JP2876904B2 - Replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism in photographic 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 replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism used for operating a processing solution replenishment / waste solution processing system in a photographic material processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a replenishment tank and a waste liquid tank are separately provided in a photographic developing machine, and when the replenisher runs out, a new replenisher is injected into the replenisher tank. The method of generally discarding the waste liquid when it is filled has been adopted.

[0003]

However, in recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, various environmental protection regulations have been established for waste liquid discharged from a photographic processor. When using a photo processor in such an area,
Because of the necessity of reusing and reusing the waste liquid together with the collection of the waste liquid for each processing liquid, it has become necessary to systematize the processing liquid replenishment and the waste liquid treatment.

The processing liquid replenishment / waste liquid processing system is a method in which a tank unit for replenishing the processing liquid (a tank for each processing liquid is unitized) and a tank unit for the waste liquid are shared. is there. Specifically, a prescribed amount of the processing solution is put into the processing solution replenishing tank unit and set in the photographic processor. When the processing proceeds and the processing solution replenishing tank unit becomes empty, the empty processing solution replenishing tank unit is used. In this system, the tank unit is used as a waste liquid tank unit, and a new processing liquid replenishing tank unit containing a predetermined amount of processing liquid is set again to perform processing.

When the processing liquid replenishment tank unit is emptied as described above, in a processing liquid replenishment / waste liquid processing system which uses the tank unit as it is as a waste liquid tank,
Attachment of a detection device (for example, a float switch or an electrode bar) to the processing liquid replenishing tank itself may lead to troubles in connection and removal of the lead wires, as well as occurrence of forgetting to connect. In addition, in the process of using the waste liquid tank as a waste liquid tank and performing the regeneration treatment, if the detection device is still attached to the tank itself, a problem in operation is likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been developed in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to replenish processing solutions and waste liquids in a photographic material processing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism in a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus which enables the system to operate smoothly.

[0007]

The present invention has the following configuration in order to effectively achieve the above object. That is, the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1 is provided.
The replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism is opened at the top via a pump.
A treatment liquid replenishing tank bottom formed by the mouth, becomes waste
A float switch is provided at a predetermined position in the middle of the processing solution replenishment flow path connecting the processing tank that can discharge the processing solution from the lower part.
With a suction port at the bottom and a discharge port
It has a configuration in which a container provided at the top is provided .

The photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention according to claim 2
The replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism in the material processing apparatus is characterized in that:
In the above configuration, the position of the lower suction port is
It is configured to be off the center axis of the switch.

The photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention according to claim 3
The mechanism for detecting the remaining amount of replenisher in the material processing device is described in claim 1 or 2.
Has a configuration provided with a notifying means for notifying that the remaining amount of the replenisher has fallen below a specified value in the configuration described in 2.
You .

[0010]

[Function] Built-in float switch and lower suction port
The processing liquid replenishing tank itself is detected by providing a container having a discharge port on the upper portion at a predetermined position in a processing liquid replenishing circulation path connecting the processing liquid replenishing tank and the processing tank via a pump. The above-mentioned conventional problems that occur when the mechanism is attached can be solved, and the processing solution replenishment / waste solution processing system in the photographic material processing apparatus can be operated smoothly. Also, empty processing
The replenishment tank is treated as a waste liquid tank (unit).
By placing it below the treatment tank,
The upper part is opened by discharging the processing solution from the lower part of the processing tank.
Waste liquid is easily transferred to the bottomed processing solution replenishment tank
Can be collected.

Further, by providing the position of the suction port at the lower portion of the container outside the center axis of the float switch, the suction port of the container is sucked into the container as in the case where the suction port is below the center axis of the float switch. It is possible to prevent air from accumulating in the lower portion of the float switch.

Further, by providing a notifying means for notifying that the remaining amount of the replenisher has fallen below the specified value, the remaining amount of the solution in the replenishing tank can be more accurately detected, and The tank can be replaced.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Photosensitive material processing equipment (not shown)
Solution replenishment / waste solution treatment system (Figs. 4 and 5)
In reference), as shown in FIG. 1, 1 is open the upper
Comprising Te bottom of replenisher of a processing solution tank (refilling tank), 2
Pump for replenishing the processing liquid , 3 is the processing liquid when it becomes waste liquid
Is a processing tank capable of discharging water from the lower part, and in the middle of the processing liquid replenishment flow path 4 connecting the processing liquid replenishing tank 1 and the pump 2, a float switch 7 is built in and the suction port 5 is lowered.
And a container 8 having a discharge port 6 at the top .

The processing solution replenishing tank 1 described above has
If the tank is empty because it is an open bottomed tank
Is a processing tank 3 capable of discharging the waste processing liquid from the lower part.
Located underneath, effective as a waste liquid collection tank
Available to Further, the container 8 is provided with a suction port 5 at a lower portion.
And a discharge port 6 at the top
A processing liquid replenishing tank having an opening at the bottom below the container 8 of FIG.
Tank 1 for processing solution replenishment simply by installing tank 1
The processing liquid (replenisher) in the tank is processed by the suction action of the pump 2.
It can be supplied to the treatment tank 3.

The processing solution replenishment flow path 4 connecting the processing solution replenishment tank 1, the container 8, the pump 2, and the processing tank 3.
Is composed of pipes and hoses . Treatment liquid supplement
The filling tank 1 is connected to the suction port 5 at the bottom of the container 8 as described above.
And the processing tank 3 is connected to the upper part of the container 8 via the pump 2.
Is connected to the discharge port 6. The outlet 6 of the container 8
Is positioned slightly above (actually 10 mm) the liquid level detection level (ON level) of the float switch 7.

The inner diameter of the pipe or hose from the processing liquid replenishing tank 1 to the suction port 5 of the container 8 is preferably 10 mm. By setting the inner diameter of the pipe to 10 mm, the residual liquid in the container 8 can be properly replaced with the sucked air (the residual liquid in the container 8 falls into the replenishing tank 1 through the hose), and a normal operation can be performed. . Furthermore, the suction port 5 at the bottom of the container 8
Is provided outside the center axis of the float switch 7. Thus, it is possible to prevent the air sucked in by the pump 2 from accumulating in the lower portion (A portion) of the float switch 7 and preventing the replenisher in the container 8 from being replaced with the air.

The float switch 7 built in the container 8 is fixed with a cap 11 via a packing 9 and a pressing plate 10 with screws. Also, this float switch 7
As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow shaft member 12, the reed switch 13, the float 14, and the protection and protection of the float 14
It is constituted by the retaining member 15.

A lead wire 16 is guided from the outside into the shaft member 12, and a switch unit 20 connected to the lead wire 16 is provided in a glass tube 17 filled with gas. Further, the float 14 is inserted outside the shaft member 12 so as to be vertically movable. A magnet 18 is built in the float 14, and when the float 14 is located at the reed switch 13 in the shaft member 12,
The reed switch 13 is driven by the magnetic force of the magnet 18.
Changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

The protection-removal-preventing member 15 of the float 14 is formed in a circular shape as shown in FIG. 3, it is secured to the shaft member 12. A projection 19 is formed in a cross shape on the upper surface side of the protection / prevention member 15, and when the replenisher in the container runs out and the float 14 descends and comes into contact with the protection / prevention member 15, the contact portion of the float 14 Is prevented from being adhered to the entire surface by crystallization of the replenisher.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, there is provided a notifying means such as a display or an arithmetic unit for notifying that the remaining amount of the replenisher has fallen below a specified value. Incidentally, the container 8 with a built-in float switch 7 is provided on one of the typical process liquid line (processing solution replenishing flow path 4).

By operating the pump 2 for replenishing the processing liquid , the replenishing liquid (processing liquid) is sucked in the lower part by the above-described structure.
The liquid is sucked into the container 8 from the inlet 5 and the float 14 of the float switch 7 is floated to the ON level position (the refill pump 2 is operated during the time until the refill tank 1 is set and the float switch 7 is turned ON). When the normal photographic processing proceeds from this state, the replenisher in the replenisher tank 1 eventually runs out, and air is sucked into the container 8. Becomes Then, the processing liquid in the container 8 and the sucked air are exchanged, and the float 14 of the float switch 7 falls below the ON level (turns to the OFF level). Will do.

As described above, the fact that the replenisher has run out of the replenisher tank 1 is notified and displayed on the display shown in FIG. Thus, replenishing tank 1 (tank unit) which empty, as shown in FIG. 5 to be used for waste liquid recovery processing tank 3 as waste liquid tank unit 1a
It is Ru can. The waste liquid tank unit 1a which is filled with waste previously recovered, along with the effluent is regenerated, the waste liquid tank unit 1a is again injected replenisher as replenisher tank 1 (replenishing tank unit), photographic light-sensitive material It can be set and used in a processing device .

[0023]

Effect of the Invention] above, the present invention is as described above, when the replenishing tank unit becomes empty, the processing solution replenishing-waste systematization used as waste tank remains fully, the replenishing tank itself detection mechanism (e.g., a float Attaching switches / electrode rods can lead to troublesome connection and disconnection of lead wires, and may lead to forgetting to connect, etc. Eliminating the drawback that work problems easily occur if the detection mechanism is still attached to the tank itself, the tank itself is not provided with a detection device, and a separate container with a built-in float switch is provided. A system for liquid replenishment and waste liquid can be realized.

Further, by providing the position of the suction port at the lower portion of the container outside the center axis of the float switch, the air sucked into the container does not accumulate at the lower portion of the float switch, and the liquid remaining in the container can be smoothly removed. The air can be replaced, and the float switch can be operated normally.

Further, by providing a notifying means for notifying that the remaining amount of the replenisher has become equal to or less than the prescribed value, the remaining amount of the solution in the processing solution replenishing tank can be more accurately detected, and The tank can be replaced. The processing liquid replenishment / waste liquid system can be operated smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a cross section of a replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a float switch according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a protection / prevention member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a system at the start of processing and at the time of detecting a liquid in the processing liquid replenishment / waste liquid processing system;

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Treatment liquid replenishment tank, 2 ... Pump, 3 ... Treatment tank, 4 ... Treatment liquid replenishment flow path, 5 ... Suction port, 6 ... Discharge port 7 Float switch 8 Container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-38641 (JP, A) JP-A-50-147946 (JP, A) JP-A-60-1004839 (JP, U) JP-A-53 94128 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03D 3/00-17/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An upper portion is opened through a pump through a pump.
Processing liquid replenishment tank at bottom and processing liquid in case of waste liquid
A float switch is built in a predetermined position in the middle of a processing solution replenishment flow path connecting a processing tank capable of discharging water from the lower part, and
A replenisher remaining amount detection mechanism in a photographic material processing apparatus , comprising a container having a suction port at a lower portion and a discharge port at an upper portion . 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower suction port is provided.
The replenisher remaining amount detecting mechanism in the photographic material processing apparatus, wherein the position of the inlet is off the center axis of the float switch . 3. A replenishing solution remaining in a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying that the remaining amount of the replenishing solution has become a prescribed value or less. Quantity detection mechanism.