JP2001183789A - Waste liquid discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waste liquid discharging device which can remove the precipitate of a processing tank. SOLUTION: Nearly the center at the base surface of the development processing tank 11 is provided with a discharge port 11a and an outflow path 28c extends from the discharge port 11a to a waste liquid tank 28. A solenoid valve 28b is disposed in mid-way of the outflow path 28c to control the outflow of the processing liquid from the discharge port 11a. The solenoid valve 28b is interlocked to a floating sensor 11b for liquid level detection of the processing tank 11. When the processing liquid is detected by the floating sensor 11b, i.e., when the processing liquid is replenished beyond the specified amount, a signal is transmitted to a controller 34. The controller 34 opens the respective solenoid valves 28b for a specified time (for example, in such a manner that the processing liquid of 100 ml is discharged) to discharge the paper dust and crystals settled on the bottom of the processing tanks 11 and 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for discharging waste liquid from a processing tank provided in a developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, photographic paper (hereinafter, also referred to as paper) is exposed and baked by light transmitted through a film, and then passed through a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution, dried, and dried. A photographic printing / developing device configured to discharge the toner to a printer has been put to practical use. Such a developing device is disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,307,114.

A developing device of this type generally includes a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank, each of which stores a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution. It is necessary to maintain the concentration of these liquids in water at the time of development. For this reason, the replenisher of the developer, the fixer, and the stabilizer is supplied at a predetermined timing, and the liquid exceeding a predetermined amount is discharged to a waste liquid tank. Therefore, an overflow is provided at the upper part of the processing tank, and the liquid level is configured not to exceed the overflow. For example, such a technique is disclosed in JP-A-9-90588 and JP-A-10-282621.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional waste liquid discharging apparatus, there is a problem that paper powder, crystals and the like settled at the bottom of the processing tank cannot be removed. For this reason, paper powder, crystals, and the like accumulate on the bottom of the processing tank, adhere to the photographic paper as dust, and hinder the smooth operation of the photographic paper transport mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waste liquid discharging device capable of removing sediment in a processing tank.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a waste liquid discharging apparatus for discharging a waste liquid from a processing tank of a photographic development processing apparatus, wherein the waste liquid discharging apparatus stores a developing liquid or a fixing liquid. Waste liquid discharging means provided at the bottom of the processing tank;
A liquid amount detecting unit that detects that the developing solution or the fixing solution is stored in the processing tank in a predetermined amount or more, and a fixed amount of waste liquid is discharged from the waste liquid discharging unit based on the detection by the liquid amount detecting unit. Control means for controlling the waste liquid discharging means.

[0007] The control means may further include a predetermined amount of waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge means every predetermined time.
The waste liquid discharging means is controlled.

The waste liquid discharging means has an electromagnetic valve.

[0009] The control means controls the waste liquid discharging means so that a predetermined amount of waste liquid is discharged from the waste liquid discharging means when the power of the photographic processing apparatus is turned on.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative arrangements, numerical values, and the like of the components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to them unless otherwise specified.

(One Embodiment) <Structure of Entire Apparatus> First, the structure of an entire developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a photographic printing and developing apparatus 1 (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus 1).
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entire internal configuration of the present embodiment. The device 1 is provided with a cover and the like detachably provided to the housing 2, and this figure shows a state where the cover and the like of the device 1 are partially removed.

In FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 is made up of three parts, a printer (exposure printing) section 3, a processor (development processing) section 5, and a dryer (drying) section 6, and is configured to be horizontally long and flattened forward and backward. In order to minimize the occupied area, it is designed so that the main parts can be easily accessed from the front in various operations to be performed daily.

The photographic paper P exposed by the printer unit 3 is sent to the processor unit 5 via the transport unit 8. The photographic paper P transported to the processor unit 5 is sequentially sent to the developing tank 1
1, through the fixing processing tank 12 and the stabilizing processing tank 13, and then sent to the dryer unit 6.

Each processing tank has a rack unit 1
4 and a reversing roll (not shown) are provided, and all of the rack unit 14 and the reversing roll rotate at the same time to turn the photographic paper P entering the horizontal direction downward and guide it into each processing tank, Furthermore, the inside of each processing tank is transported as indicated by an arrow, and the direction is changed again by the rack unit 14 and sent to the next processing tank. The development processing tank 11 and the fixing processing tank 12 are each composed of one tank. The stabilization processing tank 13 has four tanks (13a, 13a) as shown in the figure.
b, 13c, 13d), and each tank is depleted so that the liquid level becomes lower in order from the right, and the replenishing stabilizing liquid flowing into 13a flows from 13b to 13c and further into 1c.
It flows into 3d and so on.

It is discharged from the tank 13a of the stabilization tank 13,
The photographic paper P conveyed to the dryer section 6 is first sent to a drying unit 15, dried, guided to a direction changing device 16, sorted by size, and supplied to a large-size tray 18.
Alternatively, the sheet is sent to a belt conveyor 17 of a normal size and discharged outside the apparatus 1.

Further, a replenishment tank 24 for developer, a replenishment tank 25 for fixer, and a replenishment tank 26 for stabilizer are provided below the processing tank in the processor unit 5 for replenishing the processing liquid. Above these replenishment tanks, a container storing various concentrated processing liquids as raw materials for making a processing liquid for replenishment is configured to be set, and when the processing liquid in the replenishment tank is reduced. Next, the set container is opened and poured into these tanks to generate a replenisher. The figure shows a state in which a developer container 20, a fixer container 21, and two stabilizing solution containers 22, 23 are set with their openings downward.

Below the drying unit 15, a control unit 9 for performing various controls related to each of the above-mentioned processing tanks is arranged together with a power supply unit, and is configured to control the entire apparatus. I have.

<Detailed Configuration of Processor Unit> Next, the detailed configuration of the processor unit 5 will be described separately with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the developing tank 11 and the fixing tank 1.
2. Supply each processing liquid to the stable processing tank 13
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the piping for discharging.

[Replenishment tank] A replenishment tank 24 for developer,
Fixer replenishment tank 25 and stabilizer replenishment tank 26
Are connected to a developing tank 11, a fixing tank 12, and a stabilizing tank 13, respectively, by a liquid supply pipe 10 having a pump 10a and an electromagnetic valve 10b. Basically, each replenisher can be supplied to each processing tank at a predetermined timing according to the number of processed prints. That is, the pump 10a and the solenoid valve 10b between each replenishment tank and each processing tank are controlled based on the output of the processing number counter 33 as shown in FIG.

Each of the replenishment tanks 24, 25, and 26 contains a developer container 20, a fixer container 21, and two stabilizing solution containers 2.
Opening members 24a, 25a, 26a for 2, 23 are provided. The opening member is a hollow tube and also plays a role as an inflow path for the concentrated processing liquid. In addition, each refill tank 2
4, 25, and 26 are spare holes 24 through which the concentrated processing solution flows.
b, 25b, and 26b are provided, and further, a stirrer (not shown) is provided for each. 31 is a motor for the stirring device.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the replenishing tank, replenishing solution fullness detecting sensors 24c, 25c, 26c,
And a depletion detection sensor 24d, 25d, 26d, and controls a pump and an electromagnetic valve when refilling water from a water supply tank;
Alternatively, it is used to control the opening time of the solenoid valve when replenishing the processing bath with the processing solution.

[Waste liquid tank] Waste liquid tanks 28 and 29 are provided below the developing processing tank 11 and the fixing processing tank 12, and the old developing solution and fixing liquid in each processing tank are discharged to each tank. Is done. At the bottom of each waste liquid tank 28, 29, a sensor 28a for detecting the amount of waste liquid in the tank,
If the amount of waste liquid in the tank exceeds a certain amount, the user is prompted to remove the waste liquid in the tank. The waste liquid tanks 28 and 29 are piped such that the waste liquid flows out not only from the liquid surface of each of the processing tanks 11 and 12 but also from the bottom. Therefore, at the bottom of each processing tank, outlets 11a and 12a are provided at substantially the center thereof, and outflow passages 28c and 29c extend toward the waste liquid tanks 28 and 29. Solenoid valves 28b, 29b are provided in each of the outflow paths 28c, 29c.
Is provided, and the liquid level sensor 1 of each of the processing tanks 11 and 12 is provided.
It is linked with 1b and 12b. When the processing liquid is detected by these liquid level sensors 11b and 12b,
When the processing liquid is replenished in a certain amount, the solenoid valves 28b and 29b are opened for a certain period of time, waste liquid flows out, and paper powder and crystals settled at the bottom of the processing tanks 11 and 12 are discharged. Is done. To this end, the bottoms of the processing tanks 11 and 12 are provided with inclinations toward the outlets 11a and 12a.

On the other hand, intermediate tanks 11c and 12c and a solenoid valve 10b are provided in the outflow paths from the upper portions of the processing tanks 11 and 12, respectively. Further, an outflow path extends from the upper part of the tank 13d of the stabilization processing tank 13 to the waste liquid tank 29, and an intermediate tank 13c is also provided in the outflow path. These intermediate tanks 11c, 12c and 13c temporarily store the waste liquid discharged while the waste liquid tank is full and is replaced with an empty waste liquid tank. It is possible to exchange the waste liquid tank or remove the waste liquid without interruption.

[Reuse Tank] A reuse tank 30 is provided below the stabilization tank 13. An inflow path extends from the upper part of the tank 13d, and when a replenisher of a predetermined amount or more flows into the stabilization tank 13, the overflow is temporarily stored in the reuse tank 30. A flow path extends from the reuse tank 30 to the fixer replenishment tank 25. A predetermined amount of stabilizing liquid (an old one, close to water) at a predetermined timing by a pump and a solenoid valve provided on the way.
Is supplied to the replenishment tank 25 for fixing.

[Water Supply Tank] A water supply tank 27 is provided below the apparatus 1 and water is replenished once or twice a day to the gears in the rack units of the processing layers 11, 12, and 13. Do. This is for preventing the generation of crystals and the generation of abnormal noise by injecting water into the sliding surface of the gear. For this reason, a flow path provided with a pump and an electromagnetic valve extends from the water supply tank 27 to all the tanks of each processing tank. The timing of water replenishment is also controlled by the output of the evaporation sensor 32.

The replenishment tank 2 is provided from the water supply tank.
The flow path extends to 4, 25, and 26, but this flow path is one on the water supply tank side and one pump 27
It has only a and branches to three at the end. An electromagnetic valve is provided in each of the flow paths after branching, and controls the amount of inflowing water. From the water supply tank 27 to each replenishment tank 24, 2
Since a single pump is used as a device for supplying water to the devices 5 and 26, the productivity of the device 1 as a whole is improved, and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, a water tap 31 is provided in the water supply tank 27.
Is supplied with water.

[Other Configurations] A temperature control device 70 is provided in each processing tank, and is controlled so that each processing liquid is maintained at a desired temperature. Further, a reuse tank 30 for reusing a part of the water from the above-mentioned stabilization tank 13 is provided between the stabilizing tank 13 and the replenisher tank 25 for fixing solution. <Structure and operation of waste liquid discharging device> Next, the structure and operation of the waste liquid discharging device will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of the developing tank 11 and its waste liquid discharge passage 28c. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the waste liquid discharging process.

In FIG. 4, an overflow 11d is provided on the upper side surface of the developing tank 11. Processing number counter 3
When the value of 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller 34
Controls the pump 10a and the electromagnetic valve 10b to replenish the processing solution from the developing solution replenishment tank 24 to the development processing tank 11. As a result, if the liquid level rises above the overflow 11d, the developing solution overflows from the overflow 11d and flows out to the waste liquid tank 28 via the intermediate tank 11c.

An outlet 11a is provided substantially at the center of the bottom of the developing tank 11, and from the outlet 11a,
The outflow passage 28c extends to the waste liquid tank 28. An electromagnetic valve 28b is provided in the middle of the outflow passage 28c to control the outflow of the processing liquid from the outlet 11a. That is, the solenoid valve 28b is linked with the floating sensor 11b for detecting the liquid level of the processing tank 11. When the processing liquid is detected by the floating sensor 11b,
That is, when the processing liquid is replenished in a certain amount, a signal is transmitted to the controller 34, and the controller 34 operates the electromagnetic valves 28b for a certain period of time (for example, so that 100 ml of the processing liquid is discharged). To open the processing tank 11,
The paper powder and crystals settled at the bottom of 12 are discharged. For this purpose, the bottom of each processing tank 11 is provided with an inclination toward the discharge port 11a.

The developing tank 11 has a temperature controller 70.
A temperature sensor 70a, an electronic cooler 70b composed of a Peltier element for circulating and cooling the processing liquid, a pump 70c for circulating the processing liquid, and a chemical filter 70d are provided. The controller 34 causes the temperature sensor 70a to detect the temperature of the processing liquid, and drives the electronic cooler 70b so that each processing tank has a desired temperature. Further, the controller 34 drives the pump 70c to circulate the processing liquid. that time,
In order to remove dust in the processing solution, a chemical filter 70
Pass d.

Next, the flow of the waste liquid discharging process will be described with reference to FIG.

When the apparatus power is turned on, step S10
In step 1, the solenoid valve 28b is opened for a predetermined time to discharge a certain amount of the processing liquid. Next, in step S102, the circulation pump 70c
To start temperature control. Further, step S103
To allow a certain amount of replenisher to flow into the processing tank 11,
At 104, water replenishment processing is performed on the gears and the like of the rack unit 14.

If the shutdown is not performed in step S105, the process proceeds to step S106 to start the process of transporting the exposure-printed photographic paper. When the printing on a predetermined number of photographic papers is completed in step S107, the process proceeds to step S1.
At 08, the processing liquid is replenished, and at step S109, whether or not the processing liquid in the processing tank exceeds a predetermined amount is detected by the floating sensor 11b. In step S110, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous opening of the solenoid valve 28b. If either step S109 or step S110 is yes, the process proceeds to step S111, where the electromagnetic valve is opened for a predetermined time, a certain amount of processing liquid is discharged, and the process returns to step S105. This step S105
The process from step S111 to step S111 is repeated until the power is turned off, and in the case of shutting down, the process proceeds to step S112, the shutdown process is performed, and the process ends.

In the above description, the development processing tank 11 and the waste liquid tank 28 are shown, but the fixing processing tank 12 and the waste liquid tank 29 have the same configuration.

As described above, since the waste liquid discharging device discharges the sediment deposited at the bottom of the processing tank, dust in the liquid is reduced, and a beautiful print can be obtained. In addition, the life of the chemical filter in the temperature control device is prolonged.

Although a float sensor is used in the above description, any other sensor may be used as long as it can detect the position of the liquid surface.

[0039]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a waste liquid discharging apparatus capable of removing a precipitate in a processing tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an overall configuration of a photographic printing and developing apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a piping configuration of a processor unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a piping configuration of a processor unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a waste liquid discharging device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the waste liquid discharging device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photo printing and developing device 2 housing 3 printer unit 5 processor unit 6 dryer unit 8 transport unit 9 control unit 11 development processing tank 12 fixing processing tank 13 stabilization processing tank 11a outlet 11b floating sensor 20 developer container 21 fixing solution container 22 , 23 Stabilizing solution container 24 Developer replenishing tank 25 Fixing solution replenishing tank 26 Stabilizing solution replenishing tank 27 Water supply tank 28, 29 Waste liquid tank 28b Solenoid valve 28c Outflow path 32 Evaporation sensor 33 Processing number counter 34 Controller

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 14, 2000 (2000.2.1
4)

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Replenishment tank]
Fixer replenishment tank 25 and stabilizer replenishment tank 26
Are connected to a developing processing tank 11, a fixing processing tank 12, and a stabilizing processing tank 13, respectively, by a liquid supply pipe 10c having a pump 10a and an electromagnetic valve 10b. And
Basically, each replenisher can be supplied to each processing tank at a predetermined timing according to the number of processed prints. That is, the pump 10a and the solenoid valve 10b between each replenishment tank and each processing tank are controlled based on the output of the processing number counter 33 as shown in FIG.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Waste liquid tank] Waste liquid tanks 28 and 29 are provided below the developing processing tank 11 and the fixing processing tank 12, and the old developing solution and fixing liquid in each processing tank are discharged to each tank. Is done. At the bottom of each waste liquid tank 28, 29, a sensor 28a for detecting the amount of waste liquid in the tank,
If the amount of waste liquid in the tank exceeds a certain amount, the user is prompted to remove the waste liquid in the tank. The waste liquid tanks 28 and 29 are piped such that the waste liquid flows out not only from the liquid surface of each of the processing tanks 11 and 12 but also from the bottom. Therefore, at the bottom of each processing tank, outlets 11a and 12a are provided at substantially the center thereof, and outflow passages 28c and 29c extend toward the waste liquid tanks 28 and 29. Solenoid valves 28b, 29b are provided in each of the outflow paths 28c, 29c.
Are provided, and are interlocked with the liquid level sensors (also called floating sensors) 11b and 12b of the processing tanks 11 and 12, respectively. The processing liquid is supplied to these liquid level sensors 11b and 12
b, that is, when the processing liquid is replenished beyond a certain amount, each solenoid valve 28
b, 29b are opened, the waste liquid flows out, and the processing tanks 11, 1
The paper powder and crystals precipitated at the bottom of 2 are discharged. For that purpose, the outlets 11a,
An inclination is provided toward 12a.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0026

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Water Supply Tank] A water supply tank 27 is disposed below the apparatus 1 and water is replenished once or twice a day to gears in rack units of the processing tanks 11, 12, and 13. Do. This is for preventing the generation of crystals and the generation of abnormal noise by injecting water into the sliding surface of the gear. For this reason, a flow path provided with a pump and an electromagnetic valve extends from the water supply tank 27 to all the tanks of each processing tank. The timing of water replenishment is also controlled by the output of the evaporation sensor 32.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The replenishment tank 2 is provided from the water supply tank.
The flow passages extend to 4, 25, and 26, but this flow passage is one on the water supply tank side and one pump 10
It has only 0 and branches to three beyond it. An electromagnetic valve is provided in each of the flow paths after branching, and controls the amount of inflowing water. From the water supply tank 27 to each replenishment tank 24, 2
Since a single pump is used as a device for supplying water to the devices 5 and 26, the productivity of the device 1 as a whole is improved, and the size of the device can be reduced. Further, a water tap 35 is provided in the water supply tank 27.
Is supplied with water.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0035

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

If the shutdown is not performed in step S105, the process proceeds to step S106 to start the process of transporting the exposure-printed photographic paper. When the printing on a predetermined number of photographic papers is completed in step S107, the process proceeds to step S1.
At 08, the processing liquid is replenished, and at step S109, whether or not the processing liquid in the processing tank exceeds a predetermined amount is detected by the floating sensor 11b. Further, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed in step S110. When these steps S109 are yes, the process proceeds to step S110, and when these steps S110 are yes, step S11
Proceeding to 1, the solenoid valve is opened for a predetermined time, a certain amount of processing liquid is discharged, and the process returns to step S105. This step S1
05 to step S111, power is off
If the shutdown is repeated until the process is performed, the process proceeds to step S112, where the shutdown process is performed, and the process ends.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Although a floating sensor is used in the above description, another sensor may be used as long as the position of the liquid surface can be detected.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 5

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 5

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A waste liquid discharging device for discharging a waste liquid from a processing tank of a photographic development processing apparatus, comprising: a waste liquid discharging means provided at a bottom portion of a processing tank for storing a developing solution or a fixing solution; A liquid amount detecting means for detecting that the developer or the fixing liquid has been stored in a predetermined amount or more; and the waste liquid so that a certain amount of waste liquid is discharged from the waste liquid discharging means based on the detection by the liquid amount detecting means. A waste liquid discharging device comprising: a control unit that controls a discharging unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to discharge a predetermined amount of waste liquid from the waste liquid discharge unit every predetermined time.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said waste liquid discharging means is controlled.
A waste liquid discharging device according to item 1. 3. The waste liquid discharging device according to claim 1, wherein said waste liquid discharging means has an electromagnetic valve. 4. The waste liquid discharging means according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said waste liquid discharging means such that a predetermined amount of waste liquid is discharged from said waste liquid discharging means when said photographic developing apparatus is turned on. 4. The waste liquid discharging device according to 2, 3 or 4.