JP2931486B2 - Processing solution filtration mechanism of automatic processor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing solution filtration mechanism of an automatic processor for removing sludge contained in a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an automatic developing machine is provided with a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washing tank in order along a conveying direction of a photosensitive material, and the photosensitive material is stored in each processing tank. The developing process is performed while being transported in the processed processing solution.

In the processing tank, sludge (dust, oxidation products, decomposition products, silver and gelatin coagulated substances eluted from the film, etc.) contained in the processing liquid is collectively stored.
A filter is mounted in a water supply pipe of a circulation device for stirring the treatment liquid (consisting of a drain pipe, a water supply pipe, and a circulation pump) in order to remove water.

However, if all the sludge is removed by this filter, the following disadvantages occur.

[0005] Although the size of the sludge particles varies, for example, in the case of removing sludge of fine particles, it is necessary to use a filter having a fine mesh. However, if the mesh of the filter is fine, a pressure loss occurs in the filter portion, the flow rate of the processing liquid blown out from the water supply pipe into the processing tank decreases, and the stirring capacity decreases. For this reason, there has been no alternative but to increase the output of the circulation pump more than necessary or to allow sludge of fine particles contained in the processing liquid. However, it is practically difficult to obtain a desired circulating liquid flow by increasing the pump output, and if sludge of fine particles is allowed, pick-off (a phenomenon that the surface of the photosensitive material is damaged) has been caused.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to provide a processing liquid filtration mechanism of an automatic processor which can efficiently remove sludge of fine particles without lowering the stirring ability of the processing liquid. Aim.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic processing apparatus, comprising: a processing solution filtering mechanism for removing a sludge contained in a processing solution for developing, fixing, and washing a photosensitive material. A first filter disposed in a water supply pipe of a first circulating system for stirring the processing liquid and a second circulating system separate from the first circulating system. A second filter provided at a drain port of a treatment tank for allowing the treatment liquid to flow into the second circulation system, the second filter having a mesh equal to or less than the mesh of the first filter; And a third filter having a mesh finer than the mesh of the second filter, which is disposed in the water supply pipe of the circulation system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the processing solution filtering mechanism for an automatic developing machine, the drain port is such that a bottom surface of the processing tank or a peripheral edge of the opening is within a predetermined height from a bottom surface of the processing tank. And formed on a side wall of the processing tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the processing liquid filtering mechanism for an automatic developing machine, the output of the circulation pump of the second circulation system is set to be smaller than the output of the circulation pump of the first circulation system. Features.

[0010]

In the invention having the above-mentioned structure, the processing liquid is stirred so that the processing liquid whose first circulation system is fatigued does not stay. This first
A first filter is provided in the circulating system, and the first filter has a mesh size for exclusively removing large sludge in the processing liquid. Therefore, the first filter is unlikely to be clogged, and a pressure loss does not occur at this portion, so that the stirring ability of the processing liquid does not decrease.

Next, fine sludge in the processing liquid is removed by a second circulation system provided separately. The second filter provided at the drain port of the treatment tank that allows the treatment liquid to flow into the second circulation system is equivalent to or smaller than the mesh of the first filter.

Therefore, the processing liquid from which the larger sludge has been removed by the first filter flows into the second circulation system. That is, sludge that cannot be completely removed by the first filter or sludge smaller than the mesh of the first filter is removed by the second filter and flows into the second circulation system. For this reason, only the sludge finer than the size of the mesh of the second filter is removed by the third filter, and the clogging rate of the third filter is reduced.

The third filter has a smaller mesh than the first and second filters, and the pressure loss at this portion is larger than that of the first filter, but the second circulation system has a stirring function. Is not required, so no problem arises.

Therefore, the output of the circulation pump of the second circulation system can be set smaller than the output of the circulation pump of the first circulation system. In addition, by forming the drain port of the second circulation system on the side wall so that the peripheral edge of the opening is within a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the treatment tank, sludge that easily precipitates near the bottom surface can be efficiently removed. Can be. Also, the large sludge adhering to the second filter is sucked up by the action of the liquid flow in the first circulation system, so that clogging in the second filter is prevented.

[0015]

【Example】

(Overall Structure of Automatic Developing Machine) FIG. 2 shows an automatic developing machine 10 according to this embodiment. In the automatic developing machine 10, the developing tank 1 is sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 12.
4, a fixing tank 16, a washing tank 18, a squeeze section 20, and a drying section 22 are provided. A circulating device M described below is provided below the developing tank 14.

The developing tank 14 contains a developing solution, and is transported by a transport roller 24 driven by a motor (not shown).
Is disposed in a state of being immersed in the developer. Similarly, in the fixing tank 16, a fixing liquid is stored, and a rack 30 having a transport roller 28 is provided.

Between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16 and the fixing tank 1
A crossover rack 46 is disposed above the space between the washing tank 6 and the washing tank 18. The crossover rack 46 includes a transport roller 48 for transporting the photosensitive material 12 from upstream to downstream and a guide 5 for guiding the photosensitive material 12.
0 is provided.

As a result, the photosensitive material 12 sent from the insertion port 51 into the automatic developing machine 10 is immersed in the developing tank 14 and transported in the developing solution by the transporting rollers 24 as shown by the solid line to be developed. You. The developed photosensitive material 12 is transferred to the transport rollers 4 of the crossover rack 46.
8 to the fixing tank 16 where the transport rollers 2
By 8, the toner is conveyed through the fixing solution and is subjected to a fixing process. The photosensitive material 12 that has been subjected to the fixing process is used as a crossover rack 46.
Is transported to the washing tank 18 by the transport rollers 48.

The washing tank 18 contains washing water.
A rack 52 having a transport roller 54 is provided. Further, a squeeze section 20 is provided downstream of the washing tank 18. The squeeze section 20 includes a washing tank 18.
A transport roller 56 that transports the photosensitive material 12 to the drying unit 22 while squeezing the washing water attached to the photosensitive material 12 transported from the printer, and a guide 58 that guides the photosensitive material 12 are provided.

A drying unit 22 is disposed downstream of the squeezing unit 20. In the drying section 20, conveying rollers 60 for conveying the photosensitive material 12 are arranged in a staggered manner in the vertical direction. A plurality of hot air supply units 62 for blowing hot air to both surfaces of the photosensitive material 12 are provided between the transport rollers 60 with the transport path of the photosensitive material 12 interposed therebetween.
Hot air is blown out toward 2. As a result, the photosensitive material 12 is moved from a constant-rate drying area (a drying area in which heat applied to the photosensitive material having moisture remaining on the surface is used as latent heat of evaporation) to a decreasing-rate drying area (water on the surface of the photosensitive material evaporates). After shifting to a drying zone where the water content is low, low-temperature gentle warm-air drying is performed.

Next, the transport direction of the dried photosensitive material 12 is changed obliquely upward by guide rollers 82, and is accommodated in a receiving box 84 provided outside the drying section 22.

(Processing Solution Filtration Mechanism) Here, the processing solution filtering mechanism will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, a circulating device M having a filtration mechanism is provided below the developing tank 14.

The circulating device M includes a first circulating system 70,
And a second circulation system 72. First circulation system 7
The zero drain pipe 74 is connected to the bottom surface 14 </ b> B of the developing tank 14, and sends the developing solution in the developing tank 14 to the circulation pump 76. The circulating pump 76 (in this embodiment, the discharge rate is 30 to 40 l / min) is provided with a water supply pipe 78.
Is connected. The other end of the water supply pipe 78 has a first
Filter 80 is provided. The first filter 80 is formed in a cylindrical shape by circular frames 86 arranged at both ends and a central portion, and a plate-like connecting member 88 for connecting the circular frames 86 coaxially. 90 (in the present embodiment, the mesh is set to 0.8 × 0.8 mm)
Covered with. A water supply pipe 78 is inserted into the first filter 80, and a cylindrical cap 92 is attached so as to seal the water supply pipe 78 and the first filter 80. On the side of the cap 92, the developing tank 14
The water supply pipe 94 which communicates with the side wall 14A is connected.

Thus, the processing liquid is filtered when flowing from the inside to the outside of the first filter 80, and is sent back into the developing tank 14 by the pressure of the circulation pump 76. The water supply pipe 94 is connected below the liquid surface of the side wall 14A of the developing tank 14 so that the developing solution does not come into contact with air. The first circulation system 70 has a function of making the degree of fatigue of the processing liquid uniform throughout the processing tank and generating a liquid flow in order to promote the processing.

On the other hand, similarly to the first circulation system 70, the second circulation system 72 includes a drain pipe 96, a circulation pump 100 (in this embodiment, a discharge rate is about 10 l / min), a water supply pipe 98, and a water supply pipe 98.
02 and the third filter 104 constitute a main part.

A lid-shaped second filter 106 is fitted in a drain port 108 formed on the bottom surface 14B of the developing tank 14 and connected to a drain pipe 96. The mesh of the second filter 106 (the mesh is 0.5 × 0.5 in this embodiment)
is set smaller than the mesh of the first filter 80, and is larger than the mesh of the third filter 104 (the mesh is set to 0.1 × 0.1 mm in this embodiment). .

Therefore, as will be described below, the developer containing sludge having a size of 0.8 mm or less and being removed by the first filter 80 is removed by the second filter 106 and having a size of 0.1 mm. Sludge of 5 mm or less will be removed by the third filter 104, and the filtration capacity will be improved.

A heat exchanger (not shown) is provided in the circulation device M. The developing solution in the developing tank 14 is sent to the heat exchanger, where heat exchange is performed. Returned to 14. As a result, the temperature of the developer is maintained in a predetermined range. Further, in order to replenish the developer which decreases due to evaporation or the like, the developer is periodically replenished from a replenishment tank by a constant-rate liquid sending pump. Further, gas and water vapor generated in the developing tank are exhausted out of the automatic developing machine 10 by an exhaust fan (not shown).

Next, the function of a circulating device including a first circulating system and a second circulating system having a filtration mechanism will be described.

The first circulation system 70 includes a first filter 8
At 0, if the sludge larger than 0.8 mm in the developer is removed, the developer is stirred so that the developer does not stay. Since the mesh of the first filter 80 is relatively large, pressure loss does not occur at this portion, and the stirring ability of the developer does not decrease.

Next, sludge having a size of 0.8 mm or less is
It is removed by a second filter 106 fitted in a drain port 108 of the developing tank 14 of the second circulation system 72 provided separately. That is, sludge having a size of 0.5 mm or less flows into the drain pipe 96.

Here, the developer flowing into the drain pipe 96 is
It is sent to the third filter 104 via the circulation pump 100. The mesh of the third filter 104 is 0.1
mm to remove fine sludge
The developer is sent back to 4. Thus, since the sludge having a size of 0.5 mm or less is removed by the second filter 106, the clogging rate of the third filter 104 is reduced. In addition, since fine sludge can be reliably removed, occurrence of pick-off can be prevented.

Further, although the pressure loss at the third filter 104 is larger than that of the first filter 80, no problem occurs because the second circulation system 72 does not require a stirring function.

For this reason, the output of the circulation pump 100 of the second circulation system 72 can be set smaller than the output of the circulation pump 76 of the first circulation system 70.

If the position of the drain port 108 of the second circulation system 72 is set on the bottom surface 14B of the developing tank 14, or on the side wall 14A within a predetermined height from the bottom surface 14B, the bottom surface 14
Sludge that easily precipitates in the vicinity of B can be efficiently removed. Furthermore, the sludge of 0.5 mm or more attached to the second filter 106 at the inlet of the second circulation system 72 is actively separated by the action of the liquid flow of the first circulation system 70, and The second filter 80 is prevented from being clogged because it is sucked into the first circulation system 70.

Furthermore, the case where the filtration mechanism according to the present embodiment is applied to a developing tank has been described, but it is also possible to apply the filtering mechanism to a fixing tank and a washing tank.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, sludge of fine particles can be removed without lowering the stirring ability of the processing solution. Therefore, pick-off can be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a processing liquid filtration mechanism of an automatic developing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an automatic developing machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 automatic developing machine 70 first circulation system 72 second circulation system 76 circulation pump 80 first filter 100 circulation pump 104 third filter 106 second filter 108 drain port

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first circulating system for agitating the processing solution in a processing solution filtration mechanism of an automatic developing machine for removing sludge contained in a processing solution for developing, fixing, and washing the photosensitive material. A first filter disposed in the water supply pipe, and a second circulation system different from the first circulation system, having a mesh equal to or less than a mesh of the first filter; A second filter provided at a drain port of a processing tank for allowing the processing liquid to flow into the circulating system, and a second filter provided in a water supply pipe of the second circulating system and finer than a mesh of the second filter. And a third filter having a mesh. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drain port is formed on a bottom surface of the processing tank or on a side wall of the processing tank such that an opening peripheral edge thereof is within a predetermined height from a bottom surface of the processing tank. The processing liquid filtration mechanism for an automatic processor according to claim 1. 3. The automatic pump according to claim 1, wherein an output of the circulating pump of the second circulating system is set to be smaller than an output of the circulating pump of the first circulating system. Processing solution filtration mechanism of the developing machine.