JPS63314417A - Residue display for replenisher - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the checking of residue of a replenisher without exposing a replenishing tank outside an automatically developing apparatus, by ascertaining that the amount of the replenisher in the replenishing tank reaches a predetermined lower level. CONSTITUTION:First, an alarm 53 ascertains that the amount of a replenisher in a replenishing tank 45 reaches a lower level, from this condition, a specified storage of the replenisher is supplied. At this point, as the operation of an automatically developing apparatus 10 continues, the replenisher in the replenishing tank 45 decreases by replenishment F of the replenisher as computed by the expression while the replenisher is supplied to the replenishing tank 45. This replenishment value F as upper level is subtracted from the amount P of the replenisher in the replenishing tank 45 stored in a RAM 76. Thus, the display of the results of the computation on a meter 18 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 [Industrial Application Field] 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 based on the amount of development processing.

[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 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 processing amount of the photosensitive material. Further, 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 pipe, 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 with replenisher, the replenisher prepared in advance is stored and the pump is driven as needed, making it easier to replenish the replenisher. It can be done easily.

By the way, the capacity of this replenishment tank is limited, so the worker must check the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank, and if the replenisher is low, prepare the replenisher and replenish it into the replenishment tank. It is necessary to do so.

For this reason, the replenishment tank is made of transparent or semi-transparent material so that the liquid level can be seen from the outside, and the key is provided with multiple cutouts parallel to the liquid level 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, if 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 the replenishment tank is provided with a notch, manufacturing of the replenishment tank becomes complicated.

In order to solve this problem, the minimum level (lower level) at which replenishment fluid must be supplied to the replenishment tank is determined in advance, and a sensor is installed to detect when this amount of replenishment fluid has reached the lower level. A structure is being considered in which an alarm is generated when the sensor detects the above (alarm structure). After confirming the notification from this alarm, the worker prepares a predetermined amount of replenishment liquid and replenishes the replenishment tank to the upper level. This ensures that the replenisher in the replenishment tank never runs out.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the L 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 supplied to 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 L alarm structure, it is not possible to accurately check the remaining amount in the replenishment tank, so the structure of the replenishment tank becomes complicated, such as installing a reservoir vibrator.

The present invention takes the above facts into consideration and 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. is the 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. In the method, after the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank reaches a predetermined lower level and until a predetermined accumulated amount of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank, the replenisher refilled into the processing tank is The feature is that the value subtracted from the amount is taken into consideration and displayed as the remaining amount of replenisher.

[Operation] In the present invention, after the replenisher in the replenishment tank reaches the lower level, a predetermined accumulation number of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank. In this case, the amount of replenishment fluid stored in the replenishment tank minus the amount of replenishment fluid that has been refilled into the processing tank between the time the lower level is reached and the time the replenishment fluid is supplied is added to the replenishment tank. Displayed as the remaining amount within. As a result, even if there is a time lag between when the lower level is reached and when the replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank, the remaining amount can be accurately displayed. This display may be a so-called analog type display where the pointer moves on an evenly distributed scale, or a so-called digital type display using an LCD etc. that directly displays the remaining amount of replenisher as a number. It may be. This allows one worker to always check the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank, improving work efficiency. Further, since there is no need to expose the replenishment tank itself to the outside of the automatic processor, space for arranging the replenishment tank can be freely secured, and the automatic processor itself can be made more compact.

(Description of Embodiments) When it is desired to store the replenisher stored in the replenishment tank, the replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank up to a predetermined lower level, and then a predetermined amount of replenisher is added to the replenishment tank. The initial accumulated amount is the amount of replenisher at this time.

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 processor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The automatic processor 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with machine parts for developing, fixing, washing, and drying unprocessed film.

A rod body 12 constituting the outer wall of the automatic processor 10 has an insertion table 14 for inserting unprocessed film at the upper front thereof, and a film stocker 16 for storing processed films at the upper rear thereof. ing. A film detector 80 for detecting the passage of the film is located near the insertion slot into which the unprocessed film of the writing body 12 attached to the insertion stand 14 is inserted.
is installed.

This film detector 80 has a plurality of infrared light emitting elements outside the sensitive wavelength range 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 and 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. .

Inside the inertia body 12, there are a developing tank 18, a fixing tank 20, and a washing tank 2.
2. Drying sections 24 are arranged in order.

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

A developing tank 18 and a fixing tank 20 arranged in the order of film processing.
The washing tank 22 and the drying section 24 have a plurality of guide rollers 18A, 20A, 22A, which move the unprocessed film.
24A is placed.

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 rod body 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 4o are communicated through a pipe 42, and the filter 36 and the developer 4618 are communicated through a heat exchanger 38.

As shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 3, the replenishing device 28 includes a replenishing tank 45 storing replenishing liquid and a bellows pump 46. It is composed of 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 activated in response to the signal to issue a warning. This lower level is at least a level at which the replenishment tank will not become empty by the time an operator notices the alarm and prepares the replenisher and supplies it to the replenishment tank 45.

In addition, the replenishment tank 45 is supplied with a predetermined accumulation amount of replenishment fluid from the lower level at an initial stage, and at this time, the replenishment fluid amount P (the replenishment fluid amount up to the lower level and the predetermined accumulation amount) The level of the upper level is set as the upper level, and is stored in the control unit 34.

One end of the bellows 46A is connected so as to be interlocked with a connecting rod 52 constituting a crank mechanism, and the other end is connected to a replenisher suction portion 50 in a replenisher tank 45 filled with replenisher through a pipe line 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 reverse IL valve 58,60 is housed. The check valve 58 is housed so as to open and close the suction port 62, and the check valve 60 is housed so as to open and close the pipe line 68 that communicates the pipe line 64 and the pipe line 66.

As shown in FIG.
8, Input port door 0, Output port door 2, ROM74, R
AM76. A film detector 80 and a lower level detector 49 are connected to the input port door 0, and an alarm 53. A pump 46 for replenishing replenishment fluid is connected. In addition, a meter 81 is connected to the output port door 2 via a drive circuit 79.
is connected. As shown in FIG.
is equipped with an LCD 81A, and the remaining amount of replenisher ff1R in the replenishment tank 45 is displayed on the liquid crystal display. Note that the alarm 53 is attached to a part of the casing of this meter 81. Remaining amount of replenisher R
is calculated by the CPU 78 at regular intervals. That is, the ROM 74 contains the processing area S of the film.
The amount of developer used corresponding to the amount of developer used is stored in a table format.

Since the amount of replenisher to be refilled into the developer tank 18 is the same as the amount used of this developer, when the predetermined amount of stored vX of replenisher is supplied to the replenisher tank 45 during the operation of the automatic developing atio, the alarm 53 is activated. By subtracting the replenishment amount F to the developing tank 18 corresponding to the processing area S of the film from the time when the replenisher is activated until the replenisher supply ends, from the initial replenisher level P (upper level) in the replenisher tank, The remaining amount R of the replenisher can 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. Can you get it?

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

When the power is turned on to the automatic developing film O, 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 0 of the control unit 34 is detected. A signal is input to

When the unprocessed film passes below the film detector 80, a plurality of guide rollers 18 disposed 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 t section 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 arranged in the fixing tank 2o, subjected to a fixing process, and then transferred to a film transport path formed by a plurality of guide rollers 22A arranged in the washing tank 2. 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 (processed surface aS). That is, when the width dimension W of the developed film obtained by the film detector 80 is supplied to the 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.

This processing aspect! ROM the amount of developer used for iS
74 and drives the motor 48 to operate the bellows pump 46A and 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 replenishment liquid is prepared for one operation x negative and a predetermined accumulated amount of replenishment liquid is supplied 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 a meter 81. This display method will be explained below.

First, when it is confirmed by the alarm 53 that the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank 45 has reached the lower level, a predetermined accumulated amount of replenisher is supplied from this state. At this time,
Since the automatic developing machine 10 continues to operate, until the replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank 45, the replenishment amount F of the replenisher calculated by the equation (2) is reduced. This replenishment amount F is set as an upper level and is subtracted from the MP of the replenisher in the replenishment tank 45, which is stored in advance in the RAM 76 (P-
F). By displaying this calculation result (remaining amount R) on the meter 81, the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishing tank 45 can be confirmed without directly checking the replenishing tank.

In addition, the remaining amount display value based on this calculation is
Since the calculation formula is the same as the calculation formula for determining the amount of replenishment liquid to be refilled into the developing tank due to the drive in step 6, there is no error.

As described above, in this embodiment, the remaining amount of replenishment liquid is determined based on the calculation result obtained from the amount of film processed, so the replenishment tank 45 is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and the notch for the scale is formed. There is no need to provide a replenishment tank 45, and the manufacturing cost of the replenishment tank 45 is reduced.

In addition, there is no possibility of erroneously recognizing residue due to an error in reading the liquid level Ll 45 due to dirt in the replenishment tank 45.
In terms of workability. Furthermore, part of the replenishment tank 45 (
Since there is no need to expose the scale part 10 to the outside 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 also be made more compact.

In this embodiment, the remaining amount of the replenisher is displayed on the meter 81 as a number on the liquid crystal display. Although a so-called digital display meter is used, other meters, such as a so-called analog display meter, in which the pointer moves on a scale plate with evenly engraved scales, may also be used.

In addition, the digital meter 81 used in this embodiment is designed to constantly display the amount of replenisher remaining, or 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 for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher to be refilled into the developer tank 18, the method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher (
If a replenishment tank for fixer (fixer, etc.) is installed, this method 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. However, an upper level scale may be placed in the replenishment tank, 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.

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

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, there is a method for displaying the remaining amount of replenisher according to the present invention. This is particularly effective when supplying a certain amount of replenisher to the replenishment tank, and allows you to constantly check the remaining amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank without exposing the replenishment tank to the outside of the automatic processor. It has the excellent effect of being able to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied;
Fig. 2 50 is a piping diagram showing the piping of the circulation system δ, 3-2-
Figure-(-B) Replenishment equipment arrangement-17Kt delivery. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the bellows pump, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the developer suction section, and FIG. 5 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. No. 81 No. 7 Re 2 9.44 I.

Claims (2)

[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:
After the amount of replenisher in the replenishment tank reaches a predetermined lower level, the amount of replenisher refilled into the processing tank during the period from when the amount of replenisher is supplied to the replenishment tank to a predetermined accumulated amount is subtracted from the amount accumulated. A method for displaying the remaining amount of a replenisher, characterized in that the remaining amount of the replenisher is displayed by taking into account the remaining amount of the replenisher. (2) 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).