| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide, with good productivity, an optical fiber bundle excellent in optical transmitting performance. SOLUTION: The manufacturing method consists of a provisional welding process in which an optical fiber bundle with plural optical fibers 15 bound is hot cut in a direction having a prescribed angle relative to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber bundle, and in which the circumferential edges of the optical fiber ends 15a are weakly welded together; a bundling process in which the optical fiber bundle is inserted into a tubular bundling tool, with the end of the bundle stored inside the tool; and a main welding process in which the end of the optical fiber bundle and the bundling tool are heat-treated and in which the optical fiber ends 15a are firmly welded together. In stead of the provisional welding process and the bundling process, a combined bundling/provisional welding process may be performed in which the optical fiber bundle is penetratingly inserted into the tubular bundling tool from one opening, and in which the extra length part of the bundle projecting from the other opening of the tool is hot cut, with the circumferential edges of the optical fiber ends 15a weakly welded together.
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