JP2014052519A - Resin coating device and manufacturing method of optical fiber cable using resin coating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A resin coating apparatus capable of stably forming a fixing material made of an ultraviolet curable resin on a tape.
A dispenser (52a) for discharging an ultraviolet curable resin (17), a die (DC) to which an ultraviolet curable resin (17) discharged from the dispenser (52a) is supplied, and a die (DC) in a use posture. ) And a tape guide (61) formed with a groove (61b) extending in one direction with a constant width (D1) facing the die (DC). The die (DC) has a resin reservoir (V2) for storing the ultraviolet curable resin (17), one end opened as a first opening (62f1) into the resin reservoir (V2), and the other end as a second opening. As a part (62f2), it opens above the groove part (61b) of the side face (62e) facing in one direction in the die (DC), and goes downward as it goes from the first opening part (62f1) to the second opening part (62f2). And an inclined application path (62f).
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin coating apparatus and a method of manufacturing an optical fiber cable using the same, and in particular, for coating a resin as a fixing material on a tape such as a longitudinal tape covering an opening of a slot of a slot rod. The present invention relates to a resin coating device and an optical fiber cable manufacturing method using the same.

It is known that an optical fiber cable is configured to hold an optical fiber in a slot of a slot rod and to hold the optical fiber received by a fixing material provided on a vertical tape that closes the opening of the groove. Yes.
An optical fiber cable having this configuration is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 filed by the present applicant.

Japanese Patent No. 4833155

Resin is used as a material for the fixing material provided on the vertical tape.
Patent Document 1 describes that an ultraviolet curable resin (hereinafter also referred to as a UV resin) is used as the resin. In paragraph (0033), etc., UV resin is intermittently applied from a UV resin filling device (hereinafter simply referred to as a resin coating device) disposed above the vertical tape as a method for applying the resin to the vertical tape. It is described that it is intermittently applied in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally attached tape by being sprayed and supplied.
Furthermore, FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 discloses a specific resin coating apparatus that is disposed at an upper spaced position with respect to the longitudinal tape and injects UV resin in a downward direction.

For example, this resin coating device is a device that uses a general-purpose dispenser with a replaceable nozzle attached to the tip, and discharges the UV resin in the cylinder toward the lower vertical tape using air pressure. In this case, the following points for improvement become apparent.
First, due to the intermittent formation of the fixing material, it is not easy to drain the UV resin well without dripping when the pressure is intermittently stopped. It may be drooping on the tape and it is difficult to stably form the intermittent fixing material.
The shape of the fixing material to be formed depends on the viscosity of the UV resin to be applied, and the viscosity depends on the temperature of the UV resin. Therefore, in order to stabilize the shape of the intermittent fixing material, it is necessary to accurately control the temperature of the UV resin to be applied. However, with a general-purpose dispenser, it is not easy to accurately control the temperature of the nozzle portion. It is difficult to stably form the shape of the fixing material.

  As shown in this example, there is a demand for a specific proposal of a resin coating apparatus that is excellent in coating stability in the application of resin to a tape such as a longitudinal tape.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a resin coating apparatus capable of stably forming a fixing material made of an ultraviolet curable resin on a tape, and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber cable using the same. There is to do.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration and procedure.
1) A resin coating device for coating an ultraviolet curable resin (17) on a tape (13) moving in the longitudinal direction,
A dispenser (52a) for discharging the ultraviolet curable resin (17);
A die (DC) to which the ultraviolet curable resin (17) discharged from the dispenser (52a) is supplied;
A groove portion (61b) that is disposed on the lower side with respect to the die (DC) in a use posture of the resin coating device (TS) and that faces the die (DC) and extends in one direction with a constant width (D1) is formed. Tape guide (61),
With
The die (DC) is
A resin reservoir (V2) for storing the supplied UV curable resin (17);
One end side opens as a first opening (62f1) into the resin reservoir (V2), and the other end side serves as a second opening (62f2) in the die (DC) and faces the one side (62e). And an application passageway (62f) inclined upward as it goes from the first opening (62f1) to the second opening (62f2).
It is a resin coating device (TS) characterized by having.
2) The resin reservoir (V2) has a supply port (63e) through which the ultraviolet curable resin (17) is supplied from the dispenser (52a), and the first opening (62f1) The resin coating device (TS) according to 1), wherein the resin reservoir (V2) is formed at a position farthest from the supply port (62f1).
3) The resin reservoir portion (V2) has a resin guide portion (V2b) formed so that a cross-sectional area becomes smaller toward the second opening portion (62f2) 1) Or it is a resin coating apparatus (TS) as described in 2).
4) a slot rod (7) having a groove (5);
One or more optical fibers (3) housed in the groove (5);
A longitudinal tape (13) covering the opening (11) of the groove (5),
A fixing portion (17k) that is provided on the longitudinal tape (13), enters the inside of the groove (5) from the opening (11), and holds the optical fiber (3);
An optical fiber cable manufacturing method for manufacturing an optical fiber cable (1) comprising:
The ultraviolet curable resin (17) before curing is applied onto the longitudinal tape (13) by the resin coating device (TS) according to any one of 1) to 3) to apply an applied body (17t). An applied body forming step to be formed;
A fixed part forming step in which the applied body (17t) formed in the applied body forming step is cured by ultraviolet irradiation to be the fixed part (17k),
Including
The application body forming step includes:
While applying the vertical tape (13) to the groove (5) and moving in the one direction, the ultraviolet curable resin (17) is applied from the dispenser (52a) through the resin reservoir (V2). A method of manufacturing an optical fiber cable, wherein the optical fiber cable is applied by being discharged from the second opening (62f2) of the passage (62f) onto the longitudinally attached tape (13) in the moving direction.

  According to the present invention, an effect is obtained that a fixing material made of an ultraviolet curable resin can be stably formed on a tape.

It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the optical fiber cable manufactured using the Example of the resin coating device of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the manufacturing apparatus of the optical fiber cable containing the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is a fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the principal part in the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the principal part in the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is an expanded partial sectional view for demonstrating the principal part in the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the passage shape of the resin in the Example of the resin coating device of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the method to manufacture an optical fiber cable using the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the application body formed on the vertical tape using the Example of the resin coating device of this invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the Example of the resin coating apparatus of this invention and the structure of the optical fiber cable manufactured using it are demonstrated.
FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view for explaining an optical fiber cable manufactured using an example of a resin coating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. IB-IB sectional view in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining an optical fiber cable manufacturing apparatus including an example of the resin coating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, an optical fiber cable manufactured using the resin coating apparatus TS of the embodiment is a one-groove slot type optical fiber cable 1.
The optical fiber cable 1 is embedded in a slot rod 7 in which one groove 5 opened at the opening 11 is formed, one or more optical fibers 3 housed in the groove 5, and the slot rod 7. For example, a tensile member (tension member) 9 as a linear member for protecting the optical fiber, a longitudinally attached tape 13 vertically attached so as to cover the opening 11 of the groove 5, and the longitudinally attached tape 13 and the slot rod 7 are provided. As a sheath covering the periphery of, for example, an uneven thickness sheath 15 formed in an uneven thickness is configured.

  In the longitudinal tape 13, the ultraviolet curable resin 17 (hereinafter also referred to as the UV resin 17) is cured intermittently at intervals in advance in the longitudinal direction (the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1A). A hardened body 17k is fixedly formed. The fixed cured body 17k of the UV resin 17 enters the inside of the slot rod 7 through the opening 11, and serves as a fixing material that intermittently holds the optical fiber 3 in the extending direction. Thereby, the movement of the optical fiber 3 is restricted in the groove 5 of the slot rod 7.

The material of the longitudinal tape 13 is, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
The UV resin 17 to be used is a cured resin that holds the optical fiber 3 and has physical properties that can favorably restrict movement without deteriorating the loss characteristics of the optical fiber with respect to elastic deformation. Specifically, it is desirable that the Young's modulus after curing is 800 Pa or less. Moreover, it is desirable that the viscosity before curing is, for example, 0.5 to 5 (Pa · s) from the viewpoint of satisfactory application.

The slot rod 7 is a so-called “C-type slot” in which the groove 5 is circular in cross-sectional shape, for example. This cross-sectional shape is not limited to a circle, and may be a U-shape or other shapes.
The center of the groove 5 is at a position that is biased toward the opening 11 with respect to the center of the outer shape of the slot rod 7. Therefore, the slot rod 7 is formed so that the thickness thereof is the thickest on the side opposite to the opening 11 and becomes thinner toward the opening 11 side.
One or more optical fibers 3 are accommodated in the groove 5.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the optical fiber 3 is an optical fiber ribbon, and 11 of the optical fibers are housed in the groove 5.
The optical fiber 3 is not limited to the optical fiber ribbon, and may be an optical fiber, an optical fiber, or an optical fiber in other forms.

  The strength member 9 is embedded in the longitudinal direction in the thick portion of the slot rod 7. The material of the strength member 9 is, for example, a copper wire or FRP (fiber reinforced plastic).

The uneven thickness sheath 15 is made of, for example, a resin material such as polyethylene resin.
In the example shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), the sheath thickness on the opening 11 side is an eccentric sheath structure that is relatively thicker than the sheath thickness on the opposite side. Of course, it may be formed with a substantially constant sheath thickness in the circumferential direction.

The optical fiber cable 1 described above is manufactured using a manufacturing apparatus S shown in FIG.
Since the manufacturing apparatus S differs from the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1 in the configuration of the resin coating apparatus (the UV resin filling apparatus 21 in Patent Document 1) and its vicinity, The outline of the overall configuration will be described, and then the details of the different parts will be described.

In the optical fiber cable 1 manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus S, the optical fiber 3 is an optical fiber ribbon.
In the manufacturing apparatus S, a fiber assembly part 19 is provided on the upstream side. In the fiber assembly portion 19, one or more optical fibers 3 are accommodated in the groove 5 of the slot rod 7 while moving in the extrusion direction of FIG. 2.
Further, in the vertically attached tape collecting portion 29 provided on the downstream side of the fiber collecting portion 19, the vertically attached tape 13 is vertically attached so as to cover the opening 11 of the slot rod 7.
In this vertical attachment, a hardened body 17k, which is a fixing material that is hardened so as to protrude in advance on the vertical attachment tape 13, enters the inside of the groove 5 from the opening 11, and presses the optical fiber 3 stored therein. The movement in the groove 5 is restricted.
The slot rod 7 attached with the longitudinally attached tape 13 is covered with the uneven thickness sheath 15 when passing through the extrusion head 35 provided in the extrusion molding machine 33 disposed further downstream. The optical fiber cable 1 is extruded.

Next, the resin coating apparatus TS and its vicinity configuration will be described in detail.
The vertical tape 13 supplied to the vertical tape collecting portion 29 passes through the resin coating device TS disposed between the pair of guide rollers 27, and then between the downstream guide roller 27 and the tape collecting portion 29. Is inverted by the vertical tape reversing unit 31 and supplied to the tape collecting unit 29.
The resin application device TS intermittently applies the UV resin 17 to the upper surface 13a of the vertical tape 13 so as to be separated and accumulated at predetermined intervals as a lump of predetermined shape (hereinafter referred to as an application body 17t). The application body 17t is a lump of uncured UV resin 17.

An ultraviolet irradiator 23 is disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the resin coating device TS.
The ultraviolet irradiator 23 irradiates the application body 17t applied by the resin coating apparatus TS with ultraviolet rays having a predetermined intensity. The predetermined intensity is set so that the ultraviolet ray 25 having a predetermined energy is irradiated within the irradiation time in relation to the extrusion speed. By this ultraviolet irradiation, the coated body 17t is cured to become a cured body 17k.
The cured body 17k cured and formed on the upper surface of the vertical tape 13 is inverted downward in the vertical tape reversing section 31 and enters the groove 5 of the slot rod 7 in the vertical tape collecting section 29. .

A tension is applied to the longitudinal tape 13 by the pair of guide rollers 27. On the other hand, the height position of the tape path of the resin coating device TS is set to be higher than the height position of the tape path of the guide roller 27.
As a result, when moving and passing through the resin coating device TS, the longitudinally attached tape 13 slides stably in a groove 61b (described later) of the tape guide 61 of the resin coating device TS.

Next, the resin coating apparatus TS will be described in detail with reference mainly to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the entire resin coating apparatus TS as viewed from the upper left on the downstream side in the moving direction of the vertical tape 13 and includes the vertical tape 13 and the like.
4 is a cross-sectional view at the S1-S1 position in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view at the S2-S2 position in FIG.
In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the respective directions of up, down, front, back, left and right are defined by the directions of arrows shown in FIG. In the description related to the tape path, the rear side is also indicated as the upstream side, and the front side is also indicated as the downstream side.

The resin coating apparatus TS includes a dice part 51 and a dispenser part 52 connected to the dice part 51. In this example, the dispenser unit 52 is directly connected above the die unit 51.
The dispenser unit 52 includes a dispenser 52a that discharges the UV resin 17 and supplies it to the die unit 51, and a temperature adjustment unit 52b that covers the dispenser 52a and keeps the temperature of the UV resin 17 in the dispenser 52a constant. Have.
The dispenser 52a is supplied with externally applied UV resin 17 and air for pressurizing the UV resin 17, and discharges the UV resin 17 by pressurizing the air. The pressurization of air is controlled by an external control unit (not shown).
A general-purpose product can be used as the dispenser 52a. In each figure, the resin and air introduction paths are omitted.

A temperature adjusting medium (for example, hot water) whose temperature is controlled is supplied to the temperature adjusting unit 52b from the outside. The supplied temperature control medium flows through a medium flow path (not shown) piped around the dispenser 52a, and then circulates back to the outside. The introduction path 52b1 is a path for supplying and discharging the temperature adjusting medium.
The temperature control unit 52b maintains the temperature of the dispenser 52a and the UV resin 17 accommodated therein substantially constant. The maintenance temperature of the UV resin 17 is 40 ° C., for example. Since the viscosity of the UV resin 17 is generally temperature dependent, the maintenance temperature is set to a temperature at which the UV resin 17 has a predetermined viscosity.

The die part 51 is configured by four members stacked in the vertical direction.
Specifically, the tape guide 61, the lower die 62, the upper die 63, and the connector 64 are overlapped and fixed from the lower side and integrated. Hereinafter, the lower die 62 and the upper die 63 are also simply referred to as a die DC.
These four members are made of a material that does not transmit light (for example, metal) or a material that does not transmit light in a wavelength region that promotes curing of the UV resin 17 to be applied, and a plurality of bolts provided at appropriate positions. (Not shown) and can be separated by removing the bolts.

The tape guide 61 has a rectangular columnar shape, and a groove 61b extending in the front-rear direction is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the upper surface 61a.
Specifically, the groove portion 61b is opposed to the lower surface 62c of the lower die 62 in the adjacent die DC, and is formed in a shape extending in one direction (front-rear direction) with a constant width D1. ing.
The groove 61b has an R at the opening edge that is a ridge line connected to the upper surface 61a. Further, the front and rear edges 61b2 and 61b3 of the bottom surface 61b1 are also provided with Rs, respectively.
Further, the width D1 (see FIG. 5) of the bottom surface 61b1 is slightly larger than the width D of the longitudinal tape 13 so that there is almost no backlash.
The depth of the groove 61b is set to be sufficiently larger than the thickness of the longitudinal tape 13.
Therefore, the vertical tape 13 enters the groove 61b and can move in the front-rear direction while restricting movement in the width direction (left-right direction) in the groove 61b.

Since the resin coating apparatus TS is disposed such that the height position of the bottom surface 61b1 is higher than the tape path position of the pair of guide rollers 27, the longitudinal tape 13 moves while being in contact with the bottom surface 61b1. It does not float from the bottom surface 61b1.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the longitudinal tape 13 is a tape path that rises from the upstream side and descends to the downstream side with respect to the resin coating apparatus TS, but the edges 61b2 and 61b3 Since the R is attached, there is no problem such as scratches at the edges 61b2 and 61b3.
The moving speed of the vertical tape 13 is, for example, several tens (m) per minute.

The lower die 62 has a substantially rectangular columnar shape, and a recess 62b extending in the front-rear direction is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the upper surface 62a.
The lower surface 62c is a flat surface with no unevenness, and a space V1 corresponding to a substantially flat rectangular parallelepiped is formed by the groove 61b and the lower surface 62c in a state where the lower die 62 is overlaid on the guide roller 27.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view at the S1-S1 position in a state where the lower die 62 is attached to the tape guide 61 in an overlapping manner. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view drawn three-dimensionally to visually grasp the space of the path through which the UV resin 17 flows in the die part 51.
Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIGS.

The recess 62b is formed so that the cross-sectional shape is rectangular.
A lower resin reservoir 62d that is further recessed from the bottom 62b1 is formed at the bottom 62b1 of the recess 62b.
The lower resin reservoir 62d has a resin introduction portion 62d1 having a constant width in the left-right direction on the rear side, and a resin guide portion formed such that the front side with respect to the resin introduction portion 62d1 becomes narrower in the left-right direction toward the front. 62d2.
The resin introducing portion 62d1 and the resin guiding portion 62d2 are formed continuously without a step.

A front wall 62d3 having a predetermined width in the left-right direction is formed on the front end side of the resin guiding portion 62d2. The front wall 62d3 is formed as a flat surface extending in the vertical and horizontal directions, or has a curved surface protruding forward.
An application passage 62f connected to the front side surface 62e of the lower die 62 is formed as a through hole on the front wall 62d3 on the bottom surface 62d4 side of the lower resin reservoir 62d2.
Specifically, the application passage 62f includes a front wall 62d3a (see FIG. 7) facing the lower resin reservoir 62d on the front wall 62d3 and a bottom surface facing the lower resin reservoir 62d at the front corner Z1 of the lower resin reservoir 62d2. 62d4 (see FIG. 7), an inner opening 62f1 that is open across both, and an outer opening that is open at a predetermined distance D3 above the protruding corner Z2 on the lower side of the side surface 62e. 62 f 2, and is formed as a through hole that connects the inner opening 62 f 1 and the outer opening 62 f 2. That is, in the application passage 62f, the inner opening 62f1 is the first opening, and the outer opening 62f2 is the second opening.

Further, the application passage 62f is formed to be inclined at an inclination angle θa so as to become the lower side as it goes forward.
Further, it is formed so as to be parallel to the extending direction of the groove 61b when viewed from above.
The application passage 62f is formed, for example, so that the cross-sectional area is constant. As a specific example, the cross-sectional shape is a straight tube, for example, a circle having a diameter φa.
The peripheral edge of the outer opening 62f2 is preferably not edged as much as possible and is in an edge state.

The upper die 63 has a substantially rectangular columnar shape, and a convex portion 63b extending in the front-rear direction is formed at the center in the left-right direction of the lower surface 63a.
The convex part 63b fits with the concave part 62b of the lower die 62 without a gap.
An upper resin reservoir 63d is formed on the lower surface 63b1 of the convex portion 63b. The upper resin reservoir 63d is recessed in the shape corresponding to the lower resin reservoir 62d when the upper die 63 is overlapped with a predetermined position of the lower die 62. .
Thereby, when the upper die 63 and the lower die 62 are overlapped at a predetermined position, a space for the resin reservoir V2 (hereinafter also referred to as a space V2) is formed by the upper resin reservoir 63d and the lower resin reservoir 62d. .
That is, the resin reservoir portion V2 is a resin introduction portion V2a having a constant width in the left-right direction on the rear side, and the front side with respect to the resin introduction portion V2a becomes narrower in the left-right direction as it goes forward, and the cross-sectional area becomes smaller. The resin guiding portion V2b is formed as described above (see FIG. 8).

Further, the upper die 63 is formed with a through hole 63e directed upward at a portion corresponding to the resin introduction portion 62d1. The upper side of the through-hole 63e opens to the bottom 63g1 of the circular recess 63g formed on the upper surface 63f of the upper die 63.
In this configuration, the inner opening 62f1 is formed at a position farthest from the through hole 63e in the space V2 serving as a resin reservoir. The outer opening 62f2 is located above the groove 61b in the tape guide 61.

An annular stepped groove 63h is provided on the upper surface 63f of the upper die 63 so as to surround the recess 63g.
The stepped groove 63h is formed to have a flow path part 63h1 whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction in FIG. 5 and a step part 63h2 which is wider and shallower than the flow path part 63h1.
A flat ring-shaped lid 63j is fitted and fixed to the stepped portion 63h2 in a sealed state.

In the upper die 63, through holes 63mf and 63mr reaching the flow path portion 63h1 are formed on the left side surface 63kf and the right side surface 63kr, respectively.
Coupler PF and coupler PR (see FIG. 3) are connected to through-hole 63mf and through-hole 63mr, respectively, hose PF1 connected to coupler PF and coupler PF, and hose connected to coupler PR and coupler PR. Using PR1, a temperature-controlled medium (for example, hot water) whose temperature is controlled is circulated from the outside into the flow path portion 63h1.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the temperature adjustment medium is supplied from, for example, one coupler PF and the through hole 63mf to the flow path portion 63h1, and is discharged from the through hole 63mr and the other coupler PR.

Thus, the die temperature control part 51b is comprised including the flow-path part 63h1 and the through-holes 63mf and 63mr.
The temperature-controlled temperature control medium circulates in the die temperature control unit 51b, so that the temperature of the die unit 51 and the UV resin 17 accommodated in the die unit 51 is maintained almost constant.
The maintenance temperature of the UV resin 17 in the die part 51 is normally set to be the same as the maintenance temperature of the UV resin 17 accommodated in the dispenser 52a, and is 40 ° C., for example.

On the upper side of the upper die 63, a connector 64 is attached in an overlapping manner. The connector 64 is in close contact with the upper surface 63f of the upper die 63, has no backlash in the recess 63g, and is hermetically fitted using the seal ring 65 in combination.
The connector 64 has a through hole 64 a extending in the vertical direction corresponding to the through hole 63 e of the upper die 63.
The upper side of the connector 64 is screwed to the dispenser 52a. Thereby, the UV resin 17 discharged from the upper dispenser 52a is supplied to the through hole 64a.

In the above-described configuration, the UV resin 17 discharged from the dispenser 52a is supplied to the dice unit 51 connected to the dispenser 52a.
The supplied UV resin 17 is formed by an upper resin reservoir 63d and a lower resin reservoir 62d through the through-hole 64a of the connector 64 and the through-hole 63e of the upper die 63 by its own weight or the pressure of the dispenser 52a. The resin reservoir V2 is filled.
Further, when the UV resin 17 is supplied, filling proceeds from the space in the resin introduction portion 62d1 in the resin reservoir portion V2 to the space in the resin guiding portion 62d2.
When the entire resin reservoir portion V2 and the application passage 62f are filled, the UV resin 17 is ready to be discharged from the application passage 62f to the outside. In this state, the UV resin 17 is discharged to the outside from the outer opening 62f2 while pressure is applied from the dispenser 52a.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the space shape of the filling path of the UV resin 17.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view as viewed from the front left diagonally upper side, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view as viewed from the front left diagonally lower side. For convenience, the reference numerals on the member side forming the shape are given with ().

The UV resin 17 once enters the resin introduction portion V2a by the resin introduction portion 62d1 having a certain width, and thereafter is guided to the resin guidance portion V2b by the tapered resin guidance portion 62d2, and enters the coating passage 62f provided at the tip thereof. Reach. Since there is no portion in which the UV resin 17 crawls in this path, the UV resin 17 is unlikely to stay during application, and the application is performed smoothly without waste.
Further, since the application passage 62f is provided at the lower corner of the tapered leading end of the resin introduction portion 62d1 so as to straddle the two connected surfaces, the UV resin also has its own weight. Then, it smoothly flows into the application passage 62f.
The inner opening 62f1 is formed at a position farthest from the through hole 63e in the resin reservoir V2.
As a result, when the UV resin 17 is used up, the air injected into the die DC after the UV resin 17 is evenly distributed in the resin reservoir V2, and the UV resin 17 does not remain and everything is reliably guided to the coating passage 62f. .

Next, the application of the UV resin 17 on one surface (upper surface 13a) of the longitudinal tape 13 by the resin coating apparatus TS described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
9 (A) to 9 (D) are enlarged cross-sectional views of the vicinity region including the portion A in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the position S3-S3 in FIG.

In the application of the UV resin 17, the resin application device TS is disposed such that the side surface 62 e on which the application passage 62 f is formed faces the downstream side in the moving direction of the longitudinal tape 13.
Further, at the time of application, the vertical tape 13 is moved at a predetermined speed in the whitening direction of FIG.
In FIG. 9A, in order to form the application body 17t in this state, the UV resin 17 is supplied from the dispenser 52a into the die DC, filled in the resin reservoir V2, and then pressurized to apply the application passage 62f. A state immediately after being discharged from the outside is shown.
As described above, when the UV resin 17 is discharged from the outer opening 62f2 of the application passage 62f to the outside, the UV resin 17 hangs down due to its own weight and reaches the upper surface 13a of the longitudinal tape 13.

  The UV resin 17 has a viscosity (for example, 0.5 to 5 Pa · s) that can maintain its shape when applied, and the vertical tape 13 is predetermined in the direction of the white arrow that is the longitudinal direction. 9 (for example, 30 m / min), the UV resin 17 that has reached the longitudinal tape 13 extends along the direction of travel of the longitudinal tape 13 as shown in FIG. It is applied on the upper surface 13a as an applied body 17t having a predetermined cross-sectional shape.

For example, the predetermined cross-sectional shape is such that H / W, which is a ratio of height H to width W, is about 0.6 to 0.8 as shown in FIG. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be appropriately set according to the shape of the groove 5 of the slot rod 7 of the optical fiber cable 1 to be manufactured, the number of optical fibers 3 to be pressed, and the like, including the size of the cross-sectional shape. it can.
The setting is performed by appropriately selecting the viscosity at the time of application of the UV resin 17 to be applied (including the temperature controlled by the temperature adjusting medium), the shape of the application path 62f of the dice DC, the opening diameter of the outer opening 62f2, and the like. be able to.

When the application body 17t has a predetermined length and is intermittently formed at a predetermined interval, whether or not the dispenser 52a is pressurized is controlled by a time corresponding to the predetermined length and the predetermined interval. Therefore, when forming one application body 17t, after pressurizing and discharging the UV resin 17 for a predetermined time, the pressurization is stopped.
As shown in FIG. 9C, the UV resin 17 is separated at the position slightly protruding from the outer opening 62f2 by the movement of the vertical tape 13 after the pressurization is stopped, and has a predetermined length and a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The application body 17t is independently formed on the upper surface 13a.

FIG. 9D shows a state where the application body 17t is completely separated from the UV resin 17 on the application passage 62f side after the pressurization is stopped.
The application body 17t is irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a predetermined energy by an ultraviolet irradiator immediately after the separation and formation. Thereby, the application body 17t is cured to become a cured body 17k, which is used to hold the optical fiber 3.

As described above, the outer opening 62f2 from which the UV resin 17 is discharged is formed on the side surface 62e of the lower die 62 at a position separated from the lower protruding corner portion Z2 by a distance D3.
Thereby, after the discharge is stopped by the pressurization stop by the dispenser 52a, the surface tension acts favorably at the edge of the outer opening 62f2, and the dripping of the UV resin 17 from the outer opening 62f2 becomes extremely difficult to occur. Yes. A slight value is sufficient for the distance D2, for example, about 0.2 mm.
Further, if the peripheral edge of the outer opening 62f2 is in an edge state without R or C surface, the surface tension acts more favorably and the dripping of the UV resin 17 from the outer opening 62f2 occurs. Is less likely to occur.

The application passage 62f is inclined downward from the inner opening 62f1 toward the outer opening 62f2.
Thereby, when the UV resin 17 is pressurized, its own weight also acts and discharges favorably.
Therefore, problems such as resin shortage during ejection are unlikely to occur, and application for forming the application body 17t is stably performed.
Further, when all of the UV resin 17 in the die part 51 is discharged and used for a long-term stop or maintenance of the resin coating apparatus TS, it is difficult for the resin to remain in the resin reservoir part V2. Cleaning work performed by disassembling the lower die 62 and the like is facilitated, and the working time can be shortened.

Since the resin coating apparatus TS of the embodiment also includes a die temperature control unit 51b in addition to the temperature control unit 52b, not only the UV resin 17 in the dispenser 52a but also the UV resin 17 in the die unit 51 is immediately before coating. Until the desired temperature is maintained.
Accordingly, the viscosity of the UV resin 17 discharged from the application passage 62f is always constant, and the shapes of the application body 17t formed on the longitudinal tape 13 and the cured body 17k after curing thereof are not affected by fluctuations in the external temperature. , Can be stably obtained in a fixed shape.

Moreover, even if a general-purpose product is used for the dispenser 52a, the dispenser 52a and the die portion 51 are connected by a non-light transmissive member without using a light transmissive nozzle.
Therefore, the UV resin 17 is not exposed to external light until it reaches the die DC from the dispenser 52a and is discharged to the outside from the application passage 62f.
Accordingly, the curing of the UV resin 17 does not proceed and the viscosity does not change before ejection, and the shapes of the application body 17t and the cured body 17k can be stably obtained in a fixed shape.
Conventionally, since the nozzle is usually formed of a material that transmits light, some processing (such as wrapping black tape) that blocks the external light is prevented so that the UV resin inside the nozzle does not cure by external light. Although necessary, in the resin coating apparatus TS of the embodiment, the processing can be made unnecessary.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configuration and procedure described above, and it goes without saying that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The inclination angle θa is not limited and is, as an example, in the range of 1 ° to 30 °, and more specifically 10 °.
The dispenser 52a may not be disposed above the die part 51. For example, you may arrange | position at the side. Moreover, it does not need to be directly connected to the die part 51, and may be connected with a flexible tube or the like and disposed at a position separated from the die part 51 in an arbitrary posture.
Two or more coating passages 62f may be provided. For example, when the cured body 17k having a plurality of top portions in the width direction is formed as the fixed portion on the longitudinal tape 13, or when the plurality of cured bodies 17k are provided independently in the width direction, the number of the top portions Alternatively, a plurality of application passages may be provided according to the number of the cured bodies 17k.
The resin coating apparatus TS of the embodiment has been described with respect to the example in which the application body 17t is formed on the longitudinal tape 13 used in the optical fiber cable 1. However, the application body 17t is not limited to the vertical tape 13 and is formed on the tape. Needless to say, it can also be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber cable 3 Optical fiber 5 Groove 7 Slot rod 9 Strength member 11 Opening part 13 Vertical attachment tape, 13a Upper surface 15 Uneven thickness sheath 17 UV resin, 17t Application body, 17k Hardened body 19 Fiber assembly part 23 Ultraviolet irradiation device, 25 Ultraviolet rays 27 Guide roller 29 Vertically attached tape collecting part, 31 Vertically attached tape reversing part 33 Extruder, 35 Extrusion head 51 Die part, 51b Dice temperature control part 52 Dispenser part, 52a Dispenser, 52b Temperature control part 52b1 Introducing path 61 Tape Guide, 61a upper surface, 61b groove portion 61b1 bottom surface, 61b2, 61b3 edge 62 lower die, 62a upper surface, 62b recess, 62c lower surface 62d lower resin reservoir, 62d1 resin introduction portion 62d2 resin guiding portion, 62d3 front wall 62d3a front wall surface, 62d4 , 62 Side surface 62f Application passage, 62f1 inner opening, 62f2 outer opening 63 upper die, 63a lower surface, 63b convex portion, 63b1 lower surface 63d upper resin reservoir, 63e through hole, 63f upper surface 63g concave portion, 63g1 bottom portion, 63h stepped groove portion 63h1 Road part, 63h2 Step part, 63j Ring-shaped lid 63kf, 63kr Side face, 63mf, 63mr Through hole 64 Connector, 64a Through hole 65 Seal ring D, D1, D2 Width D3 Distance DC dice PF, PR coupler, PF1, PR2 hose S Manufacturing equipment TS Resin coating device V1 space, V2 space (resin reservoir)
V2a resin introduction part, V2b resin guide part Z1 entry corner, Z2 exit corner θa inclination angle, φa diameter

Claims (4)

A resin coating device for applying an ultraviolet curable resin on a tape moving in a longitudinal direction,
A dispenser for discharging the ultraviolet curable resin;
A die to which the ultraviolet curable resin discharged from the dispenser is supplied;
A tape guide disposed on the lower side with respect to the die in the use posture of the resin coating apparatus, and formed with a groove portion facing the die and extending in one direction with a constant width;
With
The dice
A resin reservoir for storing the supplied UV curable resin;
One end side opens as a first opening to the resin reservoir, and the other end side opens as a second opening above the groove on the side surface facing the one direction in the die, and the first opening An application passage that inclines downward from the portion toward the second opening,
A resin coating apparatus comprising:   The resin reservoir has an opening for supplying the ultraviolet curable resin from the dispenser, and the first opening is formed at a position farthest from the supply port in the resin reservoir. The resin coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   3. The resin coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resin reservoir has a resin guiding portion formed so that a cross-sectional area becomes smaller toward the second opening. 4. A slot rod having a groove;
One or more optical fibers housed in the grooves;
A longitudinal tape covering the opening of the groove;
A fixing portion that is provided on the longitudinal tape and enters the inside of the groove from the opening to hold the optical fiber;
An optical fiber cable manufacturing method for manufacturing an optical fiber cable comprising:
An applied body forming step of forming an applied body by applying the ultraviolet curable resin before curing on the vertical tape by the resin coating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A fixing part forming step in which the application body formed in the application body forming step is cured by ultraviolet irradiation to be the fixing part; and
Including
The application body forming step includes:
The UV curable resin is moved from the dispenser through the resin reservoir and from the second opening of the coating passage onto the vertical tape while the vertical tape is moved into the groove and moved in the one direction. A method of manufacturing an optical fiber cable, wherein the method is applied by discharging in the moving direction.

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