JP3436439B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photographic light-sensitive material for photography with a processing liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus (photographic printing processing apparatus) having an exposure section, the exposure section is managed by using a negative eye. This eyeball negative is one in which a circular gray subject is photographed and recorded under preset exposure conditions such as normal (normal), under, and over, and this eyeball negative is managed when the exposure unit is managed. After baking and developing under the specified exposure conditions, measure the image density, set standard exposure conditions (color balance, etc.) according to the measurement results, and correct the slope coefficient of each color according to the image density. I do.

Further, conventionally, the management of the processing liquid state in a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus is generally performed by a control stop process. In this control tops treatment, a photographic light-sensitive material (control strips) that has been previously exposed under a standard exposure condition of a constant light intensity, a constant exposure time, and a constant light quality is developed, and the developed control strips are developed. This is an operation of separately measuring the concentration of the soot with a densitometer and checking the state of the treatment liquid based on the measurement result. Such work is a troublesome work for the user and requires a densitometer separately, which is economically burdensome and needs to be improved.

In view of such a fact, in order to produce control strips, a reference exposure part for exposing a photosensitive material under the above-mentioned reference exposure conditions and a control strips exposed in the reference exposure part and developed in the developing part are provided. A film developing device (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-230543) that is provided with a densitometer for measuring the density, calculates the state of the processing liquid from the measurement result of the densitometer, and displays the calculated state of the processing liquid on the display unit. , The exposure section is irradiated with light under the above-mentioned standard exposure conditions to expose the photosensitive material, and the concentration of the photosensitive material subjected to the standard exposure and developed in the development processing section is measured with a densitometer, and from the measurement result, the state of the processing liquid And a state of the processing liquid thus calculated are displayed on the display unit (JP-A-6-2360).
No. 18) has been proposed.

[0005]

However, this film developing device and photoprinting development processing device only detect an abnormality in photographic characteristics, and the cause of the abnormality is not found when an abnormality occurs. May have process control.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and in particular, enables high-precision quality control of photographic characteristics of a photographic light-sensitive material for image-taking and a processing solution for processing this photographic light-sensitive material. The present invention aims to provide a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus.

[0007]

A photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1 is a film processing apparatus for processing a photographic light-sensitive material for photography with a processing liquid, and a photographic light-sensitive material for photography developed by the film processing apparatus. A print processing apparatus having an exposing means for exposing a photosensitive material for printing according to an image recorded on the material, and a density measuring means for measuring the density of an image of the photographic photosensitive material for photographing exposed by the exposing means, Calculating means for integrating the measurement results of the density measuring means to calculate the average density of the image of the photographic light-sensitive material processed by the film processing device; and comparing means for comparing the average density with a reference density. It is characterized by having.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the film processing apparatus detects the physical quantity of the processing liquid that affects the photographic characteristics of the photographic light-sensitive material for photography. It is characterized in that a detection means is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the detecting means detects the processing amount of the photographic light-sensitive material for photography which is processed by the film processing apparatus. And a replenishment amount detection unit for detecting a replenishment amount of a replenishment liquid replenished as a processing liquid according to a treatment amount of the photographic light-sensitive material for photographing.

The invention according to claim 4 is the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a specific photographic light-sensitive material for photographing is used when the average density is calculated. Or a specific image is selected.

The invention according to claim 5 is the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the film processing apparatus and the print processing apparatus are integrally provided. Is characterized by.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image of a photographic light-sensitive material for photographing (eg, negative film, hereinafter referred to as "film") processed by a film processing device is printed by a print processing device (photographic paper). Such as paper,
The image density is measured when printing on "printing paper"), and the measurement results are integrated to calculate the average density of the image of the film processed by the film processing apparatus. The processing state of the film in the film processing apparatus can be determined by comparing the calculated average density with a preset reference density.

A screen average density can be used as the image density. The screen average density includes large area transmission density (LATD) and screen average density (density average; Dm). Either LATD or Dm may be used as the image density for calculating the average density of the image.

LAT of the image recorded on the film
D and Dm are values obtained by measuring the light transmitted through the image using a silicon photosensor, a photoelectric tube, or the like (photometric value).
Can be obtained by logarithmically converting. That is, LATD and Dm are respectively expressed by equations (1-1), where I is the photometric value of transmitted light and N is the number of photometric values.
It is obtained from the equation (1-2).

[0015]

[Equation 1]

Therefore, in order to obtain more accurate LATD and Dm, it is preferable to increase the number of photometric points. Also, the photometric value depends on the transmittance, and
It is preferable to scan and measure the entire area of the image of each frame recorded on the film with a high-resolution scanner that uses a type sensor or CCD sensor. By providing more photometric points, detailed image transmittance can be roughly estimated. Can be obtained, and more reliable LATD and Dm can be obtained. The density of the color image is measured separately for the three colors R, G and B. Therefore, it is preferable to integrate the image densities for each color and calculate the average density for each color.

To process a film on which a positive image is recorded, a mixed color density obtained by averaging R, G, and B color densities is calculated, and the mixed color densities are integrated to use the average density of the mixed colors. It may be (see Formula 2). In addition, LATD _R , LA
TD _G and LATD _B are R, G, and B image densities, respectively (see equation (2)).

[0018]

[Equation 2]

The average density is preferably obtained from an integrated value of image densities of at least 100 frames, and more preferably 200 to 1000 frames. The calculated average density is preferably recorded 10 times or more, preferably 30 times or more in time series.

As the reference density, a standard exposure frame (normal frame) exposed under the standard exposure condition of the eye negative can be used. Since this eyeball negative is not affected by the processing performance of the film processing apparatus, it is not affected by the characteristics (for example, machine difference) peculiar to the film processing apparatus,
It can be used as an appropriate criterion for the processing performance of the film processing apparatus. Further, the reference density may be updated or averaged every time the exposure condition is set using the eyeball negative.

In order to accurately measure the image density including the reference density, the light source is corrected by measuring the light amount of the light source and the light amount which is transmitted through the filter and is irradiated on the photographic material for photography. Is preferred.

The comparison means may be, for example, a means for comparing whether the difference between the average density and the reference density exceeds a predetermined ratio. In addition to this comparison, the suitability of the finish of the film may be determined from the comparison result. For this determination, for example, the difference between the average density and the reference density is ± 3%.
If it is within the range, it is considered as good (standard range, allowable range) and ± 3%
As described above, if it is ± 5% or less, it is considered to be a little good (specification limit range, dangerous range, caution range), and if it is ± 5% or more, it is defective (out of specification). It is preferable that these determination results are also recorded in time series.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the physical quantity affecting the photographic characteristics of the finished film is detected by the detecting means. As a result, when it is determined from the comparison result of the average density and the reference density that the film finish has changed, any change in the physical quantity that affects the photographic characteristics in the film processing apparatus is detected from the detection result of the detection means. It is possible to know whether this judgment result is caused.

According to the third aspect of the invention, an increase or decrease in the processing amount and a decrease in the replenishment accuracy have a great influence on the image density of the film to be processed. It becomes easy to determine which influence the change in concentration has. For example, when the processing amount increases, the replenishing amount of the replenishing liquid also increases in accordance with the processing amount, the activity of the processing liquid increases, the image density is increased, and when the processing amount is small, the activity of the processing liquid decreases. And lower the image density.

The physical quantity which has an influence on the photographic characteristics of the film detected by the detecting means is the processing amount of the film,
The amount of silver remaining in the film, the state of each processing solution, and the like are included. The state of the treatment liquids includes the temperature of each treatment liquid, the hydrogen ion exponent pH (or hydrogen ion concentration) of each treatment liquid, the specific gravity of each treatment liquid, the electric conductivity (electric conductivity) of each treatment liquid, There are replenishment accuracy of the processing liquid and the evaporation correction amount of each processing liquid.

All or a plurality of the above-mentioned physical quantities can be selected and used, but as described above, the physical processing quantity of the film, which is the physical quantity most closely related to the processing state of the film processing apparatus, and It is preferable to use at least replenishment accuracy.

The processing amount of the film is a unit time (period)
The measurement may be performed every one day, for example, one day, one week, and one month. It is preferable to measure every predetermined period of one week to one month because the fluctuation of the treatment amount is small in a short period of about one day or two days, and the fluctuation of the treatment amount appears after a certain long period. That is, the processing amount for one week to the processing amount for one month, the processing amount per week (average value) to the processing amount per month (average value) in the integrated value for a plurality of days of the processing amount for one day, It is preferable to use.

Then, a processing amount of one or a plurality of steps based on a preset ideal processing amount (ideal processing amount) capable of maintaining the state of the processing liquid in an ideal state (a state in which a film image can be appropriately processed). The range is set in advance, and it is determined whether the throughput of the film per unit time corresponds to the set range or a plurality of ranges. Generally, 1/2 to 2 of the specified standard processing amount (ideal replenishment amount)
It is preferable to set double the allowable processing amount.

The residual silver amount is determined by irradiating the maximum density portion or exposed portion of a pictorial image on the film with infrared rays, for example, at the exit of the processing portion, and detecting the infrared rays transmitted through the film or the infrared rays reflected from the film. It can be measured from the detected amount of infrared rays. The amount of residual silver may be detected for each unit time, for example, for one week, preferably for each day, but it is preferable to store it as time series data over the past week or more, preferably over one month.

When the treatment performance of the treatment liquid is good (within the standard range) or slightly good (standard limit range),
And if it is defective (outside of the standard limit), set multiple ranges,
It is to be decided which of the plurality of ranges the remaining silver amount falls under. For example, the standard range is 5
[Μg / cm ² ] or less, the standard limit range is 5
[[Mu] g / cm ^2] greater than 10 [[mu] g / cm ^2] or less of the range, as the outside specification limits 10 [[mu] g / cm ^2]
Larger ranges can be set.

As the temperature of each processing solution, the temperature for each of a plurality of processing solutions such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, a rinsing solution (washing water) and a stabilizing solution can be used.
Then, a temperature range of one or a plurality of stages based on an ideal temperature (ideal temperature) capable of maintaining the treatment liquid in an ideal state is set, and the temperature of each treatment liquid is set to one or a plurality of the set temperatures. Be sure to determine which of the above ranges applies.

The pH, specific gravity, and electric conductivity of the above processing solutions include the pH, specific gravity, and electric conductivity of each processing solution such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, a rinse solution, and a stabilizing solution. Although it is possible to use the measured value of the degree, it is preferable to use the pH and the specific gravity of the bleaching solution, the fixing solution, and the bleach-fixing solution for the pH and the specific gravity from the viewpoint of excellent measurement accuracy. It is preferable to use the electric conductivity of each of the rinse liquid and the stabilizing liquid. The pH, specific gravity, and electric conductivity of each treatment solution may be detected every unit time, for example, for one week, preferably for each day, but it is time series data over the past week or more, preferably over one month. It is preferable to remember.

Then, based on the standard pH, specific gravity, and electric conductivity that can maintain the treatment solution in an ideal state,
Or, the ranges of pH, specific gravity and electric conductivity of a plurality of stages are set respectively, and which of the above-mentioned set one or a plurality of ranges the detected pH, specific gravity and electric conductivity correspond to? Try to judge.

As the replenishment accuracy of each of the above processing solutions, the replenishment accuracy of the developing solution, bleaching solution, fixing solution, bleach-fixing solution, rinse solution, stabilizing solution, etc. can be used. It can be calculated from the theoretical replenishment amount determined based on the treatment amount and the replenishment amount actually replenished. For example, when a unit replenishing amount of the replenishing liquid (for example, a replenishing amount per unit area) is set with respect to the unit treating amount of the film and the replenishing liquid is replenished at the replenishing timing, the replenishment accuracy is the processing amount up to the replenishing timing. The ideal replenishment amount and the actual replenishment amount (replenishment) calculated based on the integrated value (the value obtained by dividing the integrated value of the processing amount by the unit processing amount by the unit replenishment amount) It can be calculated based on the liquid level in the replenishment tank that stores the liquid). Note that this difference may be used instead of the replenishment accuracy, or the ratio of the actual replenishment amount to the ideal replenishment amount may be used.

The first normal value which is a preset normal value
(For example, within ± 5%), a second range that is a dangerous area (for example, a range that is greater than ± 5% and ± 10% or less), and a third range that is an abnormal area (for example,
Which of a plurality of ranges (such as a range greater than ± 10%) the replenishment accuracy corresponds to is determined.

The replenishment accuracy of each processing solution may be recorded for each unit time, for example, for one week, preferably for each day, but is stored as time series data over the past week or more, preferably over one month. Is preferred.

As the evaporation correction amount of each processing solution, the amount of water added to correct the evaporation amount of each processing solution such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, a rinse solution, a stabilizing solution is used. be able to. This amount of water is calculated on the basis of the evaporation amount of the processing liquid obtained from the environmental temperature, the environmental humidity and the operating state of the film processing apparatus, and is the amount of water supplied to the processing liquid. The environmental humidity and the operating state of the film processing apparatus may be stored at the same time. It is preferable to record this evaporation correction amount every day,
Data may be recorded as time series data for the past week or more, preferably for one month or more.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a specific film or a specific image is selected. This makes it possible to obtain an average density that can be appropriately compared with the reference density.
That is, if the characteristics of the film are different, the image density is different. An image taken by a single-use camera may have an inappropriate exposure state at the time of shooting, and the inappropriate exposure state appears in the recorded image density.
Therefore, if you select only films with certain characteristics,
It is possible to obtain an average density that can appropriately determine the processing state of the film processing apparatus.

It should be noted that not only a specific film but also an image of a panorama size, a half size or the like, a film with a lens (single-use camera), etc. is excluded, and an image density of only a standard size (E or L size) is used. It is more preferable to select an image recorded in a specific size (image of a specific frame size), integrate the image densities, and calculate the average density.

When selecting a particular film, the DX
A code or the like can be used. When selecting a specific image size, the image area may be detected when measuring the image density, or it may be determined whether or not the magnification has been changed when the image is printed on the printing paper. In order to calculate an appropriate average density, it is more preferable to select an image that can be printed in a standard size that is most processed.

Further, when the image densities are integrated, it is preferable to exclude them from the integration targets when the average densities already calculated or the past image densities (for example, the previously integrated image densities) are large. That is, it is often the case that an image in which the density changes largely in one shot is caused by the exposure state (underexposure, overexposure) at the time of shooting.

The screen density is zero (transmittance 100%).
In an image of low density such that the area of 50% and the area of density 1.0 (transmittance 10%) are 50%, Dm is 0.50, while LATD is 0.26. Will end up. That is, LATD greatly affects the image density calculated by the low density area. Therefore, in a negative image captured using a strobe, the LATD value becomes lower than the apparent image density of the main part, and the density of the main subject and the LATD may not have a constant relationship. , For negative images taken against the sun,
The density of the main subject and Dm may not have a fixed relationship. Therefore, regardless of whether LATD or Dm is used, when the image density is significantly different from the past image density (for example, deviates from 1.5σ), it is preferable to exclude this image density from the integration target.

It is preferable that the film processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a maintaining means, a judging means, a cause estimating means, and a changing means. The maintaining means maintains the treatment liquid in an appropriate state based on a control condition that is determined according to the physical quantity and that maintains the treatment liquid in an appropriate state. Such control conditions include a replenishment amount replenished at the replenishment timing and a set temperature for controlling the temperature of the processing liquid to a standard state.

The cause estimating means determines that the comparison result of the comparing means is within a predetermined range based on the physical quantity detected by the physical quantity detecting means when the average value of the exposure amount is out of the predetermined range from the comparison result of the comparing means. Estimate the cause of the outside value.

The changing means changes the control condition for controlling the maintaining means based on the cause estimated by the cause estimating means.

As described above, when the exposure amount when printing the image recorded on the film on the photographic paper is outside the predetermined range,
If the cause is estimated based on the detected physical quantity and various control conditions of the film processing apparatus are changed based on the estimated cause, it becomes an appropriate control condition for maintaining the processing liquid in an appropriate state. The processing performance of the processing liquid can be controlled within an allowable range, and photographic characteristics and the quality control of the processing liquid with high accuracy can be performed.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus including a film processing apparatus for processing a film and a print processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material for printing in the same casing. As described above, if the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus is provided with the film processing apparatus and the print processing apparatus in the same casing, more information can be obtained, and the image density can be calculated based on the physical quantity detected by the detection means. This is preferable because the cause of the change can be accurately estimated.

Examples of the above-mentioned processing solutions include color developing solutions, black-and-white developing solutions, bleaching solutions, adjusting solutions, reversing solutions, fixing solutions, bleach-fixing solutions, stabilizing solutions and rinsing solutions.

The color developing solution is preferably an alkaline aqueous solution containing an aromatic primary amine type color developing agent as a main component. Although aminophenol compounds are also useful as the color developing agent, p-phenylenediamine compounds are preferably used, and a typical example thereof is 3
-Methyl-4-amino-N, N-diethylaniline, 4
-Amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-
Hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-
N-ethyl-N-β-methanesulfonamide ethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-
Methoxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N
-Ethyl-N- [delta] -hydroxybutylaniline and their sulphates, hydrochlorides or p-toluenesulphonates. Two or more kinds of these compounds may be used in combination depending on the purpose.

The color developer is an alkali metal carbonate,
It generally contains a pH buffering agent such as borate or phosphate, a bromide salt, an iodide salt, a development control agent such as a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole or a mercapto compound, or an antifoggant. is there. Also, if necessary, various preservatives such as hydroxylamine, N, N-di (sulfoethyl) hydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine, sulfite, hydrazines, phenylsemicarbazides, triethanolamine, and catecholdisulfonic acids, ethylene glycol. , Organic solvents such as diethylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, development accelerators such as amines, dye-forming couplers, competitive couplers,
Fogging agent such as sodium boron hydride, 1
An auxiliary developing agent such as -phenyl-3-pyrazolidone,
Various chelating agents represented by viscosity imparting agents, aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminopolyphosphonic acids, alkylphosphonic acids, phosphonocarboxylic acids, for example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid. , Hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, carboxyethyliminodiacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo-N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N ', N'- Tetramethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and their salts can be mentioned as representative examples.

The pH of these color developers is generally 9-12. The replenishing amount of these developing solutions depends on the color photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, but is generally 1 liter or less per square meter of the light-sensitive material, and 400 ml or less by reducing the bromide ion concentration in the replenishing solution. You can also do it. Preferably from 30 ml
It is 300 ml / m ² . When the replenishment amount is reduced, it is preferable to prevent the liquid evaporation and air oxidation by reducing the contact area of the treatment tank with the air. Further, the amount of replenishment can be reduced by using means for suppressing the accumulation of bromide ions in the developing solution.

The photographic emulsion layer after color development is usually bleached. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process (bleach-fixing process), or may be performed individually. Further, in order to speed up the processing, a processing method of bleach-fixing processing after bleaching processing may be used. Further, treatment with two continuous bleach-fixing baths, fixing treatment before the bleach-fixing treatment, or bleaching treatment after the bleach-fixing treatment can be optionally carried out. Examples of bleaching agents include iron (III) and cobalt
(III), chromium (VI), compounds of polyvalent metals such as copper (II),
Peracids, quinones, nitro compounds and the like are used. Typical bleaching agents are ferricyanide: dichromate: iron
(III) or cobalt (III) organic complex salts, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid, Aminopolycarboxylic acids such as carboxyethyliminodiacetic acid or complex salts such as citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid: persulfates: bromates: permanganates: nitrobenzenes can be used. Of these, aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts including ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (III) complex acid and persulfates are preferable from the viewpoint of rapid treatment and prevention of environmental pollution. Further, aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (II
The I) complex salt is particularly useful in both the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution. The pH of a bleaching solution or a bleach-fixing solution containing these aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts is usually 4.5.
~ 8 but lower pH for faster processing
It can also be processed with.

If necessary, a bleaching accelerator can be used in the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and their pre-bath.
Specific examples of useful bleaching accelerators are described in the following specifications: US Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent 1,290,812, JP-A-53-95630, Research. Disclosure No. 17129 (19
Compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide bond described in, for example, July 1978); thiazolidine derivatives described in JP-A No. 50-140129; US Pat.
The thiourea derivative described in Japanese Patent No. 561;
35, iodide salt; West German Patent 2,748,43
Polyoxyethylene compounds described in No. 0; JP-B-45
A polyamine compound described in -8836; bromide ion or the like can be used. Among them, a compound having a mercapto group or a disulfide group is preferable from the viewpoint of a large accelerating effect, and particularly described in US Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent No. 1,290,812, and JP-A-53-95630. Compounds are preferred. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,
The compounds described in No. 834 are also preferable. These bleaching accelerators may be added to the light-sensitive material. These bleaching accelerators are particularly effective when bleach-fixing a color light-sensitive material for photography.

Examples of the fixing agent include thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas, and a large amount of iodide salts. The use of thiosulfates is common, especially ammonium thiosulfate. Is the most widely used. As a preservative for the bleach-fix solution, sulfite, bisulfite, benzenesulfinic acid or carbonyl bisulfite adduct is preferable.

Further, after the desilvering treatment, washing and / or stabilizing steps are generally performed. The amount of washing water in the washing process is
Characteristics of photosensitive material (for example, depending on materials used such as couplers),
It can be set in a wide range depending on the use, the washing water temperature, the number of washing tanks (the number of stages), the replenishment system such as countercurrent and forward flow, and various other conditions. Of these, the relationship between the number of washing tanks and the amount of water in the multi-stage countercurrent system is described in the Journal of the Society of
Motion Picture and Television Engineers Volume 64,
It can be determined by the method described in P248-253 (May 1955 issue).

According to the multi-stage countercurrent system described in the above-mentioned document,
Although the amount of water to be washed can be significantly reduced, the increase in the residence time of water in the tank causes problems such as bacteria breeding and the resulting suspended matter adhering to the photosensitive material. In the processing of the color light-sensitive material of the present invention, as a solution to such a problem, the method of reducing calcium ion and magnesium ion described in JP-A-62-288838 can be used very effectively. In addition, JP-A-57-
No. 8542, isothiazolone compounds, siabendazoles, chlorinated germicides such as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate, and other benzotriazoles. Sterilization of
The sterilizing agents described in "Sterilization and Antifungal Technology" and "Encyclopedia of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents" edited by Japan Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents can be used.

The pH of washing water in the processing of the light-sensitive material of the present invention is 4-9, preferably 5-8. The washing water temperature and washing time can be variously set depending on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material, intended use, etc.
A range of 30 seconds to 5 minutes at 25 to 40 ° C is preferably selected. Further, in the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, instead of the above-mentioned washing with water, processing can be directly carried out with a stabilizing solution.
In such stabilization treatment, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-854
3, JP-A-58-14834, JP-A-60-220.
All known methods described in No. 345 can be used.

Various chelating agents and antifungal agents can also be added to this stabilizing bath. The overflow solution that accompanies the washing with water and / or the supplement of the stabilizing solution can be reused in other steps such as the desilvering step.

Next, the photographic light-sensitive material that can be used in the present invention will be described. The present invention can be applied to any photosensitive material, but is preferably applied to a color negative film and a color paper.

The silver halide emulsion and other materials (additives and the like) and photographic constituent layers (layer arrangement and the like) applied in the present invention, and processing methods and processing additions applied for processing the light-sensitive material. As the agent, the following patent publications, particularly European Patent EPO, 355,660A2 (Japanese Patent Application No.
Those described in No. 107011) are preferably used.

[0061]

[Table 1]

[0062]

[Table 2]

[0063]

[Table 3]

[0064]

[Table 4]

[0065]

[Table 5]

The silver halide emulsion used in the present invention is
Silver iodobromide, silver iodochloride, silver iodochlorobromide, silver chlorobromide, silver bromide,
Emulsions of various halogen compositions such as silver chloride can be used. Particularly, in the case of a color negative film, it is preferable to have a layer containing a silver iodobromide emulsion, and it is preferable to use an emulsion having an iodine content of about 0.1 to 10 mol%. Further, in the case of color paper, it is preferable to have at least one emulsion layer containing silver halide grains of which silver chloride is 90 mol% or more. More preferably 95 to 99.9 mol% or more, still more preferably 98 to 9
It is particularly preferable that the emulsion is 9.9 mol% or more of silver chloride, and the total layer is a silver chlorobromide emulsion of 98 to 99.9 mol% or more of silver chloride. As the coating amount of silver is not particularly limited, 2g~10g / m ² approximately in the case of color negative film, preferably it may contain about 0.2 to 0.9 g / m ² in the case of color paper .

The light-sensitive material used in the present invention may contain various couplers, the details of which are shown in Table 2.

Further, as a cyan coupler, JP-A-2-
In addition to the diphenylimidazole-based cyan coupler described in JP-A-33144, European Patent EPO, 333,185A2
3-Hydroxypyridine cyan couplers (especially the couplers (42) listed as specific examples, which are 4-equivalent couplers with a chlorine leaving group to make them 2-equivalent, couplers (6) and (9) Is particularly preferable) and cyclic active methylene cyan couplers described in JP-A-64-32260 (coupler examples 3, 8, and 34 listed as specific examples are particularly preferable) are also preferably used.

Further, in the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, a hydrophilic colloid layer is used for the purpose of improving the sharpness of an image and the like, as described in European Patent EPO, 337,490A2, Nos. 27-27.
A dye decolorizable by treatment (among others, an oxonol dye) described on page 76 is added so that the optical reflection density at 680 nm of the light-sensitive material is 0.70 or more,
It is preferable that the water-resistant resin layer of the support contains 12% by weight or more (more preferably 14% by weight or more) of titanium oxide surface-treated with a divalent to tetravalent alcohol (eg, trimethylolethane).

Further, in the color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention, a coupler is used together with a European Patent EPO, 277,589.
It is preferable to use a color image keeping improving compound as described in A2. In particular, it is preferably used in combination with a pyrazoloazole coupler.

That is, a compound (F) and / or a compound which chemically bonds with the aromatic amine developing agent remaining after the color development processing to form a chemically inactive and substantially colorless compound.
Alternatively, the compound (G) which chemically bonds with an oxidized product of an aromatic amine color developing agent remaining after the color developing treatment to form a chemically inactive and substantially colorless compound is used simultaneously or alone. However, it is preferable to prevent the occurrence of stains and other side effects due to the formation of a coloring dye due to the reaction of the residual color developing agent in the film or the oxidant thereof with the coupler during storage after processing.

In order to prevent various molds and bacteria which propagate in the hydrophilic colloid layer and deteriorate the image, the light-sensitive material according to the present invention has an anti-mold property as described in JP-A-63-271247. It is preferable to add an agent.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the dry film thickness of the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material excluding the support is 25 μm or less in order to reduce the carryover amount and increase the silver recovery rate. Particularly, in the case of a color negative film, about 13 to 23 μm is preferable, and in the case of car paper, about 7 to 12 μm is preferable.

The reduction of these film thicknesses is caused by the amount of gelatin, the amount of silver,
This can be achieved by reducing the amount of oil, the amount of coupler, etc., but it is most preferred that the amount of gelatin is reduced.
Here, the film thickness can be measured by an ordinary method after allowing the sample to stand at 25 ° C. and 60 RH% for 2 weeks.

In the silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material used in the present invention, the film swelling degree of the photographic layer is 1.5 to.
A value of 4.0 is preferable from the viewpoint of improving stain and improving image storability. Particularly, in the range of 1.5 to 3.0, a further effect can be obtained. The degree of swelling in the present invention means a value obtained by dividing the film thickness of the photographic layer after immersing the color light-sensitive material in distilled water at 33 ° C. for 2 minutes by the film thickness of the dried photographic layer.

The term "photographic layer" as used herein refers to a laminated hydrophilic colloid group layer containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer and having a water-permeable relationship with this layer. The back layer provided on the opposite side of the support from the photographic photosensitive layer is not included. The photographic layer is usually formed of a plurality of layers involved in photographic image formation, and in addition to the silver halide emulsion layer, an intermediate layer, a filter layer, an antihalation layer, a protective layer and the like are included.

Any method may be used to adjust the degree of swelling. For example, the amount and type of gelatin used in the photographic film, the amount and type of hardener, or the drying conditions after coating the photographic layer. And can be adjusted by changing the aging condition. It is advantageous to use gelatin for the photographic layer, but more hydrophilic colloids can be used. For example, gelatin derivatives, graft polymers of gelatin and other polymers, proteins such as albumin and casein, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose sulfates, sugar derivatives such as sodium alginate and starch derivatives; polyvinyl alcohol. Use of various kinds of synthetic hydrophilic polymer substances such as single or copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol partial acetal, poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinylimidazole, polyvinylpyrazole, etc. You can

As gelatin, not only lime-processed gelatin but also acid-processed gelatin may be used, and gelatin hydrolyzate and gelatin enzyme hydrolyzate may also be used. As the gelatin derivative, various compounds such as acid halides, acid anhydrides, isocyanates, bromoacetic acid, alkane sultones, vinyl sulfonamides, maleinimide compounds, polyalkylene oxides, epoxy compounds are added to gelatin. What is obtained by reaction is used.

As the gelatin graft polymer, a homopolymer or copolymer of vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, derivatives thereof such as esters and amides, acrylonitrile and styrene are grafted onto gelatin. What was made to use can be used. In particular, a graft polymer with a polymer having a certain degree of compatibility with gelatin, for example, a polymer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, or hydroxyacyl methacrylate is preferable.
Examples of these are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,763,625 and 2,8.
31, 767, 2,956, 884 and the like. Typical synthetic hydrophilic polymer substances are, for example, West German patent application (OLS) 2,312,708, US Pat.
No. 620,751, No. 3,879,205, Japanese Patent Publication No. 4
No. 3-7561.

Examples of hardeners include chromium salts (chromium alum, chromium acetate, etc.), aldehydes (formaldehyde, glyoxal, glitalaldehyde, etc.), N-methylol compounds (dimethylol urea, methylol dimethylhydantoin, etc.), dioxane. Derivatives (2,3-dihydroxydioxane, etc.), active vinyl compounds (1,3,5-triacryloyl-hexahydro-s-triazine, bis (vinylsulfonyl) methyl ether, N, N'-methylenebis- [β- (vinyl Sulfonyl) propionamide] etc.), active halogen compounds (2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine etc.), mucohalogen acids (mucochloric acid, mucophenoxycycloric acid etc.), isoxazoles, dialdehyde starch, 2-chlor And 6-hydroxy triazinyl gelatin can be used alone or in combination.

Particularly preferred hardeners are aldehydes, active vinyl compounds and active halogen compounds.

As the support used in the light-sensitive material of the present invention, a white polyester support for display or a layer containing a white pigment is provided on the support having a silver halide emulsion layer. A support may be used. Further, in order to improve the sharpness, it is preferable to apply an antihalation layer on the silver halide emulsion layer coated side or the back side of the support. In particular, the transmission density of the support is 0.3 so that the display can be viewed with both reflected and transmitted light.
It is preferably set in the range of 5 to 0.8.

The light-sensitive material according to the present invention may be exposed to visible light or infrared light. The exposure method may be low-illuminance exposure or high-illuminance short-time exposure, and in the latter case, a laser scanning exposure method in which the exposure time per pixel is shorter than 10 ⁻⁴ seconds is preferable.

In exposure, US Pat. No. 4,880,72
It is preferable to use the band stop filter described in No. 6. As a result, light color mixture is removed, and color reproducibility is significantly improved.

The present invention relates to various light-sensitive materials, that is, color negative flume, color negative paper, color reversal paper,
Auto positive paper, color reversal film, negative film for movie, positive film for movie, X-ray film,
A plate-making film such as a squirrel film, a black-and-white negative film, and the like can be mentioned, but application to a color negative film or a color negative paper is particularly preferable.

[0086]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a film processor 10 applied as a film processing apparatus of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows a printer processor 100 applied as a print processing apparatus including an exposure unit. The film processor 10 develops a negative film N, which is one of the photographic photosensitive materials for photography on which an image is recorded by photography or the like. Also, the printer processor 1
Reference numeral 00 denotes a color obtained by printing the image recorded on the negative film N developed by the film processor 10 onto a photographic printing paper (hereinafter referred to as "color paper P") which is one of photographic photosensitive materials for printing, and printing the image. The paper P is developed to obtain a photographic print.

First, the film processor 10 will be described. The film processor 10 includes a loading unit 11 in which a negative film N having been photographed is loaded, a processor unit 10P for sequentially immersing and processing the negative film N in a plurality of processing solutions, and a processing solution-processed negative film N is dried. A drying unit 10H for processing is provided.

The inside of the loading section 11 is shielded from light by a lid (not shown), and the negative film N can be loaded by opening the lid to open the inside. Also,
The negative film N is, for example, a cartridge (cartridge).
In the film processor 10, which is loaded in a state of being wound and housed in the film, after the negative film N is loaded in the loading unit 11, the lid is closed to shield the inside from light and the negative film N is exposed. After the prevention, the negative film N is pulled out from the cartridge and conveyed toward the processor section 10P.

On the upstream side of the processor section 10P, there is provided a photo sensor constituted by arranging an infrared emitting section 32N and a detecting section 34N so as to face each other with a predetermined interval. Figure 6
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the infrared radiation unit 32N includes a plurality of (in this embodiment, six (not limited to six)) infrared radiation elements (infrared radiation diodes) 32N1. .About.32N6 are arranged in a direction (width direction of the negative film N) intersecting with the conveying direction of the negative film N (arrow X direction in FIGS. 6A and 6B),
Further, the detection unit 34N includes infrared radiation elements 32N1 to 32N.
Detection elements (photodiodes) 34N1 to 34N6 for respectively detecting the infrared rays emitted from N6 are arranged in a direction intersecting the transport direction X of the color paper P. The infrared emitting elements 32N1 to 32N6 and the detecting elements 34N1 to 34N6 are connected to the control unit 60 (see FIG. 7).

The processor section 10P includes a color developing tank 10A for storing a color developing solution and a bleaching tank 10 for storing a bleaching solution.
B, a bleach-fixing tank 10C for storing a bleach-fixing solution, a fixing tank 10D for storing a fixing solution, a super-rinse tank 10E for storing a rinse solution, and a stable bath solution tank 10F, 10G for storing a stable bath solution in each are negative. They are provided in order along the transport direction of the film N. The negative film N sent to the processor unit 10P is guided and carried by a carrying unit (not shown), and is sequentially dipped in each processing solution and subjected to development processing, and then sent to the drying unit 10H.

The drying unit 10H blows dry air generated by a heater and a fan (not shown) while carrying the negative film N to perform a drying process, and the film leader stacking unit 1
Send to 0I. In the film reader stacking unit 10I, a film reader (not shown) for guiding the negative film N attached to the leading end of the negative film N in the transport direction is hooked on a hanger (not shown) to form a rear end portion of the negative film N in the transport direction. Is hung in a state of being stored in the storage box 22N.

The loading section 1 of the film processor 10
1 is provided with a code reading sensor 55 that reads information such as a bar code and a DX code recorded in a cartridge by coding information about the negative film N. The infrared sensor unit 120 is provided in the film reader integrated section 10I.
A V and a densitometer 22 are provided. Further, the film processor 10 is provided with, for example, an environment temperature sensor 54 and an environment humidity sensor 56 that detect the temperature and humidity under the work environment, for example, below the loading unit 11. The environmental temperature sensor 54 and the environmental humidity sensor 56 are the processor unit 10P.
The position is not limited to this as long as the position is not affected by heat from the drying unit 10H.

3 to 5, the color developing tank 10A, the super rinse tank 10E and the super rinsing tank 10E of the processor section 10P are shown in FIGS.
The schematic configuration of the stabilizing bath liquid tank 10G is shown. Although the processing solutions stored are different, the bleaching tank 10B, the bleach-fixing tank 10C and the fixing tank 10D have substantially the same structure as the color developing tank 10A, and the stabilizing bath liquid tank 10F is the super rinse tank 10.
The color developing tank 10A, the super rinsing tank 10E, and the stabilizing tank 10G have the same structure as that of E, and the other tanks will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the color developing tank 10A.
Includes a processing tank 10M for storing a color developing solution, a sub tank 10MS communicating with the processing tank 10M, a replenishing solution tank 44M for storing a replenishing solution to be replenished to the processing tank 10M via the sub tank 10MS, and a diluting solution for the replenishing solution. It is equipped with a water replenishment tank 45M for storing the above water.

The sub-tank 10MS has a replenisher tank 4
4M and replenishment nozzle 4 connected to the water replenishment tank 45M
2 is provided, and the replenishing liquid and water are supplied from the replenishing liquid tank 44M and the water replenishing tank 45M by the operation of the replenishing pumps 44N and 44L.

Further, the replenishment tank 44M is provided with an ultrasonic level meter 48L for detecting the liquid level of the replenishment liquid in the replenishment tank 44M, and it is located in the middle of the pipe connecting the water replenishment tank 45M and the replenishment nozzle 22. Flow meter 48N
Is provided. As a result, the amounts of the replenishing liquid and the water replenished to the sub tank 10MS from the replenishing tank 44M and the water replenishing tank 45M can be accurately measured.

The sub tank 10MS includes the sub tank 10
Temperature sensor 40 for detecting the temperature of the color developing solution in MS
N, a pH sensor 38N for detecting the pH of the color developing solution, a pycnometer 36N for detecting the specific gravity of the color developing solution, and a level detector 34 for detecting the liquid level of the color developing solution are provided.

A circulating device 30 is provided between the bottom of the processing tank 10M and the bottom of the sub tank 10MS. The circulation device 30 includes a circulation pump 30N1, a cooling fan 30N2, a heater 30N3, a circulation flow meter 52, and a circulation filter 30N4 attached via a filter attachment rod 30N5. Therefore, the circulation device 30
Thus, the color developing solution in the processing tank 10M is uniformly stirred and maintained at a predetermined temperature (or a predetermined temperature range) set in advance for processing the negative film N in an optimum state. At this time, the temperature sensor 40N detects the temperature of the processing liquid and feedback controls the cooling fan 30N2 and the heater 30N3. Further, the replenisher and the water supplied into the sub-tank 10MS via the replenishing nozzle 42 are supplied to the processing tank 10M while being uniformly stirred to replenish the replenisher.

The sub-tank 10MS is provided with an overflow pipe 32 so that the excess processing liquid in the processing tank 10M due to replenishment of the replenishing liquid and water overflows and is discharged.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic structure of the super rinse tank 10E. This super rinse tank 10E includes the color developing tank 10A and the sub tank 1 shown in FIG.
The difference is that the pH sensor 38N provided in 0MS and the sensor corresponding to the densitometer 36N are not provided.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a schematic structure of the stabilizing bath liquid tank 10G. The stabilizing bath liquid tank 10G is different from the super rinse tank 10E shown in FIG. 4 in that a coil-type electric conductivity meter 50 is provided between the circulation filter 30N4 and the circulation pump 30N1.

FIG. 6C shows an example of the pycnometer 36N. The hydrometer 36N is composed of a measurement unit 62 and a detection unit 68, and the detection unit 68 is provided with a pair of an oscillator 64H that oscillates ultrasonic waves and a receiver 66H that receives the ultrasonic waves emitted from the oscillator 64H. Has been. Oscillator 6
4H is composed of, for example, a piezoelectric element such as a piezoelectric ceramic element, and emits a predetermined ultrasonic wave when a predetermined voltage is applied from the oscillation circuit 73 of the measuring unit 62. Further, the receiver 66H outputs a signal according to the received ultrasonic wave.

The oscillator 64H and the receiver 66H face each other with the processing liquid in between, and the supporting member 52H through which the processing liquid flows.
Is attached to. In addition, the measuring unit 62 uses the receiver 6
It is provided with a receiving circuit 74 connected to 6H, a time measuring circuit 76 to which the oscillation circuit 73 and the receiving circuit 74 are connected, and an arithmetic circuit 78 to which the time measuring circuit 76 is connected. Accordingly, the hydrometer 36N measures the time difference between the ultrasonic wave generated by the oscillator 64H and the ultrasonic wave received by the receiver 66H, and outputs a signal corresponding to the propagation speed of the ultrasonic wave in the treatment liquid from the measurement result. To do.

That is, the oscillator 64H and the receiver 66H
Distance D₁, The inner diameter D of the support member 52N ₂And support from the material
It is possible to know the speed of the ultrasonic wave passing through the member 52N in advance.
Wear. From here, the arithmetic circuit 78 is generated by the oscillator 64H.
Output value according to propagation velocity of generated ultrasonic wave in treated liquid
(For example, [mV]) is output to the control unit 60 described later.
The control unit 60 has a negative film stored in advance.
Select the map (see FIG. 19) corresponding to the processing amount of N,
The specific gravity of the processing liquid is obtained from the output value from the arithmetic circuit 78.
It is like this.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 60 is provided with a microcomputer composed of a CPU 62, a ROM 64, a RAM 66, an input / output port 68, a bus 70 for connecting them, and the like.

In FIG. 7, the subscripts a to h attached to the reference numerals indicating the respective parts are the subscripts a to the color developing tank 10A.
, And the subscripts b, c, d, e,
f and g are respectively a bleaching tank 10B, a bleach-fixing tank 10C,
Fixing tank 10D, super rinse tank 10E, stabilizing bath 10
It shows that it is a component of F and 10G. That is, the temperature sensors 40Na-40 are connected to the input / output port 68.
Ng, ultrasonic level meter 46Na-46Ng, electric conductivity meter 50g, pH sensor 38Na-Nd, specific gravity meter 36Na
~ 36Nd, replenishment flowmeter 48Na-48Ng, densitometer 2
2 and the code reading sensor 55 are connected. Also,
The input / output port 68 includes a display panel 72 (see FIG. 1), replenishment pumps 44Na to 44Ng, and water replenishment pump 4.
8La-48Lg and circulation pumps 30N1a-30N1
g is connected. In the control unit 60, the loading unit 11, the transport system for transporting the negative film N, and the drying unit 10 are provided.
H and the like are also connected (not shown), and further the infrared sensor unit 120V is also connected.

Next, the infrared sensor unit 120V
Will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This infrared sensor unit 120V is an infrared radiation diode (hereinafter,
It is called a radiating diode. ) 12A, 12B, 12C. These radiating diodes 12A, 12B, 12
For C, a liquid phase epitaxial type radiation diode using gallium arsenide (GaAs) can be used. Note that a carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) laser, a carbon monoxide (CO) laser, or the like can be used instead of the radiation diode.

The radiating diodes 12A, 12B, 12
Photodiodes 14A, 14B, and 14C as photovoltaic photoelectric conversion elements are arranged so as to face C. A phototransistor other than a photodiode can be used for this photovoltaic photoelectric conversion element.

Sensor 124A composed of radiating diode 12A and photodiode 14A, radiating diode 1
Sensor 12 composed of 2B and photodiode 14B
4B, radiating diode 12C and photodiode 14C
Each of the sensors 124C constituted by
The light is shielded by A, the light shielding box 20B, and the light shielding box 20C.

The upstream side of the sensor 124A in the negative film N transport direction, between the sensors 124A and 124B, between the sensors 124B and 124C, and between the sensors 124.
On the downstream side of C in the negative film N transport direction, a pair of transport rollers 16A, 16B, 16 each including a pair of rollers.
C and 16D are provided, and the negative film N is configured to pass between the radiation diode 12A and the photodiode 14A, between the radiation diode 12B and the photodiode 14B, and between the radiation diode 12C and the photodiode 14C. The sensor 124A and the sensor 1
24B and the sensor 124C are arranged at equal intervals.

Further, the photodiodes 14A, 14B, 1
Amplifiers 18A, 18B, and 18C are connected to 4C, respectively. The amplifiers 18A, 18B, 1
Each of 8C is composed of a resistor, a capacitor, and an operational amplifier.

The photodiodes 14A, 14B and 14C of the infrared sensor unit 120V are the radiation diodes 12
It is connected to the input / output port 68 of the control unit 60 via A, 12B, 12C and amplifiers 18A, 18B, 18C (see FIG. 9).

Here, the radiation diodes 12A, 12B,
The infrared rays emitted from 12C will be described. Infrared rays radiated from the radiating diodes 12A, 12B, and 12C have substantially the same spectral distribution of radiated energy but different radiant energy. That is, the spectral distribution of each radiating diode is as shown in FIG.
The peak portion is 0.95 [μm]. Also,
As shown in FIG. 31, the radiation energy of infrared rays (hereinafter, referred to as radiation amount) is measured by the radiation diode 12A as the radiation amount W1.
The radiation diode 12B has a radiation amount W2 (a value smaller than W1), and the radiation diode 12C has a radiation amount W3.
(A value smaller than W2).

This radiation amount W1 is 10 [μg / g of silver halide remaining in the negative film N treated with each processing solution.
cm ² ], and the radiation amount W2 is 10 [μg / cm ² ] of silver halide remaining in the negative film N treated with each processing solution.
It is the amount that passes through the negative film N in the following cases,
The radiation amount W3 is the amount that passes through the negative film N when the silver halide remaining in the negative film N treated with each processing solution is 5 [μg / cm ² ] or less.

When the amount of silver halide remaining in the negative film N processed with each processing solution is more than 10 [μg / cm ² ], it can be judged that the desilvering performance of the processing solution is poor. In addition, the negative film N treated with each treatment liquid
When the amount of silver halide remaining in is less than 5 [μg / cm ² ], it can be judged that the desilvering performance of the processing solution is good. When the silver halide remaining in the negative film N processed with each processing solution is more than 5 [μg / cm ² ] and less than 10 [μg / cm ² ], the desilvering performance of the processing solution However, it can be judged to be slightly defective.

As shown in FIG. 30, the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the photodiodes 14A, 14B and 14C are 0.85 [μ].
m] is the peak.

Next, the printer processor 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 60A provided in the printer processor 100 is connected to the control unit 60 (see FIG. 1) of the film processor 10 through a communication line (not shown) (connection state is not shown). .

The printer processor 100 has a light source section 12 having a dimming filter consisting of C, M and Y filters, a reflecting mirror and a halogen lamp, which constitutes a part of the exposing means, and a color paper P as a photographic light-sensitive material.
And a paper magazine portion 17 that stores color paper p having a size different from that of the color paper P.

The light emitted from the light source section 12 is exposed through the negative film N loaded in the negative carrier 18 to the exposure section 1.
4 is illuminated. Further, the color paper P drawn out from the paper magazine unit 16 (may be the color paper p. Note that only the color paper P will be described below as an example), the image of the negative film N is printed in the exposure unit 14. And is transported into the processor unit 10N.

The processor section 10N includes a color development processing tank 10N1, a bleach-fixing processing tank 10N2, and a rinse processing tank 1.
Each of the processing tanks 0N3 to 10N6 and the drying unit 10N7 are configured.

A color development processing solution is stored in the color development processing tank 10N1, a bleach-fixing processing solution is stored in the bleach-fixing processing tank 10N2, and a rinsing processing solution is stored in each of the rinse processing tanks 10N3 to 10N6. As a result, the color paper P developed in the color development processing tank 10N1 is fixed in the bleach-fixing processing tank 10N2 and then rinsed in the rinse processing tank 10N3.
A color print is created by washing with water at 10N6 and drying at a drying unit 10N7. This color print is placed on the sorter unit 10N8.

The color developing tank 10N1 and the bleach-fixing processing tank 10N2 are the color developing tank 10A (see FIG. 3) of the film processor 10 and the rinse processing tanks 10N3-1.
0N5 is the super rinse tank 1 of the film processor 10
0E (see FIG. 4) and the rinse bath 10N6 have substantially the same structure as the stabilizing bath 10G (see FIG. 5) of the film processor 10, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
Further, a color development processing tank 10N1, a bleach-fixing tank 10N2,
The rinse treatment tanks 10N3 to 10N6 are respectively provided with the control unit 6
It is controlled by 0A.

In this printer processor 100, a display panel 72 is provided above the printer processor 100 (the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. 2), and a code reading sensor 55 for reading the bar code and DX code recorded on the negative film N on the negative carrier 18. is set up.

Further, in the exposure section 14 of the printer processor 100, a reflection mirror (for example, a half mirror) is provided on the optical axis between the negative film N and the color paper P, and the light source which transmits the negative film N is provided. The light from the portion 12 is reflected and transmitted through the lens 14N2 to allow the scanner 14
It is designed to irradiate N3.

The scanner 14N3 is designed to scan and measure the image frames recorded on the negative film N to read the image density. In the exposure unit 14, the image density (LAT) read by the scanner 14N3 is read.
The exposure condition is set according to D or Dm), and the image recorded on the negative film N is printed on the color paper P. The exposure conditions at this time are set so that the color paper P is exposed with a predetermined exposure amount and color balance.

Further, the control unit 60A of the printer processor 100 is adapted to integrate the image densities read by the scanner 14N under a predetermined condition to calculate the average densities and record them in time series. Further, in the control unit 60A, when the image density of a normal frame (standard exposure frame) of the negative eye is read when setting the exposure condition, the image density of this normal frame is recorded as the reference density, and the negative film N Each time the average density of is calculated, this calculation result is compared with the reference density, and the comparison result is output to the control unit 60 of the film processor 10.

As the scanner 14N3, M
A sensor using an OS type sensor, a CCD sensor or the like can be applied, and it is preferable that the resolution is high in order to measure an appropriate image density. For example, for a small developing laboratory (so-called minilab) manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. The VACCS sensor or the like used in the printer processor can be used.

Further, the printer processor 100 is provided with the color paper P conveyed in the density measuring section 22N.
A densitometer 22 for measuring the density of the image is installed.
Further, at a location not affected by heat of the drying unit 10N7 and the exposure unit 14, an environmental temperature sensor 5 for detecting an environmental temperature.
4. An environmental humidity sensor 56 for detecting environmental humidity is installed. Since the printer processor 100 is connected to the film processor 10, the printer processor 100 may receive the environmental temperature, the environmental humidity, the DX code and the like from the film processor 10.

Further, on the upstream side of the color development processing tank 10N1 in the conveying direction of the color paper P, an infrared radiation section 32N is provided.
A photo sensor is provided in which the photo sensor and the detection unit 34N are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval.
The processing area of the color paper P can be detected by 2N and the detection unit 34N.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The film processor 10 and the printer processor 100 applied to the present embodiment control the temperature of each processing liquid when the power is turned on. After that, in the film printer processor 10, when the negative film N is loaded in the loading unit 11, the processor unit 10P develops the negative film N,
Perform various processes such as fixing and washing.

A state in which the power is on and the negative film N or the color paper P is processed is called a drive state, and a state in which the power is on and the negative film N or the color paper P is not processed is standby. Say state. In addition, a state in which the power supply is turned off and the temperature control is stopped on a day when operation is stopped or at night is called a stop state. In the present embodiment, a case where there are at least a standby state and a stopped state every day will be described as an example.

Here, the processing performance management processing routine for managing the processing performance of the processing liquid will be described with reference to FIG. Although the film processor 10 and the printer processor 100 are different in details, the flow of the basic processing performance management processing can be the same, and an example of the film processor 10 will be described and a description of the printer processor 100 will be omitted.

In the film processor 10, different standards
The unexposed area (D _minPart), low concentration part
(LD part) and high density part (HD part) are formed
It starts when the transportation of the container is started. This
First, from color development tank 10A to stability bath 10G
When the processing liquid treatment is carried out to the drying section 10H,
After being dried, it reaches the densitometer 22. here,
At step 102, the densitometer 22 records the contents.
The density of the recorded image is measured and the density is captured.

As shown in FIG. 11, in capturing the density, in step 132, the D _min portion is measured, and step 1
At 33, the R, G, and B primary color signals obtained by photometry are captured, and at step 134, the captured three primary color signals are converted into densities of R, G, and B colors.

Similarly, steps 136 to 139.
In step 140, the light is measured in the LD part and converted into the densities of R, G, and B colors.
The area D is measured, the densities of the colors R, G, and B are converted, and this routine is ended.

By the above processing, the densities of the three primary colors of R, G and B in the D _min portion, LD portion and HD portion of the control strip are captured.

Next Step 1 in the Flowchart of FIG.
In No. 04, R, G, and B of the exposed and unexposed areas that have been captured
It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the density of the three primary colors. In addition,
This judgment is based on R, G, and
By comparing each of the densities of the three primary colors of B with the permissible range including the standard densities of the three primary colors of R, G, and B and the permissible range of the minimum densities of the three primary colors of R, G, and B, It is determined that there is an abnormality when the densities of the three primary colors of R, G, and B of the exposed portion and the unexposed portion that have been captured are values outside the allowable range. Note that it may be determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the density of either the exposed portion or the unexposed portion.

If the determination in step 104 is negative, the processing liquid has appropriate performance, so this processing is terminated, and if the determination in step 104 is positive, the processing performance of the processing liquid is abnormal. In order to estimate the cause of the abnormality, in step 106, the processing amount, the temperature of the processing liquid, the replenishment accuracy, the electric conductivity, the pH, the specific gravity and the amount of water are treated as the physical quantities that affect the photographic characteristics of the negative film N. judge. This determination process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

In this flowchart, first, in step 146, the processing amount is determined. As will be described later, in this embodiment, since the processing amount of the negative film N is stored in time series for each week and month, the negative film for each week and month stored in this time series is stored. The latest processing amount of N is taken in, and the taken-in processing amount for each week and month is within an allowable range (the range of the amount of processing of negative film N in order to maintain the photographic characteristics of negative film N within the allowable range). ), And if at least one of the processing amount for one week and one month is outside the allowable range, the fact (abnormal item) is stored.

At the next step 148, the temperature of the processing liquid is determined. As will be described later, since the temperature of each processing liquid is stored in time series, the temperature of each processing liquid stored in this time series is taken in, and the temperature of each processing liquid taken in is based on the set temperature. It is determined whether or not the value is within the allowable range, and if any of the temperatures of the processing liquids taken in is outside the allowable range, the fact (abnormal item) is stored.

At the next step 150, the replenishment accuracy of each processing tank is determined. As will be described later, since the replenishment accuracy based on the throughput of the negative film N for one week is stored,
The latest replenishment accuracy based on the processing amount of the negative film N stored for one week by referring to the date data is taken in, and the taken-in replenishment accuracy is within an allowable range (range in which replenishment accuracy is good).
Determine whether or not.

Here, the permissible range is, for example, within ± 5%, and if any of the replenishment accuracy taken in by each processing tank is outside the permissible range, that fact (abnormal item) is stored.

In this embodiment, if the replenishment accuracy of each processing tank is out of the range of ± 5%, that fact is stored, but the replenishment accuracy of each processing tank is ± 5%. The judgment result is stored by judging whether or not it is outside the two ranges, the range (first allowable range) and within ± 10% and the range exceeding ± 5% (second allowable range). You may do it.

In the next step 152, the electric conductivity is determined. As will be described later, since the electric conductivity of the stable bath liquid of the final stabilizing bath 10G is stored in time series, the electric conductivity of the stable bath liquid stored in this time series is taken in and the electric conductivity taken in is taken. Whether the degree is within an allowable range (an allowable range based on the ideal electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath solution of the final stabilizing bath 10G for maintaining the photographic characteristics of the negative film N within the allowable range). If the judged and taken-in electric conductivity is out of this allowable range, the fact (abnormal item) is stored.

At the next step 154, the pH is judged. As will be described later, since the pHs of the color developing solution, the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution, and the fixing solution (hereinafter collectively referred to as processing solutions) are stored in time series, each processing stored in this time series is stored. The pH of the solution is taken in, and the pH of each processing solution taken in
Is within the permissible range (the permissible range based on the ideal pH of each processing solution for maintaining the photographic characteristics of the negative film N within the permissible range), and the If at least one treatment liquid having a pH value is outside the permissible range, the fact (abnormal item) is stored.

At the next step 156, the specific gravity is judged. As will be described later, since the specific gravity of each processing solution is stored in time series, the specific gravity of each processing solution stored in this time series is taken in, and the specific gravity of each processing solution taken in is within an allowable range (negative It is determined whether or not the photographic characteristics of the film N are within an allowable range based on the ideal specific gravity of each processing solution for keeping the photographic characteristics within the allowable range), and at least one of the specific gravities of the respective processing solutions taken in is If it is outside this allowable range, that effect (abnormal item) is stored.

At the next step 158, the amount of water added is determined. As will be described later, since the actual and theoretical amounts of water added to each treatment liquid are stored in a time series, the latest actual amount of water added and the theoretical amount of water added are stored by referring to the date data. Is within the permissible range (the permissible range from the theoretical water content for maintaining the photographic characteristics of the negative film N within the permissible range), and any of the incorporated water content is outside the permissible range. If so, that effect (abnormal item) is stored. In addition, you may make it use the water addition precision similar to the replenishment precision demonstrated above.

Now, a processing amount detection routine for detecting the processing amount of the negative film N in step 146 will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the negative film N loaded in the loading section 11 passes between the infrared radiation section 32N and the detection section 34N when being sent to the processor section 10P. On the other hand, since the infrared radiating elements 32N1 to 32N6 constantly radiate infrared rays, when the negative film N passes between the infrared radiating section 32N and the detecting section 34N, the negative film N blocks infrared rays.

When the infrared rays from any of the infrared radiating elements 32N1 to 32N6 are cut off, the detecting elements 34N1 to 34N1 to 34N3 are cut off.
A cutoff signal is input to the control unit 60 from 2N6. When this cutoff signal is input from any of the detection elements 34N1 to 32N6, the determination in step 162 is affirmative, that is, it is determined that the leading edge of the negative film N has passed,
In step 164, time counting is started, and in step 166, the width of the negative film N is detected from the number of detection elements that output the cutoff signal. That is, the infrared radiation elements 32N1 to 32N1 to 32N1
As described above, the 2N6 and the detection elements 34N1 to 34N6 are arranged in the direction intersecting with the transport direction X of the negative film N, so that the negative film N serves as the infrared radiation unit 32.
When passing between N and the detection unit 34N, for example, the cutoff signals are output from the detection elements 34N2 to 34N5 corresponding to the width of the negative film N, and the width of the negative film N is detected from the number of the detection elements that output the cutoff signal. can do.

In the next step 168, it is determined whether or not the trailing edge of the negative film N has passed by determining whether or not the blocking of infrared rays by the negative film N has been released. When the passage of the trailing edge of the negative film N is detected, the determination in step 168 is affirmed, and in step 170, the time counting is ended. Due to the above, the negative film N becomes the infrared radiation part 3
The time required to pass between 2N and the detection unit 34N is measured.

At the next step 172, the negative film N
As the processing amount, the total area of the negative films N processed continuously is calculated. That is, since the transport speed of the negative film N is determined in advance, the length of the negative film N can be detected from this transport speed and the time measured, and this length and the width of the negative film N detected in step 146 can be detected. From this, the total area of the negative film N can be calculated.

As described above, every time the negative film N is processed, the total area (processing amount) of the processed negative film N is added up, and one day, one week, one month, and the processing liquid is in a fresh state (negative film). The processing amount of each negative film N from the state in which N is not processed) is dated in time series (year,
Memorize with (month, day).

Next, a temperature detection routine for detecting the temperature of each processing liquid used in step 148 will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is performed by the film processor 10
Is changed from the stopped state to the standby state, and when it is determined that the temperature of each processing liquid reaches the set temperature, it is executed by the interrupt process, and in step 176, the temperature of each processing liquid is taken in from the temperature sensors 40Na to 40Ng and taken in. Store temperature with date data.

A replenishment accuracy detection routine for detecting the replenishment accuracy of each processing tank used in step 150 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that this routine is executed every week, for example, when it is determined that the printer processor 10 is in a stopped state on Sunday, and in step 182, the ultrasonic level meters 46Na to 46Ng of the respective processing tanks are used to supply the replenishing liquid. Take level (current level), step 184
Then, the previous level, that is, the level of each replenisher solution one time before the execution of this routine (one week before) is taken in. In step 186, the amount of the replenisher actually replenished (actual replenishment amount) from the current level, the previous level, and the shape data (for example, the bottom area etc.) of the replenisher reservoir of each replenishment tank 44M.
Is calculated.

At step 188, the current level (the level fetched at step 182) and the calculated actual replenishment amount are stored together with the date data.

At step 190, the processing amount of the negative film N for one week from the execution of this routine last time with reference to the date data is taken in, and at step 192, the ideal replenishment amount is obtained. Is calculated. That is, in this embodiment, the processing amount of the negative film N is the predetermined value S.
The replenisher is replenished with V (for example, 50 [ml]) every time it becomes 1. Therefore, the ideal replenishment amount H with respect to the total treatment amount S0 of processing the negative film N within the past week is obtained from the following equation (3).

[0158]

[Equation 3]

At step 194, the replenishment accuracy of each processing tank,
That is, the error between the actual replenishment amount and the ideal replenishment amount is calculated, and in step 196, the calculated replenishment accuracy of each processing tank is stored together with the date data.

The process of storing the electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath liquid of the final stabilizing bath 10G used in step 152 in time series is similar to the temperature detecting routine, and therefore its explanation is omitted. When the temperature detection routine ends, it is executed by interrupt processing. It should be noted that only detecting the electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath liquid of the final stabilizing bath 10G is
This is because the electrical conductivity can be detected more accurately as the concentration of the treatment liquid decreases. Note that the electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath liquid in the stabilizing bath 10F may be detected instead of the final stabilizing bath 10G.

The process of storing the pH of each processing solution used in step 154 in time series is the same as the temperature detection routine, so the description thereof will be omitted.
It is executed by the interrupt process when the process of detecting the electric conductivity is completed. The reason why only the pH of the development processing solution and the bleach-fixing processing solution is detected is that the higher the concentration of the processing solution, the more accurately the pH can be detected. The pH of a processing solution other than the developing processing solution and the bleach-fixing processing solution may be detected.

A specific gravity detection routine for detecting the specific gravity of the developing solution used in step 156 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the principle of specific gravity detection in this embodiment will be described. For example, the density when the composition of the solution is one component such as caustic soda (NaOH) can be determined if the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the solution can be detected. That is, when the propagation velocity of the ultrasonic waves in the solution is V and the bulk modulus of the solution is E, the density ρ of the solution is obtained from the following equation (4).

[0163]

[Equation 4]

If the density of the solution is obtained in this way, the specific gravity of the solution can also be obtained from this density.

However, since the treatment liquid is composed of multiple components as described above, the bulk elastic modulus E of the treatment liquid changes depending on the type of chemical component and the ratio of the components.
Even if the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the treatment liquid and the treatment liquid are detected,
The specific gravity cannot be obtained accurately.

On the other hand, the inventors of the present invention sampled the processing solutions of a plurality of film processors of the same type (3 units will be described as an example for convenience of explanation), and dilute each processing solution with water. 17 and 18 show the results of measuring the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the treatment liquid at that time and measuring the specific gravity with a reference densitometer at the same time. Note that FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the output value [mV] proportional to the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the bleaching solution of each film processor and the measured specific gravity, and FIG.
The relationship between the output value [mV] proportional to the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the fixing solution of each film processor and the measured specific gravity is shown. As can be understood from these figures, different processors have different specific gravities even with the same propagation speed.

It is considered that the reason why the specific gravities are different when the processing machines are different even if the propagation speed is the same is that the processing amount of the negative film N processed by each film processor is different. This is because when the negative film N is treated with the treatment liquid, a predetermined component is eluted from the negative film N into the treatment liquid, and the amount of elution increases as the treatment amount increases, and the composition of the treatment liquid changes accordingly. . That is, the amount of change in the composition of the treatment liquid is determined according to the treatment amount. On the contrary, even if the specific gravity is the same, if the treatment amount is different, the composition of the solution is different, which causes the ultrasonic wave propagation velocity to be different.

Therefore, when the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the processing liquid of many film processors and the measured specific gravity is investigated together with the processing amount of the negative film N while the processing liquid is diluted with water, , The relationship shown in FIG. 19 was obtained. That is, FIG. 19A shows the relationship between the propagation velocity and the measured specific gravity when the bleaching solution is in a fresh state (a state in which the negative film N is not yet treated). FIG. 19B shows the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the bleaching solution and the measured specific gravity when the processing amount of the negative film N is a certain processing amount K. FIG. 19
(C) shows the relationship between the propagation velocity and the measured specific gravity when the fixer is in a fresh state. FIG. 19
(D) shows the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in the fixing solution and the measured specific gravity when the processing amount of the negative film N is a certain processing amount K. As the processing liquid, a processing liquid "CN-16X" (trade name) for color negative film manufactured by FUJIFILM Corporation was used.

As described above, even if the processing liquids of the same type of film processor have different processing amounts of the negative film N, the relationship between the propagation velocity and the specific gravity of the processing liquids is different.
When the throughput is the same, the relationship between the propagation velocity and the specific gravity is the same.

By the way, the film processor has been described above, but the same can be said for the printer processor.

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the treatment liquid and the specific gravity is stored as a map (a map similar to FIG. 19) for each range of a predetermined treatment amount.
It should be noted that a map showing the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the treatment liquid and the specific gravity may not be stored, but a similar data table may be stored. You may make it memorize | store the arithmetic expression which shows the relationship between the propagation velocity of a sound wave, and specific gravity. Note that a map or the like depending on the temperature may be stored. That is, as described above, in the embodiment, the temperature of the treatment liquid is controlled to the set temperature. However, a plurality of set temperatures of the treatment liquid are prepared, and the set temperature is selected when the predetermined condition is satisfied. When controlling so that the selected temperature becomes the set temperature, a map showing the relationship between the propagation velocity of ultrasonic waves in the processing liquid and the specific gravity corresponding to this temperature (map for each range of predetermined processing amount) Try to remember. As a result, the temperature of the specific gravity is corrected.

This routine (see FIG. 14) starts when the process of storing the pH of each treatment liquid in time series is completed.

First, in step 202, the total processing amount of the negative film N from the fresh state is taken in, and step 2
At 04, a map (see FIG. 19) is selected according to the total amount of processing that has been taken in.

[0174] At step 206, ultrasound as described above color developing solution (the distance D ₂₎ color developing solution which is calculated from the time required for propagation and the distance D ₂ of the ultrasound propagates An output value [mV] proportional to the propagation velocity,
In step 208, the specific gravity is calculated from the output value [mV] based on the selected map, and in step 210 the calculated specific gravity is stored together with the date data.

A routine for detecting the amount of water added to each processing solution used in step 158 will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is executed when the film processor 10 changes from the stopped state to the standby state.

That is, the film processor 10 takes in the environmental temperature from the environmental temperature sensor 54 and the environmental humidity from the environmental humidity sensor 56 at predetermined time intervals and stores them, and at the same time, the film processor 10 is in the stopped state, the standby state, and the drive state. The time at each operating state is stored.

Therefore, in step 212, each process from the time when the ambient temperature, the environmental humidity and the operating state are stored in this way to the time when this routine is executed last time until this time is executed (one day). The evaporation amount (theoretical water amount) of water from the liquid is calculated, and in step 214, the replenishment pump 48
La-48Lg is driven to supply water by this theoretical amount of water, and in step 216, the replenishment flowmeter 48Na-48N is supplied.
The actual amount of water added (actual amount of water) actually supplied to each treatment liquid is taken in from g, and in step 218, the theoretical amount of water and the actual amount of water added are stored together with date data.

FIG. 21 shows a routine for determining the amount of remaining silver used in step 159 of FIG.

The tip portion NB (see FIG. 22) of the negative film N reaches the infrared sensor unit 120V which constantly emits infrared rays, and the tip portion of the negative film N passes between the radiation diode 12A and the photodiode 14A. Then, the amount of infrared rays detected by the photodiode 14A that receives the infrared rays emitted from the radiation diode 12A changes.

When it is detected that the detected amount has changed, this silver amount detecting routine is started, and in step 252, it is judged whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. This predetermined time corresponds to the time required for the leading end NB of the negative film N to reach between the radiating diode 12B and the photodiode 14B.
When this predetermined time has elapsed, the tip end NB has reached the area where the infrared rays emitted from the emission diode 12B can be irradiated, and therefore in step 254, the emission diode 12B emits infrared rays.

At step 256, it is determined whether or not the detection signal B is input. That is, when the desilvering performance of the processing liquid is slightly poor or good, the infrared rays emitted from the radiation diode 12B pass through the tip portion NB of the negative film N and are detected by the photodiode 14B. In this case, a signal is output from the photodiode 14B,
It is amplified by the amplifier 18B and input as the detection signal B. Therefore, the determination at step 256 is affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 260.

On the other hand, when the desilvering performance of the processing liquid is poor, the infrared rays emitted from the radiation diode 12B are almost totally reflected by the silver present in the negative film N, and the infrared rays do not pass through the negative film N. Therefore, the detection amount of infrared rays emitted from the emission diode 12B of the photodiode 14B becomes extremely small, and the detection signal B is not output.

Therefore, in this case, the determination in step 256 is denied, and in step 258, it is stored that the detection signal B is not input and the process proceeds to step 260. In step 260, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, and it is determined whether or not the leading end portion NB of the negative film N has reached between the radiating diode 12C and the photodiode 14C. When this predetermined time has elapsed, the tip NB is
Since the infrared ray radiated from the radiating diode 12C has reached the area that can be irradiated, in step 262,
Infrared rays are emitted from the emission diode 12C.

When the desilvering performance of the processing liquid is good, the infrared rays emitted from the emitting diode 12C pass through the negative film N and are detected by the photodiode 14C. Therefore, the detection signal C is output from the photodiode 14C. Then, the determination in step 264 is affirmed, and step 268 is performed.
Proceed to.

On the other hand, when the desilvering performance of the processing solution is not good, the infrared rays emitted from the emitting diode 12C are
Since the negative film N is not transmitted and the detection signal C is not output from the photodiode 14C, the determination in step 264 is denied, and in step 266, it is stored that the detection signal C is not input, and the process proceeds to step 268. .

In step 268, as shown in FIG. 23, the residual silver amount is estimated based on the map storing the residual silver amount corresponding to the combination of the presence or absence of the input of the detection signal B and the detection signal C. When the detection signal B and the detection signal C are input, it is estimated that the amount of silver remaining in the negative film is 5 [μg] or less per 1 [cm ² ]. In addition, the detection signal B
Is input but the detection signal C is not input, the amount of silver remaining in the negative film is 5 [μ per 1 cm ² ].
g] is estimated larger than that at 10 [μg] Hereinafter, when you do not enter the detection signal B and the detection signal C, the amount of silver remaining in the negative film 1 [cm ^2] per 10
It is estimated to be higher than [μg].

As described above, since the processing liquid state is determined by determining whether or not infrared rays having different radiation amounts have passed through the negative film N, the amount of silver remaining on the negative film N can be determined with a simple structure. Can be detected.

When it is judged that the desilvering is defective due to the amount of residual silver, it can be judged that the cause is the insufficient replenishment of the replenisher in the bleach-fixing processing tank, the large carryover amount, or the sulfurization due to the out-of-focus treatment. .

At step 270, the estimated residual silver amount is stored. Here, in the above processing, the peak portion of the spectral distribution of the energy emitted from the radiating diode is set to 0.95 [μm], but the present invention is not limited to this, and is approximately 0.75 [μm]. Approximately 2.5 [μ
m]. That is, the peak portion of infrared rays is usually 0.75 [μm] to 25 [μm], but approximately 0.75 [μm] to approximately excluding the portion of the negative base film N having a high infrared absorption rate. 2.5 [μ
m].

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the sensor 124
Although A is composed of a radiating diode and a photodiode, the present invention is not limited to this, and is a film detection sensor that does not use infrared rays (a structure for detecting the negative film N by contact with the negative film N). It may be.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the radiation amounts of the radiation diodes 12A, 12B and 12C are different from each other like the radiation amounts W1, W2 and W3, but the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, for example, infrared rays may be emitted from each of the radiation diodes 12A, 12B, and 12C having substantially the same radiation amount (for example, the radiation amount W1) and different spectral distributions of energy emitted.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 24, the peak portion of the spectral distribution of the radiated energy is 0.80 [μm], 0.95 [μm], 1.00.
It can be [μm]. In this case, the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the photodiodes are substantially the same (for example, 0.
85 [μm]). This allows the sensor to have high sensitivity, medium sensitivity, and low sensitivity due to the combination of the radiation diode and the photodiode. Therefore, the treatment liquid state can be determined in three stages.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the processing liquid state is judged in three stages, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be judged in a plurality of other stages.

The data of the physical quantity stored as described above can be effectively stored by deleting the old data that has passed a predetermined time limit (for example, one month). .

After the physical quantity is determined as described above, in step 108 (see FIG. 10), the abnormal item is displayed on the display panel 72. For example, negative film N 1
If the weekly throughput is outside the allowable range, it is indicated that the weekly throughput of the negative film N is outside the allowable range.

In step 110, the cause is estimated based on the abnormal item, and in step 112, the estimated cause is displayed. When the abnormal item is specified, the cause of the abnormal item is also specified. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pattern of the abnormal item and the cause of the pattern corresponding to this pattern are also stored. The following table shows color developing tank 10A and bleach-fixing tank 1
An example of the pattern of abnormal items and the cause of the pattern is shown by taking 0C and the stable bathtub 10G as an example.

[0197]

[Table 6]

In the next step 114, a measure is taken based on the estimated cause of the abnormality (a measure for setting the densities of the three primary colors R, G and B of the captured exposed area and unexposed area to values within an allowable range). (Proposed), the estimated countermeasure plan is displayed in step 116, and the estimated countermeasure plan is executed in step 118.

Incidentally, when the cause of the abnormality is specified in this way, a countermeasure plan is also specified.
Countermeasure plans are also stored in correspondence with the cause of this abnormality.

Here, in the case of insufficient replenishment of the replenisher, for example, the replenishment accuracy of the replenisher into the stabilizing baths 10F, 10G is below the allowable range, that is, the replenishing pumps 44Nf-4N.
When the amount of the replenisher replenished by driving 4 Ng is less than the set value by a predetermined amount, the set value is increased by a predetermined amount, for example, 5 [ml] as a countermeasure. In addition, the replenishment pump 44N for the stable bath 10F, 10G
If a failure of f, 44 Ng or a failure of the circulation filters 30N4f, 30N4g of the stabilizing baths 10F, 10G is determined (for example, if the abnormal item does not become normal despite correcting the replenishment amount), As a countermeasure, replacement of replenishment pumps 44Nf and 44Ng, circulation filter 30N4
f, 30N4g, the instruction information for removing the lump is displayed on the display panel 72.

Further, when the film processor 10 is connected to the host computer of the head office by a communication line, information for instructing replacement of the replenishment pumps 44Nf, 44Ng of the film processor 10 is displayed on the monitor of the head office. Etc.

At step 120, it is displayed that it is necessary to reconfirm whether the densities of the exposed portion and the unexposed portion of the negative film N are within the permissible range after a certain time has passed, and at step 122. , It is determined whether or not a fixed time has elapsed, and in step 124 it is again determined whether or not the abnormality of the negative film N has been resolved, that is, whether or not the image density is within the allowable range at this time. To do. If it is judged that it is not within the allowable range,
In step 126, information indicating that the cause analysis should be instructed is displayed on the display panel 72, the present process is terminated, and step 1
If the determination in step 24 is affirmative, that is, if the densities of the exposed and unexposed portions of the negative film N described above are within the permissible range, then in step 128 the negative film N
The display indicating that it should be determined whether the densities of the exposed portion and the unexposed portion are within the permissible range is stopped, and this processing ends.

By the way, in the printer processor 100, when the negative film N for which the developing process has been completed is loaded, the image of each frame recorded on the negative film N is printed on the color paper P, and the image printing is completed. Each processing such as development, fixing and washing of the color paper P is performed. At this time, in the exposure unit 14 of the printer processor 100, the image density of each frame recorded on the negative film N is read by the scanner 14N3, the exposure condition is set, and the image recorded on the negative film N with a predetermined exposure amount. To a color paper P. Usually, the exposure amount F is determined from the image density measured based on the equation (5).

[0204]

[Equation 5]

However, i indicates the colors of R, G, and B, and K indicates the photosensitive material (color paper P) and the printer processor 1.
00 is a constant determined by 00, and a is a coefficient for each color.

Here, the constant Ki and the coefficient ai for each color are
(K _R , K _B , K _G , a _R , a _B , a _G ) are changed by various factors as shown in Table 7.

[0207]

[Table 7]

Therefore, in the printer processor 100, preset exposure conditions (for example, standard, under,
The color paper P is exposed using a reference film (eyeball negative) whose image is exposed by
Values for controlling the protrusion amount of the filter, the exposure time, and the like are determined for each of the three colors R, G, and B so that this image has a predetermined density, and R, G, and B are selected from the underexposed and overexposed images. The slope coefficients of G and B are determined, and the exposure conditions are set and corrected so that the fluctuation factors in the printer processor 100 do not affect the image printed on the color paper P. In the printer processor 100, when the image density of the standard exposure image of the negative eye is measured, this image density is stored as the reference density (R, G, B separately).

On the other hand, in the printer processor 100, when the exposure processing of the image recorded on the negative film N is performed, the image densities of the respective images are integrated, and the average density is calculated every time the processing of a predetermined number of frames is performed. Then, it is compared with the stored reference density.

[0210] In Figure 26, the printer processor 100
Calculating the average density is shown an example of a process routine for comparing the calculated result with a reference concentration. This process is executed every time the image recorded on the negative film N is exposed on the color paper P.

First Step 31 of this Flowchart
At 0, it is determined whether or not it is the negative film N processed by the film processor 10. As a result, so-called extra prints are excluded, and only the negative film processed by the film processor 10 and continuously subjected to print processing is targeted for integration.

When the affirmative judgment is made in this step 310, it is judged in the next step 312 whether or not the film is a negative film of a preset type. In this step 312, it is judged from the DX code or the like of the negative film N, and the negative film photographed by a special photographing means such as a one-time-use camera is excluded from the integration target. This judgment may be recorded on a negative film by optical information, magnetic information, etc. when processed by the film processor 10, for example, and it may be judged by the film processor 10 and judged from this judged information. Good.

In this way, when it is determined that the negative film is set in advance (affirmative determination in step 312)
Then, in the next step 314, it is determined whether or not the standard size such as E size or L size is used for printing. This determination can be made, for example, based on whether or not the exposure unit 14 has switched the color paper and the printing magnification, and thus can exclude, for example, panorama size or half size images. Alternatively, the image size recorded on the negative film may be read by the scanner 14N3 for determination.

At the next step 316, the scanner 14N
The image density for each of R, G, and B of the image measured in 3 is read. Next, in step 318, it is determined whether the read image density is within a predetermined range, and not the image exposed under the appropriate conditions, but the special image taken in the underexposed or overexposed state is selected. Exclude from the accumulation target. As the selection condition at this time, for example, when the image density measured this time is within a predetermined range (for example, within 1.5σ) with respect to the image density measured in the past, the integration target is set. It is judged that the image was taken in the exposed or overexposed state, and is excluded from the integration target.

In this way, by appropriately selecting the integration target, only the appropriate image density that can clearly determine the processing state of the film processor 10 is selected.

When the image to be integrated is selected, the process proceeds to step 320, and the image density of this image is set to R, G, B.
The total number of frames is counted as well as each time. In the next step 322, it is confirmed whether or not the count value of the cumulative number of frames has reached a predetermined value (for example, a preset number of frames between 100 frames and 5000 frames, for example 500 frames), and the set number of frames is set. Then, the average density for each of R, G and B is calculated from the integrated density value (step 32).
4).

At the next step 326, the calculated average density is compared with the reference density measured and set from the eye negative,
The comparison result is transferred to the control unit 60 of the film processor 10 (step 328).

On the other hand, in the film processor 10, when the comparison result of the average density and the reference density is input from the printer processor 100, the flow chart shown in FIG. 25 is executed. This flowchart manages the processing state from the negative film N processed by the film processor 10 because the image density is appropriate.

First Step 30 of this Flowchart
At 0, R input from the film processor 100,
The comparison result of the average density of each color of G and B and the reference density is read. In the next steps 302 and 304, it is determined from the comparison result whether or not the change in the image density of the negative film N is within an allowable range and whether the image density is out of standard, which is unacceptable. The average density and the reference density are compared for each color of R, G, and B.

In the first step 302 of making this judgment, it is judged whether or not the difference in the average density with respect to the reference density is within an allowable range (for example, within ± 3%). It is determined that the processing state in the processor 10 is good (negative determination in step 302), and this flowchart ends.

On the other hand, when the difference between the average density and the reference density exceeds the allowable range (step 302)
If the density of the image on the negative film N is out of the standard, the process proceeds to step 304.
Here, for example, when the average density has an error within ± 5% of the standard limit with respect to the reference density (negative determination), the process proceeds to step 306, and the display panel 72 needs to manage the processing performance of the film processor 10. Display that there is.

On the other hand, when the average density exceeds the standard limit with respect to the reference density, it is determined that the film processor 10 has unacceptably deteriorated processing performance, and the process proceeds to step 308. To do. When shifting to this step, the processing performance management processing routine shown in FIG. 10 is executed from step 106, and the film processor 1
The cause (abnormal cause) of the processing performance degradation of 0 is analyzed and restored.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 25 is executed by the printer processor 100 to display the judgment result on the display section 72 of the film processor 10, and based on the judgment result, the film processor 10 performs predetermined processing performance. May be maintained.

As described above, when the negative film N processed by the film processor 10 is processed by the printer processor 100, the average density of the image of the negative film N is calculated, and the calculation result shows that the processing by the film processor 10 is abnormal. When it is determined that it has occurred, the cause can be specified, and appropriate measures for returning the processing performance to the allowable range can be executed based on the specified cause. Thereby, the film processor 10 can automatically control the processing performance so that the negative film N is finished in an appropriate state.

When the processing state of the negative film N in the film processor 10 is judged, the image density of the negative film N is used. The image density of the negative film N is obtained from the transparency (light transmittance) of the image. This is because, for example, the characteristics (machine differences) of each exposure unit 14 of the printer processor 100 are not affected. That is, if the light source unit 12 is in the same state, the LATD of the image on the negative film N can be compared with the measurement result of another printer processor.

On the other hand, for example, the exposure amount when the image on the negative film N is exposed on the color paper P, even if the exposure conditions are corrected by using a negative eye, etc., the above formula (5) and As is clear from Table 7, it is affected by various external factors (difference between printer processors), and it is difficult to compare it with other printer processors.

Therefore, when managing the processing state of the film processor 10 from the image density of the negative film N,
For example, the negative film N processed by the film processor 10 may be processed by a plurality of printer processors and the average density calculated by each printer processor may be used.

Here, the inventors of the present invention have found that the film processor “FP360B” for a small-scale developing laboratory (minilab) manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. and the printer processor “PP1250”.
V ”is used, and the processing liquid is“ CN-16L ”manufactured by the same company.
(For film processing) and "CP-47L" (for paper processing) were used. In addition, film processing machine "FP360
B ”is a color developing tank 10A, a bleaching tank 10B, a fixing tank 10
D, rinse bath 10E, stabilizing baths 10F, 10G.

This printer processor "PP1250"
V ”is a color negative film processed by the film processor“ FP360B ”(manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.,
When the product name Super G400) is loaded, the density of the image of this negative film is LATD (Large Area Transmission Density).
Is read by the VACCS sensor which is a scanner,
The average density for every 0 frames was calculated, and the image of the film that may have been shot under special conditions such as a single-use camera was excluded. The reference density is used by recording the image density of the normal frame of the eye negative when the exposure condition is set and corrected using the eye negative. The film processor of the image density processing state of "F P 360B", the difference in average density with respect to the reference concentration is ± 3
If the difference is within 3% to 5%, the normal range is set, and if the difference is within 3% to 5%, the dangerous range is set, and ± 5% or more is determined as the abnormal range.

On the other hand, the film processing machine "FP360B" has a function of recording the processing amount of the past week and the past month and comparing the recorded processing amount of the past week and the past month with the allowable processing amount. Provided. Further, a function of recording the temperature of each treatment liquid, a function of comparing the recorded temperature of each treatment liquid with an allowable temperature, and a function of recording the replenishment accuracy of each treatment liquid were provided. As the replenishment accuracy, the replenishment accuracy based on the throughput in the past week is recorded. Also, the function of measuring the electric conductivity of the final rinse water in the rinse tank and comparing the electric conductivity with the allowable range, and the pH and the specific gravity of the developer and the bleach-fixing solution are also measured. And a function of comparing with each allowable range, and a function of recording the amount of added water of each treatment liquid and comparing the recorded amount of added water with the allowable range.

Here, the film processing machine "FP360B"
Color negative film developed with (Super G40
No. 0) is sampled by the printer processor “PP1250V” for the average density calculated by integrating the image densities of the images of the negative film printed on the color paper in the standard size, and the sampling value of the average density is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a). That is, the average density of the image on the negative film gradually increases from 4 days before (see sampling values SP ₄ and SP ₃ ), and 2 days before, the reference density k _0.
3% difference allowable range for (upper k _+1, the lower limit k _-1) and beyond enter the hazard area (sampling value SP _2, SP ₁
), The current sampling value SP ₀ has reached 5% set as the abnormal region (upper limit k ₊₂ , lower limit k _-2 ).

Since such a sampling value SP ₀ was confirmed, the total processing amount of the negative film of the film processing machine "FP360B" for one week was sampled, and as a result, FIG.
As shown in (b), the current sampling value SP _6
Has reached the upper limit m ₊₁ within the range of the upper limit m ₊₁ and the lower limit m _{-1 including} the ideal processing amount m ₀ . At this time, the color developing tank 10
The temperatures of the processing liquids of A, the bleaching solution 10B, the bleach-fixing solution 10C, the super rinsing tank 10E, the stabilizing baths 10F and 10G were all within the permissible range.

However, when the replenishment accuracy for each week based on the processing amount of the negative film was sampled in each processing tank by the above-mentioned method, the replenishment accuracy in the color developing tank 10A was as shown in FIG. 27 (c). It was confirmed that the sampling value SP ₈ began to gradually increase from the sampling value SP ₇ four weeks ago to the ideal replenishment accuracy n ₀ , and the current sampling value SP ₈ has reached the upper limit value (n ₊₁ ) of the allowable range. (N _-1 is the lower limit). The replenishment accuracy in each processing tank other than the color developing tank 10A was within the allowable range. It has been confirmed that the electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath liquid in the stabilizing bath 10G is within the allowable range. In addition, p of color developing solution, bleaching solution and fixing solution
H, specific gravity, and the amount of water added to each treatment tank were within the allowable ranges.

In this way, the processing amount reaches the upper limit value m _{+ 1} ,
Further, since the replenishment accuracy to the color developing tank 10A has reached the upper limit value n ₊₁ of the allowable range, "Increase in processing amount" and "Reduction in replenishment accuracy of color developing solution (error upper limit)" are displayed on the display panel 72. .

If such an abnormal item occurs,
It is presumed that the cause is the improvement in development activity due to over-replenishment and large-scale processing.

Therefore, a value for returning the replenishing amount of the replenishing solution to the color developing tank 10A to the reference value is calculated and the replenishing condition is automatically changed. After one week, when the average density of the processed negative film was checked, it was confirmed that the average density returned to the permissible range with respect to the reference density.

Further, the inventors have found that the film processing machine "FP560B" manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., the printer processor "PP1820V" manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., the film processing solution "CN-16L" and the paper processing solution "CP-".
47L ”was used. In addition, film processing machine "FP56
0B ”, the replenisher is replenished in the fixing tank 10D, and the fixing tank 1
The fixer replenished with 0D is supplied to the bleach-fixing tank 10C.

When this processing is performed, the processing amount for the past week and the past month is recorded, and the processing amount for the past week and the past month and the allowable range are compared, and each processing solution is replenished. A function of recording accuracy, pH, specific gravity, amount of water added for evaporation, electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath 10G, and a function of comparing with a preset reference value were provided. As the average density, the average value for every 1000 frames was used.

As a result, the printer processor "PP18"
20V ”, the sampling value of the average density calculated in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the value gradually starts to decrease from the sampling value SP ₁₂ five days before, and two days ago, the difference from the reference concentration falls below 3% of the allowable range and enters the dangerous area (sampling value SP ₁₁ , See SP ₁₀ ) Current sampling value SP
₉ reached -5% which was set as an abnormal area.

Since such a sampling value SP ₉ was confirmed, the processing amount of the negative film of the film processing machine "FP560B" was sampled for one week.
As shown in (b), the sampling value SP four cycles before
The sampled value SP _{14 of} this time has reached the lower limit value m ₋₁ , starting to decrease from _{13 with} respect to the ideal processing amount m ₀ .

[0241] Here, when the temperature of the treatment liquid in each treatment tank, the replenishment accuracy, and the electric conductivity of the stabilizing bath 10G were confirmed, it was confirmed that they were within the permissible ranges with respect to the reference values. Furthermore, when the pH, specific gravity, and amount of water added for evaporation in each treatment tank were confirmed, the specific gravity and amount of water added for evaporation were within the permissible range with respect to the reference value in each treatment tank, but shown in FIG. 28 (c). The color development tank 10A
Sampling values began to gradually decrease from the reference value p ₀ for three days prior to the sampling value SP ₁₅ is the current sampling value SP ₁₆ is, tolerance to a reference value p ₀ (p ₊₁ ~
(p- ₁ range).

As described above, the processing amount reached the lower limit of the permissible range with respect to the ideal processing amount, and the pH of the color developing solution in the color developing tank 10A was below the permissible range. Therefore, the display panel 7
In No. 2, "processing amount is lower limit" and "pH of color developer exceeds the lower limit" are displayed.

When such an abnormal item occurs,
It is presumed that the cause is a decrease in development activity due to the off-coating treatment.

One way to deal with such a cause is to increase the amount of replenishment to the color developing tank 10A. Therefore, as a countermeasure at the time of the outage process, the increase amount of the replenishment amount is calculated in advance, and the replenishment amount is automatically changed for a certain period (for example, 1
After a week), when the average density of the negative film N was checked, it was confirmed that the average density returned to within the allowable range with respect to the reference density.

Further, the inventors of the present invention have found that the film processor "FP560B" and the printer processor "PP1820".
V ”, treatment liquids“ CN-16L ”and“ CP-47L ”were used. At this time, the density of the image on the negative film is D
The average value for every 1000 frames was calculated using m (density average) and compared with the reference value.

At this time, when the average value of the integrated densities has reached the upper limit, that is, since the film densities have decreased and the image densities have increased, the amount of replenishment to the color developing tank 10A has been increased as described above. As a result, it was confirmed that the desired photographic characteristics were restored.

In the above-described embodiment, the film processor or the printer processor is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the film processor and the printer processor are integrated in FIG.
It is applicable to the photographic processing device shown in FIG. That is, in this photographic processing apparatus 10L, the negative film 12L is pulled out from the cartridge 14K and developed, and the photographic paper 20L rolled up and contained in the magazine 18L is pulled out and developed. An image exposure unit 22L that exposes in accordance with the image recorded on the negative film 12L, and a photographic paper 20L that has undergone image exposure.
The photographic paper processing unit 24L for developing the paper is integrally housed in a casing (not shown).

The film processing section 16L includes a developing tank 26L for storing a developing solution, a bleaching tank 28L for storing a bleaching solution, a first fixing tank 30L, a second fixing tank 32L for storing a fixing solution, and a washing water. Washing tank 34L for storing, first stabilizing bath 36L for storing stabilizing liquid in each, and second stabilizing bath 3
8L are continuously arranged, and a drying chamber 42L and a reservoir section 44L are provided on the downstream side of the second stabilizing bath 38L.

The negative film 12L pulled out from the cartridge 14L is transferred to the developing tank 2 by a conveying means (not shown).
6L, bleaching tank 28L, first fixing tank 30L, second fixing tank 3
2L, a washing tank 34L, a first stabilizing bath 36L, and a second stabilizing bath 38L are sequentially conveyed, and a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution,
The treatment liquid is treated with washing water and a stabilizing liquid. The negative film 12L for which the treatment liquid treatment has been completed is dried by blowing dry air generated by a heater and a drying fan (not shown) in the drying chamber 42L, and the reservoir portion 44L.
It is sent to L.

On the other hand, in the image exposure section 22L, the negative film 12L which has been developed is drawn from the reservoir section 44L, the photographic paper 20L is pulled out from the magazine 18L, and the image recorded on the negative film 12L is printed on the photographic paper 20L. Are sequentially exposed. The image exposure unit 22
The L is composed of a negative film 12L and a photographic paper 20L.
Negative film 12 while conveying each at a predetermined speed
Slit exposure for exposing the image recorded on L to the photographic paper 20L, or scanning of the image recorded on the negative film 12L by the image reading means, and then scanning exposure of the read image on the photographic paper 20L by laser light or the like. It is possible to use various exposure methods such as The photographic printing paper 20L thus image-exposed is sent out to a reservoir section 46L provided between the image exposing section 22L and the photographic printing paper processing section 24L.

In the photographic paper processing section 24L, a developing tank 48L for storing a developing solution for developing the photographic paper 20L, a bleach-fixing tank 50L for storing a bleach-fixing solution, and a first rinse tank 52L for storing a rinsing solution in each of them. A second rinse tank 54L and a third rinse tank 56L are provided, and a drying chamber 58L is provided downstream of the third rinse tank 56L in the printing paper conveyance direction. The photographic printing paper 20L sent to the reservoir section 46L and subjected to image exposure is drawn into the photographic printing paper processing section 24L by a conveying means (not shown), and then the developing tank 48L and the bleach-fixing tank 50.
L, the first rinsing tank 52L, the second rinsing tank 54L, and the third rinsing tank 56L are sequentially conveyed, and the developing solution, the bleach-fixing solution,
Treated with rinse solution. Printed paper 2 that has been processed
0L is transported in the drying chamber 58L and is dried by being blown with a drying air generated by a heater, a drying fan and the like (not shown).

The photographic printing paper 20L which has been dried is cut into, for example, image frames and discharged as a photographic print.

The film processing section 16L and the photographic paper processing section 24L are respectively described above in the first embodiment,
It suffices to perform the same processing as in the second embodiment.

As described above, in the photographic processing apparatus having the film processing section 16L and the photographic paper processing section 24L, more information can be obtained and the cause of the abnormality can be estimated accurately.

[0255]

As described above, according to the present invention, while the photographic light-sensitive material for photography which has been processed by the film processing apparatus is subjected to the exposure processing by the print processing apparatus, the image densities are integrated to obtain the average density. When it is outside the predetermined range including the reference density, it is possible to estimate the cause based on the physical quantity detected by the film processing apparatus. As a result, the processing performance of each processing solution of the film processing apparatus can be set within an allowable range, and it becomes possible to perform highly accurate quality control of the photographic characteristics of the photographic photosensitive material to be processed by the processing solution and the film processing apparatus. It has an excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a film processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a printer processor according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a color developing tank.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a super rinse tank.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a final stabilizing bath.

6A and 6B are schematic configuration diagrams showing a photosensor, and FIG. 6C is a schematic configuration diagram showing a hydrometer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a control system of the film processor.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an infrared sensor unit.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing connection of an infrared unit to a control unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of management of processing performance.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of density acquisition in step 102 of FIG.

12 is a flowchart showing an example of a physical quantity determination routine in step 106 of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing amount detection.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing temperature detection of a processing liquid.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a replenishment accuracy calculation.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing specific gravity detection.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the relationship between the output value proportional to the propagation velocity in the bleaching solution of a plurality of processing machines and the specific gravity of the processing solution.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the relationship between the output value proportional to the propagation velocity in the fixing liquid of a plurality of processing machines and the density of the processing liquid.

19A to 19D are diagrams showing maps for calculating specific gravity from detected propagation velocities.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing detection of the amount of water added.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing detection of the amount of remaining silver.

FIG. 22 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the leading end portion of the film.

FIG. 23 is a table showing a map of the amount of remaining silver.

FIG. 24 is a table showing another example of the peak portion of the spectral distribution of radiated energy.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing an example of determination according to a comparison result of reference density and average density .

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an example of calculation of average density .

27A is a diagram showing an example of sampling of an average density , FIG. 27B is a diagram showing an example of sampling of a processing amount, and FIG. 27C is a diagram showing an example of sampling of replenishment accuracy. .

28A is a diagram showing an example of sampling of an average concentration , FIG. 28B is a diagram showing an example of sampling of a throughput, and FIG. 28C is a diagram showing an example of sampling of pH .

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a spectral distribution of a radiating diode.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a spectral sensitivity characteristic of a photodiode.

FIG. 31 is a table showing the radiation amount of each radiation diode.

FIG. 32 is a schematic view showing an example of a photographic processing apparatus in which a film processor and a printer processor are integrated.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 film processor 14 Exposure unit 10P processor section 32N infrared radiation part (detection means) 34N detection unit (detection means) 36N pycnometer (detection means) 38N pH sensor (detection means) 40N temperature sensor (detection means) 46N ultrasonic level meter (detection means) 48N replenishment flow meter (detection means) 50 Electric conductivity meter (detection means) 60, 60A control unit 100 printer processor N negative film (photosensitive material for photography) P color paper (photosensitive material for printing)

Front page continued (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03D 3/00 G03B 27/46 G03B 27/72 G03D 3/06

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A film processing device for processing a photographic light-sensitive material for photographing with a processing liquid, and a light-sensitive material for printing is exposed according to an image recorded on the photographic light-sensitive material for photographing developed by the film processing device. A print processing device provided with an exposing means, a density measuring means for measuring the density of an image of the photographic light-sensitive material for photographing exposed by the exposing means, and a measurement result of the density measuring means are integrated so that the film processing apparatus 1. A photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus comprising: a calculating unit that calculates an average density of an image of a processed photographic light-sensitive material; and a comparing unit that compares the average density with a reference density. 2. The photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film processing apparatus is provided with a detection means for detecting a physical quantity of a processing liquid that affects the photographic characteristics of the photographic light-sensitive material for photography. . 3. A processing amount detecting means for detecting a processing amount of the photographic light-sensitive material to be processed by the film processing device, and a processing liquid according to the processing amount of the photographic light-sensitive material for photography. 3. The photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a replenishment amount detection unit that detects a replenishment amount of the replenishing liquid to be replenished. 4. The photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein a specific photographic light-sensitive material for photography or a specific image is selected when the average density is calculated. Processing equipment. 5. The photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film processing apparatus and the print processing apparatus are integrally provided.