Method of fusion-splicing optical fibers and fusion splicer

A method of fusion-splicing an embedded optical fiber included in a stub and an outside optical fiber to each other, the method comprising:

• attaching a stub cap having a non-axisymmetric structure to the stub;
• gripping the outside optical fiber with a fiber holder having a non-axisymmetric structure;
• positioning the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber to a fusion splicing working part by fixing the stub cap and the fiber holder to the fusion splicing working part;
• fusion-splicing the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber to each other;
• repositioning the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber to a reinforcing splicing part by fixing the stub cap and the fiber holder to the reinforcing working part such that a relative positional relationship between the stub cap and the fiber holder becomes the same as that at the fusion splicing working part;
• and
• reinforcing a spliced portion between the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber while a tension is applied to the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber.

A fusion splicer comprising:

• a fusion splicing working part including a first fusion splicing fixing part to which a stub cap having a non-axisymmetric structure and attached to a stub that includes an embedded optical fiber is to be fixed, a second fusion splicing fixing part to which a first fiber holder having a non-axisymmetric structure and configured to grip an outside optical fiber is to be fixed, a second fiber holder configured to grip the outside optical fiber at a position that is nearer to the tip than a position gripped by the first fiber holder, and a fusion splicing processing part at which the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber that are axially aligned with each other by the first fusion splicing fixing part and the second fiber holder, respectively, are to be fusion-spliced to each other;
• and
• a reinforcing working part including a first reinforcing fixing part and a second reinforcing fixing part that are in the same relative positional relationship as the first fusion splicing fixing part and the second fusion splicing fixing part and to which the stub cap and the first fiber holder are to be fixed, respectively, and an urging member that applies a tension to the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber that are fusion-spliced to each other, the reinforcing working part being configured to reinforce a spliced portion between the embedded optical fiber and the outside optical fiber.