Apparatus for controlling addition of replenishment solution to a photographic processor

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling make-up and addition of replenishment solution to a photographic processor, having one or more reservoirs and metering pumps for selecting make-up solution concentrates, and electronic controls for determining the volume of replenishment solution. Replenishment can be accomplished taking into consideration all of the operating variables such as film size, replenishment rate, and percent exposure, as well as the cumulative effect of any additions and aerial oxidation of the solution while not in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for controlling replenishment solution to a photographic processor comprising: 1. at least one reservoir for solution concentrates,   2. at least one metering means associated with said reservoir for transferring a portion of said solution concentrate from said reservoir to said processor, and   3. means for controlling said metering means comprising: a. a first variable signal generator including: means to generate a first variable electrical signal; at least one means to independently vary said first electrical signal; means to apply said first electrical signal to control said metering means, and means to cumulatively store said first electrical signal, thereby forming an accumulated first electrical signal;   b. a second signal generator to periodically generate a second, preset, electrical signal;   c. means to compare said second electrical signal with the accumulated first electrical signal, and   d. means to apply the output of said means to compare said second and accumulated first electrical signals to control said metering means.     
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least two reservoirs and at least two metering means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least three reservoirs and at least three metering means. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first variable signal generator comprises a pre-set counter for activating said metering means, said pre-set counter having means for selecting the set number of received pulses during which it will activate said metering means, and a time base generator, connected to said pre-set counter, for generating a periodic signal, said time base generator having means for varying the period of the signal it generates. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the difference of said second and accumulated first electrical signal is applied to select which of two solution reservoirs is connected to one of said metering means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first variable signal generator comprises a pre-set counter for activating said metering means, said pre-set counter having means for selecting the set number of received pulses during which it will activate said metering means, a time base generator for generating a periodic signal, said time base generator having means for varying the period of the signal it generates, and a time base modulator, connected between said pre-set counter and said base generator, for modulating the period of the signal generated by said time base generator and generating a pulsed signal, having a frequency equivalent to the modulated signal, said time base modulator having means for varying the modulation applied to the signal generated by said time base generator. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the difference of said second and accumulated first electrical signal is applied to select which of two solution reservoirs is connected to one of said metering means. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said time based modulator is a linear time base modulator comprises a voltage comparator, having a reference input voltage to compare with the output of said time base ramp generator, which will generate a signal when the output voltage of the time base ramp generator is greater than the reference input voltage, and a multivibrator to convert the signal generated by said voltage comparator to a square wave pulse. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein there are at least four reservoirs including a water reservoir, connected to a first metering means, a first reservoir for solution concentrates, connected to a second metering means, said second and third reservoirs being connected to a single metering means through a three-way valve so that either said second or said third reservoir can be connected to said third metering means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second signal generator comprises a repeat cycle timer and a switch combination to generate an adjustable duration electrical pulse. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means to cumulatively store the first electrical signal comprises a resettable switching timer. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising means to operate said resettable switching timer include means to operate said resettable switching timer for a preset time, said resettable switching timer being connected to both said second signal generator and said preset counter so that said resettable switching timer will operate for a length of time equal to the preset time minus the time that it has operated due to the first electrical signal and will generate an electrical signal corresponding to the difference between the duration of the second electrical signal and the accumulated first electrical signal. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for controlling replenishment solution to a photographic processor comprising, in combination a. at least one reservoir for solution concentrates;   b. at least one metering means associated with said reservoir for transferring a portion of solution concentrate from said reservoir to said processor; and   c. means for controlling said metering means comprising a pre-set counter for activating said metering means, said pre-set counter having means for selecting the set number of received pulses during which it will activate said metering means, a time base generator for generating a periodic signal, said time base generator having means for varying the period of the signal it generates, and a time base modulator, connected between said pre-set counter and said time base generator, for modulating the period of the signal generated by said time base generator and generating a pulsed signal having a frequency equivalent to the modulated signal, said time base modulator having means for varying the modulation applied to the signal generated by said time base generator.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said linear time based modulator is a time base modulator comprises a voltage comparator, having a reference input voltage to compare with the output of said time base ramp generator, which will generate a signal when the output voltage of the time base ramp generator is greater than the reference input voltage, and a multivibrator to convert the signal generated by said voltage comparator to a square wave pulse. .Iadd. 15. In apparatus for controlling the addition of replenishment solution to a processing solution in a photographic film processor having at least one reservoir for replenishment solution, metering means associated with said reservoir for selectively transferring said replenishment solution from said reservoir to said processor, and adjustable control means associated with said metering means for controlling the transfer of said replenishment solution, the improvement comprising: an adjustable signal means for generating a signal representative of the utilization of said processing solution by said processor on the basis of film processed,   a preset signal means for generating a signal representative of said processing solution's degradation due to aging, and   comparator means responsive to said two signals for providing a replenishment control signal related to both film use and aging degradation of said processing solution to said adjustable control means for controlling said metering means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said comparator means compensates for processing solution added to said processor in response to film processed. .Iaddend.