JPS5827144A - Determining method for rate of replenishment of developing solution - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To determine the optimum rate of replenishment of a developing soln. and to maintain the performance of finished photographs at a high level in the exposure scanning stage of a photosensitive material by integrating image signals with a scanner and recorder for images of halftone plates, and correcting the integrated value at the end of exposure in accordance with the information on the type of the photosensitive material. CONSTITUTION:When a film F is exposed, the information on the type thereof and the integrated value of image signals corresponding to the total exposure are recorded in a magnetic card C. The exposed film F and the card C are fed in a pair to a film processor. The film F is transferred sequentially through the inside of a sensor 11 for detecting the area of the film, a developing tank 12, a fixing tank 13, a washing tank 15, and a dryer 16 whereby the film is processed. The blackened area of the film F is measured with a sensor 14 for detecting the blackened area and the output thereof is inputted together with the respective outputs of the sensor 11, a speed detecting sensor 17 and a magnetic card reader 20 to a microcomputer 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method for determining the amount of developer replenishment in the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention. A method for determining the amount of developer replenishment that can be maintained at the same level as KR.

Various photographic films are used in photographic processing equipment.

, photographic materials such as photographic paper (hereinafter referred to as "film") are processed. Film processing generally involves developing,
The process includes fixing, rinsing, and drying, and the photographic processing apparatus sequentially sends the film to the winter process for processing.

When the above-mentioned film processing is performed in a photographic processing apparatus, the developing solution and fixing solution are consumed in the developing and fixing processing steps, respectively. (referred to as "replenishment") is required.

However, depending on the type of developer, such as a so-called lithium developer, even if the film is not processed,
In some cases, their activity decreases significantly during storage. Regarding developer replenishment, the former is referred to as replenishment for total processing fatigue (or simply "processing replenishment"), and the latter is referred to as replenishment for aging fatigue (or simply "time replenishment").

The present invention particularly relates to a method for determining the optimum replenishment amount for the above-mentioned process replenishment of a lithium developer.

When replenishing the entire film, the problem is that it must be replenished accurately and as quickly as possible due to the fatigue of the developer due to the complete processing of the film. A notable technique in this regard is the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-51743.

This technology is related to a method for determining the optimal amount of developer to be added to a device that processes lithographic film for printed clothing. When a halftone image scanning recording device equipped with a dot generator for recording performs full exposure scanning of the film, all dot signal values of the dot generator are integrated, and based on the integrated value of the signal at the end of the exposure scan, during film development processing. A method characterized in that the total amount of replenishment of a developing solution is determined.

However, this method has the following problems. First, since the characteristics differ slightly depending on the type of film, there is a problem that when the same exposure is applied to the film, there are differences in the sensitivity, finished black area, and degree of fringing, which causes an error in the amount of refill. There is. in this regard,
This will be explained in detail using the first and second figure sounds.

The first ffi shows the exposure (A) by the dot generator and the resulting difference in the blackening status of two films with slightly different characteristics ((0)).

The light source of the dot generator is turned on as shown in Figure 1 (G).
, when the film is turned OFF, two films with different characteristics are produced - in Figure 1 (B), the solid line is
) and the characteristic sound of the two-dotted film are shown, respectively. - As a result of the development process, the area exposed above the critical exposure amount becomes black as shown in FIG. 1(0).

In FIG. 1(0)k, 1' is the blackened portion of film α), and 2' is the blackened portion of film e).

As is clear from Figures 1) to (0), when the characteristics of the films are different, there may be a difference in the area of the blackened portion formed on the film even if the exposure conditions are the same. Since it is approximately proportional to the blackened area on the film due to processing fatigue of the developer, in the above-mentioned case, it is necessary to replenish the processing in different amounts for the development processing of the two films. This was not possible with the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-51743.

Figure 2 shows the degree of fringing that occurs depending on the type of film. This shows a case where the dot image is relatively large and its density is also relatively high.Even if the halftone image of the second [W (J, Cs>) is the same, the total blackening including the fringe is In other words, the degree of processing fatigue of the developer differs, and different amounts of processing replenishment must be carried out for the development processing of these films, as in the case described above. Even if a trap is trapped, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-51743 cannot deal with it.
With advances in printing and plate-making technology, image scanning and recording devices (so-called "scanners") have come to be used that are completely functionally blind. In other words, in addition to the dot generator, which scans a continuous tone image, generates all dots with an area corresponding to the dark V of each dot, and exposes the photosensitive material, it has all the functions of combining and recording line drawings. So-called layout scanners and the like have come into practical use, and when considering all methods for determining the amount of developer replenishment, it is necessary to develop a method that can adequately handle these situations. It is. Said Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-51743
The method disclosed in the publication was not necessarily satisfactory in this respect as well.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional developer replenishment amount determination method and to maintain the finished photographic performance at a higher level than t. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for determining the replenishment amount of a replenishable developing solution.

The above-mentioned objective company of the present invention provides a method for determining the amount of replenishment of a developer in the development process of a photosensitive material for printing and plate making, which includes a dot generator that records all halftone dots on a photosensitive material according to an image signal obtained by photoelectrically scanning an original image. The image training scan 1. The age of the recording device and the image signal are integrated, and the integrated value of the image signal corresponding to the exposure time is corrected based on the type information of the photosensitive material to determine the optimum replenishment amount of the developer in the development process of the photosensitive material. This is accomplished by making a decision.

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

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a developer replenishing device included in a film processing apparatus for printing plate making showing an embodiment of the present invention. A film processing device for printing plate making is a device that can develop a film having an entire image of a seed girl with one device. In the figure, a film area detection sensor for measuring the area of a 114t film r, 12 a developing tank, 13
#- is the fixing treatment tank, 14-treated film? A blackening area detection sensor that measures the entire area of blackening i, 15 water washing treatment tank, 16IIi drying device, 17 is a speed detection sensor that detects the entire transfer speed, 18 developer replenishment 6
19, a magnetic card reader, and 214'i microcomputer.

When the film F is exposed by the scanner, the product type information and the integrated value of the image signals corresponding to the total exposure amount are stored on the magnetic card C by a magnetic recording device attached to the scanner. recorded. Then, the exposed film P and the magnetic card 0 on which the information is recorded are sent as a pair to a film processing device.

In the film processing device, the pre-reddened film 7
After the entire area of the developing tank 120 is measured by the film area detection sensor 11 provided in the development tank 120, the developing tank 12. The fixing processing cylinder 13 is sequentially transported and processed by a film transporting device (not shown) inside the submergence processing tank 15 and the drying device 16. Furthermore, the film 7 is subjected to fixing treatment t.
Blackening area detection sensor 1 installed at the outlet of flJ13
4, the blackened area is measured.

At the same time, the recorded contents of the magnetic card C having the information recorded thereon are read by the magnetic card reading device 20.

The above film rotation inspection sensor 11. Kurokamensha detection sensor l 4 t r-E Speed detection sensor 17 connected to the film transport means and magnetic card reading device f20
are input into the computer 21 through the microphone.

What follows is the operation of the device of this embodiment? explain.

P) Product type fI which is the output of the magnetic card reader fii20
Based on the iP information and the integrated value of the image signal, the amount of replenishing solution required for developing processing is calculated. The development process tank 12 is replenished with the required amount of replenisher. This replenishment
How long has it been since processing started in Cash Processing Office 12? Start without g, and start the next film after finishing processing of film P? It is desirable that the process be completed before the start of processing.

Ex) The required amount of fixer replenishment is calculated based on the area information of the film P, which is the output of the film area detection sensor 11, and the blackened area information of the film 7, which is the output of the blackened area detection sensor 14. Based on the results, the fixing solution replenishment mechanism 19 operates for a predetermined period of time, and the necessary amount of supplementary solution is supplied to the fixing processing tank 1.
It will be sold on 3rd. This replenishment does not require any strict time constraints, as does the replenishment of the developer.

(c) Compare the amount of developing processing replenisher calculated based on the output of the blackened area detection sensor 14 with the amount actually replenished in the moromi ε (vi), and if there is an excess or deficiency, proceed as follows. Adjust the replenishment for the processed film when performing all the refills.

Furthermore, if the amount actually replenished in the above (a) exceeds the maximum replenishment amount (the replenishment amount corresponding to 100% blackening) calculated based on the output of the film area detection sensor 14, Contact the operator by time report, etc.

) The output of the speed detection sensor 17 is detected in a specific section (for example, the film area detection sensor 11 and the blackened area detection sensor 1).
In addition to being used in combination with the distance information between 4 and 4) to detect F troubles in film transport in the section, the distance information of the film area detection sensor 11° and the blackened area detection sensor 14 when changing the film transport speed is used. It is also used as supplementary information.

Note that if the scanner is a dedicated scanner, the film size can be set for all scanners, so the film area detection sensor shown in the apparatus of the above embodiment is not necessary. In this case, the magnetic recording device connected to the scanner allows
Story I of the image signal corresponding to the product type information and total exposure amount!
and film size are recorded on magnetic card 0, and this information is sent to the film processing device.

The operation of the above-mentioned embodiment device will be explained using the microcomputer 2.
Although all examples have been given in which program processing is performed according to 1, such control can also be implemented by fully connecting general logic circuits, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes such embodiments. .

Furthermore, when exposing the film P in the scanner,
The product of product information 1 image signal J! To record all values etc.,
In addition to the above-mentioned magnetic card, various recording media such as magnetic tape, perforated tape, etc. can be used. Furthermore, it is also possible to integrate the scanner and the film processing device, in which case the above information, etc., is stored in a temporary storage means (memory device, etc.) and the film is inserted into the processing device at the same time. It is also possible to create l11 as read.

The developer replenishment mechanism 18 and the fixer replenishment mechanism 19 used in carrying out the present invention may be of the quantitative replenishment pump type, the magnetic valve control type of the drop type, or other types that are common knowledge in the industry. and developer solution.

The amount of fixing I&O replenishment depends on the pump operation time depending on each method.

It is well controlled by the solenoid valve opening time, etc. It goes without saying that the developer replenishment mechanism 18 and the fixer replenishment mechanism may be the same mechanism or may use different mechanical sounds.

As described above, according to the present invention, a method for determining the replenishment amount of a developer in the development process of a photosensitive material for printing plate making,
A halftone image scanning recording device that is fully equipped with a dont generator that records halftone dots on a photosensitive material according to the image signal obtained by photoelectrically scanning an original image, and α2) is an image scanning recording device that records line drawings on a photosensitive material. The image signals of the halftone image scanning recording device or the image scanning recording device during full exposure scanning are integrated, and the integrated value of the image signals at the end of exposure is corrected based on the type information of the photosensitive material? Since the maximum replenishment i1 of the developer during the photosensitive material development process is determined, it is possible to maintain the finishing of the photosensitive material at a high level of photographic performance in combination with various types of scanners. This has a remarkable practical effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 (Exposure of LTF dot generator)
and the resulting deterioration on the film (B),
(B) A diagram showing an example of the difference in the degree of fringing depending on the type of #i film,
FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a printing plate-making film processing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. 11: Film area detection sensor, 12! Developed cypress, 1
3: Fixing tank, 14; Blackened area detection sensor, 15! Washing tank, 16: Drying device, 17: Speed detection sensor, 1
8; developer replenishment mechanism, 19; fixer replenishment mechanism, 20: magnetic card reader, 21 microcomputer, ? :
Film, odaki card. Figure 1 ON Figure 2 1, A) Handwritten amendment (voluntary) November 10, 1980 Commissioner of the Patent Office Haruki Shimada! :′? Display of the Busi 11 case 1982 Patent Application No. 125725 2 Name of the invention Method for determining the amount of developer replenishment & person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant Address 210 Nakanuma, Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Name (
520 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Representative Ohnishi
Attorney Jimi (1) Amend the description in the "Detailed Description of the Invention" column as follows. D, page 10, lines 11-12 [above ←] h actually replenished is calculated based on the output of the film area detection sensor 14. The refill lid will correct the size of the film!

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for determining the amount of replenishment of a developer in the development process of a photosensitive material for printing plate making, a mesh plate comprising a dot generator that records halftone dots on a front F photosensitive material according to an image signal obtained by photoelectrically scanning an original image. Image scanning recording device, Fits picture again? The image scanning recording device for recording integrates all the image signals of the halftone image scanning recording device W or F1 when scanning the photosensitive material in the garden, and calculates the cumulative value of the image signals at the end of exposure. 1. A method for determining the amount of replenishment of a developer, characterized in that the optimum amount of replenishment of the developer during photosensitive material development processing is determined by making corrections based on type information of the photosensitive material.