Method for manufacturing optical fiber ribbon and device for manufacturing optical fiber ribbon

Abstract

This method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon (10) has: a step for coating a plurality of optical fibers (20) with an uncured resin; a step for partially removing the uncured resin using a removal unit (120); and a step for curing the remaining uncured resin. The removal unit (120) has a rotary blade (121) that is for pushing out the uncured resin between the optical fibers (20), a positioning unit (122) that includes a slit (126) for the rotary blade (121) to rotate in and an outlet opening (126a) of the slit (126) from which the resin which has been pushed out by the rotary blade (121) is discharged, and a suction unit (123) that covers the outlet opening (126a). In the step for removing the resin, the optical fibers (20) are moved from upstream to downstream, while the uncured resin between the optical fibers (20) is pushed out to the outlet opening (126a) and the suction unit (123) sucks the uncured resin which has been pushed out from the outlet opening (126a).

Description

Optical fiber ribbon manufacturing method and optical fiber ribbon manufacturing device

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.

[0002] In recent years, data traffic has increased dramatically due to the spread of the Internet of Things (IoT), the full-scale commercialization of 5G, and autonomous driving of automobiles, and demand is growing for the development and construction of high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication networks to support this. In order to economically realize the development and construction of high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication networks, it is important to accommodate as many mono-coated optical fibers (optical fibers) as possible in existing ducts. When accommodating many mono-coated optical fibers in an existing duct, a rollable ribbon (optical fiber ribbon) in which mono-coated optical fibers are intermittently connected is used from the viewpoint of workability in wiring installation work (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a first optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus having a coating die for supplying uncured UV-curable resin to parallel-arranged optical fibers to form separation sections where adjacent optical fibers are separated and bonded sections where adjacent optical fibers are bonded, and a spot UV lamp for curing the uncured UV-curable resin. The coating die has a shutter groove communicating with its upper, front, and lower surfaces, a shutter for moving up and down within the shutter groove to partially remove the uncured UV-curable resin to form separation sections and bonded sections, and a suction device for absorbing the UV-curable resin adhering to the shutter. The first optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 manufactures an optical fiber ribbon by supplying UV-curable resin while feeding the optical fibers, forming separation sections and bonded sections, and then curing the UV-curable resin.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 describes a second optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus that includes a coating die having a disk with a notch instead of a shutter, a spot UV lamp, resin removal means including a brush for removing resin adhering to the disk, and cleaning means (tank) for cleaning the brush. The brush is arranged to contact the disk and the uncured UV-curable resin in the cleaning means, and as the brush rotates, the uncured UV-curable resin adhering to the disk is continuously accumulated in the cleaning means. In the second optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, UV-curable resin is supplied while feeding the optical fiber, and a separation portion and a bonding portion are formed using the disk, and then the UV-curable resin is cured to manufacture an optical fiber ribbon.

[0005] JP 2010-33010 A

[0006] However, in the first optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the partially removed UV-curable resin may re-adhere to the optical fiber, causing adjacent optical fibers to bond together. Also, in the second optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the brush is in contact with the uncured UV-curable resin in the cleaning means, so there is a risk that the uncured UV-curable resin in the cleaning means may be adhered to the disk by the brush. As a result, even in the second optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the UV-curable resin may re-adhere to the optical fiber, causing adjacent optical fibers to bond together. Thus, in the first and second optical fiber manufacturing apparatuses described in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the adhesive portion and the separation portion may not be properly formed.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon that can appropriately form a connection portion and a separation portion.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of single-coated optical fibers are partially connected, the method comprising the steps of: coating the plurality of single-coated optical fibers arranged in parallel with an uncured resin; partially removing the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers among the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin by a removal unit; and curing the uncured resin remaining in the plurality of single-coated optical fibers, wherein the removal unit comprises: a plurality of rotary blades arranged to be located between adjacent single-coated optical fibers, for intermittently pushing out the uncured resin between the adjacent single-coated optical fibers; a positioning unit including: through holes for passing the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin, a plurality of slits each communicating with the through holes and for rotating the plurality of rotary blades, and a plurality of outlet openings of the plurality of slits through which the resin pushed out by the plurality of rotary blades comes out; and a suction unit including suction openings arranged to cover the plurality of outlet openings. The method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon includes, in the step of partially removing the uncured resin, rotating the plurality of rotary blades while moving the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin from upstream to downstream within the through hole, so that the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers is intermittently pushed out to the plurality of outlet openings, and the uncured resin pushed out from the plurality of outlet openings is sucked in by the suction section.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of single-coated optical fibers are partially connected, the apparatus comprising: a step of coating the plurality of single-coated optical fibers arranged in parallel with an uncured resin; a removal unit for partially removing the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers among the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with uncured resin and arranged in parallel; and a curing unit for curing the uncured resin remaining in the plurality of single-coated optical fibers, the removal unit comprising: a plurality of rotary blades arranged to be located between adjacent single-coated optical fibers and for intermittently pushing out the uncured resin between the adjacent single-coated optical fibers; a positioning unit including: through holes for passing the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin, a plurality of slits respectively communicating with the through holes and for rotating the plurality of rotary blades, and a plurality of outlet openings of the plurality of slits through which the resin pushed out by the plurality of rotary blades comes out; and a suction unit including suction openings arranged to cover the plurality of outlet openings. The removal unit rotates the multiple rotary blades while moving the multiple single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin from upstream to downstream within the through hole, thereby intermittently extruding the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers to the multiple outlet openings, and the uncured resin extruded from the multiple outlet openings is sucked in by the suction unit, thereby providing an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing device.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon that can appropriately form a connection portion and a separation portion.

[0011] Figures 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing an optical fiber ribbon. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the general configuration of an optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus. Figures 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a removal unit. Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of a rotary blade. Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.

[0012] A method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this specification, the lower and upper limits of numerical ranges indicated by "to" are included in the numerical range. First, the optical fiber ribbon to be manufactured will be described, followed by an apparatus and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon. In the following description, the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged in parallel will be referred to as a first direction, the length direction of the optical fibers as a second direction, and the direction perpendicular to the first and second directions as a third direction.

[0013] [Configuration of Optical Fiber Ribbon] FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view of an optical fiber ribbon 10, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the optical fiber ribbon 10 has a plurality of mono-coated optical fibers (hereinafter also simply referred to as “optical fibers”) 20 , a plurality of connecting portions 30 , and a plurality of spaced portions 40 .

[0015] The optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel in the first direction D1. The number of optical fibers 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more. The number of optical fibers 20 included in one optical fiber ribbon 10 is appropriately selected depending on the application of the optical fiber ribbon 10. For example, the number of optical fibers 20 included in one optical fiber ribbon 10 is within the range of 2 to 12. In this embodiment, 12 optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel in one optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0016] 1B and 1C, the optical fiber 20 includes an optical fiber 21, a primary coating layer 22, and a secondary coating layer 23. The optical fiber 21, the primary coating layer 22, and the secondary coating layer 23 may be similar to the optical fiber 21, the first coating layer, and the second coating layer of known optical fibers. A colored layer may be further formed on the secondary coating layer 23 of the optical fiber 20. Preferably, the colored layers of the multiple optical fibers 20 in one optical fiber ribbon 10 are different from each other. This allows the multiple optical fibers 20 to be distinguished from each other within one optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0017] In this embodiment, a tape layer 41 is further disposed around the plurality of optical fibers 20, and adjacent optical fibers 20 are intermittently connected by the tape layer 41. In this embodiment, the region where adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially connected is the connection portion 30, and the region where adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially separated is the separation portion 40.

[0018] The connecting portions 30 are disposed between all adjacent optical fibers 20, partially connecting the adjacent optical fibers 20. The separating portions 40 are disposed between all adjacent optical fibers 20, partially separating the adjacent optical fibers 20. The arrangement of the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 40 is not particularly limited. In the optical fiber ribbon 10 of this embodiment, the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 40 are alternately disposed in the longitudinal direction (second direction D2) of the optical fiber ribbon 10. Furthermore, in the optical fiber ribbon 10, it is preferable that two or more separating portions 40 are disposed between adjacent connecting portions 30 in the lateral direction (first direction D1) of the optical fiber ribbon 10. In the optical fiber ribbon 10 of this embodiment, two separating portions 40 are disposed between adjacent connecting portions 30 in the lateral direction (first direction D1) of the optical fiber ribbon 10. This allows the number of connecting portions 30 to be reduced, thereby shortening the overall width of the optical fiber ribbon 10. In addition, in the short-side direction of the optical fiber ribbon 10, the spaced apart portions 40 are preferably arranged so that adjacent spaced apart portions 40 partially overlap each other.

[0019] The length L1 of the connecting portion 30 when the optical fiber ribbon 10 shown in FIG. 1A is viewed in plan is not particularly limited. The length L1 is, for example, in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm. The thickness T of the connecting portion 30 shown in FIG. 1B is also not particularly limited. The thickness T is, for example, in the range of 0.26 mm to 0.29 mm. When the length L1 and thickness T of the connecting portion 30 are within the range, the strength of the connecting portion 30 is increased, and the connecting portion 30 is less likely to tear even when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound with its central axis aligned with the longitudinal direction or twisted as needed. Meanwhile, the length L2 of the separating portion 40 when the optical fiber ribbon 10 shown in FIG. 1A is viewed in plan is not particularly limited. The length L2 is, for example, in the range of 45 mm to 55 mm. When the length L2 of the separation portion 40 is within this range, it becomes easy to wind or twist the optical fiber ribbon 10 so that the central axis is along the longitudinal direction when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is housed in a cable. In this embodiment, the length L1, the thickness T, and the length L2 are each the average values ​​measured at any five locations in the optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0020] [Configuration of the optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus] Next, the optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100. Fig. 3A is a plan view of the positioning unit 122, and Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A shown in Fig. 3A. Fig. 3B also illustrates a portion of the suction unit 123 disposed above the positioning unit 122.

[0021] 2 , the optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100 has a coating unit 110, a removal unit 120, and a curing unit 140. The optical fiber ribbon manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon 10 in which adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially connected to each other while feeding a plurality of optical fibers 20 arranged in parallel in a first direction D1 in a second direction D2, which is the length direction of the plurality of optical fibers 20.

[0022] The coating unit 110 forms the uncured tape layer 41 by coating the plurality of parallel-arranged optical fibers 20 with an uncured photocurable resin (hereinafter simply referred to as "uncured resin"). The configuration of the coating unit 110 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above-described function. In the present embodiment, the coating unit 110 has a die (not shown). The die has insertion holes through which the plurality of parallel-arranged optical fibers 20 in the first direction D1 pass, and the opening shape of the insertion hole has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tape layer 41. By using the die to coat the parallel-arranged optical fibers 20 with uncured resin while feeding them, the tape layer 41 can be continuously formed on the plurality of optical fibers 20 at once.

[0023] 3A and 3B , the removal unit 120 partially removes the uncured resin between adjacent optical fibers 20 among the plurality of optical fibers 20 coated with the uncured resin, thereby forming a separation portion 40 where the adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially separated and a connection portion 30 where the adjacent optical fibers 20 are partially connected. The removal unit 120 is disposed so as to be located between the adjacent optical fibers 20, and includes a plurality of rotary blades 121 for intermittently pushing out the uncured resin between the adjacent optical fibers 20, a positioning unit 122 for positioning the optical fibers 20 coated with the uncured resin relative to the plurality of rotary blades 121, and a suction unit 123 for sucking out the uncured resin pushed out by the plurality of rotary blades 121.

[0024] The positioning unit 122 has a positioning unit main body 124, a through hole 125 for passing the optical fiber 20 coated with uncured resin, a plurality of slits 126 that communicate with the through hole 125 and through which the plurality of rotary blades 121 rotate, and outlet openings 126a of the plurality of slits 126 through which the resin extruded by the plurality of rotary blades 121 comes out. The through hole 125, the plurality of slits 126, and the outlet openings 126a are provided in the positioning unit main body 124.

[0025] The multiple rotary blades 121 partially push out uncured resin between adjacent optical fibers 20. The multiple rotary blades 121 are respectively arranged inside the multiple slits 126. The rotary blades 121 are arranged so that the end of the rotary blade 121 on the exit opening 126a side of the slit 126 is located closer to the exit opening 126a side of the slit 126 than the upper end of the optical fiber 20 being fed. The rotation of the multiple rotary blades 121 is controlled by a motor (not shown) so that they rotate in accordance with the transport of the optical fiber 20, and their rotation axes 127 are aligned. The shapes of the multiple rotary blades 121 may all be the same or may be different from one another. In this embodiment, all of the multiple rotary blades 121 have the same shape.

[0026] 4A and 4B , in this embodiment, the rotary blade 121 has a notch 128 and a blade portion 129. The circumferential length of the notch 128 corresponds to the length of the separation portion 40, and the circumferential length of the blade portion 129 corresponds to the length of the connecting portion 30. The number of rotary blades 121 is the same as the number of slits 126. As shown in FIG. 4B , the multiple rotary blades 121 are arranged such that the positions of the notch 128 of adjacent rotary blades 121 are different ( FIG. 4B shows an example in which three rotary blades 121 are used). When the rotary blades 121 rotate in accordance with the transport of the optical fiber 20, the multiple rotary blades 121 rotate while the positions of the notch 128 of each of the multiple rotary blades 121 remain different, and the separation portions 40 and connecting portions 30 are formed alternately. The positions of the notches 128 in each of the multiple rotary blades 121 are set appropriately according to the positions of the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 40 in the optical fiber ribbon 10. Specifically, when the notch 128 is located between adjacent optical fibers 20, the uncured photocurable resin is not pushed out, and therefore the connecting portions 30 are formed. On the other hand, when the blade portion 129 is located between adjacent optical fibers 20, the uncured resin is pushed out from between the adjacent optical fibers 20, and therefore the uncured resin is no longer present between the adjacent optical fibers 20, and therefore the separating portions 40 are formed.

[0027] Although not specifically shown, the rotary blade 121 is preferably arranged so that the distance between the rotary blade 121 and the optical fiber 20 is within a range of 0 to 10 μm, and more preferably within a range of 0 to 5 μm. By shortening the distance between the rotary blade 121 and the optical fiber 20 in this manner, the tape layer 41 formed on the side surface of the optical fiber 20 can be made thinner (see FIG. 1B ).

[0028] As described above, the positioning portion 122 has the positioning portion body 124, the through-hole 125, the plurality of slits 126, and the outlet opening 126a.

[0029] In this embodiment, the positioning unit main body 124 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The positioning unit main body 124 is formed with through holes 125 for passing the optical fibers 20 therethrough, a plurality of slits 126 through which the rotary blades 121 rotate, and outlet openings 126a of the slits 126 through which the resin extruded by the rotary blades 121 comes out.

[0030] A plurality of optical fibers 20 coated with uncured resin are passed through the through hole 125. In the present embodiment, the through hole 125 is open to a back surface 124a (the right side surface in FIG. 3B ) and a front surface 124b (the left side surface in FIG. 3B ) of the positioning unit main body 124. The cross-sectional shape of the through hole 125 in the directions along the third direction D3 and the first direction D1 is complementary to the cross-section of the optical fibers 20 coated with uncured resin.

[0031] The multiple slits 126 are configured so that the multiple rotary blades 121 can rotate therein. The multiple slits 126 are arranged along the second direction D2 and are arranged in parallel in the first direction D1. The outlet openings 126a of the slits 126 open to the surface (the upper surface in this embodiment) of the suction section 123 of the positioning unit main body 124. The downstream ends of the slits 126 open to the front surface 124b of the positioning unit main body 124. The multiple slits 126 may all have the same shape, or may all have different shapes. In this embodiment, the multiple slits 126 all have the same shape. The number of slits 126 is equal to or greater than the number of spaces between adjacent optical fibers 20. In this embodiment, the number of spaces between adjacent optical fibers 20 is 11, so the number of slits 126 is 11.

[0032] Because the rotary blade 121 is disposed in the slit 126, the uncured resin is pushed out from the exit opening 126a of the slit. Furthermore, as described above, because the rotary blade 121 follows the transport of the optical fiber 20, stress is generated in the feed direction of the optical fiber 20 on the uncured resin pushed out from the slit 126 by the rotary blade 121. At this time, because the downstream end of the slit 126 opens to the front surface 124b of the positioning unit main body 124, the uncured resin does not clog and can be prevented from coming into contact with the optical fiber 20 again.

[0033] The suction unit 123 sucks the uncured resin extruded from the outlet opening 126a of the slit 126. The suction unit 123 has an intake unit 131, a negative pressure device (not shown), and a connection unit 132 for connecting the intake unit 131 and the negative pressure device.

[0034] The intake section 131 is formed in a hollow box shape having a suction opening 131a arranged to cover the outlet openings 126a of the slits 126 through which the resin extruded by the rotary blades 121 comes out. The downstream end of the suction opening 131a is preferably arranged downstream of the downstream ends of the outlet openings 126a. This allows uncured resin accumulated downstream of the outlet openings 126a to be properly sucked out, preventing the uncured resin accumulated downstream of the outlet openings 126a from contacting the optical fiber 20 again. Furthermore, the upstream end of the suction opening 131a is arranged upstream of the upstream ends of the outlet openings 126a. In this embodiment, the upstream end of the suction opening 131a is arranged at the same position as the upstream ends of the outlet openings 126a.

[0035] Furthermore, the length of the suction opening 131a in the arrangement direction (first direction D1) of the plurality of optical fibers 20 is preferably within a range of 100 to 120% of the length of the plurality of outlet openings 126a in the arrangement direction of the plurality of optical fibers 20. Here, "length L3 of the plurality of outlet openings 126a in the arrangement direction of the plurality of optical fibers 20" refers to the length between the outer end of the slit 126 arranged at one end in the first direction D1 (in the example shown in FIG. 3A, the outer end of the lower slit 126) and the outer end of the slit 126 arranged at the other end in the first direction D1 (in the example shown in FIG. 3A, the outer end of the upper slit 126). This reduces the volume of the space surrounded by the intake section 131 and the upper surface of the positioning section main body 124, allowing the suction device to efficiently create a negative pressure in the space. This allows the uncured resin to be efficiently and appropriately suctioned.

[0036] The connection portion 132 connects the intake portion 131 and a negative pressure device (not shown). In this embodiment, the connection portion 132 is connected to the surface of the intake portion 131 opposite the suction opening 131a. By operating the negative pressure device, the space surrounded by the intake portion 131 and the upper surface of the positioning portion main body 124 can be put into a negative pressure state, and the uncured resin remaining around the plurality of optical fibers 20 is not sucked, but the uncured resin extruded into the space is sucked. The conditions for sucking the uncured resin extruded into the space without sucking the uncured resin remaining around the plurality of optical fibers 20 are appropriately adjusted depending on the volume of the space and the suction pressure of the negative pressure device. It is preferable that the negative pressure device is constantly operating during the manufacture of the optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0037] The curing unit 140 cures the uncured resin remaining in the plurality of optical fibers 20. The configuration of the curing unit 140 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above-described function. In the present embodiment, the curing unit 140 has a first light irradiation unit 141 and a second light irradiation unit 142. The first light irradiation unit 141 is disposed on the upstream side and irradiates light onto the tape layer 41 to semi-cure the uncured tape layer. The second light irradiation unit 142 further irradiates light to completely cure the semi-cured tape layer. In the present embodiment, the integrated irradiation amount of each of the upstream first light irradiation unit 141 and the downstream second light irradiation unit 142 is adjusted so that the integrated irradiation amount of the first light irradiation unit 141 is small and the integrated irradiation amount of the second light irradiation unit 142 is large.

[0038] [Method of Manufacturing an Optical Fiber Ribbon] Next, a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon will be described with reference to Fig. 5.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon includes a step of coating a plurality of optical fibers (S110), a step of partially removing uncured resin (S120), and a step of curing the ribbon layer (S130).

[0040] In the step of coating the optical fibers (S110), a plurality of parallel-arranged optical fibers 20 are coated with an uncured resin. The optical fibers 20 may be commercially available or may be manufactured. For example, the uncured tape layer 41 is formed using the coating unit 110 of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, while the plurality of optical fibers 20 are being fed, the uncured resin is applied in a tape-like manner to the plurality of optical fibers 20 using a die, thereby forming the tape layer 41.

[0041] In the step (S120) of partially removing the uncured resin, the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 40 are formed using, for example, the manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 . Specifically, a plurality of rotary blades 121 are rotated relative to the tape layer 41 to remove portions of the tape layer 41, thereby forming the connecting portions 30 and the separating portions 40. As the rotary blades 121 rotate following the transport of the optical fiber 20, the separating portions 40 and the connecting portions 30 are formed alternately. At this time, the uncured resin removed by the rotary blades 121 is pushed out toward the exit opening 126 a of the slit 126. The uncured resin pushed out from the exit opening 126 a of the slit 126 is sucked by the suction unit 123.

[0042] In the step of hardening the tape layer 41 (S130), the first light irradiation unit 141 irradiates the tape layer 41 with light to semi-harden the unhardened tape layer 41, and finally the second light irradiation unit 142 irradiates further with light to completely harden the semi-hardened tape layer 41.

[0043] (Effect) As described above, according to the present invention, the rotary blade 121 extrudes the uncured resin between adjacent optical fibers 20 through the slit 126, and the extruded resin is sucked up, thereby obtaining an optical fiber ribbon 10 in which the connecting portion 30 and the separating portion 40 are properly formed.

[0044] The optical fiber ribbon according to the present invention is useful, for example, as an optical fiber used in a high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication network.

[0045] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Optical fiber ribbon 20 Optical fiber (single-coated optical fiber) 21 Optical fiber strand 22 Primary coating layer 23 Secondary coating layer 30 Connection section 40 Separation section 41 Tape layer 100 Manufacturing apparatus 110 Coating section 120 Removal section 121 Rotary blade 122 Positioning section 123 Suction section 124 Positioning section main body 124a Back surface 124b Front surface 125 Through hole 126 Slit 126a Exit opening 127 Rotary shaft 128 Notch 129 Blade section 131 Suction section main body 131a Suction opening 132 Connection section 140 Hardening section 141 First light irradiation section 142 Second light irradiation section

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of single-coated optical fibers are partially connected, comprising the steps of: coating the plurality of single-coated optical fibers arranged in parallel with each other with an uncured resin; partially removing the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers among the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin using a removal unit; and curing the uncured resin remaining in the plurality of single-coated optical fibers, wherein the removal unit comprises: a plurality of rotary blades arranged to be located between adjacent single-coated optical fibers, for intermittently pushing out the uncured resin between the adjacent single-coated optical fibers; a positioning unit including through holes for passing the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin, a plurality of slits that are respectively connected to the through holes and for rotating the plurality of rotary blades, and a plurality of outlet openings of the plurality of slits from which the resin pushed out by the plurality of rotary blades comes out; and a suction unit including suction openings arranged to cover the plurality of outlet openings. a plurality of rotary blades are rotated while the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin are moved from upstream to downstream within the through hole in the process of partially removing the uncured resin, so that the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers is intermittently pushed out to the plurality of outlet openings, and the uncured resin pushed out from the plurality of outlet openings is sucked in by the suction section.

2. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the downstream end of the suction opening is located downstream of the downstream ends of the plurality of outlet openings.

3. A method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the length of the suction opening in the arrangement direction of the plurality of mono-coated optical fibers is within a range of 100 to 120% of the length of the plurality of outlet openings in the arrangement direction of the plurality of mono-coated optical fibers.

4. An apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon in which a plurality of single-coated optical fibers are partially connected, the apparatus comprising: a step of coating the plurality of single-coated optical fibers arranged in parallel with an uncured resin; a removal unit for partially removing the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers among the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with uncured resin and arranged in parallel; and a curing unit for curing the uncured resin remaining in the plurality of single-coated optical fibers, the removal unit comprising: a plurality of rotary blades arranged to be located between adjacent single-coated optical fibers and for intermittently pushing out the uncured resin between the adjacent single-coated optical fibers; a positioning unit including through holes for passing the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin, a plurality of slits each communicating with the through holes and for rotating the plurality of rotary blades, and a plurality of outlet openings of the plurality of slits through which the resin pushed out by the plurality of rotary blades comes out; and a suction unit including suction openings arranged to cover the plurality of outlet openings. the removal unit rotates the plurality of rotary blades while moving the plurality of single-coated optical fibers coated with the uncured resin from upstream to downstream within the through hole, thereby intermittently extruding the uncured resin between adjacent single-coated optical fibers to the plurality of outlet openings, and the uncured resin extruded from the plurality of outlet openings is sucked by the suction unit.

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