JP2002090962A - Photosensitive materials processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive material processing device which prevents the occurrence of a processing defect of photosensitive material by managing the concentration of a processing liquid. SOLUTION: The photosensitive material processing device 10 is a device of transporting the photosensitive materials in liquid in plural washing tanks 14A to 14D. When a transporting trouble occurs during the transportation in the liquid and this trouble is eliminated, a command to add water is issued to a pump 42 by a control section 59 and the replenishing water stored in a replenishing water tank 40 is fed to the washing tank 14D on the last bath side. As a result, even if the washing water of the washing tank 14D is contaminated by the transportation trouble, the contaminated water can be immediately made into the clean washing water.

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 in which the processing density of a processing solution is controlled to prevent processing failure of a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic developing machines used in laboratories (for example,
Film processor, printer processor, etc.)
Processing of a photosensitive material (for example, a film or color paper) is performed. The light-sensitive material is processed by being transported through a plurality of processing tanks containing a processing solution such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization, and water.

[0003] Here, the component composition and amount of the processing liquid in each tank changes depending on the processing of the film or color paper.
Therefore, a system is provided in which each processing tank is replenished with a new solution or water from a replenishing tank in accordance with the processing amount of the photosensitive material, thereby maintaining the composition and amount of the solution.

Hereinafter, a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus will be described with an example of washing with water. To wash with a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, washing is performed using a plurality of baths. This is because higher water-washing performance can be obtained when the dirt of the washing water in the final bath is smaller. For this reason, in order to keep the concentration of the washing water in the final bath at a low concentration, one washing tank is divided into a plurality of washing tanks for washing.

In the past, when the photosensitive material was transferred from the washing bath of the previous bath to the washing bath of the next bath, a structure in which the photosensitive material was once transported in the air and crossed (crossover) was generally used.

[0006] On the other hand, recently, submerged transport in which a bathtub is partitioned by a submerged seal using rollers or blades in a washing tank or the like and processed is proposed. In this submerged transport, without using crossover transport, a plurality of washing tanks are formed by partitions such as partition walls provided with a photosensitive material transport path,
By passing the photosensitive material through the photosensitive material transport path, the transport length is shortened to shorten the processing time.

A squeeze section for squeezing the photosensitive material in the liquid is provided in the photosensitive material conveying path, and a roller, a blade and the like are provided in the squeeze section for liquid. The submerged squeeze section squeezes the photosensitive material and prevents washing water from flowing into an adjacent washing tank via the photosensitive material transport path.

In such a submerged transport structure, if the roller or blade at the partition is damaged, the previous bath and the next bath (post-bath) communicate with each other, so that the liquid concentration in the post-bath increases and the water-washing ability decreases. .

However, conventionally, since the concentration of the solution in the bathtub is not known, it is not known that the processing performance of the photographic material has deteriorated.

[0010] Even if the photosensitive material is transported and washed with crossover, processing failure occurs if the crossover is poor. In this case, the washing ability is reduced according to the processing amount of the photosensitive material. . However, in the submerged transport, the water washing ability is rapidly reduced without processing the photosensitive material, so that the control of the liquid concentration is particularly important, and the above problem has become serious.

A similar problem occurs not only when washing with water but also when processing with a general processing solution (such as a bleach-fixing solution).

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which the processing solution concentration is controlled in consideration of the above-mentioned facts to prevent the occurrence of processing failure of the photosensitive material. I do.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material transport path for transporting a photosensitive material into a liquid is formed in a partition wall between the processing tanks, When the processing liquid leaks from the processing bath on the front bath side to the processing bath on the rear bath side through the photosensitive material transport path, the processing liquid is supplied by the liquid adding unit to the processing bath on the rear bath side. And a liquid adding operation means for adding.

Thus, the processing solution concentration on the back bath side can be kept within a predetermined range, and the processing capacity on the back bath side can be maintained within a certain range.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the treatment tank is a washing tank for storing washing water, the liquid adding means is a water adding means for adding washing water as a processing liquid, and the liquid adding operation means is a water adding means. A water adding operation means for adding water for washing to the water washing tank on the back bath side by the water adding means.

The photosensitive material is conveyed from the washing bath on the front bath side to the washing bath on the rear bath side through the photosensitive material conveying path, so that the photosensitive material is successively transferred to a washing tank having a high washing capacity.

On the other hand, if rinsing water leaks from the rinsing tank on the front bath side to the rinsing tank on the rear bath side through the photosensitive material conveying path, the rinsing capacity of the rinsing tank on the rear bath side decreases. When the washing water leaks as described above, the water adding means adds water to the washing tub on the back bath side by the water adding operation means, so that a decrease in the washing capacity of the washing tub on the back bath side can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a warning means for warning when a transport trouble occurs during the transport of the photosensitive material in the liquid.

Thus, when a transport trouble occurs, the maintenance can be started immediately.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the water adding means operates the water adding means so as to add water for a predetermined period of time when the transport trouble generated during the transport in the liquid is eliminated.

Accordingly, even if the washing tank is contaminated due to a transport trouble and the washing ability is reduced, after the transport trouble is solved, the washing tank is added to the water and the washing ability of the washing tank is restored.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the flexible blade, which slides at the leading end of the conveyed photosensitive material at the leading end and can prevent the washing water from passing through the photosensitive material conveying path, is provided. It is provided in the material transport path.

In this case, when the conveyed photosensitive material slides at the tip of the blade, it is generally squeezed in the liquid.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the amount of water flowing from the washing bath on the front bath side to the washing bath on the rear bath side through the photosensitive material conveying path can be significantly reduced. This means
In particular, a great effect can be obtained during the transportation of the photosensitive material.

In the invention according to claim 6, a sensor for detecting a liquid concentration provided in a selected washing tank selected as a washing tank for detecting a concentration and a detection signal from the sensor for detecting a liquid concentration are received. And control means for controlling water addition until the concentration of a predetermined component of the washing water contained in the selected washing tank becomes equal to or lower than a set value.

As a result, if the concentration of the predetermined component rises due to contamination of the washing tank (the selected washing tank) provided with the sensor for detecting the concentration of liquid, water is added until the concentration falls below the set value. Can be maintained. The predetermined component is not particularly limited as long as it is a component serving as an index for the degree of contamination of the washing water.

In the invention according to claim 7, a washing tank other than the selected washing tank is further selected as a second selected washing tank,
The liquid concentration detecting sensor is further provided in the second selected washing tank, and water is added until the concentration difference of a predetermined component between the washing water in the selected washing tank and the washing water in the second selected washing tank exceeds a set value. It is characterized by.

Thus, even if the washing tank is contaminated and the concentration difference of the predetermined component becomes smaller than the preset value, water is added until the concentration difference becomes larger than the preset value. Can be maintained.

In the invention according to claim 7, the density difference is calculated by the arithmetic processing based on the output signals from the two liquid density detection sensors. A set value or the like may be determined for the calculated value serving as the difference calculation reference, and water may be added.

In the invention according to claim 8, the sensor for detecting the concentration of the bleach-fix bath is further provided in the bleach-fix bath containing the bleach-fix bath, and the concentration of a predetermined component between the washing water and the bleach-fix bath in the selected washing bath. Water is added until the difference exceeds a set value.

Thus, even if the bleach-fixing solution flows into the washing tank and the washing tank is contaminated, water is added until the concentration difference between the predetermined components of the washing water in the washing tank and the bleach-fixing solution becomes larger than the set value. Therefore, the washing ability can be sufficiently maintained. in this case,
The predetermined component is one component of the bleach-fix solution.

In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the replenishing water tank provided in the water adding means is further provided with the sensor for detecting the concentration of the liquid, and the difference in the concentration of the predetermined component between the washing water and the replenishing water in the selected washing tank is determined. It is characterized by adding water until it becomes larger than a set value.

Thus, the concentration difference can be controlled on the basis of the replenished water that is not contaminated, and the washing capacity of the washing tank can be reliably maintained.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature is provided in the replenishing water tank, and the temperature of the liquid provided in the replenishing water tank is determined based on the temperature of the replenishing water contained in the replenishing water tank. The output value of the density detection sensor is corrected.

Thus, the concentration of the replenishment tank can be detected more accurately.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the replenishing water tank is provided with a temperature adjusting mechanism, and the replenishing water contained in the replenishing water tank is maintained at a predetermined temperature.

As a result, the replenishing water at a fixed set temperature is replenished to the washing tank, so that the fluctuation range of the washing water temperature in the washing tank can be remarkably reduced. Fluctuations can be greatly reduced.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, a buffer tank having a temperature adjusting mechanism is provided between the replenishing water tank and the washing tank, and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature is provided in the buffer tank. Is characterized in that the replenishment water stored in the tank is maintained at a fixed set temperature.

[0039] This makes it possible to reduce the amount of heat required for temperature control as compared with the invention of claim 11.
The replenishment water in the buffer tank can be set to a fixed temperature in a short time after the operation of the device is started.

[0040] The invention according to claim 13 is characterized in that the water adding operation means adds water according to the operation state of the apparatus.

Thus, the amount of water can be suppressed.

According to the present invention, any one of the processing amount of the photosensitive material, the processing time of the photosensitive material, the processing waiting time of the photosensitive material, the operation stop time, and the operation time of the apparatus is provided. Alternatively, there is provided an arithmetic processing means for calculating a required amount of water based on a combination of these, and the water adding operation means performs water addition according to the amount of water calculated by the arithmetic processing means.

Thus, since the required amount of water can be calculated and added, the amount of water can be sufficiently reduced. Also, water can be added to the washing tank every predetermined time.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, when the predetermined operation value by the operation processing means exceeds a set value, the water addition operation means adds water.

Thus, it is possible to determine the timing of adding water on the basis of simple and clear criteria.

[0046] The invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that the water adding operation means adds water at the time of starting or ending the apparatus.

By adding water at the start of the apparatus, the photosensitive material can be transported and washed while the washing capacity of each washing tank is sufficiently maintained, and by adding water at the end of the apparatus, It is possible to prevent the apparatus from ending when the washing tank is contaminated.

[0048] The invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that the difference in liquid level between adjacent washing tanks is 4 mm or more, and the replenishment rate of washing water is 50 mL / m ² or more.

Thus, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the rinsing ability of the rinsing tank by the cascade.

[0050]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, in a photosensitive material processing apparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, a photosensitive material 20 is provided.
Is provided with a water washing section 12 for washing the water.
Has four washing tanks 14A to 14D formed by dividing one tank 14 by three partition plates 16P to 16R.

The partition plate 16P is provided with a photosensitive material passage (hereinafter simply referred to as a passage) 22P through which the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed and passed, and the partition plates 16Q and R are similarly provided with the passages 22Q and 22Q. R is formed respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, a blade 26P is attached to the passage 22P, and the photosensitive material 20 slides toward the tip of the blade 26P and is squeezed in the liquid while being washed from the washing tank 14A with the adjacent washing. It is transported to the tank 14B. With this blade 26P, the washing water in the washing tank 14A passes through the passage 2
Flow from the 2P into the washing tank 14B is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, blades 26Q and 26R are similarly attached to the passages 22Q and 22R, and the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed to the adjacent washing tank while being squeezed in the liquid by the blades 26Q and 26R. In addition, the inflow of washing water into the adjacent washing tank is suppressed.

The rinsing section 12 has an alarm section 28 for detecting a conveyance trouble such as a jam in the passages 22P to 22R and generating an alarm sound.

Further, the rinsing section 12 has a replenishing water tank 40 for storing replenishing water to be replenished to the rinsing tank 14D.
Replenishing water is replenished to the washing tank 14D by the water supply pipe 44 and the pump 42 connected on the way.

As shown in FIG. 3, after the amount of water in the rinsing tank 14D reaches a certain amount, when the replenishing water is further replenished to the rinsing tank 14D, the rinsing water is connected to the rinsing tank via the connection pipe 46. It flows out to 14C. Similarly, from the washing tank 14C to the washing tank 14B, from the washing tank 14B to the washing tank 1B.
Washing water flows out to 4A.
In this way, when the water reaches the washing tank 14A by the cascade, the liquid is finally discharged.

The cascade is originally performed in order to replace the liquid sequentially from the post-bath. The larger the cascade amount is, the more preferable it is to prevent liquid deterioration due to liquid replacement and to lower the liquid concentration. In the washing tank, the liquid level rises as you go to the post-bath, and PS
Is performed from the washing tank 14D.

The higher the cascade height h per stage (see FIG. 1), that is, the greater the liquid level difference, the greater the amount of PS leakage from the passage 22 (per unit time and the amount of the photosensitive material 20). Per throughput) also increases. Therefore, in order to maintain the difference in liquid level between the washing tanks,
D needs more PS replenishment.

As a result of measuring the leak amount of PS from the passage 22, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to maintain the liquid level height difference, the cascade height per one stage (liquid level height difference) Is 4
The replenishing amount in mm is necessary 50 mL / m ^2, about 80 mL / m ² when it 6mm
Turned out necessary. In order to reduce the amount of replenishment, it is preferable to reduce the cascade height. However, if the cascade height is reduced, the inflow pressure into the previous bath decreases, and the replacement of the liquid does not proceed. Therefore, a cascade height of at least 4 mm is required.

Next, the amount of liquid leakage from the passage 22 will be described in detail. The amount of leakage of the liquid from the passage 22 is not always constant, and the amount of leakage differs during processing of the photosensitive material 20 and during waiting for processing. During processing, the liquid adheres to the film or the surface of the photosensitive material 20 and is brought into a post-bath (a washing tank at a later stage). Conversely, the blade 26 is wound by passing the photosensitive material 20. Then, the liquid flows out from the end of the rolled blade 26 to the previous bath (the previous washing tank). In addition, since the liquid is temperature-controlled and circulated during operation (this temperature control and circulation system is not shown), the blade 26 is softer and easier to be wound than at the time of stoppage, so that the amount of leakage is reduced. There are many. Therefore, the amount of water to be added is controlled according to the time length of the operating state and the stopped state. Thereby, the cascade height can be maintained with high accuracy.

Next, management of the liquid concentration when a transport trouble occurs will be described. When a conveyance trouble such as a jam occurs, the holding state of the photosensitive material 20 continues for a certain period of time, or when the blade 26 is expanded to release the holding state, the amount of leakage from the blade 26 increases, and The liquid concentration increases. Then, the water washing ability is reduced. In this case, when water is newly added to the post-bath, the liquid concentration can be reduced.

Further, by providing a liquid concentration detecting sensor 52 in the washing tank 14D and controlling the concentration, it is possible to add water according to the concentration. In this case, the liquid concentration detection sensor 52 transmits an output value of a predetermined component of the washing water to the control unit 59 provided in the photosensitive material processing apparatus 10. Control unit 59
Calculates the concentration of the above-mentioned predetermined component based on the output value, and when the concentration exceeds a preset set value, instructs the pump 42 to add water until the concentration falls below the set value. .

The control unit 59 may be controlled so that a predetermined amount of water is added by the pump 42 by an input from outside when the conveyance trouble such as a jam is eliminated. Thereby, even if the washing water in the washing tank 14D becomes dirty due to a transport trouble, it is possible to immediately restore the washing ability to clean washing water. The external input means may be any input such as a key input or a voice input.

Further, since the electrolyte concentration of the replenishing water is not always constant, the replenishing water tank 40 also has a sensor 54 for detecting the concentration of the liquid.
Is provided, the concentration difference between the replenishment water and PS4 (the liquid in the washing tank 14D) can be detected, and more accurate and efficient water addition can be performed. When a conductivity meter is used as the sensor for detecting the liquid concentration, the liquid conductivity and the liquid concentration of both PS4 and the replenishing water have a logarithmic relationship, and it is necessary to convert to the liquid concentration and take the difference. There is, therefore, some computation required. This calculation is performed by the control unit 59 described above.

Next, the liquid concentration detecting sensors (leak sensors) 52 and 54 will be described. This sensor is a sensor for detecting a liquid concentration. In this embodiment, a sensor for a conductivity meter is used to detect the electrolyte of the liquid.

By the way, this liquid concentration detecting sensor 52,
The output value 54 varies depending on the temperature. Therefore, when the liquid concentration detection sensor 54 is provided in the replenishing water tank 40, from the viewpoint of detecting the liquid concentration with high accuracy, the temperature sensor 56 is used.
Is preferably provided in the replenishing water tank 40, and the temperature of the replenishing water is detected, and the controller 59 corrects the liquid concentration.

Further, if a temperature adjusting section (heater) 60 is provided in the replenishing water tank 40 and the replenishing water is maintained at a constant temperature, the liquid concentration difference can be detected with higher accuracy. In this case, the detection value from the temperature sensor 56 is input, and the heater 60 is turned on and off.
A controller 62 for controlling the switching of F is provided.

Also, instead of adjusting the temperature of all the replenishment water stored in the replenishment water tank, as shown in FIG. 5, a water supply pipe 66 for supplying the replenishment water stored in the replenishment water tank 40 to the washing tank 14D. May be provided in the middle of the process, and the temperature of the replenishment water in the buffer tank 64 may be adjusted.

Thus, the temperature of the replenishing water can be efficiently adjusted with a small amount of heat, and the temperature can be adjusted in a short time. In addition, since the temperature is adjusted immediately before the replenishment, the water washing tank 14D, As a result, fluctuations in the washing capacity of the washing tanks 14A to 14C can be reduced. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when the liquid concentration detecting sensor 54 and the temperature sensor 56 are provided not in the replenishing water tank 40 but in the buffer tank 64, the liquid concentration difference can be measured with higher accuracy.

[0070]

According to the present invention, since the liquid concentration in the washing tank is sufficiently controlled, it is possible to prevent the processing failure of the photosensitive material from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a washing section of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side sectional view showing that a photosensitive material is squeezed in a liquid in a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a washing section of the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a cascade height and a replenishing water amount in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a modified example of a water washing section of the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photosensitive material processing apparatus 14A-D Rinse tank 16P-R Partition plate (partition wall) 20 Photosensitive material 22P-R Photosensitive material passage (photosensitive material conveyance path) 26P-R Blade 28 Alarm part (alarm means) 40 Replenishing water tank 42 Pump (Water adding means) 44 water supply pipe (water adding means) 52 sensor for liquid concentration detection 54 sensor for liquid concentration detection 59 control unit (control means, water adding operation means) 56 temperature sensor 60 heater (temperature adjusting mechanism) 64 buffer tank 66 water supply pipe (Hydration means)

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material transport path for transporting a photosensitive material in a liquid is formed in a partition wall between processing tanks, a liquid adding means for adding a processing solution to the processing tank, and a photosensitive material transport path. When the processing liquid leaks from the processing bath on the front bath side to the processing bath on the rear bath side, a liquid adding operation means for adding the processing liquid to the processing bath on the rear bath side by the liquid adding means. A photosensitive material processing apparatus. 2. The treatment tank is a washing tank containing washing water, the liquid adding means is a water adding means for adding washing water as a processing liquid, and the liquid adding operation means is a washing tank on a back bath side. 2. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a water adding operation means for adding washing water by said water adding means. 3. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a warning unit for warning when a transport trouble occurs during the transport of the photosensitive material in the liquid. 4. The water adding means according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the water adding means operates the water adding means so as to add water for a predetermined time when a transport trouble generated during the transport in the liquid is eliminated. Photosensitive material processing equipment. 5. A photosensitive material conveying path is provided with a flexible blade which slides at a leading end portion of the conveyed photosensitive material and is capable of preventing passage of washing water from the photosensitive material conveying path. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: 6. A sensor for detecting a concentration of liquid provided in a selected washing tank selected as a washing tank for detecting concentration, and receiving a detection signal from the sensor for detecting concentration of liquid and accommodating the sensor in the selected washing tank. 6. The photosensitive material processing according to claim 2, further comprising: a control unit configured to control the water addition until the concentration of the predetermined component of the washing water is equal to or lower than a set value. apparatus. 7. A rinsing tank other than the selected rinsing tank is further selected as a second selected rinsing tank, and the second concentration rinsing tank is further provided with the liquid concentration detection sensor, and the rinsing water of the selected rinsing tank and the 7. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein water is added until the concentration difference of a predetermined component from the washing water in the second selected washing tank exceeds a set value. 8. A bleach-fixing tank containing a bleach-fixing solution further provided with the solution concentration detecting sensor, and until the concentration difference of a predetermined component between the washing water in the selected washing tank and the bleach-fixing solution exceeds a set value. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein water is added. 9. The replenishing water tank provided in the water adding means is further provided with the liquid concentration detecting sensor, and until a difference in concentration of a predetermined component between the washing water and the replenishing water in the selected washing tank becomes larger than a set value. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein water is added. 10. A temperature sensor for detecting a temperature is provided in the replenishing water tank, and an output value of the liquid concentration detecting sensor provided in the replenishing water tank based on a temperature of the replenishing water contained in the replenishing water tank. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the correction is performed. 11. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a temperature adjusting mechanism is provided in the replenishing water tank, and the replenishing water stored in the replenishing water tank is maintained at a constant set temperature. 12. A buffer tank having a temperature adjusting mechanism is provided between the replenishing water tank and the washing tank, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature is provided in the buffer tank, and the replenishing water stored in the buffer tank is provided. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the temperature is maintained at a fixed temperature. 13. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the water adding operation means adds water according to an operation state of the apparatus. 14. A processing amount of the photosensitive material, a processing time of the photosensitive material, a processing waiting time of the photosensitive material, an operation stop time of the apparatus, and an operation time of the apparatus, or a combination thereof. 14. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising an arithmetic processing unit for calculating a necessary amount of water, wherein the water adding operation unit adds water according to the amount of water calculated by the arithmetic processing unit. 15. The light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when a predetermined operation value by said operation processing means exceeds a set value, said water addition operation means adds water. 16. The water adding operation means adds water at the time of starting or ending the apparatus.
6. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to 5. 17. The difference in liquid level between adjacent washing tanks is 4 mm.
6. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the replenishing amount of the washing water is set to 50 mL / m ² or more.