JP2000284448A - Photosensitive material processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive material processor constituted so that processing irregularity is prevented from occurring without changing the structure thereof. SOLUTION: An automatic developing device 10 is provided with a processing liquid processing part 11. In the developing tank 14, the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18 of the processing part 11, carrying racks 24, 28 and 32 having side plates for respectively supporting plural carrying rollers 22, 26 and 30 are disposed by being respectively immersed in developing liquid, fixing liquid and washing water. Besides, cross-over racks 34 having a carrying roller 36 and a guide 38 at the upper part thereof are disposed between the tanks 14 and 16 and between the tanks 16 and 18. By a control part 64, the supply amount of processing liquid per one time is restricted to such an extent that the processing liquid is not attached to the carrying rollers 36 of the racks 34 by the waving of a liquid level or the like.

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, and more particularly, to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for immersing a photosensitive material in a processing bath filled with a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An exposed photosensitive material is processed by a processing solution such as a developing solution or a fixing solution in a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus, a processing tank for storing such a processing solution is provided, and a transport rack having a plurality of transport rollers for transporting the photosensitive material is disposed therein. Is driven and conveyed in the processing liquid by these conveying rollers to be processed.

[0004] A crossover rack having a transport roller for transferring the photosensitive material from an upstream processing tank to a downstream processing tank in the direction of transporting the photosensitive material is disposed between the processing tanks. Thus, the photosensitive material that has been processed in each processing tank is transported to the next processing tank.

[0005] Incidentally, the processing liquid for performing each of the developing processing and the fixing processing deteriorates according to the type of photosensitive material, environment, aging, processing conditions, and the like. It is necessary to monitor and monitor the replenishment or replacement of the processing solution. In general, the liquid level of each processing tank is controlled so as to be substantially constant at a predetermined height to be maintained.

[0006]

However, the processing tank has an extremely small opening area of, for example, 50 to 300 cm ^2, and most of the openings are covered with a lid (liquid level lid) that covers the liquid surface. In the half cut size (3
5.6 cm × 43.2 cm) 30 per photosensitive material
When replenishing a small amount of the processing solution of about 50 cc, the processing solution overflows and scatters from the opening gap or the slit for passing the photosensitive material provided on the liquid surface cover due to the rise of the liquid surface or the waving. However, for example, when it is necessary to replenish a processing solution of 200 cc or more per photosensitive material of a half-cut size in a short time, the liquid level rises or the water surface is wavy, so that the gap or slit may be removed. The processing liquid is scattered and adheres to the transport rollers provided above the processing tank and the transport rollers of the crossover rack. As described above, there is a problem that the processing liquid adhered to the transport roller is transferred to the photosensitive material to be processed next, thereby causing processing unevenness, that is, a density difference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of preventing processing unevenness without changing the apparatus structure.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photographic photosensitive material with a processing solution in a processing tank. A control means is provided for limiting the replenishment amount of the processing solution replenished to the processing tank per one time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means determines that the required replenishment amount is larger than the upper limit of the replenishment amount per one time. It is characterized in that it is replenished in a plurality of times.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the amount of replenishment at one time is set to such an extent that the processing liquid does not splatter or overflow. As described above, the above problem can be solved by dividing and replenishing a plurality of times. For this reason, the processing liquid adhered to the transporting means is not transferred to the photosensitive material to be processed next, thereby preventing processing unevenness, that is, generation of a density difference.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing apparatus 10 as a photosensitive material apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The automatic developing apparatus 10 dries a photosensitive material 20 on which an image has been printed in a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water, and then performs a drying process.

The automatic developing apparatus 10 is provided with a processing solution processing section 11 and a drying section 50 in a machine frame 12. The processing solution processing section 11 includes a developing tank 14 for storing a developing solution, a fixing tank 16 for storing a fixing solution, and a washing tank 18 for storing washing water. Each of these processing tanks is integrally molded with a synthetic resin such as PPE.

In the vicinity of the insertion slot 15 provided in the machine frame 12, an insertion rack 17 for drawing the photosensitive material 20 to be processed into the machine frame 12, and an insertion detecting sensor 80 for detecting the photosensitive material 20 to be inserted. Are arranged. The insertion detection sensor 80 is connected to the control unit 64. Control unit 6
In step 4, the control of the transport of the photosensitive material 20 and the control of the replenishment amount of the processing solution to be replenished to each processing tank are performed.

The developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 1 of the processing liquid processing section 11
6. A plurality of transport rollers 22, 26,
Transport racks 2 having side plates for supporting the respective 30
4, 28, and 32 are immersed in a developer, a fixer, and washing water, respectively. Further, between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16, and between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18, a crossover rack 34 provided with a transport roller 36 and a guide 38 above them is provided. Transport roller 2
Each of 2, 26, 30, and 36 has a transfer surface made of a phenol resin, another synthetic resin, or rubber.

The photosensitive material 20 inserted from the insertion opening 15
Is drawn into the automatic developing apparatus 10 by the insertion rack 17, is immersed in the developing solution, the fixing solution, and the washing water in turn by the rotation drive of the conveying rollers 22, 26, and 30. The developing, fixing, and washing processes are performed while being conveyed. Will be In the developing tank 14, the fixing tank 16, and the washing tank 18, the transport rollers 22, 26, and 30 are arranged in a staggered manner by side plates.

A squeeze roller 4 that conveys the photosensitive material 20 while squeezing the photosensitive material 20 between the washing tank 18 and the drying unit 50.
2 and a squeeze rack 40 provided with a guide 43 for guiding the photosensitive material 20 toward the drying section 50. The photosensitive material 20 sent out from the washing tank 18 is guided to the drying unit 50 while the surface moisture is squeezed out by the squeeze roller 42.

The squeeze roller 4 close to the washing tank 18
The crossover rack 34 between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16 and the crossover rack 34 having the same configuration as the crossover rack 34 between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18 are arranged at the portion between the fixing tank 2 and the guide 43. May be.

The drying section 50 is stretched between a pair of side plates 54 arranged in parallel with each other, and transport rollers 44 for transporting the photosensitive material 20 are arranged in a staggered manner to form a transport path for the photosensitive material 20. ing. The four (up to the hatched hatching in FIG. 1) transport rollers on the upstream side of the drying unit are heat rollers 60 having a heat source inside and a heated surface.

A blowing pipe 47 is provided for blowing the drying air generated by the drying air supply unit 45 having a heater and a drying fan toward the vicinity of the conveying roller 44.
The blow-out pipes 47 are arranged between the respective transport rollers 44, and these are provided with a chamber 49.

That is, the drying air generated by the heater and the drying fan is temporarily stocked in the chamber 49 to be equalized in pressure, then guided to each of the blowout pipes 47 and blown out from the blowout ports of the blowout pipes 47. Configuration.

While the photosensitive material 20 is in contact with the transport rollers 44 arranged in a staggered manner as described above, the front and back surfaces of the photosensitive material 20 are sequentially contacted.
The sheet is conveyed downward by receiving the conveying force, and is heated and dried by the drying air blown out from the blowing pipe 47.

A drying turn section 48 is provided below the drying section 50.
After the dried photosensitive material 20 is turned obliquely upward by the drying turn section 48, it is stocked in the receiving box 52.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the developing tank 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing tank 14 is filled with a developing solution, and the liquid level 70 is controlled by a control unit 64 (not shown) so as to maintain a predetermined height. The opening area of the opening 74 of the developing tank 14 is, for example,
A 50～300Cm ^2, is provided with a liquid level lid 72 to cover the surface of the developer, it closes the inlet and portions other than the outlet of the photosensitive material 20. When the developing tank 14 is replenished with a developing solution having a predetermined value (for example, 200 cc) or more at one time, the liquid level 70 rises temporarily temporarily, and the liquid level cover 72 is raised.
The developer scatters from any gaps such as the entrance and exit of the photosensitive material, and the transport rollers 36 of the crossover rack 34
Etc. may be attached. Note that the fixing tank 16 has substantially the same configuration as the developing tank 14.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

The exposed photosensitive material 20 is inserted into the automatic developing device 10 from the insertion opening 15 of the automatic developing device 10, and the processing by the control unit 64 is started. Automatic developing device 1
In the case of 0, the photosensitive material 20 inserted from the insertion port 15 is drawn in by the insertion rack 17 and sent to the developing tank 14 of the processing liquid processing section 11.

In the developing tank 14, while being transported in a substantially U-shape by the transport rollers 22 of the transport rack 24, the developer is immersed in a developing solution to perform a developing process. The photosensitive material 20 that has been processed in the developing tank 14 is supplied to a guide 38 of a crossover rack 34.
The sheet is guided and conveyed by the conveying roller 36 to the fixing tank 16.

In the fixing tank 16, the photosensitive material 20 is transported while being guided in a substantially U-shape by the transport rollers 26 of the rack 28, and is immersed in a fixing solution to perform a fixing process. The photosensitive material 20 that has been processed in the fixing tank 16 is guided and conveyed by the crossover rack 34 and sent to the washing tank 18.

In the washing tank 18, the photosensitive material 20 is transported while being immersed in washing water by the transport rollers 30 of the transport rack 32 to wash the photosensitive material 20 with water and to remove the fixer components from the surface of the photosensitive material 20. .

The photosensitive material 20 having been subjected to the water washing process is guided and conveyed from the washing tank 18 to the squeeze roller 42 and the guide 43 of the squeeze rack 40, and is sent from the processing liquid processing unit 11 to the drying unit 50. At this time, moisture attached to the surface of the photosensitive material 20 is removed by the squeeze roller 42.

In the drying section 50, first, the photosensitive material 20 from which water has been removed from the surface is placed in two staggered transport rollers 44.
The front and back sides are alternately supported and conveyed, and a drying wind is blown.

Thereafter, the photosensitive material 20 is transported by the transport rollers 44.
While being transported by the transport roller 44 and the heat roller 60, the photosensitive material 20 is heated and dried by the dry air generated in the drying air supply unit 45 and blown out from the blowing pipe 47 toward the front and back surfaces of the photosensitive material 20. And drying turn part 4
At 8, the vehicle turns diagonally upward, and is discharged to the receiving box 49 and stocked.

The photosensitive material 20 is subjected to the development processing in this manner. The processing liquids of the developing solution, the fixing solution, and the washing solution are periodically or at a predetermined timing. At the same time, the processing solution is replenished to the respective processing tanks through a replenishing port (not shown).

The flow of the replenishment control will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step 100 shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the replenishment timing is reached, for example, whether or not the processing of the photosensitive material 20 has been completed for a predetermined number of sheets. It is determined whether the amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 180 cc). Here, the predetermined threshold value is set to the value of the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34.
The replenishing amount is set to such an extent that the developing solution does not adhere to the toner. If the total replenishment amount is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value, the developer may adhere to the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34. Replenish in different times. If the total replenishment amount is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, there is no possibility that the developing solution adheres to the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34.

For example, when it is necessary to replenish the developer twice as large as the predetermined threshold value (360 cc) per one half-cut size photosensitive material, the predetermined threshold value is set every time one half-cut size photosensitive material is processed. It is controlled so as to be replenished in two divided portions of 180 cc).

Therefore, when the developer is replenished, the liquid level 7
It is possible to prevent the developer from adhering to the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34 by raising and waving 0.
Therefore, the developer adhering to the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34 is not transferred to the photosensitive material 20 to be processed next, thereby preventing processing unevenness, that is, occurrence of a density difference. At this time, since the total replenishment amount required for one half-sized photosensitive material is not reduced, the developing performance is not deteriorated. Further, since it is not necessary to change the apparatus configuration and the level of the liquid surface to be maintained, it is possible to prevent the cost from increasing. It should be noted that substantially the same control is performed for replenishment of the fixing solution.

In this embodiment, the replenishment amount of the processing liquid per one time is set to 180 cc or less. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If so, it can be set freely. Also, the number of replenishments can be freely set according to the replenishment amount per one time. Further, the replenishment may be performed by extending the replenishment time, instead of replenishing the replenishment in a plurality of times.
Thus, it is possible to prevent the processing liquid from adhering to the transport roller 36 of the crossover rack 34 due to the liquid surface 70 waving or the like.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the processing tank is replenished with the processing solution, the replenishing amount of the processing solution is limited by the control means. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic developing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view near a developing tank.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a control routine executed by a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic developing apparatus (photosensitive material processing apparatus) 11 Processing liquid processing part 14 Developing tank 16 Fixing tank 18 Rinse tank 20 Photosensitive material 22 Transport roller 24 Transport rack 34 Crossover rack 36 Transport roller 64 Control part (control means) 70 Liquid level 72 Liquid cover 74 Opening

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photographic photosensitive material with a processing solution in a processing tank, comprising a control means for limiting a replenishing amount of the processing solution replenished to the processing tank at one time. Characteristic photosensitive material processing equipment. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein a value of the required replenishment amount is larger than the upper limit value of the replenishment amount per one time.
2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishment is performed in a plurality of times.