Abstract: An optical fiber splicing module includes a receiving housing having a longitudinal cavity with two fiber insertion orifices through two end walls of the cavity, a fiber immobilizing member and a pressing arrangement in the cavity and a closure cap that can be clipped to the housing. The fiber immobilizing member substantially closes off the cavity and carries the pressing arrangement which is therefore received facing a groove in the bottom of the cavity and aligned with the orifices. The cap can be clipped to the housing in such a way as to define two positions of the member in the cavity, for allowing the fibers to pass and for immobilizing them in the groove.

Abstract: A tool is used for end-to-end jointing a fiber to another fiber or to an optical connector end-piece by means of a module including a receiving housing enabling a fiber to be inserted at one end at least and wedging action arrangements for fixing the fibers at the bottom of the housing that are operated by pressing them in. The tool carries out the following operations successively and possibly simultaneously for two fibers: partial stripping of each fiber, end cleavage for end-to-end jointing, positioning of each cleaved fiber in the module where it is jointed and crimping of each fiber in a jointing position in the module. These operations are carried out in a cycle commanded by continuous rotation in a particular direction of a rotary drive shaft of the tool after manual fitting of each fiber and the module at particular positions on the tool.

Abstract: The method of arc welding optical fibers includes a fusion and inter-penetration first step during which the ends subjected to the arc are fused and caused to inter-penetrate, and an alignment second step so as to continue the fusion under the control of the offset that is calculated on the basis of an image of the ends, which are not externally illuminated. The first step is an arc current control step performed in successive current increments, under the control of the brightness taken on by the ends after each increment.

Abstract: The clamp includes a body having a grooved plane surface, facing which a clamping jaw is pivotally mounted. The body is constituted by an elongate flat support having a top plane face provided with a recess, and by a plate which is complementary to the recess, which is grooved so that it can receive one or more fibers, and which is removably mounted in the recess in the support. Application: tool for handling optical fibers.

Abstract: The device for positioning and retaining optical fibers in a layer including firstly a channel-section base having two L-shaped slots disposed facing each other in the respective flanges of the base, and adapted to positioning the fibers in a layer in the respective horizontal segments of the slots, secondly a grooved guide surface for guiding the fibers, the surface interconnecting the horizontal segments of said slots, and thirdly retaining means for retaining the fibers on the grooved surface. Application: handling and connecting together optical fibers.

Abstract: A method of cutting an optical fiber ribbon obliquely, the ribbon being constituted by a plurality of optical fibers that are all parallel to a "longitudinal" axis of the ribbon, the fibers all being situated in the same horizontal plane referred to as the plane of the ribbon, and being protected by a common sheath, the method comprising the following steps:a portion of the ribbon is stripped of its sheath;the ribbon is held stationary at two points situated on either side of the stripped portion;a curved anvil is advanced along a displacement axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane so as to tension the portion in such a manner as to incline a part of the stripped portion relative to the horizontal plane; anda cutter is advanced facing the anvil and along a displacement axis parallel or coinciding with that of the anvil to cut the stripped portion in the inclined part.

Abstract: A device for displaying the core (C) of an optical fiber (F) in two directions that are transverse to the fiber (F) includes two light sources illuminating the fiber. Each source emits a beam of light. The beams have different directions D.sub.1 and D.sub.2. The directions lie in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (X) of the fiber (F). An objective lens (L.sub.3, L.sub.4), reception and display components (2, 3) are employed and receive and display images of the fiber (F) produced by the beams. The objective lens is focused in a plane (P) that intercepts the beams from the fiber (F) inside the fiber (F). The angle (.alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2) between either of the directions (D.sub.1, D.sub.2) and the focal axis (Y) of the objective lens (L.sub.3, L.sub.4) is such that the objective lens (L.sub.3, L.sub.4) directly receives the two beams from the fiber (F) with sufficient light intensity to enable the display component to operate.

Abstract: A device for use in on-site conditions to obtain a section plane which reproducibly makes an angle of 5.degree., for example, relative to the axis of an optical fiber. The device includes a clamp for holding the fiber at a first point, a rotary clamp for holding the fiber at a second point and for twisting it about the axis of the fiber. The device further includes two jaws for holding the fiber at a third point after it has been twisted by means of the rotary clamp. A convex anvil subjects the fiber to tension after it has been twisted. A diamond cutter is employed for cleaving the fiber. The invention is applicable to providing an optical fiber cutting tool suitable for cutting the fiber obliquely on the worksite.

Abstract: A cutting tool has four main parts hinged about two axes parallel to the direction of the fiber to but cut. Progressively increasing hand pressure applied by a user enables certain operations to be performed automatically and in succession. Two pairs of jaws are clamped to prevent the fiber from moving between two axially spaced points. The fiber is put under tension by applying an anvil thereagainst, and cleaving is initiated by applying a diamond chisel against the fiber, with cleaving being completed by the tension set up by the anvil. Three springs exert different force couples, thereby determining the order in which these operations occur.