Patent ID: 7473867
Filing Date: 2009-01-06
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A laser machining apparatus comprising: an optical axis adjusting unit disposed on a predetermined optical axis of a laser beam outputted from a laser oscillator so as to adjust the laser beam outputted from said laser oscillator onto a workpiece; an optical axis deflecting means for freely deflecting an optical axis of the laser beam, said optical axis deflecting means being arranged between said laser oscillator and said optical axis adjusting unit; an optical axis position detecting unit for detecting a position of the optical axis of the laser beam, said optical axis position detecting unit being disposed on the predetermined optical axis and between said optical axis adjusting unit and said optical axis deflecting means, said optical axis position detecting unit including first and second photo-detectors for detecting a position of the optical axis of the laser beam at two different points, respectively, wherein said optical axis deflecting means is operable to adjust the optical axis of the laser beam incident on said optical axis adjusting unit so as to be aligned with the predetermined optical axis based on a result detected by said optical axis position detecting unit, wherein said optical axis deflecting means includes two mirrors which are rotatable around respective axes, said mirrors being arranged such that the predetermined optical axis is inputted to and reflected by said mirrors, wherein said mirrors are disposed so that said axes are perpendicular to input directions of the predetermined optical axis inputted to said mirrors, respectively, so that said axes are perpendicular to directions in which the predetermined optical axis is reflected by said mirrors, respectively, and so that said axes are perpendicular to each other; and a moving unit for moving said mirrors at said axes in the input directions of the predetermined optical axis inputted to said mirrors or in the directions in which the predetermined optical axis is reflected by said mirrors, respectively in response to the optical axis of the laser beam being misaligned with and parallel to the predetermined optical axis so as to align the optical axis of the laser beam with the predetermined optical axis.