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Explanation of Terms for JOBO TecnoLab Equipment
Automatic Replenishment Control – With large volume processing it can be quite handy to have the film hangers pre-coded to indicate how much film each one carries. This way, it is not necessary to enter the information manually into the surface area calculator. Manual entry would only be needed if a hanger were not fully loaded. This extra-cost option is usually reserved for large-volume machines.
Film Recovery Baskets – No matter how careful your operator is, someday they might not clip the film properly onto the hanger. When that happens, the film may fall off. Our film recovery baskets make it a simple matter to just lift up two rods and raise up whatever has fallen to the bottom of the tank. They are also handy if you have to mix working strength chemicals right in the tank, such as when you mix a fresh tank of Stabilizer. Just raise and lower the basket a few times, and it mixes the solution for you.
Fine Filtering – On all JOBO TecnoLab E-6 Delta series processors, the 1st and Color Developer baths include fine filtering through a 50 micron filter cartridge. On all C-41 and BW Delta series processors, every circulated bath passes through a 50 micron filter cartridge. On the Gamma series machines, fine filtering is an option.
First Wash in E-6 -- The wash water temperature in the first wash of the E-6 process, is nearly as temperature critical as the developer temperature. Shifts of 2º C can cause a red shift if the temperature is too high, or cyan if it is too cold. To assure consistent wash temperatures, all the Delta series E-6 processors have an automatic program which is selectable from the LCD screen control panel. The computer looks at the hangers in the tanks. If there are none, then it has been too long since the last time the water has flowed, and when a hanger arrives in the developer tank, the first wash tank switches on for the duration of the time in the first developer (usually six minutes). This is generally long enough to completely replace the water in that tank. If the computer finds hangers in any notches of the tanks, then it does not run the first wash bath until the hanger in the first developer tank is being transported into the wash tank. This conserves on water flow, but assures good temperature control for the first wash. This is an example of problem solving that came from one of our customers, and is now standard on all Delta series E-6 machines.
Four Column Design –All JOBO TecnoLab hanger processors use a four-column design. This supports the lift rack at all four corners, so that the weight of the hangers on the rack will not cause it to sag or tilt. Some manufacturers may cut corners in their designs, just to reduce the price, but this can lead to a design that is supported only from one side and may cause problems related to misalignment, ultimately causing mechanical difficulties and damaged film and equipment.
"Full" Battery Backup – Many battery backup systems on hanger processors from other manufacturers, only keep the computer or electronic controls of the processor operating during a power failure. This means you would have to grab a hand crank and listen for an audible signal to crank, in the midst of a power failure.
ALL JOBO TecnoLab processors include a battery backup system that protects the film in the event of a power failure in your lab. This includes the lift cycling, water solenoids for the wash tanks, nitrogen solenoids for the agitation in the developer tanks and air pumps for any tanks receiving air agitation. Your customer’s film will emerge from the chemical tanks in the same condition during a power failure as it will during normally powered operation. The battery backup system is capable of operating the machine for at least one hour. (Don’t add any film during a power failure, but don’t worry about the film that’s already in the machine.)
Full-Size Model – This description covers our Delta Micro, and Delta TV model processors. These are higher capacity machines than our Gamma and Compact series. Not only do they handle more film per hour, but they also are longer than the Compact machines, and taller, requiring a 99 inch ceiling height. One advantage that accompanies this is the ability to handle slightly longer than normal rolls of film. For instance, customers might bulk-load their own 35mm film. Some customers might try to squeeze in a few extra frames on each roll to increase their shooting capacity. With our full-size models, you can accept up to 42 exposure, 35mm film. (The Compact machines are limited to 36 exposure standard loads for their upper limit.)
Graphic Display Control Screen -- Using an LCD screen, TecnoLab has created a graphic image display which shows all the basic functions of the Delta series processors at a glance. You can always see the temperature in each tank, the presence of hangers is shown in each tank notch, thermostat operation, and when it is time to remove hangers from the dryer a double arrow appears along with an audible alarm. Any alarm messages are shown in reverse type across the middle of the screen. Five special purpose pages can be selected in the upper half of the screen.
- The Replenishment Page has the surface area calculator. You simply indicate how many rolls or sheets of each size are being loaded and it automatically calculates the correct replenishment rate.
- The Timing Page is used to pre-set the push/pull development times. You simply enter the desired total developer time in seconds. The TecnoLab does the rest.
- The Temp-Agit page allows you to precisely set the individual temperature for each bath, along with the duration of nitrogen and air agitation. For E-6 you have separate timing for the nitrogen in the 1st and color developer tanks. And for all the processors, you have separate timing control for the air pumps supplying air to the fixer tank versus any other tanks receiving air, such as bleach or wash tanks. This helps you to precisely control the contrast levels of your film.
- The Week Program Page enables you to program what time of day you want the processor to operate and treats each day of the week separately.
- The Internal Page provides you with controls that set the timing for the lift rack as it stops for its drip cycle, or how long it runs at slow speed as it goes "over the top" of the processor. It's also where you can precisely calibrate the temperature probes to match your lab's standard thermometer. There are many other controls here, but they may vary from one model to another.
Hanger, Dip and Dunk or Rack and Tank Processor -- All three terms are interchangeable, referring to a processor that raises and lowers film on hangers or racks out of one tank and into the next. The great advantage of these machines is that essentially nothing touches the films except the solutions, virtually eliminating the possibility of scratching them as they advance from one solution to the next. Sizes of these machines can range quite broadly from compact to huge. There are two primary ways to change the capacity of hanger processors; width and cycle time. As the tanks become wider there is room for more film on each hanger. TecnoLab offers machines from 2 to 12 rolls across in 35mm. The cycle time is the other change that can increase capacity. As the cycle times become shorter you can achieve more hangers per hour. In E-6 processing, most machines cycle every 3 minutes; larger ones every two minutes. Thus on the former speed machines, the capacity is twenty hangers per hour, while on the latter group it is 30 hangers per hour.
Hangers Per Hour – Most E-6 machines on the market operate at 20 hangers per hour. The lift rack cycles every 3 minutes, and a hanger may enter the tanks on every cycle. Larger machines may be "stretched" adding another notch or two to many of the solution tanks, and enabling the processor to run with 2 minute cycles, yielding 30 hangers per hour. Our JOBO TecnoLab Gamma, Micro Compact and Micro Compact TV processors, run at 10 hangers per hour. The lift actually cycles every 3 minutes (just like the 20 hanger per hour machines) but the computer only permits the hangers to enter the developer on alternate lift cycles.
With C-41 machines, the lift cycles are typically 3:15, yielding 18 hangers per hour. But on larger "stretched" machines, the lift cycle may be shortened to 1:38 or even 1:05 yielding 36 or 54 hangers per hour.
BW machines don’t have any fixed cycle times. The lift cycling will be based on the "standard" developer time for any given developer, and the number of notches in the developer tank. Most of our BW machines’ hourly hanger counts are based on three-minute lift cycles. They are noted in any cases that are different.
In-Line Replenisher Mixer – With large volume processing (over 300 rolls per day) you may want to consider the option of in-line mixing. These units eliminate manual measuring of the chemicals and dispense the solutions in small batches. Unlike some in-line mixers, the TecnoMix IL units stir the chemicals together before sending them on to the hoses that feed the processor. This is particularly important for chemicals like the E-6 Color Developer whose 2 chemical parts don’t easily blend. However, the turbulence in the sight glass measuring units does an effective job of merging the components together for consistent, effective results.
Magnet Sensing, Actual Position Sensing – All TecnoLab Delta series processors have actual position sensing and most come standard with push/pull magnet sensing. Both systems use magnets and magnet sensors, so it may seem a little confusing at first, but perhaps this explanation will help.
Actual position sensing, is used to confirm the actual position of any film hanger while it is among the tanks. Every notch of the tanks has its own sensor, as does the ready notch just preceding the developer tank. Every film hanger has a magnet in both arms, and every notch has a corresponding sensor. After each lift cycle, the computer looks for hangers. It expects each hanger to move forward one notch. If a new hanger appears that it did not expect (If you place a hanger in a wash tank for example) or if a hanger does not show up where it was expected, the machine sounds an audible alarm, and displays an alarm message indicating a hanger has been added or is missing, and indicates with a "?" on the computer screen showing where it happened. With its dual sensing, it can even detect if a hanger somehow became misaligned from one side of the tank to the other.
Magnet sensing for push/pull processing is similar but the magnets are moveable. You plug in one or more magnets whenever you run a non-standard developing time. The sensors determine the positions of the magnets, and then compare that to a list you have entered in the computer. It then sets a new developing time for that hanger of film. You can easily program any time interval from 4 to 16 minutes in 1 second increments. Magnet sensing for push/pull processing is standard on all TV and Compact TV processors, as well as on E-6 and BW versions of the Micro Compact and Delta Micro processors. (It is not standard on single lift C-41 processors, since it is usually not needed.)
Micro Compact – The compact series of processors from JOBO TecnoLab. By reducing the height and length of the tanks, TecnoLab has been able to minimize the size of the tanks. This also involves reducing the number of hangers per hour in E-6 and BW machines. To reduce the length of the solution tanks, the film hanger notches, in tanks with 2 or more notches, have been positioned "too close" together to permit both notches to be occupied with film hangers at the same time. The computer automatically spaces the hangers by only allowing them to enter the processor on alternate cycles of the lift rack. In C-41 machines, hangers are permitted to enter on every lift cycle, and a motorized advancing mechanism, allows a more compact design for the bleach and fixer tanks.
The height of the tank section columns has also been reduced to the bare minimum. This enables the machines to fit in rooms with less than an eight foot ceiling height. Typically 92 inches will be sufficient to fit JOBO TecnoLab Micro Compact processors.
Minimum Utilization – In order to maintain a proper activity level and performance result for each chemical in the processor, it is necessary to run a minimum amount of film through the machine every business day. Replenisher chemicals are only part of the story. By-products from the film being processed are also necessary to keep the chemicals in proper condition. If you fail to reach these minimum film requirements daily, it may be necessary to add supplemental amounts of replenisher solutions, plus some starter solutions where needed.
In our TecnoLab specifications, Minimum utilization numbers are given for 80 square inch units of film. One roll of 135/36 film , or one roll of 120 film, or a single sheet of 8x10 film are approximately equal to 80 square inches.
To determine the Minimum Utilization number for your machine there are two easy formulas to use. For E-6, multiply the volume of your 1st developer tank in liters by 0.6. For instance, a 60 liter tank would require 36 units per day as a minimum. (60 x 0.6 = 36) For C-41 the liter volume of the color developer tank is the same as the minimum utilization number. In this case, the 60 liter volume for a C-41 color developer tank would require 60 units of film per day for minimum utilization. For BW, there is no set formula, but the same formula as C-41 is probably a good guideline for most developers. For precise information you will need to consult your BW developer manufacturer.
Mirror Construction – Normally all JOBO TecnoLab processors are built with their heaters, circulating pumps in their stair steps, and other electrical components built on the right side of the tanks (as viewed while loading film) and the overflow lines are on the left. If your darkroom design would be better served by reversing this design, just ask for mirror construction. Don’t forget, we can also custom design the processor to meet your specific needs. We’ve done it for film manufacturer’s to test films and developers, and we can do it for you.
Motorized Heat/Light Trap – This shutter-like device opens during each lift cycle to permit film to exit the chemical tanks and enter the dryer cabinet. Between lift cycles it keeps the heat in the dryer and prevents light from entering the darkroom when the operator opens the doors to remove film from the dryer cabinet. Warning lights on the outside of the dryer, and symbols on the LCD screen warn the operator not to open the dryer doors during a lift cycle when the light trap is open.
Nitrogen Low Pressure Alarm – This device activates an audible alarm as well as a message on the graphic display screen of all the models (except the Gamma) to let you know that the Nitrogen pressure is too low. It could be the operator forgot to open the valve, or that the bottle of nitrogen has become empty. The alarm activates when a hanger arrives in the "ready" notch, before transporting into the developer, so you have from 30 seconds to 3 minutes to resolve the problem.
Nitrogen and Air Agitation, Individual Timing – On many other processors, the timing of nitrogen or air agitation is linked together. One timing schedule may be used for many solution tanks. On all TecnoLab film processors, nitrogen agitation timing is controlled individually in the 1st developer or color developer tanks. Air agitation is controlled separately for fixer tanks, and then the bleach and wash tanks share a single timing schedule since they get air agitation nearly all the time. The separation of agitation controls helps you to adjust the process precisely for your lab conditions, and also helps to maximize the condition of individual chemicals.
Nitrogen Panel with Humidifier - In the past we have found it difficult to select or recommend a nitrogen control valve (manometer) which is accurate at low pressure settings, such as the 4-6 pounds which are frequently used with JOBO TecnoLab processors. Most such valves are designed for welding equipment and just not precise enough at such low pressure settings. So TecnoLab has created a dual function panel with a very precise, lockable manometer, along with a nitrogen humidifier. The manometer is designed for low pressure, so you use a coarse valve on your nitrogen supply to step the pressure down to 20 pounds or less, and then fine-tune it with this. The humidifier is needed to add moisture to the very dry nitrogen gas. This helps to reduce evaporation which affects the specific gravity of the developer, and it also helps to reduce or eliminate blockage of any of the tiny holes from which the nitrogen enters the bottom of the developer tank. The nitrogen is normally so very dry, it actually can cause crystallization of the developer around the holes.
For E-6, the panel includes two control valves while on the C-41 and BW version it has just one. In both cases it includes the humidification chambers.
Replenishment, Precise or Averaged/Surface Area Calculator -- With every TecnoLab Delta Series processor, you get the choice of precise or averaged replenishment control. Generally, precise replenishment is the method of choice. Each time on your way into the darkroom with a batch of film to be processed, you stop at the LCD control screen, enter the number of each size of film and the total number of hangers you will use to process them. The computer automatically calculates the precise amount of replenisher to pump in as each hanger enters the developer. With averaged replenishment, you enter a number which remains constant all day long. It is literally the average amount of film on any hanger on an average day. The Gamma machines only have the averaged method of replenishment.
Replenisher Storage/Mixing Console – Every TecnoLab Delta series film processor includes a replenisher storage console, and the Compact models even include motorized mixers in their developer storage chambers. Just pour in the concentrates, add water, press the start button and come back in five minutes. These have proven to be among the favorite features among our users. They are neat and virtually eliminate any chance of contamination, since you can mix the individual chemicals right in their own storage chambers. For larger models you might consider our in-line mixing option.
Self-Aligning Pre-Loader – On all the TecnoLab Delta processors, you can load more film on the front end of the processor, than the machine can handle – on purpose. That’s the job of a pre-loader. On our Compact processors we include a 3-hanger pre-loader. On our full-size processors, we include a 6-hanger pre-loader. (You can select an option for the 6-hanger version on the Compact processors.) Once these automated pre-loaders are filled with film hangers, you can leave the darkroom and the machine will feed the film into the chemicals without any further assistance, reading the magnets for push or pull processing if needed and even straightening out the hangers, if the operator loaded them crooked. Come back in 15-20 minutes (depending on the model) and you can still maximize the productivity of the processor.
Test Function – Each morning when you are ready to start processing, you will want to test your film processor to make sure everything is operating normally. A Test Function on every JOBO TecnoLab Delta series machine, enables you to make a quick entry on the LCD control screen and then the processor begins a lift cycle, switches on the water solenoid, nitrogen solenoid and air pumps for 15 seconds, allowing you to quickly view all the key conditions.
Touch Sensitive Lift Rack / Safety Systems – The lift rack on every JOBO TecnoLab film processor, is sensitive to any interference whether it is going up or down. Many other machines are only sensitive on the down stroke, and others simply install safety panels which usually get removed by the lab, and their safety switches become defeated by the operators for their convenience. If the TecnoLab lift rack detects any interference it stops and immediately signals the operator with an audible alarm and a message displayed on the LCD control screen. You only have to restore the circumstances to normal, and the machine continues its cycle. It is not necessary to locate an emergency switch to restart the lift rack.
Two-Lift processors, Six Column processors – These machines are designed for the optimum in push/pull processing convenience and productivity. The first lift transports the film hangers from the pre-loader to the (1st) developer tank. The time in the developer can be altered for push or pull processing, and then the main lift transports the film from the developer tank through the rest of the chemicals of the process. If your workload involves more than 10% of the film being pushed or pulled, then you really need a two-lift machine. If your workload involves from 5% to 10% push/pull orders, then you may still need a two-lift machine, but it is less critical. If your workload involves less than 5% push/pull orders, you probably won’t be able to justify the extra cost of the two-lift machine.
Another factor to keep in mind with a two-lift processor is minimum utilization. The developer tanks have to be larger to deal with the variable development time in these designs, therefore your volume normally needs to be larger to cope with it. For this reason TecnoLab is the first company to offer COMPACT two-lift machines (MCTV).
Variable Time, Time Variable, TV, Push/Pull – These terms apply to the ability of TecnoLab processors to easily process at "non-normal" developer times when required. Push and pull processing is easy to do when the machine does it for you. All JOBO TecnoLab E-6 and BW processors (except the low-cost Gamma series) include automated TV processing capability, even on our single lift processors. TecnoLab processors use magnets on top of the film hangers, and magnet sensors in the machine, to detect the non-standard time you have chosen for any given hanger. (Normal processing needs no plug-in magnets on the hangers.) The arrangement of magnets is detected, and then the computer converts that information into the specific development time you requested of the machine. Time can be adjusted in increments as small as 1 second, and normally ranges from 4 minutes to 16 minutes. Customized programs can be prepared to expand this as needed.
Who do I contact for more information?
If you would like more information regarding TecnoLab or any of our photo lab products, please contact:
info@omegasatter.com
Omegasatter
1041 South Carroll Street
Hampstead, MD 21074Phone: 410-374-3250
Fax: 410-374-3184
Send mail to info@omegasatter.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 1997-2005 JOBO Fototechnic, Inc. All rights reserved. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders. Copyright to all of the photographs displayed on this site is owned by each of the photographers. You may not sell, publish, license or otherwise distribute any photographs without the written permission of the photographer.
This page last updated on 03/20/02