JPH09244208A - Automatic developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to efficiently deal with an error. SOLUTION: An error processing section 88 is provided with an error judgment section 90. If a transportation failure error is inputted to this section, a transportation driving control section 82 is instructed to stop driving and an error alarm section 94 is instructed to make an error alarm. The transportation driving control section 82 is instructed to continue the driving and the error alarm section 94 is instructed not to make the error alarm. The error codes corresponding to respective error occurrence signals are set in the alarm section 94. When the error occurrence signal is inputted thereto, the error code corresponding thereto is assigned and the assigned error code is displayed on the display board disposed in the error alarm section 94.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic developing device, and more particularly to an automatic developing device having a processing section for developing and drying a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photosensitive material on which an image has been exposed is subjected to processing liquid treatment such as development, fixing and washing with a photosensitive material processing device such as an automatic developing device. Such an automatic developing device
The photosensitive material, which is sequence-controlled by the relay circuit and is supplied from the photosensitive material insertion opening, is discharged from the discharge opening after being subjected to a series of processes.

However, in such an apparatus, since these processes are only sequentially executed in sequence, the drive state in the processing steps is not monitored and the drive state cannot be self-diagnosed. Therefore, the operator visually diagnoses the discharged photosensitive material. Therefore, since the errors that can be confirmed are limited, there is a problem that an unconfirmed error by the operator may be excluded from the check target at the time of maintenance.

Further, there is an apparatus for controlling the processing steps by using a dedicated control means. In such an apparatus, when an error occurs, it is judged that sufficient processing cannot be executed in the processing section. Therefore, the operation will be stopped regardless of any error. Therefore, when an error occurs in the processing unit, there is a drawback that the processing is interrupted in all cases.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and provides an automatic developing apparatus capable of efficiently coping and processing even when an error occurs in a processing section. The purpose is to

[0006]

An automatic developing apparatus according to claim 1 is an automatic developing apparatus having a processing section for developing and drying a photosensitive material, wherein a conveying means for conveying the photosensitive material in the processing section is provided. A transport driving unit that drives, a monitoring unit that monitors a drive or control state of the processing unit, and an error detected by the monitoring unit are a transportable error and a transportable error in which the photosensitive material can be transported in the processing unit. An error determination means for determining whether the error is a non-transportable error, and when the error determination means determines that the generated error is a transportable error, the transport drive means is instructed to continue driving, and an error occurs. And a control means for instructing the transportation drive means to stop the driving when it is determined that the error is a non-transportable error.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the type of error generated by the error determining means is determined, and when it is determined that the error is a transportable error, the drive of the transporting drive means is continued. Depending on the situation, processing can continue. That is, the processing can be continued in the case of a transportable error in which the processing can be performed even if the processing condition is slightly deviated from the permissible range. As a result, even if an error occurs in the processing unit, it can be efficiently dealt with according to the type of error.

The automatic developing apparatus according to claim 2 is the same as that according to claim 1.
In the above, the method is characterized in that an error storage means for storing an error generated in the processing unit is provided.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the error occurred in the drive or control state of the processing section is stored by the error storing means, the drive or control state in the processing section is self-diagnosed and the error is stored. However, the processing can be continued. Therefore, when the photosensitive material is in a transportable state, the processing is continued while memorizing the error, and the maintenance and inspection are performed while confirming the error that has occurred in the case of maintenance, etc., and the failure of the device can be efficiently dealt with. it can.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic developing device according to claim 2.
In the above, the error storage means stores the types of errors that have occurred in the processing unit in order of occurrence time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the error storage means stores the error occurrence order, it is possible to confirm the number of error occurrences and the different error occurrence order. As a result, it is possible to identify frequently occurring errors, perform detailed analysis of the errors that occur, such as the relationship between the errors, and to efficiently deal with the occurrence of errors, and also to utilize for device maintenance.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an automatic developing apparatus 10 applied to this embodiment. The automatic developing apparatus 10 includes a processing liquid processing unit 16 for processing a sheet film 12, which is a sheet-shaped photosensitive material, while being immersed in a plurality of processing liquids while being processed inside an automatic developing machine frame 14, and a processing liquid processing unit. A processing unit 15 including a drying unit 18 for drying the sheet film 12 processed in 16 is provided.

The processing tank 20 in the processing liquid processing section 16 stores a developing solution, a fixing solution and washing water, respectively.
2, a fixing bath 24 and a washing bath 26 are provided. The sheet film 12 is provided in each tank by a plurality of roller pairs 21.
Is formed. On the upstream side of the developing tank 22,
An insertion rack 28 is provided, and the insertion rack 28 is provided with a supply roller 29 that draws the sheet film 12 into the processing liquid processing unit 16.

The sheet film 1 drawn into the processing liquid processing section 16 by the supply roller 29 of the insertion rack 28.
No. 2 passes through the developing tank 22, the fixing tank 24, and the water washing tank 26, and is sequentially dipped in each processing solution to be processed.

The developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 are provided with temperature sensors 34 and 36. Temperature sensor 34, 36
Detects the temperature of the developing solution and the fixing solution in each tank.

The drying section 18 projects above the processing liquid processing section 16, and a conveying path for the sheet film 12 is formed by a large number of roller groups 30 arranged in a zigzag pattern inside. As a result, the sheet film 12 is moved to the roller group 30.
It is designed to be dried while being guided and conveyed upward.

The dried sheet film 12 is discharged from the drying section 18 to the outside of the machine above the processing liquid processing section 16.

The automatic developing machine frame 14 of the processing unit 15 is integrated with the upper surface side of the processing liquid processing unit 16 which closes the upper portion of the processing liquid processing unit 16, and has an insertion tray 46 and a discharge tray 48 stacked in two stages. The section 44 is arranged, and the sheet film 12 discharged from the drying section 18 is placed on the upper discharge tray 48.

The film accommodating portion 44 is detachably attached to the upper portion of the treatment liquid treating portion 16, and the treatment liquid treating portion 1
It also serves as the lid for 6. Normally, the insertion tray 46 is covered by the ejection tray 48, but it can be opened by rotating the ejection tray 48 around a hinge 47 provided at the end on the drying unit 18 side. .

The automatic developing device 10 is provided with an auto feeder unit 50 adjacent to the processing unit 15 and extending between the insertion tray 46 of the film accommodating unit 44 and the insertion port of the processing liquid processing unit 16. Has been. The leading end of the sheet film 12 stored in the insertion tray 46 of the film storage unit 44 is in a state of being inserted into the inside of the auto feeder unit 50.

In the auto feeder unit 50, a sheet-fed mechanism 62 for lifting (moving) the sheet films 12 one sheet at a time (sheet-fed), and the sheet film 12 lifted by the sheet-fed mechanism 62 by the driving force of the roller 76. And a transfer unit 54 which guides and transfers in a letter shape and supplies the processing liquid processing unit 16 with the character.

Inside the housing 52 of the automatic feeder section 50, there is provided a substantially L-shaped film stopper 72 extending along the insertion tray 46 and forming one end of the insertion tray 46. The leading end of the sheet film 12 stacked on the insertion tray 46 is brought into contact with the film stopper 72 and aligned.

A sheet-fed mechanism 62 is arranged above the film stopper 72, and the roller 76 is arranged on the left side of FIG. The roller 76 is configured to rotate together with the plurality of roller pairs 56.

As a result, the roller pair 56 is driven to rotate, so that the sheet film 12 is automatically developed.
The guide 7 can be conveyed toward the insertion rack 28 of the
0 ensures reliable guidance towards the insertion rack 28.

A supply sensor 64 is attached to the front of the sheet feeding mechanism 62 in the film discharge direction. Thus, it is possible to confirm that the sheet film 12 has been supplied to the transport unit 54 by the sheet-fed mechanism 62, and the transport unit 5
By confirming the supply to No. 4, the supply of the next sheet film 12 is started.

Accordingly, the sheet film 12 placed on the insertion tray 46 and started to be supplied by the sheet feeding mechanism 62.
The transport section 54, the processing liquid processing section 16 and the drying section 18 are arranged in this order on the movement path of the above, and reach the discharge tray 48.

On the moving path of the sheet film 12 in the processing section 15, the insertion rack 28 and the processing liquid processing section 1 are provided.
6 and the drying unit 18 have sensors 28S, 16S and 18S, respectively.
(See FIG. 2) are arranged to detect the edge of the sheet film 12 in each detection range.

As shown in FIG. 2, the processing section 15 includes
A controller 80 is provided and, as described below,
It controls the function of each component.

The control unit 80 is provided with a conveyance drive control unit 82, and includes a roller pair 21, a supply roller 29 and a roller group 3.
It is connected to a drive unit 78 that drives 0. As a result, the transport drive control unit 82 drives the roller pair 21, the supply roller 29, and the roller group 30 via the drive unit 78 at a constant processing speed to control the transport of the sheet film 12.

The control section 80 is provided with a conveyance monitoring section 84, which is connected to the sensors 28S, 16S, 18S.
The conveyance monitoring unit 84 detects the conveyance state of the sheet film 12 in the processing unit 15 and the sheet film 12 in the processing unit 15 according to the input / output timing of the leading or trailing end of the sheet film 12 detected by the sensors 28S, 16S, 18S. It is designed to monitor the presence or absence. As a result, when the conveyance state is abnormal or the sheet film 12 is detected at a timing other than a predetermined timing, an error occurrence signal corresponding to the state is output.

The control unit 80 includes a temperature adjustment control unit 86.
Is provided and is connected to the temperature sensors 34 and 36.
The temperature adjustment controller 86 controls the driving of a heater (not shown) while monitoring the temperature information from the temperature sensors 34 and 36 to maintain the temperature of each processing liquid in the developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 at an appropriate temperature. It is supposed to do. The temperature adjustment control unit 86 stores the optimum temperature range of each processing liquid, and the temperature adjustment cannot be performed within a predetermined time after the start of temperature adjustment and the temperature cannot be adjusted, or the adjustment within the optimum temperature range becomes impossible. When an error such as a status occurs, an error occurrence signal corresponding to the error status is output.

The control section 80 is provided with an error processing section 88, and the transfer monitoring section 84 and the temperature adjustment control section 86 are connected via an error determination section 90 provided in the error processing section 88.

An error generation signal corresponding to the transportation state from the transportation monitoring unit 84 and an error generation signal corresponding to the temperature control state from the temperature adjustment control unit 86 are input to the error determination unit 90. . The error determination unit 90 includes
An untransportable error is set so that the sheet film 12 becomes untransportable, and the generated error is discriminated between an untransportable error and a transportable error. As a result, when an error corresponding to the untransportable error is input, it is recognized. For example, when the roller pair 21 does not convey, a drive stop error is input from the conveyance monitoring unit 84 and recognized.

The error determination section 90 includes a conveyance drive control section 82.
Also, when the error notification unit 94 is connected and an untransportable error is input, the transport drive control unit 82 is instructed to stop driving and the error notification unit 94 is instructed to perform error notification. It has become. Further, when a transportable error is input, the transport drive control unit 82 is instructed to continue driving, and the error notification unit 94 is instructed not to notify the error. An error code corresponding to each error occurrence signal is set in the error notification unit 94, and when the error occurrence signal is input, the error code corresponding to this is designated. Further, the error notification unit 94 is provided with a display plate (not shown) so that the designated error code can be displayed.

In addition, the error judgment unit 90 has an error storage unit 92.
, And the types and timings of all error occurrence signals input to the error determination unit 90 can be stored in the order of occurrence.

Next, the error handling process will be described. In the case of an untransportable error, the sheet film 1
All the errors when 2 cannot be conveyed, for example, the drive stop error of the roller 21 and the like are set. In the processing unit 15, the processing liquid processing unit 16 and the drying unit 18 are sequentially conveyed to perform processing on the sheet film 12. Therefore, the processing is interrupted when the sheet film 12 cannot be conveyed or an unconveyable error that may cause jamming or cutting due to conveyance failure due to improper conveyance speed synchronization occurs. Therefore, when an error corresponding to the transport failure error occurs, the error determination unit 90 instructs the transport drive control unit 82 to stop driving and interrupts the process. When the processing is interrupted, an error code is displayed on the error notification unit 94 so that the type of untransportable error can be confirmed.

Transportable error If, for example, a temperature control error occurs, the processing liquid processing section 16 and the drying section 18 can be sequentially transported, so that the processing is continued without interruption. . For example, if a temperature control error occurs such that the temperature of the processing liquid filled in each tank of the processing liquid processing unit 16 does not reach the optimum temperature state for the processing even by temperature adjustment, the processing is not executed in the optimum temperature state, and therefore, it is not possible. The sheet film 1 supplied to the processing unit 15 is sufficiently processed.
2 can be transported. Further, even if the processing is insufficient, the processing can be executed, so that the conveyance is continued and the processing is continued. Further, since it is in the processable state, the error notifying unit 94 is not notified of the error code.

The error storage unit 92 confirms the occurrence of an error.
It can be confirmed by checking. When a non-transportable error and a transportable error occur, all the errors are stored in the error storage unit 92. As a result, although the process is continued when a transportable error occurs, the occurrence of the transportable error can be confirmed by checking the error storage unit 92.
Further, the operator can visually confirm the finished state of the discharged sheet film 12 to confirm the occurrence of an error.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below. The discharge tray 48 is opened, the sheet film 12 with the image printed thereon is stacked and loaded on the insertion tray 46, the discharge tray 48 is closed, and the processing of the sheet film 12 is started.

When the sheet film 12 is loaded, the sheet film mechanism 62 of the auto feeder unit 50 holds the sheet film 12 and supplies it to the transport unit 54. In the transport unit 54, the sheet film 12 is fed to the roller pair 56 and the guide 70.
Is guided to the insertion rack 34 of the processing unit 15, drawn by the supply roller 29, and supplied to the processing liquid processing unit 16.

In the processing liquid processing section 16, the sheet film 1
2, while monitoring the transportation state by the sensors 28S, 16S, 18S, successively dipping in the developing solution, the fixing solution, and the washing water to process the processing solution, and then sending it to the drying section 18, and drying while guiding and conveying it upward. After processing, turn part 42
The liquid is discharged toward the discharge tray 48 provided above the processing liquid processing unit 16. The sheet film 12 that has been processed is stacked on the discharge tray 48.

An error occurs in the processing unit 15 during execution of a series of processes in the auto feeder unit 50 and the processing unit 15 of the sheet film 12 as described above, and the control unit 8
When 0 recognizes this, the interrupt routine of the error handling process is activated.

The error handling process will be described with reference to FIG. When the control unit 80 recognizes the occurrence of the error, it is determined in step 100 whether the generated error is the non-conveyance error. An error corresponding to the non-conveyance error is set in advance in the error determination unit 90, and it is determined which of the generated errors corresponds. For example, when a drive stop error has occurred, the determination is affirmative as it corresponds to the set error, and the process proceeds to step 102.

At step 102, the transport drive control section 82.
Is instructed to stop transportation. When the conveyance drive control unit 82 is instructed to stop conveyance, the roller pair 21 that conveys the sheet film 12 inside the processing unit 15 via the drive unit 78,
The driving of the supply roller 29 and the roller group 30 is stopped.

When the conveyance stop is instructed, step 104
In, the processing is instructed to stop. When the processing stop is instructed, the automatic feeder unit 50 connected to the processing unit 15 is instructed to stop the supply.

When the processing stop is instructed, step 106
At, the error type that occurred is stored in the error storage unit 92. Here, the errors are stored according to the time order in which they occurred.

When the error type is stored, step 10
At 8, error notification is instructed. In the case of an untransportable error, it is necessary to notify the operator of the type of error and promptly respond to it, so the error notification unit 9
4 is instructed to notify the error. Error notification unit 9
In 4, when an error notification is instructed, an error code is displayed on the display board.

When an error notification is instructed, step 1
At 10, it is judged whether or not the error is canceled, and the judgment is denied until the error is canceled. To clear the error,
This is performed by resetting an error switch (not shown) provided in the processing unit 15. The resetting of the error switch is executed after processing such as repair of the automatic developing device 10 in the error display state is completed.

When the error is released, the determination is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 112, an instruction to release the error notification is issued, and the error handling process ends.

On the other hand, the error that has occurred is not a non-conveyance error, for example, if it is a temperature control error, it is a conveyance possible error, and the determination at step 100 is negative and the routine proceeds to step 114.

In step 114, the type of error that has occurred is stored in the error storage unit 92. The errors are cumulatively stored, and the errors generated up to the previous time are not erased and are stored in the error storage unit 92 in the order of occurrence until the errors are canceled and the error is reset.

When the error is stored, in step 116, the error notifying unit 94 is instructed not to notify the error. As a result, the error notification unit 9
No error code is displayed on the display panel of No. 4.

If no notification of error is given,
In step 118, the conveyance drive control unit 82 is instructed to continue the process, and the drive unit 78 continues the regular conveyance of the sheet film 12, whereby the process is continued and the series of processes is ended.

In the case of a transportable error, the occurrence of the error is only stored and the process ends. The operator visually confirms the finished state of the processed sheet film 12 and determines whether the equipment needs to be repaired. The error can be canceled separately at the discretion of the operator. For example, the error can be erased when the error storage unit 92 is confirmed.

As a result, in the case of a transportable error, the processing can be continued and the error occurrence can be dealt with efficiently.

In the present embodiment, the drive stop error and the temperature control error are described as an example, but the error in the processing unit 16 is not limited to these.

For example, a stored data error can be set as an untransportable error. Saved data error is
This is a case where an error occurs in the saved data area when the power of the processing unit 16 is turned on, and the data management in the processing unit 16 becomes impossible, so that all processing in the processing unit 16 cannot be executed. Therefore, by setting the save data error as an untransportable error, the process can be interrupted when the save data error occurs.

Further, the replenishing liquid error can be set as a transportable error. The replenisher error is when the replenishers of the developing solution and the fixing solution are empty, and in this case, the developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 may still contain a processable amount of the processing solution. It can be judged that processing is possible. Therefore, by setting the replenishing liquid error as a transportable error, the process can be continued even if the replenishing liquid becomes empty, and the error can be dealt with after the process to efficiently perform the process.

In this embodiment, the error in the processing unit 15 is stored in the error storage unit 92, but the error in the auto feeder unit 50 may be stored. This allows
By checking the error storage section 92 of the processing section 15, it is possible to check the error that has occurred in the auto feeder section 50.

In this embodiment, the automatic developing device 10 provided with the auto feeder unit 50 for automatically feeding the sheet film 12 to the processing unit 15 has been described as an example.
The present invention can be similarly applied to other types of automatic developing devices that do not include the auto feeder unit 50.

When the processing conditions of the photosensitive material are made strict and the finish of high quality processing is expected, the judgment criteria by the error judging means is made strict so that the rate of unconveyance error is increased, and when the quality is not so important. By arranging a selector that can reduce the rate of occurrence of non-conveyance error by loosening the judgment criteria by the error judgment means,
The operator may be able to operate it.

[0063]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the error in the driving or control state of the processing section is monitored, and when an error is detected, the photosensitive material of the photosensitive material is changed according to the kind of the error. Since it is possible to instruct to continue or stop the conveyance, it is possible to improve the working efficiency when the photosensitive material is processed even if it is slightly out of the allowable range of the processing conditions of the photosensitive material.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the error storage means stores the error generated in the drive or control state of the processing unit, the drive and control state in the processing unit is self-diagnosed and the error is detected. The processing can be continued while being stored, and when an error occurs in the processing unit, it can be efficiently dealt with. Further, it is possible to read the memory of the error at the time of maintenance or the like to collect the data and easily find the defective portion. It is especially effective in finding the cause of non-recurring errors.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, not only the types of errors but also the order of occurrence thereof are stored. Therefore, the number of errors and the like can be known, and detailed failure (error) analysis can be performed. It can be useful for maintenance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the automatic developing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an error handling process of the automatic developing device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic developing device 12 Sheet film 15 Processing part (processing part) 44 Film accommodating part 50 Auto feeder part 62 Sheet-fed mechanism 78 Drive part (conveyance drive means) 80 Processing control part (control means) 88 Error processing part 90 Error judgment part (Error determination means) 92 Error storage section (error storage means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Seiichi Yoshizawa 1250 Takematsu, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Kikai Kogyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An automatic developing apparatus including a processing unit for developing and drying a photosensitive material, comprising: a transport driving unit that drives a transport unit that transports the photosensitive material in the processing unit; and driving or control of the processing unit. An error judgment to judge whether the error detected by the monitoring means for monitoring the state and the monitoring means is a transportable error in which the photosensitive material can be transported in the processing section or a transportable error in which the photosensitive material cannot be transported. Means for instructing to continue driving when the generated error is a transportable error by the means and the error determination means, and when the generated error is determined to be a transport impossible error, An automatic developing device comprising: a control unit that instructs the transport drive unit to stop driving. 2. The automatic developing device according to claim 1, further comprising an error storage unit that stores an error generated in the processing section. 3. The automatic developing device according to claim 2, wherein the error storage means stores the types of errors that have occurred in the processing section in order of occurrence time.