JP2000171956A - Method for deciding and correcting processing state of photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily decide the state of a photosensitive material processing liquid from multi-dimensional analysis values by utilizing Mahanalobis distances. SOLUTION: The Mahanalobis distance is computed (124) and whether the Mahanalobis distance is above the threshold or not is judged (126). The case below the threshold is decided to be normal and the Mahanalobis distance is displayed on a display device. Whether the number (m)of sets of the normal values rises above the prescribed value m0 or not is judged (130). In the case of m>=m0, the data of the characteristic values of the oldest set in the time series is deleted (132) and the Mahanalobis distance is calculated by adding the set of the data of the freshly detected characteristic value, by which the database is updated (134). If the Mahanalobis distance is above the prescribed value, judgment is made that the developer is abnormal and the degree of abnormality is displayed. The cause for the abnormality is then decided (136, 138) and the remedy is decided in accordance with the combination patterns of the cause. The remedy is displayed (140, 142).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for determining and correcting a processing state of a light-sensitive material, and more particularly to a method for determining a processing solution and a processing condition of a light-sensitive material such as a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. The present invention relates to a method for determining a processing state, and a method for correcting a processing state of a photosensitive material, which corrects a processing solution and processing conditions based on a determination result of the determination method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed by selectively reducing (developing) exposed particles having a latent image with a developing solution, and removing unexposed particles. It comprises a fixing process for dissolving and removing with a fixing solution, and a process of washing and drying following the fixing process. Taking a developer as an example, the components of the developer are diverse, such as a developing agent, a preservative, and a development inhibitor, and these vary in a complicated manner in relation to each other depending on processing conditions. The analysis items for grasping the state of the processing solution and the processing conditions of the material, that is, the characteristic values, are various.

Heretofore, in order to determine whether or not the state of a processing solution in the market has a problem in photographic quality, it is necessary to empirically determine the condition of a processing solution of a photosensitive material from a difference between the composition of a new processing solution and a processing solution of a photosensitive material mainly based on an analysis of the liquid component. Was determined to. At this time, the determination should be made not only by the relationship between the liquid components but also by the correlation with the type of processing equipment and processing conditions.However, in many cases, the determination is made qualitatively based on the analysis value. It is difficult to derive one judgment result from a multidimensional analysis value as in diagnosis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and at least one of the processing solution and processing conditions of a photosensitive material can be easily determined from a multidimensional analysis value by using the Mahalanobis distance. A method for determining the processing state of a photosensitive material, and a method for correcting the processing state of a photosensitive material that corrects at least one of the processing solution and the processing condition based on the determination result determined by the determination method The purpose is to do.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a method of processing a silver halide light-sensitive material in a normal state, which has no problem in photographic quality, or a halogen in a normal state. A reference space is created based on the characteristic values of the processing solution and the processing conditions of the silver photosensitive material, a Mahalanobis distance is calculated based on the reference space, and the processing solution and the processing conditions are calculated based on the calculated Mahalanobis distance. At least one of the states is determined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, for each of the processing solution for processing the photosensitive material, or the processing solution for processing the photosensitive material and the processing conditions of the photosensitive material, k (where k is an integer of k ≧ 2) kinds of characteristics are provided. If the value is n (where a is a positive number of 1 or more, n is n ≧ ak), k kinds of characteristic values Y _{i, j} (where i is the characteristic) The number of values is i = 1, 2, 3,..., K, j is the number of sets of characteristic values, and j = 1, 2, 3,. Calculate the distance of Mahalanobis
The state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions is determined based on the calculated magnitude of the Mahalanobis distance.

[0007]

(Equation 3)

[0008] However, a _pq is the correlation coefficient between the p-th standardized characteristic value y _p and q th normalized characteristic value y _q among the set of k scaled characteristic values y _i of number j r _{p, q} (however, p, q
= 1, 2, 3,..., K) as the components of the inverse matrix R ⁻¹ of the correlation matrix R, and the characteristic values of the n types of the processing liquids and the processing conditions in the normal state. is a value indicating a reference space created based, the number j of the set of standardized characteristic value y _{i, j} is the standard deviation sigma _i characteristic value of the average value m _i and the number i of the characteristic value of number i And is represented by the following equation.

[0009]

Y _{i, j} = (Y _{i, j} −m _i ) / σ _i where m _i = (Y _{i, 1} + Y _{i, 2} +... + Y _{i, n} ) / n σ _i ² = _{[(Y i, 1 -m i} ) 2 + (Y i, 2 -m i) 2 + ··· + Y i, n -m i) 2] / (n-1) Here, the correlation matrix R and the correlation matrix The inverse matrix R ⁻¹ of R is expressed as follows, and the Mahalanobis distance represented by the above equation (1) is the correlation matrix R, or the inverse matrix R ⁻¹ of the correlation matrix R, or the matrix of these matrices. It can be calculated using the components.

[0010]

(Equation 5)

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a reference space of the first aspect of the present invention, a correlation matrix or an inverse of the correlation matrix calculated based on the characteristic values of k kinds and n sets of processing solutions and processing conditions in a normal state. Matrix or the components of these matrices are used, and the Mahalanobis distance represented by the above equation (1) is calculated using the correlation matrix, the inverse matrix of the correlation matrix, or the components of these matrices, and the calculation is performed. The state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions is determined from the magnitude of the Mahalanobis distance.

Here, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, the normal state refers to a state of a processing solution and processing conditions having no problem in photographic properties and the like.

The Mahalanobis distance is one of the techniques for multidimensional analysis, and is said to be effective for evaluation when many variables (items or characteristic values) interact in a complex manner. According to the study by the inventors, it has been confirmed that the method is also effective for judging the state of at least one of a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material such as a silver halide photosensitive material processing solution and processing conditions.

According to each of the above-mentioned inventions, since the Mahalanobis distance is used, at least one of the processing solution and the processing condition of the photosensitive material can be easily determined from the multidimensional analysis values. Therefore, the degree of deterioration of at least one of the processing solution and the processing conditions can be quantified,
It is possible to extract a factor that deteriorates at least one of the processing liquid and the processing condition, narrow down to an optimal countermeasure, and take a quick countermeasure.

In the invention of claim 2, k and n
It is preferable that at least one of the values is made variable so that an arbitrary value can be set.

Further, n in the second aspect of the present invention can be the number of users whose processing state is to be determined, whereby the state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing condition for each user can be determined. Further, n can be the number of times of sampling in time series, whereby the state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing condition of at least one user can be determined in time series, and the processing liquid can be determined. Further, the degree of deterioration of at least one of the processing conditions is predicted from the time-series data, and the processing liquid and the processing conditions are maintained in a normal state, so that the finish of the photograph can be stabilized.

Further, by adding the newly detected m (where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1) characteristic value set to the previously detected n characteristic values and calculating the Mahalanobis distance, the correlation matrix R , Or the inverse matrix R ⁻¹ of the correlation matrix R, or the reference space represented by the components of these matrices is updated,
An appropriate reference space can also be set for a processing liquid in a normal state in which the composition and physical properties have changed due to fatigue from the new liquid state, and the state of the processing liquid can be accurately determined.

When updating the reference space, by adding a newly detected set of characteristic values, the set of characteristic values becomes (n +
m) When the set is reached, at least one characteristic value, for example, by deleting the oldest set of characteristic values in the time series and calculating the Mahalanobis distance, the storage capacity of the storage means for storing the characteristic values Can be reduced. Note that the set of characteristic values to be deleted may be any set.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in each of the above inventions,
The characteristic values in the normal state for creating the reference space include the characteristic values in the initial state of the treatment liquid.

Processing solutions have the same composition and physical properties at the time of preparation (when a new solution is used). However, processing solutions on the market such as small-scale developing laboratories and large-scale developing laboratories deteriorate to some extent due to the processing of photosensitive materials. Therefore, in the case of a plate-making photosensitive material, the existence probability of the processing liquid itself in a new liquid state is low. For this reason, when calculating the Mahalanobis distance of the new liquid based on the characteristic value of the processing liquid in a normal state in the market, that is, the characteristic value of the processing liquid in which the existence probability of the processing liquid in the new liquid state is low,
The distance of Mahalanobis of the new liquid may be very large even in the normal state.

Accordingly, the invention of claim 7 provides a characteristic value of a processing solution of a photosensitive material in a normal state which has no practical problem, and a characteristic value of a new solution of a processing solution of a photosensitive material, that is, characteristics of an initial state of the processing solution. A reference space is created using the values.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the reference space is created by adding the characteristic value of the new processing solution of the photosensitive material to the characteristic value of the processing solution of the photosensitive material in a normal state where there is no practical problem. The distance of Mahalanobis becomes substantially 1, and the distance of Mahalanobis changes according to the degree of fatigue based on a new normal state including the state of the new liquid. Therefore, the states of all the processing liquids including the new liquid can be determined.

When the processing solution of the photosensitive material is a developer for a photographic material for plate making, the characteristic values include at least the pH of the developer, the specific gravity of the developer, the amount of the developing agent in the developer, and the sulfurous acid in the developer. It is preferable to use the amount of salt and the processing amount of the photosensitive material for plate making.

When the processing solution for the photographic material is a fixer for a photographic material for plate making, the characteristic values include at least the pH of the fixer, the amount of thiosulfate in the fixer, and the amount of sulfite in the fixer. It is preferable to use

In the above-described method for determining the processing state of the photosensitive material, the distance between the Mahalanobis when each characteristic value exists and the Mahalanobis distance when each characteristic value does not exist is determined for each characteristic value. Thus, the state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions can be determined. Specifically, by using a factorial effect diagram in which the Mahalanobis distance when the characteristic value is present and the Mahalanobis distance when the characteristic value is not present are plotted for each characteristic value, the processing liquid and the processing liquid are visually observed. It is effective to determine at least one of the conditions.

By creating a factor-effect diagram for each user, it is possible to narrow down countermeasures suitable for the user.

The invention according to claim 11 corrects at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions based on the determination result determined by the above-described method for determining the processing state of the photosensitive material. According to the present invention, since the correction is performed based on the factors that deteriorate the state accurately determined as described above, accurate correction can be performed.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail.

First, regarding the developing solution for the photographic material for plate making, a processing solution having no problem in photographic characteristics among processing solutions in a market development laboratory is considered to be normal. A description will be given of the result of an examination using the liquid analysis value data (approximately 100 cases) as a characteristic value. A new processing liquid is also included in the normal processing liquid.

The characteristic values include the type of photosensitive material for plate making, the type of processor, the processing amount per month, the operating time per day, the operating time per week, the dilution ratio of the replenisher, the replenishment amount of the replenisher, the developer , The specific gravity of the developer, the amount of the developing agent in the developer, the amount of the sulfite in the developer, the amount of the halogen in the developer, and the like.

The most frequent abnormality in the developing solution was a failure in which the maximum density decreased. Table 1 shows the relationship between the Mahalanobis distance and the opinion obtained by the conventional evaluation method. Table 2 shows the result of examining the correspondence with
Are shown below.

[0032]

[Table 1]

[0033]

[Table 2]

The Mahalanobis distance (approximately 2.
It can be confirmed that 5) and Mahalanobis distance (about 2.5) at which a claim actually starts appearing in Table 1 match well,
It was confirmed that the optimum threshold value for the Mahalanobis distance was 2.5.

Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a specific processing apparatus based on the above findings will be described. In the first embodiment, the state of each of a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water used in a film processor for developing a sensitizing material for plate making is determined, and the processing is performed according to the state of the processing solution. The present invention is applied to the case where the liquid is corrected.

As shown in FIG. 1, the film processor 1
1 is provided with a loading section 11N0 for loading the sensitizing material N for plate making. In the loading section 11N0, a plate-making photosensitive material N having an image exposed is loaded, and the loaded photosensitive material N is transported into the processor section 11N.

The processor section 11N includes a developing tank 11
N1, a fixing processing tank 11N2, and a washing tank 11N3 are arranged in this order, and a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water are respectively stored in each processing tank in order. Also, rollers are provided in each processing tank, and these rollers constitute a transport path between and within the processing tanks, and the photosensitive material N is transported by the rollers so as to pass through each processing tank. When passing through each processing tank, it is immersed in each processing liquid to be processed.

A drying section 11N8 is arranged adjacent to the processor section 11N. The drying unit 11N8 dries the photosensitive material N by reciprocating the photosensitive material N in the vertical direction. Then, the photosensitive material N is stored in the storage box 22N.

The loading section 11N0 includes an environmental thermometer 54 for detecting an environmental temperature, an environmental hygrometer 56 for detecting an environmental humidity,
And a light-sensitive material detection sensor constituted by an infrared radiation section 32N and an infrared detection section 34N. The infrared radiating section 32N is configured by arranging a plurality of infrared radiating elements in a direction (width direction of the light sensitive material N) intersecting with the conveying direction of the light sensitive material N,
The infrared detecting section 34N is configured by arranging a plurality of detecting elements for detecting infrared rays radiated from the respective infrared radiating elements in a direction intersecting the transport direction X of the photosensitive material N. In addition, a gap through which the photosensitive material N can pass is provided between the infrared radiation section 32N and the infrared detection section 34N.
When the light-sensitive material passes, the infrared light is blocked by the light-sensitive material. Therefore, the cutoff time is counted by the control unit 26 described later, so that the processing amount of the light-sensitive material, that is, the light processed per unit time (for example, one day). The amount of material can be detected.

A display panel 24 composed of a liquid crystal display device is provided above the loading section 11N0. An infrared sensor for detecting the amount of silver remaining in the photosensitive material N is provided in a passage section 11N9 through which the photosensitive material passes after drying. A unit 120 is provided.

The infrared sensor unit 120 is composed of an infrared emitting diode and a photodiode arranged opposite to the infrared emitting diode. The infrared sensor unit 120 utilizes the fact that the amount of infrared light transmitted through the photosensitive material N differs depending on the amount of residual silver. Thus, a signal corresponding to the amount of silver remaining on the photosensitive material is output from the photodiode output. The control unit 26, which will be described later, detects the amount of residual silver of the photosensitive material based on the output of the infrared sensor unit 120, and subtracts the amount of residual silver from the known amount of silver applied to the photosensitive material, thereby obtaining the residual silver in the fixing solution. The amount of dissolved silver is detected.

Since each of the processing tanks 11N1 to 11N3 has substantially the same configuration, only the developing tank 11N1 will be described, and the description of the other processing tanks 11N2 and 11N3 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing tank 11N1 includes a processing tank 11M for storing a developing solution and a processing tank 1N.
Subtank 11MS, subtank 11 communicated with 1M
A replenishment tank 44M for storing a replenisher to be replenished in the MS,
And a water replenishment tank 45M for storing water to be replenished in the sub tank 11MS.

The sub-tank 11MS is connected to a replenishing tank 44M via a replenishing nozzle 42 and a replenishing pump 44N so that the replenishing solution is replenished.
2 and is connected to a water replenishing tank 45M so that water is replenished via the replenishing pump 48L.

The replenishment tank 44M includes a replenishment tank 44M.
An ultrasonic level meter 46N for detecting the level of the replenisher is provided. The water supply pipe connected to the water replenishment tank 45M is provided with a water flow meter 48N for detecting the amount of water supplied via the replenishment pump 48L.

The sub-tank 11MS has a temperature sensor 40 for detecting the temperature of the developer in the sub-tank 11MS.
N, a pH sensor 38N for detecting the pH of the developer, a hydrometer 36N for detecting the specific gravity of the developer, and a level detector 34 for detecting the level of the developer. In addition, 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a carry-out port for causing unnecessary developer to overflow as waste liquid. This waste liquid is stored in a waste liquid tank (not shown).

The developing solution stored in the processing tank 11M and the sub-tank 11MS is supplied to the developing processing tank 11N1 from the processing tank 11M indicated by a broken line to the sub-tank 11M.
A circulation device 30 that circulates in the S direction is provided. The circulation device 30 includes a circulation pump 30N1, a cooling fan 30
N2, heater 30N3, circulating flow meter 51, filter mounting rod 30N5, and circulating filter 30N4. The temperature of the developer is controlled by the circulating device 30 by feedback control so that the temperature of the developer becomes a set temperature (a temperature (for example, 35 ° C.) for appropriately processing the photosensitive material N).

From the circulation filter 30N4 to the circulation pump 3
A coil-type electric conductivity meter 50 is provided in the pipe to the inlet of 0N1. In addition, as an electric conductivity meter,
An electric conductivity meter that measures electric conductivity by applying a voltage between a plurality of electrodes may be used.

The hydrometer 36N determines the time required for the ultrasonic wave to propagate through a predetermined distance D ₂ in the developer, and calculates the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave through the developer from the determined time and the distance D _2. And outputs an output value [mV] proportional to the propagation speed. The control unit 26 described later stores a map indicating the relationship between the specific gravity and the output value determined corresponding to the processing amount of the photosensitive material N. Then, a specific gravity is calculated based on the selected map and an output value [mV] proportional to the detected propagation speed.

The film processor 11 includes a control unit 26
Is provided. The control unit 26, as shown in FIG.
A CPU 26N1, a RAM 26N2, a ROM 26N3, and a bus B for interconnecting these are provided. Bus B
The memory 26N4 in which the unique data file of the film processor 11 is stored, the information sensor group 26N5, the storage device 26N6 in which the operation state of the film processor 11 is stored for each processing tank, and the necessary processing for developing the photosensitive material N Processor section 2 of film processor 11 for performing various controls
6N7 is connected.

Specific data files include a processor data file, a replenishment data file, a squeeze data file, an evaporation correction data file, a processing sensitive material data file, a processing liquid performance data file, a processing liquid heat characteristic data file, and a processing liquid data file. There are a liquid air oxidation data file, a component failure data file, and a finish characteristic data file. Note that all of the data in these data files may be used, but not all of the data is required.

The processor section 26N7 includes a replenishing section (a replenishing pump 44N and a replenishing pump 48L for each processing tank) for replenishing the processing liquid with a replenishing solution and water, and a temperature adjusting section (each processing tank) for controlling the temperature of the processing liquid. Circulating device 30), a storage unit for storing data other than the data of the unique data file and the data of the operating state of the film processor 11, and a display unit (display panel 24) for displaying the state of the processing liquid.

The information sensor group 26N5 includes an environmental thermometer 54 for detecting the environmental temperature, an environmental humidity meter 56 for detecting the environmental humidity, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the processing solution, and a pH sensor as shown in FIGS. PH sensor, a specific gravity meter for detecting the specific gravity of the processing solution, a level detector for detecting the level of the processing solution, an infrared sensor unit 120 for detecting the amount of silver remaining in the photosensitive material N, and an infrared radiating section 32N. A pump rotation sensor (not shown) for detecting the amount of rotation of a replenishing pump provided in the processing tank, a circulating flow meter 51 for measuring the amount of circulation of each processing solution, and a replenishing flow meter 48 for measuring the amount of water added to each processing tank.
N and so on.

Although all of these information sensors may be used, not all of the information sensors are required, and one or more information sensors may be omitted as necessary. A necessary information sensor may be further attached to the tank. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which data of a characteristic value that is manually measured, which will be described later, is automatically measured by an information sensor.

The storage device 26N6 stores information such as the time of each operation state and the environmental temperature, humidity, processing liquid temperature and the like in the operation state. Here, the operation state includes a stop state, a standby state, and a drive state. The standby state is a state in which power is supplied to the film processor, the temperature of the processing liquid is controlled, and the photosensitive material N is not processed. In this state, since each circulation pump is operated and the temperature is adjusted, the temperature of each processing liquid is high, so that thermal deterioration and air oxidation easily proceed. The drive state is, in addition to the standby state, a state in which the drying heater and the drying fan are operated, and the photosensitive material N is being developed, fixed, and washed, and a state equivalent to this state. In this state, each processing liquid is in a state where it is likely to evaporate under the influence of the drying air. When the photosensitive material N is actually processed and the processing amount of the photosensitive material N reaches a predetermined value, a replenisher of an amount corresponding to the type of the photosensitive material N is replenished. Carryover of the processing liquid occurs due to the transport of N.

The stop state is a state in which the temperature control is stopped and the temperature of the processing liquid is lowered on a day when the operation is stopped or at night. In this state, the processing liquid is in a state that is hardly deteriorated.

In the storage device 26N6, the processing amount of the photosensitive material N, the processing time, the processing history, the exposure amount of the photosensitive material N (feedback by image density data), the type of the photosensitive material N,
Information such as a replenisher replenishment operation history (replenishment amount and replenishment time) is stored. The data in the storage device 26N6 is
It is stored for each processing tank. In the storage device 26N6,
All of this information may be stored and used, but it is not necessary to store or use all of this information.

The bus B of the control unit 26 diagnoses the state of the processing liquid via the communication control unit 26N9 and the bidirectional communication line, and controls the processor unit 26N7 when the processing liquid is abnormal. A diagnosis / correction device HO composed of a computer for correcting the processing liquid is connected.

The diagnosis / correction device HO is provided outside the film processor, but may be incorporated in the film processor.

The diagnostic / correction device HO detects the data by a reference space database HO1 storing two databases, that is, a database of a developer reference space and a database of a fixer reference space, and the information sensor group 26N5. A data input device HO2 for inputting manually measured data of the amount of the developing agent, the amount of the sulfite, the amount of the halogen, and the like, and a display device HO3 for displaying the degree of normality or abnormality are connected. .

Hereinafter, a processing routine in the diagnosis / correction apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In step 100, the database of the developer reference space and the database of the fixer reference space are separately created using the characteristic value data in the normal state. In step 102, the databases are created as the reference space database H01. Set to. One database may be created for the developer and the fixer, and the database may be set in the reference space database H01.

In step 104, the data input device HO
The liquid to be diagnosed and corrected is determined based on the data designated from step 2, and if the liquid to be diagnosed and corrected is a developer, the diagnosis and correction processing of the developer is performed in step 106, and the liquid to be diagnosed and corrected is fixed. In the case of the liquid, the fixing liquid is diagnosed and corrected in step 108.

The creation of the reference space database will be described in detail. For a processing solution (either a developing solution or a fixing solution) for processing a photosensitive material, k (where k is k ≧ k)
N sets of (2 integers) types of characteristic values are detected (where n is an integer satisfying n ≧ 1).

As the characteristic values of the developer, the processing amount per month (m ² / month), the type of the processor, the operating time per day (hours / day), the pH, the specific gravity, the developer in the unit developer ( Hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, etc.) (g /
l), amount of sulfite (Na ₂ SO ₃ ) in unit developer (g / l), amount of compound A (5-methylbenzotriazole) in unit developer (g / l), unit developer The amount (g / l) of compound B (sodium erythorbate), the amount (g / l) of halogen (KBr) in a unit developer, and other characteristic values can be used. The minimum required characteristic values are pH, specific gravity, the amount of developing agent, the amount of sulfite, and the processing amount of the sensitizing material for plate making. And correction can be performed.

As the characteristic value data of the fixing solution,
Processing amount (m^Two/ Month), processor model, per day
Operating time (hour / day), pH, specific gravity, unit fixer
Sulfite (Na_TwoSO_Four) Amount (g / l), unit fixer
Thiosulfate ((NH_Four) _TwoS_TwoO_Four) Volume (ml /
l), amount of Ag in unit fixing solution (g / l),
Use non-HQ amount (g / l) and other characteristic values
Can be The minimum required characteristic values are pH,
The amount of salt and the amount of thiosulfate.

The developing solution and the fixing solution for obtaining the characteristic values may be prepared by diluting a predetermined amount of water from either a liquid agent or a solid agent.

The detected characteristic values Y _{i, j} (where i is the number of characteristic values, i = 1, 2, 3,..., K, j is the number of pairs of characteristic values and j = 1, 2, 3, 3 ,..., N) are normalized as follows, and a normalized characteristic value y _{i, j} is calculated.

[0068] _{y i, j = (Y i} , j -m i) / σ i where the average value for one characteristic value m _i is represented by the following formula, sigma _i is for one characteristic value Standard deviation.

[0069]

M _i = (Y _{i, 1} + Y _{i, 2} +... + Y _{i, n} ) / n σ _i ² = [(Y _{i, 1} −m _i ) ² + (Y _{i, 2} −m ^{_{i) 2 + ··· + Y i}} , n -m i) 2] / (n-1) Next, a p-th standardized characteristic value y _p between k number of scaled characteristic values y _i of each set A correlation matrix R having a correlation coefficient r _{p, q} (where p, q = 1, 2, 3,..., k) with the q-th normalized characteristic value y _q is obtained, and this correlation is obtained. An inverse matrix A (= R ⁻¹ ) of the correlation matrix is obtained from the matrix R. The correlation matrix R and the inverse matrix A of the correlation matrix are expressed as follows.

[0070]

(Equation 7)

The components of the inverse matrix A of the correlation matrix R are stored in the reference space database as a reference space database for each processing solution. Further, the Mahalanobis distance at the time of performing the state determination can be calculated by the following equation using the component a _pq of the inverse matrix A of the correlation matrix R.

[0072]

(Equation 8)

The developer of the photosensitive material for plate making will be specifically described. As the characteristic value data of the developer, the processing amount per month (m ² / month), the processor model, and the operating time per day (hour / hour) Days), pH of the developer, specific gravity of the developer, amount of HQ (hydroquinone) in the unit developer (g / l),
The amount of sulfite (Na ₂ SO ₃ ) (g /
l), the amount of compound A (5-methylbenzotriazole) in the unit developer (g / l), the compound B in the unit developer
The amount (g / l) of (sodium erythorbate) and the amount of KBr in the unit developer were used as characteristic values.

When the characteristic values for eliminating unnecessary characteristic values were selected, at least the pH of the developer, the specific gravity of the developer, the amount of the developing agent in the developer, and the amount of sulfite in the developer were determined. And the amount of the photographic material used for plate making was required. However, in order to address any complaints that may arise in the future, it is preferable to make the reference space for all items a basic type.

When diagnosing and correcting the developing solution, characteristic values that cannot be automatically detected by the information sensor group are analyzed using an analyzer, and the analyzed data is input from the data input device HO2.

Referring to FIG. 5, the details of step 106 of FIG. 4 will be described. In step 120, the model of the processor, the monthly processing amount of the plate making photosensitive material detected by the information sensor group 26N5, the operating time per day,
In addition to taking in the pH and the specific gravity, the amount of the developing agent in the unit developer, the amount of the sulfite in the unit developer, the amount of the compound A in the unit developer, the amount of the compound A in the unit developer input from the data input device HO2, The amount of compound B, the amount of KBr in the developer, and the like are taken in.

In the next step 122, the investigation and analysis of the characteristic values composed of the processing conditions and the liquid composition are performed.

In step 122, the Mahalanobis distance is calculated according to the above equation, and in step 126, it is determined whether or not the Mahalanobis distance is equal to or larger than a threshold value (for example, 2.5). If the threshold value is less than the threshold value, it is determined to be normal, and the distance of Mahalanobis is displayed on the display device HO3 in step 128, and in step 130, the number m of normal values is set to the predetermined value m ₀ (for example, the database of the reference space is read). It is determined whether or not the number is greater than the number of sets at the time of creation (one greater value). If m ≧ m ₀ , in order to update the database, the data of the characteristic value of the oldest set in the time series is deleted in step 132, and the data set of the newly detected characteristic value is The database of the developer reference space is updated in addition to the characteristic value data in the normal state used to create the database of the reference space for development, and the database is set as the reference space database H01. In the case of m <m ₀ , without deleting the data of the characteristic value and updating the database of the developer reference space,
End the routine.

On the other hand, if the Mahalanobis distance is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that the developing solution has become abnormal, and the Mahalanobis distance calculated in step 136 is displayed on the display device HO3 to indicate the degree of abnormality. Then, in step 138, the cause of the abnormality is determined.

In this factor determination, a Mahalanobis distance is calculated for each characteristic value, and a characteristic value having a large Mahalanobis distance is determined as a cause of abnormality.

This factor-effect diagram takes the characteristic value on the horizontal axis and the Mahalanobis distance on the vertical axis, and shows the Mahalanobis distance (left) when there is a characteristic value in each characteristic value and the Mahalanobis distance when there is no characteristic value. The Mahalanobis distance (right side) is plotted for each characteristic value, and the plotted points are displayed by connecting a straight line for each characteristic value. The Mahalanobis distance when the characteristic value exists is longer than the Mahalanobis distance when the characteristic value does not exist, and the characteristic value is determined based on the characteristic value having a long straight line.

In the next step 140, the combination pattern of the factors of the characteristic value determined as the cause of the abnormality is determined, and in step 142, the processing corresponding to the combination pattern is displayed.

Table 3 shows specific examples of the characteristic value data and the analysis target data of the developing solution of the sensitizing material for plate making. The combination patterns of abnormal factors and examples of treatment in the case of the developing solution are as follows. As shown in FIG. FIG. 6 shows specific gravity,
FIG. 7 shows that the amount of the developing agent, the amount of the sulfite, and the amount of the compound B increase the distance of the Mahalanobis when the amount of the developing agent and the sulfite are effective as factors that increase the distance of the Mahalanobis. Each of the factor-effect diagrams when the factor is effective is shown.

[0084]

[Table 3]

An example of a combination pattern of factors in the case of a developer for a sensitizing material for plate making and an example of treatment are shown below. (1) When the specific gravity is particularly abnormal Judge that there is a tendency to concentrate, confirm the dilution ratio setting conditions and the actual dilution ratio, and adjust the dilution ratio so that the dilution ratio is as set or slightly larger. Reset.

If the Mahalanobis distance exceeds 4.0, a predetermined amount of water is supplied as an emergency measure to dilute the developer. (2) When the amount of developing agent, the amount of sulfite, and the amount of compound B are abnormal Judgment of the air oxidation state, check the replenishment conditions and the actual replenishment amount. Reset the replenishment rate to

The characteristic value of the fixing solution of the photographic material for plate making is as follows.
Type of science equipment, processing volume per month (m ^Two/ Month) 1 day earning
Working hours (hours / day), working days per week (days / day)
Week), pH, thiosulfate ((NH
_Four)_TwoS_TwoO_Four), Sulfite (Na)_Two
SO_Four), The amount of Ag (g / l), and H
The amount of Q (g / l) was used.

Table 4 shows specific examples of the characteristic value data and the data to be analyzed of the fixing solution of the photographic material for plate making. The combination patterns of abnormal factors and examples of the treatment in the case of the fixing solution are as follows. As shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows the pH,
A factor-effect diagram when the Ag amount and the HQ amount become abnormal is shown.

[0089]

[Table 4]

An example of a combination pattern of factors and a treatment in the case of a fixing solution of a photographic material for plate making is shown below. (1) When the pH, Ag amount, and HQ amount are abnormal It is determined that the carry-over amount of the developer from the developing tank has increased, the replenishing amount is checked, and the replenishing amount is reset when necessary. (2) When the amount of thiosulfate and the amount of sulfite are abnormal Judge that there is a tendency to concentrate, check the replenishment amount and dilution ratio, and reset if necessary.

In the above, an example in which the environmental temperature and the like are not used as the characteristic values has been described.
The electrical conductivity of the processing liquid, the temperature of the processing liquid, and the like may be used as the characteristic values.

Further, network management can be performed by connecting a device whose status is to be determined to the communication control device online.

[0093]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the Mahalanobis distance is used, the state of the processing solution and processing conditions of the photosensitive material can be determined from the multidimensional analysis values. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine the level of the deterioration of the state.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the analytical value data of the characteristic value of the processing solution of the silver halide photosensitive material in a normal state which has no practical problem, and the characteristics of the new solution of the processing solution of the silver halide photosensitive material. Since the reference space is set using the analysis value data of the values, the effect is obtained that the states of all the processing liquids including the new liquid can be determined.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, for each processing state of the photosensitive material to be determined, it is possible to accurately determine the factor that deteriorates the state.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the correction is performed based on the factor that deteriorates the state accurately determined, an effect that the accurate correction can be promptly performed can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a film processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing replenishing apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a diagnosis / correction processing routine according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a diagnosis / correction processing routine for each processing liquid in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a factor and effect diagram of a developer for a plate-making photosensitive material.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a factor and effect diagram of a developer for a plate-making photosensitive material.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a factor and effect diagram of a fixing solution for a photosensitive material for plate making.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Film Processor (Automatic Developing Machine) N Plate Making Sensitive Material 24 Display Panel 26 Control Unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 23, 1999 (1999.2.2
3)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0011] According to a second aspect of the invention, the inverse of claims correlation matrix is calculated based on the characteristic value of the processing solution and the processing condition of k species n sets of normal state as reference space section 1 of the invention, or a correlation matrix Matrix or the components of these matrices are used, and the Mahalanobis distance represented by the above equation (1) is calculated using the correlation matrix, the inverse matrix of the correlation matrix, or the components of these matrices, and the calculation is performed. The state of at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions is determined from the magnitude of the Mahalanobis distance.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0065

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As the characteristic value data of the fixing solution, the processing amount per month (m ² / month), the type of the processor, the operating time per day (hours / day), the pH, the specific gravity, the sulfite in the unit fixing solution ( Na ₂ SO ₃ ) (g / l), thiosulfate ( (NH ₄ ) ₂ S ₂ O ₃ ) (ml /
1), the amount of Ag (g / l) in the unit fixing solution, the amount of hydroquinone (HQ) (g / l), and other characteristic values can be used. The minimum required property values are pH, amount of sulfite, and amount of thiosulfate.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0084]

[Table 3]

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0087

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The characteristic value of the fixing solution of the photographic material for plate making is as follows.
Type of science equipment, processing volume per month (m ^Two / Month) 1 day earning
Working hours (hours / day), working days per week (days / day)
Week), pH, thiosulfate per unit fixer volume ((NH
₄ ) ₂ S ₂ O ₃ ) (Ml / l), sulfite (Na ₂
SO ₃ ), The amount of Ag (g / l), and H
The amount of Q (g / l) was used.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0089

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0089]

[Table 4]

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Jun Okamoto 210 Nakanakanuma, Minamiashigara, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H016 AA01 BA01 BK02 BL03 CA04 2H098 AA01 AA02 AA05 AA07 BA15 BA18 BA34 BA37 CA02 DA01 DA02 DA03 DA05 DA06 DA08 DA09 DA10 DA11 DA15 DA21 DA22 DA23 DA27 DA28 EA02 EA03 EA04 EA05 GA01 GA09

Claims (11)

[Claims] A reference space is created based on characteristic values of a processing solution of a silver halide photosensitive material in a normal state, or characteristic values of processing solutions and processing conditions of a silver halide photosensitive material in a normal state. A method for determining a processing state of a photosensitive material, comprising calculating a Mahalanobis distance based on a space and determining at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions based on the calculated Mahalanobis distance. 2. A processing solution for processing a photosensitive material, or a processing solution and a processing condition for processing a photosensitive material, each having k (where k is an integer of k ≧ 2) characteristic values of n (where,
Assuming that a is a positive number equal to or greater than 1, n is n ≧ ak) sets are detected, and k types of characteristic values Y detected at the time of state determination are determined.
_{i, j} (where i is the number of characteristic values, i = 1,2,3, ...
.., K, and j are the number of sets of characteristic values, j = 1, 2, 3,.
For the combination of n), the Mahalanobis distance (MD ² ) represented by the following equation is calculated, and at least one of the processing liquid and the processing condition is determined based on the calculated magnitude of the Mahalanobis distance. A method for determining the processing state of a photosensitive material. (Equation 1) Here, a _pq is a set of k standardized characteristic values y _{i of} a set having a number j.
The correlation coefficient between the p-th standardized characteristic value y _p and q th normalized characteristic value y _q between r _{p, q} (although, p, q = 1, 2,
3, ···, k) the inverse matrix of the correlation matrix R to component R ^-1
And a value indicating a reference space created in advance based on the characteristic values of the k types and n types of the processing liquids and the processing conditions in a normal state, and the normalized characteristic value y _i of the set of the number j _{, j}
Is expressed by the following equation using a standard deviation sigma _i characteristic value of the average value m _i and the number i of the characteristic value of number i. Y _{i, j} = (Y _{i, j} −m _i ) / σ _i where m _i = (Y _{i, 1} + Y _{i, 2} +... + Y _{i, n} ) / n σ _i ² = _{[(Y i, 1 -m i} ) 2 + (Y i, 2 -m i) 2 + ··· + Y i, n -m i) 2] / (n-1) 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of k and n is made variable. 4. The method for determining the processing state of a photosensitive material according to claim 2, wherein one of the number of users whose processing state is to be determined and the number of times of sampling in time series is n. . 5. The Mahalanobis distance is calculated by adding a newly detected m (where m is an integer of m ≧ 1) set of characteristic values to the previously detected n sets of characteristic values. The method for judging the processing state of a photosensitive material according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. A distance of Mahalanobis is calculated by adding at least one set of characteristic values and adding at least one set of characteristic values when the set of characteristic values reaches (n + m) pairs. 6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the processing state of the photosensitive material is determined. 7. The determination of the processing state of the photosensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic value in a normal state for creating the reference space includes a characteristic value in an initial state of the processing liquid. Method. 8. When the processing solution for the photosensitive material is a developing solution for a photographic material for plate making, the characteristic values include at least the pH of the developing solution, the specific gravity of the developing solution, the amount of the developing agent in the developing solution, The amount of the sulfite, and the processing amount of the photosensitive material for plate making are used.
8. The method for judging the processing state of a photosensitive material according to any one of items 7 to 7. 9. When the processing solution for the photographic material is a fixing solution for a photographic material for plate making, at least the pH of the fixing solution, the amount of thiosulfate in the fixing solution, and the sulfite in the fixing solution. The method for determining the processing state of a photosensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the amount of the photosensitive material is used. 10. For each characteristic value, at least one of the processing liquid and the processing condition is determined based on a comparison result of the Mahalanobis distance when each characteristic value exists and the Mahalanobis distance when each characteristic value does not exist. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the states is determined. 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the processing liquid and the processing conditions is corrected based on a determination result determined by the method for determining a processing state of a photosensitive material. A method for correcting the processing state of a photosensitive material.