JP2000002988A - Photosensitive material processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and surely wash a guide outside a liquid. SOLUTION: Both side walls 46A of a guide member 46 are provided with a washing nozzle 58 which can jet washing water toward a guide surface 48 while diffusing it. Then, the diffusing surface of the washing water 84 jetted from the nozzle 58 is set to 90 deg. with respect to the guide surface 48 and the diffusing angle of the water 8 is set to 15 deg.. Thus, the guide surface 48 is efficiently and surely washed while suppressing the using quantity of the water 84 to the minimum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for rinsing a photosensitive material in a processing solution for cleaning a guide provided outside of the processing apparatus with cleaning water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as an automatic developing apparatus, an image-exposed photosensitive material is sequentially immersed in a processing solution such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution and a fixing solution for processing.

In an automatic developing apparatus, a transport rack for guiding and transporting a photosensitive material by a guide is provided in a processing tank for storing these processing solutions, and a crossover portion is provided between processing tanks adjacent to each other. The photosensitive material is guided and transported by the transport rack, and transported while being immersed in a processing solution to process the photosensitive material.

By the way, a processing liquid adheres to the surface of the photosensitive material which is conveyed and sent out in the processing tank.

The processing liquid adhered to the photosensitive material and taken out adheres to the surface of the guide outside the liquid in contact with the photosensitive material at the crossover portion.

If the processing solution adheres to the surface of the guide outside the liquid, components in the processing solution will precipitate if the non-processing state of the photosensitive material continues for a long time, and the surface of the photosensitive material to be newly processed will be precipitated. And may cause processing unevenness.

For this reason, in the automatic developing apparatus, for example, water for washing is spouted from a nozzle at a predetermined timing toward a guide outside the liquid, and the processing liquid attached to the surface of the guide is washed away. Some include a cleaning mechanism that prevents components in the processing liquid from depositing on the surface of the guide outside the liquid.

Conventionally, a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a nozzle is provided on a side plate of a crossover portion is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-82907.
There is a photosensitive material processing apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H11-26095.

In this photosensitive material processing apparatus, cleaning water is diffused and ejected from a nozzle between a guide surface outside the liquid and a roller to clean the guide surface.

[0010]

However, the washing water injected toward the space between the guide surface and the roller is
They may not contact the guide surface or the roller, and may fall and be wasted without contributing to the cleaning.

Further, since the cleaning water is brought into direct contact with both the guide surface and the roller, if the jetting angle of the cleaning water is increased, the reaching distance of the cleaning water is shortened. Even if the nozzle is provided, there is a case where the washing water does not reach the central portion, and there is a problem that it is not possible to cope with a long guide surface or a long roller.

For this reason, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned problem by increasing the capacity of the pump, but there is a problem that the amount of washing water used increases.

Since the washing water used for washing falls into the treatment tank, there is a concern that the concentration of the treatment liquid in the treatment tank falls below a specified value when the amount of washing water used increases.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and it is possible to efficiently clean the surface of a guide disposed outside the liquid with cleaning water while minimizing the amount of cleaning water used. An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material transport guide provided between a plurality of processing tanks for immersing and processing a photosensitive material and extending in a transport width direction of the photosensitive material. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for cleaning the photosensitive material transport guide by spraying cleaning water at a predetermined pressure while diffusing the cleaning water at a predetermined pressure from cleaning water blowing means provided at least on one end side in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material. The jetting means diffuses and jets the washing water from the axial direction of the washing water jetting means to one side,
The diffusion surface of the cleaning water that is diffused and ejected is substantially 90 ° with respect to the photosensitive material transport guide.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect,
Washing water of a predetermined pressure is diffused and ejected from a washing water ejecting means provided at one end side of the photosensitive material in the conveying width direction, and the washing water becomes a water current on the surface of the photosensitive material conveying guide, and the water flow causes the washing of the photosensitive material conveying guide. The surface is cleaned.

Since the washing water is diffused and ejected from the axial direction of the washing water ejecting means to one side, almost all of the washing water can be ejected from the washing water ejecting means toward the surface of the photosensitive material transport guide. The washing water can reach farther.

Further, since the diffusion surface of the cleaning water which is diffused and jetted is substantially 90 ° with respect to the photosensitive material transport guide, it is possible to clean the entire photosensitive material transport guide extending along the photosensitive material transport width direction. .

It should be noted that substantially 90 ° here means 90 ° ±
Means within 15 °.

Further, when the diffusion surface of the washing water is displaced by more than 90 ° with respect to the photosensitive material transport guide, a part of the wash water comes off the long photosensitive material transport guide extending along the width direction of the photosensitive material transport. Spouts in the direction, causing waste of washing water.

The washing water jetting means may be provided at both ends of the photosensitive material transport guide.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least a photosensitive material transport guide is provided between a plurality of processing tanks for immersing and processing the photosensitive material and extends in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for washing the photosensitive material transport guide by ejecting washing water of a predetermined pressure while diffusing the washing water from a washing water ejecting means provided on one end side in the width direction, wherein the photosensitive material transport guide is provided with the photosensitive material transport guide. The washing water jetting means is arranged such that the jetting direction of the washing water is parallel to the conveying width direction of the photosensitive material or the photosensitive material is jetted out of the photosensitive material. The material conveying guide is characterized by being inclined upward in the inclination direction.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect,
The photosensitive material transport guide is inclined, and guides the transported photosensitive material in a direction inclined with respect to a horizontal plane.

Here, when the washing water is jetted to the inclined photosensitive material conveying guide in the width direction of the photosensitive material conveyance, the water flow flowing on the surface is changed in the inclination direction of the photosensitive material conveying guide as it moves away from the washing water jetting means. It tends to turn down.

Therefore, when the photosensitive material conveying guide is short, the jetting direction of the washing water may be parallel to the photosensitive material conveying width direction. By inclining upward in the inclining direction, it becomes possible to wash a surface far away from the washing water jetting means as compared with a case where the inclining direction is not inclined.

If the jetting direction is inclined downward in the inclination direction of the photosensitive material transport guide, the water flow largely changes to the downstream side in the inclination direction, and the surface far from the washing water jetting means may be washed. I cannot do it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the axis of the photosensitive material transport guide and the axis of the washing water jetting means are orthogonal to the axis. Is 3 mm or more.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the third aspect,
Since the distance between the photosensitive material conveyance guide and the axis of the washing water jetting means in the direction orthogonal to the axis is 3 mm or more, the water flow formed by the contact of the washing water with the photosensitive material conveyance guide reaches a distance. Can be done.

If the distance is less than 3 mm, the water flow cannot reach far.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the jetting angle of the cleaning water diffused and jetted from the washing water jetting means is 10 or more. It is characterized in that it is within the range of ° to 40 °.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect,
The spray angle of the washing water that is diffused and ejected from the washing water ejecting means
Since the angle is in the range of 0 ° to 40 °, the water flow formed by the contact of the washing water with the photosensitive material transport guide is
The washing water can be made to reach far from the jetting means.

When the jetting angle is less than 10 °, the washing water does not come into contact with the washing water jetting means of the photosensitive material conveying guide. When the jetting angle exceeds 40 °, the water flow cannot reach far.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the amount of the cleaning water diffused and ejected from one of the washing water ejecting means is reduced. , Characterized in that the flow rate is 3 ml / sec or more.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the fifth aspect,
Since the amount of the washing water diffused and ejected from one washing water ejecting means is 3 ml / sec or more, the surface of the photosensitive material transport guide can be reliably washed with a minimum amount of water.

If the amount of water is less than 3 ml / sec, the surface of the photosensitive material transport guide cannot be reliably washed due to insufficient amount of water.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the amount of the washing water diffused and ejected from one of the washing water ejecting means is reduced. , 20 ml / sec or less.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect,
Since the amount of washing water diffused and ejected from one washing water ejecting means is 20 ml / sec or less, the surface of the photosensitive material transport guide can be washed without using a large amount of wasteful washing water.

If the amount of water is larger than 20 ml / sec, the washing water is used more than necessary, and the washing water is wasted.

Further, the concentration of the processing solution in the processing tank is reduced below a specified value by the dropped washing water.

[0040]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer processor 10 according to one embodiment of the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer processor 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer processor 10 includes a printer unit 14 having a light source unit 12 for scanning a laser beam to print an image on a photographic paper P.
The printer unit 14 has a long photographic paper P
Is mounted in a paper magazine 18 for winding and storing the paper.

The photographic paper P accommodated in the paper magazine 18 is pulled out from the outer peripheral end in a roll shape, irradiated from the light source unit 12, and printed with a laser beam.

The printer unit 14 is provided with a cutter 20. The photographic paper P on which an image has been exposed is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 20 and sent to a processor unit 22 provided on the side. Sent in.

The processor section 22 includes a color developing tank 24 for storing a color developing solution, a bleach-fixing tank 26 for storing a bleach-fixing solution, and rinsing tanks 28A to 28D for storing washing water.

The photographic paper P sent to the processor unit 22
Are a color developing tank 24, a bleach-fix tank 26, and a rinsing tank 28.
After being conveyed in order through A to D and subjected to color development, bleach-fixing and washing processing, it is sent to the drying unit 30.

The photographic paper P sent to the drying unit 30 is heated and dried in the drying unit 30, then is conveyed upward from the drying unit 30, and is discharged outside the machine.

The printer processor 10 includes a color developing tank 24, a bleach-fixing tank 26, and a rinsing tank 28.
A transport rack 32 constituted by rollers and guides is provided in each of A to D.

As shown in FIG.
A large-diameter roller 36 is vertically arranged between a pair of rack side plates 34 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) (only a part is shown in FIG. 2), and both sides (left and right sides on the paper surface) and a lower end of the roller 36 The roller 3 (not shown) has a roller 3
6, a small-diameter roller 38 for sandwiching the photographic paper P is disposed and immersed in the processing liquid.

On the entry side of the transport rack 32 (left side in FIG. 2), a length of 35 mm is inserted between a pair of rack side plates 34.
A roller pair 40 having a length of 0 mm is provided, and a roller pair 42 also having a length of 350 mm is provided on the output side (right side in FIG. 2). These roller pairs 40 and 42 are disposed above the surface of the processing liquid. I have.

As described above, the transport roller of this embodiment is
Since the length is as long as 350 mm, the photographic paper P having a maximum width of 12 inches can be transported. When the photographic paper P having a narrow width is transported, it can be transported in three rows.

The upper part of the transport rack 32 has a roller pair 4
A guide member 46 that forms a crossover portion 44 together with 0 and 42 is provided. The guide member 46 of the present embodiment is a molded product of a synthetic resin.

The guide member 46 is provided on the lower surface on the upstream side in the transport direction of the photographic paper P with the photographic paper P sent from the upstream side.
Is formed on the downstream side lower surface, and a guide surface 50 for guiding the photographic paper P sent out from the roller pair 42 to a processing tank adjacent to the downstream side is formed.

Here, the guide surface 48 is inclined so that the downstream side in the transport direction of the photographic paper P is downward, and the guide surface 5
0 is inclined so that the downstream side in the transport direction of the photographic paper P is on the upper side.

For this reason, the transport rack 32 is
The printing paper P guided to the roller pair 40 by the
After being guided in a substantially U-shape by the rollers 6 and 38 and immersed in the respective processing liquids, they can be guided and conveyed by the roller pair 42 and the guide surface 50 and sent out.

In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the guide surface 48 with respect to the horizontal plane is set at 27 °, and the inclination angle of the guide surface 50 with respect to the horizontal plane is set at 12 °.

As shown in FIG. 3, these guide surfaces 4
8 and 50, the upstream side in the transport direction of the photographic paper P (left side in FIG. 3) is a flat flat surface 48A, 50A, and the downstream side in the transport direction is an uneven surface 48B, 50B.

The concave and convex surfaces 48B and 50B have an arc-shaped cross section along the conveying width direction of the photographic paper P, and have rib-shaped protrusions extending along the conveying direction fixed at a constant along the conveying width direction of the photographic paper P. The projections are formed at intervals, and the tops of the projections are set on the same plane as the flat surfaces 48A and 50A.

As described above, by forming the uneven surfaces 48B and 50B on a part of the guide surfaces 48 and 50, it is possible to prevent the photographic paper P wet with the processing liquid from being transported in close contact with the guide surfaces 48 and 50. are doing.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Longitudinal direction (transport width direction of photographic paper P: arrow W direction in the figure)
Both ends are inclined in a direction away from the virtual extension surface of the guide surface 48 as the distance from the guide surface 48 in the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 48 is increased, and are not in contact with the printing paper P guided and conveyed by the guide surface 48. A surface 54 is provided.

The inclined surface 54 has an angle θ with respect to the guide surface 48.
1 (about 7 ° in the present embodiment).

On the inclined surface 54, a washing water diffusing means 56 protrudes near the guide surface 48.

The most protruding portion of the washing water diffusing means 56 is set below the virtual extension surface of the guide surface 48 so as not to contact the photographic paper P.

The cleaning water diffusing means 56 has a substantially triangular shape when the inclined surface 54 is viewed in a plan view, and the inclination angle θ 2 of the inclined side surface 56 A with respect to the transport direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4B) is In this embodiment, the angle is set to 65 °.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inclination angle θ3 of the inclined side surface 56A with respect to the guide surface 48 (or the guide surface 50).
Is preferably 10 ° to 75 °, and in the present embodiment, 30 °
Is set to

The height h (measured in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface 48 or the guide surface 50) of the washing water diffusion means 56 is as follows.
In this embodiment, it is set to 0.5 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning nozzle 58 is provided on the downstream side of the color developing tank 24, and on the upstream and downstream sides of the bleach-fixing tank 26 and the rinsing tanks 28A to 28D.

The cleaning nozzles 58 mainly supply cleaning water supplied from a cleaning water supply device 64 described later to the guide surface 4.
The jetting water is jetted toward 8, 50, and a part of the jetting water comes into contact with the washing water diffusing means 56 provided on the inclined surface 54.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cleaning nozzles 58 of each transport rack 32 are provided integrally with the nozzle unit 60.

FIG. 6A shows only the vicinity of the upper portion of the transport rack 32.

The nozzle unit 60 includes the guide member 4
6, a through hole 46B formed in the upper part of one side wall 46A.
The pawl portion 60 </ b> A extending from the nozzle unit 60 is inserted and engaged with the guide unit 46, and is assembled with the guide member 46 to the transport rack 32.

The nozzle unit 60 is provided with a water supply port 62, and the cleaning water supplied from the water supply port 62 is dispersed to each of the cleaning nozzles 58 at a uniform pressure.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning nozzle 58
Has a substantially cylindrical shape at the tip end, and a spout (not shown) for spouting cleaning water is formed at the center of the tip end.

At the tip of the cleaning nozzle 58, a groove 58A is formed radially outward from the vicinity of the spout at the axial center. Therefore, the cleaning water supplied to the cleaning nozzle 58 at a predetermined pressure and spouted out is diffused at a spray angle θ4 to one side in the radial direction along the groove direction of the groove 58A.

The cleaning water diffused and jetted from the cleaning nozzle 58 has one end in the diffusion direction substantially coincident with the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58, and the other end has an angle θ4 with respect to the axial direction. Further, the cleaning water spouted from the cleaning nozzle 58
Almost no diffusion occurs in the direction perpendicular to the diffusion direction. That is, the cleaning nozzle 58 is a so-called oblique flat nozzle, and when the cleaning water is jetted on a plane perpendicular to the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58, the cleaning water is applied in an elongated straight line to the plane. Touch

The cleaning nozzle 58 of the present embodiment is designed to diffuse and jet the cleaning water at 15 ° when the cleaning water is supplied at 0.9 kgf / cm ² .

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the cleaning nozzles 58 located on both sides of the guide surface 48
Is parallel to the guide surface 48, and the direction of the groove 58A (not shown in FIG. 4) is arranged to face the upper guide surface 48 (that is, the longitudinal direction of the groove 58A is aligned with the guide surface 48). 90 °), the cleaning water is ejected from the cleaning nozzle 58 so as to spread along the conveying width direction of the photographic paper P (the direction of the arrow W in FIG. 4) and to the guide surface 48 side.

Similarly, the cleaning nozzles 58 located on both sides of the guide surface 50 are also arranged so that the axial direction is parallel to the guide surface 50 and the direction of the groove 58A is directed toward the upper guide surface 50 (that is, the direction of the groove 58A). The longitudinal direction of the groove 58A is the guide surface 5
(90 ° with respect to 0), and the cleaning water is ejected from the cleaning nozzle 58 so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle (details will be described later) with respect to the conveying width direction of the photographic paper P and diffused toward the guide surface 50 side. I do. In addition, as shown in FIG.
The distance L between the axis C and the guide surface 48 (same for 50) is
It is set to 4mm.

Although the direction of the axis C of each cleaning nozzle 58 is parallel to the guide surface 48 or the guide surface 50, as shown in FIG. 3, it corresponds to the guide surface 50 for guiding the printing paper P obliquely upward. The cleaned nozzle 58 has its axis C
Are directed upward in the inclination direction of the guide surface 50, and the washing water is ejected toward the longitudinal center portion of the upper edge of the guide sheet 50 in the inclination direction of the photographic paper P.

In this embodiment, the angle θ5 between the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58 corresponding to the guide surface 50 and the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 50 is set to 3 °.

On the other hand, the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58 corresponding to the guide surface 48 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 48, and the cleaning water is ejected along the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 50. I have.

In the conventional printer processor, since the paper width (the width of the photographic paper P) corresponds to a maximum of 8 inches, the guide surface can be cleaned by disposing a cleaning nozzle only on one side in the photographic paper width direction. In the present embodiment, in the case of a photographic paper P having a maximum width of 12 inches and a narrow width, three rows are conveyed, so that the width of the guide member 46 constituting the crossover section 44 is wide in the photographic paper width direction, and cleaning from both sides is performed. Water injection is required.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a schematic configuration of a cleaning water supply device 64 for supplying cleaning water to the cleaning nozzle 58. FIG.

The washing water supply device 64 includes a washing water tank 66 which is provided inside the printer processor 10 and stores washing water, a filter 72, and a washing water pump 68.

The washing water stored in the washing water tank 66 is used as a washing water for replenishing the rinsing tanks 28A to 28D and a diluting water for diluting the replenisher of the color developing solution and the bleach-fixing solution. It may be used for correcting the evaporation.

The washing water sent from the washing water pump 68 is branched into two directions, each of which is supplied to the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H.

The electromagnetic valves 80A and 80B are connected to water supply ports 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transport rack 32 of the color developing tank 24 via piping.

In the nozzle unit 60 provided on the transport rack 32 of the color developing tank 24, only one washing nozzle 58 is provided on the downstream side.

Each of the electromagnetic valves 80C and 80D is connected to a water supply port 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transport rack 32 of the bleach-fixing tank 26 via a pipe.

The electromagnetic valves 80E and 80F respectively have a water supply port 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transport rack 32 of the rinsing tank 28A via a forked branch, and
A water supply port 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transport rack 32 of the rinsing tank 28B is connected.

Further, the electromagnetic valves 80G and 80H are respectively provided with a water supply port 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transfer rack 32 of the rinsing tank 28C via a branch.
A water supply port 62 of a nozzle unit 60 (not shown) provided on the transport rack 32 of the rinsing tank 28C is connected.

The washing water pump 68 and the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H are controlled by a washing control circuit 82 (see FIG. 8).

The cleaning control circuit 82 receives a cleaning signal from a control unit of the printer processor 10 (not shown).
The cleaning pump 68 is operated for a predetermined time, and while the cleaning pump 68 is operating, the electromagnetic valves 80A to
80H is activated.

The electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H are normally closed to prevent the supply of the cleaning water to each nozzle unit 60. However, when the water supply pump 68 is operated, the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H are opened. Is supplied to the nozzle unit 60, and the cleaning water at a predetermined pressure can be ejected from the cleaning nozzle 58.

Each of the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H is sequentially turned on for a certain period of time (two or more are not turned on at the same time) to supply cleaning water to a predetermined nozzle unit 60. The washing water is ejected from a number of washing nozzles 58 at the same time to prevent the ejection pressure of the washing water from being reduced.

In this embodiment, when the washing water is jetted, a pressure of 1.4 kgf / cm ² is applied to the washing nozzle 58 of the nozzle unit 60 provided on the transport rack 32 of the color developing tank 24, A pressure of 1.3 kgf / cm ² is applied to the cleaning nozzle 58 of the nozzle unit 60 provided on the transfer rack 32, and a pressure of 1.3 kgf / cm ² is applied to the cleaning nozzle 58 of the nozzle unit 60 provided on the transfer rack 32 of the rinsing tanks 28 </ b> A to 28 </ b> D. 1kg
The f / cm ² water pressure is applied.

In the present embodiment, in order to convey a photographic paper P (photosensitive material) having a width of 10 inches or more, or even 12 inches or more, a pair of rollers 40 and 42 and a guide length (a side wall 46A of the guide member 46). (Interval) is set to 350 mm. (Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In the printer processor 10, a laser beam is scanned on the photographic paper P drawn from the paper magazine 18 to print an image.

The printing paper P, which has been printed, is placed in the cutter 20.
Is cut into a predetermined length and sent to the processor unit 22.

In the processor section 22, the photographic paper P on which the image has been printed is conveyed through the color developing tank 24 and the bleach-fixing tank 26 to perform color development and bleach-fixing. The photographic paper P is transported to the rinsing tank 28D in order, and the photographic printing paper P is washed with the washing water stored in the rinsing tanks 28A to 28D.

The photographic paper P having been washed is subjected to a drying process in the drying section 30 and then discharged as a photographic print.

Here, in the printer processor 10, at the time of start-up for starting the operation of the apparatus one day, at the end of the operation, and when the non-processing state of the photographic paper P continues for a predetermined time in the processor unit 22, the printer processor 10 A cleaning signal is output from a control unit (not shown) to the cleaning control circuit 82, and the cleaning control circuit 82 operates the cleaning water supply device 64.

The cleaning control circuit 82 first controls the cleaning water pump 6
8 is operated to supply the cleaning water of a predetermined pressure from the cleaning water tank 66 to each of the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H.

Then, the cleaning control circuit 82 sequentially outputs an open signal to the electromagnetic valves 80A to 80H for a predetermined time.

As a result, the cleaning water is jetted from the cleaning nozzles 58 of the respective nozzle units 60 for a certain period of time.

In this embodiment, the discharge rate of the cleaning water 84 jetted from the cleaning nozzle 58 is 3 ml / sec or more.
It is controlled to be 20 ml / sec or less.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, one cleaning nozzle 58 is connected to each of the electromagnetic valves 80A and 80B, and two cleaning nozzles 58 are connected to each of the electromagnetic valves 80C and 80D. Cleaning nozzles 58 are connected, and four cleaning nozzles 58 are connected to each of the electromagnetic valves 80E, F, G, H.

In the present embodiment, the bleach-fix tank 26, the first rinse tank 28A, the second rinse tank 28B, and the third rinse tank 28
The amount of the cleaning water 84 that falls on each of the C and fourth rinsing tanks 28D (i.e., the amount of water used) is kept constant by adjusting the discharge time. However, the color developing tank 24 is not applied since the washing nozzle 58 is provided only on the outlet side.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, when the cleaning water 84 spouted from the cleaning nozzle 58 reaches the inclined surface 54 and the guide surface 48 (or the guide surface 50), the cleaning water 84 is applied to the surface. Creates a water flow 84A that spreads in the width direction and flows to the opposite side.

Here, a part of the jetted washing water 84 comes into contact with the washing water diffusing means 56, so that the guide surface 48 is formed.
Since the water flow 84A is further diffused in the width direction of the guide surface 50 (or the guide surface 50), the width of the water flow 84A is sufficiently increased even in the vicinity of the cleaning nozzle 58, and the cleaning area of the guide surface 48 near the cleaning nozzle 58 is expanded.

In this embodiment, the guide surface 48
(Or guide surface 50) the water flow 84 flowing along the surface
A reaches the center of the guide surface 48 in the longitudinal direction within 0.3 seconds.

Thus, the guide member 4 disposed outside the liquid
The surface of the guide surfaces 48 and 50 of 6 is the water flow
The treatment liquid (and the precipitates of the components in the treatment liquid) which has been washed by A and taken out by the photographic paper P and adhered to these surfaces is washed away.

Here, from the cleaning nozzle 58 corresponding to the guide surface 50 for guiding the photographic paper P obliquely upward, the cleaning water 84 is supplied to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the edge of the guide surface 50 on the upper side in the inclination direction of the photographic paper P. (Because the angle θ5 between the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58 and the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 50 is 3 ° toward the upper side in the inclined direction), the direction of the water flow 84A also It follows the jetting direction, and the water flow 84A can reliably clean the longitudinal center part of the upper end in the inclined direction of the guide surface 50,
Further, the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the adjacent guide surface 48 can be cleaned. That is, in the present embodiment, the jetting angle of the cleaning water ejected from the cleaning nozzle 58 is reduced (15 ° in the present embodiment), and the reaching distance of the cleaning water is extended. This has the effect of improving the cleaning performance of the guide surface 48.

When the direction of the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58 on the guide surface 50 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 50 (that is, θ5 is 0 °), the direction of the water flow 84A is changed to the vicinity of the cleaning nozzle 58. However, the cleaning nozzle 58 extends along the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 50, but the guide surface 50 is inclined.
There is a possibility that the direction of the water flow 84A changes to the lower side in the inclination direction as the distance from the upper surface increases, and the water flow 84A may not reach the longitudinal center portion of the upper end of the guide surface 50 in the inclination direction.

Further, since the guide surfaces 48 and 50 are inclined, a part of the water flow 84A (that is, the washing water 84) falls below the guide surfaces 48 and 50 in the inclination direction, and the guide surfaces 4 and 50 are inclined.
The surfaces of roller pairs 40, 42 (during rotation) located below 8, 50 are cleaned.

In the present embodiment, the water flow 84 is sufficiently diffused near the cleaning nozzles on the guide surfaces 48 and 50.
The vicinity of the cleaning nozzle of the roller pair 40, 42, that is, the vicinity of each end of the roller pair 40, 42 can be reliably cleaned with the cleaning water 84.

Note that the guide surfaces 48 and 50 and the roller pair 4
Wash water 84 used for washing 0 and 42 falls into each processing tank.

As described above, in the printer processor 10 of the present embodiment, since the washing water diffusing means 56 is provided near the washing nozzle 58, the guide surface 4 is efficiently and reliably provided.
8, 50 and the surfaces of the roller pairs 40, 42 can be reliably cleaned, and the guide surfaces 48, 50 can be cleaned for a long time.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the components in the processing solution from depositing on the roller pairs 40 and 42, and the components in the processing solution that have been deposited can damage the surface of the photographic paper P to be newly processed or cause uneven processing. Can be prevented, and a high-quality photographic print can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the cleaning water diffusing means 56 is used.
The inclination angle θ2 of the inclined side surface 56A is set to 65 °, but the inclination angle θ2 can be changed as appropriate according to the case where the angle of diffusion of the water flow 84A is changed or various conditions.

Further, in this embodiment, the inclination angle θ3 of the inclined side surface 56A is set to 30 °, but it is 10 ° to 75 °.
° is a preferred range. When the inclination angle θ3 is smaller than 10 °, the contacting cleaning water 84 is diffused (ie,
When the angle exceeds 75 °, the resistance of the water flow 84A is increased.

In this embodiment, the cleaning water diffusing means 56 is used.
Is set to 0.5 mm, but may be set to 2 mm or less so as not to hinder the straightness of the washing water.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inclination angle of the guide surface 48 with respect to the horizontal plane is set at 27 °, and the inclination angle of the guide surface 50 with respect to the horizontal plane is set at 12 °, but may be set at an angle other than the above. Of course. However,
Cleaning water 8 is applied to the roller pairs 40 and 42 from the guide surfaces 48 and 50.
In order to drop 4 sufficiently, it is preferable to set the inclination angle to 5 ° or more.

In this embodiment, the distance L between the axis C of the cleaning nozzle 58 and the guide surface 48 (also 50) is set to 4 mm, but the distance L is preferably 3 mm or more.
When the distance L is less than 3 mm, the reach of the water flow 84A on the guide surface 48 (same for 50) becomes shorter, and the water flow 84A can reach beyond the center in the longitudinal direction of the guide surface 48 (same for 50). I cannot do it.

Here, the washing water is sprayed at an injection angle (θ4) of 15 °.
The cleaning nozzle 58 of the present embodiment, which jets the cleaning water at a jetting angle of less than 10 °, the cleaning nozzle of the comparative example, which jets the cleaning water at an jetting angle of 30 °, the cleaning nozzle of the comparative example, which jets the cleaning water at an jetting angle of 30 °. Using the cleaning nozzle of the comparative example exceeding 40 ° and the arrival distance of the water flow 84A when the distance L was changed, the result as shown in the graph of FIG. 10 was obtained. The washing nozzle 58 used for measuring the reaching distance of the water flow 84A is arranged in the smallest rinsing water amount, for example, the first rinsing tank 28A.

From the results shown in FIG. 10, the spray angle (θ
4) is set to 15 ° and the distance L is set to 4 mm so that the reaching distance of the water flow 84A is 175 mm or more (roller pair 4
0, 42 or more), and the guide surface 48 (5
It can be seen that more than half of the length can be reliably washed.

When the jetting angle (θ4) is less than 10 °, the distance of the water flow is long, which is advantageous in cleaning the central portions of the guide surfaces 48 and 50 in the longitudinal direction. And the guide surfaces 48 and 50 and the roller pairs 40 and 42 have disadvantageous cleaning properties near the cleaning nozzle 58 for both the guide surfaces 48 and 50 and the roller pairs 40 and 42.

When the jetting angle (θ4) exceeds 40 °, the cleaning performance near the cleaning nozzle 58 is advantageous, but the water flow distance is reduced, and the cleaning performance at the longitudinal central portions of the guide surfaces 48 and 50 is disadvantageous. become.

When the distance L decreases, the water flow 84A
And the cleaning distance of the portion far from the cleaning nozzle 58 is reduced. On the other hand, when the distance L increases, the distance until the cleaning water 84 spouted from the cleaning nozzle 58 reaches the guide surface 48 increases, and the force (pressure) of the cleaning water 84 at the time of contact with the guide surface 48 decreases. , The ability to flush the water flow 84A in the jetting direction is reduced,
The reach of the water flow 84A becomes short.

For example, in the case of a cleaning nozzle having a cleaning water injection angle of less than 10 °, the distance L between the cleaning nozzle and the guide surface needs to be reduced in order to improve the cleaning performance near the cleaning nozzle. As shown in the graph, if the distance is too close, the distance of the water flow decreases, and the characteristics of the washing nozzle cannot be used.

The distance L can be appropriately changed according to various conditions.

In the present embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the groove 58A of the cleaning nozzle 58 (corresponding to the diffusion direction of the cleaning water 84) is
90 ° to the guide surface 48 (or 50),
Although not necessarily 90 °, the longitudinal direction of the groove 58A is 90 ° ± 15 ° with respect to the guide surface 48 (or 50).
Is preferably within.

If the angle of the groove 58A with respect to the guide surface 48 (or 50) in the longitudinal direction deviates more than 90 °, the ability to push the water flow 84A in the jetting direction is reduced, and as a result, the reach of the water flow 84A is shortened. Would.

When the discharge amount of the cleaning water 84 jetted from the cleaning nozzle 58 is less than 3 ml / sec, the reach of the water flow 84A on the guide surface 48 (similarly to 50) is shortened, and the water flow 84A is There is a possibility that it may not be possible to reach beyond the central portion in the longitudinal direction of 48 (also 50).

On the other hand, if the discharge amount of the cleaning water 84 ejected from the cleaning nozzle 58 exceeds 20 ml / sec, the cleaning water 84 is used more than necessary, and the cleaning water 84 is wasted. In some cases, the color developing solution or the bleach-fixing solution may be reduced to a specified concentration or less by the washing water 84.

Since the cleaning water diffusing means 56 of this embodiment is a mere projection, it can be formed at the same time when the guide member 46 is formed.

Further, the cleaning water diffusing means 56 may be bonded as a separate component.

In any case, the cleaning area can be expanded with a simple configuration, and the amount of water used can be minimized.

In this embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 58 is provided with the groove 58A so as to jet the cleaning water 84 while diffusing it. However, the shape of the jet port of the cleaning nozzle 58 is not limited to this. Any shape may be used as long as the cleaning water 84 is ejected so as to diffuse in a predetermined range.

Although the cleaning water diffusing means 56 of this embodiment is a triangular projection, the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape other than a triangle can be used as long as the cleaning water 84 can be diffused. Or a concave portion (groove, hole, etc.).

The washing water diffusing means 56 has one washing nozzle 5
8, a plurality of cleaning water diffusion means 5 may be provided.
6 may be appropriately dispersed.

In this embodiment, the side walls 46A on both sides are used.
Although the cleaning nozzle 58 is provided, the cleaning nozzle 58 may be provided only on one side wall 46A if the guide surfaces 48 and 50 are short.

In the present embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking as an example a printer processor 10 which processes a photographic paper P and includes a printer section 14 and a processor section 22 as photosensitive material processing apparatuses, but the present invention is applied. The photosensitive material processing apparatus is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is applied to various photosensitive material processing apparatuses in which another photosensitive material such as a general exposure printer for processing a film or a printing plate is immersed in a processing liquid to perform processing. can do.

Here, in the conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, the washing water ejected from the oblique nozzle is reflected at the step portion to supply the washing water to the near side (near the nozzle), and the washing water is transmitted along the guide surface and the roller is moved. The cleaning water is supplied to the back side, and the cleaning water is supplied by another nozzle in a portion where the cleaning water cannot be supplied by the oblique nozzle.

Referring to the drawings, in the conventional apparatus, as shown in FIG. 12, an area where cleaning water is supplied from an injection nozzle (oblique nozzle) 602 to the roller 600 (hereinafter referred to as an injection area 604). In (2), the cleaning water is sprayed from a different spray nozzle to a portion other than the spray area 604 because the cleaning water is not uniform over the entire roller 600. However, there is a point in the roller nip where cleaning water is supplied from a plurality of spray nozzles (that is, the supply is partially excessive), and there is a problem that water overflows from the nip and the amount of cleaning water increases.

When the length of the roller 600 is increased in order to perform processing while transporting the photosensitive material in a plurality of rows such as two rows and three rows, the cleaning water 84 jetted from the jet nozzle 602 reaches the entire roller 600. You can not let it.

That is, conventionally, a roller or guide having a length of 8 inches can be washed by jetting washing water from a nozzle on only one side in the longitudinal direction. With the above roller and guide widths, a good cleaning effect was not obtained only from one side.

However, in the present embodiment, the cleaning nozzles 58 are provided on both sides of the guide surfaces 48, 50, and the direction of spraying the cleaning water, the amount of the cleaning water, and the like are defined as described above.
Even for rollers and guide widths of 0 inches or more, and even 12 inches or more, a good cleaning effect can be obtained with a minimum necessary amount of water.

That is, a sufficient amount of the cleaning water 84 jetted from the cleaning nozzle 58 is applied to the nip near the ends of the pair of rollers 40 and 42 by the effect of the cleaning water diffusing means 56 near the nozzle. In addition, the water flow 84A of the guide surfaces 48 and 50
Is strong near the nozzle (ie, fast),
As the distance increases, the momentum decreases (i.e., the speed decreases). For this reason, the water flow 8 of the guide surfaces 48 and 50
The washing water 84 that falls from 4A to the roller pair 40, 42 is
A large amount falls at a portion relatively far from the cleaning nozzle 58, but does not fall as far as a portion relatively near.

For this reason, the roller pairs 40 and 42 (length 10
(In inches or more), a region where the cleaning nozzle 58 mainly supplies the cleaning water 84 (hereinafter, referred to as a jetting region 500).
11A, when the cleaning water 84 is ejected from the left side of the drawing, as shown conceptually in FIG. 11A, the vicinity of the cleaning nozzle 58 on the left side and the opposite side from the near side in the longitudinal center ( It is slightly closer to the end (right side in the figure). On the other hand, FIG.
As shown in (B), the spray area 500 of the cleaning water of the cleaning nozzle 58 on the right side of the drawing is in the vicinity of the cleaning nozzle 58 on the right side and at the end on the opposite side (left side in the drawing) from the near side in the longitudinal center. Slightly closer to you. It should be noted that, in actuality, even in a region other than the illustrated injection region 500, the injection region 500
The washing water 84, though less, is supplied by falling.

In the present embodiment, the cleaning water 8 is supplied from the cleaning nozzles 58 on both left and right sides (both longitudinal sides) of the roller pairs 40 and 42.
4, the cleaning area 500 of the other cleaning nozzle 58 compensates for a part where the supply amount of the one cleaning nozzle 58 seems to be insufficient (that is, a part other than the cleaning area 500 in the figure). As a result, the roller pair Rinsing water 84 can be supplied to almost all of 40 and 42.

It is to be noted that increasing the number of nozzles on both sides to improve the cleaning performance near the nozzles is disadvantageous in that the cleaning performance of the guide surfaces 48 and 50 is reduced due to an increase in the amount of cleaning water and a decrease in the discharge pressure.

[0151]

As described above, the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention has the above-described structure, so that the surface of the guide disposed outside the liquid can be efficiently used with the cleaning water while minimizing the amount of the cleaning water used. It has an excellent effect that it can be washed effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer processor applied to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a schematic configuration of a transport rack, taken along a transport direction of photographic paper.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the guide member.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the guide surface viewed from below, and FIG. 4B is a view of the guide surface viewed from the front;
(C) is a view of the guide surface as viewed from the photographic paper transport direction.

FIG. 5 is a view (partly enlarged view of FIG. 4 (C)) of the washing water diffusing means as viewed from a photographic paper transport direction.

FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of the upper part of a transport rack,
(B) is a schematic perspective view of the nozzle unit attached to the transport rack.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a cleaning nozzle applied to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a part of a schematic configuration of a cleaning water supply device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a part of a schematic configuration of a cleaning water supply device.

FIG. 10 shows the distance L between the axis of the cleaning nozzle and the guide surface,
It is the graph which put together the experimental result which shows the relationship between the jet angle of washing water, and the reach of the water flow of a guide surface.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram showing an ejection region by a left cleaning nozzle, and FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram showing an ejection region by a right cleaning nozzle.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an ejection area by one oblique nozzle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Photographic paper (photosensitive material) 10 Printer processor (photosensitive material processing device) 24 Color developing tank (processing tank) 26 Bleaching and fixing tank (processing tank) 28A First rinsing tank (processing tank) 28B Second rinsing tank (processing tank) 28C Third rinsing tank (processing tank) 28D Fourth rinsing tank (processing tank) 48 Guide surface (photosensitive material transport guide) 50 Guide surface (photosensitive material transport guide) 58 Wash nozzle (wash water jetting means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material transport guide provided between a plurality of processing tanks for immersing and processing a photosensitive material and extending in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material, at least at one end side in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material. A washing apparatus for washing the photosensitive material transport guide by ejecting washing water at a predetermined pressure while diffusing washing water from the washing water ejecting means, wherein the washing water ejecting means comprises: The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusion surface of the cleaning water is diffused and ejected from the axial direction to one side, and a diffusion surface of the cleaning water is substantially 90 degrees with respect to the photosensitive material transport guide. 2. A photosensitive material transport guide provided between a plurality of processing tanks for immersing and processing a photosensitive material and extending in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material, and is provided at least on one end side in the transport width direction of the photosensitive material. A washing apparatus for washing the photosensitive material conveying guide by jetting washing water of a predetermined pressure while diffusing washing water from the washing water jetting means, wherein the photosensitive material conveying guide moves the photosensitive material to be conveyed on a horizontal plane. The washing water jetting means, wherein the jetting direction of the washing water is parallel to the conveying width direction of the photosensitive material or the upper side in the inclination direction of the photosensitive material conveying guide. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, characterized in that the photosensitive material processing apparatus is inclined. 3. An interval between the photosensitive material conveying guide and the axis of the washing water jetting means in a direction orthogonal to the axis is 3 times.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance is not less than mm.
3. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The cleaning water jetting means according to claim 1, wherein an injection angle of the cleaning water diffused and jetted from the washing water jetting means is in a range of 10 ° to 40 °. Photosensitive material processing equipment. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the washing water diffused and ejected from one of the washing water ejecting means is 3 ml / sec or more. Photosensitive material processing equipment. 6. The washing water jetting means according to claim 1, wherein an amount of said washing water diffused and ejected from said one washing water ejecting means is 20 ml / sec or less.
Item 6. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to item 1.