Heat treatment device for optical fiber reinforcing member, optical fiber fusion splicer provided with same heat treatment device, and method for heat treating optical fiber reinforcing member

A heating method for heating an optical fiber reinforcing member, the heating method being a method in which the reinforcing member that protects a fusion-spliced portion of optical fibers is heated and reinforced by a heater, the heating method comprising:

• applying a voltage to the heater on the basis of any of a plurality of heating conditions;
• detecting a parameter for determining the amount of heat generation of the heater, the parameter being a voltage applied to the heater or a supply voltage of the power supply unit;
• selecting any of the plurality of heating conditions in accordance with a value of the parameter;
• and
• applying a voltage to the heater on the basis of the selected heating condition so as to heat and reinforce the reinforcing member.

A heating device for an optical fiber reinforcing member, comprising:

• a fiber holder configured to hold optical fibers covered with the reinforcing member at a fusion-spliced portion;
• a heater configured to heat the reinforcing member;
• a power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the heater;
• and
• a controller configured to control the voltage, the controller including
• a detecting unit that detects a parameter for determining the amount of heat generation of the heater, the parameter being a voltage applied to the heater or a supply voltage of the power supply unit,
• a storage unit that stores an approximate expression in which the parameter is defined as a variable, and
• a condition instruction unit that calculates a target value as a selected heating condition in accordance with a value of the parameter and instructs the power supply unit to apply a voltage to the heater on the basis of the selected heating condition.