Abstract: An optical fiber cutter includes: a fiber holder that holds optical fibers disposed in a row in a first perpendicular direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the optical fibers, wherein each of the optical fibers includes a glass portion and a coated portion that covers the glass portion; an alignment member having an insertion hole through which the glass portions extending from the fiber holder are inserted; a base including; a first placement portion on which the fiber holder is disposed; and a second placement portion positioned at a distance from the first placement portion, and on which the alignment member is disposed; and a blade member that scratches surfaces of the glass portions by moving in the first perpendicular direction between the first placement portion and the second placement portion with respect to the base.

Abstract: A fusion splicing device is disclosed that includes a connector that fusion splices a pair of optical fibers and a glass clamp that clamps a glass part that has been removed of a coating of the optical fiber, where the glass clamp is provided at an outer side of the connector. The fusion splicing device further includes a coating clamp that clamps at least a part of the coating of the optical fiber and is provided at an outer side of the glass clamp. The fusion splicing device also includes a wind protector cover that covers the connector, the glass clamp, and the coating clamp. Additionally, the fusion splicing device includes a heater that heats a protection sleeve covered on a fusion splice point of the optical fibers that have been fusion spliced with the connector and an aligner that aligns fingertips holding the optical fiber.

Abstract: A fusion splicing device is disclosed that includes a connector that fusion splices a pair of optical fibers and a glass clamp that clamps a glass part that has been removed of a coating of the optical fiber, where the glass clamp is provided at an outer side of the connector. The fusion splicing device further includes a coating clamp that clamps at least a part of the coating of the optical fiber and is provided at an outer side of the glass clamp. The fusion splicing device also includes a wind protector cover that covers the connector, the glass clamp, and the coating clamp. Additionally, the fusion splicing device includes a heater that heats a protection sleeve covered on a fusion splice point of the optical fibers that have been fusion spliced with the connector and an aligner that aligns fingertips holding the optical fiber.

Abstract: A coating removing device includes a heating section that includes a heater to heat a coating of an optical fiber, and a blade to make an incision in the coating of the optical fiber; a gripping section that grips the optical fiber and is capable of moving with respect to the heating section; and a counter that counts a coating removal event number by detecting separation between the heating section and the gripping section.

Abstract: An optical fiber re-coating device of the invention includes an optical fiber coater that cures resin and coats a coating-removed portion of an optical fiber therewith. The optical fiber re-coating device includes: a resin reservoir tank that stores the resin which is before subjected to curing; a pump that supplies the resin stored in the resin reservoir tank to an optical fiber coater; and an air bubble separator that separates air bubbles included in the resin from the pump therefrom, sends the resin from which the air bubbles are separated to the optical fiber coater, and returns the resin including the separated air bubbles to the resin reservoir tank.

Abstract: A coat removing method of removing a coat of a coated optical fiber 3 made of a glass fiber 3a and the coat of polyimide resin 3b covering the glass fiber 3a includes holding the coated optical fiber 3 with fiber clamps 5 and 7 at two locations spaced by a predetermined distance in a length direction of the coated optical fiber 3, applying tension to the coated optical fiber 3 in the length direction, pressing a coat removal blade 29 to the coated optical fiber 3 in the tension-applied state in a direction crossing the length direction, to bend the coated optical fiber 3, and moving the coat removal blade 29 in the length direction along the coated optical fiber 3 in the bent state, thereby removing the coat.

Abstract: A coating removing device includes a heating section that includes a heater to heat a coating of an optical fiber, and a blade to make an incision in the coating of the optical fiber; a gripping section that grips the optical fiber and is capable of moving with respect to the heating section; and a counter that counts a coating removal event number by detecting separation between the heating section and the gripping section.

Abstract: An optical fiber re-coating device of the invention includes an optical fiber coater that includes: an inner glass opening-and-closing unit including: a pair of glass members having grooves formed thereon; and a pair of mounting tables which are coupled to each other via a first hinge; and an outer opening-and-closing unit including: a pair of covers which are coupled to each other via a second hinge, one of the paired covers having a magnet provided therein, the other of the paired covers having a magnet catch provided therein, the magnet and the magnet catch facing each other when the paired covers are in a closed state; and light sources that cure a resin used to coat an optical fiber provided in the inner glass opening-and-closing unit and are provided in the respective paired covers.

Abstract: A coat removing method of removing a coat of a coated optical fiber 3 made of a glass fiber 3a and the coat of polyimide resin 3b covering the glass fiber 3a includes holding the coated optical fiber 3 with fiber clamps 5 and 7 at two locations spaced by a predetermined distance in a length direction of the coated optical fiber 3, applying tension to the coated optical fiber 3 in the length direction, pressing a coat removal blade 29 to the coated optical fiber 3 in the tension-applied state in a direction crossing the length direction, to bend the coated optical fiber 3, and moving the coat removal blade 29 in the length direction along the coated optical fiber 3 in the bent state, thereby removing the coat.

Abstract: An optical fiber re-coating device of the invention includes an optical fiber coater that includes: an inner glass opening-and-closing unit including: a pair of glass members having grooves formed thereon; and a pair of mounting tables which are coupled to each other via a first hinge; and an outer opening-and-closing unit including: a pair of covers which are coupled to each other via a second hinge, one of the paired covers having a magnet provided therein, the other of the paired covers having a magnet catch provided therein, the magnet and the magnet catch facing each other when the paired covers are in a closed state; and light sources that cure a resin used to coat an optical fiber provided in the inner glass opening-and-closing unit and are provided in the respective paired covers.

Abstract: An optical fiber re-coating device of the invention includes an optical fiber coater that cures resin and coats a coating-removed portion of an optical fiber therewith. The optical fiber re-coating device includes: a resin reservoir tank that stores the resin which is before subjected to curing; a pump that supplies the resin stored in the resin reservoir tank to an optical fiber coater; and an air bubble separator that separates air bubbles included in the resin from the pump therefrom, sends the resin from which the air bubbles are separated to the optical fiber coater, and returns the resin including the separated air bubbles to the resin reservoir tank.

Abstract: A fiber holder is provided which includes first and second holder plates having first and second main surfaces, respectively. The first holder plate includes a first channel insert including a first fiber channel configured to receive a fiber therein, and a first insert channel disposed on the first main surface such that the first insert channel extends through a length of the first main surface and is configured to receive the first channel insert. The second holder plate includes a second channel insert including a second fiber channel configured to receive the fiber therein, and a second insert channel disposed on the second main surface such that the second insert channel extends through a length of the second main surface and is configured to receive the second channel insert. The first and second channel inserts are disposed within the first and second insert channels, respectively.

Abstract: A coat removing method of removing a coat of a coated optical fiber 3 made of a glass fiber 3a and the coat of polyimide resin 3b covering the glass fiber 3a includes holding the coated optical fiber 3 with fiber clamps 5 and 7 at two locations spaced by a predetermined distance in a length direction of the coated optical fiber 3, applying tension to the coated optical fiber 3 in the length direction, pressing a coat removal blade 29 to the coated optical fiber 3 in the tension-applied state in a direction crossing the length direction, to bend the coated optical fiber 3, and moving the coat removal blade 29 in the length direction along the coated optical fiber 3 in the bent state, thereby removing the coat.

Abstract: A fiber holder is provided which includes first and second holder plates having first and second main surfaces, respectively. The first holder plate includes a first channel insert including a first fiber channel configured to receive a fiber therein, and a first insert channel disposed on the first main surface such that the first insert channel extends through a length of the first main surface and is configured to receive the first channel insert. The second holder plate includes a second channel insert including a second fiber channel configured to receive the fiber therein, and a second insert channel disposed on the second main surface such that the second insert channel extends through a length of the second main surface and is configured to receive the second channel insert. The first and second channel inserts are disposed within the first and second insert channels, respectively.

Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.

Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.

Abstract: A method of aligning optical-fibers, including: holding a sheath of an optical-fiber ribbon cord using an optical-fiber holder so that distal ends of optical fibers extending from the sheath are located above grooves of a groove stage; arranging an optical-fiber guide on one side of the sheath, as the sheath is held by the optical-fiber holder, on a first side of the optical-fiber holder, wherein the optical-fiber guide has oblique portions adjacent to transverse sides of the sheath; moving the optical-fiber guide in a first direction toward the sheath so that at least one of the oblique portions aligns the sheath to the transverse center of the optical fiber guides; and moving the optical-fiber guide in a direction opposite the first direction to align the optical-fibers into the grooves of the groove stage.

Abstract: An optical fiber end part holding device includes a base providing a V-groove in which an optical fiber end part is mounted and a pressuring member providing a pair of inclined faces forming a V-shaped form that engages the V-groove and a level lower face that presses and applies pressure to the end of an optical fiber mounted in the V-groove. The pressuring member moves to press and apply pressure to the end part of the optical fiber, is able to rotate in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the V-groove, and is constructed such that the width of the lower face gradually broadens from one end in the direction that is the longitudinal direction of the V-groove toward the other end.

Abstract: An optical fiber end part holding device includes a base providing a V-groove in which an optical fiber end part is mounted and a pressuring member providing a pair of inclined faces forming a V-shaped form that engages the V-groove and a level lower face that presses and applies pressure to the end of an optical fiber mounted in the V-groove. The pressuring member moves to press and apply pressure to the end part of the optical fiber, is able to rotate in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the V-groove, and is constructed such that the width of the lower face gradually broadens from one end in the direction that is the longitudinal direction of the V-groove toward the other end.

Abstract: An optical fiber axial alignment method and related method, and an optical fiber fusion splicing method and related device are disclosed wherein a butt alignment section 9 has a butt alignment groove portion 7 to allow at least one pair of optical fibers 3 to be positioned such that distal ends of optical fibers 3 mutually but one another. Optical fiber guide sections 21 on both sides of the butt alignment section 9 have guide grooves 23, whose centers are positioned on substantially straight lines interconnecting centers of at least one pair of opposing butt alignment groove portions formed on the butt alignment section 9, and are able to elevate above the butt alignment section 9.