JP2002182357A - Photosensitive material guiding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive material guiding apparatus which does not damage the corners of the front edge of photographic printing paper as a photosensitive material along a conveyance direction when the photographic printing paper is guided in such a way that it is transferred to a subsequent conveying rack on the downstream side while carrying out turnaround by dispos ing the guiding apparatus between adjacent processing solution tanks. SOLUTION: The photosensitive material guiding apparatus has an endless belt 36 stretched between a driving pulley 32a and an idle pulley 32b supported by a base 30 and a curve forming means to form a curved surface concaved downward on the undersurface 36h side of the stretched endless belt.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material guiding apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for introducing photographic paper into an adjacent processing liquid tank after being cut into a predetermined size and exposed in a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Exposure printing is performed on the emulsion surface of a photographic paper as a photosensitive material, and then sequentially passed through a processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid for development, bleach-fixing, and stabilization, and then dried and then externally processed. Various types of photosensitive material processing apparatuses configured to discharge the paper have been put to practical use.

[0003] Such a photosensitive material processing apparatus is provided with a transport mechanism for preliminarily cutting into a desired cut size and then distributing the exposed photographic paper into two rows on the right and left.
There is a model in which the processing capacity is improved to nearly double by sequentially passing the processing liquid for development, bleach-fixing and stabilization in a processing tank in two rows.

On the other hand, in order to sequentially pass the photographic paper, which is a photosensitive material, through the adjacent processing solution tanks, the direction is changed between transport racks built in the processing solution tanks, and the next downstream side is transported. The photographic paper must be delivered to the transport rack. In addition, in a device for developing a film as another photosensitive material, while changing the direction between each transport rack,
The film must be delivered to the next downstream transport rack.

Accordingly, the applicant of the present application has disclosed in
In Japanese Patent No. 3157, in particular, by providing a rotating roller for turning the direction of photographic paper cut to a predetermined size,
A technique has been established in which the leading end of the photographic paper on the transport side is directed toward the rotating roller and collides with the outer peripheral surface, thereby introducing the paper into the downstream transport rack while changing the direction.

[0006]

On the other hand, it is necessary to provide a fixed guide device between adjacent processing liquid tanks and to transfer the photographic paper to the next downstream transport rack while changing the direction. is there. However, according to such a fixed type guide device, when transporting to a downstream transport rack,
The leading end of the photographic paper along the conveying direction is guided so as to directly contact and slide against the guide member. For this reason, since the same part of the guide device is slid in contact with the direction change and guided, the processing liquid adheres and tends to damage the leading edge or the corner of the printing paper because it grows into a liquid crystal. There were problems such as breakage of the leading edge of the paper and generation of scratches.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a guide device between adjacent processing liquid tanks to change the direction while providing a next transfer rack on the downstream side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a guide device for a photosensitive material that does not cause damage to a corner of a leading end of the photographic paper, which is a photosensitive material, in a conveying direction when guiding the photographic paper to be delivered.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved,
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material is stored, and the photosensitive material is guided downstream between a plurality of processing solution tanks having a built-in means for transporting the photosensitive material. A driving member fixed to a shaft that is supported by a base disposed above the transporting means and is driven in one direction by receiving a driving force from the transporting means. And an idle member pivotally supported by the base, and a transport width dimension substantially matching the transport width of the transport unit,
An endless belt stretched between the drive member and the idle member has a meshing portion that meshes with the drive member at both edges, and a lower surface side of the stretched endless belt extends downward. And a curve forming means for forming a concave curved surface.

In addition, the bending forming means includes a plurality of reinforcing members integrally formed along the conveying width direction of the endless belt, and a slide fixed to the base and slidably contacting the lower surface of the endless belt. And a contact member.

The curvature forming means is constituted by a roller rotatably supported on a partition wall between the processing liquid tanks.

[0011]

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

First, FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part of the entire structure of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1, in which all covers provided detachably with respect to a housing 2 are removed. still,
In FIG. 1, a case where a photographic paper (hereinafter, also referred to as a paper P) for obtaining a photograph as a photosensitive material is processed will be described as a representative example. Alternatively, in order to obtain a positive film, the present invention can be applied to a film processing apparatus having a configuration in which an exposure unit, a size separation device, and a separation mounting device are not provided in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 is formed so as to be as flat as possible in the front and back directions of the paper surface, so that an occupied area after installation is minimized, while the main parts can be easily accessed from the front side. Is taken into account.

First, a roll paper RP wound with the color emulsion side, which is the printing surface of the photographic paper, facing outward is wound around a core as a continuous long roll having a predetermined width (for example, 89 mm width). The paper magazine 3 is built in such a manner that the light is completely shielded from light and is rotatable and detachable in the paper magazine 3. These paper magazines 3, 3 are provided in the left and right storage sections located on the lower left side when the apparatus 1 is viewed from the front so as to be able to be loaded simultaneously or either as shown in the drawing. For this loading operation, each paper magazine 3 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the front and to be able to be taken out, and to be set at a predetermined position shown in the drawing by moving to the back side after loading. ing. Also, these paper magazines 3, 3 can be stored in either of the left and right storage sections as shown in the drawing.
As shown in the figure, the handle is formed in a symmetrical shape, and handles (not shown) for taking out and loading are provided on both wall surfaces on the front and back surfaces.

An automatic opening / closing mechanism for automatically opening the opening when the built-in roll paper P is discharged in the direction of the arrow toward the outside of the magazine 3 is provided. When loaded into one or both of the left storage units of the paper magazine 3 at the same time,
Similarly, it is configured to automatically open and close. In this way, the components of the paper magazine 3 can be shared, and the user can use paper of different sizes in accordance with the frequency of use without being conscious of loading into the left and right storage sections, thereby improving usability. I have.

In the vicinity of the openings of the paper magazines 3, cutter units 4 are provided, respectively. The cutter unit 4 is provided to cut the roll paper RP immediately after being sent out from the opening of the paper magazine 3 into a desired cut size before exposing the roll paper RP. The cut paper P is configured to be sequentially sent to an exposure position of an exposure table 5 disposed at a bottom portion of the dark box 7. For this transport, the exposure table 5 has a built-in suction transport mechanism for sucking and transporting the back surface of the cut paper P with a suction member and transporting the paper P to the exposure position. This suction transport mechanism has a rotation function of rotating in addition to a function of temporarily holding the paper P at the exposure position.

As described above, when the preparation for exposure is completed,
The film F is sequentially fed by a frame to the exposure unit 6, and an optical system 9 including a zoom lens or the like is automatically or manually adjusted to form an image of a desired size on the paper P for exposure.
Further, the above rotation function is performed by the suction
Is swiveled 90 degrees after sucking, so that a plurality of types of print sizes can be handled.

After the exposure, the paper P is transported in the direction of the arrow D1 toward the transport unit 10, where it is determined at a middle position whether or not the paper is large-size paper, and then transported downstream. Here, the paper size is small (for example,
In the case of (127 × 89 mm), the liquid is divided and transported left and right by the distribution device 12, and is transported in two rows in each processing liquid tank 16 provided in the second chamber 14 on the downstream side. By carrying in two rows in this way, the processing speed can be increased. 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 exposure section 6, the above-mentioned rotating function is used to rotate the paper P sucked and held by 90 degrees. Exposure. In this way, a plurality of types of paper of different sizes can be exposed while the same type of paper having the same width dimension is used.

The left and right storage units, the dark room 7, the exposure table 5, and the transport unit 10 described above are not affected by the gas generated by the processing liquid stored in the processing liquid layer 6 evaporating due to a rise in temperature or the like. The first room 13 is disposed inside the first room 13. For this purpose, the first room 13 is
A partition wall 11 is provided between the room and the room 14, and a lid member of a shutter device 15 disposed in an opening provided in the partition wall 11 is opened and closed, whereby the paper P is pointed to by an arrow in the figure. Only when transported in the direction D2, the lid member is opened so that the vaporized gas does not enter the first chamber 3 from the second chamber 14. In addition, by maintaining the internal pressure of the first chamber 13 equal to or higher than that of the second chamber 14, even if the cover member of the shutter device 15 is open, vaporized gas is prevented from entering, and every effort is made.

The cutter unit 4, the exposure table 5, and the transport unit 10 are all configured to be easily pulled out to the front of the housing 2, so that paper jam removal and various inspection operations can be easily performed. It is configured.

The paper P that has passed through the shutter device 15 in the direction of arrow D2 is transported by the transport rack device 17 and changes the developing process of the exposed paper P in the processing liquid layer 16 so as to be in the direction of arrow D3. The developing process is performed during the feeding. The transport rack device 17 is individually housed in each of the processing liquid tanks 16 as shown in the drawing after opening a ceiling member (not shown) provided in the housing so as to be openable and closable. It is provided so that it can be moved upward and taken out to the outside when performing a cleaning operation for periodically removing solidified components and the like of the processing liquid adhered to the substrate. In addition, the power is transmitted from the common drive motor 20 via a power transmission mechanism using a worm gear to each of the transport racks 17, so that the transport rollers of the transport rack 17 are synchronously driven so that transport can be performed without a speed difference. Is configured.

By the transport operation by the transport rack 17, the leading end of the paper P is guided by the guide device 18 to change its direction in the direction of arrow D4, and is sent to the next processing liquid layer 16 where bleach-fixing is performed. Thereafter, it is conveyed as shown in the figure, and finally is guided to turn in the direction of arrow D5 after leaving the processing liquid tank 16 for performing the stabilization processing,
It is sent to the drying device 22. The drying device 22 performs drying by blowing hot air to the emulsion surface of the paper P through a nozzle during the transportation as shown by the broken line, and then transports the paper P upward.

Above the drying device 22, there is provided a size sorting device 23 which conveys each size by a selector 24 arranged at a branch point.
By 3, the large-sized paper P is discharged to the upper fixed tray 25, while the normal-sized paper P occupying the majority is discharged onto the belt conveyor 26.

The paper P discharged onto the belt conveyor 26 is conveyed to the near side of the paper, and eventually falls downward from the belt conveyor 26, and falls on the circulating bucket 28 of the sorting and placing apparatus 27 provided below. It is placed in predetermined customer units. The sorting and placing device 27 is configured to circulate and drive a number of circulating buckets 28 that are pivotally supported so as to be deployed toward the front of the drawing as illustrated.

Through the above steps, the completed paper P is finally discharged out of the apparatus 1 with the emulsion side up.

On the other hand, below the processing solution tanks 16, there is provided a container 29 containing a concentrated solution of each processing solution in a detachably provided container. Water tank 2 and water tank 2
By supplying water from 1 through a pump and piping (not shown), the concentration of the processing liquid in the replenishment tank 19 can be made constant. These can be easily accessed by opening only the front cover (not shown), so that all necessary daily operations can be performed from the front.

A power supply unit is provided in the housing 2 occupying the space below the drying device 22. On the power supply unit, the above-described processing liquid tanks 16 and various controls described later are performed. The control unit 100 of the processor is provided to control the entire apparatus.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a first example of the guide device 18 shown in FIG.
It is a front view which becomes an embodiment. FIG. 3A is a three-dimensional exploded view of the guide device 18. In both figures, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described and the description is omitted. The transport racks 17 and 17 are provided in the plurality of processing liquid tanks 16 and 16 arranged as described above. It is provided so that it can be removed to the outside by moving upward.

The transport racks 17, 17 are provided with a number of transport rollers 40, 40 which are transmitted from a common drive motor 20 via a power transmission mechanism using a worm gear. When the paper P is transported in the nip portion between the transport rollers, all the transport rollers can transport the paper P without a difference in speed.

By the transport operation by the transport rack 17, the leading end Pc of the paper P is guided by the guide device 18 to change the direction in the direction of arrow D4, and is sent to the next processing liquid layer 16 and the next transport. Inherited to transport by rack.

In order to transfer the paper P to the next downstream transport rack while changing the direction of the paper P along the arrow D4 in this manner, the guide device 18 is provided with the transport rack 17
A pair of bases 30 formed of a plate member which is detachably fixed at a predetermined position shown in the drawing by a fixing member (not shown) and is bridged by the rod members 31, 31.
(Only one is shown in FIG. 2) is provided with the following components.

First, a bearing (not shown) is provided on the base 30, and a gear 41 fixed to the transport roller 40 is provided.
And an idle gear 42 rotatably supported around a stud fixed to the base 30 and a gear 34 fixed to the end of the shaft 33a to obtain a driving force, thereby achieving A shaft 33 driven in the direction is supported. A pair of toothed drive pulleys 32a, which are drive members, is fixed to the shaft 33a, and a shaft 33b is provided at the base 30 by a bearing (not shown). , An idle pulley 32b as an idle member is fixed.

The endless belt 36 made of an elastic material has a transfer width w substantially matching the transfer width of the transfer rack 17.
As shown in the central sectional view of FIG. 3 (b), the engaging portion 36b meshing with the tooth portion 32h of the driving pulley 32a and the protrusion 36a sunk into the groove 32k of the driving pulley 32a are formed at both edges. And assembled so as to be stretched between a pair of drive pulleys and a pair of idle pulleys. A bar-shaped reinforcing member 3 is provided between the meshing portions 36b, 36b formed integrally with the edge of the endless belt 36.
6c are integrally formed at equal intervals so as to maintain the shape of the endless belt over the conveyance width w.

Thus, the lower surface 36 of the endless belt 36
While preventing h from hanging down by its own weight,
Sliding contact surfaces 35a of sliding contact members 35, 35 which are curved forming means.
Is formed so as to form a curved surface that is concave downward by sliding and guiding at. For this purpose, the sliding members 35, 35 are fixed to the side surfaces of the base 30 as shown.

According to the guide device 18 configured as described above, in FIG. 2, while changing the direction between the adjacent processing liquid tanks, the paper P is transferred to the next downstream transport rack.
When guiding to deliver the paper P, the paper P is guided by the endless belt 36 without any speed difference along the transport direction of the paper P, and the corners of the leading end Pc are prevented from being damaged.

Next, FIG. 4 (a) is a front view showing a second embodiment of the guide device 18 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 (b) is an external perspective view of an endless belt. In this drawing, the components already described are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. A pair of bearings 51 are fixed on the partition wall 16a between the processing liquid tanks. A roller 50 is provided rotatably.

The roller 50 is provided with the endless belt 48 described above.
Are provided so that the outer peripheral surface abuts on the lower surface 48h of the. With the above configuration, the sliding member 3
In addition to eliminating the need for the rollers 5 and 35, the nip portion between the roller 50 and the endless belt 48 guides and changes the direction to prevent damage to the corners of the tip Pc. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), since it is guided by the roller 50 and does not move in the width direction, only the tooth portion 48b may be provided on the endless belt.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows the guiding device 1 shown in FIG.
It is a front view which becomes a modification of FIG. In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components already described and the description is omitted. The endless belt 58 is guided and driven by entering a driving sprocket 132a as a driving member and an idle sprocket 132b as an idle member. Driven sprocket holes 58b, 58b are formed at both edges,
In addition to being stretched between the driving sprocket and the idle sprocket, the lower surface 58h side of the endless belt 58 stretched with the roller 50 is formed so as to be guided by forming a curved surface that is concave downward. It is configured.

According to the guide device of the endless belt type described above, the endless belt moves at the same speed as the transfer speed of the paper P, so that the tip Pc of the paper P coming out of the transfer roller at the outlet side of the processing rack has a leading end Pc. It is guided by the lower surface of the endless belt, enters the transport rack of the next processing liquid tank, and enters smoothly.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A guide device is provided between adjacent processing solution tanks to change the direction and guide the transfer of the paper P to the next downstream transport rack. It is possible to provide a guide device for a photosensitive material that does not cause damage to a corner at the front end along the guide.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view of the guide device 18 according to the first embodiment.

3A is a three-dimensional exploded view of a guide device, and FIG. 3B is a center sectional view of a driving pulley.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a guide device 18 according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is an external perspective view of an endless belt.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a modified example of the guide device 18 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photosensitive material processing device 2 housing 3 paper magazine 4 cutter unit 5 exposure table 6 exposure unit 7 dark room 10 transport unit 11 partition wall 12 sorting device 13 first room 14 second room 15 shutter device 16 processing liquid tank 17 transport Rack 18 Guide device 20 Drive motor 30 Base 31 Bar member 33a, 33b Shaft 35 Sliding member (curve forming means) 36 Endless belt 50 Roller (curve forming means) P Paper (photosensitive paper) F Film

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H098 AA03 CA28 3F049 AA10 DA03 DB11 LA16 LB03 LB08 3F053 HA08 HB09 LA16 LB03 LB08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material guiding device for storing a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material and for guiding the photosensitive material downstream between a plurality of processing solution tanks including a transporting means for the photosensitive material. Being supported by a base disposed above the transporting means,
A driving member that is fixed to a shaft that is driven in one direction by obtaining a driving force from the conveyance unit; an idle member that is supported by the base; and a conveyance width dimension substantially matching the conveyance width of the conveyance unit. An endless belt stretched between the drive member and the idle member, and a lower portion of the stretched endless belt having a meshing portion meshing with the drive member at both edges thereof; And a curved forming means for forming a concave curved surface on the photosensitive material. 2. The endless belt has a plurality of reinforcing members integrally formed along the conveying width direction of the endless belt, and a slide fixed to the base and slidably contacting a lower surface of the endless belt. 2. The photosensitive material guiding device according to claim 1, comprising a contact member. 3. The photosensitive material guide device according to claim 1, wherein the curve forming means is constituted by a roller rotatably supported on a partition wall between the processing liquid tanks.