0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of optical fibres and, in
particular, relates to a method for printing on optical fibre cables.
10 BACKGROUND
[0002] Optical fibre cables have become the backbone for modern
communication systems. Typically, these optical fibre cables include a
printing over a cable jacket. The printing is performed for identification of
15 the optical fibre cables and for identification of length of an optical fibre
cable at a particular instant. Conventionally, the printing is done through
an ink jet. Alternatively, the printing is done by using white foil tape and
servo motor with segments mechanism. However, this type of printing on
the optical fibre cables is not much reliable as the printing gets removed
20 from the top of the optical fibre cables after some period of time. In
addition, this type of printing is not resistive to environmental conditions
such as rainfall, sunlight, snowfall, and the like. Therefore, this printing
method is replaced with laser marking. Laser marking is preferred as it
provides good asthetic look and has long term stability. In addition, the
25 laser marking requires additives to get better readability. However, these
additives are suitable only for optical fibre cables with low thickness of
jacket (such as micro cables or nano cables) as these additives are costly.
Laser marking on optical fibre cables with high thickness leads to high
consumption of these additives that increases the overall cost of the optical
30 fibre cables.
[0003] In light of the above stated discussion, there is a need for an
efficient method of laser marking that reduces consumption of additives in
thick jacket cables and overcomes the above stated disadvantages.
35
3/17
5 OBJECT OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] A primary object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical
fibre cable.
10 SUMMARY
[0005] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of a printing
on a jacket of an optical fibre cable. The method includes a first step of
applying a layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound on the jacket
15 of the optical fibre cable. In addition, the method includes a second step
of using a laser beam on the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound for printing on the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
[0006] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may be
20 applied along a length of the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
[0007] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may not
cover full circumference of the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
25 [0008] The method may include extruding the layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound on an outer surface of the jacket.
[0009] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may be
applied continuously along a length of the jacket or intermittently along a
30 length of the jacket.
[0010] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may have a
length L in range of about 0.2 meters to 2 meters.
4/17
5 [0011] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may have a
base compound and polymer materials. The base compound includes at
least one of Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), calcium
carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium sulphate
(BaSO4). The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound has zinc
10 sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4). In addition, an amount of
zinc sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4) is utilized as a laser
additive at least two times of an amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2).
15 [0012] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a jacket for use in
an optical fibre cable. The jacket includes an outer sheath. The outer
sheath is a hollow cylindrical sheath and forms an outer covering of the
optical fibre cable. A layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound is
applied on the outer sheath of the optical fibre cable. The layer of laser
20 additive premixed plastic compound can be printed upon by use of laser.
[0013] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may be
applied along a length of the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
25 [0014] The method may include extruding the layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound on an outer surface of the jacket.
[0015] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may be
applied continuously along a length of the jacket or intermittently along a
30 length of the jacket. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound applied intermittently along the length of the jacket of the
optical fibre cable has the length L in range of about 0.2 meters to 2
meters.
5/17
5 [0016] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound on the
jacket of the optical fibre cable may occupy up to 90% circumference of
an outer surface of the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
[0017] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound may have a
10 base compound and polymer materials. The base compound includes at
least one of Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), calcium
carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium sulphate
(BaSO4). The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound has zinc
sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4). In addition, an amount of
15 zinc sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4) is utilized as a laser
additive at least two times of an amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2).
STATEMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE
20 [0018] The present disclosure provides a method of a laser marking on a
jacket of an optical fibre cable. The method includes a first step of
applying a layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound on the jacket
of the optical fibre cable. In addition, the method includes a second step
of using a laser beam on the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
25 compound. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound is
applied on the jacket of the optical fibre cable. The laser beam is used for
printing on the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
30
[0019] Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference
will now be made to the accompanying figures, wherein:
6/17
5 [0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method of laser marking
for printing on an optical fibre cable;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the optical fibre cable
along with a jacket and a layer of laser additive premixed plastic
10 compound for printing on the optical fibre cable;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the jacket of the optical fibre
cable; and
15 [0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the jacket of the optical fibre cable.
[0024] It should be noted that the accompanying figures are intended to
present illustrations of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
20 It should also be noted that accompanying figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
25 [0025] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous
specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the present technology. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in
the art that the present technology can be practiced without these specific
details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block
30 diagram form only in order to avoid obscuring the present technology.
[0026] Moreover, although the following description contains many
specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will
appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to said details are within
35 the scope of the present technology. Similarly, although many of the
features of the present technology are described in terms of each other, or
7/17
5 in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that
many of these features can be provided independently of other features.
Accordingly, this description of the present technology is set forth without
any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the
present technology.
10
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a flow chart 100 depicting a method of laser
marking for printing on an optical fibre cable. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross
sectional view of the optical fibre cable 200 along with a jacket 202 and a
layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204. The method of the
15 laser marking enables stringent, reliable and stable printing on the jacket
202 of the optical fibre cable 200. In addition, the method of the laser
marking reduces consumption of material used to form the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound 204 for printing. The method is used
for printing on the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200.
20
[0028] The method initiates at step 102. Following step 102, at step 104,
the layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 is applied on
the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound 204 may be applied on the jacket 202 in the
25 form of an arc. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204
may extruded on an outer surface of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre
cable 200. At step 106, a laser beam is used on the layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound 204 for printing on the jacket 202 of the
optical fibre cable 200. The laser beam is used for printing on the jacket
30 202 of the optical fibre cable 200. The method terminates at step 108.
[0029] The optical fibre cable 200 includes the jacket 202 and the layer of
laser additive premixed plastic compound 204. The jacket 202 includes an
outer sheath. The outer sheath is a hollow cylindrical sheath and forms an
35 outer covering of the optical fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive
8/17
5 premixed plastic compound 204 is applied on the outer sheath of the
optical fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204 is printed upon the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200
by use of the laser beam. The optical fibre cable 200 requires printing for
identification of type, brand name, cable specification code and other
10 details of the optical fibre cable 200 at a particular instant.
[0030] The jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 is an outer most layer
of the optical fibre cable 200. The jacket 202 provides protection to the
optical fibre cable 200 from environmental conditions. The environmental
15 conditions include but may not be limited to rainfall, snowfall, wind, and
sunlight. The jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable may have high
thickness. The jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 may be made of
HDPE material. In addition, HDPE refers to high density polyethylene
material. Further, HDPE material has high flexibility over wide range of
20 temperatures. Furthermore, HDPE material has high crack resistance.
Moreover, the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 is made of any
suitable material of the like.
[0031] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may be
25 applied along a length of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200. The
layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may not cover full
circumference of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200.
[0032] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may be
30 applied continuously throughout the length of the jacket 202 of the optical
fibre cable 200. In addition, the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204 may be applied intermittently along the length of the jacket
202 of the optical fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound 204 may have a length L in range of about 0.2 meters to
35 2 meters. The length of the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
9/17
5 compound 204 may vary. Further, the layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound 204 may be applied intermittently along the length of
the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200. Furthermore, a distance D
between each intermittent layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204 along the length of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable
10 200 may be in range of about 0.2 meters to 1 meter. The distance D
between each intermittent layer may vary. The layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound 204 may have colour similar to colour of the
jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200. Moreover, the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound 204 may have colour different from
15 colour of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200.
[0033] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may
have a base compound and polymer materials. The base compound
includes at least one of titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS),
20 calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium
sulphate (BaSO4). In addition, the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204 may include a composition. The composition is formed by
using mixture or blend of the base compound and polymer materials.
Further, the layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 has
25 zinc sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4). An amount of zinc
sulphide (ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4) may be utilized as a laser
additive at least two times of an amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2).
Furthermore, the layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204
may include a combination of elements. The elements includes but may
30 not be limited to titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), calcium
carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium sulphate
(BaSO4).
[0034] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may
35 include a plurality of additives. The plurality of additives includes but
10/17
5 may not be limited to calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium carbonate
(MgCO3), and barium sulphate (BaSO4). The plurality of additives is used
at a level of 10% or more.
[0035] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204
10 corresponds to a stripe marking along with the plurality of additives or the
base compound required for the laser marking. The stripe marking may
include the plurality of additives required for formation of the layer of
laser additive premixed plastic compound 204. The printing is done over
the stripe marking. The method of using stripe marking with laser
15 additives enables reduction in consumption of materials (laser additives).
The material consumption may be reduced as the laser additives are not
applied throughout the length of the optical fibre cable 200 for a cable with
high thickness of jacket 202. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204 may be applied on one side of the optical fibre cable 200.
20 The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may occupy up
to 90% circumference of the outer surface of the jacket 202 of the optical
fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound
204 may be applied along the length of the jacket 202. However, the layer
of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may not cover full
25 circumference of the jacket 202 and an area along with the length of the
jacket 202 may not include any layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound 204. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound
204 may not cover entire circumference of the jacket 202 of the optical
fibre cable 200. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound
30 204 may be applied on any optical fibre cable having any number of
optical fibres. The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204
may be applied on any optical fibre cable having any type of structure.
[0036] The jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 may include the layer
35 of laser additive premixed plastic compound applied intermittently along
11/17
5 the length of the jacket 202 (as shown in FIG. 3). Each intermittent layer
of the laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 may have a length L.
In addition, each intermittent layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound has the distance D. The length L of each intermittent layer of
laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 on the jacket 202 of the
10 optical fibre cable 200 may be in range of about 0.2 meters to 2 meters.
The distance D between each intermittent layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound 204 on the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 may
be in range of about 0.2 meters to 1 meter. The Length L and the distance
D of each intermittent layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound
15 on the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 may vary. The length L
and the distance D may be same. The layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound 204 may be applied continuously throughout the length
of the jacket 202 of the optical fibre cable 200 (as shown in FIG. 4).
20 [0037] The layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound 204 is
applied on both sides of the optical fibre cable 200. The layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound 204 may occupy 40% circumference
of the optical fibre cable 200. Each intermittent layer of laser additive
premixed plastic compound 204 may be applied along the length of the
25 jacket 202 in the form of the arc. The layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound 204 may not cover entire circumference of the jacket
202 of the optical fibre cable 200.
[0038] The optical fibre cable 200 may include a layer 206, a plurality of
30 buffer tubes 208, a plurality of optical fibres 210, a central strength
member 212, and a plurality of ripcords 214. However, the optical fibre
cable 200 may be any type of optical fibre cable with any structure. The
layer 206 includes a corrugated electrolytic chrome-coated steel (ECCS)
tape, a water blocking tape and binders. In general, ECCS tape reduces
35 possibility of kinking of optical fibre cables and provides resistance to
12/17
5 damage during installation of optical fibre cables. In general, water
blocking tapes provides water resistance to optical fibre cables over long
period of time. The layer 206 may be surrounded by the jacket 202. The
layer 206 facilitates complete insulation and protects the optical fibre cable
200 against water ingression and environmental conditions.
10
[0039] The layer 206 may surround the plurality of buffer tubes 208. In
general, buffer tubes provide mechanical isolation to fibres present in the
buffer tubes. The plurality of buffer tubes 208 may encapsulate the
plurality of optical fibres 210. In addition, number of plurality of optical
15 fibres 210 in each of the plurality of buffer tubes 208 is 12. Further,
number of the plurality of optical fibres 210 in each of the plurality of
buffer tubes 208 may vary. Each of the plurality of buffer tubes 208 may
include a gel. The gel occupies empty space in the plurality of buffer
tubes 208 and provides a protective layer to the plurality of optical fibres
20 210.
[0040] The plurality of buffer tubes 208 may surrounds the central
strength member 212. The central strength member 212 resists contraction
of the optical fibre cable 200 at low temperatures. In addition, the central
25 strength member 212 prevents buckling of the plurality of optical fibres
210. The optical fibre cable 200 may not include the central strength
member. Further, the optical fibre cable 200 includes the plurality of
ripcords 214. In general, ripcords are used for stripping of jacket of
optical fibre cable. The plurality of ripcords 214 facilitates access to the
30 plurality of optical fibres 210. The plurality of ripcords 214 lies
diametrically opposite to each other. Each of the plurality of ripcords 214
may have circular shape. The plurality of ripcords 214 may have any
suitable shape. Number of the plurality of ripcords 214 inside the optical
fibre cable 200 is two. Number of the plurality of ripcords 214 inside the
35 optical fibre cable 200 may vary.
13/17
5
[0041] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
technology have been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present
technology to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many
10 modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the present technology and its practical application, to
thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present
technology and various embodiments with various modifications as are
15 suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various
omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as
circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to
cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit
or scope of the claims of the present technology.
20
[0042] While several possible embodiments of the invention have been
described above and illustrated in some cases, it should be interpreted and
understood as to have been presented only by way of illustration and
example, but not by limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred
25 embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described
exemplary embodiments.

We claim:

1. A method of printing on a jacket (202) of an optical fibre cable
10 (200), the method comprising
applying a layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound (204) on the jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200);
and
15
using a laser beam on the layer of laser additive premixed
plastic compound (204) for printing on the jacket (202) of the optical
fibre cable (200).
20 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) is applied along a length of the
jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of laser
25 additive premixed plastic compound (204) does not cover full circumference
of the jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising extruding the
layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound (204) on an outer surface
30 of the jacket (202).
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) is applied continuously along a
length of the jacket (202) or intermittently along a length of the jacket (202).
15/17
5
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) applied intermittently along a
length of the jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200) has a length (L) in
range of about 0.2 meters to 2 meters.
10
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) has a base compound and
polymer materials, wherein the base compound comprising at least one of
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), calcium carbonate (CaCO3),
15 magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium sulphate (BaSO4), wherein the
layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound (204) has zinc sulphide
(ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4), wherein an amount of zinc sulphide
(ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4) is utilized as a laser additive at least two
times of an amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2).
20
8. A jacket (202) for an optical fibre cable (200), wherein the jacket
(200) comprising:
an outer sheath, wherein the outer sheath is a hollow
25 cylindrical sheath and forms an outer covering of the optical fibre
cable (200), wherein a layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound (204) is applied on the outer sheath of the optical fibre
cable (200), wherein the layer of laser additive premixed plastic
compound (204) is printed upon the outer sheath by use of a laser
30 beam.
9. The jacket (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) is applied along a length of the
jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200).
35
16/17
5 10. The jacket (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) is extruded on an outer surface of
the jacket (202).
11. The jacket (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer of laser
10 additive premixed plastic compound (204) is applied continuously along a
length of the jacket (202) or intermittently along a length of the jacket (202),
wherein the layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound (204) applied
intermittently along a length of the jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable
(200) has a length (L) in range of about 0.2 meters to 2 meters.
15
12. The jacket (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) on the jacket (202) of the optical
fibre cable (200) occupies up to 90% circumference of an outer surface of
the jacket (202) of the optical fibre cable (200).
20
13. The jacket (202) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer of laser
additive premixed plastic compound (204) has a base compound and
polymer materials, wherein the base compound comprising at least one of
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc sulphide (ZnS), calcium carbonate (CaCO3),
25 magnesium carbonate (MgCO3), and barium sulphate (BaSO4), wherein the
layer of laser additive premixed plastic compound (204) has zinc sulphide
(ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4), wherein an amount of zinc sulphide
(ZnS) and barium sulphate (BaSO4) is utilized as a laser additive at least two
times of an amount of titanium dioxide (TiO2).