JP2511302B2 - Automatic developing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial application field) The present invention is to continuously develop, fix,
The present invention relates to an automatic developing device that performs a developing process by sending to each process of washing.

(Technical Background of the Invention) Conventionally, a roller transport system, a loop transport system, and a horizontal transport system have been known for performing continuous development processing of a film. In the roller transport system, a large number of rollers are used to transport the inside of a processing liquid tank that is deep up and down. However, there is a problem that the processing liquid tank is deep and the apparatus becomes large. The loop transfer method is a method in which a film is stretched between rollers arranged above and below the processing liquid tank and transferred, but it has the same problem as the roller transfer method. In the horizontal transport method, the processing liquid is sprayed onto the film that is transported horizontally to perform development.However, in order to perform high-speed processing, the distance in which the processing liquid contacts the film, that is, the path in the horizontal direction becomes longer. However, there has been a problem that the apparatus becomes large.

On the other hand, a developing method has been proposed in which ultrasonic waves are irradiated to the film at the same time when the film is immersed in a developing solution, so that unnecessary photosensitizer during development can be quickly removed from the film (JP-A-57-57). No. 2036). However, in this method, an ultrasonic vibrator is immersed in a developing solution to vibrate the entire developing solution and the film, and the liquid surface of the developing solution is in contact with the atmosphere. It is generally known that fatigue of a developing solution is promoted when it is exposed to the atmosphere, and this fatigue is further promoted when the solution is vibrated by ultrasonic waves. Therefore, according to this conventional method, the degree of fatigue of the developing solution is significantly increased. Therefore, there is a problem that the frequency of exchanging the developer increases and the consumption thereof increases.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic developing apparatus which is suitable for high-speed processing and downsizing, is capable of stable processing, and has at least a low degree of fatigue of a development processing solution, which can be replaced less frequently and consumption.

(Construction of the Invention) According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide, in an automatic developing apparatus for sequentially transferring a photographed roller film to respective steps of developing, fixing and washing, to continuously develop the film. In the treatment step, a liquid level control lid made of a polymer material, the lower surface of which is immersed in the treatment liquid from above, and a guide groove for moving the film in the treatment liquid at a constant distance from the lower surface of the liquid level control lid. And an ultrasonic wave generating means for emitting ultrasonic waves from below the film so that the maximum directivity of the processing liquid is directed to the lower surface of the liquid level regulation lid.

That is, the present invention is based on the premise that the processing speed is increased by ultrasonic waves, and the processing liquid near the film is kept warm by the liquid level control lid which is held close to the upper surface of the film to further promote the processing, while the liquid level control is performed. The lid prevents the surface of the processing liquid from coming into contact with the atmosphere, and prevents fatigue of the processing liquid, especially the developing liquid. Further, the ultrasonic wave generating means used here has a maximum directivity direction toward the lower surface of the liquid level control lid,
The treatment liquid is designed so as not to be shaken unnecessarily.

If the upper surface of the liquid level control lid is held via a heat insulating material, the heat retaining property is further improved.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a developing process, FIG. 2 is a view showing a processing liquid pack, FIG. 2A is an external perspective view thereof, and FIGS. 2B and 2C. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal state before and after use.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a developing tank.
Has a film guide portion 22 having an arcuate bottom in a side view, and a vibrating portion 24 opening obliquely in the film running direction (rightward direction) so as to cross the film guide portion 22. A pair of feed rollers 26 for carrying in the film 12 on which a latent image of a micro image is formed are provided at the left end of the film guide portion 22, and a pair of feed rollers 28 for carrying out the film 12 are provided at the right end.

A liquid level control lid 30 is made of, for example, neoprene rubber or polyurethane rubber and has an arc-shaped cross section.
It is attached to the lid plate 34 via 32. This liquid level control lid
A gap of about 3 to 4 mm is formed between the film 30 and the bottom surface of the film guide 22, and the film 12 is guided by a guide groove (not shown) so as to travel through this gap.

A vibrator 10 having a diameter of 25 mm is attached to the bottom of the vibrating part 24,
The perpendicular line of the vibrator 10, that is, the central axis X which is the direction of maximum directivity, crosses the film 12 obliquely in the film running direction. The film 12 is set so as to enter the near-field of the transducer 10 on the central axis X, for example, 10
It is desirable to set it within the range of up to 50 mm. Here, the short-range sound field refers to a range closer to the oscillator 10 than a position farthest from the oscillator 10 among the positions where the sound pressure propagating in the treatment liquid is periodically maximized. By transporting the film 12 obliquely with respect to the central axis X within this range, the film 12 can be uniformly processed without being affected by the uneven sound pressure.

The processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank 20 so that the processing liquid always has a constant level. That is, the processing liquid is supplied from the processing liquid tank 36 to the pump 38.
Is sent to the constant liquid surface tank 40, and is maintained at a constant liquid surface height in this tank 40, and from here, the metering pump 42 sends the processing liquid into the film guide portion 22 on the upstream side of the vibrating portion 24. The processing liquid flows over the partition wall of the loading chamber 44 of the downstream side of the film guide section 22, that is, the lower side of the feed roller 28, flows into the loading chamber 44, and enters the processing liquid pack 46 therefrom.

The processing solution pack 46 is made of waterproof paper in a box shape, and the processing solution tank 36 made of a flexible plastic container is housed on one side of the new processing solution pack 46 before use.
A water-absorbing polymer 48 is contained on the other side (Fig. 2B).
On the upper surface of the treatment liquid pack 46, a treatment liquid outlet 46a and a waste liquid inlet 46b which respectively communicate with the treatment liquid tank 36 and the water absorbing polymer 48 are opened, and after these are sealed with a thin film material,
Further, the upper surface thereof can be opened and closed with adhesive seal lids 46c and 46d. The processing liquid pack 46 includes these seal lids 46.
With c and 46d opened, they are placed on a vertically movable tray 49 (FIG. 1), and are pushed upward by this tray 49 and loaded. At this time, the processing liquid inflow pipe of the pump 38
The treatment liquid discharge pipe 44a leading to the treatment chamber 38a and the loading chamber 44 breaks the thin film blocking the treatment liquid outlet 48a and the waste liquid inlet 48b, and communicates with the treatment liquid tank 36 and the water absorbing polymer 48, respectively.

Therefore, when the treatment liquid in the tank 36 decreases, the tank volume 36 decreases, but the water-absorbing polymer 48 gels and the second c
It expands as indicated by 48A in the figure. When the processing liquid in the tank 36 runs out and the pack 46 is replaced, the tray
You can lower 49 and let the pipes 38a, 44a exit the pack 46. Since the waste liquid is gelled, there is no risk of the liquid spilling, but the processing liquid outlet 46a and the waste liquid inlet 4 are provided by the seal lids 46c and 46d.
Blocking 6b is even more secure. As a result, handling of the processing liquid becomes very simple.

The height of the partition wall of the loading chamber 44 accommodating the feed roller 28 determines the height of the processing liquid surface in the processing tank 20, and, for example, based on the arc-shaped bottom of the film guide portion 22. It is desirable to set it to about 7 mm. Reference numeral 50 denotes a valve for discharging the processing liquid in the vibration unit 24 to the tank 46.

Therefore, a fixed amount of the processing liquid is
And the liquid level is kept constant by the partition wall of the loading chamber 44. The film 12 is fed at a constant speed by the rollers 26 and 28, and moves downward in the film guide portion 22 of the processing tank 20 while drawing a convex arc. Vibrator 10 to generate ultrasonic waves in and at a certain energy constant frequency (e.g. 1.7MH _Z), the ultrasonic waves impinge obliquely on the film 12. For this reason, the film 10 can move within the ultrasonic irradiation area including the central axis X by a distance larger than the periodic interval of the ultrasonic waves, and is not affected by the periodic ultrasonic waves.

Ultrasonic waves do not heat the entire processing solution,
It has the function of selectively heating polymer substances such as 12 as a sound absorbing material. The liquid level control lid 30 keeps the film 12 warm and enables uniform treatment thereof to accelerate the treatment. If the liquid level control lid 30 is made of a polymer material such as polyurethane rubber or neoprene rubber, the lid 30 itself can be heated by the sound absorbing function. Therefore, the heating of the film 12 is further promoted and the treatment is promoted. Neoprene rubber is particularly preferable because it has excellent heat resistance. At this time, if the upper surface of the liquid level control lid 30 is held by the lid plate 34 via the heat insulating material 32 as in this embodiment, the heat retaining effect of the liquid level control lid 30 is further improved and the processing is further promoted. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform good processing without processing unevenness in a short time.

Further, the liquid level control lid 30 covers the surface of the processing liquid in the processing tank 20 to prevent the surface of the processing liquid from directly contacting the atmosphere. In particular, it is well known that fatigue easily progresses in the developing solution due to contact with the atmosphere, and when this is vibrated with ultrasonic waves, the fatigue is further promoted. It is possible to prevent the progress of this fatigue by blocking the contact between the liquid surface and the atmosphere near the portion excited by the ultrasonic waves. Here, the ultrasonic transducer 10 has directivity, and since the direction of maximum directivity is directed to the lower surface of the liquid level control lid 30, it is not necessary to vibrate the entire processing liquid. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce the frequency of exchanging the processing liquid and also reduce the consumption amount.

In this embodiment, since the central axis X of the vibrator 10 intersects in the running direction of the film 12, the ultrasonic wave promotes the movement of the processing liquid in the running direction of the film, and almost new processing is performed in the processing tank. The treatment can be continued using the liquid.

Although one vibrator 10 is used in this embodiment, a plurality of vibrators 10 may be used in the present invention. 2 in Figures 3A and 3B
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment using a single circular vibrator 10 and a cross-sectional view of this embodiment seen from the film transfer direction. In this embodiment, the vibrators 10 and 10 are arranged so that the central axes X of the vibrators 10 and 10 are gathered near the film 12.

4A and 4B are a perspective view of an embodiment using three rectangular vibrators 210 and a cross-sectional view of this embodiment seen from the film transfer direction. Here, the ultrasonic wave emission direction (center axis X) of each transducer 210 is gathered toward the vicinity of the film 12. In the examples of FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, the surface of the treatment liquid is raised by ultrasonic vibration. The liquid surface treatment lids 130 and 230 press the ridges to prevent an unstable flow of the treatment liquid and make the flow uniform. Note that 132 and 232 are heat insulating materials.

Although the liquid level of the processing tank 20 is kept constant at the height of the partition wall of the loading chamber 44 in this embodiment, the liquid level may be controlled by using another liquid level sensor and a drain valve. Good. Since the treatment liquid oxidizes and deteriorates over a long period of time, when the treatment liquid deteriorates, the valve 50 is opened while operating the pumps 38 and 42, and the treatment liquid in the treatment liquid tank 36 is sent to the water supply polymer 48. May be gelled and discarded.

In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a developing process, but the present invention includes those applied to other processes.

FIG. 5 is an overall view of an automatic developing apparatus to which the processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied not only a developing step but also a fixing step and a water washing step. In this figure, A, B, and C are the developing, fixing, and
A water washing apparatus is shown, which is the same processing apparatus as that shown in FIG. 1, except that a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a washing solution are used as the processing solutions.

In this figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a supply reel of a photographed film that has not been subjected to the development processing, and reference numeral 102 denotes a take-up reel that winds the developed film. Undeveloped film 12 is a drive roller
The toner is guided to the developing device A by being sandwiched between the contact roller 104 and the contact roller 106. At this time, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the film 12 are detected by the entrance sensor 108. The rotation of the contact roller 106 is monitored by an encoder (not shown). The film 12 is processed by each of the processing devices A, B, and C, and is a take-up reel.
It is wound up in 102. At this time, the film 1 coming out of the washing device C
An outlet roller 110 is in rolling contact with the second roller 2, and the rotation of the outlet roller 110 is monitored by an encoder (not shown). In the vicinity of the exit roller 110, an exit sensor 112 is configured to monitor the leading edge and the trailing edge of the film 12.

This device operates as follows. First, the photographed film 12 is set on the reel 100, and the power switch (not shown) is turned on, so that the pumps 38 and 42 operate to keep the processing liquid at the specified liquid level. Starts spinning. When the film 12 is fed from the reel 100 while being sandwiched between the rollers 104 and 106, the leading end of the film 12 is detected by the entrance sensor 108, and the vibration of each of the processing devices A, B, and C is detected based on the output of the sensor 108. The child 10 turns on and starts vibrating.
The film 12 is processed by each of the processing devices A, B, and C and then wound on the take-up reel 102. At this time, the vibrator 10 which detects the end of the film 12 by the exit sensor 112 is turned off and the vibration is stopped.

In this apparatus, films (jams) in the apparatuses A, B, and C are detected as follows. Ie entrance sensor
If the exit sensor 112 does not detect the leading edge of the film within a certain time after the leading edge of the film 12 has been detected, it is determined that the jam has occurred. Also, since the feed amount of the film 12 can be determined by an encoder that detects the rotation of the contact roller 106 and the exit roller 110, the sensors 108, 112
If the roller 110 stops while is ON (during film passage), it is determined that a jam has occurred. It should be noted that if the sensor 112 detects the end of the film within a fixed time after the sensor 108 detects the end of the film, it may be determined as normal and it may be confirmed that the development is normally performed.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a liquid level control lid on the upper surface of a processing solution in promoting processing by using ultrasonic waves in at least one processing step of development, fixing and washing with water. Since the film is moved at a certain distance from the lower surface of the surface regulation lid and ultrasonic waves are emitted from the lower side of this film, the film selectively heated by ultrasonic waves and the treatment of the vicinity of this film The liquid and the liquid can be kept warm by this liquid level control lid, and the treatment can be accelerated. Therefore, the size of the processing tank can be reduced.

Here, the surface of the treatment liquid, especially the liquid surface of the portion that is vibrated by ultrasonic waves, is covered with a liquid level control lid to prevent contact with the atmosphere. Since the ultrasonic wave generating means has directivity and directs the maximum direction of the directivity toward the lower surface of the liquid level regulation lid, it is not necessary to vibrate the entire processing liquid. Therefore, particularly in the case of the developer, even if it is vibrated by ultrasonic waves, the fatigue is prevented, the frequency of exchanging the developer is reduced, and the consumption thereof is reduced.

If the liquid level control lid is held via a heat insulating material, the heat retaining effect of the liquid level control lid is further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a development processing tank which is an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a treatment liquid pack, FIG. 2A is an external perspective view thereof, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are diagrams showing internal states thereof before and after use. FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing other arrangement examples of the vibrator and the like. FIG. 5 is an overall view of an automatic developing apparatus in which the processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied not only to the developing step but also to the fixing step and the water washing step. 10, 210 …… Resonator, 12 …… Film, 20 …… Treatment tank, 30,130,230 …… Liquid level control lid, 32,132,232 …… Insulation material, X …… Center axis, A …… Developer, B …… Fixing device, C… Washing device.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A roll film that has been photographed is developed, fixed,
In an automatic developing apparatus that sequentially transfers to each step of washing with water and performs continuous development processing, at least one processing step including development includes a liquid level control lid made of a polymer material whose lower surface is immersed in the processing solution from above. , A guide groove for moving the film in the processing liquid at a constant distance from the lower surface of the liquid level control lid, and a downward direction of the film such that the maximum directivity through which the processing liquid passes is toward the lower surface of the liquid level control lid. And an ultrasonic wave generating means for emitting ultrasonic waves from the automatic developing device. 2. The automatic developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level regulating lid has an upper surface held via a heat insulating material.