• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    the present invention relates to a method of producing an optical fiber tape, said method comprising: * feeding a plurality of optical fibers to provide a longitudinal optical fiber assembly; wherein the plurality of optical fibers are parallel and adjacent to each other; wherein each plurality of optical fibers comprises, from the center to the periphery thereof, a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating, a secondary coating and an outer layer formed of a partially cured first curable resin; * applying a second curable resin from a dispenser to a surface of said assembly, wherein the second curable resin forms a plurality of successive elongated straight spheres configured to form connections between two adjacent optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers; and * passing the said set with the spheres of the second curable resin applied to it through a curing station for curing the second curable resin and for completing the curing of said first partially cured curable resin, of the outer layer, of each optical fiber to form the connections. the invention also relates to the obtained tape.
    公开号:BR112020014340A2
    申请号:R112020014340-5
    申请日:2018-01-15
    公开日:2020-12-08
    发明作者:Ehsan FALLAHMOHAMMADI；Brian G. Risch；John R. Sach；Jeffrey Scott Barker；Clint Anderson
    申请人:Prysmian S.P.A.；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [001] [001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a fiber optic tape and said fiber optic tape. HISTORIC
    [002] [002] The amount of data transmitted by fiber optic cables is continually increasing. This increase is specifically eminent in data centers worldwide - for example, due to the expansion of cloud computing - where all data must be transmitted in a limited space. This causes an increasing demand for optical cables with high count and high fiber density. In addition, there is always a tendency to reduce the construction costs of the access head network, making it important to decrease the diameter and weight of the optical cable. By decreasing the diameter and weight of the optical cable, it will be possible to use existing installations, such as underground ducts, which will reduce installation costs. An additional requirement is that, in order to shorten the cable connection operation time, the optical fibers must be joined by mass fusion.
    [003] [003] This means that there are several demands - possibly conflicting - on the one hand, the decrease in the diameter of the optical cable and, on the other hand, the increase in the density of the optical fiber. This is a serious challenge for optical cable manufacturers.
    [004] [004] To obtain easy feasibility, fiber optic tapes were used that can be joined by mass fusion to make several fiber optic connections at once with improved flexibility.
    [005] [005] However, standard fiber optic tapes have the disadvantage of being rigid, due to the fact that there is a layer of resin applied around the fiber optic assembly to keep the optical fibers in a parallel plane. This stiffness limits the possibility of increasing fiber density in fiber optic cables.
    [006] [006] JP2011221199 proposed an option to provide more flexible fiber optic tape by applying a sine-shaped matrix line connecting the material to one side of a parallel set of adjacent optical fibers. SUMMARY
    [007] [007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical tape and method for its production, showing an improvement in flexibility and which allows to wind or fold the optical fibers in the direction of the tape width, while presenting excellent tape resistance. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical tape that can be joined by mass fusion to make various connections of the optical fiber. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber tape from which the individual optical fibers comprising at most three optical fibers encapsulated with a matrix material can be separated without damaging the adjacent optical fibers.
    [008] [008] One or more of these objects are reached in a first aspect by a method for producing an optical fiber tape, said method comprising: * feeding a plurality of optical fibers to provide a longitudinal optical fiber assembly; wherein the plurality of optical fibers are parallel and adjacent to each other; wherein each plurality of optical fibers comprises, from the center to the periphery thereof, a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating, a secondary coating and an outer layer formed of a partially cured first curable resin; * applying a second curable resin from a dispenser to a surface of said assembly, wherein the second curable resin forms a plurality of successive elongated straight spheres configured to form connections between two adjacent optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers; and * passing the said set with the spheres of the second curable resin applied to it through a curing station for curing the second curable resin and for completing the curing of said first partially cured curable resin, from the outer layer, of each optical fiber to form the connections. The spheres connect the outer layers of the optical fiber to each other.
    [009] [009] One or more of these objects are reached in a second aspect by a fiber optic tape, comprising: * a plurality of adjacent optical fibers that extend in a longitudinal direction and arranged in parallel, forming a set of optical fiber; * a plurality of successive elongated straight spheres of a second cured resin arranged along the length of said assembly; - each said plurality of spheres configured to form an elongated connection between two adjacent optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers; wherein each plurality of optical fibers comprises, from the center to the periphery thereof, a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating, a secondary coating and an outer layer formed of a second cured resin; wherein the second cured resin of each elongated bond is chemically joined to the respective second cured resin of the two adjacent optical fibers.
    [0010] [0010] The corresponding realizations of the tape disclosed below are also applicable to the method according to the present invention, and vice versa.
    [0011] [0011] The optical fiber tape, according to the present invention, thus has several optical fibers arranged in parallel which are connected with other optical fibers by means of cured resin spheres. A connection is created by curing the curable resin of the spheres in the first partially cured resin cured in the outer layer of each of the optical fibers; this creates a union or connection between the spheres and the outer layer, thereby increasing the strength of the connection between the sphere and the outer layer.
    [0012] [0012] When an optical fiber must be removed / removed from the tape, it is preferred that the point of failure / rupture is in the sphere itself or in the outer layer or between the outer layer and the secondary coating. In order to maintain the integrity of the optical fiber, it is desirable that the point of rupture / failure during the removal be in the secondary coating or at the interface with the primary coating, this damaging the optical fiber. This present invention - curing the outer layer to the sphere - has the effect of directing the point of failure away from the interior of the optical fiber to the interface between the outer layer and the secondary coating or into the outer layer. This outer layer has the effect of acting as a release layer. the present inventors have observed that the combination of the characteristics of having an outer layer and having this coupled to the sphere provides a point of failure that does not damage the optical fibers nor has the effect on their integrity. Although the outer layer is part of the optical fiber, it can be (partially) removed without damaging the structural parts of the optical fiber, being a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating and a secondary coating. LIST OF DEFINITIONS
    [0013] [0013] The following definitions are used in this description and claims to define the stated matter. Other terms not mentioned below must mean having the meaning normally accepted in the field.
    [0014] [0014] Optical fiber assembly, as used in the present description, means: an arrangement free of the plurality of parallel adjacent optical fibers without any connection between any of the fibers; said set has a width (W) and having interstices or grooves between the adjacent optical fibers.
    [0015] [0015] Set width (W) or width (W), as used in the present description, means: said set is formed by a number (N) of optical fibers, each having a diameter (D) and a length ( L); said set having a width (W; W = DxN).
    [0016] [0016] Bonding, as used in this description, means: a sphere of a second cured resin that bonds two adjacent optical fibers over a bonding length (1). It should be noted that if two (or more subsequent spheres are applied after another within the same groove that connects the same two adjacent optical fibers, these two (or more) spheres are considered to form a connection length (1) equal to the sum the same length as these subsequent spheres.
    [0017] [0017] Bonding material, as used in this description, means the material with which a bond is formed. This is the second cured resin - or when not yet cured - the second curable resin.
    [0018] [0018] Material of the outer layer material, as used in this description, means the material from which the outer layer is formed, being a first resin that - depending on the stage of the process - is curable, partially cured or cured.
    [0019] [0019] Chemically bonded, as used in the present description, means: the presence of chemical covalent bonds that are formed by the simultaneous curing of the second curable resin and the first partially cured curable resin. These resins each comprise a plurality of chemically active groups that form cross-links (chemical bonds) during curing; due to simultaneous curing at the interface of the spheres and the outer layer, there will be chemical covalent bonds formed between the chemically active groups present in the second curable resin of the bonds / spheres and in the first partially cured curable resin of the outer layer.
    [0020] [0020] Staggered pattern, as used in this description, means a pattern consisting of a succession of spheres over the plurality of optical fibers, in which the spheres of said succession of spheres are increasingly distanced from an optical fiber, in the direction of the width . That is, the step of the staggered pattern is an optical fiber. Therefore, in the case where the set is formed by a number of N optical fibers, an individual staggered pattern is constituted by a succession of (N-1) spheres;
    [0021] [0021] Zigzag type arrangement, as used in the present description, means an arrangement that follows the trace of a triangular wave. The zigzag-like arrangement in the present application is obtained by adjusting a line through intermediate points of the subsequent spheres of the subsequent staggered patterns;
    [0022] [0022] Sawtooth-like arrangement, as used in this description, means a disposition that follows the trace of a sawtooth wave. The sawtooth-like arrangement in the present application is obtained by adjusting a line through the intermediate points of the subsequent spheres of the subsequent staggered patterns;
    [0023] [0023] A height (P), as used in this description, is defined as having a length equal to the recurrence of the staggered pattern in the same width direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [0024] [0024] The present invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which the embodiments of the present invention are shown and in which similar reference numbers indicate the same or similar elements.
    [0025] [0025] Figure 1 shows an optical fiber assembly (not part of the invention) in three-dimensional view.
    [0026] [0026] Figure 2a shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber optic tape that has an intermittent / discontinuous zigzag type arrangement in three-dimensional view. Figure 2b shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber optic tape that has an intermittent / discontinuous zigzag arrangement with a different connection length than the embodiment in figure 2a.
    [0027] [0027] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber optic tape that has a continuous zigzag-like arrangement in three-dimensional view.
    [0028] [0028] Figure 4a shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber optic tape that has an intermittent / discontinuous sawtooth-like arrangement in three-dimensional view. Figure 4b shows the realization of Figure 4a with a sawtooth line and height adjusted for height.
    [0029] [0029] Figure 5 shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber-optic tape that has a partially continuous sawtooth-like arrangement in three-dimensional view.
    [0030] [0030] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of an inventive fiber optic tape that has a continuous sawtooth-like arrangement in three-dimensional view.
    [0031] [0031] Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a possible process line for the preparation of an optical fiber tape that has six optical fibers.
    [0032] [0032] Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of a fiber optic tape that has a zigzag type arrangement in perspective view.
    [0033] [0033] Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of a fiber optic tape that has a sawtooth-like arrangement in perspective view.
    [0034] [0034] Figure 10 shows an image of the tape according to an embodiment of the present invention in plan view.
    [0035] [0035] Figure 11 shows, in cross-section, an image of an optical cable unit being prepared using 24 optical fiber tapes, each having 12 optical fibers. DESCRIPTION OF ACHIEVEMENTS
    [0036] [0036] As described above, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of producing a 100-600 fiber optic tape. Several achievements of said method are discussed below.
    [0037] [0037] In a first step, a plurality of fibers 2 are fed - preferably in a mold 12 - to provide a longitudinal assembly of optical fiber 3 in which the plurality of optical fibers are parallel and adjacent to each other. In one embodiment, shown in figure 1, the optical fibers are in a plane. This is visible from figure 7 (process from right to left) and set 3 is shown in figure 1. It should be noted that the outer layer of the plurality of optical fibers is of a first partially cured curable resin. Each optical fiber has a substantially circular cross section.
    [0038] [0038] In a second stage of the present method, a second curable resin is applied from a dispenser (or dispensing device) 14 to a surface, such as an upper surface of said assembly. The application of said second curable resin leads to said second resin which forms a pattern - preferably staggered - of a plurality of spheres intermittently disposed 4 along the upper surface of said assembly 3.
    [0039] [0039] In a third stage of the present method, as shown in figure 7, said set of spheres applied in this passes through a curing station 16 for curing the second resin of said spheres and the first partially cured resin of the respective outer layers of the fiber optics, thus forming connections between them.
    [0040] [0040] In this method, each of said spheres are arranged to form a connection between two adjacent optical fibers over a connection length (1). Preferably, a connection connects two adjacent optical fibers and a successive connection connects two adjacent optical fibers, at least one of which differs from the optical fibers connected by the previous connection. Preferably, each of said connections is spaced in the longitudinal direction from a successive connection by a connection distance (d). In one embodiment, the connection length is greater than the connection distance (1> dd.
    [0041] [0041] Figure 8 shows a schematic drawing of a fiber optic tape that has six optical fibers and a staggered zigzag arrangement of the second resin. Figure 9 shows a schematic drawing of an optical fiber tape that has six optical fibers and a staggered sawtooth arrangement of the second resin.
    [0042] [0042] In one embodiment, before feeding the plurality of optical fibers to provide a longitudinal assembly of optical fiber, a first curable resin of the outer layer of each said plurality of optical fibers is partially cured to a degree of cure between 85% and 95%, as between 88% and 92%, for example 90%, to provide optical fibers that have an outer layer of a first partially cured curable resin. In one embodiment, with a degree of cure between 85 and 95% it is intended to mean a degree of surface cure, which means the amount of cure of the outermost layers (surface) of the outer layer.
    [0043] [0043] In one embodiment, said optical fibers are formed by providing an optical fiber comprised from the center to the periphery of a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating and a secondary coating and application of a first curable resin for To form an outer layer, this first curable resin is then partially cured to form an optical fiber that has a partially cured outer layer.
    [0044] [0044] The percentage or degree of surface cure can be determined by measuring the maximum area using FTIR of the maximum of the chemically active group of the resin, for example, the maximum at 1410 cm! of an acrylate group, in the case of a UV-curable acrylate resin. This maximum area is then compared to a maximum reference for a fully cured sample (for example, without the presence of a maximum chemically active group, such as 1410 cm !) and to a maximum reference for a fully cured sample. The proportion of the relative maximums provides the amount of degree of surface cure.
    [0045] [0045] In one embodiment, the outer layer of the first curable resin of each said plurality of optical fibers is partially cured in an environment that comprises oxygen. If oxygen is present during curing, the outer surface of the outer layer does not fully cure. Preferably, the amount of oxygen around the outer layer during curing is between 500 and 3500 ppm, preferably between 1000 and 2000 ppm.
    [0046] [0046] In one embodiment, the second curable resin - which forms the spheres - is applied with a viscosity between 100 and 1000 cPS, preferably between 100 and 400 cPs. This allows a sufficiently viscous mass to fill the grooves between two adjacent optical fibers and will provide, after curing, an optical fiber ribbon that has a leveled ribbon sphere, thus reducing the stresses on the ribbon when curled or folded. If the viscosity is too low, the material is very thin and slippery and the adhesive will flow excessively between the fibers, not forming a consistent bond. Viscosity is measured using a Brookfield Model DV-II digital rotary viscometer with RVl axis at 10 rpm. Viscosity can be measured at several different temperatures, such as 23ºC and / or 30ºC and / or 40ºC and / or 50ºC and / or 60ºC to determine the ideal temperature for a specific second resin material for the application of said second resin material.
    [0047] [0047] In one embodiment, the second curable resin is heated and applied at a temperature of up to 60ºC. In the case of using a higher temperature during the preparation of the optical tapes, this can lead to the thermal tension in the optical fiber, causing attenuation, for example, at 1310 nm, 1550 nm and / or 1625 nm of the wavelengths.
    [0048] [0048] In one embodiment, the dispenser (dispensing device) is oscillating in a direction transversal to the longitudinal direction of the fiber optic assembly. Said oscillating device creates a staggered pattern on one side of the fiber optic assembly; the end of said dispenser may oscillate (vibrate) at a high frequency, as in the order of between 100 and 200 Hz in a transverse direction. In one embodiment, the dispenser is oscillating in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (that is, in the width direction) of the fiber optic assembly. The optical fiber assembly is moved in the longitudinal direction, preferably by coils.
    [0049] [0049] In one embodiment, the dispenser can deliver the liquid resin in fine droplets to the fiber optic assembly in motion. Due to the surface tension of the liquid resin, it will flow together to form the elongated spheres.
    [0050] [0050] In one embodiment, the curing station emits UV radiation to cure said spheres of the second curable resin and to complete the curing of the first curable resin partially cured to the outer layer of the optical fibers.
    [0051] [0051] In one embodiment, the first cured resin and / or the second cured resin that are used during the method is an Ultra Violet (UV) curable resin. In one embodiment, the resins used are the same for the spheres and the outer layer. In one embodiment, the first curable resin is a UV-curable ink that comprises a pigment or dye for coloring. In one embodiment, a difference between the first resin and the second resin is that in the first resin> 0.5% by weight of the release agent or glidant is present and in the second resin none, or substantially, no release or glidant (<0.5% by weight) is present.
    [0052] [0052] Several embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, the tape, are shown below.
    [0053] [0053] Figure 1 reveals a plurality of adjacent optical fibers 2 which have a diameter D and are arranged parallel forming a longitudinal optical fiber assembly 3, said assembly 3 having a width W and a length L. This assembly forms the base for the optical fiber tape according to the present invention.
    [0054] [0054] In one embodiment, a link has a link length (1) and the links are spaced in the longitudinal direction by a distance (d). In this embodiment, the connection length is greater than the distance (1> d). The effect of this is that the mechanical properties, in terms of robustness, are high; a greater mechanical connection between the fibers is achieved.
    [0055] [0055] In an embodiment, the connection length is between 2 and 20 times the distance ((2d € 1 <20d or 1 / d = 2 to 20). The values of 2 and 20. In an embodiment, the connection length is between 4 and 15 times the distance (4d € 1 <15d or 1 / d = 4 to 15) .The values of 4 and 15 are included. The sphere, as applied, has an elongated shape. will flow into the groove between two adjacent optical fibers. The elongated spheres that form a connection can have a width, seen in plan view, between 75 and 350 micrometers, for example, between 200 and 275 micrometers (namely, similar in size to the fiber optics).
    [0056] [0056] In one embodiment, the connection length (1) of a sphere is between 1.5 and 20 mm. The connection length of the sphere is effectively defined by the ratio between the connection length and the connection distance (1 / d) and the ratio between the height of the stepped pattern and the width of the fiber optic assembly (P / W) .
    [0057] [0057] In one embodiment, each plurality of optical fibers has substantially the same diameter. In one embodiment, the optical fiber has a diameter between 240 and 260 micrometers, more preferably 250 micrometers. Alternatively, optical fibers can have a reduced diameter, such as between 180 and 230 micrometers. In one embodiment, the optical fiber assembly comprises between 6 and 36 optical fibers (including 6 and 36), as well as between 12 and 24 optical fibers (including 12 and 24), for example, 12 optical fibers.
    [0058] [0058] In one embodiment, the point of failure when removing an optical fiber from the ribbon is in the sphere. In one embodiment, the point of failure when removing an optical fiber from the ribbon is at the interface between the sphere and the outer layer. In one embodiment, the point of failure when removing an optical fiber from the tape is in the outer layer. In one embodiment, the point of failure when removing an optical fiber from the tape is between the outer layer and the secondary coating layer or an ink layer, whatever the contact layer is surrounded by the outer layer.
    [0059] [0059] In one embodiment, optical fibers are optical fibers that comprise - in addition to the first and second coat - a layer of paint and an outer layer. In another embodiment, the outer layer may be the ink layer. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the point of failure is in the sphere or at the interface of the sphere and the outer layer. The person skilled in the art is aware of the different types of primary coatings, secondary coatings and paint layers and their structure and thickness.
    [0060] [0060] In one embodiment, the spheres were arranged only on one side of said set. For example, the spheres were arranged only on the upper surface of said set (seen in the plan view when the optical fibers of the set are arranged in a ribbon-like shape and not rolled up). The set can be seen as a ribbon-like set that defines two side edges, an upper surface and a lower surface. Said upper and lower surfaces are not entirely flat since they are formed from a parallel arrangement of optical fibers. The upper and lower surfaces comprise parallel longitudinal grooves between the adjacent optical fibers. The spheres are arranged to rest in the grooves formed between the optical fibers.
    [0061] [0061] In one embodiment, two successive spheres of said plurality of spheres were connected by a transition part of said second cured resin. In one embodiment, in the plan view, said transition part is S-shaped. In one embodiment, each of the two successive spheres of said plurality of spheres has been connected by a transition part of said second cured resin.
    [0062] [0062] In one embodiment, the succession of alternating spheres and transition parts forms a line, in which, in each longitudinal position of the fiber optic assembly, there is at most one line. In one embodiment, the line has a mass (in grams) per 10,000 meters between 60 and 120 dtex, preferably between 75 and 110 dtex.
    [0063] [0063] In one embodiment, each of the two successive spheres of said plurality of spheres is free from each other, since no second cured resin connecting said two spheres is present. In other words, there is no resin line, but merely individual spheres.
    [0064] [0064] In one embodiment, several successive spheres form a staggered pattern over the plurality of optical fibers, the step being each time an optical fiber.
    [0065] [0065] In one embodiment, the first cured resin and / or the second cured resin is a cured Ultra Violet (UV) cured resin. In one embodiment, the first and / or said second cured resin is an acrylate resin. The first and second cured resins can be different or the same. In one embodiment, the first curable resin is a UV-curable ink comprising a pigment or dye for coloring. In one embodiment, the difference between the first resin and the second resin is that in the first resin> 0.5% by weight of release agent or glidant is present and in the second resin none, or substantially none, release or glidant (<0.5% by weight) is present.
    [0066] [0066] In one embodiment, the second cured resin has an elongation at break of at least 150%, preferably between 200% and 300%, such as between 200 and 250%. In one embodiment, the second cured resin has an elasticity modulus (or Young's modulus) between 1 and 50 MPa, such as between 10 and 20 MPa. In the present invention, the elongation at break and the modulus of elasticity were measured using the following method: ASTM D638-14 "Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics". The outer layer (first curable resin) may comprise a release agent to facilitate the release of an optical fiber from the tape. Conventional ribbon matrix materials used to fully encircle and encapsulate an optical fiber assembly comprise a certain amount of release agent to facilitate the breaking of individual fibers or splitting of a fiber ribbon. For the present invention, it is preferred to reduce the amount of release agent. Surprisingly, it was found that by reducing the amount of release agent, the point of failure ("breakpoint") in removing an optical fiber changes to the interface between the sphere and the outer layer or to the outer layer itself, the which is desirable, since there is less chance of damage to the optical fiber.
    [0067] [0067] In one embodiment, the thickness of the outer layer of the first cured resin is between 2 and 10 micrometers, such as between 3 and 5 micrometers.
    [0068] [0068] The strength of the tape can be tested using a mechanical tester, such as a voltage tester (for example, Instron 5567). In a T-separation test, a single fiber or group of fibers from one end of the tape is attached to a hook of the tension tester, while the rest of the fibers from the same end of the tape are attached to the opposite hook of the tension tester, and the force to separate the two is measured. In this T-separation test, the force to break a single bond is measured. In one embodiment, the force required to separate the optical tape in the separation test T is between 0.01 N and 0.1 N, preferably between 0.01 N and 0.05 N.
    [0069] [0069] In one embodiment, a first sphere forming a first connection connects a first pair of adjacent optical fibers, while the successive connection formed by the successive sphere connects an additional pair of adjacent optical fibers, in which at least one optical fiber of the pair additional differs from the optical fibers of the first pair. In one embodiment, in each longitudinal position of the fiber optic assembly there is at most one connection.
    [0070] [0070] In a first example of this realization, the spheres will present a staggered pattern. In one embodiment, at one end of said stepped pattern of spheres, the sphere that follows the last sphere of said pattern starts a subsequent stepped pattern in the same width direction, preferably in which the successive stepped patterns are free from each other, so that no second cured resin that connects said two stepped patterns is present. This succession of staggered patterns can be repeated, preferably over the length of the fibers, thus forming a sawtooth-like arrangement over the plurality of fibers, seen in the plan view. In an embodiment of this sawtooth-like arrangement, a height (P) is defined having a length equal to the recurrence of the staggered pattern in the same width direction and where the height (P) has a length that is between 10 times W and 100 times W, preferably between 15 times W and 80 times W.
    [0071] [0071] Figure 4 (a and b) reveals an embodiment of an optical fiber tape 400 that has a sawtooth-like arrangement. In this arrangement of Figure 4, none of the spheres 4 are connected and the plurality of spheres is arranged as a discontinuous line. The sawtooth-like arrangement has a constant repetition that follows the trace of a sawtooth wave with a height (P) (see Figure 4b).
    [0072] [0072] Figure 5 reveals an embodiment of an optical fiber tape 500 that has a sawtooth-like arrangement. The plurality of spheres are arranged as a partially continuous line of said second cured resin. The continuous line begins with a first sphere 4 applied between the first and the second optical fibers 2, observed from the most distant edge. This line continues over the upper part of said second optical fiber, with a transition part 9, to the groove between the second and third optical fiber, and also over the upper part of said third optical fiber, with a transition part 9, into the groove between the third and fourth optical fibers, and so on. The continuous line ends at the groove between the fifth and sixth (last) optical fiber. A new continuous line starts again in the groove between the first and the second optical fiber at a distance P from the height (shown in fig. 4) from the first continuous line.
    [0073] [0073] Figure 6 reveals an embodiment of an optical fiber ribbon 600 that has a sawtooth-like arrangement. The plurality of spheres are arranged as a continuous line of said second cured resin. The difference with the realization shown in Figure 5 is that there is also a resin line 9 'between sphere 4 between the fifth and sixth optical fiber 2 of the first sawtooth-like arrangement and sphere 4 between the first and the second fiber 2 of the second sawtooth-like arrangement.
    [0074] [0074] In another example of the realization with a stepped pattern, a first stepped pattern was formed in a first wide direction and in which at the end of said stepped pattern, an additional stepped pattern was formed in the opposite direction. This succession of staggered patterns can be repeated, preferably over the length of the fibers, thus forming a zigzag-like arrangement over the plurality of fibers, seen in the plan view. The plurality of spheres were provided so that the plurality of optical fibers adjacent to the fiber set, when the fiber set would be brought into a folded condition, extends in the same virtual flat plane. In an embodiment of this zigzag type arrangement, a height (P) is defined having a length equal to the recurrence of the staggered pattern in the same width direction and where the height (P) has a length that is between 14 times W and 140 times W, preferably between 18 times W and 100 times W.
    [0075] [0075] Figure 2a shows a first embodiment of a fiber optic strip 100 which has a zigzag-like arrangement. In this arrangement, none of the spheres 4 is connected and the plurality of spheres is arranged as a discontinuous line. Figure 2b reveals a second embodiment of a fiber optic tape 200 which has a zigzag-like arrangement (the arrangement of which is shown by the black striped line that connects the intermediate points of the spheres). The difference with figure 2a is that the connection length 1 is shorter. In this provision, none of the spheres
    [0076] [0076] Figure 3 reveals a third embodiment of a fiber optic tape 300 that has a zigzag-like arrangement. The plurality of spheres 4 is arranged as a continuous line of said second cured resin, of the same were the case in figure 6, thus having transition parts 9, 9 ". The zigzag-like arrangement of the embodiments according to the Figures 2a, 2b and 3 have a constant repeated arrangement that follows the trace of a triangular wave with a height (P), as shown in Figure 2b.
    [0077] [0077] In one embodiment, W is between 2 and 10 mm, preferably between 2 and 4 mm. The width W is effectively formed by the number (N) of optical fibers, each having a diameter (D), so that W = Dx N.
    [0078] [0078] In one embodiment, in a given longitudinal position over the width (W) of the optical fiber assembly there is a connection. In one embodiment, in each longitudinal position over the width (W) of the fiber optic assembly there is a connection. In other words, in a given longitudinal position there is only one link between two optical fibers, there is no link present between another set of two adjacent optical fibers. This structure minimizes the number of connections required and allows maximum flexibility.
    [0079] [0079] Figure 10 shows an image of a tape, according to the present invention, having a zigzag-like arrangement with a continuous line of cured resin.
    [0080] [0080] The fiber optic tape of the present invention can be used to form optical fiber cable units and fiber optic cables. An example of this fiber optic cable unit is shown in Figure 11, this unit having 24 tapes of 12 optical fibers. This cable unit accommodates 288 optical fibers at a very high fiber density.
    [0081] [0081] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a fiber optic cable unit comprising one or more fiber optic strips according to the present invention, surrounded by a polymeric sheath. In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a fiber optic cable comprising one or more between fiber optic tapes or fiber optic cable units, in accordance with the present invention.
    [0082] [0082] As stated above, the present invention aims at making a flexible fiber optic tape that allows mass melting and that allows the optical fibers to be removed / removed from said tape without damaging said fibers. According to the achievements as discussed above, this is accomplished by chemical joining of the spheres to the outer layer of the optical fibers, thus directing the point of failure during removal of the fiber from the optical fiber. There are other solutions that are capable of providing similar results that are also part of the present invention. A first solution is to decrease the amount of release agent present in the outer layer even when the outer layer is fully cured before the application of the spheres. The present inventors have observed that this also changes the point of failure for between the spheres and the outer layer, for the outer layer itself or for the interface between the outer layer and the second coating layer (or paint layer). Another solution is to increase the modulus of the material of the spheres, thus making the spheres (after curing) more fragile, thus changing the point of failure of the sphere itself. The spheres will rupture while maintaining the integrity of the optical fiber.
    [0083] [0083] Other variations to the revealed realizations can be understood and realized by those skilled in the art when practicing the claimed invention from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the attached claims.
    In the claims, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "one (a)" or "ones (ones)" does not exclude a plurality.
    The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
    One or more of the objects of the invention are affected by the appended claims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1]
    1. METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF A FIBER OPTIC TAPE, said method comprising: * feeding a plurality of optical fibers to provide a longitudinal set of optical fiber; wherein the plurality of optical fibers are parallel and adjacent to each other; wherein each plurality of optical fibers comprises, from the center to the periphery thereof, a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating, a secondary coating and an outer layer formed of a partially cured first curable resin; * applying a second curable resin from a dispenser to a surface of said assembly, wherein the second curable resin forms a plurality of successive elongated straight spheres configured to form connections between two adjacent optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers; and * passing the said set with the spheres of the second curable resin applied on it through a curing station for curing the second curable resin and for completing the curing of said first partially cured curable resin, from the outer layer, of each optical fiber to form the connections.
    [2]
    METHOD according to claim 1, characterized in that, before feeding, the plurality of optical fibers provide a longitudinal assembly of optical fiber, a first curable resin of the outer layer of each said plurality of optical fibers being partially cured to a degree of cure between 85% and 95% to provide optical fibers having an outer layer of a first partially cured curable resin.
    [3]
    METHOD, according to claim 2, characterized in that the outer layer of the first curable resin of each said plurality of optical fibers is partially cured in an environment comprising oxygen, preferably between 500 ppm and 3500 ppm.
    [4]
    METHOD according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said second curable resin is applied with a viscosity between 100 and 1000 cPS, preferably between 100 and 400 cPs.
    [5]
    5. METHOD according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second curable resin is heated and applied to a maximum temperature of 60 ° C.
    [6]
    6. METHOD according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the dispenser is oscillating in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber assembly.
    [7]
    METHOD, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the curing station emits Ultra Violet (UV) radiation to cure said spheres of the second curable resin and to complete the curing of the first partially cured resin for the layer optical fibers.
    [8]
    8. FIBER OPTIC TAPE, characterized by comprising: * plurality of adjacent optical fibers that extend in a longitudinal direction and arranged parallel to form a set of optical fiber; * plurality of successive elongated straight spheres of a second cured resin arranged along the length of said assembly; - each said plurality of spheres configured to form an elongated connection between two adjacent optical fibers of the plurality of optical fibers; wherein each plurality of optical fibers comprises, from the center to the periphery thereof, a glass core, a glass coating, a primary coating, a secondary coating and an outer layer formed of a first cured resin; wherein the second cured resin from each elongated bond is chemically joined to the respective first cured resin from the two adjacent optical fibers.
    [9]
    9. TAPE according to claim 8, characterized in that the first cured resin and / or second cured resin is a cured Ultra Violet (UV) cured resin.
    [10]
    TAPE according to either of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that a first sphere forming a first connection connects to a first pair of adjacent optical fibers while the successive connection formed by the successive sphere connects to an additional pair of adjacent optical fibers, in which at least one optical fiber of the additional pair differs from the optical fibers of the first pair.
    [11]
    TAPE according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, in each longitudinal position of the optical fiber assembly, there is at most one connection.
    [12]
    TAPE according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the bonding material has an elongation at break of at least 150%
    preferably between 200 and 300%.
    [13]
    13. TAPE according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the bonding material has an elastic modulus between 1 and 50 MPa.
    [14]
    14, TAPE according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that said spheres have been arranged only on one side of said assembly.
    [15]
    15. TAPE according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that two, preferably every two, successive spheres of said plurality of spheres have been connected by a transition part of said second cured material, preferably in view the transition part has a S shape.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    JP2021516769A|2021-07-08|
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    CN111989602A|2020-11-24|
    KR20200106082A|2020-09-10|
    EP3740800A1|2020-11-25|
    AU2018401778A1|2020-08-13|
    WO2019137628A1|2019-07-18|
    US10782495B2|2020-09-22|
    WO2019137628A9|2020-10-29|
    US20190250347A1|2019-08-15|
    CA3088032A1|2019-07-18|
    US20200379198A1|2020-12-03|
    RU2759664C1|2021-11-16|
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    法律状态:
    2021-12-07| B350| Update of information on the portal [chapter 15.35 patent gazette]|
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    PCT/EP2018/050899|WO2019137628A1|2018-01-15|2018-01-15|A method for producing a flexible optical fiber ribbon and said ribbon.|
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