Abstract:
It is an object of the present invention to enable quick, easy, and inexpensive connections even in a narrow area using an inexpensive device and an inexpensive optical fiber connecting element, thereby achieving high operability and high durability reliability. An optical fiber connecting element includes an optical alignment sleeve having tapered insertion ports formed at opposite ends thereof and having an ejection port opened in an area in which the two optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports are butted against each other, a cyanoacrylate-type glue injected into the insertion ports and the injection port to fix the two optical fibers, and a heat-shrinkable tube wrapped around the optical alignment sleeve and two optical fiber coatings and having a hot-melt adhesive provided therein.

Description:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-338296 filed Nov. 2, 2001 and 2002-081957 filed Mar. 22, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an optical fiber connecting element, an optical alignment sleeve, an optical fiber connecting method, and an optical fiber connecting device, and more specifically, to a method of fixedly connecting an optical fiber using an optical alignment sleeve filled with an adhesive. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In laying an optical fiber cable, for example, a cable of unit length 2 km is laid in each section. Cables in two sections are connected together by connecting optical fibers in the cable in one of the sections to the corresponding optical fibers in the cable in the other section using a connection box called a “closure”. A cable for long-distance transmissions requires a large number of closures, and a multicore cable requires optical fibers to be connected together a huge number of times. Accordingly, it is necessary to be able to connect optical fibers together more precisely and to reduce the number of times that the optical fibers are connected together, thereby achieving inexpensive and reliably durable optical-fiber connections. 
     Conventionally known methods of connecting optical fibers together include (1) heating and melting the optical fibers, i.e. so-called fusion splicing, (2) mechanically fixing the optical fibers in a connection box, i.e. so-called mechanical splicing, and (3) using transparent sleeves or V-type grooves with transparent covers to butt the optical fibers against each other and using an UV-curable adhesive to fixedly connect the optical fibers together, i.e. so-called adhesive splicing. 
     However, the fusion splicing requires an expensive fusion splicer, which is large and does not allow connections to be carried out easily in a narrow area. Another problem with the fusion splicing is that the optical fibers require an extra length sufficient to allow the fibers to be set in the fusion splicer and an extra length for a reconnection carried out if the fusion fails. 
     The mechanical splicing requires more inexpensive connection tools than the fusion splicing but requires an expensive connection element, a mechanical splice container, thereby increasing costs per connection. Another problem with the mechanical splicing is that the fixation of the optical fibers rely on mechanical clamping force, thereby degrading durability reliability. 
     Problems with the adhesive splicing are that UV irradiation, which involves high costs, are required and that ultraviolet rays are harmful to human bodies, resulting in degraded operability at the working site. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical alignment sleeve and an optical fiber connecting element that enable quick, easy, and inexpensive connections even in a narrow area, thereby achieving high operability and high durability reliability, and to provide an optical fiber connecting method and apparatus used for the optical alignment sleeve and the optical fiber connecting element. 
     To attain this object, an optical fiber connecting element comprises an optical alignment sleeve having tapered insertion ports formed at opposite ends thereof and through which optical fibers are inserted and having an ejection port opened in an area in which the two optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports are butted against each other, a cyanoacrylate-type glue injected into the insertion ports and the injection port to fix the two optical fibers, and a heat-shrinkable tube wrapped around the optical alignment sleeve and the two optical fibers and having a hot-melt adhesive provided therein. 
     Also an optical fiber connecting element may comprise an optical alignment sleeve having tapered insertion ports formed at opposite ends thereof and through which optical fibers are inserted and having an ejection port opened in an area in which the two optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports are butted against each other, a cyanoacrylate-type glue injected into the insertion ports and the injection port to fix the two optical fibers, a reinforcing tube wrapped around the optical alignment sleeve and the two optical fibers, and seal materials that fix the two optical fibers and the reinforcing tube at opposite ends of the reinforcing tube. 
     Further, an optical fiber connecting method comprises a first step of inserting two optical fibers into an optical alignment sleeve and butting the optical fibers against each other, the optical alignment sleeve having tapered insertion ports formed at opposite ends thereof and through which optical fibers are inserted and having an ejection port opened in an area in which the two optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports are butted against each other, a second step of injecting a cyanoacrylate-type adhesive into the insertion ports and the injection port to fix the two optical fibers, and a third step of wrapping a heat-shrinkable tube having a hot-melt adhesive provided inside, around the optical alignment sleeve and the two optical fibers and heating the heat-shrinkable tube to fix the optical alignment sleeve and the two optical fibers. 
     Furthermore, an optical fiber connecting method may comprise the steps of: inserting two optical fibers into an optical alignment sleeve and butting the optical fibers against each other, the optical alignment sleeve having tapered insertion ports formed at opposite ends thereof and through which optical fibers are inserted and having an ejection port opened in an area in which the two optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports are butted against each other, injecting a cyanoacrylate-type adhesive into the insertion ports and the injection port to fix the two optical fibers, and wrapping a reinforcing tube around the optical alignment sleeve and the two optical fibers and using seal materials to fix the two optical fibers at opposite ends of the reinforcing tube. 
     An optical alignment sleeve for optical fibers which allows two optical fibers to be butted against each other for connection, the optical alignment sleeve comprises tapered insertion ports through which optical fibers are inserted, and holding sections each having a groove formed therein to allow the optical fiber inserted through the insertion port to discharge an extra portion of an adhesive already filled in the optical alignment sleeve, to the insertion ports, and wherein the optical fibers inserted through the insertion ports allow the extra portion of the adhesive discharged to the insertion ports to form fillets. 
     Also the optical alignment sleeve may comprise tapered insertion ports through which optical fibers are inserted, and holding sections each having a drain section formed therein so that the optical fiber are inserted through the insertion port to discharge an extra portion of an adhesive already filled in the optical alignment sleeve, to the insertion ports, and wherein the optical fibers are inserted through the insertion ports to allow the extra portion of the adhesive discharged to the insertion ports to form fillets. 
     An optical fiber connecting method comprises a first step of inserting optical fibers into an optical alignment sleeve to discharge an extra portion of an adhesive already filled into holding sections of the optical alignment sleeve, to insertion ports formed at opposite ends of the optical alignment sleeve, via grooves formed in the holding sections, a second step of inserting the optical fibers into the optical alignment sleeve to allow the extra portion of the adhesive discharged to the tapered insertion ports to form fillets, and a third step of solidifying the adhesive to fix the optical alignment sleeve and the optical fibers. 
     Also an optical fiber connecting method comprise a first step of inserting optical fibers into an optical alignment sleeve to discharge an extra portion of an adhesive already filled into holding sections of the optical alignment sleeve, to insertion ports formed at opposite ends of the optical alignment sleeve, via grooves formed in the holding sections, a second step of inserting the optical fibers into the optical alignment sleeve to allow the extra portion of the adhesive discharged to the tapered insertion ports to form fillets, and a third step of solidifying the adhesive to fix the optical alignment sleeve and the optical fibers. 
     An optical fiber connecting device comprises optical alignment sleeve holding means for fixing an optical alignment sleeve, and optical fiber holding means having a clamp that fixes optical fibers in V-type groove and means for moving the clamp so as to allow the optical fibers to be inserted into the optical alignment sleeve and butted against each other therein, and wherein the clamp has a fixed cover that can be closed with the optical fibers temporarily fixed in the V-type groove formed in a clamp base, using one of the fingers, and the optical fibers are sandwiched between the clam base and the fixed cover in the V-type groove. 
     The above and other objects, effects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an optical alignment sleeve according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a sectional view showing the optical alignment sleeve according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a method of fixing optical fibers using an optical fiber connecting element; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an optical fiber connecting element according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an optical fiber connecting element according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an optical fiber connecting element according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an optical alignment sleeve according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a central portion of the optical alignment sleeve according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a method of fixing optical fibers using the optical alignment sleeve; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an optical alignment sleeve according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a central portion of the optical alignment sleeve according to the third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an optical alignment sleeve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12A is a plan view showing an optical fiber connecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12B is a side view showing the optical fiber connecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12A; 
     FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a V-type groove clamp of the optical fiber connecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12A; 
     FIG. 13B is a side view showing how the optical fibers are fixed in the V-type groove clamp; 
     FIG. 14A is a plan view showing a method of fixing the optical fibers in the V-type groove clamp; and 
     FIG. 14B is a plan view showing the V-type groove clamp with the optical fibers fixed therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     [First Embodiment of Optical Alignment Sleeve] 
     The principle of a first embodiment of an optical alignment sleeve is that optical fibers are butted against each other in an optical alignment sleeve having an inner diameter 1 to 1 μm larger than the outer diameter of an optical fiber, and are fixedly connected together using cyanoacrylate-type glue. Furthermore, to improve intensity and durability reliability, a heat-shrinkable tube containing a hot-melt adhesive or a reinforcing tube and a seal material are used for packaging. 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B show an optical alignment sleeve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. An optical alignment sleeve  11  is used to butt optical fibers to be connected together, against each other. The optical alignment sleeve  11  has tapered insertion ports  12  and a guide section  14  which is contiguous to the insertion ports  12  and which has an inner diameter 1 to 2 μm larger than the outer diameter of the optical fibers. Further, the optical alignment sleeve  11  has, in a central portion of the sleeve, an injection port  13  through which an adhesive is injected to butt the optical fibers against each other in the center of the sleeve. 
     The optical alignment sleeve may be made of glass, metal, or plastics such as polyphenylene sulfide or liquid polymer, which has a small thermal expansion coefficient. 
     FIG. 2 shows a method of fixing optical fibers using the optical alignment sleeve. Single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  having an outer diameter of 0.125 mm are inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  11  made of glass and having an outer diameter of 0.127 mm and an outer diameter of 1.8 mm, and are butted against each other in the injection port  13 . Ethyl cyanoacrylate instant glue is injected through the insertion ports  12  and the injection port  13  to fixedly connect the single-mode optical alignment fibers  21   a  and  21   b  together. 
     The cyanoacrylate glue is expressed by:                           
     where R denotes C n H2 n+1  (n is a positive integer between 1 and 16), i-butyl, i-propyl, or i-pentyl. 
     [First Embodiment of Optical Fiber Connecting Element] 
     FIG. 3 shows an optical fiber connecting element according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A heat-shrinkable tube  41  and a reinforcing rod  42  are used to further reinforce the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  fixed in the optical alignment sleeve  11  using cyanoacrylate glue  31 . The optical alignment sleeve  11 , in which the optical fibers have been butted against each other are covered with the heat-shrinkable tube  41 , already inserted through optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b . The heat-shrinkable tube  41  contains a reinforcing rod  42  and a hot-melt adhesive  43 . Then, the heat-shrinkable tube  41  is heated to integrate the optical alignment sleeve  11  with the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b  for reinforcement. 
     The hot-melt adhesive  43  is a silane-grafted ethylene copolymer hot-melt adhesive shaped like a tube having an inner diameter of 2.0 mm, an outer diameter of 2.5 mm, and a length of 60 mm. The hot-metal adhesive  43  is provided inside the heat-shrinkable tube. Alternatively, a hot-melt adhesive may be applied to the inner surface of the heat-shrinkable tube. The hot-melt adhesive may be a high-durability EVA-type polymer, e.g. a high function polymer (trade name: HPR) commercially available from Mitusi Du Pont Polychemical Company. 
     The reinforcing rod  42  is a round bar made of metal, more specifically SUS and having an outer diameter of 1.2 mm and a length of 60 mm. The heat-shrinkable tube  41  is made of polyethylene and having an inner diameter of 4.2 mm, an outer diameter of 4.4 mm, a length of 60 mm, and a shrinkage factor of 40 to 50%. 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.02 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., an optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.2 dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 2.3 kg and maintained a strength of 2 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     [Other implementation] 
     The single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  having an outer diameter of 0.125 mm are inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  11  made of polyphenylene sulfide and having an inner diameter of 0.127 mm, an outer diameter of 2 mm, and a length of 20 mm, and are butted against each other in the injection port  13 . A high viscous propyl cyanoacrylate instant glue is injected into the insertion ports  12  to fixedly connect the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  together. Silicone-type matching oil is injected into the injection port  13 . The injection port  13  is 0.2 mm in width. The insertion ports  12  have an inner diameter of 1.4 mm on a side thereof through which the optical fibers are inserted, and have an inner diameter of 0.127 μm at the boundary between each insertion port and the guide section  14 . The thus fixed single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are reinforced with the heat-shrinkable tube  41  and the reinforcing rod  42 . 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.05 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., an optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.1dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 2 kg and maintained a strength of 2 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     [Second Embodiment of Optical Fiber Connecting Element] 
     FIG. 4 shows an optical fiber connecting element according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  having an outer diameter of 0.125 mm are inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  11  made of glass and having an inner diameter of 0.127 mm, an outer diameter of 1.8 mm, and a length of 20 mm, and are butted against each other in the injection port  13 . An ethyl cyanoacrylate instant glue is injected through the insertion ports  12  and the injection port  13  to fixedly connect the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  together. The optical alignment sleeve  11  in which the optical fibers have been butted against each other is covered with the heat-shrinkable tube  41 . Then, the heat-shrinkable tube  41  is heated to integrate the optical alignment sleeve  11  with the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b  for reinforcement. 
     The heat shrinkable tube  41  contains a stepped reinforcing rod  44  and a hot-melt adhesive  43 . The stepped reinforcing rod is more inexpensive and easier to handle when it is made of iron so as to be round. The reinforcing rod has a recessed central portion which contacts with the optical alignment sleeve. The central portion is recessed to form a step because this hinders stress induced by thermal expansion or contraction of the hot-melt adhesive or heat shrinkable tube from acting on portions of the optical fibers located near the inlet and outlet of the optical alignment sleeve when the hot-melt adhesive is cooled or the temperature of the operating environment changes. 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.01 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., an optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.1 dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 2 kg and maintained a strength of 2 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     [Third Embodiment of Optical Fiber Connecting Element] 
     FIG. 5 shows an optical fiber connecting element according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  having an outer diameter of 0.125 mm are inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  11  made of glass and having an inner diameter of 0.127 mm, an outer diameter of 1.8 mm, and a length of 20 mm, and are butted against each other in the injection port  13 . An ethyl cyanoacrylate glue is injected through the insertion port  12  and the injection ports  13  to fixedly connect the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  together. The optical alignment sleeve  11 , in which the optical fibers are butted against each other, is covered with a reinforcing tube  51  already inserted through the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b . Then, a room temperature setting moisture-proof seal materials  52  are provided at the respective ends of the reinforcing tube  51  to bond the reinforcing tube  51  and the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b  together to seal the reinforcing tube  51 . 
     The reinforcing tube  51  is a pipe made of stainless steel and having an outer diameter of 3 mm and an inner diameter of 1.6 mm. The reinforcing tube made of metal, particularly stainless steel is difficult to rotten and is inexpensive. 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.02 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., the optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.1 dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 1.5 kg and maintained a strength of 1 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     [Second Embodiment of Optical Alignment Sleeve] 
     The principle of a second embodiment of the optical alignment sleeve is that an adhesive is filled beforehand into an optical alignment sleeve having an inner diameter 1 to 2 μm larger than the outer diameter of the optical fibers and that the optical fibers are then inserted through tapered insertion ports located at the respective ends of the optical alignment sleeve and are butted against each other and fixedly connected together. When the optical fibers are inserted, an extra portion of the adhesive is moved to the opposite ends of the optical alignment sleeve through a drain ditch to fix the optical fibers, optical fiber coatings, and optical alignment sleeve together, thereby sealing the optical fibers. 
     FIG. 6 shows an optical alignment sleeve according to the second embodiment of the present invention. An optical alignment sleeve  61  is composed of tapered insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b  through which the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are inserted, larger-diameter holding sections  63   a  and  63   b  in which the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b  are held, and a smaller-diameter holding section  64  in which the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are held. The optical alignment sleeve  61  may be made of glass, metal, or plastics such as polyphenylene sulfide or liquid polymer, which has a small thermal expansion coefficient. 
     FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of a central portion of the optical alignment sleeve. This is a transverse sectional view of the smaller-diameter holding section  64 , taken along line VII—VII in FIG.  6 . The smaller-diameter holding section  64  has a rectangle drain ditch  65  through which the adhesive is discharged. The drain ditch  65  is continuously formed in the larger-diameter holding sections  63   a  and  63   b  and is connected to the insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b.    
     FIG. 8 shows a method of fixing optical fibers using the optical alignment sleeve. When the optical fibers are inserted, an extra portion of an adhesive  66  is moved to the insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b  of the optical alignment sleeve through the drain ditch  65  to fix the optical fibers  22   a  and  22   b  and the optical alignment sleeve  61  together in the tapered insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b , thereby sealing the optical fibers. The insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b  are tapered so as to allow the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  to be inserted thereinto and are adapted to allow the extra portion of the adhesive  66  to form a sufficient fillet. 
     [Third Embodiment of Optical Alignment Sleeve] 
     FIG. 9 shows an optical alignment sleeve according to a third embodiment of the present invention. An optical alignment sleeve  71  is composed of tapered insertion ports  72   a  and  72   b  through which the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are inserted, larger-diameter holding sections  73   a  and  73   b  in which the optical fiber coatings  22   a  and  22   b  are held, and a smaller-diameter holding section  74  in which the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are held. 
     FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of a central portion of the optical alignment sleeve. This is a transverse sectional view of the smaller-diameter holding section  74 , taken along line X—X in FIG.  9 . The smaller-diameter holding section  74  has a drain hole  75  through which the adhesive is discharged. Instead of the drain hole  75 , a drain slit may be formed over a vertical cross section of the optical alignment sleeve. When the optical fibers are inserted, an extra portion of the adhesive is moved to the drain hole  75 , a drain section, to fix the optical fibers and the optical alignment sleeve together, thereby sealing the optical fibers. 
     The adhesive  66  has a viscosity of 10,000 cP or has its viscosity adjusted so as to be gelated so that even after it has been filled into the optical alignment sleeve  61  or  71 , it will not flow out before the optical fibers  21  are inserted or be scattered easily when the optical fibers  21  are inserted. 
     The adhesive  66  is of an ultraviolet curing type or a visible light curing type. The optical alignment sleeves  61  and  71  are composed of plastics, glass, or zirconia, through which ultraviolet rays or visible light can be transmitted. After the optical fibers have been inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  61  or  71 , the adhesive  66  is solidified using ultraviolet rays or visible light. Further, if the optical alignment sleeve  61  or  71  is composed of nondeforming steel, the adhesive  66  should be of a heat-hardening type. 
     [Four Embodiment of Optical Alignment Sleeve] 
     FIG. 11 shows an optical alignment sleeve according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. An optical alignment sleeve  81  contains a reinforcing rod  87  in addition to the arrangements of the optical alignment sleeve  61  according to the second embodiment, shown in FIG.  6 . Further, durability or strength can be increased by butting optical fibers against each other and then covering the optical fibers and the optical alignment sleeve with a heat-shrinkable tube. 
     [Embodiment of Optical Fiber Connecting Device] 
     FIG. 12A is a plan view of an optical fiber connecting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12B is a side view of the optical fiber connecting device. An optical fiber connecting device  100  comprises a base  101 , optical fiber holding sections  102   a  and  102   b  that fix the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b , an optical alignment sleeve holding section  103  that fixes the optical alignment sleeve  61 ,  71 , or  81 , and a rotatable microscope  104  that enables magnification of a connection area in which the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are butted against each other, the optical fiber holding sections  102   a  and  102   b , optical alignment sleeve holding section  103 , and rotatable microscope  104  all being arranged on the base  101 . The optical fiber holding sections  102   a  and  102   b  each comprise a V-type groove clamps  121   a  or  121   b , respectively, which can be moved in the direction of optical axis of the fixed optical fiber by a fine-tuning screw  122   a  or  122   b , respectively. 
     Description will be give of a method of connecting optical fibers together using an optical fiber connecting device  100 . The optical alignment sleeve  61 ,  71 , or  81  with the adhesive  66  filled therein is fixed to a splicer clamp  131  of the optical alignment sleeve holding section  103 . Coated portions at the tips of the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are removed. Then, the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  are fixed in the V type groove clamps  121   a  and  121   b  of the optical fiber holding sections  102   a  and  102   b , respectively. The fine-tuning screws  122   a  and  122   b  are used to move the V type groove clamps  121   a  and  121   b , respectively, to insert the optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b , respectively, into the optical alignment sleeve  61 ,  71 , or  81 . The rotatable microscope  104  is used to confirm that the end surfaces of the left and right optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b . Then, the adhesive  66  is solidified. 
     FIG. 13A shows the configuration of the V-type groove clamp of the optical fiber connecting device. The V-type groove clamp  121  is composed of a clamp base  124  having a V-type groove  122  formed therein and in which the optical fibers are placed, and a fixed cover  123  fixed by the clamp base  124  and a hinge. FIG. 13A shows that the fixed cover  123  is open, and FIG. 13B shows that the fixed cover  123  is closed to fix the optical fiber in the V-type groove  122 . 
     FIG. 14A shows a method of fixing the optical fibers in the V-type groove. The optical fiber coating  22  is not sufficiently straight because it is coiled repeatedly. However, the optical fiber  21 , from which the coated portion has been removed using a tool called a “remover”, is adequately straight. Thus, only the tip of the optical fiber  21 , i.e. a bare portion of the optical fiber, is projected from one end of the V-type groove clamp  121 . Then, the optical fiber  21  is fixed in the V-type groove  122 . At this time, the optical fiber  21  is temporarily fixed using one finger (as shown in FIG.  14 A). Subsequently, with the optical fiber  21  remaining fixed in this manner, the fixed cover  123  is closed to fix the optical fiber  21  without using the finger (as shown in FIG.  14 B). 
     The optical fiber  21  is thus fixed in the V-type groove  122  while using one finger for temporary fixation, thereby allowing only the bare optical fiber to be guided to the insertion ports  62  or  72  of the optical alignment sleeve  61 ,  71 , or  81 , respectively. 
     The present invention will be described below in further detail on the basis of examples. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to these example. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     To connect single-mode optical fibers of outer diameter 0.125 mm together, a transparent polycarbonate resin is used to produce an optical alignment sleeve  61 , shown in FIG. 6, by injection molding. The optical alignment sleeve  61  had an inner diameter of 0.127 mm, an outer diameter of 4 mm, and a length of 30 mm and had a 50×100 μm drain ditch  65  formed inside. The optical alignment sleeve  61  is filled with an ultraviolet curing type acrylic-type adhesive having its viscosity adjusted to 20,000 cP. 
     The optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  were inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  61  and the ends thereof were butted together. Then, the adhesive  66  filled into the optical alignment sleeve moved from the drain ditch  65  to the tapered insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b  to form a fillet between the optical fiber coating  22  and the optical alignment sleeve  61 . The optical alignment sleeve was irradiated with ultraviolet rays (365 nm) having a quantity of light of 100 mW/cm 3 , for 60 seconds to solidify the adhesive. 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.03 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., the optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.2 dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 2 kg and maintained a strength of 2 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     To connect single-mode optical fibers of outer diameter 0.125 mm together, nondeforming steel having a coefficient of linear expansion of 6×10 −7 /° C. was used to produce an optical alignment sleeve  61 , shown in FIG. 6, powder molding. The optical alignment sleeve  61  had an inner diameter of 0.127 mm, an outer diameter of 4 mm, and a length of 30 mm and had a 50×100 μm drain ditch  65  formed inside. The optical alignment sleeve  61  was filled with a heat-hardening type epoxy-type adhesive having its viscosity adjusted to 20,000 cP. 
     The optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  were inserted into the optical alignment sleeve  61  and the ends thereof were butted together. Then, the adhesive filled into the optical alignment sleeve moved from the drain ditch  65  to the tapered insertion ports  62   a  and  62   b  to form a fillet between the optical fiber coating  22  and the optical alignment sleeve  61 . The optical alignment sleeve was heated at 120° C. for two minutes to solidify the adhesive. 
     In this case, the single-mode optical fibers  21   a  and  21   b  exhibited an insertion loss of 0.03 dB or less at a wavelength of 1.5 μm. In temperature cycling tests at −20 to +60° C., the optical fiber connected portion exhibited an optical loss change of 0.2 dB or less. The optical fiber connected portion had a peel strength of 2 kg and maintained a strength of 2 kg or more even after the fibers had been immersed in 60° C. water for two weeks. 
     The present invention has been described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and it is the intention, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.