JPH07209841A - Device for concentrating waste developing solution - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a small-type concentration device for the waste developing solution at a low cost and in a high efficiency and capable of introducing it into a small-scale shop. CONSTITUTION:The device comprises a concentrating tank 2 divided into an evaporator 2a and a dew condenser 2b, of which upper parts are connected with each other, and Peltier element 16, and a heat emitting and absorbing members 4 comprising the heat emitting side 4a in contact with the evaporator 2a and the heat absorbing side 4b in contact with the dew condenser 2b, and a replenishing pump 3 for controlling an amount of the waste solution in the evaporator 2a in the constant range and a cooler 5 for controlling the temperature of the heat emitting side 4a in the constant range.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for condensing a developing waste liquid for photography, and more particularly to a small and inexpensive developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus using a Peltier element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Although 90% or more of the developing waste liquid for photographs is water, it cannot be discharged to sewage or the like due to legal regulations, and therefore the waste liquid contractor is exclusively entrusted with its disposal. When the waste liquid treatment is outsourced, the cost is charged not for the concentration of the waste liquid but for the amount of the waste liquid. Therefore, it is conceivable to concentrate the developer waste liquid. Here, as a method of concentrating the waste liquid, for example, a method of heating the waste liquid with a heater to promote evaporation can be considered. Further, in order to improve the inefficiency of this method, a method of using a heating device and a decompression device together and liquefying water vapor by a refrigerant or the like to increase the concentration rate can be considered.

[0003]

However, in the case of a photographic developing station on a street corner, the amount of developing waste liquid per day is 2 to 2.
Since it is generally about 4 liters and the scale of the store is not large, it was difficult to provide a waste liquid concentrating device using a decompression device or the like.

That is, since this waste liquid concentrating device requires a heater, a compressor and the like, the device becomes large and expensive, so that it is difficult to employ it in terms of cost and location in a normal scale store. . There is also a problem that the vibration sound generated from the decompression device becomes an obstacle. Furthermore,
The waste liquid collection by a trader requires a high cost for the collection, and therefore the collection cycle is about once a month, and the space for storing the waste liquid collected before the collection becomes a problem in a small store.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and provides a small-sized, low-priced, highly-efficient developer waste solution concentrating apparatus which can be introduced into a small-scale store. With the goal.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the developer waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to the present invention is divided into (a) an evaporation tank and a condensation tank, and the upper portions of the respective tanks are connected to each other. A concentrating tank, and (b) a heat-generating / heat-absorbing part that is composed of a Peltier element, the heat generating side of which is in contact with the evaporation tank and the heat absorbing side of which is in contact with the dew condensation tank; and (c) in the evaporation tank. A liquid amount adjusting means for controlling the amount of waste liquid to a liquid amount within a certain range, and (d) a temperature adjusting means for controlling the temperature on the heat generating side or the heat absorbing side of the heat generating / heat absorbing portion to a value within a certain range. It is characterized by having.

Here, the liquid amount adjusting means (c) is not particularly limited, but, for example, (c1) a storage tank for storing the photographic developing waste liquid, and (c2) the limit value of the liquid amount in the evaporation tank is set to a height Liquid level sensor for detecting with two liquid levels different from each other, and (C3) it operates in response to the output of this liquid level sensor,
When the liquid level is decreased to the liquid level of No. 1, the supply of the waste liquid is started from the storage tank, and when the liquid amount increases and reaches the second liquid level, the supply of the waste liquid is stopped from the storage tank. good.

Also, the temperature adjusting means (d) is not particularly limited, but for example, (d1) a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank, and (d2) a heat generating side of the heat generating / heat absorbing section are connected. The heat radiating unit and (d3) a cooling unit that operates in response to the output of the temperature sensor to forcibly cool the heat radiating unit.

It is also possible to separate the evaporating tank from the heat generating / heat absorbing section. In this case, (a) the evaporating tank and the dew condensing tank are divided, and the upper parts of the respective tanks are connected to each other. A concentrating tank and (b ') a Peltier element, the heat generating side of which is in contact with the outside air and the heat absorbing side of which is in contact with the dew condensation tank; and (c) waste liquid in the evaporation tank. A liquid amount adjusting means for controlling the liquid amount within a certain range,
(d ') The temperature adjusting means for controlling the temperature on the heat generating side or the heat absorbing side of the heat generating / heat absorbing section to a value within a certain range may be provided.

[0010]

In the inventions of claims 1 to 4, heat generation /
Since the heat generating side of the heat absorbing portion is in contact with the evaporation tank, the waste liquid in the evaporation tank is warmed to promote evaporation. Since the evaporation tank and the dew condensation tank communicate with each other at the upper part, the water vapor enters the dew condensation tank.
Since the heat-generating / heat-absorbing portion is composed of a Peltier element, the temperature decreases on the heat-absorbing side in response to heat generation on the heat-generating side. Therefore, the gas that has entered the dew condensation tank will be liquefied, and the liquefied water vapor will gradually accumulate in the dew condensation tank.

Further, in the invention of claim 5, heat generation /
Since the heat absorption side of the heat absorption part is in contact with the dew condensation tank, if the waste liquid in the evaporation tank is appropriately warmed, the water vapor will be effectively condensed in the dew condensation tank. Claims 1 to 5
In the invention, since the photographic waste liquid is concentrated by utilizing the heat generation / heat absorption operation by the Peltier element, the efficiency is higher than the mere heating by only the heater, and there is no noise because the decompression device is not required. It is a low price.

[0012]

The present invention will be described in more detail based on the following examples. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a developer waste liquid concentrating device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the concentration principle of the developer waste liquid concentrating device shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this developing waste liquid concentrating device comprises a storage tank 1 for temporarily storing the photographic developing waste liquid and a concentrating tank for condensing the distilled water evaporated from the developing waste liquid to condense the developing waste liquid. 2, a replenishing pump 3 for appropriately replenishing the concentration tank 2 with waste liquid, a heat generating / heat absorbing section 4 arranged to divide the concentration tank 2 into two, and a cooling section 5 for cooling the heat generating side of the heat generating / heat absorbing section 4. And an air pump 6 that circulates the air in the concentration tank 2 and a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit.

The storage tank 1 temporarily stores the waste liquid generated in the photo-developing process and the like. Below the inner wall of the tank, a drought check sensor which is a liquid level sensor for detecting the drought condition. 7 are arranged. The replenishment pump 3 sends waste liquid from the storage tank 1 to the concentration tank 2 in response to a command from the control unit, and is formed of a so-called backflow prevention type pump.

The concentration tank 2 is divided into an evaporation tank 2a and a condensation tank 2b (in a state where the upper portions are in communication) by a heat-generating side end surface 4a and a heat-absorbing side end surface 4b of the heat generating / heat absorbing section 4, and each tank 2a, The structure is such that the liquids 2b are not mixed with each other. Here, the end surfaces 4a and 4b of the heat generating / heat absorbing section 4
Is preferably composed of a member having high chemical resistance and high thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel or ceramic.

A full water check sensor 8a for detecting the full water state of the evaporation tank 2a is arranged above the wall surface of the evaporation tank 2a, and below the wall surface for detecting the water shortage state of the evaporation tank 2a. A drought check sensor 9a is arranged. The bottom surface of the evaporation tank 2a communicates with the discharge pipe 10, and a discharge valve 11a is provided in the middle of the discharge pipe 10.

The evaporation tank 2a also has a temperature sensor 12 for detecting that the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a has risen to a temperature near the limit temperature, and a temperature sensor 13 for obtaining a signal for controlling the cooling section 5. And are provided. Here, the limit temperature refers to the heat-resistant limit temperature of the Peltier element,
It is the temperature at which the heat absorption section 4 should be de-energized to stop the rise of the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a. In addition, each temperature sensor 1
2 and 13 are composed of, for example, a thermistor or a thermostat.

A full water check sensor 8b for detecting that the dew tank 2b is filled with distilled water is arranged above the wall surface of the dew tank 2b. Also, the condensation tank 2b
The bottom surface of is connected to the discharge pipe 10, and a discharge valve 11b is provided in the middle of the discharge pipe 10. This dew tank 2
b communicates with the duct 14 for air circulation on the wall surface above the full water check sensor 8b, and the duct 14 is connected to the intake side 6b of the air pump 6. on the other hand,
The exhaust side 6a of the air pump 6 communicates with the bottom surface of the evaporation tank 2a via a check valve 15.

The heat generating / heat absorbing section 4 has a plurality of sets of Peltier element sections 16 between the heat generating side end surface 4a and the heat absorbing side end surface 4b.
... 16 are included, and the two end surfaces 4a,
Filler 17 is filled between 4b, so that the Peltier device 1
6 ... 16 is waterproof.

The cooling section 5 includes a radiation fin 18 connected to the heat generation side end surface 4a of the heat generation / absorption section 4 and the radiation fin 1.
8 and a cooling fan 19 arranged to face each other. The cooling fan 19 includes the temperature sensor 13 described above.
The heat-radiating fins 18 are cooled by operating based on the output of 1 to maintain the heat generating side end surface 4a at a predetermined temperature (control set value T).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the principle configuration of the Peltier device section 16. The Peltier element portion 16 is a portion that acts mainly in the heat generating / heat absorbing portion 4, and the N-type semiconductor 20N and the P-type semiconductor 20P are connected to each other by the electric conduction portion 21.
It is configured to be connected in series with the DC power source E via. The N-type semiconductor 20N and the P-type semiconductor 20P are, for example, bismuth telluride semiconductors, and are respectively configured as elements of excess electrons and deficiency electrons due to impurity doping. In addition, the electric conduction portion 21 includes the heat absorption portion 23 b and the heat emission portion 23 via the electric insulation portion 22.
a, which are connected to the heat absorption side end surface 4b and the heat generation side end surface 4a of the heat generation / heat absorption section 4, respectively.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, the current from the DC power source E flows in the order of N-type semiconductor 20N → P-type semiconductor 20P → N-type semiconductor 20N. Then, the heat is absorbed in and the heat is released in the lower side, so that a predetermined temperature difference is formed between the heat absorbing side end surface 4b and the heat generating side end surface 4a.

FIG. 4 conceptually shows the control unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. AC 100V is supplied into the circuit via the main switch 24 and the fuse 25, and in the circuit, a closed circuit is formed by the first opening / closing part 26a and the air pump 6.

The first opening / closing part 26a is an opening / closing part which is normally in an ON state, but when the storage tank 1 is in a water-depleted state and the water-depletion check sensor 7 is activated, it is controlled to be in an OFF-state accordingly. It has become so. If the waste liquid in the storage tank 1 is exhausted while the heat generation / heat absorption section 4 is operating, the evaporation tank 2a in the concentration tank 2 is in a so-called "empty cooking" state, and the Peltier element is destroyed by its own heat generation. Drought check sensor 7
When is activated, the power supply to the circuit is forcibly stopped. It should be noted that if the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a rises to near the limit temperature, the power supply to the Peltier device should be stopped by the action of the temperature sensor 12 (described later), but if the storage tank 1 becomes empty, For example, temperature sensor 1
Even if 2 or the like fails, energization to the Peltier element is surely stopped.

AC line 2 on the output side of the first opening / closing section 26a
A DC power supply device 28 is connected to the output terminal 7, and a plurality of Peltier element parts 16 ...
16 and the second opening / closing part 26b are connected in series. The second opening / closing part 26b is an opening / closing part that is normally in an ON state. However, when the temperature sensor 12 detects that the temperature in the concentration tank 2 has reached the limit temperature, this detection operation is performed. Accordingly, it is controlled to the OFF state. That is, the second opening / closing part 26b is turned off according to the output of the temperature sensor 12, and the power supply to the heat generating / heat absorbing part 4 is cut off to prevent the temperature of the Peltier element from exceeding the heat resistance limit temperature. There is.

16 are electrically connected in parallel to the DC power supply device 28,
Further, the heat absorbing portion 23b and the heat emitting portion 23a of each set are arranged in parallel between both end faces 4b and 4a of the heat generating / heat absorbing portion 4. The Peltier device section 16 is an N-type semiconductor 20N.
And the P-type semiconductor 20P are connected in series (see FIG. 3), the Peltier element part 16 does not operate when a part of the semiconductor element 20 fails, but the remaining Peltier element parts connected in parallel. By continuing the operation of 16, the heat generating / heat absorbing effect is exhibited as a whole. The DC voltage E applied to the Peltier element
Does not need to be completely smoothed, the DC power supply 28 is
It can be easily configured.

The cooling fan 1 is also connected to the AC line 27.
9 and the third opening / closing part 26c are connected in series. Third
The opening / closing part 26c is normally an opening / closing part, but when the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a exceeds a predetermined value, the opening / closing part 26c is controlled to be turned on according to the detection operation of the temperature sensor 13. It has become so. It is desirable that the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a is always a constant value, but the temperature may become higher than a predetermined value depending on the volume fluctuation of the waste liquid or the distilled water in the concentration tank 2. In such a case, the Peltier element unit 1
If the power supply to 6 is stopped, the heat absorption operation is also stopped. Therefore, while the power supply to the Peltier element part 16 is maintained, the predetermined temperature is maintained by the operation of the cooling fan 19. Since the temperature sensor 13 is set lower than the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12, the second opening / closing part 26b operates as long as the third opening / closing part 26c and the cooling fan 19 operate normally. Therefore, the Peltier element section 16 is always energized.

Further, the replenishment pump 3 and the fourth opening / closing section 26d are connected in series to the AC line 27. The fourth opening / closing section 26d is an opening / closing section that is ON / OFF controlled by the outputs of the full water check sensor 8a and the water shortage check sensor 9a. That is, when the water shortage check sensor 9a operates, the fourth opening / closing part 26d is controlled to the ON state, and when the full water check sensor 8a operates, it is controlled to the OFF state. In the replenishment pump 3, the distillation tank 2a is in the water shortage state. Then, the operation is started, and when the evaporation tank 2a is filled with water, the operation is ended.

Since AC100V is supplied to the air pump 6 through the first opening / closing section 26a, the air pump 6 is always operated unless the storage tank 1 is in a water-depleted state and the first opening / closing section 26a is in the OFF state. It is persistent. Therefore, the air sucked from the dew condensation tank 2b is air-foamed in the distillation tank 2a. As a result, the temperature unevenness of the waste liquid in the distillation tank 2a is eliminated, and the concentration operation of the waste liquid is effectively performed. In this embodiment, the liquid temperature is made uniform by continuous air bubbling, but the liquid temperature is not limited to this, and for example, a convection of the waste liquid is promoted by stirring with a pump or a screw. May be. Further, in the case of this embodiment, the water vapor in the dew condensation tank 2b is supplied to the intake side of the air pump 6, but this circulation path is shut off to release the water vapor in the dew condensation tank to the atmosphere and to inhale the outside air. Then, air bubbling may be performed.

In the case of this embodiment, the distillation tank 2a
The waste liquid is heated only by the heat generating side end surface 4a of the heat generating / heat absorbing portion 4, but for example, when the apparatus is placed outdoors in a cold region, the heating of the evaporation tank 2a should be supplemented with a heater or the like. You can The efficiency may be increased by reducing the boiling point by reducing the pressure with a vacuum pump. In addition, in this device, the evaporation tank 2
The sizes of a and the dew condensation tank 2b are not particularly limited, but since both sides can be combined to have a side length of about 15 cm, the entire apparatus may be incorporated in the photographic developing apparatus.

Next, the operation of each part of the photographic waste liquid concentrating apparatus having the above construction will be described based on the time chart shown in FIG. 5 (a) to 5 (f), the temperature change in the concentrating tank 2 (a), the operating state of the cooling fan 19 (b), the energization state of the Peltier element unit 16 (c), and FIG. The liquid amount (d) of the evaporation tank 2a, the operating state (e) of the replenishment pump 3 and the distilled water amount (f) of the dew condensation tank 2b are shown.

Here, in the initial state, the evaporation tank 2a
It is considered that the waste liquid of is full of water. Further, in the initial state, the first opening / closing section and the second opening / closing section are in the ON state, and the third opening / closing section and the fourth opening / closing section are in the OFF state, so that the air pump 6 and the heat / heat absorbing section 4 are in the operating state. But cooling fan 1
9 and the replenishment pump 3 are stopped.

As described above, since the Peltier element portion 16 of the heat-generating / heat-absorbing portion 4 is energized via the second opening / closing portion 26a, the temperature of the heat-generating side end face 4a gradually increases with the passage of time, while The temperature of the end face 4b on the heat absorption side gradually decreases (see (a) in FIG. 5). Therefore, the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a decreases due to evaporation, while on the other hand, in the dew condensation tank 2b, dew condensation occurs on the end surface 4b on the heat absorption side and the amount of distilled water increases (see (d) and (f) of FIG. 5). .

While the evaporation / condensation operation is continued, the temperature of the evaporation tank 2a increases and the temperature of the condensation tank 2b decreases, but the temperature of the evaporation tank 2a eventually reaches the control set value T. become. Then, the temperature sensor 13 detects that fact, and in response to this detection operation, the third opening / closing unit 2
6c changes to the ON state and the operation of the cooling fan 19 is started. If the temperature of the evaporation tank 2a falls below the control set value T due to the operation of the cooling fan 19, the temperature sensor 13 to that effect is provided.
In response to the output of the above, the third opening / closing part 26c changes to the OFF state and the operation of the cooling fan 19 is stopped. That is, the cooling fan 19 is intermittently operated by the output of the temperature sensor 13, so that the temperature of the distillation tank 2a is maintained substantially at the control set value T.

When the evaporation / condensation operation is further continued, the evaporation tank 2
The concentration of the waste liquid of a progresses, and the liquid amount falls below a predetermined value. Then, the drought check sensor 9a operates, and accordingly, the fourth opening / closing part 26d is turned on,
The operation of the replenishment pump 3 is started. When the waste liquid in the storage tank 1 is replenished in the evaporation tank 2a by the operation of the replenishment pump 3, the evaporation tank 2a becomes full and the full water check sensor 8a operates after the replenishment operation for a fixed time. as a result,
Since the fourth opening / closing part 26d is turned off, the operation of the replenishment pump 3 is stopped.

The subsequent operation is the same as the above-mentioned operation, and the temperature of the distillation tank 2a is maintained at the control set value T by the intermittent operation of the cooling fan 19, and the evaporation / condensation operation is continued in this state. It If such a steady operation is repeated, the distilled water in the dew condensation tank 2b will soon become full, so the discharge valve 11b is opened to discharge the distilled water. If the waste liquid does not contain a volatile chemical, this distilled water can be appropriately reused.

On the other hand, in the evaporating tank 2a, the concentration of the waste liquid and the replenishment of the waste liquid are repeated, but at an appropriate time, the discharge valve 11a is opened and the waste liquid supplier is entrusted with the waste liquid disposal process. Just do it.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
The schematic diagram is illustrated. In the developer waste liquid concentrating device shown in FIG. 6, the heat absorbing side 4b of the heat generating / heat absorbing section 4 is connected to the dew condensation layer 2b.
Is connected, and the heat generation side 4a is opened to the outside. The waste liquid in the evaporation tank 2a is heated by an appropriate heating device 29, and the evaporation tank 2a and the dew condensation tank 2b are separated by a heat insulating layer 30. In addition, the radiation fin 19 is
It operates based on the temperature of the heat generating side 4a or the heat absorbing side 4b,
The temperature of the dew condensation tank 2b is maintained at a predetermined value. The other parts are the same as those of the apparatus of FIG. 1, and the water vapor in the dew condensation tank 2b is transmitted to the evaporation tank 2a by the air pump 6 or is discharged to the outside air.

[0039]

As described above, the developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to the present invention concentrates the photographic waste liquid by utilizing the heat generation / heat absorption operation by the Peltier element. Therefore, it is more efficient than concentrating by simple heating. Also, since there are almost no moving parts, it has excellent durability and is silent. Furthermore, not only can the entire apparatus be made inexpensive and downsized, but it is also possible to appropriately reuse the liquid recovered by dew condensation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a Peltier element unit.

FIG. 4 illustrates a controller of the device of FIG.

5 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Concentration tank 2a Evaporation tank 2b Condensation tank 3 Replenishment pump (liquid amount adjusting means) 4 Heat generation / heat absorption part 4a Heat generation side end surface 4b Heat absorption side end surface 5 Cooling part (temperature adjustment means) 8a Full water check sensor 9a Water shortage check sensor 12, 13 Temperature sensor 16 Peltier element section 18 Radiating fin 19 Cooling fan

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A tank is divided into an evaporation tank and a condensation tank, and
A concentrating tank in which the upper parts of the respective tanks are communicated with each other, and a Peltier element, a heat-generating / heat-absorbing section in which the heat-generating side is in contact with the evaporation tank and the heat-absorbing side is in contact with the dew condensation tank, and the evaporation tank. A liquid amount adjusting means for controlling the amount of the waste liquid in the liquid amount within a certain range, and a temperature adjusting means for controlling the temperature on the heat generating side or the heat absorbing side of the heat generating / heat absorbing part to a value within the certain range. A developer waste liquid concentrating device characterized by the above. 2. The developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an agitating unit for making the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank uniform.
A developer waste liquid concentrating device, further comprising: 3. A storage tank in which the liquid amount adjusting means stores a photo-developing waste liquid, and a liquid level sensor for detecting a limit value of the liquid amount in the evaporation tank by two liquid levels having different heights. It operates in response to the output of the liquid level sensor, and when the liquid amount in the evaporation tank drops to the first liquid level, the supply of waste liquid from the storage tank is started, and the liquid amount increases to the second liquid level. 3. The developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a waste liquid supply means for stopping the supply of the waste liquid from the storage tank when the temperature reaches a predetermined value. 4. The temperature adjusting means, in response to the output of the temperature sensor, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the waste liquid in the evaporation tank, a heat radiating part connected to the heat generating side of the heat generating / heat absorbing part. The developing waste liquid concentrating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cooling unit that operates to forcibly cool the heat radiation unit. 5. The tank is divided into an evaporation tank and a condensation tank, and
Each tank is composed of a concentrating tank that communicates with the upper part of the tank, and a Peltier element. The heat generating side is in contact with the outside air, and the heat absorbing side is in contact with the condensation tank.
A heat absorbing part, a liquid amount adjusting means for controlling the amount of waste liquid in the evaporation tank to a liquid amount within a certain range, and a temperature on the heat generating side or the heat absorbing side of the heat generating / heat absorbing part is controlled to a value within a certain range. And a temperature adjusting means for controlling the temperature of the waste liquid developer.