Laser welding apparatus and laser welding method

A laser welding apparatus, comprising:

• a support member including a columnar heat generation portion which has a limited size necessary to form a weld of a size corresponding to a welding area of a plurality of plastic components irradiated with a laser beam and is made from a material that absorbs the laser beam and generates heat, and which generates heat of a temperature that is equal to or greater than a melting temperature of the plastic components;
• a laser beam irradiation unit for converging a laser beam to be transmitted through the plurality of plastic components, and irradiating the laser beam toward the heat generation portion through the plurality of plastic components;
• and
• a welding controller for causing a laser beam to be irradiated at the heat generation portion using the laser beam irradiation unit to thereby cause the heat generation portion to generate heat, and welding abutting faces of a welding area of the plurality of plastic components with heat that is generated,
• wherein respective faces of the heat generation portion other than a face to be irradiated of the heat generation portion are surrounded by a heat blocking portion made of a heat insulating material.