JPS5872943A - Replenishing system for replenishing liquid of photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To replenish always a replenishing liquid properly, by integrating digitally data, which is obtained on the basis of the rate of the blackening area of photosensitive materials and the carrying speed of photosensitive materials, to calculate the replenishing quantity of the replenishing liquid and replenishing the replenishing liquid on the basis of this calculated value. CONSTITUTION:Plural light emitting and receiving elements 10 and 11 are provided at intervals of lmm. in a direction intersecting the carrying path of photosensitive materials, and a rate P of the blackening area of photosensitive materials is obtained on the basis of outputs of light receiving elements 11 for passage and non-passage of photosensitive materials. The rate P of the blackening area, a carrying speed (mm./sec) of photosensitive materials, and a product M of intervals of time (sec) of light emission of the same light emitting element 10 are used to obtain blackening area data S of photosensitive materials by expressionI, and this area data S is integrated digitally, and the replenishing quantity of a replenishing liquid is operated on a basis of this integrated value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for determining the amount of developer replenishment in a photographic processing apparatus, and in particular, it is possible to improve the finished photographic performance by replenishing an appropriate amount of developer replenisher during or before and after the development of a photographic light-sensitive material. This relates to a formula 47 for determining the amount of replenishment of developer that makes it possible to maintain a high level of developer.

Photographic processing equipment (including various types of photosensitive materials such as film and photographic paper (hereinafter referred to as -F film))
processing is performed. Film processing generally includes the following steps: processing, fixing, rinsing, and drying, and photographic processing equipment sequentially feeds the film through each of the above steps for processing.

When the above-mentioned film processing is performed in a photographic processing device, the developing solution and fixing solution are consumed in the developing and fixing processing steps, respectively. It is called "replenishment".

) is required. Further, depending on the type of developer, for example, a so-called lithium developer, the activity of the developer may be significantly reduced during storage even when the above-mentioned film is not processed. Regarding developer replenishment, the former is called replenishment for processing fatigue (or simply ``processing replenishment''), and the latter is called replenishment for aging fatigue or simply ``time-lapse replenishment.''

The present invention is particularly applicable to the method for determining the optimum replenishment amount in the above-mentioned process replenishment of the lithium developer.

When performing processing replenishment, it is necessary to replenish the amount of developer used up due to film processing accurately and as quickly as possible. When a lithographic film is developed after being exposed, only the halogen silver in the exposed areas (unexposed areas in reversal film) in the emulsion of the lithographic film becomes a latent image, and during the developing process, hydroquinone, the developing agent, forms a latent image. The halogen steel that has become a reservoir is reduced and becomes a blackened part. That is, the developing agent is consumed in proportion to the area of the blackened portion.

For this reason, the blackened area of the film after the development and fixing process is measured, and the corresponding developer replenisher (hereinafter referred to as
It is simply called a replenisher. Generally, the original developer has the following chemical composition. ) is being replenished into the developing processing tank.

As a means for measuring the blackened area, a light receiving device and a light receiving device are provided facing each other, and the amount of transmitted light when the photosensitive material passes through the sandwiched space is photoelectrically detected, and the blackened area is integrated. The replenishment device was activated.

The light projecting device includes a combination of a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp and a linear light guide tube, and several LEDs (all lights on at the same time or one at a time), and the light receiving device includes a solar cell or a photodiode. Examples include cases in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as diodes and phototransistors are arranged side by side, or a combination of photoelectric conversion elements and linear light guide tubes. The amount of light emitted from the light projecting device and transmitted through one bale of photosensitive material in the developing and fixing process is converted by the photoelectric conversion element and finally output as a voltage value. Its output voltage is proportional to the blackened bald area.

Here, conventionally, the mechanical voltage from the photoelectric conversion element is
The analog value was integrated using the analog circuit. In addition, accurately calculating the replenishment amount using an analog circuit from the integral value requires a complicated circuit and is physically impossible, so various methods have been considered as approximate methods for calculating the replenishment amount. That is, each time the integral value reaches a predetermined value 0 as shown in FIG. integral value and second
This method involves taking the difference between the integral values of , and stopping replenishment when the difference becomes 0 (comparison holds true P) (time 14). However, in any case the projector.

Any variation in the amount of light in the light receiving device results in an error, and since all calculations are approximate values, accurate calculations are impossible. In addition, since it is an analog circuit, when the amount of blackened area is small, it is stored as a capacitor charge value, and if left for a long time, it will discharge and cause a data error. Furthermore, since the integrator also uses an analog circuit based on operational amplifiers, there is a drawback that the integrated value changes due to drift due to changes in ambient temperature.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a replenisher replenishment method for a photosensitive material processing apparatus that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional replenishment amount determining method.

-1. During each treatment process such as drying, the multiple light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements are separated from each other after the sensing process where they are sequentially transported and treated at °C! A transport path is provided for each of the photosensitive materials so that the photosensitive material passes through the space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The output of the light-receiving element when the light-emitting elements emit light in a predetermined order is determined and stored in advance using a digital device, and then, while the photosensitive material is passing through the space between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, When a plurality of light emitting elements are made to emit light in the above predetermined order (for example, as shown in ts5), the output of the light receiving element is calculated as a digital quantity B, and the blackened area ratio P of the photosensitive material is determined by p -100 - x 100 K. Then, if the product of the blackened area data 8 of the photosensitive material (upper second) is M, then calculate this area data S as It was designed to do so. Furthermore, in another invention, instead of the above-mentioned light receiving element, a linear light guiding device is provided which faces a light emitting element having a pair of light receiving elements arranged at both ends, and a photosensitive material is attached to the light emitting element and the linear light guiding device. A conveyance path is provided to pass through the sandwiched space,
In a state where the photosensitive material has not passed through the space between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device! The output of the light receiving element when J number of light emitting elements are made to emit light in a predetermined order is expressed as a digital quantity A.
1 and A2 and store it in advance, and then, while the photosensitive material is passing through the space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device, the plurality of light emitting elements are sequentially caused to emit light in the above predetermined order. The output of the light-receiving element in this case is determined by digital quantities B1 and B2, and the blackened area ratio P of the photosensitive material is determined.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus in which such a replenishment method is applied to an automatic IA machine, in which the exposed photosensitive material is stored in a development processing tank 1, a fixing process tank 3. Washing tank 4 and drying device 6
Figure 4 is a functional diagram of this embodiment, showing that the photoelectric output corresponding to the amount of light transmitted through the slanted portion of the photosensitive material is A
After being converted into a digital quantity by a D converter 41, it is input to a four-microphone combination device. However,! A pulse is input from a pulse oscillator 42 to the Itap computer 40, and the machine liquid is supplied to the machine processing tank 21 via the 3J1S liquid replenishing device according to the calculations of the microphone four combination tool - Tatochi. At the same time, a predetermined amount of fixer is supplied to the fixing processing tank 22 via the fixer replenishing mechanism. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the light emitting and receiving device includes a plurality of light emitting elements 31 arranged in a row.
(Jll, 312, 313,..., 31n)
A light-receiving element 32 (321) is disposed so as to face the light-emitting element 31, sandwiching the slanted portion of the photosensitive material being conveyed.

322, 323, ..., 32fi), switches sw1 to swn for sequentially emitting light from the light emitting elements 31 one by one under the control of the microcomputer Xun, and an AD converter 41 for amplifying the output of the light receiving element pre-drying. When the input amplifier m- is not passing through the light receiving device, the switch history,
The light emitting elements 311 to 3 are turned on one by one in sequence.
1n, and at this time, in the case of the light-receiving element 321, there is no oblique part of the photosensitive material between the light-emitting element 31 and the pre-dried light-receiving element. This is the maximum value of the light amount signal. Next, with the photosensitive material I passing through, the switches sw1 to sw1 are turned on one by one in the same manner as described above to cause the light emitting elements 311 to 31n to emit light, and at this time, the light receiving element 32
The photoelectric signal corresponding to the amount of light transmitted through the oblique part of the photosensitive material obtained from 1 to 321 is amplified by an amplifier A, and converted into a digital amount Bl/c by AD conversion @41 to obtain the percentage P of the microphone act ambiator. become that way.

Here, the equation (1), the actual area (deterioration area), and 3
1 (or the light-receiving elements 32), and the transport speed of the photosensitive material [m/sec] x the light emission time interval [sec] of the same light-emitting element is M [wa], then one light-emitting element emits light. The area of ノX M [-] is detected by this. Note that the arrow N in FIG. 6 indicates the conveyance direction of the oblique portion of the photosensitive material. , 8. represents the scanning direction and order of light emission from the light emitting element 31. Then, when the area corresponding to one scan of the photosensitive material or the deterioration area S is determined from the above-mentioned detection area x M [mir], the required replenishment amount is calculated from the integrated value.

The standard replenishment amount for a typical lith film, which is the basis of this calculation, is a fixed amount 1, for example 1601, for every 100 square feet of blackened area (additional inch x square inch). The calculation methods include a method that performs calculations when the blackened area reaches a certain amount, a method that performs calculations such that the operating time of the replenishing device becomes constant, a method that performs calculations every certain number of films processed,
Or clock pulse Kl! There are other methods that can be considered, such as detecting and calculating the FJ period, and any of these methods may be used. The present gI liquid replenishment mechanism 43 and the fixer replenishment mechanism I used in carrying out this invention may be of the quantitative replenishment pump type, drop type solenoid valve control type, or other types that are common knowledge in the industry. The amount of replenishment of the current liquid and fixer can be 11. The pump operation time depends on each method.

It may be controlled by the solenoid valve opening time or the like. It goes without saying that the same mechanism may be used as the developer replenishment mechanism 43 and the fixer replenishment mechanism 44, or different mechanisms may be used.

By the way, the above-mentioned pin is the light emitting element 3 of the light projecting/receiving device (equipment).
1 (311, 312, ..., stn) respectively,
A plurality of light receiving elements 32 (321, 322
, . . . , 81n), but a linear light guide device as shown in FIG. 8 may also be used. That is, the linear light guide device (equipment) has a cylindrical light-transmitting body 51 and a diffusion plate 52 for scattering light from the light-emitting element 31 in a direction parallel to the axis of the light-transmitting body 51. A pair of light receiving elements 53 for detecting the amount of transmitted light are provided at both ends. Then, the light receiving element 53 and I
The outputs are sent to AD converters 6411 and 412 via amplifiers 331 and 332, respectively, and the digitized values are input to the arithmetic unit 45 in the Paku-P computer package. .

In such a configuration, the light emitting elements 31 (311, 312, ..., 31n) facing each other between the linear light guide devices
When the light is sequentially emitted as described above, the emitted light or the transmitted light of the photosensitive material portion is diffused by the diffuser plate 52 and reaches the light receiving elements 53 and 54 via the light transmitting body 51.

In this case, the light-emitting elements 31 emit light one by one, so if the amount of light transmitted through the photosensitive material section is constant, the photoelectric output of the light-receiving element 530 reaches its maximum value when the light-emitting elements 312, 313 , . . . gradually become smaller as the light is emitted, and reaches a minimum value when the light emitting element 31n emits light. Conversely, the photoelectric output of the light receiving element 54 is the same as that of the light emitting element 3.
The value becomes the minimum value when the light emitting element 31n emits light, and gradually increases thereafter, and reaches the maximum value when the light emitting element 31n emits light. In order to average the outputs of the light receiving elements 53 and 54, the light receiving element 53
To input the output of the amplifier 331 and the AD converter 411 to the arithmetic unit 45 of the microcomputer 40,
The output of the light receiving element 54 is transmitted to the amplifier 332 and the AD converter 41.
2 and then input to the arithmetic unit, and after calculating the ratio of each input, it is arithmetic averaged. The digital output of the light receiving element 53 when the photosensitive material section is not attached is A1. Let A be the digital output of the light-receiving element 53, and let B be the digital output of the light-receiving element 53 during measurement when the photosensitive material is mounted and transported.
If the digital output of the light receiving element 54 is B2, the ratio of the minimum value to the percentage (%) in equation (1) becomes very large, so it is necessary to simply calculate the arithmetic average of the light receiving element 53 and the minimum value. This is because a sufficient average value cannot be obtained. By substituting the base (P) of the equation (3) thus obtained into the equation (2), the same area data S can be obtained, and the developer can be replenished appropriately. In this method, the number of light-receiving elements is two, so it is possible to have an inexpensive configuration.

As described above, according to the replenishment method of the present invention, the area of the photosensitive material or the blackened area can be calculated digitally, and it is easy to memorize this information, so if the replenishment method is interrupted midway, Appropriate replenishment can also be carried out. Another advantage is that the replenisher can be replenished in an amount exactly proportional to the area of the photosensitive material or the blackened area, and the circuit system is very simple. In addition, there is no problem with variations in the light emitting and receiving equipment, and the digital processing
In the above description, the amount of transmitted light data when the photosensitive material is not passing through is determined and stored in advance, and is provided, but it may be provided at any location behind the fixing tank. Further, although the above example uses a microcomputer for calculation, storage, and control, it may also be configured using a discrete circuit.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a structural diagram showing an outline of an automatic developing machine to which the present invention can be applied, Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the blackened area of lithographic film, and Fig. 3 (5) and (B). are characteristic diagrams for explaining the conventional machine fluid replenishment method, and the fourth
The figure is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the device according to the present invention.
The figure is a block diagram showing a part of it in detail, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the area of the photosensitive material (blackened area) and its percentage formula.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the light emitting element and the scanning of the photosensitive material according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a light emitting/receiving device that can be applied to the present invention. 1... Current processing line: :, 2r: State 10-ra, 3...
・Fixing treatment tank, 4...Water wash I-sha 5...Light emitting/receiving device, 6...Drying device, 10...Light projecting device, 11...
Light receiving device, processing...photosensitive material, processing processing tank, n
...Fixing processing tank, Ri...Water washing processing tank, U...Drying*I1% (equity), &IA -...Light emitting/receiving device, 31.
...light emitting element, n...light receiving element, o...amplifier, chrysanthemum...micro combinator, 41...AD converter,
42...Pulse oscillator, 43-...Boundary fluid replenishment device,
U...Fixer replenishment device, 6...Calculation section, (fund)...
- Linear light guide device, 51... Translucent body, 52... Diffusion plate, 53, 54... Light receiving element. Applicant's agent Yu Yasugata 83 Figure 4 Figure 85 Figure $ 6 Amendment to figure procedure June 22, 1980 Showa Dan year %#! FIMi No. 171587 2, Title of Invention: In a photosensitive material processing apparatus. Replenishment fluid replenishment method 3, relationship with the person making the amendment case % Applicant (520) Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 4, Agent
Nishi-Shinjuku-chome 18-16-5, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Subject of Amendment (1) The scope of the claims of the present application is amended as follows. [% Allowance Claim 1] In a replenisher replenishment system in a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is conveyed and processed 1111 times during each processing step such as development, fixing, washing, and drying, the conveyance path of the photosensitive material and A plurality of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements facing each other in the intersecting direction and after the fixing process are spaced by j (unit: W).
) provided for each of the photosensitive material and the light emitting element,
A transport path 5 is provided so as to pass through the space between the light emitting elements and the light receiving element, and the plurality of light emitting elements emit light in a predetermined order while the photosensitive material does not pass through the space between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. The output of the light-receiving element when the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element The output of the light-receiving element when the elements are made to emit light in the predetermined order is determined as a digital quantity B, and the blackened area ratio P of the photosensitive material is determined by , and then the blackened area data 8 of the photosensitive material is obtained. The blackened area ratio P and the transport speed of the photosensitive material (unit: 17
If M is the product of the light emission time interval (in seconds) of the same light emitting element, then calculate as This replenisher replenishment method for photosensitive material processing equipment is characterized by: 1. In a replenisher replenishment system in a photosensitive material processing apparatus that sequentially transports and processes a photosensitive material during each processing step such as border area, fixing, washing, drying, etc., in a direction intersecting the transport path of the photosensitive material, After the processing process, the interval! (unit
(2) A plurality of light emitting elements and a pair of light receiving elements at both ends are arranged.1. a linear light guide device facing the light emitting element is provided, the photosensitive material crosses a conveyance path so as to pass through a space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device, and the photosensitive material The output of the receiving element when the plurality of light emitting elements emit light in a predetermined order without passing through the space between the light emitting element and the linear light guiding device is expressed as a digital quantity A1 and and A2 and store them in advance, and then, while the photosensitive material is passing through a space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device, the plurality of light emitting elements are sequentially moved in the predetermined order. The output of the light-receiving element when emitting light at Area ratio P and conveyance speed of the photosensitive material (unit: wx
/sec) and the pole of the light emitting time 11i9i (unit: seconds) for the same light-emitting element is determined as , digitally integrate this area data 8, and calculate the replenishment amount of replenisher from the integrated value. ``A replenishment solution replenishment method in a photosensitive material processing apparatus, characterized in that K is calculated so as to calculate ``(2) IMm Homare,! 61 Line 17 tc rli upper guide "lt'ltJ" is corrected to "1-shaped light guide tube." (3) Same, page 9, first line says "every interval l" [
Every interval l (unit: ■)] and correct by 1. (4) Same, p. 18, lines 16 to 17 k, ``Although it is installed between the washing treatment tank,'' it says, ``Although it is installed between the washing treatment tank, Between the washing tank and the drying device, or the outlet of the drying device, etc.” is corrected.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a replenisher replenishment method in a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is sequentially transported and processed during each processing step of incubation, fixing, tX, and dry cape, Each opposing mechanism Q in the intersecting direction and after the fixing process l1
A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are separated from each other at intervals of j, a transport path is provided so that the photosensitive material passes through a space sandwiched between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, and the photosensitive material is attached to the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. The output of the light-receiving element when the plurality of light-emitting elements emit light in a predetermined order without passing through the sandwiched space is calculated as a digital quantity A and stored in advance, and then the light-sensitive material is The output of the light-receiving element when the plurality of light-emitting elements are sequentially emitted in the predetermined order while passing through a space sandwiched between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element is calculated as a digital quantity B, and the output of the light-receiving element is determined as a digital quantity B. He calculated the blackened area rate P of the photosensitive material by calculating the deteriorated area data S of the photosensitive material by the blackened area rate P and the transport speed of the photosensitive material (unit: m7).
If M is the product of the light emitting time interval (in seconds) of the same light emitting element, the area data S is digitally integrated, and the replenishment amount of the replenisher is calculated from the integrated value. A replenisher replenishment method in a photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by the following. 2. In a replenisher replenishment method in a light-shielding material processing apparatus that sequentially transports and processes a photosensitive material during each processing step such as development, fixing, water washing, and processing, in a direction intersecting the conveyance path of the photosensitive material, Further, a plurality of light emitting elements having an interval j and a linear light guiding device facing the light emitting elements and having a pair of light receiving elements arranged at both ends are provided after the footwear, and the photosensitive material is A state in which a transport path is provided so as to pass through a space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device, and the photosensitive material does not pass through the space sandwiched between the light emitting element and the linear light guide device. Then, the output of the light receiving element when the plurality of light emitting elements are made to emit light in a predetermined order is expressed as a digital quantity A1.
and A, the light-emitting elements are sequentially moved to After determining the output of the light receiving element when emitting light in a predetermined order using digital quantities B1 and B, and determining the blackened area ratio of the photosensitive material, the blackened area data S of the photosensitive material is determined by the blackened area ratio of the photosensitive material. The area ratio P and the transport speed f of the photosensitive material (unit:
aIIl/sec) and -1 light emitting element's light emitting time interval (unit: second) is M, then this area data S is digitally integrated, and the replenishment amount of the replenisher is determined from the integrated value. A replenisher replenishment method in a photosensitive material processing apparatus, characterized in that the replenisher replenishment method is calculated.