JPH04156546A - Drying control unit for automatic developing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control the temperature in a drying chamber in response to the type of a photosensitive material and the environmental humidity merely when it is connected to an existing automatic developing machine by providing a humidity detecting means, a selecting means of the drying control pattern and a temperature control means. CONSTITUTION:When a drying control unit 60 is connected to a control device 56, the control of a heater 50 is stopped. The environmental humidity is detected by a humidity detecting sensor 58, and the drying control pattern in response to the type of a film 13 is selected by the input via a keyboard 13. The drying temperature T2 of the standard drying condition is set by the selected drying control pattern and the environmental humidity detected by the humidity detecting sensor 58. The temperature data (t) detected by a temperature detecting sensor 54 is read, the drying temperature T2 in the standard drying condition and the drying temperature (t) are compared, and the control is determined. An existing automatic developing machine can be used as it is, or the drying temperature in a drying chamber can be controlled in response to the change of the environmental humidity when the drying control unit 60 is connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to processing (e.g., development, fixing, etc.) of exposed photosensitive materials.
The present invention relates to a drying control unit 7 for an automatic developing machine that controls the temperature inside a drying chamber for drying after washing with water.

[Prior Art] A drying device used in the drying chamber of an automatic processor, which is a photosensitive material processing device, has a system that turns on or off a fan and a heater installed in the drying chamber when the automatic processor is turned on. A control device is provided which controls the drying temperature and dries the wet photosensitive material using drying air. When drying photosensitive materials using this drying device, the moisture content of the photosensitive materials (hereinafter referred to as moisture content) varies depending on the type of photosensitive material transported to the drying chamber, so the temperature must always be controlled to a predetermined temperature. If you dry the photosensitive material in a drying room, it may dry too much (overdrying) or not dry enough (
(not dried) may occur.

Furthermore, due to differences in the environmental humidity in the work room in which the automatic processor is placed, the photosensitive material may be in an over-dry state or in an under-dry state.

In particular, the dimensions of photosensitive materials for printing change due to overdrying or underdrying, and even if the photosensitive material after drying is left in the working environment temperature and humidity at the time of exposure, there will be a difference between the dimensions after drying and the dimensions at the time of exposure. , there is a problem that various adverse effects occur.

Therefore, in order to prevent over-drying and under-drying of the photosensitive material and to maintain the dimensions of the photosensitive material after drying to the same dimensions as the dimensions at the time of exposure (hereinafter referred to as 7-dimensional stability), it is necessary to It is necessary to control the drying temperature depending on the environmental humidity.

For this reason, automatic processors have been proposed that are equipped with a drying temperature control device that controls the drying temperature depending on the type of photosensitive material and environmental humidity.

However, there is a problem in that purchasing a new automatic processor like this increases the cost burden.

Inventiveness (Problem to be Solved 2) Taking the above facts into consideration, the present invention provides a drying control unit that can control the temperature inside the drying chamber according to the type of photosensitive material and environmental humidity by simply connecting it to an existing automatic processor. The purpose is to provide

[Means for Solving the Problems] The drying control unit for an automatic developing machine according to claim (1) of the present invention includes a drying means for drying a photosensitive material conveyed into a drying chamber, and a temperature detecting inside the drying chamber. A drying control unit for an automatic developing machine, which is connectable to a drying device for an automatic developing machine, and has a temperature detecting means for detecting temperature, and a control device for controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber to a predetermined target temperature based on the detected temperature. , 7), comprising: a humidity detection means for detecting environmental humidity; a selection means for selecting a drying control pattern according to the type of photosensitive material; It is characterized by comprising a control means for stopping the control of the temperature inside the drying chamber and controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber based on the output signal from the humidity detecting means and the drying control pattern.

Further, the drying control unit for an automatic developing machine according to claim (2) includes a drying means for drying the photosensitive material conveyed into the drying chamber, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the drying chamber, and a drying means for drying the photosensitive material conveyed into the drying chamber. 1. A drying control unit connectable to a drying device for an automatic processor, comprising: a control device for controlling the temperature in a drying chamber to a predetermined target temperature; a humidity detecting means for detecting environmental humidity; a selection means for selecting a drying control pattern according to the type of drying device; and a selection means for selecting a drying control pattern according to the type of drying device; and a switching means for switching from control by the control device based on the drying control pattern to control by the control device based on the output signal from the humidity detection means and the drying control pattern.

[Function] The drying device for an automatic developing machine, when the drying control unit for an automatic developing machine according to claim (1) is not connected, based on the 8 forces from the temperature detection means that detects the temperature inside the drying chamber,
The drying means is controlled so that the temperature reaches a predetermined target temperature, and the photosensitive material that has not been conveyed into the drying chamber is dried.

However, when the drying control unit according to claim (1) is connected, this drying control unit stops the control of the temperature inside the drying chamber by the control device, and outputs an output signal from the humidity detection means for detecting the environmental humidity. Since the temperature inside the drying chamber is controlled based on the drying control pattern depending on the type of photosensitive material, the temperature inside the drying chamber becomes an appropriate drying temperature.

On the other hand, when the drying control unit according to claim (2) is connected, this drying control unit operates the control by the control device as it is, and uses the switching means to convert the target temperature into the output signal from the humidity detection means and the drying control pattern. The temperature in the drying chamber is controlled by the control device to an appropriate drying temperature.

As a result, the photosensitive material to be exposed has a moisture content that is almost in equilibrium with the environmental temperature, and is dried under appropriate drying conditions depending on the type of photosensitive material and environmental humidity, and the dimensions of the photosensitive material after drying are adjusted by the exposure process. The dimensions can be made the same as the original dimensions.

[Example] (Schematic structure of automatic developing machine) FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an automatic developing machine 10, which is a photosensitive material processing machine.

A horizontally arranged photosensitive material insertion table 11 is provided near the entrance 12 of the automatic processor 10, and is configured to insert an exposed photosensitive material, for example, a film 14, from the photosensitive material insertion table 11. has been done.

The film 14 transported into the automatic developing machine 10 from the entrance 12 is guided by guide rollers 16, passes through a developing tank 8, a fixing tank 20, a washing tank 22, and then reaches a drying chamber 24. . Developing tank 18, fixing tank 20 and washing tank 22
A rank 28 constituted by a plurality of guide rollers 26 is housed inside, and the film 14 is immersed from various liquid levels to the bottom by this rack 28, turned over, and guided to the liquid level again. There is.

Also, between the developer tank 18 and the fixing tank 20, and between the fixing tank 20
A guide roller 30 is disposed between the washing tank 22 and the washing tank 22, and the film 14 is guided to the adjacent tank in sequence, and a plurality of roller pairs 32 are arranged between the washing tank 22 and the drying chamber 24. The film 14 is guided to the drying chamber 24. Note that these roller pairs 32 also have the function of squeezing the processing liquid adhering to the film 14.

A plurality of conveyance rollers 34 are arranged in the drying chamber 24 evenly in the vertical direction in FIG. It is being transported. There is a guide plate 3 at the bottom of the drying chamber 24.
6 is arranged so as to turn the film 14 toward the right side wall of the developing machine frame 10A in FIG. It has become.

The drive roller 38 is connected to the drive shaft of a motor 42 via a belt 44, and the motor 42 rotates the drive roller 38. The rollers disposed in the automatic developing machine 10 are connected to the drive roller 38 by a chain or belt (not shown), and are driven to rotate simultaneously.

(Configuration of Drying Room) The drying room 24 has an air intake duct 46 in a part of its partition wall 24A.
and an exhaust duct 48 are attached to communicate with the outside of the automatic processor 10. A heater 50 is installed in the intake duct 46.
A fan 52 is provided, and after the outside air introduced into the intake duct 46 by the fan 52 is heated by the heater 50, this drying air is supplied to the drying chamber 24.

From the exhaust duct 48, the film 14 due to the drying air is removed.
The moist air after the transport roller 34 is dried is discharged to the outside of the automatic developing machine 10.

(Drying Chamber Control Device) A drying air temperature detection sensor 54 is arranged inside the drying chamber 24 to detect the temperature inside the drying chamber 24.

The temperature detected by this temperature detection sensor 54 is input to a control device 56 to control the heating temperature of a heater 50 disposed within the drying chamber 24.

This control device 56 includes CPtJ86, RAM84, RO
The microcomputer 87 includes an M88, a manual port 82, and an output port 8, and an A/D converter 80.

In addition, the control device 56, the heater 50, and the temperature detection sensor 5
4, a connector 62 is provided as an input terminal for inputting external signals to the control device 56.
do.

(drying control unit) The second embodiment will be explained based on FIG.

In the first embodiment, a control unit 60 that detects the humidity in the working environment by a humidity detection sensor 58 and controls the drying temperature of the drying chamber 24 is connected to the control device 5 through a connector 62.
6, the heater 50, and the temperature detection sensor 151c').

As shown in FIG. 2, the drying control unit 60
Microcomputer 7 consisting of U64, RAM66, ROM68, manual port 0, and output port 72
4 and 6 multiplexers 8 on the A/D conversion converter.

, W, the degree detection sensor 58 and the keyboard 13 are connected to the input terminal of the Marusen Brexer 80 to 1, and to the human power port of the My 70 computer 4 via the D/D converter 76 to 1;
connected', J).

The heater 50 is connected to the output port door 2 and is controlled by a microcomputer 74. Note that from the output port door 2, the fli control device 56
When a stop signal is input to the drying control unit 60 and the drying control unit 60 is connected to the control device 56, the control of the heater 50 by the control device 56 is stopped.

Therefore, the temperature of the drying air supplied to the drying chamber 24 is controlled by controlling the heater 50 by the drying control unit 60.

In addition, the drying control pattern corresponding to the type of photosensitive material is
It is stored in OM68. Keyboard 13 is connected to the input side of multiplexer 78.

The keyboard 13 is a means for inputting information indicating the type of photosensitive material.

Here, the temperature of the drying air supplied to the drying chamber 24 is controlled depending on the type of photosensitive material. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between environmental humidity and drying room temperature is used for the drying control pattern.
The temperature inside the drying chamber 24 is controlled based on this drying control pattern and the environmental humidity. Note that this characteristic diagram varies depending on the type of photosensitive material. Here, the temperature of the drying air in the drying chamber 24 will be explained.

The temperature of the drying air supplied to the drying chamber 24-\ is determined by the humidity of the outside air and the drying control pattern selected manually via the keyboard 13.

The drying control pattern selected by input from the keyboard 13 is shown in FIG.

Here) the drying control pattern is the drying room 2.
1, and is a drying temperature setting temperature curve for the film 14. Based on this temperature surface line, the temperature conditions in the drying chamber 24 when drying the film 14, that is, detected by the humidity detection sensor 58, are determined in R○ to -68 of the microcomputer 74, as shown in FIG. Data showing the relationship between the environmental humidity and the temperature inside the drying chamber 24 are shown below.

In Figure 3, the curve is the optimal drying temperature curve, and
By controlling the temperature in the drying chamber 24 based on this curve and drying the film 14, the dimensions of the film 14 after 371% drying are the same as the dimensions at the time of exposure. That is, when the films 1 and 1 are exposed, the moisture content of the film 14 is in equilibrium with the humidity of the outside air (moisture content in the outside air), but the temperature is adjusted so that it reaches the temperature determined from the optimum drying temperature curve 2. By controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber 24, when the water contained in the film 14 is removed through development, fixing, and washing, the environmental humidity (the moisture content in the outside air) and the moisture content of the film 14 can be brought into equilibrium. I can do two things.

This state is defined as the optimal dry state. Curve A is a characteristic diagram obtained from experimental results etc. of this optimum drying state.
By controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber 24 according to this curve, the filter 14 can be brought into an optimal dry state.

A state where the material is dried at a temperature (higher than this curve A) is defined as an under-dried state.

Next, curve B is a minimum drying curve indicating the lowest range in which the film 14 has a water content higher than the environmental humidity and does not adhere when the films 14 are overlapped. That is, when the temperature inside the drying chamber 24 is lower than this curve B, the films 14 will adhere to each other when overlapped, but this state is defined as an undried state.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the temperature in the drying chamber 24 is controlled within a temperature range (defined as a semi-dry region) that is at least above the minimum drying curve B and below the optimum drying curve A.

After drying at a temperature close to the curve line in the above semi-dry region, the moisture content will be slightly higher than during exposure, and the dimensions of the film will expand slightly, but this expansion will occur if left in the working environment. As a result (about 2 minutes to 30 minutes), the moisture content of the film 14 becomes almost in equilibrium with the outside air humidity, and the dimensions become the same as those at the time of exposure.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the curve A1, the set temperature in the drying chamber 24 for the environmental humidity has an upper limit value and a lower limit value that are determined independently of the environmental humidity.

The upper limit of this is 70°C, and the drying room 2
This is because if the temperature inside the drying chamber 4 is increased, the members used in the drying chamber, especially the resin products, may be thermally deformed.

Further, the lower limit value is set to approximately the temperature of the environment.

This is because drying the film 14 at a temperature below the lower limit is essentially cooling it, and it is not possible to set the temperature inside the drying chamber 24 below the temperature of the outside air in the drying section of this embodiment. It is.

Further, there is a permissible range between the optimum drying temperature shown by the curve and the curve α in FIG. 3, which is provided on the over-dry side. Between the curve α and the curve A, the film 14 appears to be a little too dry, and the dimensions of the film 14 have shrunk;
This shrinkage is negligible.

In addition, the range surrounded by the straight line of curve α, curve B, and the lower limit of the drying chamber temperature of approximately 70° C. is defined as standard drying conditions, and within this range, the film 14 adheres to and contains moisture. or the state in which it is contained is defined as the standard dry state.

When the film 14 is dried in a standard dry state, it becomes an optimal dry state after drying, and the dimensions after drying recover to the dimensions at the time of exposure.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The exposed film 14 inserted into the automatic developing machine 10 through the loading port 12 is conveyed by the guide rollers 16 and fed into the developer tank 18, where it is conveyed by the guide rollers 26 and developed. Afterwards, it is inserted into the fixing tank 20 by the guide roller 30. The film 14 inserted into the fixing tank 20 is conveyed into the fixing tank 20 by a guide roller 26 in the fixing tank 20, fixed thereon, and then sent out. The film 14 fed out of the fixing tank 20 is inserted into the washing tank 22 by a guide roller 30 and washed with water, and then squeezed by a pair of rollers 32 and sent into the drying chamber 24 through a transport port 35.

The film 14 sent into the drying chamber 24 is conveyed downward, dried, and after being reversed by the guide 36, is taken out to the film receiving box 40.

A drying control unit 60 is connected via a connector 62 between the control device 56 and the drying chamber 24 (heater, temperature detection sensor). The humidity detection sensor 58 disposed in the drying control unit 60 detects the environmental humidity, and the drying control pattern corresponding to the type of film 14 is selected by input from the keyboard 13, and the drying control unit 60 operates under standard drying conditions. determine an appropriate drying temperature within the drying chamber 24 and control the drying temperature within the drying chamber 24. As a result, the dimensions of the film 14 after drying are restored to the dimensions at the time of exposure.

Next, the control of the control device 56 will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 (Δ).

When the automatic developing machine 10 is turned on, the program starts. In step 100, the fan 52 is turned on. Next, in step 102, the heater 50 is controlled on and off to preheat the inside of the drying chamber 24. Next, in step 104, it is determined whether or not the preheating has been completed, and if the preheating has been completed, the process proceeds to the next step 106.

In step 106, it is determined whether or not the drying control unit 60 is connected by determining whether a stop signal is manually input from the drying control unit 60.

When the stop signal is input, that is, when the drying control unit 60 is connected, the process proceeds to step 118, and the drying needle measuring unit 60 controls the heater 50 instead of the control device 56.

When the stop signal is not input, that is, when the dry control unit 7) 60 is not connected, step 1 is executed.
．． 08-□, advance and read the target temperature T1 stored in the control device 56 in advance.

Next, in step 110, the detected temperature data t from the temperature detection sensor 54 is read, and in step 112, the target temperature T1 is read.
and the drying room temperature t. If T1>t, step 1
Step 14, turn on the heater 50 and proceed to Step 1]8. Also, if it is 1×1, the heater is turned off after 1 sumitsubu and the process proceeds to step 118. If TI=t at Uni, the process directly advances to step 118. In step 118, it is determined whether the drying work of the film 14 has been completed, and when it is determined that the drying work has been completed, the routine ends.

Next, regarding the control of the drying control unit 60, see FIG. 4(B).
The explanation will be given according to the flowchart shown in .

When the drying control unit 60 is connected to the control device 56,
In step 120, a stop signal that stops the control of the heater 50 by the road control device 56 is continuously output. Next, in step]22, the humidity detection sensor 58 detects the automatic developing machine 10.
The environmental humidity at the location where the is installed is detected, and the process moves to step 124. In this step 124, a drying control pattern corresponding to the type of film 13 is selected by inputting from the keyboard 13. Next step 12
Drying control pattern selected in step 5 and humidity detection sensor 58
The drying temperature T2 within the standard drying conditions is set based on the detected environmental temperature.

Next, in step 126, the detected temperature data t from the temperature detection sensor 54 is read, and in step 128, the drying temperature T2 within the standard drying conditions is compared with the drying chamber temperature t. T2>t
If so, step 130 turns on the heater 50 and steps 1
Proceed to step 34. If T2<t, the heater 50 is turned off in step 132 and the process proceeds to step 134. Here T2=
If t, the process directly advances to step 134. Step 134
Then, it is determined whether the drying work of the film 14 has been completed, and when it is determined that the drying work has been completed, this routine ends.

In this way, depending on whether or not the drying control unit 60 is connected to the control device 56, the target temperature T1 is controlled or not.
It is also determined whether the drying temperature T2 within the standard drying conditions is to be controlled. Therefore, the existing automatic developing machine 10 can be used as is, and by connecting the drying control unit 60, the drying temperature in the drying chamber 24 can be controlled in accordance with changes in environmental humidity.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The drying control unit 61 according to the second embodiment is different from the drying control unit 60 according to the first embodiment, as shown in the fifth section.
Similarly, CPU64, R, A M 66, ROM68
, input port door 0. and an output port door 2, and a microchip including an A/D converter 76.

The humidity detection sensor 58 and the keyboard 13 are connected to the manual port door 0 of the microcomputer 74 via the A/D converter 76.

Note that in the second embodiment, the heater 50 is controlled by the control device 5.
It is connected to the output port door 8 of No. 6 and is controlled by a microcomputer 87. Furthermore, the drying temperature T2 within the standard drying conditions is input from the output port door 2 of the drying control unit 61 to the input port 82 of the control device 56, and can be switched to the target temperature T1 stored in the control device 56. ing.

This drying temperature T2 is determined by a signal from the keyboard 13 for inputting information indicating the type of film 14 and a humidity detection sensor 5.
It is set based on the signal from 8.

Therefore, the temperature of the drying air supplied to the drying chamber 24 is controlled by the microcomputer 87 based on the drying temperature T2 output from the drying control unit 60.

Next, the control of the control device 56 will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 (A>).

When preheating is completed through steps 140, 142, and 144, the process proceeds to step 146, where it is determined whether or not a signal indicating the optimum drying temperature T2 has been input.

When the signal of the drying temperature T2 is input, the signal is read, T2 is converted to T, and the process proceeds to step 156. Also, when the signal of the optimum drying temperature T2 is not input,
In step 152, the target temperature T1 is read, and in step 15
At step 4, T1 is converted to T, and the process proceeds to step 156.

Next, in step 156, the detected temperature data t from the temperature detection sensor 54 is read, and in step 158, the temperature T and the drying chamber temperature t are compared. If T>t, the heater 50 is turned on in step 160 and the process proceeds to step 164. If T<t, step 162 turns off the heater and step 16
Proceed to step 4. Here, if T=t, the process directly advances to step 164.

In step 164, it is determined whether the drying operation of the film 14 has been completed, and when it is determined that the drying operation has been completed, this routine ends.

Next, the drying control unit 61 is controlled as shown in FIG.
) will be explained according to the flowchart shown in .

When the drying control unit 61 is connected to the control device 56,
At step 170, the environmental humidity is detected, and based on the detected environmental humidity, a drying control pattern corresponding to the information indicating the type of film 14 input via the keyboard 13 at step 172 is selected. Next, based on the drying control pattern selected in step 73 and the environmental humidity detected by the humidity detection sensor 58, the drying humidity T2 within the standard drying conditions is set. Then step 174
In step 1, the drying temperature T2 is output to the control device 56.
．． Return to 70.

In this manner, in the second embodiment, the drying control unit 61 outputs only the drying temperature T2, and the microcomputer 87 controls the drying temperature based on the output signal.

In this embodiment, the drying control pattern is selected based on manual information from the keyboard 13, but the type of photosensitive material inserted into the automatic processor 10 is detected by a detection device, and the drying control pattern is selected based on this detected information. A control pattern may be selected. In addition, in the example, a drying control pattern is selected depending on the type of photosensitive material,
The drying temperature is set based on the selected drying control pattern, but various drying control units are created that store only one drying control pattern corresponding to a specific photosensitive material, and the drying temperature is set based on the selected drying control pattern. Alternatively, the drying temperature may be set by replacing the drying control unit.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the drying control unit according to the present invention has the following effects:
Since the temperature inside the drying section can be controlled according to the environmental humidity simply by connecting to an existing automatic processor, there is no need to improve the control device of the existing automatic processor. Furthermore, by removing the drying control unit, the existing automatic processor control device can be used as is.

Furthermore, by connecting the drying control unit to an existing automatic processor, even if the type of photosensitive material is different, the dimensions of the photosensitive material after drying can be restored to the same dimensions as the dimensions at the time of exposure. That is, since the photosensitive material can be dried at appropriate temperature and humidity, it does not lose its ability to expand and contract (elasticity), and the excellent effect that the dimensions after drying can be the same as those at the time of exposure can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic developing machine according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing working environment humidity and A characteristic diagram showing the relationship with the temperature of the drying chamber, FIG. 4 is a control flowchart according to the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a control block diagram according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a control diagram according to the second embodiment. It is a flowchart. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Automatic developing machine, 13... Keyboard (selection means), 14... Film (photosensitive material), 50... Heater (drying means), 52... Fan (drying means), 54. ...Temperature detection sensor (temperature detection means), 74.8
7...Control device (control means), 58...Humidity detection sensor (humidity detection means), 60.61...Drying control unit, 62...Connector.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A drying means for drying the photosensitive material transported into the drying chamber, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature inside the drying chamber, and controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber to a predetermined target temperature based on the detected temperature. A drying control unit for an automatic processor that can be connected to a drying device for an automatic processor, the unit comprising: a control device for detecting environmental humidity; selection means for stopping the control of the temperature inside the drying chamber by the control device when connected to the drying device for an automatic processor, and controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber based on the output signal from the humidity detection means and the drying control pattern; A drying control unit for an automatic developing machine, comprising a control means for controlling the temperature of the machine. (2) A drying means for drying the photosensitive material transported into the drying chamber, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature inside the drying chamber, and controlling the temperature inside the drying chamber to a predetermined target temperature based on the detected temperature. A drying control unit connectable to a drying device for an automatic processor, comprising: a humidity detection means for detecting environmental humidity; and a selection means for selecting a drying control pattern according to the type of photosensitive material. , when connected to a drying device for an automatic developing machine, the temperature control in the drying chamber is controlled by the control device based on a detection result by a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the drying chamber, and from the humidity detection means. A drying control unit for an automatic developing machine, comprising: switching means for switching to control by the control device based on the output signal of the controller and the drying control pattern.