JP2001296641A - Supply apparatus for processing liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent occurrence of frothing by accompanying the inflow of a processing liquid and a diluting liquid and the deterioration of the processing liquid, when the processing liquid after piercing of a sealing member of a vessel is supplied to a replenishing tank and further the diluting liquid is supplied thereto. SOLUTION: The vessel, hermetically closed at its aperture by the sealing member, is held in an immobile state toward downward direction and is pierced by a piercing means. The concentrated processing liquid is supplied to the replenishing tank 80 on the lower side across tubes 7 and 83, and the diluting liquid is supplied thereto across a diluting liquid tube 85. The tubes 7 and 83 for supplying the diluted processing liquid obtained by stirring the processing liquid with stirring members limit the flow rate, open in a liquid level L and are located on a diagonal inside wall section 80a of the replenishing tank, and the aperture of the diluting liquid tube 85 is set below the liquid level L. The occurrence of the frothing is thus suppressed, and the early deterioration of the processing liquid is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing liquid supply apparatus, for example, a photographic processing apparatus in which a developing liquid, a fixing liquid and a stable liquid can be supplied from a container to a developing processing tank, a fixing processing tank and a stable processing tank. The present invention relates to a technique applied to an apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art After exposure of an emulsion surface of a photographic paper, the processing liquid for developing, fixing and stabilizing is sequentially passed through each processing tank containing the processing liquid, then dried and discharged to the outside. The photographic processing apparatus has been put to practical use.

For example, US Pat. No. 5,307,114
According to the photographic processing apparatus disclosed in JP-A No. 6-1980, after continuous cutting of the continuous roll paper contained in the paper magazine by cutting off the light in the paper magazine by the cutter unit in advance to a desired cut size, the emulsion surface is turned up. After being conveyed to the exposure baking unit, after exposure baking to the desired size by the film set in the scanner, it is then conveyed and transported sequentially through the processing tank containing the processing liquid for development, bleaching, and washing, and then dried. There has been proposed a device configured to discharge to the outside.

On the other hand, in the above-described processing tanks, ie, the developing tank, the fixing processing tank, and the stabilizing processing tank, when each processing liquid is processed with a fixed amount of photographic paper, or when the processing liquid evaporates and the concentration becomes low. When it becomes dark, it is configured to dilute with water to maintain a predetermined concentration. More recently, it has become possible to appropriately supply the above-mentioned concentrated solution from a container in which a concentrated solution of a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a stable solution is separately stored to each of the replenishment tanks of the developing tank, the fixing processing tank, and the stable processing tank. Photo processing apparatuses that have been simplified in operation have become mainstream.

[0005] Since each of the above-mentioned processing liquids contains a chemical substance which is undesirable for the human body, the concentrated liquid is completely sealed in a container, and the container is set in a photographic processing apparatus while keeping the sealed state, and then is set in each processing tank. It is desirable to supply automatically.

As described above, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-73158, 10-115903, and 10-78642 have been proposed in order to enable an operator in a laboratory to easily supply from a container. ing.

According to these disclosures, a processing liquid is introduced in advance from an opening of a container, and the container whose opening is sealed by a seal member is held downward and immovably held in a photographic processing apparatus. The processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank by piercing in a petal shape using a cross-shaped blade.

[0008]

However, according to the above-mentioned publications, since the processing liquids are all introduced into the processing tank at the same time from the opening of the container, the processing liquid is mainly generated by entraining air. The occurrence of foaming was a problem. That is, it is known that when such bubbles are generated, the oxidation of the processing liquid is promoted and the processing liquid is deteriorated early. It is also known that foaming occurs when a processing liquid supplied from a container is supplied into a replenishing tank and a diluting liquid containing water is supplied.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and supplies a processing liquid after perforating a sealing member of a container to a replenishing tank, and further supplies these processing liquids when supplying a diluting liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing liquid supply apparatus that suppresses the occurrence of foaming caused by the inflow, thereby preventing the processing liquid from deteriorating early.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, using a container in which the opening is sealed with a sealing member after filling the processing liquid,
The opening is held in an immobile state facing downward, the seal member is pierced by a piercing means, the processing liquid is supplied to a lower replenishment tank via a first tube, and a second tube is supplied. A processing liquid supply device for supplying a diluting liquid to the replenishment tank via a stirrer, and supplying a dilute processing liquid obtained by stirring by a stirrer to a processing tank of a photographic processing apparatus; A cutting edge portion for piercing the member, and a through-hole portion communicating with the first tube, while being driven up and down between a standby position below the opening and a piercing position for the piercing; The first tube is connected to a small tube, and provided with a flow rate restricting portion for restricting a flow rate of the processing liquid, and the processing liquid in the container is supplied when the replenishment tank reaches a lower limit state. Having a first opening that opens slightly above the liquid surface formed by being performed, the second tube has a second opening that opens below the liquid surface, and An inner wall of the replenishment tank facing the first opening is inclined obliquely downward.

[0011] Further, the flow rate restricting portion of the first tube is formed of a bent portion generated by the elevation drive and an inner diameter portion having a reduced tube inner diameter.

[0012] In the second tube, the flow rate restricting portion having a reduced tube inner diameter is formed.

[0013]

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

First, FIG. 1 shows a housing 2 serving as a base for showing the entire configuration of a photographic processing apparatus 1 (hereinafter also referred to as an apparatus 1).
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where a cover and the like which are provided detachably with respect to FIG.

In FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 is composed of a printer (exposure printing) section 3, a processor (development processing) section 5, and a dryer (drying) section 6, which are large in a front view and vertically long in the left and right directions and flat in the front and rear directions. The configuration minimizes the occupied area, while allowing for easy access to the main parts from the front, making it easy to use for various tasks that must be performed daily. Like that.

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

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

A power supply unit (not shown) is provided in the housing 2 occupying a space below the drying unit 15, and various controls related to the above-described processing tanks are performed on the power supply unit. And a processor control unit 9 for controlling the entire apparatus.

Next, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a piping system for supplying respective processing solutions to the developing processing tank 11, the fixing processing tank 12, and the stabilizing processing tank 13 of the tank in FIG. In this drawing, a liquid supply means comprising a pump and an electromagnetic valve is connected between a replenishment tank 24 for a developer, a replenishment tank 25 for a fixer, and a replenishment tank 26 for a stabilizer for replenishment of a processing liquid. And each processing liquid can be supplied to each tank.

First, reference numeral 28a denotes a waste liquid tank of the developing tank 11, in which the waste liquid is discharged from the upper and lower portions of the developing work via the waste liquid intermediate tank 28b and the solenoid valve 10b. Reference numeral 29a denotes a waste liquid tank for the fixing processing tank 12 and the stabilizing processing tank 13. The waste liquid is discharged from the top and bottom of the fixing processing tank via a waste liquid intermediate tank 29b and a solenoid valve 10b (not shown). Further, the liquid is discharged from the upper part of the above-mentioned stabilization tank via a waste liquid intermediate tank and a solenoid valve (not shown).

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

Water serving as a diluent supplied by a water tap or manually is stored in a water tank 27, and is supplied to a pump 10a.
And a solenoid valve 10b. Further, containers 20 and 2 respectively storing the developing solution, the fixing solution and the stabilizing solution shown in FIG.
1, 22, and 23 are housed in a single box so that they can be attached and detached from the front of the photographic processing apparatus.

When these containers are set from the front,
The opening device (not shown) is moved upward to pierce the seal covering each opening of the container, and the undiluted solution is supplied from the first tube 7 connected to the opening device into each of the replenishing tanks 24, 25, and 26. It is configured to supply.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a case where containers 20, 21, 22, and 23 in which a developing solution, a fixing solution and a stabilizing solution are individually stored are housed in one box 43, and are detached from the front of the photographic processing apparatus. It is an external appearance perspective view showing the appearance.

In this figure, the box 43 is made of, for example, cardboard, and as shown, containers 20, 21, 22, and 23 which individually store a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution are stored in a line, and Openings 20a, 21a, 22 of
a and 23a are projected from below, and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus 1 in units of the box 43. Here, it goes without saying that the containers may be replaced individually.

In this manner, the box 4
A pair of shafts, which are fixed to the housing 2, are provided on the front surface of the photographic processing apparatus in order to replace the mounting member 3 so as to be in a closed state (not shown) and an open state (not shown). A support 31 (only the near side is shown) is pivotally supported so as to be freely opened and closed. The mounting member 32 is fixed to the apparatus cover, and has a mounting surface on which the bottom surface of the box 43 is mounted as shown in the drawing, and has an opening 20a, 21a, 22a, and 23a. The first shape portions 32a to be inserted into half are formed by the number of containers.

When the mounting member 32 is turned in the direction of arrow D to be closed, the second shaped portions 33a to be inserted into the remaining half of the annular groove are provided by the number of containers. The formed engaging member 33 is provided so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow H. After the box 43 is set, the engaging member 33 is driven to fix the annular groove, thereby performing a punching operation. Make sure the container does not move up when performing.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state in which the container placed on the placing member 32 is set in a state where the container 1 can be pierced.

In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described, and the description thereof will be omitted.
Openings 20a, 21a, 22 are provided at 0, 21, 22, and 23, respectively.
a, 23a are formed, and the annular grooves 20b, 21b, 22 shown in FIG.
b and 23b are formed, and the first shape portion 32a of the mounting member 32 penetrates into half of this, and the second shape portion 33a of the engagement member 33 penetrates into the other half. The openings 20a, 21a, 22a, and 23a are configured to be restrained and can be immobilized.

For this purpose, the engagement member 33 is provided with a roller 36 rotatably driven by a shaft body 37 following the eccentric cam roller 39 of the geared motor 38, and is eccentric with the roller 36 by a spring (not shown). The cam roller 39 is configured to be in constant contact with the sensor disk 41. The engagement member 33 is driven in the direction of arrow H by the driving of the gear motor 38, and the sensor desk 41 fixed to the motor shaft by the sensor 40.
Is detected, and the engagement member 33 is driven between the engagement position and the standby position. In addition, a sealing member 35 made of a resin-coated aluminum sheet is adhered to the opening surface of the opening of the container, so that the sealed state can be maintained when the container is set downward as shown in the figure.

A piercing member 44 as a piercing means is provided so as to surround the sealing member 35, and by driving the piercing member 44 up and down in the direction of arrow A, a part of the sealing member 35 is left. It is configured such that the processing liquid in the container is made to flow out to the outside and supplied to the above-mentioned tanks 24, 25, and 26 via the lower first tube 7. For this purpose, a perforated body 45 having a cutting edge portion is fixed to the perforated member 44. Further, a flow path 60 communicating with the first tube 7 is further formed around the perforated body 45 so that the processing liquid leaked from around the perforated body 45 can be collected and supplied.

The piercing member 44 configured as described above is
Further, the tray 46 is disposed in the tray 46.
By vertically moving the fixing member 47 fixed below, a driving between the illustrated standby position and the perforated position moved upward is enabled. In order to drive in this manner, a member that supports the shaft 55 is fixed on the housing 2.
The eccentric cam roller 52 fixed to the shaft 55 is driven to rotate by a motor 58, while the lower shaft 50 having a driven roller 51 at the lower end that follows the eccentric cam roller 52 is connected to a bush (not shown). The fixing member 47 is fixed at the upper end of the elevating shaft body 50 so that the perforating member 44 fixed to the tray 46 is driven up and down by driving a motor 58. I have.

As described above, the piercing member 44 is driven up and down between the standby position shown in FIG. 4 and the piercing position (not shown) so as to stop at the piercing position after the position is detected by the sensor (not shown). It is configured.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the container and the replenishing tank, the state in which the piping shown in FIG. 2 has been performed, and the internal structure of the replenishing tank broken away. . FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a tube connection portion of the replenishment tank.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the components already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted. After filling the concentrated processing solution of volume V, the opening is sealed with a sealing member. The containers 20, 21, 22, and 23 are held immovably with their openings facing downward as shown in the figure, and by piercing the seal member by the piercing mechanism as described above, the concentrated treatment liquid is firstly immersed. Tube 7 having an inner diameter d1 and an inner diameter d
It is supplied to the lower replenishing tank 80 through a small tube 83 having an inner diameter d2 smaller than 1.

The supply timing of this concentrated processing solution is programmed to be executed when the lower limit state is detected by the detection of a lower limit sensor (not shown) provided in the replenishment tank 80. Capacity V in 22, 23
Are supplied to the replenishment tank 80 all at once, the liquid level L shown in the figure is filled. Further, the first tube 7 is formed with a bent portion 7a which is elastically deformed so as to be bent in association with the above-described elevating operation, as shown in the drawing. Further, the flow rate is further restricted by a small tube 83 connected to the first tube 7 via a joint portion 90a of the lid member 90. The first opening 8 of the small tube 83 connected to the first tube 7
As shown in FIG. 6, 3a has a positional relationship of opening slightly above the liquid level L, and is disposed at a position where the processing liquid falls on the inclined inner wall portion 80a of the container 80. As a result, it is possible to gently flow into the tank 80. As described above, the concentrated processing liquid is supplied onto the inner wall portion 80a to reach the liquid level L.

On the other hand, a pipe 84 for feeding water from the water tank 27, which is a diluent, via a pump 10b has a second opening 85a opening at a height equal to or lower than the liquid level L, and the pipe 84 A diluent tube 85, which is a second tube having an inner diameter d2 smaller than the inner diameter, is connected via a joint 90b of the lid member 90.

After the concentrated processing liquid is supplied from the second tube 85 for the diluting liquid to reach the liquid level L, the diluting liquid is supplied, so that bubbling generated by entraining air can be prevented. Become like Before and after the supply of the diluting liquid, the stirring member 81 is rotationally driven by driving the motor, and the diluting liquid and the concentrated processing liquid are stirred and diluted to a predetermined concentration.

A bottom portion 80b, which is deeper than the other bottom surface, is formed in a part of the replenishment tank 80 as shown in the figure. Supply pipe 86 held by holding section 90c
Each processing tank 1 is operated by the operation of the pump 10a through the
1, 12 and 13.

With the configuration as described above, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of foaming caused by the inflow of the diluting liquid when the diluting liquid is supplied.

According to the embodiment described above, the present invention is limited to the one that uses a photographic processing solution. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to various apparatuses for automatically piercing various containers and handling a processing solution in which foaming is a problem.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The processing liquid after perforating the sealing member of the container is supplied to the replenishing tank, and furthermore, when the diluting liquid is supplied, the generation of foaming caused by the inflow of these liquids is suppressed, so that the processing liquid may be deteriorated early. And a processing liquid supply device having no processing liquid can be provided.

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

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a state in which a box 43 is set in the apparatus 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part after the box body 43 is set.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement relationship between the container and the replenishment tank, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state where the piping shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing a tube connection part of the replenishment tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoprocessing device 7 first tube 20 developer container 21 fixing solution container 22 stabilizer solution container 23 stabilizer solution container 24 developer replenishment tank 25 fixer replenishment tank 26 stabilizer replenishment tank 27 water tank (diluent tank) ) 35 seal member 44 piercing member 45 piercing body 80 refill tank 83 small tube 83a first opening 85 second tube 85a second opening

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container having an opening sealed with a sealing member after filling with a processing liquid, wherein the opening is held in a stationary state in which the opening is directed downward, and the sealing member is pierced by a piercing means. Is supplied to a lower replenishing tank via a first tube, and a diluent is supplied to the replenishing tank via a second tube, and a diluting liquid obtained by stirring by a stirring means is supplied to a processing tank. A processing liquid supply device that supplies a cutting edge portion that pierces the seal member, and a through hole portion that communicates with the first tube, and that is below the opening. And the first tube is connected to a small tube and provided with a flow rate restricting unit for restricting the flow rate of the processing liquid, while being driven up and down between a standby position and a perforation position for the perforation. With A first opening that is opened slightly above a liquid surface formed when the processing liquid in the container is supplied when the replenishment tank is in the lower limit state, and the second tube is A processing liquid supply device having a second opening that opens below the liquid level, and inclining the inner wall of the replenishment tank facing the first opening diagonally downward. . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate restricting portion of the first tube is formed by a bent portion generated by the elevation drive and an inner diameter portion having a reduced tube inner diameter. The processing liquid supply device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. The processing liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate restriction portion having a reduced tube inner diameter is formed in the second tube.