JPH03177838A - Photosensitive material squeezing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely absorb even a very small amount of treating liquid by supplying a very small amount of water to the surface of a photosensitive material, and permitting an absorbent roller to absorb treating liquid stuck to the surface of the photosensitive material, together with the supplied water immediately after that. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive material squeezing device, which removes treating liquid from the photosensitive material 12 after it is steeped in the treating liquids 4, 6 and 8, is provided with the water absorbent rollers 52 and 106 brought into contact with the photosensitive material 12, with means 110 and 112 for supplying a very small amount of water to the photosensitive material 12 immediately before the water-absorbent rollers 52 and 106 are brought into contact with the material 12, and with means 102, 104, and 108 for absorbing and removing water which is absorbed with the absorbent roller 106. A small amount of water is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive material 12; immediately after that, treating liquid stuck to the surface of the photosensitive material 12 is absorbed into the absorbent roller 106 together with the supplied water. Thus, the treating liquid stuck to the surface of the photosensitive material can securely be removed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a photosensitive material in which the exposed photosensitive material is immersed in a processing solution, and after processing such as development is performed, the processing solution is removed from the photosensitive material. Relating to a squeeze device.

[Conventional technology]

As a photosensitive material processing apparatus, there is an apparatus that performs processing such as development, bleaching, fixing, bleach-fixing, washing, stabilizing, drying, etc. on a photosensitive material after exposure to form an image on the photosensitive material. In the above processing, for example, the photosensitive material after exposure is immersed in each processing liquid while being transported, so the photosensitive material on which an image is formed is swollen, and the processing liquid adheres to the surface of the photosensitive material. There is.

If the photosensitive material is transported into the processing solution for the next process with the processing liquid attached to the surface of the photosensitive material, the processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material will mix into the processing solution for the next process, causing the components of the processing liquid for the next process to be mixed. Otherwise, the specified processing will not be performed. Furthermore, if the photosensitive material is dried with the processing liquid still attached to the surface of the photosensitive material, a long drying time is required, and furthermore, evaporation traces of the processing liquid remain on the surface of the photosensitive material, resulting in a decrease in image quality on the photosensitive material.

Therefore, a method is adopted in which the processing liquid is removed from the surface of the photosensitive material using a squeeze device while the photosensitive material is transported to the next step at -11G.

Squeezing devices include, for example, a structure in which a water-absorbing roller made of a sponge or the like is brought into contact with the photosensitive material to absorb the processing liquid from the surface of the photosensitive material, or a roller with a large number of holes is brought into contact with the photosensitive material to squeeze out the air inside the roller. There is a structure in which the processing liquid on the surface of the photosensitive material is sucked through holes in the roller.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the structure in which the water-absorbing roller absorbs water on the surface of the photosensitive material, there is a limit to the water-absorbing ability of the water-absorbing roller, and when the amount of water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller is saturated, the water on the surface of the photosensitive material cannot be absorbed. Further, the structure in which the moisture on the surface of the photosensitive material is sucked by the suction roller cannot reliably suck the moisture if the amount of moisture adhering to the surface is small.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a photosensitive material squeezing device that can reliably remove processing liquid adhering to the surface of a photosensitive material.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The above object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material squeeze device that removes processing liquid from a photosensitive material after being immersed in a processing liquid. This is achieved by a photosensitive material squeezing device having means for supplying a small amount of water to the photosensitive material immediately before contact with the absorbent roller, and means for suctioning and removing moisture absorbed by the absorbent roller.

That is, a small amount of water is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive material, and immediately after that, the water-absorbing roller absorbs the processing liquid that has adhered to the surface of the photosensitive material along with the supplied water, so that a small amount of processing liquid is applied to the surface of the photosensitive material. Even if it is attached, it can be reliably absorbed. Moreover, since the water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller is sucked by the suction means, the amount of water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller does not become saturated, and good water absorption can be maintained.

In addition, the processing liquid that has adhered to the photosensitive material is diluted before being absorbed, so even if moisture remains on the surface of the photosensitive material after contact with the water-absorbing roller, the remaining moisture is less contaminated and has a lower concentration. Therefore, even if this water gets mixed into the processing solution in the next step, there will be little adverse effect.

In photosensitive materials, more processing liquid adheres to the emulsion surface than to the support surface, so the water-absorbing roller is provided at least in contact with the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material. It is preferable that they be provided in contact with each other.

As means for supplying water to the photosensitive material, a dropping device, a spraying device, a spraying device, a coating device, etc. can be used, and the supply amount is adjusted to such an extent that the supplied water does not run off from the photosensitive material.

The water-absorbing roller is a porous sponge that has a water-absorbing function.
It can be formed from foamable resin or the like.

As the suction means, there is a structure in which a hollow cylindrical porous roller is provided inside a water-absorbing roller and the air inside the roller is sucked by a suction pump or the like. Alternatively, the treatment liquid may be sucked from the surface of the water-absorbing roller.

The processing method of the photosensitive material in the present invention is not limited as long as it requires a step of immersing it in a processing solution and then washing it with water. The type of photosensitive material used in the present invention may be a negative photosensitive material, a positive photosensitive material, or a direct positive photosensitive material, such as a silver salt photographic film,
There are silver halide photographic paper, X-ray film, etc.

[Embodiment]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a silver halide photographic color paper processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. This processing apparatus develops, bleach-fixes, washes, and then dries web-like color paper that has been exposed to light based on a positive original to form an image on the color paper.

The processing device main body 2 includes a developing tank 4, a bleach-fixing tank 6, and a washing tank 8.
, and a drying section 10 are successively provided, and the exposed color paper (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive material) 12 is dried in the drying section 10 after development, bleach-fixing, and washing with water, and is carried out from the main body 2.

The developer tank 4 and the bleach-fix tank 6 each have a floating lid 14 to minimize the contact area between the developer and bleach-fix solution in the tank and the outside air.
It is equipped with The floating lid 14 is formed with a passage 16 through which the photosensitive material 12 is inserted, and this passage is opened and closed as appropriate by a liquid level shutter 18. Figure 1 shows
The carrying-in passage of the developing tank 4 and the carrying-out passage from the bleach-fixing tank 6 are closed by the shutter 18, and the carrying-in passage of the developing tank 4 and the carrying-in passage of the bleach-fixing tank 6 are open.

Further, below the developer tank 4 and the bleach-fix tank 6, a developer tank 4 is provided.
Tanks 20 and 22 are provided in the bleach-fix tank 6 for replenishing the developer replenisher and the bleach-fix replenisher, respectively. The replenishment liquid in the tank 20.22 is pumped through the pump 24.26.
The developing tank 4 and bleach-fixing tank 6 are replenished as appropriate through piping 28 and 30.

The developer tank 4 and the bleach-fix tank 6 are provided with a pair of transport rollers 32 for immersing the photosensitive material 12 in the developer solution and the bleach-fix solution and nipping and transporting the photosensitive material 12.

Also, between the developer tank 4 and the bleach-fix tank 6, and between the bleach-fix tank 6
A squeeze roller 100 for removing processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material 12 is disposed between the washing tank 8 and the washing tank 8 .

Two washing tanks 8 are arranged, and overflow water from the rear tank is supplied to the front tank.

The washing tank 8 is provided with a pair of transport rollers 36 for immersing the photosensitive material 12 in the washing water and nipping and transporting the photosensitive material 12.

Further, below the washing tank 8, a tank 38 is provided for replenishing the latter tank with washing water. The replenisher in the tank 38 is replenished into the last stage tank by the pump 40 and piping 42, and is also supplied to the transport rollers 32, 36 to clean the peripheral surfaces of the transport rollers 32, 36.

The photosensitive material 1 is placed near the photosensitive material entrance 48 of the drying section 10.
A heating roller 50 in contact with the second support and a water-absorbing roller 52 in contact with the emulsion surface are arranged. Further, downstream of the water-absorbing roller 52 and the heating roller 50, conveyance rollers 54 and 56 for conveying the photosensitive material 12 are provided. Further, the drying section 10 is provided with a photosensitive material 12 from between adjacent rollers.
A duct 58 is provided for supplying hot air to the emulsion surface.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a squeeze roller 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is disposed between the developer tank 4 and the bleach-fix tank 6 and between the bleach-fix tank 6 and the washing tank 8. Note that the present squeeze roller 100 can also be provided between the washing tank 8 and the drying section 10 if necessary.

The squeeze roller 100 is disposed so as to come into contact with the emulsion surface (lower side in the figure) and the support surface (upper side in the figure) of the photosensitive material 12, so that the processing liquid that adheres to the photosensitive material carried out from the processing liquid in the front tank remove.

The squeeze roller 100 has a hole 1 facing the photosensitive material 12.
A water-absorbing roller 106 made of a water-absorbing material such as sponge is rotatably provided on the circumferential surface of a pipe 102 having a diameter 04, and the pipe 102 is connected to a suction pump 108.

The pipe 102 is made of sintered ceramics, plastic resin, etc., and the holes 104 are uniformly distributed across the width of the photosensitive material 12.

The shape of the hole 104 is not particularly limited, and may be a slit or a circular hole along the axial or circumferential direction. Also pipe 10
2 is configured to be airtight except for the connection portion with the hole 104 and the suction pump 108, and water adhering to the photosensitive material 12 is suctioned through the water-absorbing roller 106 by the suction of the suction pump 10B.

The pipe 102 is fixed at a position where the hole 104 faces the photosensitive material 12, and the water absorbing roller 106 is rotationally driven in the photosensitive material conveyance direction by a driving means (not shown).

On the other hand, the squeeze roller lOO
A nozzle 110 for supplying water a to the photosensitive material 12 is provided on the upstream side of the photosensitive material 12 . The nozzle 110 is connected to an injection pump 112 that injects water contained in a washing water replenishment tank or the like toward the photosensitive material 12 little by little.

When the photosensitive material 12 discharged from the processing liquid in the front tank is conveyed toward the squeeze roller 100, a small amount of water a is sprayed onto the photosensitive material 12 from the nozzle 110 just before the photosensitive material 12 is pinched by the squeeze roller 100. Supplied. When the photosensitive material 12 is pinched and conveyed by the conveyance rollers 32 located above the front tank, some of the processing liquid adhering to the material 12 is removed, but droplets of the processing liquid still remain. Since water a is supplied just before reaching the roller 100, the photosensitive material 1
The moisture adhering to 2 increases temporarily. Photosensitive material 1'41
2 is then held between squeeze rollers 100, and the water-absorbing roller 106 comes into contact with the photosensitive material 12, so that the water adhering to the photosensitive material 12 is absorbed by the water-absorbing roller 106. The water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller 106 is sucked into the pipe 102 through the hole 104 by suction by the suction pump 108, and is further discharged to the outside of the pipe 102. pipe 1
The water discharged from 02 may be discarded or may be recovered into the processing liquid in the front tank. Here, by setting the amount of water a supplied by the injection pump 112 and the amount of water sucked by the suction pump 10B to be approximately equal, the amount of water absorbed by the water absorbing roller 106 (swelling M) can be saturated. The water absorption function can be maintained constant.

The amount of water a supplied to the photosensitive material 12 is preferably an amount that continues to adhere to the photosensitive material 12 together with the processing liquid that has adhered in advance, and is set in consideration of the adhesion between the photosensitive material 12 and the processing liquid.

Since the processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material 12 is sucked together with the supplied water a through the water-absorbing roller 106 and the pipe 102, even if the adhering processing liquid is a small amount,
It can be suctioned well together with the supply water.

In this embodiment, a squeeze roller 100 is provided which contacts both sides of the photosensitive material 12.
Simply providing the squeeze roller 100 in contact with the emulsion surface of photosensitive material 12 is effective, and almost all of the processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material 12 can be removed.

Further, although this embodiment has a configuration in which water is sprayed onto the photosensitive material 12, water may be supplied by spraying or coating, or water may be supplied dropwise onto the upper surface of the photosensitive material 12.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a small amount of water a is supplied to the photosensitive material 12 immediately before it comes into contact with the squeeze roller 100;
A nozzle 110 is provided at the position shown by the dotted line, and a small amount of water a is supplied to the upstream portion of the water-absorbent roller 106 in contact with the photosensitive material 12, so that the swollen water-absorbent roller 106 absorbs the photosensitive material 1.
The structure may be such that the processing liquid adhering to the substrate 2 is absorbed.

Before contacting the squeeze roller 100, the photosensitive material 12 has a processing liquid attached to its surface, especially the emulsion surface.
00, the adhering treatment liquid is removed together with the supply water a. Furthermore, even if moisture adheres to the photosensitive material 12 after contact with the squeeze roller 100, this moisture is the processing liquid diluted with the supplied water a.
The concentration is lower than the treatment that was attached before contact, and there is also less dirt. Therefore, even if moisture adhering to the photosensitive material 12 after contacting the squeeze roller 100 is mixed into the processing liquid for the next step, the function of the processing liquid for the next step is hardly reduced.

FIG. 3 shows a squeeze roller 1 which is another embodiment of the present invention.
01 is a configuration diagram.

This squeeze roller 101 is a modification of the squeeze roller 100 shown in FIG.
04 is formed, and the inside of the pipe 102 is connected to a water supply chamber 114.
A separator 118 is provided to divide the drain chamber into two parts. And the pipe 102 is a water-absorbing roller 106
The position of the separator 118 relative to the photosensitive material 12 is fixed. An end of a water supply pipe 120 connected to the water supply pump 112 is open to the water supply chamber 114, and an end of a drain pipe 122 connected to the suction pump 108 is open to the drain chamber 116.

Water is supplied to the water supply chamber 114 by a water supply pump 112 and a water supply pipe 120, and the water in the water supply chamber 114 is further supplied to the water supply chamber 114 through a pipe 1.
The water is supplied to the water-absorbing roller 106 through the hole 104 of No. 02.

Then, the water-absorbing roller 106 is in a swollen state.
It borders on 2. The air in the drainage chamber 116 is removed by the suction pump 10B.
The processing liquid adhering to the photosensitive material 12 is sucked together with the water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller 106.

In the above two embodiments, the water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller 106 is removed by suction from inside the water-absorbing roller 106. A structure may be adopted in which moisture is sucked and removed from the outside of the roller 106.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by supplying a small amount of water to the surface of the photosensitive material,
Immediately thereafter, the water-absorbing roller absorbs the processing liquid adhering to the surface of the photosensitive material together with the supplied water, so even if a small amount of processing liquid adheres to the surface of the photosensitive material, it can be reliably absorbed. Moreover, since the water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller is sucked by the suction means, the amount of water absorbed by the water-absorbing roller does not become saturated, and good water absorption can be maintained.

In addition, the processing liquid that adhered to the photosensitive material before water absorption is diluted before being absorbed, so even if water remains on the surface of the photosensitive material after contact with the water-absorbing roller, the remaining water will be removed with less dirt and less water. Since the concentration is high, even if this water gets mixed into the processing solution in the next step, there will be little adverse effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus having an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams of a squeeze roller. Codes in the figure: 2--Main body 4--Developing tank 6--Bleach-fixing tank 8-Washing tank 10-Drying section 12
- Photosensitive material 32, 36 - Conveyance roller 48 - Inlet 50 - Heating roller 52 - Water absorbing roller 54, 56 - Conveyance roller 58 - Duct 60 - Outlet 100 - · ·
- Squeeze roller 102 - Pipe 104 - Hole 106 - Water absorbing roller 10B - Suction pump 110 - Nozzle 112 - Injection pump 114 -
- Water supply chamber 116 - Drainage chamber 118 - Separator 120 - Water supply pipe 122 - Drainage pipe

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a photosensitive material squeeze device for removing a processing liquid from a photosensitive material after being immersed in a processing liquid, a water-absorbing roller in contact with the photosensitive material and means for supplying a small amount of water to the photosensitive material immediately before contact with the water-absorbing roller; A photosensitive material squeezing device having means for suctioning and removing moisture absorbed by a water-absorbing roller.