OPTICAL FIBER TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL FIBER TERMINAL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber terminal capable of easily performing the diameter contraction of a protective tube in order to retain the protective tube and a secondary coated optical fiber concentrically, and to provide a method for producing the optical fiber terminal. SOLUTION: The optical fiber terminal is provided with a large diameter part 21 which is larger than the outer diameter of the protective tube 4, a small diameter part 22 which is smaller than the outer diameter of the protective tube 4 and is larger than the outer diameter of the secondary coated optical fiber 3 and a diameter contraction part 23 in which a diameter is gradually contracted toward the small diameter part 22 from the large diameter part 21. Further, the secondary coated optical fiber 3 and the protective tube 4 are put in a thermal fusion die 20 where temperature is maintained at a melting point of the protective tube 4 or more, the protective tube 4 is brought into contact with the thermal fusion die 20 and is fused. Thereby, the diameter of the tip part of the protective tube 4 is contracted and the inner periphery of the protective tube 4 and the outer periphery of the secondary coated optical fiber 3 are tightly bonded to each other and are engaged and retained nearly concentrically. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO