The invention relates to a sheath metal belt unwinding device applied to production of an optical cable. The sheath metal belt unwinding device comprises an air cushion cover, an air cushion, a spring, a baffle plate, an air cushion cover flange, a magnetic powder brake, a transmission shaft bearing pedestal, a lifting plate, an outer sleeve bearing pedestal, an outer sleeve connection flange, anouter sleeve, a plurality of expansion sleeve inclined blocks, a clamping spring and an inner sleeve, wherein one end of a transmission shaft is connected with the baffle plate in a rotatable manner;the air cushion cover is arranged at the outer end of the baffle plate; one side of the magnetic powder brake, which is opposite to the baffle plate, is connected with the air cushion cover flange, and the other side of the magnetic powder brake is provided with the lifting plate; opposite sides of the magnetic powder brake and the lifting plate are connected with each other through the transmission shaft bearing pedestal; the transmission shaft is supported on the bearing pedestal through a corresponding bearing; the outer sleeve bearing pedestal is connected to the other side face of the lifting plate; the outer sleeve connection flange is sleeved on the transmission in a hollow manner; the outer sleeve connection flange is connected with the outer sleeve; the inner sleeve is connected to the other end of the transmission shaft; and a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction of the outer sleeve are correspondingly inserted with the expansion sleeve inclined blocks. The sheath metal belt unwinding device has the advantages of small impact, low abrasion, simple operation, safety, reliability and compact structure.