Abstract: Beads or ridges formed by metal work such as knurling provide peaks and valleys on a shaft of a rotary disc, which is part of an abnormal detector of wire solder, so that frictional force between the wire solder is strengthened. Further, the same peaks and valleys mating with those on the shaft are provided on a surface of a feeding roller of the wire solder. The wire solder fed by the feeding roller is provided with the peaks and valleys due to plastic deformation. Both the peaks and valleys on the shaft and on the wire-solder mate with each other so that slipping therebetween can be prevented. Since the shaft is integrated with the rotary disc which is part of the abnormal detector, the accuracy of detecting abnormalities such as clogging wire-solder or crimped wire-solder can be improved. As a result, a feeder of wire solder with better accuracy in abnormality detection can be realized.

Abstract: A light beam heating apparatus is provided comprising: a light source; an optical fiber for transmitting light from the light source; a lens mechanism which is provided at an output end of the optical fiber; and a first adjustment device for adjusting a distance between the lens mechanism and the output end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A movement detector of the feeder of wire solder directly touches the wire solder, and the movement detector includes (a) a rotating body which revolves when the wire solder moves along a feeding direction and (b) a rotation detector which produces a rotation detecting signal by detecting a rotation of the rotating body. An abnormal halt detector of the feeder of the wire solder compares a rotation detecting signal from a rotation detector with a rotation instructing signal sent to a motor which feeds the wire solder, and calculates the comparison result, thereby judges an abnormal halt of the wire solder. When the abnormal halt is detected, a feeding roller for the wire solder is stopped, whereby the wire solder is prevented from being bent and deformed.

Abstract: In a light beam heating apparatus generating a light beam for heating a work, optical energy of the light beam is deteriorated as the lamp is used. The optical energy is controlled by detecting an optical intensity of the light emitted by the lamp. If the optical intensity is decided not to be increased to a desired value due to an increase in arc light source or the like, an exchange of the lamp is cautioned. Thus, a timing of the exchange of the lamp can be decided before the temperature of a work becomes lower than the desired value.

Abstract: During a preheating period of a light beam heating apparatus for heating a material locally with a light beam, fans for cooling a lamp for generating a light beam are not operated. A power source supplies current to a lamp. A current detector detects the current supplied to the lamp from the power source. A delay circuit delays a current detection value from the current detector for a predetermined time period and then sends the value to a controller. Then, the controller starts to activate fans for cooling the lamp. Alternately, a temperature detector is provided to detect the temperature of the lamp. When the temperature reaches a prescribed temperature, the controller starts to activate fans for cooling the lamp. Thus, the internal temperature of the lamp reaches the thermal saturation temperature in a shorter period of time, and the optical energy for heating can be stabilized after preheating.

Abstract: A photosensor arranged at the center of a light-receiving end of an optical fiber bundle detects an optical intensity which is converted by a photoelectric converter to an electric signal. Then, the optical energy provided at the optical fiber bundle is calculated based on the signal. On the other hand, a correction coefficient is calculated from optical intensity signals when the lamp is new and when the element in the lamp wears, and the setting value of the output optical intensity of the optical fiber bundle is corrected. Then, the current supplied to the lamp by a power supply is controlled according to a difference between the setting value and the measured optical energy. Thus, the optical energy to be received through the optical fiber bundle is controlled stably irrespective of the change of optical intensity distribution due to wear of the electrode of the lamp.