JP3096373B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material which has been processed with a processing solution, is conveyed by contacting a plurality of rollers with the front and back surfaces of the photosensitive material, and is dried on one end of the roller in the axial direction. The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus provided with a drying unit for performing a drying process by a drying air from a drying air blowing device having a wind generation source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photosensitive material on which an image has been printed is sequentially developed with a processing solution such as a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water.
A fixing process, a rinsing process, and the like are performed, and thereafter, the sheet is sent to a drying unit and dried.

In the drying section, a plurality of rollers are arranged in a staggered or opposed manner, and a photosensitive material processed by a processing liquid passes between the rollers. The photosensitive material is conveyed by receiving a conveying force when its front and back surfaces contact the rollers.

[0004] Here, a drying air outlet is provided between the rollers, and the drying air is blown to the photosensitive material while passing between the rollers arranged in a staggered or opposing manner. And dried.

[0005] In recent years, in order to increase the processing efficiency, it has been required to increase the conveying speed of the photosensitive material without extending the drying path length. In order to cope with this, it has been considered that a part of the upstream side of the roller is a heat roller and the photosensitive material is efficiently heated to promote evaporation of moisture contained in the photosensitive material.

As a result, the photosensitive material which has exceeded the saturated water content immediately after the processing is first contacted with the heat roller to promote evaporation, and thereafter the humid surrounding atmosphere is removed by dry air. Drying efficiency increases,
The processing efficiency can be improved without extending the drying path length.

The number of heat rollers is usually an even number (for example, 4
A temperature sensor is disposed in contact with the roller surface at the center in the axial direction on the roller surface, and the heating temperature of a heat source (for example, a halogen lamp) provided inside is controlled.

[0008]

However, a chamber, including a heat roller, for temporarily storing the drying air blown out from an outlet provided between the rollers is provided at one end in the axial direction of the roller. The structure is such that the drying air is guided from the roller to the outlet, so that the flow of the drying air flows along the axis from one end of the roller to the other end.

Since the temperature of the drying air is generally lower than the surface temperature of the heat roller, the flow of the drying air tends to be lower on the upstream side in the axial direction of the heat roller than on the downstream side. Therefore, if the temperature is controlled based on a signal from a temperature sensor disposed at the center of the heat roller,
The temperature on the upstream side of the heat roller (on the side where the chamber is disposed) is lower than the set temperature, which causes undulation.

When a temperature sensor is disposed at the center of each of the plurality of heat rollers, the heat at the center of each heat roller is radiated by the contact of the temperature sensors, and the temperature of the peripheral surface of the temperature sensor is lowered. For this reason, the number of temperature sensors is limited, and a heat roller without a temperature sensor performs temperature control according to a heat roller with a temperature sensor.

In view of the above facts, the present invention can maintain the surface temperature of a heat roller at an optimum surface temperature in consideration of the surrounding environment, prevent uneven drying such as undulation, and prevent deterioration in image quality. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of performing the above-mentioned processes.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a photosensitive material after processing with a processing liquid is conveyed by contacting a plurality of rollers with a dry air supply source at one axial end of the rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit that performs a drying process by a drying air from a drying air blowing device, wherein the plurality of rollers are heat rollers whose surfaces are heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source. A plurality of temperature sensors for detecting the surface temperature of each heat roller in contact with the peripheral surface of the heat roller are provided, and the mounting position of the temperature sensor is within the width direction area of the photosensitive material to be conveyed and It is characterized in that it is arranged on the drying air supply source side.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dry-air blowing device having a dry-air supply source at one axial end of a roller, which conveys the photosensitive material after processing with the processing liquid by contacting the plurality of rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit for performing a drying process by a drying air, wherein the plurality of rollers,
A heat roller whose surface is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source, and a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a surface temperature of each of the heat rollers in a contact state on a peripheral surface of each of the heat rollers are arranged, Each of the temperature sensors corresponding to the heat roller is offset in the axial direction of the heat roller.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dry-air blowing device having a dry-air supply source at one axial end of a roller, which conveys the photosensitive material after processing with the processing liquid by contacting the plurality of rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit for performing a drying process by a drying air, wherein the plurality of rollers,
A heat roller whose surface is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source, a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a surface temperature of each of the heat rollers in a contact state on a peripheral surface of each of the heat rollers, and The sensor is mounted at a position for detecting a temperature of a surface portion of the heat roller in contact with a plurality of long photosensitive materials conveyed in parallel.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drying section includes:
The processing with the processing liquid is completed, and thereafter, for example, the squeezed photosensitive material is fed. In the drying section, the photosensitive material first contacts the heat roller,
The photosensitive material is heated to promote evaporation, and thereafter, by blowing dry air, the evaporated water is removed from the surface of the photosensitive material and dried. Generally, the temperature of the drying air is set to a temperature lower than that of the heat roller.

The heat roller is controlled at a predetermined temperature by a signal from a temperature sensor. In the invention of claim 1,
Since the arrangement of this temperature sensor is in the width direction area of the photosensitive material that is in contact with the peripheral surface of the heat roller, and on the dry air supply source side, even if the dry air lowers the surface temperature of the heat roller, The temperature reduction on the heat roller surface due to the drying air can be considered, and stable temperature control can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a temperature sensor is provided for each of the plurality of heat rollers, if the heat sensors are arranged at the same position in the axial direction of the heat rollers, the temperature sensors at the front are the same as those of the photosensitive material. Heat may be removed from the heat roller portion in contact with the portion, causing temperature unevenness. For this reason, the arrangement positions of the respective temperature sensors are dispersedly arranged in the width direction area of the photosensitive material that is in contact with the peripheral surface of the heat roller, and in the axial direction within a range satisfying the condition of the dry air supply source side. Offset. As a result, the positions from which heat is removed are dispersed, and the occurrence of extreme temperature unevenness is prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the present apparatus, a sheet-shaped photosensitive material is not always transported one by one, but a long photosensitive material (particularly, a narrow photosensitive material) is transported. They may be transported in parallel. For this reason, the mounting position of the temperature sensor is set to a position for detecting the temperature of the surface portion of the heat roller in contact with a plurality of long photosensitive materials conveyed in parallel. In this case, the temperature sensor may be movable in the axial direction of the heat roller.

Thus, each temperature sensor can be opposed to each of a plurality of long photosensitive materials, and the temperature control of the heat roller can be performed with high accuracy.

[0020]

FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing apparatus 10 which is an example of the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention. The automatic developing device 10 dries a film 20, which is an example of a photosensitive material, in a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water, and then performs a drying process.

The automatic developing apparatus 10 is provided with a processing solution processing section 11 and a drying section 50 in a machine frame 12. The processing solution processing unit 11 includes a developing tank 14 for storing a developing solution, a fixing tank 16 for storing a fixing solution, and a washing tank 18 for storing washing water, and is provided near an insertion port 15 provided in the machine frame 12. Rack 17 for drawing film 20 into machine frame 12, and insertion detection sensor 8 for detecting film 20 to be inserted
0 is provided.

The developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 1 of the processing liquid processing section 11
6. A plurality of transport rollers 22, 26,
The transport racks 24, 28, 32 each having 30
It is provided immersed in a developer, a fixer, and washing water.
Further, between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16, and between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18, a crossover rack 34 provided with a transport roller 36 and a guide 38 above them is provided.

Film 20 inserted through insertion slot 15
Is drawn in by the insertion rack 17, and the developing solution, the fixing solution,
The developer is conveyed while being sequentially immersed in washing water, and is subjected to development, fixing, and washing.

A squeeze roller 4 for squeezing and transporting the film 20 is provided between the washing tank 18 and the drying section 50.
2, a squeeze rack 40 having a guide 43 for guiding the film 20 and the drying unit 50 is provided. The film 20 sent out from the washing tank 18 is guided to the drying unit 50 while squeezing rollers 42 squeeze out the surface moisture.

The squeeze roller 4 close to the washing tank 18
A crossover rack 34 having the same configuration as the crossover rack 34 between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16 and the crossover rack 34 between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18 is applied to the portion between the fixing tank 2 and the guide 43. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drying unit 50 is stretched between a pair of side plates 54 arranged in parallel with each other,
The transport rollers 44 for transporting the film 20 and the heat rollers 60 are arranged in a zigzag pattern to form a transport path for the film 20 and transport the drying air supplied by the drying air supply unit 45 having a heater and a drying fan. A blowing pipe 47 that blows out toward the vicinity of the roller 44 and the heat roller 60 is provided. The blow-out pipes 47 are independently provided between the respective transport rollers 44 and the heat rollers 60, and a chamber 49 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction. The surface of the heat roller 60 is coated with Teflon (trade name of DuPont, USA).

That is, the drying air generated by the heater and the drying fan is once stored in the chamber 49 to be equalized in pressure, and then guided to each of the blowing pipes 47, and is blown out from the outlet of the blowing pipe 47. It is configured to be.

The arrangement order of the transport rollers 44 and the heat rollers 60 in the drying section 50 is such that two transport rollers 44 are firstly arranged from above the drying section 50, and then four heat rollers 60 are arranged. Ten transport rollers 44 are arranged. The film 20 is conveyed downward by receiving the conveying force and is ejected from the blow-out pipe 47 while the front and back surfaces sequentially contact the conveying roller 44 and the heat roller 60 arranged in a staggered manner as described above. It is heated and dried by the drying air.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the heat roller 60 has a hollow inside, and a halogen lamp 62 is arranged on the axis. This halogen lamp 62
Is connected to the control unit 64, and is turned on by a signal from the control unit 64, so that the surface of the heat roller 60 is heated.

As described above, since the heat roller 60 is heated by the internal halogen lamp 62, the bearing 56 for supporting the side plate 54 is formed of a heat-resistant member. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a molded product of a translucent heat-resistant resin (for example, a resin obtained by adding graphite and Teflon (trade name of DuPont, USA) to a polyimide resin). Two cylindrical portions 56A are formed to support the shaft portion 61. A flange portion 56B connecting the two cylindrical portions 56A has an elliptical shape. On the other hand, the side plate 54 has the cylindrical portion 56
A circular hole 54A through which A is inserted is provided, and each of the cylindrical portions 56A is tightly inserted into the circular hole 54A. The flange 56B is provided with two small circular holes 56C between the cylindrical portions 56A, and is coaxial with a female screw 54B formed on the side plate 54 when the cylindrical portion 56A is inserted into the circular hole 54A. Fixed to 54.

The bearing 56 has a so-called sliding bearing structure, and a shaft 61 of the heat roller 60 is supported by a through hole of the cylindrical portion 56A.

From the outer periphery of the flange portion 56B of the bearing 56, a cylindrical portion 56D in the radial direction of each cylindrical portion 56A is integrally formed. A temperature fuse 68 is accommodated in the cylindrical portion 56D, and its detection terminal penetrates through the back side and the side plate 54 of the cylindrical portion 56D and is in contact with the peripheral surface of the heat roller 60.

The thermal fuse 68 is connected to a wiring for energizing the halogen lamp 62, and has a function of forcibly shutting off the halogen lamp 62 when a predetermined temperature (about 100 ° C.) or more is reached. doing. The temperature fuse 68 is housed in the cylindrical portion 56D only at the bearing 56 at the end corresponding to the side where the gear 72 for rotating the heat roller 60 (see FIG. 6) does not exist.

That is, as shown in FIG.
Is fitted into the base of the shaft 61 of the heat roller 60, and the shaft 61 penetrating the gear 72 is supported by the bearing 56. Here, a predetermined gap is provided between the gear 72 and the bearing 56, and the heat roller 6
The clearance for thermal expansion by heating 0 is expected in advance and assembled.

The two bearings 56 for the heat roller 60 thus formed are mounted on each side plate 54 to support both ends of the four heat rollers 60. Here, a wind shield box 70 is attached to the side plate 54 on the side where the chamber 49 for temporarily storing the drying air is provided so as to cover the two bearings 56. That is, since both end surfaces of the heat roller 60 are open, and both end portions of the halogen lamp 62 protrude and are fixed to a support plate (not shown) outside the side plate 54, the windshield box 70 is By providing the heat roller 60, the periphery of the heat roller 60 and the inside of the heat roller 60 are separated, and it is possible to prevent the temperature control of the heat roller 60 from becoming difficult due to the inflow and outflow of outside air into the heat roller 60. ing. By providing the wind shield box 70 on the side where the chamber 49 is provided, it is particularly hard to be affected by the flow of the outside air due to the dry air blown out from the chamber 49 via the blowing pipe 47.

The film 20 is heated by receiving heat from the heat roller 60 by contacting the four heat rollers 60 with the front and back surfaces alternately. By this heating, the moisture impregnated in the film 20 is evaporated, and the surrounding atmosphere containing the evaporated moisture is eliminated by the drying air, so that the evaporation is further promoted.

The surface temperature of the heat roller 60 is set according to the processing amount of the film 20, the transport speed, the temperature of the dry air, the amount of air blown out, the ambient environmental humidity, and the like. The feedback control is performed based on the detection signal from the temperature sensor 66. Each of the temperature sensors 66 is a heat roller 6.
No. 0 is attached in a state of being in contact with the peripheral surface. This contact position is different from the contact position of the film 20, and there is no interference between the film 20 and the temperature sensor 66.

Each of the temperature sensors 66 is connected to a control unit 64 to which the above-described temperature control information as a control condition is input.
In the control unit 64, the temperature control information and the temperature sensor 66
Lighting of the halogen lamp 62 based on the detected temperature from
Controls turning off.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting position of the temperature sensor 66 is offset in the axial direction by each heat roller 60.

The temperature sensor 66A corresponding to the first heat roller 60A (the uppermost heat roller 60)
It is disposed at a position deviated to one end in the axial direction. This mounting position is set slightly inside one end in the width direction of the film 20 to be fed, and the temperature of the peripheral surface of the heat roller 20 that actually contacts the film 20 can be detected.

With respect to the first heat roller 60A,
Lower second to fourth heat rollers 60B, 60C, 6
In 0D, the mounting positions of the temperature sensors 66B, 66C, and 66D are sequentially offset toward the center in the axial direction (about 30 mm).
Every) has been. Here, since each temperature sensor 66 is in contact with the heat roller 60, heat may be taken from the heat roller 60. However, as described above, the heat is taken by offsetting the respective temperature sensors 66. The position of the peripheral surface of the heat roller 60 is displaced, so that heat is prevented from being concentrated on a part of the width direction of the film 20 (which becomes linear in the transport direction of the film 20).

Here, each temperature sensor 66 is disposed so as to be biased toward one end of the axis of the heat roller 60. At one end, a chamber 49 for temporarily storing the drying air is provided.
Side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drying air blown from the chamber 49 through the blowing pipe 47 is directed to the film, but actually, the conveying roller 44 (including the heat roller 60). Along one axis from one end to the other.

Generally, the temperature of the drying air is
Since the surface temperature is lower than 0, the drying air is directly applied to one end of the heat roller 60 in the axial direction, so that the temperature falls to a lower temperature than a set temperature (for example, 80 ° C.). On the other hand, on the other end side of the heat roller 60, since the drying air is heated by the heat roller 60, the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 hardly drops (a temperature difference of about 20).
° C).

Therefore, by disposing the temperature sensor 66 at a position deviated to one axial end of the heat roller 60 on the side where the chamber 49 is provided, the detected temperature includes the temperature decrease due to the drying air. As a result, a decrease in the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 is prevented. In addition, by this, the temperature of the center and the other end of the heat roller 60 is overheated, but the heat is deprived by the drying wind,
The temperature difference from one end to the other end of the heat roller 60 can be kept relatively small (temperature difference about 10 ° C.).

A drying turn section 48 is provided below the drying section 50.
The film 20 dried by the heat roller 60 and the drying air is turned obliquely upward by the drying turn section 48 and then stored in the receiving box 52.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The film 20 on which an image is recorded by exposure is inserted into the automatic developing device 10 from the insertion opening 15 of the automatic developing device 10 and processed. In the automatic developing device 10, the film 20 inserted from the insertion opening 15 is drawn in by the insertion rack 17 and sent to the developing tank 14 of the processing liquid processing unit 11.

In the developing tank 14, while being conveyed in a substantially U-shape by the conveying rollers 22 of the rack 24, it is immersed in a developer to perform a developing process. The film 20 that has been processed with the developed image 14 is guided and conveyed by the guide 38 and the conveying roller 36 of the crossover rack 34 and sent to the fixing tank 16. In the fixing tank 16, the transport rollers 2 of the rack 28
6, the film 20 is conveyed while being guided in a substantially U-shape and immersed in a fixing solution to perform a fixing process. The film 20 that has been processed in the fixing tank 16 is guided and conveyed by the crossover rack 34 and sent to the washing tank 18. In the washing tank 18, the film 20 is conveyed while being immersed in washing water by the conveying rollers 30 of the rack 32, and the film 20 is washed with water, and the fixing liquid component is removed from the surface of the film.

The film 20 having been subjected to the rinsing process is guided and conveyed from the rinsing tank 18 to the squeeze roller 42 and the guide 43 of the squeeze rack 40, and is sent from the processing liquid processing section 11 to the drying section 50. At this time, the moisture attached to the surface of the film 20 is removed by the squeeze roller 42.

In the drying section 50, first, the film 20
The front and back surfaces are alternately brought into contact with the conveying rollers 44 to be conveyed and dry air is blown. Thereby, the water droplets remaining particularly at the leading end or the rear end in the transport direction of the film 20 and the water droplets remaining unevenly over the entire film 20 without being squeezed by the squeeze roller 42 are made relatively uniform. can do.

Next, the film 20 to which water droplets are relatively uniformly adhered by the transport roller 44 and the drying air is alternately contacted by the four heat rollers 60 on the front and back sides, so that evaporation is promoted. Then, heat roller 60
The atmosphere containing a large amount of water is removed to the side opposite to the duct 49 by the drying air from the blowing pipe 47 corresponding to the above, and the evaporation is further promoted. At this time, since there is no water droplet unevenness, evaporation does not partially delay or advance, and evaporation is uniformly promoted over the front surface of the film 20.

Thereafter, while the film 20 is conveyed by the ten conveying rollers 44, the drying air generated in the drying air supply unit 45 is blown out from the blowing pipe 47 toward the front and back surfaces of the film 20 to heat the film 20. dry. The film 20 is conveyed while being heated, and is dried by the drying turn section 4.
When it reaches 8, it is turned obliquely upward and discharged, and is stored in the receiving box 49.

Here, the four heat rollers 6 of this embodiment are used.
0 indicates that a temperature sensor 66 is attached to the peripheral surface of the halogen lamp 62 in a contact state, and the turning on and off of the halogen lamp 62 is controlled by a signal from each temperature sensor 66.

Since the temperature sensor 66 is arranged to be biased toward one end in the axial direction of the heat roller 60 to which the drying air from the chamber 49 is directly applied, the temperature sensor 66 detects the decrease in the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 due to the drying air. The included temperature can be detected. That is, since the temperature of the drying air is lower than the surface setting temperature of the heat roller 60, the one end in the axial direction where the drying air directly hits the heat roller 60 may be lower than the setting temperature. On the other hand, the drying air blown out from the blowing pipe 47 is sent to the other end along the axis of the heat roller 60, and lowers the temperature at the center and the other end of the heat roller 60. Therefore, by controlling the temperature of the heat roller 60 based on the temperature including the temperature decrease due to the drying air, the temperature of the heat roller 60 does not fall below the minimum temperature that can be processed,
Drying can be prevented. The heat roller 6
Since the temperature at the center and the other end of 0 is appropriately reduced by the drying air, the temperature difference from one end to the other end can be reduced (temperature difference of about 10 ° C.). The blow-off pipe 47 may be formed separately from each other, or may be formed by integrally forming a plurality of pipes.

Further, since each temperature sensor 66 is offset (approximately 30 mm) in the axial direction for each heat roller 60, heat taken by the contact of the temperature sensor 66 is transferred to the same position where the film 20 contacts. Without concentration, uneven drying can be prevented.

Hereinafter, an example of temperature control of the heat roller 60 will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG.

The arrow 1 in FIG. 7 indicates the operation start position. First, the temperature of the drying air is first increased, and when the temperature of the drying air becomes the standby state (about 55 ° C.) (arrow in FIG. 7). 2), the lighting of the halogen lamp 62 is started. As a result, the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 is heated. At the same time, the drying air temperature is
5 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range by the on / off control of the heater and the fan.

Here, when the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 is in a standby state (about 70 ° C.) (see arrow 3 in FIG. 7), the halogen lamp 62 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range by on / off control. In this case, the heat roller 6
When the surface temperature of the heat roller 6 reaches the standby temperature (approximately 70 ° C.), the fan is operated, so that the heat roller 6
The extreme temperature rise of 0 is suppressed.

Next, when the insertion of the film 20 is detected by the insertion detection sensor 80 (see arrow 4 in FIG. 7), after a predetermined time (see arrow 5 in FIG. 7), the drying air and the surface of the heat roller are dried. Up to the set temperature until the film 20 reaches the drying unit 50 (see arrow 6 in FIG. 7).

In the case of continuous processing, the processing is performed by shifting up to the set temperature + α (see arrow 7 in FIG. 7).

In the temperature control as described above, the temperature sensor 66 is disposed at one end of the heat roller 60 on the side of the chamber 49, so that the temperature does not fall below the set temperature of the heat roller 60 of 80 ° C. In addition, since the surface temperature is reduced by the drying air at the center and the other end of the heat roller 60 which is overheated by controlling the temperature of the one end to about 80 ° C., the temperature sensor 66 is disposed near the center. The temperature difference can be maintained smaller than the temperature difference between both ends of the heat roller 60 at this time.

Since the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 having the above structure is heated to about 80 ° C.,
It is formed of a heat-resistant resin obtained by adding graphite and Teflon (trade name of DuPont, USA) to a polyimide resin. The shaft portion 61 of the heat roller 60 is supported by the cylindrical portion 56 </ b> A of the bearing 56 so that the shaft portion 61 can be smoothly rotated regardless of the surface temperature of the heat roller 60. Since graphite and Teflon (trade name of DuPont, USA) are added, the sliding friction is extremely small, and there is no fear of abrasion due to rotation.

One bearing 56 is formed with two cylindrical portions 56A. With the cylindrical portions 56A inserted into the circular holes 54A of the side plates 54, the screws 58 are inserted into the small circular holes 56D. , And screwed into the female screw 54B, the shaft portions 61 of the two heat rollers 60 can be pivotally supported, so that the assembling workability is good.

Further, the temperature of the peripheral surface of the heat roller 60 is detected at the bearing 56, and the temperature of the bearing 56 is set to a predetermined temperature or higher (about 100 ° C.).
° C), the cylindrical body 56D capable of accommodating the thermal fuse 68 that forcibly shuts off the current to the halogen lamp 62 is integrally formed. It can be carried out.

The side plate 5 to which the bearing 60 is attached
4 (on the side where the chamber 49 is provided), a wind-shield box 70 is attached, and both ends of the open heat roller 60 are shielded from the outside air. The outside air such as the drying air to be blown does not enter the inside of the heat roller 60, and the influence on the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 can be reduced. Therefore, management of temperature control (on / off control of the halogen lamp 62) by the temperature sensor 66 is simplified.

In this embodiment, the two bearings 56 are collectively covered by the wind shield box 70.
A wind shielding member may be attached to the open end face of each heat roller 60. The open surface on the side where the chamber 49 is not provided does not need to be shielded from wind because the flow of outside air is small and the power supply line of the halogen lamp 62 is wired. A wind shield box 70 or a wind shield member may be attached.

In this embodiment, the case where the sheet-like film 20 is transported one by one has been described. However, in the present apparatus, the width of the film 20 is at least half or less than the maximum width that can be processed by this apparatus. In some cases, a plurality of long films to be processed are arranged and processed simultaneously. In such a case, it is preferable to measure the surface temperature of the heat roller 60 in contact with each of the long films. In such a case, the temperature sensor 66 may be mounted so as to match the number of films to be processed in parallel and to measure the surface temperature of the heat roller at the portion where each film contacts.

When the number of films to be processed in parallel is not determined, the temperature sensors for the number of films that can be processed in parallel are previously mounted on a shaft arranged in parallel with the heat roller 60 so as to be slidable. Alternatively, one or both ends of the shaft may be used as standby positions for temperature sensors, and a required number of temperature sensors may be slid along the shaft and arranged at predetermined positions. For example, in the case of processing a long film, a device for supplying the film and a device for winding the film are mounted on the left and right sides of the device of FIG. 1 for each film. The temperature may be detected and the temperature sensor may be automatically slid.

[0069]

As described above, the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention can maintain the surface temperature of the heat roller at an optimum surface temperature in consideration of the surrounding environment, and can prevent uneven drying such as undulation. And has an excellent effect of preventing deterioration in image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the arrangement of rollers and heat rollers in a drying unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a temperature sensor is attached to a heat roller.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view near the side plate on the chamber side.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the bearing and its periphery.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a side plate on a gear mounting side.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of temperature control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic developing apparatus 45 Dry air supply part 47 Blow-out pipe 49 Chamber 50 Drying part 60 Heat roller 62 Halogen lamp 66 Temperature sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenro Yamamoto 1250 Takematsu, Minamiashigara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujiki Kiki Kogyo Co., Ltd. 56) References JP-A-3-131852 (JP, A) JP-A-4-155334 (JP, A) JP-A 1-260448 (JP, A) JP-A-53-50565 (JP, A) JP Hei 5-2256 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03D 15/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photosensitive material that has been processed with a processing liquid is conveyed in contact with a plurality of rollers, and is dried by a drying air blower having a drying air supply source at one axial end of the rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit, wherein the plurality of rollers are heat rollers whose surfaces are heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source, and each of the plurality of rollers is in contact with a peripheral surface of each of the heat rollers. A plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a surface temperature of the heat roller are provided, and a mounting position of the temperature sensor is provided in a width direction area of the conveyed photosensitive material and on a side of the drying air supply source. Characteristic photosensitive material processing equipment. 2. A photosensitive material that has been processed with a processing liquid is conveyed in contact with a plurality of rollers, and is dried by a dry air blower having a dry air supply source at one axial end of the rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit, wherein the plurality of rollers are heat rollers whose surfaces are heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source, and each of the plurality of rollers is in contact with a peripheral surface of each of the heat rollers. A plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a surface temperature of the heat roller are provided, and each of the temperature sensors corresponding to each of the heat rollers is offset in an axial direction of the heat roller. . 3. A photosensitive material that has been processed with a processing liquid is transported in contact with a plurality of rollers, and is dried by a dry air blower having a dry air supply source at one axial end of the rollers. A photosensitive material processing apparatus including a drying unit, wherein the plurality of rollers are heat rollers whose surfaces are heated to a predetermined temperature by a heat source, and each of the plurality of rollers is in contact with a peripheral surface of each of the heat rollers. A plurality of temperature sensors for detecting a surface temperature of the heat roller are provided, and a mounting position of the temperature sensor is a temperature of a surface portion of the heat roller in contact with a plurality of long photosensitive materials conveyed in parallel. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, wherein the photosensitive material processing apparatus is located at a position where an image is detected.