JPH0636096B2 - Automatic developing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automatic developing apparatus that continuously feeds a film that has been photographed to respective steps of development, fixing, washing with water and drying to perform development processing.

(Technical background of the invention) In an automatic developing apparatus for continuously developing a developed film, it is necessary to sequentially perform a series of steps of development, fixing and washing, washing with water and then drying sufficiently. In this drying step, moisture must be sufficiently removed using a sponge or the like to dry. If water droplets remain on the film surface, the contours of the water droplets will remain behind, resulting in uneven drying. In addition, excessive high temperature drying causes deterioration of graininess due to softening of the gelatin film,
It also causes strong curling. On the other hand, when the drying speed is slow, the disadvantage that the continuous processing speed also slows down occurs.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is less likely to cause drying unevenness, deterioration of graininess, or curling, and the drying process can be performed quickly to accelerate the development process. It is an object to provide an automatic developing device.

(Structure of the Invention) According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic developing apparatus in which a film having been photographed is successively sent to respective steps of development, fixing, washing with water and drying to continuously develop the film, wherein the drying step is performed on the film. The present invention is achieved by an automatic developing device, which is provided with an ultrasonic wave generation unit for irradiating ultrasonic vibration and accelerates drying by the ultrasonic vibration.

That is, by irradiating the film with ultrasonic waves, water droplets attached to the film surface are uniformly diffused as a thin film on the surface to prevent drying unevenness, and at the same time moisture is quickly scattered to shorten the drying time. is there.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an overall view of an automatic developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 is a film that has been photographed, and this film 10 is sent from the supply reel 12.
Developing step 14, fixing step 16, first washing step 18, second step
Take-up reel 24 after washing step 20 and drying step 22
To be wound up. The developing tank 14a of the developing step 14 is filled with the developing solution, the fixing tank 16a of the fixing step 16 is filled with the fixing solution, and the washing tanks 18a and 20a of the washing steps 18 and 20 are filled with the cleaning solution up to a predetermined liquid level, respectively. On the other hand, each processing tank 14
A guide member for guiding the film 10 in a circular arc shape so as to approach the liquid surface is disposed between the plurality of guide rollers 26 at the upper openings of a to 20a. Therefore, the film 10 is guided by the guide member in the upper part of each of the processing tanks 14a to 20a and travels while drawing an arc close to the liquid surface.

Ultrasonic vibrators 14b to 20b as ultrasonic wave generating means are attached to the bottoms of the processing tanks 14a to 20a, and the ultrasonic vibrators 14b to 20b are driven by a drive circuit (not shown) Ultrasonic vibration is applied to the liquid so as to focus near the center of. Therefore, the processing liquid in each of the processing tanks 14a to 20a becomes a jet flow that rises upward at the liquid surface in the vicinity of the focal point of the ultrasonic waves, and from the surface of the jet flow, the liquid is sprayed and violently scatters around. It will be. Since the film 10 is moving near this liquid surface, the film 1
The jet of liquid comes into contact with the lower surface of 0. Therefore, each tank 14a
20a, each processing of development, fixing, and washing is performed. At this time, ultrasonic vibrations are also propagated to the film 10 itself to accelerate the processing, and the processing speed becomes high. As the ultrasonic oscillators 14b to 20b, for example, a piezoelectric oscillator such as a crystal oscillator, lead zirconate titanate (PZT) which is one of ceramics, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) of plastics, and ceramic composite material (PECM). It is possible to use the one using. Also, this ultrasonic transducer 14b-2
0b can control the flow rate of the jet flow rising from the liquid surface, the spray amount of the liquid, or the processing speed by changing the drive voltage or frequency.

The drying process 22 includes an electric heater 22a, a fan 22b, and an ultrasonic vibrator 22c. The ultrasonic oscillator 22c closely faces the lower surface (developing surface) of the film 10 and irradiates the film 10 with ultrasonic waves. The air sent from the fan 22b is heated by the heater 22a, becomes hot air, and is guided to the film 10.

The ultrasonic waves applied to the film 10 from the ultrasonic oscillator 22c quickly and uniformly spread the water droplets attached to the film 10 as a thin film. Also, the ultrasonic waves cause water droplets to be violently scattered. Along with the action of such ultrasonic waves, the warm air sent through the heater 22b cooperates to significantly increase the drying speed. After the drying process 22, the film 1
0 is wound on the take-up reel 24.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an optical sensor that detects the leading position of the film 10. When the sensor 28 detects the leading position of the film 10, the ultrasonic transducers 14b to 20b and 22c are controlled to start operating.

In this embodiment, the steps 14 to 14 of developing, fixing and washing are carried out.
Since 20 is also configured using an ultrasonic transducer,
The processing of all steps is speeded up, and the path of each step can be shortened. Therefore, the apparatus can be significantly simplified, downsized, and the processing speed can be increased at the same time. However, the present invention only needs to use an ultrasonic wave generating means such as an ultrasonic vibrator in the drying step, and the intended purpose can be achieved even if the other processing steps are conventional methods.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, the present invention is to dry a film that has been washed with water by irradiating it with ultrasonic waves. Therefore, the water droplets attached to the film are uniformly thinned by the ultrasonic waves. At the same time, it is scattered and scattered around. Therefore, drying unevenness does not occur, and high-speed drying can be performed quickly. Therefore, deterioration of graininess and curling of the film do not occur. Further, since rapid drying is possible, the development processing can be speeded up and the apparatus can be downsized.

[Brief description of drawings]

 FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of the present invention. 10 ... Film, 14 ... Developing step, 16 ... Fixing step, 18, 20 ... Water washing step, 22 ... Drying step, 22c ... Ultrasonic transducer as ultrasonic wave generating means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photographed film is developed, fixed, washed with water,
In an automatic developing apparatus for sequentially carrying out development processing by sequentially sending to each step of drying, the drying step is provided with an ultrasonic wave generating means for irradiating ultrasonic vibration to the film, characterized by promoting drying by ultrasonic vibration. Automatic developing device.