JP2001205065A - Apparatus for dissolving treating agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the attachment/detachment of a lid body which covers the upper part opening of a dissolution tank in the maintenance of parts etc. arranged in the tank. SOLUTION: The one end of the lid body 64 which covers the opening 38 of the dissolution tank 14 is connected to an upper plate 62 by a hinge 100, and the other end is fixed by screws. By detaching the screws, the lid body can rotate around the hinge. By rotating the lid body around the hinge, a shaft 86 and electrodes 92, which are fitted to the lid body and arranged in the tank 14, can be extracted from the tank 14. One end of a support bar 106 is connected to the lid body, and by opening the lid body and putting a fitting part formed on the upper plate into a lock part 114, the lid body can be held while the shaft and the electrodes are extracted from the tank 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a treating agent dissolving apparatus for dissolving a powdery or granular treating agent in a solvent such as water to produce a treating solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some processing solutions used in photographic processing are formed by dissolving a powdery or granular processing agent in water. Such a processing agent is enclosed in, for example, a PET exclusive bottle, and can be used as a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material by dissolving it in water so as to have a predetermined concentration.

When a processing solution is produced using a processing agent, a dedicated dissolving apparatus is used. This dissolving apparatus introduces a treatment agent in a bottle into a dissolution tank and supplies water in an amount corresponding to the amount of the introduced treatment agent. This water supply measurement is
A method of arranging an electrode for liquid level detection in a dissolution tank and detecting whether or not the liquid level of water has reached a predetermined level by using the electrode is used.

[0004] Further, in the dissolving apparatus, the water in the dissolving tank is agitated to promote the dissolving of the treating agent in the water.

[0005] In the melting apparatus, the upper opening of the melting tank is widened, and a lid is arranged so as to cover the opening. A circular hole is provided in this lid, and a bottle in which the processing agent is sealed is loaded above the hole so that the bottle mouth is on the lower side, and the bottle mouth is sealed on the lid. A piercing member for piercing the sealing body is provided. Thereby, in the dissolving apparatus, just by attaching the bottle with the bottle mouth sealed to the lid, the processing material in the bottle falls through the hole into the dissolving tank, and is passed through the hole. The piercing member acts on the sealing material to break it.

Further, in the dissolving apparatus, a shaft or the like provided with an electrode for detecting a liquid level and a stirring fin is attached to the lid covering the dissolving tank toward the lower side of the dissolving tank. If the lid is mounted at a predetermined position so as to cover the dissolving tank, a plurality of electrodes, stirring fins, and the like are appropriately arranged at predetermined positions in the dissolving tank.

In such a melting apparatus, when performing maintenance (cleaning, replacement, repair, etc.) of the stirring fins and the electrodes, the stirring fins and the electrodes protrude from the lower surface of the lid into the melting tank. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the lid each time. Also, it is necessary to remove the lid when performing maintenance such as cleaning of the dissolution tank.

[0008]

However, since such a lid is provided with a piercing member, a stirring fin or the like driven by the power of a motor or the like, the lid is attached to the melting tank or a frame supporting the same. The lid needs to be firmly and securely fixed, for example, four corners are screwed.
For this reason, in the conventional melting apparatus, when removing the lid for maintenance, a complicated operation of removing these screws one by one is required.
Also, if the stirring fin or electrode is inserted into the melting tank, it is necessary to lift the lid higher than the length of the drive shaft or electrode of the stirring fin from the melting tank or frame when removing the lid. is there. During the maintenance work, the lid must be removed.

Further, when the lid is connected to an electric wiring, and provided with a washing mechanism for washing the bottle from which the processing agent has been removed with water, a water supply pipe to the washing mechanism is also connected. Have been. For this reason, when removing the lid, it may be necessary to remove these electric wirings and pipes, which causes a problem that maintenance of the melting tank and components to be accommodated in the melting tank becomes complicated. Further, as the number of components attached to the lid increases, the weight of the component increases, and the removal of the lid becomes a large task.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and has as its object to propose a processing agent dissolving apparatus which facilitates maintenance of components and the like attached to the lower surface side of a lid covering a dissolving tank.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a dissolving device for dissolving a powdery or granular treating agent in a predetermined amount of a solvent in a dissolving tank. A lid that is attached to the frame via a hinge so that a position covering the upper opening of the melting tank and an open position can be selectively selected; and the lid is the melting tank. A part that is located in the dissolving tank when it is in a position to cover the upper opening of the lid and that is attached to one side of the lid so that it can be maintained when it is in the open position, and covers the upper opening with the lid. Fixing means for fixing the position.

According to the present invention, the upper opening of the dissolving tank is covered with the lid attached to the frame. One end of the lid is connected to a predetermined position of the frame by a hinge, and can take a position for covering an upper opening of the dissolving tank and a position for opening.

The lid is assembled by fixing a predetermined position to, for example, a frame by fixing means. Further, the upper opening of the dissolving tank can be opened by releasing the fixing of the lid by the fixing means and rotating the lid about the hinge.

This facilitates fixing of the lid and opening of the upper opening of the dissolving tank covered by the lid. Also,
Without lifting the lid and removing the lid from the frame, the upper opening of the melting tank can be opened and maintenance of the components arranged in the melting tank can be performed.

The parts attached to the lid include a stirring means for stirring the solvent in the dissolving tank, a liquid level sensor for detecting the amount of the solvent in the dissolving tank, and the like. When it is rotated, it may be provided at a position where it does not catch on the periphery of the upper opening of the melting tank.

The invention according to claim 2 has a holding means capable of holding the lid at an open position of the melting tank.

According to the present invention, the holding means for holding the lid at the open position is provided. Thereby, the parts attached to the lid can be maintained without removing the lid from the melting tank or the frame, and the maintainability of the parts attached to the lid is improved.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 applied to the present embodiment.

In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, two dissolving tanks 14 and 16 are provided on an upper portion of a frame 12 which is assembled in a rectangular shape, and stock tanks 18 and 20 are provided on a lower portion. Further, the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 is provided with a water supply tank 22 on the back side of the apparatus (on the back side of the paper in FIG. 1). A water supply pipe or the like (not shown) is connected to the water supply tank 22, and the processing agent dissolving device 10 stores water supplied via the water supply pipe in the water supply tank 22. I have.

The treatment agent dissolving device 10 is provided with water supply pumps 24 and 26 below the water supply tank 22. The water supply pumps 24 and 26 have a water supply tank 22 on the suction side.
And the discharge side is connected to the dissolving tanks 14 and 16. Thereby, in the treatment agent dissolving device 10,
Water is supplied from the water supply tank 22 to the dissolution tank 14 by the water supply pump 24, and the water supply tank 22 is supplied by the water supply pump 26.
To the dissolution tank 16.

On the other hand, a bottle 28 containing a developer and a fixing agent for developing and fixing a photographic photosensitive material such as a film as a processing agent is loaded in a predetermined position in the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10. You. In addition, the bottle 28
For example, the inside is sealed by sealing the bottle mouth 28A with a sealing material (not shown).

In the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the bottle 28
The developer and the fixing agent therein are supplied to dissolution tanks 14 and 16 and dissolved in water to generate a developing solution and a fixing solution. The developing solution and the fixing solution generated in the dissolving tanks 14 and 16 are poured into the stock tanks 18 and 20 from the dissolving tanks 14 and 16 and stored. That is, the treatment agent dissolving device 10
It can be used to dissolve the developer and the fixing agent in water in the dissolving tanks 14 and 16 to generate a developing solution and a fixing solution. In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the dissolving tank 14,
On the one hand, a developer is generated, and on the other hand, a fixer is generated.

On the other hand, the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 is provided with replenishing pumps 30 and 32. This refill pump 30,
Pipes 34A and 34B inserted into the stock tanks 18 and 20 are connected to the suction side of the pipe 32. Also,
On the discharge side of the refill pumps 30 and 32,
An automatic developing device (not shown) that uses the processing liquid (developer and fixer) generated by the process 0 is connected.

Thus, in the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the replenishing pumps 30 and 32 are operated in response to a request from the automatic developing apparatus to automatically remove the developing solution and the fixing solution stored in the stock tanks 18 and 20. It is supplied to a developing device. The processing agent dissolving device 10 is provided with a water replenishing pump 36. By operating the water replenishing pump 36 in response to a water supply request from the automatic developing device, water is automatically developed together with the developing solution and the fixing solution. It is possible to refill the device.

Hereinafter, the main parts of the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 will be described. In the following, a description will be given assuming that a processing solution is generated by dissolving the processing agent in water, without particularly distinguishing between the developer and the fixing agent. Further, in the processing agent developing apparatus 10, the dissolving tank 14 and the stock tank 18 side and the dissolving tank 16 and the stock tank 20 side have substantially the same configuration. Hereinafter, the dissolving tank 14 and the stock tank 18 will be mainly described as examples. The description will be omitted, and the description of the dissolving tank 16 and the stock tank 20 will be omitted.

As shown in FIG.
Is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape. In addition, the melting tank 14 has an opening 3 whose upper part is widely opened in a substantially rectangular shape.
8 is attached to the frame 12 such that the opening 38 is on the upper side (see FIG. 1).

The melting tank 14 has one side wall protruding, and a substantially cylindrical filter loading portion 40 is formed at the tip of the protruding side wall. Dissolution tank 1
The bottom surface of the filter 4 is inclined toward the bottom of the filter loading unit 40, and an opening 42 is formed at the bottom of the filter loading unit 40 so as to protrude downward in a tubular shape.

As shown in FIG. 1, one end of a pipe 44 is connected to the opening 42 of the melting tank 14. The other end of the pipe 44 is opened at the upper part of the stock tank 18, and an electrically operated valve 46 using a ball valve or the like is provided in the middle of the pipe 44. Thus, in the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the processing liquid in the dissolving tank 14 flows down to the stock tank 18 by opening the valve 46.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a filter element 48 is mounted on the filter loading section 40 through an upper insertion hole 40A. The outer diameter of the filter element 48 is adjusted to the arc-shaped inner diameter of the filter loading section 40 so that the outer peripheral surface is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the filter loading section 40 when the filter element 48 is inserted and loaded into the filter loading section 40. It is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.

The filter element 48 has a substantially semicircular end at the insertion direction side (lower side in FIG. 2) into the filter loading section 40, and a projecting opening 50 is formed at the leading end so as to be opened. Have been. The filter element 48 includes a filter 54 on the flat portion 52 generated by the semicircular shape.
Is provided. Further, the filter element 48
The protrusion 50 is fitted into the opening 42 when the filter is loaded into the filter loading section 40.

As a result, when the valve 46 is opened, the processing liquid in the dissolving tank 14 passes through the filter 54 of the filter element 48 and flows into the pipe 44 from the protrusion 50. At this time, the filter 54 prevents the treatment agent remaining without being completely dissolved in water from being discharged from the dissolution tank 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stock tank 1
A liquid level sensor 58 is provided in each of the sections 8 and 20. The liquid level sensor 58 includes a pair of electrodes 60A and 60B inserted into the stock tanks 18 and 20. In the processing agent dissolving device 10, it is detected whether or not the level of the processing solution (developing solution and fixing solution) in the stock tanks 18 and 20 has dropped at each of the pair of electrodes 60A and 60B, and the level has dropped. Occasionally, generation of a new developing solution and fixing solution is promoted to prevent shortage of developing solution and fixing solution to be supplied to the automatic developing device.

In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the upper end of the frame 12 is formed by the upper plate 62.
As shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular hole 62 </ b> A wider than the opening 38 is formed in the upper plate 62 at a position corresponding to the opening 38 of the melting tank 14. Thus, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the opening 38 can be opened while the dissolving tank 14 is covered by the upper plate 62.

The upper plate 62 is formed with a circular opening 62B corresponding to the insertion hole 40A of the filter loading section 40 of the dissolving tank 14. Thus, the filter element 48 can be mounted on the filter loading section 40 from above the upper plate 62.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 is provided with lids 64 for individually covering the respective openings 38 of the dissolving tanks 14, 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the lid 64 has a substantially rectangular planar shape, and together with the rectangular hole 62 </ b> A of the upper plate 62,
The opening 38 of the melting tank 14 is covered. Note that FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 64 enters the rectangular hole 62 </ b> A of the upper plate 62 and covers the opening 38 so as to sandwich the periphery of the opening 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, the lid 64 is formed with a loading port 66 for loading the bottle 28 at a predetermined position. In the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the bottle 28 is inserted into the loading port 66 so that the processing agent can be introduced into the dissolving tank 14 from the opening 38 covered by the upper plate 62 and the lid 64. I have. Note that, in the present embodiment, as an example, 2
A loading port 66 is provided at a location, for example, one loading port 6
6, only the bottle 28 containing the developer can be loaded, and the other loading port 66 can be loaded only with the bottle 28 containing the fixing agent.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is provided for each of the dissolution tanks 14 and 16. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the treatment agent dissolving device 10 is provided with a cover 68 that covers the lid 64 integrally.

In the cover 68, an insertion port 70 corresponding to the loading port 66 provided in the lid 64 is formed. The bottle 28 is inserted from the insertion opening 70 of the cover 68 with the bottle opening 28A downward, and the loading opening 6 of the lid 64 is inserted.
6 is loaded.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 64 is provided with a piercing mechanism 72 for each of the loading ports 66. 1, 4 and 5, illustration of the perforation mechanism 72 is omitted. The piercing mechanism 72 includes a piercing blade 74, and the sealing member closing the bottle opening 28A is broken by swinging the piercing blade 74 to the bottle opening 28A by an actuator (not shown). Thereby, the bottle 52 loaded in the loading port 66 is
, The treating agent is supplied into the dissolving tanks 14 and 16.

The piercing blade 74 is made to break while leaving a part of the sealing material, and the sealing material is melted in the melting tanks 14 and 1.
6 is prevented from falling. Also, the punching mechanism 72
A conventionally known configuration can be used for the piercing blade 74 and a detailed description is omitted in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Is provided with a washing nozzle 76 inside the loading port 66. As shown in FIG. 1, the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10 is provided with a cleaning pump 78. Cleaning pump 78
The suction side is connected to the water supply tank 22, and the discharge side is connected to the cleaning nozzle 76. The cleaning nozzle 76 ejects water by the operation of the cleaning pump 78.

In the treating agent dissolving apparatus 10, when the treating agent in the bottle 28 is charged into the dissolving tanks 14 and 16, the cleaning pump 78 is operated at a predetermined timing, and water is supplied from the cleaning nozzle 76 to the inside of the bottle 28. Spouts to clean the inside of the bottle 28. Thereby, in the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the processing agent remaining without dropping in the bottle 28 is allowed to flow to the dissolving tanks 14 and 16, and the bottle opening 28
When the sealing material of A is blocking the bottle opening 28A without being perforated, the sealing material is pushed into the bottle 28 by the water jetted from the cleaning nozzle 76, and the processing agent is reliably dropped into the dissolving tanks 14 and 16. I am trying to do it.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, the lid 64 is provided with a stirring mechanism 80 and a liquid level sensor 82. The stirring mechanism 80 includes a stirring motor 84 provided on the upper surface of the lid 64. The stirring motor 84 is attached to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the lid 64 with the drive shaft 84A (see FIG. 5) directed downward. Further, one end of a shaft 86 is connected to a drive shaft 84A of the stirring motor 84. The shaft 86 protrudes from the lower surface side of the lid 64 and is inserted into the melting tank 14, and a stirring fin 88 is attached to the tip.

The stirring mechanism 80 rotates the stirring fins 88 by driving the stirring motor 84 to stir the water in the dissolving tank 14, thereby promoting the dissolution of the treating agent and preventing the concentration unevenness from occurring. The shaft 86 is provided with a disc-shaped flange 90 at a position near the liquid surface and immersed in the liquid when a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the dissolving tank 14. The flange 90 prevents the water near the liquid surface from being drawn down along the shaft 86 toward the bottom by the rotation of the stirring fin 88. Thereby, in the treating agent dissolving apparatus 10, when the water in the dissolving tank 14 is stirred, it is possible to prevent the liquid level from waving.

The liquid level sensor 82 has a plurality of electrodes 92. As shown in FIG.
Has one end attached to a bracket 94. Thereby, the liquid level sensor 82 is configured such that the electrode 92 projecting from the lower surface side of the lid 64 is inserted into the predetermined position in the melting tank 14 by attaching the lid 64 to a predetermined position of the upper plate 62. You.

As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid level sensor 82 applied to the present embodiment has four electrodes 92 as an example.
C, 92L, 92M, and 92H. Electrode 92
C, 92L have a length reaching the vicinity of the bottom surface of the dissolving tank 14, and the electrode 92H is, for example, a single bottle 28.
When the amount of water used to dissolve the processing agent contained in the dissolving tank 14 is supplied to the dissolving tank 14, the dissolving tank 14 has a length in contact with the liquid surface of the water. The electrode 92M is for detecting whether or not the water supply up to a predetermined level is completed.

In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the detection sensor 82
Water is supplied to the dissolving tank 14 while confirming the detection state of, and the treating agent is dissolved in a predetermined appropriate amount of water.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a cylindrical electrode cover 96 that integrally surrounds the electrode 92 is attached to the bottom surface of the lid 64. In the detection sensor 82, the electrode 92 is surrounded by the electrode cover 94,
Even if bubbles are generated by stirring or the like, the bubbles are prevented from adhering to the electrodes 92, and erroneous detection due to the bubbles adhering to the electrodes 92 is prevented.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, one end of the lid 64 along the longitudinal direction is connected to a predetermined position of the upper plate 62 via a hinge 100. Thus, the lid 64 is rotatable between a position that covers the rectangular hole 62A of the upper plate 62 and a position that opens the rectangular hole 62A.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the rectangular hole 62A of the upper plate 62 is closed, the hinge 1
The ends opposite to 00 are screwed on both sides along the width direction.
2 to be fixed. That is, the lid 64 has one end in the longitudinal direction fixed to the upper plate 62 by the hinge 100 and the other end in the longitudinal direction has two screws 102.
Is fixed to the upper plate 62. In addition, the lid body 64 is turned around the hinge 100 by removing the screw 102,
The rectangular hole 62A of the upper plate 62 and the opening 3 of the melting tank 14
8 can be turned to a position to open.

The lid 64 is provided with the above-described loading ports 66 in a line along the longitudinal direction. Also, the lid 6
4, a stirring motor 84 forming a stirring mechanism 80 between the loading ports 66 and a bracket 94 of the liquid level sensor 82 are arranged side by side in the width direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the stirring mechanism 80
From the intermediate portion of the hinge 100 (hereinafter referred to as the axis 104), which is the center when the lid 64 rotates, the melting tank 14
A position (L ₀ <L ₁ ) where the distance L ₁ between the tip of the shaft 86 and the axis 104 of the hinge 100 is shorter than the distance L ₀ to the end of the opening 38 opposite to the hinge 100. It is attached to become.

The detection sensor 82 has a hinge 1 at the tip.
Electrode 92 furthest from 00 (eg, electrode 92L)
L from the tip of the shaft 100 to the axis 104 of the hinge 100
₂ is attached to a position (L ₀ <L ₂ ) shorter than the distance L ₀ .

Thus, the lid 64 covering the rectangular hole 62A of the upper plate 62 and the opening 38 of the dissolving tank 14
Is rotated about the hinge 100, the electrode 92 and the shaft 86 inserted into the melting tank 14 are rotated.
The (stirring fins 88) can be pulled out of the melting tank 14 without being caught on the peripheral edge of the opening 38 of the melting tank 14.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cover 64 is provided with support bars 106 at both ends in the width direction. The support bar 106 is formed in a substantially strip shape, and one end in the longitudinal direction is pivotally supported at a predetermined position in an intermediate portion along the longitudinal direction of the lid 64 via a pin 108.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper plate 62
When the rectangular hole 62A is closed with the lid 64,
A rectangular accommodation hole 110 is formed at a position below 08. The other end of the support bar 106 in the longitudinal direction is inserted into the accommodation hole 110, and when the lid 64 is closed, the support bar 106 hangs downward from the accommodation hole 110 to the lower side of the upper plate 62. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the support bar 106 is provided with a cut 112 at the other end in the longitudinal direction (opposite the pin 108). The cut 112 is cut in the width direction from the hinge 100 side, and further cut up to the pin 108 side (upper side) to form a lock portion 114.

As shown in FIG. 4, a rectangular hole 116 is formed in the upper plate 62 on the hinge 100 side of the housing hole 110, so that a hook 118 is provided between the housing hole 110 and the rectangular hole 116. Is formed.

The support bar 106 is pulled out from the housing hole 110 by rotating the lid 64 in a direction to open the rectangular hole 62 of the upper plate 62. Further, the support bar 106 is configured such that the notch 112 faces the notch portion 118 so that the notch portion 118 enters from the notch 112 to the lock portion 114.

The support bar 106 is prevented from dropping into the receiving hole 110 when the hook 118 of the upper plate 62 enters the lock 114. As a result, the lid 64 is supported by the support bar 106 and is held at a predetermined rotation position.

As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the position where the lid 64 is supported by the support bar 106 is such that the stirring fins 88 and the electrodes 92 are moved by rotating the lid 64. Is pulled out to above.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

The treating agent dissolving apparatus 10 has a dissolving tank 14
A bottle 28 containing, for example, a developer and a fixing agent is loaded into the loading port 66 of the lid 64 provided to face the charging tank 66 and the loading port 66 provided to face the dissolving tank 16. At this time, the bottle 28 is inserted into the loading opening 66 by inserting the bottle opening 28A closed by the sealing material from the insertion opening 70 formed in the cover 68.

When the bottle 28 is loaded into the loading port 66, the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10 activates the perforating mechanism 72, and breaks the sealing material closing the bottle port 28A by the perforating blade 74. As a result, the developer and the fixing agent contained in the bottle 28 are respectively dissolved in the dissolving tanks 14 and 16.
It is thrown into.

In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, when the sealing material is determined by the perforation mechanism 72, the cleaning pump 78 is operated at a predetermined timing. Thereby, the loading port 6
6 through the washing nozzle 76 provided on the inner side of the bottle 28.
Water is spouted into the inside, and the developer and the fixing agent adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 28 are washed off into the dissolution tanks 14 and 16. The water used to wash the bottle 28 is supplied to the dissolving tank 1
Nos. 4 and 16 are collected and used as water for dissolving the processing agents (developer and fixing agent).

On the other hand, in the processing agent dissolving device 10, the developer and the fixing agent are charged into the dissolving tanks 14 and 16,
By operating the water supply pumps 24 and 26, the dissolving tank 14,
16 supplies an amount of water necessary for dissolving the developer and the fixing agent contained in one bottle 28.

Further, in the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, the stirring motor 84 is operated in accordance with the supply of water to the dissolving tanks 14, 16 and the introduction of the developer and the fixing agent. Accordingly, the stirring fin 88 rotates to stir the water into which the developer and the fixing agent have been charged, thereby promoting the dissolution of the developer and the fixing agent.

In the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10, when the developer and the fixing agent are dissolved in water in the dissolving tanks 14 and 16 to generate the developing solution and the fixing solution, the valve 46 is opened. As a result, the pipe 44 is opened, and the melting tank 1 is opened.
The developing solution and the fixing solution in 4 and 16 pass through the filter 54 of the filter element 48, and
0 and is stored in stock tanks 18 and 20.

Incidentally, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, maintenance of the stirring fins 88 and the electrodes 92 of the detection sensor 82 disposed in the dissolving tanks 14 and 16 may be required. In the treatment agent dissolving device 10, the stirring fin 88
And the electrode 92 are attached to a lid 64 that covers the opening 38 of the dissolving tank 14, for example, when maintenance of the stirring fins 88 and the electrode 92 is performed.
Is to be removed.

The lid 64 has a hinge 1 at one end in the longitudinal direction.
The other end is fixed to the upper plate 62 by two screws 102. Thus, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, after removing the two screws 102, the lid 64 around the hinge 100 is used as an axis.
Is rotated, the rectangular holes 62A of the upper plate 62 and the openings 36 of the melting tanks 14 and 16 are released.

The stirring fin 88 and the electrode 92 attached to the lid 64 are rotated by rotating the lid 64.
It is withdrawn from the dissolution tank 14. At this time, hinge 1
The distance L1 between the shaft center 104, which is the center of rotation of 00, and the tip of the shaft 86 to which the stirring fin 88 is attached, and the distance L2 between the shaft 92 and the tip of the electrode 92 (electrode 92L) are defined by the axis 104 and the opening. Since the distance to the peripheral edge of the portion 38 is shorter than the distance L0, the stirring fin 88 and the electrode 92 are drawn out of the dissolving tank 14 without being caught on the peripheral edge of the opening 38 of the dissolving tank 14.

The support bar 106 is provided on the lid 64.
The support bar 106 includes a shaft 86 and an electrode 92 on which the stirring fin 88 is mounted.
Is pulled out above the upper plate 62 to a predetermined angle.
When the pivot 4 is rotated, the hook portion 118 of the upper plate 62 enters the lock portion 114 from the cut 112.

As a result, the movement of the support bar 106 toward the accommodation hole 110 is prevented, and the cover 64 is
8 and the electrode 92 are held in a state of being pulled out from the melting tank 14.

On the other hand, when the cover 64 is closed after the maintenance of the shaft 86, the stirring fin 88 provided on the shaft 86, the electrode 92, and the electrode cover 96 covering the electrode 92 is completed, the lock portion 114 of the support bar 106 is closed. The cover 64 and the support bar 106 are swung so that the hook 118 of the upper plate 62 is pulled out. Thereby, the holding of the lid 64 by the support bar 106 is released, and the opening 38 of the melting tank 14 can be closed by the lid 64. Thereafter, a predetermined position of the lid 64 is fixed to the upper plate 62 with two screws 102, so that the lid 6
4 is fixed to the upper plate 62.

As described above, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, since one end of the lid 64 is rotatably connected to the upper plate 62 by the hinge 100, when the lid 64 is fixed to the upper plate 62. The number of screws 102 can be reduced. This facilitates not only fixing the lid 64 to the upper plate 62 but also opening the opening 38 of the melting tank 14.

In the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the lid 64
Is connected to the upper plate 62 by the hinge 100, so that when the opening 38 of the melting tank 14 is opened, the lid 64 from which the screw 102 has been removed is simply rotated about the hinge 100. Is fine. Therefore, the lid 64
The work becomes extremely easy as compared with the case of lifting.

Further, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10, the lid 6
The support bar 106 is attached to the cover 4 so that the cover 64 can be held in a state of being rotated to a predetermined angle.
This eliminates the need to remove the electrical wiring to the detection sensor 82, the stirring motor 84, and the like, and the piping such as the cleaning nozzle 76 from the lid 64.

The lid 64 has a loading port 66 formed on the upper surface side (the surface opposite to the dissolving tank 14), a stirring motor 84 and the like, and a shaft 86 on the lower surface side. And the electrode 92 protrudes. For this reason, when the lid 64 is completely removed, it must be placed so that parts and the like attached to the lid 64 will not be damaged. Must be.

On the other hand, in the treatment agent dissolving apparatus 10,
Since the lid 64 is held at a predetermined angle on the frame 12 (upper plate 62), there is no possibility of damaging components and the like attached to the lid 64. In addition, maintenance of the shaft 86, the electrode 92, and the like can be performed while the lid 64 is held at a predetermined position, and maintenance work is extremely easy.

Further, when the cover 64 is attached to the upper plate 64, the operation of positioning the cover 64 with respect to the upper plate 62 and the dissolving tank 14 becomes unnecessary, and the fixing of the cover 64 becomes extremely easy. .

As described above, when the holding means is rotated to a predetermined position with the support bar having one longitudinal end rotatably connected to the periphery of the lid and the hinge as an axis, ,
By connecting means for connecting and holding the other end side of the support bar to the frame, the connecting bar is engaged with the frame at a predetermined position when the lid is rotated upward. Hold the lid. Thereby, maintenance of the components provided on the lid can be performed in a state where the lid is attached to the frame, and the maintainability is extremely improved.

Note that the present embodiment described above does not limit the configuration of the present invention. In the present embodiment,
Although the screw 102 is used as the fixing means, any structure can be used as the fixing means as long as the end of the lid 64 on the opposite side to the hinge 100 can be prevented from separating from the upper plate 62.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10 that generates a developing solution and a fixing solution by dissolving a developing agent and a fixing agent in water as a solvent as a processing agent has been described as an example. The agent and the solvent are not limited to these, and the present invention can be applied to various types of processing agent dissolving apparatuses that dissolve an arbitrary processing agent in a solvent determined according to the processing agent.

Further, in the present embodiment, the processing agent dissolving apparatus 10 for dissolving the processing agent in each of the two dissolving tanks 14 and 16 has been described as an example. The number of tanks is not limited to this.

[0085]

As described above, according to the present invention, since one end of the lid is connected to a predetermined position of the frame by the hinge, screws such as screws for fixing the lid to the frame are used. The sum can be reduced, and the work of attaching and detaching the lid to and from the frame becomes easy. In addition, since the parts arranged in the melting tank can be pulled out by rotating the lid, an excellent effect that maintenance of the parts arranged in the melting tank becomes extremely easy is obtained. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a processing agent dissolving apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a dissolving tank applied to the present embodiment and a filter element mounted on the dissolving tank.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an upper portion of a melting tank showing a drilling mechanism provided on a lid body.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an upper portion of a dissolution tank showing a lid.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a dissolving tank and a lid viewed from a direction different from FIG. 3 showing rotation of the lid.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Processing agent dissolution apparatus 12 Frame (frame) 14, 16 Dissolution tank 18, 20 Stock tank 22 Water supply tank 28 Bottle 62 Upper plate (frame) 64 Cover 66 Loading port 72 Perforation mechanism 80 Stirring mechanism 82 Detection sensor 84 Stirring Motor 86 Shaft (part) 88 Stirring fin (part) 92 (92C, 92L, 92M, 92H) Electrode (part) 100 Hinge 102 Screw (fixing means) 106 Support bar (holding means) 108 Pin 114 Lock part (holding means) 118 Hanging part (holding means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H098 BA16 EA03 EA06 4G035 AA19 4G037 DA30 EA02 4G078 AA13 AB20 BA05 CA01 CA24 DA19 DB10 EA20

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A dissolving device for dissolving a powdery or granular treatment agent in a predetermined amount of a solvent in a dissolving tank, wherein the dissolving tank dissolves the treating agent in a predetermined amount. A lid attached to the frame via a hinge so as to selectively take a position and an open position, and when the lid is at a position covering the upper opening of the dissolution tank, A lid attached to one side of the lid so that the lid can be maintained when the lid is in the open position, and fixing means for fixing the lid at a position covering the upper opening. Processing agent dissolving device. 2. The processing agent dissolving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising holding means capable of holding the lid at an open position of the dissolving tank.