Patent ID: 9513188
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: B41J,G01M

Claim Text:
1. A load estimation apparatus which estimates a load added to a laser light irradiation apparatus, wherein a focal length adjustment unit adjusts a focal length in accordance with a distance from a light source to a light irradiation position in a recording medium, the load estimation apparatus comprising: a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and one or more processors that execute the computer-readable instructions such that the one or more processors are configured to obtain control data in which the light irradiation position is instructed with a coordinate; analyze the coordinate of the control data to detect an operation amount and recording a number of times a focal length of the focal length adjustment unit is to be adjusted; accumulate load value information of the focal length adjustment unit in response to results of comparing a threshold number of times the focal length can be adjusted and the recorded number of times the focal length of the focal length adjustment unit is to be adjusted; and estimate the life span of the focal length adjustment unit based on the accumulated load value information and the recorded number of times the focal length of the focal length adjustment unit is to be adjusted.