JPH05142736A - Photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent deterioration of processing liquid due to oxidation and to reduce the size of the device by shortening the length of its conveyance path. CONSTITUTION:The upper part of a developing tank 24 is closed with a lid 25 and in the developing tank 24, the conveyance path 23 for the developing tank is extended from one passing opening 23 of the lid 25 of the developing tank 24 where at least a film 16 can pass. The film 16 is freely conveyed forward and backward by couples of conveying rollers 35 and 36 which can be driven forward and reversibly along the developing tank conveyance path 32. When the film 16 is conveyed forward to the lower end of the conveyance path 32, a sensor 34 detects the head end 16A of the film 16 in the forward moving direction and a control means reverses the conveying roller couple 36 according to the output signal of the sensor. Consequently, the film 16 begins to be conveyed backward and then further conveyed to a downstream conveyance path 42 by a V-shaped tool 46.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention, like an automatic processor,
The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing device for developing a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic processor, photosensitive materials such as photographic film (hereinafter referred to as film) and photographic paper are developed, fixed and washed with water while being conveyed along a predetermined conveying path by rotating rollers. Each process of is performed, and then
It is sent to the drying section for drying.

For example, in the film developing process, a developing tank 70 is used as shown in FIG. The opening of the developing tank 70 is closed by a lid 72, and a developing solution 74 is stored inside. The transport path 76 is formed in a U-shape as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in the figure, and the film 80 is formed along the transport path along the passage path 78 at the entrance of the two passage openings formed in the lid 72. After passing through the developing tank 70 and passing through the developing solution 74, the developing tank 70 passes through the outlet passage port 78 of the lid 72.
Guide rollers and the like are arranged so as to go out.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, since the lid 72 is provided with the two passage openings 78 of a size that allows the film 80 to come in and out, the passage of these two passages is performed. There is a drawback that the area where the liquid surface of the developing solution comes into contact with air through the port 78 becomes large. That is, when the ratio of the area where the liquid surface is exposed to the air with respect to the total volume of the developing solution (liquid surface opening ratio) is large, the oxidation of the developing solution is likely to proceed and the developing solution is short. There is a problem that the processing capacity deteriorates due to deterioration over time.

It has been found that the same situation occurs not only in the developing tank but also in the fixing tank.

In the conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus, the film 80 is conveyed along the conveying path 76 in one direction shown by an arrow A in FIG. Becomes longer, the apparatus becomes larger in the transport direction of the film 80, in the left-right direction in the figure, and the number of rollers required for transport increases, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost.
It has been desired to shorten the length of the transport path.

In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive material processing apparatus capable of preventing deterioration due to oxidation of a processing solution, and shortening the length of a conveying path to realize downsizing of the apparatus. And

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a depth at which a photosensitive material can be immersed over its entire length by leaving a single passage opening through which the photosensitive material can pass at a minimum. Transport path extending through the passage opening into the processing tank in which the processing liquid is stored, an advancing / retracting means for advancing / retreating the photosensitive material along the transport path, and a retreating means by the advancing / retreating means. A guide member for guiding the photosensitive material to the downstream side, a detecting means for detecting an end portion of the photosensitive material conveyed on the conveying path, and a driving direction of the advancing / retreating means based on an output signal from the detecting means. The present invention proposes a photosensitive material processing apparatus, characterized in that the photosensitive material processing apparatus is provided with a control means for switching the photosensitive material conveyed on the conveying path from a forward direction to a backward direction.

Further, the present invention proposes a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which the processing tank is at least a developing tank and a fixing tank, and the developing tank and the fixing tank are arranged adjacent to each other. Incidentally, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 1-90042 discloses a device relating to the advancing / retreating means and the control means in the invention of the present application, but this device is for converting the front and back of a photosensitive material and is an object of the present invention. Is essentially different from.

[0010]

With the above structure, first, the photosensitive material is conveyed into the processing tank through the minimum passage opening through which the photosensitive material can pass, and advances. When the photosensitive material reaches the transport position where it should be retracted, the detecting means detects the photosensitive material and outputs an output signal. Based on this output signal, the control means drives the advancing / retreating means to move the photosensitive material from the advancing to the retracting at an appropriate speed, and is conveyed from the inside of the processing tank to the outside of the processing tank through the same passage opening again. The photosensitive material conveyed to the outside of the tank is guided to the downstream side which is the next step by the guide member. As described above, the entire length of the photosensitive material is immersed in the process in the process of advancing and retracting in the processing tank.

Therefore, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention, the liquid surface aperture ratio of the processing liquid is low, and good processing ability is maintained.

Further, even if the length of the conveying path is short, the processing time of the photosensitive material is sufficiently secured, the apparatus is downsized, the handling is easy, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

In particular, when the processing tank is a developing tank and a fixing tank and the developing tank and the fixing tank are arranged adjacent to each other, the progress of oxidation of the developing solution and the fixing solution is suppressed and The size of each tank in the adjoining direction is shortened, and the miniaturization of the entire apparatus is further achieved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an X-ray photographic film automatic developing machine 10 to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to this embodiment is applied.

A film insertion opening 14 is formed in the upper portion of the right wall of the housing 12 of the automatic processor 10, and a sheet-shaped X-ray photographic film (hereinafter referred to as film 16) which is a photosensitive material is formed through the film insertion opening 14. Is inserted into the housing 12 from the tip 16A in the direction of arrow B. The film insertion opening 14 is formed in the housing 12 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
It communicates with the starting point of 8. The transport path 18 is the film 16
By arranging a plurality of conveying roller pairs for sandwiching and a guide plate (not shown) along the conveying direction of the film 16, it is formed between the rollers of the conveying roller pair. A transport roller pair 20 is arranged at the start end of the transport path 18, and the film 16 inserted from the film insertion port 14 is rotated by driving the transport roller pair 20.
Is lowered along the conveyance path 18 and conveyed toward a processing unit 22 described later.

At the top of the housing 12, a processing section 22 is provided.
The processing section 22 is provided with a developing tank 24, a fixing tank 26, and a washing tank 28 in this order from the film insertion port 14 side.

The developing tank 24 is formed in a vertically long shape having a liquid depth capable of being immersed over the entire length of the film 16, and the developing solution 30 is stored therein. A lid 25 is provided above the developing tank 24, and a slit-shaped passage opening 23 having a size that allows the film 16 to pass through to a minimum is formed in the central portion of the lid 25. Developing tank 24
Is closed by a lid 25. The lid 25 has a substantially triangular cross section with the apex near the passage opening 23.
Even if the liquid surface rises or falls slightly, the area exposed to air is kept to a minimum.

A developing tank carrying path 32 forming a part of the carrying path 18 is formed in the up-down direction from the outside of the developing tank 24 to the inside of the developing tank 24 through the passage port 23. That is, the upper end of the transport path 32 is located outside the developing tank 24, and the lower end extends into the developing tank 24.

In the developer tank transport path 32, a pair of transport rollers 35 is arranged at an upper end portion outside the developer tank 24, and a plurality of transport rollers supported by a transport rack 37 are also provided in the developer tank 24. A roller pair 36 is arranged. These conveying roller pairs 35 and 36 can be driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions,
When the film is driven in the forward direction, the film 16 is conveyed downward from the leading end 16A to move forward, and when it is driven in the reverse direction,
The film 16 is conveyed upward from the rear end 16B and retracts, whereby an advancing / retreating means for conveying the film 16 in an advancing / retracting manner is configured. The lid 25 may be attached to the transport rack 37 so that the lid 25 can be removed when the transport rack 37 is removed.

At the lower end of the transport path 32, a sensor 34 constituting a detecting means is provided with a transport rack 37 or a developing tank 24.
It is supported and installed by. The sensor 34 detects the leading end 16A of the film 16 in the forward direction and outputs an output signal. Based on this output signal, the control means (not shown) switches the driving direction of the pair of conveying rollers 35 and 36 to shift from the forward rotation to the reverse rotation, so that the film 16 shifts from the forward movement to the backward movement and the transport path 32. Is transported upwards. In this way, the entire length of the film 16 is immersed in the developer 30 in the process of moving the film 16 forward and backward, and the developing process is performed. The rotation speeds of the transport roller pairs 35 and 36 that are rotated in the forward and reverse directions are variable, and the film 16 may be changed depending on the type of film and the type of development used.
The carrying speed of the can be changed to a desired value. Before and after the time of switching the driving direction of the pair of conveying rollers 35 and 36, the conveying speed may be changed to be low.

An upstream transport path 38 is provided between the transport roller pair 35 and the transport roller pair 20 outside the developing tank 24, and the film 16 from the film insertion port 14 passes through the upstream transport path 38 to be developed. The film 16 guided to the tank 24 and retracted from the developing tank 24 and drawn out is sent from the pair of conveying rollers 35 to the fixing tank 26 side via the downstream side conveying path 42. Upstream transport path 38 and downstream transport path 42
Has a V-shape whose lower end portions intersect with each other and which is connected to the upper end of the developing tank transport path 32. A V-shaped tool 46 that constitutes a guide member is disposed inside the V-shaped apex of the lower ends of the upstream side transport path 38 and the downstream side transport path 42.

The V-shaped tool 46 is fixedly provided in the width direction of the film 16 (the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), and the lower end apex of the V-shaped tool 46 is downstream of the developing tank transport path 32.
It is located so as to be biased toward the upstream transport path 38 side (to the right in the drawing). As a result, the leading end 16A of the film 16 conveyed through the upstream conveying path 38 has the V-shaped tool 4
The trailing edge 16B of the film 16 which is guided by the right slope of 6 toward the transport path 32 and moves forward and backward between the upper and lower ends of the transport path 32 and returns to the upper end thereof is on the left slope of the V-shaped tool 46. It comes into contact with and is guided along the slope, and is directed to the downstream side transport path 42.

The fixing tank 26 is also constructed in the same manner as the developing tank 24, and the film 16 is conveyed back and forth along the fixing tank conveying path 64, while the entire length of the film 16 is fixed. And the fixing process is performed. In addition, the film 16 is fixed to the fixing tank 2 through the V-shaped tool 46.
6 from the upstream side transport path 39 forming a part of the transport path 18 to the fixing tank transport path 64, and from the fixing tank transport path 64 to the downstream side of the fixing tank 26, one of the transport paths 18 is provided. It goes to the downstream side conveyance path 40 which constitutes the section. Upstream transport path 39 and downstream transport path 4
0 is V-shaped like the upstream side transport path 38 and the downstream side transport path 42, and the upstream side transport path 39 and the downstream side transport path 40.
The V-shaped tool 46 is arranged inside the V-shaped apex.

Further, even in the washing tank 28, a lid 25 is provided on the upper portion thereof.
The film 16 has the same structure as the developing tank 24 and the fixing tank 26 except that the film 16 is not provided.
The film 16 is conveyed back and forth along the same time, and during that time, the entire length of the film 16 is immersed in the rinsing water 62 for rinsing treatment. In addition, the film 16 is passed through the V-shaped tool 46,
8 from the upstream side transport path 41 forming a part of the transport path 18 to the washing tank transport path 66, and from the washing tank transport path 66 to the washing tank 28 downstream side of the transport path 18 It goes to the downstream side conveyance path 43 which constitutes the section. Note that the developing tank 24 and the fixing tank 26 are provided with the lids 25 in order to prevent the developer 30 and the fixing solution 60 from being oxidized, whereas the washing tank 28 needs to take such prevention of oxidation into consideration. No, therefore the lid 25
Need not be provided.

Between the processing tanks 24, 26 and 28,
Two pairs of transport rollers 61 are rotatably provided in the transport path 18, that is, between the transport paths 42 and 39 and between the transport paths 40 and 41, whereby the film 16 is transported between the processing tanks. It is supposed to be done.

A squeeze unit 48 is arranged at the upper left of the processing unit 22. There, the film 16 after washing with water
While being conveyed by being bent and lowered by the rotationally driven conveying roller pair 59, the water adhering to the surface of the film 16 is squeezed by the conveying roller pair 59 during the conveying process.

A drying unit 50 is arranged below the squeeze unit 48, and the drying unit 50 is provided with a far-infrared heater 52 and a warm air supply unit 54 located further below the heater 52. The far infrared heater 52 and the warm air supply unit 54 are both
The film 16 is disposed on both sides of the transport path 18 so as to face each other, and in the process in which the film 16 is transported downward by the transport roller pair 63 that is rotationally driven, radiant heat drying by the far infrared heater 52 is followed by warm air. The warm air is dried by the supply unit 54.

A film receiving port 58 is formed at the center of the left wall of the housing 12, and the film receiving port 58 is
The film 1 after drying communicates with the end of the transport path 18.
6 reaches the film receiving port 58 along the transport path 18 and is sent out of the housing 12.

Incidentally, the conveying path 1 such as the pair of conveying rollers 59.
The rollers constituting the respective parts of No. 8 are the conveying roller pairs 35, 3
Similar to 6, the rotation speed is variable, and the transport speed of the film 16 can be selected according to the type of the film 16 and the type of the developing solution 30.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First,
The film 16 is inserted from the film insertion opening 14, and the inserted film 16 is conveyed along the conveying path 18 and the front end portion 16
It is conveyed from A toward the downstream side (direction of arrow B).

The film 16 is transferred to the upstream side transport path 3
8 enters the developer tank transport path 32 through the V-shaped tool 46, is transported into the developer tank 24 through the passage opening 23 of the lid 25, and advances downward. The forward end 16 of the film 16
When A reaches the lower end of the developing tank transport path 32, the sensor 3
4 is activated, the controller reverses the pair of transport rollers 35 and 36 based on the output signal of the sensor 34, and the film 16 is
It moves backward and is conveyed upward. Thus, the film 16
However, it is conveyed so as to reciprocate in both up and down directions indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 1, and development processing is performed.

Next, the film 16 conveyed backwards through the developing tank transport path 32 again passes through the passage port 23 of the lid 25 from the rear end 16B, goes out of the developing tank 24, and goes to the developing tank transport path 3.
The transport is continued from 2 to the downstream transport path 42 via the V-shaped tool 46.

In this way, since the passage opening 23 of the lid 25 through which the film 16 moves in and out of the developing tank 24 along the developing tank transport path 32 is not the minimum necessary opening, and is only one place. The liquid surface opening ratio of the developing solution 30 becomes low, and the progress of air oxidation of the developing solution 30 is significantly suppressed.
Is less likely to deteriorate.

Further, since the speed at which the film 16 advances and retracts is appropriately controlled, the processing time of the film 16 can be sufficiently secured even when the length of the developing tank transport path 32 is short, and further, each processing tank Since the lateral dimension along the adjoining direction can be reduced, the device is downsized, the handling is easy, and the manufacturing cost is also reduced.

Next, also in the fixing tank 26, the opening ratio of the liquid surface of the fixing liquid 30 is reduced, and the fixing tank transport path 64 is provided.
The film 16 serves as a common path for advancing and retreating, and the fixing tank transport path 64 can be shortened, and the same action and effect as the developing tank 24 can be obtained.

Further, in the washing tank 28, the washing tank transport path 6
6 also serves as a common path for the film 16 to move forward and backward, so that the washing tank transport path 66 can be shortened.

Developing tank 24, fixing tank 26 and washing tank 26
Then, the film 16 which has been subjected to the respective processes of developing, fixing and washing with water is then squeezed in the squeeze unit 48, subsequently dried in the drying unit 50, and finally reaches the film receiving port 58.

The film 16 is composed of a pair of conveying rollers 3.
The development time can be changed by increasing or decreasing the rotation speeds of the films 5 and 36 to adjust the transport speed of the film 16, and thus the appropriate development processing according to the type of the film 16 and the like can be performed.

Further, not only the developing tank 26 but also the fixing tank 26
And the washing tank 28, which are adjacent to each other in series, and along which the transport paths 32, 64, 66 are provided.
By adopting a configuration in which the tanks are transported so as to be able to move forward and backward, the size of each tank of the entire apparatus in the adjoining direction is significantly reduced.

The present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sensor 34 that directly detects the film 16 is provided in the processing tank as the detection means, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the film 16 can be moved from the forward position to the backward position. The time required to be conveyed is obtained in advance, and a timer for sending an output signal so as to shift from forward to backward based on the lapse of time after the film 16 has passed a predetermined position is provided with the conveying roller pair 35, 36.
The switching timing of the driving direction may be detected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the guide member is constituted by the fixed V-shaped tool 46, and the apex of the V-shaped tool 46 is (when the V-shaped tool 46 corresponding to the developing tank 24 is described). Although the structure is arranged so as to be biased toward the upstream transport path 38 side with respect to the downstream transport path 42, a guide roller or the like can be applied instead of the V-shaped tool. In addition to this, by providing a movable guide plate or the like, the film 16 from the upstream transport path 38 is guided to the developing tank transport path 32, and the film 16 from the developing tank transport path 32 is transported to the downstream transport path 42. Any structure may be used as long as it provides guidance.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the developing tank transport path 3 is used.
2, the fixing tank transport path 64 and the washing tank transport path 66 are configured to linearly guide the film 16 in the processing tank, but they may be curved guide paths.

[0044]

As described above, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention, deterioration of the processing liquid due to air oxidation can be prevented and the apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a conventional photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 film (photosensitive material) 24 developing tank (processing tank) 26 fixing tank (processing tank) 32 developing tank transport path (transport path) 34 sensor (detecting means) 36 transport roller pair (advancing and retracting means) 64 fixing bath transport path (Transport path)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A processing tank is closed with a single passage opening through which a light-sensitive material can pass at a minimum, and a processing solution having a depth capable of immersing the light-sensitive material over the entire length is stored in the processing tank. A transport path extending through the passage opening, an advancing / retreating means for advancing and retracting the photosensitive material along the transport path, a guide member for guiding the photosensitive material retracted by the advancing / retreating means to a downstream side, Detecting means for detecting an end portion of the photosensitive material conveyed in the conveying path, and switching the driving direction of the advancing / retreating means based on an output signal from the detecting means to move the photosensitive material conveyed in the conveying path from forward to backward. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: 2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing tank is at least a developing tank and a fixing tank, and the developing tank and the fixing tank are arranged adjacent to each other.