JP2003043651A - Processing device for photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a processing device for photosensitive materials which makes saving of energy possible in a drying section by lessening the amount of the carried over processing liquid going to the drying section by sticking to the photosensitive materials after liquid processing. SOLUTION: Squeezing equipment 24 is arranged on a conveyance route between the liquid processing section 12 and the drying processing section 14 and a plurality of squeezing blocks 30 and 32 for squeezing off the wet photosensitive materials 22 by squeezing roller 26 and 28 are subjected to the operation to change positions to a squeezing position for squeezing the photosensitive materials 22 and a drying position for drying the squeezing blocks 26 and 28 by changeover means 34. Much of the processing liquid is squeezed off from the photosensitive materials 22 by utilizing the high water absorption properties before the squeezing roller 26 having the hydrophilic surface when the squeezing rollers 26 and 28 squeeze off the processing liquid absorbs the processing liquid and attains a saturated state, by which the amount of the carry over processing liquid going to the drying section by sticking to the photosensitive material 22 is lessened and the drying temperature in the drying processing section 14 is reduced and the saving of energy is made possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention, when a photosensitive material processed with a processing solution is sent to a drying section, can be adjusted so as to reduce the amount of processing solution brought into the drying section while being attached to the photosensitive material. The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a photosensitive material processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive material such as a film is widely used. In this photosensitive material processing apparatus, a film which is an exposed photosensitive material, for example, is subjected to a developing treatment and a fixing treatment by sequentially immersing it in a developing solution, a fixing solution and the like, and after immersing in rinsing water and rinsing treatment, The film is conveyed to a drying section and dried to obtain a developed film.

In such a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, in order to facilitate the drying of the film in the drying section, the moisture adhering to the film is removed by a squeeze roller pair at the end of the washing step. .

This squeeze roller pair includes a squeeze roller pair using a hydrophilic roller. In the photosensitive material processing apparatus utilizing the squeeze roller pair including the hydrophilic rollers, the moisture on the film is evenly dispersed when the squeeze roller pair including the hydrophilic rollers is rolled and squeezed so as to sandwich the film. As a result, the surface area of water adhering to the film is increased, so that the drying efficiency in the drying section in the subsequent step can be improved.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In a processing apparatus for a photosensitive material using a hydrophilic squeeze roller pair as described above,
When starting the operation of squeezing the film wet with the treatment liquid in the state where the hydrophilic roller is dry, the treatment liquid is well absorbed by the dry roller rolling on the film, so that it adheres to the film The amount of treatment liquid brought in (amount of moisture brought in) becomes small, and the product is well dried in the drying section.

Further, by the hydrophilic squeeze roller pair,
If you continue to squeeze the film wet with the treatment liquid over a large number of films continuously, the hydrophilic roller absorbs the treatment liquid sufficiently and becomes saturated, and the surface of the hydrophilic roller becomes the treatment liquid. The entire surface becomes wet with (moisture), and a large amount of the treatment liquid remains attached to the surface of the film, and the state in which the squeeze performance remarkably decreases continues.

Therefore, when squeezing a film wet with the treatment liquid by a hydrophilic roller, the relation between the squeezing treatment amount of the film and the amount of the treatment liquid brought in to the drying section by being attached to the film (the amount of water brought in). Is as shown in FIG.

That is, since the hydrophilic roller that was initially dry absorbs the treatment liquid gradually by squeezing the film wet with the treatment liquid, the amount of treatment liquid brought in gradually increases, and the film wet with the treatment liquid is gradually increased. A predetermined amount (10 to 20
When squeezing (about this), the hydrophilic roller becomes saturated and the amount of processing liquid brought in reaches a maximum predetermined value.

In the drying section, if the film is not sufficiently dried and then discharged, it will be inconvenient to print or store the film, so that the film is dried regardless of the amount of processing liquid brought in. It is necessary to dry until the degree exceeds a predetermined value.

Therefore, in the drying section, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), when the carry-in processing liquid amount of the film is always at the maximum predetermined value, it can be dried until the degree of drying exceeds the predetermined value. It is set to the maximum heating temperature corresponding to the maximum amount of processing liquid.

However, when the maximum heating temperature is set in the drying section as described above, the film adhered to the film immediately after the operation of squeezing the film wet with the treatment liquid is started in the state where the hydrophilic roller is dry. Since the amount of the treatment liquid brought in is small, there is a problem that the drying section is in an excessively dried state and wasteful energy is wasted in the drying section.

Further, in the drying section, since the maximum heating temperature corresponding to the maximum amount of the treatment liquid carried in is set, the energy consumption in the drying section is always maintained at a high constant value. is there.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a photosensitive material which can reduce the amount of processing liquid brought in to the drying section after being adhered to the photosensitive material after the liquid processing and at the same time saving energy in the drying section. The purpose is to newly provide a processing device.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus including a liquid processing section for liquid-processing the photosensitive material and a drying processing section for dry-processing the photosensitive material wet with the processing solution. And a squeeze device arranged on a transport path for transporting the photosensitive material from the liquid processing section to the drying processing section, wherein the squeeze apparatus has a pair of squeeze rollers having at least one hydrophilic surface. A plurality of squeeze blocks configured to squeeze the processing liquid by rolling it so that the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid is sandwiched between the squeeze blocks, and each squeeze block, and a squeeze position for squeezing the photosensitive material. A drying position for drying the squeeze roller, and switching means for performing an operation of exchanging the position.

With the above arrangement, the photosensitive material wetted by the processing liquid carried out from the liquid processing section is placed between the pair of squeeze rollers by the operation of controlling the switching means and exchanging a plurality of squeeze blocks. The squeeze roller that has a hydrophilic surface in the squeeze block that holds the squeezing solution to squeeze it absorbs the processing solution and uses the high water absorption until it becomes saturated, squeezing more processing solution from the photosensitive material. By dropping it, the amount of processing liquid brought in to the photosensitive material after liquid processing and brought into the drying section is reduced, and then it is transported to the drying processing section for drying processing, and the drying temperature in the drying processing section is reduced. Even so, the photosensitive material can be dried well up to a predetermined dry state, so that energy saving in the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light-sensitive material processing apparatus comprising a liquid processing section for liquid-processing the light-sensitive material, a drying processing section for dry-processing the light-sensitive material wet with the processing liquid, and a liquid processing section. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus having a squeeze device arranged on a conveying path for conveying a photosensitive material to a dry processing section, and a control section for controlling the squeeze apparatus, at least one of the squeeze apparatus has a hydrophilic surface. A plurality of squeeze blocks configured to squeeze the processing liquid by sandwiching the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid between a pair of squeeze rollers, and squeezing each photosensitive material And a switching means for performing an operation of exchanging the position between the throttle position for performing and the drying position for drying the squeeze roller. And the operation of exchanging a plurality of squeeze blocks by controlling the switching means at a timing determined on the basis of the cumulative amount of processed photosensitive material accumulated from the time when the detected squeeze blocks are switched. And

With the above-mentioned structure, the photosensitive material wetted by the processing liquid carried out from the liquid processing section is placed between the pair of squeeze rollers by the operation of controlling the switching means and exchanging the plurality of squeeze blocks. The squeeze roller that has a hydrophilic surface in the squeeze block that holds the squeezing solution to squeeze it absorbs the processing solution and uses the high water absorption until it becomes saturated, squeezing more processing solution from the photosensitive material. By dropping it, the amount of processing liquid brought in to the photosensitive material after liquid processing and brought into the drying section is reduced, and then it is transported to the drying processing section for drying processing, and the drying temperature in the drying processing section is reduced. Even so, the photosensitive material can be dried well up to a predetermined dry state, so that energy saving in the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be achieved.

Further, the control section controls the switching means to replace a plurality of squeeze blocks at a timing suitable for reducing the carry-in amount of the processing liquid carried into the drying section while being attached to the photosensitive material. By executing the control, the squeeze roller having a hydrophilic surface in the squeeze block absorbs the processing liquid and becomes saturated, and if a control for exchanging a plurality of squeeze blocks is executed, the photosensitive material is automatically and efficiently. The amount of processing liquid brought in to the drying section brought to the drying section is reduced, and the photosensitive material can be well dried to a predetermined dry state even if the drying temperature in the drying processing section is further reduced. More effective energy saving in the device can be achieved.

The invention according to claim 3 is claim 1 or claim 2.
In the light-sensitive material processing apparatus described in 1,
The heating temperature is adjusted so that it can be dried to a dry state within the permissible range according to the amount of processing liquid that remains in the photosensitive material that has been squeezed out by the squeeze device and is carried into the drying section. It is characterized by

By configuring as described above, in addition to the function and effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2,
By adjusting the heating temperature for drying the photosensitive material by the drying processing section according to the amount of processing solution carried into the drying section that remains in the photosensitive material that has been squeezed by the squeeze device. By the heating temperature corresponding to the amount of the processing liquid remaining on the photosensitive material, the photosensitive material can be dried well to a certain dry state.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the photosensitive material dried in the drying processing section from being in an excessively dried state or the photosensitive material being in an insufficiently dried state, and excessively dry the photosensitive material in the drying processing section. It is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of heating energy and save energy in the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

A film processor 10 as a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present embodiment comprises a liquid processing section 12 and a drying processing section 14 as shown in FIG.

The liquid processing section 12 is composed of a series of processing tanks of a developing processing tank 16, a bleach-fixing processing tank 18, and a washing processing tank 20, and the developing processing tank 16 is filled with the developing processing liquid. The bleach-fixing treatment tank 18 is filled with the bleach-fixing treatment liquid, and the water washing treatment tank 20 is filled with the water washing treatment liquid.

In the liquid processing section 12, the undeveloped negative film 22 is conveyed on a series of conveying paths so that the undeveloped negative film 22 is immersed in the developing solution in the developing tank 16 from the upstream side to supply the undeveloped negative film 22. And then develop it, and then immerse it in the bleach-fixing treatment liquid in the bleach-fixing treatment tank 18 for bleach-fixing treatment, and then immerse it in the washing treatment liquid in the washing treatment tank 20 to perform washing treatment liquid. The squeeze device 24 on the downstream side following the outlet of the washing tank 20 is carried out.

In the squeeze device 24, the pair of squeeze rollers 26, 28 are rolled and conveyed while the negative film 22 is sandwiched between the pair of squeeze rollers 26, 28 which are in rolling contact with each other. Thus, a plurality (two in the present embodiment) of squeeze blocks 30 and 32 configured to squeeze out the washing treatment liquid adhering to the surface of the negative film 22 are attached.

The pair of squeeze rollers 26, 28
Means that at least one of the squeeze rollers 26 is configured as a squeeze roller having a hydrophilic surface, and is preferably an emulsion of the negative film 22 which is located on the upper side of the pair of squeeze rollers 26 and 28 in a used state. The squeeze roller having a hydrophilic property is formed by rolling contact with the surface side.

The surface of the hydrophilic squeeze roller 26 has a contact angle with water of less than 90 degrees, preferably 60 degrees or less. The hydrophilic squeeze roller 26 can be appropriately roughened (for example, satin finish) or subjected to corona discharge treatment even if the contact angle of the material itself constituting the hydrophilic water to water is 90 degrees or more. ,
The contact angle may be lowered.

The hydrophilic squeeze roller 26 is, for example, a foamed vinyl chloride roller, a foamed urethane roller, a foamed EPDM roller, a Rubicell (trade name) roller, a clarino (trade name) winding roller, or a POR roller (a urethane crushed product is a binder). The roller can be hardened in a state in which the gap is maintained).

The hydrophilic squeeze roller 26 rollingly contacting the emulsion surface side of the negative film 22 is movable in the direction perpendicular to the axis, and is attached by a spring (not shown) so as to be pressed against the opposing squeeze roller 28. Energize.

The squeeze blocks 30 and 32 provided with the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 are carried out from the washing treatment tank 20 between the liquid treatment section 12 and the drying treatment section 14 by a switching mechanism 34 which is a switching means. Negative film 2
The position can be exchanged with each other between the squeezing position where the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 are exposed to the drying atmosphere in the drying processing unit 14 and the squeezing position where the squeezing rollers 26 and 28 are squeezed and carried into the drying processing unit 14. Attach to.

The drying position is set at the squeeze roller 2
The positions 6 and 28 may be set so that the hot air for drying is blown from the device for generating hot air inside the film processor 10.

The switching mechanism 34 is configured to be capable of executing the operation of exchanging the mutual positions of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32 by a solenoid mechanism (not shown), for example, according to a control command from a controller (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, the drying processing section 14 is constructed by setting a substantially U-shaped transport path for the negative film 22 inside a vertically long air chamber by a plurality of transport rollers. At the bottom of the drying processing unit 14, a dryer 36 configured to blow dry air heated by a heater with a fan is arranged.

At the transport outlet of the negative film 22 in the drying processing section 14, a stock section (not shown) for carrying out and stocking the negative film 22 after the drying processing is arranged.

Inside the main body of the film processor 10, the negative film 22 is formed at a position corresponding to the transport path upstream from the entrance of the liquid processing section 12 by utilizing reflection of light rays, for example.
A film type detection sensor 38 that detects the size and type of the film and transmits a detection signal to the control unit is arranged.

Further, in the film processor 10, a reader detection sensor 40 for the negative film 22 is arranged inside the drying processing section 14. Furthermore, the body of the film processor 10 has a sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity of the outside air,
An outside air temperature / humidity detection unit 42 is installed.

Although not shown, the film processor 10 is provided with a control unit as control means for automatically controlling various devices inside the main body of the device to execute control operations for producing a color print. To this control unit, a monitor for operating a user to give a command and an operation board which is a keyboard are connected.

This control section executes the operation control of the normal liquid processing section 12 and the drying processing section 14, and receives the detection signals of the film type detection sensor 38, the reader detection sensor 40 and the outside air temperature / humidity detection unit 42, Based on this, the squeeze device 24 and the dryer 36 are controlled to execute energy saving processing for the drying processing of the negative film 22.

The control unit of the film processor 10 is
Normal operation control of the liquid processing unit 12 and the drying processing unit 14 is performed to create a color print of the negative film 22.

Therefore, in the film processor 10, when the negative film 22 is fed from an insertion opening (not shown) of the film processor 10, the negative film 22 is nipped by a conveying roller and rolled, whereby the negative film 22 is developed in the developing tank of the liquid processing section 12. I will guide you to 16. Then, the negative film 22 is conveyed so as to be immersed in the developing solution in the developing treatment tank 16 and is subjected to the developing treatment.

Next, the developed negative film 22 is fed into the bleach-fixing processing tank 18 adjacent to the downstream side in the transport direction. In the bleaching / fixing processing tank 18, the negative film 22 is transported so as to be immersed in the fixing solution, and the fixing processing is performed, and the negative film 22 is sent to the washing processing tank 20 adjacent to the downstream side in the transportation direction.

In the water washing treatment tank 20, the negative film 22 subjected to the fixing treatment is washed in water by immersing it in the washing water (rinsing liquid), and the negative film 22 to which a large amount of water adheres is sent to the squeeze device 24. .

In the squeeze device 24, the negative film 22 is nipped and conveyed between the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 to squeeze out moisture and send it into the drying processing section 14 on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

In the drying section 14, the negative film 22 is heated and dried by blowing drying air from the dryer 36 while the negative film 22 is conveyed while being held by the conveying rollers.

The negative film 22 thus dried by the dryer 36 is discharged from the discharge port (not shown) of the film processor 10 and stocked in the sorter section, and a series of development processing for the negative film 22 is completed. .

Next, an example of the control performed on the squeeze device 24 in order to save energy for the drying process of the negative film 22, which is executed during the operation control for the normal developing process by the control unit, will be described with reference to FIG. To do.

In the film processor 10, while waiting in step 44, the undeveloped negative film 2
2 is fed from an insertion port (not shown) of the film processor 10, and the user gives a command to the control section to start the processing of developing the negative film 22 by operating the monitor and the operation board. The temperature / humidity detecting unit 42 detects the outside air temperature and the humidity, respectively, and sends the detection signals to the control section to proceed to step 48.

In step 48, the film type detection sensor 38 detects the size type (size of 110, 126, 135, 240, 120, etc.) of the negative film 22 which the film processor 10 is going to execute the developing process. , Send this detection signal to the control unit Step 5
Go to 0.

In step 50, the control unit detects the cumulative total processing amount of the negative film 22 accumulated from the time when the squeeze device 24 switches the squeeze blocks 30 and 32. Is counted, the length (number of sheets) of each negative film 22 is detected, or the number of processed negative films 22 is counted,
The cumulative total processing amount of the negative film 22 accumulated from the time when the squeeze blocks 30 and 32 are switched is calculated, and the process proceeds to step 52.

In step 52, the controller squeezes the squeeze device 24 calculated from the number of processed negative films 22 for each size, the length (number of sheets) of each negative film 22 or the number of processed negative films 22. Block 3
Negative film 2 accumulated from the time of switching 0 and 32
2 and the squeeze blocks 30 and 3 in the squeeze device 24 to be performed next based on the accumulated total processing amount of 2 and the values of the outside air temperature and humidity detected by the outside air temperature and humidity detection unit 42.
The switching timing of 2 is calculated and determined, and the process waits until the switching timing arrives.

When this switching timing arrives, the process proceeds to step 54, where the controller detects whether or not the leader of the negative film 22 is detected by the leader detection sensor 40, and thus the drying processor 14 is drying the negative film 22. And the liquid processing unit 1 by judging from the time when the negative film 22 is detected by the film type detection sensor 38.
It is detected within 2 whether the negative film 22 is being processed.

If the negative film 22 is being dried by the drying processing unit 14 or the negative film 22 is being processed by the processing liquid in the liquid processing unit 12, the control unit waits until these processings are completed. Step 5 after confirming that the negative film 22 is not present in the liquid processing section 12 and the drying processing section 14
Go to 6.

In step 56, the control section transmits a switching control signal to the squeeze device 24 to drive the switching mechanism 34 to execute the switching operation of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32,
Furthermore, the number of processed films of each size of the negative film 22 is counted, the value of the length (number of sheets) of each negative film 22,
Alternatively, the count value of the number of processed negative films 22 is cleared and the process returns to the standby state of step 44.

Next, in order to save energy for the drying process of the negative film 22, which is executed during the operation control for the normal developing process by the control unit, the squeeze device 24 is used.
An example of control for bringing in the negative film 22 into the drying processing unit 14 to reduce the amount of water brought in and control for adjusting the heating temperature of the dryer 36 in accordance with the amount of water brought in will be described with reference to FIG.

The control by this control unit is such that a plurality of negative films 22 are put together and a development process is executed, and after a while, another plurality of negative films 22 are put together and a development process is carried out. This is a control operation when executing a so-called quiet process such as executing.

In the control process shown in FIG. 3, the film processor 10 continuously processes six negative films 22 as the first process, continuously processes the seven negative films 22 as the second process, and then performs the third process. As an example, a case where four negative films 22 are continuously processed, eight negative films 22 are continuously processed as a fourth process, and fifteen negative films 22 are continuously processed as a fifth process will be exemplified.

When the film processor 10 performs the first processing for processing the undeveloped negative film 22 first, the squeeze block 30 of the film processor 10,
Reference numeral 32 makes the squeeze rollers 26, 28 in a dry initial dry state in which the processing liquid (water) is not absorbed at all.

As shown in FIG. 3B, in the first processing,
Six negative films 22 by the film processor 10
When the first negative film 22 comes out of the water washing treatment tank 20 and rolls so as to be sandwiched between the squeeze rollers 26 and 28, the first negative film 22 is squeezed by the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 in the initial dry state. The processing liquid is sufficiently absorbed from the film 22 and carried into the drying processing unit 14.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), in order to dry the first negative film 22 in which the treatment liquid is sufficiently absorbed to a predetermined dry state, the heat drying capacity of the dryer 36 is low. Since it is sufficient, the capacity of the dryer 36 is set to a low state.

Next, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth,
Squeeze rollers 26, 2 while continuing the process with the sixth
8 cumulatively increased the amount of absorbed processing liquid, and FIG.
As shown in (B), the amount of water brought in by being attached to the negative film 22 and brought into the drying processing section 14 increases.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the amount of water brought in reaches a predetermined medium reference value, FIG.
As shown in, the capacity of the dryer 36 is set to the intermediate state.

By doing so, the negative film 22 dried in the drying processing section 14 is satisfactorily dried in a dry state within a predetermined allowable range from the first film to the sixth film.

In the drying processing section 14, the first to sixth
Compared to the case where the drying process is performed by setting the capacity of the dryer 36 to the middle state for the first line, the work for drying the first line to, for example, the fourth line by setting the capacity of the dryer 36 to a low state can be performed, thus saving energy. Can be achieved.

Moreover, from the first to the fourth, for example,
It is possible to prevent the negative film 22 from being excessively dried because the dryer 36 is dried with the capacity of the dryer 36 being in the middle state.

Next, after completing the first process in the film processor 10, the control unit drives the switching mechanism 34 of the squeeze device 24 to perform the switching operation of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32, and then the second process. To execute.

In this second processing, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3B, when the amount of water brought in reaches a predetermined medium reference value, as shown in FIG.
Is transferred to the intermediate state to perform the drying treatment, and the negative film 22 dried in the drying treatment section 14 is satisfactorily dried in the predetermined tolerable range from the first film to the seventh film.

Also, during the second process, the squeeze block 3 used in the first process and operated by switching to the drying position in the drying processing section 14 is arranged.
One of 0 and 32 is dried to the initial dry state by the dry air in the drying processing unit 14.

Next, after the second processing is completed by the film processor 10, the control unit drives the switching mechanism 34 of the squeeze device 24 to perform the switching operation of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32, and then the third processing. To execute.

In this third treatment, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), the amount of water brought in does not reach the predetermined medium reference value.
As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the capacity of the dryer 36 is set to a low state to perform the drying process, and the negative film 22 dried in the drying processing unit 14 has a predetermined allowable range from the first film to the fourth film. Good dry treatment in the dry state.

In the third processing, since the squeeze rollers 26, 28 are still in the water absorbing capacity, the film processor 10 continues to execute the fourth processing.

In the fourth processing, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3B, when the amount of water brought in reaches a predetermined medium reference value, as shown in FIG.
Is transferred to the intermediate state and a drying process is performed, and the negative film 22 dried in the drying processing unit 14 is satisfactorily dried in a dry state within a predetermined allowable range from the first film to the eighth film.

While performing the fourth treatment, the squeeze block 30 used in the second treatment and the third treatment and operated by switching to the drying position in the drying treatment section 14, One of the parts 32 is dried to the initial dry state by the dry air in the dry processing part 14.

Next, after the fourth processing is completed by the film processor 10, the control unit drives the switching mechanism 34 of the squeeze device 24 to perform the switching operation of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32, and then the fifth processing. To execute.

In the fifth treatment, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the water content brought in reaches a predetermined medium reference value,
As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the capacity of the dryer 36 is shifted to the intermediate state and the drying process is performed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (B), when the water absorption capacity of the squeeze rollers 26, 28 reaches a saturated state and the amount of water brought in reaches a predetermined high standard value, FIG. 3 (A).
As shown in FIG. 4, the negative film 22 dried in the drying processing unit 14 is within a predetermined permissible range by shifting the capacity of the dryer 36 to a high state and performing a drying process. Satisfactorily dry in the dry state.

Further, while the fifth treatment is being performed, the squeeze block 3 used in the fourth treatment and operated by switching to the drying position in the drying treatment section 14 is arranged.
One of 0 and 32 is dried to the initial dry state by the dry air in the drying processing unit 14.

Next, after the fifth processing is completed by the film processor 10, the control unit drives the switching mechanism 34 of the squeeze device 24 to execute the switching operation of the squeeze blocks 30 and 32, and then the work is ended. .

Further, in the drying processing section 14, the first to fourth lines are dried by setting the capacity of the dryer 36 to a low state, and the fifth to tenth lines are made to have a medium capacity. Since the drying operation can be performed in the state, the dryer 36
It is possible to save energy as compared with the case where the drying process is performed with the high performance of.

Moreover, from the first to the fourth, for example,
The negative film 22 is excessively dried because the drying capacity of the dryer 36 is set to a low state and the 5th to 10th films are dried while the capacity of the dryer 36 is set to an intermediate state. Can be prevented.

Next, in order to save energy for the drying process of the negative film 22, the negative film 22 is brought into the drying processing section 14 by the squeeze device 24, the amount of moisture brought in is reduced, and the heating temperature of the dryer 36 is controlled. Another configuration example for reducing the energy consumption will be described with reference to FIG.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 4, the water slowing roller 5 having a function of absorbing water into the squeeze roller 28 and discharging it.
8 is rolled and constructed. In addition, this roller 58 for slow water
Is the squeeze block 3 in the squeeze device 24.
The squeeze rollers 28 of 0 and 32 may be configured to be in rolling contact with each other. Also, the film processor 10
On the other hand, the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 may be installed as a single fixed type and the switching mechanism 34 may not be provided.

With this structure, the pair of squeeze rollers 26, 28 with the water slowing roller 58 is arranged so that the water slowing roller 58 does not saturate the water absorbing ability of the squeeze rollers 26, 28. Always drain water from 28.

Therefore, the negative film 22 squeezed by the squeeze rollers 26, 28 that have been gradually water-suppressed so that the water absorption capacity is not saturated is the negative film 22 squeezed by the squeeze rollers 26, 28 having the saturated water absorption capacity. The water content can be made lower than that of the film 22.

Therefore, in the drying processing section 14, the squeeze rollers 26, 28 are gradually water-suppressed so that the water absorption capacity is not saturated.
It is possible to carry out a treatment of heating and drying at a relatively low heating temperature corresponding to a relatively small amount of water brought into the negative film 22 squeezed in step 1, and energy saving can be achieved.

Next, in order to save energy for the drying process of the negative film 22, the negative film 22 is brought into the drying processing section 14 by the squeeze device 24, the amount of water brought in is reduced, and the heating temperature of the dryer 36 is controlled. Still another configuration example for reducing the energy consumption will be described with reference to FIG.

In the configuration example shown in FIG. 5, the squeeze rollers 26, 28 are so-called suction rollers 60 each having a function of absorbing and draining water.

This suction roller 60 is constructed by integrally providing a roller portion 64 formed of a sponge, which is a breathable member, around a pipe member 62 having a large number of small through holes.

The suction roller 60 is connected to a vacuum device, and the hollow inside of the pipe member 62 is sucked to a negative pressure to allow the liquid on the outer peripheral surface of the roller portion 64 to pass through a large number of the roller portions 64. It is used to suck into the inside of the pipe member 62 through the pores and a large number of small through holes of the pipe member 62, and to discharge it from the exhaust port at the end of the pipe member 62 to the outside.

The squeeze rollers 26 and 28 each of which is composed of the suction roller 60 are connected to the film processor 10.
It is attached as a single fixed type to the switching mechanism 3
4 is not provided.

With this structure, the pair of squeeze rollers 26, 28 composed of the suction roller 60 rollingly contacting the negative film 22 having the clean water adhered thereto does not saturate the water absorption capacity of the suction roller 60. , The negative film 22 is always brought in and squeezed so that the water content becomes small.

Therefore, the carry-in water content of the negative film 22 squeezed so that the carry-in water content is always small by the suction roller 60 is
The water content can be made lower than the carry-in water amount of the negative film 22 squeezed by the squeeze rollers 26 and 28 having saturated water absorption capacity.

Therefore, in the drying processing section 14, it is possible to carry out a processing of heating and drying at a relatively low heating temperature corresponding to a relatively small amount of moisture brought in of the negative film 22 squeezed by the suction roller 60, thus saving energy. Can be achieved.

In the present embodiment described above, the processing apparatus for the photosensitive material which executes the processing for developing the negative film 22 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the exposed color can be processed. Color development processing of paper,
It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as a film processor that creates a color print by performing a bleach-fixing process, a rinsing process (washing process), and then a drying process in a drying section.

[0095]

The processing apparatus for the photosensitive material of the present invention removes the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid from the drying processing section for drying the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid and the liquid processing section for liquid-processing the photosensitive material. A squeeze device arranged on the conveying path for conveying the photosensitive material to the drying processing section for drying processing is such that at least one of the squeeze rollers having a hydrophilic surface sandwiches the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid. The positions of the squeeze blocks configured to squeeze the processing liquid by rolling are exchanged between the squeeze position for squeezing the photosensitive material by the switching means and the drying position for drying the squeeze roller. It is configured to perform the operation.

With the above-mentioned structure, the photosensitive material wetted by the processing liquid carried out from the liquid processing section is placed between the pair of squeeze rollers by the operation of controlling the switching means and exchanging the plurality of squeeze blocks. The squeeze roller that has a hydrophilic surface in the squeeze block that holds the squeezing solution to squeeze it absorbs the processing solution and uses the high water absorption until it becomes saturated, squeezing more processing solution from the photosensitive material. By dropping it, the amount of processing liquid brought in to the photosensitive material after liquid processing and brought into the drying section is reduced, and then it is transported to the drying processing section for drying processing, and the drying temperature in the drying processing section is reduced. However, since the photosensitive material can be dried well up to a predetermined dry state, there is an effect that energy saving in the photosensitive material processing device can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a main operational flow for explaining the outline of the operation of the switching means in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for illustrating the operation of the switching unit in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a control of the heating temperature in the drying processing unit. An explanatory diagram showing the state, (B) is a carry-in moisture which is attached to the photosensitive material and is brought into the drying unit when each processing from the first processing to the fifth processing is performed when the photosensitive material is subjected to the neutral processing. It is an explanatory diagram showing change of quantity.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of another configuration example in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of still another configuration example in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a heating temperature in a drying processing section of a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus is constant, and FIG. 6B is a drying processing section of a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition of the amount of water brought in by being attached to the photosensitive material and brought into the drying section when the photosensitive material is processed in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 film processor 12-liquid processing unit 14 Drying processing section 20 Washing tank 22 Negative film 24 Squeeze device 26 Squeeze Roller 28 Squeeze Roller 30 squeeze blocks 32 Squeeze Block 34 Switching mechanism 36 dryer 38 Film type detection sensor 40 Reader detection sensor 42 Outside air temperature and humidity detection unit 58 Roller for slow water 60 suction roller

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid processing unit for liquid-processing a photosensitive material; a drying processing unit for drying the photosensitive material wet with a processing liquid; and a transfer for transferring the photosensitive material from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit. And a squeeze device disposed on the path, wherein the squeeze device holds the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid between a pair of squeeze rollers, at least one of which has a hydrophilic surface. And a plurality of squeeze blocks configured to squeeze the processing liquid by rolling the squeeze block, a squeeze position for performing an operation of squeezing the photosensitive material, and a drying position for drying the squeeze roller. 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, further comprising: a switching means for performing a position exchange operation. 2. A liquid processing unit for liquid-processing the photosensitive material, a drying processing unit for drying the photosensitive material wet with the processing liquid, and a transfer for transferring the photosensitive material from the liquid processing unit to the drying processing unit. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus having a squeeze device arranged on a path, and a control unit for controlling the squeeze device, the squeeze device has at least one of a pair of squeeze rollers having a hydrophilic surface for the processing. A plurality of squeeze blocks configured to squeeze the processing liquid by rolling by rolling the photosensitive material wet with the liquid, and a squeeze position at which each squeeze block performs an operation of squeezing the photosensitive material and the squeeze block. And a switching means for performing a position switching operation to a drying position for drying the roller, wherein the controller controls the detected outside air temperature and humidity and the detected outside air temperature and humidity. The operation for exchanging the plurality of squeeze blocks is executed by controlling the switching means at a timing determined based on the accumulated total processing amount of the photosensitive material accumulated from the time when the squeeze blocks are switched. And a photosensitive material processing device. 3. A dry state within an allowable range corresponding to the carry-in amount of the processing liquid brought into the drying unit by the drying processing unit remaining on the photosensitive material squeezed by the squeeze device. 3. The apparatus for processing a photosensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the heating temperature is adjusted so that the material can be dried.