JP2004302247A - Image formation processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time for changeover of conveyance speeds in continuously performing processing using photosensitive materials of the different conveyance speeds. <P>SOLUTION: A color developing tank 44 and a bleach-fix tank 45 of a development processing section 19 are defined as processing tanks of a first group G1 and first to fourth washing tanks 46 to 49 are defined as the processing tanks of a second group G2. By each of the respective group processing tanks, motors 67b and 68b for conveying the photosensitive materials are discretely disposed. After the last of the advance photosensitive materials passes the respective group processing tanks, the conveyance speed of the group is changed over to the conveyance speed corresponding to the photosensitive materials of the follow-on kind to shorten the time for changeover by accompanying the change in the processing formulas of the photosensitive materials. Jamming is averted by shifting the time for feeding the follow-on photosensitive materials to the first group processing tank by as much as the time T (=L2/V1-L1/V2, L1, L2: the conveyance route length of the respective group processing tanks) when the follow-on photosensitive materials (conveyance speed V2) are set higher in the conveyance speed as compared to the advance photosensitive materials (conveyance speed V1) for avoiding paper clogging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming processing apparatus that performs an image forming process by sending an image forming material into a plurality of processing tanks.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A photosensitive material processing apparatus such as a printer processor used in a photographic development facility includes a printing unit that exposes an image to a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, a development processing unit that develops the exposed photosensitive material, a drying unit, And a stacking unit that is incorporated as necessary. Usually, the development processing section is provided with a transport roller for transporting the exposed photosensitive material and a plurality of processing tanks containing processing solutions for color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water, and stability. The photosensitive material is conveyed to a processing tank, and development processing is performed by sequentially passing through each processing solution. In such a photosensitive material processing apparatus, a photosensitive material to be used and a developing processing solution suitable for the photosensitive material are used as a set. The conveyance speed of the photosensitive material in the color developing tank, that is, the development processing time and the development processing temperature are set to the development processing conditions determined by the formulation of the development processing solution.
[0003]
By the way, the photosensitive material has different processing characteristics depending on the manufacturer and its type. For this reason, in order to process so as to obtain an optimum image for each of the different types of photosensitive materials, it is necessary to change the processing conditions of the photosensitive material processing apparatus in accordance with the processing characteristics of the photosensitive material. In addition, when different types of photosensitive materials are used interchangeably in the same photosensitive material processing apparatus, it is necessary to quickly switch between them in order to be able to respond quickly.
[0004]
As such a photosensitive material processing apparatus, the processing liquid flow means is controlled when the processing conditions are changed, and the speed is given to the processing liquid to cope with the change (Patent Document 1), and the photographic characteristics are different. There has been proposed a technique in which a plurality of developing tanks containing a plurality of color developers are provided and the plurality of developing tanks are selectively used according to the type of photosensitive material (Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-286347
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-214368
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in these photosensitive material processing apparatuses, when different types of photosensitive materials are to be continuously processed, development processing is performed while sequentially feeding photosensitive materials to each processing tank. , It is necessary to switch the speed after the previously processed photosensitive material exits each processing tank. As described above, after the preceding photosensitive material passes through each processing tank, it is necessary to change processing conditions such as the photosensitive material conveyance speed. For example, efficient printing is performed when switching photosensitive materials having different processing speeds. There is a problem that can not be. In addition, in the method of selecting a processing tank according to the type of photosensitive material, it is necessary to install a plurality of processing tanks according to the type or to install a transfer path switching means. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.
[0007]
The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to switch image processing conditions quickly according to a change in the type of image forming material such as a photosensitive material, and to perform image forming processing almost continuously without increasing the size. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a plurality of processing tanks connected in series in the conveying direction of the image forming material, and forms and uses an image through the image forming material in the plurality of processing tanks. There are a plurality of types of forming materials with different processing prescriptions, and the image forming processing apparatus performs continuous switching between them. The plurality of processing tanks are divided into a plurality of groups along the conveyance path of the image forming material. At least a first group processing tank and a second group processing tank, at least a first transport means and a second transport means capable of switching the transport speed of the image forming material for each group processing tank, and preceding image formation After the last material passes through each group processing tank, there is a conveyance speed switching means for switching the conveyance speed of this group to a conveyance speed corresponding to the subsequent type of image forming material. And wherein the Rukoto.
[0009]
The transport speed switching means is configured such that the transport speed of the preceding image forming material is V1, the transport speed of the subsequent image forming material is V2, the transport path length of the first group processing tank is L1, and the transport of the second group processing tank is When the path length is L2 and the transport speed V2 of the subsequent image forming material is higher than the transport speed V1 of the preceding image forming material (V2> V1), the subsequent image forming material to the first group processing tank It is preferable to shift the charging time by T (= L2 / V1-L1 / V2).
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1A shows a digital image input device 10, and FIG. 1B shows a digital image output device 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the input device 10 includes an image reading unit 14, a monitor 15, an operation unit 16, and an image data capturing unit 17. The image reading means 14 reads and stores the image of the photographic film as digital image data. This digital image data is displayed on the monitor 15. The operator makes corrections, edits, and the like using the operation unit 16 such as a keyboard and a mouse while observing the image on the monitor 15 as necessary. The image data capturing unit 17 captures image data captured by a video camera or a digital camera, image data obtained from the Internet, and the like into a memory in the image reading unit 14.
[0011]
The output device 11 includes a printing unit 18, a development processing unit 19, a drying unit 20, and a stacking unit 21. The printing unit 18 includes magazines 22a and 22b, cutters 23a and 23b, a back printer 24, an image recording unit 25, and a sorting unit 26.
[0012]
In the magazines 22a and 22b, long photosensitive materials 27a and 27b having different size widths or different surface types are wound into rolls and loaded, respectively. The magazines 22a and 22b are provided with barcode attaching portions 28, and the barcode attaching portions 28 are attached with barcode slips 30a and 30b. The bar code slips 30a and 30b are attached to packaging cases of the photosensitive materials 27a and 27b, and bar-coded photosensitive material information indicating the types of the photosensitive materials 27a and 27b is recorded. A bar code reader 31 is provided in the printing unit 18 at a position corresponding to the bar code attachment unit 28. The bar code reader 31 reads the photosensitive material information on the bar code slips 30a and 30b.
[0013]
At the outlets of the magazines 22a and 22b, delivery rollers 32 for delivering the photosensitive materials 27a and 27b are provided. The feed roller 32 is controlled and operated so as to have a feed amount (cutout amount) based on image output size information sent from the input device 10 or the like. The fed photosensitive materials 27a and 27b are cut to a predetermined length by the cutters 23a and 23b to form a sheet-like photosensitive material 27c (hereinafter simply referred to as photosensitive material), and then pass through the back printer 24. To do. The back printer 24 records an order number, an image number, and the like with a symbol or a number (back printing) on the back surface of the photosensitive material 27c via a dot impact output via an ink ribbon. The photosensitive material 27c printed on the back side is sent to the image recording unit 25. Note that reference numeral 29 in the drawing indicates a conveyance path of the photosensitive material 27c.
[0014]
The image recording unit 25 includes a sub-scanning conveyance unit 25a that conveys the photosensitive material 27c, an exposure unit 25b that performs main scanning exposure to the photosensitive material 27c with laser light in synchronization with the sub-scanning conveyance, and an image data processing unit 25c. It has. The sub-scanning conveying means 25a conveys the photosensitive material 27c by a pair of conveying rollers arranged so as to sandwich the exposure position.
[0015]
Image data is supplied to the image data processing means 25c from the image input device 10 or the like. The image data processing unit 25c performs predetermined data processing such as processing on a correction table by calibration on the input image data. Then, the light beam is modulated via the modulator of the exposure means 25b in accordance with the image data subjected to the data processing, and the photosensitive material 27c is exposed with this light beam. Thereby, a latent image is recorded on the photosensitive material 27c based on the image data. Thereafter, the exposed photosensitive material 27c is arranged in a plurality of rows, for example, two rows by the sorting unit 26, and is conveyed to the development processing unit 19 with the emulsion surface on the upper side and the support on the lower side.
[0016]
The development processing unit 19 includes a color developing tank 44, a bleach-fixing tank 45, a first washing tank 46, a second washing tank 47, a third washing tank 48, and a fourth washing tank 49.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the color developing tank 44 and the bleach-fixing tank 45 are provided with a circulation pump 50 and a temperature controller 51, respectively. The circulation pump 50 circulates and stirs the processing liquid in the tanks 44 and 45. The temperature controller 51 includes a heater 51a and a radiator 51b. The heater 51a and the radiator 51b are disposed in a circulation path 52 by the circulation pump 50, and adjust the temperature of the processing solution. The temperature controller 51 is controlled by the controller 60. In addition, although the radiator 51b is provided in order to lower the liquid temperature, this may be omitted. In this case, the liquid temperature is lowered by natural cooling, and processing is performed when the temperature reaches the set temperature.
[0018]
A color developer replenisher tank 56 is connected to the color developer tank 44 via a pump 53, and a color developer replenisher is supplied. Similarly, a replenisher is supplied from the bleach-fixer replenisher tank 57 through the pump 54 to the bleach-fixer tank 45. These pumps 53 and 54 are constituted by a metering pump having a constant discharge amount. Then, the treatment liquid replenishment amount is changed by changing the pump operation time within a predetermined time by the controller 60.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2, the fourth flush tank 49 is supplemented with flush treatment water from a flush replenishment water tank 58 via a pump 55. The increase due to the replenishment of the rinsing water is from the fourth rinsing tank 49 to the third rinsing tank 48, from the third rinsing tank 48 to the second rinsing tank 47, and from the second rinsing tank 47 to the first rinsing tank 46. Then, it overflows sequentially in a cascade manner to the washing tank upstream in the transport direction. Thereby, the water washing liquid is replenished to each water washing tank 46-49.
[0020]
Conveying racks 65a and 65b for conveying the photosensitive material 27c are inserted into the color developing tank 44, the bleach-fixing tank 45, and the washing tanks 46 to 49, respectively. Each of the transport racks 65a and 65b includes a transport roller 66. The drive shafts of the transport racks 65a and 65b are engaged with the rotation drive shafts 67 and 68, and the transport rollers 66 rotate.
[0021]
In the present invention, the color developing tank 44, the bleach-fixing tank 45, and the water washing tanks 46 to 49 are separately rotated so that a plurality of photosensitive materials 27c having different processing recipes can be processed continuously and efficiently. The shafts 67 and 68 are configured to rotate independently. These rotary drive shafts 67 and 68 are rotated by drive motors 67b and 68b via transmission means 67a and 68a. The speed change means 67a and 68a and the drive motors 67b and 68b are controlled by the controller 60.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, a crossover rack 70 is provided between each of the tanks 44 to 49. The crossover rack 70 includes a conveyance roller 71 and transfers the photosensitive material 27c to the next tank. These crossover racks 70 are also configured to engage with the rotation drive shafts 67 and 68 (see FIG. 2) so that the transport roller 71 rotates.
[0023]
Above the fourth rinsing tank 49, a drying unit 20 for drying the photosensitive material 27c from the fourth rinsing tank 49 is provided. A photosensitive material 27 c is sent to the drying unit 20 via a squeeze roller 74. The drying unit 20 includes a conveyor belt 75 and a drying air circulation means 76. The conveyance belt 75 is configured in a net shape and is provided along the conveyance path. The squeeze roller 74 and the conveyance belt 75 are rotationally driven by the rotation drive shaft 72, and the photosensitive material 27c is conveyed at the same or different conveyance speed as the water washing tanks 46 to 49. The rotary drive shaft 72 is rotated by a transmission means 72a and a drive motor 72b.
[0024]
The drying air circulation means 76 includes a heater, a duct, a blower, a slit plate 76a, and the like. The drying air is blown out from the slit plate 76a toward the conveyance path, and the blown dry air is circulated through the duct. The duct is provided with a fresh air intake, which allows fresh air to be taken into the duct. The duct is provided with a heater, and the circulating air is heated to a set temperature by the heater. As a result, drying air is blown from the slit plate 76 a onto the photosensitive material 27 c, and drying is performed while the drying air is pressed against the conveying belt 75. The temperature of the drying air, the air volume, the fresh air intake amount, etc. in the drying unit 20 are controlled by the controller 60.
[0025]
On the side of the drying unit 20, there is provided an accumulating unit 21 for sorting and accumulating the photosensitive material 27c that has been dried and finished for each order. The stacking unit 21 stacks the photosensitive material 27 c sorted according to the order on the sort plate 78. The sort plate 78 is attached to a circulation belt (not shown) at an interval. The stacking unit 21 includes a swing-back device 77. The reversing device 77 accumulates the photosensitive material 27c that is distributed and sent in a plurality of rows as one unit. The photosensitive material conveyance speed in the stacking unit 21, the swing back speed in the swing back device 77, and the moving speed of each sort plate 78 are controlled by the controller 60.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 60 includes a display 81, an operation unit 82, an alarm device 83, and the like, and performs sequence control of each unit. Furthermore, processing conditions such as the processing speed of the printing unit 18, the development processing unit 19, the drying unit 20, and the stacking unit 21 are changed according to the type of the photosensitive material 27c, so that the optimal processing conditions for the various photosensitive materials 27c are obtained. Set the conditions as follows. For this reason, the memory 84 in the controller 60 stores in advance a table 85 in which processing conditions for each part are set for each type A, B, C,... Of each photosensitive material 27c. The table 85 can be added or rewritten as appropriate. When a new photosensitive material is provided, processing conditions for the photosensitive material are added.
[0027]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the table 85. In this embodiment, the print unit 18, the development processing unit 19, the drying unit 20, and the stacking unit 21 according to the types A, B, and C of the photosensitive material 27c. Various conditions are set. Accordingly, when printing using the type A photosensitive material 27c is designated, the processing conditions of the units 18 to 21 corresponding to the type A are read, and the units are set to the processing conditions and printing is performed. Similarly, when other types B and C of the photosensitive material 27c are designated, the processing conditions of each part are set so as to correspond to this.
[0028]
Type A is the current photosensitive material (normally processed photosensitive material), type B is a new type, and the photosensitive emulsion layer is formed slightly thinner than the current type, and the processing time is shortened accordingly. This is a rapid processing photosensitive material. Type C is a transparent photographic paper type professional photosensitive material. Type C professional light-sensitive materials are transmissive and are observed with transmitted light, so there is an advantage that a high-definition image can be obtained without color blur compared to a reflective original, but the photosensitive emulsion layer is thicker. . Accordingly, the processing time is longer than that of the type A normal processing photosensitive material.
[0029]
For this reason, based on each said specification, the setting conditions of the process prescription in each part are determined. The setting conditions of each part are basically centered on the processing time and processing temperature in the development processing unit 19, and after determining the processing time and processing temperature, printing is performed so that each part operates efficiently in accordance with this. The setting conditions of each part of the unit 18, the drying unit 20, and the stacking unit 21 are determined. The conditions determined in this way are the tables shown in FIG.
[0030]
For example, when the type A photosensitive material 27c is printed, the processing time of the development processing unit 19, that is, the conveyance speed Vp1 of the photosensitive material 27c in the development processing unit 19 and the processing liquid temperature Tp1 are determined. Further, the treatment liquid replenishment amount Qp1 for each of the tanks 44 to 49 at the treatment time and the treatment liquid temperature is determined. Next, the cutout interval P1, the exposure speed Ve1, the distribution speed Vf1, and the image recording section 25 to the distribution section 26 so that the processing is efficiently performed in accordance with the conveyance speed Vp1 in the development processing section 19. The transport speed Vr1 is determined.
[0031]
Similarly, the conveyance speed Vd1, the drying temperature Td1, and the drying air amount Qd1 of the drying unit 20 are determined so that the processing is efficiently performed in accordance with the conveyance speed Vp1 in the development processing unit 19. In the drying unit 20, the transport speed, the drying temperature, and the drying air volume are changed according to the type of the photosensitive material 27c. However, the fresh air intake air volume may be changed according to the type. Similarly, the conveying speed Vs1 of the stacking unit 21, the swingback speed Vm1 for stacking the photosensitive materials 27c distributed in a plurality of rows into one unit, and the moving speed Vb1 of each sort plate 78 are determined. Note that it is not necessary to change all of the above-described settings for changing the setting conditions in each unit, and at least one of them may be changed. However, more detailed conditions can be changed by increasing the setting conditions to be changed.
[0032]
Similarly, as for the setting conditions of the units 18 to 21 for the type B photosensitive material 27c, the conveyance speed Vp2 (> Vp1), the processing liquid temperature Tp2 (≧ Tp1), and the processing liquid replenishment amount Qp2 in the development processing section 19 are determined. Based on this, as shown in FIG. 3, the setting conditions P2 (≦ P1), Vr2 (≧ Vr1), Vf2 (≧ Vf1), Ve2 (≧ Ve1), Vd2 (> Vd1), Td2 (≧ Td1), Qd2 (≧ Qd1), Vs2 (> Vs1), Vm2 (≧ Vm1), and Vb2 (≧ Vb1) are determined. Similarly, the setting conditions of each part for the type C photosensitive material 27c are also obtained.
[0033]
As described above, when the photosensitive material 27c (types A, B, and C) having different processing times is switched while continuously processing without stopping the apparatus, it is necessary to efficiently set each part to a condition corresponding to the prescription. . In this case, if the processing solution temperature is changed, it takes time to change the processing solution temperature, which is not suitable for switching in continuous processing. For this reason, in the present invention, the change time is shortened by only changing the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material 27c.
[0034]
In the output machine 11, the processing time of each unit such as the printing unit 18, the development processing unit 19, the drying unit 20, and the sorter unit 21 is balanced to shorten the processing time. The center is the development processing time, and the processing capacity of the print unit 18, the drying unit 20, and the sorter unit 21 is determined in accordance with the development processing time, and the processing speed is satisfied to satisfy this.
[0035]
Here, if the photosensitive material 27c having different processing prescriptions is to be processed continuously, the conventional development processing unit uses the same conveying speed of the photosensitive material 27c in each tank, so that the photosensitive material 27c having a different processing prescription is used. In the case of switching, it is necessary to change the processing speed corresponding to the next photosensitive material 27c at the stage where all the photosensitive material 27c processed before is out of each processing tank, and the photosensitive material in each tank of the development processing unit. Until all the material 27c is discharged, it becomes impossible to input the next photosensitive material 27c and change the processing speed, and the change time becomes longer.
[0036]
For example, the development processing times of the type A normal processing photosensitive material 27c, the type B rapid processing photosensitive material 27c, and the type C professional photosensitive material 27c in the development processing unit 19 are 180 seconds, 144 seconds, and 450 seconds, respectively. It is. Therefore, simply calculating, when switching the types A, B, and C of the photosensitive material 27c, 180 seconds when the photosensitive material 27c of the preceding development process leaves the fourth washing tank 49, which is the final tank of the development processing unit 19, After the elapse of 144 seconds and 450 seconds, respectively, the conveyance speed corresponding to the next new type of photosensitive material 27c is switched, and thereafter, the new type of photosensitive material 27c is placed in the color developing tank 44 of the development processing unit 19. There must be. As described above, it is necessary to wait until the preceding photosensitive material 27c exits the fourth washing tank 49, and this switching time becomes long when the print processing is continuously performed.
[0037]
Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the tanks 44 to 49 of the development processing unit 19 are divided into a plurality of groups G1 and G2, and the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material 27c is changed for each of the groups G1 and G2. This shortens the switching time when switching to the photosensitive material 27c having a different processing prescription. In this embodiment, the color developing tank 44 and the bleach-fixing tank 45 are divided into two groups, the first group G1, and the water washing tanks 46 to 49 as the second group G2. For each group G1, G2, dedicated transport motors 67b, 68b are provided so that the transport speed can be switched individually.
[0038]
The switching timing of each group G1, G2 is as follows. The transport speed for the type A photosensitive material 27c is VA, the transport speed for the type B photosensitive material 27c (having a higher transport speed than type A) is VB (VB> VA), and L1 is transported in each tank of the first group. The path length, L2, is the transport path length of each tank in the second group, and in this embodiment, L1 = L2. The transport speed of the preceding photosensitive material is V1, the transport speed of the subsequent photosensitive material is V2, and the speed difference ΔV = V1−V2.
[0039]
When switching from type B to type A photosensitive material 27c, the speed difference ΔV = V1−V2 = VB−VA is positive. Therefore, the succeeding photosensitive material 27c does not catch up with the preceding photosensitive material 27c. In this case, the conveyance speed of the color developing tank 44 and the bleach-fixing tank 45 of the first group G1 is set immediately after the final photosensitive material 27c exits the fixing and bleaching tank 45 of the first group G1. Change from V1 (= VB) to V2 (= VA). Thereafter, the subsequent type A photosensitive material 27 c is placed in the color developing tank 44.
[0040]
When switching from type A to type B photosensitive material 27c, the speed difference ΔV = V1−V2 = VA−VB is negative. Accordingly, when the speed is switched at the timing from the above type B to type A, the subsequent type B photosensitive material 27c catches up with the preceding type A photosensitive material 27c. In this case, the following calculation is performed. Then, the timing at which the subsequent type B photosensitive material 27c is put into the color developing tank 44 is delayed by T (= L2 / V1-L1 / V2 (seconds)). Thus, even if the photosensitive material 27c is switched from type A to type B, the subsequent photosensitive material 27c does not catch up with the preceding photosensitive material 27c.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the above switching timing. When the photosensitive materials are switched, the conveying speeds V1 and V2 are determined based on the processing recipes of these photosensitive materials. In addition, the timing T of charging the subsequent photosensitive material into the first group processing tank is required. Then, immediately after the final preceding photosensitive material passes through the first group G1 processing tank, the speed of the first group processing tank is switched from V1 to V2. Further, based on whether the speed difference ΔV is positive or negative, the timing of starting the subsequent photosensitive material into the first group is changed immediately after or after T seconds. Further, immediately after the final preceding photosensitive material exits the second group processing tank, the speed of the second group processing tank is switched from V1 to V2.
[0042]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A description will be given of a case where the type A or B photosensitive material 27c is set and the type A or B photosensitive material 27c is selected and printing is performed among the types A to C of the photosensitive material 27c as described above. . First, the controller 60 reads a bar code representing the type of photosensitive material from the bar code slips 30a of the magazines 22a and 22b set in the printing unit 18. When a type A or B selection signal is input and a print instruction is issued, print processing is performed. When the type A selection signal is input, the controller 60 searches the table in the memory 84 according to the selected photosensitive material type A for the setting conditions of each unit corresponding to the photosensitive material type A, and the corresponding setting conditions. Is read. Then, each unit is set under the read setting conditions.
[0043]
Similarly, when the type B selection signal is input, the controller 60 searches the table in the memory 84 according to the selected photosensitive material type B for the setting conditions of each unit corresponding to the photosensitive material type B. Read the corresponding setting condition. Then, each unit is set under the read setting conditions.
[0044]
When a set of photosensitive material 27c other than the registered type is detected, the controller 60 performs an unprocessable alarm process. In this alarm processing, in addition to the display 81 indicating that processing is not possible, an alarm sound is emitted by the alarm device 83. Even if a print start operation is performed by key input or the like, an alarm is displayed and printing is not started. When a photosensitive material other than the registered type is set in this way, the printing process is not performed, so that a non-conforming product or a photosensitive material by a third party not recommended by the manufacturer is not used. Degradation of print quality due to nonconforming product can be avoided.
[0045]
When the continuous processing is selected and the types A and B of the photosensitive material 27c are switched in the middle of the processing, as shown in FIG. Thus, the feeding speed of the photosensitive material 27c in each group processing tank is changed. For example, when the type A is switched to the type B, the subsequent type B is a rapid processing photosensitive material, and the conveyance speed becomes high, so that it catches up with the preceding normal processing photosensitive material. For this reason, after the preceding last photosensitive material 27c comes out from the bleaching / fixing tank 45 of the first group G1, the transport speed of the tanks 44 and 45 of the first group G1 is switched from V1 to V2. Then, the timing at which the subsequent type B photosensitive material 27c is charged into the color developing tank 44 of the first group G1 is delayed by T seconds. Further, when switching from type B to type A, the transport speed of type A is lower than that of type B, and the subsequent photosensitive material 27c does not catch up with the preceding photosensitive material 27c. After the preceding last photosensitive material 27c comes out from the bleach-fixing tank 45, the conveyance speed is switched from V1 to V2, and immediately thereafter, the subsequent type A photosensitive material 27c is put into the color developing tank 44 of the first group G1. .
[0046]
In this way, the development processing unit 19 is divided into a plurality of groups G1 and G2, and after the preceding photosensitive material 27c has passed through each group processing tank, the transport speed of the group processing tank that has been emptied through the group processing tank is set to the following. By switching to the conveyance speed corresponding to the photosensitive material 27c and shifting the timing of the next photosensitive material 27c as necessary, the switching time is shortened when the type of the photosensitive material 27c is switched and processed continuously. can do.
[0047]
In the above-described embodiment, the tanks 44 to 49 of the development processing unit 19 are divided into two groups G1 and G2. However, this division method is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the color developing tank 44, the bleach-fixing tank 45, and the water washing tanks 46 to 49 may be divided into three groups G1 to G3. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the water washing tanks 46 to 49 is divided into two groups G3 and G4 of a first and second water washing tanks 46 and 47 and a third and fourth water washing tanks 48 and 49. , It may be divided into 4 groups G1 to G4 as a whole. Although not shown, the color developing tank and the bleach-fixing tank may be divided into two groups, and the four groups G1 to G4 and the washing tank may be combined into five groups G1 to G5 as a whole. . Furthermore, you may divide a washing tank into 2 groups, a 1st and 2nd washing tank, and a 3rd and 4th washing tank, and may divide into 6 groups G1-G6 in total. In this way, by increasing the number of groups, it becomes possible to individually switch the speed for each group, and the switching time for continuously processing the photosensitive material 27c of different processing recipes is further shortened.
[0048]
In addition, a motor is provided for each group processing tank to switch the photosensitive material conveyance speed for each group processing tank. In addition, a clutch and a speed change mechanism are provided for each group processing tank. The photosensitive material conveyance speed may be switched.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, the type of the photosensitive material 27c is automatically determined from the bar code slips 30a and 30b provided on the magic guns 22a and 22b. However, the type of the photosensitive material 27c is automatically input by another method. May be. For example, a photosensitive material type mark may be provided on the magazine by a protrusion or a notch, and the position of this mark may be changed according to the type of photosensitive material. When a dedicated magazine is used for each type of photosensitive material, an ID chip consisting of a memory card provided in the magazine is read in a contact type or a non-contact type, and the type of the photosensitive material is determined based on this. Also good. Further, the ID chip may be embedded in the leading end portion of the photosensitive material or the leader portion of the photosensitive material instead of the magazine side. Further, the type may be determined by detecting a type mark, a type symbol, a type bar code, or the like provided on the back surface of the front end of the photosensitive material by these detecting means. Further, the type signal may be input by an operator's operation instead of the automatic input of the type signal. In this case, the type signal is input using an operation unit such as a keyboard or a mouse.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, the processing tanks 44 to 49 are divided into groups, and the photosensitive material conveyance speed in each group is changed in units of groups. However, considering the case where the photosensitive material remains in each of the tanks 44 to 49, the conveyance speed may be switched using both the standard time required for the passage and the detection signal from the jam sensor. As the jam sensor, a photosensitive material detection sensor disposed in the vicinity of each transport rack or transport roller is used. Then, the passage of the photosensitive material is detected based on the signal of the photosensitive material detection sensor, and it is determined that a paper jam occurs when the passage is not completed even after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0051]
In addition to the standard time and the combined use of the detection signal from the jam sensor, the photosensitive material in each of the tanks 44 to 49 is tracked, and the photosensitive material disappears in each of the tanks based on the tracking signal. This may be detected and the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material may be switched. As the tracking sensor, a photosensitive material detection sensor disposed in the vicinity of each transport rack or transport roller is used. Then, the passage of the photosensitive material is detected based on the signal of the photosensitive material detection sensor. Also, tracking is performed by using the distribution signal of the photosensitive material in the distribution unit 26 together.
[0052]
In the above-described embodiment, the development processing unit that develops the photosensitive material has been described as an example. In addition, a plurality of processing units are provided in the transport direction, and the image forming material is allowed to pass through the processing unit, so that the image The present invention may be implemented in an image forming apparatus of another recording method that forms the image.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the plurality of processing tanks are divided into a plurality of groups along the conveyance path of the image forming material, and at least the first group processing tank and the second group processing tank, and each group processing tank has an image. A type in which at least the first conveying means and the second conveying means capable of switching the conveying speed of the forming material and the conveying speed of this group follow after the last one of the preceding image forming materials has passed through each group processing tank. A transfer speed switching means for switching to a transfer speed corresponding to the image forming material of the image forming apparatus, so that when the image forming material having a different processing prescription is switched and continuously processed, the switching time associated with the change of the processing prescription is shortened. Can do.
[0054]
Further, when the subsequent image forming material is set at a higher conveyance speed than the preceding image forming material, the preceding image forming material is prevented from catching up with the preceding image forming material. The first group processing tank is V1, the transport speed of the subsequent image forming material is V2, the transport path length of the first group processing tank is L1, and the transport path length of the second group processing tank is L2. Jamming when the subsequent image forming material that has passed through the first group enters the second group by shifting the timing of feeding the subsequent image forming material to the lens by T (= L2 / V1-L1 / V2) It can be thrown in.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an input device and an output device embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of an output machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of a processing condition setting table for each type of photosensitive material.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view when a development processing unit is divided into two groups.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when continuously processing photosensitive materials of different types.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a photosensitive material is set.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view when a development processing unit is divided into three groups.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view when a development processing unit is divided into four groups.
[Explanation of symbols]
19 Development processing section
20 Drying section
21 Stacking unit
22a, 22b Magazine
25 Image recording unit
26 Sorting part
27a, 27b Long photosensitive material
27c Sheet-like photosensitive material
30a, 30b Barcode vote
31 Bar code reader
44 Color developer tank
45 Bleach fixing tank
46-49 washing tank
67, 68, 72 Rotary drive shaft
67a, 68a, 72a Transmission means
67b, 68b, 72b Drive motor
G1, G2 group

Claims (2)

It has a plurality of processing tanks connected in series in the conveyance direction of the image forming material, forms an image through the image forming material in the plurality of processing tanks, and the image forming materials used are a plurality of types having different processing prescriptions. An image forming processing apparatus that continuously performs these switching operations,
At least a first group processing tank and a second group processing tank, wherein the plurality of processing tanks are divided into a plurality of groups along the conveyance path of the image forming material;
For each group processing tank, at least a first transport unit and a second transport unit capable of switching the transport speed of the image forming material,
A transport speed switching means for switching the transport speed of the group to a transport speed corresponding to the subsequent type of image forming material after the last one of the preceding image forming materials has passed through each group processing tank; An image forming apparatus. The transport speed switching means is configured such that the transport speed of the preceding image forming material is V1, the transport speed of the subsequent image forming material is V2, the transport path length of the first group processing tank is L1, and the transport path length of the second group processing tank Is set to L2, and when the conveying speed V2 of the subsequent image forming material is higher than the conveying speed V1 of the preceding image forming material (V2> V1), the timing of feeding the subsequent image forming material to the first group processing tank The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein T is shifted by T (= L2 / V1−L1 / V2).

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