JPS63314416A - Residue display for replenisher - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable checking of residue of a replenisher constantly without exposing a replenishing tank outside an automatically developing apparatus, by displaying a value of storage of the replenisher minus a replenishment value to a treating tank as residue of the replenisher. CONSTITUTION:First, prior to the operation of an automatically developing apparatus 10 the amount of a replenisher in a replenishing tank 45 is set to a lower level. Then, from this state, a specified amount of the replenisher is supplied and the amount P of the replenisher then in the replenishing tank 45 is set as upper level to be stored into a RAM 76 of a control section 34. Then, the automatically developing apparatus 10 is put into operation and when a width W of a film is supplied to the control section 34, replenishment F of the replenisher is computed by an expression. The computed replenishment F of the replenisher is subtracted from the replenishment P thereof (P-F). The display of the results of the computation on a meter 81 enables the checking of the residue of the replenisher in the replenishing tank 45 without direct visual inspection of the replenishing tank.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher in a replenishment tank by calculating and displaying the remaining amount of replenisher in a replenishing tank using a developing processor.

[Prior Art] In general, in an automatic processor, a photosensitive material is exposed to light, passed through a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washing tank, dried, and then taken out. In this case, when the photosensitive material is immersed in, for example, a developing tank, the developing solution remains attached to the photosensitive material and is conveyed to the next fixing tank, so that the amount of the developing solution decreases in accordance with the amount of processed photosensitive material. Furthermore, since the developer deteriorates due to the amount of processing of the photosensitive material and changes over time, it is necessary to periodically replenish the developer with a replenisher containing a large amount of developing agent.

Here, the automatic developing machine is equipped with a replenishment tank that communicates with the developer tank through a vibrator, and by driving the pump,
It is now possible to replenish the developer tank with replenisher. In other words, instead of preparing the replenisher each time the developer tank is refilled, the replenisher is stored in advance and the pump is driven as needed to replenish the replenisher. Work can be done easily.

By the way, there is a limit to the storage capacity of this replenishment tank, so the worker must check the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank, and if the replenisher is low, prepare the replenisher and put it in the replenishment tank. It needs to be replenished.

For this reason, the replenishment tank is made of transparent or translucent material so that the liquid level can be seen from the outside, and multiple notches parallel to the liquid level are provided at equal intervals to make it easier to determine the position of the liquid level. There is. This allows the operator to easily know the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank.

However, with this type of replenishment tank structure, when the replenishment tank itself becomes dirty, it becomes difficult to see the liquid level, which may lead to errors in checking the remaining amount. Furthermore, in order to easily check the remaining amount, at least a portion of the replenishment tank must be exposed to the exterior of the automatic processor. Furthermore, since a notch is provided in the replenishment tank, manufacturing the replenishment tank becomes complicated.

To solve this problem, the minimum level (lower level) at which the replenishment tank must be refilled is determined in advance, and a sensor is installed to detect when the amount of replenisher reaches the lower level. A structure has been considered that issues an alarm when the sensor detects the above (alarm structure). After confirming the alarm, the worker prepares a predetermined amount of replenishment fluid and replenishes it into the replenishment tank.

As a result, the replenisher in the replenishment tank will never become empty.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] However, with the above alarm structure, there is a slight time lag between when the alarm is activated and when the replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank. The developer tank may be replenished. Therefore, even if a predetermined amount of replenishment fluid is refilled into the replenishment tank after the alarm is activated, the upper level has not actually been reached. Therefore, when you want to keep the replenishment tank full (for example, when the operation is continuous for 24 hours and no workers are nearby),
With the above alarm structure, the accurate remaining amount in the replenishment tank cannot be confirmed, so the structure of the replenishment tank becomes complicated, such as installing a reservoir pipe.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher in which the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenisher tank can be constantly checked without exposing the replenisher tank to the outside of the automatic processor. It is a purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher according to the present invention includes a remaining amount display that displays the remaining amount of replenisher in a replenishment tank that replenishes the processing tank of an automatic processor. The method is characterized in that a value obtained by subtracting the amount of replenisher to be refilled into the processing tank from the accumulated amount of replenisher stored in the replenisher tank is displayed as the remaining amount of replenisher.

[Operation] In the present invention, the value obtained by subtracting the amount of replenisher to be replenished into the processing tank according to the amount of development processing from the accumulated amount of replenisher stored in the replenisher tank is displayed as the remaining amount of replenisher. This display looks like a pointer moving on an evenly distributed scale.
It may be a so-called analog type display or a so-called digital type display using an LCD or the like that directly displays the remaining amount of replenisher as a number.This allows workers to constantly replenish the replenishment tank. The remaining amount of liquid can be checked, improving work efficiency. Further, since there is no need to expose the replenishment tank itself to the exterior of the automatic processor, the space for arranging the replenishment tank can be freely secured, and the automatic processor itself can be made more compact.

(Description of Embodiment) When determining the accumulated amount of replenisher stored in a replenishment tank, the replenisher is supplied into the replenishment tank up to a predetermined lower level, and then a predetermined amount of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank. The amount of replenisher at this time is set as the accumulated amount.

Thereby, the initial value of the replenishment liquid stored in the replenishment tank can be easily obtained.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The automatic processor IO according to this embodiment has the functions of developing, fixing, washing, and drying an unprocessed film.

In the housing 12 constituting the outer wall of the automatic processor 10, an insertion table 14 for inserting unprocessed film is arranged at the upper front part thereof, and a film stocker 16 for storing processed films is arranged at the upper part of the rear part. ing. A film detector 80 for detecting passage of the film is located near the insertion opening into which the unprocessed film is inserted in the housing 12 to which the insertion table 14 is attached.
is installed.

The film detector 80 includes a plurality of infrared light-emitting elements for wavelengths other than those in the photosensitive wavelength range, which are arranged in the vicinity of the film insertion opening so as to face each other along the width direction of the film. Each light receiving element is turned on or off depending on the width of the inserted film and outputs a signal based on the width of the film. The film detector 80 may be a type of detector that turns on or off when a light receiving element receives light from a light emitting element reflected by the film when a film is inserted, or it may be a mechanical detector. good.

Inside the housing 12 are a developing tank 18, a fixing tank 20, and a washing tank 2.
2. The drying section 24 is arranged in this order.

Also, inside the housing 12, a replenishment device 28, a circulation device 30,
A control section 34 is arranged.

Developing tank 461B and fixing tank 2 arranged in the order of film processing
0, a washing section 4622, and a drying section 24 have a plurality of guide rollers 18A, 20A, 22 for moving the unprocessed film.
A, 24A are arranged.

Multiple guide rollers 18A, 20A, 22A, 24A
form a conveyance path along which the film is conveyed, and the rotation of this roller causes the film to be conveyed at a predetermined speed.

The circulation device 30 disposed inside the housing 12 is shown in FIG.
), it is composed of a developer filter 36, a heat exchanger 38, and a circulation pump 40. The developer tank 18 and the circulation pump 40 communicate with each other via ''e42, and the filter 36 and the developer tank 18 communicate with each other via a heat exchanger 38.

As shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 3, the replenishing device 28 is composed of a replenishing tank 45 storing replenishing fluid, a bellows type pump 46, and a motor 48. Refill tank 4
A replenisher lower level detector 49 is attached to the replenisher 5, and when the replenisher decreases and reaches this lower level, the controller 34
It is designed to supply signals to. An alarm 53 is connected to the control section 34 via a drive circuit 51, and the alarm 53 is actuated in response to the signal to notify the alarm. This lower level is preferably such that the replenishment tank does not become empty by the time an operator prepares the replenishment liquid and supplies it to the replenishment tank 45.

Note that a predetermined amount of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank 45 from the lower level position at an initial stage, and the replenisher amount P at this time (addition value of the replenisher amount up to the lower level and the predetermined amount) The level is set as an upper level and stored in the control section 34.

One end of the bellows 46A is connected so as to be interlocked with a connecting rod 52 that constitutes a crank mechanism, and the other end is connected to the replenisher suction portion 5o in the replenisher filled in the replenisher tank 45 via a pipe 64. is connected to. 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 rotating plate 54 attached to the output shaft 48A of the motor 48.

As shown in FIG. 4, there are
A ball-shaped check valve 58.6o is housed therein. The check valve 58 is housed to open and close the suction port 62, and the check valve 6
0 is housed so as to open and close a pipe 68 that communicates pipes 64 and 66.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 34 includes a CPU 78, input port door 0, output port door 2. ROM74, RAM7
6. A film detector 80 and a lower level detector 49 are connected to the input port door 0, and an alarm 53 and an alarm 53 are connected to the output port door 2 via a drive circuit 51.
A pump 46 for replenishing the replenisher is also connected. Further, a meter 81 is connected to the output port door 2 via a drive circuit 79. As shown in FIG. 5, the meter 81 is an LC
D81A is provided, and the remaining EuR of the replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 is displayed on a liquid crystal display.

Note that the alarm 53 is attached to a part of the casing of this meter 81. The remaining amount R of the replenisher is determined by the CPU
78, the calculation is performed at regular intervals. That is, the amount of developer used corresponding to the processing area S of the film is stored in the ROM 74 in a formatted form.

Since the amount of replenisher to be refilled into the developer tank 18 is the same as the amount of developer used, if the replenisher is supplied to the replenisher tank 45 while the automatic developing machine IO is in operation, the alarm 53 is activated. By subtracting the amount F of replenisher to be refilled into the developing tank 18 corresponding to the processing area S of the film until the end of supply of replenisher from the initial amount P (upper level) of replenisher in the replenisher tank, the amount of replenisher can be calculated. The remaining amount R will be obtained.

R=P-F...(1) The processing area S of the film can be easily determined by integrating the width dimension W of the film obtained from the film detection section 80 and the film transport speed V stored in advance in the ROM 74. You can get it.

F=SxV...(2) The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

When the power is turned on to the automatic developer @ 10 and an unprocessed film is inserted from the insertion table 14 and the unprocessed film passes the lower part of the film detector 80, the passage of the film is detected and the input port door of the control unit 34 is detected. A signal is input to 0.

When the unprocessed film passes under the film detector 80, a plurality of guide rollers 18 are arranged in the developer tank 18.
The unprocessed film is guided to the bottom of the developer tank 18 through the film transport path formed by A. The direction of movement of the guided film is reversed by a guide roller 18A disposed at the bottom, and the film is transported to the upper part of the developer tank. This results in
The unprocessed film is developed by passing it through a developer solution for a predetermined period of time.

The developed film is further guided to a plurality of guide rollers 20A disposed in the fixing tank 20, subjected to a fixing process, and then transported by a plurality of guide rollers 22A disposed in the washing tank 2. It passes through the road and is washed with water. The washed film is guided by the guide roller 24A to the drying section 24 where it is dried, and then to the film stocker 16.
It is accumulated into.

The developer 18 is periodically replenished with a replenisher from a replenishment tank. This is replenished according to the amount of film processed (processing area S). That is, when the width dimension W of the developed film obtained by the film detector 80 is supplied to the v control section 34, the transport speed V stored in the ROM 74 is read, and the processing area S (WxV) is calculated in the CPU 78. .

The amount of developer used corresponding to this processing area S is stored in the ROM74.
Select from tabulated data stored in
The motor 48 is driven to operate the bellows pump 46A to replenish the replenishing fluid. As a result, the developer tank 18 is filled with an appropriate amount of developer.

By the way, as the above replenishment is repeated, the replenishment tank 4
The replenishment fluid in 5 will decrease. When the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 reaches the lower level, this is detected by the lower level detector 49 and an alarm 53 is activated. As a result, the worker prepares the replenishment liquid and supplies the replenishment liquid to the replenishment tank 45, so that the replenishment tank 45 does not become empty.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 can be displayed by the meter 81. This display method will be explained below.

First, before operating the automatic developer Ja10, the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 is brought to the lower level. From this state, a predetermined amount of replenishment fluid is supplied, and fjtP of the replenishment fluid in the replenishment tank 45 at this time is set as an upper level and stored in the RAM 76 of the control unit 34.

From this state, the automatic developing machine IO is operated, and when the width dimension W of the film is supplied to the control unit 34, the replenishment liquid replenishment IF
The replenishment amount ff1F of the replenisher calculated by the equation (2) above is subtracted from the replenishment amount P of the replenisher described above (P-F). This calculation result (remaining (% R) is measured on meter 8.
1, it is possible to check the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 without directly checking the replenishment tank. Further, the residual amount display value obtained by this calculation uses the same calculation formula as the calculation formula for determining the amount of replenishment liquid to be added to the developing tank by driving the bellows pump 46, so there is no error. Note that it will be more accurate if the amount of replenishment due to air deterioration is also taken into account.

As described above, in this embodiment, the remaining amount of replenishment liquid is determined based on the calculation result obtained from the film processing amount, so the replenishment tank 45 is made of a see-through or translucent material, and the scale is There is no need to provide a cutout, and the manufacturing cost of the replenishment tank 45 is reduced.

In addition, there is no possibility of misunderstanding the remaining amount due to an error in reading the scale of the liquid level due to dirt in the replenishment tank 45, which improves work efficiency. Furthermore, since there is no need to expose a part of the replenishment tank 45 (scale portion) to the exterior of the automatic processor 10, the degree of freedom in the arrangement space for the replenishment tank 45 is increased, and the automatic processor 10 itself can be made more compact. I can bring it.

In this embodiment, the meter 81 is a so-called digital display meter in which the remaining amount of replenisher is directly displayed as a number on a liquid crystal display, or the pointer moves on a scale plate having evenly carved marks. Other meters such as so-called analog display meters may also be used.

In addition, the digital meter 81 used in this embodiment is designed to constantly display the remaining amount of replenisher, or the operation button 8 is placed around the meter 81, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
3 may be installed and the remaining amount may be displayed by operating the operation button 83 only when necessary.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described as a method of displaying the remaining amount of replenisher to be refilled into the developer tank 18, the present invention is also applicable to other replenishers (
If a replenishment tank for (fixer, etc.) is installed, it can also be applied to this replenishment tank.

Further, in this embodiment, the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank is first detected by the lower level detector 49, a predetermined amount of replenisher is supplied from this level, and the amount of replenisher at this time is stored as an upper level. Alternatively, the replenishment tank may be marked with an upper level scale, and the replenisher may be supplied to the position of this scale. In this case, the scale is only at the upper level position, so there is no misreading.

Furthermore, an alarm 53 caused by the lower level detector 49
The remaining amount of replenisher may be displayed from the start of operation.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the remaining amount is displayed as the actual remaining amount in the replenishment tank 45, but the lower level is set to ``0'' remaining.
Displays below this may be displayed as negative numbers.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained below, the method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher according to the present invention allows the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishing tank to be constantly checked without exposing the replenishing tank to the exterior of the automatic processor. It has an excellent effect of making words come out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied. Ew8 configuration diagram, Figure 2 ÷ Qishin shows the piping of the circulation system, the distribution area,
--Part of it? Demonstration 1 - Distribution. Coral; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of the Heroes pump, Figure 4
The figure is a sectional view showing the developer suction part, and No. 51A is a front view showing the meter and its surroundings. 1O... Automatic developing machine, 18... Developer tank, 28... Replenishment device, 34... Control unit, 45... Replenishment tank, 80... Film detector, 81... Meter.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A remaining amount display method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher in a replenishment tank for replenishing the processing tank of an automatic processor, comprising:
A method for displaying a remaining amount of replenisher, characterized in that a value obtained by subtracting an amount of replenisher to be refilled into a processing tank from an accumulated amount of replenisher stored in the replenisher tank is displayed as a remaining amount of replenisher. (2) The accumulated amount of the replenisher is the amount obtained when the replenisher is supplied into the replenishment tank up to a predetermined lower level, and then a predetermined amount of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank. The method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher according to claim (1). (3) The replenishment amount of the replenisher by the subtraction is determined by adding the processing area of the photosensitive material to the replenishment amount per unit area of the photosensitive material to be developed. The method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher as described in (1).