JP2001183798A - Processing liquid stirring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing liquid stirring device which is capable of making sufficient stirring by sufficiently generating convection between the upper layer near a liquid surface even in a tank of any shape and a lower layer near the base surface of the tank. SOLUTION: This processing liquid stirring device includes a shaft body 32 which intersects orthogonally with the longitudinal direction of a tank 30 and is pendently disposed from the base of the tank and a stirring member 31 which is fixed to the shaft body 32 and is formed with a shaped part to generate the convection between the upper layer and the lower layer in the tank in order to stir the processing liquid introduced into the tank from its aperture 30a of the tank 30 together with water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing solution agitating apparatus, and more particularly to a photographic printing apparatus in which a developing solution, a fixing solution and a stabilizing solution can be appropriately supplied from a container to a developing tank, a fixing processing tank and a stabilizing processing tank. The present invention relates to a technique applied to a developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Exposure printing is performed on an emulsion surface of photographic paper (hereinafter, also referred to as paper), and then sequentially passed through processing tanks containing processing liquids for development, fixing, and stabilization, and then dried. A photographic printing / developing apparatus configured to discharge the image to the outside has been put to practical use.

For example, US Pat. No. 5,307,114
According to the photographic printing / developing apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the continuous roll paper contained in the paper magazine in a light-shielded state is cut in advance by a cutter unit into a desired cut size, and then the emulsion surface is turned up. After being conveyed to the exposure baking unit, after exposure baking to a desired size by a film set in the scanner, then conveyed, developed, bleached, after sequentially conveyed in a processing tank containing a processing liquid for washing, Devices configured to dry and discharge to the outside have been proposed.

On the other hand, in the developing tank, the fixing tank, and the stabilizing tank, which are the above-described processing tanks, when the processing liquid is processed with a certain amount of paper, or when the processing liquid evaporates, the concentration increases. In such a case, it is configured to be diluted with water to maintain a predetermined concentration.

Further, in recent years, undiluted solution is appropriately transferred from a container in which a concentrated solution of a developing solution, a fixing solution and a stabilizing solution is separately stored to respective replenishing tanks of a developing processing tank, a fixing processing tank and a stabilizing processing tank. A device whose operation has been simplified by making it possible to supply it has been put to practical use.

In this way, after the undiluted solution is introduced from the opening of the tank, each processing solution is adjusted to a desired concentration by stirring with the diluent which is water. The present applicant has proposed a stirrer used in this manner in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-3156.

[0007]

According to the above publication,
The agitating member is provided only on one side of the shaft that is driven to rotate. Further, as shown in the tank cross-sectional view of FIG. In such a case, it is conceivable that the convection between the upper layer near the liquid surface and the lower layer near the tank bottom becomes insufficient.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in any type of tank, the convection between the upper layer near the liquid surface and the lower layer near the tank bottom is more efficiently and sufficiently achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing liquid stirring device capable of performing stirring so as to raise the temperature.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, in a treatment liquid stirring device for stirring a treatment liquid introduced from an opening of a tank together with a diluting liquid, the treatment liquid infiltrates the inside of the tank and is driven around an axis by a driving unit. A shaft driven to rotate,
A stirring member fixed to the shaft and having a shape for generating a convection between an upper layer and a lower layer inside the tank.

[0010] The shape portion may be a right triangular portion when a diagonal line of a rectangular plate is fixed to the shaft, or a parallelogram inclined surface having a parallel surface parallel to the tank bottom surface. I have.

The driving section drives the respective shafts of the developing processing tank, the fixing processing tank, and the stabilizing processing tank in forward and reverse directions from a common driving source.

[0012]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows a photographic printing / developing apparatus 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a "photo printing apparatus").
FIG. 2 is a front view in which a cover and the like provided detachably with respect to a housing 2 serving as a base have been removed to show the entire configuration of the device 1).

In FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 is composed of a printer (exposure printing) section 3, a processor (development processing) section 5, and a dryer (drying) section 6 as viewed from the front. The configuration minimizes the occupied area, while allowing for easy access to the main parts from the front, making it easy to use for various tasks that must be performed daily. Like that.

The photographic paper P exposed by the printer unit 3 is transferred via the transport unit 8 to the developing processing tank 11, the fixing processing tank 12, and the stabilizing processing tank 13 of the processor unit 5 disposed downstream of the printer unit 3. , Is turned in the direction of the arrow by a reversing roll (not shown), and is conveyed by the rack unit 14. Then, through the stabilization tank 13, the dryer section 6
After being dried, it is introduced into the direction changing device 16, is sorted by size, and is sent to a large-size tray 18 or a normal-size belt conveyor 17 to be finally sent. The device 1 is configured to be discharged outside the device 1.

On the other hand, a replenishing tank 24 for developing solution, a replenishing tank 25 for fixing solution, and a replenishing tank 26 for stabilizing solution for replenishing the processing solution are provided on the lower side, and these tanks are stored in advance in containers. In order to introduce the various concentrated processing liquids, a developer container 20 whose opening is sealed with a sealing member,
The fixing solution container 21 and the two stabilizing solution containers 22 and 23 are set as shown in FIG.

A power supply unit is provided in the housing 2 occupying the space below the drying unit 15, and a processor for performing various controls related to each of the processing tanks is provided on the power supply unit. A control unit 9 is provided and configured to control the entire apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a piping diagram for supplying respective processing liquids to the developing processing tank 11, the fixing processing tank 12, and the stabilizing processing tank 13 of the tank shown in FIG. Liquid supply means composed of a pump and an electromagnetic valve is connected between the developer replenishment tank 24, the fixer replenishment tank 25, and the stabilizing solution replenishment tank 26. The processing liquid can be supplied. 28a is the developing tank 1
The waste liquid intermediate tank 28b and the solenoid valve 10
The waste liquid from the top and bottom of the above-mentioned development processing is discharged via b. 29a is a fixing processing tank 12 and a stable processing tank 1
In the waste liquid tank 3, waste liquid is discharged from the top and bottom of the fixing processing tank via a waste liquid intermediate tank 29b and a solenoid valve 10b (not shown). And the liquid is discharged via an electromagnetic valve.

A cooling means 70 is provided in each processing tank, and is controlled so that each processing liquid is maintained at a desired temperature. Further, an intermediate tank 130 for reusing a part of the water from the above-mentioned stabilization processing tank is provided between the tank and the replenishment tank 25 for fixing solution.

The water supplied from the faucet is stored in a water tank 27 and supplied to each tank by liquid supply means comprising a pump 10a and a solenoid valve 10b.

The containers 20, 21, 22, and 23 for separately storing the developing solution, the fixing solution, and the stabilizing solution shown in FIG. 1 are housed in a single box, which is mounted on the front of the photographic printing and developing apparatus. It is designed to be attached and detached from.

When these containers are set from the front,
The opening device (not shown) is configured to be moved upward to pierce a seal covering each opening of the container, and to supply the undiluted solution into the tank from the tube 7 connected to the opening device.

FIG. 3 shows a part of a tank 30 having the same shape as the developer replenishing tank 24, fixing solution replenishing tank 25, and stabilizing solution replenishing tank 26 for replenishing the processing solution. It is the external appearance perspective view shown.

In FIG. 1, the tank 30 is arranged in a line below the containers 20, 21, 22, and 23 in which the developing solution, the fixing solution and the stabilizing solution are individually stored as shown in FIG. Is formed as a long rectangular parallelepiped, and the opening 30a where the pipe and the tube 7 are installed on the upper surface.
Is provided. Opening 3 provided in the corner of the container
Reference numeral 0b denotes a spare opening for supplying a replenisher by manual power. The opening 30 c is an opening for stirring, and after the shaft 32 to which the plate-shaped stirring member 31 is fixed is sneaked, the cap 33 is opened.
It is configured to perform the lid.

FIG. 4 shows the shaft body 32 provided as described above.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration in which the motor is driven in forward and reverse directions from a motor 36 serving as a common drive source.

In this drawing, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described, and the description thereof will be omitted. Each shaft 32 is rotatably supported by a bearing fixed to the cap 33 described above. , A toothed pulley 34 is fixed to the upper end, and a toothed belt 40 is stretched between the toothed pulleys 34, 34, 34 in an engaged state. Further, a gear meshed with the gear of the motor 36 is fixed to the central toothed pulley.
The two shafts can be driven simultaneously.

Although the above structure eliminates the need to provide a drive motor for each tank, it is of course possible to provide individual drive motors. In addition, as long as foaming can be suppressed, rotation in one direction may be performed instead of forward and reverse rotation.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view provided with a stirring member 31 of a modified example. In this drawing, the components already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.
The shaft body 32 has a parallelogram-shaped inclined surface 3 having a parallel surface parallel to the tank bottom surface, instead of the agitating action of the right triangular portion when the diagonal line of the rectangular plate is fixed to the shaft body as described above.
Stirring member 31 serving as a portion for stirring 1a and 31b
Has been fixed.

By rotating the fixed stirring member as described above, as shown in an external perspective view in which a part of FIG. 6 is broken, an upper layer near the liquid surface and a lower layer near the tank bottom are formed. Since convection can be sufficiently generated and sufficient stirring can be performed, sufficient stirring can be performed without being affected by the shape of the tank.

According to the above-described embodiment, the present invention is limited to the one that uses a photographic processing solution. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to a device for performing stirring in various tank shapes.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Regardless of the shape of the tank, by sufficiently generating convection between the upper layer near the liquid surface and the lower layer near the bottom of the tank, it is possible to provide a processing liquid stirring device capable of sufficiently stirring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of an entire configuration of a photographic printing and developing apparatus 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a piping diagram for supplying respective processing liquids to a developing tank 11, a fixing tank 12, and a stabilizing tank 13 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view in which a part of a tank 24 is cut away.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration in which a motor 36, which is a common drive source, is driven in forward and reverse directions.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a stirring member.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view for explaining the operation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a conventional stirring member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photographic printing and developing device 2 housing 3 printer unit 4 exposure unit 5 processor unit 6 dryer unit 7 tube 8 transport roller 10 a solenoid valve 10 b pump 10 c pipe 20 developer container 21 fixing solution container 22, 23 stabilizing solution container 24 developer solution Replenishing tank 25 Fixing solution replenishing tank 26 Stabilizing solution replenishing tank 28a Waste liquid tank 28b Waste liquid intermediate tank 30 Tank 31 Stirrer 32 Shaft 33 Cap 36 Motor 40 Toothed belt 70 Cooling means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A processing liquid stirring device for stirring a processing liquid introduced from an opening of a tank together with a diluting liquid, wherein the shaft body is infiltrated into the inside of the tank and is rotationally driven by a drive unit around an axis. A stirring member fixed to the shaft body and formed with a shape that generates a convection between an upper layer and a lower layer inside the tank. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shape portion is a right-angled triangular portion when a diagonal line of a rectangular plate is fixed to the shaft, or a parallelogram inclined surface having a parallel surface parallel to the tank bottom surface. The processing liquid stirring device according to claim 1. 3. The driving unit according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit drives the respective shafts of the developing processing tank, the fixing processing tank, and the stabilizing processing tank in forward and reverse directions from a common driving source. 3. The treatment liquid stirring device according to item 1.