JPH028279Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved processing liquid tank that is effective when applied to an automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials, particularly long photographic paper wound into a roll.

Conventionally, developing processing for long photosensitive materials wound into rolls, especially for color, has been carried out exclusively in dedicated developing laboratories, so this type of processing machine or processing equipment has low processing efficiency. From an economical point of view, they were designed to process photographic materials of the same size, and were usually equipped with separate processing machines or processing equipment for different sizes of photographic materials. .

However, as the level of in-store technicians has improved over the past few years, and in response to customer requests, it has become possible to perform development processing in-store as well, and to respond to requests for quick service. However, it is almost impossible to prepare processing machines and processing equipment for different sizes of photographic materials. For other sizes, processing had to be done by a separate processing laboratory or by hand, so the development of a processing machine or processing device that can be used commonly for different sizes is the key to this type of production. This has been a strong demand from the industry.

Therefore, based on requests from this type of industry, Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of the applicant for utility model registration, requested utility model registration No. 1438264 (Jikkosho
No. 56-43804), he devised a processing device for photographic light-sensitive materials, and achieved considerable success as a processing device mainly for photographic film.
It has been voiced that the same amount of processing solution used for large-volume processing and small-volume processing must be filled in each processing solution tank, resulting in considerable economic loss. This tendency is due to the fact that when processing photographic paper (hereinafter referred to simply as "paper"), during the early morning hours, or during the tourist and wedding seasons, processing is concentrated on large-sized papers, and other This was recognized as a real problem in paper processing, where the difference in processing time from the off-season is noticeable, and the development of processing machines and processing equipment adapted to the throughput of photographic light-sensitive materials was also sought after. .

In response to these, the applicant for utility model registration's continued desire to improve
Utility model application filed on date 1987-87322
No. (Utility Model Application No. 58-190648), as described in the specification attached to the application, an ``automatic developing device for photographic photosensitive materials'' in which each processing liquid tank in the automatic developing device for photosensitive materials was devised. Although it was possible to provide an "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials" adapted to the throughput of photographic light-sensitive materials, the structure was complex and the operation and use were troublesome. I had a feeling that it was necessary.

Therefore, the applicant for this utility model registration has taken further steps to improve and improve the "each processing liquid tank" in the above-mentioned "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials" that the applicant for utility model registration had previously devised. As a result, we have been able to provide an "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials" that truly meets the needs and desires of the photographic industry. Registration No. 1438264 (Jitko Sho 56-43804
Components that have become publicly known through other documents, actual objects, etc., and components described in the specification of Utility Application No. 1987-87322 are omitted as much as possible, and are incorporated into Utility Model Registration No. 1438264. However, when applied to an automatic developing device that processes long photographic paper wound into a roll as a photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to simply as roll paper), According to the illustrated embodiment,
I will explain it in detail.

First, Figure 1 is an external perspective view of what is commonly called an automatic developing machine, which is composed of an automatic developing device that performs developing processing on a long photographic paper wound into a roll, and a drying device. In Fig. 1, which is visually the same as conventional automatic developing machines, X is an automatic developing device, Y is a drying device,
Z is a paper take-out part.

In this automatic developing device The top panel 5 is formed of a window frame panel 3 that can be opened and closed, and a part of the top panel 5 near the front panel 2 is also a window frame panel 6 that can be opened and closed. 7 is a control box with an upper panel 8 equipped with a start and stop switch, a display and various operation buttons, etc. 9 is a control box for each This is a built-in part of the processing liquid circulation mechanism that is equipped with a circulation pump, filter, etc. for circulating each processing liquid in the processing liquid tank. The external appearance is substantially the same as that of a conventional automatic developing device, as is the drying device Y and the paper take-out section Z, whose explanations are omitted because they are equivalent to conventional ones.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the processing liquid tanks, a part of the leader belt, and the processing liquid arranged in a series inside the automatic developing device X for long photographic paper, which has been improved by the present invention. Part of the circulation mechanism is laid out on one plane, and the other part is arranged longitudinally.
Rollers for paper guides, etc., which have become publicly known in No. 2003) and are described in other documents, are omitted.
This is an explanatory diagram to facilitate the explanation of the main components of the present invention. In this Figure 2, reference numerals 10 include a developer tank 11, a bleach-fix tank 12, and a washing tank (not shown). As before, stable hardening treatment liquid tanks and the like are arranged in a series along the running direction of the leader belts 31, 31 (see Fig. 3) in the conveyance mechanism 30 in the processing liquid tank section, 17 ₁ ，
17 ₂ , . . . (other than 17 ₁ are not shown) are partition walls between each processing liquid tank. The length of each processing liquid tank constituting this processing liquid tank section 10, that is, the length along the running direction of the leader belts 31, 31, is determined by the printing temperature of a photo printing machine called a printer during the normal season. Based on the running speed of the leader belts 31, 31, which is determined in consideration of speed, etc., first, the length of the developer tank 11, which requires a relatively long time for processing and requires accuracy in processing time, is determined. ,
Using this length as a standard, the lengths of other processing liquid tanks, washing tanks, etc. are determined.

In the present invention, the required processing liquid tanks in the processing liquid tank section 10 are determined based on the amount of each processing liquid and the economic efficiency of each processing liquid taking into account the amount of paper processed during the off-season. The running speed of the leader belts 31, 31 is determined by the overflow pipes 18 ₁₁ , 18 ₁₂ , . . . which are located lower than the partition walls 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ , . (18 ₁₁ , 18
Dividing walls 11 ₁ , 12 ₁ , 13 ₁ ... ( ₁₁ (Other than ₁ are not shown) each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ...
(Other than A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ are not shown), and during the season, each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ ,
A ₁₃ , ... are filled with each processing solution, and during the off-season, one of each processing solution chamber is used.
The processing liquid is drained from A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , . _. . , and only the other processing liquid chambers B ₁₁ , B ₁₂ , .
19 ₁₂ , ... (other than 19 ₁₁ are not shown), the liquid level is adjusted and used as the developer tank 11, bleach-fix tank 12, ..., etc., and consumed in each processing liquid tank in the processing liquid tank section 10. Although the economical efficiency of each treatment liquid is improved, the processing time for each treatment liquid remains unchanged, as will become clear later.

Also 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ , 20' ₁₂ (20 ₁₁ ,
20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ (others than 20' 12 are not shown) are installed in each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ..., one or several in consideration of the volume of that chamber. This processing liquid circulation mechanism consists of pumps 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ ,
21 ₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , ... (21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂
(others are omitted) and one end is the processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ ,
A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ... are opened at the bottom of the pumps 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , ...
It is connected to..., and there are on-off valves 23 ₁₁ ,
23' ₁₁ , 23 ₁₂ , 23' ₁₂ , ... (23 ₁₁ , 2
Processing liquid suction pipes 22 ₁₁ , 22 _{' 11} , 22 ₁₂ , 22 _{' 12} , . . .
(Other than 22 ₁₁ , 22' ₁₁ , 22 ₁₂ are not shown) and
Filter unit 24 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 2
4' ₁₂ , ... (other than 24 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ are not shown) and pumps 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 2
1' ₁₂ ,... to filter unit 24 ₁₁ , 2
Opening/closing valve 26 ₁₁ to 4' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ , ...
26' ₁₁ , 26 ₁₂ , 26' ₁₂ , ... (26 ₁₁ , 2
Processing liquid delivery pipes 25 ₁₁ , 25 _{' 11} , 25 ₁₂ , 25 _{' 12} , . . .
(Other than 25 ₁₁ , 25' ₁₁ , 25 ₁₂ are not shown) and
A filter unit 2 whose tip is opened above each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ...
Processing liquid return pipes 27 11 , ₂₇ ' ₁₁ , 27 ₁₂ , 27' ₁₂ ,... from 4 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ ,...
... (other than 27 ₁₁ , 27' ₁₁ , 27 ₁₂ are omitted from illustration). In addition, each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ ,
The respective treatment liquid replenishment supply mechanisms to A ₁₂ , . . . are omitted from illustration.

Further, 30 is a transport mechanism for photographic paper, a part of which is shown in Figure 3, and this is the above-mentioned Utility Model Registration No. 1336946 (Utility Model No. 54-44592).
Separate leader belts 31, 3 such as in
1 and the leader belts 31 and 31 on both sides run in parallel at a constant speed to convey the paper and apply various processes collectively called development processes to the paper. Pulleys 32 , 32 , 32 ₁ , 32 ₁ , 32 , most of which are not shown, are installed along both sides of the pulley along its length.
₂ ,...33 ₁ ,33 ₁ ,33 ₂ ,...,34 ₁ ,34
₁ ,34 ₂ ,...35 ₁ ,35 ₁ ,35 ₂ ,...,3
6,36,36 ₁ ,...,36 _o ,36 _o ,36 _o+1 ,
36 _o+1 , 37, 37, etc., and paper guide/feeding rollers 38, 38 ₁ , etc., most of which are not shown and coaxial with these pulleys, are the main members.

Of each pulley above, 32, 32
(See Figure 3) is the pulley of the paper introduction start part, 32 ₁ , 32 ₁ (See Figure 3) is the developer tank 11.
Pulley for carrying paper into, 32 ₂ , 32 ₂
(One not shown) etc. are pulleys for transferring paper from the previous processing liquid tank to the next processing liquid tank or washing tank, 33 ₁ , 33 ₁ , 33 ₂ , 33 ₂ , ..., 3
4 ₁ , 34 ₁ , 34 ₂ , ..., 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , 35 ₂ ,
... (one not shown) etc. are pulleys (pulleys 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , etc.) of the paper conveyance direction conversion section.
... is above each dividing wall, and in principle is in the processing liquid when used during the season),
36, 36,..., 36 _o , 36 _o , 36 _o+1 , 3
6 _o+1 , . . . (one of which is not shown), etc. are sometimes referred to as return pulleys for the leader belt, and 37 and 37 are sometimes referred to as tension pulleys for the leader belts 31 and 31.

In addition, P in the figure is a rolled paper attached to the paper attachment part, and is wound into a roll shape.
FIG. 3 shows the leader belt 3 in the conveyance mechanism 30.
This shows an example of how to change the running speed of No. 1, 31 to the speed during the season and the off-season. pulleys 32, 3 from the diameter sprocket wheel 41
The chain 40 is stretched through a small diameter sprocket foil 42 fixed to the pulley shaft 2, an intermediate sprocket foil 43, a tension sprocket foil 46, etc. During the off-season, the chain 40 is connected to the small diameter sprocket foil 44. A sprocket foil 48 is stretched over a larger diameter sprocket foil 45 via an intermediate sprocket foil 43 or appropriately selected tension sprocket foils 46, 47, etc., and is also fixed to the pulley shafts of the pulleys 32, 32. through other pulleys 32 ₁ , 32
Sprocket wheels 48 ₁ , 4 fixed to each pulley shaft such as ₁ , 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , 35 ₂ , 35 ₂ , etc.
8 ₂ , . . . by means of a chain 49, etc., so that there is no difference in processing time during the season and during the off-season. The running speed variable mechanism of the leader belts 31, 31 is as follows:
In addition to this, a known and publicly available gear box such as a change gear box may be used.

Therefore, during the season, as shown in FIG.
A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , . . . are each filled with processing liquid, and overflow pipes 19 ₁₁ ,
At 19 ₁₂ , . . . , the on-off valves are closed and the processing liquid circulation mechanisms 20 ₁₁ , 20′ ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ , 20′ ₁₂ , . Although the paper is conveyed and subjected to so-called development processing, during the off-season, each chamber in each processing liquid tank of the processing liquid tank section 10 is
A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , ... are empty, processing liquid circulation mechanism 20 ₁₁ , 2
0 ₁₂ , ... are not operated, and the developer is supplied to chamber B ₁₁ .
Bleach-fix solution is placed in chamber B ₁₂ , and other chambers B ₁₃ , B ₁₄ ,...
The respective processing liquids are supplied to the respective processing liquid replenishment and supply mechanisms, etc., and the on-off valves of the overflow pipes 19 ₁₁ , 19 ₁₂ , . . . with on-off valves are opened, and the processing liquid tank circulation mechanisms 20' ₁₁ , . 20' ₁₂ , ... is activated, and the leader belt 3 is moved by the conveyance mechanism 30.
1, the traveling speed of each processing liquid chamber B ₁₁ ,
The paper is conveyed by running at a speed commensurate with the amount of each processing liquid in B ₁₂ , . . . , and the so-called development process is performed.

That is, in this invention, as in the invention of Utility Model Application No. 1987-87322, which was filed earlier by the applicant for this utility model registration, each processing liquid to be used according to the amount of processing of the photographic material represented by paper is By optimizing the amount, it is possible to economically obtain a constant developing processing effect, but unlike the above idea, each processing liquid chamber
A separate processing liquid circulation mechanism 20 ₁₁ , _{20' 11} , 20 ₁₂ , 20' for each of A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , _{B 12} , . . .
₁₂ , ..., each of which can be operated and operated separately, makes not only the structure, operation, and maintenance extremely easy, but also eliminates the causes of erroneous operation and malfunction. It became possible.

As is clear from the above description, the automatic developing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention is a so-called automatic development system that processes photographic light-sensitive materials by meandering them through each processing liquid tank arranged in a series using a conveyance mechanism. In each processing liquid tank in the device, in particular, the processing liquid tank that requires a relatively long time for processing and requires precision in processing time is used as a reference, as well as other required processing liquid tanks, and between each processing liquid tank. It is possible to divide the photographic material at a location where it does not interfere with the transfer of the photographic material by a dividing wall lower than the partition wall, and to use each of these divided processing liquid chambers for processing at the same time, and to use only one for each processing. This makes it possible to use the liquid chambers for processing, and accordingly, it is possible to operate the separate processing liquid circulation mechanisms for each processing liquid chamber simultaneously or only one of them. During seasons when a large amount of photographic materials such as photographic film and large photographic paper are consumed, such as after the New Year, or during the tourist and wedding seasons, when the amount of processing increases dramatically, each processing liquid tank, or all the processing liquid When the consumption of photographic materials decreases, such as during the off-season, one of the divided processing liquid chambers in each processing liquid tank can be used as a processing liquid tank for processing. It goes without saying that it is possible to economically optimize the consumption of each processing liquid depending on the time and period, but in this invention, each processing liquid chamber is With the treatment liquid circulation mechanism installed, not only the structure but also the operation and maintenance become extremely easy, and it has a truly excellent effect in that it greatly reduces the possibility of erroneous operation or malfunction. It has now become possible to provide an automatic developing device for photographic materials produced by the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show the structure of an embodiment in which the automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention is implemented as an automatic developing device for long photographic paper wound into a roll, and Figure 1 shows a drying device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the external appearance of a so-called automatic developing machine connected in series with the processing liquid tank, and Fig. 2 is partially cut vertically and partially unfolded on one plane in order to clearly show the processing liquid tanks improved by the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a variable running speed mechanism of a leader belt in a conveyance mechanism. X: automatic developing device, Y: drying device, 1: outer panel, 2: front panel, 3, 6: window frame panel,
4; Roll paper handling port with dark bag, 5; Top panel, 7; Control box, 8; Upper panel, 9; Built-in processing liquid circulation mechanism, 10; Processing liquid tank, 11; Developer tank, 12 ; Bleach-fix tank, 1
7 ₁ , 17 ₂ ...; partition wall, 11 ₁ , 12 ₁ , 13 ₁ , ...
…; Dividing wall, A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , …; Processing liquid chamber, 18 ₁₁ , 18 ₁₂ , …; Overflow pipe, 19 ₁₁ , 19 ₁₂ , …; Overflow pipe with on-off valve , 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ , 20'
₁₂ , ... ; Processing liquid circulation mechanism, 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 2
1 ₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , ...; pump, 22 ₁₁ , 22' ₁₁ ,
22 ₁₂ , 22' ₁₂ , ...; Processing liquid suction tube, 23 ₁₁ ,
23' ₁₁ , 23 ₁₂ , 23' ₁₂ , ..., 26 ₁₁ , 2
6' ₁₁ , 26 ₁₂ , 26' ₁₂ , ...; Open/close valve, 24 ₁₁ ,
24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ , ...; Filter unit, 25 ₁₁ , 25' ₁₁ , 25 ₁₂ , 25' ₁₂ , ...
...; Processing liquid delivery pipe, 27 ₁₁ , 27' ₁₁ , 27 ₁₂ , 2
7' ₁₂ ,...; Processing liquid return pipe, 30; Transport mechanism,
31; Leader belt, 32, 32 ₁ , 32 ₂ ,...
..., 33 ₁ , 33 ₂ , ... 34 ₁ , 34 ₂ , ... 35
₁ , 35 ₂ , 35 ₃ , ..., 36 ₁ , 36 ₂ , ... 36
_o , 36 _o+1 , 37; Pulley, M; Drive motor, 40, 49; Chain, 41, 42, 43,
44, 45, 48 ₁ , 48 ₂ , ...; Sprocket foil.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Processing liquid tanks each equipped with a processing liquid supply mechanism, an overflow pipe, and a processing liquid circulation mechanism are arranged in a series, and the photographic material is conveyed in a meandering manner through each of the processing liquid tanks and subjected to each treatment. In an automatic developing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials, which is equipped with a transport mechanism for carrying out processing, each of the processing liquid tanks requires a relatively long time for processing, and accuracy is required in this processing time. With the processing liquid tank as a reference, it is divided along the meandering section by a dividing wall lower than the partition wall between each processing liquid tank along with other required processing liquid tanks, and each divided processing liquid chamber has its own separate compartment. Along with the processing liquid circulation mechanism, one processing liquid chamber was equipped with an overflow pipe that opened at a position higher than the dividing wall, and the other processing liquid chamber was installed with an overflow pipe with an on-off valve that opened at a position lower than the dividing wall. An automatic developing device for photographic materials, characterized in that: