JP2880820B2 - Sensitive 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 light-sensitive material processing apparatus which performs processing by sending out a silver salt type light-sensitive material such as photographic paper, photosensitive paper for direct plate making or a film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, in a copying camera for directly making a printing plate for light printing, an exposed photosensitive material is treated with a static developer. The light-sensitive material used in such applications is mainly made of, for example, gelatin (having a layer for preventing halation, a silver salt emulsion layer for sensing light, and gelatin in which physical development nuclei such as silver are dispersed on the surface of a water-resistant base (paper)). And a hydrophilic layer. The emulsion layer changes its properties when irradiated with light, but the diffusion of reduced silver to the surface layer is inhibited in the emulsion layer which has been exposed to light even when a developer is applied. On the other hand, in the emulsion layer which has not been irradiated with light, the silver halide is complexed and diffuses into the surface layer, where it is physically developed to precipitate metallic silver and become sensitized. After that, if a stabilization treatment is performed and a desensitization treatment is performed, only the portion where the metallic silver is deposited shows lipophilicity and the printing ink is applied, so that a printing plate is obtained.

Since the reaction of such a photosensitive material with a processing solution such as a developing solution proceeds in an extremely short time, even if the processing material is stopped for a short time in the processing solution, or even if the processing solution undulates, the processing can be uneven. Are known. Therefore, conventionally, an apparatus for performing an immersion type developing process in which a large tank is filled with a large amount of a processing solution and the photosensitive material is slowly conveyed in a static developing solution so as not to undulate has been used.

[0004]

However, in an apparatus using immersion type development, it is necessary to store a large amount of processing liquid in a processing tank, and the processing liquid may deteriorate depending on the number of photosensitive materials to be processed. However, there has been a problem that deterioration of developing performance due to oxidation of a generally alkaline developer cannot be avoided. In addition, since a large amount of processing liquid is required, there is a problem in that when the apparatus is started to be used, the temperature of the processing liquid is raised to a temperature suitable for processing, that is, it takes time to warm up. In order to shorten the warm-up time, a heater or the like for adjusting the temperature must have a large electric power.

By the way, in order to avoid such a problem,
If the processing liquid in the processing tank is simply reduced, the temperature of the processing liquid drops sharply as the light-sensitive material is carried into the processing liquid when the incoming light-sensitive material is cold as in winter. ,
It becomes difficult to maintain processing quality at a sufficient height.

[0006]

[0007]

The present invention solves the above problems and improves processing quality.
Made for the purpose of maintaining . The configuration of the present invention that achieves the above object will be described below.

[0009]

The photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is a processing apparatus for sending a silver salt type photosensitive material such as photographic paper, photosensitive paper for direct plate making or a film to a processing tank and performing processing. Then, the photosensitive material is transferred to the processing tank.
A light-sensitive material storage means for storing the material so that it can be carried out;
Preheating means for controlling the temperature of the photosensitive material stored in the pipe means to preliminarily raise the temperature of the photosensitive material, a processing tank for storing the processing solution, and storing the photosensitive material in the photosensitive material storage Take out from means
And a sensitizing material carrying means for carrying in the processing solution in the processing tank, and a new processing solution in the processing solution on the loading side of the sensitizing material in the processing tank uniformly over the width direction of the sensitizing material. processing liquid diffusion means and, unloading means for exiting transportable said photosensitive material from said processing bath to feed
The gist is to have

[0010] In addition, to the processing tank of the photosensitive material by the photosensitive material carrying means.
Is to be started after the preliminary heating of the photosensitive material is completed.
Can and Turkey.

[0011]

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, a new processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank for storing the processing liquid for the photosensitive material by the processing liquid diffusing means. The photosensitive material is uniformly sent out across the width direction of the photosensitive material into the processing liquid on the material carrying side. The photosensitive material is loaded into the processing solution in the processing tank by the photosensitive material loading unit. The light- sensitive material to be carried is light-shielding
It is stored in the light- sensitive material storage means, and in the stored state, the temperature of the light-sensitive material is controlled and pre-heated by the pre-heating means, so that the temperature of the processing solution is reduced and a new one is used exclusively. It is processed by the processing liquid. After processing, the photosensitive material
It is out transportable by from Risho sense tank to carry-out means.

That is, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, the light- sensitive material is stored in the light- sensitive material storage means so as not to cause a rapid temperature drop of the processing solution.
In from being pre-heated, subjected to treatment with appropriate temperature conditions by the new process liquid to be supplied from the processing tank
It is carried out. Therefore, high processing quality can be maintained while avoiding the problem of deterioration in processing quality due to a decrease in processing solution temperature.
You. The photosensitive material to be processed by the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention includes silver halide photosensitive paper for plate making, silver halide film for plate making, and silver halide photographic paper.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the photographic material processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a development processing apparatus as an embodiment of a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a slit exposure type copying camera 1 incorporating the development processing apparatus. The slit exposure type copying camera 1 is a device for copying a document to produce a printing plate for light printing.

First, the overall configuration of the slit exposure type copying camera 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the slit exposure type copying camera 1 incorporates a projection optical system and a development processing device described later in a housing 2, and includes a console panel 4 provided on an upper surface of the housing 2,
A document holder 10 configured to be reciprocally movable in a horizontal direction (the direction of arrow A in the figure) along the upper surface of the housing 2 and a light-sensitive material transport device 20 that transports a sheet-shaped light-sensitive material PM to an exposure position
A projection optical system 30 for irradiating the document held in the document holder 10 with light and projecting the light reflected by the document onto the upper surface of the photosensitive material PM to expose the same, and developing the exposed photosensitive material PM. And a stabilizing process, a drying unit 50 for drying the photosensitive material PM carried out from the developing device 40, and an electronic control unit 60 for controlling the driving of various motors and solenoid valves to be described later. Is provided.

The console panel 4 is provided with various setting switches for setting exposure conditions and the like, a power switch, a start switch, and the like, and is operated by an operator. Each switch of the console panel 4 is connected to the electronic control unit 60. The document holder 10 includes a document table 11 made of a transparent glass plate and a document cover 12 that can be opened and closed.
2 is held downward. This document holder 10
Is driven by a motor 13 provided in the housing 2 through a drive system (not shown) such as a sprocket, a chain, and a belt.
The document is reciprocally driven in the horizontal direction, and conveys a document to an irradiation light source for exposure.

The photosensitive material transport device 20 includes a first photosensitive material roll 2.
1, the first photosensitive material roll 21 in addition to the second photosensitive material roll 22
, A pair of rollers 24 dedicated to sending out the photosensitive material from the second photosensitive material roll 22, and two pairs of rollers 25, 26 commonly used for sending out the photosensitive material from each photosensitive material roll. And sends out a sheet-shaped photosensitive material PM from either one of the photosensitive material rolls 21 or 22 as necessary. In this embodiment, as the photosensitive material PM,
A silver master (product name: manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Mills, model SLM-R2) was used, but if it is a silver salt-based photosensitive paper for plate making, a super master (product name: manufactured by Agfagebalt, model SPP), etc. Ordinary silver halide films and high-sensitivity PS plates can also be used.

The first and second photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 in which the photosensitive material is wound into a roll form usually have different widths.
The slit exposure type copying camera 1 of the embodiment can be mounted at the same time. To mount the first and second photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22, the doors 21b and 22b of the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a of the housing 2 are opened, and the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 are rotated on the shaft. In a state where the shaft is passed through, both ends of the shaft are fitted and fixed to predetermined positions on both side surfaces of the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a. The mounting of the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 may be performed with the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 stored in a dedicated magazine.

FIG. 2 shows that the photosensitive material PM is a first photosensitive material roll 2.
3 and a pair of rollers 23, 2
5 and 26 show a state where the sheet is sequentially conveyed downstream. When the photosensitive material PM of the second photosensitive material roll 22 is used, the roller pairs 24 and 2 instead of the roller pair 23 are used.
The photosensitive material PM is pulled out from the second photosensitive material roll 22 into a sheet shape and transported by the pair of roller pairs 25 and 26. The first photosensitive material roll 21 or the second photosensitive material roll 22
Is sent out in synchronization with the horizontal movement of the document holder 10.

The photosensitive material PM thus conveyed is exposed at an exposure position set between the two pairs of rollers 25 and 26, and a cutting device 27 provided on the back side of the photosensitive material PM at this exposure position. As a result, the panel is cut into dimensions set using the console panel 4. The projection optical system 30 for exposing the photosensitive material PM includes a light source 31 for irradiating light in the width direction of the document held in the document holder 10, and three mirrors 32a for reflecting the reflected light LB from the document. , 32b, 3
2c, a projection lens 33 for forming an image of the original on the upper surface of the photosensitive material PM at the exposure position, and a slit 34 for limiting the width of the reflected light LB projected on the upper surface of the photosensitive material PM.
And The projection lens 33 and the mirrors 32b and 32c constituting the mirror group 32 are fixed to a mirror support plate 36 and a lens support 37 mounted on an inclined base 35, respectively. The value is set to 1. The mirror support plate 3
The positions of the lens 6 and the lens support table 37 are adjusted on the inclined table 35 during alignment of the projection magnification, and are fixed to the inclined table 35 after the alignment is completed.

The light emitted from the light source 31 toward the original is reflected by the lower surface of the original, and the reflected light LB is sequentially reflected by each mirror of the mirror group 32, and is reflected by the projection lens 33 and the slit 34.
Are formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material PM. Therefore, a slit-like image is projected on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material PM being conveyed, extending in the width direction of the document. Since the transport of the photosensitive material PM is synchronized with the horizontal movement of the document holder 10, when the horizontal movement of the document holder 10 is completed, the exposure of the entire document is completed.

The lower side of the roller pair 26 has a photosensitive material P
To uniformly expose M, a plurality of LEDs 38 are provided in a line.
Irradiates the peripheral portion of the photosensitive material PM, which cannot be exposed by the reflected light LB from the original when performing the reduced exposure, is skipped as an image forming unnecessary portion. Thereafter, the photosensitive material PM is cut by the cutting device 27.

The developing device 40 is provided below the projection optical system 30 and performs a developing process and a stabilizing process on the photosensitive material PM introduced through the introducing roller 41. The development processing device 40 can be equipped with a developer main tank 42 for storing a developer and a stabilizer main tank 43 for storing a stabilizer, and a processing unit 44 in which rollers and the like are integrally driven by a motor (not shown). And housed in the housing 2. Details of the configuration of the developing device 40 will be described later.

The developing device 4 is arranged along the conveying path of the photosensitive material PM.
The drying unit 50 is disposed downstream of the drying unit 50. The drying unit 50 includes two pairs of rollers 51 and 52 for transporting the photosensitive material PM processed by the developing device 40, a transport tray 53 provided between the pair of rollers 51 and 52,
A photosensitive material drying heater 54 and a fan 55 provided at positions opposite to the transport tray 53 with the transport path of the photosensitive material PM interposed therebetween, and a dried photosensitive material P attached to the outside of the housing 2.
And an external tray 56 for storing M. Therefore, the exposed photosensitive material PM is dried by the photosensitive material drying heater 54 through the development / stabilization processing in the development processing device 40,
It is sent to an external tray 56 outside the housing 2. Thus,
A printing plate for offset printing is duplicated and manufactured from the manuscript.

Next, a description will be given of a development processing device 40 for performing development / stabilization processing on the photosensitive material PM. In the description of the developing device 40, in addition to FIG. 1 showing its schematic configuration, a perspective view (FIGS. 3 and 4) and an explanatory view (FIG. 5) showing a main part in partial cross-sectional view are appropriately used. As shown in FIG. 1, the developing device 40 includes a developing unit (hereinafter referred to as a developing unit) that develops the exposed photosensitive material PM introduced from the introducing roller 41 using a developing solution in a developing solution main tank 42. 70)
And a stabilizing section (hereinafter, referred to as a stabilizing section) that performs a stabilizing process on the developed photosensitive material PM using the stabilizing agent in the stabilizing agent main tank 43 and sends the processed stabilizing material PM to the roller pair 51 of the drying unit 50.
(Referred to as a stabilizing section) 72.

The developing section 70 includes a developing solution main tank 42 and a developing solution main tank 4 as a developing solution supply system.
2, a liquid level management cylinder 74 that receives the developer from the main tank 42 and controls the liquid level to be constant, a developer cistern tank 78 into which the developer flows from the liquid level management cylinder 74 via the conduction pipe 76, and , An inflow solenoid valve 80 for opening and closing a conduit 79 for the outflow of the developer from the developer system tank 78
And a developer nozzle 82 for discharging the developer. A throttle portion is incorporated in the developer nozzle 82 to limit the discharge amount of the developer from the tip of the developer nozzle 82 during the opening period of the inflow solenoid valve 80. The discharge amount of the developer from the tip of the developer nozzle 82 is substantially determined by the pressure applied to the throttle portion, that is, the height of the liquid surface in the liquid level management cylinder 74 and the diameter at the throttle portion. In the present embodiment, since the height of the liquid level is kept constant, the flow rate of the developer when the inflow solenoid valve 80 is opened is controlled by the developer main tank 42.
It is kept constant irrespective of the amount of the developing solution inside.

The developing solution cistern tank 78 has a partition plate 84 standing upright from the bottom of the tank for partitioning the interior into a liquid inflow chamber 78a and a liquid stagnation chamber 78b, and a conduction pipe 76 in the liquid inflow chamber 78a. It is open. On the other hand, a heater 8 inserted toward the bottom is provided on the upper surface of the liquid retention chamber 78b.
6 and a float 87 that moves up and down according to the amount of liquid in the tank
And a float sensor 88 for detecting the amount of liquid in the developing solution cistern tank 78. Further, a mesh filter 90 for removing dust and the like from the developing solution flowing out is provided at an inlet of a pipe 79 communicated with the bottom of the developing solution cistern tank 78.

According to this configuration, the developer main tank 4
The cold developer that has flowed in from the second through the conduit 76 first flows into the liquid inflow chamber 78a, flows over the upper end of the partition plate 84, and flows into the upper part of the liquid retention chamber 78b. The developer in the liquid storage chamber 78 b is heated by the heater 86. The temperature of the developer by the heater 86 is controlled to a predetermined temperature by an electronic control unit 60 described later. The developer maintained at the predetermined temperature flows out of the developer nozzle 82 when the inflow solenoid valve 80 is opened.

Next, a schematic configuration around the development processing tank 96 where the development of the photosensitive material PM is actually performed and an outline of the operation will be described. Below the introduction roller 41 for introducing the photosensitive material PM into the developing unit 70, the photosensitive material PM is rotated in the X direction of FIG.
An entrance roller pair 92 for feeding the photosensitive material PM is provided, and a free roller 94 that guides the photosensitive material PM in contact with the sent photosensitive material PM and that gives a so-called waist to the photosensitive material PM at the time of conveyance is further provided below the entrance roller pair 92. I have.

The developing tank 96 has a substantially U-shaped cross section.
As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive material PM has a width corresponding to the width of the photosensitive material PM, and forms a reservoir 95 for the developer. This developing tank 96
Inside, a sponge-type developer supply roller 98 is provided at a position which is slightly apart from the bottom surface of the developing tank 96 across the width direction of the developing tank 96. Therefore, when the developing solution is stored in the storage portion 95 of the developing tank 96, the lower part of the developing solution supply roller 98 is partially immersed in the developing solution. The surface of the developer supply roller 98 is formed of a sponge material, and the bubbles constituting the sponge material are individually independent bubbles (single bubbles). As shown in FIG. 4, the developer supply roller 98 is provided with a developer temporary storage unit 100 for temporarily storing the developer dropped from above on the developer supply roller 98.

In addition, the bottom of the developing tank 96 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a bottom liquid storage chamber 101 is formed, and a plurality of communication holes 10 opened at the bottom of the development processing tank 96.
2 allows the developer to flow. A rod-shaped heater 103 for heating the developer is provided inside the bottom liquid reservoir 101.
Are provided. At the center bottom of the bottom liquid storage chamber 101, a developer discharge pipe 108 which communicates with the bottom liquid storage chamber 101 through a discharge solenoid valve 104 for opening and closing a conduit to discharge used developer to a waste liquid receiving tray 106. Are connected.

On the transport side of the photosensitive material PM in the developing tank 96,
Guide plate 11 having a predetermined elevation angle α toward stable portion 72
0 is arranged. The guide plate 110 is formed using a corrugated plate to reduce the contact area with the photosensitive material PM (see FIG. 3), and the developed photosensitive material PM enters the squeeze roller pair 109 of the stabilizer 72. Form a path. A planar heater 112 for heating having a self-temperature adjusting function is attached to the lower surface of the guide plate 110. Planar heater 112
3, is integrally fixed to the guide plate 110 by a fitting 113 provided on the side of the developing tank 96 or another fitting (not shown).

The detailed configuration of the developing tank 96 itself will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage part 95 of the developing tank 96 has substantially half-moon-shaped side plates 122 (the left side plate is omitted in the figure) on both sides of the curved peripheral plate 120. They are formed by joining and fixing each. At a center of the peripheral plate 120 on the guide plate 110 side, a through hole 126 penetrating the peripheral plate 120 is provided. When the developing solution is supplied from the developing solution nozzle 82 and the amount of the solution in the storage section 95 increases, excess developing solution is supplied to the through hole 1.
Outflow from 26. Therefore, the liquid level of the developer in the storage section 95 is maintained at the height of the through hole 126. As shown in FIG. 1, a drip-proof cover 114 is provided on the discharge electromagnetic valve 104 immediately below the developing tank 96 to prevent the developer falling from the developing tank 96 and the guide plate 110 from adhering. I have.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, the developing solution temporary storage section 100 is provided with two end face plates 134 which are in contact with both ends of the developing solution supply roller 98 while allowing the roller to rotate. And a support plate 136 having a cross section of "F" in which the end plate 134 is fixed to both ends. The center of the upper plate 136a constituting the support plate 136, the developer nozzle 8
A liquid passage hole 138 is provided at a position corresponding to the front end of the second plate 2, while a back plate 136 b constituting the support plate 136 has
The roller 9 is urged toward the developing solution supply roller 98.
A leaf spring 140 made of a thin stainless steel plate is provided in contact with the outer periphery of the plate 8.

Immediately below the liquid passage hole 138, an upper plate 136a is provided.
Of the liquid receiving plate 1 from the center of the front end of the
42 are provided in series. A slight gap is provided between the tip of the liquid receiving plate 142 and the leaf spring 140. Developer supply roller 98 and end plate 13 contacting both end surfaces thereof
4 and the plate spring 140 abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the roller 98, the developing solution supply roller 98 is rotated upward in this portion, and the developing solution nozzle 82 is rotated. Can be temporarily stored. This part is called a liquid pool part 143. The liquid receiving plate 142 serves to efficiently spread the developing solution in the axial direction of the developing solution supply roller 98.
Even if there is no 2, the developer temporarily accumulates in the liquid reservoir 143, so that there is no difference that the developer spreads in the axial direction of the developer supply roller 98.

The developer dropped from the developer nozzle 82 is
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plate spring 14 passes through the liquid passage hole 138 to reach the liquid receiving plate 142, and a small gap formed between both ends of the liquid receiving plate 142 and the plate spring 140.
0 Runs down along the surface. That is, the developing solution supply roller 98 spreads along the axial direction to reach the liquid reservoir 143, where it is temporarily stored. A part of the developer stored in the liquid reservoir 143 is held by individual bubbles in a single bubble layer on the surface of the developer supply roller 98, and is rotated with the rotation of the developer supply roller 98 in the Y direction in FIG. Pumped out.

Since the lower portion of the developing solution supply roller 98 is immersed in the developing solution stored in the developing tank 96, the developing solution pumped out with the rotation is supplied to the developing roller 96 by the roller 9.
With the rotation of 8, the developer is supplied into the developer already stored. The new developing solution is supplied to the photosensitive material P in the developing tank 96.
M will be spread to the carry-in side. When the developer is supplied and the amount of the developer in the storage unit 95 increases, the amount of the developer (the amount corresponding to the newly supplied developer minus the amount of the developer lost due to the removal of the photosensitive material PM) is removed. The old developer flows out from the through hole 126 of the peripheral plate 120 to the outside, and the amount of the developer in the developing tank 96 is balanced.

The developing solution also flows into the bottom liquid storage chamber 101 and is heated by two rod-shaped heaters 103 built therein. The heated developer convects with the reservoir 95 through the communication hole 102. Bar heater 103
In combination with the fact that the energization is feedback-controlled by the temperature of the developer, the temperature of the developer in the developing tank 96 is raised in a very short time and maintained at a predetermined temperature.

When the photosensitive material PM passes through the developing solution storage section 95 of the developing tank 96, sludge is mixed into the developing solution as the photosensitive material PM is developed. Such sludge flows into the bottom liquid storage chamber 101 from the storage part 95, and when the discharge solenoid valve 104 is opened, the developer discharge pipe 1
08, and is discharged to the waste liquid receiving tray 106.

The structure of the developing tank 96 has been described above.
In addition to 2, some heaters are provided. First, the first preheater 11 is moved along a guide 115 provided between the introduction roller 41 and the entrance roller pair 92.
6, a second preheater 117 is provided at a position surrounding the inflow solenoid valve 80, its conduit 79, and the developer nozzle 82;
Further, third preheaters 118 are provided at positions near the developer supply roller 98 above the developing tank 96, respectively. In addition, a thermistor 119 for detecting an ambient temperature is provided near the guide PM 115 on the side of the photosensitive material PM. These preheater and thermistor are connected to an electronic control unit 60 to be described later, and realize a preliminary temperature rise of the photosensitive material PM.

On the other hand, the first and second photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22
Are also stored in the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a.
A preheater is provided. FIG. 5 shows only the first master chamber 21a, but as shown in FIG.
1a, a partition plate 127 is provided at a lower portion, and a fourth
Are provided. The temperature of the master chamber 21a by the preheater 128 is controlled by the master chamber 21a.
Is detected by a thermistor 129 disposed further below the bottom of the. This is because the heat capacity of the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 wound in a roll shape is large, so that the thermistor 129 is installed in a place not directly affected by the heat generated by the fourth preheater 128, The temperature of the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 is sufficiently preliminarily raised in the two master chambers 21a and 22a. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 5, the thermistor 129a may be provided in the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a, and the temperature may be detected based on the room temperature.

Next, the transport of the photosensitive material PM in the processing unit 44 will be described. The exposed photosensitive material PM sent by the entrance roller pair 92 enters the storage unit 95 while being guided by the free roller 94, and passes through the storage unit 95 along the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral plate 120. While passing through the storage section 95, the development processing is started in response to the developer stored therein. After passing through the storage section 95 through the gap between the developer supply roller 98 and the peripheral plate 120, it is sent out along the inclined guide plate 110 toward the squeezing roller pair 109 provided at the entrance of the stabilizer 72. It is. Since the atmosphere on the guide plate 110 is close to a predetermined temperature due to heating by the planar heater 112 having a temperature control function, the atmosphere adheres to the surface of the photosensitive material PM even while the guide plate 110 is being conveyed. The developing process of the photosensitive material PM is continued by the developing solution. The developer adhering to the surface of the photosensitive material PM is squeezed out by the squeezing roller pair 109 and removed.

Next, the stabilizer 72, which is a system for stabilizing the light-sensitive material PM with a stabilizer, will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the same members or members having the same functions as those of the developing unit 70 will be omitted, and the developing unit 7 will be omitted.
The code (numerical value) used for the description at 0 is represented by adding an auxiliary code A. The stabilizing section 72 serves as a stabilizing agent supply system, similar to the developer supply system of the developing section 70 described above.
Stabilizer main tank 43, liquid level control cylinder 74A to which this stabilizer main tank 43 is attached / detached, stabilizer cistern tank 78A with partition plate 84A installed inside, liquid level control cylinder 74A and stabilizer cistern It has a conducting tube 76A that communicates with the tank 78A, a stabilizer nozzle 82A with an inflow solenoid valve 80A interposed, and the like. In the stabilizer cistern tank 78A, similar to the developer cistern tank 78,
A float sensor 88A having a float 87A and a mesh filter 90A are also provided. Inflow solenoid valve 80
When the stabilizer flows out of the stabilizer cistern tank 78A through A and the stabilizer nozzle 82A, the stabilizer flows in from that through the conduit 76A.

Other components of the stabilizer 72 will be briefly described along with the transport of the photosensitive material PM. The photosensitive material PM that has passed through the pair of squeezing rollers 109 disposed at the upper end of the guide plate 110 of the developing unit 70 is guided by the guide cover 144 and the free roller 146 disposed along the conveyance path of the photosensitive material PM, and is thus stable. It is carried into the chemical treatment tank 96A. At the entrance of the stabilization tank 96A, there is provided a free roller 94A for giving a so-called waist to the photosensitive material PM. As in the developing tank 96, a sponge-type stabilizer supply roller 98 is provided in the stabilizing tank 96A forming the stabilizing agent storage section 95A.
A and the stabilizing agent supply roller 98A, the stabilizing agent temporary storing unit 100 forming a stabilizing liquid reservoir 143A.
A is provided to supply a stabilizing agent to the loading side of the photosensitive material PM in the storage section 95A. On the other hand, at the bottom of the stabilization tank 96A,
Like the developing tank 96, a bottom liquid storage chamber 101A is provided. Discharge solenoid valve 104 with drip-proof cover 114A
When the valve A is opened, the used stabilizer is discharged from the bottom liquid storage chamber 101A to the waste liquid receiving tray 106A via the stabilizer discharge pipe 108A. Since the stabilizer of this embodiment does not need to perform temperature control, no heater is provided in the bottom liquid storage chamber 101A.

A stabilization tank 9 along the conveying path of the photosensitive material PM.
Downstream of 6A, a guide plate 110A that forms an entry path of the stabilized photosensitive material PM is arranged to be inclined upward from the stabilization tank 96A, and the upper end of the guide plate 110A is provided with a guide plate shown in FIG. Stabilized photosensitive material PM rotated in the direction of arrow Z
Roller pair 109A for squeezing excess stabilizer from the surface of the photosensitive material while transporting the toner toward the roller pair 51 of the drying unit 50 (see FIG. 2). In addition, the stabilizer supply roller 98A and each squeezing roller pair 109, 109
A is driven by a common drive source with each roller of the developing tank 96 described above, and is rotated synchronously.

Each squeezing roller pair 10 which rotates in the direction of arrow Z to convey the developed and stabilized photosensitive material PM and squeezes excess developer and stabilizer from the surface of the photosensitive material PM.
9, 109A, as shown in the figure, a plane passing through the center of each roller is provided at an angle β counterclockwise in the drawing from a vertical plane passing through the center of the roller. Therefore, when the photosensitive material PM is sandwiched between the pair of aperture rollers 109 and 109A, the photosensitive material P at the pair of aperture rollers 109 and 109A is not affected.
The transport direction of M is downward by an angle corresponding to the angle β. As a result, the squeezed developing solution or stabilizer is kept in contact with the photographic material PM and the squeezing roller pair 109 and 10 while the photographic material PM is passing through.
9A, and does not hang down to the side of the photosensitive material PM.

During conveyance of the photosensitive material PM, each squeezing roller pair 109,
The developer or stabilizer remaining in 109A is a photosensitive material PM
After passing through the squeezing roller pair 109 or 109A, the cut end faces of the squeezing roller pairs 109 and 109A are transmitted along the lower roller surfaces of the squeezing roller pairs 109 and 109A, and the respective squeezing roller pairs 10 and 109A are cut.
Right squeezed liquid collecting plate 152 disposed below 9,109A
Alternatively, it falls on the left squeeze liquid collecting plate 154 and flows into the waste liquid receiving tray 106A. Also, each squeezing roller pair 10
Each of the scrapers 9 and 109A is provided with two scrapers 150 at positions where the leaf springs at the tips of the scrapers 150 abut against the rollers. Sludge and waste liquid scraped off by the scrapers are also removed from the right throttle liquid collecting plate 152 and the left throttle. Liquid collecting plate 1
54, and is collected in the waste liquid receiving tray 106A. The waste liquid receiving trays 106 and 106A of the developing section 70 and the stabilizing section 72 are provided with a pipe 1 to reach the waste liquid tank 156.
The waste liquid collected in each of the trays 106 and 106A is finally collected in a waste liquid tank 156 via a pipe 158.

In the stabilizer 72 constructed as described above,
The developed photosensitive material PM sent from the developing unit 70 is squeezed out of the developing solution adhered by the squeezing roller pair 109, and is carried into the storage unit 95A while being guided by the free rollers 94A and the like. The stabilization process is started when the photosensitive material PM enters the stabilizing agent of the storage unit 95A, and the stabilization process proceeds while the photosensitive material PM is conveyed along the upper surface of the guide plate 110A after passing through the storage unit 95A. . When passing through the squeezing roller pair 109A, excess stabilizer is squeezed out from the upper surface of the sensitized material PM, and then the sensitized material PM is transported to the drying unit 50 by the roller pair 51.

Next, referring to a block diagram shown in FIG. 6, an electronic control unit 60 for controlling the temperature of the developing solution cistern tank 78 and the like, adjusting the temperature of the photosensitive material PM, and controlling the driving of the developing solution supply roller 98 and the like will be described. Will be explained. FIG.
As shown in the figure, the electronic control unit 60 is provided with a well-known CPU 16.
2, an exposure output port 172 connected to the ROM 164, a RAM 166, a timer 168 including a plurality of self-propelled timer counters, and the like through a common bus 170. Input / output interfaces such as an input port 174 and a development output port 176 are provided. In addition, the common bath 170 of the electronic control unit 60 has a developer and a developer cistern tank 78 in a reservoir 95 communicating with the bottom liquid reservoir 101.
Liquid temperature adjusting circuit 178 for adjusting the temperature of the developing solution inside
And a light-sensitive material temperature adjusting circuit 1 for adjusting the temperature of the light-sensitive material in the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a and in the vicinity of the developing tank 96.
79 and the console panel 4 on which the operator performs various settings and the like are connected.

The exposure output port 172 includes a motor 13 for driving the original holder 10, a cutting device 27 for cutting the photosensitive material PM, and a light source 31 for irradiating the original in the original holder 10 with light. A motor 28 for sending out the photosensitive material PM from the first photosensitive material roll 21 or the second photosensitive material roll 22, and an LED 38 for uniformly exposing the photosensitive material PM.
And a drying unit 50 for drying the stabilized photosensitive material
And are connected.

On the other hand, the development input port 174 has a float sensor 88 in the developer cistern tank 78 and a float sensor 88A in the stabilizer cistern tank 78A.
The developing output port 176 is connected to a drive motor 180 that drives the respective rollers of the processing unit 44 in synchronization with each other, an inflow solenoid valve 80 provided in the developer nozzle 82, and a stabilizing agent. The electromagnetic valve 80A for inflow provided in the nozzle 82A, the electromagnetic valve 104 for discharge provided in the developer discharge pipe 108, the electromagnetic valve 104A for discharge provided in the stabilizer discharge pipe 108A, and the guide plate 110 A planar heater 112 for heating the nearby atmosphere to a certain temperature is connected.

The liquid temperature adjusting circuit 178 is provided with a heater 86 installed in the developing solution cistern tank 78, a temperature sensor 85 for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the tank, and a bottom liquid storage chamber 101. Two bar heaters 103
Further, a temperature sensor 103a for detecting a liquid temperature in the liquid storage chamber 101 is connected. This liquid temperature adjustment circuit 1
78 controls heating of the heaters so as to maintain the temperature of the developer in the storage unit 95 and the temperature of the developer in the developer cistern tank 78, respectively, within a predetermined temperature range, and the liquid temperature is maintained within the predetermined temperature range. CPU1 outputs a signal indicating whether or not
62.

On the other hand, the photosensitive material temperature adjusting circuit 179 has a first preheater 11 provided along the guide 115.
6, a second preheater 117 provided near the inflow solenoid valve 80, a third preheater 118 provided above the developer supply roller 98, and master chambers 21a and 22.
a, a thermistor 119 for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the developing tank 96, and a thermistor 129 for detecting the temperature of the photosensitive material in the master chambers 21a and 22a. The photosensitive material temperature adjusting circuit 179 is connected to the developing chamber 96 from the master chambers 21a and 22a.
Is preliminarily heated before the development processing, and a signal indicating whether or not the temperature of the photosensitive material PM has been increased to a certain degree or more is output to the CPU 162.

Next, the overall operation of the slit exposure type copying camera 1 of the embodiment will be briefly described. When the power is turned on to the slit exposure type copying camera 1, first, as shown in FIG. 7, an initialization process is executed (step S100).
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the photosensitive material has sufficiently increased, and the process waits until it is determined that the temperature has increased (step S15).
0) After the temperature of the photosensitive material has sufficiently increased, a standby process is executed (step S200), and a start key input from the console panel 4 is waited (step S300).
A development process is performed (Step S400).

Here, the initialization processing means that the discharge electromagnetic valves 104 and 104A are opened, and the developing processing tank and the stabilizing processing tank 96A (hereinafter, if necessary, both are collectively processed with the processing tank 96). After discharging the developing solution or the stabilizing agent (hereinafter collectively referred to as a processing solution, if necessary), closing the discharge solenoid valves 104 and 104A, and then closing the inflow solenoid valve 80 , 80A to supply the processing liquid to the processing tank 96 with the rotation of the developing liquid supply roller 98 and the stabilizing agent supply roller 98A, and to operate the liquid temperature adjusting circuit 178 to operate the developing liquid cistern tank 78 and the developing liquid. The temperature of the developer in the processing tank 96 is raised and maintained in the range of about 28 ° C. to 31 ° C., and the photosensitive material temperature adjustment circuit 179 is operated to operate the first to fourth preheating heaters 116, 117,
This is a process of energizing 118 and 128 to start preliminary temperature rise of the photosensitive material. By executing the initialization processing when the power is turned on, the processing liquid in the processing tank 96 is replaced with a new processing liquid for exposure and development processing, and the processing liquid and the photosensitive material PM are controlled at appropriate temperatures. Is done.

The determination in step S150 is to determine whether or not the preliminary temperature rise of the photosensitive material PM has been sufficiently performed. In particular, the photosensitive material PM wound up in a roll shape is completely cooled in winter or the like. In the case, the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a
The temperature of the inside is sufficiently raised, and the first and second photosensitive material rolls 21 and
Performed to keep 2 warm enough. That is, just because the preheater is energized does not immediately raise the temperature of the photosensitive material PM to an appropriate value (approximately 26 ° C. to 32 ° C. in the present embodiment). Therefore, the detection values of the thermistors 119 and 129 are referred to. On the other hand, processes such as exposure and development are not started until the temperature of the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 rises to some extent.

After a lapse of time, the thermistors 119 and 129
When it is determined that the temperatures of the photosensitive material rolls 21 and 22 and the temperature in the vicinity of the development processing tank 96 have increased, the process proceeds to a standby process (step S200). In the standby processing, while performing various settings for exposure and development, the apparatus stands by in a state where exposure and development are possible.

In the exposure / development process (step S400) executed when the start key is pressed and turned on (step S300), the exposure process is performed by the projection optical system 30 and the front end of the photosensitive material PM is developed. Before entering the processing tank 96, the developer inflow solenoid valve 80 is opened to start supplying a new developer, and as the photosensitive material PM is transported, the stabilizer inflow solenoid valve 80A is opened. Then, supply of a new stabilizer is started, and supply of these processing liquids is stopped as the photosensitive material PM passes. The operation of each unit in the developing device 40 is as described in detail above.

As described above, the developing apparatus 40 of the embodiment incorporated in the slit exposure type copying camera 1
According to the method described above, in the developing tank 96 and the stabilizing tank 96A, the developing solution and the stabilizing agent are uniformly supplied to the loading side of the photosensitive material PM to be subjected to the developing and stabilizing processing. The photosensitive material PM carried into the chemical treatment tank 96A is
The effect of the new processing solution is uniformly received, and the development and stabilization processing is always performed constantly. In addition, since the photosensitive material PM that has exited the development processing tank 96 and the stabilization processing tank 96A is still held in a reactable state, only a small amount of the developing solution and the stabilizing agent are stored, and the silver for direct plate making can be obtained. The development and stabilization processing can be sufficiently performed on the salt type photosensitive material PM. Accordingly, the processing tanks 96 and 96A can be reduced in size, and the development processing apparatus 40 can be reduced in size, and further, the slit exposure type copying camera 1 can be reduced in size.

Further, prior to the development processing and the stabilization processing, the photosensitive material PM has been sufficiently preliminarily heated in the first and second master chambers 21a and 22a, and is further transported along the guide guide 115. In the meantime, it is preheated by the heat generated by the first preheater 116. In particular, the photosensitive material PM rolled into a roll
In the case of, since the entire heat capacity is large, the master room 2
Preliminarily raising the temperature in a roll state in 1a and 22a is preferable in that the temperature of the photosensitive material PM that is drawn out into a sheet shape and conveyed into the processing liquid is sufficient. In addition, the developing tank 96 passes through the inflow solenoid valve 80.
Is supplied to the second preheater 117.
, And the vicinity of the developing solution supply roller 98 is further heated by the third preheater, and is carried on the surface of the developing solution supply roller 98 and supplied to the developing tank 96. The temperature drop of the developer is kept to a minimum. As a result, the photosensitive material PM and the developer are reliably maintained at a temperature sufficient for processing, and the processing of the photosensitive material PM is not adversely affected even when the outside air temperature is low.

Further, in this embodiment, a new developing solution is supplied to the side where the photosensitive material PM is carried in, that is, to the developing process start side. The development can be performed efficiently, and the development quality can be further improved.

According to the present embodiment, it is not necessary to store a large amount of the developing solution and the stabilizing agent as in the prior art. Is not reduced and does not change, and the plate making quality can always be kept stable. The amount of processing solution used can be reduced as a whole. Further, since a large amount of the developer and the like are not stored, sludge does not remain for a long time and does not sludge. Therefore, the developing tank 96
Cleaning is not required, and maintenance labor such as washing with water, which is conventionally required, is also unnecessary. Since the sludge does not adhere to the bottom of the developing tank 96 and hinders the transport of the photosensitive material PM, the transport of the photosensitive material PM is hindered, and uneven development occurs on the developed photosensitive material PM. Nor.

Further, while spreading the developing solution from the developing solution nozzle 82 along the axial direction of the developing solution supply roller 98,
That is, the liquid reservoir 14 is uniformly distributed over the width direction of the photosensitive material PM.
The developing solution (new developing solution) held in each bubble in the single bubble layer on the surface of the developing solution supply roller 98 is stored in the storage section 95 based on the rotation of the developing solution supply roller 98.
Turbulence or the like does not occur on the liquid level of the developer in the storage unit 95. As a result, development unevenness (irregular uneven streaks appearing on the surface of the photosensitive material due to the disturbance of the liquid surface) due to the disturbance (wave) of the developer liquid surface does not occur.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, the temperature of the photosensitive material is directly detected by a thermistor or an infrared detector to perform preheating. A configuration in which a preheater is incorporated in the rollers 41 and the like, a configuration in which electric power supplied to the preheater is controlled in accordance with an outside air temperature, a configuration in which a photosensitive material previously cut into a sheet is sequentially pulled out from a master chamber and exposed and developed, Alternatively, it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as a configuration applied to a developing device for a silver halide photographic paper or a plate making film.

[0064]

As described in detail above, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, the light-sensitive material is preheated prior to the processing, and is processed by a new processing liquid uniformly supplied to the processing tank. Moreover, the reaction with the processing liquid is maintained in a state where the reaction with the processing liquid is possible even after leaving the processing tank. Therefore, regardless of the outside air temperature,
There is an excellent effect that the photosensitive material can be efficiently and uniformly processed with a small amount of the processing liquid. Also,
It is also possible to reduce the size of the device.

[0065]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a slit exposure type copying camera 1 incorporating the developing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of a developing tank 96.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a developer supply roller 98 and a developer temporary storage unit 100.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of various rollers, a developer temporary storage unit 100, various heaters, and the like in a developing tank 96.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic control unit 60.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing routine executed by the electronic control unit 60;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slit exposure type copying camera 10 Document holder 20 Sensitive material conveying device 21 First sensitive material roll 21a First master room 22 Second sensitive material roll 22a Second master room 30 Projection optical system 40 Developing device 42 Developer main Tank 43 Stabilizer main tank 44 Processing unit 50 Drying unit 60 Electronic control unit 70 Developing unit 72 Stabilizing unit 80 Inflow solenoid valve 82 Developer nozzle 95 Storage unit 96 Development tank 98 Developer supply roller 100 Developer temporary storage unit 101 Bottom Liquid Reservoir Chamber 104 Discharge Solenoid Valve 109 Squeezing Roller Pair 112 Planar Heater 116 First Preheater 117 Second Preheater 118 Third Preheater 119 Thermistor 128 Fourth Preheater 129 Thermistor 178 Liquid Temperature Control Circuit 179 Sensitive material temperature adjustment circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masayuki Handa, 480, Takamiya-cho, Hikone-shi, Shiga Prefecture Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Hikone area business office (56) References JP-A-2-176657 (JP, A) JP-A-2-79836 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03D 3/00-17/00 G03C 3/00 570

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light-sensitive material processing apparatus for sending a silver halide type light-sensitive material, such as photographic paper, photosensitive paper or film for direct plate making, to a processing tank for processing, wherein the light-sensitive material is treated in the processing tank. Light-shielding so that it can be carried out
A light-sensitive material storage means, a pre-heating means for controlling the temperature of the light-sensitive material stored in the light-sensitive material storage means to pre-heat the light-sensitive material, and a processing tank for storing the processing liquid, A light-sensitive material loading means for unloading the light-sensitive material from the light- sensitive material storage means and loading the light-sensitive material into the processing liquid in the processing tank; and a new processing liquid in the processing liquid on the light-sensitive material loading side of the processing tank. a processing liquid diffusion means uniformly feeding across the width direction of the sensitive material, photosensitive material processing apparatus provided with a discharge means for exiting transportable said photosensitive material from said processing bath. 2. The photosensitive material loading means according to claim 1 , wherein
The loading of the photosensitive material by the preliminary heating means should be carried out to the treatment tank.
2. A light- sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means is started after completion of the temperature raising .