Method of replenishing a developer for photosensitive plate
AssigneeFuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
InventorsHisao Ohba, Toshio Uchida, Azusa Ohashi, Nobuyuki Kita
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Abstract
A method of replenishing a developer during the development of photosensitive plates in a conveyor-type automatic developing machine connected to a replenishing device in which the dissolution of the photosensitive layer in the non-image area of a photosensitive plate is measured with a sensor. The sensor is positioned at a certain point in the developing zone of the machine, and, when the measured dissolution reaches a certain level, the replenishing device is automatically actuated to supply a predetermined amount of replenisher to the developer.
Claims21
A method of replenishing a source of developer compound for an autoamtic image developing machine which develops images upon a plurality of pre-exposed photosensitive plates by depositing said developer compound on said plates as said plates are transported through said machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing a residual amount of a photosensitive layer remaining on said photosensitive plates a predetermined period of time after said plates are coated with said developer compound;
- and
- sending a predetermined quantity of a replenisher developer compound to said source of developer compound when said residual amount of said photosensitive layer exceeds a predetermined level.
An automatic image developing machine for developing images upon a plurality of photosensitive plates comprising:
- a housing;
- a first source of developer compound;
- means for sequentially passing said photosensitive plates through said housing;
- coating means within said housing for sequentially coating said photosensitive plates with said developer compound from said source;
- a second source of replenisher developer compound in communication with said first source;
- sensing means disposed downstream of said coating means for sensing a residual amount of a photosensitive layer remaining on said photosensitive plates;
- and
- means responsive to said sensor signal for transferring a predetermined amount of said replenisher compound from said second source to said first source when said residual amount of said photosensitive layer exceeds a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.