JP2001290253A - Transporting drive assembly for photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recover lubricating oil in a recovering container 50 on a lower side without allowing the lubricating oil from dropping from the flanks of guide members 40 when guiding an endless chains 18 which are coated with the lubricating oil and are so driven as to travel along a circling orbit and to surely prevent the contamination by dropping of the dropped lubricating oil into the processing liquids stored in processing vessels. SOLUTION: This drive assembly comprises motors for imparting the driving force to rack units which are disposed in the respective processing vessels storing the processing liquids and transports the photosensitive materials along transporting paths for directing the photosensitive materials from an upstream side to a downstream side from the endless chains 18 circled and driven in one direction and guide members 40 for guiding the base surface side of the endless chains 18 disposed to incline diagonally upward near the top end edges of the respective processing vessels. Peak parts 41 for guiding the rollers 54 and right and left groove parts 42 and 43 into which right and left link plates sneak are formed and the recovering container 50 for recovering the lubricating oil dropping through the inside of the right and left groove parts is disposed in the lowermost position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material transport driving device, for example, which is driven in one direction by a driving force to a rack unit detachably provided in a processing tank storing a predetermined processing liquid. The present invention relates to a technique applied to a photographic processing device configured to supply from an endless chain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of photographic processing apparatuses have been put into practical use in which photographic paper, which is a photosensitive material, is cut into a predetermined size, then sequentially conveyed to a processing tank storing a predetermined processing liquid, dried and discharged to the outside. Have been.

As a photographic processing apparatus of the type for cutting into a predetermined size as described above, for example, US Pat.
The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,114 is known. In this disclosure, a continuous roll paper-like paper built in by blocking light in a paper magazine is cut in advance by a cutter unit into a desired cut size, and thereafter, the exposure unit is exposed with the emulsion side of the paper facing up. After being exposed to a desired size by the film set in the scanner, the film is conveyed to the downstream side, and is sequentially conveyed through each processing tank containing the processing liquid for development, bleaching, and washing, and then dried. And is discharged to the outside. When it is necessary to rotate the paper at the exposure baking unit when exposing to a desired size, this apparatus integrates the function of rotating the paper by 90 degrees and then performing the exposure baking and the function of developing the film. It is provided for the purpose.

On the other hand, in each of the above-mentioned processing tanks, a photosensitive material transporting device (hereinafter also referred to as a rack unit), which is generally called a rack, is individually incorporated, and is driven by a large motor along an orbital path. The drive speed is synchronized by obtaining a common driving force from the chain, and it can be easily taken out by moving it over each processing tank for periodic inspection and cleaning work of the transfer rollers. The gear sprocket of the rack unit is designed to automatically mesh with the endless chain when loaded into the tank.

A guide member for guiding the bottom surface of the endless chain driven along the above-mentioned orbit by its own weight is a chain rotatably provided around a pin connecting left and right link plates constituting the chain. The ridge supporting the roller is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction,
In addition to rotating the chain roller at the peak, the link plate is guided on both sides of the peak to prevent left and right blurring. In addition, by applying lubricating oil to the endless chain that is driven along the orbital regularly, a long life due to wear prevention and low noise are achieved.

[0006]

However, when the guide member having only the crests formed in the longitudinal direction is used as described above, the lubricating oil also falls on the guide members, but only the crests are used from the side. Since it falls, there is a problem that the inside of the device is contaminated. If the lubricating oil contaminating the inside of the apparatus falls into the processing tank, the processing liquid is contaminated and a serious situation is caused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is intended for guiding an endless chain that is applied with lubricating oil and driven along a orbit.
A photosensitive material that allows lubricating oil to be collected from the lower side without falling down from the side surface of the guide member, and prevents falling lubricant oil from dropping into the processing liquid stored in the processing tank and being contaminated. It is intended to provide a transport drive device.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, a driving force is applied to a transport unit disposed in each processing tank storing a processing solution and transporting a photosensitive material along a transport path from upstream to downstream. A photosensitive material conveying drive device provided with drive means for feeding from an endless chain driven to rotate around, wherein the drive means is inclined obliquely upward in the vicinity of an upper end edge of each of the processing tanks with a drive motor. And a guide member that guides the bottom side of the endless chain, and the guide member includes a ridge that guides the rollers of the endless chain, and a left and right link plate of the endless chain. Form left and right grooves and infiltration,
At a lowermost position of the guide member, a collection container for collecting lubricating oil falling through the left and right grooves is provided.

In addition, the guide member is formed or molded from a resin material containing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and the width of the left and right grooves is gradually widened at the lower end of the lowermost position to introduce the link plate. And a second upper end at the uppermost position of the guide member for preventing leakage of the lubricating oil from the upper end by communicating between the left and right grooves. Is formed or molded.

[0010]

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

First, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a main part of the entire structure of the photo processing apparatus 1 in which all covers provided detachably with respect to a housing 2 are removed, and options are set. The state where the left paper magazine left storage unit on the left side is added is shown. The device 1 is configured to be as flat as possible in the front and back sides of the paper to minimize the occupied area after installation, while allowing easy access to main parts from the front.

[0012] The left storage section of the paper magazine accommodates the device 1
The paper magazines 3 and 3 can be installed simultaneously with the cutter unit 4 so that the two paper magazines 3 and 3 can be simultaneously loaded as shown in the figure. In this way, the paper magazine 3 can be appropriately added, and the photo processing apparatus 1 delivered and installed with only the right paper magazine right storage section installed first is installed and used frequently after the installation. Based on the consumption of paper including panoramic photos, the left storage section of the paper magazine can be added as appropriate.

On the other hand, paper P having a color emulsion previously coated on the photographic printing side has a predetermined width (for example, 89 mm width).
The paper roll 3 is wound as a continuous long roll paper, is completely shielded from light, and is rotatably built in the paper magazine 3. This paper magazine 3
Is configured to be symmetrical as shown in the figure, so that it can be used in common for the left and right paper magazine left storage sections and the paper magazine right storage section, and is taken out on both front and back wall surfaces. A loading handle (not shown) is provided for each. Further, an automatic opening / closing mechanism for opening the built-in roll paper in the direction of arrow P1 outside the magazine 3 is provided, and the magazine is inserted into either the right storage section of the paper magazine or the left storage section of the paper magazine. In this case as well, the components are automatically opened and closed in the same manner, so that the components are shared and the usability is improved.

A cutter unit 4 provided in close proximity to the paper magazine 3 is for cutting the continuously transported paper P into a desired size before exposure, and the cutter unit 4 performs predetermined cutting. The paper P cut into the size is first conveyed by the suction operation and the conveyance operation by the conveyance belt 12 on the exposure table 5 provided in the dark box 7, temporarily fixed by suction, and is ready for exposure. The film F is sequentially fed by a frame to the scanner 6, and the optical system 13 including a zoom lens or the like is adjusted automatically or manually to form an image of a desired size on the paper P for exposure. Have been. Further, a paper rotating mechanism 11 is provided at substantially the center of the exposure printing table 5, and is capable of turning 90 degrees in the direction of arrow P2 after sucking the paper P by the suction pad 8.

More specifically, the paper P cut by the cutter unit 4 is sucked toward the table 5 without any gap by the suction action of a large number of holes formed on the table 5.
After the exposure, the paper P is transported toward the transport unit 10, and is determined to be a large-size paper PL at a position indicated by an arrow P3 in the drawing, and then transported downstream. Here, when the paper size is small (127 × 89 mm), the paper is conveyed while being distributed to the left and right.
Are transported in two rows. Thus, the processing speed can be increased by carrying the paper in two rows. Also, in the case of a vertically long image such as a panoramic photograph (254 × 89 mm), it can be similarly conveyed in two rows.

On the other hand, when it is desired to perform exposure so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction of the film F loaded in the film scanner 6, the exposure is performed by rotating the suction pad 8 by 90 degrees. It is configured such that exposure processing can be performed on all of a plurality of different sizes while using the same type of paper.

After this exposure operation, the cutter unit 4
The transport path selecting mechanism operates to transport the paper P toward the transport unit 10 disposed above the paper P.
Is transported toward the transport unit 10, and arrows P3, P4, P5,
It is transported sequentially in the directions of P6 and P7 and transported to the processing tank side. The transport unit 10 is provided with a greeting unit (not shown) for exposing a greeting or the like to a photograph during paper transport so as to be easily detachable. For this reason, since it is necessary to frequently access the transport unit 10, the transport unit 10 is configured to be easily pulled out in front of the housing 2.

On the downstream side of the transport section 10, processing tanks 16 indicated by broken lines for sequentially performing development, bleaching, and washing of the paper after exposure are provided in a stepwise manner as shown in the figure. The paper is turned by a reversing roll (not shown) provided between the processing tanks 16, and the paper is turned by a rack unit (not shown) configured to obtain power from an endless chain 18 shown by a dashed line. After being conveyed to near the bottom of the tank, it is subjected to a predetermined process in the course of being conveyed upward, is sent to a drying unit 21, and after drying, finally has an upper tray 19 and a lower tray 20 outside the apparatus 1.
It is configured to discharge by size. In order to discharge the paper by size in this manner, a selector 23 for determining a paper transport path for each size is provided above the drying unit 21, and an upper roller 24 and a lower roller 25 are provided on the downstream side of the transport path. Is driven, and the discharge roller 26 drives the arrow P8,
It is configured to transport in the P9 direction.

On the other hand, a container 15 for replenishing the processing liquid is provided below the processing tank 16 by opening only a front cover (not shown), and further below the container 15 is provided. A refill tank 14 is provided and the refill tank 1
The diluted processing solution obtained by diluting the processing solution at 4 is supplied to each of the processing tanks 16.

A power supply unit is provided in the housing 2 occupying the space below the drying unit 21. On the power supply unit, various processing tanks 16 and various functions related to a buffer function described later are provided. A processor control unit 22 for performing control is provided, and exchanges various control data with a main control unit (not shown) which is fixed to the left side of the dark box 7 and controls the paper conveyance. It is configured so as to control the entire apparatus.

Next, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram around the endless chain 18 when the photographic processing apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 is viewed from the rear side. In this figure, the components already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The processing tank 16 is provided with a step toward the developing, fixing and stabilizing tanks as shown in FIG. It is shaped like a staircase. For this reason, the endless chain 18 guided on the orbit as shown in the figure is also guided by the guide member 40 so as to be inclined at the angle θ. In order to drive the endless chain 18 in the direction of arrow D,
A gear sprocket 34 fixed to the output shaft of the motor 33, an upper gear sprocket 35 rotatably supported by a shaft fixed to a base indicated by hatching, and a lower gear sprocket 36 are provided. The gear sprocket 34 of the motor 33 is driven in the direction of the arrow so as to mesh with the inside of the endless chain 18 so as to be continuously driven on the orbit. Further, the tensioner 29 presses the endless chain 18 from the outside to prevent the chain from becoming loose.

A rack unit 30 is built in each of the processing tanks 16 and moves as shown by a two-dot chain line above the processing tanks 16 for periodic inspection and cleaning of the transfer rollers. The rack unit can be easily taken out by lifting the entire length of the rack unit upward.
0 gear sprocket 31 automatically
It is constituted so that it may mesh with.

The guide member 40 is fixed on a support member 38 fixed to a side surface of the processing tank 16, and a collection container 50 is provided at a lowermost position.

FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of the guide member 40, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the lower end side of the guide member 40.

In this figure, the components already described are given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.
The guide member 40 is machined or formed from a resin material having excellent oil resistance and abrasion resistance, such as a resin material containing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and is provided with an endless chain 18.
Mountain portion 41 for guiding rollers 54 of the endless chain 18
Left and right groove portions 42, 4 into which the left and right link plates 52 infiltrate.
3 are continuously formed in the longitudinal direction as shown. As shown in FIG. 2, a collection container 50 is provided at the lowermost position of the guide member 40 for collecting the lubricating oil falling through the left and right grooves 42 and 43. This collection container 5
0 is made of polyethylene resin and can be disposable.

Further, at the lower end of the lowermost position of the guide member 40, first shape portions 44, 45 for smoothly introducing the link plate 52 by gradually increasing the width of the left and right grooves 42, 43 are formed. A second shaped portion 46 is formed at the upper end of the uppermost position and communicates between the left and right groove portions 42 and 43. The second shape portion 46 is for preventing lubricating oil from being conveyed to the upper end portion as the endless chain 18 moves in the direction of arrow D and leaking from the upper end portion.

According to the guide member constructed as described above, the roller 54 of the endless chain 18 driven along the above-mentioned orbit is guided so as to rotate on the peak 41 of the guide member 40, and The link plates are guided in the left and right grooves 42, 43 to prevent left and right blurring, and to provide both side walls 42a, 43a (shown in FIG. 3B).
The lubricating oil L can be prevented from leaking from the side surface, and even if excessive lubricating oil is regularly applied to the endless chain, the lubricating oil L flows downward by its own weight and is collected as shown in FIG. It can be collected in the container 50.

Further, the first shape portions 44 and 45 allow the link plate 52, which moves in the direction of arrow D, to be smoothly introduced, so that the lubricating oil can be applied with security and the length can be reduced by preventing abrasion. A longer life and lower noise can be achieved.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When guiding an endless chain that is coated with lubricating oil and driven along the orbit, the lubricating oil does not fall from the side surface of the guide member, but can be collected on the lower side. The present invention can provide a transporting device for photosensitive material, which can reliably prevent the processing solution stored in the photosensitive material from falling into and contaminating the processing solution.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of an overall configuration of a photographic processing apparatus 1. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram around an endless chain when the photo processing device 1 of FIG. 1 is viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3A is an external perspective view of a guide member 40, and FIG.
Is a side view of the lower end of the guide member 40.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photo processing apparatus 2 Housing 18 Endless chain 30 Rack unit 31 Gear sprocket 33 Motor 34 Motor gear sprocket 40 Guide member 41 Mountain part 42, 43 Left and right groove part 44, 45 First shape part 46 Second shape part 50 Collection container 52 Link plate 53 Pin 54 Roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] An endless chain, which is disposed in each processing tank storing a processing liquid and conveys a photosensitive material along a conveyance path from upstream to downstream, is driven by an endless chain driven to rotate in one direction. And a drive unit for feeding the photosensitive material, the drive unit comprising: a drive motor; and a drive motor, the drive unit being disposed obliquely upward and in the vicinity of an upper edge of each of the processing tanks. And a guide member for guiding the bottom side of the endless chain.In the guide member, a crest portion for guiding the rollers of the endless chain and a left and right groove portion in which the left and right link plates of the endless chain infiltrate are formed. Further, a recovery container for recovering the lubricating oil falling through the inside of the left and right grooves is provided at a lowermost position of the guide member. 2. The guide member is formed or molded from a resin material containing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and at the lower end of the lowermost position, the width of the left and right grooves is gradually increased to introduce the link plate. And a second shape for preventing leakage of the lubricating oil from the upper end by communicating between the left and right grooves at the upper end of the uppermost position of the guide member. The photosensitive material transport drive device according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material is formed or molded.