JPH06194811A - Processing solution feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate exchange of a cartridge for feeding a solution for replenishing a processing solution into a bath for processing a photosensitive material. CONSTITUTION:The cartridge 66 are placed on a stock tank 56 and the upper end of a guide pipe 62 is inserted into a liquid bottle 74. Since the open air enters the bottle 74 only through the guide pipe 62, the replenishing solution remains at the level of the lower end of the pipe 62 (height H) after most of it flows down to the stock tank 56, and sucked off with a pump 96 and transferred into the development processing bath.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing liquid supply device for supplying a replenishing processing liquid to a photosensitive material processing tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a photosensitive material such as a film or photographic paper is exposed and then developed, these photosensitive materials are sequentially inserted into a series of processing tanks for development processing.

The processing solution in each of these developing tanks adheres to the photosensitive material and is carried out as the developing work progresses.
Since developing ability is deteriorated by fatigue, it is necessary to replenish the processing solution little by little.

In general, this replenishment treatment liquid has a constitution in which water is added to a concentrated liquid, a replenishment liquid prepared separately is filled in a replenishment tank, and the replenishment tank is taken out little by little into a treatment tank by using a pump or the like. It is used. However, the work of preparing the replenisher solution and filling it into the supply tank is complicated, and there were cases where the replenisher solution was prepared by making a mistake in the preparation method, so it is necessary to use the supply tank filled with the prepared treatment liquid. The cartridge type supply device is used in which the processing tank is replaced with the supply tank, and the processing solution is taken out little by little from the supply tank by a pump or the like and sent to the processing tank (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-55,562).
No.).

However, in this cartridge type supply device, when a used cartridge is taken out, a new cartridge is installed and a suction pipe is inserted, a special structure is provided so that the treatment liquid remaining in the insertion pipe is not scattered on the floor. Since it is necessary or has a pump suction structure, it may cause suction failure by the pump.

Further, in the case of a supply device having a structure in which careless liquid leakage does not occur when the cartridge is replaced, it is complicated to take out the processing liquid from the cartridge, or a special operation is required. (See Jitsukai Sho 53-108,335).

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention installs a cartridge filled with a replenishing treatment liquid by an easy operation and eliminates the possibility that the treatment liquid will be scattered when the cartridge is replaced. The purpose is to obtain a liquid supply device.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a processing liquid supply apparatus for supplying a replenishing processing liquid to a photosensitive material processing tank, wherein the upper part is opened and the internal processing liquid is A stock tank that is supplied to the processing tank, a cartridge that is removably mounted on the upper part of the stock tank, and a cartridge that is erected in the stock tank and has upper and lower ends opened and the upper end is airtight with the cartridge. Guide means for communicating the processing liquid in the cartridge to the lower end level by its own weight.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is a processing liquid supply apparatus for supplying a replenishing processing liquid to a photosensitive material processing tank, the upper part of which is opened so that the internal processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank. A stock tank, a cartridge that is removably mounted on the top of the stock tank, and is erected upright inside the stock tank, and is inserted into the cartridge in an airtight manner by the mounting operation of the stock tank. A guide tube for supplying the processing liquid in the interior to its lower end by its own weight, a sensor provided on the guide tube for detecting the presence or absence of the processing liquid in the guide tube, and a control means for judging the cartridge replacement timing based on the detection signal of this sensor. Is characterized by having.

[0010]

In the invention of claim 1 according to the present application, when the cartridge filled with the replenishing treatment liquid is installed in the upper part of the stock tank, the guide means is air-tightly communicated with the cartridge so that the treatment liquid in the cartridge serves as the guide means. The processing liquid falls to the lower end level due to its own weight. When the replenishment processing liquid level in the stock tank reaches the lower end of the guiding means, the processing liquid level is maintained at that level by the atmospheric pressure acting on this liquid level. When the amount of supplementary treatment liquid is supplied from the stock tank to the treatment tank and the amount of supplementary treatment liquid in the stock tank decreases, the treatment liquid is sequentially supplied from the cartridge to the stock tank through the guide means. The amount of replenishment processing liquid is always kept constant.

When the cartridge is placed on the stock tank, the cartridge corresponds to the upper end of the guide tube, and the upper end of the guide tube is hermetically inserted into the cartridge. The guide tube penetrating portion of this cartridge uses an elastic body or other sealing material that maintains an airtight state even when the guide tube penetrates. The processing liquid in the cartridge falls through the guide tube into the stock tank by its own weight. When the liquid level of the processing liquid in the stock tank reaches the lower end of the guide tube, the liquid level is maintained at the lower end height of the guide tube by the atmospheric pressure acting in the stock tank. When the replenishment processing liquid in the stock tank is taken out to the processing tank and decreases, the processing liquid in the cartridge drops into the stock tank through the guide pipe, so the liquid level in the stock tank is the height of the lower end face of the guide pipe. Always maintained. After all the processing liquid in the cartridge is supplied into the stock tank, the sensor provided in the guide tube detects this and the control means determines that there is no processing liquid in the cartridge.
Therefore, the control means can judge the replacement time of the cartridge, and prompts the operator to replace the cartridge by an alarm means or the like.

The instruction timing for replacing the cartridge is
The sensor provided in the guide tube may operate and give an instruction immediately, but it is preferable to display a buzzer sound or display when the work is finished or started or when the drive of the equipment is stopped for a certain period of time or more. The method of instructing is preferred.
By doing so, the cartridge can be replaced without interrupting the developing work or the printing work.

As a further preferred embodiment, a second liquid level sensor can be provided near the bottom surface of the stock tank.

This is to instruct that the cartridge should be used as it is without being replaced for some reason, and that it should be replaced immediately before the stock tank liquid becomes empty. It is possible to avoid running out of liquid and lack of replenishment.

If necessary, floating means may be provided in the stock tank, which floats on the liquid surface of the replenisher to reduce the contact area between the replenisher and air. As a result, deterioration of the replenisher due to oxidation can be reduced. Particularly, it is preferably used for a developing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, and a fixing solution. As a specific floating means, a floating ball or a floating plate can be used, and the opening ratio (opening area cm
² / liquid volume cm ³ ) is 0.05 or less, preferably 0.02 or less is the most preferable embodiment.

Material of the cartridge used in the present invention
Uses any material such as paper, plastic, metal
It has an oxygen permeability of 50 ml.
/ (M² ・ Plastic materials below atm ・ day) are preferred
Good

The oxygen transmission coefficient is "O ₂ permeation of plastic container, modern
Packing "(O ₂ permeation of p
plastic container, Modern P
acking; N. J. Calyan, 1968) 1
It can be measured by the method described in February issue, pages 143-145.

Specific preferred plastic materials include vinylidene chloride (PVDC) and nylon (N
Y), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (P
P), polyester (PES), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL), polyacrylonitrile (PAN),
Examples thereof include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In the present invention, PVDC, NY, PE, EVA, EVAL and PE are used for the purpose of reducing oxygen permeability.
The use of T is preferred.

These materials may be used singly and shaped, or a method of forming a film and laminating a plurality of kinds (so-called composite film) may be used. Further, as the shape of the container, various types such as bottle type, cubic type, pillow type and the like can be used, but the present invention is a cubic type which is flexible and easy to handle and can be reduced in volume after use and Structures similar to are particularly preferred.

When used as a composite film, the structures shown below are particularly preferable, but not limited thereto.

PE / EVAL / PE PE / aluminum foil / PE NY / PE / NY NY / PE / EVAL PE / NY / PE / EVAL / PE PE / NY / PE / PE / PE / NY / PE ・ PE / SiO ₂ film / PE ・ PE / PVDC / PE ・ PE / NY / aluminum foil / PE ・ PE / PP / aluminum foil / PE ・ NY / PE / PVDC / NY ・ NY / EVAL / PE / EVAL / NY ・ NY / PE / EVAL / NY ・ NY / PE / PVDC / NY / EVAL / PE ・ PP / EVAL / PE ・ PP / EVAL / PP ・ NY / EVAL / PE ・ NY / Aluminum foil / PE ・ Paper / Aluminum foil / PE ・ Paper / PE / Aluminum foil / PE ・ PE / PVDC / NY / PE ・ NY / PE / Aluminum foil / PE ・ PET EVAL / PE · PET / aluminum foil / PE · PET / aluminum foil / PET / PE above thickness of the composite film is about 5 to 1500 microns, preferably about 10 to 1000 microns.

The content of the finished container is 100 ml to 20 liter, preferably 500 ml to
It is about 10 liters.

The container (cartridge) may have a cardboard or a plastic outer box, or may be formed integrally with the outer box.

Various treatment liquids can be filled in the cartridge of the present invention. For example, a color developing solution, a black and white developing solution, a bleaching solution, an adjusting solution, a reversing solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, a stabilizing solution and the like can be mentioned, but especially for a cartridge having a low oxygen permeability coefficient, a color developing solution, a black and white developing solution. It is preferred to use solutions, fixers and bleach-fixers.

Various treatment liquids can be applied to the present invention. The color developing solution is preferably an alkaline aqueous solution containing an aromatic primary amine type color developing agent as a main component. As the color developing agent, aminophenol compounds are also useful, but p-phenylenediamine compounds are preferably used, and typical examples thereof include 3-methyl-4-amino-N, N-diethylaniline and 4- Amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline,
3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methoxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-δ-hydroxybutylaniline and their sulfates, hydrochlorides or p- Toluene sulfonate may be mentioned. Two or more kinds of these compounds may be used in combination depending on the purpose.

The color developer is an alkali metal carbonate,
It generally contains a pH buffering agent such as borate or phosphate, a bromide salt, an iodide salt, a development control agent such as a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole or a mercapto compound, or an antifoggant. is there. If necessary, various preservatives such as hydroxylamine, N, N-di (sulfoethyl) hydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine, sulfite, hydrazines, phenylsemicarbazides, triethanolamine, catecholdisulfonic acids, ethylene glycol, etc. , Organic solvents such as diethylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, development accelerators such as amines, dye-forming couplers, competitive couplers,
Fogging agent such as sodium boron hydride, 1
An auxiliary developing agent such as -phenyl-3-pyrazolidone,
Various chelating agents represented by viscosity imparting agents, aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminopolyphosphonic acids, alkylphosphonic acids, phosphonocarboxylic acids, for example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid. , Hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo-N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N ', N'-tetramethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine (O-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and their salts can be mentioned as representative examples.

The pH of these color developers is generally 9-12. The replenishment amount of these developers depends on the color photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, but is generally 1 liter or less per 1 square meter of the light-sensitive material, and is reduced to 300 ml or less by reducing the bromide ion concentration in the replenisher. You can also do it. Preferably from 30 ml
150 ml / m ² . When the replenishment amount is reduced, it is preferable to prevent the liquid evaporation and air oxidation by reducing the contact area of the treatment tank with the air. Further, the amount of replenishment can be reduced by using means for suppressing the accumulation of bromide ions in the developing solution.

The photographic emulsion layer after color development is usually bleached. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process (bleach-fixing process), or may be performed individually. Further, in order to speed up the processing, a processing method of bleach-fixing processing after bleaching processing may be used. Further, treatment with two continuous bleach-fixing baths, fixing treatment before the bleach-fixing treatment, or bleaching treatment after the bleach-fixing treatment can be optionally carried out according to the purpose. Examples of bleaching agents include iron (III) and cobalt (II
Compounds of polyvalent metals such as I), chromium (VI), and copper (II), peracids, quinones, nitro compounds and the like are used. A typical bleaching agent is ferricyanide: dichromate: iron (II
Organic complex salts of I) or cobalt (III), such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,3
-Aminopolycarboxylic acids such as diaminopropane tetraacetic acid and glycol ether diamine tetraacetic acid, or complex salts such as citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid: persulfate: bromate: permanganate: nitrobenzene it can. Of these, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (I
II) Aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts such as complex acids and persulfates are preferable from the viewpoint of rapid treatment and prevention of environmental pollution. Further, the aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salt is particularly useful in both the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution.
The pH of the bleaching solution or bleach-fixing solution using these aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts is usually 4.5 to 8,
It is also possible to process at a lower pH for speeding up the process.

If necessary, a bleaching accelerator can be used in the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and their pre-bath.
Specific examples of useful bleaching accelerators are described in the following specifications: US Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent 1,290,812, JP-A-53-95630, Research. Disclosure No. 17129 (19
Compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide bond described in, for example, July 1978); thiazolidine derivatives described in JP-A No. 50-140129; US Pat.
The thiourea derivative described in Japanese Patent No. 561;
35, iodide salt; West German Patent 2,748,43
Polyoxyethylene compounds described in No. 0; JP-B-45
A polyamine compound described in -8836; bromide ion or the like can be used. Among them, a compound having a mercapto group or a disulfide group is preferable from the viewpoint of a large accelerating effect, and particularly described in US Pat. No. 3,893,858, West German Patent No. 1,290,812, and JP-A-53-95630. Compounds are preferred. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,
The compounds described in No. 834 are also preferable. These bleaching accelerators may be added to the light-sensitive material. These bleaching accelerators are particularly effective when bleach-fixing a color light-sensitive material for photography.

Examples of the fixing agent include thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas, and a large amount of iodide salts, but the use of thiosulfates is common, especially ammonium thiosulfate. Is the most widely used. As a preservative for the bleach-fix solution, sulfite, bisulfite, benzenesulfinic acid or carbonyl bisulfite adduct is preferable.

Further, after the desilvering treatment, washing and / or stabilizing steps are generally carried out. The amount of rinsing water in the rinsing step depends on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material (for example, depending on the material used such as couplers), application, and further the rinsing water temperature, the number of rinsing tanks (the number of stages),
It can be set in a wide range depending on a replenishment method such as normal flow and various other conditions. Among these, the relationship between the number of washing tanks and the water volume in the multi-stage countercurrent system is shown in the Journal of the Society of Moti
on Picture and Television Engineers Volume 64, P2
48 to 253 (May 1955 issue).

According to the multi-stage countercurrent system described in the above document,
Although the amount of water to be washed can be significantly reduced, the increase in the residence time of water in the tank causes problems such as bacteria breeding and the resulting suspended matter adhering to the photosensitive material. In the processing of the color light-sensitive material of the present invention, as a solution to such a problem, the method of reducing calcium ion and magnesium ion described in JP-A-62-288838 can be used very effectively. In addition, JP-A-57-
No. 8542, isothiazolone compounds, siabendazoles, chlorinated germicides such as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate, and other benzotriazoles. Sterilization of
The sterilizing agents described in "Sterilization and Antifungal Technology" and "Encyclopedia of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents" edited by Japan Society for Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents can also be used.

The pH of the washing water in the processing of the light-sensitive material of the present invention is 4-9, preferably 5-8. The washing water temperature and the washing time can be set variously depending on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material, the use, etc., but generally 15 to 45 ° C. for 20 seconds to 10 minutes,
A range of 30 seconds to 5 minutes at 25 to 40 ° C is preferably selected. Further, the light-sensitive material of the present invention can be directly processed with a stabilizing solution instead of the above washing with water. In such stabilization treatment, all known methods described in JP-A-57-8543, JP-A-58-14834 and JP-A-60-220345 can be used.

Various chelating agents and antifungal agents can also be added to this stabilizing bath. The overflow solution that accompanies the washing with water and / or the supplement of the stabilizing solution can be reused in other steps such as the desilvering step.

[0036]

1 and 2 show a film developing apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied. This film developing device 10
Then, the negative film F from the cartridge 13 in the film supply unit 12 is the color developing tank 14, the bleaching tank 16, the fixing tank 18,
After being sequentially inserted into the rinsing tanks 22 and 23 and the stabilizing tank 24, the rinsing tanks 22 and 23 and the stabilizing tank 24 are dried and a series of developing processes are performed. Each of these processing tanks is filled with the prepared processing liquid, and the necessary amount is replenished according to use.

3 and 4 show a printing paper printing and developing device 30 to which the present invention is applied. In this printing paper printing and developing device 30, the printing paper P stored in a roll shape is printed in the printing section 32.
The image of the negative film F is printed by the printing light of the light source 34, and the color developing tank 38, the bleach-fixing tanks 42 and 44, and the rinse tank 4 are passed through the paper reservoir section 36.
Then, the images are sequentially sent to the Nos. 5 and 46, dried by the drying unit 48, cut by the cutter 52 for each image, and a series of development processing is performed.

Each of these development processing tanks is filled with each processing solution such as a developing solution prepared in advance, and a replenisher is supplied and replenished according to use.

A transport rack for appropriately transporting the negative film F or the photographic paper P is used in each of these processing tanks together with these drive units.

FIG. 5 shows these film developing devices 10,
A supply device 54 for replenishing the processing liquid to the printing paper printing and developing device 30 is shown. The supply device 54 is provided for each of the processing tanks of the film developing device 10 and the printing paper printing and developing device 30. In this embodiment, the processing liquid supplying device to the color developing tank 14 will be described as a representative. . As shown in FIG. 1, the supply device 54 has a stock tank 56 mounted on the machine base 10A on the side surface of the film developing device 10. The stock tank 56 is in the shape of a rectangular box with an open upper end, and the bracket 5 is provided inside the vicinity of the upper end.
8 has been passed over. The bracket 58 has a through hole 58A in the vicinity of a fixed portion to the inner peripheral portion of the stock tank 56 to communicate the inside and outside of the stock tank 56. The bracket 58 has a guide tube 62 penetrating through the center of the bracket 58 with the axis center vertical. The lower end of the guide tube 62 is the stock tank 5
It is disposed at a height H (liquid level height) from the side portion of 6, and the upper end portion is a cutout portion 62A that is obliquely cut out so as to project above the stock tank 56.

The bracket 58 has a tubular portion 64 that projects upward coaxially with the guide tube 62.
The inner side of is the portion into which the neck portion 68 of the cartridge 66 is inserted. In the cartridge 66, a relatively flexible liquid bottle 74 is housed inside an outer box 72 and the replenisher L is filled inside. The liquid bottle 74 is integrally connected to the neck 68, and the neck 68 projects from the outer box 72.
An elastic body 76 is fixed to the inside of the neck portion 68 to keep the inside of the liquid bottle 74 airtight in an unused state, but the cartridge 66 is mounted on the stock tank 56 as shown in FIG. When placed, the notch 62A of the guide tube 62 penetrates through this elastic body 76 and the liquid bottle 74
Is communicated with the guide tube 62. Since the elastic body 76 is flexible, the inside of the liquid bottle 74 can be deformed so as to communicate with only the guide tube 62 even after the guide tube 62 penetrates.

An O-ring 82 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the neck portion 68 so as to be in close contact with the O-ring 84 attached to the inside of the tubular portion 64. That is, in the storage state, the cartridge 66 is turned upside down in FIG. 5 so that the neck portion 68 is arranged above, but when mounted on the stock tank 56, the neck portion 68 is turned upside down.
Is disposed below, and the O-ring 82 engages with the O-ring 84, so that the inside of the cartridge 66 can be maintained in an airtight state in which the inside of the cartridge 66 communicates only with the guide tube 62. In this embodiment, a combination of the elastic body 76 and the O-rings 82 and 84 is used to make the inside of the cartridge 66 airtight in the attached state of FIG. 5, but the elastic body 76 or the O-ring 8 is used.
Only one of the two and 84 may be used.

The lower end of a compression coil spring 86 is attached to the bracket 58 so that the coil axis is vertically arranged. The compression coil spring 86 comes into contact with the mounted cartridge 66 and is elastically deformed by the weight of the cartridge 66. The compression coil spring 86 is designed to return the cartridge 66 to the raised state because the weight of the cartridge 66 becomes lighter when all or most of the replenishing liquid L in the liquid bottle 74 is supplied into the stock tank 56. . When the cartridge 66 is raised, the limit switch 8 attached to the upper end of the stock tank 56
8 and the detection signal is sent to the control means 92.

In the stock tank 56, there is provided a suction pipe 94 whose tip is inserted into the replenishing liquid L stored in the stock tank 56. The suction pipe 94 has a pump 96 at an intermediate portion, and is configured to supply the replenishing liquid in the stock tank 56 to the color developing tank 14. The operation of the pump 96 is controlled by the control means 92.

A sensor 98 is provided at an intermediate portion of the guide tube 62 and sends out the detection signal to the control means 92. Further, near the bottom of the stock tank 56, the sensor 102 is located at the lower end of the guide tube 62, that is, at a position lower than the liquid level, and the sensor 104 is located below the sensor 102.
Are arranged to send detection signals to the control means 92. These sensors 98 are connected to the guide tube 62.
The presence or absence of the replenishment processing liquid in the inside is detected, and the sensors 102, 104
Is for detecting the liquid level in the stock tank 56. The control means 92 is in communication with the warning light 106, and warns the replacement time of the cartridge 66 by turning on the warning light 106 when necessary. Besides the warning light, other notification means such as an alarm device can be applied.

In the stock tank 56 and the cartridge 66 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the processing tank numbers to which the replenishing processing liquids are supplied are shown in parentheses. Further, reference numeral 107 in FIG. 1 is a concentrated stabilizer cartridge,
Reference numeral 108 denotes a stock tank for replenishing rinsing water into the rinse tank, which has a UV germicidal lamp inside and is operated by pumps (not shown). Further, reference numeral 109 is a waste liquid stock tank in which a processing liquid overflowing from a color developing tank or the like is stored, and is sent to a processing site by a pump 110.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. 1 and 2
In the film developing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, when the film cartridge 13 containing the photographed film is set in the film supply section 12, the negative film F is taken out from the film cartridge 13 and the color developing tank 14, the bleaching tank 16, and the fixing tank. 1
8, the rinse tanks 22 and 23, and the stabilizing tank 24 are sequentially supplied to be subjected to a series of development processes, dried in the drying unit 26, and then taken out. Further, in the printing paper printing / developing device 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image of the negative film F is printed on the drawn printing paper P in the printing section 32, and then the feed speed is adjusted in the paper reservoir section 36. A series of development processes are performed through the color developing tank 38, the bleach-fixing tanks 42 and 44, and the rinse tanks 45 and 46, and after being dried in the drying section 48, each image is cut out by the cutter 52 and taken out.

When such a series of development processing is performed,
It is necessary to replenish a new processing liquid due to fatigue of the processing liquid in each processing tank. Therefore, the control means 92 actuates the pump 96 based on the processing amount of the negative film F or the printing paper P and the elapsed time, and sends the replenishing liquid L in the stock tank 56 to each processing tank in the required amount.

On the other hand, at the start of the work of the film developing device 10 and the printing paper printing and developing device 30, the cartridge 66 is mounted on the stock tank 56 as shown in FIG.
This work is done by turning the cartridge 66 upside down and neck 68.
Is positioned on the bracket 58. Therefore, the notch 62A of the guide tube 62 penetrates the elastic body 76 of the neck 68, and the O-rings 82 and 84 are in close contact with each other, so that the inside of the liquid bottle 74 is communicated with the outside only by the guide tube 62. Replenisher L in liquid bottle 74
Is supplied to the stock tank 56 through the guide pipe 62, but the atmosphere that enters the liquid bottle 74 enters only through the guide pipe 62, so that the replenisher liquid L extracted from the liquid bottle 74 is stock tank by the chicken feeder system. 56 to the bottom of the guide tube 62, that is, the height H
Stops at the liquid level of.

When the replenishment liquid L in the stock tank 56 is brought out to the processing tank by the operation of the pump 96, the replenishment liquid L in the liquid bottle 74 is always supplied to the stock tank 56 in accordance with the taken-out amount. , Stock tank 5
The liquid level in 6 is always maintained at H level. When all or most of the processing liquid in the liquid bottle 74 has been supplied to the stock tank 56, the replenishing liquid L does not exist in the guide tube 62 at last. Therefore, the sensor 98 detects this state and transmits it to the control means 92. Therefore, the control means 92 activates the warning light 106 to prompt the operator to replace the cartridge 66. The operator can remove the empty cartridge 66 and install a new cartridge 66 by the same procedure. Furthermore, the liquid level in the stock tank 56 further decreases and the sensor 10
When 2 detects this, the control means 92 again outputs the warning light 106.
Operate. When the liquid level further decreases and the sensor 104 enters a state of detecting the liquid level, the control means 9
2 also activates the warning light 106 in this case. In this way, when the sensor 98 and the sensors 102 and 104 respectively detect the liquid level, the control means 92 uses different notification modes to notify the warning light
06 can be activated. However, in the present invention, only the sensor 98 is used and other sensors may be omitted, or the sensor 1 may be omitted.
02, 104 or sensor 102, 1
04 can be used together and other sensors can be omitted.

Further, in the present invention, since the cartridge 66 is lifted by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 86 after most of the processing liquid in the cartridge 66 has been taken out, the limit switch 88 detects this and the control means 92 also detects this. Can activate the warning light 106 to inform the operator of the time to replace the cartridge 66. It is also possible to omit the other sensors such as the sensor 98 by using only the means for notifying the replacement time by detecting the weight of the cartridge 66. The elastic force of the elastic body 76 or the O-rings 82, 84 may be adjusted or the elastic body 76 may be omitted so that the cartridge 66 is easily lifted by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 86.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when the cartridge 66 is mounted on the stock tank 56 as shown in FIG. 5, the guide tube 62 can be easily inserted, and the cartridge 66 is not opened carelessly when not in use. . That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a cap 114 is screwed onto the neck portion 68 of the liquid bottle 74 with a disk-shaped inner lid 112 interposed therebetween. The cap 114 is integrally provided with a thin portion 114A that closes the inlet of the liquid bottle 74. The thin-walled portion 114A has such strength that it does not break accidentally when the cartridge 66 is stored or transported. A circular cut 116 is formed in the thin portion 114A, and
Part of 14A has low strength. Further, inside the circular cut 116, a loop-shaped cut 11 is partially opened.
8 is formed, and the loop opening portion of the loop-shaped cut 118 is arranged close to a part of the circular cut 116.
Therefore, the operator utilizes the loop cut 118 to pull the top 12 surrounded by the loop cut 118.
When 2 is lifted, the thin portion 114A is broken and a circular opening is formed. The inner lid 112 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a loop-shaped notch 124, which is partially open, is formed to form an open lid portion 125 on the inside, and the loop-shaped notch 124 portion is broken at a relatively low load.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the open lid portion 125 reinforced by the thin portion 114A surely blocks the inside and outside of the liquid bottle 74 in the normal state, the liquid bottle 7 is carelessly taken.
4 is never opened. In use, the operator pulls up the pull-top portion 122 to break the thin portion 114A and remove the central portion of the cap 114. Therefore, the operator simply
As shown in FIG. 5, the cutout 62A is relatively light only by placing it on the stock tank 56.
By breaking the vicinity and opening the open lid portion 125, the liquid bottle 74 can be communicated with the guide tube 62 as shown in FIG.

[0054]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned constitution, it has an excellent effect that the handling at the time of exchanging the processing liquid can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a film developing device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a printing paper printing and developing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a processing liquid supply apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an operating state of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 L Replenishing liquid P Printing paper F Negative film 10 Film developing device 30 Printing paper baking developing device 54 Feeding device 56 Stock tank 62 Guide tube (guide means) 66 Cartridge 74 Liquid bottle 76 Elastic body 82 O-ring 84 O-ring 92 Control means 98 Sensor

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] March 5, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is a processing liquid supply apparatus for supplying a replenishing processing liquid to a photosensitive material processing tank, wherein the upper part is opened and the internal processing liquid is supplied to the processing tank. that stock tank, a cartridge that is removably mounted to the stock tank top, is erected to the stock tank, stock tank the cartridge
Inserted sealingly penetrates into the cartridge by the action of placing the a guide pipe for supplying by gravity the processing solution in the cartridge to the bottom level, a sensor for detecting the processing liquid presence of the guide tube provided in the guide tube , And control means for judging the replacement time of the cartridge based on the detection signal of this sensor.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0027

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The color developer is an alkali metal carbonate,
It is common to include a pH buffering agent such as borate or phosphate, a bromide salt, an iodide salt, a development inhibitor such as a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole or a mercapto compound, or an antifoggant. is there. If necessary, various preservatives such as hydroxylamine, N, N-di (sulfoethyl) hydroxylamine, diethylhydroxylamine, sulfite, hydrazines, phenylsemicarbazides, triethanolamine, catecholdisulfonic acids, ethylene glycol, etc. , Organic solvents such as diethylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, development accelerators such as amines, dye-forming couplers, competitive couplers,
Fogging agent such as sodium boron hydride, 1
An auxiliary developing agent such as -phenyl-3-pyrazolidone,
Various chelating agents represented by viscosity imparting agents, aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminopolyphosphonic acids, alkylphosphonic acids, phosphonocarboxylic acids, for example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid. , hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, carboxyethyl iminodiacetonitrile acetate, 1-hydroxyethylidene--1, 1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo -N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine -N, N, N', N' tetramethylene phosphonic acid, ethylenediamine - can ani gel di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) and salts thereof as a representative example.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The photographic emulsion layer after color development is usually bleached. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process (bleach-fixing process), or may be performed individually. Further, in order to speed up the processing, a processing method of bleach-fixing processing after bleaching processing may be used. Further, treatment with two continuous bleach-fixing baths, fixing treatment before the bleach-fixing treatment, or bleaching treatment after the bleach-fixing treatment can be optionally carried out according to the purpose. Examples of bleaching agents include iron (III), cobalt (I
II), compounds of polyvalent metals such as chromium (VI) and copper (II), peracids, quinones, nitro compounds and the like are used. A typical bleaching agent is ferricyanide: dichromate: iron (I
II) or cobalt (III) complex salts such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,
Aminopolycarboxylic acids such as 3-diaminopropane tetraacetic acid, glycol ether diamine tetraacetic acid and carboxyethyliminodiacetic acid, or complex salts such as citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid: persulfate: bromate: permanganate:
Nitrobenzenes and the like can be used. Among these, aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts including ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (III) complex acid and persulfates are preferable from the viewpoint of rapid treatment and prevention of environmental pollution. Further, the aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salt is particularly useful in both the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution. The pH of a bleaching solution or a bleach-fixing solution using these aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts is usually 4.5 to 8, but a lower pH can be used for speeding up the processing. .

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A processing solution supply device for supplying a replenishing processing solution to a photosensitive material processing tank, the stock tank having an open upper part and supplying the processing solution inside to the processing tank; and an upper part of the stock tank. And a cartridge that is removably placed in the stock tank, the upper and lower ends are opened, and the upper end communicates with the cartridge in an airtight manner so that the processing liquid in the cartridge reaches the lower end level by its own weight. And a guiding means for supplying the treatment liquid. 2. A processing solution supply device for supplying a replenishing processing solution to a photosensitive material processing tank, the stock tank having an open upper part and the processing solution inside being supplied to the processing tank, and the stock tank upper part. And a cartridge that is removably placed in the stock tank, and is erected in the stock tank. The stock tank is pierced and airtightly inserted into the cartridge by the placing operation of the stock tank. And a sensor provided in the guide tube for detecting the presence or absence of the processing liquid in the guide tube, and a control means for judging the cartridge replacement timing based on the detection signal of the sensor. Liquid supply device.