JPH0147778B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] In order to maintain the activity of the developer at a predetermined value in an automatic film processor, a constant flow pump or a constant flow solenoid valve is used to restore the activity that has decreased due to blackening of the processed film. A method for replenishing a blackening replenisher corresponding to the developed area of the film and a predetermined blackening rate by operating it for a certain period of time; Assuming a replenishment amount that corresponds to the decrease in developer activity per unit length of film, replenish the anti-blackening replenisher for a time corresponding to the measured length of the film during processing. Methods are known.

In addition, the developer becomes fatigued due to oxidation, and the degree of fatigue differs depending on whether the automatic developing machine is in operation or not. It is necessary to replenish the anti-oxidant replenisher in an amount proportional to the time.

However, if the above-mentioned correction management is continued, errors in control accuracy will accumulate, so it is necessary to run the test piece twice a day and further correct the developer based on the results.

Among the correction management using test pieces, blackening correction has conventionally been carried out using a test piece that has been exposed to a predetermined density.
The known standard concentration at a predetermined location, developed in advance with a standard developer and measured visually or with a densitometer, and the same type of test piece as described above, developed with a developer to be corrected, and measured visually or with a densitometer at a predetermined location. Compare the density and replenish the amount of anti-blackening replenisher corresponding to the difference in density using the experience and skill of an expert, or if it is over-replenished, pass through exposed unused film and replenish the activity level. The developer was controlled by lowering the amount of water.

However, with this method, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of replenisher that corresponds to the difference in concentration between the two test strips, so a slightly smaller amount is usually refilled manually, at which point the test strip is passed again to make up the missing amount. Replenish additionally, and in case of over-replenishment, replenish the exposed unused film 2 times while testing.
The standard condition has been restored by passing it through three times, but this is a very troublesome and time-consuming process.

The present invention provides blackening correction using the above-mentioned test piece,
It relates to a device that can perform mechanical operations accurately and quickly, and its characteristics are:
When a test piece 1 as shown in the figure is treated with a standard developer, a measurement point 4 at a suitable place in continuous tone zone 2 or mesh zone 3, for example, 50% halftone dot in mesh zone 3, is measured using a densitometer 5. When the measured standard density is N, and when the same type of test piece 1 is treated with the developer to be corrected, the measured density similarly measured at the same point as the above measurement point 4 is N'. According to the instructions given below, the anti-blackening replenisher is automatically replenished according to the following formula (1), or the exposed and unused film is passed according to the following formula (2).

T = K ₁ × (N-N') ... (1) A = -K ₂ × (N-N') ... (2) T is the time during which the constant flow replenishment means is operated.

A is the area of exposed unused film. K ₁ and K ₂ are
The blackening coefficient is experimentally determined in advance based on the test piece, developer and replenisher used, the concentration measurement position of the test piece, the flow rate of the replenishing solenoid valve, the type of waste film, etc.

Note that the density measurement location may be a location corresponding to the measurement point 4 in the continuous tone zone 2.

Next, the present invention will be specifically explained based on FIG. 2.

In advance, the standard density N, the first blackening coefficient _K1 , and the second blackening coefficient _K2 are set in the standard density setting device 6, the first blackening coefficient setting device 7, and the second blackening coefficient setting device 8, respectively.
Set it.

In addition, the difference between the standard concentration N and the measured concentration N' is small,
A control width P that is within an allowable range and does not require correction of the developer is set in advance in the control width setting device 9.

Furthermore, the above equations (1) and (2) are stored in the first multiplication circuit 10 and the second multiplication circuit 11, respectively.

Then, the above standard concentration measured with the densitometer 5
When N' is set in the measured concentration setter 12 and the apparatus is started, both the set concentrations N and N' are input to the excess/deficiency discrimination circuit 13 and the subtraction circuit 14.

Then, the excess/deficiency determining circuit 13 determines whether the concentrations N and N' are large or small, that is, whether the developer is under-replenished or over-replenished, and outputs positive and negative signals to the first gate 15 and the second gate, respectively. At the same time, the subtraction circuit 14 calculates the concentration difference N-N' and outputs the result to the multiplication circuits 10 and 11 and the comparison circuit 17.

The comparison circuit 17 compares the value of N-N' with the control width P input from the control width setting device 9, and determines that P _nax >N-
If N'>P _nio , that is, the density difference N-N' is within the control width P, the lamp 18 is lit to notify the
N′>P _nax . , that is, if the developer is insufficiently replenished by more than the control width P, the first gate 15 is opened and the N-
N′<P _nio . That is, if the developer is over-replenished beyond the control range P, the second gate 16 is opened.

When the first gate 15 opens, the first multiplication circuit 10 is activated by the passing signal, and the subtraction circuit 14 is activated.
( ₁ ) above from the density difference N-N' input from
The formula T = K ₁ × (N - N') is calculated, and the constant flow solenoid valve 19 is opened for a time T to replenish the required amount of anti-blackening replenisher and bring the developer to a predetermined activity level. recover to.

Further, when the second gate 16 opens, the second multiplication circuit 11 is activated by the passing signal, and the subtraction circuit 1 is activated.
Based on the density difference N-N' input from 4 and the second blackening coefficient K2 input from the second blackening coefficient setter ₈ ,
The above formula (2) A=-K ₂ ×(N-N') is calculated,
The result is displayed as the area value A on the display 21 via the decoder 20, and the developer can be brought to a predetermined activity level by passing the exposure agent film through the developer in accordance with the result.

As described above, according to the apparatus of the present invention, all of the anti-blackening correction can be performed mechanically, so even an unskilled person can quickly and accurately correct the anti-blackening of the developer with one simple operation. It is very convenient to be able to perform color correction, and it is also possible to improve the operating rate of the automatic developing machine.

In addition, in the above, the concentration measurement of test piece 1 is as follows:
At the dryer outlet of the automatic developing machine, there is a test piece detection device such as a micro switch, a film transport temporary stop device activated by the detection device, and a densitometer 5.
may be set, automatically measured and input into the apparatus of the present invention, or developed test piece 1
The concentration may be manually measured at a suitable location and input into the device.

In addition, in the above description, the mid-density area of the test piece 1 was set as the density measurement point 4 because this area can be measured relatively easily and accurately.For example, the area with 75% halftone dots is It can also be used as a concentration measurement point.

The constant flow solenoid valve 1 is used as the constant flow replenishment means.
It goes without saying that, in place of 9, a constant flow pump or the like may be used, for example.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a test piece, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention. 1...Test piece, 2...Continuous tone zone, 3...
Mesh zone, 4...Measurement point, 5...Concentration meter, 6...
...Standard density setting device, 7...First blackening coefficient setting device,
8...Second blackening coefficient setter, 9...Control width setter, 10...First multiplication circuit, 11...Second multiplication circuit, 12...Measurement density setting device, 13...Excess/deficiency discrimination circuit , 14... Subtraction circuit, 15... First gate, 16... Second gate, 17... Comparison circuit, 1
8...Lamp, 19...Solenoid valve, 20...Decoder, 21...Display device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A standard concentration setting device 6 for setting the standard concentration N at a predetermined measurement point 4 of a test piece 1 treated with a standard developer, and a test of the same type as above, treated with a developer to be corrected. A measuring density setting device 12 for setting the measured density N' at the same location as the measuring point 4 on strip 1, and a constant flow replenishment of a blackening replenisher to restore the activity of the insufficiently replenished developer to a predetermined value. T=K1×(N-
Let A be the required area of the first blackening coefficient setter 7 that sets the first blackening coefficient K1 that satisfies the formula N') and the exposed and unused film that reduces the activity of the over-replenished developer to a predetermined value. , a second blackening coefficient setter 8 for setting a second blackening coefficient K2 that satisfies the experimentally determined formula A=-K2×(N-N'), and the standard density N and the measured density A control width setting device 9 for setting a control width P which is an experimentally determined tolerance range for the concentration difference N-N′ of N′, the standard concentration setting device 6 and the measured concentration setting device 1.
an excess/deficiency determination circuit 13 which inputs the concentrations N and N' set in 2, determines their magnitude, and outputs a positive or negative signal; the standard concentration setting device 6 and the measurement concentration setting device 1;
Input the concentration N and N' set in 2 to set the concentration.
A subtraction circuit 14 that calculates the difference N-N' inputs and compares the calculation result of the subtraction circuit 14 and the management width P set in the management width setting device 9,
If P _nax ,>N−N′>P _nio , display this as appropriate, if N−N′>P _nax , output a positive signal, and if N−N′<P _nio , then display this as appropriate. For example, a comparison circuit 17 that outputs a negative signal, a positive signal of the excess/deficiency discrimination circuit 13, a first gate 15 that opens only when the positive signal of the comparison circuit 17 is input, and a first gate 15 that opens only when the positive signal of the excess/deficiency discrimination circuit 13 is input. Negative signal and comparison circuit 1
2nd gate 1 that opens only when a negative signal of 7 is input
6, memorize the above empirical formula T=K1×(N-N'), and
a first multiplication circuit 10 that is activated by the output signal of the gate 15 and calculates T from the calculation result of the subtraction circuit 14 and the first blackening coefficient K1 set in the first blackening coefficient setting device 7; a constant flow replenishment means operated by the output of the multiplier circuit 10 to replenish the anti-blackening replenisher; The second controller is activated and calculates A based on the calculation result of the subtraction circuit 14 and the second blackening coefficient K2 set in the second blackening coefficient setter 8.
A blackening correction device using a test piece in an automatic developing machine, comprising: a multiplication circuit 11; and a display 21 for displaying the calculation results of the second multiplication circuit 11. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein T is the opening time of the replenisher replenishment valve. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein T is the drive time of the replenisher replenishment pump.