JPH06295030A - Continuous package for solid photographic processing agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To charge the entire amt. of the solid processing agents in divided packaging parts to the charge port of a prescribed position by straight cutting a seal packaging material including the divided packaging parts having wrinkles or deformation at the time of transporting a continuous package arranged in series with the plural divided packaging parts where the solid processing agents are included and the peripheries are sealed and cutting and unsealing this continuous package by means of a cutter. CONSTITUTION:The continuous package for the solid photographic processing agents is produced by providing the sealing part H. near the divided packaging parts HB1, HB2... of the continuous package H with plural notches HC1, HC2... on a cutting line K for incision of the respective divided packaging parts HB1, HB2... in a direction parallel with the transporting direction of the continuous package H.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is applied to an automatic developing machine for continuously processing a light-sensitive material such as a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and a solid photographic processing agent is added to replenish processing liquid components of the automatic developing machine. The present invention relates to a continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent used in an automatic developing machine by melting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials are
Processing is performed by steps such as development, desilvering, washing and stabilization.
Processing is usually carried out by an automatic processor, in which case a replenisher replenishing system is generally widely used and is controlled so as to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing tank constant. In the case of the replenisher replenishment method, the purpose is to dilute the eluate from the sensitive material, correct the evaporation amount, and replenish the consumption component.
A large amount of overflow liquid is usually discharged.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in regulations regarding the dumping of photographic waste liquids into the ocean and regulations regarding the disposal of plastic materials. A new system that eliminates photographic waste liquids and does not use bottles for liquefaction processing agents Development is required. In addition, safety regulations for packaging materials have been strengthened to ensure the safety of transportation of liquid hazardous materials, which has led to an increase in cost. In addition, the development of exposure control technology for printing has progressed in the minilab store, which has been increasing rapidly in recent years, and a system that allows anyone to print has been introduced. However, the work of dissolving the replenisher and the management of the treatment liquid are still difficult, and very serious mistakes such as mistakenly dissolving and replenishing the treatment agent are likely to occur. There have been many complaints about this conventional replenishment system.

Therefore, in the photographic industry, there is a strong demand for the development of a solid chemical replenishment system that produces almost no photographic waste liquid, does not use a processing agent bottle, and does not require any dissolution work.

As a method for responding to this demand, WO92 / 20013
In the official gazette, almost all processing components are converted into solid processing agents,
A method of directly charging the treatment tank is disclosed. However, in this method, since the solid processing agent is directly charged into the processing tank, the processing agent adheres to the photosensitive material to be processed, causing an accident, or absorbing the evaporated water from the processing tank or the water in the atmosphere, The solid processing agents stick to each other and the solid processing agent is not reliably added to the processing tank, or the solid processing agent is adhered to the packaging material and the loading accuracy and the weighing accuracy are significantly reduced. , The problem that only incorrect replenishment can be done, for example, in the case of a color development processing agent, a redox reaction occurs due to the difference in the redox potential of the chemical, and the solid processing agent discolors
It has also been found that there is a problem regarding storage, which has a serious influence on photographic performance, such as solid processing agents blocking each other over time regardless of the packaging state and not being added at the time of replenishment, or partly dissolved and air-oxidized to form tar.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-237045, a method of setting powdery processing agents in a processing machine for each part, and weighing them into a processing tank while weighing each necessary amount, and a processing machine of this powder chemical A method for preventing moisture is disclosed.

However, in this method, after the powdery chemical is set in the hopper of the charging device, the density changes due to its own weight and each part is not designed in a predesigned amount and the replenishment of the replenisher is not constant. It turned out that performance changed. Even if the evaporation water from the upper part of the processing tank is prevented to some extent, the problem of sticking of the powdery processing agent at the inlet due to moisture absorption is inevitable, and the set powdery processing agent is left in the atmosphere. Therefore, the powdery treatment agent is blocked and adhered to the packaging material, so that it cannot be accurately weighed.

As described above, the biggest drawback is that the amount of preparative change changes with the passage of time.

Further, WO91 / 7332 discloses a method in which a powder, granule or liquid processing agent is put into a pressure through package (PTP) packaging material and directly put into an automatic developing machine. However, this method merely discloses a replenishment method in which a solid processing agent and a chemical which cannot be solidified are directly charged into a processing tank in order to promote low-concentration replenishment. The solid processing agent easily adheres to the packaging material due to moisture absorption over time when packaged in separate packaging, and solid components are likely to remain in the packaging material at the time of replenishment, so that replenishment accuracy cannot be maintained. There is no suggestion of solving the problem regarding the optimum amount of the solid processing agent to be placed.

Further, since PTP itself opens the packaging material by pressure, powder is likely to scatter and adheres to the wall of the processing tank to cause tar and the like, and the scattered powder jumps into other processing tanks. It was also found that it could cause contamination. It was also found that when opened by pressure, a piece of packaging material was thrown in together with the solid processing agent to induce clogging of the filter.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is, firstly, to provide a continuous package for a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has an accurate replenishment amount.

Secondly, solid processing for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials has been made possible by eliminating liquid chemicals that pose dangers in transportation and handling, and by making it possible to use solid chemicals without complicated operations for users. It is to provide a continuous package for agents.

Third, a continuous packaging body for solid processing agents for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, which has completed a fully automatic solid processing agent replenishing system by eliminating the user's own manual mixing and dissolving work of the concentration kit with water. To provide.

Fourth, eliminating many built-in refill tanks,
An object of the present invention is to provide a solid processing agent package for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which is used in a compact automatic processor.

Fifth, to provide a continuous package for a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which eliminates the need for storing a liquid replenisher, improves processing stability and reduces the amount of chemical waste liquid. is there.

[0016] A sixth object is to provide a solid processing agent package for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which achieves a low-pollution system by reducing the plastic packaging material which eliminates the use of a liquid plastic bottle.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors of the present invention have proposed that the solid processing agent is added per unit replenishment supply amount.
Continuous packaging for solid photographic processing agents, which is pre-divided and weighed in the range of 0.5 to 50 g, individually packaged in a package that seals the periphery of two sheet-like packaging materials, and a plurality of the package is formed continuously. I thought about my body. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing various specific examples of a conventional four-sided seal package. In the sealed packaging shown in FIG. 3 (A), several solid processing agents T _A ,
Contains T _B and T _C.

In FIG. 3B, solid processing agents T _A , T _B and T _C of different types and sizes are individually packaged. FIG. 3C shows the granules or powder T _D sealed and packaged. Figure 3
(D) contains one solid processing agent T _A of the same kind size. In FIG. 3 (E), a plurality of the same chemical T _A having the same size is contained as small tablets.

The continuous package H having the four-sided seal, the three-sided seal or the multi-sided seal is folded and stored in a storage container and held.

At the time of replenishment of the solid processing agent T, the container for accommodating the continuous package H is connected to a replenishing device, the continuous package H is successively drawn out from one outlet of the container, and cut lines K1, K2. The packaged portion H _B is opened by cutting, and the solid processing agent T contained therein is charged into the processing solution tank through the charging port of the automatic developing machine and replenished.

The above-mentioned continuous package H is conveyed and cut by a cutting means such as a cutter immediately before the inlet of the automatic developing machine,
When the packaging part H _B is opened, the cutting may be a zigzag cutting line without being cut in a certain direction parallel to the transport direction of the continuous package H. In the continuous package H, many wrinkles are generated in the non-sealing portion due to stress relaxation between the sealing portion and the non-sealing portion during storage, and the cutter runs on the wrinkles, and the cutting line is disturbed in a zigzag shape. To be sheared.

The solid processing agent T falling from the packaging section H _B opened by the zigzag cutting line in this way remains partially in the wrinkles of the packaging section H _B , and the solid processing agent T There is a problem that the total amount is not accurately dropped, the replenishment of the processing solution becomes unstable, and the photographic characteristics are impaired.

In the worst case, the next time the solid processing agent T is cut by cutting the packaging portion H _B , the solid processing agent T is scattered not in the intended processing tank but in another processing tank to cause contamination. There is a problem.

Further, the solid processing agent T retained in the wrinkle portion scatters and adheres to the solid processing agent replenishing device and the automatic developing machine, causing an accident. In order to eliminate this trouble, there is a problem of occupational hygiene due to the scattering agent during cleaning work.

Furthermore, if the solid processing agent T remains in the continuous package H after the solid processing agent T is discharged, the continuous package H cannot be discarded as general waste, and special disposal processing must be performed. .

The present invention achieves the above-mentioned further improvement and makes it possible to cut a continuous package in a substantially straight line parallel to the conveying direction, and to stabilize the packaging portion of the continuous package. The purpose is to cut and unseal it, and to accurately insert it into the opening of the automatic processor.

In the continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent of the present invention which achieves the above object, a solid photographic processing agent for processing a photographic light-sensitive material is formed into two sheet-like packaging materials for each unit replenishment and supply amount. A continuous packaging body for a solid photographic processing agent, which is housed and packaged in a separately sealed packaging portion having a periphery sealed, and is formed by continuously forming a plurality of packaging portions, wherein each packaging portion is continuous. It is characterized in that a plurality of cutouts are provided in a seal portion near the packaging portion on a cutting line that is cut in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the package.

Regarding the direct addition of the solid processing agent to the processing tank, the inventors of the present invention determined the optimum solid processing agent replenishing amount to be added at one time so as not to change the photographic performance of each processing solution. This optimum replenishment amount is the size of the processing tank of the automatic processor.
That is, it was thought that it depended on the volume of the treatment liquid, but by making good use of the characteristic of the solid chemical that is difficult to dissolve, the concentration did not rise sharply even if added at once, and the replenishment water was adjusted to suit the dissolution. It has the advantage that it can be injected and very stable photographic performance can be created.

The packaging material is affected by temperature and humidity over time, and not only the coefficient of friction in the package with the surface of the solid processing agent changes, but also wrinkles occur in the packaging material and the powder, granules and tablets which are the solid processing agent are caught. It will not easily fall into the processing tank.

The amount of the processing agent charged at one time is 0.5 to 50 g, and in the case of the fixing processing agent, it is preferably 10 to 30 g. It is not stable until the solid processing agent in this range is directly put into a part of the processing tank of a general small-sized developing machine by wrapping it in the packaging material for each replenishment unit and slowly dissolving it. You can always maintain the photo status.

The continuous package for a solid processing agent of the present invention is always stored in the solid processing agent over time, and is always charged in a designed amount without being affected by water vapor evaporated from the upper part of the processing tank.

Further, if the preferred solid processing agent replenishing device of the present invention is used by continuously packaging the individual packages, the solid processing agent is automatically replenished with high accuracy once set, and the waste packaging materials are also stored in one place. It becomes possible to do. In addition, even if the packaging material is broken during transportation and transportation, it is possible to minimize the damage because the packaging is divided.

The present invention will be specifically described below.

In the present invention, the term "per unit replenishing and supplying amount of solid processing agent" refers to the total weight of the solid processing agent added when a certain amount of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed. , If the unit replenishment / supply added to the processing tank of the solid treatment agent is too large, dissolution failure of the solid treatment agent is likely to occur, and if the unit replenishment / supply amount is small, the number of feeding times for supplying a certain amount of the solid treatment agent As a result, the input accuracy and the durability of the supply means become problems.

The packaging material of the present invention has a coefficient of friction in the package with the surface of the solid processing agent of 1.5 or less, preferably 1.0 or less, and further has a moisture permeability of 50 g / m ² · 24 hr (40 ° C./90% RH). ) The effect becomes more remarkable when it is below.

That is, when the moisture permeability is high, the amount of water passing through the packaging material is large, so that the solid processing agent exhibiting deliquescent partly deliquesces, causing an unfavorable reaction with other photographic components, and further, packaging. This is because it also affects the internal friction coefficient.
A packaging material having a moisture permeability of 20 g / m ² · 24 hr (40 ° C · 90% RH) or less is preferably used.

As the packaging material, a synthetic resin material is preferably used, and specific examples thereof include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, vinylon, polyethylene terephthalate and the like. A single film or two or more kinds of films may be laminated, or aluminum foil or the like may be used between the films.

The thickness of the packaging material is 1 to 500 μm in terms of usability, disposal of the packaging material, friction and moisture permeability.
It is more preferably 10 to 150 μm.

As a method for packaging the solid processing agent, there are four-sided seal, three-sided seal, stick (pillow package, gusset package), PTP (blister package), cartridge, and the like.

When the peel-open method is used as the unsealing and charging means, a sealant agent can be laminated to impart the peel-open suitability.

As a method of supplying the solid processing agent to the processing tank, there is a method of opening the package and taking it out. When opening the package, a method of separating the adhesive surface (peel open), and making a cut in a part of the seal package A method of opening by pulling, a method of cutting by an external force of a cutter, a method of forcibly pushing out the solid processing agent, and the like are preferably used.

The solid processing agent in the present invention means tablets, granules and powders. Tablets and granules are preferred for the storage stability of the solid processing agent and the accuracy of one-time loading, in view of the residual rate in the packaging material.

The powder agent in the present invention refers to an aggregate of fine crystal grains.

The granules referred to in the present invention are obtained by adding a granulation step to powder, and mean a granular material having a particle size of 50 to 5000 μm.
It is preferably from 500 to 1500 μm. If it is small, it tends to remain in the packaging material at the time of loading and is easily scattered, and if it is large, fine powder particles are likely to be formed during transportation.

The tablet referred to in the present invention means a powder or granule obtained by compression-molding a certain shape.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent of the present invention. 1A is a perspective view of the continuous package H, FIG. 1B is a plan view, FIG. 1C is a sectional view, and FIG.
(D) shows a partially enlarged sectional view.

The illustrated continuous wrapping body H is composed of two sheet-like wrapping materials S1 and S2, and the peripheries of the packaging portions H _B1 , H _B2 and H _B3 capable of containing the solid processing agent T are heat-sealed. _A four-sided seal portion H _A is formed by processing or the like, and is in a sealed state.

At the seal portion H _A near the packing portions H _B1 , H _B2, ..., V-shaped notches H _C1 , H _C2
... are perforated and penetrate the sheet-like packaging materials S1 and S2. The notches H _C1 , H _C2, ... Are arranged on a straight line of a cutting line K that cuts near the lower side of the packaging parts H _B1 , H _B2 .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cut-out state of the packaging portion of the continuous package H.

The continuous package H is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A by the conveying means of the solid processing agent replenishing device (not shown), and the cutting means provided in the replenishing device, for example, the rotary cutter 12
5, the seal portion H _A on the cutting line K, the packaging portions H _B1 , H _B2 ·
Cut ... in a straight line. In this cutting process, even if the sheet-like packaging materials S1 and S2 have bulges or wrinkles near the cutting line K on the lower packaging side H _B1 , H _B2 ... The cutouts H _C1 , H _C2
... Guide the continuous package H along the V-shaped inclined surface so as to pass through the V-shaped top, and each notch H _C1 , H
It is surely cut in a straight line along a cutting line K connecting the V-shaped tops of _C2 ... W is a scrap of the continuous package H cut by the cutter 125.

[0051]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an automatic developing machine (hereinafter referred to simply as an automatic processor) to which the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 4
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer processor in which an automatic developing machine 100 and a photo printing machine 200 are integrally configured.

In FIG. 4, in the lower left portion of the photographic printing machine 200, printing paper P which is an unexposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is used.
The magazine 201 that stores the rolls is set. The photographic printing paper P pulled out from the magazine 201 is fed by the feed roller 2
The sheet is cut into a predetermined size through 02 and the cutter unit 203 to form a sheet of photographic printing paper. The sheet-shaped printing paper is conveyed by the belt conveying means 204, and the light source 206 and the lens 207 expose the image of the original image O in the exposing section 205. The exposed sheet-shaped printing paper is further conveyed by a plurality of pairs of feed rollers 208 and 209 and introduced into the automatic developing machine 100. In the automatic developing machine 100, the sheet-shaped printing paper is a color developing tank 110A, a bleach-fixing tank 110B, a stabilizing tank 110C, 1 which are processing tanks.
10D and 110E (substantially three tanks) are sequentially conveyed by roller conveying means (reference symbol None), and color development processing, bleach-fixing processing and stabilization processing are performed respectively. Above the color developing tank 110A, the solid developing agent replenishing device 1
20A, a solid bleach-fix processing agent replenishing device 120B is provided above the bleach-fixing tank 110B, and a solid stabilizing processing agent replenishing device 120E is provided above the stabilizing tank 110E. The sheet-shaped printing paper that has been subjected to each of the above processes is dried in the drying unit 180 and discharged to the outside of the machine.

The alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the transport path of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. Further, in the embodiment, the light-sensitive material is introduced into the automatic developing machine 100 in a cut state, but it may be introduced into the automatic developing machine 100 in a strip shape. In that case, automatic machine 100 and photo printing machine 200
If an accumulator for temporarily retaining the light-sensitive material is provided between and, processing efficiency is improved. Further, it goes without saying that the automatic developing machine according to the present invention may be configured integrally with the photo printing machine 200 or may be a single automatic developing machine. Further, it goes without saying that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processed by the automatic developing machine 100 according to the present invention is not limited to exposed photographic paper, and may be exposed negative film or the like. Further, as an explanation of the present invention, a color developing tank 110A,
This is carried out for a substantially three-stage automatic developing machine having a bleach-fixing tank 110B and stabilizing tanks 110C, 110D, 110E, but the present invention is not limited to this and has a color developing tank, a bleaching tank, a fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank. The present invention can be applied even to an automatic developing machine having a substantially four-tank configuration.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the color developing tank 110A which is a processing tank in the I-I section of the automatic processor 100 of FIG.
The bleach-fixing tank 110B and the stabilizing tanks 110C, 110D, and 110E have the same structure as the color developing tank 110A. Therefore, when the processing tank 110 is described below, the color developing tank 110 is used.
A, bleach-fixing tank 110B, stabilizing tanks 110C, 110D, and 110E are all referred to. It should be noted that, in the figure, a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material and the like are omitted for easy understanding of the configuration. Further, in this example, the case where the tablet J is used as the solid processing agent will be described.

The processing bath 110 is a processing liquid bath 111 for processing the photosensitive material, a constant temperature bath 112 integrally provided outside the partition wall forming the processing liquid bath 111, and provided above the constant temperature bath 112. Solid processing agent input unit 113 for supplying the solid processing agent (tablet) T
Have and.

The processing section 111 and the constant temperature bath 112 are separated by a partition wall 114 having a communication window formed therein so that the processing liquid can flow therethrough. Further, since the enclosure 115 for receiving the treatment agent is provided in the constant temperature bath 112, it does not move to the treatment section 111 as it is in a solid state. It should be noted that the enclosure 115 is in the form of a mesh or a filter through which the treatment liquid can pass but the solid treatment agent cannot pass until it is completely dissolved.

The cylindrical filter 116 is provided below the constant temperature bath 112 so as to be replaceable, and has a function of removing insoluble matters such as paper waste in the treatment liquid. The inside of the filter 116 communicates with the suction side of the circulation pump 118 (circulation means) through a circulation pipe 117 that penetrates the lower wall of the constant temperature bath 112.

The circulation system is composed of a circulation pipe 117 forming a liquid circulation passage, a circulation pump 118, a processing liquid tank 111, a constant temperature tank 112 and the like. The other end of the circulation pipe 117 communicating with the discharge side of the circulation pump 118 penetrates the lower wall of the treatment liquid tank 111 and communicates with the treatment liquid tank 111. With such a configuration, when the circulation pump 118 is operated, the processing liquid is sucked from the constant temperature tank 112 and discharged to the processing liquid tank 111, the processing liquid mixes with the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 111, and the constant temperature tank 112 is again provided. The cycle of entering is repeated. The flow rate of the circulation flow is preferably 0.1 (rotation = circulation amount / tank volume) or more with respect to the tank volume per minute, and more preferably 0.5 to 2.0 rotations. Further, the circulation direction of the processing liquid is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 5, and may be the opposite direction.

The waste liquid pipe 119 is used to overflow the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank 111, keeps the liquid surface level constant, and is a component that is attached to the photosensitive material from another processing liquid tank 111 and brought in. Also, it helps prevent the components leaching from the light-sensitive material from accumulating and increasing.

The rod-shaped heater 1121 is arranged so as to penetrate the upper wall of the constant temperature bath 112 and be immersed in the treatment liquid in the constant temperature bath 112. The heater 1121 heats the processing liquid in the constant temperature bath 112 and the processing liquid bath 111. In other words, the processing liquid in the processing liquid bath 111 is brought into a temperature range suitable for the processing (for example, 20 to 55 ° C.). It is a temperature adjusting means for holding.

The processing amount information detecting means 140 is provided at the entrance of the developing machine and is used for detecting the processing amount of the photosensitive material to be processed. The processing amount information detecting means 140 includes a plurality of detecting members arranged in the left-right direction, and functions as an element for detecting the width of the photosensitive material and counting the detected time. Since the conveying speed of the photosensitive material is mechanically preset, the processing area of the photosensitive material can be calculated from the width information and the time information. The processing amount information detecting means 140 is an infrared sensor, a micro switch,
Any material such as an ultrasonic sensor that can detect the width and the transportation time of the photosensitive material may be used. Further, the detected information may be a value that is proportional to the processing amount of the processed, processed, or being processed photosensitive material, such as the concentration of the processing liquid stored in the processing tank or the change in the concentration. It may be.

In FIG. 5, the solid processing agent feeding section 113 is used.
Above the above, a solid processing agent replenishing device 120 is provided. 121
122 is a container for housing the continuous package H for solid processing agents;
Is a first carrying means for carrying the continuous package H, and 123 is a second carrying means. 150 is the processing amount information detecting means 140
Is a control means for controlling the supply of the processing amount of the processing agent in response to the signal from.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining in detail the concrete structure of the solid processing agent replenishing device (seal wrapping material unsealing and feeding device) 120, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view in which the viewing angle is further changed.
It is also a block diagram showing a configuration.

In FIG. 6, the accommodating container 121 for accommodating the solid processing agent continuous packaging body H accommodates the solid processing agent continuous packaging body H with its belt portion meandering. The tip of H is sent out by the first conveying means 122 including the roller 122a, the roller 122b and the driving means, or the lid 124.
To open and guide the roller 123a, the roller 123b and the second conveying means 123 including the driving means, and the lid 124 is closed to close the first conveying means 122 and the second conveying means 1.
Engage 23. Before being engaged with the second conveying means 123, the cutting means (cutter) 125 separates the upper and lower seal portions and guides them in the direction of arrow A to eliminate them.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the packaging portion H _B having the upper and lower openings opened by separating the upper and lower seal portions from each other has a mutual relationship between the first conveying means 122 and the second conveying means 123. Is controlled to bring the remaining girder-shaped seal portions closer to each other, the swelling of the packaging portion H _B is emphasized and the solid processing agent T is released from being sandwiched as shown in the figure. Falls. In FIG. 6, the guide 126 guides the progress of the belt-shaped solid processing agent continuous package H and regulates the position where the processing agent falls due to the bulge, whereby the inlet 127 does not have to be huge. .

In this embodiment, the cutting means (cutter) 125
Although a disc-shaped rotary cutter is applied, the present invention is not limited to this and may be a knife edge. For safety, the cutter blade is a cutter tip 125.
It is preferable that A is replaced as a set.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the roller 122 and the roller 123 are notched rollers in which a part of the respective cylinders is cut away, and the axial distance of each roller pair is fixed. Due to the rotation of the roller pair, the cutout portion becomes a roller.
When it opposes the roller 122 or the roller 123, the clamping force between the rollers disappears and the nip pressure decreases, so that the sandwiched strip-shaped solid processing agent continuous package H can freely move in the surface direction thereof. For example, when you start to meander, you can return to the center.

The detection means 151 in FIG. 7 is a detection target portion H for each packaging recorded on the side end of the solid processing agent continuous package H.
_M is detected, a signal is sent to the processing amount supply control means 150, and the motor M is controlled to control the first conveying means 122 and the second conveying means 123.
To drive. It also indicates that it is also used to display the remaining amount.

Next, a situation in which the feeding speed of the second feeding means 123 is smaller than that of the first feeding means 122 and the swelling of the belt-shaped solid processing agent continuous package H is caused by the difference of the feeding speeds will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8A, the first transport means 122 and the second transport means 122
Since the same gears G1 and G2 are fixed to the respective rollers A and B shafts and are driven simultaneously by the common gear G0, the rotation speed of the shafts is the same as that of the second conveyance device 123. The rollers 123a and 123b are smaller in diameter than the rollers of the first conveying means 122, so that the peripheral speed is low and the feed speed is also low.

In the timing chart of FIG. 8B, it is shown that the first and second conveying means are simultaneously driven.

Next, FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the second conveying means 123 is driven simultaneously with the first conveying means 122 and then temporarily reversed. In this embodiment, the first transport means
Although the feeding speeds of the second conveying means 123 are the same as those of the second conveying means 123, the belt-shaped solid processing agent continuous package H is returned by the rotation of the second conveying means 123 which is reversed after the stop, and the solid processing agent T The portion that sandwiched the swells out, and the solid processing agent T is released.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, the first transport means 122 and the second transport means 122
An embodiment in which the operation phase of the transport means 123 is different is shown. Since the first driving means 122 is first driven by the movable driving means 128 and then the second conveying means 123 is driven,
The preceding digit-shaped seal portion H _{C1 of the} packaging portion H _B of the strip-shaped solid processing agent continuous package H, the seal portions on both sides of which are separated by the first transport means, reaches the second transport means 123. However, the second conveying means 123 is not driven yet, so that the solid processing agent continuous package H is slackened, and the solid processing agent T is released by inflating the packaging portion.

FIG. 11 is a control flow chart of the supply operation for dropping the solid processing agent. That is, the remaining amount of the processing agent is checked by the processing information signal, and if there is no remaining amount, a signal indicating no remaining amount is output. If there is a remaining amount, the supply operation is started and the motor is driven. Then, the completion of the supply operation for one time is checked, and if the supply operation is completed, the supply operation is stopped, but if not completed, the motor M is driven again and the supply operation is repeated.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent according to the present invention.
12 (A) and 12 (C) show a four-way seal package, FIG. 12 (B) shows a six-way seal package, and FIG. 12 (D) shows a three-way seal package.

[0075] Figure 12 continuous packaging body shown in (A) is trapezoidal seal part _{H A1, H A2, H A3} ···· by packing unit H _B1,
H _B2 , H _B3, ... Are formed, and a wedge-shaped non-sealing portion is provided between adjacent sealing portions.

In the continuous package H shown in FIG. 12 (B), hexagonal seal portions H _A1 , H _A2 ... Are formed, and a drum-shaped non-seal portion is provided between adjacent seal portions. It is a thing.

The continuous package H shown in FIG. 12 (C) has rhombus-shaped seal portions H _A1 , H _A2 , H _A3, ... Formed in a slanted shape having a narrow width between adjacent seal portions. A non-sealed portion is provided.

In each of FIGS. 12A to 12C, since the seal portions H _A1 , H _A2 ... Have an inclination angle that is not orthogonal to the conveying direction of the continuous package H, 2 When peeling off the seal portions H _A1 , H _A2, ... Of the sheet-shaped packaging material to open the packaging portions H _B1 , H _B2, ..., the peeling force is gradually peeled from one end. There is little advantage that it can be opened easily and smoothly. In the continuous package H having the seal parts H _A1 , H _A2 , H _A3 ... Of various shapes, the V-shaped notch part H _{C1 is formed} in the non-seal part between the adjacent seal parts. By providing H _C2 ...
The continuous package H is cut by the cutting means into the cutouts H _C1 ,
A straight line can be cut according to a cutting line K connecting H _C2 ...

FIG. 12D shows a case where one sheet of packaging material is folded in two and three-way sealed to form the packaging parts H _B1 and H _B2 . Also in this continuous package H, the cut accuracy of the continuous package H is improved by providing the cutouts H _C1 , H _C2 ... Between the adjacent seals.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of the arrangement of the cutouts H _C of the continuous package H. FIG. 13A shows the cutout portion H _C1 ,
An example is shown in which H _C2 is arranged every two to many packing parts. FIG. 13 (B) is provided with notch parts H _C1 , H _C2, ... Arranged in a row near the lower side of each of the packaging parts H _B1 , H _B2 as shown in FIGS. Cut lines K1 are formed, and cutouts H _D1 , H _D2, ... Are arranged in a row near the upper side of the packaging parts H _B1 , H _B2 ... K2 is arranged in parallel with the cutting line K1. By forming the two upper and lower cutting lines K1 and K2 in this way, the release portion of the packaging portions H _B1 , H _B2, ... Is expanded, and the entire amount of the solid processing agent T contained therein is easily dropped. Figure
13C shows the lower cutouts H _C1 , H _C2 ... And the upper cutouts H _D1 , H _D2 .
As shown in (A), a plurality of packaging units are arranged (every two in the figure).

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view showing the shape of each notch H _C. FIG. 14 (A) shows the sheet-like packaging materials S1 and S2.
Is punched out to form a mountain-shaped through hole. Figure 14
(B) is provided with a V-shaped cut line (cut line). In FIG. 14C, the notch H _C is a V-shaped punched hole. FIG. 14D is the same as FIG.
The shape of the cutout portion H _C in which the cut-out cut portion H _CC is added to the tip of the chevron punched hole in (A) to further facilitate the incision of the sheet-shaped packaging materials S1 and S2 is shown. FIG. 14E shows a cutout portion H _C of the roof-shaped punched hole. Figure 14 (F) is cut portion cut at the tip of the notch H _C of the roof-shaped H _CC
Is added.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a horizontal conveying device for a continuous package according to the present invention and another embodiment of the package cutting means. FIG. 15 is a perspective view and FIG. 16 (A) is a sectional view thereof. , Fig. 16
(B) shows a plan view of the package after cutting. This cutting means uses together a shearing type cutter 312 and a side cutter 313 which forms cutting lines K1 and K2 near both side edges which are orthogonal to the cutting line K3 by the cutter 312 and are parallel to the transport direction of the continuous package H. And at least two directions (three directions shown in the figure) of the four-direction seals of the continuous package H
It is characterized by being cut by 312, 313.

The storage container 121 for storing the continuous package H in a zigzag manner is removably positioned and fixed on the mounting base 128 of the solid processing agent supply device 120. The mounting base 128 is provided with an accommodating container identifying member (three pins shown in the figure) 129 so as to correspond to an identifying portion unique to the processing agent provided on the facing surface of the accommodating container 121, which is different. This prevents the storage container for storing the solid processing agent from being erroneously attached.

The leading end of the built-in continuous package H can be pulled out from the opening 121A of the container 121.
On the granule side of the opening 121A in the conveying direction, a pair of first conveying rollers 13 which are rotatable by pressing in the vicinity of both side edges of the continuous package H.
0 is set. The first conveying roller pair 130 includes a lower drive roller 130A connected to a drive source and a driven roller 130 above the lower drive roller 130A which is in pressure contact with the roller 130A and can be driven and rotated.
It consists of B and.

The two driven rollers 130B shown in FIG.
It is supported by two arms 132 which can swing around the center of the shaft, and is urged by a spring 133 to be pressed against the drive roller 130A. The upper portion of the one arm 132 forms an extended arm portion, and a knob 132A is integrated with the tip portion thereof. If the knob 132A is grasped and moved in the direction of the arrow to swing the arm 132 clockwise, the driven roller 130B resists the biasing force of the spring 133 and the driving roller 130B.
The tip of the continuous package H, which is separated from the peripheral surface of 130A and pulled out of the container 121, can easily pass through. After pulling out the continuous package H to a predetermined position, nipping the leading end of the continuous package H to the second conveying roller pair 134, and then returning the arm 132, the driven rollers 130B are provided in the vicinity of both side edges of the continuous package H. It comes into pressure contact with the drive roller 130A via the.

Two knife-edge-shaped side cutters 135 are swingably provided near the both side edges of the continuous package H below the vicinity of the pair of first transport rollers 130 (FIG. 16).
(See (A)). Edge 135 of the upper end of the side cutter 135
A cuts the packaging part H _B near the side edge in the direction parallel to the transport direction of the continuous package H shown in FIG. 16 (B) to form two cutting lines K1 and K2. That is, the side cutter 13
5 is swingable around a support shaft 135B, and a roller portion 135C at the lower end is swung by slidingly contacting a cam curved surface of a rotating cam 136 which is connected to a drive source, and the blade edge portion 135A is vertically moved. To move. When the continuous package H that is sandwiched and conveyed by the first pair of conveying rollers 130 passes therethrough, the cutting edge portion
As 135A rises and rushes into the notches H _C1 and H _D1 near the both side edges of the continuous package H, and the package H continues to be conveyed, the continuous package H is moved to the vicinity of both side edges as shown in FIG.
Two cutting lines K1 and K2 shown in (B) are formed, and both ends of the packaging portion H _B1 are opened.

A shearing type cutter (guillotine type cutter) 137 is provided on the downstream side of the first conveying roller pair 130 in the conveying direction. The cutter 137 is an upper movable blade.
137A and lower fixed blade 137B. The moving blade 137A is connected to the motor M via an eccentric crank mechanism, for example, and can move up and down via a guide member. When the movable blade 137A is stopped at the top dead center, a gap is formed between the movable blade 137A and the fixed blade 137B to allow the continuous package H containing the solid processing agent T to pass therethrough. The moving blade 137A is a motor M
When the movable blade 137A is driven by the movable blade 137A and moves downward, the movable blade 137A contacts the fixed blade 137B via the continuous package H to move the continuous package H to the fixed package 137B.
It cuts by the cutting line K3 shown in (B). At the time of this cutting, the leading end of the continuous package H is already held by the second pair of transport rollers 134.

A receiving plate 138 having a hole passing through near the center is provided on the downstream side of the cutter 137 in conveyance. Further, an ironing plate 139 is fixedly provided on the downstream side.
The cutting line K1, K2, K3 is formed, and the continuous package H in which the three-sided seal portions are opened is conveyed to the ironing plate.
When passing through the narrow gap between the 139 and the receiving plate 138, the continuous package H is squeezed and the solid processing agent T contained therein is squeezed out from the packaging part H _B1 and the cut line K1 of the continuous package H is cut. ，
It escapes from the opening section by K2, K3, falls through the through hole of the receiving plate 138, and enters the solid processing agent charging section 113 below.

Although the storage and transport of the continuous package containing the solid processing agent T has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the packaging part of the continuous package with the periphery sealed. It can be widely used as an opening means for opening.

[0090]

Since the continuous package for a solid processing agent according to the present invention is constructed as described above, when the continuous package is transported by the transport means, a tension for transport is added to the continuous package. As a result, the continuous package may meander. By providing the cutout portion of the present invention on the cutting line, even if the transport of the continuous package deviates from the predetermined position due to meandering, the cutting blade portion of the cutting means corrects the cutout portion to make the continuous package predetermined. Return to the transport position.

As a result, the solid processing agent can be accurately dropped into the loading port of the automatic developing machine from the opened packaging portion, and the positioning accuracy of the solid processing agent is improved. Therefore, there is no residual solid processing agent in the package, and the solid processing agent does not scatter to the periphery. Further, since the accuracy of the solid processing agent feeding position is improved, it is possible to reduce the evaporation of the processing liquid by narrowing the opening-shaped feeding port to the minimum.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, a plan view, a cross-sectional view and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a four-way seal continuous package according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened state of a packaging part of the continuous package.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing various specific examples of a conventional four-sided seal packaging body.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a printer processor in which an automatic developing machine to which the continuous package of the present invention is applied and a photo printing machine are integrally configured.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a processing tank of the automatic processor and a solid processing agent supply device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a solid processing agent supply device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the solid processing agent supply device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of an embodiment in which the feeding speed by the conveying means of the replenishing device is different.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a reversal is performed by the conveying means of the replenishing device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the phase is changed by the conveying means of the replenishing device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of control of the replenishing device.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing various other examples of the continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the arrangement of the cutout portions of the continuous package.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan view showing the shape of the cutout portion.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the continuous package conveying device and the package cutting means according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying means and the cutting means and a plan view of the continuous package after cutting.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 Automatic developing machine (automatic developing machine) 110 Processing tank 111 Processing liquid tank 112 Constant temperature tank 113 Solid processing agent input section 120 Solid processing agent replenishing device 121 Storage container 122 First transfer means 123 Second transfer means 125 Cutting means ( Cutter) 127 Input port 130 1st conveying roller pair 134 2nd conveying roller pair 135 Side cutter 135A Blade tip 136 Cam 137 Cutter 140 Processing amount information detecting means 150 Processing amount supply controlling means 151 Detection means 200 Photographic printing machine H Continuous Package H _A , H _A1 , H _A2 , H _A3 Sealed part H _B , H _B1 , H _B2 , H _B3 Packing part H _C , H _C1 , H _C2 , H _C5 , H _D1 , H _D2 , H _D3 cut Notch S1, S2 Sheet-like packaging material P Printing paper T, T _A , T _B , T _C Solid processing agent T _D Granules, granules

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A solid photographic processing agent for processing a photographic light-sensitive material is housed and packaged in a separately-sealed sachet portion which seals the peripheries of two sheet-shaped packaging materials for each unit replenishment and supply amount. A continuous packaging body for a solid photographic processing agent formed by continuously forming a plurality of the packaging parts, on a cutting line for cutting each of the packaging parts in a direction parallel to the transport direction of the continuous packaging body. A continuous package for a solid photographic processing agent, characterized in that a plurality of cutouts are provided in a seal part near the packaging part.