Heating device

Claim 2

A heating device for heating with a laser beam a predetermined range in the axial direction of an object to be heated having an axis, comprising: a laser oscillator which emits a laser beam, an optical guide member which guides the laser beam from said laser oscillator to the object to be heated, support means for supporting said optical guide member to pivotally oscillate said optical guide member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated, and drive means for oscillating said optical guide member between a maximum titled position in a first rotational direction and a maximum tilted position in a second rotational direction opposite said first direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period such that the laser beam which is incident on said optical guide member is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction of the predetermined range of the object to be heated by the oscillation of said optical guide member wherein said drive means further comprises means for oscillating said optical guide member between the maximum tilted position in said first direction and the maximum tilted position in the second direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period, the stopping period at both maximum tilted positions being equal to or longer than a period of pivotal movement.

Claim 3

A heating device according to claim 1, wherein said optical guide member further comprises a reflecting mirror which reflects the incident laser beam in the direction of the object to be heated.

Claim 4

A heating device according to claim 1, wherein said support means further comprises a stationary member and a support body which is supported by said stationary member to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated and which supports said reflecting mirror on one surface.

Claim 5

A heating device according to claim 3, wherein said drive means further comprises a damping member which dampens movement of the reflecting mirror within the range between the maximum tilted positions.

Claim 6

A heating device according to claim 4, wherein said drive means further comprises a pair of magnetic bodies which are respectively mounted to said support body so as to straddle a rotating shaft of said support body; a pair of electromagnets which are disposed on said stationary member so as to oppose said magnetic bodies, respectively, and which attract the corresponding magnetic bodies; and spring means for biasing the reflecting mirror toward the center between the maximum tilted positions and which constitute said damping member.

Claim 7

A heating device according to claim 5, wherein said drive means further comprises means for adjusting a biasing force of the spring.

Claim 8

A heating device for heating with a laser beam a predetermined range in the axial direction of an object to be heated having an axis, comprising: a laser oscillator which emits a laser beam, an optical guide member which guides the laser beam from said laser oscillator to the object to be heated, support means for supporting said optical guide member to pivotally oscillate said optical guide member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated, and drive means for oscillating said optical guide member between a maximum titled position in a first rotational direction and a maximum tilted position in a second rotational direction opposite said first direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period such that the laser beam which is incident on said optical guide member is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction of the predetermined range of the object to be heated by the oscillation of said optical guide member, wherein said support means further comprises a stationary member and a support body which is supported by said stationary member to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated and which supports said reflecting mirror on one surface, and wherein said drive means further comprises means for stopping the reflecting mirror at a central position between the maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period.

Claim 9

A heating device for heating with a laser beam a predetermined range in the axial direction of an object to be heated having an axis, comprising: a laser oscillator which emits a laser beam, an optical guide member which guides the laser beam from said laser oscillator to the object to be heated, support means for supporting said optical guide member to pivotally oscillate said optical guide member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated, and drive means for oscillating said optical guide member between a maximum titled position in a first rotational direction and a maximum tilted position in a second rotational direction opposite said first direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period such that the laser beam which is incident on said optical guide member is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction of the predetermined range of the object to be heated by the oscillation of said optical guide member, wherein said support means further comprises a stationary member and a support body which is supported by said stationary member to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated and which supports said reflecting mirror on one surface, and wherein said drive means further comprises means for stopping the reflecting mirror at a central position between the maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period.

Claim 10

A heating device according to claim 7, wherein said drive means further comprises means for pivoting the reflecting mirror between the central position and the maximum tilted positions at a constant speed.

Claim 11

A heating device for heating with a laser beam a predetermined range in the axial direction of an object to be heated having an axis, comprising: a laser oscillator which emits a laser beam, an optical guide member which guides the laser beam from said laser oscillator to the object to be heated, support means for supporting said optical guide member to pivotally oscillate said optical guide member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated, and drive means for oscillating said optical guide member between a maximum titled position in a first rotational direction and a maximum tilted position in a second rotational direction opposite said first direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period such that the laser beam which is incident on said optical guide member is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction of the predetermined range of the object to be heated by the oscillation of said optical guide member wherein said drive means further comprises means for stopping said optical guide member at a central position between the maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period.

Claim 12

A heating device for heating with a laser beam a predetermined range in the axial direction of an object to be heated having an axis, comprising: a laser oscillator which emits a laser beam, an optical guide member which guides the laser beam from said laser oscillator to the object to be heated, support means for supporting said optical guide member to pivotally oscillate said optical guide member about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the object to be heated, and drive means for oscillating said optical guide member between a maximum titled position in a first rotational direction and a maximum tilted position in a second rotational direction opposite said first direction and for stopping said optical guide member at both maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period such that the laser beam which is incident on said optical guide member is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction of the predetermined range of the object to be heated by the oscillation of said optical guide member wherein said drive means further comprises means for stopping said optical guide member at a central position between the maximum tilted positions for a predetermined period.

Claim 13

A heating device according to claim 9, wherein said drive means further comprises means for pivoting the optical guide member between the central position and the maximum tilted positions at a constant speed.