JP2007041070A - Photographic process apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To release an operator from troublesome manual work of squeezing a process liquid from a guide roller pair and to contribute to efficient and quick development. <P>SOLUTION: A photographic processing apparatus 10 is equipped with entrance side sponge rollers 72 to guide a photographic paper sheet R2 into the process tank 51 of an immersion processing device 50, the tank being charged with a process liquid to process the sheet, and exit side sponge rollers 73 to hold the processed photographic paper sheet R2 between them to guide the sheet R2 from the process tank 51, wherein the apparatus is equipped with a process liquid removing means 80 to remove the process liquid absorbed at least by the exit side sponge rollers 73. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In the present invention, a photographic film (hereinafter only referred to as a film) as a photosensitive material applied to a silver salt photographic system mainly composed of silver halide is subjected to a development process or is exposed to a developed film. The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus for performing development processing (printing processing) on photographic paper as a material.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photographic processing apparatus that performs development processing on photographic paper as described in Patent Document 1 is known. This photographic processing device sequentially stacks each frame (one screen) of the developed film on its exposure surface while pulling out a long photographic paper roll wound in a roll, and exposes it through the film. After performing an exposure process by irradiating the surface with light, the photographic paper is immersed in a predetermined developer in a developing tank to develop the photographic paper.

  The developed photographic paper is introduced into a fixing tank by driving a conveying means such as a conveying roller, and is subjected to a fixing process by being immersed in a predetermined fixing solution, and then washed with water in a washing tank. The fixer is removed. The photographic paper after the cleaning process is introduced into the drying chamber, dried by heat from a predetermined heat source (including blowing hot air), and then discharged to the outside.

  In such a photographic processing apparatus, the developing tank, the fixing tank, and the washing tank are configured to be vertically long and have a deep tank depth, and 2 in the tank extends in the photographic paper width direction orthogonal to the photographic paper transport direction. A plurality of transport rollers arranged in parallel in a row and a drive roller interposed between a pair of transport rollers facing each other in each row are provided.

  Further, a pair of guide rollers disposed in parallel with the transport rollers is provided at a position further above the uppermost one of the transport rollers in each row, and the photographic paper is one of the guide rollers that is driven to rotate. It is conveyed toward the inside of the tank while being sandwiched between the pair, and once sandwiched between the conveying roller and the driving roller in one row and then lowered by the driving of the conveying roller, and then sandwiched between the conveying roller and the driving roller in the other row It is going to rise while being done. The raised photographic paper is conveyed toward the next process while being sandwiched between the other guide roller pair that is driven and rotated.

  As described above, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, each of the development, fixing, and cleaning processing tanks formed in a vertically long shape is processed by being sequentially conveyed while meandering paper. go. In each tank, it is necessary to immerse the photographic paper in the treatment liquid over the time required for each treatment, and in particular, the cleaning process takes a long time.

Incidentally, although not explicitly disclosed in Patent Document 1, the guide roller pair on the side for discharging the photographic paper is usually formed of a sponge body. Then, the processing liquid adhering while the photographic paper passes between the guide roller pair is absorbed and removed by the guide roller pair, whereby the processing liquid accompanying the photographic paper from one processing tank to the next processing tank. The carry-in of is suppressed.
Japanese Patent No. 3478382

  However, when the development processing is repeated on the photographic paper, the pair of sponge-made guide rollers is filled with the absorbed processing liquid, and thereafter, there is a disadvantage that the ability to absorb the processing liquid from the photographic paper cannot be sufficiently exhibited. It was. Since the pair of guide rollers need to sandwich the photosensitive material, they are pressed against each other so that the sponge body is somewhat deformed, so that the effect of squeezing the processing solution is obtained to some extent. However, the sponge body has not been fully capable of exhibiting the inherent absorption capacity. As a result, the above-described conventional apparatus is not sufficiently effective in suppressing the carry-in of the processing liquid accompanying the photographic paper, the processing time required for the processing is increased, and the waiting time until the first print is output is increased. It had the problem that. This is an important problem for a store where a photo processing apparatus is installed in a store and a customer is allowed to wait for the store to provide a photo processing service, which also affects the customer attraction.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems, and provides a photographic processing apparatus capable of shortening the waiting time until the first photosensitive material is processed and output. It is aimed.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a photographic process comprising a plurality of processing tanks, wherein the photosensitive material is sequentially immersed in the processing liquid loaded in each processing tank, whereby the photosensitive material is sequentially processed with each processing liquid. A pair of rollers for sandwiching and guiding the photosensitive material from at least one of the plurality of processing tanks to the next processing tank, and the pair of guide rollers is a pair of cylindrical A processing liquid removing means is provided which is formed by a sponge roller and removes the processing liquid absorbed by at least one of the pair of sponge rollers from the peripheral edge of the air flow. It is.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the light-sensitive material is a film applied to a silver halide photographic system mainly composed of silver halide and a print subjected to development processing (printing processing) using a film that has been developed. It is used as a conceptual term that includes both paper.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the photosensitive material is sequentially immersed in the processing solutions stored in the plurality of processing tanks, so that the processing with each processing solution is sequentially performed on the photosensitive material. Then, a roller pair for sandwiching and guiding the photosensitive material from at least one processing tank to the next processing tank is provided, and the roller pair is formed by a pair of cylindrical sponge rollers. Therefore, when the photosensitive material is conveyed by driving the sponge roller while being sandwiched between a pair of sponge rollers, the processing liquid adhering to the front and back surfaces is absorbed and removed by the sponge roller, thereby cleaning the front and back surfaces. In the processed state, it is transported toward the next process, that is, the processing by the next processing tank.

  In addition to this, there is provided a processing liquid removing means for removing the processing liquid absorbed by at least one of the pair of sponge rollers by the flow of air using the fact that the sponge can easily pass air. By repeating the processing liquid removal operation by the removing means at every predetermined timing, the at least one sponge roller can be brought into a state capable of sufficiently absorbing the processing liquid. Even when the at least one sponge roller is only one sponge roller, the one sponge roller can also absorb the processing liquid of the other sponge roller. As a result, both of the pair of sponge rollers maintain a high ability to absorb the processing liquid.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the treatment liquid removing means is a suction means for sucking and removing the treatment liquid absorbed by the at least one sponge roller from the peripheral surface of the sponge roller. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, the processing liquid sucked by at least one sponge roller by driving the suction means is sucked and removed from the peripheral surface of the sponge roller. In other words, the treatment liquid is sucked and removed along with the flow of the sucked air.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the treatment liquid removing means blows off the treatment liquid by blowing air from the inside of the at least one sponge roller toward the peripheral surface. It is characterized by being.

  According to this configuration, air is blown toward the peripheral surface from the inside of at least one sponge roller by driving the air blowing means, so that the processing liquid absorbed by at least one sponge roller is applied to this blowing air flow. Along with the release, the processing liquid absorbed by at least one of the sponge rollers is removed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the air blowing means blows air toward a surface opposite to a surface on which the photosensitive material abuts on the at least one sponge roller. It is characterized by this.

  According to such a configuration, the air blown toward the peripheral surface from the inside of at least one sponge roller is directed to the surface where the photosensitive material does not contact, so that the photosensitive material is conveyed by the pair of sponge rollers. Even in a certain state, it does not go to the photosensitive material. Therefore, it becomes possible to remove the processing solution from the sponge roller while processing the photosensitive material with the processing solution, and the processing efficiency of the photosensitive material is improved by the amount that the processing of the photosensitive material need not be interrupted.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a control unit that controls a processing liquid removal operation of the processing liquid removing unit is provided, and the control unit is configured to control the at least one of A timing discriminating unit that discriminates the timing at which the sponge roller absorbs the processing liquid over a predetermined amount, and when the timing discriminating unit discriminates the arrival of the timing, the carrying of the photosensitive material into the processing tank is temporarily interrupted. An interruption signal output unit that outputs an interruption signal toward a predetermined transport unit, and a control signal that causes the processing liquid removal unit to perform an operation of removing the processing liquid after the interruption signal output unit outputs the interruption signal. And a control signal output unit that outputs the signal.

  According to this configuration, when the timing determination unit determines that the timing at which at least one sponge roller exceeds the predetermined amount and absorbs the processing liquid has arrived, the interruption signal output unit is based on the determination result of the timing determination unit. Since the interruption signal is output toward the predetermined conveying means, the conveying means temporarily stops carrying the photosensitive material into the processing tank. In this state, the control signal output unit outputs a control signal to cause the processing liquid removal means to perform the processing liquid removal operation, so that the processing liquid removal means to which the control signal is input is a predetermined processing liquid removal operation. As a result, the sponge roller returns to the state where the absorbed processing liquid is removed.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one sponge roller is both of the pair of sponge rollers.

  According to such a configuration, since the absorbed processing liquid is removed by the processing liquid removing unit for both the pair of sponge rollers, the ability of the pair of sponge rollers to absorb the processing liquid can be further enhanced.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of processing tanks include a developing tank for performing a developing process, a fixing tank for performing a fixing process, and a cleaning process. One or more cleaning tanks to be applied, and a processing tank next to the at least one processing tank includes at least one processing tank of the one or more cleaning tanks.

  According to this configuration, the processing liquid removing means is disposed on the pair of rollers for guiding the photosensitive material to at least one processing tank of the one or more cleaning processing tanks for performing the cleaning process on the photosensitive material following the development process and the fixing process. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the introduction of the processing liquid from the previous step into the at least one cleaning processing tank. As a result, the processing time is shortened for the cleaning processing that requires the longest processing time in a series of processing from the development processing to the cleaning processing.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the processing liquid removing means for removing the processing liquid absorbed by at least one of the pair of sponge rollers by the flow of air is provided, the processing liquid removal by the processing liquid removing means is provided. By repeating the operation at every predetermined timing, at least one of the sponge rollers can sufficiently absorb the processing liquid, and as a result, the pair of sponge rollers maintains a high ability to absorb the processing liquid. be able to. As a result, the carry-out of the processing solution accompanying the photosensitive material from at least one processing tank to the next processing tank is more effectively suppressed, and as a result, the processing time in the next processing tank can be shortened. Therefore, the waiting time until the first photosensitive material is processed and output can be shortened.

  In particular, since the processing liquid removing means removes the processing liquid to the outside of the sponge roller, the sponge roller is clogged by sucked dust or the like, unlike the case of sucking air to the core of the sponge roller by, for example, negative pressure. It is prevented.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the suction means for sucking and removing the processing liquid absorbed by the sponge roller from the peripheral surface of the sponge roller is adopted as the processing liquid removal means, the processing liquid is of a relatively simple structure. The processing liquid absorbed by the sponge roller can be removed by suction, which can contribute to reduction of the apparatus cost.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the air is blown from the inside of the sponge roller toward the peripheral surface by driving the air blowing means, the treatment liquid absorbed by the sponge roller is accompanied by this blowing air flow. Thus, the processing liquid that is discharged to the outside and absorbed by the sponge roller can be surely removed.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the air blown from the inside of the sponge roller toward the peripheral surface is directed to the surface where the photosensitive material does not contact, the photosensitive material is being conveyed by the sponge roller. Even if it is in a state, it does not go to the photosensitive material, so that it becomes possible to remove the processing liquid from the sponge roller while processing the photosensitive material with the processing liquid, and it is not necessary to interrupt the processing of the photosensitive material, The processing efficiency of the photosensitive material can be reliably improved.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the ability of the sponge roller to automatically absorb the processing liquid is maintained high by the control of the control means. Thereby, the processing time in the next processing tank can be shortened effectively.

  According to invention of Claim 6, the capability to absorb the process liquid of a pair of sponge roller can further be improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the processing time is shortened for the cleaning processing that requires the longest processing time among the series of processing from the development processing to the cleaning processing. Therefore, the waiting time until the first photosensitive material is processed and output is effectively shortened.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of the overall configuration of an embodiment of a photo processing apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a photographic processing apparatus 10 that performs a printing process on a long photographic paper R1 drawn from a photographic paper roll R as a photosensitive material is taken as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographic processing apparatus 10 includes an exposure processing unit 20 that performs an exposure process for each frame on a long photographic paper R1 drawn from a photographic paper roll R, and the exposure processing unit 20 performs exposure processing. A development processing unit 30 that performs development processing on the long photographic paper R1 that has been subjected to the above, and a drying processing unit 40 that performs drying processing on the long photographic paper R1 that has been processed by the development processing unit 30; Has a basic configuration.

  The exposure processing unit 20 detachably loads a recording medium such as a disk for storing image data, and reads a desired image data from the loaded recording medium, and an image formed on a film or photographic paper. A scanner 22 for directly reading, a display 23 for displaying the read image data as an image on a monitor, a test print carry-in unit 24 for testing the state of the photographic processing apparatus 10, and a predetermined density and color for the read image The basic configuration includes an operation unit (not shown) for performing various instructions such as a process instruction and a print instruction, and a control unit 25 that performs a predetermined process on the image data to be printed and outputs a processed image. Have.

  In the exposure processing unit 20, a magazine 26 (a first magazine 261 and a second magazine 262) that stores a long photographic paper R <b> 1 wound around an appropriate position in the housing 201 is exchangeably mounted. A predetermined number of light shielding members are arranged at appropriate positions of the first and second magazines 261 and 262, and a plurality of housings of the exposure processing unit 20 to which the first and second magazines 261 and 262 are mounted are provided. Sensors 263 and 264, each of which is a photo interrupter, are provided, and by detecting which sensor 263 or 264 is shielded by the light shielding member, the type of photographic paper including the magazine type, that is, the size, can be recognized. . The photographic paper is a thin layer support formed of a resin or the like, and an emulsion layer and a coating layer are formed on one side thereof. The emulsion layer is formed in layers of dyes and pigments that develop red, blue, and green colors at the exposed position with the developer described later, and is commonly used as photographic printing paper. Has been.

  In the housing 201, a conveyance path is formed for transferring the long photographic paper R1 selectively fed out from the photographic paper roll R mounted on the first and second magazines 261 and 262 from the merge position toward the downstream side. At the same time, along this transport path, a pair of transport rollers 265 and 266 that are rotationally driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) made of a motor or the like (the first transport roller pair 265 upstream of the cutter 27 described later, A second conveying roller pair 266) is disposed at a predetermined pitch on the downstream side. On the conveyance path that is directed downstream from the confluence position of the conveyance paths of the first and second magazines 261 and 262, a belt having a posture facing the conveyance path and having a predetermined size from the strip-shaped long photographic paper R1. A cutter 27 as a photographic paper cutting device for creating the sheet R2 and an exposure device 28 for optically exposing the image data input from the exposure processing unit 20 onto the surface of the photographic paper sheet R2 by line exposure, for example, are provided.

  In the present embodiment, the cutter 27 is disposed at an upstream position of the exposure device 28. The cutter 27 cuts the strip-shaped long photographic paper R1 into a photographic paper sheet R2 of a predetermined size. For example, a sensor (for example, a drive mechanism (for example, a drive mechanism)) detects photographic size information from the scanner 22 and a transfer amount of the photographic paper. The cutting operation is performed every time a predetermined amount is transferred based on the output information from the number of driving pulses to the motor).

  The exposure device 28, for example, optically modulates laser beams from RGB laser generators for each color according to image density information, and in the width direction on the surface of the photographic paper sheet R2 via a polygon mirror or the like. Line scanning is performed, and a two-dimensional color image is exposed on the sheet surface by transferring the photographic paper sheet R2.

  The development processing unit 30 performs development processing on the photographic paper sheet R2 fed from the exposure processing unit 20, and the exposure strength is increased by continuously immersing the photographic paper sheet R2 in a predetermined developer. A developing unit 31 for displaying an image corresponding to the fixing unit 32, a fixing unit 32 for performing a fixing process by immersing the photographic paper sheet R2 in which the developing process is completed in a predetermined fixing solution, and the fixing unit The cleaning unit 33 is configured to perform a cleaning process by continuously immersing the photographic paper sheet R2 in which the fixing process has been completed in the unit 32 in cleaning water.

  An immersion processing device 50 having the same configuration is applied to the developing unit 31, the fixing unit 32, and the cleaning unit 33. The immersion treatment apparatus 50 employs one tank for the developing unit 31 and the fixing unit 32 and three tanks for the cleaning unit 33. The immersion treatment apparatus 50 will be described in detail later.

  In the fixing solution, a bleaching solution for changing silver such as a silver image into a silver salt such as silver halide is mixed. Further, the washing water is mixed with a stabilizing liquid for stabilizing the color image.

  The drying processing unit 40 performs drying processing on the photographic paper sheet R <b> 2 that has been cleaned by the cleaning unit 33, and is provided above the cleaning unit 33. The drying processing unit 40 includes a plurality of conveyance roller pairs 41 provided in series in the vertical direction, and an energization heating element 42 that supplies heat for drying disposed opposite to the conveyance roller pairs 41 to the photographic paper sheet R2. And a discharge conveyor 43 for discharging the photographic paper sheet R2 dried by the energization heating element 42 to the next process.

  The energization heating element 42 is disposed so as to face the developed surface (that is, the front surface side) of the photographic paper sheet R2 conveyed upward, thereby preferentially over the front surface side of the photographic paper sheet R2. Is dried.

  2 and 3 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the immersion treatment apparatus 50. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the treatment rack with the overhead rack removed is pulled out of the treatment tank, and FIG. 3 shows the overhead rack. Each of the attached processing racks is shown in a state where it is attached to the processing tank. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2 to 4, the XX direction is referred to as the left-right direction, and the Y-Y direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. In particular, the -X direction is leftward, the + X direction is rightward, the -Y direction is forward, and the + Y direction is forward. It is called the back.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the immersion treatment apparatus 50 includes a treatment tank 51 in which a treatment liquid is loaded, a treatment rack 60 that is detachably mounted in the treatment tank 51, and the treatment rack 60. An overhead rack 70 detachably mounted on the top and processing liquid removing means 80, 80a, 80b (FIG. 6) for removing processing liquid absorbed by an outlet-side sponge roller 73, which will be described later, built in the overhead rack 70. Referring to FIG. 8, the processing liquid removing means 80 is configured according to the first embodiment, the processing liquid removing means 80a is according to the second embodiment, and the processing liquid removing means 80b is according to the third embodiment. Has been. The treatment liquid removing means 80, 80a, and 80b are not shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 at the same time, and are not shown for convenience because they are complicated and difficult to understand. However, this will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS.

  The processing solution is a developer when the immersion processing device 50 is for the developing unit 31, and is a fixing solution when the immersion processing device 50 is for the fixing unit 32, and the immersion processing device. When 50 is for the cleaning section 33, it is cleaning water.

  The processing tank 51 is formed of a synthetic resin container having a bottomed and vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape having an attachment / detachment opening 511 on the upper surface. The processing tank 51 is dimensioned so that a space in which a predetermined amount of processing liquid set in advance can be filled between the processing racks 60 in a state where the processing rack 60 is mounted in the processing tank 51. .

  The processing rack 60 includes an insertion portion 61 that is inserted into the processing tank 51 and an exposed portion 62 that extends upward from the upper end of the insertion portion 61. Between the insertion portion 61 and the exposed portion 62, a flange 601 having a sealing function formed in an annular shape over the entire circumference of the processing rack 60 is provided. Then, by inserting the insertion portion 61 into the processing tank 51 through the attachment / detachment opening 511, the flange 601 stops against the upper edge of the processing tank 51 over the entire circumference, thereby sealing the inside of the processing tank 51. It is made to become a state.

  The insertion portion 61 has a pair of side plate members 63 in the left-right direction. Between the pair of side plate members 63, a horizontal partition wall 602 is installed between the pair of side plate members 63 so as to divide the upper and lower sides. ing. Between the pair of side plate members 63 below the horizontal partition wall 602, a plurality of large-diameter conveying rollers 64 arranged in multiple stages at equal pitches in the vertical direction are installed at the center position in the front-rear direction. The small-diameter conveyance rollers 65 are installed in two rows so as to sandwich the large-diameter conveyance rollers 64.

  The large diameter conveying roller 64 is rotatably supported around a large diameter roller shaft 641 provided between a pair of side plate members 63, and the small diameter conveying roller 65 is provided between a pair of side plate members 63. The small-diameter roller shaft 650 is rotatably supported around the small-diameter roller shaft 650. The photographic paper sheet R2 introduced into the insertion portion 61 via the exposed portion 62 is inserted between the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 whose leading end is positioned at the top and the small-diameter conveyance roller 65 on the front side. The roller is lowered by driving rotation around each roller shaft (large diameter roller shaft 641 and small diameter roller shaft 650) of the diameter conveying roller 64 and the small diameter conveying roller 65, and is sequentially inserted between the large diameter conveying roller 64 and the small diameter conveying roller 65 in the lower stage. It has come to be.

  Incidentally, in the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the large-diameter conveying roller 64 is rotated counterclockwise around the axis, while the small-diameter conveying roller 65 in the front row rotates clockwise around the axis. As a result, the photographic paper sheet R2 sandwiched between the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 and the small-diameter conveyance roller 65 at a position in front of the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 is lowered.

  When the leading edge of the photographic paper sheet R2 reaches the lowermost large-diameter conveying roller 64, the leading edge is stretched between the rotation of the lowermost large-diameter conveying roller 64 and the small-diameter conveying rollers 65 before and after the lowermost stage. The endless belt 651 (FIG. 4) is guided around and folded back upward, and thereafter, while passing between each large-diameter conveyance roller 64 and each small-diameter conveyance roller 65 on the rear side, It rises by being guided by the rotation, and is led out to the outside through the exposed portion 62.

  Incidentally, each small-diameter conveying roller 65 is urged toward the large-diameter conveying roller 64 opposed by the urging force of the urging means (not shown), and the respective peripheral surfaces are in a state of being pressed against each other. The photographic paper sheet R2 sandwiched between the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 and the small-diameter conveyance roller 65 can be reliably conveyed by the drive rotation of both.

  The overhead rack 70 is for guiding the photographic paper sheet R2 fed from the front into the processing tank 51 while being mounted on the top of the processing rack 60. From the horizontal partition wall 602 of the processing rack 60, the overhead rack 70 is provided. The dimension is set so that it can be fitted between the pair of side plate members 63 in the upper position.

  The overhead rack 70 includes a casing 71, a pair of inlet-side sponge rollers (a pair of inlet-side guide rollers) 72 mounted on the front side of the casing 71, and a pair of outlet-side sponges mounted on the rear side. And a roller (exit side guide roller pair) 73. In the present invention, in particular, the processing liquid removing means 80, 80a, 80b for removing the processing liquid absorbed by the pair of outlet side sponge rollers 73 from the front and back surfaces of the photographic paper sheet R2 on the rear side of the casing 71 (FIG. 6). To FIG. 8).

  The casing 71 includes a bottom plate 711 (FIG. 4), a front plate 712 fixed to the front edge of the bottom plate 711, a rear plate 713 fixed to the rear edge of the bottom plate 711, and the front plate 712. And a pair of side plates 714 arranged in the left-right direction between the rear plate 713 and the rear plate 713. The bottom plate 711 is provided with an inverted U-shaped wall 715 (see FIG. 4) having an inverted U shape in a cross-sectional view formed by bulging upward in the center in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the inverted U-shaped wall 715 is an open end. Incidentally, the inverted U-shaped wall 715 has a function as a handle when the processing rack 60 is attached to and detached from the processing tank 51.

  On the other hand, the horizontal partition wall 602 of the processing rack 60 is provided with a partition wall 603 extending in the left-right direction at the center position in the front-rear direction. The partition wall 603 is dimensioned so that it can be fitted into the inverted U-shaped wall 715 of the overhead rack 70. Accordingly, by mounting the overhead rack 70 on the processing rack 60 so that the inverted U-shaped wall 715 is fitted into the partition wall 603, the overhead rack 70 is positioned between the pair of side plate members 63 at the top of the overhead rack 70 in a positioned state. It comes to be installed.

  In such an overhead rack 70, the front plate 712 is provided with a receiving opening 74 extending in the left-right direction for receiving the photographic paper sheet R2 into the overhead rack 70, and the rear plate 713 has been processed. A payout opening 75 (FIG. 4) for paying out the photographic paper sheet R2 to the outside is provided. The receiving opening 74 is provided at a position facing the contact position of the pair of inlet side sponge rollers 72, and the payout opening 75 is opposed to the contact position of the pair of outlet side sponge rollers 73. In the position.

  Further, the horizontal partition wall 602 of the processing rack 60 extends in the left-right direction for introducing the photographic paper sheet R2 drawn into the overhead rack 70 by driving the inlet-side sponge roller 72 to the front side. In addition, a lead-out opening 604 (FIG. 4) for leading the processed photographic paper sheet R2 toward the outlet-side sponge roller 73 is provided on the rear side.

  In the present embodiment, a driving force for driving and rotating the large-diameter conveying roller 64, the small-diameter conveying roller 65, the pair of inlet-side sponge rollers 72, and the pair of outlet-side sponge rollers 73 in the processing rack 60. A transmission mechanism 66 is attached. Hereinafter, the driving force transmission mechanism 66 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the upper portion of the immersion treatment apparatus 50 showing an embodiment of the driving force transmission mechanism 66. The direction display by X in FIG. 5 is the same as in FIG. 2 (−X: leftward, + X: rightward).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the driving force transmission mechanism 66 includes a driving gear 661 having an axial center extending in the left-right direction through which a driving force from a predetermined driving source is transmitted from outside via a gear (not shown). A first bevel gear 662 and a first transmission gear 663 that rotate concentrically with the drive gear 661, a second transmission gear 664 that meshes with the first transmission gear 663 at the bottom, and a single rotation that is concentric with the second transmission gear 664 A third transmission gear 665, a second bevel gear 666 that meshes with the first bevel gear 662 and rotates about an axis extending in the vertical direction, and a third bevel gear 667 that rotates concentrically with the second bevel gear 666. And a fourth bevel gear 668 that meshes with the third bevel gear 667 and rotates about an axis extending in the left-right direction.

  The drive gear 661 is provided outside the central portion of the exposed portion 62 of the processing rack 60 in the front-rear direction of the right side plate member 63 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 5). It is pivotally supported around an input shaft 671 installed between the side plate members 63 so as to be integrally rotatable.

  The first bevel gear 662 is fitted and fixed to the input shaft 671 concentrically with the gear surface facing leftward in the gear chamber 631 in the right side plate member 63, and can rotate integrally around the input shaft 671.

  The first transmission gear 663 is concentrically fitted and fixed to the input shaft 671 on the left side of the first bevel gear 662 in the gear chamber 631 of the right side plate member 63, and can rotate integrally around the input shaft 671.

  The second transmission gear 664 is parallel to the input shaft 671 penetrating through the left wall surface of the gear chamber 631 in a state of meshing with the first transmission gear 663 at a position directly below the first transmission gear 663 in the gear chamber 631. It is concentrically fitted and fixed to the relay shaft 672 so that it can rotate integrally around the relay shaft 672.

  The third transmission gear 665 rotates the pair of inlet-side sponge rollers 72 and outlet-side sponge rollers 73 (FIG. 2), and is concentric with the relay shaft 672 on the left side of the left wall surface of the gear chamber 631. It is externally fitted so as to be integrally rotatable, and can be integrally rotated via the second transmission gear 664 and the relay shaft 672.

  On the other hand, each of the pair of inlet side sponge rollers 72 has a sponge roller gear 722 that is concentrically and externally fitted to the right end of a roller shaft 721 that is concentrically supported and meshed with each other. is doing. The pair of outlet-side sponge rollers 73 have sponge roller gears 732 that are concentrically and externally fitted to the right end portion of a roller shaft 731 that is concentrically supported and meshed with each other. is doing. The upper parts of the pair of sponge roller gears 722 and 732 are respectively meshed with the third transmission gear 665 as shown in FIG.

  Accordingly, when the third transmission gear 665 rotates around the relay shaft 672 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3, this rotation is transmitted to the one on each sponge roller gear 722, 732, and each sponge roller on these Since the lower sponge roller gears 722 and 732 engaged with the gears 722 and 732 rotate in the reverse direction, the pair of entrance-side sponge rollers 72 eventually draws the photographic paper sheet R2 into the overhead rack 70. The pair of outlet-side sponge rollers 73 rotate in the opposite directions so as to discharge the photographic paper sheet R2 from the overhead rack 70 while rotating in the opposite directions.

  The second bevel gear 666 and the third bevel gear 667 are provided so that the large-diameter conveying roller 64 and the small-diameter conveying roller 65 are driven to rotate. The second bevel gear 666 meshes with the drive gear 661 at a position directly below the input shaft 671 in the gear chamber 631 of the side plate member 63. The second bevel gear 666 is supported by a top portion of a bevel gear shaft 673 extending from the gear chamber 631 through the horizontal partition wall 602 and extending downward so as to be integrally rotatable about the axis.

  On the other hand, a plurality of third bevel gears 667 are provided at positions corresponding to the right end of each large-diameter conveyance roller 64 according to the number of stages of the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 provided in the insertion portion 61 of the processing rack 60. . Each of the third bevel gears 667 is pivotally supported by the bevel gear shaft 673 so as to be integrally rotatable with the gear surface facing downward.

  The fourth bevel gear 668 is for transmitting the rotation of the third bevel gear 667 to the large-diameter conveying roller 64, and the large-diameter roller shaft 641 is engaged with the third bevel gear 667 with the gear surface facing rightward. It is pivotally supported by the right end of the shaft so as to be integrally rotatable.

  In order to transmit the rotation of the large-diameter conveying roller 64 to the small-diameter conveying roller 65, the large-diameter roller shaft 641 has a large-diameter conveying roller at a position immediately to the left of the left wall portion 63 of the right side plate member 63 in the insertion portion 61. 64, a large-diameter gear 642 that is concentrically and externally fitted so as to be integrally rotatable is provided on the small-diameter roller shaft 650 of each pair of small-diameter conveying rollers 65 facing the large-diameter conveying roller 64. A small-diameter gear 652 that meshes with 642 is provided concentrically and integrally rotatable. The large-diameter gear 642 has an effective diameter dimension (diameter dimension of a friction circle) set to be the same as that of the large-diameter conveying roller 64, and an effective diameter dimension of the small-diameter gear 652 is that of the small-diameter conveying roller 65. The size is set to be the same as the size, so that the peripheral speeds of the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 and the small-diameter conveyance roller 65 are the same.

  According to the driving force transmission mechanism 66 configured as described above, when the driving force from a predetermined driving source is transmitted to the driving gear 661, the driving rotation of the driving gear 661 is transmitted through the input shaft 671 to the first bevel gear. 662 and the first transmission gear 663. When the first transmission gear 663 rotates, this rotation is transmitted to the third transmission gear 665 via the second transmission gear 664 and the relay shaft 672, and the third transmission gear 665 rotates around the relay shaft 672.

  The rotation of the third transmission gear 665 is transmitted to the sponge roller gear 722 above the pair of entrance-side sponge rollers 72 (FIG. 2) and the lower sponge roller gear 722 meshing therewith. Is transmitted to the sponge roller gear 732 above the outlet side sponge roller 73 and the lower sponge roller gear 732 engaged therewith, so that the pair of inlet side sponge rollers 72 are directed in opposite directions. While rotating around the shaft 721, the pair of outlet side sponge rollers 73 also rotate around the roller shaft 731 in opposite directions.

  On the other hand, the rotation of the second bevel gear 666 meshing with the first bevel gear 662 is transmitted to each third bevel gear 667 via the bevel gear shaft 673, whereby each third bevel gear 667 rotates integrally around the bevel gear shaft 673. . The integral rotation of each third bevel gear 667 is transmitted to the large-diameter gear 642 of each large-diameter conveying roller 64 via the fourth bevel gear 668 meshing with the third bevel gear 667, thereby each large-diameter conveying roller. 64 rotates around the large-diameter roller shaft 641. This rotation causes the large-diameter conveying roller 64 to rotate integrally with the large-diameter gear 642.

  The rotation of each large-diameter gear 642 is transmitted to each pair of small-diameter gears 652 that mesh with the large-diameter gear 642, and the small-diameter gear 652 is rotated by the rotation of the small-diameter gear 652 in the opposite direction to the large-diameter conveyance roller 64. Rotates at the same peripheral speed.

  Accordingly, when the gears of the driving force transmission mechanism 66 rotate as described above, the inlet-side sponge roller 72, the outlet-side sponge roller 73, the large-diameter conveying roller 64, and the small-diameter conveying roller 65 are driven in predetermined directions, respectively. In a rotated state, the photographic paper sheet R2 received from the exposure processing unit 20 through the receiving opening 74 (FIG. 4) into the immersion processing apparatus 50 is first lowered while being sandwiched between the pair of inlet side sponge rollers 72. It is directed and introduced into the processing tank 51 through the introduction opening 604.

  Then, the photographic paper sheet R2 introduced into the processing tank 51 first has the uppermost large-diameter conveying roller 64 rotating in the opposite direction at the same peripheral speed and the upstreammost (front in FIG. 4) outermost sheet. It is sandwiched between the upper small-diameter conveyance roller 65 (in the example shown in FIG. 4, the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 rotates counterclockwise and the small-diameter conveyance roller 65 rotates clockwise). In this state, the sheet is conveyed downward, reaches the lowest large-diameter conveyance roller 64, and then is folded back upward. This time, the large-diameter conveyance roller 64 and the downstream (rear in FIG. 4) small-diameter conveyance roller Ascending while being pinched by 65. During the up and down movement, the photographic paper sheet R2 is subjected to predetermined processing by the processing liquid loaded in the processing tank 51.

  Then, the photographic paper sheet R2 that has passed between the uppermost large-diameter conveying roller 64 and the small-diameter conveying roller 65 is guided by these driving rotations while being sandwiched between the pair of outlet-side sponge rollers 73, and passes through the dispensing opening 75. It is sent to the next process through.

  Hereinafter, the processing liquid removing units 80, 80a, and 80b according to the first to third embodiments will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing liquid removing means 80 according to the first embodiment, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a sectional view taken along line BB of (A). The direction display by X and Y in FIG. 6 is the same as in FIG. 2 (X is the left-right direction (−X: leftward, + X: rightward), Y is the front-back direction (−Y: forward, + Y: backward). )).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the processing liquid removing means 80 according to the first embodiment includes a pair of upper and lower suction hoods (attached to a pair of upper and lower outlet-side sponge rollers 73 (upper sponge roller 73a and lower sponge roller 73b) ( Suction means) 81 (upper suction hood 81a and lower suction hood 81b), suction pipes 82 (upper suction pipe 82a and lower suction pipe 82b) provided on each of the pair of upper and lower suction hoods 81, and the suction A liquid remover 83 provided in the pipe 82 and a suction blower 84 provided in the suction pipe 82 on the downstream side of the liquid remover 83 are provided.

  The suction hood 81 has a length that can cover the outlet-side sponge roller 73, and is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape so that the suction pipe 82 side is tapered in an end view. The suction hood 81 is installed between a pair of left and right end face plates 811 formed in an arc shape so that the bottom side is along the peripheral surface of the outlet-side sponge roller 73, and the tip edge portions of the pair of end face plates 811. A top plate 812 and a pair of side plates 813 extending in the front-rear direction between the side edges of the pair of end face plates 811 are provided, and a long opening 814 facing the peripheral surface of the outlet side sponge roller 73 is provided on the base end side. is doing.

  The upper suction hood 81a is arranged with the long opening 814 facing the upper peripheral surface of the upper sponge roller 73a, and the lower suction hood 81b has the long opening 814 of the lower sponge roller 73b. It arrange | positions in the state facing the lower peripheral surface.

  The suction pipe 82 includes a suction main pipe 821 disposed along the top plate 812 of the suction hood 81, and a plurality of suction pipes 821 provided between the suction main pipe 821 and the top board 812 at an equal pitch. And a suction branch pipe 822. The suction main pipe 821 of the upper suction pipe 82a and the suction main pipe 821 of the lower suction pipe 82b are joined together at the downstream end to form a joining pipe 823, and the liquid remover 83 and the suction blower 84 are connected in series to the joining pipe 823. Is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid remover 83 employs an inertial gas-liquid separator in which a plurality of baffle plates are alternately provided so as to cross the flow path in the casing. Instead of the inertia type, a circle center separation type or a liquid adsorption removal type using an adsorbent that adsorbs the liquid may be employed.

  According to the processing liquid removing means 80 of the first embodiment, the suction hood 81 is driven to a negative pressure by driving the suction blower 84, so that the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet side sponge roller 73 is attracted to this negative pressure. Then, it is sucked from the inside of the outlet side sponge roller 73 to the outside. Then, the processing liquid sucked outside from the inside of the outlet-side sponge roller 73 is accompanied by the air sucked into the suction hood 81 through the gap between the peripheral surface of the outlet-side sponge roller 73 and the suction hood 81, and sucked. The liquid is introduced into the liquid remover 83 through the branch pipe 822, the suction main pipe 821 and the merge pipe 823, and is separated and collected here. The air from which the processing liquid has been removed is exhausted to the outside through the suction blower 84.

  As described above, according to the processing liquid removing unit 80 of the first embodiment, the suction blower 84 is always driven while the photographic processing apparatus 10 is in operation, so that it is absorbed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73. Since the processing liquid is always removed by suction, the ability of the outlet-side sponge roller 73 to remove the processing liquid adhering to the photographic paper sheet R2 can be maintained high.

  7A and 7B are views showing a processing liquid removing unit 80a according to the second embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a partially cutaway perspective view, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. . The direction display by X and Y in FIG. 7 is the same as in FIG. 2 (X is the left-right direction (−X: leftward, + X: rightward), Y is the front-rear direction (−Y: forward, + Y: rearward). )).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the treatment liquid removing unit 80a of the second embodiment corresponds to an air blowing shaft (air blowing unit) 85 (upper sponge roller 73a) that functions as the roller shaft 731 of the outlet side sponge roller 73. The lower air blowing shaft 85b) corresponding to the upper air blowing shaft 85a and the lower sponge roller 73b) and a pressure blower 86 for blowing air into these air blowing shafts 85 are configured. The air blowing shaft 85 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is hollow inside.

  The air blowing shaft 85 is provided with a large number of air blowing holes 851 formed at predetermined pitches over the entire circumference and the entire length in a portion covered with the outlet side sponge roller 73. Accordingly, when air is supplied to the upper air blowing shaft 85a and the lower air blowing shaft 85b by driving the pressure feed blower 86, this air enters the upper sponge roller 73a and the lower sponge roller 73b through many air blowing holes 851. Then, the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet side sponge roller 73 is accompanied and discharged to the outside.

  As described above, according to the processing liquid removing unit 80a of the second embodiment, the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73 can be blown by driving the pressure-feeding blower 86. The processing liquid can be easily removed from the outlet-side sponge roller 73 by driving the pressure-feed blower 86 aiming at a gap between the outlets.

  Further, the processing liquid removing means 80a of the second embodiment is composed of only the air blowing shaft 85 and the pressure feed blower 86 and has a very simple structure, so that the cost of the apparatus can be reduced and the outlet side sponge roller 73 can be reduced. Ensuring the treatment liquid absorption capability can be realized.

  Incidentally, the driving force of the driving motor M provided at an appropriate position of the photographic processing apparatus 10 is applied to the sponge roller gear 732 by the driving gear 661, the first transmission gear 663, the second transmission gear 664, and the third transmission gear 665. However, the same applies to the case where the processing liquid removal means (processing liquid removal means 80 and processing liquid removal means 80b) of other embodiments is applied.

  8A and 8B are views showing a processing liquid removing unit 80b according to the third embodiment, where FIG. 8A is a partially cutaway perspective view, FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of (a). The direction display by X and Y in FIG. 8 is the same as in FIG. 2 (X is the left-right direction (−X: leftward, + X: rightward), Y is the front-rear direction (−Y: forward, + Y: rearward). )).

  The processing liquid removing means 80b of the third embodiment is composed of an air discharge shaft 87 having the function of the roller shaft 731 of the outlet-side sponge roller 73, and a pressure feed blower 86 that pumps air to the air discharge shaft 87. However, the processing liquid removing unit 80b of the third embodiment blows air only in a predetermined direction without rotating the air discharge shaft 87. This is different from the processing liquid removing means 80a of the second embodiment.

  The processing liquid removing unit 80b of the third embodiment includes a pair of upper and lower air discharge shafts 87 (an upper air discharge shaft 87a and a lower air discharge shaft) that function as the roller shafts 731 of the pair of outlet side sponge rollers 73. 87b) and a pressure blower 86 that pumps air to the upper and lower air discharge shafts 87a and 87b.

  Each of the air discharge shafts 87 is provided with a long air discharge port 871 extending in the longitudinal direction on the opposite side of the peripheral surface of the sponge roller 73 to the side where the photographic paper sheet R2 contacts. Therefore, the air blown out from the long air discharge port 871 does not go to the photographic paper sheet R2 with which the outlet side sponge roller 73 is in contact.

  On the other hand, each outlet-side sponge roller 73 (upper sponge roller 73a and lower sponge roller 73b) has an annular gap formed between its inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the air discharge shaft 87 in this embodiment. Thus, the air discharge shaft 87 can rotate around the air discharge shaft 87 (that is, relative rotation) without rotating.

  In order to realize such a structure, in this embodiment, the outlet-side sponge roller 73 is fitted with roller support disks 88 concentrically at both ends thereof, and air can be rotated relative to each other via the pair of roller support disks 88. The discharge shaft 87 is externally fitted. The inner diameter dimension of the roller support disk 88 is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter dimension of the outlet side sponge roller 73.

  Each of the roller support disks 88 has a disk main body 881 whose outer diameter is set to be the same as the outer diameter of the outlet-side sponge roller 73, and an outer diameter that is concentrically projected from the opposing surface of each disk main body 881. Consists of a protruding cylinder 882 set slightly larger than the inner diameter of the outlet side sponge roller 73. An annular recess 883 is concentrically provided in the disc body 881, and a bearing 884 is attached to the annular recess 883.

  The outlet-side sponge roller 73 is externally fitted to the air discharge shaft 87 via a roller support disk 88 and a bearing 884 so that the outlet-side sponge roller 73 can smoothly rotate relative to the air discharge shaft 87. The sponge roller gear 732 is concentrically fixed to the surface of the roller support disk 88 opposite to the protruding cylinder 882.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the upper air discharge shaft 87a is phase-set so that the long air discharge port 871 faces upward, and the lower air discharge shaft 87b The phase is set so that the outlet 871 faces downward, and the air blown out from the long air discharge port 871 to the photographic paper sheet R2 in a state where the photographic paper sheet R2 is sandwiched between the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b. Is made so as not to win.

  Therefore, according to the processing liquid removing means 80b of the third embodiment, the processing liquid absorbed by the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b is moved around the upper and lower air discharge shafts 87a and 87b by the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b, respectively. The processing liquid blown off is sandwiched between the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b after being uniformly led out to the outside accompanying the air blown out from the long air discharge port 871. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of such inconveniences on the photographic paper sheet R2 being conveyed. Therefore, the processing liquid removal operation from the outlet-side sponge roller 73 by the processing liquid removing means 80b can be executed regardless of whether the photographic processing apparatus 10 is in operation or not, and the photographic processing apparatus 10 can be efficiently operated. It is effective in planning.

  The drive control for the processing liquid removing unit 80a of the second embodiment by the control unit 90 will be described below with reference to FIG. 7 and other drawings as needed based on FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the drive control of the processing liquid removal means 80a by the control means 90. As shown in this block diagram, the control means 90 is attached to a CPU (central processing unit) 91 which is a central processing unit, a read-only ROM (read only memory) 92 attached to the CPU 91, and the CPU 91. In addition, it has a basic configuration including a readable / writable RAM (random access memory) 93.

  The ROM 92 stores the control program, invariant data, and the like, while the RAM 93 stores various data temporarily generated during the calculation in a readable and writable manner. .

  The CPU 91 functions as the following units 911 to 913 by sequentially reading and executing programs and data stored in the ROM 92. That is, the CPU 91 determines when the outlet side sponge roller 73 absorbs the treatment liquid that exceeds the predetermined amount less than the saturation amount, and when the timing determination unit 911 determines the arrival of the timing, An interruption signal output unit 912 that outputs an interruption signal that interrupts the driving of the photographic paper sheet R2 to the drive motor M in order to temporarily interrupt the carry-in of the photographic paper sheet R2 into the immersion treatment apparatus 50, and the interruption signal output unit 912 include After outputting the interruption signal, it functions as a control signal output unit 913 that outputs a control signal for performing the treatment liquid removal operation toward the pressure feed blower 86.

  The timing discriminating section 911 discriminates whether or not the exit side sponge roller 73 has absorbed the processing liquid over a predetermined amount according to the number of processed photographic paper sheets R2 processed by the photographic processing apparatus 10. Yes. In order to make such a determination, the ROM 92 has a predetermined amount as an allowable amount of processing liquid absorbed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73 and an amount of processing liquid adhering to one photographic paper sheet R2 in the photographic paper sheet R2. Is stored for each size.

  On the other hand, the size of the photographic paper sheet R2 that is currently being processed is input from the exposure processing unit 20 to the timing determination unit 911. In addition, a sheet number sensor 267 is provided at the downstream end of the exposure processing unit 20 to input a detection signal to the timing determination unit 911 every time the photographic paper sheet R2 is detected.

  The timing discriminating unit 911 receives the size information from the control unit 25, the detection signal of the photographic paper sheet R2 from the number sensor 267, and the predetermined amount and 1 set for the outlet-side sponge roller 73 stored in the ROM 92. The timing at which the processing liquid removal process should be performed on the outlet-side sponge roller 73 is determined based on the amount of the processing liquid adhering to the photographic paper sheet R2.

  When the timing discriminating unit 911 discriminates that the timing for performing the processing liquid removal processing on the outlet side sponge roller 73 has arrived, the timing discriminating unit 911 indicates that the operation of the photo processing apparatus 10 should be stopped toward the interruption signal output unit 912. A command signal for outputting a signal is output, and a command signal for outputting a signal indicating that the processing liquid removing unit 80a should function is continuously output to the control signal output unit 913.

  Accordingly, when the interruption signal output unit 912 receives the command signal from the timing determination unit 911, the interruption signal output unit 912 waits until the processing of the photographic paper roll R that is currently being processed is completed, and then interrupts the driving of the driving motor M. In order to output a signal, the drive motor M stops in a state where the photographic paper sheet R2 does not exist in the development processing unit 30.

  Further, the control signal output unit 913 outputs a control signal for driving the pumping blower 86 toward the pumping blower 86 after the interrupting signal output unit 912 outputs the interrupting signal. Accordingly, the pressure-feed blower 86 is driven in a state where the photographic paper sheet R2 does not exist between the pair of outlet-side sponge rollers 73, so that the compressed air from the pressure-feed blower 86 is discharged from the air blowing hole 851 of the air blowing shaft 85 to the outlet-side sponge roller. Since the outlet side sponge roller 73 is blown into the air 73, the state where the absorbed processing liquid is absorbed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73 being blown to the outside along with the jetted air is eliminated.

  Incidentally, in this embodiment, the pressure blower 86 is driven for a preset time. For this purpose, the control means 90 has a timer (not shown), and a control signal for stopping driving is output from the control signal output unit 913 to the pressure feed blower 86 based on the time-up of the timer.

  As described in detail above, the photographic processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes the inlet-side sponge roller 72 that guides the processing tank 51 of the immersion processing apparatus 50 loaded with the processing liquid for processing the photographic paper sheet R2, and the processing. Since the exit-side sponge roller 73 is provided so as to guide the derivation from the processing tank 51 while sandwiching the finished photographic paper sheet R 2, it is introduced into the processing tank 51 by driving the inlet-side sponge roller 72. The photographic paper sheet R <b> 2 is subjected to a predetermined process by being immersed in a processing liquid loaded in the processing tank 51, and is led out of the processing tank 51 by driving the outlet-side sponge roller 73.

  Further, since the processing liquid removing means 80, 80a, and 80b that remove at least the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet side sponge roller 73 are provided, the photographic paper sheet R2 is held while being sandwiched between the pair of outlet side sponge rollers 73. When transported by driving the sponge roller, the processing liquid adhering to the front and back surfaces is absorbed and removed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73, thereby transporting it to the next process in a state where the front and back surfaces are cleaned. It will be. Further, by repeating the processing liquid removing operation by the processing liquid removing means 80, 80a, 80b at every predetermined timing, the outlet-side sponge roller 73 always sufficiently absorbs the processing liquid adhering to the photographic paper sheet R2. Can be maintained.

  The processing liquid removal means 80 of the first embodiment is configured to include a suction hood 81 as a suction means for sucking and removing the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet side sponge roller 73, so that the structure is relatively simple. The processing liquid sucked by the outlet-side sponge roller 73 can be sucked and removed, which can contribute to reduction of the apparatus cost.

  Further, in the processing liquid removing means 80a of the second embodiment, an air blowing shaft 85 is employed as air blowing means for blowing the processing liquid by blowing air from the inside of the outlet side sponge roller 73 toward the peripheral surface. Since the air is blown from the inside of the outlet side sponge roller 73 toward the peripheral surface through the numerous air outlet holes 851 of the air outlet shaft 85 by the driving of the pressure feed blower 86, the treatment liquid absorbed by the outlet side sponge roller 73 is absorbed. Is discharged to the outside along with the blowing air flow, and thereby the processing liquid absorbed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73 can be surely removed.

  Furthermore, in the processing liquid removing unit 80b of the third embodiment, an air discharge shaft 87 that blows air only toward the surface opposite to the surface on which the photographic paper sheet R2 contacts the outlet side sponge roller 73 as an air blowing unit. Therefore, the air blown from the inside of the outlet-side sponge roller 73 toward the peripheral surface is directed to the surface where the photographic paper sheet R2 does not contact. Therefore, even if the photographic paper sheet R2 is being conveyed by the outlet-side sponge roller 73, it does not go to the photographic paper sheet R2, so that the outlet-side sponge roller while processing the photographic paper sheet R2 with the processing liquid. Thus, the processing liquid can be removed from the sheet 73, and the processing efficiency of the photographic paper sheet R2 can be improved with certainty because the processing of the photographic paper sheet R2 does not need to be interrupted.

  A control unit 90 for controlling the driving of the processing liquid removing unit 80a is provided especially for the processing liquid removing unit 80a of the second embodiment, and the control unit 90 is configured so that the outlet-side sponge roller 73 has a predetermined amount. A timing discriminating section 911 for discriminating the timing for absorbing the processing liquid beyond the predetermined timing, and a predetermined conveying means for temporarily interrupting the loading of the photographic paper sheet R2 into the processing tank 51 when the timing discriminating section 911 detects the arrival of the timing. An interruption signal output unit 912 that outputs an interruption signal toward the drive motor M (specifically, the drive motor M), and an operation of removing the treatment liquid toward the treatment liquid removal unit 80a after the interruption signal output unit 912 outputs the interruption signal. And a control signal output unit 913 that outputs a control signal to be performed.

  By configuring the control unit 90 in this way, when the timing determination unit 911 determines that the timing at which the outlet-side sponge roller 73 absorbs the processing liquid exceeding a predetermined amount has arrived, the interruption signal output unit 912 performs this timing. Since the interruption signal is output to the predetermined conveying unit based on the determination result of the determining unit 911, the conveying unit temporarily stops carrying the photographic paper sheet R2 into the processing tank 51. In this state, the control signal output unit 913 outputs a control signal to cause the processing liquid removing unit 80a to perform the processing liquid removing operation. Therefore, the processing liquid removing unit 80a to which the control signal is input performs a predetermined process. The liquid removal operation is executed, and thereby the outlet side sponge roller 73 returns to the state where the absorbed processing liquid is removed.

  The outlet-side sponge roller 73 is always maintained in a state in which the processing liquid can be sufficiently absorbed without any operation by the operator by such control of the control means 90. The processing time in the processing tank is effectively shortened, thereby effectively reducing the waiting time until the first photosensitive material is processed and output.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and includes the following contents.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the photographic paper (the photographic paper roll R, the long photographic paper R1 and the photographic paper sheet R2) has been described as an example of the photosensitive material to be developed. The photosensitive material is not limited to photographic paper, and may be a film used for photography in a silver salt photographic system.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the processing liquid removal means 80, 80a, 80b removes the processing liquid from both the upper and lower rollers 73a, 73b of the outlet-side sponge roller 73. The present invention is not limited to performing the treatment liquid removing process on both the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b, but only one of the upper and lower rollers 73a and 73b, preferably a photographic paper sheet. The processing liquid removal process may be performed only on the person corresponding to the R2 marking screen.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the treatment liquid removing means 80, 80a and 80b are provided only on the outlet side sponge roller 73 side. However, in the present invention, the treatment liquid removing means 80, 80a and 80b are provided on the outlet side sponge. It is not limited to be provided only on the roller 73 side, and may be provided also on the inlet side sponge roller 72 side. In this way, when the immersion processing apparatus 50 is, for example, the fixing section 32 or the cleaning section 33, the processing liquid remaining on the photographic paper sheet R2 derived from the upstream immersion processing apparatus 50 is removed from the inlet side sponge. The roller 72 can always be removed, and thus it is possible to more reliably prevent the upstream processing liquid from being brought into the immersion processing apparatus 50.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the control means 90 is adopted for the processing liquid removal means 80a of the second embodiment. However, in the present invention, the control means 90 is used as the processing liquid removal means of the second embodiment. It is not limited to adopting 80a as a target, and the control means 90 may be adopted targeting the processing liquid removal means 80 of the first embodiment and the processing liquid removal means 80b of the second embodiment.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the timing discriminating section 911 discriminates the timing for driving the processing liquid removing means 80a based on the number of photographic paper sheets R2 processed by the photographic processing apparatus 10. Instead, the timing for driving the processing liquid removing means 80a may be determined simply by the total operating time of the photo processing apparatus 10.

  (6) In each of the above-described embodiments, a mechanism for removing the processing liquid from the sponge roller is provided for each processing tank of all the processing units 31, 32, 33. Even if it is provided, the effect of shortening the processing time can be obtained accordingly. In particular, by providing means for a part or all of the processing tank of the cleaning unit 33 that requires the longest processing time, or a processing tank of the fixing unit 32, the processing liquid of the previous process is brought into the processing tank of the cleaning unit 33. And the processing time can be effectively shortened. Thereby, the waiting time until the first photosensitive material is processed and output can be effectively shortened.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of an immersion treatment apparatus, and has shown the state by which the processing rack removed from the overhead rack was pulled out from the processing tank. It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the immersion treatment apparatus, and has shown the state with which the processing rack with which the overhead rack was mounted | worn was mounted | worn with the processing tank. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing of the upper part front view of the immersion treatment apparatus which shows one Embodiment of a driving force transmission mechanism. It is a figure which shows the exploitation means which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (A) is a perspective view, (B) is BB sectional drawing of (A). It is a figure which shows the process liquid removal means which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, (a) is a partially notched perspective view, (b) is CC sectional view taken on the line of (a). It is a figure which shows the process liquid removal means which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, (A) is a partially notched perspective view, (B) is the DD sectional view taken on the line (A), (C) is ( It is EE sectional view taken on the line of a). It is a block diagram for demonstrating drive control of the process liquid removal means by a control means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photo processing apparatus 20 Exposure processing part 201 Housing 21 Disk drive 22 Scanner 23 Display 24 Test print carrying-in unit 25 Control part 26 Magazine 261 Magazine 262 Magazine 263 Sensor 265 Conveyance roller pair 266 Conveyance roller pair 267 Number sensor 27 Cutter 28 Exposure apparatus 30 Development processing section 31 Development section 32 Fixing section 33 Washing section 40 Drying processing section 41 Conveying roller pair 42 Electric heating element 43 Conveyor 50 Immersion processing apparatus 51 Processing tank 511 Removable opening 60 Processing rack 601 Flange 602 Horizontal partition wall 603 Screen wall 604 Introduction Opening 605 Leading-out opening 61 Insertion part 62 Exposed part 63 Side plate member 631 Gear chamber 64 Large diameter conveying roller 641 Large diameter roller shaft 642 Large diameter gear 65 Small diameter conveying roller 66 Driving force transmission mechanism 650 Diameter roller shaft 651 endless belt 652 small-diameter gear 661 drive gear 662 bevel 663 transmission gear 664 transmission gear 665 transmitting gear 666 bevel gear 667 bevel gear 671 input shaft 668 bevel gear 672 intermediate shaft 673 bevel gear shaft
70 Overhead rack 71 Case 711 Bottom plate 712 Front plate 713 Rear plate 714 Side plate 715 Wall 72 Entrance side sponge roller (inlet side guide roller pair)
721 Roller shaft 722 Sponge roller gear 73 Outlet side sponge roller (outlet side guide roller pair)
73a Upper sponge roller 73b Lower sponge roller 731 Roller shaft 732 Sponge roller gear 74 Receiving opening 75 Discharging opening 80 Treatment liquid removing means (first embodiment)
80a Treatment liquid removing means (second embodiment)
80b Treatment liquid removing means (third embodiment)
81 Suction hood 811 End face plate 812 Top plate 813 Side plate 814 Long opening 81a Upper suction hood 81b Lower suction hood 82 Suction pipe 82a Upper suction pipe 82b Lower suction pipe 821 Suction main pipe 822 Suction branch pipe 823 Combined pipe 83 Liquid remover 84 Suction Blower 85 Air blowing shaft (Air blowing means)
851 Air blowing hole 85a Upper air blowing shaft 85b Lower air blowing shaft 86 Pressure blower 87 Air discharge shaft (air blowing means)
87a Upper air discharge shaft 87b Lower air discharge shaft 871 Long air discharge port 88 Roller support disk 881 Disk main body 882 Projection cylinder 883 Annular recess 884 Bearing 90 Control means 91 CPU
911 Timing determination unit 912 Interrupt signal output unit 913 Control signal output unit 92 ROM 93 RAM
M drive motor R photographic paper roll R1 long photographic paper R2 photographic paper sheet

Claims (7)

A photographic processing apparatus comprising a plurality of processing tanks, and sequentially immersing the photosensitive material in a processing solution loaded in each processing tank, thereby sequentially processing the photosensitive material with each processing solution,
A roller pair for sandwiching and guiding the photosensitive material from at least one of the plurality of processing tanks to the next processing tank is provided,
The guide roller pair is formed by a pair of cylindrical sponge rollers, and a processing liquid removing unit that removes the processing liquid absorbed by at least one of the pair of sponge rollers from the peripheral edge of the air flow. A photographic processing apparatus comprising:   2. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing liquid removing means is suction means for sucking and removing the processing liquid absorbed by the at least one sponge roller from the peripheral surface of the sponge roller.   2. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing liquid removing means is air blowing means for blowing the processing liquid by blowing air from the inside of the at least one sponge roller toward the peripheral surface.   4. A photographic processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said air blowing means blows air toward a surface of said at least one sponge roller opposite to a surface on which a photosensitive material abuts. Control means for controlling the processing liquid removal operation of the processing liquid removal means is provided,
The control means includes a timing discriminating unit that discriminates a timing at which the at least one sponge roller absorbs a processing liquid exceeding a predetermined amount;
When the timing discriminating unit discriminates the arrival of the timing, an interruption signal output unit that outputs an interruption signal toward a predetermined conveying unit to temporarily interrupt the carrying of the photosensitive material into the processing tank;
A control signal output unit that outputs a control signal to cause the processing liquid removal means to perform a removal operation of the processing liquid after the interruption signal output unit outputs the interruption signal. The photographic processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4.   The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sponge roller is both the pair of sponge rollers.   The plurality of processing tanks include a developing processing tank for performing a developing process, a fixing processing tank for performing a fixing process, and one or more cleaning processing tanks for performing a cleaning process, and the next to the at least one processing tank. The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing tank includes at least one processing tank of the one or more cleaning processing tanks.

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