Abstract: Splicing of one or more pairs of mating optical fibers is facilitated by a loose-fitting optical fiber receiving tube having a uniform interior cross section with at least one corner; the corner forms a fiber-aligning groove substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Mating fibers, introduced into opposite ends of the tube, are bent at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis sufficient to bias the fibers against the tube's interior surfaces. In response to forces generated by the bent fibers, the tube rotates to align itself until the mating fiber ends are lodged against the fiber-aligning groove. This procedure effects transverse alignment of the mating fibers, after which the fibers, still bent, are moved toward each other into abutment.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon structure is formed by enveloping a plurality of optical fibers with a predetermined spacing between two laminate elements spaced in parallel array. Once formed, either element can be peeled back from the other end from the fibers to expose fibers for subsequent splicing. The forming process embodies the fibers equally in each laminate, forming semicircular grooves in each. These become guide channels for splicing.