JP2643143B2 - Automatic developing machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic developing machine, and more particularly, to an automatic developing machine that processes an unprocessed film in a processing tank and supplies a replenisher to the processing tank.

[Problems to be solved by the prior art and the invention]

An automatic developing machine which automatically processes development, fixing, washing and drying of an unprocessed film is provided with a replenishing device for replenishing a replenisher.

Various pumps such as a bellows pump and a magnet pump are used in this replenishing device.The bellows pump converts the rotation of the motor into linear motion by a crank mechanism, expands and contracts the bellows, and supplies the replenisher. It has a structure for discharging. However, the discharge amount of the replenisher per unit time of each pump varies due to the manufacturing error of the bellows pump, and the discharge amount per unit time of the bellows pump using the frequency synchronous motor depends on the power supply frequency. Change.

For this reason, in the past, the discharge amount per unit time of the pump was adjusted by adjusting the crank length of the crank mechanism connecting the bellows pump and the motor, but this adjustment reduces the length of the crank. It was a complicated and time-consuming operation such as changing or assembling.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 58-95737 discloses a technique for eliminating the need to adjust the discharge rate per unit time of the pump. While driving for the time or the number of strokes performed, the actual replenishment amount is measured by the flow rate measuring device (11), and the percentage of the difference between the replenishment amount and the actual replenishment amount is calculated,
A technique for increasing or decreasing the drive time or the number of strokes of the pump by the percentage is disclosed (see FIG. 1 of the above publication). Further, the above publication discloses, as a second embodiment,
Measurement electrodes (22), (2
3) sending the regenerating solution to the intermediate container (21) provided with
A technique is disclosed in which the number of strokes of a pump for feeding a regenerating liquid for a reference volume is detected, and the specified stroke number is corrected according to a difference between the detected stroke number and a stored specified stroke number. (See FIG. 2 of the above publication).

In the first embodiment of the above publication, the actual amount of replenishment by the pump is measured by a flow rate measuring device (11), and in the second embodiment of the publication, the actual amount of regenerating liquid delivered by the pump is measured by a measuring electrode (22). ) And (23) are detected by the intermediate container (21) provided with the flow rate measuring device (11), and the intermediate container (21) provided with the measuring electrodes (22) and (23) is referred to as a “liquid amount measuring device”. "), The error in the replenishment amount is measured. Then, the driving time or the number of strokes of the pump is automatically corrected based on the result of measuring the error of the replenishment amount, thereby improving the replenishment accuracy of the replenisher. Therefore, the technique described in the above publication requires the provision of a liquid amount measuring device in order to improve the replenishment accuracy of the replenisher, and has a drawback that the configuration of the automatic developing machine becomes complicated.

In addition, the technique described in the above publication cannot accurately measure the error in the replenishing amount if the measurement accuracy by the liquid amount measuring device is low, and cannot improve the replenishing accuracy of the replenishing solution. It is common that there is also a variation in the measurement accuracy of the liquid amount measuring device, so in order to obtain the intended replenishment accuracy, the technology described in the above publication is used when shipping to an automatic developing machine or in an automatic developing machine. It is necessary to perform an inspection / adjustment operation of inspecting the liquid amount measuring device when installing the device and adjusting the measurement accuracy when the measurement accuracy by the liquid amount measuring device is low.

Further, in the lower left column, line 15 to line 20 of the above publication, as a conventional problem, the number of strokes in the metering pump due to the fact that the cross section of the circulation passage is It is not always the case that the processing liquid corresponding to the required target value is replenished depending on the opening time of the solenoid valve. "However, the adhesion of impurities and the like also occur in the liquid amount measuring device. For this reason, even if the previous inspection and adjustment work is performed, if the liquid amount measuring device is used for a long time, the inside of the liquid amount measuring device (for example, a circulation passage through which a replenisher in the flow rate measuring device (11) passes, or When the impurities adhere to the intermediate container (21), such as the inner wall of the intermediate container (21), with time, the measurement accuracy of the liquid amount measuring device decreases. Therefore, the technique described in the above-mentioned publication requires the maintenance of the liquid amount measuring device even after the automatic developing machine is installed in order to avoid a decrease in replenishment accuracy due to a temporal decrease in the measuring accuracy by the liquid amount measuring device. Removal of impurities and various adjustments) must be performed periodically.

As described above, the technology described in the above-mentioned publication requires the provision of a liquid amount measuring device, which complicates the configuration of the automatic developing machine, and obtains the intended replenishment accuracy. Alternatively, it is necessary to inspect and adjust the liquid amount measuring device when an automatic developing machine is installed. In addition, the technique described in the above publication measures the error of the replenishing amount by the liquid amount measuring device and automatically corrects the driving time or the number of strokes of the pump. Even if the size changes, the change in the size of this error is measured by the liquid amount measuring device, and the drive time or the number of strokes of the pump is automatically corrected according to the size of the changed error,
At first glance, it appears that the intended replenishment accuracy can always be maintained automatically, but in practice, the measurement accuracy of the liquid volume measuring device itself decreases over time, and this decrease in measurement accuracy is one of the causes of the decrease in replenishment accuracy. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically maintain the liquid amount measuring device even after the automatic developing machine is installed.

Therefore, even if a liquid amount measuring device is provided as in the above publication, the pump driving time or the number of strokes is automatically adjusted in accordance with the variation in the discharge amount per unit time of the pump or the change over time. However, this liquid volume measurement device causes a decrease in replenishment accuracy over time, and eventually requires periodic maintenance, so that the configuration is complicated and the cost is increased, and a corresponding effect cannot be obtained. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, without performing complicated and time-consuming operations such as adjustment of the discharge amount per unit time of the pump and maintenance of the liquid amount measuring device,
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic developing machine which can replenish a replenisher with a high replenishment accuracy with a simple structure.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic developing machine which controls the operation time of a replenisher replenisher pump to control the replenishment amount of the replenisher. An input means for inputting the result of measuring the discharge amount by an operator, a replenishment amount calculating means for calculating a replenishment amount of a replenisher necessary for processing the photosensitive material by the automatic developing machine, and via the input means. The amount of discharge per unit time of the pump is calculated based on the amount of discharge per unit time of the pump inputted, and the required replenishment amount obtained from the replenishment amount calculating means and the calculated discharge amount per unit time of the pump are calculated. Control means for obtaining the operation time of the pump corresponding to the required replenishment amount from the above, and controlling the pump to operate for the calculated operation time without changing the discharge amount per unit time of the pump. It is characterized by having a.

(Operation)

According to the present invention, an input means is provided for an operator to input a result of measuring a discharge amount of the pump when the pump for replenishment is operated for a predetermined time, and when the pump is operated for a predetermined time. The result of measuring the discharge amount of the pump is input by the operator through the input means. The discharge amount of the pump when the pump is operated for a predetermined time is measured by an operator using, for example, a graduated cylinder or the like.
The replenishing amount of the replenisher necessary for processing the photosensitive material by the automatic developing machine is calculated by the replenishing amount calculating means. Then, the control means calculates the discharge rate per unit time of the pump based on the discharge rate per predetermined time of the pump input through the input means, and the required replenishment rate calculated by the replenishment rate calculation means, From the calculated discharge amount per unit time of the pump, the operation time of the pump corresponding to the required replenishment amount is determined from the calculated discharge amount per unit time, without changing the discharge amount per unit time of the pump. Control to operate.

Accordingly, the operation time of the pump corresponding to the required replenishment amount is adjusted according to the calculated discharge amount per unit time of the pump, and the pump is controlled so as to operate only for the calculated operation time. The variation in the discharge amount per unit time of the pump is corrected, and the required replenishment amount can be replenished regardless of the variation in the discharge amount per unit time of the pump.

Further, in the present invention, it is not necessary to set the discharge amount per unit time of the pump to a constant value, so that it is troublesome and troublesome to adjust the length of the crank to adjust the discharge amount per unit time of the pump to a constant value. It is not necessary to perform such operations. Also, there is no need to provide a detecting means for detecting the discharge amount per unit time of the pump and a control means for controlling the discharge amount per unit time to a predetermined value based on the detection result by the detecting means. In addition, the device configuration can be simplified.

Further, the present invention does not provide a device for detecting the liquid amount, but calculates the discharge amount per unit time of the pump based on the discharge amount per predetermined time of the pump input through the input means, and calculates the required replenishment amount. Since the operation time of the pump corresponding to the above is determined, when the automatic developing machine is shipped or when the automatic developing machine is installed, the liquid amount measuring device in the technique described in the above-mentioned JP-A-58-95737 is used. Instead of the inspection and adjustment work, by measuring the discharge amount of the pump per predetermined time and performing the work of inputting the measurement result, the dispersion of the discharge amount of the pump is corrected,
The replenishment accuracy of the replenisher can be improved.

Further, with respect to a change over time of the discharge amount of the pump, instead of the regular maintenance of the liquid amount measuring device in the technique described in the above publication, the discharge amount of the pump per predetermined time is measured, and the measurement result is obtained. Is performed periodically, it is possible to prevent the replenishment accuracy of the replenisher from decreasing. By performing these operations, the replenisher can be constantly replenished with high replenishment accuracy, similarly to the technique described in the above publication.

Therefore, the present invention allows the operator to measure the discharge amount of the pump per unit time, instead of performing measurement with a liquid amount measurement device that requires periodic maintenance with reduced measurement accuracy over time. By adopting a configuration in which the result is input via the input means, without providing a device for measuring the liquid amount as in the technique described in the above-mentioned publication, with a simple configuration,
High replenishment accuracy equivalent to the technology described in the publication can be obtained.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing machine 10 in which a replenisher replenishing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied is arranged.

The automatic developing machine 10 according to the present embodiment has a function of developing an unprocessed film as a photosensitive material, a function of fixing, a function of washing with water, and a function of drying.

The automatic developing machine 10 is provided with a housing 12 provided with an openable / closable lid for blocking light from the outside as necessary, and an unprocessed film is inserted into an upper front part of the housing 12. Table
14 is provided, and a film stocker 16 for storing the processed film is provided on the upper rear portion. An insertion port into which an unprocessed film is inserted is formed near the insertion table 14 of the housing 12, and a detector 80 for detecting the passage of the film is attached near the insertion port. This detector 80
Is composed of a plurality of pairs of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements arranged in the width direction of the film such that the two elements face each other in the vicinity of the film insertion slot. As a result, each light receiving element is turned on and off according to the width of the inserted film. Note that the detector 80 may be a type of detector that is turned on and off when the light receiving element receives the light of the light emitting element reflected by the film.

Inside the housing 12, a developing tank 18, a fixing tank 20, a washing tank 22, and a drying unit 24 are arranged in this order, and the automatic developing machine 10 includes an input means 26, a replenishing device 28, a circulating device 30, and a relay 32. , A control unit 34 is disposed.

The replenishing device 28 is connected to an AC power source via a contact point of a relay 32 connected to the control unit 34. The replenishing device 28 is communicated with the developing tank 18 by a tube. The circulation device 30 is connected to the developing tank by a tube.

Developing tank 18 and fixing tank 20 arranged in the order of film processing
A plurality of guide rollers 18A, 20A, 22A, 24A for moving the unprocessed film are arranged in the washing tank 22 and the drying section 24. The plurality of guide rollers 18A, 20A, 22A, and 24A form a transport path on which the film is transported, and transport the film by rotating the guide rollers.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2A, the circulating device 30 disposed inside the housing 12 includes a developer filter 36, a heat exchanger 38, and a circulating pump 40. That is, the developing tank 18 and the circulation pump 40 are communicated by the pipe 45, and the processing liquid filter 36 and the developing tank 18 are communicated via the heat exchanger 38.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (B) and 3, the replenishing device 28 includes a replenishing tank 44 storing a replenishing liquid, a bellows pump 46, and a motor 48. The bellows pump 46 includes a bellows 46A that can be extended and retracted, a pipe 64, and a replenisher suction unit 50. One end of the bellows 46A is connected so as to be interlocked with a connecting rod 52 constituting a crank mechanism, and the other end is connected to a replenishing solution suction unit 50 in a replenishing solution filled in a replenishing tank 44 via a pipeline 64. It is connected.
One end of the connecting rod 52 is rotatably supported by an eccentric shaft 54A fixed at a position eccentric from the center of a rotary plate 54 attached to the output shaft 48A of the motor 48.

As shown in FIG. 4, ball-shaped check valves 58 and 60 are housed inside the replenishing part suction part 50 arranged in the replenishing solution filled in the replenishing tank 44. The check valve 58 is housed so as to open and close the suction port 62, and the check valve 60 is housed so as to open and close a pipe 68 that communicates the pipe 64 with the pipe 66.

As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 34 includes a CPU 78, an input port 70, an output port 72, a PROM 74, a RAM 76, and a PROM writer 82. The detector 80 and the input means 26 are connected to the input port 70. Output port
The excitation coil of the relay 32 is connected to 72.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

When the power of the automatic developing machine 10 is turned on and the unprocessed film is inserted from the insertion table and passes under the detector 80, the passage of the film is detected, and a signal is input to the input port of the control unit 34.

When the unprocessed film passes below the detector 80, the unprocessed film is guided to the bottom of the developing tank 18 through a film transport path formed by a plurality of guide rollers 18A arranged in the developing tank 18. The guided direction of the guided film is reversed by a guide roller 18A disposed at the bottom, and the upper portion of the developing tank is transported. This allows the unprocessed film to pass through the developer. The unprocessed film passes through the developing solution in the developing tank 18 and is developed. The developed film is further guided to the fixing tank 20 through a film transport path formed by a plurality of guide rollers 20A arranged in the fixing tank 20, and fixed. The film fixed in the fixing tank 20 is guided to the washing tank through a film transport path formed by a plurality of guide rollers 22A arranged in the washing tank 22, and washed with water. The washed film is guided by the plurality of guide rollers 24A, passes through the drying unit 24, is dried, and is accumulated on the film stocker 16.

The developer stored in the developing tank 18 is circulated by a circulation pump 40. During circulation, the developing solution is filtered
The developer is purified by the heat exchanger, the temperature of the developer is adjusted by the heat exchanger, and the developer is circulated to the developing tank.

The operation of the bellows type pump 46 and the motor 48 constituting the replenishing device 28 will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the output shaft of the motor 48 rotates, the end of the connecting rod 52, which constitutes the crank mechanism, connected to the bellows 46A linearly moves up and down to expand and contract the bellows 46A. When the bellows 46A is contracted, the pump 46
And the replenisher stored in the pipe 64 acts on the check valve 58 to block the suction port 62, acts on the replenisher stored in the pipe 68, and pushes the check valve 60 vertically upward. The replenisher is discharged from the pipe 66. Next, when the bellows 46A is extended, the check valve 58 is sucked vertically upward and moves, and the replenisher flows into the conduit 68 from the suction port 62. The replenisher discharged by repetition of the above expansion and contraction is replenished to the developing tank 18 through the pipe 66.

Before inserting the film from the insertion table 14 of the automatic processor 10 into the film, the pump 46 is operated for a predetermined time and the discharge amount of the pump 46 is measured using a measuring cylinder or the like.
The measurement value of the discharge amount and the predetermined time are input from an input means 26 connected to the control unit. The discharge amount per unit time of the pump 46 is calculated from the input discharge amount and the predetermined time, and stored in the PROM 74 via the PROM writer 82.

The control unit 34, based on the signal input from the detector 80,
The processing area of the film is calculated by calculating the number and size of the film, and the processing amount of the developer is measured. Thereby, the required replenishment amount is calculated. Then the discharge amount per unit time, the time T ₀ to operate the relay 32 corresponding to the operation time of the pump from the required replenishment amount is calculated. It is energized the relay 32 in accordance with T ₀ the computed operating time.
When the relay 32 is energized, the motor 48 constituting the replenishing device 28 is connected to the power supply via the contact of the relay 32, so that the power supply is connected to the motor 48 and the output shaft of the motor 48 rotates. When the output shaft of the motor 48 rotates, the bellows pump
A replenisher is discharged from 46 and replenished to the developing tank 18.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control routine of this embodiment.

First, at step 88, the refill pump is driven for one minute to discharge the replenisher. The amount of the discharged replenisher is measured by a graduated cylinder, and in step 90, the discharge amount, the replenishment pump, and the driving time are input by the input means 26. In step 92, the discharge amount per unit time (unit flow rate) is calculated from the input discharge amount and the drive time. The calculated result is a step
At 94, it is stored in the PROM 74 by the PROM writer 82.

Next, a relay corresponding to the operation time for operating the pump 46 is provided.
A routine for turning 32 on and off will be described with reference to FIG. In step 98, the required replenishment amount of the replenisher is calculated based on the number and size of the films determined by the output of the detector. That is, when a transmission type detector is used, the width of the film is calculated from the number of light-receiving elements turned off, and the length of the film is calculated from the time during which the light-receiving element is turned off. The area per film is calculated, and this area is integrated to calculate the replenishment amount. The width and length of the film are automatically input from the input means using a detector in which a plurality of element pairs each including one light emitting element and one light receiving element are arranged in the width direction of the film. Alternatively, the width of the film may be manually set in advance (when processing a film having a specific width only), and only the length may be measured with a detector to obtain the area.

Operation time T ₀ of the relay 32 corresponding to the operation time of the pump 46 is calculated by the inputting step 102 replenishment amount required in dividing the discharge amount per computed unit time. At step 104, the relay 32 is turned on and the pump 46 is driven. When the pump 46 is driven, the replenisher is discharged to the developing tank. At step 106, it is determined whether or not the operation time has elapsed. If not, the process returns to step 104, and the pump 46 continues to be driven. If it has elapsed, the relay 32 is turned off at step 108, the operation of the pump is stopped, and the replenishment is stopped. When the relay 32 is turned off at step 108, the program returns to step 98, and the program is started from step 98 and is repeated until the power of the control unit 34 is turned off.

By the way, in the above-described embodiment, light is irradiated toward the film (photosensitive material), and the reflected light of the light or the transmitted light transmitted through the photosensitive material is detected to detect the presence of the photosensitive material. Vessel was used. Examples of the photosensitive material include an infrared photosensitive material sensitive to infrared light, a panchromatic photosensitive material or an ortho photosensitive material sensitive to visible light. The light emitting elements of the detector used for detecting these width dimensions or lengths include those containing infrared light and those containing visible light.

Generally, in detecting a photosensitive material, unless a light-emitting element having only an emission spectrum outside the main photosensitive wavelength range of the photosensitive material is used, the photosensitive material is exposed and fogging occurs. It is preferable to use an infrared light emitting element for detecting a photosensitive material having a main photosensitive wavelength range mainly in a visible light wavelength range, such as a material.

However, when the long-wavelength photosensitive region of the photosensitive material whose main photosensitive wavelength region is in the visible region overlaps with the short-wavelength light-emitting region of the infrared light emitting element, particularly when the light amount is large,
There is a problem that fog is caused by exposing these photosensitive materials. Further, when the main photosensitive wavelength region is in the infrared region, it is preferable to use a visible light emitting element, but also in this case, the photosensitive region on the short wave side of the photosensitive wavelength region and the light emitting region on the long wave side of the light emitting element are also different. In the case of overlapping, there is a problem that the infrared-sensitive material is exposed to light and fogging occurs, particularly when the amount of light increases. In addition, available light-emitting elements have limited emission spectrum characteristics, and a light-emitting element having desired emission spectrum characteristics may not be used in some cases. In such a case, for example, the infrared light-sensitive material is detected by the infrared light emitting element. In particular, when the light emitting amount of the light emitting element is large, fog occurs. Further, when a photosensitive material having a main spectral sensitivity in the visible light region, for example, a panchromatic photosensitive material is detected using a visible light emitting element, fogging occurs particularly when the light emitting amount of the light emitting element is large. Therefore, no matter what kind of light-emitting element is used, fogging occurs depending on the amount of light, so that there is a problem that it cannot be widely used for a photosensitive material having any spectral sensitivity characteristics.

Therefore, hereinafter, a description will be given of a detector which can reduce fog by reducing the total amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements to be irradiated on the photosensitive material and can be widely used for photosensitive materials having any spectral sensitivity characteristics.

FIG. 6 shows a first embodiment of the photosensitive material detector. The insertion table 14 is disposed on the photosensitive material input side of the photosensitive material detector 80. At the end of the insertion table 14, a light emitting element 114 as irradiation means and a light receiving element 116 as light receiving means,
A plurality of photosensitive materials 118 are arranged in parallel along the width direction (the direction of arrow X).

The light emitting elements 114 are attached to the support 120, and are arranged corresponding to the respective light receiving elements 116. The light emitting element 114
The light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected on the photosensitive material so that the light can be emitted in a direction in which the light can enter the light receiving element 116.

The light receiving element 116 is attached to the support 120 on which the light emitting element 114 is attached, and can receive the reflected light of the light from the photosensitive material 118.

The photosensitive material 118 is fed to a feed roller 126 while being guided by upper and lower guide plates 122 and 124, and
It is inserted into the developing machine main body shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the anode of the light emitting element 114 is connected to a power supply Vcc via a resistor 128. The cathode of the light emitting element 114 is connected to the collector of the transistor 130. The emitter of the transistor 130 is grounded, and the base is connected to the microcomputer 1 via a resistor 136.
It is connected to 46 output ports 134. The micro computer 146 controls the light emitting element so that light emission from the light emitting element is performed intermittently. That is, the light emitting element 114 is intermittently driven by supplying a pulse signal of a predetermined width (for example, 1 msec) stored in the ROM 133 in advance to the base of the transistor 130.

The emitter of the light receiving element 116 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the power supply Vcc via the resistor 138. Further, an A / D converter 140 is connected to the collector. The D / A converter 140 converts an analog signal output from the light receiving element 116 into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal through an input port 142.
Outputs a signal to PU132.

FIG. 8 (A) shows the operation of the detector configured as described above.
This will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the automatic developing machine is turned on, the light receiving element 114 starts emitting light in step 148. That is, the light emitting element 114 is turned on. At step 150, the output value is taken from the A / D converter 140. A / D output values it is determined whether a predetermined value L ₁ or more at step 152. If the photosensitive material 118 is not inserted, that is, if the A / D output value is less than the predetermined value, the time during which the flag f is received at step 153 at step 153 (that is, the ON state time) is 1 msec. It is determined whether or not.

If 1 ms has not elapsed in step 154, step 148
And the light emitting element 114 continues to emit light. When 1 msec has elapsed, the light receiving element is turned off in step 156, and light emission is stopped. At step 158, it is determined whether or not the time during which the light emitting element 114 has been in the off state has passed 1 msec. If not, the process returns to step 156 and the light emitting element 114 continues to be in the off state. When 1 msec has elapsed, the process returns to step 148, and the light emitting element is turned on again to start emitting light. Photosensitive material 11
8 does not become the predetermined value L ₁ or the A / D output value since the reflected light does not enter the light receiving element 116 the light from the light emitting element 114 if it is not inserted. Therefore, the above steps are repeated, and the light emitting element 114 repeatedly turns on and off every 1 msec.

Photosensitive material 118 is inserted, A / D output value when incident on the light receiving element 116 is reflected light of the light from the light-sensitive material 118 is set to ₁ or more predetermined value L, at step 160 the flag f is excisional at step 151 It is determined whether 0.5 msec has elapsed. 0.5mse
If c has not elapsed, the light emitting element 114 continues to issue, and 0.5 mse
After elapse, the light emitting element 114 is turned off at step 162. At step 164, it is determined whether or not the time of the OFF state has passed 0.5 msec.
Remains off. After elapse of 0.5 msec, the number of times C at which the switch is turned on at step 170 is incremented. While the photosensitive material 118 is being inserted, the above control routine is repeated.

Then, the number of times C and the ON state time of the light emitting element (0.5 mse
The length of the photosensitive material 118 is obtained from c) and the time during which the light emitting element is in the ON state (0.5 msec). FIG. 8B shows an interrupt routine for obtaining the length of the photosensitive material 118. This interrupt routine is executed when the flag f changes from 1 to 0. The number of times C is read in step 174, and the length is calculated in step 176. After the length is calculated, the number C is cleared at step 178. The processing area is calculated from the length and the width of the photosensitive material, and the required replenishment amount is calculated.

Next, a second embodiment of the detector will be described. The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
A part of the control method of the microcomputer 146 when disturbance light enters the light receiving element 116 shown in the first embodiment is different.

In the flow chart showing the operation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9, parts corresponding to those of the first embodiment (steps 148 to 158 in FIG. 8A) are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. The description is omitted here.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

A / D output values it is determined whether a predetermined value L ₁ or more at step 152. If it is less than the predetermined value L ₁ step 153 following routine is repeated. If the predetermined value L ₁ or step
Execute the routine below 194. At step 194, the flag f is set.
Is set to 1 and it is determined in step 196 whether or not the time during which the light emitting element emits light has passed 0.5 msec. If not, the light emitting element 114 continues to emit light. After elapse of 0.5 msec, the light emitting element 114 is turned off at step 198.
At step 200, the A / D output value is again
Take in 6. It is determined in step 202 whether 0.5 msec has elapsed since the light emitting element 114 was turned off in step 198. Elapsed continued emitting element 114 is turned off if not, captured A / D output value at step 200 in step 204 it is determined whether a predetermined value L ₁ or more after a lapse of 0.5 msec. Based on this judgment, whether the light is disturbance light
A determination is made as to whether it is eight. This determination will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, a waveform 208 shows an output waveform of the light emitting element 114, and a waveform 210 shows an output waveform of the A / D output value.
A waveform 212 is a waveform indicating the amount of disturbance light incident on the light emitting element, and a waveform 214 is a waveform indicating the amount of light reflected from the photosensitive material and incident on the light receiving element 116. A waveform 216 is a waveform indicating that the photosensitive material is present, and is represented by a high level when the photosensitive material is present, and is represented by a low level when the photosensitive material is not present.

If disturbance light enters the light receiving element 116 to the A position A / D output value becomes a predetermined value L ₁ or more. This determination is made by A / D in step 150.
The output value is fetched and performed at step 152. Then the light emitting element at step 198 the value A / D output value is taken at step 200 after turning off whether the predetermined value L ₁ or more is determined. A / despite the light emitting element is off
If the D output value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it can be determined that light other than the light emitted from the light emitting element is incident on the light receiving element.

The reflected light of the light emitting element 114 reflected from the photosensitive material 118, that is, the incident light incident on the light receiving element 116 is at the C position and the light receiving element 116
When entering A / D output value becomes ₁ or more predetermined value L to. This determination is made in step 150 by taking in the A / D output value.
Done in 2. Next Although A / D output value is again taken at step 200 to determine its value and when less than the predetermined value L ₁ which is a photosensitive material 118 at step 204. That is, in the case of the photosensitive material 118, the light emitting element 14 is off at the position D of the waveform 208, so that the light emitting element 14 reflects from the photosensitive material and
A / D output value without light entering does not become the predetermined value L ₁ or more, the reflected light from the light-sensitive material from this it is possible to determine whether the disturbance light. If it is determined that the photosensitive material is the photosensitive material 118, the number of times C that the light emitting element is turned off for 0.5 msec and turned on for 0.5 msec is incremented in step 206. The interrupt routine for reading the number of times C and calculating the length is the same as the routine shown in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, a third embodiment of the detector will be described. The structure of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a filter 180 is mounted between the light emitting element 114 and the photosensitive material 118 as shown in FIG. And different.
Therefore, in FIG. 11, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
It blocks some wavelengths of light emitted from 14.

The operation of the filter 180 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, as shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the light receiving element 116 has the spectral sensitivity characteristic shown by the curve 116A for the wavelength between C and D with respect to the wavelength between B, It is assumed that the element 114 has a spectral output characteristic as shown by a curve 114A for light having a wavelength between E and F. The light receiving element 116 receives light having a wavelength between E and D in the spectral output of the light emitting element 114 (G area in the drawing). Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the light-emitting element 114 has a light-emitting material
It is exposed to the wavelength between (H region in the drawing). The light of the wavelength between E and B in the light of the light emitting element 114 to which the photosensitive material 118 is exposed is blocked by the filter 180 having the characteristic shown by the curve 180A. Accordingly, light of a specific wavelength of the light from the light emitting element 114 is blocked, and the amount of light incident on the photosensitive material 118 is reduced. As described above, the filter 180 detects, for example, an infrared-sensitive material using a light-emitting element (for example, a light-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser or the like) and a photosensor (for example, a photomultiplier, a phototransistor, or a photodiode). I can do it.

In this embodiment, since the light to which the photosensitive material is exposed is attenuated by the filter, the light emitted from the light emitting element may be continuous light.

As shown in FIG. 12, the fourth embodiment of the detector is a combination of the light amount reducing means of the first embodiment and the light amount reducing means of the third embodiment. This is detected at 116.
In addition, by providing the filter 180, light of a certain wavelength in light intermittently emitted from the light emitting element 114 is blocked, and light is irradiated to the photosensitive material.

It is also possible to provide a switching switch or the like depending on the photosensitive material used so that the light amount reducing means in the first embodiment or the light amount reducing means in the third embodiment can be used.

In the first to fourth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, detection is performed when the photosensitive material 118 passes between the light emitting element 114 and the light receiving element 116 and the light from the light emitting element 114 is blocked by the photosensitive material. It can also be applied to vessels.

As described above, in the above embodiment, fog of the photosensitive material is prevented by providing the light amount reducing means for reducing the amount of light incident on the photosensitive material, and various spectral sensitivity ranges from the visible region to the infrared region. It has an excellent effect that it can be widely used for photosensitive materials.

As described above, in the embodiment, the case where the developing solution is replenished as the processing solution has been described. However, the present invention can also be used when replenishing the fixing solution.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example using a bellows pump has been described.
For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a magnet pump is used.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides an input means for an operator to input the result of measuring the discharge amount of the pump when the pump is operated for a predetermined time, so that the replenisher required for processing the photosensitive material is provided. The replenishment amount is calculated, and the discharge amount per unit time of the pump is calculated based on the discharge amount per predetermined time of the pump input through the input means. Since the operation time of the pump corresponding to the required replenishment amount is obtained from the discharge amount and the pump is operated so as to operate only for the calculated operation time without changing the discharge amount per unit time of the pump,
Excellent in that replenisher can be replenished with high replenishment accuracy with a simple configuration without complicated and laborious work such as adjustment of the discharge amount per unit time of the pump and maintenance of the liquid volume measurement device. Has the effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a schematic diagram showing an automatic developing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 (A) is a piping diagram of a circulation device, FIG. 2 (B) is a piping diagram of a replenishing device, and FIG. 3 is a bellows. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a pump, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a processing liquid suction part, and FIG.
(B) is a flowchart showing a program of the CPU, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the detector,
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the input / output relationship between the light emitting element, the light receiving element, and the CPU, FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow charts showing the operation of the first embodiment of the detector, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the light emitting device.
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the detector, FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the detector, and FIG. Is a characteristic diagram showing the sensitivity of the photosensitive material, the light emitting element, and the light receiving element to each wavelength. 28 Refilling device 34 Control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An automatic developing machine for controlling a replenishing amount of a replenisher by controlling an operation time of a replenisher replenishing pump, the result of measuring a discharge amount of the pump when the pump is operated for a predetermined time. Input means for an operator to input, a replenishing amount calculating means for calculating a replenishing amount of a replenishing solution necessary for processing the photosensitive material by the automatic developing machine, and a pump input through the input means. The required replenishment amount is calculated from the required replenishment amount obtained from the replenishment amount calculating means and the calculated replenishment amount per unit time of the pump based on a discharge amount per unit time of the pump based on the discharge amount per predetermined time. Control means for determining the operation time of the pump corresponding to the above, and controlling the pump to operate for the calculated operation time without changing the discharge amount per unit time of the pump. Automatic developing machine.