Photographic film processing apparatus and method of controlling the same

A photographic film processing apparatus comprising:

• processing means for processing photographic film;
• data reading means for reading recorded data stored in a recording track on the photographic film;
• accumulating means for calculating and storing a sum of a total length of photographic film processed by said processing means;
• and
• output means for producing a maintenance demand signal when the sum of the total length of photographic film calculated by said accumulating means exceeds a predetermined limit.

A method of controlling a photographic film processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

• reading recorded data stored in a recording track on a photographic film;
• examining the recorded data to determine whether a reading error has occurred;
• processing the film in accordance with the recorded data when no reading error has occurred;
• examining predetermined criteria and the recorded data to determine whether the recorded data is eligible for replacement with predetermined reference data when a reading error has occurred;
• processing the film in accordance with the predetermined reference data when a reading error has occurred and the recorded data is eligible for replacement with the predetermined reference data;
• and
• processing the film in accordance with externally input substitute data when a reading error has occurred and the recorded data is not eligible for replacement with the predetermined reference data.

A photographic film processing apparatus comprising:

• processing means for processing photographic film;
• data reading means for reading recorded data stored in a recording track on the photographic film;
• data examining means for determining whether a data reading error has occurred;
• counting means for counting the number of reading errors;
• accumulating means for calculating a total amount of photographic film passing across said data reading means and storing the total as an accumulation;
• calculating means for calculating a ratio of the number of reading errors to the accumulation;
• output means for producing a maintenance demand signal when the ratio calculated by said calculating means exceeds a predetermined limit;
• and
• control means for controlling said apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with the recorded data when no reading error has occurred, and for examining predetermined criteria and the recorded data to determine whether the recorded data is eligible for replacement with predetermined reference data when a reading error has occurred, and for controlling said apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with the predetermined reference data when a reading error has occurred and the recorded data is eligible for replacement with the predetermined reference data, and for controlling said apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with externally input substitute data when a reading error has occurred and the recorded data is not eligible for replacement with the predetermined reference data.

A photographic film processing apparatus comprising:

• data reading means for reading recorded data stored in a recording track on a photographic film;
• processing means for processing the photographic film;
• data examining means for determining whether a data reading error has occurred;
• counting means for counting the number of reading errors;
• output means for producing a maintenance demand signal based on the number of reading errors;
• and
• control means for controlling said processing apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with the recorded data when no reading error has occurred and for controlling said processing apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with a substitute data when a reading error has occurred.

A photographic film processing apparatus comprising:

• data reading means for reading recorded data stored in a recording track on a photographic film;
• processing means for processing the photographic film;
• data examining means for determining whether a data reading error has occurred;
• counting means for counting the number of reading errors;
• output means for producing a maintenance demand signal when the number of reading errors exceeds a predetermined limit;
• and
• control means for controlling said processing apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with the recorded data when no reading error has occurred, for controlling said processing apparatus to process the photographic film in accordance with a substitute data when a reading error has occurred, and for controlling said processing apparatus to continue processing the photographic film even when the number of reading errors exceeds the predetermined limit.