EP0447878B1 - Processor with speed independent fixed film spacing - Google Patents

Processor with speed independent fixed film spacing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0447878B1
EP0447878B1 EP19910103385 EP91103385A EP0447878B1 EP 0447878 B1 EP0447878 B1 EP 0447878B1 EP 19910103385 EP19910103385 EP 19910103385 EP 91103385 A EP91103385 A EP 91103385A EP 0447878 B1 EP0447878 B1 EP 0447878B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trailing edge
transport speed
sheet
path
feed point
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19910103385
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0447878A3 (en
EP0447878A2 (en
Inventor
James T. C/O Eastman Kodak Company Samuels
Roger D. C/O Eastman Kodak Company Ellsworth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/495,867 external-priority patent/US5065173A/en
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP0447878A2 publication Critical patent/EP0447878A2/en
Publication of EP0447878A3 publication Critical patent/EP0447878A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0447878B1 publication Critical patent/EP0447878B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
    • G03D13/007—Processing control, e.g. test strip, timing devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D13/00—Processing apparatus or accessories therefor, not covered by groups G11B3/00 - G11B11/00
    • G03D13/006—Temperature control of the developer

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to processors of film and similar photosensitive media, in general; and, in particular, to a processor having means to vary transport speed and including means to maintain fixed interfilm spacing regardless of transport speed.
  • Photosensitive media processors such as the Kodak X-OMAT processors, are useful in applications such as the automatic processing of radiographic films for medical imaging purposes.
  • the processors automatically transport sheets or webs of photosensitive film, paper or the like (hereafter "film") from a feed end of a film transport path, through a sequence of chemical processing tanks in which the media is developed, fixed, and washed, and then through a dryer to a discharge or receiving end.
  • the processor typically has a fixed film path length, so final image quality depends on factors including transport speed which determines length of time the film strip is in solution, and the temperature and composition of the processing chemicals (the processor "chemistry").
  • film transport speed is set at a constant rate and the chemistry is defined according to a preset recommended temperature, e.g. 34°C (93°F), with a specified tolerance range of +/- X°C (X°F).
  • a temperature control system is provided in the processor to keep the chemicals within the specified range.
  • Conventional processors usually include a film width sensor in the form of a reflective infrared sensor array adjacent a feed entrance opening, and may also include a feed detector in the form of a Hall effect switch or the like for detecting separation of entrance rollers due to the passage of film sheets at the front end of the transportation path.
  • the film width sensor not only provides an indication of the width of a sheet entering the processor, but may also provide an indication of the occurrence of the leading edge and trailing edge of each sheet, since the signals from the film width sensor will change significantly as each leading and trailing edge is encountered.
  • Information as to leading and trailing edge occurrences and width of the film taken with prior knowledge of the constant transport speed, is used to keep track of cumulative total film surface area processed in order to guide chemistry replenishment control.
  • the use of a separate entrance roller detector signals that a sheet of film has actually entered the nip of the first roller pair, and is not just sitting still on the film guide under the width sensor.
  • a spacing be maintained between the trailing edge of a first sheet and a leading edge of a next one in order to avoid overlap.
  • the spacing should be enough so that overlap is avoided even though one or both of the sheets suffer some slippage and/or skewing along the transport path, but not so great that processing time is unduly affected.
  • proper film spacing may be controlled by a fixed set time interval between the entry into the processor of the trailing edge of the first sheet and the time when the user is signalled to enter the next sheet.
  • an annunciator in the form of a "wait” light is illuminated to signal that the required spacing has not yet been attained.
  • the "wait” light is extinguished and a "ready” light is illuminated.
  • processors used for radiographic image processing are traditionally configured to operate at a constant film transport speed, modifications may be made through gear changes and the like to vary the process.
  • new processors are being introduced which are usable in more than one mode.
  • the mode is often referred to in shorthand fashion by a nominal film transport "drop time", which may be defined as the time from entry of the leading edge of a sheet of film at the feed end until exit of the trailing edge of the same sheet of film at the discharge end.
  • Conventional processors operate in standard (90 second), rapid (45 second), or "Kwik" (30 second) mode, and can be varied to operate in an extended-cycle mode, such as described in L. Taber & A. G.
  • processor speed is lowered and chemistry temperature is raised to enhance image contrast for better detection of changes in density of fibrous tissue.
  • the new processors will be settable as to run parameters, including transport speed in order to be able to use the same processor for multiple processing modes.
  • a processor of exposed photosensitive media having means for automatically transporting film along a path through developer, fixer, wash and dryer stations and means for monitoring the entrance of a trailing edge of a particular medium into the processor, further comprises means responsive to user input for setting system parameters including a desirable transport speed, and means for determining and signalling the passage from entrance of that trailing edge to the time to feed the next medium at a desired fixed optimum spacing.
  • processor film transport speed is set according to user selection of a processor operating mode, and annunciators in the form of "ready” and “wait” lights are controlled in accordance with a determination of lead time needed to assure maintenance of a desired linear spacing between successive sheets of film, for the particular processor mode setting.
  • a microcomputer determines the number of clock counts to be loaded into a counter responsive to setting of the transport speed.
  • FIG. 4 The principles of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, embodied in the form of a fixed film spacing system 10 (FIG. 4) suitable for use with a processor 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for the automatic processing of photosensitive media in the form of successive sheets of film F1, F2 (FIG. 2), such as for the development of radiographic images for medical diagnostic purposes.
  • a processor 12 FIGGS. 1 and 2
  • FIG. 2 The principles of the invention are illustrated, by way of example, embodied in the form of a fixed film spacing system 10 (FIG. 4) suitable for use with a processor 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for the automatic processing of photosensitive media in the form of successive sheets of film F1, F2 (FIG. 2), such as for the development of radiographic images for medical diagnostic purposes.
  • the processor 12 has a feed shelf 14 positioned ahead of an entrance opening 15 (FIG. 2).
  • the front end of the processor 12 including feed shelf 14 and entrance opening 15 is located in a darkroom to avoid unwanted exposure of the sheets F1, F2 fed into the processor 12.
  • the remaining portion of the processor 12 may be outside the darkroom.
  • Sheets F1, F2 entered through entrance opening 15 are transported through the processor 12 along a travel path 16 (indicated by arrows), and are eventually driven out of the back end of processor 12 into a catch bin 17 at an exit opening 18.
  • the processor 12 includes a developing station comprising a tank 21 filled with developer chemical; a fixing station comprising a tank 22 filled with fixer chemical; and a wash station comprising a tank 23 filled with wash water or comprising some other appropriate film washing device.
  • Processor 12 also includes a drying station 24 comprising oppositely-disposed pluralities of air dispensing tubes 25 or some other appropriate film drying mechanism.
  • a sensor 26 Positioned proximate opening 15 is a sensor 26, such as a conventional universal film detector board, reflective infrared sensor array which provides signals indicative of sheet width when a sheet F1, F2 is presented at the entrance opening 15.
  • the film width sensor 26 also provides an indication of the occurrence of passage of the leading edge and trailing edge of each sheet past point 26 of the processor 12.
  • a second sensor 27, in the form of a magnetic reed switch 29 or the like may be provided to detect separation of entrance rollers 28 to signal the beginning of transportation of a sheet of film along the path 16.
  • Sensor 27 is a Hall effect sensor and has an actuator or slug 32 mounted on a rocker arm 36 for movement about a pivot pin 37, from the solid line to the dot-dashed line position, in response to separation of the upper entrance roller 28a from the lower entrance roller 28b.
  • Other sensors may also be used.
  • the sheet path 16 is shown as defined by a plurality of film transport rollers 30 and a plurality of guide shoes 31 located to direct a sheet of film F sequentially through the tanks 21, 22, 23 and dryer 24.
  • the rollers 30 form the transport system for transporting the sheets F1, F2 through the processor 12.
  • Crossover assemblies act at the interfaces between the respective tanks 21, 22, 23 and dryer 24 to transport sheets between the corresponding stations.
  • Rollers 30 may be driven in conventional manner by a common drive shaft 33 (FIG. 4) having alternating right-hand and left-hand axially-spaced worms for driving adjacent columns of rollers 30 at the same speed in counterrotation, so as to move the sheets F1, F2 in the direction of the arrows along path 16.
  • Drive shaft 33 may be connected by a no slip chain drive and toothed sprockets (not shown) to be driven by an electric motor 34 such as, for example, a variable speed brushless DC motor.
  • the temperature of developer chemical in tank 21 may be controlled by means of a recirculation plumbing path 35 (FIG. 2) having a pump P for drawing developer out of tank 21, through a thermowell or other suitable heater and filter, and then passing it back to the tank 21.
  • a temperature sensor 37 (FIG. 4) is provided in the tank 21 or recirculation path 35 to monitor the temperature of the developer.
  • Developer temperature may be displayed on a meter 41 located on an exterior control panel 42 of the processor 12.
  • Temperature control of fixer chemistry may be conveniently provided by passing an immersed loop 39 through the fixer tank 22.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a control system usable in implementing an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a microcomputer 43 is connected to direct the operation of the processor 12.
  • Microcomputer 43 receives manual input from the user through a mode switch 44 as to what processor mode of operation is desired.
  • the system can be configured to enable the user to select among predesignated modes, such as standard, rapid, "Kwik,” or extended modes having predetermined associated film path speed and chemistry temperature parameters; and can also be configured to permit a user to set a desired path speed and temperature directly.
  • mode switch 44 is by means of an alphanumeric keypad 45 and keypad display 46 (FIG. 1) for providing programming communication between the user and the microcomputer 43.
  • a function code can be entered to signal that mode selection is being made, followed by a selection code to designate the selected mode.
  • a function code can be entered for film path speed or chemistry temperature, followed by entry of a selected speed or temperature setting.
  • Another way to implement switch 44 is by means of a plurality of push button or toggle switches, respectively dedicated one for each selectable mode, and which are selectively actuated by the user in accordance with user needs.
  • Microcomputer 43 is also connected to receive input information from the film width sensor 26, the entrance roller sensor 27, the developer temperature sensor 37 and, optionally, from a shaft speed sensor 48.
  • Shaft speed sensor 48 which may comprise a shaft encoder mounted for rotation with drive shaft 33 and an associated encoder sensor, provides feedback information about the speed of the common shaft 33 that uniformly drives the transport rollers 30 (FIG. 2). This gives the speed with which film is driven along the film transport path 16.
  • the width sensor 26 provides the microcomputer 43 with information on the leading and trailing edge occurrences and the width of the film sheets F1, F2. This can be used together with microprocessor set film speed or film speed measured by sensor 48 to give a cumulative film development area total to control chemistry replenishment.
  • the entrance roller sensor 27 signals when a film sheet leading edge has been picked up by the roller path 16, or when a trailing edge has passed a certain point in path 16. This information can be used together with transport speed and known length of the path 16 from entrance rollers 28 to exit rollers 50 (FIG. 2), to indicate when a sheet of film is present along the path 16.
  • Microcomputer 43 is shown in FIG. 4 connected to motor control circuitry 51, heater control circuitry 52, and annunciator control circuitry 53.
  • Motor control circuitry 51 is connected to motor 34 to control the speed of rotation of drive shaft 33. This controls the speed of travel of film sheets F1, F2 along the film path 16 and, thus, determines the length of time a sheet spends at each of the stations (viz. controls development time).
  • Heater control circuitry 52 is connected to control the temperature of the developer flowing in the recirculation path 35 (FIG. 2) and, thus, the temperature of developer in tank 21 and fixer in tank 22.
  • Annunciator control circuitry 53 is connected to annunciators in the form of "Wait” light 54 and "Ready” light 55 to control the on/off cycles of the same.
  • Identical "Wait" and “Ready” lights 54, 55 may be provided on both the darkroom (not shown) and lightroom (see control panel 42 in FIG. 1) sides of the processor 12.
  • a user-designated mode change selected at keypad 45 (FIG. 1) or other mode switch 44 (FIG. 4) is input to microcomputer 43 (100) to cause a desiqnation (through look-up table, algorithm or the like) of reference developer temperature and transport speed parameters recommended for the selected mode (102).
  • Motor and heater control circuits 51, 52 are then directed to control the motor and heater to bring the actual developer temperature and film path transport speed into line with the designated reference temperature and speed.
  • the system can be configured, if desired, to permit the entry of a particular film transport speed directly.
  • Selection of a new film transport speed will cause a designation of a new time delay period between trailing edge of a first sheet F1 and leading edge of a second sheet F2, needed to achieve a predetermined desired fixed spacing (103, 104).
  • the delay time desired to maintain a constant linear separation between sheets F1, F2 along path 16 for different given transport speeds is as follows: V (in/min) m/min time (secs) 30 76,2 6 40 101,6 4.5 50 127,0 3.6 60 152,4 3 70 177,8 2.57 80 203,2 2.25 90 228,6 2.0 100 254,0 1.8 110 279,4 1.63 120 304,8 1.5
  • the delay times can also be set using a preestablished look-up table.
  • microcomputer 43 When the sensors 26 and/or 27 detect the passage of the leading edge of a first sheet F1 into the processor 12 (105), annunciator control circuit 53 is directed by microcomputer 43 to turn the "wait” light 54 on, and the "ready” light 55 off (106).
  • microcomputer 43 directs the loading of a counter 60 (FIG. 4) with a number corresponding to the number of pulses of a system clock 61 needed to give the required sheet separation time in seconds determined in response to the selection of transport speed (108).
  • the count in counter 60 reaches zero (109, 110)
  • the "wait” light is turned off and the "ready” light turned on (111). This indicates to the user that the sheet F1 has passed a point where the next sheet F2 can be fed into the processor.
  • annunciators such as a buzzer 58, can be connected to the microcomputer 43 to be actuated whenever counter 60 reaches zero to indicate a "ready" condition exists and a fresh sheet F2 can be fed in at entrance 15 (112).

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
EP19910103385 1990-03-19 1991-03-06 Processor with speed independent fixed film spacing Expired - Lifetime EP0447878B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/495,867 US5065173A (en) 1990-03-16 1990-03-19 Processor with speed independent fixed film spacing
US495867 1990-03-19

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0447878A2 EP0447878A2 (en) 1991-09-25
EP0447878A3 EP0447878A3 (en) 1992-08-12
EP0447878B1 true EP0447878B1 (en) 1996-05-15

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ID=23970306

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910103385 Expired - Lifetime EP0447878B1 (en) 1990-03-19 1991-03-06 Processor with speed independent fixed film spacing

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP0447878B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2951018B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69119458T2 (ja)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB681728A (en) * 1949-12-29 1952-10-29 Michael Charles Wood Improvements in or relating to control apparatus for chemical reactions
US3608454A (en) * 1968-06-27 1971-09-28 Polaroid Corp Imbibition interval timer and annunciator
US4300828A (en) * 1980-07-14 1981-11-17 Pako Corporation Photosensitive sheet processor
JPH0199049A (ja) * 1987-10-12 1989-04-17 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 写真焼付装置用印画紙搬送方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69119458T2 (de) 1996-12-12
EP0447878A3 (en) 1992-08-12
JP2951018B2 (ja) 1999-09-20
JPH04251252A (ja) 1992-09-07
EP0447878A2 (en) 1991-09-25
DE69119458D1 (de) 1996-06-20

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