JP3306531B2 - Processing agent storage container for photosensitive material - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for photographic processing agents for replenishing processing solution components for processing a silver halide photographic material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a processing agent of an automatic processor for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is composed of various components so as to exhibit good performance in photographic processing, and these components come into contact with each other. If placed in a state, it may cause an unexpected reaction over a long period of time.
It is divided into two or more types of parts and made into a kit. These are dissolved in a certain amount of water at the time of use, poured into each processing tank, and used. Kit parts are
They are put in containers such as bottles and bags, and they are put together in a cardboard box or the like, and are sold as one unit. Each of these parts requires the preparation of each component, so it is necessary to first confirm the amount, content, and vetting for a correct preparation. In addition, the operation of dissolving in water using a container also requires a great deal of skill, and the operation is troublesome.

[0003]

As described above, conventionally, when a processing agent is charged into a processing tank, it is proficient to mix, dissolve, and input each of the above-mentioned parts without mistake. And required human labor. For this reason, there has been a demand in the industry for a treatment agent that does not require much skill, and that does not require much labor in the working time and that does not cause errors due to the shortage of labor. The present invention has been made in view of such a point, that is, a powder or a crystalline processing agent had to be prepared because it was used as a packaging or parts agent,
This can be achieved by preparing a single solid processing agent and storing it in a storage container for solid photographic processing.

However, as a problem of the above-mentioned container, it has been pointed out that the solid processing agent is difficult to drop smoothly into the processing machine.

As a possible cause, when the storage container is fixedly arranged in the processing machine, the solid processing agents adhere to each other because the inside of the processing machine is under high humidity, and as a result, a desired amount of the processing agent is consequently obtained. Is difficult to drop.

[0006] As another problem, a processing agent in which a processing agent is solidified like a tablet has recently been developed. However, even in such a processing agent, under the above-described circumstances, individual processing agents are required. And that the solid processing agent cannot be put into the processing machine smoothly, and if the solid processing agent is pulverized in the course of falling and powder is generated, the contact resistance with the storage container also increases. However, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to drop smoothly and that a pulverized processing agent adheres to packing or the like at a receiving port on the processing agent side, thereby deteriorating the moisture-proof function on the processing machine side.

An object of the present invention is to propose a container capable of smoothly charging a regular amount of a solid processing agent into a processing machine in order to solve the above problems and obtain stable photographic performance.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a container for storing a processing agent for a photosensitive material according to the present invention, wherein the processing agent for a photosensitive material is stored therein. It is characterized by having.

A storage container capable of storing a processing agent for a photosensitive material, wherein the storage container body has an opening for discharging the processing agent on at least one of the storage containers, and protrudes from the inner surface of the storage container to process the opening into the opening. A protruding portion formed toward the direction in which the agent is discharged, wherein the protruding portion is provided so as to partition the stored processing agent into a plurality of substantial spaces.

Further, the present invention is a storage container capable of storing a processing agent for a photosensitive material, wherein the storage container main body has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, protrudes from the inner surface of the storage container, and is substantially parallel to a longitudinal portion of the storage container. Having a protrusion formed on the
The projection is provided so as to partition the accommodated treatment agent into a plurality of substantial spaces.

Further, the present invention provides a substantially rectangular parallelepiped processing agent storage container capable of storing a solid processing agent obtained by solidifying a processing agent for a light-sensitive material, wherein the solid processing agent is placed on the inner surface of the storage container. A partitioning projection is provided, and a projection to which the outer surface of the solid processing agent can slide is provided.

Further, the present invention is a processing agent storage container capable of storing a solid processing agent obtained by solidifying a processing agent for a light-sensitive material and discharging the solid processing agent from a substantially rectangular opening. A processing agent storage container capable of discharging a solid processing agent from a processing agent for a photosensitive material, wherein a protrusion is provided at a bottom edge of the opening inner surface of the storage container, and the opening is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. A processing agent storage container capable of discharging a solid processing agent, wherein a protrusion is provided on a bottom edge of the inner surface of the opening of the storage container.

Still further, the present invention relates to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped processing agent storage container formed so as to be capable of storing a solid processing agent obtained by solidifying a processing agent for a photosensitive material, wherein the solid processing agent is contained in the storage container. A shock absorbing portion is provided on the inner surface of the storage container opposite to the opening for discharging the agent, and is capable of elastically deforming with respect to the longitudinal force of the storage container due to the solid processing agent.

[0014]

Next, an embodiment of a storage container for storing a solid processing agent according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The graphic processing agents include powder, granules, tablets and pills.

FIG. 7 shows various shapes of the tablet-type solid processing agent J therein. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical flat processing agent J having a circular cross section (a round chamfer (r) is formed at a corner), and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a drum-shaped solid processing agent J having a circular cross section, upper and lower surfaces each being flat, and a circumferential surface having a convex radius (R).
FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a go-stone solid processing agent J having a circular cross section and upper and lower surfaces being spherical, and FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view of a donut-shaped solid processing agent J having a hollow hole. Figure: (F) shows a spherical solid processing agent, and Figure (G) shows a rectangular solid processing agent.

FIG. 1 shows a storage container (cartridge) 10 for storing the solid processing agent according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a plan view including a partially cutaway sectional view, and FIG. 1 (B) is the storage container. 10 is a side view, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view. FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the storage container 10. An example in which a tablet-type solid processing agent is housed among the solid processing agents according to the present invention will be described below.

The storage container 10 stores a plurality of tablet-type solid processing agents J, and has a front discharge opening 101F for discharging the solid processing agents J and a rear discharge opening 101F opposed to the discharge opening 101F. A substantially quadrangular prism-shaped container body 101 having an opening 101G
And a fixed lid 102 for closing the rear opening 101G of the container main body 101, and sliding up and down on the rails 101R on both sides of the flange of the container main body 101 to open and close the discharge opening 101F. And an opening / closing lid 103 which is closed.

Inside the container body 101, three sets of protruding partition walls (projections) 101S are fixed integrally, and the inside of the container body 101 is partitioned into four substantial spaces and divided chambers 101A and 101B. , 101C, and 101D. In each compartment, about 10 solid processing agents J can be accommodated in a column. That is, the first branch 10
1A contains 10 solid processing agents J1A to J10A in the second compartment 1
01B has the same number of solid processing agents J1B.
1C and J1D are stored respectively. This partition wall
The 101S does not have to be continuous from the top to the bottom inside the container, and it is sufficient if the partition is long enough to allow the solid processing agent J to circumscribe each outer circumference and be accommodated in tandem. Of course, even if the treatment agent contained in each compartment is not solid, there is an effect that the treatment agent can be divided into approximately equal amounts as a result.

By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to solve the problem that the respective processing agents stick to each other and do not drop smoothly into the processing machine. Of course, not only tablets but also powder type and granule type processing agents are adhered to each other in a prescribed amount by a partition, so that the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

However, it is preferable that at least a part of the partition wall 101S be continuous from the upper surface to the bottom surface in view of the strength of the container and the prevention of distortion at the time of assembling during the manufacturing process and the high manufacturing efficiency.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the container body 101 viewed from the discharge opening 101F side.

Among the plurality of partition walls 101S, the first partition wall 101S1 and the third partition wall 101S3 are formed by a container body.
Each of the inner surfaces of 101 has an upright wall surface projecting from the top and bottom, and has no vertical center portion, and has a pair of upper and lower independent protruding shapes. Central partition wall 101S
2 forms a continuous upright wall surface from the top to the bottom of the inner surface of the container body 101 and maintains the strength of the container body 101, but from the discharge opening 101F to the vicinity of the longitudinal center of the container body 101, It is notched as shown in FIG. 4 (notch 101S2A). Each partition wall 101S1, 101S
2, 101S3 and 101S4 are formed in a thin shape, have elasticity, and have a projection 101K on a part of both wall surfaces. In the case of the tablet-type solid processing agent J, the protrusions 101K are line-connected to the outer surface to reduce the frictional resistance when the solid processing agent J is discharged.

At the bottom of each compartment of the container body 101, a projection 101E protrudes. When the solid processing agent is a tablet type solid processing agent J, the solid processing agent comes into contact with the outer surface at a point to facilitate movement of the solid processing agent J. At the same time, the powder dropped from the solid processing agent J is dropped from the top of the projection 101E into the space at the bottom of the inner wall of the container body 101. The powder that has fallen off from the solid processing agent J accumulates in the groove below the protrusion 101E. Therefore, even if the powder is fixed in this groove, the solid processing agent J will remain in the protrusion 101E.
There is no hindrance as you move up. There may be two or more protrusions 101E.

On the inner wall surface of the container body 101, in addition to the bottom protrusion 101E, a protrusion 101M at the top of the inner surface and a protrusion 101N on both sides of the inner surface are formed. By remarkably reducing the area in contact with the inner surface, the contact resistance at the time of discharging the solid processing agent J can be reduced, and the property of taking out the solid processing agent from the storage container 10 is stabilized.

The protrusions 101E, 101M, 101N and the protrusion 101K are formed substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container body 101. In addition, the installation position of the protrusion is determined by the solid processing agent J.
Should be formed in a portion that does not enter between the protrusions, and it is desirable that the number of protrusions be as small as possible. The width of the protrusion is 1/100 to 1/1 of the diameter of the tablet J.
0 and a height of 1/100 to 1/10 are desirable to satisfy the above contents. The cross-sectional shape of the protruding strip is substantially semicircular, trapezoidal, or the like, and may be formed into an R shape so that the solid processing agent J does not enter into the peripheral surface.

Further, the container body 101 discharge opening 101F
Protrusions 101P are provided in the vicinity in the longitudinal direction and / or short direction of the discharge opening 101F, and the powder of the solid processing agent generated from the solid processing agent during transportation or the like is used as the protrusion 101P.
To prevent it from accumulating in the next process and providing a stable system.

Although the protrusion 101P may be provided as a separate member on the container body 101, it is preferable to integrally form the protrusion with the container body 101 in consideration of productivity.

When a container is manufactured by injection molding, the protrusion 101P is undercut, but can be manufactured integrally with the container body 101 by using a polyethylene resin as a material. In this case, it is desirable that the height of the protrusion 101P is set in the range of 0.3 to 2.0 mm.

The processing agent storage container 10 of this time is
In any of the above cases, the mold core has an elongated shape in order to form a plurality of substantial spaces by providing protrusions on the inner surface. Therefore, it is desirable to provide at least one notch in the continuously formed protrusion in order to make it difficult for the core to collapse during injection molding and to obtain good molding. In the notch portion, the mold core is connected to the mold, so that the strength can be increased. Therefore, a container for forming a plurality of substantial spaces by providing at least one notch in the projecting portion continuously formed in the container and obtaining good molding in which the core does not easily fall down is provided. can do.

Rail portions 101R are formed on both outer side surfaces of the flange portion of the discharge opening portion 101F. The rail portions 101R are fitted into grooves 103A formed on both side surfaces of the opening / closing lid (shutter) 103 and are slidable. It has become. The projections 103B projecting from both lower ends of the opening / closing lid 103 are used to engage with the opening / closing regulating member of the solid processing agent replenishing means of the automatic developing machine to automatically close the slide lid 103.

The back surface 102A of the fixed lid 102 is pressed by a spring-like pressing member of the storage container loading means,
The storage container 101 is pressed against the reference surface of the supply means. Alternatively, when the leaf spring presses the guide pin 101Q of the storage container 101, the storage container 101 is pressed against the reference surface. A plurality of identification projections 102B are integrally formed on the back surface 102A of the fixed lid 102 to prevent erroneous loading of another storage container 101 containing different solid processing agents.

Further, inside the back surface 102A of the fixed lid 102, a cushioning member 102C for an operation-relieving member having a buffering effect is integrally formed. On the other hand, the included solid processing agent J
Is prevented from being destroyed. It is desirable that the portion of the surgical relaxation member 103C that comes into contact with the solid processing agent be rounded to reduce contact with the solid processing agent. With this configuration, there is no need to provide a mechanism for cleaning the powder generated from the tablet-type solid processing agent J.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vicinity of the shock absorbing member 102C.

The shock absorbing member 102C has a shape as shown in FIG. 6 (A), but there are variations in the manufacturing dimensions of the solid processing agent J, dimensional changes due to water absorption of the solid processing agent J, and a storage container.
Considering the molding variation of 10, the dimensional change due to the environmental temperature of the storage container 10 (expansion under high temperature, shrinkage under low temperature), the assembly variation of the storage container 10, etc., it is necessary that the area that can be relaxed is wide. Is desirable.

Example In the case where 10 tablets are placed in a container having a total length of 308 mm in each space: Variation in manufacturing dimensions of the tablet-type solid processing agent: 0.2 mm
/ Tablet × 10 tablets = 2mm Dimensional change due to water absorption of tablet type solid processing agent: 2mm /
10 tablets Tablet-type solid processing agent storage container variation: 0.8m
m Dimensional change due to ambient temperature of tablet type solid processing agent storage container
: 2 mm (−20 ° C. to 50 ° C.) Variation in assembling of the storage container: 0.5 mm is conceivable, and a fluctuation of up to 7.3 mm occurs.

Considering this content, the shape shown in FIG. 6B is desirable.

FIG. 6B shows that it is preferable to forcibly remove the shock absorbing member 102C in order to simplify the mold structure of the injection molding.

In this case, the width L is desirably 2 to 6 mm, the thickness W is 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and the angle θ with respect to the bottom surface of the cap is preferably 30 degrees or more so that the mold can be easily released.

Further, it is needless to say that the contact surface with the solid processing agent J is rounded so that there is no corner.

When the total length of the storage container 10 is short, the fixed lid 102 and the container main body 101 can be integrally formed. However, when the total length of the storage container 10 is long, the fixed lid 102 and the container main body 101 can be formed.
Can be manufactured as separate parts, and then fixed by ultrasonic welding, an adhesive, an adhesive tape, or the like. In that case, the shape of the container main body 101 near the mounting portion of the fixed lid 102 is such that the outer shape of the container main body 101 is substantially the same as the outer shape of the fixed lid 102, and the step between the fixed lid 102 and the container main body 101 is reduced. It is preferable to do so. This is because if the step is small with respect to an impact such as a step below, the fixed lid 102 is hard to come off and the deformation is reduced.

A part of the partition wall 101S in the container body 101 has a notch, so that the mold core can be prevented from falling down during the molding process, and a highly accurate and stable molded product can be obtained.

A projection 101T for preventing reverse insertion protrudes from the upper surface side of the container main body 101. If the storage container 10 is installed on the loading portion surface with the top and bottom incorrectly set, the projection 101T for preventing reverse insertion is formed. Normal loading is not possible due to contact with the loading surface.

The container main body 101 constituting the storage container 10,
The material of the opening / closing lid 103 and the fixed lid 102 is such that the water permeation amount as a container is 30 ml / m ² · atm · 24 hrs (25 ° C.) or less, preferably 10 ml
/ M ² · atm · 24hrs (25 ° C) or less should be selected. By providing moisture resistance, the storage stability of the stored solid processing agent is improved. Further, it is preferable that these constituent members are made of a molded product of substantially the same synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance.

Examples of the synthetic resin material include polyethylene (either high-pressure method or low-pressure method), polypropylene (either unstretched or stretched), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon (stretched or unstretched), Vinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, vinylon, eval, polyethylene terephthalate (PE
T), other polyesters, acetate rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer, and epoxy-phosphate resin.

The wall thickness of the container main body 101 is in the range of 50 to 3000 μm, preferably 200 to 2000 μm, from the viewpoint that the stored solid processing agent is moisture-proof and hard to break.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a label 104 indicating the type, handling method, and mounting direction of the solid processing agent contained in the storage container 10 is adhered to the upper surface of the storage container 10 to prevent erroneous operation and prevent operation. Offering convenience.

FIG. 8 shows a package 10 for packaging the storage container 10.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one example of 5; The package 105 is a pillow package in which a moisture-proof sheet formed by laminating an aluminum foil and a plastic film (PE, nylon, or the like) is formed in a cylindrical shape. . Predetermined printing is also applied to the surface of the package 105. The storage container 10 packaged in the moisture-proof package by the package is further packaged in an outer box and protected from external force.

Next, an automatic developing machine (photosensitive material processing machine) to which the storage container 10 is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

A solid processing agent replenishing device 20 for loading the storage container 10 and replenishing it to the processing tank of the automatic developing machine is installed above the processing tank 31, and includes a storage container loading device 21, a supply device 22, and a driving means.
23, and control means 24.

The opening / closing door 25 at the upper part of the automatic developing machine main body is opened in the direction A, and the storage container 10 is mounted and replaced. A predetermined storage container 10 is grasped, inserted from the direction B in the drawing, attached to a predetermined position of the loading device 21, and subsequently opened and closed by automatically swinging the opening / closing lid 103.
Is connected to the discharge opening 101F. The driving of the driving means 23 causes the rotor 221 in the supply means 22 to rotate, and
The solid processing agent J is sequentially delivered to the pocket portion of the rotor 221 and charged into the lower circulation tank 32. Solid processing agent J
Is supplied by the control means 24 at an appropriate time.

[0052]

As described above, the solid processing agent storage container according to the present invention prevents the solid processing agent from sticking to the inner wall of the container by applying a special shape to the inside of the container to prevent the solid processing agent from sticking. Reduce resistance, improve dropping performance,
A predetermined amount of the solid processing agent can be reliably supplied to the supply device side. Further, in the case of tablets, it is possible to prevent the pulverized powder of the solid processing agent generated in the storage container from entering the inlet packing or the inside of the supply device side to reduce the moisture-proof effect or prevent supply failure. Further, even if an impact force is applied to the storage container, the encapsulated tablets are rarely damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view and a side view of a solid processing agent storage container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the storage container.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view of the storage container.

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the storage container.

FIG. 5 is a front view as seen from a discharge opening of the container body.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the shock absorbing member.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view and a perspective view showing various shapes of a solid processing agent.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a storage container package.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the automatic developing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Storage container for solid processing agent (storage container) 101 Container main body 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D Separation chamber 101E, 101M, 101N Projection 101F Discharge opening (front opening) 101G Rear opening 101S Partition wall (projection) 101P Protrusions (ridges) 101Q Guide pins 101R Rails 101T Reverse prevention projections 102 Fixed lids (rear lid) 102B Identification projections 102C Shock absorbing members 103 Opening / closing lids (shutters) 104 Labels 105 Packaging

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI B65D 85/84 B65D 85/84 (56) References JP-A-5-107717 (JP, A) JP-A-4-213454 (JP) (A) JP-A-5-107715 (JP, A) (58) Fields studied (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03D 13/02 G03C 5/26 510 G03C 5/26 520 G03C 5/31 B65D 85 / 00 B65D 85/84

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] An inner surface for accommodating a processing agent for a photosensitive material is projected.
With a storage container that can be removed from the developing machine with the outlet
The storage container body has at least one of
An opening for outgoing, wherein the protrusion is processed into the opening
Multiple parts are formed in the direction of discharging the agent
A container for storing a processing agent for photosensitive material. 2. The storage container main body has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The projecting portion projects from the inner surface of the storage container and
It is formed almost parallel to the longitudinal section of the storage container,
It is characterized by being provided to partition into a substantial space of numbers
The processing agent storage container for a photosensitive material according to claim 1 . 3. A plurality of projections are provided on the inner surface of the storage container.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Container for photosensitive material. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said protrusions comprises
Of the storage container forming the part
Claims characterized by being formed continuously to the inner surface
Item 4. A container for processing agents for photosensitive material according to item 2 or 3. 5. The continuously formed protrusion,
Characterized in that at least a part is cut out
A container for storing a processing agent for a photosensitive material according to claim 4. 6. The cutting of the continuously formed protrusions.
The notch is at least a part near the opening of the storage container.
6. The feeling according to claim 5, wherein
Storage container for optical material.