Features Of Automatic Film Processing

Question 1

List the features of automatic radiographic film processing

Answer 1

1. Film feed section
2. Film transport
3. Processing cycle time
4. Processor capacity
5. Developer, washing, fixing and drying
6. Standby facilities
7. Replenishment
8. Care and maintenance

Question 2

Film feed section

Answer 2

Entry point of the film

Question 3

What events follow when the film is fed up into the processor.

Answer 3

• Drive motor is energized to turn the rollers
• Safelight above the feed tray is extinguished
• Developer, replenisher are pumped into the tunk
• Drier heater energized and at the right temp, making it ready
• Wash water flow boosted
• Film signal delay timer is activated to let the radiographer know that its time to feed another film.

Question 4

What 2 mechanisms at the film feed section

Answer 4

1. As the film is pushed in against the entry rollers, the top entry rollers move upwards and activates a set of microswitches which set up the events to occur.
   * When the film is gone the top entry rollers moves down ward to its original position and the microswitches are disengaged.

Use of infrared detector system the passage of the film interrupts and blocks the infrared beams thus providing evidence of film length.

Question 5

Film transport

Answer 5

• The film is automatically transported via a system of rollers and guide plates in and out of the developer, fixer, washing and drying sections to be delivered and ready for viewing.

Question 6

Guide plates

Answer 6

Used to direct the film where it has to turn 90*

Question 7

Squeegee rollers

Answer 7

placed between tanks to help in removing solution from the emulsion as the film leaves one tank and enters another.

Question 8

Processing cycle time

Answer 8

• Time taken for a film to travel from its dry unprocessed condition on the input tray to the dry processed state on the output tray. 90-115 sec

Question 9

Processor capacity

Answer 9

The measure o the ability of the processor to process a given number of films in a given time.

Question 10

define film feed time

Answer 10

speed of the film through the processor.

Question 11

Developer section

Answer 11

• Recirculation
• Temperature
• Replenishment
• Drainage

Question 12

Recirculation

Answer 12

Adequate mixing of solution is achieved by movement of rollers and the recirculation system which ensure that developer solution is continuously on the move.

Question 13

Temperature value for developer.

Answer 13

35 degres

Question 14

Thermostat

Answer 14

Switches off the immersionheater when the desired temperature is reached.

Question 15

Immersion heater

Answer 15

heats contents of the developer

Question 16

Heat exchanger

Answer 16

Helps to control temp rise by taking some of the heat away.

Question 17

Fixer section

Answer 17

• temp not as sensitive as in the developer
• Cold-water processors lower the temperature.
• A pump supplies fresh fixer into the fixer tank.
• Fixer is drained by a drainage pipe at the bottom of the tank.

Question 18

Washing section

Answer 18

• Squeegee rollers help to remove excess fixer contents from emulsion surface.
• water pipe with perforations through which the water is forcibly sprayed onto the surface of the film as it passes by

Question 19

Drying section

Answer 19

• Squeegee rollers remove excess water from the washing section
• Dust-free host air is blown onto the surface of the film using cylindrical tubes located between tpt rollers.
• temp kept at 55 degrees with the help of the thermostat

Question 20

Stand-by facilities

Answer 20

• prevents unnecessasry wastage of valuable resources when the machine is idle.
• Arrives 20-30 sec after the film exits the processor. and switches on after 10 min

Question 20

Replenishment

Answer 20

Responsible for maintaining proper conc. and vol. of the solution in developer an fixer tanks.

Question 21

Advantages of stand-by facility

Answer 21

• Reduction in electrical power consumption
• Reduction in mains water used
• Reduction in processor wear and tear

Question 22

Start-up procedure of the automatic processor.

Answer 22

Before switching on;
1.Check solution levels in the tanks
2.Solution levels in the developer and fixer replenisher tanks
3.Correct installation of roller racks
*Open water supply valve
*Turn on the mains switch
*Turn on processor power switch
*Check developer temperature
*Feed 2 or 3 obsolete films through the processor to clean the rollers and check the films for any surface damage. Also as part of warming up the processor

Question 23

Daily maintenance of the automatic processor.

Answer 23

• Check the levels of developer, fixer and water. Replenish if needed.
• Look for any leaks
• Run a clean-up film through the processor to remove any debris.
• Clean the exterior surfaces of the processor,

Question 24

Shutdown procedure

Answer 24

1. Check that there are no films in transit
2. Turn off processor power switch and the mains isolator
   3.Turn off water supply valve(s)
3. Remove processor cover
4. Remove the cross-over roller assemblies and clean the rollers with warm water and non-abrasive cloth
5. Remove any visible chemical deposits from inside the processor
6. Replace processor cover but leave slightly open to allow flow of air and thus help to prevent condensation problems

Question 25

weekly maintenance

Answer 25

• Remove and clean tank covers and rollers
• Check the replenishment tanks for proper levels, colour and signs of leaks.
• Ensure the water drain valve is closed.