Winding device for coated optical fiber ribbon and winding method for coated optical fiber ribbon

Abstract

The present invention relates to a winding device (70) for a coated optical fiber ribbon (10) for winding the coated optical fiber ribbon (10) around a bobbin (80). The winding device (70) for the coated optical fiber ribbon is characterized by comprising: a bobbin support part (72) for supporting the bobbin (80) while rotating the bobbin; a sheave (71); a movement part (73) for moving the bobbin support part (72) or the sheave (71) in a direction along the axis of the bobbin (80) to change the relative position of the sheave (71) with respect to the bobbin (80); a detection unit (75) for detecting the position of a flange (82) of the bobbin (80); and a control unit (74), wherein the control unit (74) controls the winding position of the coated optical fiber ribbon (10) to be wound at a position closest to the flange (82) with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of a single-core coated optical fiber (20) which the coated optical fiber ribbon (10) has.

Description

Optical fiber ribbon winding device and optical fiber ribbon winding method

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

[0002] In recent years, the spread of the Internet of Things (IoT), the full-scale commercialization of 5G, and autonomous driving of automobiles have led to a dramatic increase in data traffic, and this has led to an increasing demand for the development and construction of high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication networks to support this. To economically realize the development and construction of high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication networks, it is important to accommodate a larger number of mono-coated optical fibers (optical fibers) in existing ducts. When accommodating a large number of mono-coated optical fibers in existing ducts, 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. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of winding such an optical fiber ribbon around a bobbin.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-189187

[0004] Optical fiber ribbons have low rigidity and are soft, making it difficult to align and wind them around a bobbin. For example, the winding method of an optical fiber ribbon disclosed in Patent Document 1 slows down the winding speed when winding near the flange to prevent the optical fiber ribbon from being wound around the bobbin in an irregular manner. Slowing down the speed makes it impossible to wind a large amount of optical fiber ribbon in a short period of time. Furthermore, the winding method disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not wind the optical fiber ribbon all the way to the flange of the bobbin to prevent irregular winding. If the optical fiber ribbon is not wound all the way to the flange, the amount of optical fiber ribbon that can be wound around one bobbin will be reduced.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber ribbon winding device and a winding method that can wind the optical fiber ribbon up to the flange of the bobbin while preventing the optical fiber ribbon from being wound in a disorderly manner.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem, there is provided an optical fiber ribbon winding device for winding an optical fiber ribbon onto a bobbin, comprising: a bobbin support section for supporting the bobbin while rotating it; a sheave for guiding the optical fiber ribbon to be wound onto the bobbin; a moving section for moving the bobbin support section or the sheave in a direction along the axis of the bobbin to change the relative position of the sheave with respect to the bobbin; a detection section for detecting the position of the flange of the bobbin; and a control section for controlling the moving section based on the result of the detection section, thereby controlling the position of the optical fiber ribbon to be wound onto the bobbin, wherein the control section controls the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon to be wound at a position closest to the flange with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber of the optical fiber ribbon.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem, there is provided a method for winding an optical fiber ribbon core wire around a bobbin, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the position of the flange of the bobbin; and controlling the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon core wire, which is wound at the position closest to the flange, with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber of the optical fiber ribbon core wire.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical fiber ribbon winding device and a winding method that can wind the optical fiber ribbon up to the edge of the bobbin while preventing the optical fiber ribbon from being wound in a disorderly manner.

[0009] Figures 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams showing an optical fiber ribbon. Figure 2A is a diagram showing the internal structure of a winding device for an optical fiber ribbon according to an embodiment, and Figure 2B is a side view of the winding device for an optical fiber ribbon. Figure 3 is a flowchart of a winding method for an optical fiber ribbon. Figure 4A is a diagram for explaining detection of the position of the flange of the winding device, and Figure 4B is a diagram for explaining a winding method at the flange edge.

[0010] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a winding device for an optical fiber ribbon and a winding method for an optical fiber ribbon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the lower and upper limits of the numerical ranges indicated by "to" are included in the range. First, the optical fiber ribbon to be wound will be described, and then the winding device for an optical fiber ribbon and the winding method for an optical fiber ribbon will be described.

[0011] [Configuration of Optical Fiber Ribbon] Fig. 1A is a schematic plan view of the optical fiber ribbon 10, Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 1A, and Fig. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in Fig. 1A. In Fig. 1A, the connecting portion 30 is shown in black to distinguish and easily see the separating portion 40 from the connecting portion 30.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1A, in an optical fiber ribbon 10, a plurality of single-coated optical fibers 20 are arranged in parallel. Connection portions 30 and spacing portions 40 are intermittently present between the plurality of parallel-arranged single-coated optical fibers 20. The connection portions 30 are portions where the UV-curable resin has hardened, and the spacing portions 40 are portions where no hardened resin is present. The optical fiber ribbon 10 having the connection portions 30 and spacing portions 40 intermittently as shown in Fig. 1A is easy to fold in the width direction and can be formed into a bundle, which is useful for increasing the density of the single-coated optical fibers 20.

[0013] 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1A, ie, at the connecting portion 30, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 1A, ie, at the separating portion 40. As shown in FIG.

[0014] 1B and 1C, the mono-coated optical fiber 20 comprises, from its center outward, an optical fiber strand 21, a primary coating layer 22, and a secondary coating layer 23. As shown in Figures 1B and 1C, a cured resin 50 is present around the two mono-coated optical fibers 20. The cured resin 50 functions as a tape layer 60 on the surface of the optical fiber ribbon 10, and functions as a connecting portion 30 between the two mono-coated optical fibers 20.

[0015] 1C , in the cross section of the spaced apart portion 40, the cured resin 50 is present around each of the two single-coated optical fibers 20, but no cured resin 50 is present between the two single-coated optical fibers 20, which forms the spaced apart portion 40. In this way, the optical fiber ribbon 10 has intermittent connecting portions 30 and spaced apart portions 40, which makes the optical fiber ribbon 10 soft and makes it difficult to neatly align and wind it up.

[0016] [Winding device for optical fiber ribbon] Fig. 2A is a diagram showing the inside of a winding device 70 for the optical fiber ribbon 10 as described above, and Fig. 2B is a side view of the winding device 70. Fig. 2A is a diagram seen from a direction along the axis of the bobbin 80, and Fig. 2B is a diagram seen from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bobbin 80.

[0017] 2A and 2B, the winding device 70 has a sheave 71, a bobbin support unit 72, a moving unit 73, a control unit 74, and a detection unit 75. A bobbin 80 is installed in the winding device 70, and the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound around the bobbin 80. Specifically, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the optical fiber ribbon 10 guided by the sheave 71 is wound around the bobbin 80, which is supported by the bobbin support unit 72 and rotates and reciprocates. In this way, the optical fiber ribbon 10 is traverse-wound around the bobbin 80. Each component will be described below.

[0018] In this embodiment, the sheave 71 is rotatably fixed. The fixed sheave 71 guides the optical fiber ribbon 10 and is configured to rotate as it guides the optical fiber ribbon 10. The optical fiber ribbon 10 guided by the sheave 71 is wound around the body 81 between two flanges 82 of the bobbin 80. Specifically, the bobbin support 72 and the bobbin 80 supported by the bobbin support 72 reciprocate along their axes relative to the fixed sheave 71. This causes the optical fiber ribbon 10 to be traverse-wound. Note that the sheave 71 may also reciprocate along the axis of the bobbin 80 while guiding the optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0019] The bobbin support portion 72 rotatably supports the bobbin 80. The bobbin support portion 72 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform this function. In this embodiment, the bobbin support portion 72 has a rotation shaft 72a for rotating the bobbin 80 and a rotation shaft support portion 72b for supporting the rotation shaft 72a. In this embodiment, the rotation shaft support portion 72b of the bobbin support portion 72 is connected to a moving portion 73. When the moving portion 73 moves (rotates), the bobbin support portion 72 and the bobbin 80 reciprocate in the axial direction of the bobbin 80. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 2B , the bobbin support portion 72 may be installed only on the right side (one side) of the bobbin 80, or may be installed on both the left and right sides as shown by the solid and dashed lines in FIG. 2B . To stabilize the movement of the bobbin 80, it is preferable to install the bobbin support portions 72 on both the left and right sides of the bobbin 80.

[0020] The moving unit 73 is controlled by the control unit 74, and moves the bobbin support unit 72 or the sheave 71 in a direction along the axis of the bobbin 80, thereby changing the relative position of the sheave 71 with respect to the bobbin 80. In this embodiment, the moving unit 73 moves the bobbin support unit 72 in a direction along the axis of the bobbin 80, thereby changing the relative position of the bobbin 80 with respect to the sheave 71. The configuration of the moving unit 73 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above-mentioned function. In this embodiment, the moving unit 73 is a member that extends in the axial direction of the bobbin 80. When the sheave 71 reciprocates, the moving unit 73 moves the sheave 71.

[0021] The control unit 74 controls a drive unit (e.g., a motor) of the moving unit 73 to reciprocate the moving unit 73. There are no particular limitations on the control unit 74 as long as it is configured to move the moving unit 73 with a predetermined accuracy. The control unit 74 also controls the detection unit 75. The control unit 74 is, for example, a computer that executes software.

[0022] The detection unit 75 detects the position of the flange 82 on the bobbin 80. As will be described later, bobbins 80 vary from one another, and the position of the flange 82 varies from one bobbin 80 to another. Therefore, fixing the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon 10 while ignoring the individual differences between the bobbins 80 can cause irregular winding. The configuration of the detection unit 75 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the position of the flange 82 of a bobbin 80 that varies from one another. In this embodiment, the detection unit 75 has a light emitting unit 75a and a light receiving unit 75b, and detects the position of the flange 82 by light. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 75a emits infrared light. The detection unit 75 is not limited to this optical detection type, and may detect the flange 82 of the bobbin 80 by a proximity sensor, or may detect the flange 82 of the bobbin 80 by utilizing other general-purpose detection techniques.

[0023] The bobbin 80 installed in the winding device 70 for the optical fiber ribbon 10 will be described below.

[0024] The bobbin 80 is rotatably supported by the bobbin support portion 72. The bobbin 80 has a cylindrical body 81 around which the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound, and two flanges 82 arranged on both ends of the body 81. The bobbin 80 is manufactured by, for example, injection molding. Bobbins 80 manufactured by injection molding have individual differences, and the position of the flange 82 varies slightly for each bobbin 80. In this embodiment, the bobbin 80 rotates while reciprocating in the axial direction, thereby winding the optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0025] [Winding Method of Optical Fiber Ribbon] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the winding method, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams for explaining the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the winding method for the optical fiber ribbon 10 according to this embodiment includes a step (S110) of detecting the position of the flange 82 of the bobbin 80 and a step (S120) of controlling the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon 10.

[0027] In the step (S110) of detecting the position of the flange 82 of the bobbin 80, for example, as shown in Fig. 4A, a detection unit 75 having a light emitting unit 75a and a light receiving unit 75b is used to detect the position of the flange 82 of the bobbin 80. This step is for detecting the position of the flange 82 of the bobbin 80, which varies from one bobbin to another, and determining the reference position for winding the optical fiber ribbon 10 based on the result of the detection.

[0028] In this embodiment, this step is performed as follows. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A , a detection unit 75 having a light emitting unit 75a and a light receiving unit 75b is used, and the light emitting unit 75a and the light receiving unit 75b are positioned so that light from the light emitting unit 75a reaches the light receiving unit 75b. The bobbin 80 is moved axially between the thus positioned light emitting unit 75a and the light receiving unit 75b. The bobbin 80 moves in a position such that light does not reach the light receiving unit 75b when the flange 82 passes between them, but light reaches the light receiving unit 75b when the body 81 passes between them. At this time, the bobbin 80 is moved at a predetermined speed by the moving unit 73 controlled by the control unit 74. This allows the position of the flange 82 on the bobbin 80 to be detected. Specifically, the inner positions of the flanges 82 on one side and the inner positions of the flanges 82 on the other side of the bobbin 80 can be detected. The distance between the inner sides of the two flanges 82 (the length of the body) can also be detected. The detection unit 75 sends the detection result to the control unit 74, and the control unit 74 controls the moving unit 73 that moves the bobbin 80 based on the detection result.

[0029] 4B , for example, based on the detection result of the position of the flange 82, the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon 10 closest to the flange 82 is controlled. Specifically, based on the detected position of the flange 82, a zero position, which is a reference position for winding the optical fiber ribbon 10, is determined, and the optical fiber ribbon 10 is controlled with respect to the zero position with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber 20 that the optical fiber ribbon 10 has.

[0030] It is preferable that the 0 position be set based on the position of the flange 82 so as to prevent the optical fiber ribbon 10 from being wound too close to the flange 82, causing the optical fiber ribbon 10 to climb onto the flange 82, while preventing the optical fiber ribbon 10 from being wound too far away, reducing the amount of winding.

[0031] In this embodiment, from the above viewpoint, the 0 position is set at a position that is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 from the inside of the two flanges 82. Note that, depending on the width of the optical fiber ribbon 10, the 0 position may be set at a position that is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20 on only one of the two flanges. In this embodiment, the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound around the 0 positions that are set on both of the two flanges, and the distance between the optical fiber ribbon 10 and the flanges 82 is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20.

[0032] The optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound with controlled precision with respect to the zero position, with the precision being equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber 20 of the optical fiber ribbon 10. This makes it possible to prevent the optical fiber ribbon 10 from being wound in a disorderly manner.

[0033] A more specific winding method will be described with reference to FIG. 4B . As shown in FIG. 4B , first, the bobbin 80 is moved axially to wind the optical fiber ribbon 10 so that the end of the tip of the optical fiber ribbon 10 on the flange 82 side in the first row is positioned at the zero position. The accuracy of the axial movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber 20. Next, the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound sequentially around the second and third rows of the first row, until the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound up to the row just before the final row. The accuracy of the axial movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is preferably equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber 20. In other words, if the accuracy exceeds this diameter, some of the single-coated optical fibers 20 of the optical fiber ribbons 10 stacked in the second and subsequent rows in subsequent processes may fall into the gaps between the optical fiber ribbons 10 in the first row. Furthermore, the winding pitch from the second row to the row just before the final row may be adjusted appropriately so that the first row and the final row are aligned at the zero position. Next, the bobbin 80 is moved so that the end of the optical fiber ribbon 10 in the last row of the first stage is positioned at position 0, and the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound. The accuracy of the movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is set to an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20.

[0034] Next, the optical fiber ribbon 10 in the first row, which is the second row, is stacked and wound on top of the final row in the first row. At this time, the bobbin 80 is moved axially so that the end of the optical fiber ribbon 10 on the flange 82 side is positioned at position 0. The accuracy of the axial movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is equal to or less than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20. Next, as with the first row, the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound sequentially in the second row, the second row, and the third row in the second row, until the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound up to the row just before the final row. It is preferable that the accuracy of the axial movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is equal to or less than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20. As with the above, if the accuracy exceeds this diameter, there is a possibility that some of the mono-coated optical fibers 20 of the optical fiber ribbons 10 stacked in the third row and beyond in the subsequent process will fall into the gaps between the optical fiber ribbons 10 in the second row. Next, in the same manner as in the last row of the first stage, the bobbin 80 is moved axially so that the end of the optical fiber ribbon 10 on the flange 82 side of the last row of the second stage is positioned at position 0, and the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound. The accuracy of the movement of the bobbin 80 at this time is set to an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber 20.

[0035] Similarly, winding continues in third and fourth stages, and so on, in multiple stages depending on the length of the optical fiber ribbon 10. That is, the optical fiber ribbon 10 wound closest to the flange 82 is wound with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber 20. In the winding method for each stage, the rotation speed of the bobbin 80 is the same when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound closest to the flange 82 of the bobbin 80 and when the optical fiber ribbon 10 is wound around the center of the bobbin 80.

[0036] (Effects) According to this embodiment, the position of the flange is detected as described above, and the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon wound closest to the flange based on the detected flange position is controlled with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber. This prevents the optical fiber ribbon from being wound unevenly while winding close to the flange, allowing a large amount of optical fiber ribbon to be wound around the bobbin. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the rotation speed of the bobbin is the same when winding close to the flange and when winding around the center. This allows a large amount of optical fiber ribbon to be wound in a short time.

[0037] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0038] The occurrence of irregular winding was evaluated in experimental examples No. 1 to No. 8 in which the winding method was changed as shown in Table 1.

[0039] The optical fiber ribbon had 12 single-coated optical fibers with a diameter of 0.25 mm and a width of 3.2 mm. The optical fiber ribbon was wound under the winding conditions shown in Table 1 and evaluated.

[0040] As shown in Table 1, the winding conditions were varied by winding pitch, turn position resolution, and whether or not initial position detection was performed. Here, the winding pitch refers to the accuracy of bobbin movement per rotation to adjust the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon wound at a position other than the closest to the flange, as described with reference to FIG. 4B. For example, a winding pitch of 4.0 mm indicates that the bobbin is moved with an accuracy of 4.0 mm per rotation. That is, the bobbin is moved in 4.0 mm increments per rotation. The turn position resolution refers to the accuracy of bobbin movement to adjust the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon wound at the position closest to the flange, as described with reference to FIG. 4B. For example, a turn position resolution of 0.04 mm indicates that the bobbin movement position is detected with an accuracy of 0.04 mm. That is, the bobbin movement position is detected in 0.04 mm increments.

[0041] The initial position detection indicates whether or not the position of the flange of the bobbin, which varies from one individual to another as shown in Fig. 4A, was detected. For those in which the initial position detection was performed, the 0 position was detected by the detection unit 75 in Fig. 2 or Fig. 4, and for those in which the initial position detection was not performed, the detection unit 75 in Fig. 2 or Fig. 4 was not used.

[0042] The evaluation was based on the winding condition at the flange edge, optical loss, and the number of OTDR waveform steps, as shown in Table 1. The winding condition at the flange edge was evaluated visually, and a bulge in the optical fiber ribbon at the flange edge or a gap between the flange and the optical fiber ribbon at the center was evaluated as "poor." Optical loss was measured with an OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer), and a value of 0.3 dB / km (λ = 1550 nm) or more was evaluated as "poor." A value of 0.28 dB / km or more but less than 0.3 dB / km (λ = 1550 nm) was evaluated as "slightly poor." A value of less than 0.28 dB / km (λ = 1550 nm) was evaluated as "good." The OTDR waveform step was measured by counting the number of OTDR waveform steps of 0.05 dB (λ=1550 nm) or more per 12 km length of the optical fiber ribbon. It is preferable that there be no OTDR waveform step.

[0043]

[0044] As can be seen from Table 1, only Example No. 4, which performed initial position detection and set the turn position resolution to 0.04 mm, which is less than the diameter of the mono-coated optical fiber, received good evaluations in all cases, indicating that the occurrence of winding irregularities was suppressed. This is thought to be because the initial position detection allows the winding reference position to be set taking into account the position of the flange for each bobbin, and the high turn position resolution makes it easier to align the bobbin more accurately with respect to the set reference position.

[0045] The optical fiber ribbon winding device according to the present invention is useful for winding optical fiber ribbons onto bobbins used in, for example, high-speed, large-capacity optical fiber communication networks.

[0046] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Optical fiber ribbon 20 Single-coated optical fiber 21 Optical fiber strand 22 Primary coating layer 23 Secondary coating layer 30 Connection portion 40 Separation portion 50 Hardened resin 60 Tape layer 70 Winding device 71 Sheave 72 Bobbin support portion 72a Rotating shaft 72b Rotating shaft support portion 73 Moving portion 74 Control portion 75 Detection portion 75a Light irradiation portion 75b Light receiving portion 80 Bobbin 81 Body portion 82 Flange

Claims

1. An optical fiber ribbon winding device for winding an optical fiber ribbon onto a bobbin, comprising: a bobbin support unit for supporting the bobbin while rotating it; a sheave for guiding the optical fiber ribbon to be wound onto the bobbin; a moving unit for moving the bobbin support unit or the sheave in a direction along the axis of the bobbin to change the relative position of the sheave with respect to the bobbin; a detection unit for detecting the position of the flange of the bobbin; and a control unit for controlling the moving unit based on the result of the detection unit, thereby controlling the position of the optical fiber ribbon to be wound onto the bobbin, wherein the control unit controls the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon to be wound closest to the flange with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber of the optical fiber ribbon.

2. A winding device for optical fiber ribbon core wire as described in claim 1, characterized in that the control unit controls the distance between the optical fiber ribbon core wire wound at the position closest to the flange and the flange so that it is equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber.

3. An optical fiber ribbon winding device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the rotational speed of the bobbin is the same when the optical fiber ribbon is wound at the position closest to the flange of the bobbin and when the optical fiber ribbon is wound at the center of the bobbin.

4. A method for winding an optical fiber ribbon around a bobbin, comprising the steps of: detecting the position of the flange of the bobbin; and controlling the winding position of the optical fiber ribbon, which is wound at the position closest to the flange, with an accuracy equal to or less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber of the optical fiber ribbon.

5. A method for winding an optical fiber ribbon core wire as described in claim 4, characterized in that the distance between the optical fiber ribbon core wire wound at the position closest to the flange and the flange is less than the diameter of the single-coated optical fiber.

6. A method for winding an optical fiber ribbon core wire as described in claim 4, characterized in that the rotation speed of the bobbin is the same when the optical fiber ribbon core wire is wound at the position closest to the flange of the bobbin and when the optical fiber ribbon core wire is wound at the center of the bobbin.

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