JP2007163572A - Photograph processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photograph processing apparatus capable of decreasing noise without degrading the cooling effect of devices involved in an exposure process. <P>SOLUTION: The photograph processing apparatus has, in its sectioned chamber: a box body accommodating a control substrate relating to an exposure process; and a photosensitive material conveyance mechanism for conveying a photosensitive material to be processed. In the photograph processing apparatus, the box body includes an intake port for taking in air from outside, an exhaust port for expelling the air taken in; and an exhaust fan that creates a current of air flowing from the intake port to the exhaust port and also creates a current of air flowing from the exhaust port to the photosensitive material conveyance mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographic processing apparatus provided with a mechanism for sucking outside air and air-cooling an apparatus related to exposure processing.

  A general photographic processing apparatus includes an exposure processing apparatus that performs an exposure process on a photosensitive material that is pulled out of a magazine and cut into a predetermined length, and performs a development process and a drying process on the photosensitive material after the exposure process. A developing processing apparatus for performing the processing.

  Usually, the development processing apparatus is provided with an exhaust fan for exhausting gas generated from various processing solutions (developing solution, bleaching / fixing solution, stabilizing solution, and washing solution) used in the developing process to the outside.

  On the other hand, the exposure processing apparatus includes a highly exothermic exposure engine and control board, and a photosensitive material transport system that easily causes adverse effects (for example, uneven print density) when the air temperature exceeds a certain level. By providing an intake port for inhaling air and an exhaust fan for exhausting outside, the air flow is forced to occur, thereby cooling the exposure engine and control board to prevent these malfunctions, in addition The photosensitive material conveyance system is made to function accurately by maintaining the temperature in the apparatus at an appropriate temperature. Further, in order to prevent the inflow of the gas generated on the development processing apparatus side described above, a dedicated fan is provided inside, and the inside of the exposure processing apparatus is maintained at a positive pressure.

  As described above, in the conventional photographic processing apparatus, the exposure processing apparatus is air-cooled by providing the intake port and the exhaust fan. However, since the heat-exchanged air is exhausted to the outside, the rotation of the exhaust fan Sounds and wind noises were generated strongly, which was annoying for the operator.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic processing apparatus capable of reducing the noise without reducing the cooling effect of the equipment related to the exposure processing.

  In the photographic processing apparatus according to the present invention, a box body that houses a control substrate for exposure processing and a photosensitive material transport mechanism for transporting the photosensitive material to be exposed are disposed in a partitioned room. In the photographic processing apparatus, the box body generates an intake port for taking in air from the outside, an exhaust port for exhausting the taken-in air, and an air flow from the intake port toward the exhaust port. And an exhaust fan that generates an air flow from the exhaust port toward the photosensitive material transport mechanism.

  According to the photographic processing apparatus having the above configuration, the control board accommodated in the box body can be reliably cooled by the air taken in from the outside, and the box body functions as a kind of duct for supplying air into the room. As a result, the room temperature is kept at an appropriate temperature, and the photosensitive material transport mechanism can function correctly.

  In addition, since the exhaust fan is installed indoors, it is possible to suppress the rotating sound and wind noise of the fan, and it is excellent in quietness.

  Furthermore, since the exhaust fan generates a certain level of air pressure in the room, there is no need to provide a dedicated fan for maintaining the room at a positive pressure as in the conventional case. Therefore, further noise reduction and power saving can be achieved.

  Note that the air exhausted into the chamber flows into the development processing apparatus through a communication hole for conveying the photosensitive material, and is exhausted to the outside by a gas exhaust fan normally provided in the development processing apparatus. Will be.

  As described above, according to the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, noise due to the operation of the air cooling fan can be suppressed as much as possible without lowering the cooling effect, and power saving can be achieved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a photographic processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the photographic processing apparatus 1.

  The photographic processing apparatus 1 will be described in detail. The photographic processing apparatus 1 develops the exposure processing apparatus R for exposing the photosensitive material P and the exposed photosensitive material P received from the exposure processing apparatus R. And a development processing apparatus G for performing a drying process thereafter.

  More specifically, the exposure processing apparatus R performs exposure processing on the photosensitive material P based on the image data and a part of the control unit 10 that controls the entire photographic processing apparatus 1 in the housing 2. And a processing unit 20. In addition, the development processing apparatus G includes a development processing unit 30 that performs development processing on the photosensitive material P that has been exposed by the exposure processing unit 20 that is received from the exposure processing apparatus R, and the development processing unit 30 that is subjected to the development processing. And a drying processing unit 40 for drying the photosensitive material P. And these housing | casing 2 and 3 are connected integrally.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 2 has an internal space divided into a plurality of sections. In the present embodiment, the internal space is partitioned in the vertical direction. That is, it is divided into a plurality of layers in the vertical direction, and is divided into three sections (layers) of a first section 500, a second section 501, and a third section 502 in order from the top.

  In the first section 500, a part of a control unit 10 (see FIG. 2) of the photographic processing apparatus 1 described later is provided. In the present embodiment, the first section 500 is provided with a main body of a general-purpose personal computer.

  The second section 501 is formed so that the upper surface side of the housing 2 is opened. A slit (not shown) penetrating into the third compartment 502 is provided on the inner surface of the bottom. More specifically, the slit is for sending a light beam from an exposure engine En (described later) installed in the second section 501 to the third section 502. And it forms as one linear slit (slit), and the opening part is obstruct | occluded by the transparent member so that the irradiation light for exposing the photosensitive material P can permeate | transmit.

  The third section 502 is formed so that the front side of the housing 2 is opened. A door (not shown) capable of opening and closing the opening is attached to the side of the opening by rotating about one side (in this embodiment, the side on the left in front view). In the third section 502, an exposure processing unit 20 (see FIG. 2) excluding an exposure engine En described later is provided. The intake section 280, the first box 281, the exhaust section 285, and the second box 286 constitute a kind of air cooling means, the details of which will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the control unit 10 includes a monitor 100 that displays various processing statuses, operation guidance, and the like, an input unit 101 for performing an input operation based on the display of the monitor 100, and a photosensitive material in the exposure processing unit 20. A reading unit 102 that reads image data for performing an exposure process on P, and an arithmetic processing unit 103 that performs substantial control of each process and the photographic processing apparatus 1 when performing the exposure process are provided.

  As the monitor 100, a cathode ray tube monitor or a liquid crystal monitor can be adopted. In this embodiment, a cathode ray tube monitor is adopted. As the input means 101, a keyboard 101a and a mouse 101b are employed.

  The reading unit 102 according to the present embodiment includes data (for example, image data) from a film scanner 102a that reads a plurality of frame images formed on the belt-like film F and various media such as a CD-R / RW and a memory card. The media drive 102b for reading is used. The film scanner 102a reads each frame image as image data sequentially from the film F while conveying the film F in the longitudinal direction, and transmits each read image data to the arithmetic processing unit 103. It has become. The arithmetic processing unit 103 includes a CPU 104 that performs substantial arithmetic operations, a RAM 105 and a ROM 106 that store software for causing the CPU 104 to perform arithmetic operations, and the like, via an I / O interface (not shown). The monitor 100 and the reading means 102 (102a, 102b) are electrically connected. In the present embodiment, a general-purpose personal computer is used as the arithmetic processing unit 103.

  The exposure processing unit 20 includes a magazine 200a for storing a long photosensitive material P in a roll shape, a cutting device 201 for cutting the photosensitive material P drawn from the magazine 200a to a predetermined length, and the cutting device. An exposure unit 202 that performs exposure processing on the photosensitive material P cut by 201, and the photosensitive material P are transported between the components in the exposure processing unit 20, and the photosensitive material P drawn from the magazine 200a is downstream (development processing apparatus). G) and a conveyance system 203 (photosensitive material conveyance mechanism) for conveyance.

  The magazine 200a is configured to be able to support the photosensitive material P in the form of a roll so that the photosensitive material P can be smoothly drawn out in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive material P stored in the magazine 200a is wound around the core material in a roll shape with the emulsion surface facing outward.

  The photo processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can connect an auxiliary housing 4 for accommodating an optional (additional) magazine 200b to a housing 2 including a control unit 10 and an exposure processing unit 20. Yes. Then, by connecting the auxiliary housing 4 to the housing 2, the transport path of the photosensitive material P pulled out from the optional magazine 200 b with respect to the transport path of the photosensitive material P pulled out from the magazine 200 a housed in the housing 2. Have come to join. Although not shown in the drawing, a conveyance path switching mechanism for switching the conveyance path is provided at the junction of the above-described conveyance paths, and the photosensitive material P drawn from either one of the magazines 200a and 200b is disposed on the downstream side. Can be transported.

  The cutting device 201 includes a pair of cutters 204a and 204b. By bringing the pair of cutters 204a and 204b into contact with each other, the photosensitive material P drawn out from the magazines 200a and 200b and transported on the transport path X can be obtained. It is designed to cut to a predetermined size.

  The exposure unit 202 includes an exposure unit conveyance system 205 that conveys the photosensitive material P, and an optical system 206 that exposes the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material P conveyed by the exposure unit conveyance system 205. This optical system 206 is sent through the slit provided at the bottom of the second section 501 (see FIG. 3) in the casing 2 described above, and the exposure engine En disposed in the second section 501. This is for irradiating the exposure surface with the light beam irradiated from.

  The exposure engine En according to the present embodiment includes a laser light source (not shown) and an optical system (for example, a polygon mirror and a lens: not shown) that guides laser light from the laser light source to the exposure area A. A so-called laser engine is used. The exposure engine En may include a light source such as a halogen lamp and an optical shutter (PLZT) connected to the light source via an optical fiber bundle.

  As described above, the exposure engine En is composed of a large number of various electronic components, and the electronic components are fixed to the substrate. This substrate is installed in the second section 501 (see FIG. 3) of the housing 2, and the conductor on the inner surface of the second section 501 and the substrate are connected by a ground wire (not shown).

  The exposure unit transport system 205 includes two pairs of rollers 207 and 208 disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side with the exposure area A for the photosensitive material P interposed therebetween. Direction).

  The transport system 203 includes a first transport system 210 that transports the photosensitive material P from the magazine 200a to the cutting device 201, a second transport system 220 that transports the photosensitive material P cut by the cutting device 201 to the exposure unit 202, and exposure. After the photosensitive material P being exposed by the unit 202 is received, the third conveying system 230 is configured to convey the photosensitive material P to the downstream development processing apparatus G.

  The first transport system 210 is configured by arranging a plurality of roller pairs along the transport path X of the photosensitive material P, and by driving one roller (for example, the lower roller) of each roller pair, The photosensitive material P is transported toward the downstream side (second transport system 220).

  The second transport system 220 includes a first gripping mechanism 221 that grips the leading end portion of the photosensitive material P sent by the first transport system 210, and a downstream side of the cutting device 201 and a direct upstream side of the exposure unit 202. A guide rail 222 that is provided so as to straddle and guides on a substantially linear track (substantially horizontal track) between the first gripping mechanism 221, the cutting device 201, and the exposure unit 202, and the first gripping mechanism 221 A drive system (not shown) that reciprocates along the guide rail 222 is provided. Unlike the first transport system 210, the second transport system 220 moves the first gripping mechanism 221 to the downstream side while the first gripping mechanism 221 grips the leading end portion of the photosensitive material P. The photosensitive material P is conveyed.

  The third transport system 230 plays a role of transferring the photosensitive material P between the exposure processing unit 20 and the downstream development processing unit 30 (development processing apparatus G). The photosensitive material P to be carried out is received, its front and back are reversed (so-called “switchback”), moved upward in a vertically oriented state, and sent to the downstream side (development processing apparatus G).

  The development processing unit 30 is for performing development processing on the photosensitive material P sent through the third transport system 230, and includes a development processing solution tank 301 in which the development processing solution is stored, and the development processing. A transport system 300 that transports the photosensitive material P is provided so as to repeat the operation of immersing and lifting the photosensitive material P in the developing solution in the liquid tank 301. The developing solution tank 301 is configured by arranging a plurality of liquid tanks 301a, 301b,.

  In each of the liquid tanks 301a, 301b,..., Development processing solutions for performing development processing, bleaching processing, fixing processing, and stabilization processing on the photosensitive material P are stored. That is, in each of the liquid tanks 301a, 301b,..., A developing solution (CD), a bleach / fixing solution (BF), a stabilizing solution (STB), and a cleaning solution are stored in order from the upstream side. The transport system 300 transports the photosensitive material P in the developing processing solution (developing solution, bleaching / fixing solution, stabilizing solution, cleaning solution) in the developing processing solution tank 301 (each of the solution tanks 301a, 301b,...). Is composed of a system 300a and an external transport system 300b that transports the photosensitive material P pulled up from the respective liquid tanks 301a, 301b,... Into the adjacent liquid tanks 301a, 301b,. Each of the transport systems 300a and 300b is composed of a plurality of roller pairs (not numbered).

  The drying processing unit 40 blows hot air to the photosensitive material P sent from the development processing unit 30 to dry the development processing liquid (water) attached to the photosensitive material P.

  The photographic processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration includes an intake section 280, a first box 281, an exhaust section 285, and a second section disposed in the third section 502 of the above-described casing 2 (see FIG. 3). The box 286 is characterized by constituting a kind of air cooling means. Hereinafter, such features will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The intake portion 280 is connected to an intake port 282 provided in the first box 281 and accommodates a dust-proof air filter (not shown) therein.

  The first box 281 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and accommodates a first control board 283 on which various electronic components for controlling various processes related to the exposure processing unit 20 are mounted.

  The second box 286 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape like the first box 281, and houses a second control board 288 on which various electronic components for controlling various processes related to the exposure processing unit 20 are mounted. Yes. Further, the second box 286 is provided with an exhaust port 287 for exhausting the taken-in air.

  The exhaust unit 285 is connected to the exhaust port 287 and includes an exhaust fan such as an axial fan (not shown) therein.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first box 281 is disposed sideways, and one second box 286 is disposed vertically. The first box 281 and the second box 286 are joined so as to have a substantially L-shaped cross section (box body), and the inside of the box body is substantially sealed (substantially airtight) except for the intake port 282 and the exhaust port 287. State).

  Under the above configuration, when the exhaust fan of the exhaust unit 285 is operated, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the exhaust port 282 of the first box 281 is directed to the exhaust port 287 of the second box 286. Airflow (arrow A) is generated. That is, outside air is taken in from the intake port 282, fills the inside of the box, and is exhausted from the exhaust port 287.

  Thereby, the first control board 283 and the second control board 288 accommodated in the box body are surely cooled by air.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust fan also generates an air flow directed from the exhaust unit 285 (exhaust port 287) toward the transport system 203 (photosensitive material transport mechanism) disposed in the third section 502. The photosensitive material transport mechanism is also efficiently air-cooled. Further, the exhaust fan generates a certain level of air pressure (positive pressure) in the third section 502, and as a result, the inflow of gas generated from the developing solution tank 301 of the developing unit 30 is reliably prevented. Will be.

  Note that the air exhausted from the exhaust port 287 flows into the development processing apparatus G through a communication hole for transporting the photosensitive material P, and a gas exhaust fan (not shown) provided in the development processing apparatus G. Is exhausted to the outside.

  As described above, according to the photographic processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the first control board 283 and the second control board 288 for controlling various processes related to the exposure processing unit 20 are efficiently cooled and added. Further, it is possible to reliably prevent an excessive temperature rise in the conveyance system 203 which is a photosensitive material conveyance mechanism. In addition, since the exhaust fan of the exhaust unit 285 is installed indoors (in the third section 502 of the housing 2), its operation sound (rotation sound, wind noise, etc.) is difficult to leak to the outside. Silence can be achieved. Furthermore, since the exhaust fan also functions as a fan that positively pressures the interior of the room, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated fan inside as in the prior art, and further noise reduction and power saving can be achieved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, the exposure processing device R is further provided with an exhaust means for temperature control, and the air in the third compartment is directly selected according to the temperature of the exposure processing device R (more specifically, in the third compartment of the housing 2). May be configured to be exhausted to the outside. The exhaust means can be constituted by, for example, an exhaust fan that can be controlled based on a detected temperature such as a temperature sensor, a shutter member that can control opening and closing of the exhaust port based on the detected temperature, and the like. The exhaust fan in this case may be smaller than the air-cooling exhaust fan of the conventional photographic processing apparatus, so even if such an exhaust fan for temperature control is provided, it is still in comparison with the conventional photographic processing apparatus. There is no change in excellent quietness and power saving.

1 is an overall front view of a photographic processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the photographic processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view of the housing | casing of the exposure processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. In the same embodiment, it is the schematic which shows the structure of a box body, and the mode of the airflow which arises in this box body, (A) is the perspective view, (B) is a side view. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the mode of the airflow which arises in the housing | casing (3rd division) of the exposure processing apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photo processing apparatus, 2 ... Housing | casing, 3 ... Housing | casing, 4 ... Auxiliary housing | casing, 10 ... Control part, 20 ... Exposure processing part, 30 ... Development processing part, 40 ... Drying processing part, 280 ... Inhalation part, 281 ... First box, 282 ... Intake port, 283 ... First control board, 285 ... Exhaust part, 286 ... Second box, 287 ... Exhaust port, 288 ... Second control board

Claims (1)

A photographic processing apparatus in which a box body for accommodating a control substrate for exposure processing and a photosensitive material transport mechanism for transporting a photosensitive material to be exposed are disposed in a partitioned room,
In the box body, an intake port for taking in air from the outside, an exhaust port for exhausting the taken-in air, and an air flow from the intake port to the exhaust port are generated, and from the exhaust port An exhaust fan that generates an air flow toward the photosensitive material transport mechanism is provided;
A photographic treatment apparatus characterized by that.

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