Automatic variable-quantity/fixed-time anti-oxidation replenisher control system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inhibiting the comparing of the first and second replenishment signals and the providing of anti-oxidation replenishment in the subsequent interval, if the amount of excess anti-oxidation replenishment exceeds a maximum anti-oxidation replenishment amount required in the subsequent interval.

Claim 4

A control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide anti-oxidation replenishment to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: means for measuring a predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end of the time interval; means for storing an exhaustion replenishment rate; means for storing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for providing a signal indicative of use of processor fluid; means for providing exhaustion replenishment during the time interval as a function of the signal indicative of use of processor fluid and the exhaustion replenishment rate; means for providing a first replenishment signal indicative of (1) an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval and (2) an amount of excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount carried over from a preceding interval; means for providing a second replenishment signal indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since the last anti-oxidation replenishment; means responsive to the clock signal for comparing the first replenishment signal with the second replenishment signal at the end of the time interval; means for causing the anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment which is a function of the amount by which the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal, if the second replenishment signal is greater than the first replenishment signal; and means for determining the excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount to be carried out to a subsequent interval as a function of an amount by which the first signal is greater than the second signal.

Claim 5

A control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide anti-oxidation replenishment to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: means for measuring a predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end of the time interval; means for storing an exhaustion replenishment rate; means for storing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for providing a signal indicative of use of processor fluid; means for providing exhaustion replenishment during the time interval as a function of the signal indicative of use of processor fluid and the exhaustion replenishment rate; means for providing a first replenishment signal indicative of (1) an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval and (2) an amount of excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount carried over from a preceding interval; means for providing a second replenishment signal indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since the last anti-oxidation replenishment; means responsive to the clock signal for comparing the first replenishment signal with the second replenishment signal at the end of the time interval; means for causing the anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment which is a function of the amount by which the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal, if the second replenishment signal is greater than the first replenishment signal; and means for determining the excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount to be carried out to a subsequent interval as a function of an amount by which the first signal is greater than the second signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: means for inhibiting the comparing of the first and second replenishment signals and the providing of anti-oxidation replenishment in the subsequent interval if the amount of excess anti-oxidation replenishment exceeds a maximum anti-oxidation replenishment amount required in the subsequent interval.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second replenishment signals are digital signals; the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and exhaustion replenishment rate are stored as digital data; and the means for comparing the first and second replenishment signals is a programmed digital computer.

Claim 8

A computer-based control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means for providing anti-oxidation replenisher to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: clock means for measuring a predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end of the time interval; exhaustion replenishment means responsive to a first replenishment signal for providing exhaustion replenishment; means for providing a signal indicative of use of processor fluid; anti-oxidation replenishment means responsive to a second replenishment signal for providing anti-oxidation replenishment; and programmed digital computer means for: storing a digital value representing an exhaustion replenishment rate; receiving the signal indicative of use of processor fluid; receiving the clock signal from the clock means; storing a digital value representing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; providing the first replenishment signal to the exhaustion replenishment means as a function of the signal indicative of use of processor fluid and the value representing the exhaustion replenishment rate; providing a first digital replenishment value indicative of (1) an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval and (2) an excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount carried over from a preceding interval; providing a second digital replenishment value indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored value representing anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since a last previous anti-oxidation replenishment by the anti-oxidation replenishment means; comparing the first replenishment value with the second replenishment value at the end of the time interval in response to the clock signal; providing the second replenishment signal to the anti-oxidation replenishment means indicative of an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment which is a function of the amount by which the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value, if the second replenishment value is greater than the first replenishment value; and determining the excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount to be carried out over to a subsequent interval as a function of an amount by which the first value is greater than the second value.

Claim 9

A computer-based control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means for providing anti-oxidation replenisher to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: clock means for measuring a predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end of the time interval; exhaustion replenishment means responsive to a first replenishment signal for providing exhaustion replenishment; means for providing a signal indicative of use of processor fluid; anti-oxidation replenishment means responsive to a second replenishment signal for providing anti-oxidation replenishment; and programmed digital computer means for: storing a digital value representing an exhaustion replenishment rate; receiving the signal indicative of use of processor fluid; receiving the clock signal from the clock means; storing a digital value representing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; providing the first replenishment signal to the exhaustion replenishment means as a function of the signal indicative of use of processor fluid and the value representing the exhaustion replenishment rate; providing a first digital replenishment value indicative of (1) an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval and (2) an excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount carried over from a preceding interval; providing a second digital replenishment value indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored value representing anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since a last previous anti-oxidation replenishment by the anti-oxidation replenishment means; comparing the first replenishment value with the second replenishment value at the end of the time interval in response to the clock signal; providing the second replenishment signal to the anti-oxidation replenishment means indicative of an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment which is a function of the amount by which the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value, if the second replenishment value is greater than the first replenishment value; and determining the excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount to be carried out over to a subsequent interval as a function of an amount by which the first value is greater than the second value.

Claim 10

The control system of claim 6 wherein the digital computer means inhibits the comparing of the first and second replenishment values and the providing of the second replenishment signal in the subsequent interval if the excess anti-oxidation replenishment amount exceeds a maximum anti-oxidation replenishment amount required in the subsequent interval.