Abstract: The present invention's optical cable is provided with optical fibers, a forming pipe for housing the optical fibers, a sheath provided around the forming pipe, and at least one pair of rip cords embedded in the sheath. The forming pipe is formed of a plurality of tapes so that it is dividable along its longitudinal direction. When dividing the optical cable, the rip cords are pulled to tear open the sheath, and the already split forming pipe is divided while staying adhered to the respective parts of the sheath. As a result, the division of the sheath and the forming pipe is carried out in one stroke, so that the optical fibers inside the forming pipe can be exposed easily and quickly.

Abstract: An optical cable formed by optical fibers, a forming pipe, a sheath, a pair of tension members, and a pair of rip cords. The forming pipe includes a plurality of tapes arranged to permit the forming pipe to be divided in the longitudinal direction and the rip cords are located near the seams of the forming pipe. A distance from the surface of the tension members to the inner surface of the sheath and to the outer surface of the sheath are both 0.3 mm or more. A distance from the center of the rip cords to the inner surface of the sheath is from 0.2-fold or greater to 1.2-fold or less than the radius of the tip cords. Furthermore, the distance from the surface of the rip cords to the seams of the forming pipes is 0.5 mm or less.

Abstract: The present invention's optical cable is provided with optical fibers, a forming pipe for housing the optical fibers, a sheath provided around the forming pipe, and at least one pair of rip cords embedded in the sheath. The forming pipe is formed of a plurality of tapes so that it is dividable along its longitudinal direction. When dividing the optical cable, the rip cords are pulled to tear open the sheath, and the already split forming pipe is divided while staying adhered to the respective parts of the sheath. As a result, the division of the sheath and the forming pipe is carried out in one stroke, so that the optical fibers inside the forming pipe can be exposed easily and quickly.

Abstract: The present invention's optical cable is manufactured using a manufacturing device which has a cylindrical inner pipe; a cylindrical nipple which is disposed outside the inner pipe with a first spacing interval therebetween, and in which tension member insertion holes and rip cord insertion holes have been formed; and a die which is disposed outside this nipple with a second spacing interval therebetween. In the method for manufacturing this optical cable using the aforementioned device, a plurality of plastic tapes are sent into the first spacing interval, and are shaped into a pipe to make a forming pipe, an optical unit relayed from inside the inner pipe is housed inside the forming pipe, tension members and rip cords are relayed from tension member insertion holes and rip cord insertion holes respectively, and melted resin to form the sheath is supplied from a second spacing interval.