JP2006184926A - Processing agent replenishing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a processing agent replenishing apparatus in which high detergency can be assured, even when the water pressure is weak. <P>SOLUTION: When a cleaning fluid is supplied to a liquid flow path 38, the cleaning fluid flows to a diffusion section 96, while the cleaning fluid draws approximately two spiral flows along the two spiral grooves formed between a whirler 94 and an inner wall of the liquid flow path 38. In the diffusion section 96, substantially two spiral flows collide against each other and are stirred. The cleaning fluid, spreading in a conical form, is injected from a jet orifice 96 and cleans the interior of a vessel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a processing agent replenishing apparatus that is used in a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as an automatic developing machine and includes a replenishing tank for replenishing a processing liquid to a processing tank.

  An automatic processor or the like (for example, a film processor, a printer processor, etc.) used in a laboratory processes films and color paper. Films and color papers are processed in a plurality of processing tanks containing processing solutions and water for color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization.

  The component composition and amount of the treatment liquid in each tank change depending on the treatment of the film or color paper. Therefore, each processing tank is a system in which new liquid is replenished from the replenishing tank according to the amount of processing.

  Recently, in order to prevent contamination due to the processing agent to be charged into the replenishing tank, a processing agent replenishing apparatus that handles a container filled with the processing agent like a cartridge has been proposed, and by loading this container into an apparatus, The processing agent is automatically charged into the replenishing tank (see Patent Document 1).

  In the processing agent replenishing device, when a container is loaded on the door and the door is closed, the mouth of the container fits into the recess. At this time, the cleaning nozzle breaks through the plug that closes the mouth, and the processing agent filled in the container is allowed to flow out. The concave portion is connected to the replenishment tank by the liquid feeding pipe, and the treatment agent flowing out from the mouth flows into the replenishment tank. Next, the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle to clean the inside of the container, and the cleaning liquid after the cleaning is sent to the replenishing tank and used as a part of the diluted water.

In such a system, in order to ensure a high cleaning capability, it is necessary to use a commercially available high-pressure nozzle as the cleaning nozzle, and to configure the cleaning system piping with a high-pressure pump, a high-pressure piping, and a high-pressure joint tube. For this reason, it became the processing agent replenishment apparatus with a high manufacturing cost.
JP-A-9-54413

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a treatment agent replenishing device that is low in manufacturing cost even if high cleaning capability is ensured.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a replenishing tank in which a processing solution for replenishing a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material is stored, a receiving part into which a container is loaded and a processing agent flows out, and a processing agent that has flowed out into the receiving part In the processing agent replenishing apparatus, the nozzle for opening the mouth of the container and injecting the cleaning liquid into the container from the injection port is provided in the treatment agent replenishing apparatus. A warler provided with two spiral grooves that are arranged in the central portion of the fluid passage and that generates a spiral spiral between the fluid passage and the inner wall of the fluid passage. And a diffusion part that communicates with the injection port and stirs by colliding the substantially two spiral flows.

  With this configuration, when the cleaning liquid is fed to the liquid flow path, the cleaning liquid spreads along the two spiral grooves formed between the waller and the inner wall of the liquid flow path while drawing a spiral flow of approximately two lines. To the department. In this diffusing section, approximately two spiral flows collide with each other and are stirred, and the cleaning liquid spreading in a conical shape is sprayed from the spray port to clean the inside of the container.

  As described above, when approximately two spiral flows collide and are stirred, sufficient cleaning ability can be ensured even if the water pressure of the cleaning liquid fed to the liquid passage is low. For this reason, the cleaning system piping can be constituted by the low pressure pump, the low pressure piping, and the low pressure joint pipe, and the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the expansion angle of the injection port is 30 ° to 150 °, and the cleaning liquid pressure is 0.7 kgf / cm ² or more in terms of gauge pressure.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inside of the container can be sufficiently cleaned with the cleaning liquid by specifying the expansion angle of the injection port and the cleaning liquid pressure.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that a triangular rib having a cross shape when viewed from the axial direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle.

  In the invention of claim 3, by providing the triangular rib on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle, the flow of the treatment agent flowing out from the container is improved when the mouth is opened.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, sufficient cleaning ability can be ensured even when the water pressure of the cleaning liquid is low.

  The processor unit provided with the processing agent replenishing device according to the present embodiment is provided with a developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a washing tank, and develops the photographic paper conveyed from the printer unit. Yes.

  Here, the processing liquid replenished in the developing tank 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example. The developing tank 10 is replenished with a processing solution by a replenishing pump 16 through a pipe 14 connected to the bottom surface of the replenishing tank 12. A water supply pipe 18 is connected to the lower portion of the side wall of the replenishing tank 12, and the mouth reaches the replenishing tank 12.

  The water supply pipe 18 is provided with a check valve 20 so that the processing liquid in the replenishing tank 12 does not flow backward to the electromagnetic valve 22 side. Thus, by providing the check valve 20, the processing liquid does not flow back to the solenoid valve 22, and even a solenoid valve with low chemical resistance can be used.

  The water supply pipe 18 is provided with a water supply pump 24, and this water supply pump 24 sends the water in the water tank 26 to the electromagnetic valves 22 and 28. The solenoid valves 22 and 28 shown in FIG. 1 show a part of multiple solenoid valves, and do not require a distributor for switching the solenoid valves. Further, in order to compensate for the moisture reduced by evaporation, a water supply pump 24 can be substituted for a water replenishment system pump for the treatment tank if a pipe is connected to a part of the solenoid valve (not shown) and led to the treatment tank. The opening and closing of the solenoid valve 22 is controlled by a signal from the host sensor 30 described later. Further, if a limiter is provided at the upper limit portion of the replenishing tank 12 so that the water pump 24 can be interlocked, it is possible to prevent the replenishing tank from overflowing in the event of a trouble.

  On the other hand, a cleaning pipe 32 is disposed on the downstream side of the electromagnetic valve 28. A nozzle 34 having a high cleaning ability is attached to the downstream port portion of the cleaning pipe 32. The nozzle 38 is loaded with the mouth portion 38 of the bottle B filled with the processing agent for development facing downward. As shown in FIG. 7, the mouth portion 38 of the bottle B is sealed with a lid 48, and the treatment agent flows out from the mouth portion 38 to the liquid receiver 36 when pushed by the nozzle 34.

  Here, the lid 48 and the nozzle 34 will be described in detail.

  The lid 48 is a resin seal having a cross-shaped groove, and can be opened by the nozzle 34 with a force of 10 kgf or less. The opening force can be adjusted (decreased) depending on the depth and shape of the groove, but considering the sealing performance of the bottle B and the force acting on the nozzle 34, it is desirable to adjust to about 1 kgf to 6 kgf.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nozzle 34 includes a tubular body 90 having a liquid passage 88 at the core and to which a slide pipe 74 described later is connected. Triangular ribs 92 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular body 90 and have a cross shape when viewed from the axial direction. By providing the rib 92 in this manner, when the mouth portion 38 is opened, the flow of the processing agent flowing out from the bottle B is improved, and can be charged into the replenishing tank 12 in a short time. In the nozzle 34 of this example, 1300 mL of the processing agent can be charged in about 10 to 60 seconds. The charging time can be adjusted by a combination of the height of the rib and the tube diameter of the tube body 90.

  Furthermore, the liquid passage 88 is fitted with a warler 94 having two spiral grooves. A circular diffusing portion 96 smaller than the inner diameter (8 mmφ in this example) of the liquid passage 88 is provided on the tip side of the waller 94. The diffusion portion 96 communicates with the injection port 100 through a small diameter passage 98.

  With this configuration, when the cleaning liquid is fed to the liquid passage 88, the cleaning liquid draws approximately two spiral flows along the two spiral grooves formed between the waller 94 and the inner wall of the liquid passage 88. However, the diffusion part 96 is reached. In this diffusing section 96, approximately two spiral flows collide and are stirred, and a cleaning liquid (full cone type or holo cone type) spreading in a conical shape from the injection port 100 is injected through the small diameter passage 98 to clean the inside of the bottle B. .

As described above, since approximately two spiral flows collide with each other and are agitated, a sufficient cleaning ability can be ensured even when the water pressure of the cleaning liquid supplied to the nozzle 34 is low. For this reason, since the nozzle 34, the water pump 24, the cleaning pipe 32, the joint pipe, and the like can all be constructed with low pressure members having a gauge pressure of 3 kgf / cm ² or less, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus can be reduced. In this example, the inside of the bottle B can be sufficiently cleaned even when the cleaning liquid is fed at a low pressure of about 1 kgf / cm ² .

Further, the tip diameter D of the injection port 100 of the nozzle 34 is preferably 0.8 mm to 2.0 mm, and more preferably 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm. Moreover, although the expansion angle θ of the injection port 100 can be employed from 30 ° to 150 °, θ = 45 ° to 60 ° is preferable. Furthermore, the washing liquid pressure if 0.7 kgf / cm ² or more at a gauge pressure, but it is washable, is preferably 1.2 kgf / cm ² or more.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a door 50 is detachably attached to the loading portion 46 of the bottle B so as to close the opening of the loading portion 46 (the three doors shown in FIG. , Each door is loaded with a bottle filled with developer, bleach and fixer).

  On the back side of the door 46, brackets 52 project from the top, bottom, left, and right. Between the brackets 52, a prismatic bolt B is sandwiched with the mouth portion 38 facing downward. Further, on the inner wall 46A of the loading portion 46, a holder 54 is provided in which a plate material is horizontally projected and a circular concave portion 54A is formed on the free end side.

  The neck portion of the mouth portion 38 of the bottle B is engaged with the concave portion 54 </ b> A of the holder 54 to position the mouth portion 38 with respect to the nozzle 34. Further, a protrusion 56 is provided on the back side of the door 46, and is in contact with the side surface of the bottle B.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even when the bottle B is not accurately loaded in the bracket 52, the protruding amount of the protrusion 56 is such that when the door 50 is closed, the bottle B is pushed out and moved to a normal position. It is set so that the portion 38 can be held by the holder 54.

  Further, a hook 58 projects from the door 50. A lock pin 60 projects laterally from the tip of the hook 58. The lock pin 60 is engaged with a lock groove 64 provided at the tip of the lever 62 to lock the lid 50.

  The lever 62 is supported by a shaft body 66 so as to be swingable. A shaft 68 is hung upward by a spring 68 behind the shaft body 66. Further, a solenoid 70 is disposed behind the spring 68, and the plunger 72 hits the upper surface of the lever 62 to keep the lever 62 in a substantially horizontal state against the urging force of the spring 68. Yes.

  Here, when the door 50 is closed as in the state of FIG. 4 from the state of FIG. 3, the lock pin 60 hits the tapered surface 62A. Thus, when the lever 62 swings counterclockwise and the lock pin 60 is locked in the lock groove 64, the lever 62 returns to the original state by the urging force of the spring 68, and the door 50 is locked.

  On the other hand, to release the lock, when the solenoid 70 is excited and the plunger 72 is pushed down, the lever 62 swings counterclockwise about the shaft body 66 and the door 50 is opened.

  A slide pipe 74 passes through the bottom surface of the liquid receiver 36 provided below the loading unit 46. The nozzle 34 is connected to the upper opening of the slide pipe 74, and the cleaning pipe 32 is connected to the lower opening. A rack 76 is attached to the lower portion of the slide pipe 74 along the longitudinal direction. The rack 76 meshes with a pinion 80 that is rotated by a motor 78. With this configuration, when the pinion 80 is rotated, the slide pipe 74 moves up and down, and the nozzle 34 pushes and breaks the lid 48 of the bottle B.

  An overflow port 82 is formed in the side wall of the liquid receiver 36. An overflow pipe 84 is connected to the overflow port 82. The lower opening of the overflow pipe 84 reaches a liquid receiving tray 86 disposed on the lower surface of the apparatus, and is discharged to the liquid receiving tray 86 before the processing agent overflows from the liquid receiving 36. The overflow port 82 is provided at a position higher than the port portion 38 of the bolt B at the time of opening.

  Further, the upper mouth portion of the liquid feeding pipe 40 passes through the bottom wall of the liquid receiver 36. The lower opening of the liquid feeding pipe 40 is connected to the lower part of the side wall of the replenishing tank 12 so that the processing agent is fed into the replenishing tank 12.

  Further, the replenishing tank 12 has a cylindrical shape, and when water is injected into the replenishing tank 12, a vortex is generated to enhance the stirring effect. Further, in the replenishing tank 12, a circular floating lid 42 for preventing oxidation of the prepared processing liquid is disposed. This floating lid 42, coupled with the shape of the replenishing tank 12, minimizes the area in contact with air generated between the outer peripheral surface of the floating lid 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the replenishing tank 12. In addition, a lower sensor 44 is disposed in the replenishing tank 12 to manage the amount of processing agent fed from the liquid receiver 36.

  Next, the operation of the processing agent replenishing device according to this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the bottle B is loaded in the bracket 52 and the door 50 is closed, the lock pin 60 is locked in the lock groove 64 and the door 50 is locked. At this time, even if the bottle B is not correctly loaded, the protrusion 56 pushes out the bottle B and causes the holder 38 to hold the mouth 38 accurately.

  Here, the motor 78 is driven, the nozzle 34 rises, the lid 42 of the mouth portion 38 is opened, and the processing agent filled in the bottle B flows out to the liquid receiver 36. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the processing agent in the bottle B is introduced into the replenishing tank 12 through the liquid feeding pipe 40, and the floating lid 42 also rises together with the liquid level.

  At this time, even if the liquid feeding pipe 40 or the slide pipe 74 is clogged for some reason, the overflow port 82 is located higher than the port 38 of the bottle B. Since 38 becomes dense and air lock occurs, outflow from the mouth portion 38 stops. However, when cleaning is started due to some trouble, the processing agent is pushed out by the cleaning liquid and flows out to the liquid receiver 36. There is no dirt on the floor.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the water pump 24 is driven, the electromagnetic valve 28 is opened (see FIG. 1), and the water in the water tank 26 is passed as a cleaning liquid through the cleaning pipe 32 to the nozzle 34. The inside of the bottle B is washed with the jet water, and the electromagnetic valve 28 is closed. In this embodiment, the treatment agent filled in the bottle B is described as a liquid agent, but it may be a liquid agent or a solid agent, and water as a cleaning liquid may also be used as a cleaning agent to improve detergency. Good.

  Thus, the water which washed the bottle B is supplied into the replenishing tank 12 from the liquid receiver 36 through the liquid feeding pipe 40, and is used as a part of the processing agent dilution water.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the electromagnetic valve 22 is opened, and the water in the water tank 26 is injected into the replenishing tank 12 as dilution water through the water supply pipe 18. Due to this injection pressure and flow rate, a turbulent flow is generated in the replenishing tank 12 as shown in FIG. Then, the treatment agent and water as dilution water are uniformly stirred, and a treatment liquid with stable performance is obtained in the replenishing tank 12 as shown in FIG.

  For this reason, since it becomes unnecessary to provide a separate stirring device in the replenishing tank 12, the device can be configured simply. Moreover, since the specific gravity of the water as dilution water is smaller than a processing agent, since a processing agent is stirred while water rises by injecting water to the lower part of the replenishing tank 12, efficiency becomes still higher.

  Furthermore, the liquid feeding pipe 40 is connected to the lower portion of the replenishing tank 12 so that the processing agent having a large specific gravity stays in the lower layer, thereby further enhancing the stirring effect.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is a perspective view which shows the bottle loading part of the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is sectional drawing which shows the bottle loading part of the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is sectional drawing which shows the bottle loading part of the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is sectional drawing which shows the washing | cleaning state of the bottle of the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is sectional drawing of the nozzle of the processing agent replenishment apparatus which concerns on this form. It is a perspective view of the bottle with which the processing agent replenishing apparatus which concerns on this form is loaded.

Explanation of symbols

12 Replenishment tank 34 Nozzle 36 Liquid receiver (receiving part)
40 Liquid feed pipe (liquid feed means)
50 door 54 holder (support)
56 Projection 82 Overflow port 84 Overflow pipe (discharge means)
86 Liquid pan (Discharge means)
88 Fluid passage 94 Waller 96 Diffusion part

Claims (3)

A replenishing tank for storing a processing solution to be replenished to a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material, a receiving part in which a container is loaded and a processing agent flows out, and a liquid feeding means for sending the processing agent flowing out to the receiving part to the replenishing tank And a processing agent replenishing device comprising:
A nozzle that is provided in the receiving portion, opens the mouth of the container and injects the cleaning liquid into the container from the injection port,
Two spiral grooves that generate approximately two spiral flows are provided between a fluid passage that allows the cleaning liquid to flow to the injection port and an inner wall of the fluid passage that is disposed at the center of the fluid passage. A diffusing unit which is stirred by colliding the spiral flow of the approximately two strips with the waller and the injection port;
A treatment agent replenishing device characterized by comprising: ^2. The treatment agent replenishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an expansion angle of the injection port is 30 ° to 150 °, and a cleaning liquid pressure is 0.7 kgf / cm ² or more in terms of gauge pressure.   The processing agent replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a triangular rib having a cross shape when viewed from the axial direction is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle.

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