Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to automatic replenisher systems for processors of photosensitive material. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved control system for controlling a replenisher which provides replenisher fluid to a processor. 
     Photographic processors require replenishment of the processing fluids to compensate for the lowered chemical activity of the fluid which results from processing of the photosensitive film or paper. Replenishment systems originally were manually operated. The operator would visually inspect the film being processed and would manually operate the replenisher systems as he deemed necessary. The accuracy of manual replenisher systems is obviously dependent upon the skill and experience of the operator. 
     In recent years, automatic replenishment systems have found increasing use. These systems typically utilize film density measurements and, in some cases, film speed measurements to control the operation of the replenishment system. Examples of previous automatic replenishment systems are shown in a patent application by Gaskell and Charnley, Ser. No. 590,078, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,818 filed June 25, 1975 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,529,529 by Shumacher, 3,559,555 by Street, 3,561,344 by Frutiger et al, 3,696,728 by Hope, 3,752,052 by Hope et al, 3,822,723 by Crowell et al, and 3,927,417 by Kinoshita et al. 
     The prior art automatic replenisher systems may be characterized generally as analog electrical or electromechanical systems. As a result, they are generally difficult to calibrate, are subject to drift, and are relatively complex electrically or mechanically. There is a continuing need for simpler, more reliable automatic replenishment systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved control system for controlling a replenisher which provides replenisher fluid to a processor of photosensitive material. The control system includes means for providing a signal having a frequency indicative of a measured parameter associated with operation of the processor. Counter means counts in response to the variable frequency signal, and interrogate means interrogates the counter means at predetermined intervals. An energizing signal is provided to the replenisher at the predetermined intervals. The time duration of the energizing signal is determined by the count in the counter means when the counter means is interrogated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the control system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the control system of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a replenishment system which includes the control circuit of the present invention. A processor 10 of photosensitive material has its processor fluid replenished by replenisher 12. Both processor 10 and replenisher 12 may take any one of many well-known forms, such as those shown in the previously mentioned patent application and patents. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, two parameters relating to the processing occurring in processor 10 are sensed. Density sensor 14 senses the density of the developed film and produces a density signal proportional to the image density of the developed film. Film speed sensor 16 senses the speed of which film is being transported through the processor 10. In the preferred embodiments, film speed sensor 16 provides a film speed signal which is proportional to the film speed through the processor 10. 
     Speed/density signal combiner 18 receives the density signal from density sensor 14 and the film speed signal from film speed sensor 16. These two signals are combined by speed/density signal combiner 18 to provide a combined signal. In one preferred embodiment, the combined signal is the product of the density signal and the film speed signal, and speed/density signal combiner 18 is a multiplier which multiplies the density and film speed signals. 
     The combined signal from speed/density signal combiner 18 is received by voltage-to-frequency converter 20. The voltage-to-frequency converter 20 produces a variable frequency signal whose frequency is indicative of the measured parameters (density and film speed). 
     The variable frequency signal drives counter 22, which, in a preferred embodiment, counts up in response to the variable frequency signal. Counter 22 is interrogated at predetermined intervals by interrogate means formed by clock 24, counter 26, and register 28. Counter 26, which is driven by clock 24, has outputs which provide a clear signal, a load signal, and a countdown signal. 
     The load signal is provided to register 28 at the predetermined intervals. In one preferred embodiment, the load signal is provided every 30 seconds and has a 30 msec duration. The load signal causes register 28 to accept the count then contained in counter 22. 
     The clear signal is a short duration signal which immediately follows the load signal. The clear signal resets counter 22 after the count in counter has been loaded in register 28. In the preferred embodiment in which counter 22 counts up in response to the variable frequency signal from voltage frequency converter 20, the clear signal resets counter 22 to zero. 
     The count-down signal causes register 28 to count down from the count which has been transferred from counter 22 to register 28. The time required for register 28 to count down to zero in response to the count-down signal is, of course, determined by the count which has been loaded from counter 22. 
     NOR gate 30 receives all of the outputs of register 28. The output of NOR gate 30 is &#34;O&#34; only during the time that register 28 has a non-zero count. Gate 32 is a driver or interface gate which provides an energizing signal to replenisher 12. In the circuits shown in FIG. 1, the energizing signal is applied to replenisher 12 only during the time when the output of NOR gate 30 is &#34;O&#34;. In other words, the energizing signal is applied for the time duration required by the register 28 to count down to zero from the count received from the counter 22. 
     The operation of the control system of the present invention, therefore, is based upon the production of a variable frequency signal (by density sensor 14, film speed sensor 16, speed/density signal combiner 18, and voltage-to-frequency converter 20) which has a frequency indicative of a measured parameter or parameters associated with operation of the processor 10. This variable frequency signal drives counter 22, which is interrogated at predetermined intervals (for example, every 30 seconds) by clock 24, counter 26, and register 28. An energizing signal is applied to replenisher 12 through gates 30 and 32. The time duration of the energizing signal is determined by the count in counter 22 when it is interrogated. 
     The time duration of the energizing signal can, conceivably, vary from zero seconds to approximately 30 seconds, which is the predetermined interval between interrogation. The zero second duration (i.e. no energization of replenisher 12) can occur if the density sensor 14 or film speed sensor 16 indicates that no replenishment is required so that the frequency of the variable frequency signal is zero. This may occur, for example, if no film is being passed through processor 10. 
     The maximum time duration of the energizing signal to replenisher 12 is determined by the maximum count which can be stored in counter 22 and register 28 and by the frequency of the count-down signal. In no case is the maximum time duration greater than the predetermined interval, and in many cases it is less than the predetermined interval. 
     FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention which is generally similar to the system shown in FIG. 1. For that reason, similar numerals have been used to designate similar elements. 
     The system of FIG. 2 differs from the system of FIG. 1 in that an additional NOR gate 34 has been added. NOR gate 34 NORs the output of NOR gate 30 with the load signal. The output of NOR gate 34 is then applied to gate 32, which in turn provides the energizing signal to replenisher 12. The purpose of NOR gate 34 is to provide a short energization of replenisher 12 at the predetermined intervals even if counter 22 contains a zero count and the output of NOR gate 30 does not go to zero during that interval. Under some circumstances, this energization of replenisher 12 at regular time intervals is advantageous, as specifically discussed in the previously mentioned co-pending patent application by Gaskell and Charnley. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the load signal has a pulse of approximately 30 msec. If this duration of energizing signal is not desired, additional circuitry can be added to the circuit of FIG. 2 to either increase or decrease the duration of the load signal applied to NOR gate 34. 
     The control circuit of the present invention has several important advantages over the prior art replenisher control systems. First, it is easier to calibrate than the prior art analog electrical or electromechanical systems. Second, it is not subject to drift problems. Third, the system of the present invention uses fewer and less complex components than the prior art systems. This results in lower cost and greater reliability than the prior art systems. Fourth, the control circuit of the present invention greatly simplifies power supply requirements, since it requires a single, relatively low voltage to operate the digital electronics and does not require a two-phase clock. Fifth, the control circuit of the present invention greatly simplifies the requirements for the signal processing of the speed and density signals. 
     In conclusion, the control system of the present invention provides highly accurate, reliable replenisher system control with greatly reduced system complexity, system cost, and number of components. Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: g