Pako Corporation

Kenneth M Kaufmann

Robert W Lundstrom

Robert E Beer

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A time interval of fixed duration is initiated, at the end of which the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time is compared to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment in that time interval. If the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment reaches a preset value, a fixed amount of replenisher is added to the developer tank. If the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment is less than the preset value, no replenisher is added and all amounts continue to accumulate. The comparison is repeated at the end of successive time intervals.

Automatic fixed-quantity/fixed-time anti-oxidation replenisher control

A processor for processing undeveloped photographic film discs mounted on a spindle assembly has a conveyor to intermittently convey the spindle assembly from a first end to a second end of the processor along a generally horizontal conveyor path. The spindle assembly is conveyed to a plurality of processing stations along the conveyor path, with each processing station having a processing tank. During processing, the processing tanks move between an upward process position and a downward dump and transport position. A fluid dispenser at each processing station dispenses processing fluid to the processing tank at that processing station when a spindle assembly is positioned at that processing station. A spindle sensor at the first end of the processor provides a signal indicative of the presence of the spindle assembly in the processor. The operations of the conveyor, processing tank movement and fluid dispensers are controlled by a control apparatus as a function of the spindle sensor signal.

Control apparatus for film disc processor

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A time interval is initiated during which the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time is compared to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment in that time interval. When the difference by which the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment exceeds the anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment reaches a preset value, a fixed amount of replenisher is added to the developer tank.

Automatic fixed-quantity/variable-time anti-oxidation replenisher

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment and preventing anti-oxidation overreplenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A fixed time interval is initiated after which the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time is compared to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment in that time interval. An amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment is added to the developer tank, as a function of the difference by which the required anti-oxidation replenishment exceeds the anti-oxidation provided by exhaustion replenishment. If the accumulated amount of replenishment exceeds the anti-oxidation replenishment needed, no replenishment is provided and the excess value is carried over to a subsequent time interval so that the accumulated overreplenishment errors which occurred in prior art fixed time/variable quantity replenishment systems are eliminated.

Automatic variable-quantity/fixed-time anti-oxidation replenisher

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment and preventing anti-oxidation overreplenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A time interval of a predetermined duration is initiated by the control system. During the interval, the control system provides exhaustion replenishment based upon the area and density of photosensitive material processed. At the end of the interval, the control system compares the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment during that time interval. The control system then causes the needed amount of anti-oxidation replenishment to be added to the developer tank. If more anti-oxidation replenishment than needed was provided by the exhaustion replenishment, the control system extends the duration of the succeeding time interval as a function of the excess replenishment.

Automatic variable-quantity/variable-time anti-oxidation replenisher

A pulse width modulation (PWM) speed control for a DC electric motor includes an encoder for providing encoder pulses in reponse to incremental rotation of a shaft driven by the motor. A timer senses a time period between encoder pulses. After three consecutive sensed time periods, a microcomputer compares the sensed time periods with a desired time period corresponding to a desired motor speed, and provides a digital value which is a function of the comparison of the sensed and desired time periods. The ditigal value is supplied to a timer, which applies an energizing pulse to the DC motor for an interval which is a function of the digital value.

Pulse width modulation speed control

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment. The control system includes a real time clock for providing an indication of the time of day, and means for storing a schedule of operating hours of the processor. The control system controls anti-oxidation replenishment as a function of the time of day and the schedule of operation. In one embodiment, the control system provides anti-oxidation replenishment on a twenty-four hour basis (even during nonoperating hours) by operating the developer circulation pump and the anti-oxidation replenishment pump on a periodic basis during nonoperating hours. In another embodiment, which is particularly useful when there are restrictions against leaving on electric power to the processor during nonoperating hours, the control system adds a bulk amount of anti-oxidation replenishment at the time of turn-on of the processor. This bulk amount of anti-oxidation replenishment is a function of the time of turn-on and the last turn-off time. Anti-oxidation replenishment is supplied at a first rate for operating time of the processor, and at a second, lower rate for nonoperating time of the processor.

Dual rate automatic anti-oxidation replenisher control

A graphic arts processor capable of processing photosensitive film and paper includes digital storage for storing a replenishment control matrix formed from a plurality of individual information matrices for different photosensitive materials. Each information matrix includes replenishment control information, an indication of whether the photosensitive material is film or paper, and transport speed control information. Selector switches select one of the individual information matrices for controlling operation of the processor. A transport speed control controls the transport speed of the processor as a function of the speed control information in the selected information matrix. The replenishment control provides replenishment of the processor fluid as a function of the replenishment control information and either film density signals from a density scanner or predetermined paper density signals. The replenishment control uses the paper density signal when the information matrix includes an indication that the photosensitive material is paper, and disables the density scanner of the processor from providing density signals. Temperature control information for both solution heaters and dryer heaters is stored separately of the information matrix. Control of the solution and dryer heaters is based upon the stored temperature control information.

Graphic arts processor having switch selectable replenishment control

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing both developer and fix exhaustion replenishment. As each strip of photosensitive material enters the processor, the width and length of the strip is sensed. Based upon the width and length, a determination of the area of each strip is made. The density of each strip is sensed after processing. Developer exhaustion replenishment and fix exhaustion replenishment are separately controlled. The developer exhaustion replenishment is provided as a function of a product of the area of the strip, the density of the strip, and a stored developer exhaustion rate. Fix exhaustion replenishment is provided as a function of a product of the area of the strip, an inverse of the density of the strip, and a stored fix exhaustion rate. A carryover rate is also stored which is indicative of carryover of developer fluid from the developer tank into the fix tank of the processor. A minimum fix replenishment is determined as a function of a product of the carryover rate and the area of the strip. If the minimum fix replenishment exceeds the fix exhaustion replenishment, the minimum fix replenishment is provided to the fix tank.

Automatic inverse fix replenisher control

A processor of sheets of photosensitive material includes an entrance opening through which sheets enter the processor, developer, fix and wash tanks; a dryer; an exit opening through which the sheets exit the processor; and a transport system for transporting the sheets through the processor. Signals from a film sensor positioned proximate the entrance opening indicate when a leading edge and a trailing edge of each sheet enters the processor. An encoder provides signal pulses for each incremental movement of a drive shaft which drives the transport system. The signal pulses, which provide an indication of the linear travel of the sheets through the processor, are counted. Based upon the signals from the film sensor and the counted pulses, a signal is provided when the trailing edge of the last sheet passes out of the developer tank, so that the speed of the transport can be changed without affecting the developing of the images on the last sheet. Another signal is provided which indicates when the trailing edge of the last sheet enters the wash tank. This signal is used to indicate when previously processed sheets may be fed back into the wash tank of the processor for rewashing and redrying without interfering with the last sheet being processed.

Photosensitive sheet processor

A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment. The control system includes a real time clock for providing an indication of the time of day, and means for storing a schedule of operating hours of the processor. The control system controls anti-oxidation replenishment as a function of the time of day and the schedule of operation. In one embodiment, the control system provides anti-oxidation replenishment on a twenty-four hour basis (even during non-operating hours) by operating the developer circulation pump and the anti-oxidation replenishment pump on a periodic basis during non-operating hours. In another embodiment, which is particularly useful when there are restrictions against leaving on electric power to the processor during non-operating hours, the control system adds a bulk amount of anti-oxidation replenishment at the time of turn-off of the processor. This bulk amount of anti-oxidation replenishment is a function of the time of turn-off and the next scheduled turn-on time.

Automatic anti-oxidation replenisher control

An automatic fluid replenisher control system for processors of photosensitive material stores density aim point values for control strips of photosensitive material, a developer exhaustion replenishment rate, and anti-oxidation replenishment rate. Signals are provided from which the area and the density of the material processed can be determined. The automatic replenisher control system provides exhaustion replenishment as a function of area and density of the processed material and the stored developer exhaustion replenishment rate, and provides anti-oxidation replenishment as a function of the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and the amount of exhaustion replenishment which has been provided. On a periodic basis, a control strip is processed, and densities of a high and a low density area of the control strip are measured. The automatic replenisher control system compares the low density value with one of the density aim point values. Based upon this comparison, the automatic replenishment control system leaves the exhaustion replenishment rate unchanged, adds additional exhaustion replenishment, inhibits exhaustion replenishment for a predetermined time interval, requests an additional control strip after a predetermined time interval, and/or adjusts the stored exhaustion replenishment rate. Once the measured density from the low density area of the control strip is within a selected range of the density aim point value, the automatic replenishment control system compares the difference between the two measured densities of the control strip with the difference between the two density aim point values. Anti-oxidation replenishment is adjusted in a similar manner.

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Kenneth M Kaufmann