DEVICE FOR WELDING AND CONNECTING OPTICAL FIBER

PURPOSE:To weld optical fibers by a simple constitution and unexpensive device, by moving a fiber setting board to attain axial matching the axis of a pair of fibers by utilizing the deformation of shape storing metal, then discharging and heating the fibers. CONSTITUTION:A pair of optical fiber setting boards 2a, 2b on which optical fibers 1a, 1b are boarded are arranged at a prescribed interval and a fiber axial matching board 3 is arranged between the boards 2a, 2b. One end of a coil spring 5 consisting of shape storing metal (Ni-Ti alloy e.g.) is fixed on a fixing member 6 and the other end is attached to the setting board 2b. A heater 7 to heat the spring 5 is arranged on the periphery of the spring 5 and the heated coil spring moves the board 2b on a prescribed position to attain axial matching of the fibers 1a, 1b. Subsequently, discharging electrodes 4a, 4b of on the axis adjusting board 3 is electrically conducted and the end surfaces of the fibers 1a, 1b are welded. Thus accurate axial matching and welding can be attained by a simple device.