JPH03126944A - Leader conveying mechanism for developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately convey a leader and to reduce cost by guiding a leader which is released from being in an engaged state by an engagement releasing means from a lower part to an upper part by an arcuate guiding means and inverting the leader. CONSTITUTION:The leader which is conveyed from the upper part of a processing tank to the lower part of it is released from being in the engaged state by the engagement releasing means 90, and the leader is separated from a timing belt 86. The leader separated from the timing belt 86 is guided by arcuate guiding means 132A, 136A and 138A having a prescribed gap between the outer circumference of the timing belt 86 which is bent to be laid on the lower pulley and themselves, and then, the leader is inverted and conveyed to the upper part of the processing tank. Thus, the leader can be accurately and surely conveyed in the inverted state, and the need of an inversion roller can be eliminated, so that the processing tank can be miniaturized and the cost of production can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention involves transporting a leader in which a plurality of leading end portions of a plurality of films are connected downward in a processing tank of a developing device, then inverting the leader and transporting it upward. The present invention relates to a leader conveyance mechanism for a developing device.

[Prior Art] The process of developing a film on which an image has been printed generally includes development, bleaching, fixing, washing, and drying.

In these processes, each processing tank is sequentially placed in one developing device.
The films are placed adjacent to each other, and the films are transported and inserted into these processing tanks for processing. When transporting the films to each of these processes, the leading ends of the plurality of films are fixed to a leader, and the leader is sequentially transported by a leader transport mechanism provided in the processing tank of each process.

The leader transport mechanism placed in the processing tank is equipped with a timing belt looped around the upper and lower pulleys in the processing tank, and a reversing guide placed below the timing belt to reverse the leader. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 191257/1983). A plurality of engagement protrusions are formed on the outside of the loop at appropriate intervals on the timing belt, and are inserted into and engaged with a plurality of engagement holes provided in the leader. When the timing belt is conveyed by the driving means in an engaged state in which the engagement protrusion of the timing belt is inserted into the engagement hole, the leader is conveyed from the upper part to the lower part in the processing tank.

The leader is conveyed from the top to the bottom in the processing tank, and the state of engagement with the timing belt is adjusted to prevent incomplete engagement with the leader due to changes in the interval at the bending part of the timing belt. It is released and detached from the timing belt, and is wound around a reversing roller disposed at the lower part of the processing tank, and is reversed by this reversing roller. The leader whose conveyance direction has been reversed is again engaged with the timing belt and conveyed upward into the processing tank.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional leader conveyance mechanism, the reversing roller is disposed below the pulley disposed at the bottom, which increases the size of the processing tank. Furthermore, since the reversing roller was disposed inside the processing tank, production costs were high.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a leader transport mechanism for a developing device that has a small number of parts (capable of accurately and reliably reversing and transporting the leader).

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the engagement protrusion of the timing belt that is wound around the lower pulley is extracted from the engagement hole of the leader, and the timing belt and the leader are engaged with each other. a disengagement means for disengaging the engagement, and a predetermined gap is provided between the timing belt and the outer periphery of the timing belt, which is disposed below the lower pulley coaxially with the pulley and is wound around the lower pulley. The present invention is characterized in that the leader whose engagement state is released by the engagement release means is reversed from the bottom to the top.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the engagement protrusion of the timing belt is inserted and engaged into the engagement hole of the leader, and the leader is conveyed from the upper part to the lower part of the processing tank. The leader conveyed from the top to the bottom of the processing tank is released from the engagement state by the engagement release means and separated from the timing belt. The leader separated from the timing belt is guided, reversed, and transported upward in the processing tank according to claim (1), wherein a predetermined gap is provided between the outer periphery of the timing belt wound around the lower pulley. Ru.

The leader, which has been reversed upward, is again conveyed upward into the processing tank with the engagement protrusion of the timing belt inserted into the engagement hole and brought into engagement.

The gap between the timing belt and the claim (1) is,
By setting the pitch to be an integral multiple of the pitch of the plurality of engagement holes provided in the leader, when the engagement protrusion of the timing belt is reversed and inserted into the engagement hole of the leader again, the engagement before being reversed is It is engaged in a state shifted from a predetermined position with respect to the state.

[Example] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a developing device 12 to which a developing device leader conveyance mechanism according to the present invention is applied. This developing device 12 is covered on the outside by a frame 14 and is shielded from light from the outside. The lower part of this frame 14 is supported to the floor 18 by a plurality of support legs 16.

The frame 14 is provided with a plurality of processing tanks extending in the vertical direction in series, each of which is partitioned by a vertical wall 19. The processing tank 20 contains a developing solution, the processing tank 22 contains a bleaching solution, the processing tank 24 contains a fixing solution, the processing tanks 26 and 28 contain washing water, and the processing tank 30 contains a stabilizing solution. is a drying room, in which a heater 34 and a fan 35 are arranged below, and hot air is sent upward.

Further, a supply device 36 is arranged on one side of the processing tank 20. This supply device 36 pulls out the developing film 38 from the cartridge 40 and supplies it to the processing tank 20. Furthermore, an accumulation device 42 is arranged on one side of the processing tank 32. This stacking device 42 stacks the processed films 38.

The film 38 is attached to a cartridge 40 as shown in FIG.
It is wound up and stored on a spool 44 inside. In this embodiment, the tip portions of two films 38 ejected from each sprawl 44 are attached to one leader 46 using adhesive tape 4.
It is fixed by 7. The leader 46 is the film 38
It is molded from a flexible resin that is slightly more rigid than the original. Square holes 48, which are engagement holes, are bored in the center of the leader 46 at appropriate intervals along the elongated direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part of the film supply device 38 is covered by a cover 56 that can be opened and closed. A cutter 52 is disposed within this film supply device 38 . When the photographed portion of the film 38 is completely pulled out from the cartridge 40, the film 38 is removed by the cutter 52.
is disconnected.

A film transport unit 60 is placed in each processing tank. After the film 38 is inserted by this transport unit 60, it is turned over, taken out, and immersed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the film conveyance unit 60 includes a pair of side plates 64, each of which has bent portions 62 formed on both sides thereof, and is disposed facing each other.

Further, near both ends of the side plate 64, that is, near the top and bottom ends in the attached state, rotating shafts 70.72 are pivotally supported to the side plate 64 by bearings 74.76.

Sprocket wheels 78 and 80 are integrally fixed to the center of each of the rotating shafts 70 and 72.
．． 72.

One end of the rotating shaft 70 protrudes from the side plate 62, and a sprocket wheel 82 is fixed to the tip thereof.

A chino 84 is wound around this sprocket foil 82. This chino 84 receives the driving force of a motor (not shown) to rotate the sprocket 82 and rotate the rotating shaft 70.

A timing belt 86 is looped around the sprockets 78 and 80. This timing belt 86
is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded, and a plurality of trapezoidal timing protrusions 86B are provided protruding from the inner periphery of the narrow and thin belt base 86A at equal intervals. Also, on the outer periphery, an engaging protrusion 86C is located at a position corresponding to the timing protrusion 86B.
are formed at equal intervals. These engaging protrusions 86C are inserted into the square holes 48 of the leader 46 and engaged.

Two support plates 88 are arranged back to back between the side plates 64 so as to correspond to the inner peripheral surface of the timing belt 86. A U-shaped groove 92 is formed in these support plates 88 over the entire lengthwise direction of the intermediate portion. This U-shaped groove 92 accommodates the timing protrusion 86B of the timing belt 86, and restricts movement of the timing belt 86 in the width direction.

Film support portions 94 are provided on both sides of the U-shaped groove 92 of the support plate 88. Each of the film support portions 94 has an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

The film support section 94 is connected to the film 38 to be conveyed.
prevents it from waving and bending. Further, a plurality of through holes 96 are formed in the film support portion 94 to promote the flow of the processing liquid.

Further, the film support portion 94 is provided with four recesses 94A along the width direction at two locations on the upper and lower sides. The tips of leaf springs, which will be described later, are inserted into these recesses 94A.

A pair of guide bars 98 and 100 are provided on the opposite side of the support plate 88 with the timing belt 86 in between, that is, on the outer periphery of the timing belt 86, and corresponding to the straight portion of the timing belt 86. These guide bars 98
．． 100 is fixed to a pair of cover plates 68 that extend between the side plates 62.

The guide bar 98 has a U-shaped recess 98A formed over the entire length thereof on the surface facing the timing belt 86. This U-shaped recess 98Δ is the timing belt 86
The width dimension is set to be slightly larger than the width dimension of the engaging projection 86C provided protruding from the timing belt 86
It has the role of passing through the engagement protrusion 86C when moving.

Further, the guide bar 98 is arranged with a slight gap provided between it and the surface of the belt base 86A. This gap is filled by the leader 46, which is pulled by the timing belt 86 and moves.
It is a passage space for

As a result, the guide bar 98 holds the leader 46 between the timing belt 86 and the engagement protrusion 86C and the square hole 48.
maintains engagement with the

Further, the guide bar 98 is a portion of the timing belt 86 from the curved portion to the straight portion, and in order to smoothly guide the leader 46, one lower end portion thereof has an arcuate guide portion 98B whose wall thickness gradually decreases.

Further, a rectangular through hole 98C is formed in the lower part of the guide bar 98. A roller 104 is provided in this rectangular through hole 94C.
is pivotally supported, and a part of its outer periphery is exposed to the conveying path side of the leader 46 and housed therein. As shown in FIG. 4, the roller 104 has two discs 106 fixed to a shaft 108 at a predetermined distance. The predetermined interval between the discs 106 is formed to have the same dimension as the interval in the width direction of the U-shaped recess 98A of the guide bar 46, and the timing belt 86
The outer periphery of the disc 106 is in contact with the surface of the leader 46 to prevent the leader 46 from inverting or sliding against the guide bar 98.

Furthermore, two notches 98D are provided in the side wall forming the U-shaped recess 98A of the guide bar 98, corresponding to the intermediate portion in the leader conveyance direction.

Therefore, when the leader 46 and the timing belt 86 contact the guide 98, the notch 98D does not contact the guide 98, and the contact area is reduced.
Wear of the timing belt 86 and leader 46 can be reduced. This notch 98D may be provided at one location or at two or more locations.

The guide bar 100 has the same shape as the guide bar 98, and is formed with a U-shaped recess 100A, and similarly has an arcuate guide portion 100B formed at its lower portion in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a notch 100C is formed in the longitudinally intermediate portion, and the roller 1
12 is accommodated, and a part of the outer periphery protrudes into the conveyance path of the leader 46.

This roller 112 has the same configuration as the roller 104, and contacts the surface of the timing belt 86 by straddling the engagement protrusion 86C of the timing belt 86 to separate the timing belt 86 from the guide bar 100. This prevents sliding.

The base 1 of the leaf spring 114 is located on the back side of the cover plate 68.
14A is attached with screws 116. As shown in FIG. 4, this leaf spring 114 is approximately U-shaped, and has a
After the intermediate portion extending upward from 4A is bent toward the conveying path side of the leader 46, the tip portion 114B is further bent substantially parallel to the base portion 114A. This tip 1
14B is a through hole 68A provided in the cover plate 68.
It penetrates through the guide bar 98 and protrudes from the surface of the guide bar 98 (on the U-shaped groove 98A side) into the conveyance path of the leader 46.
The timing belt 86 is pressed while the leader 6 is being conveyed, and the timing belt 86 is inserted into the notch 94A of the support plate 88 when the leader 46 is not being conveyed. This leaf spring 114 is also arranged under the cover plate 68 and similarly presses the leader 46 and the timing belt 86.

This prevents the leader 46 from sliding on the guide 98.
The leader 46 will not wear out.

In addition, the cover plate 68 is made of resin, and this leaf spring 11
4 may be integrally molded. In this case, the screw 116 becomes unnecessary.

Furthermore, leaf springs 1 are provided on both sides of the back side of the cover plate 68.
18 base portions 118A are attached with screws 120. As shown in FIG. 4, this leaf spring 118 has an abbreviated shape, and the intermediate portion extending upward from the base 118A is the leader 46.
After being bent toward the conveyance path side, the tip part 1 is further bent.
18B is bent substantially parallel to the base 118A.

This tip 118B passes through a through hole 68A provided in the cover plate 68 and protrudes from the surface of the guide bar 98 (on the side of the U-shaped groove 98A) into the conveyance path of the leader 46. The timing held 86 is pressed and the movement of the film 38 in the width direction is restricted. Further, when the leader 46 is not being conveyed, the timing belt 86 is inserted into the notch 94A of the support plate 88.

Further, a base portion 124A of a leaf spring 124 is attached to the back side of the cover plate 68 on the opposite side with the timing belt 86 interposed therebetween using screws 126.

As shown in FIG. 4, this leaf spring 124 has a substantially U-shape, and after the intermediate portion extending downward from the base portion 124 is bent toward the conveyance path side of the leader 46, the leaf spring 124 is further bent into a tip portion 124.
B is bent approximately parallel to the base portion 124A. This tip 124B passes through a through hole 68A provided in the cover plate 68 and protrudes from the surface of the guide bar 100 (on the side of the U-shaped groove 100A) into the conveyance path of the leader 46. The timing belt 86 is pressed, and the timing belt 86 is inserted into the notch 94A of the support plate 88 when the leader 46 is not being conveyed. This leaf spring 124 is also arranged under the cover plate 68 and similarly presses the leader 46 against the timing belt 86.

Furthermore, leaf springs 1 are provided on both sides of the back side of the cover plate 68.
28 base portions 128A are attached with screws 130. As shown in FIG. 4, this leaf spring 128 has an abbreviated shape, and an intermediate portion extending downward from the base 128A is the leader 46.
After being bent toward the conveyance path side, the tip part 1 is further bent.
28B is bent substantially parallel to the base 128A.

This tip portion 128B passes through a through hole 68A provided in the cover plate 68 and protrudes from the surface of the guide bar ↓00 (U-shaped groove 100A side) into the conveyance path of the leader 46. Timing belt 86 inside
is pressed, and when the leader 46 is not being conveyed, the timing belt 86 is inserted into the notch 94A of the support plate 88.

Further, the cover plate 68 is made of resin, and this leaf spring 1
28 may be integrally molded. In this case, the screw 130 becomes unnecessary.

Further, a plurality of through holes 122 are formed in the cover plate 68 to improve the flow of the processing liquid. These through-holes 122 are V-shaped in the direction of conveyance of the film 38, so that the through-holes 120 of the film 38 do not come into careless contact and impede the conveyance of the film 38.

A reversing guide 129 is arranged between the side plates 64 and fixed to the side plates 64 with screws 130. This reversing guide 129 has two vertical walls 136 and 138 formed in the middle between the side plates 132. A sprocket 8o is inserted and arranged between these. side plate 132,
Arc-shaped guide portions 132A, 136 are provided on the vertical walls 136 and 138.
A, 138A is formed. These arcuate guide portions 132A, 136A, and 138A are arranged along the outer periphery of the sprocket 80 with a predetermined gap formed from the outer periphery of the timing belt 86 located on the outer periphery of the sprocket 80.

The passage length of the leader 46 in this gap is the square hole 48 of the leader 46.
The pitch is set to an integral multiple of the pitch between.

Further, rings 90 serving as engagement release means are attached to both sides of the sprocket 80 in the axial direction.

The radius of this ring 900 is set larger than the radius of the circular arc that is the outer circumferential locus of the plurality of engagement protrusions 86C of the timing belt 86. Therefore, as shown in 1i, the leader 46 is moved in the direction away from the timing belt, and the engaging protrusion 86C is extracted from the square hole 48.

The ring 90 may be fixed to the sprocket wheel 72 or may be freely rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 2, a transport mechanism 150 is arranged between the upper parts of the transport unit 60. This transport mechanism 15
0 is attached so that a substantially U-shaped support cover 154 covers the upper portions of a pair of side brackets 152 and 153. This support cover 154 has a support bracket 152.
．． An abbreviated cover part 158 is attached to cover the back side (upstream side in the film transport direction) of the cover 153, and a handle 156 is attached to the upper part of the cover part 158.

Furthermore, arcuate cutouts 154B and 154C are formed on both sides of the side wall 154A of the support cover 154. As shown in FIG. 1, the notch 154B is inserted into the rotating shaft 70 of the transport unit 60 disposed in the processing tank 26, and the notch 154C is provided so as to protrude from the pair of side plates 64 so as to approach each other. It is inserted into a pair of knocks 63. As a result, the reader transport mechanism 150 is fixed at the upper portion between the processing tank 26 and the processing tank 28. When installing this transport mechanism 150, first cut out the rotary shaft 70 of the transport unit 60 placed in the processing tank 26 into the notch 154.
After inserting it into the notch 15, the reader conveying mechanism 150 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
Insert the knocks 63 into each of the holes 4C. In addition, when removing it, the transport mechanism 15 is
0 counterclockwise to pull out the knock 63 from inside the notch 154C, and then pull out the rotating shaft 70 from inside the notch 154B. Thereby, the transport mechanism 150 can be removed.

A pair of side plates 152A, 152B and 153A, 153B are bent downward at a substantially right angle from base portions 152D, 153D on the side brackets 152, 153. Side play) Rectangular cutouts 152C and 153C are formed in the side plate 152A and the side plate 153A.

These cutouts 152C1153C are for escape of the vertical wall 19.

Furthermore, arcuate notches 160.161 are formed in the side plates 152B and 153B, and further arcuate notches 162.1 follow these arcuate notches 160.161.
63 is formed (see Fig. 6). Arc-shaped notch 1
60. Side play within 160) 152B, 153B
The middle part of the roller 164 passed through the gap is inserted, and the conveying roller pair 178 is inserted into the arc-shaped notch 162 and 163.
The middle part of is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the diameter of the roller 164 is reduced at the intermediate portion to form a small diameter portion 164A.

This small diameter portion 164A is the side bracket 152.153
It is located between the timing belt 86 and prevents contact with the timing belt 86.

Both ends of the roller 164 are connected to the side plates 152A, 15
3A via a bearing (not shown), and each tip extends through the side plates 152A, 153A and is positioned between the side plates 152A, 153A and both side walls 154A of the support cover 154. There is. A gear 166 is fixed to one end of the roller 164, and a bush 168 is fixed to the other end.

A gear 170 having a larger diameter than the gear 166 meshes with the gear 166 . This gear 170 is a side play) 153
The hook is rotatably supported by the tip of the shaft 172 passed between A and 153B, which passes through the side plate 153A and the side wall 154A.

Also, between the side plates 152A and 153A, there is a
- La vs. 174 is passed. This conveyor roller pair 1
A conveyance roller 74 is composed of a conveyance roller 176 whose diameter is reduced in the middle part, and a conveyance roller 178 which is divided at the middle part and is arranged between the side plate 152A and the side plate 152B and between the side plates 153A and 153B. The rotation axis of 176 is the side plate 153A,
153B and protrudes outward, and gears 180 and 182 are respectively fixed to their tips.

Further, one of the rotating shafts of each of the conveying rollers 178 penetrates the side plates 152A and 153A and protrudes outward, and gears 184 and 186 are fixed to the tips thereof. Gear 184 meshes with gear 180, and gear 1
86 meshes with gear 182. Further, the gear 186 meshes with a gear 188 having a larger diameter than the gear 186.

Further, the gear 188 meshes with the gear 170.

Therefore, the rotational driving force transmitted to the gear 188 is transferred to the gear 17.
0 to the gear 166 to rotate the roller 164. Furthermore, the rotational driving force transmitted to the gear 188 is transmitted to the gear 184, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the conveying roller 178.
At the same time, it is transmitted to the conveyance roller 176 via the gear 180, and from the gear 182 to the gear 186, and the other conveyance roller 178 is rotated. This pair of conveying rollers 178 is disposed within the processing tank 26 and conveys the rising leader 46 to the arcuate guide portions 161 and 162 while holding it therebetween.

The gear 188 is rotatably supported by the side plates 153A and 153B, and is fixed to the tip of a shaft 190 passing through the side plates 153A. Further, a gear 192 is fixed to the tip of a shaft 190 that passes through the side plate 153B. This gear 192 meshes with a gear 194 of a transport unit 60, which will be described later, to transmit rotational driving force.

Side bracket 152B and side bracket 153B
In this case, the hook is attached to the end of the arc-shaped notch 160, 161.
96 is provided in a protruding manner.

This hook portion 196 comes into contact with the tip of the leader 46 sent out from the processing tank 26, and temporarily stops the conveyance of the leader 46 with the leader tip placed within the movement trajectory of the engagement protrusion 86C of the timing belt 86. do. The conveyance of the tip part is temporarily stopped, and the intermediate part and subsequent parts of the da-46 are continued to be conveyed by the conveyance of the timing belt 86 in the processing tank 26, so that the intermediate part bulges toward the arcuate guide part 160 and the tip part becomes almost vertical. As a result, the conveyance speed of the tip end of the leader 46 is delayed, and when the engagement protrusion 86C of the timing belt 86 engages, conveyance is restarted.

This leader transport mechanism 150 is also arranged between other processing tanks.

A support bracket 169 is disposed between the upper end of the treatment 20 and the supply device 36 . This support bracket 16
9, a reversing roller 148 is disposed between a pair of side plates 145, and a rotating shaft 146 is rotatably supported. Further, a guide 147 having an arcuate guide portion is disposed above the reversing roller 148. This support bracket 1
69 contains the leader 46 and the film 3 from the supply device 36.
8 is inserted approximately horizontally. The inserted leader 46 and film 38 are guided downward by the arcuate guide section and inserted into the processing tank 20.

A support bracket 19 is provided between the processing 130 and the processing tank 32.
8 is placed. This support bracket 198 has two
Reversing rollers 200, 202 are arranged. These reversing rollers 200 and 202 reversely move the film 38 from the processing tank 30 to the processing tank 32.

In addition, an inverted triangular separator 151 is provided in the processing tank 32.
is arranged to branch hot air from the fan 35 and heater 34.

A stacking device 42 arranged adjacent to the processing tank 32 collects the leader 46 and film 38 sent out from the processing tank 32.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the leading ends of the two films 38 are first pulled out from the cartridge 40 and connected to the rear end of the leader 46 with an adhesive tape 47.

The film 38 and leader 46 in this state are loaded into the supply device 36. Then, when the cover 56 is closed, a detection means (not shown) detects this and operates the conveyance roller. The loader 46 on which the conveyance roller operates is attached to the support bracket 15.
It is inserted and conveyed to 4.

The leader 46 inserted into the support bracket 154 is conveyed downward by the reversing roller 148. The leader 46 conveyed downward is engaged with the engagement protrusion 86C of the timing belt 86 into the square hole 48. Due to this engagement, the leader 46 is transported into the processing tank 20 by the timing belt 86. When the leader 46 is transported to the upper part of the processing tank 20, the roller 112 comes into contact with the leader 46, and the leader 46
is in a state where it is spaced apart from the guide bar 100. Therefore, the leader 46 is transported into the processing tank 20 without sliding on the guide bar 96. Further, even after the leader 46 has passed, it comes into contact with the timing belt 86 to prevent the timing belt 86 from sliding onto the guide bar 100. This prevents the timing belt 86 from being worn out and damaged. Furthermore, the life of the timing belt 86 can be extended.

The ladle 46 being conveyed toward the lower part of the processing tank 20 is further conveyed downward while being pressed against the timing belt 86 by the leaf spring 124. Since the leader 48 is conveyed while being pressed against the timing belt 86 by the leaf spring 124, the leader 48 does not slide on the guide bar 100 and remains engaged with the guide bar 86C.

The engagement protrusion 86C is engaged in the square hole 48, and the leaf spring 12
The leader 46 in the pressed state is conveyed toward the lower part of the processing tank 20 . The leader 46 conveyed to the lower part of the processing tank 20 is pushed toward the guide bar 100 by the ring 90 and separated from the timing belt 86, and the engagement protrusion 8
6C is extracted from the square hole 48. In this state the rider 46
is conveyed within the gap formed between the timing belt 86 and the reversing guide 129, and is reversed while being guided by the arcuate guide portions 136A and 138A of the reversing guide 129.

The leader 46 whose conveyance direction has been reversed is pushed toward the guide bar 98 by the roller 104, and the engagement protrusion 86C of the timing belt 86 is inserted into the square hole 48 again and engaged. The leader 46 is processed and conveyed above Pf20 in the engaged state. At this time, the engagement protrusions 86C and the square holes 48 are engaged with the square holes 48 that are spaced apart by one.

In this embodiment, the leader 46 is conveyed and reversed within the predetermined gap provided between the timing belt 86C and the reversing guide 129, so that the leader 46 can be reversely conveyed accurately and reliably. I can do it. Furthermore, since the conventionally necessary reversing roller can be eliminated, the processing tank can be made smaller and production costs can be reduced.

The leader 46 being conveyed upward in the processing tank 20 is pressed against the timing belt 86 by the leaf spring 114.

The leader 46 pressed against the timing belt 86 by the leaf spring 114 is sent out from the processing tank 20 and is transported into the processing tank 22 by the transport mechanism 150.

The leader 46 sent into the processing tank 22 is sequentially sent to each processing tank 24, 26, 28, and 30. As a result, the film 38 connected to the leader 46 is subjected to development, bleaching, and fixing processes.

When sent out from the processing tank 30 and conveyed to the processing tank 32, it is dried and then accumulated in the accumulation device 42.

In this embodiment, the ring 90 is attached to the sprocket 80 as an engagement release means, but the ring 90 is not limited to this.
Any other means may be used as long as it separates the leader 46 from the timing belt 86 and transports it into a predetermined gap between the timing belt 86 and the reversing guide 129 when the leader 46 is transported to the lower part of the processing tank.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the engagement protrusion of the timing belt that is wound around the lower pulley is pulled out from the engagement hole of the leader by the engagement release means, and the timing belt and the leader are separated. Since the engagement of the leader is released and the leader in the disengaged state is guided from the bottom to the top and reversed as described in claim (1), the leader can be conveyed accurately. An excellent effect can be obtained in that it is possible to reduce costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a transport unit arranged in a developing device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the developing device, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the relationship between the film and the leader. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the transport unit, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V--■ in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the transport mechanism. 12... Developing device, 20.22.24.26.28.30.32... Processing tank, 38... Film, 46... Leader 46. 48... Square hole, 60... Conveying unit, 86... Timing belt, 86C... Engaging protrusion, 90... Ring, 1.32A. 136A. 138Δ ・Circular guide part.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Insert the engagement protrusion of the timing belt wrapped between the upper and lower pulleys into the engagement hole of the leader to which the leading end of the film is connected, and transport the leader from the top to the bottom of the processing tank. The leader conveying mechanism for a developing device is configured to reverse the timing belt toward the top and convey the inside of the processing tank after the timing belt has been loaded, and the engaging protrusion of the timing belt wound around the lower pulley is pulled out from within the engaging hole of the leader. an engagement release means for releasing the engagement between the timing belt and the leader; and a predetermined gap between the outer periphery of the timing belt, which is disposed below the lower pulley and coaxially with the pulley, and is wound around the lower pulley. A leader conveyance mechanism for a developing device, comprising: an arcuate guide means for inverting the leader disengaged from the timing belt by the disengagement means from below to above. (2) The disengagement means is a ring disposed coaxially with the lower pulley and protrudes outward from the rotation locus of the engagement protrusion of the timing belt. Leader conveyance mechanism for developing device. (3) The leader transport mechanism for a developing device according to claim (2), wherein the length of the transport path for guiding the leader of the arcuate guide means is an integral multiple of the pitch between the engaging holes of the leader.