JPH04260037A - Apparatus for processing photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable process control of an amount of replenishing solution, replenishing time, processing time, and the like as near as possible to real time by detecting the processing performance of the process solution fluctuating at every moment as the data of processing solution rate and image density. CONSTITUTION:The detection section 6 is provided with a sensor for detecting an amount of the processed photographic sensitive material 2 and a sensor for checking the processing performance as the blackened degree obtained by comparison of the maximum density to the minimum density. A control section 7 comprises a process control circuit, a storage circuit, a comparator, and the like. The various kinds of information are inputted to the section 7 as follows; processing solution temperature by a temperature sensor, processing solution amount in a processing tank by a level sensor, a pump drive time by a timer, a replenishing solution amount by a flow meter, a film conveyance speed, drying, processing performance by a density sensor, and processing performance by a size sensor, and the process control is executed so as to obtain the maximum processing performance.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to processing equipment (automatic processors/self-processing machines) used for developing and processing photographic light-sensitive materials, and more specifically, to processing equipment for improving and homogenizing processing performance. The present invention relates to a processing apparatus for photographic materials having a novel mechanism for controlling processing conditions.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In processing equipment for photographic materials, important factors for processing performance include the performance of the processing liquid itself, processing time, and processing temperature. In particular, the processing performance of the processing liquid will vary greatly due to an increase in the amount carried out due to processing reactions (fatigue) and oxidation (deterioration) due to contact with air. For this reason, the degree of blackening of the photographic light-sensitive material after processing is checked, or the area of the processed photographic light-sensitive material is checked, and the replenisher is refilled in order to reflect this data in the performance of the next processing. At the same time, an amount of processing liquid corresponding to replenishment is discharged from the processing liquid tank by overflow, so that the performance of the processing liquid is always kept constant.

Processing time is determined by the speed at which the photographic material is transported, provided that the transport path has a certain length.
In conventional devices, both the conveyance speed and processing temperature are constant, and no process control is performed.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The processing performance of photographic light-sensitive materials is related to factors such as deterioration of the processing solution over time and the effects of oxidation due to air, and it is insufficient to simply control the replenishment of the replenisher based on the number of sheets processed, area, etc. It is.

[0005] Furthermore, in order to develop a photographic material,
Even color development processing using a high-speed processing machine takes several minutes. The overall processing time is usually set to a multiple of the number of steps in the subsequent bleach-fixing process, water washing or water-washing alternative stabilization process, and drying process. At certain times, depending on whether the replenisher is refilled, the performance of the processing solution may change, and the processing results may go against expectations.

Furthermore, even if the throughput (number of sheets/area) and degree of blackening are detected, the process is long, so it takes time from data detection to improvement (recovery) of throughput with replenisher, and a considerable amount of time is spent during that time. This results in a large amount of photographic material being conveyed continuously and being processed with an unadjusted processing solution.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to clarify an improved photographic material processing apparatus having a control mechanism that can quickly detect changes in processing conditions and processing capacity and immediately reflect them in process control. purpose.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention detects the processing amount and image density of a photographic light-sensitive material at the outlet of a processing device, and detects the time or processing time until the processing liquid performance reaches an appropriate minimum value from the amount of displacement. It is characterized by having a mechanism that predicts the amount and performs process control such as replenishment of the replenisher at a stage before the appropriate minimum value information is actually detected.

To explain this in more detail, at the outlet of the developing machine, which sequentially performs development, fixing, water washing, or stabilization processing, the size detection and image density detection of the photosensitive material that has come out after processing is performed. conduct. A photoelectric sensor, a proximity switch, or similar non-contact detection means is preferred for size detection. Density is detected using a photoelectric sensor based on the amount of transmitted light for a transparent film, and based on the amount of reflected light for photographic paper. Then, this detection data is input to the process control means to perform process control and/or correction of the process control. Next, since the degree of change in processing capacity of the processing liquid varies depending on the amount of mother liquid stored in the processing tank, the actions related to the process control are corrected according to the amount of mother liquid. For example, if the amount of mother liquor is large, the processing capacity is difficult to change, but when trying to return the changed material to its original state, it will not be effective unless the action is increased. On the other hand, when the amount of mother liquor is small, the change does not appear immediately, but changes quickly in response to actions related to control and/or correction of control, so it is necessary to perform control and/or correction with a quick response in small steps.

[0010] Process control is performed regarding the amount of replenisher replenishment, timing of replenishment, conveyance speed, processing liquid temperature, and drying temperature. The temperature of the processing liquid is standardized according to the characteristics of the processing liquid, so a temperature sensor detects whether the temperature is always within the specified range and turns the heater on and off.
This is done by performing F, but no control is performed in response to changes in the performance of the processing liquid.

When the performance of the processing liquid deteriorates, the processing time can be increased by reducing the transport speed or by stopping the transport. However, when processing long roll films or paper, it is not possible to change the conveyance speed for each individual processing step, so adjustments can be made by increasing or decreasing the overall conveyance speed, and on the other hand, drying In the process, the drying temperature is controlled according to changes in conveyance speed.

[0012] In the case where cut paper is transported and processed, it is possible, for example, to speed up or slow down the transport speed in the color developing tank. Even in systems that continuously transport long roll films, for example, by providing a transport section that forms an escape loop at an intermediate position between the color development process and the bleach-fixing process, the replenisher can be easily removed. Only for a short period of time until replenishment is performed and the performance of the processing liquid is restored, it is possible to control the transport speed in the color developing tank to be slightly slower or faster.

[0013] In addition to the embodiment in which the detection part for detecting the processing amount (number of sheets/area) and the degree of blackening is provided at the exit part of the apparatus after the drying process,
By providing it in the transition area from the bleach-fixing tank to the washing or washing-alternative stabilization tank, it becomes possible to control the process in real time.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

1 is a processing section, which includes a color developing tank (CD);
Bleach-fix tank (FIX), water washing or washing alternative stabilization tank (
STAB) and drying tank (DRY), which are filled with each processing liquid. The photographic material 2 is carried in in the direction of the arrow and is processed while being immersed and conveyed in each tank.

Each processing solution is filled up to the overflow opening provided at the top of the tank, and when the replenisher is replenished from the replenisher tank 3 by the pump 4, the amount corresponding to the replenishment overflows. It is discharged as waste liquid.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a drive source, and if an electric motor, hydraulic or pneumatic motor is used, and the conveyance speed in all processes is the same, a single drive source may be used.
For example, in an embodiment where only the transport speed in a color developing tank (CD) is adjusted, it is preferable to use different motors to facilitate control. Note that even in an embodiment using a single drive source, it is possible to make the conveyance speed different in a part of the process by adjusting the drive transmission system.

The detection section 6 includes a processed photographic material 2.
A sensor for detecting the amount of blackening and a density sensor for checking processing performance based on the degree of blackening are provided. The degree of blackening is determined by comparing the maximum density and the minimum density.

The control unit 7 includes a control circuit for controlling the process, a storage unit, a comparison circuit, etc., and includes processing liquid temperature information from a temperature sensor, processing liquid amount information in the processing tank from a liquid level sensor, and pump drive time using a timer. , or information on the replenishment amount of replenishment liquid by a flowmeter, conveyance speed information, information regarding drying, and processing performance (Dmax, Dmin) by a concentration sensor.
) information, by inputting the processing amount information by the size sensor,
Process control is performed to obtain maximum processing performance.

In a long continuous process such as processing equipment for photographic light-sensitive materials, when trying to control the conditions of one step, for example, color development processing, data detection for control is necessary for the actual processing progress, and the control→response It is inevitable that there will be a delay in (recovery of the appropriate value of processing performance). The former time lag can be eliminated by placing the image density detection position as close as possible to the process in which it is intended to be controlled.The apparatus of the present invention is designed to reduce the time lag by performing the image density detection immediately after the drying process is completed. , before drying, more preferably at the time when bleach-fixing is completed, and more preferably immediately after color development processing is completed.

[0021] It is not an essential problem to detect image density using actually processed photographic light-sensitive materials; instead, it is carried out using alternative reagents or test pieces, and data obtained when the best processing performance is achieved. Process control can be performed by comparing the

[0022] The time lag between control and response can be eliminated by controlling the replenishment amount and replenishment timing corrected for the difference in capacity of the processing tanks and by changing the conveyance speed. In other words, since the image density data is continuously detected moment by moment and input into the control circuit, the amount of displacement is calculated and the image density data is calculated to determine the appropriate minimum value of the processing liquid performance for which replenishment liquid should be replenished. Prior to actual detection of density data, control is performed to obtain appropriate processing performance by starting replenishment or by slightly reducing the conveyance speed. It goes without saying that the amount of replenishment liquid to be refilled at this time is an appropriate amount calculated from past data, but it is necessary to consider it separately depending on the capacity of the processing tank. In other words, when the amount of processing solution is small, if a large amount of replenisher is refilled at once, there will be a significant change in the performance of the processing solution, and the photographic light-sensitive material in the middle of the development process may suffer from uneven development. This is because there is a possibility that this may occur. Therefore,
When the amount of processing liquid is small, it is necessary to replenish the replenishing liquid little by little at intervals.

On the other hand, when a large amount of processing liquid is used, replenishment of the replenisher is unlikely to cause a significant change in the performance of the processing liquid; quantity should be avoided.

Controlling the amount of replenishment according to the amount of mother liquor is useful when controlling a plurality of processing devices at the same time.

[0025]

According to the apparatus of the present invention, the processing performance of the processing liquid, which changes moment by moment, is detected as the processing amount and image density data, and the replenishment amount and timing of the replenishment liquid are determined in real time as much as possible. It becomes possible to perform process control such as time, and the above-mentioned problems are solved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the device of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Processing section 2 Photographic material 3 Replenisher tank 4 Pump 5 Drive source 6 Detection part 7 Control section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: The processing amount and image density of the photographic light-sensitive material are detected at the outlet of the processing device, and from the amount of displacement, the time or processing amount until the processing liquid performance reaches the appropriate minimum value is predicted, and the processing amount is determined to be the appropriate minimum value. A processing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials, characterized by having a mechanism for performing process control such as replenishment of a replenisher at a stage before information is actually detected.