EP0829762B1 - Device for developing photographic material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for developing photographic material according to the preamble of the independent claim.

When processing customer orders in photographic development laboratories Usually, films exposed initially, usually negative films, are wet-chemical developed and the developed image fields are then exposed by exposure photographic copying material, usually on photographic paper, copied on. That exposed Photo paper is then also developed using wet chemistry. Is the photo paper as long tape, as is customary in high-performance laboratories, the tape is then in cut individual pictures, the individual components of an order put together and packaged so that it ultimately returns to the client can be.

The devices containing the wet chemical development baths are known as so-called film processors or paper processors. The volume such wet chemical baths in processors - the following are simplicity only paper processors discussed - depends largely on which one Throughput (number of images developed per unit of time) of the respective user in which Rule development laboratories. For a high throughput, the route must by the paper processor to be long enough so that as many pictures as possible at the same time can be in the paper processor and on the one hand with continuous transport and relatively fast transport speed, on the other hand, the throughput time of the Paper by the paper processor corresponds to the time required for the development (this is predefined). This has relatively large-volume bathrooms and therefore also large-volume paper processors.

Paper processors with low volume baths are designed to avoid the large volume ones Baths or processors have already been proposed, e.g. in US-A-5,179,404; US-A-5,309,191; US-A-5,311,235 or in US-A-5,270,762. It is also for the bathrooms but it is also important that the developing liquid is always "fresh" so that the developed liquid Paper images all meet a uniform quality standard. As a consequence, that the low-volume bathrooms in particular are renewed or supplemented from time to time have to. In addition, there has been a brisk movement in the wet chemical baths in the Paper processor has proven to be advantageous, as it keeps getting fresh in this way Development liquid comes into contact with the paper to be developed. It is it is obvious that in the case of bathrooms with less volume, a complete exchange or a The baths must be added at shorter intervals than with larger ones Bathrooms.

Show low-volume bathrooms and thus also comparatively low-volume processors usually a very narrow one from the inlet through the interior of the processor to the Outlet extending channel, along which the photo paper to be developed is transported. This happens during the transport along this channel developing photo paper in contact with the developing liquid and is thereby developed. Due to the small volume of the channel on the one hand and the demand for constant circulation of the developing liquid on the other hand arises in the channel comparatively high pressure.

In order to withstand this high pressure, the processors have to be mechanical be highly stable. At the same time, they should also ensure safe operation. This primarily means that there should be no paper jams in the processors, it safe transport of the paper along the channel must be guaranteed. In addition, the processors should be as simple as possible in terms of production technology be inexpensive to manufacture.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a device such as that by Features of the independent claim is described. The inventive The device thus comprises two half-shells which can be connected to one another, each of which Half-shell, in turn, comprises two interconnected plates. These are assembled into a half shell and thus one plate forms the Outer wall of the half-shell and the other the inner wall of the half-shell. Also includes the inventive device a central displacement element, which according to the Insert into the interconnected half-shells together with the respective one Inner wall of the half-shells the channel for the photographic material to be developed Are defined. This channel extends between the displacement element and the respective inner wall of the half-shell. This inner wall of the half-shell is essentially formed as a flat surface, while the outer wall means for reinforcing the Inner wall has to prevent deformation of the inner wall by the high Development fluid pressure. Such devices are mechanically highly stable, simple and inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation.

This is characterized by advantageous developments of the device according to the invention from that the means of reinforcing the inner wall of the half-shell than on the inner wall facing recesses of the plate forming the outer wall are formed. This Wells are at their respective contact surface with the plate forming the inner wall connected. This is a high in a technically simple manner mechanical stability achieved

Another advantageous development of the device is characterized in that the both half-shells have the same shape. This means that practically only one Form for the production of the half-shells is required, which further increases the manufacturing outlay reduced. In a preferred manner, the half-shells are produced using the "twin-sheet method" manufactured. This method allows the production of such in a simple manner Half shells.

Another development of the device according to the invention relates to the aspect that the displacement element also from two interconnectable half bodies is formed. Each half body comprises two together connected plates, which are assembled into a half body, in such a way that one plate forms the outer wall of the half body and the other plate the Inner wall of the half body. The outer wall of the half body is essentially as flat surface formed, while the inner wall means for reinforcing the outer wall has to prevent deformation of the outer wall by the high pressure of the Developing liquid. This design of the displacement element ensures also a high mechanical stability, the displacement elements are simple in the Manufacture and ensure high operational reliability.

In a further development of such a device, the means for reinforcing the Outer wall of the half-body as the recesses facing the outer wall Formed inner wall plate. At their respective contact surface with the The outer wall-forming plate is the recesses of the plate forming the inner wall connected to the plate forming the outer wall.

The two half-bodies particularly preferably have the same shape, which the Manufacture of the half body facilitated, since only one shape is required. Is particularly preferred a device in which the two half bodies are produced by the twin-sheet process are, because this process is a technically simple manufacture of such Half body allows.

Fig. 1

eine prinzipielle Anordnung eines Prozessors mit geringvolumigem Entwicklungsflüssigkeitsbad,

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung (perspektivisch),

Fig. 3

ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Verdrängungselements der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung in noch nicht ganz zusammengebautem Zustand,

Fig. 4

das Ausführungsbeispiel des Verdrängungselements gemäss Fig. 3 in zusammengebautem Zustand,

Fig. 5 Fig. 6

die grundsätzliche Funktionsweise des Twin-Sheet-Verfahrens,

Fig. 7

eine Halbschale des Tanks eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung im Schnitt,

Fig. 8

die Hälfte eines Halbkörpers des Verdrängungskörpers des Racks eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt durch den Halbkörper gemäss der Linie IX-IX der Fig. 8

und

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt durch den Halbkörper gemäss der Linie X-X der Fig. 8.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show, partly schematically and / or in a sectional view:

Fig. 1

a basic arrangement of a processor with a low-volume development liquid bath,

Fig. 2

an embodiment of the device according to the invention (in perspective),

Fig. 3

1 shows an embodiment of the displacement element of the device according to the invention in a not yet fully assembled state,

Fig. 4

the embodiment of the displacement element according to FIG. 3 in the assembled state,

Fig. 5 Fig. 6

the basic functioning of the twin-sheet process,

Fig. 7

a half-shell of the tank of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in section,

Fig. 8

half of a half body of the displacement body of the rack of an embodiment of the device according to the invention

Fig. 9

a section through the half body along the line IX-IX of FIG. 8

and

Fig. 10

a section through the half body along the line XX of FIG. 8th

1 shows a basic arrangement of a processor with low volume development liquid bath. However, Fig. 1 is only for illustration serve the basic functional principle. Some key features of the The device according to the invention is namely not shown in FIG. 1. One can see in Fig. 1 a tank 1, in which two so-called racks 2 are introduced. Between the respective inner wall of the tank 1 and the respective outer wall of the rack 2 is a narrow channel 3 defines through which the material to be developed, in the case of a Paper processor the photo paper P, transported and by contact with the Development fluid is developed. The photo paper is in Fig. 1 in the form of a long Bands before, as is usual in high-performance laboratories, and is through an inlet E with With the help of the drivable rollers R, which also tension the paper tape, through channel 3 to Outlet A transported. It can be seen immediately that the developing liquid bath at such processors is significantly smaller in volume than conventional processors, where practically the entire interior of the processor is filled with developing fluid is filled, so the developing liquid bath is large in volume.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an inventive device in more or less assembled condition in perspective. Also from Fig. 2 are some details are not yet clearly recognizable, but will be explained with the help of the subsequent drawing figures even clearer. Two can be seen in FIG. 2 Tanks connected in series 1. Between two adjacent tanks Transport rollers R1, R2, R3, R4 arranged for four tapes of the photo paper. Between Transport rollers R1 and R2 is another roller LR1 for a first one - preferably endless circumferential - leader belt (not shown) arranged and between the transport rollers R3 and R4 a further role LR2 for a second leader band (also not shown). The rollers R1, R2, R3, R4 arranged between two tanks 1 connected in series for the photo paper and the roles LR1 and LR2 for the leader tape can be done with a conventional, common chain drive (not shown) are driven. To the The photo paper is threaded through the feed rollers R1 and R2 Tapes of the photo paper (not shown) each by means of a clip to the over the LR1 led leader tape attached. The clip is removed after threading the Stripped of photo paper again. The same applies to those using the transport rollers R3 and R4 led tapes of photo paper. In principle, you can see the course of the Introduce leader bands as indicated in Fig. 1. This runs in the area of the tank 1 Leader tape practically the same as photo paper P, but parallel to it. Outside the The leader band is returned to tanks, as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, and runs in operation as an endless belt through tank 1 and back again outside, the tape of the photo paper P no longer after passing through the tank 1 is returned.

In Fig. 2 you can also see that in the tank 1, a displacement element, a so-called rack 2 is introduced (as already explained with reference to FIG. 1). By doing 2 such rack 2 has not yet been introduced, it is in the middle tank however already shown in the inserted position and in the rear tank it is still closed Half drawn out. In Fig. 2 you can also see, especially in the front tank it can be seen that the tank 1 comprises two half-shells 10 and 11 which are connected to each other and thus form the tank 1. On the outer wall 100 the Half-shell 10 shows several depressions 101, which extend over the entire outer wall 100 of the half-shell 10 are distributed. These depressions 101 serve the higher mechanical stability of the half-shell 10, but it will be discussed in more detail. Furthermore, three recesses 102 running in the transverse direction can be seen, in which Fastening elements (e.g. rail-like elements) can be introduced that the grasp the entire processor (virtually clasp the processor) and thus additionally hold tightly together and thereby further increase the mechanical stability of the processor increase. Furthermore, three can be seen on the end of the half-shells 10 and 11 Connection piece 103 for the supply or removal of developing liquid. At the top At the end of the end face you can still see a sleeve 104, through which after insertion of the rack 2 in the tank 1, a fastener can be passed with which the rack 2 is fixed in the tank 1.

3 shows an embodiment of a displacement element or rack 2 in FIG not fully assembled condition. It can be seen that the rack 2 has two side rails 22 and 23 includes, as well as several rods or connecting the side rails 22 and 23 Tubes 24, 25, 26 and 27. On the lower rod 27 are the rollers for the tapes of the Photo paper and intended for the respective leader tape. You are on this pole 27 freely rotating. About the rods 25 and 26 when assembling the rack Pushed displacement body, which comprises two half-bodies 20 and 21 (in Fig. 3 still not recognizable), and then the side rail 23 with the rods 24 and 27 firmly connected.

The displacement body comprising the two half-bodies 20 and 21 shows how to 3 can see several slots 201, they can be seen on the outer wall 200 of the sinker. The slots 201 are used to ensure that the interior of the Displacement body through these slots 201 through the photo paper practically as through development fluid is applied through a nozzle, which on the one hand Adhesion of the photo paper counteracts the displacement body, on the other hand a good one Circulation of the development fluid is beneficial. It can be seen in FIG. 3 that in each case slots 201 are provided in the areas of the outer wall 200 of the displacement body in which the photo paper to be developed is kept. Where the leader band is only a small longitudinally extending recess 202 provided, but is closed, since the leader tape is not with developing liquid must be applied. The supply of development fluid into the interior of the displacer and to the slots 201 can be such that the rods 25 and 26 are formed as hollow cylindrical tubes, at least in the area of the Slots have through openings. 4 is finally a displacement element or rack 2 shown in the assembled state. Now put that Assembled rack 2 in the assembled tank 1, this results in practice a device as shown in Fig. 2, especially in the middle part, which is yes in Fig. 2 is already shown in the assembled state.

Both the half-shells 10 and 11 of the tank 1 and the half-bodies are preferably 20 and 21 of the displacement element or rack 2 using the so-called twin-sheet method manufactured, so they are - as the name of the process suggests - double-walled and made of two plastic plates. Like the individual Half-shells 10 and 11 or the half-bodies 20 and 21 more precisely in terms of their shape look, will be explained further below. First, the basic How the twin sheet process works will be briefly explained, with the help of 5 and 6.

The essential steps of the twin-sheet method can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. First, two preheated thermoplastic sheets P1 and P2 are placed between the Mold halves F1 and F2 inserted (Fig. 5) and heated from the outside until they are continuously plasticized. The mold halves F1 and F2 are then moved together, and the plasticized plates P1 and P2 are in one step with Vacuum NP vacuum-deep-drawn and at the same time high strength at the edges welded together (Fig. 6). Where special attention to detail or dimensional accuracy is required, for example (as indicated in FIG. 6) by means of a narrow one Needle nozzle NJ overpressure between plates P1 and P2 are generated by feeding of compressed air PP. This compressed air PP also presses the plates from the inside suction against the mold halves F1 and F2 generated from outside by the vacuum NP, whereby the high level of detail is achieved. It does not apply when using the twin sheet process the otherwise usual subsequent joining of the two parts and thus Solvents, welding consumables etc. are superfluous. Material protruding at the edge can be removed mechanically (e.g. by milling).

The production of a hollow body is described above with the aid of FIGS. 5 and 6 Service. This method can also be used to manufacture both the half-shells 10 and 11 of the tank 1 of the device according to the invention and also for the production of the Half body 20 and 21 of the displacement element or rack 2 are used. Preferably, but not necessarily, the two half-shells 10 and 11 of the tank 1 and the two half-bodies 20 and 21 of the rack 2 have the same shape on. In this case, then for the production of the tank 1 and for the production of the Displacer of the rack 2 only one shape required.

7 shows a half-shell, for example half-shell 10, of the tank 1 in section to recognize. It is interrupted again and again for drawing reasons drawn. It can be seen that the half-shell 10 is made from two plates. The Outer wall 100 of the half-shell 10 is formed by a plate, which several Has depressions 101 (see also Fig. 2). The inner wall 105 is also by a Plate formed. The depressions 101 on the plate forming the outer wall 100 are provided, point to the inner wall 105 and are on their contact surface with the the plate forming the inner wall 105. The depressions 101 thus act as a means to reinforce the plate forming the inner wall 105, thus increase the mechanical Stability significantly. Furthermore, one can still see those running in the transverse direction Indentations 102 (see also FIG. 2) which accommodate additional fastening elements that can encompass the entire processor.

It can also be seen from FIG. 7 that the inner wall 105 is essentially flat Surface is formed. However, this flat surface is preferably structured, it points So a structure on its surface, indicating a possible sticking of the photo paper this area difficult. In the lower area, the otherwise essentially flat However, the surface has a region 106 curved in the shape of a segment of a circle. In this area After rack 2 has been inserted into tank 1, they are at the bottom of rack 2 provided roles for the tapes of the photo paper and for the leader tapes arranged. A quasi-cuboid area 107 can also be seen below this area 106, which opens into the connecting piece 103 (FIG. 2) on the end face of the half-shell 10 which the developing liquid is removed. Since both half shells 10 and 11 are the same Have shape, they are made with only a single shape. After the two Half shells 10 and 11 are made, they are connected together and form the Tank 1. The connection of the two half-shells can be done using known methods such as Welding, gluing, etc.

In Fig. 8 is now a half of a half body of the displacement element or rack 2 in to recognize a view. For example, this is the half body 20. Man recognizes that in the areas in which the photo paper is guided, slots 201 in the Wall of the half body are provided. Through these slots 201 can in Operation as with a nozzle of developing liquid, what is pressed against the paper on the one hand counteracts adherence of the paper to the displacement body, on the other hand, a circulation of the developing liquid is beneficial. In the in Longitudinal recess 202 in which the leader tape runs are such Consequently, slots are not provided. 8 also shows the displacement body 8 shown interrupted, but you can see that the side facing the viewer in the essentially forms a flat surface. Here, too, the flat surface is preferred structured what a possible sticking of the photo paper on this surface counteracts.

As already mentioned above, the two half-bodies 20 and 21 are also more preferred Made with the help of the twin sheet process already explained. You can can be seen particularly well with the aid of FIGS. 9 and 10, which show a section along the line Represent IX-IX or along the line X-X of Fig. 8. In Fig. 9 it can be seen that the The outer wall 200 forming plate of the half body 20 essentially a flat Forms (preferably structured) surface which faces the photo paper during operation. The the plate forming the inner wall 203, on the other hand, is provided with depressions 204 which extend up to reach the outer wall 200 and at its contact surface with the outer wall 200 are connected, similar to the case with the half-shells of the tank 1. This Wells 204, like wells 101 (FIG. 2), increase mechanical Increase the stability of the half-shell 10, the mechanical stability of the half-body 20. Furthermore, in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 two more can be seen on the inner wall 203 Recesses 205.

Both half-bodies 20 and 21 preferably have the same shape, so that for Making the half body only one shape is needed. The two half bodies 20 and 21 after their manufacture with inner walls facing each other connected by known methods such as welding, gluing, etc., and thus form the displacement body of the rack 2 Recesses 205 to face each other, so that the displacer after connecting the two half bodies 20 and 21 to the rods 25 and 26 can be pushed on (Fig. 3) and thus the rack 2 can be completed. How already mentioned, the rods 25 and 26 (Fig. 3) as hollow cylindrical tubes with Appropriate passage openings should be provided so that through the pipes and development fluid through the openings 201 through the slots Displacement body can get against the photo paper. The slots 201 are in the Production of the half body 20 and 21 does not yet exist, they must be in one separate work step either on the half body before connecting to Displacement body or are produced on the finished displacement body, for example by milling.

Are the two half-shells 10 and 11 manufactured and together to the tank 1st connected, the rack 2 is then inserted into the tank 1. Especially at High performance development laboratories are typically several such devices arranged one behind the other, e.g. is indicated in Fig. 2, where three such Devices are arranged one behind the other, of course there can be more than three Devices, which is usually the case with high-performance laboratories.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for developing photographic material, with a feeding device and a discharge device for the developer liquid together with an inlet (E) and an outlet (A) for the material to be developed and a narrow channel (3) extending from this inlet to the outlet, together with means of transport (R) that conveys the photographic material to be developed from the inlet through the channel to the outlet, whereby the material to be developed comes into contact with the developer liquid during transport through the channel and is thereby developed, characterized in that the device comprises the following components:

   two interconnectable half-shells (10, 11), of which each half-shell considered on its own comprises two interconnected plates (100, 101) joined together to form one half-shell and thus the first plate forms the outer wall of the half-shell and the second forms the inner wall of the half-shell,

   a central displacement element (2) which, after introduction into the interconnected half-shells, defines together with the respective inner wall of the half-shells the channel (3) for the photographic material to be developed, extending between the displacement element and the respective inner wall of the half-shell, which is essentially constructed as a flat surface, whereas the outer wall (101) has means to reinforce the inner wall to prevent deformation of the inner wall as a result of the high pressure of the developer liquid.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the means to reinforce the inner wall of the half-shell are constructed as depressions in the plate forming the outer wall, facing towards the inner wall, and attached to the plate forming the inner wall at their respective contact surface.
3. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two half-shells have the same shape.
4. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the half-shells are manufactured by the Twin Sheet process.
5. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the displacement element also consists of two interconnectable half-bodies, whereby each half-body considered on its own comprises two interconnected plates joined together to form one half-body and thus the first plate forms the outer wall of the half-body and the second forms the inner wall of the half-body, whereby the outer wall of the half-body is essentially constructed as a flat surface whereas the inner wall has means to reinforce the outer wall to prevent deformation of the outer wall as a result of the high pressure of the developer liquid.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the means to reinforce the outer wall of the half-body are constructed as depressions in the plate forming the inner wall, facing towards the outer wall, and attached to the plate forming the outer wall at their respective contact surface.
7. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the two half-bodies have the same shape.
8. Apparatus according to one of the Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the half-bodies are manufactured by the Twin Sheet process.

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