To provide a structure that facilitates change in a welding direction without being restricted by the position of a pressurizing pin which is for straightening an inter-panel gap by restraining an automotive body panel by pressure.
A pressurizing pin 8 for straightening the inter-panel gap G is mounted through a pin holder 9 on a machining head 6 that irradiates an automotive panel P1 with a laser beam L. The pressurizing pin 8 is rotatable around the optical axis of the laser beam L together with the pin holder 9 and a rotating ring 10 by the start-up of a servo motor 17. Simultaneously, the pressurizing pin 8 is vertically movable together with the pin holder 9 and the rotating ring 10 by the start-up of a servo motor 22. Welding is performed while an immediate close position in the front of a laser beam irradiation position Q in the welding direction is restrained by pressure with the pressurizing pin 8. By properly changing the position of the pressurizing pin 8, there is no need for greatly changing the posture of the machining head 6 in changing the welding direction.
Hiromichi Kobayashi
Tomioka Kiyoshi