JP2824368B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which photosensitive materials are sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform a developing process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When developing a photosensitive material such as a film or photographic paper after image exposure, these photosensitive materials are sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform a series of development processing.

In this photosensitive material processing apparatus, after taking out the photosensitive material from each processing tank, the photosensitive material is inserted between a pair of nip rolls to squeeze a processing liquid adhered to the photosensitive material and taken out. ing. As a result, the amount of the processing liquid brought into the next processing tank while remaining attached to the photosensitive material is reduced, and the supply amounts of the replenishing processing liquid and the replenishing water can be reduced.

[0004] However, the treatment liquid adhering to the nip rolls causes precipitation during drying, and the nip roll cleaning during maintenance becomes extremely complicated.

For this reason, a processing apparatus having a structure for sucking a processing liquid attached to the surface of a nip roll and a structure for oozing water on the roll surface has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-316).
746, JP-A-1-319745). However, these processing apparatuses require a special pump for sucking the photosensitive material adhered to the surface of the nip roll, and a complicated mechanism such as a rotary joint for supplying water to the surface of the nip roll.

Further, a processing apparatus provided with a gutter-shaped cleaning water tank for cleaning a nip roll has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-18350). However, also in this processing apparatus, the lower nip roll of the pair of nip rolls can be inserted into the washing water tank, but the nip roll arranged on the upper side cannot be washed, and the washed water flows into the gutter-shaped water tank. Since the concentration of the treatment liquid in the trough-shaped water tank rises, a large amount of water is required for effective cleaning.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention uses a small amount of washing water to wash off the processing solution adhered to the photosensitive material and take it out, thereby greatly reducing the amount of the photosensitive material brought into the next processing tank. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a photosensitive material processing apparatus that can perform the processing.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform a developing process. A pair of nip rolls arranged at the photosensitive material outlet at a position higher than the liquid, and provided opposite to the peripheral surface of the nip roll opposite to the photosensitive material holding portion, and arranged close to the nip roll peripheral surface. A guide member for forming a water retention gap between the nip roll, cleaning water supply means for supplying cleaning water to the water retention gap, and control means for operating the cleaning water supply means before the photosensitive material reaches between the nip rolls. , Is characterized.

The invention of claim 2 according to the present application is based on claim 1
Is characterized in that the cleaning water supply means in (1) uses a treatment liquid in the next processing tank as cleaning water.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform a developing process, wherein the photosensitive material is located at a higher position than the processing solution in the processing tank. A pair of nip rolls disposed at the photosensitive material outlet, and a nip roll provided opposite to the peripheral surface of the nip roll opposite to the photosensitive material holding portion, and disposed close to the nip roll peripheral surface to retain water between the nip rolls A guide member that forms a gap, and a storage section for washing water to be supplied to the water retention gap, which is disposed above the treatment tank and provided inside,
Cleaning water supply means in which a guide path for supplying cleaning water from the storage section to the water retention gap is formed.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the photosensitive material is pulled out of the processing tank, it is sandwiched by a pair of nip rolls, and the processing liquid attached to the photosensitive material is squeezed and sent to the next processing tank. In this case, since the nip roll is provided with a guide member on the peripheral surface opposite to the photosensitive material holding portion to form a water retention gap, the cleaning water supplied to the water retention gap cleans the photosensitive material, and The processing solution which adheres to the substrate and is taken out of the processing tank is washed away from the photosensitive material. Before the photosensitive material reaches between the nip rolls, the control means supplies the washing water to the water holding gap. Therefore, the water holding gap is already filled with the washing water before the photosensitive material is nipped. Since the cleaning water supplied by the cleaning water supply means is supplied to the water retention gap formed between the nip roll and the guide member, the processing liquid adhered to the photosensitive material can be effectively washed off with a small amount of cleaning water. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning liquid used in the cleaning water supply means is applied with the treatment liquid of the next step, there is no need to prepare special cleaning water.

[0013] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the washing water supply means is disposed above the treatment tank and includes a washing water storage part therein. Therefore, the washing water stored in the storage part of the supply means passes through the guide path. To the water gap.

The present invention relates to a process for bleaching and fixing during the processing of a color light-sensitive material such as color paper, especially between a processing tank in a desilvering step such as a bleach-fixing tank and a first washing tank, and a desilvering step. Applicable to the crossover roller portion thereafter, between the washing tank and the stabilizing tank, or when the washing tank or the stabilizing tank is composed of a plurality of tanks, the first washing tank or the stabilizing tank and the second washing tank or the stabilizing tank. The amount of processing liquid brought to the next tank after washing the photosensitive material and the amount of replenishing water to the processing tank can be reduced. When the cleaning water is supplied only to the photosensitive material outlet of the processing tank according to the present invention, in particular, the amount of the processing liquid brought into the next tank can be reduced.

As the color light-sensitive material used in the present invention, color paper, color reversal paper, color negative film for photography, color reversal film, color negative film for film or color positive film, transmission type (film) or reflection type (paper) directly It can have a known color light-sensitive material such as a positive light-sensitive material.

The light-sensitive material used in the present invention preferably has a swelling degree of a photographic layer of 1.5 to 4.0, more preferably 2.0.
３3.5. The degree of swelling here means that the photosensitive material is 33
It refers to the value obtained by dividing the photographic layer thickness after immersion in distilled water at ° C for 2 minutes by the layer thickness of the dried layer.

When the degree of swelling is less than 1.5, shortening the water washing treatment time (30 to 90 seconds) is not preferable because yellow stain increases immediately after the treatment and after lapse of time. Also, when the degree of swelling is greater than 4.0, the yellow stain density similarly becomes high, which is not preferable. Further, when the swelling degree is larger than 4.0, the mechanical strength of the photographic layer in the developing process is reduced, and a failure such as generation of scratches occurs, and the amount of water absorption increases, which is not preferable because it causes a drying load.

The term "photographic layer" as used herein means a laminated hydrophilic colloid layer containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer and having a water-permeable relationship with this layer. It does not include the back layer provided on the side opposite to the photographic photosensitive layer across the support. The photographic layer is usually formed of a plurality of layers involved in photographic image formation, and includes an intermediate layer, a filter layer, an antihalation layer, a protective layer and the like in addition to the silver halide emulsion layer.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows a photographic paper printing and developing apparatus 30 to which the present invention is applied. This printing paper printing and developing device 30
The photographic paper P as a photosensitive material stored in a roll shape is drawn out to the printing unit 32, and after the image of the negative film F is printed, it is sent to the color developing tank 38 through the paper reservoir unit 36. Further, the photographic paper P drawn out from the color developing tank 38 is sequentially inserted into 42, 44, 45, and 46, dried in the drying unit 48, cut off by the cutter 52, and taken out.

A transport rack 53 (see FIG. 3) for appropriately transporting the photographic paper P and providing a substantially U-shaped movement locus in the processing tank is disposed inside these processing tanks. An upper rack 54 is provided at the upper part of each of these processing tanks, receives the photographic paper P from the paper reservoir part 36 or from the preceding processing tank, and transfers it to the next processing tank or the drying part 48.
The photographic paper P is sent out.

As the upper rack 54 to which the present invention is applied, the upper rack 54 between the bleach-fixing tank 42 and the rinsing tank 46 is preferable, but in this embodiment, the upper rack 54 applied to the bleach-fixing tank 42 is used. Will be described in relation to the transport rack 53. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport rack 53 includes a center roll 57 between a pair of side plates 56 and guide rolls 58 and 59 arranged in contact with both sides of the center roll 57 to form a set of transport rolls. A plurality of sets are provided. The center roll 57 receives the driving force from a driving source (not shown) and transmits the rotating force of the driving roll 62 that rotates by transmitting gears 63A and 63B. Further, the center roll 57 and the guide rolls 58 and 59 are connected to each other by a gear train 61 so as to rotate at the same peripheral speed, thereby moving the photographic paper P downward (in the direction of arrow A) and upward (in the direction of arrow A). (In the direction of arrow B).

The upper rack 54 is made up of screws 64 and rack side plates 5.
6 has a lower case 66 fixed to the lower case 6. The lower case 66 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and includes an inlet nip roll 68, 69 and an outlet nip roll 72,
73 is supported. This shaft support structure has a lower case 66.
Bearing 74 to a bracket 66A that is integrally protruded from
Each of the bearings 74 and 75 has a notch 66B into which both ends of the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69 and the outlet nip rolls 72 and 73 are supported. A spring ring 7 is provided between these bearings 74 and between the bearings 75.
6 are wound and receive the force of approaching each other.

These entrance nip rolls 68, 69 hold the photographic paper P sent out from the color developing tank 38, and
The nip rolls 72 and 73 receive the photographic paper P sent from the bleach-fixing tank 42 in the direction of arrow B to the rinsing tank 44 in the direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. In the direction of arrow D. These inlet nip rolls 68, 69
When the photographic paper P pinched and transported in the vertical direction is sent downward, it passes through the narrow guide opening 78 formed in the lower case 66, and the photographic paper P sent out from the bleach-fix tank 42 in the direction of arrow A is formed on the lower case 66. After passing through the provided guide opening 79, it is inserted into the outlet nip rolls 72 and 73. Further, a guide roll 82 pivotally supported by the lower case 66 is disposed between the inlet nip rolls 68, 69 and the guide opening 78, and guides the printing paper P from the guide opening 79 to the outlet nip rolls 72, 73. The guide roll 83 driven and rotated is the lower case 66.
It is pivoted to Here, nip rolls 68, 69,
As the material of 72, 73, the rolls 68, 72 of the example in contact with the photosensitive material preferably have a rubber hardness of 40 ° to 65 ° such as silicone rubber, polyurethane rubber, or soft PVC, and the rolls 69, 73 in contact with the surface of the photosensitive material are polypropylene. , PVC, Teflon, and Zylon (modified PPO) are preferred. In addition, PVC, Zylon, AB
S resin, acrylic, etc. are desirable. These materials can be easily selected and obtained based on "Plastic Molding Material Commerce Handbook-Property Database-1991 Edition", published by Synthetic Resin Industry Newspaper Co., Ltd.

The upper case 8 is provided above the lower case 66.
6 is mounted. The upper case 86 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin similarly to the lower case 66.
A concave portion 86A that receives the arc 86A and a concave portion 86B that accommodates the entrance nip roll 69 and the exit nip roll 73 over about ／ of the outer circumference thereof are formed. An opening 98A for guiding the printing paper P to the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69 and an opening 98B for guiding the printing paper P to the rinsing tank 44 from the outlets 72 and 73 are formed in the lid 98 mounted on the upper case 86. ing. These openings 98
The blocks 99 constituting the lower surfaces of A and 98B are detachable from the upper case 86.

In the lower case 66, together with the block 99 of the upper case lid 98, a concave portion 66 for accommodating the outer circumference of the entrance nip roll 68 and the exit nip roll 72 over about 2/3.
C and a concave portion 66D for accommodating the guide rolls 82 and 83 over about 1/4 thereof are formed. These concave portions 66C constitute a guide member together with the concave portions 86B of the upper case 86, and correspond to the surfaces of the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69, the outlet nip roll 72, and the bearing 73 opposite to the surface on which the printing paper P is sandwiched. , These water nip rolls constitute a narrow water retention gap S. The water retention gap S is formed over the entire length of the nip rolls, and the interval between each nip roll and the recess is preferably 3 mm or less in order to form a surface tension. It is preferable that water is easily stored.

A water retention gap S is also formed between the guide rolls 82 and 83 and the concave portion 66D serving as a guide member. The water retention gap S has an upper end in FIG.
9. It is preferable to communicate with the lower end of the water retention gap S formed between the outlet nip roll 73 and the recess 86B.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper case 86 has a box formed with a washing water receiving portion 88 at the end along the longitudinal direction of the rolls such as the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69, and a connecting pipe 90.
The pump 120 is connected via the
The cleaning water is supplied to the cleaning water receiving section 88 by the operation of the control unit 20 controlled by the control means 118. A reservoir 94 communicates with a through-hole 92 formed in the wall of the washing water receiving portion 88. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide paths 96 and 97, which are through holes formed in the storage portion 94, correspond to the inlet nip roll 69, the outlet nip roll 73, and the upper portions of the guide rolls 82 and 83, respectively.
Is in communication with For this reason, the water supplied to the washing water receiving portion 88 is supplied to the water retention gap via the storage portion 94 and the guide path 96 and is supplied to the outer periphery of the inlet nip roll 69 and the outlet nip roll 73 and from the outer periphery to the outer periphery of the inlet nip roll 68 and the outlet nip roll 72. After being supplied to the outer circumferences of the guide rolls 82 and 83, they are dropped into the bleach-fix tank 42 through the guide openings 78 and 79.

The cleaning water supply pipe 1 shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 4 is connected to a block 99 so that cleaning water can be directly supplied to the water holding gap between the inlet nip roll 68 and the outlet nip roll 72.
04 may be arranged to communicate with the water retention gap S.

An O-ring 106 is attached between the lower case 66 and the lid 98 as a sealing material.
112A, 113A of the partition wall 113 forming the boundary with the rinsing tank 44 and the partition wall 112 forming the boundary with the rinsing tank 44
To the lower case 66 and the partition 11
The gap 122 formed between the first and second substrates 113 is isolated from the outside air to form a closed space, and the treatment liquid is prevented from depositing in this space.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the photographic paper printing / developing apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 1, the drawn photographic paper P is printed with the image of the negative film F in the printing unit 32, and after the feed speed is adjusted in the paper reservoir unit 36, the color developing tank is developed. 38, a bleach-fixing tank 42, and rinsing tanks 44, 45, and 46 are used to perform a series of development processing. Thereafter, the printing paper P is dried in the drying unit 48, and then cut by the cutter 52 for each image and taken out.

In the upper rack 54, as shown in FIG. 4, when the photographic paper P is sent from the color developing tank 38 and reaches the space between the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69 in the direction of arrow C, the photographic paper P
Is sent downward and inserted into the bleach-fixing tank 42 in the direction of arrow A. The bleach-fix tank 42 is transported by the transport rack 53.
The photographic paper P inserted therein is pulled out in the direction of arrow B, is sent out through the guide opening 79 from the space between the outlet nip rolls 72 and 73 in the direction of arrow D, and reaches the rinsing tank 44.

As described above, the printing paper P is transferred to the upper rack 54.
Before the control, the control means 118 drives the pump 120 to supply the washing water to the washing water receiving section 88. For this reason, the washing water passes through the storage section 94 and the guide paths 96 and 97, and the water retention gap S
The photographic paper P drawn out from the bleach-fixing tank 42 is washed by the washing water when passing between the outlet nip rolls 72 and 73, and is attached to the photographic paper P and taken out. The liquid is again dropped into the bleach-fix tank 42. After washing the printing paper P, the washing water from the water retention gap S is squeezed by the nip rolls 72 and 73 and falls into the tank, so that fresh washing water is always supplied. The cleaning water supplied to the inlet nip rolls 68 and 69 seals the water retention gap due to surface tension even when the supply is stopped. Accordingly, in addition to the cleaning function and the prevention of dirt, the bleach-fixing tank 42 is cut off from contact with the outside air, so that the processing liquid does not evaporate. In this regard, the cleaning water supplied to the outer periphery of the outlet nip rolls 72 and 73 has the same function.

The photographic printing paper P drawn out of the processing tank in this manner is washed with a small amount of washing water to minimize the carry-out of the processing liquid. And the amount of processing solution replenishment based on the reduction of the processing solution can be reduced. At the same time, the dirt adhering to the nip roll is washed with the washing water and the dirt does not adhere. The amount of washing water to be supplied is 30 ml to 1 per 1 m ² of the light-sensitive material.
00 ml is appropriate, so that the amount brought into the next layer is 1 /
It can be reduced to 2 to 1/4. Further, the same cleaning effect can be obtained even if the number of stages of the processing layers is reduced, so that the processing unit can be made compact.

The processing tanks between the rinsing tanks 44 to 46 are:
New washing water is supplied to the rinsing tank 46, and the washing water overflowing from the rinsing tank 46 is supplied to the rinsing tanks 45 and 4.
4, the cleaning water is supplied in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the photographic paper P, and an effective cleaning operation can be performed with a small amount of the cleaning water.

The treatment liquid in the next treatment tank is used as the washing water, for example, to supply the washing water in the rinsing tank 44 to the washing water receiving portion 88 of the upper rack 54 above the bleach-fixing tank 42. As a result, it is not necessary to separately supply new cleaning water, and effective use of the cleaning water becomes possible. In particular, since the concentration of the processing solution for the next layer is about one digit lower, it can be used as a substitute for washing water.

[0036]

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect that the processing solution adhering to the photosensitive material can be washed away with a small amount of washing water and carried into the next tank can be greatly suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showing a photographic paper printing and developing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an upper rack above a bleach-fix tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Photographic paper (photosensitive material) F Negative film (photosensitive material) S Water retention gap 54 Upper rack 66C Recess (guide member) 66D Recess (guide member) 68 Inlet nip roll 69 Inlet nip roll 72 Outlet nip roll 73 Outlet nip roll 86A Recess (guide member) 86B recess (guide member) 88 washing water receiving part 94 storage part (washing water supply means) 118 control means 120 pump (washing water supply means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03D 3/00-17/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform a developing process, wherein a pair of photosensitive material outlets disposed at a position higher than a processing liquid in the processing tank. A nip roll, a guide member provided opposite to the peripheral surface of the nip roll opposite to the photosensitive material sandwiching portion, and arranged near the nip roll peripheral surface to form a water retention gap between the nip roll and the nip roll; A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising: a cleaning water supply unit that supplies cleaning water to a water retention gap; and a control unit that activates the cleaning water supply unit before the photosensitive material reaches between the nip rolls. 2. The cleaning water supply means uses a processing solution in a processing tank in the next step as cleaning water.
3. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. A photosensitive material processing apparatus in which photosensitive material is sequentially inserted into a plurality of processing tanks to perform development processing, wherein a pair of photosensitive material outlets disposed at a position higher than a processing solution in the processing tank is provided. A nip roll, a guide member provided opposite to the peripheral surface of the nip roll opposite to the photosensitive material sandwiching portion, and arranged near the nip roll peripheral surface to form a water retention gap between the nip roll and the nip roll; A washing water supply unit provided with a washing water supply unit disposed in the upper portion of the treatment tank and supplying the washing water to the water holding gap, and a guide path for supplying washing water from the storage unit to the water holding gap is formed, A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising: