JP2685347C - - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of operating a developing apparatus having a processing solution replenishing tank for storing a replenishing processing solution to be supplied to a developing machine for developing a photosensitive material. [Prior art] In a developing machine for developing a photosensitive material such as a film on which an image is printed, a processing solution such as a developing solution is filled in each processing tank such as a developing tank, and the photosensitive material is transferred to these processing solutions. The development processing is performed by sequentially inserting them. The developer in these processing tanks must be replenished and supplied in order to recover evaporation, fatigue and the like. Therefore, a replenishing tank is conventionally provided, and a processing liquid is taken out from the replenishing tank by a pump and supplied to a developing tank or the like for replenishment. The replenishment tank is provided with a liquid level detection sensor. When the remaining amount of the replenishment processing liquid becomes low, an alarm is issued to urge the replenishment liquid to be injected into the tank. However, since the developing machine continues to operate even after the alarm is issued, the liquid level in the tank further decreases, and air is mixed in from the outlet and the processing liquid containing bubbles is sent to the processing tank. Cause. In addition, if the operation of the developing device is stopped when the liquid level is detected, the photosensitive material being processed becomes defective in development. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention, in consideration of the above facts, without replenishing the processing solution to the replenishment tank, without sending the processing solution mixed with air in the replenishment tank to the processing tank, It is another object of the present invention to prevent development failure of a photosensitive material during processing. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention relates to a method of operating a developing apparatus having a replenishing tank for replenishing a processing solution to a photosensitive material processing tank, wherein the processing solution A liquid level detection sensor is provided above this outlet, and when the liquid level in the replenishment tank drops to the liquid level detection sensor, the supply of photosensitive material is stopped and an alarm is issued, and the liquid level is collected. The photosensitive material being processed is sent out of the developing device by the time the
Thereafter, the developing device is stopped when the liquid level reaches the outlet . [Operation] In the present invention, when the processing liquid stored in the replenishment tank is supplied to the processing tank through the outlet, the liquid level of the replenishment tank gradually decreases. Here, when the liquid level drops to the liquid level detection sensor above the outlet, the liquid level detection sensor outputs a signal,
The supply of the photosensitive material is stopped, an alarm is issued, and the operator is notified that there is no remaining amount in the replenishment tank. At this time, in the developing device, the processing of the photosensitive material is continued, and the photosensitive material being processed is sent out from the developing device until the liquid level decreases to the outlet. Therefore, the photosensitive material being processed does not cause defective development. Until the photosensitive material being processed is sent out of the developing device, the amount of the processing solution supplied from the outlet of the replenishment tank to the processing tank is required by changing the level difference between the outlet and the liquid level detection sensor. Can be adjusted to an appropriate amount. Then, after that, when the liquid level reaches the outlet, the developing device is stopped, so that air is not mixed in from the outlet and sent to the processing tank. In addition, since the outlet is connected to the inclined surface, dust in the replenishment tank does not easily enter. [Embodiment of the Invention] FIG. 2 shows a developing machine to which the present invention is applied. In this developing machine, a developing tank 12, a bleaching / fixing tank 14, and washing tanks 16, 17, and 18 are sequentially arranged adjacent to each other, and each is filled with a processing liquid. The photosensitive material F is sequentially inserted and removed from the developing tank 12 by receiving a driving force from a transport rack (not shown) to perform a series of developing processes. A pump 24 driven and controlled by the controller 22 takes out a replenisher from a replenisher tank 26 and supplies it to the developing tank 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the replenishment tank 26 has a substantially box-shaped tank body 28. The tank main body 28 is vertically oriented in a vertical direction, and a supply rib 32 is formed on a side wall. The bottom surface of the tank body 28 has a flat surface 28A on one side at a high position and a flat surface 28B on another side at a low position.
C. A liquid level sensor 34 is attached to the flat surface 28A. A float 36 is arranged on the liquid level sensor 34, and the float 36 detects the liquid level A and sends a detection signal to the control device 22. Thereby, the control device 22 activates the alarm 62. A processing liquid outlet 38 is formed at the bottom of the inclined surface 28C of the tank body 28,
It is connected to a pump 24. The outlet 38 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the inclined surface 2
Since it is communicated with 8C, dust that has entered the inside of the tank body 28 is unlikely to enter the outlet 38. In order to make it more difficult for dust in the tank body 28 to enter the outlet 38, it is preferable that the cylindrical portion of the outlet 38 is further protruded into the tank body 28. The liquid level B at the outlet 38 differs from the liquid level A by a height H, and the flow rate between the liquid levels A and B is such that the photosensitive material F being processed is in the developing tank 12 to the washing tank. The amount of the replenishment processing liquid required when taken out from all the 18 processing tanks is equal to or larger than the required amount. Therefore, even if the processing liquid in the replenishing tank 26 is supplied to the developing tank 12 before the photosensitive material F in each processing tank is taken out from the last washing tank 18 in a state where the liquid level A is detected, The inner liquid level is set to be higher than the liquid level B. The drain 42 communicates with the flat surface 28B so that dust or the like staying on the flat surface 28B can be discharged. A stirring bar 44 is inserted from the top surface of the tank main body 28, and a stirring plate 46 is fixed to a lower end portion. The operator can stir the developer in the tank body 28 by moving the stirring bar 44 up and down. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The photosensitive material F on which the image has been printed is inserted into the developing tank 12 and sequentially sent to each processing tank to perform the developing process. With the progress of the developing operation, the control device 22 attempts to restore the lowered developer surface to the original level.
Also, the pump 24 is driven to recover the tired developer. As a result, a necessary amount of the processing liquid taken out of the replenishing tank 26 is supplied to the developing tank 12. The waste liquid overflowing from the developing tank 12 is taken out and stored in a waste liquid storage tank 52. When the liquid level in the tank body 28 decreases to reach the liquid level A, the controller 22
Activates the alarm 62. This requires the operator to replace the refill tank 26 with a new refill tank 26. However, even when this replacement work is not performed, the developing machine is continuously operated. Further, when the liquid level reaches the outlet 38, the control device 22 stops the operation of the developing machine. However, the level difference between the liquid levels A and B is such that the amount of the processing liquid in the tank body 28 is equivalent to about 0.5 l. All of F is enough to be taken out of the washing tank 18, and even if the developing machine is stopped, the photosensitive material to be developed is not adversely affected. The waste liquid taken out from the developing tank 12 is sequentially sent into the waste liquid storage 52. The present invention can be applied to control of not only the developing tank 12 but also all processing tanks from the bleaching / fixing tank 14 to the washing tank 18. [Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention employs the above-described method, the present invention has an excellent effect of not causing bubbles in the replenishment processing solution or developing defects of the photosensitive material during development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a replenishing tank to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a developing machine to which the present invention is applied. F ... photosensitive material 12 ... developing tank 14 ... bleaching / fixing tank 16, 17, 18 ... washing tank 24 ... pump 26 ... replenishment tank 28 ...・ Tank body 28C ・ ・ ・ Slope surface 34 ・ ・ ・ ・ Liquid level sensor 38 ・ ・ ・ ・ Outlet

Claims (1)

(1) A method of operating a developing device including a replenishing tank for replenishing a processing tank for a photosensitive material with a processing liquid, wherein a processing liquid outlet is provided on an inclined surface formed at the bottom of the replenishing tank. A liquid level detection sensor is provided above the outlet, and when the liquid level in the replenishment tank drops to the liquid level detection sensor, the supply of the photosensitive material is stopped and an alarm is issued, and the liquid level drops to the outlet. By the time the photosensitive material being processed is sent out of the developing device, then the liquid level
A method for operating the developing device, wherein the developing device is stopped at the time point when the condition (1) is reached .