JP3506836B2 - Developing mother liquor supply method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing mother liquor supplying method, and more particularly to a developing mother liquor supplying method for supplying a developing mother liquor and an adjusting agent for adjusting the pH of the developing mother liquor.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Alkaline developers are used to develop the latent image exposed on photographic film. In an automatic processor, the components consumed during processing are supplemented by supplementing a replenisher.

By the way, when the developing tank before the start of processing is empty, a new developing solution is injected into the empty developing tank as a developing mother solution. The pH of the developing mother liquor is high, and the sensitivity is too high when used in the developing treatment, which is not preferable. Therefore, when injecting the developing mother liquor into an empty developing tank, p
A starter solution, which is an acidic solution, is added as an H conditioner,
This is mixed with the developing mother liquor to adjust the pH.

On the other hand, a pipe equipped with a heat exchanger is arranged in the lower part of the development processing tank in the automatic developing apparatus, and the processing solution is passed through the piping to the development processing tank, the piping, the heat exchanger, the piping, and the development processing. There is a tank that can be maintained at a constant temperature while being circulated. The heat exchanger attached to such a development processing tank is in a hollow state. In this way, when the starter liquid is supplied to the development processing tank while the piping system and the inside of the development processing tank are empty, the starter liquid accumulates in the heat exchanger. After that, a developing mother liquor of an amount substantially equal to the capacity of the processing tank is injected into the processing tank, and the circulation pump is operated to start circulation. Since the starter solution is stored in the space inside the heat exchanger having a diameter larger than that of the pipe, it takes time to mix with the circulating developing mother solution.

[0005]

However, when the alkaline developing solution and the acidic starter solution react inside the heat exchanger, carbon dioxide gas is generated, and the generated carbon dioxide gas becomes bubbles to form a gas in the processing tank. Diffuses on the liquid surface. The generation of bubbles continues until the starter solution reacts with the developing solution and is completely consumed. When the circulation pump is continuously operated, bubbles cover the surface of the developer in the development processing tank, and a small gap (for example, formed in the lid that minimizes the contact between the developer and air) (for example,
From the slits that allow passage of the photosensitive material to the top surface of the lid, and the layers of the processing liquid continue to form multiple layers. , May come in contact with guides.
The component of the foam contains a developing solution, and if the developing solution adheres to these members, it causes precipitation or uneven processing.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and a developing mother solution supplying method for preventing the developing solution from adhering to a member outside the solution when the sensitivity of the developing mother solution is adjusted using a starter solution. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid reservoir part which opens at or near the bottom part, circulates the processing liquid, and temporarily stores the processing liquid. A developing mother liquor supply method of supplying a developing mother liquor and an adjusting agent for adjusting the pH of the developing mother liquor to a processing tank provided with a circulation pipe line, wherein the adjusting agent is added before the developing mother liquor. The developing mother solution is injected into the processing tank while the adjusting agent is first injected into the processing tank and the adjusting agent is retained in the liquid reservoir through the opening. After the supply of a predetermined amount of mother liquor is completed, the circulation amount is limited and the circulation is started via the circulation line.

According to the first aspect of the invention, before the circulation is started, the developer mother solution comes into contact with the regulator previously injected in the liquid reservoir to cause a chemical reaction to generate bubbles. By limiting the amount of developing mother liquor that comes into contact with the agent, the amount of bubbles generated can be limited. Then, the circulation is started, but the developing mother liquid at this time is brought into contact with the adjusting agent little by little in a limited amount, so that the amount of bubbles diffused to the liquid surface of the developing tank by the circulation can be suppressed. Therefore, by limiting the amount of bubbles generated per unit time, a layer of bubbles is formed on the liquid surface of the developing tank to prevent contact with peripheral members due to swelling, and processing unevenness caused by adhesion of the developing solution is prevented. It is possible to prevent the attachment of dirt and the like due to precipitation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the developing mother liquor supply method, which is characterized in that the initial circulation after the circulation is started is intermittent.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the flow rate is made lower than the normal circulation amount by intermittently circulating at the initial stage of circulation, the contact between the developing mother liquor generated during the operation of the circulation means and the adjusting agent. Bubbles can be eliminated during the outage period. As a result, the amount of bubbles on the liquid surface of the processing tank can be reduced, and the amount of bubbles generated can be effectively limited.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an automatic developing apparatus 10 applied to this embodiment. The automatic developing apparatus 10 includes a processing liquid processing unit 16 for processing a sheet film 12, which is a sheet-shaped photosensitive material, while being immersed in a plurality of processing liquids while being processed inside an automatic developing machine frame 14, and a processing liquid processing unit. And a drying unit 18 for drying the sheet film 12 treated in 16.

On the automatic developing machine frame 14 on the upper surface of the processing liquid processing unit 16, a discharge tray 34 is placed on the upper surface side that closes the upper portion of the processing liquid processing unit 16, and the sheet film discharged from the drying unit 18 is placed. I am supposed to receive 12.

The processing tank 20 in the processing liquid processing section 16 stores a developing solution, a fixing solution and washing water, respectively.
2, a fixing bath 24 and a washing bath 26 are provided. A plurality of roller pairs 21 are arranged in each of the tanks, and these roller pairs 21 form a conveying path for the sheet film 12.

The roller pair 21 is connected to a motor (not shown), and the roller pair 21 is rotated by driving the motor to convey the sheet film 12 in the treatment liquid treating section 16. This motor is connected to a control unit 82 (see FIG. 2) described later, and is driven based on an instruction from the control unit 82.

An insertion rack 28 is provided on the upstream side of the developing tank 22.
The insertion rack 28 is provided with a supply roller 29 that draws the sheet film 12 into the processing liquid processing unit 16. A supply guide 27 for supplying the exposed sheet film 12 to the automatic developing device 10 is provided on the left side of the supply roller 29 in FIG. 1. As a result, the sheet film 12 is automatically transferred to the automatic developing device 1 along the supply guide 27.
When it is guided to 0, the leading end of the sheet film 12 is nipped by the supply roller 29 of the insertion rack 28, and the supply roller 29
The sheet film 12 is automatically developed by the rotation of
And is supplied to the processing liquid processing unit 16.

Between the developing tank 22 and the fixing tank 24 and the fixing tank 2
4 and the washing tank 26 are provided with crossover racks 32 so as to straddle the adjacent tanks, respectively, to assist the conveyance of the sheet film 12 between the respective tanks and to adjoin the adjacent tanks. The processing liquids do not mix between them.

As a result, the sheet film 12 drawn into the processing liquid processing section 16 by the supply roller 29 of the insertion rack 28 passes through the developing tank 22, the fixing tank 24 and the washing tank 26, and is sequentially processed into each processing liquid. It is soaked and processed.

The drying section 18 is provided so as to project upward from the processing liquid processing section 16, and a conveying path for the sheet film 12 is formed by a large number of roller groups 30 arranged in a zigzag pattern inside. As a result, the sheet film 12 is dried while being guided and conveyed upward by the roller group 30. The dried sheet film 12 is
The processing liquid is discharged from the upper part of the drying unit 18 to the outside of the machine above the processing liquid processing unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing tank 22 includes:
A circulation pipe 70 is provided for circulating the developer stored in the developing tank 22.

The circulation pipe 70 has an inlet 72 and a discharge port 74 at the bottom and side walls of the developing tank 22, respectively.
2 forms a circulation path for the developing solution stored in 2. A circulation pump 76 is provided in the middle of the circulation pipe 70, and by operating the circulation pump 76, the developer is circulated from the inflow port 72 through the pipe line toward the discharge port 74. There is. Here, the circulation rate of the developing solution by the circulation pump 76 can be set to, for example, 7 liters / minute. The circulation pump 76 is connected to the control unit 82 and operates based on an instruction from the control unit 82.

A heat exchanger 78 is provided in the circulation pipe 70 on the downstream side of the circulation pump 76.

The heat exchanger 78 has a thickness dimension larger than the diameter of the circulation pipe 70 and is hollow inside. The circulation pipe 70 is connected to the heat exchanger 78 at both ends of the heat exchanger 78 in the width direction, and is open to the inside. Thereby, the heat exchanger 78 constitutes a part of the circulation pipe 70,
The processing liquid that has passed through the circulation pipe 70 is temporarily stored and retained inside the heat exchanger 78.

A heater 80 connected to a controller 82 is attached to the heat exchanger 78. The heater 80 is adapted to heat based on an instruction from the control unit 82, so that the treatment liquid can be heated inside the heat exchanger 78. As a result, the control unit 82 controls the processing liquid in the heat exchanger 78 to be maintained at a constant temperature.

A liquid level sensor 38 is attached to the side surface of the developing tank 22. Liquid level sensor 38
Is disposed near the full water level of the developing tank 22, and detects when the liquid level sensor 38 is immersed in the processing liquid. The liquid level sensor 38 is connected to the control unit 82, and determines whether the circulation pump 76 and the heater 80 can be operated by detecting full water.

In the developing tank 22, a developing mother liquor is stored, and thereafter, a shortage which causes consumption due to the processed amount of the active ingredient and a decrease due to aging is replenished to prevent deterioration of the developing liquor. .

By the way, the new developing mother liquor has a high pH and the sensitivity tends to be high together with it, and excessive development takes place until the pH stabilizes. Therefore, the pH is adjusted when the new developing mother liquor is stored. The starter solution for stabilizing the sensitivity is supplied at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 2, the circulation pipe 70 is connected to the upper side wall of the developing tank 22 and is open to the inside of the tank so that a circulation path of the developing tank 22 is formed. .

If the starter solution is supplied before the new developing mother solution is stored, the starter solution is retained inside the empty circulation pipe 70 and heat exchanger 78. The developing mother liquor supplied thereafter comes into contact with the starter liquid that has accumulated first in an amount limited to a flow rate depending on the diameter of the circulation pipe 70, but since it is not stirred, the developing liquid and the starter liquid are not contacted. The liquid is in a separated state. As a result, the amount of bubbles generated is very small.

The circulation operation of the circulation pump 76 is performed in the developing tank 22.
Is started when the developing solution is full.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the circulation process is operated by an intermittent motion in which the circulation pump 76 is operated for 1 second and stopped for 10 seconds.
The control is performed based on the driving instruction and the stop instruction signal from 2.

The circulation pump 76 is stopped by the control unit 82 instructed to stop. However, since the flow path in the pipe is circulating, the developing solution remains in the developing solution even for 10 seconds when the stop is instructed. It is adapted to move inside the circulation pipe 80D. As a result, the amount of the developing solution sent by the circulation pump 76 based on one operation / stop instruction is the amount sent based on the operation instruction and the amount sent by inertia until the subsequent operation instruction (in FIG. 3A). (The shaded portion), and as shown in FIG. 3C, the total amount of circulation by intermittent operation is limited and smaller than the amount of circulation by continuous operation.

The starter liquid retained in the heat exchanger 78 is discharged from the discharge port 74 to the developing tank 22 by the operation of the circulation pump 76, and comes into contact with the developing mother liquid. The amount of bubbles generated by the contact at this time is determined by the discharge port 74 of the circulation pipe 70.
Of the circulating pump 76 and is limited by the intermittent operation of the circulation pump 76. Due to the properties of the developing mother liquor and the starter liquid, the bubbles generated do not have such a long life, that is, the time from the generation of bubbles to the disappearance thereof. Therefore, the bubbles burst and disappear before being combined with the liquid surface of the treatment liquid and rising, and the bubbles do not rise on the liquid surface. Further, since the feed amount by inertia of the circulation pump 76 is usually smaller than the circulation amount, it is not an amount enough to thicken the bubble layer.

The interval of the intermittent movement of the circulation pump 76 is set so that the amount of circulation is such that a bubble layer is formed at least on the liquid surface and the thickness does not increase.

The intermittent movement of the circulation pump 76 is performed until the developing mother liquor and the starter liquid are sufficiently mixed and all the starter liquor stored in the heat exchanger 86 is mixed with the developing mother liquor and discharged into the developing tank 22. Continued. When the tank volume is V liters and the circulation amount during intermittent operation is S liters / minute, it is preferable to circulate the liquid in the tank for one tank (that is, V / S minutes) or more.

Therefore, with the developing tank 22 and the circulation pipe 70 empty, the starter solution and then the developing mother solution are injected,
Circulation pump 76 until the developing mother liquid is full in the developing tank 22.
Is stopped and the circulating pump 76 is intermittently operated at a predetermined number of times and at a predetermined interval when the water is full, and the amount of bubbles generated on the liquid surface of the developing tank 22 is limited to prevent bubbles from rising. It is like this.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Insert the sheet film 12 along the supply guide 27 Rack 2
When it is guided toward 8, the supply roller 29 clamps the leading end portion of the sheet film 12 and rotates to supply the sheet film 12 to the treatment liquid treatment unit 16.

In the processing liquid processing section 16, the sheet film 1
2 is sequentially immersed in a developing solution, a fixing solution, and washing water to treat the treatment liquid, and then sent to a drying unit 18 where it is subjected to a drying treatment while being guided and conveyed upward, and is discharged above the treatment liquid treating unit 16. It is discharged onto the tray 34.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the storage of the processing solution and the initial circulation processing at the time of adjusting the pH of the developing mother solution using the starter solution performed with the developing tank 22 and the circulation pipe 70 empty will be described. .

When the developer tank 22 and the circulation pipe 70 are empty, the operator first injects the necessary amount of the starter solution for pH adjustment into the developer tank 22, and the developer tank 22 has a bottom portion. The developing tank 22 passes through the arranged inflow port 72.
It reaches the lower circulation pump 76 and the heat exchanger 78, and stays inside the heat exchanger 78.

When the injection of the starter solution is completed, the operator operates a replenishment instruction button (not shown) to instruct the injection of the developing mother solution into the developing tank 22, and the execution of the processing solution circulation process shown in FIG. 4 is started. . When the injection is started, the developing mother solution moves to the circulation pipe 70 through the inflow port 72 at the bottom of the developing tank 22 like the starter solution, and is circulated by the starter solution accumulated in the heat exchanger 76 provided in the middle of the pipeline. It is arranged in the pipe 70 and comes into contact with the starter liquid in the circulation pipe 70, but since it is not stirred, the generation of bubbles is very small.

When the process begins execution, step 120
At n, the value of n indicating the number of intermittent operations is reset (0), and the routine proceeds to step 122, where the liquid level sensor 38 of the developing tank 22 is operated.

When the liquid level sensor 38 operates, it is judged in step 124 whether the liquid surface of the developing mother liquid has reached the full water position of the developing tank 22, the determination is negative until the liquid is full, and the developing mother liquid is injected. Is continued. The liquid level sensor 38 is arranged above the side surface of the developing tank 22, and when the liquid surface of the developing mother liquid inside the tank reaches the full position, an ON signal is output to the control unit 82 and the determination is affirmative. Then, the process proceeds to step 126 and the replenishment of the developing mother solution is stopped.

When the replenishment of the developing mother liquor is stopped, step 1
At 28, n indicating the number of intermittent operations is incremented, the routine proceeds to step 130, and the circulation pump 76 starts operating. When the operation of the circulation pump 76 is started, bubbles generated by the starter liquid injected first and the developing mother liquid injected later contacting inside the circulation pipe 70 and the heat exchanger 78 are generated. The starter liquid that has accumulated in the heat exchanger 78 is discharged toward the developing tank 22 from the discharge port 74 of the developing tank 22 through the circulation pipe 70 on the downstream side, and contacts the developing mother liquid inside the developing tank 22. To produce a quantity of foam that depends on the limited circulation.
The generated bubbles and the bubbles discharged from the discharge port 74 rise to the liquid level of the developing tank 22 in a full state, and the bubbles diffuse to the liquid level.

When the circulation pump 76 starts operating, it is determined in step 132 whether one second has elapsed since the circulation pump 76 started operating, and the determination is denied until one second has elapsed.

1 after the operation of the circulation pump 76 is started
When the second has elapsed, the determination is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 134, where it is instructed to stop the operation of the circulation pump 76, and at step 136, it is determined whether 10 seconds have elapsed from the stop instruction, and 10 seconds is determined. The decision is denied until the time has passed. The developing mother solution is sent to the developing tank 22 by inertia until the circulating pump 76 is instructed to stop operating and is completely stopped. The feed amount by inertia is smaller than the feed amount by operation, the starter liquid or bubbles discharged to the developing tank 22 is small, and the amount of bubbles on the liquid surface is small.

If 10 seconds have elapsed from the stop instruction, the determination is affirmative, and the routine proceeds to step 138, where it is determined whether or not n has exceeded 10. If n has not exceeded 10, the determination is denied. Returning to step 128, the value of n is incremented and the intermittent operation is continued.

On the other hand, when n exceeds 10, the determination is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 140, where the continuous operation of the circulation pump 76 is instructed and the series of processing is terminated.

As a result, the pH of the developing mother liquor is adjusted by the starter liquid and the developing mother liquor is homogenized by circulation.

Therefore, the amount of bubbles generated due to the contact between the developing mother liquid and the starter liquid is limited to prevent the amount of bubbles from increasing on the liquid surface of the developing tank 22, and the liquid outside member, for example, the overcross rack 32 or the like is prevented. It is possible to prevent bubbles from coming into contact with each other, and thereby to prevent the occurrence of stains due to uneven processing or precipitation.

Further, after the water is full, the circulation pump 7
Since 6 is operated, the circulating pump 76 can efficiently circulate the processing liquid without causing an air lock or the like, and the life of the circulating pump 76 is not impaired.

In the present embodiment, the intermittent operation of the circulation pump is carried out by operating for 1 second and stopping for 10 seconds.
An appropriate interval can be set based on the life of the bubbles depending on the properties of the liquid and the thickness of the pipe. For example, if the thickness of the pipe is increased, the amount of bubbles that move in one second of operation increases, so it is preferable to set an interval of 10 seconds or more. Here, the intermittent operation is 10 times, but if the tank capacity and the circulation amount are different, this is not the case.

Further, the amount of bubbles generated can be similarly limited not only by the intermittent operation but also by a small amount or by continuously changing the flow rate. In this case, the condition is set based on the generation rate of bubbles and the like on the liquid surface of the developing tank 22 which is full of water.

In the present embodiment, the inflow port 72 of the circulation pipe 70 is arranged at the bottom of the developing tank 22, but the injected starter liquid is accumulated in the heat exchanger 76 through the circulation pipe 70 and accumulated therein. It may be near the bottom as long as it can contact the developing mother liquor injected next in this state. In this case, the amount of the starter liquid remaining inside the developing tank 22 needs to be set to such an extent that bubbles do not rise on the liquid surface when the developing mother liquid is filled to the full state.

In the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 78 is arranged in the middle of the pipe, and the case where bubbles are generated inside the heat exchanger 78 has been described as an example, but it is a member other than the heat exchanger 78. However, the present invention can be applied in the same manner as described above when a member is provided in the middle of the pipe so that the starter liquid and the developing mother liquid stay in contact with each other.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of bubbles on the liquid surface of the processing tank can be reduced by intermittently circulating the initial stage of circulation, and the amount of bubbles generated can be circulated. By limiting the inside of the piping system and the processing tank, it is possible to prevent contact with peripheral members, and prevent uneven processing due to the adhesion of the developing solution and adhesion of dirt due to deposition.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a circulation piping system of a developing tank of the automatic developing device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a graph showing a circulation amount by driving a circulation pump, FIG. 3B is a time chart showing driving of the circulation pump, and FIG. 3C is a graph showing a total circulation amount of the processing liquid. is there.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an initial circulation process of a developing mother liquid according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Automatic developing device 12 sheet film 20 treatment tanks 22 Development tank 21 Roller pair 70 Circulation piping 76 Circulation pump 78 heat exchanger 82 Control unit

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-6-167794 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03D 3/00-15/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developing mother liquor and a developing mother liquor are introduced into a processing tank provided with a circulation pipe line that opens at the bottom or in the vicinity of the bottom and circulates the processing liquid, and that has a liquid reservoir for temporarily storing the processing liquid. A developing mother liquor supply method for supplying an adjusting agent for adjusting the pH of the developing mother liquor, wherein the adjusting agent is injected into the processing tank before the developing mother liquor, and the adjusting agent is injected first. In this way, the regulator is retained in the liquid reservoir through the opening, the developing mother liquor is injected into the processing tank, and after the supply of the predetermined amount of the developing mother liquor is completed, the circulation amount is limited. And starting circulation through the circulation line. 2. The developing mother solution supply method according to claim 1, wherein the initial circulation after the circulation is started is intermittent.