US4422152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Automatic fixed-quantity/variable-time anti-oxidation replenisher control system
Assignee: Pako Corp
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Filing: 1981-11-19
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Granted: 1983-12-20
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Expires: 2001-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A processor of photosensitive material includes an automatic control system for providing anti-oxidation replenishment, as a function of a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate and anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment. A time interval is initiated during which the anti-oxidation replenishment required due to expired time is compared to the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by the exhaustion replenishment in that time interval. When the difference by which the amount of needed anti-oxidation replenishment exceeds the anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment reaches a preset value, a fixed amount of replenisher is added to the developer tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth M. Kaufmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03D; G03D3/00; G03D3/02; G03D3/06; G03D3/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2499; Y10T137/2509
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of providing replenishment to processor fluid in a processor photosensitive material, the method comprising: (a) initiating a time interval; (b) providing exhaustion replenishment during the time interval as a function of use of processor fluid; (c) providing a first replenishment signal indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment supplied as a result of the exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; (d) periodically providing a second replenishment signal indicative of an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required since the initiation of the interval as a function of time since initiation of the time interval and a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate; (e) periodically comparing the first and second replenishment signals; (f) providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment if the second signal exceeds the first signal by a difference which is equal to or greater than a preset value; and (g) initiating another time interval in which steps (b)-(g) are repeated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of providing replenishment to processor fluid in a processor photosensitive material, the method comprising: (a) initiating a time interval; (b) providing exhaustion replenishment during the time interval as a function of use of processor fluid; (c) providing a first replenishment signal indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment supplied as a result of the exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; (d) periodically providing a second replenishment signal indicative of an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required since the initiation of the interval as a function of time since initiation of the time interval and a stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate; (e) periodically comparing the first and second replenishment signals; (f) providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment if the second signal exceeds the first signal by a difference which is equal to or greater than a preset value; and (g) initiating another time interval in which steps (b)-(g) are repeated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: determining a minimum time in the interval during which the difference cannot equal or exceed the preset value; and inhibiting steps (d) and (e) during the minimum time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second replenishment signals are first and second digital signals, respectively, and wherein the preset value is a digital value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
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 time interval; means for storing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for storing an exhaustion replenishment rate; means for automatically providing exhaustion replenishment as a function of the use of processor fluid and the exhaustion replenishment rate; means for providing a first replenishment signal indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment supplied as a result of the exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; means for providing a second replenishment signal indicative of the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required during the time interval as a function of expired time and the anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for periodically comparing the first replenishment signal and the second replenishment signal; means for providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment when the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal by a difference which is equal to or greater than a preset value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
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 time interval; means for storing an anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for storing an exhaustion replenishment rate; means for automatically providing exhaustion replenishment as a function of the use of processor fluid and the exhaustion replenishment rate; means for providing a first replenishment signal indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment supplied as a result of the exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; means for providing a second replenishment signal indicative of the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required during the time interval as a function of expired time and the anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means for periodically comparing the first replenishment signal and the second replenishment signal; means for providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment when the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal by a difference which is equal to or greater than a preset value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 4, 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
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: means for determining a minimum time in the interval during which the difference cannot equal or exceed the preset value; and means for inhibiting the comparing of the first and second signals during the minimum time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
275 words
A computer-based control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means for providing anti-oxidation replenishment to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: clock means for measuring a time interval and providing a signal indicative of expired time of the 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 a predetermined amount of 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; 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 use of processor fluid and the digital value representing the exhaustion replenishment rate; providing a first digital replenishment value indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; providing a second digital replenishment value indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored digital value representing the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and the signal indicative of expired time of the interval; comparing the first digital replenishment value with the second digital replenishment value periodically; providing the second replenishment signal to the anti-oxidation replenishment means when the difference by which the second digital replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value is equal to or greater than a preset digital value; and resetting the clock means to reinitiate the time interval when anti-oxidation has been provided by the anti-oxidation replenishment means in response to the second replenishment signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
275 words
A computer-based control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means for providing anti-oxidation replenishment to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: clock means for measuring a time interval and providing a signal indicative of expired time of the 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 a predetermined amount of 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; 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 use of processor fluid and the digital value representing the exhaustion replenishment rate; providing a first digital replenishment value indicative of an accumulated amount of anti-oxidation replenishment provided by exhaustion replenishment during the time interval; providing a second digital replenishment value indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment needed as a function of the stored digital value representing the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and the signal indicative of expired time of the interval; comparing the first digital replenishment value with the second digital replenishment value periodically; providing the second replenishment signal to the anti-oxidation replenishment means when the difference by which the second digital replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value is equal to or greater than a preset digital value; and resetting the clock means to reinitiate the time interval when anti-oxidation has been provided by the anti-oxidation replenishment means in response to the second replenishment signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-19 | 1987-06-20 | 1987-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-19 | 1991-06-20 | 1991-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-19 | 1995-06-20 | 1995-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |