| 摘要 |
Several flat cable embodiments (10, 10', 10'', 10''', 10'''') are disclosed, as are methods and apparatus (30) for the selective manufacture and connectorization of same. In accordance with one preferred flat cable embodiment (10), adapted for telephone under carpet applications, two precisely offset arrays of rectangularly shaped conductors (13, 14) are separated by a center film (16), with each array being adhesively bonded through an associated adhesive coating (21 or 22) to only the respectively adjacent one of two outer films (18 or 19). The laminating apparatus (30) includes a first pair of laminating rollers (31, 32), one (31) being both internally and externally heated, and having a smooth peripheral surface formed of a layer (68) of resilient material, the other (32) having a steel peripheral surface formed with a plurality of specially dimensioned conductor-receiving grooves (72), and a second pair of finishing rollers (37, 38), each being unheated and having a smooth, peripheral surface formed of a layer (37 a or 38a) of resilient material. It has been found that by utilizing a center film (16) with no adhesive coating initially on either side thereof, and the specially constructed laminating apparatus (30), when used in conjunction with properly chosen laminating pressures, temperatures and feed rate, the resultant fabricated cable (10) exhibits excellent bond strength, and consistently and precisely maintained conductor spacings. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, isolating strips (28, 29) are at least lightly secured on opposite sides of, and extend transversely across, the center film (16) at predetermined spaced terminating points therealong so as to facilitate the termination of the cable (FIGS. 8-12), and the subsequent connectorization of the terminated conductor ends (13a, 14a) thereof to a connector (25).
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