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

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising: (f1) storing a third signal indicative of the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required during the interval if replenishment is not provided; and (f2) including in the second replenishment signal the amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required as indicated by the third signal.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second replenishment signals are digital signals.

Claim 5

A control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide anti-oxidation replenisher to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: means for measuring a time interval of predetermined duration and providing a clock signal at the end of the 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 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 an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required during the time interval as a function of expired time since a last provision of anti-oxidation replenishment and the stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means responsive to the clock signal for comparing the first replenishment signal and the second replenishment signal at the end of the time interval; means for providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment if the difference by which the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal is equal to or greater than a preset value, and providing no anti-oxidation replenishment if the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal by less than the preset value.

Claim 6

A control system for controlling anti-oxidation replenisher means to provide anti-oxidation replenisher to a processor of photosensitive material, the control system comprising: means for measuring a time interval of predetermined duration and providing a clock signal at the end of the 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 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 an amount of anti-oxidation replenishment required during the time interval as a function of expired time since a last provision of anti-oxidation replenishment and the stored anti-oxidation replenishment rate; means responsive to the clock signal for comparing the first replenishment signal and the second replenishment signal at the end of the time interval; means for providing a predetermined amount of anti-oxidation replenishment if the difference by which the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal is equal to or greater than a preset value, and providing no anti-oxidation replenishment if the second replenishment signal exceeds the first replenishment signal by less than the preset value.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, and further comprising: means for storing a third signal indicative of the anti-oxidation replenishment required at the end of an interval if replenishment does not occur; and wherein the means for providing second replenishment signal uses the third signal in determining the value of the second replenishment signal.

Claim 8

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 9

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 predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end 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 valve 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 use of processor fluid and the 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 value representing the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since the last 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 if the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value by at least a preset value; providing no anti-oxidation replenishment if the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value by less than the present value; and resetting the clock means to reinitiate the interval.

Claim 10

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 predetermined time interval and providing a clock signal at the end 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 valve 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 use of processor fluid and the 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 value representing the anti-oxidation replenishment rate and expired time since the last 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 if the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value by at least a preset value; providing no anti-oxidation replenishment if the second replenishment value exceeds the first replenishment value by less than the present value; and resetting the clock means to reinitiate the interval.