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 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 micro-welder for optical fibers includes a stand having a central support surrounded by two lateral supports or beams. The beams are suitable for moving under drive from a bending movement about respective X-axes. The stand also supports a device for securing optical fibers on the beams and a device for accurately guiding the fibers on the central support. A low accuracy first displacement device is adapted to displace the beams to bring the fibers into end-to-end contact with each other by relative translation movement along their longitudinal Z-axis which is orthogonal to the X-axes. A high accuracy second displacement device is adapted for moving the beams to drive the fibers with accurate relative translation movements along the Z-axis. Two welding electrodes are provided and an optical device which includes a microscope for observing the ends of said optical fibers.

Abstract: Novel granular particulates of sodium metasilicate, well adapted for improved detergency applications, are comprised of a central core of essentially anhydrous sodium metasilicate and a core-enveloping sheath of sodium metasilicate pentahydrate therefor, the amount of water which comprises said sodium metasilicate pentahydrate comprising at least 10% by weight, and advantageously from 10 to 20 or 25% by weight, of the total weight of said particulates.