JPH0425687Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention is a manufacturing device for a tape-type optical fiber cable, in which a plurality of tape-type core wires are fitted in an overlapping manner into an outer peripheral spiral slot of a long central shaft (spacer). Regarding.

(Prior Art) First, to briefly explain the general structure of a tape-type optical fiber cable, as shown in FIG. A steel tension strand 2 is built into the axial center of the shaft. A plurality of tape-type core wires (tape-type optical fiber core wires) T are superimposed and fitted into some of the plurality of slots 4, and various conduction (or transmission) wires such as gas tubes or electric wires are inserted into the other slots 4. A long member is stored. Slot 4 for tape type core wire
The cross-sectional shape of is approximately rectangular. After the above-mentioned various members are fitted onto the outer periphery of the central shaft 1, various protective tapes (not shown) are covered, thereby finally fixing the tape-shaped core wire T and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tape-type core wire T includes a plurality of parallel optical fiber core wires 5, and the outer periphery of the optical fiber core wires 5 is integrally covered with a resin coating layer 6. The cross-sectional shape of the tape-type core wire T is 1
It has a pair of parallel long sides, and both ends of the long sides are connected by, for example, an arcuate short side, so that the cross-sectional shape resembles that of a racing track. The width of the tape type core wire is 1.1
The thickness is about 0.4 mm.

When the tape-shaped core wire T as described above is fitted into the slot 4 as shown in FIG. 6, the tape-shaped core wire T is twisted along the torsion direction of the slot by a guide roller etc. Therefore, the tapered core wire T may become vertical as shown in Figure 4 while passing through the die 10, or the outermost tape core wire T- ₁ may be reversed as shown in Figure 3. .

Conventionally, such inversion or arrangement disorder is visually checked by, for example, an operator. However, since manufacturing work is a continuous process, the above-mentioned visual check often misses abnormalities.

(Purpose of the invention) The purpose of the invention is to automatically detect the fitting state of the tape-shaped core wire in the slot, thereby reliably detecting any abnormalities in the installation of the tape-shaped core wire, and to identify defective cable products. The goal is to reliably prevent this from occurring.

(Means for achieving the object) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention colors one end in the width direction of the tape-shaped core wire fitted on the outermost side in the slot with a specific color, and A detection section of a color mark sensor (hue detector) for detecting the specific color is arranged in the exit side portion at a position corresponding to the point through which the colored one end passes, and the color mark sensor detects the specific color. The color mark sensor is provided with a means for issuing a stop signal when a color other than a specific color is detected, and a stop mechanism for stopping the manufacturing apparatus in response to the stop signal is connected to the color mark sensor.

(Function) If the outermost tape-shaped core wire is inverted or fitted vertically, one colored end will come off from the detection part of the color mark sensor, which will cause the color mark sensor's stop signal to be activated. Then, the stop mechanism operates and stops the manufacturing equipment.

(Example) In FIG. 2, for example, four slots are inserted into one slot 4.
Assuming that the tape-shaped core wire T of the book is to be fitted, let's assume that they are inserted from the outermost side to the first tape-shaped core wire T- ₁ ,
2nd tape type core wire T- ₂ , 3rd tape type core wire T-
_3. The fourth tape type core wire is T- ₄ . At one end (right end in Figure 2) on the same side in the width direction of each tape-shaped core wire T- ₁ ...T- ₄ , a color mark A with an arc-shaped cross section is made by coloring with resin coloring ink.
_-1 , A- ₂ , A- ₃ , and A- ₄ have been applied. The colors of the color marks A- ₁ ...A- ₄ are different, for example, the color mark A _-1 of the first tape type core wire T- ₁ is blue, and the color mark A of the second tape type core wire T- ₂ is different.
_-2 is red, the color mark A- _{3 of the third tape type core wire T-3 is} yellow, and the color mark A _-4 of the fourth tape type core wire T- ₄ is purple.

Figure 1 shows a vertical cross section of a die of a tape type optical fiber cable manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and the resin center shaft (spacer) 1 has a spiral spiral twisted in the same direction on its outer peripheral surface as described above. It has a plurality of slots 4 having a shape, and is sent forward at a predetermined speed while rotating in the same direction (R direction) as the twisting direction of the slots 4. The above-mentioned predetermined speed is the speed at which the slot 4 advances by one lead during one rotation of the central shaft 1,
Therefore, for example, the fixed point P1 on the rear side of the die 10
Furthermore, the slot 4 always passes through each fixed point P2 on the front side of the die 10. The twisting die 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape coaxial with the central axis 1.

A main color mark sensor 11 is provided on the front side (exit side) of the die 10, and the tip detection section 11a of the main color mark sensor 11 is located on the color mark side (second It is located at a position corresponding to the end (right side in the figure). The main color mark sensor 11 is set to detect the blue color of the color mark A- ₁ of the outermost first tape-type core wire T- ₁ . That is, the main color mark sensor 11 emits light from the detection section 11a toward the color mark A- ₁ , receives the light reflected from the color mark A- ₁ , and uses a microcomputer to determine that it is blue based on the wavelength of the received light. and means for generating a stop signal when a color other than blue is detected. This main color mark sensor 11 is connected to the device stop mechanism 15 shown in FIG.
When the stop signal is received, for example, the central shaft feeding mechanism, take-up mechanism, winding mechanism, etc. of the manufacturing apparatus are stopped. The basic principle of the main color mark sensor 11 is the same as that of the patent application filed on July 10, 1988 (Japanese Patent Application No. 173481/1982) by the applicant of the present invention.

On the rear side (entrance side) of the die are four first, second, third, and fourth sub color mark sensors _12-1 ,
_12-2 , _12-3 , _12-4 are provided, and each sub color mark sensor _12-1 , _12-2 , 12-
₃ , _12-4 tip detection parts 12a- ₁ , 12a- ₂ ,
12a- ₃ and 12a- ₄ are arranged at positions corresponding to the positions through which the tape-shaped core wires T- ₁ , T- ₂ , T- ₃ , and T- ₄ pass immediately before being dropped. Each sub-color mark sensor _12-1 , _12-2 ,
_12-3 and _12-4 each have means for transmitting a stop signal to the stop mechanism 15, similarly to the main color mark sensor 11, when a color other than the set specific color is detected.

To explain more specifically, in FIG. 5 showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG.
₁ , 12a- ₂ , 12a- ₃ , and 12a- ₄ are disposed on the color mark side in the width direction of the tape-type core wire, and face toward the tape-type core wire side. The first sub-color mark sensor _12-1 is set to detect the blue color of the color mark A- ₁ of the outermost first tape-type core wire T- ₁ , and its detection portion 12a- ₁ is connected to the first tape-type core wire T-1. − It is located at a position corresponding to the passing position of ₁ . The second sub-color mark sensor _12-2 is set to detect the red color of the color mark A- ₂ of the second tape-type core wire T- ₂ , and its detection portion 12a
_-2 is arranged at a position corresponding to the passage position of the second tape-type core wire T- ₂ . The third sub-color mark sensor _12-3 is set to detect the yellow color of the color mark A- ₃ of the third tape-type core wire T- ₃ , and its detection portion 12a- _{3 detects the yellow color of the color mark A-3} of the third tape-type core wire T- ₃ . It is placed at a position corresponding to the passing position. The fourth sub-color mark sensor _12-4 is set to detect the purple color of the color mark A- ₄ of the fourth tape-type core wire T- ₄ , and its detection portion 12a- _{4 detects the purple color of the color mark A-4} of the fourth tape-type core wire T- ₄ . It is placed at a position corresponding to the passing position.

In FIG. 1, for example, when a total of eight tape-shaped core wires T are fitted into two slots 4, four at a time, a total of two main color mark sensors 11 are arranged at positions corresponding to each slot 4. ,
A total of eight sub color mark sensors _12-1 ... _12-4 are arranged.

Explain the operation. In FIG. 1, for example, eight tape-shaped core wires T are sent forward from a rear core wire supply device (not shown), and along the way, they are stacked four by four by guide rollers, etc., and are placed in the length direction (twisting direction) of the slot 4. The tape-shaped core wires are aligned (twisted) and dropped into each tape-shaped core wire slot 4. Immediately before the dropping, each sub color mark sensor _12-1 , _12-2 , 12
_-3 and _12-4 check for inversion or disorder of arrangement order. That is, when each tape type core wire T is passing in a normal state and arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, each sub color mark sensor _12-1 , 12
_-2 , _12-3 , and _12-4 detect the respective set specific colors, and therefore no stop signal is sent.

If even one of the four tape-shaped core wires T is reversed or the arrangement order is changed, the manufacturing equipment will stop due to a stop signal from the color mark sensor that detects a color other than the specified color. .

After the tape-shaped core wire T is fitted into the slot 4 by passing through the die 10 shown in FIG. 1, the fitting state is checked by the main color mark sensor 11. That is, when each tape-type core wire T is fitted in the normal state and arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, the main color mark sensor 11 detects the blue color of the color mark A- ₁ of the first tape-type core wire T- ₁ . Therefore, no stop signal is issued.

Suppose that while passing through the die, the first tape-type core wire T- ₁ is reversed as shown in Fig. 3, or the first, second, and second tape-type core wires T- ₁ , T are reversed as shown in Fig. 4.
_-2 and T- ₃ are in an upright position, the main color mark sensor 11 cannot detect blue color, and therefore a stop signal is sent and the manufacturing apparatus is stopped.

(Another Embodiment) (1) Of course, the present invention can also be applied to cases where two, three, or five or more tape-shaped core wires are fitted into one slot 4.

(2) When three or more slots are used for tape-type core wires, the number of main color mark sensors and sub color mark sensor sets corresponding to the slots used are arranged.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, the manufacturing apparatus of the invention colors one end in the width direction of the tape-shaped core wire T- ₁ fitted on the outermost side in the slot 4 with a specific color, and attaches it to the twisting die. A detection unit 1a of a color mark sensor 11 for detecting the specific color is disposed at a position corresponding to the location where the colored one end passes through the exit side of the color mark sensor 10, and the color mark sensor 11 detects the specific color. The color mark sensor is connected to a stop mechanism 15 that stops the manufacturing equipment in response to the stop signal, so the tape-type optical fiber cable Before the cable is finally commercialized, it is possible to automatically prevent the tape-shaped core wire from being disarranged and reversed, and to provide a high-quality cable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the die part of a tape type optical fiber cable manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is a normal fitting state of Fig. 1.
3 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views of FIG.
The figures are an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the tape-type optical fiber cable, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the tape-type core wire. T…
... Tape core wire, 1 ... Center axis, 4 ... Slot,
11... Main color mark sensor, 11a... Detection section, 15... Stop mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) In an apparatus for manufacturing a tape-type optical fiber cable in which a plurality of tape-type core wires are fitted in an overlapping manner into an outer peripheral spiral slot of a central shaft passing through a twisting die, One end in the width direction of the tape-shaped core wire to be fitted on the outermost side is colored with a specific color, and the above-mentioned color is applied to the exit side of the twisting die at a position corresponding to the point through which the colored one end passes. A detection section of a color mark sensor that detects a specific color is disposed, and the color mark sensor has means for discriminating the specific color and issuing a stop signal when detecting a color other than the specific color, and the color mark sensor is provided with a means for emitting a stop signal when detecting a color other than the specific color. A manufacturing device for a tape-type optical fiber cable, characterized in that a stopping mechanism is connected to the manufacturing device to stop the manufacturing device. (2) Color one end of each tape-shaped core wire in the width direction with a different specific color, and set a specific color for detection at each location corresponding to the part where each fiber core passes just before dropping into the die entrance. A utility model in which a detection section of a sub-color mark sensor is arranged, and each sub-color mark sensor has a means for discriminating between each specific color and other colors and issuing a stop signal when detecting a color other than the specific color. An apparatus for manufacturing a tape-type optical fiber cable according to claim 1.