(19)
(11)EP 4 075 177 A1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43)Date of publication:
19.10.2022 Bulletin 2022/42

(21)Application number: 21899939.9

(22)Date of filing:  26.11.2021
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G02B 6/44(2006.01)
B65H 51/04(2006.01)
B65H 51/22(2006.01)
(86)International application number:
PCT/CN2021/133520
(87)International publication number:
WO 2022/116907 (09.06.2022 Gazette  2022/23)
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(30)Priority: 03.12.2020 CN 202011400282

(71)Applicant: Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd.
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)

(72)Inventors:
  • WU, Di
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • SHI, Huiping
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • HAN, Yufeng
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • LI, Long
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • WU, Jinhua
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • LIU, Peidong
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • WU, Binhua
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • LIU, Yang
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • SUN, Jian
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • CHEN, Long
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • LI, Huiqiang
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)
  • QIAN, Xiaoqian
    Suzhou, Jiangsu 215000 (CN)

(74)Representative: RGTH 
Patentanwälte PartGmbB Neuer Wall 10
20354 Hamburg
20354 Hamburg (DE)

  


(54)CENTRAL-TUBE-TYPE MICRO-CABLE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS


(57) The present invention discloses a machining system and fabrication method for a central-tube micro cable. The machining system includes a coating extruder, a coating basin, a first traction device, a first wire storage device, a jacket extruder, a second traction device, a second wire storage device and a wire retrieval assembly that are sequentially arranged. The first wire storage device and the second wire storage device each includes a rack body, a wire storage rack, a wire turning rack and a steering wheel. The wire storage rack and the wire turning rack are positioned on the same side of the rack body. The steering wheel is rotatably connected to the rack body via a driving element and positioned at the end of the rack body. The wire body is conveyed to the wire storage rack through the wire turning rack, then transferred to the steering wheel and then can be transported through the wire turning rack again. The present invention enables continued production during spool replacement and can reduce excess length variation in finished products due to difference in storage times of the tubes during coating and jacketing sub-procedures and improve preparation efficiency of central-tube micro cables.




Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION



[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical cable fabricating apparatus and fabricating process, and more particularly to a machining system and fabricating method for a central-tube micro cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART



[0002] With the rapid development of FTTX, data services are growing exponentially. Multimedia information such as voice, data and images needs to be transported over optical cables. Indoor and outdoor optical cables need larger network capacity, wider bandwidth and smaller size to meet the requirements for layout with existing resources.

[0003] Central-tube micro cables can meet the requirements of indoor environment for softness and low smoke, and they also have good mechanical characteristics and water blocking property required by outdoor environment, so that they are suitable for indoor and outdoor environments.

[0004] During the production process, the central-tube micro cable is prepared successively through the coating process and the jacketing process. During preparation, when the spool placed on the optical fiber pay-off rack is to be replaced, it is necessary to suspend the procedure on the production line and start the production line to continue running after the replacement. Therefore, it is necessary to design a preparation system that can not only reduce the procedure transition time and improve the machining efficiency through cooperation between the coating extruder and the jacket extruder, but also solve the problem that difference in shrinkage levels of the central-tube micro cables due to different storage times of the tubes results in the excess length of the finished product failing to meet the process requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0005] The present invention is intended to provide a machining system and fabricating method for a central-tube micro cable which is capable of continued production during spool replacement. The invention can not only reduce the procedure transition time and improve the machining efficiency, but also solve the problem of difference in shrinkage levels of the central-tube micro cables due to different storage times of the tubes, thereby ensuring consistent excess lengths of the finished products to meet the process requirements.

[0006] To address the technical problem mentioned above, the present invention provides a machining system for a central-tube micro cable, including a coating extruder, a coating basin, a first traction device, a first wire storage device, a jacket extruder, a second traction device, a second wire storage device and a wire retrieval assembly that are sequentially arranged. The first wire storage device and the second wire storage device each include a rack body, a wire storage rack, a wire turning rack and a steering wheel. The wire storage rack and the wire turning rack are positioned on the same side of the rack body. The steering wheel is rotatably connected to the rack body via a driving element and positioned at the end of the rack body close to the wire storage rack. The wire body is conveyed to the wire storage rack through the wire turning rack, then transferred to the steering wheel and then can be transported through the wire turning rack again.

[0007] Preferably, the wire storage rack includes a plurality of supports arranged in parallel and a first guide rail and a second guide rail arranged on the support.

[0008] The first guide rail and the second guide rail are positioned respectively at the upper end and lower end of the support and are both rotatably connected to the support.

[0009] Preferably, the wire turning rack includes a first steering portion, a second steering portion and a third steering portion. The first steering portion and the second guide rail are coplanar. The first steering portion is configured to transfer the wire body to the second guide rail. The second steering portion and the third steering portion are both positioned above the first steering portion. The second steering portion and the third steering portion are arranged to be inclined and coplanar. The second steering portion includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The third steering portion includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The first end portion and the first guide rail are coplanar. The second end portion is arranged close to the third end portion, and the fourth end portion and the first steering portion are coplanar.

[0010] Preferably, the first steering portion is semicircular in shape, and the arc-shaped portion of the first steering portion is arranged far from the wire storage rack.

[0011] Preferably, the second steering portion and the third steering portion both are arc-shaped and are symmetric about the center.

[0012] Preferably, the first steering portion, the second steering portion and the third steering portion are each provided with several rollers thereon.

[0013] Preferably, the first end portion, the second end portion, the third end portion and the fourth end portion each include a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes two first rotary wheels and two second rotary wheels. The axial direction of the first rotary wheels is horizontal, and the axial direction of the second rotary wheels is vertical. The wire body is passed through the two first rotary wheels and transferred to a position between the two second rotary wheels.

[0014] Preferably, a transfer wheel is rotatably provided on the rack body.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fabricating method for a central-tube micro cable, including the steps of:

SI: introducing optical fibers of natural color that have been qualified through inspection in storage in order to be colored;

S2: placing the colored optical fibers on an optical fiber pay-off rack for payoff and use;

S3: bundling the colored optical fibers, passing them through the coating extruder and filling them with fiber paste and secondary coating material; S4: cooling a tube exiting the coating extruder through a coating basin and bringing it, by a first traction device, to a second basin;

S5: introducing the tube into the first wire storage device after passing the tube through a coating blow dryer, a diameter gauge, a first traction device and a dancer;

S6: passing a reinforcer placed on a reinforcer pay-off rack and a tube from the first wire storage device jointly through a jacket extruder to obtain a cable;

S7: cooling, blow drying and performing online defect inspection on the cable from the jacket extruder;

S8: transferring the cable to a second wire storage device by a second traction device;

S9: transferring the cable to a wire retrieval assembly by a second wire storage device for retrieval.



[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects.

[0017] Cooperation between the coating extruder and the jacket extruder can not only reduce the procedure transition time and improve the machining efficiency, but also solve the problem that difference in shrinkage levels of the central-tube micro cables due to different storage times of the tubes results in excess length of the finished product failing to meet the process requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0018] 

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a wire turning rack according to the present invention.



[0019] Reference numbers:
1 optical fiber pay-off rack; 21 coating extruder; 22 coating basin; 23 first traction device; 3 first wire storage device; 41 jacket extruder; 42 second traction device; 5 second wire storage device; 6 wire retrieval assembly; 71 rack body; 72 wire storage rack; 721 support; 722 first guide rail; 723 second guide rail; 73 wire turning rack; 731 first steering portion; 732 second steering portion; 7321 first end portion; 7322 second end portion; 733 third steering portion; 7331 third end portion; 7332 fourth end portion; 734 roller; 735 first rotary wheel; 736 second rotary wheel; 74 steering wheel

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



[0020] The present invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings and particular embodiments below, so that the those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention, but the listed embodiments are not intended as limitations to the present invention.

[0021] Referring to FIGs. 1-3, a machining system for a central-tube micro cable according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a coating extruder 21, a coating basin 22, a first traction device 23, a first wire storage device 3, a jacket extruder 41, a second traction device 42, a second wire storage device 5 and a wire retrieval assembly 6 that are sequentially arranged. Cooperation between the coating extruder 21 and the jacket extruder 41 can not only reduce the procedure transition time and improve the machining efficiency, but also solve the problem that difference in shrinkage levels of the central-tube micro cables due to different storage times of the tubes results in excess length of the finished failing to meet the process requirements.

[0022] To facilitate storage of the wire body by the first wire storage device 3 and the second wire storage device 5, the first wire storage device 3 is configured to store the tube that has gone through a coating blow dryer, a diameter gauge, a first traction device and a dancer, and the second wire storage device 5 is configured to store an optical cable that has been cooled and blow dried and has gone through online defect inspection. The first wire storage device 3 and the second wire storage device 5 each includes a rack body 71, a wire storage rack 72, a wire turning rack 73 and a steering wheel 74. The wire storage rack 72 and the wire turning rack 73 are provided on the same side of the rack body 71. The steering wheel 74 is rotatably connected to the rack body 71 via a driving element and is positioned at the end of the rack body 71 close to the wire storage rack. The wire body is conveyed to the wire storage rack 72 by the wire turning rack 73, then transferred to the steering wheel 74, and then can be transported by the wire turning rack 73 again. The tube and the jacket are wound around the wire turning rack 73, the wire storage rack 72 and the steering wheel 74 respectively before being transported through the wire turning rack 73 again in the original direction, thereby accomplishing storage of the tube and the optical cable.

[0023] The wire storage rack 72 includes a plurality of supports 721 arranged in parallel and a first guide rail 722 and a second guide rail 723 which are provided on the rack body 71. The supports 721 are arranged along the length of the rack body 71. The first guide rail 722 and the second guide rail 723 are provided respectively at the upper end and lower end of the rack body 71 and are both rotatably connected to the rack body 71. The rotatably arranged first guide rail 722 and second guide rail 723 can reduce the resistance in transportation of the tube and the jacket, thereby reducing wear of the tube and the optical cable as well as improving transportation efficiency of the tube and the optical cable.

[0024] A transfer wheel is rotatably provided on the rack body 71. In this embodiment, two transfer wheels are rotatably provided on the rack body 71. The two transfer wheels are positioned respectively at two ends of the wire storage rack 72. Also, several wire grooves are provided circumferentially on the transfer wheel. The axial direction of the first guide rail 722 and the second guide rail 723 is parallel to the axial direction of the transfer wheels, and the distance between the two outermost wire grooves is smaller than the axial length of the first guide rail 722 and the second guide rail 723. The plurality of wire grooves can not only improve conveyance efficiency of the tube and the jacket, but also separating adjacent tubes and adjacent jackets, thereby preventing entangling of the tubes and optical cables during transportation.

[0025] The wire turning rack 73 includes a first steering portion 731, a second steering portion 732 and a third steering portion 733. The first steering portion 731 and the second guide rail 723 are coplanar. The first steering portion 731 is configured to transfer the wire body to the second guide rail 723. The second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 are both provided above the first steering portion 731. The second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 are arranged to be inclined and coplanar. The second steering portion 732 includes a first end portion 7321 and a second end portion 7322. The third steering portion 733 includes a third end portion 7331 and a fourth end portion 7332. The first end portion 7321 of the second steering portion 732 and the first guide rail 722 are coplanar. The second end portion 7322 is arranged close to the third end portion 7331. The fourth end portion 7332 and the first steering portion 731 are coplanar.

[0026] In transportation of the tube, the tube is driven by the first traction device 23 to be transported along the length of the rack body 71. The tube is first moved to the first steering portion 731, and moved along the periphery of the first steering portion 731 from one end to the other end thereof. Then the tube is guided by the transfer wheel to move along the direction of the rack body 71. At this point, the tube is positioned on the second guide rail 723. The rotatably arranged second guide rail 723 serves to reduce sagging of the tube due to gravity during transportation and reduce deformation of the tube during transportation as well. Then the tube moves to the steering wheel 74. The tube is wound around the steering wheel 74 from below to above, so that the tube continues to move along the length of the rack body 71. At this point, the tube is positioned above the first guide rail 722, and the first guide rail 722 serves to reduce deformation of the tube. Then the tube is transported to the first end portion 7321 of the second steering portion 732 and is moved to the second end portion 7322 along the periphery of the second steering portion 732. As the second end portion 7322 of the second steering portion 732 is close to the third end portion 7331 of the third steering portion 733, the tube is transported to the third end portion 7331 through the second end portion 7322. The tube moves along the periphery of the third steering portion 733 from the third end portion 7331 to the fourth end portion 7332, thereby accomplishing storage of the tube. Likewise, the second wire storage device 5 can also accomplish storage of the optical cable according to the steps described above.

[0027] The first steering portion 731 is semicircular in shape, and the arc-shaped portion of the first steering portion 731 is arranged far from the wire storage rack 72. The first steering portion 731 of the semicircular shape can facilitate transportation of the tube and the optical cable, thereby reducing impairment to the tube and the jacketing during conveyance. The second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 are both arc-shaped. In this embodiment, the second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 are symmetric about the center, thereby facilitating production of the second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 as well as reducing impairment to the tube and the jacket.

[0028] The first end portion 7321, the second end portion 7322, the third end portion 7331 and the fourth end portion 7332 each include a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes two first rotary wheels 735 and two second rotary wheels 736. The axial direction of the first rotary wheels 735 is horizontal and the axial direction of the second rotary wheels 736 is vertical. The wire body is passed through the two first rotary wheels 735 and is transferred to a position between the two second rotary wheels 736. In this embodiment, the vertical positions of the tube and the jacket are limited through cooperation between the two first rotary wheels 735 and the horizontal positions of the tube and the optical cable are limited through cooperation between the two second rotary wheels 736. In this way, the positioning accuracy of the tube and the optical cable during transportation can be improved through cooperation between the first rotary wheels 735 and the second rotary wheels 736. Meanwhile, the first rotary wheel 735 and the second rotary wheel 736 provided on the second steering portion 732 are both rotatably connected thereto, and the first rotary wheel 735 and the second rotary wheel 736 provided on the third steering portion 733 are also both rotatably connected thereto. Therefore, the rotatably provided first rotary wheels 735 and second rotary wheels 736 can also serve to reduce the kinetic resistance during conveyance of the tube and the optical cable.

[0029] The first steering portion 731, the second steering portion 732 and the third steering portion 733 are each provided with several rollers 734, thereby reducing resistance in movement of the tube and the optical cable as well as reducing impairment to surfaces of the tube and the optical cable.

[0030] A fabricating method for a central-tube micro cable includes the following steps.

S1: introducing optical fibers of natural color that have been qualified through inspection in storage in order to be colored.

S2: placing the colored optical fibers on an optical fiber pay-off rack 1 for payoff and use.

S3: bundling the colored optical fibers, passing them through the coating extruder 21 and filling them with fiber paste and secondary coating material.

S4: cooling a tube, for 2-12 colored optical fibers that have been bundled, exiting the coating extruder 21 through a coating basin 22 and bringing it, by a first traction device 23, to a second basin.

S5: introducing the tube into a first wire storage device after passing the tube through a coating blow dryer, a diameter gauge, a first traction device and a dancer;.



[0031] During transportation of the tube, the tube is driven by the first traction device 23 and transported along the length of the rack body 71. The tube first moves to the first steering portion 731, and moves along the periphery of the first steering portion 731 from one end to the other end thereof. Then the tube is guided by the transfer wheel to move along the direction of the rack body 71. At this point, the tube is positioned on the second guide rail 723. Then the tube moves to the steering wheel 74. The tube is wound around the steering wheel 74 from below to above, so that the tube continues to move along the length of the rack body 71. At this point, the tube is positioned above the first guide rail 722. Then the tube is transported to the first end portion 7321 of the second steering portion 732, and moves along the periphery of the second steering portion 732 to the second end portion 7322. As the second end portion 7322 of the second steering portion 732 is close to the third end portion 7331 of the third steering portion 733, the tube is transported to the third end portion 7331 through the second end portion 7322. The tube moves along the periphery of the third steering portion 733 from the third end portion 7331 to the fourth end portion 7332, thereby accomplishing storage of the tube.

[0032] S6: passing a reinforcer placed on a reinforcer pay-off rack and a tube from the first wire storage device 3 jointly through a jacket extruder 41 to obtain a cable.

[0033] S7: cooling, blow drying and performing online defect inspection on the cable from the jacket extruder 41.

[0034] S8: transferring the cable to a second wire storage device 5 by a second traction device 42.

[0035] During transportation of the jacket, the jacket is driven by the second traction device 42 and transported along the length of the rack body 71. The jacket first moves to the first steering portion 731, and moves along the periphery of the first steering portion 731 from one end to the other end thereof. Then the jacket is guided by the transfer wheel to move along the direction of the rack body 71. At this point, the jacket is positioned above the second guide rail 723. Then the jacket moves to the steering wheel 74. The jacket is wound around the steering wheel 74 from below to above, so that the tube continues to move along the length of the rack body 71. At this point, the tube is positioned above the first guide rail 722. Then the tube is transported to the first end portion 7321 of the second steering portion 732, and moves along the periphery of the second steering portion 732 to the second end portion 7322. As the second end portion 7322 of the second steering portion 732 is close to the third end portion 7331 of the third steering portion 733, the tube is transported to the third end portion 7331 through the second end portion 7322. The tube moves along the periphery of the third steering portion 733 from the third end portion 7331 to the fourth end portion 7332, thereby accomplishing storage of the optical cable.

[0036] S9: transferring the optical cable to a wire retrieval assembly 6 by a second wire storage device 5 for retrieval.

[0037] The above-mentioned embodiments are only preferred embodiments for fully explaining the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Equivalent substitutions or changes made by those skilled in the technical field on the basis of the present invention shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the claims.


Claims

1. A machining system for a central-tube micro cable, comprising a coating extruder, a coating basin, a first traction device, a first wire storage device, a jacket extruder, a second traction device, a second wire storage device and a wire retrieval assembly that are sequentially arranged, the first wire storage device and the second wire storage device each comprising a rack body, a wire storage rack, a wire turning rack and a steering wheel, the wire storage rack and the wire turning rack being provided on the same side of the rack body, the steering wheel being rotatably connected to the rack body via a driving element and positioned at an end of the rack body, wherein the wire body is capable of being conveyed to the wire storage rack through the wire turning rack, then transferred to the steering wheel and then capable of being transported through the wire turning rack.
 
2. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 1, wherein the wire storage rack comprises a plurality of supports arranged in parallel, a first guide rail and a second guide rail provided on the support, and the first guide rail and the second guide rail are provided respectively at an upper end and an lower end of the support, wherein the first guide rail (722) and the second guide rail (723) are both rotatably connected to the support.
 
3. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 2, wherein the wire turning rack comprises a first steering portion, a second steering portion and a third steering portion, the first steering portion and the second guide rail are coplanar, the first steering portion is configured to transfer the wire body to the second guide rail, the second steering portion and the third steering portion are both positioned above the first steering portion, the second steering portion and the third steering portion are arranged to be inclined and coplanar, the second steering portion comprises a first end portion and a second end portion, the third steering portion comprises a third end portion and a fourth end portion, the first end portion and the first guide rail are coplanar, the second end portion is arranged close to the third end portion, wherein the fourth end portion and the first steering portion are coplanar.
 
4. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 3, wherein the first steering portion is semicircular in shape and an arc-shaped portion of the first steering portion is arranged away from the wire storage rack.
 
5. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 3, wherein the second steering portion and the third steering portion are both arc-shaped, wherein the second steering portion and the third steering portion are centrally symmetrical.
 
6. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 3, wherein the first steering portion, the second steering portion and the third steering portion are each provided with several rollers thereon.
 
7. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 3, wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, the third end portion and the fourth end portion each comprises a guide assembly, the guide assembly comprises two first rotary wheels and two second rotary wheels, an axial direction of the first rotary wheels is horizontal, and an axial direction of the second rotary wheel is vertical, and the wire body is passed through the two first rotary wheels and transferred to a position between the two second rotary wheels.
 
8. The machining system for a central-tube micro cable of claim 1, wherein a transfer wheel is rotatably provided on the rack body.
 
9. A fabricating method for a central-tube micro cable, comprising steps of:

S1: introducing optical fibers of natural color that have been qualified through inspection in storage, performing coloring process;

S2: placing the colored optical fibers on an optical fiber pay-off rack for payoff use;

S3: bundling the colored optical fibers, passing them through a coating extruder and filling them with fiber paste and secondary coating material;

S4: cooling a tube exiting the coating extruder through a coating basin and bringing it to a second basin by a first traction device;

S6: introducing the tube into a first wire storage device after passing the tube through a coating blow dryer, a diameter gauge, a first traction device and a dancer;

S7: passing a reinforcer placed on a reinforcer pay-off rack and the tube from the first wire storage device jointly through a jacket extruder;

S8: cooling, blow drying and performing online defect inspection on the jacket extruder;

S9: transferring to a second wire storage device by a second traction device; and

S10: transferring to a wire retrieval assembly through the second wire storage device for retrieval.


 




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