JP3779023B2 - Processing solution heating device for development processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a processing tank for storing a processing solution for developing a photographic photosensitive material, a sub-tank communicating with the upper portion of the processing tank, and a circulation flow path connecting the sub-tank and the lower portion of the processing tank. The present invention relates to a processing solution heating apparatus for a development processing apparatus including
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a development processing apparatus for developing photosensitive materials such as film and photographic paper, processing baths such as developing solution, fixing solution and washing water are filled in processing tanks such as developing, fixing and washing. In order to manage the temperature of the processing liquid, a processing liquid heating apparatus is used. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a processing liquid heating apparatus is configured by a cartridge heater that is submerged in a sub tank communicating with an upper portion of a processing tank, and the processing liquid in the sub tank heated by the heater is transferred to the processing tank through a circulation channel. The temperature of the processing liquid in the processing tank is managed by flowing it.
[0003]
Furthermore, the processing liquid heating apparatus according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-080479 is installed in the mold with the processing liquid circulation pipes arranged at equal intervals and at equal distances from the heater around a cylindrical heater as a heat source. Then, it is manufactured by filling molten metal that becomes a heat conduction block into the mold. By installing the processing liquid circulation pipe of the processing liquid heating apparatus thus manufactured in the corresponding circulation path, the processing liquid flowing through the circulation path is heated in the region of the processing liquid circulation pipe, and the thermal energy is transferred to the processing tank. By carrying in, the temperature of the processing liquid in the processing tank is controlled.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Compared to the former processing liquid heating apparatus, the latter apparatus can omit the space for accommodating the cartridge heater from the sub tank, and can reduce the evaporation amount of the processing liquid from the sub tank, and can conduct heat to the processing liquid gently. However, since the heater as the heat source and the heat conduction block are integrally formed by co-casting, there is a drawback that the heater alone cannot be replaced even if the heater fails or deteriorates with time. Furthermore, it is difficult to take a complicated posture when placing the heater in the mold for the heat conduction block.
An object of the present invention is to provide a treatment liquid heating apparatus of a type that is easily mounted and that can be exchanged for a heat source and that is mounted on a circulation channel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a processing liquid heating apparatus for a development processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing liquid having an inlet and an outlet connected to a circulation channel connecting a sub tank and a lower part of the processing tank. and flow tube, provided on the outer surface of the treatment liquid and the thermal conductor molded cast in a state wrapped distribution pipe to enable heat conduction coaxially, the heat conductor so as to extend along the processing liquid flow pipe And a heat source member inserted in the groove so as to be replaceable .
[0006]
In this configuration, since the heat source member that heats the processing liquid flowing through the processing liquid circulation pipe via the heat conductor is attached to the outer surface of the heat conductor, maintenance inspection of the heat source member is facilitated.
[0007]
In order to improve the fixation of the heat source member to the heat conductor and the heat transfer between the heat conductor and the heat source member, a groove extending along the treatment liquid circulation pipe is provided on the outer surface of the heat conductor, and this groove The heat source member is inserted into the inside and fixed in a replaceable manner. By inserting the heat source member into the groove, the appearance of the treatment liquid heating device is made clear, and the contact area between the heat source member and the heat conductor is enlarged, so that the heat transfer efficiency is improved.
To obtain a good heat transfer between the treatment liquid circulation pipe and the heat conductor, the heat conductor is molded cast in a state wrapped processing solution circulation pipe.
[0008]
For a predetermined length, for example, heat is applied as uniformly as possible to the heat conductor enclosing the processing liquid distribution pipe from its inlet region to its outlet region, and as a result, the processing liquid distribution tube is uniformly distributed. One preferred form proposed by the present invention for generating heat distribution is to form a groove accommodating the heat source member in a spiral shape on the outer surface of the heat conductor so as to enclose the treatment liquid flow pipe, And the processing liquid flow pipe are in a positional relationship such as a coil spring and its central axis. As a result, the processing liquid circulation pipe is heated substantially uniformly from the entire periphery from the inlet region to the outlet region, for example, and deterioration of the processing solution is prevented by local high-temperature heating. .
[0009]
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention using the drawings.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a development processing apparatus 1 equipped with a processing liquid heating apparatus according to the present invention. The development processing apparatus 1 includes a film insertion unit 3 for loading a film 2 as a photographic material having a reader connected to the tip, a film development unit 4 for developing the film 2 fed out from the film insertion unit 3, and a development. A film drying unit 5 for drying the processed film 2 and a film receiving unit 6 for temporarily storing the dried film 2 are provided.
[0011]
The film insertion unit 3 includes a transport roller 3a, a film cutter 3b that cuts the rear end of the film 2 that has been pulled out from the cartridge 7, a film cutting solenoid 3c that slides one blade of the film cutter 3b, and a film An idler roller 3e for crimping the roller 2 to the conveying roller 3a, and a crimping solenoid 3d for moving the idler roller 3e up and down to switch between the state in which the film 2 is crimped to the conveyor roller 3a and the state in which the crimping is released. Is provided. The film 2 drawn out from the cartridge 7 is transported while being sandwiched between the transport roller 3 a and the idle roller 3 e and fed into the film developing unit 4.
[0012]
In the film developing section 4, development processing such as development, bleaching, fixing, and the like is performed in order to form seven compartments filled with processing solutions such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution. A tank 40 and a transport roller unit 4 b that transports the film 2 in the film developing unit 4 are provided.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, a drying heater 5a for drying the film 2 and drying for sending warm air toward the film conveying path are provided in the film drying unit 5 located on the downstream side of the film developing path of the film developing unit 4. A fan 5b and a temperature sensor 5c for measuring the air temperature in the film drying unit 5 are provided. The film 2 is gradually dried while being transported in the film drying unit 5 and sent to the film receiving unit 6. It is.
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows only the film developing unit 4 extracted. An optical sensor 10 is provided at the entrance of the film developing unit 4, whereby the film 2 sent from the film insertion unit 3 is detected. The optical sensor 10 is connected to the control device 100. The development processing tank 40 forms seven compartments 41 to 47. The first deep ridge in the order of the film 2 loading direction is the developer compartment 41, and the next is In the bleaching solution compartment 42, the next two are fixing solution compartments 43 and 44, and the three shallow bottles are the stabilizing solution compartments 45 to 47. Each compartment has a different depth, but has substantially the same structure. FIG. 3 shows a vertical sectional view of the developer compartment 41, and FIG. Due to the size problem, a plan view of only the developer compartment 41 and the bleaching solution compartment 42 adjacent thereto is shown.
[0015]
A sub tank 41 a is provided on the side of the upper region of the developer compartment 41. Inside the sub tank 41a, a temperature sensor 12 for detecting the temperature of the developer, an overflow pipe 14, a liquid level sensor 15 for detecting the level of the developer, and a filter 16 are provided. As schematically shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a replenishment pipe 70 is connected to the sub tank 41a, and a replenishment pump 71 is operated in a timely manner in order to keep the performance of the developer constant. Is supplied to the sub tank 41a.
[0016]
The upper region of the compartment 41 and the upper region of the sub tank 41a can be circulated by cascade connection. Further, the filter 16 has a cylindrical shape, and a pipe 17 provided with a large number of slits 17a is inserted into the center hole thereof. The filtered liquid passes through the slit 17a and flows through the pipe 17, and the pipe 17 Is connected to the bottom of the compartment 41 by a circulation channel 51, and a circulation pump 61 and a treatment liquid heating device 80 are provided in the circulation channel 51. That is, there is a circulation line from the upper part of the developer compartment 41 to the bottom of the developer compartment 41 through the circulation channel 51 including the sub tank 41a, the filter 16, the circulation pump 61, and the treatment liquid heating device 80. Thus, the processing solution (here, the developing solution) is circulated and heated in the developing solution compartment 41. Such a configuration of the sub-tank and the circulation line is the same for the other compartments, and the description for each compartment is omitted here.
[0017]
In this embodiment, the processing liquid heating device 80 is mounted between the sub tank 41a and the circulation pump 61, but it may be mounted between the circulation pump 61 and the developer compartment 41, which is important. This means that the treatment liquid heating device 80 is mounted on the circulation flow path 51. As a result, the processing liquid that is forced to flow through the circulation flow path 51 by the circulation pump 61 is heated, so that local processing liquid generated when the processing liquid is heated by the cartridge heater mounted in the sub tank 41a. Heating can be avoided.
[0018]
Treatment liquid heating apparatus 80, as shown in FIG. 5 and 6, a pipe-like processing liquid circulation pipe 81 of the processing liquid flows, substantially cylindrical disposed coaxially with the treatment liquid circulation pipe 81 A heat conductor 82 is provided. The processing liquid distribution pipe 81 is installed at the center of the mold of the heat conductor 82 when the heat conductor 82 is manufactured, and then the processing mold distribution pipe 81 is filled with a molten metal such as aluminum. An integral structure of 81 and heat conductor 82 is obtained.
[0019]
A groove 82a is provided in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral surface of the heat conductor 82, and a heat source member 83 having flexibility is inserted into the spiral groove 82a. At this time, when the cross section of the groove 82 and the cross section of the heat source member 83 are substantially matched, a large contact area is obtained, and heat transfer from the heat source member 83 to the heat conductor 82 is improved. The heat source member 83 is an electric resistance heater, and generates heat by supplying power to the terminal portion 83a. Further, a part of the end portion of the heat conductor 82 is flattened, and a safety thermosensor 84 is attached to the chamfered portion.
[0020]
Detection signals from the safety thermosensor 84 and the temperature sensor 12 are sent to the control device 100. The control device 100 is used to adjust the temperature of the processing liquid and prevent the heat source member 83 from being heated via a driver (not shown). Therefore, the driving power supplied to the terminal portion 83a of the heat source member 83 is controlled.
[0021]
By attaching the inflow port 81a and the outflow port 81b of the treatment liquid circulation pipe 81 to the cut opening of the circulation flow path 51 cut at a desired position, the treatment liquid heating device 80 is attached to the circulation flow path 51. Is completed. In order to heat the treatment liquid over a certain length, the heat conductor 82 enclosing the treatment liquid flow pipe 81 is sufficiently long, and the heat source member 83 is wound over almost the entire length of the heat conductor 82. Thus, heat is applied to the processing liquid circulation pipe 81 as uniformly and reliably as possible.
[0022]
By firmly inserting the heat source member 83 into the spiral groove 82a, a firm holding force for the heat conductor 82 can be obtained, but of course, it may be more securely fixed using a clamp type cover or the like. The simplicity of maintenance and inspection work such as replacement of the heat source member 83 should be taken into consideration.
[0023]
The form of winding the heat source member 83 around the outer surface of the heat conductor 82 is not limited to the above-described form. For example, as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the heat source member 83 is wound in a meandering manner in the linear groove 82a provided in the above manner.
[0024]
Further, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a treatment liquid heating device 80 in a form in which a cylindrical heat source member 83 has a heat conductor 82 fitted thereon. Here, the same applies to the first embodiment, but instead of providing the safety thermosensor 84 in the chamfered portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the heat conductor 82, the safety thermosensor 84 is attached to the end face of the heat conductor 82. It is possible to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the heat conductor 82 with the heat source member 83. This embodiment is characterized in that the treatment liquid circulation pipe 81, the heat conductor 82, and the heat source member 83 are arranged concentrically.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a development processing apparatus equipped with a processing solution heating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a film developing unit of the development processing apparatus of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the processing liquid heating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the processing liquid heating apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a part of the processing liquid heating apparatus in FIG. 7. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the treatment liquid heating apparatus. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a part of the treatment liquid heating apparatus in FIG.
41a Sub tank 41 Processing tank 51 Circulation flow path 80 Processing liquid heating device 81 Processing liquid circulation pipe 81a Inlet 81b Outlet 82 Heat conductor 83 Heat source member

Claims (2)

Development comprising a processing tank for storing a processing solution for developing a photographic photosensitive material, a sub-tank communicating with the upper part of the processing tank, and a circulation channel connecting the sub-tank and the lower part of the processing tank In a processing liquid heating apparatus for a processing apparatus,
Said inlet being connected to the circulation flow path and a treatment liquid flow pipe having an outlet, a heat conductor of the treatment liquid circulation pipe is cast molded in a state wrapped in thermally conductively coaxially, the And a heat source member inserted in a groove provided on the outer surface of the heat conductor so as to extend along the treatment liquid circulation pipe. Heating device. The processing liquid heating apparatus for a development processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the groove extends spirally so as to entrain the processing liquid flow pipe.

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