JPH0217011B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention is applied to an automatic processing machine that photo-processes photographic materials such as color photographic film, black-and-white photographic film, and photographic paper in a plurality of processing liquid tanks. This invention relates to a photographic processing liquid mixing prevention device that prevents adjacent processing liquids from mixing together due to large vibrations such as the above.

《Prior Art》 In recent years, in industries that perform photographic processing, such as color photo labs, photomechanical factories, and newspaper companies, the processes necessary for photographic processing, such as the developing process, fixing process, bleaching process,
Combining each processing liquid tank necessary for the water washing process with a drying device if necessary, photographic photosensitive materials such as color photographic film, black and white photographic film, and photographic paper are transferred to each processing liquid tank using a conveying device such as a belt or roller. Automatic processors that process photographs through successive passes have become popular. Compared to manual development (dish development), this automatic processing machine automates processing solution temperature management, replenishment management, etc., so photographs with a certain performance quality can be quickly produced. It can be easily handled and operated without requiring special skill.

However, in this case, it is necessary to arrange each processing liquid tank closely so that the photographic material can quickly pass through each of the processing liquid tanks arranged in succession, and the photographic material must be placed between one processing liquid tank and the next. In order to avoid exposure to air between the processing liquid tank and the processing effect (development effect) becoming unstable, the liquid level in the processing liquid tank must be set close to the top of the partition plate of the processing liquid tank. At the same time, the level of the processing liquid is detected, and the processing liquid in the tank is replenished or drained to maintain the liquid level always within a certain range at a high position in the processing liquid tank. Therefore, when a conventional automatic processing machine experiences large vibrations such as an earthquake, the surface of the processing liquid filled in the tank becomes undulating, causing the processing liquid to cross the partition plate and spill over into other processing areas adjacent to it. The drawback was that it easily got mixed into the liquid tank. In this way, if the mixed processing liquid components change, the photographic quality will deteriorate and the product value will be significantly impaired. This has the drawback of requiring replacement, resulting in large losses in terms of time and material.

《Problems to be Solved by the Invention》 Therefore, as a result of intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present inventor has developed a technology that detects dangerous liquid level heights where there is a high possibility of contamination of the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank. In addition, by transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensing to a drain valve of a drain device communicating with the processing liquid tank and opening the drain valve, the processing liquid can be immediately transferred to the drain tank. The inventors have discovered that the liquid level in the processing liquid tank can be lowered by causing the processing liquid to flow down, thereby easily preventing the processing liquid from mixing into other adjacent processing liquid tanks, and have arrived at the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for preventing processing liquid in an automatic processor from being mixed into an adjacent processing liquid tank due to vibration.

<<Means for Solving the Problems>> The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide an automatic developing machine for photographic light-sensitive materials having a plurality of adjacent processing liquid tanks.
a ripple detection device comprising at least one detection element provided in at least one of the plurality of processing liquid tanks and configured to sense a dangerous liquid level height due to liquid surface ripples of the processing liquid filled in the tank; A photographic processing liquid contamination prevention device comprising a liquid draining device connected to at least one liquid draining port bored in a processing liquid tank in which the detection device is disposed, wherein the ripple detection element At least one type of element selected from a float interlocking with the water, an electric element that senses electrical displacement due to contact with the processing liquid at a dangerous liquid level, and a photoelectric element that detects the amount of light around the element. , the drain device includes at least a drain pipe connected to the drain port, a drain tank provided at the drain port of the drain pipe, and any one between the drain tank and the drain port. and a drain valve provided at a location, and the detection device and the drain device are coupled by a detection signal transmission means such that the drain valve opens in response to a detection signal from the detection device. This was achieved by a device for preventing contamination of photographic processing liquids.

Hereinafter, the photographic processing liquid contamination prevention device of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention,
A developing processing liquid tank 3 having a developing rack 2 filled with a developing solution 1, a fixing processing liquid tank 6 filled with a fixing liquid 4 and having a fixing rack 5, and a washing processing liquid tank 9 filled with washing water 7 and having a washing rack 8. This is an automatic developing machine for lithographic film for photolithography. When the fixer 4, which is an acidic processing solution, mixes with the developer 1, which is alkaline, it is a particular problem that the development characteristics of the developer 1 will change significantly. A ripple detection element 14 is installed at a position below the upper edge 12 of the partition plate 11 between it and the developing processing liquid tank 3 so as to detect the dangerous liquid level height.

On the other hand, drain pipes 17 and 18 of the present apparatus are connected to drain ports 15 and 16 formed on the bottom and/or side of the fixing liquid tank 6, and a solenoid valve 1 is connected to the drain pipe 17.
9, a solenoid valve 20 and a pump 21 are installed in the drain pipe 18, a drain tank 22 is installed below the discharge ports of the drain pipes 17 and 18, and a ripple detection element 14 is installed.
, solenoid valve 1 via cable 23 and relay 24
9, 20 and a pump 21 to form a drainage device. The pump 21 is for promoting drainage, and is not necessary if the diameters of the drain pipes 17 and 18 are made sufficiently large.

Therefore, due to large vibrations such as earthquakes, the fixer liquid level
When 0 becomes the ripple dangerous liquid level height, the ripple detection element 14 emits a signal, and the signal is transmitted to the cable 23.
is transmitted to the relay 24 through the solenoid valves 19 and 2.
Activate 0. As a result, the fixer 4 in the fixer processing liquid tank 6 is discharged from the drain ports 15 and 16 through the drain pipes 17 and 18 to the drain tank 22, and the fixer liquid level 1
0 quickly decreases, and it is possible to prevent the fixer 4 from being mixed into the developing solution tank 3 due to ripples.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the photographic processing solution contamination prevention device of the present invention, in which a developing processing solution tank 31,
It is composed of a bleaching liquid tank 32, a fixing liquid tank 33, a first washing liquid tank 34, and a second washing liquid tank 35. In this case, the adjacent fixing liquid tank 3
The bleaching liquid tank 32 filled with the bleaching liquid, which is particularly problematic if it gets mixed into the bleaching liquid, is equipped with a draining device as in the above embodiment, and the operation is also the same.

The above-mentioned ripple detection device constituting the photographic processing liquid contamination prevention device of the present invention differs from the conventional liquid level detection device whose purpose is to detect the upper or lower limit of the liquid level and maintain the liquid level constant. When the ripples generated by large vibrations reach a predetermined height that poses a risk of contamination, it is required to sense this and issue a signal to activate the drainage device.

The ripple detection element constituting the ripple detection device used in the present invention includes a float that can detect when the liquid level in the processing liquid tank has reached a dangerous level;
An electrical element that can sense electrical displacement such as electrical resistance or capacitance due to contact of the processing liquid with the element, or a photoelectric element that can detect changes in the amount of incident light from around the element. It can be selected as appropriate.

The above-mentioned detection element can satisfy the above requirements by installing it in the processing liquid tank away from the liquid surface, but especially when using a float, it is necessary to float the float on the liquid surface in advance. It's okay to be there.
Further, the liquid drainage device is operated by an electrical/mechanical signal emitted from the ripple detection device, and uses a low tank rubber float operated by a mechanical signal, a solenoid valve or a motor operated by an electric signal. It consists of on-off valves, etc.

As described above, since the present invention detects ripples in the processing liquid, the position of the ripple detection element that determines activation of the liquid draining device is set at the processing liquid adjacent to the liquid level of the processing liquid tank to be detected. The ripple detection element only needs to be set between the upper edge of the partition plate between the tank and the upper edge of the partition plate. The distance from the surface is large and therefore the drainage device will not be activated by small vibrations that do not cause liquid contamination. Furthermore, in automatic processors that have a structure in which the distance from the liquid surface to the upper edge of the partition plate is small and liquid contamination is likely to occur, the distance from the liquid surface to the ripple detection element is small, and therefore, even in the case of small vibrations, the liquid cannot be drained. Start the device.

Therefore, in the present invention, conditions such as the earthquake vibration mode, the structure of the building, the vibration mode due to nearby cars, etc. due to the regional characteristics of the ground where the automatic processor is installed, as well as the safety factor and the liquid contamination caused by liquid contamination are considered. The ripple detection element is set at an appropriate location between the processing liquid level and the upper edge of the partition plate, taking into account the work efficiency required for the replacement work and the recovery after operation of the liquid drainage device.

<<Effects of the Invention>> As detailed above, the photographic processing liquid contamination prevention device of the present invention detects ripples on the liquid surface in the tank due to vibration in an automatic developing machine that performs photographic processing in a plurality of adjacent processing liquid tanks. However, since the liquid level in the processing liquid tank can be quickly lowered, it is possible to prevent the processing liquid from mixing into other adjacent processing liquid tanks, thereby maintaining the components of each processing liquid. Because it is planned,
This can contribute to stabilizing photographic quality.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the main part of an embodiment of the present invention in a rippled state. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention in a rippled state. 1...Developer, 2...Developing rack, 3...Developing solution tank, 4...Fixer, 5...Fixing rack, 6
...Fixer processing liquid tank, 7...Washing water, 8...Washing rack, 9...Washing processing liquid tank, 10...Fixer liquid level,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Partition plate, 12... Upper edge, 13... Ripple detection part, 14... Ripple detection element, 15, 16
... Drain port, 17, 18 ... Drain pipe, 19, 20
... Solenoid valve, 21 ... Pump, 22 ... Drain tank,
23...Cable, 24...Relay, 31...Development processing liquid tank, 32...Bleaching processing liquid tank, 33...Fixing processing liquid tank, 34...First washing processing liquid tank, 35...
...Second washing treatment liquid tank.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an automatic developing machine for photographic light-sensitive materials having a plurality of adjacent processing liquid tanks, at least one of the plurality of processing liquid tanks is provided, and the liquid surface of the processing liquid filled in the tank is rippled. a ripple detection device comprising at least one detection element that senses the dangerous liquid level height caused by the rippling; A photographic processing liquid contamination prevention device comprising: a float whose ripple detection element is linked to the dangerous liquid level; an electric element that senses electrical displacement due to contact with the processing liquid at the dangerous liquid level; and the periphery of the element. at least one type of element selected from photoelectric elements that detect the amount of light, and a drain pipe in which the drain device is connected to at least the drain port;
It consists of a drain tank provided at the outlet of the drain pipe, and a drain valve provided somewhere between the drain tank and the drain port, and the detection device and the drain device are connected to each other. but,
A device for preventing contamination of photographic processing liquid, characterized in that the device is connected by a detection signal transmitting means such that a drain valve opens in response to a detection signal from the detection device.