JP2000105446A - Squeeze device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress generation of a scratch caused by speed difference between squeeze rollers and a photographic film. SOLUTION: A lower side squeeze roller 22 is constituted of nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d. An upper side squeeze roller 23 is constituted of nip rollers 23a, 23b. Driven gears 34, 35 are attached to shaft end parts of the nip rollers 22a, 23a by interposing an one-way clutch 50. An intermediate gear 33 is engaged to the driven gears 34, 35. The squeeze rollers 22, 23 are rotated by a driving motor 18. When sending speed of the photographic film 16 is higher than circumferential speeds of respective nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a, 23b by motor driving, respective nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a, 23b idle by the one-way clutch 50 by synchronizing with sending of the photographic film 16. Thereby, speed difference between the respective nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a, 23b and the photographic film 16 is not generated and generation of scratch on the photographic film 16 is suppressed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a squeeze apparatus used for a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as an automatic developing machine and for squeezing a processing solution from a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, automatic developing machines such as a film processor and a printer processor used in a photographic developing station develop a photographic film or a color paper.
Photosensitive materials such as photographic films and color papers are processed by being transported through a plurality of processing tanks containing processing solutions and water for color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization. Then, the processed photosensitive material is sent to a drying unit and dried.

A squeeze roller composed of a pair of nip rollers is provided on a transport path of the photosensitive material in the air from the processing tank to the processing tank or from the processing tank to the drying section. The processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material is squeezed out (squeezed) by the squeeze roller, and the carry-in of the processing liquid to the next tank or drying unit is suppressed. In addition, since the processing liquid is uniformly squeezed, the reaction in the next step is likely to occur, and a uniform reaction can be obtained. In addition, in the squeeze section before the drying section, the unevenness in drawing is eliminated, so that the occurrence of uneven drying is suppressed.

[0004]

In the squeeze apparatus using the squeeze roller, it is difficult to accurately match the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller with the feeding speed of the photosensitive material. Therefore, these speed inconsistencies cause abrasion on the photosensitive emulsion surface of the squeezed photosensitive material. For example, when the feed speed of the photosensitive material is higher on the downstream side in the feed direction than the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller,
The photosensitive material is rubbed by the squeeze roller, causing scratches.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a squeezing device which has a simple structure and does not cause scratches on a photosensitive material.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a squeezing device, wherein a one-way clutch for transmitting drive only from the driving device to the squeezing roller is provided between the driving device and the squeezing roller. Has been arranged. When the feed speed of the photosensitive material in the next processing tank or drying unit becomes higher than the feed speed of the photosensitive material by the squeeze roller, the one-way clutch allows the squeeze roller to rotate freely like a free roller. . With this free roller, the squeeze roller rotates in synchronization with the feeding of the photosensitive material, so that the squeeze roller does not scratch the photosensitive material. The one-way clutch is preferably provided at the shaft end of the squeeze roller. Further, it is preferable that the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller is lower than the photosensitive material feed speed of the next processing tank or drying section.

[0007]

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram showing a film processor. As is well known, a color developing tank 11, a bleach-fixing tank 12, and a washing tank 1 are provided in the film processor 10.
3, 14, and 15 are sequentially arranged adjacent to each other, and each is filled with a processing liquid. The photographic film 16 is developed by passing through the processing tanks 11 to 15 by the transport racks 17. The transport sprocket and the transport belt of the transport rack 17 are rotated by a drive motor 18.
The processed photographic film 16 is sent to the drying unit 19 and dried.

The squeezing device 20 of the present invention is disposed between the washing tank 15 and the drying unit 19. As shown in FIG. 3, the squeezing device 20 includes a box-shaped mounting frame 21.
The squeeze rollers 22 and 23 are rotatably arranged in the vertical direction. These squeeze rollers 22,
The photographic film 16 is nipped and conveyed by 23, and the washing water attached to the surface is squeezed out.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper squeeze roller 2
3 is a pair of nip rollers 23a arranged in the horizontal direction,
23b. The lower squeeze roller 22 is a nip roller 22 divided into two in the horizontal direction.
c, 22d, and a nip roller 2 rotating opposite thereto
2a.

The lower nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22
At d, squeeze rollers 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d are arranged so as to make rolling contact. The squeeze rollers 25a to 25d are provided with nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22
The washing water adhering to d is squeezed out and returned to the washing tank 15.
A guide roller 26 is disposed above the upper nip roller 22a. This guide roller 26
The photographic film 16 is guided to the drying unit 19.

The right aperture roller 25c is attached to the attachment frame 21 by a drive shaft 27. The aperture roller 25c is rotatably attached to the drive shaft 27. The squeezing rollers 25a and 25b that are in rolling contact with the nip roller 22a are rotatably mounted on the mounting frame 21 by the same mounting shaft 28. Further, the squeezing roller 25d which comes into rolling contact with the nip roller 22c is rotatably mounted by a mounting shaft 29.

An input gear 30 is fixed to the left end of the drive shaft 27. The input gear 30 has a drive motor 18 for rotating a sprocket and the like of the transport rack 17.
Are connected via a gear train (not shown). Further, a torque limiter 31 is disposed at the right end on the opposite side.

As shown in FIG. 4, a torque limiter 31 is provided.
Is composed of the drive shaft 27, the drive gear 32, the drive-side transmission member 40, and the driven-side transmission portion 41.
The shaft end of the drive shaft 27 is a stepped shaft portion 27a, and the drive gear 32 is rotatably attached to the stepped shaft portion 27a. A peripheral groove 42 is formed on the peripheral surface near the shaft end of the stepped shaft portion 27a, and an E-ring 43 is attached to the peripheral groove 42. The E-ring 43 prevents the drive gear 32 from falling off the drive shaft 27. Further, a key groove 44 is formed at the shaft end of the drive shaft 27. In this keyway 44,
The locking piece 45 of the drive-side transmission member 40 enters, and the drive-side transmission member 40 rotates integrally with the drive shaft 27.

The drive-side transmission member 40 comprises a mounting disk 46 and a locking leaf spring 47. At the center of the mounting disk 46, a mounting hole 46a into which the stepped shaft portion 27a of the drive shaft 27 enters is formed. Further, the locking piece 45 is formed integrally with the mounting hole 46a, and is bent so as to extend in the axial direction of the drive shaft 27.

Two locking plate springs 47 are formed on the mounting disk 46 at a pitch of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. The locking plate spring 47 is bent so as to extend in the axial direction of the drive shaft 27 from the outer peripheral edge of the mounting disk 46. The locking leaf spring 47 is formed to extend in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft 27. The free end of the locking plate spring 47 opposite to the mounting portion 47a is bent into a V-shape, and the bent portion forms a locking projection 48.

The driven-side transmission portion 41 is formed of a shaft portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the drive gear 32, and is formed integrally with the drive gear 32. On the peripheral surface of the driven side transmission portion 41, a locking groove 49 which is a locking portion on the driven side is formed at a position corresponding to the locking projection 48. This locking groove 49
Has a triangular cross section and is formed parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft 27. The locking projection 48 of the locking plate spring 47 enters the locking groove 49, and the drive-side transmission member 40 and the driven-side transmission portion 41 rotate integrally, so that the rotation of the drive shaft 27 is rotated by the drive gear. 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, a driven gear 32 of a torque limiter 31 is driven by a driven gear 3 through an intermediate gear 33.
4, 35 are engaged. As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate gear 33 is rotatably mounted on a mounting shaft 36 protruding from the mounting frame 21.

The driven gears 34 and 35 are mounted on shaft ends 22e and 23e of the squeeze rollers 22a and 23a via a one-way clutch 50. As shown in FIG. 6, the one-way clutch 50 includes an inner cylinder 51, an outer cylinder 52,
An engagement recess 53 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 52 and an engagement shaft 54 loaded in the engagement recess 53 are provided.

The rotation of the driven gear 34 causes the outer cylinder 5 to rotate.
2 rotates clockwise, the engagement shaft 54 is moved to the engagement recess 5.
3, the outer cylinder 52 and the inner cylinder 51 are integrally rotated by being sandwiched and fixed between the engagement recessed portion 53 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 51. Is transmitted to the inner cylinder 53. As a result, the drive of the motor 18 is controlled by the one-way clutch 50 to
The squeeze rollers 22 and 23 rotate in the feed direction of the photo film 16.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the feed speed of the photographic film 16 becomes higher than the peripheral speed of the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 by the feed by the drying unit 19 in the next step, the rotational speed of the outer cylinder 52 is increased. Va and the rotation speed V of the inner cylinder 51
b and Va <Vb, and a speed difference occurs. Due to this speed difference, the engagement shaft 5 between the inner cylinder 51 and the outer cylinder 52
4 is released, the inner cylinder 51 idles inside the outer cylinder 52. Thereby, the squeeze rollers 22, 23
Can rotate together at the same speed as the feed speed of the drying unit 19, and is turned into a free roller. Therefore, the photo film 16 is not rubbed by the squeeze rollers 22 and 23, and the photo film 16 is not scratched.

As shown in FIG. 8, connecting gears 37a, 37 are connected to the ends of the squeeze rollers 22, 23 opposite to the ends 22e, 23e to which the driven gears 34, 35 are attached.
b, 38a, 38b are fixed. This connecting gear 37
The nip rollers 22a to 22d, 23a, and 23b are connected via a, 37b, 38a, and 38b.

The drying section 1 is controlled by the film feed speed of the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 in the squeeze device 20.
9, the film feed speed is slightly higher,
As a result, the photo film 16 is prevented from collecting and clogging between the squeezing device 20 and the drying unit 19. The film feed speed of the transport rack 17 in each of the processing tanks 11 to 15 and the peripheral speed of the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 are set to be the same.

In use, as shown in FIG. 2, as the drive motor 18 rotates, the transport belts and the like of each transport rack 17 rotate, and the photographic film 16 is transferred to each of the tanks 11 to 1.
Guide to 5. Further, as shown in FIG.
The rotation of 8 is transmitted to the squeezing device 20 via the input gear 30. Similarly, the feed device of the drying unit 19 is driven by the drive motor 18.

First, as the input gear 30 rotates, the drive shaft 27 integrated therewith rotates. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotation of the drive shaft 27 is
The locking projection 48 of the locking plate spring 47 and the driven-side transmission portion 4
By being locked to the locking groove 49 on the peripheral surface of the first gear, the power is transmitted to the drive gear 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation of the drive gear 32 is transmitted to the nip rollers 22a, 23a of the squeeze rollers 22, 23 via an intermediate gear 33, driven gears 34, 35, and a one-way clutch 50. Is done. As shown in FIG. 8, the nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a, 23b are connected to connecting gears 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b.
Are connected to each other through the
a, 22c, 22d, 23a and 23b rotate. As a result, the washing water adhering to the photographic film 16 is squeezed out by the nip rollers 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a and 23b. The photographic film 16 that has passed through the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 is sent to a drying unit 19 where it is dried.

Exceeding the film feed speed by the squeeze rollers 22 and 23, the photographic film 16 is moved to the next drying device 1.
9, the engagement shaft 54 is moved between the outer cylinder 52 and the inner cylinder 5 as shown in FIG.
1 is free in the engagement concave portion 53 between the outer cylinder 52 and the inner cylinder 51 by the engagement shaft 54. As a result, the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 become free rollers and rotate in synchronization with the feed of the photo film 16. Since there is no speed difference between the photo film 16 and the squeeze rollers 22 and 23, scratches on the photo film 16 due to the speed difference are eliminated.

When the film feed speed is lower than the peripheral speed of the squeeze rollers 22 and 23, the free roller is released as shown in FIG.
1 is integrally rotated by the engagement shaft 54, so that the drive from the motor 18 is transmitted to the squeeze rollers 22 and 23, and these are rotated.

The squeeze roller 22,
If the photo film 16 or the like is wound around the side 23, the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 become heavily loaded, and the engagement between the engaging projection 48 and the engaging groove 49 is released. As a result, the locking plate spring 47 rotates on the peripheral surface of the driven-side transmission portion 41, and the drive shaft 27 idles. Therefore, since the rotational force of the drive motor 18 is not transmitted to the squeeze device 20 side,
The wrapped photo film 16 does not break, and the squeezing device 20 does not break.

In the above embodiment, the squeeze rollers 22,
23, the shaft end 22e of each of the nip rollers 22a, 23a,
Although the one-way clutch 50 is disposed at the position 23e, the one-way clutch 50 may be disposed at a position closer to the driving side, for example, on the mounting shaft 36 of the intermediate gear 33. Further, the one-way clutch 50 may be a ratchet type having a locking claw, or another type, instead of the engagement shaft type as in the above embodiment. The one-way clutch 50 in the above embodiment is the outer cylinder 5
Although the engagement recess 53 is formed on the second side, it may be formed on the inner cylinder 51 side. A one-way clutch may be configured by disposing an engagement ball or another engagement member instead of the engagement shaft 54 loaded in the engagement recess 53.

In the above embodiment, the washing tank 15 and the drying section 1
The present invention is implemented in the squeezing device 20 between the processing tanks 9 and 9, but the present invention may be implemented in a squeezing device arranged between the processing tanks 11 to 15. Further, in the above embodiment, the torque limiter 31 is provided, but this may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a film processor, but the present invention may be applied to a paper processor.

In the above embodiment, the squeeze rollers 22,
The peripheral speed of the squeeze rollers 22 and 23 and the photosensitive material feed speed in the next step are not limited to this, but the peripheral speed of the photosensitive material feed speed in the next process is set lower than the photosensitive material feed speed of the next processing tank or drying section. May be the same or very slightly lower. In this case, the squeeze roller can be mainly driven to rotate to perform the squeeze processing. Then, for a short time when the feed speed of the photosensitive material exceeds the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller for some reason, the squeeze roller is turned into a free roller, so that occurrence of abrasion is suppressed.

[0032]

According to the present invention, a one-way clutch for transmitting drive only from the driving device to the squeezing roller is disposed between the driving device and the squeezing roller. If the speed is exceeded, the squeeze roller becomes a free roller. Thus, the squeeze roller rotates in synchronization with the feeding of the photosensitive material, so that there is no speed difference between the two and the occurrence of scratches due to this speed difference is suppressed.

By providing the one-way clutch at the shaft end of the squeeze roller, the structure can be simplified.
Also, by making the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller lower than the photosensitive material feed speed of the next processing tank or drying section, the photosensitive material is rotated by rotating the squeeze roller until the photosensitive material reaches the next processing tank or drying section. When the photosensitive material reaches the drying section and the photosensitive material is fed by these feeding devices, the squeeze roller is turned into a free roller, and the feed speed of the photosensitive material matches the peripheral speed of the squeeze roller. In addition, the occurrence of abrasion on the photosensitive material can be effectively suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a squeezing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a film processor to which a squeezing device is attached.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the squeezing device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a torque limiter.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the squeeze device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the drive of the motor is transmitted to a shaft on the squeeze roller side via a one-way clutch.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a shaft on the squeeze roller side is idled by a one-way clutch.

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the squeeze device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Film processor 15 Rinse tank 16 Photo film 20 Squeeze device 22, 23 Squeeze roller 22a, 22c, 22d, 23a, 23b Nip roller 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d Aperture roller 26 Guide roller 27 Drive shaft 30 Input gear 31 Torque limiter 32 Drive Gear 33 Intermediate gear 34, 35 Follower gear 37, 38 Connecting gear 50 One-way clutch 51 Inner cylinder 52 Outer cylinder 53 Engagement recess 54 Engagement shaft

Claims (3)

[Claims] A squeeze roller which is rotated by a driving device; a processing liquid is squeezed by the squeeze roller from the photosensitive material passing through the photosensitive material processing tank; and the photosensitive material is transferred to a next processing tank or a drying unit. In a squeezing device for feeding, a one-way clutch for transmitting drive only from the driving device to the squeezing roller is disposed between the driving device and the squeezing roller. 2. The squeezing device according to claim 1, wherein the one-way clutch is provided at a shaft end of a squeeze roller. 3. The squeezing device according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral speed of the squeezing roller is lower than the photosensitive material feeding speed of the next processing tank or the drying unit.