Abstract: An apparatus, for butt-welding steel strips using a laser beam are disclosed, in which opposite ends of preceding and succeeding steel strips fed continuously are cut and the cut end edges thus formed are welded by butt welding using a laser. The cutting and butting at the time of welding are effected with one edge of the preceeding steel strips adjacent to the opposite ends of the succeeding steel strips aligned to be parallel with the center line of travel of the continuous processing line. When effecting the alignment, the preceding or succeeding steel strip is attracted by an electromagnetic chuck on a work table in the continuous processing line and is pulled by the chuck toward a reference block provided with an alignment edge parallel to the center line of travel of the processing line to bring the edge of the sheet into contact with the reference block. The alignment is done in this state. The work table is capable of being moved along the continuous processing line.

Abstract: A method, for butt-welding steel strips using a laser beam are disclosed, in which opposite ends of preceding and succeeding steel strips fed continuously are cut and the cut end edges thus formed are welded by butt welding using a laser. The cutting and butting at the time of welding are effected with one edge of the preceding steel strips adjacent to the opposite ends of the succeeding steel strips aligned to be parallel with the center line of travel of the continuous processing line. When effecting the alignment, the preceding or succeeding steel strip is attracted by an electromagnetic chuck on a work table in the continuous processing line and is pulled by the chuck toward a reference block provided with an alignment edge parallel to the center line of travel of the processing line to bring the edge of the sheet into contact with the reference block. The alignment is done in this state.