JP2001281885A - Photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the neglect of feeding chemicals and the occurrence of excess or shortage of the chemicals to be fed when using water to be fed with the chemicals. SOLUTION: When water is ladled out of a water feed tank upon operating of a water feed pump, the ladled out water is integrated as a water feed rate (steps 200, 202). At this time, the water meeting the volume at which the water is ladled out is fed to the water feed tank. When the integrated value W of the water feed rate attains the prescribed value W0, a chemical pump is operated to feed a prescribed amount of the chemicals into the water feed tank (steps 204, 206). At this time, the chemicals of the amount at which the concentration of the chemicals in the fed water attains the prescribed concentration are fed to the tank, by which the concentration of the chemicals in the water feed tank is maintained within the prescribed range.

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 for processing a photosensitive material such as a photosensitive lithographic printing plate with a processing solution. More specifically, the present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus provided with a water receiving tank for storing water used for washing a photosensitive material and diluting a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photosensitive material processing apparatus, while transporting an image-exposed photosensitive material, the photosensitive material is immersed in a processing solution or a processing solution is sprayed on the surface of the photosensitive material.
Processing such as development is performed using a plurality of processing liquids.

For example, in a PS plate processor, which is a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter, referred to as a “PS plate”) as a photosensitive material, a developing step of immersing the PS plate in a developing solution for processing; The washing process is performed by spraying washing water on the PS plate to perform a washing process, a desensitizing process of applying a desensitizing solution such as a gum solution to the surface of the PS plate after the washing process, and performing a desensitizing process. A plurality of processing steps using a processing liquid are provided, and the PS plate subjected to image exposure is subjected to development, washing, and desensitization processing.

Further, in such a PS plate processor, a processing solution is replenished by supplying a replenishing stock solution of a developing solution or a finisher solution and water for diluting the replenishing stock solution to a developing tank or a finisher tank.

In the PS plate processor, a water supply tank for receiving water is provided, water used for washing and dilution of the replenishing stock solution is stored in the water supply tank, and pumped out from the water supply tank as necessary. I have.

By the way, if water is left in a washing tank or a water supply tank, mold (mold) is generated. For this,
Regularly put a small amount of fungicide into the washing tank and water tank,
We try to prevent mold from occurring.

In general, such an antifungal agent is manually input. However, in such an inputting method, it is easy to forget to input, and the concentration of the antifungal agent is reduced due to the forgetting to input. As a result, mold may be generated. In addition, the manual injection of drugs
This is a cumbersome task.

In order to prevent such forgetting of the mold-inhibiting agent and to eliminate the troublesome work of the mold-injecting agent, the agent is pumped out from a chemical tank containing the fungicide under a timer control by a pump or the like, and is washed with a washing tank or water supply. The method of supplying to a tank may be used.

[0009]

However, since new water is supplied to the washing tank and the water supply tank in accordance with the processing amount of the PS plate, if the fungicide is supplied by timer control, the supplied amount becomes excessive. Shortage may occur.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and when a drug such as a fungicide is charged into a water supply tank or the like, the concentration of the drug is substantially constant without causing excessive or insufficient supply. It is an object of the present invention to propose a photosensitive material processing apparatus that is kept at a minimum.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution using water, wherein the water used in the apparatus is stored. A water supply tank, a medicine supply means for supplying a medicine to the water supply tank, a water supply means for supplying water to the water supply tank according to the amount of water used, and the medicine supply means according to a water supply amount to the water supply tank. And a supply control means for activating and supplying the chemical into the water supply tank.

According to the present invention, a water supply tank is provided, and water used for diluting the processing liquid or washing water is pumped from the water supply tank to each processing tank for use. Further, water is supplied to the water supply tank in accordance with the pumped amount, and a state in which a substantially constant amount of water is stored is maintained.

The supply control means supplies a chemical such as a fungicide in accordance with the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank. Thereby, water in which the drug is maintained at a substantially constant concentration is stored in the water supply tank.

As described above, by supplying the chemicals in accordance with the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank, it is not necessary to separately supply the chemicals to the respective treatment tanks. , And the use of the drug efficiently can prevent the generation of mold and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the charging control means includes a detecting means for detecting an amount of water supplied to the water supply tank, and is set in advance each time the amount of water detected by the detecting means reaches a predetermined amount. A predetermined amount of the medicine is introduced.

According to the present invention, every time a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water supply tank, a chemical corresponding to the amount of water is supplied to the water supply tank. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the supply amount of the medicine from being excessive or insufficient.

According to the present invention, the detecting means is an integrating means for integrating the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank, and the integrated value of the integrating means reaches a predetermined value. A configuration in which the medicine is supplied every time can be used.

The integrating means not only integrates the amount of water supplied to the water tank, but also integrates the amount of water supplied to the water tank calculated from the amount of water drawn from the water tank. Configurations can also be used. Thereby, even if the mechanism for supplying water to the water supply tank is simplified, it is possible to supply an appropriate amount of medicine.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a "PS plate processor 10") applied as an example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention. The PS plate processor 10 develops a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter, referred to as “PS plate 12”) on which an image has been printed by a printing device (not shown) as a photosensitive material.

The PS plate processor 10 has a developing tank 18 for developing the PS plate 12 and an overflow pipe 20 for collecting a developing solution overflowing from the developing tank 18.
, A washing unit 24 for washing the developer adhering to the PS plate 12 with water, and a finisher unit 26 for applying a gum solution to the PS plate 12 after washing with water to desensitize it.
And are arranged. The washing section 24 is provided with a washing tank 28.
And the finisher section 26 includes a gum solution tank 30.

The outer panel 14 is provided with a slit-shaped insertion port 15 and a discharge port 17, and an insertion table 16 is mounted near the insertion port 15.

The cover 14 for covering the developing section 22 and the washing section 24
A is provided with a reentry insertion port (sub-insertion port) 42 for inserting the PS plate 12 between the developing unit 22 and the washing unit 24. The reentry insertion port 42 is an insertion port for the PS plate 12 for performing processing in the PS plate processor 10 for performing processing other than development processing in the developing unit 22.

A pair of rubber conveying rollers 32 is disposed on the side of the developing unit 22 where the PS plate 12 is inserted into the developing tank 18.
The S plate 12 is moved by the guide 16 </ b> A to the pair of transport rollers 3.
You will be guided to 2. The pair of transport rollers 32 is used for the PS plate 12.
At an angle in the range of about 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal direction.

The developing tank 18 has a substantially inverted mountain shape with an upper opening and a bottom center protruding downward.
A developer for developing the plate 12 is stored. In the developing tank 18, a guide plate 46, a rotating brush roller 38, and a rotating brush roller 38 are sequentially arranged from the upstream side along the transport direction of the PS plate 12.
9 and a roller pair 54, and the rotating brush roller 38 corresponds to the upper surface side of the PS plate 12, and a guide plate 46.
The rotating brush roller 39 is arranged corresponding to the lower surface of the PS plate 12. Also, the rotating brush roller 38,
Backup rollers 34A facing each of
34B and backup rollers 40A, 40B.

The guide plate 46 extends from the vicinity of the transport roller 32 toward the center of the developing tank 18, and its tip reaches the vicinity of the rotating brush roller 38 and the backup roller 34 A. A guide roller 36 is disposed above the end.

Rotary brush rollers 38 and 39, roller pair 5
Reference numeral 4 indicates that the driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is transmitted to rotate the PS plate 12 in the transport direction. Further, the guide roller 36 and the backup roller 34A,
34B, 40A, and 40B are provided rotatably, and rotate following the conveyance of the PS plate 12 and the rotation of the rotating brush rollers 38, 39.

As a result, the PS plate 12 fed into the developing tank 18 receives the guide plate 46 and the guide roller 36, the rotating brush roller 38, and the backup rollers 34A and 34B.
And the rotating brush roller 39 and the backup roller 40
A and 40B guide and transport the developer.

The developing tank 18 is communicated with a circulation pump 48. The circulation pump 48 has discharge ports 44 A and 44 B formed on the upper and lower side walls with the guide plate 46 interposed therebetween and the bottom downstream side wall surface of the developing tank 18. Is communicated with the discharge port 44C. For this reason, the developer in the developing tank 18 is sucked by the operation of the circulation pump 48, and the discharge ports 44A,
The developer is discharged from 4B and 44C into the developing tank 18 to circulate and agitate the developer.

The overflow pipe 20 is connected to the developing tank 1
When the excess developer flows into the inside 8, the developer is discharged to the waste liquid tank 58.
Further, in the developing tank 18, a liquid surface cover 50 is arranged so as to float on the liquid surface of the developing solution, and moves up and down in accordance with the increase and decrease of the developing solution to reduce the contact area of the developing solution surface with the air. This prevents evaporation of the water in the developer and deterioration of the developer due to carbon dioxide in the air.

In the rinsing section 24, two pairs of transport rollers 52 and 53 are provided above the rinsing tank 28 storing rinsing water. These transport pair rollers 52 and 53 rotate upon transmission of a driving force of a driving unit (not shown), and
4, the PS plate 12 sent from the developing unit 22 is nipped and conveyed.

A pair of spray pipes 56A and 56B are disposed between the pair of transport rollers 52 and 53 with the transport path of the PS plate 12 interposed therebetween. This spray pipe 56A, 56
B, a discharge port (not shown) is formed facing the transport path of the PS plate 12.
By supplying the washing water pumped from 8,
Rinsing water is spouted from this discharge port toward the PS plate 12, and P
The front and back surfaces of the S plate 12 are cleaned. Further, the washing water after the washing is squeezed from the PS plate 12 by the transport roller pair 53 and collected in the washing tank 28.

The washing tank 28 is provided with an overflow pipe 62, and excess washing water in the washing tank 28 is discharged into the waste liquid tank 58 by flowing into the overflow pipe 62.

Above the gum solution tank 30 of the finisher 26, a pair of transport rollers 78 is provided. The PS plate 12 sent out by the conveying roller pair 53 is conveyed in the finisher section 26 by the conveying roller pair 78 and sent out from the discharge port 17. Note that guide plates 84 and 86 are provided on the downstream side of the transport roller pair 53, and the PS plate 12 is guided to the transport roller pair 78 by the guide plates 84 and 86.

On the upstream side of the transport roller pair 78, a PS plate 1
Spray pipes 82A and 82B are provided in pairs with the two transport paths interposed therebetween. The spray pipes 82A and 82B are
When the gum solution in the gum solution tank 30 pumped by the circulation pump 88 is supplied, the gum solution is discharged toward the PS plate 12 and applied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate. Further, the PS plate 12 coated with the gum solution is transported by the transport roller pair 7.
The excess gum solution is squeezed out by being sandwiched by 8, and a thin film of the gum solution serving as a protective film is formed.

The PS plate processor 10 includes a water supply tank 6 along with a stock solution tank 64 for storing a stock solution of a developing replenisher and a gum stock solution tank 66 for storing a stock solution of a gum replenisher.
8 are provided.

The developing tank 18 is supplied with an undiluted solution of the developing replenisher from the undiluted developing solution tank 64 by the operation of the replenishing pump 70, and dilutes the undiluted solution of the developing replenisher at a predetermined ratio by operating the water supply pump 72. Water is water supply tank 6
Supplied from 8. As a result, the developing tank 18 is replenished with the developing replenisher.

In the gum solution tank 30, a replenishing pump 74 is provided.
The gum solution is supplied from the gum stock tank 66 by the operation of, and water for diluting the gum solution at a predetermined ratio is supplied from the water supply tank 68 by the operation of the water supply pump 76. Thereby, the gum solution is replenished to the gum solution tank 30.

Further, a water supply pump 80 is provided in the washing tank 28.
Is activated, the water that becomes the washing water is supplied to the water supply tank 6.
Supplied from 8.

The water supply tank 68 is provided with a ball valve 104.
Tap water piping (not shown) is connected. As a result, when water is pumped out of the water supply tank 68 by the operation of the water supply pumps 72, 76, and 80 to lower the liquid level, tap water is supplied to the water supply tank 68 and the water supply tank 6
The amount of water in 8 is always kept at a predetermined amount.

As shown in FIG. 2, the PS version processor 1
To the controller 90 for controlling the operation of the zero pump, replenishment pumps 70, 74 and water supply pumps 72, 76, 80 are connected together with the circulation pumps 48, 60, 88. In addition, the controller 90 includes an operation /
An operation panel 92 for performing operations such as a stop, and a pair of transport rollers 32
Along with a driving unit 94 for driving a roller or the like that forms a transport path for the PS plate 12 such as
An insertion sensor 96 (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting passage of the PS plate 12 is provided.

The controller 90 operates the drive unit 94 and the circulating pumps 48, 60, 88, etc., in accordance with the insertion timing of the PS plate 12 detected by the insertion sensor 96, and performs the processing of the PS plate 12. The controller 9
0 indicates the processing amount of the PS plate 12 detected by the insertion sensor 96, and the replenishment pumps 70, 74 and the water supply pumps 72, 76, 80, which are periodically operated, so that the development replenisher, washing water, and gum solution are removed. Replenish. Note that these controls can use a conventionally known configuration, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present embodiment.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, the PS plate processor 10 is provided with a medicine tank 100. The chemical tank 100 contains a fungicide (hereinafter referred to as “drug”).
Say). By introducing this chemical into water so as to have a concentration within a predetermined range, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of mold and the like.

The medicine in the medicine tank 100 is supplied to the water supply tank 68 by the operation of the medicine pump 102.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drug pump 102 is connected to a controller 90.
By operating the chemical pump 102, a predetermined amount of chemical is injected into the water supply tank 68.

On the other hand, bellows pumps are used as the water supply pumps 72, 76, and 80, whereby the controller 90 draws water from the water supply tank 68 by controlling the time of the water supply pumps 72, 76, and 80 to form a developing tank. 1
8. A required amount of water is supplied to each of the washing tank 28 and the gum solution tank 30.

The controller 90 controls the water supply pump 7
The amount of water pumped from the water supply tank 68 is calculated and integrated from the number of operations and the operation times of 2, 76, and 80, and every time the integrated value reaches a predetermined amount, the chemical pump 102 is operated and the water supply tank 68 Drugs are supplied to At this time, the injection amount of the medicine is set so as to be an amount corresponding to the integrated value of the water supply amount, whereby the water stored in the water supply tank 68 has the concentration of the medicine within a predetermined range. Like that. In the present embodiment, for example, every time the integrated value reaches 10 l, 30 ml of the medicine is introduced.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below.

The PS plate 12 on which an image has been recorded by a printing device (not shown) is placed on the insertion table 16 and then sent to the rear side of the insertion table 16 to reach the insertion port 15. It is inserted into the PS plate processor 10. By detecting the PS plate 12 by the insertion sensor 96, the transport rollers 32 and the like are driven, and the inserted PS plate 12 is pulled in by the pair of transport rollers 32 and sent to the developing unit 22. Note that this P
When the tip of the S plate 12 passes through the insertion slot 15, the sensor 10
This is detected by 8 and the timer is started.
The timer includes a spray pipe 56A of the washing section 24,
The timing at which the washing water is spouted from 56B and the timing at which the gum solution is supplied to the spray pipes 82A and 82B are measured.

The PS plate 12 inserted into the developing tank 18 is guided by a guide plate 46 and is about 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal.
Is transported while being immersed in the developer at an angle in the range of, and guided while being corrected in direction between the guide roller 36 and the downstream end of the guide plate 46. Thereafter, the PS plate 12 is fed between the backup rollers 34A and 34B and the rotating brush roller 38 by the guide roller 36 and the guide plate 46.

The PS plate 12 inserted between the backup rollers 34A, 34B and the rotary brush roller 38 has its surface rubbed by the rotary brush roller 38 to promote development, and then the backup plate 40A, 40B and the rotary brush roller 39 and the rotating brush roller 3
When the back surface is rubbed by 9 and a photosensitive layer is present on the back surface, development of the back surface is promoted, and unnecessary photosensitive layers are efficiently removed.

In this way, the PS plate 12 on which the front and back surfaces have been uniformly rubbed and which has been subjected to the developing process is drawn out of the developing tank 18 while the developing solution is squeezed out by the roller pair 54, and sent to the water washing section 24. The sheet is nipped and conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers 52 and 53. At this time, the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 are washed with washing water blown out from the spray pipes 56A and 56B. Further, the PS plate 12 is squeezed out of the washing water by being sandwiched between the transport roller pairs 53.

The PS plate 12 after the washing process is sent out to the finisher 26 by the guide plates 84 and 86. In the finisher unit 26, the PS plate 12 is guided to the transport rollers 78 by the guide plates 84 and 86. At this time, the degumming treatment is performed by discharging the gum solution from the spray pipes 82A and 82B and applying the gum solution to the front and back surfaces.

When the PS plate 12 to which the gum solution has been applied is sandwiched by the pair of transport rollers 78 and sent out to the outlet 17, excess gum solution is squeezed out and passes through the outlet 17, and is dried (not shown). Sent to the department.

By the way, in the PS plate processor 10,
Depending on the amount of the PS plate 12 processed, the developing tank 18 is periodically replenished with a developing replenisher, the rinsing tank 28 with rinsing water, and the gum solution tank 30 with a gum solution. At this time, the water stored in the water supply tank 68 by the water supply pumps 72, 76, and 80 is drawn out as dilution of the stock solution of the development replenisher, dilution of the gum solution, and washing water. Further, in the water supply tank 68, water is pumped out, so that water is supplied through the ball valve 104, and a state in which a certain amount of water is always stored is maintained.

In such a water supply tank 68, mold is apt to be generated because water is stored. For this PS
In the plate processor 10, a medicine tank 100 is provided, and a medicine pump 102 is operated at a predetermined timing so that the medicine in the medicine tank 100 is supplied to the water supply tank 68.

Hereinafter, the flow of the medicine supply process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the PS plate processor 10, when preparing a mother liquor which is a processing liquid to be charged with the developing tank 18, the washing tank 28 and the gum liquid tank 30 being empty, the stock solution of each processing liquid is diluted. The medicine is previously put into water by hand or the like. When water is supplied from the empty state of the water supply tank 68, the medicine is supplied manually or by operating the medicine pump 102 so that the concentration ρ of the medicine in the water supply tank 68 becomes a predetermined concentration ρ _S. ing. PS
The plate processor 10 starts the processing of the PS plate 12 from this state.

From the initial state, the PS plate processor 10 performs the medicine injection process described below by turning on a power switch (not shown).
When the PS plate processor 10 is stopped by turning off the power switch, the process is terminated.
In the following description the lower limit of the concentration [rho drug can maintain a predetermined antifungal performance as the density [rho _L.

First step 20 of this flowchart
At 0, it is confirmed whether or not any of the water supply pumps 72, 76, 80 has been activated, that is, whether or not water has been drawn from the water supply tank 68. In PS version processor 10,
When replenishing the developing replenisher to the developing tank 18, supplying the washing water to the washing tank 28, and replenishing the gum solution to the gum solution tank 30, the water supply pumps 72, 76, and 80 operate for a time corresponding to the water supply amount. Is operated only to draw out water from the water supply tank 68, and diluting water for diluting the stock solution of the developing replenisher at a predetermined ratio;
Dilution water for diluting the washing water and the stock solution of the gum solution at a predetermined ratio is supplied to the developing tank 18, the washing tank 28 or the gum solution tank 30.

Here, water supply pumps 72, 76, and 8 are provided to replenish the developing replenisher, supply the washing water, or replenish the gum solution.
0 operates (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified,
("Water supply pump 98"), the affirmative determination is made in step 200, and the process proceeds to step 202.

Since the water pumped out by the water supply pump 98 contains a certain ratio of chemicals, it is possible to determine only the amount of water. Therefore, in step 202, the amount of water pumped from the water supply tank 68 is calculated from the discharge capacity and the operation time of the water supply pump 98, and the amount of only water pumped by the water supply pump 98 is calculated and integrated from the calculated value. , The integrated value W is obtained. That is, the water supply tank 68
Then, when the float of the ball valve 104 is lowered due to the pumping of the water and the liquid level being lowered, water is supplied, and the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank 68 is calculated as the integrated value W.

In the next step 204, the integrated value W is determined whether exceeds a predetermined value W _0. The predetermined value W ₀ is a value set based on the amount of water stored in the water supply tank 68, that is, the capacity of the water supply tank 68 and the lower limit of the concentration range of the medicine.

As shown in FIG. 4, the concentration ρ of the chemical in the water supply tank 68 gradually decreases as the amount of water supply increases. That is, water is drawn from the water supply tank 68,
By supplying water according to the amount of pumped water, the concentration ρ of the drug gradually decreases. The water supply amount before the concentration ρ of the medicine at this time reaches the lower limit concentration ρ _L is set to a predetermined value W ₀ (for example, 10 liters).

In the PS plate processor 10, the PS plate 12
, The integrated value W of the water supply amount increases. Thus, the water supply amount of the integrated value W reaches a predetermined value W ₀ (W ≧
W ₀ ), an affirmative determination is made in step 204, and step 20
Move to 6.

In step 206, the medicine supply pump 102 is operated to supply a predetermined amount (for example, 30 ml) of medicine to the water supply tank 68. The dosage of the medicine at this time is, when the medicine is poured into water having a predetermined value W ₀ ,
The concentration ρ of the drug is set to an amount that results in the concentration ρ _S. Thereafter, in step 208, the integrated value W of the water supply amount is reset (W = 0), and the integration of the water supply amount is newly started. Incidentally, when the integrated value W is the PS plate processor 10 in a state less than W ₀ is stopped (end of treatment), the integrated value W is stored and then used when the PS plate processor is turned on.

That is, in the PS version processor 10,
Each time the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank 68 reaches the predetermined value W ₀ ,
An amount of medicine corresponding to the amount of water (predetermined value W ₀ ) is charged into the water supply tank 68.

[0067] Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the concentration ρ of the drug in the water supply tank 68, but the water supply amount W gradually decreases until a predetermined value W _0, the water supply amount W is a predetermined value W ₀ Each time the drug reaches a predetermined concentration ρ
Returned to _S. In addition, since the predetermined value W ₀ is an amount such that the concentration ρ of the medicine in the water supply tank 68 does not reach the lower limit concentration ρ _L , the water supply tank 68 is in a state where a medicine of an appropriate concentration is charged. Will be maintained.

As described above, in the PS plate processor 10, water to be used inside the apparatus is supplied from the single water supply tank 68, and a chemical corresponding to the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank 68 is supplied. I have. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent mold and the like from being generated in the tank storing water such as the water tank 68 as well as the water supply tank 68.

Further, in the PS plate processor 10, in order to supply the medicine according to the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank 68,
It is possible to prevent forgetting to supply the medicine and prevent the supply amount of the medicine from being excessive or insufficient, and to efficiently supply an appropriate amount of the medicine.

In the PS plate processor 10, the cost of the water supply mechanism is reduced by using the ball valve 104 for supplying water to the water supply tank 68.

In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the present invention is not limited. For example, in the present embodiment, the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank 68 is calculated from the amount of water drawn from the water supply tank 68 by the water supply pump 98. However, a liquid level sensor is provided in the water supply tank 68, and the water supply tank is provided by a pump or the like. 68 may be supplied. In this case, when the liquid level decreases by a predetermined amount W ₀ , water may be supplied to the water supply tank 68 and the medicine may be supplied.

Further, in this embodiment, the PS plate processor 10 for processing the PS plate 12 as a photosensitive material has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the PS plate 12, but is not limited to other printing plates or photo plates. The present invention can be applied to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing another photosensitive material such as a film or photographic paper with a processing solution using water.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, a simple structure for introducing a medicine based on the amount of water supplied to a water supply tank can be employed without forgetting to introduce the medicine or causing an excessive or insufficient amount of the medicine to be introduced. Thus, an excellent effect that the concentration of the drug in water can be maintained within a predetermined range can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a PS plate processor applied to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control unit of a PS plate processor.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of a drug introduction process in a PS plate processor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a change in concentration of a medicine with respect to an amount of water supplied to a water supply tank.

[Description of Signs] 10 PS plate processor (photosensitive material processing device) 12 PS plate (photosensitive material) 18 Developing tank 28 Rinse tank 30 Gum liquid tank 68 Water supply tank 72, 76, 80, 98 Water supply pump (water supply means) 90 Controller (Dosing control means, detecting means, integrating means) 100 Drug tank (Drug feeding means) 102 Drug pump (Drug feeding means) 104 Ball valve

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution using water, comprising: a water supply tank for storing the water used in the apparatus; and a medicine injecting means for injecting a medicine into the water supply tank. Water supply means for supplying water to the water supply tank in accordance with the amount of water used, and supply control means for activating the medicine supply means in accordance with the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank to supply the medicine to the water supply tank. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input control unit includes a detection unit configured to detect a water supply amount to the water supply tank, and each time the water supply amount detected by the detection unit reaches a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount of the water supply is set. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a medicine is charged. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the detecting means is an integrating means for integrating the amount of water supplied to the water supply tank, and the medicine is supplied each time the integrated value of the integrating means reaches a predetermined value. 3. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to item 2. 4. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said integrating means integrates the amount of water supplied to said water supply tank calculated from the amount of water drawn from said water supply tank.