Abstract: A reinforcing sleeve for collectively reinforcing spliced portions of a plurality of optical fiber core wires disposed side by side includes a heat-shrinkable tube, a heat-meltable member, a tension member, and so on. The tension member and the heat-meltable member are inserted into the heat-shrinkable member. A thick portion is provided at a substantially center portion of a width direction of the heat-meltable member. Thus, on a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the heat-meltable member, an amount of the heat-meltable member at proximity of the center portion of the width direction of the heat-meltable member is greater than an amount of the heat-meltable member at proximity of the end portions of the width direction of the heat-meltable member. This forms a flow of the heat-meltable member from the center portion toward the end portions in the width direction at the time of melting the heat-meltable member.

Abstract: A reinforcing sleeve is a member for collectively reinforcing spliced portions of a plurality of optical fiber core wires disposed side by side. The reinforcing member includes a heat-shrinkable tube, a heat-meltable member, a tension member, and so on. The heat shrinkable tube is a cylindrical member having an approximately circular cross section. The heat-meltable member, which is a first heat-meltable member, is in a cylindrical shape having an approximately circular or elliptical cross section. The tension member is a rod-shaped member. The tension member and the heat-meltable member are inserted into the heat-shrinkable member. A thick portion is provided at a substantially center portion of a width direction of the heat-meltable member.

Abstract: A live fiber identifier tool includes a head portion having a slot. A cable containing a pair of optical fibers can be inserted in the slot and forced to bend inside the head portion when a trigger is operated. Any light signal in a given fiber partially leaks from the fiber and exits the cable bend. Two photo detectors are located so that one of the detectors receives more light from the cable bend than the other detector depending on the signal direction in the given fiber. Processing components coupled to the detectors and the indicator define a threshold factor that corresponds to a determined difference between the outputs of the detectors. If the difference between the detector outputs does not exceed the threshold factor, an indicator on the tool reports that light signals are traveling in the pair of optical fibers in opposite directions along the cable.

Abstract: A live fiber identifier tool includes a head portion having a slot. A cable containing a pair of optical fibers can be inserted in the slot and forced to bend inside the head portion when a trigger is operated. Any light signal in a given fiber partially leaks from the fiber and exits the cable bend. Two photo detectors are located so that one of the detectors receives more light from the cable bend than the other detector depending on the signal direction in the given fiber. Processing components coupled to the detectors and the indicator define a threshold factor that corresponds to a determined difference between the outputs of the detectors. If the difference between the detector outputs does not exceed the threshold factor, an indicator on the tool reports that light signals are traveling in the pair of optical fibers in opposite directions along the cable.