-d/D×100≤71 is satisfied, where
D is a diameter of the optical fiber bundle before passing between the pair of rotary bodies, and
d is a minor diameter of the optical fiber bundle passing between the pair of rotary bodies.

4 . A manufacturing apparatus of an optical fiber cable comprising:
an SZ twisting device that twists optical fibers or optical fiber units in an SZ manner to form an optical fiber bundle; a pressing portion disposed downstream, in a direction of manufacturing of the optical fiber bundle, of the SZ twisting device and that presses the optical fiber bundle; and an extrusion molding device disposed downstream, in the direction of manufacturing of the optical fiber bundle, of the pressing portion and that covers the optical fiber bundle with a sheath.

5 . The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the pressing portion comprises a rotary body.

6 . The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a forming device that wraps the optical fiber bundle with a wrapping tube, wherein the pressing portion is integrally provided with the forming device.

7 . The optical fiber cable manufacturing method according to claim 1 , wherein the twisting and the pressing are executed without adding a holding member around the optical fiber bundle between the twisting and the pressing.

8 . The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the manufacturing apparatus does not comprise, between the SZ twisting device and the pressing portion, a device that adds a holding member around the optical fiber bundle.

9 . The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the pressing portion comprises a pair of rotary bodies that sandwich the optical fiber bundle, and 7≤100-d/D×100≤71 is satisfied, where
D is a diameter of the optical fiber bundle before passing between the pair of rotary bodies, and
d is a minor diameter of the optical fiber bundle passing between the pair of rotary bodies.

Assignees

• Fujikura Ltd

Inventors

• Sato Shinnosuke
• Tomikawa Kouji
• Osato Ken

Classifications

• G02B6/4413

  Helical structure · CPC title

• G02B6/449 Primary

  Twisting · CPC title

• G02B6/4433

  Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element · CPC title

• B29D11/00663

  Production of light guides · CPC title

• G02B6/4431

  with provision in the protective covering, e.g. weak line, for gaining access to one or more fibres, e.g. for branching or tapping (break-out terminations G02B6/4471) · CPC title