FR2485218A1 - METHOD FOR CLEANING ROLLS IN AN AUTOMATIC FILM DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

PROCESS FOR CLEANING A MULTIPLICITY OF ROLLS PROVIDED IN A TREATMENT BATH OF AN AUTOMATIC FILM DEVELOPMENT APPARATUS, IN WHICH THE ROLLS 6 ARE CLEANED BY PASSING A CLEANING SHEET 34 THROUGH THE ROLLERS TO TRANSFER TO THE CLEANING SHEET MATERIALS FIXED ON THE ROLLS. THIS CLEANING SHEET EXTRACTED FROM THE TREATMENT BATH CAN BE RETURNED TO THE TREATMENT BATH. ITS LENGTH IS SHORTER THAN THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE CIRCULATION PATH, BUT LONGER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO ADJACENT 6 ROLLERS MOST DISTANT FROM ONE THE OTHER: IT IS SPONGIOUS SHEET MATERIAL. ROLLERS 6 CAN BE KEPT CLEAN BY SIMPLY CIRCULATING CLEANING SHEET 34 THROUGH THEM PERIODICALLY.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of net-

  toyage of rollers and the like in an automatic film developing apparatus, and in particular a method for cleaning rollers, endless belts, etc., arranged in the respective processing baths of an automatic film developing apparatus , process in which cleaning is carried out by means of a special cleaning sheet. This invention also relates to a cleaning sheet for implementing the

above process.

  Many conventional developing devices, in which a sheet or roll film or exposed printing paper is automatically developed, each have a multiplicity of processing baths, namely a developing bath, a fixing bath and a bath washing with water, and a drying compartment, which are arranged end to end one after the other; the exposed film or printing paper is transported through each treatment bath or compartment by means of a number of rollers so that all the planned treatments are carried out during transport through the various treatment baths and compartments. Since a developing apparatus operates for long periods, it has been found that various products and materials become attached to the rollers, endless belts, etc., which results in poor results on the developed film or printing paper. . To remove these products on the rollers and the like, which are arranged to rotate in respective racks which are removably mounted in the various treatment baths, the conventional development devices have so far been produced so that can remove from their respective treatment baths

  complete racks with rollers and other incorporated parts

  porés and that we can then transport them in a sink

  or similar equipment in which manual-

  Also wash with the skin to clean them using a cloth, brush, etc. However, this manual operation requires considerable manpower and lasts a long time. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new method for cleaning rollers and

  analogous organs in an automatic development apparatus

  film tick which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks of conventional cleaning processes, this new process

  requiring no manual labor during the cleaning operation

  toyage, being simple and of rapid implementation.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning sheet for implementing the

aforementioned process.

  The present invention thus eliminates the disadvantages

  come from the classic development methods described above. Specifically, the present invention

  relates to a method for cleaning rollers or or-

  analogous ganes in an automatic film developing apparatus as well as a cleaning sheet for

  performs the above process. In the process according to the invention

  tion, a cleaning operation is carried out by means of a cleaning sponge sheet, which is adapted to circulate automatically through a treatment bath by means of the rollers and endless bands, so that the products fixed on the rollers and the like are transferred to the sponge sheet, and if desired, the cleaning sheet is automatically transferred to the next treatment bath in which a cleaning operation is carried out in the same manner as in the first bath. Therefore, no manual labor is required during

  the cleaning operation according to the method of the invention.

  The invention will be better understood on reading

  the detailed description, given below as an example

  only, of several preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the attached drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a partial central vertical section of an automatic film development apparatus suitable for implementing a method of cleaning rollers according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a side view of a film guiding element, seen in the direction A-A of FIG. 1 r

  Figure 3 is a side view of an ac-

  holder for the film guide element, seen in the direction

  tion B - B of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a

  production of a cleaning sheet according to the present invention

  tion; Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning sheet according to the present invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning sheet according to the present invention. In order to be able to choose whether the cleaning sheet should circulate repeatedly through a single treatment bath or whether it should be transferred to the next treatment bath, film guiding means are arranged in the vicinity of the extraction section of the film. film of the first treatment bath. When these guide means are actuated to assume a first position, the cleaning sheet circulates repetitively through this single treatment bath, while, if the guide means are actuated to assume a second position, the cleaning sheet is transferred to the next treatment bath. Typically, the film guide means are made in the form of a film guide element which is pivotally mounted on a shaft extending horizontally across the rack. The film guide means can be produced in any other way, provided

  that they work properly for the proposed purpose.

  The cleaning sheet which is a component

  essential for implementing the process of the present invention

  tion, comprises in a preferred embodiment, a combination

  a sponge sheet and a film carrier.

  Preferably, the entraining film is connected to the anterior end of the sponge sheet. Alternatively, the cleaning sheet may have a combination of two sheets .......................... o ......... o.oo ..

  ..o.ooo.e sponge and a support film, the former being fixed on both sides of the latter. Alternatively, the cleaning sheet comprises a combination of a single sponge sheet and a backing film. In another embodiment, the sponge sheet comprises only a single layer of sheet..DTD: relatively rigid sponge.

  Figure 1 shows an inlet section of an automatic film and roller film developing apparatus, comprising a developing bath 1 and a fixing bath 2 made as the developing bath 1 i these baths are designed so that 'an exposed film can be transferred from one to the other while being held between each endless strip, thin and narrow and arranged vertically in its respective bath, a set of rollers being arranged in a vertical row parallel to the strip without associated end;

  In the development bath 1 is mounted a spleen-

  development link 3 in which a gear wheel of

  track 4 and a follower gear 5 are arranged at

  rotation respectively in a central position above

  lower and in a lower central position. The toothed wheels 4 and 5 are parallel to each other and their

  axes are perpendicular to the drawing plane.

  Several guide rollers 6 are arranged in two vertical rows between the two toothed wheels 4

  and 5. The longitudinal axis of each roller 6 extends parallel-

  along the shaft 4 ′ of the drive wheel 4. Each guide roller 6 is equipped with a toothed wheel (not shown) secured to one of its ends, which makes it possible to drive the guide rollers 6 by chain

  7 traveling in the direction indicated by the arrows.

  Other drive rollers 8 are mounted

  with rotation, respectively to the left and to the right, and

  underneath, of the drive gear 4, while

  follower rollers 9 are arranged to rotate, respectively

  vement to the right and to the left, and below, of the follower gear wheel 5. The drive rollers 8 and the follower rollers 9 are parallel to the shaft 4 'of the

drive gear 4.

  In addition, belt tension rollers 10 are rotatably mounted between each drive roller

  8 and its associated follower roller 9, they are aligned ver-

  tically and mutually spaced from each other. The belt tension rollers 10, the lengths of which are equal to those of the drive rollers 8, are arranged

  slightly outside their corresponding guide rollers

  6 and are parallel to the shaft 4 'of the wheel

drive tooth - 4.

  An appropriate number of narrow endless bands 11 extend around each set of rollers 8, 9 and 10; these bands 11 are adapted to move in the direction

indicated by an arrow.

  Two film introduction rollers, lower 12 and upper 13, are rotatably mounted to the right of the drive gear 4 in the rack 3 and serve as the drive roller and follower roller; two film extraction rollers, lower 14 and upper, are arranged on the left of this drive wheel 4; these introduction rollers 12 and 13 and these extraction rollers 14 and 15 are parallel to the shaft 4 'of the toothed drive wheel 4 and rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows. It should be noted that the film extraction rollers 14 and 15 are also used to remove the developing liquid from the surfaces of each film.

passing between these rollers.

  On the other hand, film guiding elements 16 and 17 are fixed to the rack 3, respectively to the right and below the drive wheel 4, but above the upper guide roller 6 in the right row, and to the left and below the drive wheel 4 but above the upper guide roller 6 in the left row. The film guide elements 16 and 17 have the same length as the drive rollers 8 and are parallel to the axis 4 'of the wheel 4. The film guide elements 16 and 17 respectively have guide faces of

  curved films 16a and 17a on their outer wall.

  In addition, a lower film guide member 18 is fixed to the rack 3 directly below the follower gear 5, which guide member 18 extends

  parallel to the guide rollers 6 and has the same length

  as much as these. The lower film guide member 18 also has a curved film guide face 18a on its upper wall. It should be noted that two fins 18b project outwards from each of the side walls, left and right, of the guide element 18 so that the strips

  endless 11 can be guided between them.

  In addition, * a film introduction element 19 is fixed to the rack 3 to the right and above the film introduction rollers 12 and 13. This element 19 has the same width as the rollers 12 and 13 and is extends parallel to them. The bottom wall of the film introduction element 19 constitutes a curved film guide face 19a and a slight clearance 20 is formed between the element 19 and the

  upper feed roller 13.

  A film guide element 21 is pivotally attached to the rack 3 by means of a

  horizontal shaft 22 located to the left and above the wheels

  film extraction waters 14 and 15 in the development bath

  loppement 1, but to the right and above the film introduction rollers 12 'and 13' in the following fixing bath 2. Element 21 has the same width as the rollers

  14, 15, 12. ' and 13 ', and extends parallel thereto.

  The bottom wall of the guide element 21 constitutes

a curved guide face 21a.

  As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the horizontal shaft 22 extends through the side walls of the

  rack 3 and carries a lever 23 fixed at its rear end

  laughing; this lever 23 extends upwards and its upper free end is connected, by a connecting rod 24, to the rod

  actuation 25a of a solenoid 25 which is mounted horizon-

  by its side wall on the rack 3.

  Normally, the guide face 21a of the guide element 21 is biased in a substantially horizontal direction, as shown by the solid line

  in Figure 1; a clearance 26 is thus formed between the element

  guide 21 and the extraction roller 15 and another

  clearance 27 between the guide element 21 and the intro roller

13 'duction.

  When the solenoid 25 is energized, the guide element 21 pivots, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, thus causing the guide face 21a of the guide element 21 to assume a position to the left and to the above the extraction rollers 14 and 15. As a result, the clearance 26 is widened and the lower end of the guide face 21a approaches the left face of the roller

lower extraction 14.

  - Guide rollers 28 are arranged to rotate above the drive gear 4 and to the left and right of the latter, symmetrically with respect to it. The guide rollers 28 have the same width as the guide rollers 6 and are parallel to the axis 4 'of

the wheel 4.

  In addition, a guide body 29 is fixed to the rack 3 above the guide rollers 28, it has the

  same width as these and extends parallel to them.

  A wide curved guide face 29a is formed on the

  bottom wall of the guide body 29.

  Two film feed rollers 30,

  taking a drive roller and a follower roller

  are mounted to rotate to the right of the introducer

  tion of films 19 in the rack 3. The rollers 30 have

  the same width as element 19 and are parallel to it

  this. They can rotate in mutual contact in a direction indicated by the arrow. A film introduction opening 31 is arranged in the vicinity of the pair of rollers

  introduction 30, to the right of these.

  It should be noted that a water washing bath and a drying compartment are arranged end to end after the fixing bath 2, this washing bath and this drying compartment not being shown and being produced as

the development bath 1.

  In FIG. 1, the reference 32 designates the developing liquid while the reference 33 designates the liquid

of fixation.

  We will now describe the operation of

2485.218

  the above automatic development device.

  An exposed film is introduced into the developing apparatus through the introduction opening 31, and it

  is driven by the pair of feed rollers 30.

  It is transported along the guide face 19a of the element.

  introduction 19, through the pair of insertion rollers

  troduction 12 and 13 and along the guide face 16a of the guide element 16. It then passes downward between the guide rollers 6 and the straight endless belt

  to be gradually immersed in the development liquid

  loppement 32, then it moves along the guide face 18a of the lower guide element 18, goes up between the left endless strip 11 and its guide rollers

  correspondents 6 and it is then extracted from the development bath

  pement by the extraction rollers 14 and 15 after being guided by the guide face 17a of the guide element

  17; at this time, the development operation is complete.

  The film then passes along the guide face 21a of the guide element 21 and is introduced into the fixing bath 2 by means of the pair of introduction rollers.

12 'and 13'.

  After a number of films have been processed in the automatic developing apparatus as described above, pollutants and foreign substances gradually tend to adhere to the rollers and

  endless tapes, which hampers film development.

  Figure 4 shows a typical example of a cleaning sheet 34, which can be adapted to clean these rollers and endless belts. In the drawing, the cleaning sheet 34 comprises a combination of a sponge sheet 34a of cellular material, such as chloroprene rubber foam, polyvinyl foam, etc., and of a entraining film 34b of polyethylene, polyester, etc., the latter being glued to the anterior end of

leaf.

  The cleaning sheet 34 is not wider than the length of each roller and preferably, its width is equal to this length, while its total length must be determined according to the dimensions of the developing bath 1 t so that 'No overlap takes place between its front end and its rear end when it flows through the rollers, moreover, this circulation of the cleaning sheet 34 must not stop because of a too short length which would cause its clearance from some of the rollers, and

  thereby eliminating the entrainment of the sheet.

  We will now describe in more detail

  the cleaning operation of the rollers of the developer

  automatic development using cleaning sheet 34

according to the present invention.

  When it has been found that the rollers and the endless belts of the automatic development apparatus have become too dirty, the processing of the films is stopped and the solenoid 25 is actuated to pivot the guide element 21 in the manner described above so that its guide face 21a is arranged opposite the rollers

extraction 14 and 15.

  The cleaning sheet 34 is then introduced into the automatic development apparatus by introducing its driving film 34b through the introduction opening 31, while the automatic development apparatus is in operation. The cleaning sheet 34 passes through the developing bath in the same way as an exposed film

  to be treated and it then passes between the extraction rollers

  tion 14 and 15. It is then returned to the right along the guide face 21a of the guide element 21

  arranged opposite the upper extraction roller 15.

  The cleaning sheet 34 then moves to the right along the guide face 29a of the guide body 29 above the guide rollers 28, passes to

  through clearance 20, again passes between the information rollers

  troduction 12 and 13 and is again introduced into the development bath 1, from which it flows automatically over

  the traffic route identified at 35.

  By repeating this route several times

  cleaning sheet 34, the products deposited on the wheels

  the endless strips and water are completely transferred to the sponge sheet 34a of the cleaning sheet 34, and from

  this fact, the rollers became clean again.

  When the solenoid 25 is de-energized at the end of the roller cleaning operation in the developing bath 1, the guide element 21 returns to its position.

  tion and the cleaning sheet 34 is then self-

  matically transferred to the fixing bath 2. Then, when the solenoid 25 is again excited, the cleaning operation is carried out on the rollers and the endless bands of the bath

  fixing 2 in the same way as in the developer bath.

step 1.

  As can easily be understood by the

  above description, the cleaning sheet according to the

  The present invention makes it possible to automatically clean the rollers in the developing bath as well as in the fixing bath without having to remove the rack 3, which significantly reduces the manpower and time required for a cleaning operation. It should also be noted the additional advantage provided by the use of such a cleaning sheet, namely that it can easily be introduced into the automatic development apparatus.

  because a driving film is attached to it.

  We should note. that the cleaning operation is carried out separately for each bath in the automatic developing apparatus so that, at the end of the cleaning operation in the first bath, a cleaning operation begins in the second bath, thanks to which the loss of treatment liquid caused by the transfer of this liquid between the adjacent treatment baths can

be minimized.

  Figures 5 and 6 respectively represent cleaning sheets according to modified embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the cleaning sheet 34 is a combination of two sponge sheets 34a and of a driving film 34b, the latter being clamped between the two.

  sponge sheets and glued to them; in figure 6, the sheet

  cleaning 34 is a combination of a single sponge sheet 34a and a carrier film 34b, the latter being glued

  on the leaf over its entire surface. -

2 48 5-21 8

1 1

  As a variant, the pre-

  invention without film carrier, provided that the sheet

  the sponge itself is sufficiently rigid or that it contains

do a very rigid soul.

  As described above, the cleaning sheet 34 is adapted to automatically flow through each processing bath in an automatic film developing apparatus, through a combination

  a guide body 29 and guide rollers 28.

  As a variant, this combination can be replaced by two guide means with a recessed groove, these guide means being arranged opposite one another and at a certain distance. In some cases, the sheet of

  cleaning 34 can be brought manually to the intro side

  duction after being directed to it by the element

guide 21.

  In the embodiment described above of the present invention, the guide element 21 is made so as to be pivotable but it can be moved for the

  goal proposed in any other way than by pivoting.

  As a variant, two film guide elements can be used for the same purpose, one of them having a guide face designed to extract a film, while the other has a guide face designed to bring back the film alongside

of introduction.

  The present invention has been described with reference to the case where the rollers of an automatic roller and belt developing apparatus are cleaned according to a process of the present invention, but the latter

  is not limited to this application and may apply

  quer to an automatic roller developing machine only.

24852-18

Claims (13)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S   1. Method for cleaning rollers or the like in an automatic film developing apparatus in which an exposed film is developed while   passing through a number of rollers or gold-   analogous ganes arranged in a treatment bath, characterized in that a cleaning sheet 34 circulates in place of the film through the rollers or the like   in the treatment bath at least once in order to transfer   refer to the materials fixed on the rollers or similar devices   gues on the cleaning sheet, thereby cleaning the rollers or the like.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that film guide means 21 are arranged in the vicinity of a film extraction section and bring the cleaning sheet extracted from the treatment bath to a section for introducing the film in the same treatment bath, or transfer the extracted cleaning sheet   from the treatment bath to the next treatment bath.   3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the film guide means comprise a film guide element (21) which can pivot from a first to a second position in that, in the first position, this element guide brings the cleaning sheet extracted from the treatment bath 1 back to the introduction section, and   that in its second position the guide element trans-   the cleaning sheet to the next treatment bath (2).   4. Method according to claim 2, characterized   in that the film guiding means comprise an element   film guide which can move along a line from a first to a second position, in that in the first position, the film guide element brings the cleaning sheet extracted from the treatment bath back to its section for introducing the film, and in that in the second position, this guide element transfers the sheet of   cleaning in the next treatment bath.   5. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the film guiding means comprise two * 0 film extraction rollers whose orientations are changed in a first or in a second direction relative to a plane containing the two axes film extraction rollers, in that, in the first position, the film guide element returns the cleaning sheet extracted from the treatment bath to its film introduction section, and in that in the second position the element   guide transfers the cleaning sheet to the milking bath next.   6. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the film guiding means comprise the first film guiding element having a guide surface along which the cleaning sheet extracted from the treatment bath is returned to its portion d introduction of movie.   7. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the film guide means comprise the second film guide element having a guide surface along which the cleaning sheet extracted from the bath   treatment is guided to the next treatment bath.   8. Sheet for cleaning a multiplicity of rollers or the like arranged in a treatment bath of an automatic film developing apparatus circulating this sheet in place of the exposed film through the multiplicity of rolls or the like and by transferring onto the sheet the materials fixed on the rollers or the like, characterized in that the total length of this sheet is shorter than the total length of the circulation path, but longer than the distance between the two adjacent rollers the most distant from each other.   9. Cleaning sheet according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a combination of a sponge sheet and a carrier film, the latter being connected   at the anterior end of the leaf.   10. Cleaning sheet according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a combination of two sponge sheets and a support film, the two sheets 248 521 8   being attached to both sides of the fXlm.   11. Cleaning sheet according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a combination of   single sponge sheet and backing film.   12. Cleaning sheet according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a single layer   of sponge sheet having a relatively high rigidity.   13. Cleaning sheet according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a single layer of   sponge sheet containing a core having a high rigidity.