JPH0414749Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a developing processing capacity determining device for measuring the density of a control strip in a photographic printing apparatus and checking the developer by using the control strip in combination with the control strip. [Prior Art] Control strips are manufactured using a density measuring device that is separate from the photoprinting device, and since the width of the same density area is narrow, the film density of this control strip can be measured by the photoprinting device. cannot be measured with a film density meter. [Problems to be solved by the invention] Taking the above-mentioned facts into consideration, the present invention provides a developing processing capacity determination method that enables the measurement of the film density of control strips in a photographic printer and also allows the determination results to be displayed. The purpose is to obtain equipment. [Means for Solving the Problems] The development processing capacity determination device according to the present invention uses reflex control strips that have been developed in advance with an appropriate developer and a developer that is currently in use. A development processing ability determination device for determining the development processing ability of a developing solution in use using a developed sample control strip, which is superimposed on the rebalance control strip and the sample control strip to determine the minimum density. A control strips mask is provided with a light-transmitting window corresponding to each of the light-transmitting area, low-density area, and high-density area, and the periphery of the light-transmitting window is a light-shielding area, and a density measuring means for measuring the density of each of the density parts; a density difference determining means for determining whether a density difference in the same density part of the two types of control strips is within a predetermined range; It has a display means for displaying the processing ability of the developer based on the determination result. According to the present invention, it is possible to select density areas under the same conditions using a film density measuring device provided in a processing device currently in use (for example, a photographic printer, etc.) without using a dedicated density measuring device. I can do it. That is, the minimum necessary density portion of the control strip is selected using the control strip mask. This makes it possible to measure the difference in density between the reflex control strip and the sample control strip at the same density area (lowest density area, low density area, high density area) by relatively simple sampling. Next, the processing ability of the developer is judged depending on whether the density difference in each density part is within a predetermined range or not, and the display means displays this judgment result as, for example, "OK" or "NG". Indicate by letters or symbols. Thereby, the operator can recognize when it is time to replace the developer just by looking at the displayed content. [Embodiment] An embodiment of the photographic printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the main structure of a photographic printing apparatus, in which an image of a color negative film 14 placed between a lamp 10 and a lens 12 is formed on a roll of photographic paper 16 and exposed. ing. The lamp 10 is provided inside the concave mirror 17, and the light from the lamp 10 is radiated upward. Lamp 10 and color negative film 14
A color correction film 18 and a mixer 20 are disposed in the exposure path between the lamp 10 and the light from the lamp 10. The light that passes through the color negative film 14 and the light that does not pass through are mixed and transmitted through the color negative film 14. Further, a shutter 22 is disposed between the lens 12 and the roll of photographic paper 16, making it possible to expose each component color only at an appropriate time. A light receiver 24 is disposed around the lens 12 so as to face the surface of the color negative film 14 in the exposure path, and is capable of measuring the amount of transmitted light of each component color of cyan, magenta and yellow. The received light amount signal from the light receiver 24 is logarithmically converted and amplified by a logarithmic amplifier circuit 30, that is, converted into a density value, and after being converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 32, it is supplied to a microcomputer 34. It's getting old. The microcomputer 34 receives signals from a mode changeover switch 36 for selecting a photographic printing mode and a developer check mode and a step key 38 for proceeding to the next processing step. Further, the microcomputer 34 is adapted to display the measurement results on a fluorescent display 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the developer check film 4
The developer is checked by measuring the concentration of 2. This developer check film 42 is composed of a control strip 44 and a control strip mask 46, and as shown in FIG.
It is designed to measure film density in stages. That is, the control strip 44 shows nine levels of film density. This concentration increases successively from the left side to the right side. The lowest concentration area 50 is only a fence. The control strips mask 46 has transparent parts 58 and 60 to a black part 56 corresponding to the lowest density part (ST) 50, the lower density part (LD) 52 and the higher density part (HD) 54.
and 62 are formed. This control strip mask 46 is made of lithium film. The black area 56 is for measuring the density of only the lowest density area 50, the lower density area 52, or the higher density area 54, and for blocking light so as not to measure the density of the surrounding areas. The control strip 44 measures all nine levels of density, and is used to check the developer of a high-end developing machine. Only the three-level density portion of the density portion 54 is used. Therefore, by using the control strip mask 46 in combination with the control strips 44, there is an effect that the control strips 44 can be used in common regardless of the type of developing machine. The developer check is performed by comparing the density of the control strip 44 developed with the appropriate developer supplied by the manufacturer and the control strip 44 developed with the developer of your own developing machine, and checking the density difference. I'm starting to do it. FIG. 8 shows specific measured values of the density difference between the reflex control strip and the sample control strip. In this graph, the ○ mark indicates the measured value of C, the ● mark indicates the measured value of M, and the × mark indicates the measured value of Y. The vertical axis shows the gain value which is the output from the logarithmic amplifier circuit 32 shown in FIG. 1, and the horizontal axis shows the temperature. FIG. 8A shows the difference between the sample control strip and the reflex control strip for LD, and the appropriate value range is a gain value of -157.5 to +157.5. 8th
Figure B shows the density difference between the sample control strip and the reflex control strip with respect to the difference between HD and LD, and the appropriate value range is -140 to +140. Figure 8C
indicates the concentration difference between the sample control strip and the reflex control strip for ST, and the appropriate value range is −87.5
~+87.5. In this embodiment, the temperature of the developer is maintained at a certain constant temperature, for example, 36° C., and the developer is checked. Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained with reference to the control flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 7. At step 100, the mode changeover switch 36
It is determined whether the mode is the photo printing mode or the developer check mode, and if it is the photo printing mode, the same processing as a normal photo printing apparatus is performed. If the developer is in the developer check mode, the value of the density measurement step n is set to 1. The values of this concentration measurement step n are as shown in Table 1 for the reflex control strip, and as shown in Table 2 for the sample control strip.

【table】

[Table] That is, according to this step, the lowest density part ST50, the lowest density part LD52,
and the high density portion HD54 are measured. When the step key 38 is turned on, the process moves to the next concentration measurement step. If the step key 38 is not turned on (step 104), the fluorescent indicator 4
The measurement target is displayed at 0 (step 106). That is,
Depending on whether you are measuring a reflex control strip or a sample control strip.
Displayed as REF or SMP, then ST, LT, HD
Display the distinction between The worker uses this fluorescent indicator 40.
The density of the control strips 44 is sequentially measured according to the display of the measurement target displayed on the screen. When the step key 38 is turned on, the cyan, magenta, and yellow film densities DC,
DM and DY are read from the A/D converter 32 (step 108). Next, the values of DC, DM, and DY are stored in variables M(3n-2), M(3n-1), and M(3n), respectively (step 110). Next, the data displayed in step 106 is updated, and the value of n is incremented (step 112). The above measurement process
By repeating this several times, all concentration measurements are completed (step 114). Next, the density measurements of the reflex control strip and the sample control strip are compared to determine the suitability of the developer. That is, the value of k is initialized to 1 in step 116, and the input values X, Y, and A of the suitability determination routine shown in FIG. 7 are set (step 118). Next, this suitability determination routine will be explained. In step 200, the value of the difference between X and Y is set as the value of Z, and if the value of Z is negative (step
202), and determines whether the value of Z is less than or equal to -A (step 204). If the value of Z is less than or equal to -A, the value of S is set to 1 (step 206); otherwise, the value of S is set to 2 (step 208). If the value of Z is positive or 0 in step 202, it is determined whether the value of Z is greater than or equal to the value of A (step 210). If the value of Z is less than the value of A, the value of S is set to 3 (step 212); otherwise, the value of S is set to 4 (step 214). In this way, the value of S is set to a value of 1 to 4 depending on the value of the difference between X and Y. The value of S is as shown in Figure 8, S=
4 corresponds to +nG, S=3 corresponds to +OK, S
=2 corresponds to -OK, and S=1 corresponds to -nG. In step 118, if k=1, the ST densities of the sample control strip and the reflex control strip for cyan are compared to determine the suitability of the developer. The reference value A for determining the suitability of the developer is 87.5 as shown in FIG. The input value set in step 118 is passed to the suitability determination routine shown in FIG. 7 to determine the suitability of the developer (step 120), and the value of S, which is the output value of the suitability determination routine, is stored in J and k. (Step 122). Next, increment the value of k (step 124), and repeat the above step 118.
The processes from 124 to 124 are repeated three times (step 126).
As a result, the density differences between the lowest density portions 50 of the sample control strip and the reflex control strip for cyan, magenta, and yellow are compared to determine whether or not the developer is suitable. Next, the above step 118 is performed for the low concentration portion 52.
Perform the same processing as steps 128 to 126 (steps 128 to 126).
136). The value of the reference value A in this case is 157.5 (step 128). Next, the above steps 118 to 126 are performed regarding the density difference between the high density portion 54 and the low density portion 52.
The same processing as above is performed (steps 138 to 146). The reference value A in this case is 140 (step 138).
In this way, the developer checks corresponding to FIGS. 8A to 8C are performed. Next, the determination results are displayed as shown in FIG. That is, in step 148 the display step k
The value of is initialized to 1 (step 148). This k
The value is sequentially incremented each time the step key 38 is turned on, and the result of determining whether the developer is suitable or not is displayed in accordance with the value of k shown in Table 3 below.

[Effect of idea]

The developer processing capacity determination device according to this effect has a control strip mask provided with a light transmission window, and the periphery of the light transmission window is a light shielding part. can be used to measure the respective densities of the lowest density part, low density part, and high density part of the control strip. Additionally, since the processing capacity of the developer can be determined from the measured concentration and the results of this determination can be displayed, the operator can grasp the status of the developer just by looking at the displayed contents. has. Furthermore, no special equipment is required, the density can be measured at the printing position where printing is actually performed, and the developer used for development can be determined, making the equipment simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts showing an embodiment of the photoprinting apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a control strip and a control strip mask, and FIG. 3 is a top view of the control strip shown in FIG. Figures 4 to 7 are control flowcharts using the microcomputer shown in Figure 1. Figure 8 shows the sample control strip and reflex control strip for temperature. A shows the gain value which is the output value from the logarithmic amplification circuit 30 of the difference between the sample control strip and the reflection control strip in the low density area, and B shows the density difference between the sample control strip in the low density area and the reflex control strip in the high density area. C is the concentration difference between the sample control strip and the reflex control strip in terms of the difference between It is a graph. 14... Color negative film, 24... Light receiver, 40... Fluorescent display, 42... Developer check film, 44... Control strip,
46...Control strips mask, 50...
...Lowest density part, 52...Low density part, 54...High density part, 56...Black part, 58...Transparent part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Development processing in the developer currently in use using reflex control strips that have been developed in advance with an appropriate developer and sample control strips that have been developed with the developer currently in use. A developing processing capacity determining device for determining processing capacity, wherein a light transmitting window is provided to overlap the rebalance control strip and the sample control strip and correspond to each of a lowest density area, a low density area, and a high density area. a control strip mask having a light-shielding area around the light-transmitting window; a density measuring means for measuring the density of each of the density areas exposed through the light-transmitting window of the control strip mask; The developing solution has a density difference determining means for determining whether or not a density difference in the same density portion of the pump is within a predetermined range, and a display means for displaying whether the processing ability of the developer is good or bad based on the determination result of the density difference determining means. Development processing ability determination device.