JPH07333809A - Automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an automatic developing machine which decreases the amt. of waste liquid, has excellent processing liquid stability and compactness and is capable of making processing without degrading processing performance by introducing the processing liquids ladled directly out of washing tanks or stabilizing tanks into a fixing tank or bleach-fixing tank. CONSTITUTION:Sheet-like photographic paper is successively transported in a color developing tank CD, a bleach-fixing tank BF and the stabilizing tanks S1 to S3 by roller transporting means and are respectively subjected to color development processing, bleach-fix processing and stabilization processing. A bellows pump BP3 is disposed between the stabilizing tank S1 and the bleach-fixing tank BF so as to discharge the processing liquids of the stabilizing tank S1 to the bleach-fixing tank BF. The processing liquid to be replenished to the bleach-fixing tank BF just before the stabilizing tank S1 is replenished with the processing liquid of the stabilizing tank S1 just behind the bleach-fixing tank BF. Cascade pipes C1, C2 are respectively disposed between the stabilizing tanks S3 and S2 and between S2 and S1. The replenishing water to be replenished to the final stabilizing tank S3 is replenished together with the water replenished in the bleach-fixing tank BF.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, and more particularly to an automatic processor which is excellent in processing solution stability and compactness while reducing the amount of waste liquid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a light-sensitive material) is processed by processes such as development, desilvering, washing and stabilization after exposure. The temperature of the photographic processing liquid or washing water used in each of these steps is usually adjusted to 25 to 50 ° C., and the light-sensitive material is dipped in these processing liquids for processing. Such processing is usually performed by sequentially transporting the light-sensitive material between processing tanks containing the above-mentioned processing liquid by an automatic developing machine or the like. In such a case, conventionally, a method of replenishing the replenisher of each processing solution is used in order to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing tank constant.

Further, in photographic processing, it is strongly desired to reduce processing waste liquid and washing water from an economical and environmental viewpoint. Conventionally, as measures against these, for example, a method of counter-flowing water with a multi-stage washing tank, or a pre-washing tank provided immediately after the fixing tank to be contained in the light-sensitive material and attached to the light-sensitive step as a pollution component Has been used, or a method of anhydrous washing treatment, which is an alternative method of washing with water using a small amount of stabilizing solution, has been performed.

Further, a method of thickening the replenisher is also generally used. In particular, the washing and stabilizing solutions account for a very large proportion of the total processing solution, so it is effective to pour the overflow solution into a tank having fixing ability or to use it as a replenishing solution after adding a regenerant. Known as the method.

A method of pouring an overflow solution of a washing solution or a stabilizing solution into a tank having a fixing ability as a pretreatment tank is disclosed in JP-A-58-14834, 60-23513, 63-212935 and the like. . As a specific method disclosed in these, a method of collecting overflow liquid and pouring it with a pump or the like,
Furthermore, a method is described in which the solution is put into a mixing tank to form a replenishing solution of a solution having fixing ability and then poured as a replenishing solution.

However, when the overflow solution of the washing or stabilizing tank is poured directly into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a tank having fixing ability) through a pipe or the like, the processing solution into which the overflow solution is poured. It was found that the specific gravity is smaller than that of the other tank, so that it cannot be poured into the next tank successfully unless there is a sufficient water level difference between both tanks. Therefore, in the case of counter current with such piping, lowering the liquid level of the tank with fixing ability,
Alternatively, it is necessary to wash or raise the liquid level in the stabilizing tank, but in the former case, the fixing time is shortened, and in the latter case, the height of the automatic developing machine increases, which is a big problem for downsizing the automatic developing machine. Become. This problem becomes more serious when the concentration of the component or silver in the processing solution having fixing ability becomes high due to rapid and constant replenishment, and the difference in specific gravity increases.

Further, since evaporation always occurs from the liquid surface from the temperature-controlled processing tank, in the case of pouring by a counter current, the amount of overflow is not constant due to the processing amount of the photosensitive material and the environment in which the automatic processor is placed. Therefore, there is a problem that the compositional variation of the tank having the fixing ability becomes large and the processing stability is lowered.

In addition, when the overflow solution of the washing or stabilizing tank is once stored in the storage part and then poured into a tank having a fixing ability by a pump, or a regenerant is added to the overflow solution to form a replenishing solution, which has a fixing ability. When replenishing the tank, it is necessary to provide a tank for storing the overflow liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as a reservoir) separately from the treatment tank, but in order to secure the liquid amount so that the pump does not suck air, The storage part needs a certain amount of capacity, which is an obstacle to downsizing of the automatic developing machine.

Further, conventionally, when the volume of these reservoirs is reduced, the ratio of the area of the liquid surface in contact with air per unit treatment liquid amount becomes large (expressed in a unit such as cm ² / liter). In addition, it has been pointed out that when the capacity is large, the renewal rate of the liquid is low, so that it is difficult to control, and insoluble matters such as sulfur and silver compounds are generated unless a design is made according to the treatment amount.

Further, since the temperature is not normally controlled in the reservoir, the temperature of the treatment liquid is lowered, and there are problems such as freezing and precipitation of components in the winter. However, it is not preferable to install a heater, a sensor, and a liquid level sensor for maintaining stability in order to control the temperature in the storage part, because it costs more than necessary to a tank that does not perform processing. There is also the problem that the deterioration of

By the way, a processing solution usually used for photographic processing is put in a plastic bottle in the form of a concentrated solution and supplied to a user as a processing agent kit. The user dilutes these processing agent kits with water. Prepares and uses a working solution or replenisher.

In recent years, in the photographic processing industry, there has been a rapid increase in the number of small-scale development laboratories called minilabs that use small automatic processors, and the amount of processing agent kits used in minilabs has also increased. Although the treatment agent kit is a concentrated liquid, it still requires a lot of space to store the treatment agent kit,
Also, the transportation cost is not ridiculous. In addition, the amount of discarded plastic bottles has been increasing year by year, and it is necessary to collect and dispose of these discarded plastic bottles. It is desired to develop a treatment agent having a small amount.

In order to reduce the space required for storage, transport costs, and the amount of plastic to be discarded, it is conceivable to supply the processing agent in a powder form. When the agent is dissolved, fine powder may fly up and be inhaled by workers, which is not only a concern for health effects, but also the processing agent components that fly up may mix into another photographic processing solution, which may cause development. This causes a problem that processing trouble occurs.

For this reason, a technique of using a photographic processing agent as a granular mixture is disclosed in, for example, JP-A Nos. 2-109042 and 2-109043. In addition, JP-A-5-119454, 5-113646,
5-107698 and the like describe a photographic processing system using a solid development processing agent, and a solid development processing agent used in the photographic processing system. The methods using these solid processing agents have also been examined for reducing the amount of waste liquid by pouring, but the above problems have not been completely solved. Further, in winter, when the temperature of the overflow liquid poured into the fixing tank is lowered, the dissolution time of the solid processing agent is extended, which may cause a problem in processability.

[0015]

In contrast to the problems described above, the object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of waste liquid, to improve the stability of the processing liquid,
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, which is excellent in compactness and can be processed without deteriorating the processing performance.

[0016]

The above objects of the present invention can be achieved by the following means.

(1) In an automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials comprising at least a fixing bath or a bleach-fixing bath, and a washing bath or a stabilizing bath, it is directly pumped out from the washing bath or the stabilizing bath. An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, comprising means for introducing the processing solution into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank.

(2) The tank into which the processing solution pumped from the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank is introduced is a tank to which the fixing replenisher or the bleach-fixing replenisher is directly replenished. Automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials.

(3) The automatic development for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to (1) or (2), characterized in that the washing bath or stabilizing bath comprises a plurality of processing baths arranged in a countercurrent manner. Machine.

(4) The above-mentioned washing bath or stabilizing bath is a counter-current type processing bath, and the processing liquid directly drawn from the frontmost bath is introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath. (3) An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in (3) above.

(5) Control so that a predetermined proportion of the processing liquid drawn out from the washing bath or the stabilizing bath with respect to the area of the photosensitive material to be processed is introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath. Characterized by having a possible control unit (1)
(4) An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in (4).

(6) The fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath is directly replenished with a solid processing agent (1) to
An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in (5).

(7) A processing solution drawn out from the washing bath or stabilizing bath is introduced near the position where the fixing replenisher or the bleach-fixing replenisher is replenished in the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in (1) to (6).

(8) After pumping out the processing liquid introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath from the washing bath or stabilizing bath, water for replenishment is supplied to either the washing bath or the stabilizing bath. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in (1) to (7), which is controlled to be replenished.

(9) Until the pumping of the processing solution introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank from the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank is completed, the processing tank from which the processing solution is pumped is replenished water or from the next tank. (1) to (8) characterized by having a means or a control function that prevents the overflow liquid from flowing in.
An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in 1.

(10) A sensor for detecting a decrease in the liquid level of the processing tank is provided in the tank in which the processing solution introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank is pumped from the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank.
The liquid level sensor has a function of operating a liquid level drop alarm means or a liquid level drop recovery means in response to a signal that the liquid level drop has been detected, so that the treatment liquid can be pumped out from the washing tank or stabilizing tank. The liquid level lowering warning means or the liquid level lowering recovery means, which is performed in response to a liquid level lowering signal from the sensor, is released for a predetermined period of time, or the operation of the sensor is released ( The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in 1) to (9).

(11) The volume of the processing liquid introduced from the washing bath or stabilizing bath into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath is smaller than the volume of water replenished in the washing bath or stabilizing bath. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to any one of (1) to (10).

The present invention will be specifically described below.

A feature of the present invention is that these solutions are directly pumped out from a washing tank or a stabilizing tank by means of a pump or the like, and are directly introduced into a fixing tank or a bleach-fixing tank. The effect of the invention can be obtained.

A predetermined amount of liquid can be introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath regardless of the evaporation amount of the treatment liquid in the washing bath or the stabilizing bath.

The automatic developing machine can be made compact as compared with the cascade method in which the overflow solution is stored in the reservoir and then poured into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank.

Since the storage part is not required, the stability of the processing liquid is improved, and the temperature drop in the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank is minimized due to the pouring. In particular, when a solid processing agent is used, poor dissolution hardly occurs. Become.

The processing solution in the present invention means a solution with which the light-sensitive material comes into contact during processing of the light-sensitive material, and specifically, a color developing solution, a black-and-white developing solution, a bleaching solution, a bleach-fixing solution, a fixing solution and a stabilizing solution. , Reversal liquid, hardening liquid, conditioner, and water (tap water, ion-exchanged water, a liquid containing a mildew-proofing agent) used for cleaning other photosensitive materials, and the like.

The washing tank and stabilizing tank of the present invention will be described. The stabilizing solution of the present invention may use a stable replenisher, but a solid stable replenishing treatment agent is directly replenished to the treatment tank,
The method of adding makeup water is more preferable.

The number of the washing tank or the stabilizing tank may be one, but 2
It is possible to increase the number of tanks up to about 10 tanks, and it is possible to reduce the amount of washing water and the replenishment of stabilizing solution by increasing the number of tanks.
About 6 tanks are preferable.

When washing water or a stabilizing solution or a solid stabilizing replenisher is used, the replenishing tablet and the replenishing water may be replenished in several places, but preferably the light-sensitive material is processed. Seen from the flow of the above, it is replenished to the later tank, and its overflow (when the tanks are connected by a pipe located below the liquid level,
It is preferable to adopt a type in which a solution flows through the pipe (including the case where the solution passes) into a tank in front of the tank, that is, a counter current method (multistage countercurrent method), and a cascade method is included in one of them.
More preferably, the stabilizing replenisher, more preferably a solid stabilizing replenisher and replenishing water, is replenished to the last stabilizing tank in two or more stabilizing tanks, and the overflow solution is sequentially transferred to the previous tank. The effect of the present invention becomes good when pouring.

The fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank in the present invention may be one tank or a plurality of processing tanks. When there are a plurality of fixing tanks or bleach-fixing tanks, it is preferable that the rearmost tank is replenished with the replenishing treatment agent and the overflow liquid flows into the tank before the tank. The bleach-fixing tank may be composed of a mixture of the bleaching tank overflow solution and the fixing tank overflow solution, in which case the bleaching tank-bleach-fixing tank-fixing tank is arranged in this order. Is preferred.

In the present invention, it is necessary to directly pump out the processing liquid from the washing bath or the stabilizing bath by means of a pump or the like and introduce it into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath, but preferably the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath. A water washing tank or a stabilizing tank is arranged subsequent to the tank, and the processing solution is pumped out from the frontmost tank of the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank, and the pumped processing solution is introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank. Further, in some cases, a treatment solution having two or more washing tanks or a stabilizing tank, which is pumped from an intermediate tank between the frontmost tank and the last tank, may be introduced into the processing solution having fixing ability.

As a particularly preferred embodiment, the processing solution pumped from the above-mentioned water washing tank or stabilizing tank is introduced into the rearmost tank of the fixing tank and the bleach-fixing tank, and more preferably the processing solution is introduced. This is the case when the tank is replenished with a replenishing liquid or solid fixing or bleach-fixing agent.

In the case of introducing a large amount of washing water or a stabilizing solution in the case of a liquid replenishing agent, the concentration of the replenishing solution must be made extremely high, which leads to a decrease in the stability of the processing solution and a discharge port of the replenishing pump. There is a limit to the amount of rinsing water or stabilizing solution that can be introduced due to problems such as precipitation of the processing agent component, but especially when the fixing agent or the bleach-fixing agent is solid, compared to the case where a liquid replenisher is used. It is possible to introduce a larger amount of washing water or a stabilizing solution, which is extremely effective in reducing the amount of waste liquid.

As the replenishing treatment agent of the present invention, a liquid form,
Although solid ones are used, solid ones (granules, pills, tablets) are preferable from the viewpoints of transportation cost, safety, compactness, etc., preventing the generation of fine powder, handling,
Tablets are particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of weighing accuracy.

Further, the pump in the present invention means a so-called liquid feed pump, and more specifically, a diaphragm type metering pump, a peristaltic pump, an electromagnetic metering pump, an air-driven bellows pump, a bellows pump, a metering pump, Tube Pump, Syringe Pump, Rotary Pump, Gear Pump, Vane Pump, Hose Pump, Plunger Pump, Magnet Pump, Eddy Current Motor Pump, Liquid Delivery Pump, Rotary Liquid Pump, Peristaltic Pump, Roller Pump, Chemical Handy Pump, Tubing Pump, Examples include magnet gear pumps and chemical pumps. Among these, bellows pumps (for example,
Bellows pump manufactured by Iwaki Co., Ltd., KB, KBM series), peristaltic pump (for example, SJ series manufactured by Atto Co., Ltd.), electromagnetic metering pump (for example, manufactured by Kobayashi Rika Kikai Co., Ltd. or Daiichi Kagaku Co., Ltd., EX and EX-E series) etc.
It is preferably used in the present invention.

In the present invention, the combined use of the photographic processing liquid distillation apparatus significantly reduces the amount of waste liquid, so that the combined use is more preferable. In particular, since the amount of replenishment to the replenishment tank can be reduced by using the distillate as replenishment water, the combined use is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the work amount of the operator.

The photographic processing liquid processing apparatus preferably used in the present invention will be described below. The photographic processing liquid processing apparatus, which is one of the constituent features of the present invention, can reuse the distillate generated in the waste liquid concentration processing step. Therefore, a vacuum distillation type evaporative concentrator is preferable. Further, as the heating means, a heat pump and a Peltier element having high thermal efficiency are suitable. A preferable processing condition of the evaporative concentration processing is that the processing temperature is 60 ° C. or lower. The processing pressure is preferably 200 mmHg or less, more preferably 100 mmHg or less. By performing waste liquid treatment with such equipment and conditions, there is no field or volatilization of substances contained in the waste liquid, a distillate that can be reused for photographic processing is obtained, and harmful gas and bad odor can be prevented. .

In the present invention, it is preferable to use a vacuum pump or an ejector as the depressurizing means, and the ejector is more preferable in terms of noise, compactness and effects of the present invention.

Next, an example of a photographic processing liquid processing apparatus having a pressure reducing means which is preferably used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 uses a heat pump as a heat source and evaporates and concentrates under reduced pressure.
The heat utilization efficiency is high, and evaporative concentration can be performed with low power consumption. Further, it is possible to prevent the heat field and heat denaturation of the waste liquid of the photographic processing liquid due to high temperature. In addition, it is maintenance-free, does not require specialized technicians or operation managers, can be compact, and has low running costs.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an evaporation tank which can withstand a reduced pressure, and the photographic processing liquid is injected and stored in the evaporation tank 1. A demister 23 is provided on the liquid surface of the evaporator 1. Two
Is a cooling pot concentrically provided outside the evaporation pot 1, and the upper part of the cooling pot 2 communicates with the upper part of the evaporation pot 1 at the upper part of the demister 23 provided in the evaporation pot 1, and the lower part. Is connected to the decompression device 3 to reduce the pressure. By the demister 23, it is possible to prevent the concentrated components existing in the evaporation tank 1 from splashing and mixing into the condensed water in the cooling tank 2, and as a result, the evaporation and concentration can be stably performed. Pressure reducing device 3
Is composed of an ejector 3a, 3a, and the ejector 3a, 3a is operated by letting water in the condensed water tank 10 pass by a pump 3b.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a heating means spirally arranged in the evaporator 1 and 9 denotes a cooling means spirally arranged in the cooling kettle 2. The heating means 4 and the cooling means 9 form a part of the heat pump 5. ing. In the heat pump 5, the heat medium is
It is pressurized and compressed by the compressor 11 to have a high temperature. The heat medium having a high temperature passes through the air cooling means 12, is cooled to a temperature required by the heating means 4, and then is supplied to the heating means 4 to heat and evaporate the photographic processing waste liquid W in the evaporation tank 1. . The air cooling means 12 is provided with an air cooling fan 13,
The air cooling means 12 is cooled by an air cooling fan 13. The heating means 4 has a lower part in the photographic processing waste liquid W and an upper part from the photographic processing waste liquid W. The heat medium that has passed through the heating means 4 is expanded and decompressed through the capillary tube 14 that functions as an expansion valve, and its temperature drops. The heat medium whose temperature has decreased passes through the cooling means 9a to cool the water in the condensed water tank 10 and is then supplied to the cooling means 9 to be generated in the evaporation tank 1 and to be cooled in the cooling tank 2.
The water vapor that has entered inside is cooled and condensed to form condensed water. The condensed water thus created is stored in the bottom portion 2a of the cooling kettle 2, sucked by the ejectors 3a and 3a, and collected in the condensed water tank 10. The heat medium that has passed through the cooling means 9 is returned to the compressor 11.

6 is a tank for storing the photographic processing waste liquid,
Reference numeral 7 is a supply means provided with an electromagnetic valve for pumping up the photographic processing waste liquid from the tank 6 and feeding it into the evaporator 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes an electrode-type liquid level detection means for detecting the liquid level of the evaporation tank 1. The liquid level detection means 8 is covered with a cylinder 25 so as to prevent malfunction due to adhesion of concentrated sludge, The photographic processing waste liquid supplied from the tank 6 is used for cleaning. The supply means 7 is controlled by the detection result of the liquid level detection means 8.

At the bottom of the evaporator 1, a slurry reservoir 15 for storing the slurry produced as a result of evaporation and concentration, and a slurry outlet 16 are provided.
And the slurry outlet 16 is tightly plugged by a plug means 17. The plug means 17 is provided with a backing plug 26 for maintaining a depressurized state in the evaporator 1 and the slurry outlet 16 can be opened and closed by pulling or pushing a handle 18 connected to the backing plug 26. It is like this. Further, the plug means 17 is provided with a slurry discharge port 19 so that a slurry recovery container (shown by a one-dot chain line) 30 can be engaged.

Reference numeral 20 is a stirring blade provided in the slurry reservoir 15, and is fixed to the lower end of an output shaft 22 that is hung from a drive source 21 installed on the top surface of the evaporator 1. The stirring blade 20 can stir the inner bottom surface of the slurry reservoir 15 over the entire surface, and
The slurry is configured to be easily moved toward the outlet 16.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a solenoid valve. When bubbles are generated during operation, the liquid level detection means 31 detects the bubbles and opens the solenoid valve 32 to prevent the photographic processing waste liquid from mixing into the condensed water.

33 is a pressure sensor for monitoring the reduced pressure state, 10
Reference numeral a is a water storage container that overflows the condensed water tank 10, and 27 is a liquid level sensor for monitoring the water level of the condensed water tank 10.

The evaporative concentrator is operated as follows.

The pump 3b is operated, the condensed water in the condensed water tank 10 is supplied to the ejectors 3a, 3a, the pressure inside the evaporation tank 1 and the cooling tank 2 is reduced, and the supplying means 7 is operated to discharge the photographic processing waste liquid from the tank 6. Is supplied to the evaporator 1. The depressurized state in the evaporation pot 1 and the cooling pot 2 can be detected by the pressure sensor 33. After the pressure is reduced to a constant level, the compressor 11 is activated and the operation of the heat pump 5 is started. The depressurized state may be detected by using the pressure sensor 33, but may move to the next step after a certain period of time has elapsed.

When the compressor 11 is started, the heat medium is pressurized and compressed to a high temperature. Air cooling means 12 is a compressor
It is for lowering the temperature of the heat medium pressurized and compressed to a high temperature by 11 to a temperature suitable for supplying to the heating means 4, and the heat medium pressurized and compressed to a high temperature by the compressor 11 is It is supplied to the heating means 4 through the air cooling means 12. The heating means 4 is cooled by the air cooling fan 13. The capillary tube 14 plays the role of a pressure reducing valve, and the heat medium leaving the heating means 4 expands through the capillary tube 14 to lower the temperature. This low-temperature heat medium passes through the cooling means 9a,
The condensed water in the condensed water tank 10 is cooled, and then the cooling means 9
After passing through, the water vapor evaporated from the evaporator 1 is cooled to be condensed water, which is then returned to the compressor 11. The heating region is on the upstream side and the cooling region is on the downstream side across the capillary tube 14.

The photoprocessing waste liquid W in the evaporator 1 is heated by the heating means 4
The steam generated by the heating is heated by the heating means 4 which is projected from the photographic processing waste liquid W to the demister.
After passing through 23, it enters the cooling pot 2 from the upper part of the evaporation pot 1 and is cooled and condensed by the cooling means 9 there. The condensed water thus created is collected in the bottom portion 2a of the cooling kettle 2 and is recovered by the vacuum created by the ejectors 3a, 3a in the condensed water tank 10 which is a recovery container installed outside the kettle. The ejectors 3a and 3a have a function of collecting condensed water accumulated in the bottom portion 2a of the cooling kettle 2 and a function of suppressing a pressure increase in the evaporation kettle 1, and cooperate with cooling and condensation of generated steam. As a result, the inside of the evaporator 1 is kept in a reduced pressure state. The water that overflows the condensed water tank 10 is stored in the storage container 10a.

When the liquid level in the evaporator 1 drops due to evaporation, the drop is detected by the liquid level detection means 8, the supply means 7 operates, the photographic processing waste liquid is supplied, and the liquid level is kept constant. . The supply of the photographic processing waste liquid is performed through the cylinder 25, and concentrated sludge adheres to the photographic processing waste liquid and is controlled by the detection result of the liquid level detecting means 8.

It is possible to prevent the photographic processing waste liquid from foaming at the time of evaporation, the generated bubbles being transferred to the cooling kettle 2, and the photographic processing waste liquid being mixed into the condensed water by the demister 23, but the foam exceeds the demister 23. In this case, the liquid level detecting means 31 provided at the upper part of the evaporation tank 1 detects this and the solenoid valve 32
Open to open the inside of the evaporation pot 1 to stop the generation of bubbles and prevent the photographic processing waste liquid from mixing with the condensed water.

The slurry concentrated to a high concentration obtained by repeating the evaporative concentration is stored in the slurry reservoir 15 provided at the bottom of the evaporation pot 1. The slurry stored in the slurry storage section 15 has a slurry recovery container 30 at the tip of the slurry discharge port 19.
Backing stopper by engaging the handle 18 and operating the handle 18.
By removing 26 and operating the drive source 21, the stirring blade 20 is rotated to move to the slurry recovery container 30, then the handle 18 is operated to close the backing plug 26, and the slurry recovery container 30 is moved to the slurry discharge port 19 Recovered by removing from.

The present apparatus is provided with a liquid level detection device in the tank 6, and is controlled so as to start the operation when the photographic waste liquid is accumulated in the tank 6 and stop the operation when the liquid level drops near the bottom surface.

Although a heat pump is used as the heating means and the cooling means in FIG. 1, a Peltier element may be used as the heating means and the cooling means. Even when Peltier elements are used for the heating means and the cooling means, the photographic processing liquid processing apparatus can be configured in the same manner as in FIG.

The Peltier element means an element utilizing the Peltier effect. The generation or absorption of heat due to the Peltier effect has the characteristic that it is reversed by reversing the direction of the current.

The one shown in FIG. 2 is an example of a photographic processing liquid processing apparatus using a Peltier device as a heat source.

In FIG. 2, 40 is a first storage tank for storing waste liquid before concentration, 41 is a second storage tank for storing waste liquid before concentration, 42 is a silver-containing waste liquid supply pipe, and 43 is a non-silver-containing waste liquid supply. Pipe, 44 pipe, 45 pump, 46 desilvering device, 47 desilvering tower, 48 steel wool, 49 pipe, 50 pump, 51
Is a concentration and decompression device, 52 is an evaporation tank, 53 is a water tank, 53a is an inner box,
53b is an outer box, 54 is a Peltier element, 55 is a seal member, 56 is a stirring member, 57 is a motor, 58 is a valve, 59 is a temporary storage tank for concentrated waste liquid, 60 is a valve, 61 is a final storage tank, and 62 is a pump. , 63 is a circulation pipe, 64 is a valve, 65 is a discharge pipe, 66 is a valve, 67 is a filtering device, and 68 is a demister.

The used fixing solution and the bleach-fixing solution from the automatic processor are temporarily stored in the first storage tank 40 through the silver-containing waste solution supply pipe 42. The silver-containing waste liquid in the first storage tank 40 is pumped up by the pipe 44 and the pump 45, and the desilvering device
Supplied to 46. The desilvering device 46 is composed of three desilvering towers 47 arranged in series. Each desilvering tower 47 is filled with steel wool 48, and the silver-containing waste liquid comes into contact with the steel wool 48, so that silver is ironed. Is replaced with and desilvering is performed. The desilvered waste liquid falls into the second storage tank 41. In addition, the used non-silver-containing waste liquid from the automatic processor is stored in the second storage tank 41 through the non-silver-containing waste liquid supply pipe 43. The non-silver-containing waste liquid stored in the second storage tank 41 is drawn up by the pipe 49 and the pump 50 and supplied to the concentrating device 51.

The concentrating device 51 has an evaporation tank 52 for evaporating the supplied waste liquid, and a water tank 53 provided outside the evaporation tank 52 and composed of an inner box 53a and an outer box 53b.

A large number of Peltier elements 54 are provided between the evaporation tank 52 and the water tank 53, and the heat generation surface of the Peltier element 54 is the evaporation tank 52.
And the heat absorption surface is in contact with the inner box 53a of the water tank 53. Further, a seal member 55 is provided between the upper part of the evaporation tank 52 and the upper part of the inner box 53a for liquid-tight sealing.

Although not shown, the concentration / decompression device 51 is provided with decompression means so that the inside of the evaporation tank 52 is decompressed.

The waste liquid supplied to the evaporation tank 52 is heated and concentrated by the Peltier element 54. The generated steam flows into the water tank 53, is cooled by the Peltier element 54, becomes a distillate, and accumulates in the water tank 53. The water tank 53 contains a predetermined amount of water in advance, and the pump 62 circulates the circulation pipe.
Circulated through 63.

The waste liquid in the evaporation tank 52 is stirred by the stirring member 56 which is rotationally driven by the motor 57.

The waste liquid concentrated in the evaporation tank 52 is stored in the temporary storage tank 59 for concentrated waste liquid by opening the valve 58. Further, the concentrated waste liquid in the temporary storage tank 59 is discharged to the final storage tank 61 by opening the valve 60. The final storage tank 61 is detachably attached, and the concentrated waste liquid discharged to the final storage tank 61 can be discarded.

For the distillate collected in the water tank 53, the valve 64 is closed,
By opening the valve 66, it is discharged through the discharge pipe 65 and the filtration device 67 and is reused. The filtration device 67 is filled with activated carbon and adsorbs and removes impurities such as easily volatile substances contained in the distillate.

68 is a demister, which prevents the waste liquid in the evaporation tank 52 from being mixed with the distillate in the water tank 53 due to foaming.

The evaporative concentration is carried out in this way, and the generated distillate is stored in a stock tank and used as replenishing water for each tank. This distillate contains a photographic processing solution component that is reasonably bright and therefore has a substantially constant composition and pH.
It is surprising that the value is maintained, and it is excellent in mold resistance and bacteria resistance.By using this as supplementary water, stable processability can be obtained, and the labor of supplying supplemental water is reduced. There are two advantages that can be omitted.

Although the distillate can be applied to any tank, the color developing solution requires extremely delicate control of the composition of the processing solution as compared with other processing tanks, and the distillate can be used as replenishing water without excess or deficiency. For this purpose, it is preferably applied to a processing tank other than the color developing tank.

The distillate thus obtained is preferably subjected to a secondary treatment, and the secondary treatment is specifically at least one of the following treatments.

(1) Activated carbon treatment (2) Ultraviolet irradiation treatment (3) Reverse osmosis treatment (4) Oxidizing agent treatment (5) Electrolytic oxidation treatment (6) Aeration treatment (7) Electrodialysis treatment (8) Redistillation treatment ( 9) Ion exchange resin treatment (10) pH adjustment treatment (11) Electrolytic oxidation treatment Depending on the amount of silver halide light-sensitive material processed, excess or deficiency of replenishment water may occur. You may use the replenishment water which performed the said secondary process.

[0080]

Embodiments of the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An example of an automatic developing machine to which the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to the drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer processor in which the automatic developing machine A and the photoprinting machine B are integrally configured.

In FIG. 3, in the lower left portion of the photographic printing machine B, a magazine M containing a roll of photographic paper which is an unexposed silver halide photographic photosensitive material is set. The photographic printing paper pulled out from the magazine is cut into a predetermined size through the feed roller R1 and the cutter section C to become a sheet-shaped printing paper. This sheet-shaped photographic paper is a belt conveying means B.
The image of the original image O is exposed by the light source and the lens L in the exposure section E by being conveyed by e. The exposed sheet-shaped photographic paper is further provided with a plurality of pairs of feed rollers R2, R3.
It is conveyed by R4 and introduced into the automatic developing machine A. In the automatic developing machine A, the sheet-shaped printing paper is a processing tank which is a color developing tank CD, a bleach-fixing tank BF, a stabilizing tank S1,
The rollers S1 and S3 (substantially three-bath processing tank 1 ) are sequentially conveyed by roller conveying means (reference symbol None), and color development processing, bleach-fixing processing, and stabilization processing are performed respectively. The sheet-shaped printing paper that has been subjected to each of the above-mentioned treatments is dried in the drying unit 5'and discharged outside 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 photosensitive material is introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a cut state, but it may be introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a strip shape. In that case, if an accumulator for temporarily retaining the photosensitive material is provided between the automatic developing machine A and the photoprinting machine B, the processing efficiency is improved. Further, it goes without saying that the automatic processor A according to the present invention may be configured integrally with the photographic printer B or may be the automatic processor A alone. Further, it goes without saying that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processed by the automatic processor A 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,
Color developing tank CD, bleach-fixing tank BF, stabilizing tanks S1 and S
The process is performed on the automatic developing machine A having the processing bath 1 having a substantially three-bath configuration including S2 and S3, but is not limited to this, and substantially includes a color developing bath, a bleaching bath, a fixing bath, and a stabilizing bath. The present invention can be applied to an automatic developing machine having a 4-bath structure.

Each of the color developing tank CD, the bleach-fixing tank BF, and the stabilizing tank S3 is provided with a constant temperature tank, which is a solid processing agent charging section and is in communication with the processing tank.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the processing agent supply section and the processing agent supply means of the bleach-fixing tank BF which is a processing tank in the II section of the automatic processor A of FIG. In this embodiment, a solid processing agent replenishing device is also installed in the color developing tank CD and the stabilizing tank S3 so that each solid processing agent can be charged into each processing tank. That is, 3A in FIG.
3B and 3E are solid processing agent replenishing devices, 3A is a color developing tank CD, and 3B is a bleach-fixing tank B.
F is a bleach-fixing replenishing tablet, and 3E is a solid processing agent replenishing device for charging the stabilizing replenishing tablet into the stabilizing tank S3.
It is installed at the position shown. Therefore, the color developing tank CD and the stabilizing tank S3 have the same configuration as the bleach-fixing tank BF. Therefore, when the processing tank 100 is described below, the color developing tank CD, the bleach-fixing tank BF, and the stabilizing tank S3. We will refer to both. 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, a case where tablets are used as the solid processing agent will be described. The replenishing device of the present invention can also be used for packaging of granules and powders other than tablets.

In FIG. 4, a processing tank for processing the photosensitive material.
The 100 has a solid processing agent charging section 70 for supplying a solid processing agent (tablet) J integrally provided outside the partition wall forming the processing tank 100, and a constant temperature bath 700. The processing bath 100 and the constant temperature bath 700 are partitioned by a partition wall 71A having a communication window 71 formed therein so that the processing liquid can flow. Since the solid processing agent injection section 70 provided above the constant temperature bath 700 is provided with the enclosure 75 for receiving the solid processing agent J, the solid processing agent J does not move to the processing tank 100 as a solid. The enclosure 75 allows the processing solution to pass therethrough, but the solid processing agent J must pass through a mesh or filter that cannot pass until it is completely dissolved.

The cylindrical filter 72 is replaceably provided below the constant temperature bath 700 and has a function of removing insoluble matters such as paper waste in the treatment liquid. The inside of the filter 72 is in communication with the suction side of a circulation pump 74 (circulation means) via a circulation pipe 73 provided through the lower wall of the constant temperature bath 700.

When the processing tank of FIG. 4 is a fixing tank or a bleach-fixing tank, the processing liquid pumped out from the washing tank or the stabilizing tank is introduced by an introduction pipe 78 near the position where the replenisher is replenished. be introduced. This allows good dissolution of the tablet.

The circulation system is composed of the circulation pipe 73 forming the liquid circulation passage, the circulation pump 74, the processing tank 100, and the like. The other end of the circulation pipe 73 that communicates with the discharge side of the circulation pump 74 penetrates the lower wall of the processing tank 100 and communicates with the processing tank 100. With such a configuration, when the circulation pump 74 operates, the processing liquid is sucked from the constant temperature bath 700 and discharged to the processing bath 100, and the processing liquid is treated.
Mixing with the treatment liquid in 00 and entering the constant temperature bath 700 again, the circulation 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. In addition, the circulation direction of the processing liquid is
The direction is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 4 and may be the opposite direction.

The waste liquid pipe 79 is used to overflow the processing liquid in the processing tank 100 and drop it into the waste liquid tank WT. The liquid surface level is kept constant, and the liquid is attached to the photosensitive material from another processing tank and brought in. Stored components and components leached from the light-sensitive material are stored, which helps prevent them from increasing.

The rod-shaped heater 76 is arranged so as to penetrate the upper wall of the constant temperature bath 700 and be immersed in the treatment liquid in the constant temperature bath 700. The heater 76 is used in the constant temperature bath 700 and the processing bath 100.
It heats the processing liquid inside, in other words, processing tank 1
Temperature range suitable for processing the processing liquid inside (eg 20-55 ℃)
It is a temperature adjusting means that is held at. Further, since the heater 76 is disposed in the vicinity of the position where the solid processing agent is introduced, it has the effect of promoting its solubility.

The processing amount information detecting means 81 is provided at the entrance of the automatic developing machine A and is used for detecting the processing amount of the photosensitive material to be processed. The processing amount information detecting means 81 has 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 81 may be any one capable of detecting the width and the conveyance time of the photosensitive material such as an infrared sensor, a micro switch, an ultrasonic sensor. Further, in the case of a device capable of indirectly detecting the processed area of the photosensitive material, for example, in the case of a printer processor as shown in FIG. 3, the amount of the photosensitive material that has been printed or the number of processed photosensitive materials having a predetermined area is set. It may be detected. Further, the detection timing is before the treatment in this example, but may be after the treatment or during the immersion in the treatment liquid (in such a case, the position where the treatment amount information detecting means 81 is provided). Can be appropriately changed to a position that can be detected after processing or a position that can be detected during processing). Furthermore, as the detected information, the processing area of the photosensitive material has been described in the above description, but it is not limited to this, and it is a value proportional to the processing amount of the processed or processed photosensitive material. I wish I had it.

Further, the processing amount information detecting means 81 need not be provided for each of the processing baths CD, BF, S1, S2, S3,
It is preferable to provide one for each automatic processor A. Reference numeral 82 is a processing amount supply control means for receiving the signal from the processing amount information detecting means 81 and controlling the processing amount supply of the processing agent.

The solid processing agent replenishing device 80 is set above the processing tank of the photosensitive material processing device for processing the exposed photosensitive material, and contains a container 88, a container loading means 84, a supplying means 85,
The processing agent supply plate 851, the notch portion 852, the driving means 86, and the like are included and are sealed by the inside of the upper cover 801. The upper cover 801 is swingably connected to a main body 101 that houses the processing bath 100 and the constant temperature bath 700 by a support shaft 802 at the back of the main body, and the upper cover 801 is lifted in the direction of the chain line A in the figure. , The solid processing agent replenishing device 80 by opening the front side and the top side on the operator side greatly.
Can be checked and the filter 72 can be replaced.

A skylight 803 is swingably connected to a part of the upper surface of the upper cover 801, and the skylight 803 is opened in the direction of the alternate long and short dash line B in FIG. Exchange.

FIG. 5 shows examples of various shapes of the tablet type solid processing agent J. 5 (A) is a cross-sectional view of a flat solid processing agent J having a circular flat surface and a rounded chamfer (r) at the corners, and FIG. 5 (E) shows the solid processing agent J. It is a perspective view. FIG. 5 (B) is a cross-sectional view of a drum-shaped solid processing agent J having a circular cross section, the upper and lower surfaces of which are flat and the circumferential surface of which has a convex radius (R). FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of J, which is a go-stone solid processing agent having a circular cross section and upper and lower surfaces having a spherical shape. FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of a donut-shaped solid processing agent J having a hollow hole.

Next, the solid processing agent replenishing device 80 for replenishing the processing tank 1 with the solid processing agent (hereinafter also referred to as a tablet) J having the shape shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 4, the tablet J is stored in the storage container 88, the skylight 803 is opened in the direction of the alternate long and short dash line B in the drawing as described above, and the storage container 88 storing the tablet J is manually operated by the operator. It is inserted in the direction of the outlined arrow C and loaded in the storage container loading means 84. Then, the storage container 83 is rotated together with the storage container loading means 84 in the direction of the outlined arrow D to complete the loading of the storage container 83 into the storage container loading means 84. In this state, the storage container 83 is in an inclined state with the left side facing down as shown in the figure, and thus the tablet J stored therein is in a state in which it is urged to move to the left by gravity.

Next, the processing amount supply control means 82 is operated by the information of the processing amount information detecting means 81 based on the processing amount of the photosensitive material and the motor M of the driving means 86 is driven. Supplying means driven by 85
The processing agent supply plate 851 therein is configured to rotate clockwise.

Notch portion 852 provided in the processing agent supply plate 851
The processing agent supply plate 851 rotates and just the tablet J and the cutout 852
When the positions of the two coincide with each other, the tablet J can be rolled into the notch 852. Therefore, in such a state, the tablet J rolls into the cutout portion 852 of the treatment agent supply plate 851,
The row of tablets J will be moved to the left by exactly one tablet.
Then, when the processing agent supply plate 851 further rotates and the notch portion 852 faces downward, the inside tablet J is guided by the chute 77 in the direction of the outlined arrow E and drops into the enclosure 75 of the solid processing agent input part 70. . Then, as described above, the tablet J is dissolved in the enclosure 75 and mixed into the treatment liquid to replenish the treatment liquid.

Next, an embodiment of the automatic developing machine of the present invention will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the automatic processor A of FIG.
It is the figure which mainly showed the structure relevant to this invention centering on each processing tank of.

In FIG. 6, as in the case of FIG. 3, a color developing tank CD, a bleach-fixing tank BF, a stabilizing tank S1 of each processing tank,
The photosensitive material such as photographic paper and film that has been exposed in S2 and S3 is conveyed according to the arrow indicated by the one-dot chain line, and the above-described processing is performed.

Further, as described above, the color developing tank CD is provided with the bleach-fixing tank BF by the tablet replenishing device Jc for color developing replenishment.
Is a bleach-fixing replenishing tablet replenishing device Jbf, and a stabilizing replenishing tablet replenishing device Js is a final stabilizing tank S3.
Thus, the above-mentioned solid processing agent is added at a proper time.

The water tank T containing the replenishing water W is
The color developing tank CD and the stabilizing tank S3 are arranged so that replenishing water W can be replenished by bellows pumps BP1 and BP5.

The water tank T replenished in the stabilizing tank S3
The replenishing water W is further provided in the stabilizing tanks S2 and S1 and the bleach-fixing tank BF so that the replenishing water W can be replenished.

That is, the replenishing water W replenished from the water tank T to the stabilizing tank S3 raises the water level of the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank S3. A cascade pipe C1 is provided between the stabilizing tank S3 and the stabilizing tank S2 so that the processing liquid can flow in a cascade manner.
Are mounted as shown. Cascade pipe C1
As shown, the upper part of the cascade pipe C1 is a stabilizing tank 1E.
Of the cascade pipe C1 is attached to the lower surface of the stabilizing tank S2 so that its outlet is aligned. Therefore, as described above, the stabilization tank S is more effective than the water tank T.
When the water level in the stabilizing tank S3 rises due to the replenishment water W replenished in 3, the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank S3 flows into the cascade pipe C1 from the upper inlet of the cascade pipe C1, and the lower outlet of the cascade pipe C1. It will flow out to the stabilization tank S2. Then, the water level of the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank S2 is raised.

Similar to the cascade pipe C1, a cascade pipe C2 is attached between the stabilizing bath S2 and the stabilizing bath S1 as shown in the figure. As in the case of the cascade pipe C1, the cascade pipe C2 has its upper part aligned with the liquid inlet of the stabilization tank S2 as shown in the figure, and the lower part of the cascade pipe C2 flows into the lower part of the stabilization tank S1. It is installed with the outlet aligned. Therefore, when the water level in the stabilizing tank S2 rises as described above, the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank S2 flows through the inlet port at the upper part of the cascade tube C2.
Flow into the stabilizing tank S1 from the lower outlet of the cascade pipe C2. And stabilizing tank S1
To raise the water level of the treatment liquid.

A tube on the suction side of the bellows pump BP3 is provided between the stabilizing tank S1 and the bleach-fixing tank BF.
1 is inserted into the processing solution of No. 1 as shown in the drawing, and a pipe on the discharge side of the bellows pump BP3 is arranged so as to discharge the processing solution of the stabilizing tank S1 to the bleach-fixing tank BF as shown in the drawing.

On the other hand, the processing liquids in the stabilizing tanks S3 and S2 can be maintained at a predetermined water level by determining the heights of the inlets at the upper portions of the cascade pipes C1 and C2. BF is a stabilizing tank S3, S2, the replenishment amount of the replenishment water W of the water tank T by the bellows pump BP2.
It is possible to maintain the processing liquid at a predetermined concentration by setting it according to the evaporation amount of S1 and the bleach-fixing tank BF and the processing amount of the photosensitive material.

An overflow pipe 79 is installed in each of the color developing tank CD, the bleach-fixing tank BF, and the stabilizing tank S1.

Similarly, the color developing tank CD is a water tank T.
By setting the replenishment amount of the replenishment water W by the bellows pump BP1 according to the evaporation amount and the replenishment amount of the color developing tank CD, it is possible to maintain the processing liquid at a predetermined concentration.

The processing solution thus replenished in the bleach-fixing tank BF immediately before the stabilizing tank S1 is replenished with the processing solution in the stabilizing tank S1 immediately after the bleach-fixing tank BF, and the final stabilizing tank S1.
The replenishing water to be replenished to No. 3 will be replenished together with the water to be replenished to the bleach-fixing tank BF.

Further, the processing liquid directly pumped out from the stabilizing tank S1 by the bellows pump BP3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 is introduced into the bleach-fixing tank BF near the tablet feeding position.
Since it is introduced by 78, the temperature of the introduced processing liquid is hardly lowered, so that the dissolution of the tablet is promoted.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of the relationship between the position where the solid processing agent is introduced and the position where the processing liquid pumped out by the bellows pump BP3 is introduced into the bleach-fixing tank BF by the introduction pipe 78. In FIG. 7A, both the charging position of the solid processing agent J and the outlet of the introduction pipe 78 are provided in the constant temperature bath 700. In FIG. 7B, the solid processing agent J is provided in the photosensitive material processing bath 100, and the inlet of the introduction pipe 78 is provided in the constant temperature bath 700. In FIG. 8C, the solid processing agent J is placed in the constant temperature bath 700, and the inlet of the introduction pipe 78 is provided in the treatment bath 100. In FIG. 8D, there is a solid processing agent input position in the processing tank 100 for the photosensitive material, and the horizontal and downward directions are regulated so that the solid processing agent charged in the processing liquid does not come into contact with the photosensitive material before it is dissolved. The range of movement is restricted by the plate. Further, the downward regulation plate has a structure of a perforated plate having a plurality of holes, and the processing liquid sent by the circulation pump P through the perforated plate is sprayed onto the solid processing agent to promote the solubility. It has become so. The sprayed processing liquid is circulated to the photosensitive material transporting section through a hole provided in the regulation plate or above the regulation plate.

In particular, since the bleach-fixing solution has a very high salt concentration in the processing solution, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 8 (d), the bellows pump BP3 is used to remove more salt than the processing solution in the bleach-fixing tank BF. The treatment liquid having a low concentration is pumped out and introduced into the vicinity of the solid treatment agent J through the introduction pipe 78, and the temperature of the treatment liquid introduced is close to that of the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank, so that the solid treatment agent J is dissolved. Has the effect of being promoted.

The operation diagram of each pump and the state of the liquid surface are shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, a stabilizing tank S by a bellows pump BP3 is provided according to the processing amount of color paper.
Pumping from No. 1 to the bleach-fixing tank BF starts, and the liquid level in the stabilizing tank S1 is lowered by this. In addition, replenishment water is replenished by the bellows pump BP5, whereby the liquid level rises sequentially with the stabilizing tanks S3, S2, S1, and the stabilizing tank S1
Is maintained at the overflow level. Bellows pump BP3 before starting pumping of bellows pump BP3
5, the liquid level lowering warning means or the liquid level lowering recovery means does not operate even if the liquid level detecting sensor Ls gives a signal indicating the liquid level lowering until the liquid level of the stabilizing tank S1 is recovered. It is controlled to work.

The timing of the operation of BP3 and BP5 is not particularly limited as long as the liquid level in the stabilizing tank S1 finally reaches the overflow level, but it is certain that the operation of the bellows pump BP5 starts after the operation of the bellows pump BP3 ends. It is preferable to be kept at an overflow level. In addition, after replenishing with the bellows pump BP5, the stabilization tank S2
Since there is a slight time difference until the liquid level rises, the operation of the bellows pump BP3 may be started before the operation of the bellows pump BP3 is stopped. Further, in order to solve the problem of erroneously recognizing such a drop in the liquid surface caused by the pumping operation of the bellows pump BP3 as an abnormal drop in the liquid surface due to evaporation or the like, the operating position of the liquid surface detection sensor Ls is set by the normal pumping operation. It is also possible to provide it at a position slightly lower than the lowering liquid level.

In addition, the filter 72 in the stabilization tank S1
Is provided at a height such that the circulation pump 74 does not suck air when the liquid level is lowered due to the replenishment operation of BP3.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram for controlling the solid processing agent and the replenishing water as described above, the control for pumping and supplying the processing solution, and the liquid level lowering warning means by the liquid level detection sensor.

In the present invention, the stabilizing tank S as described above is used.
By replenishing the bleach-fixing tank BF with the treatment liquid No. 1, the following merits occur.

The first is that the water tank for the bleach-fixing tank BF and its water replenishing device are not required, so the structure is simpler and the cost is lower, and the automatic developing machine is compact.

Secondly, the processing solution in the bleach-fixing tank, which is attached to the light-sensitive material and brought into the stabilizing tank S1, is the stabilizing tank S1.
It is mixed with the processing solution of No. 1 and returned to the bleach-fixing tank BF by the bellows pump BP3 again to reinforce the bleach-fixing processing capacity of the bleach-fixing tank BF.

On the other hand, for the photosensitive material, for example, photographic paper, which has left the bleach-fixing tank BF, the stabilizing tanks S1 and S using the stabilizing solution as the processing solution are used.
Since it is processed in S2, that is, the processing liquid in the stabilizing tank S3 is processed in a state in which it is kept clean without any stains, the unexposed white background of the photographic paper is not stained and It has also been found that the storage stability is improved without lowering the processing capacity.

Furthermore, the treatment liquid in the stabilizing tank S1 is once pumped out by the bellows pump BP3, and then the stabilizing tank S2 is discharged.
Since the overflow liquid from the inflows into the stabilizing tank S1 through the cascade pipe C2, the rate of liquid renewal in the stabilizing tank S1 is increased, and the advantage that the capacity of the stabilizing tank S1 as a stabilizing tank is also clarified. .

An example of specific processing conditions of the embodiment will be shown below.

Replenishment tablet Replenishment amount per piece (unit) Processing temperature Treatment time Replenishment water amount / m ² / Replenishment cycle (m ² ) Color development 39.8 ° C. 22 sec 65 ml 2 / 2.5 Bleach fixing 35-40 ° C. 22 sec (80 ml) 2/1 Stabilization 1 30-40 ° C 22sec ↑ − Stabilization 2 30-40 ° C 22sec ↑ − Stabilization 3 30-40 ° C 22sec 180ml 1/10 The replenishing amount of this bleach-fixing tank (80ml) is the stabilization tank. It is the amount of pumping from 1 to the bleach-fixing tank.

The size of one tablet of the solid processing agent is 30 m in diameter.
It had a disk shape of m and a height of 10 mm, and the weight of one tablet was about 11 g.

The replenishing water to the stabilizing tank may be replenished at another timing in addition to the pumping operation. That is, you may replenish separately. An example of the case of divided supplement is shown below.

Processing amount of photosensitive material (m ² ) 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Amount of replenishing water to S3 (ml) (BP5) 30 60 30 60 30 60 30 60 S1 → BF (ml) (BP3) 40 40 40 40 S1 → BF Is the amount pumped from the stabilization tank to the BF tank.

[0130] pumped 40ml processing liquid in bleach-fixing tank BF photosensitive material from the stabilizing tank S1 is every time 0.5 m ² processed as above and the replenishing water to 60ml recruited to stabilize tank S3. In addition, a stabilizing tank S3 is used until 0.5 m ^{2 of the} photosensitive material is processed.
Top up with 30 ml of replenishing water. Therefore, the replenishment of the replenishing water to the stabilizing tank S3 is performed at the timing synchronized with the pumping from the stabilizing tank S1 to the bleach-fixing tank BF, and at other times, 100 ml is replenished per 1 m ² treatment.

The bellows pumps BP1 to BP5 can perform the evaporation correction of the processing tank in addition to the replenishment operation (replenishment water replenishment operation) performed according to the processing amount of the photosensitive material. That is, if the amount of treatment per unit time becomes extremely small, or if the treatment is not performed for a long time at all, the treatment liquid evaporates, the treatment liquid is concentrated and the liquid level in the treatment tank is lowered, and In order to affect, it is preferable to replenish water with an appropriate amount of water in proportion to the amount of evaporation, such as the time during which the automatic processor is operating (the time during which the temperature of the processing liquid is adjusted) and the amount of processing per unit time. Accordingly, a predetermined amount of water is controlled to be replenished for evaporation correction. As a method for determining the amount of replenishment water for evaporation correction (hereinafter referred to as evaporation correction amount), it is preferable to use a parameter according to the environment in which the automatic developing machine is installed. As the parameter, a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor is used. The value derived from the measured value may be applied to the computer, or a value corresponding to the average condition of the installed environment may be input. An appropriate evaporation correction amount is derived from the operating state. Further, as another means, when the liquid level sensor detects an abnormal decrease in the liquid level, the liquid level sensor may perform the evaporation correction until the liquid level is restored to a predetermined water level. It can also be added together with replenishing water that is replenished with it.

An example of the evaporation correction operation based on the automatic processor shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The CPU appropriately adjusts the evaporation correction based on the operating time and the parameters input in advance based on the installation environment of the automatic processor. The amount is calculated, and the evaporation correction operation is started when a predetermined evaporation correction timing comes. The amount of water corresponding to the evaporation correction amount is supplied from the bellows pumps BP1 and BP5 to the color developing tank CD and the stabilizing tank S3, but the amount of processing liquid flowing from the cascade pipe C2 to S1 increases. Is set so as to be replenished with water from BP5, so that proper evaporation replenishment water is also performed in the stabilizing tank S1.

As a comparative example, cascade pipes C1 and C
The same cascade pipe as in No. 2 was used so that the overflow liquid in the stabilizing tank S1 could flow into the bleach-fixing tank BF. As a result, in order for the overflow solution to flow in, it is necessary to significantly lower the liquid level in the bleach-fixing tank BF due to the difference in specific gravity between the stabilizing solution and the bleach-fixing solution. The processing time became short, and defective desilvering failure occurred.

In the system of the present invention, the automatic developing machine is made compact because the level of decrease in the liquid level during the operation of the pump can be made smaller than the difference in the liquid level between the bleach-fixing tank BF and the stabilizing tank S1 required for the cascade. Be advantageous to. That is, since the amount of decrease in the liquid level can be freely controlled by combining the amount of liquid pumped out at one time and the frequency of pumping out, frequent replenishment increases the difference from the comparative example.

Further, as another comparative example, a bellows pump B
Instead of directly pumping from the stabilizing tank S1 to the bleach-fixing tank BF by P3, a storage tank for storing the overflowed liquid from the stabilizing tank S1 is provided, and the bellows pump is used to introduce it into the bleach-fixing tank BF. did. As a result, if a small amount of treatment was continued for a long time, a deposit was generated in the storage tank.

The above is the case of the three-bath constitution, but an example of other constitution is shown in FIG. Of course, the present invention is not limited to these configurations. The symbols in FIGS. 11 to 12 are the same as in the case of the above-mentioned automatic developing machine having three baths and five tanks (FIG. 6). However, R represents a rinse tank, and is actually a water tank for supplying a small amount of water. Further, C1 to C6 represent cascade pipes, and pipes OF of each tank connected to the waste liquid tank WT represent overflow pipes.

FIG. 11A shows an example of a four-bath configuration (color development CD, bleaching BL, fixing F, and stabilizing S tanks) having two fixing tanks. Further, FIG. 2B shows an example of a five-bath configuration (color development CD, bleaching BL, bleaching / fixing BF, fixing F, rinse R, and stabilizing S tanks). Figure 12 shows
An example having the photographic processing liquid processing device (waste liquid concentrating device) in the case of a three-bath configuration will be shown. In the figure, the waste liquid WT is stored in a stock tank ST with distilled water obtained by a vacuum distillation type concentrator D, and can be reused by being introduced into a bleach-fixing tank BF or a stabilizing tank S3 by a pump P as needed. It is intended. A replenishing device using a bellows pump BP5 is also provided in case of lack of distilled water.

FIG. 13 shows an operation diagram in the case of the automatic processor having the structure of 4 baths and 7 tanks in FIG. 11 (a).

In the figure, first, the bellows pump BP5
Is replenished to the stabilizing tank S3 by the
The liquid level of 1 (L2 → L1) rises and begins to overflow, the bellows pump BP5 is stopped, and the bellows pump BP3 pumps from the stabilizing tank S1 to the fixing tank F2. In this case, the end of the pumping by the bellows pump BP3 becomes the water level of the normal processing liquid in the stabilizing tank S1, but the replenishing water amount and the pumping amount associated with one replenishment operation are reduced, that is, with respect to the processing amount of the photosensitive material. Divided into 1
By reducing the amount to be replenished each time, the difference in liquid level between the stabilizing tank S2 and the stabilizing tank S1 can be reduced. In addition, since the liquid level does not drop significantly from the normal position of the liquid level during the refilling operation, it is not necessary to provide any means for preventing the liquid level sensor from erroneously recognizing the lowered liquid level.

[0140]

The treatment liquid directly pumped from the washing bath or stabilizing bath of the present invention is introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath,
In particular, by introducing the processing solution pumped out in the vicinity of the position where the replenisher is replenished, the solubility of the solid processing agent is increased, the amount of waste liquid is reduced, the processing solution is stable and compact, and the processing is excellent. It was possible to provide an automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, which can be processed without degrading its performance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an evaporative concentrator that can be used in an automatic processor.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an evaporative concentrator that can be used in an automatic processor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer processor.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a solid processing agent input section and a processing agent supply means.

FIG. 5 is a view showing various shapes of a tablet-type solid processing agent.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an automatic processor.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the solid processing agent and the pumped-in processing liquid.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a positional relationship between the solid processing agent and the pumped-in processing liquid.

FIG. 9 is an operation diagram.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of control.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of various automatic developing devices.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an automatic developing device having a waste liquid concentrating device.

FIG. 13 is an operation diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

A Automatic developing machine B Photographic printing machine CD Color developing tank BF Bleach fixing tank BL Bleaching tank F, F1, F2 Fixing tank S1, S2, S3 Stabilizing tank Jc, Jb, Jbf, Jf, Js Solid processing agent replenishing device Ls liquid Surface detection sensor T Water tank BP1, BP2, BP3, BP4, BP5 Bellows pump C1, C2 Cascade pipe 1 Evaporation kettle 2 Cooling kettle 10 Condensed water tank 70 Solid processing agent input 100 Processing tank 700 Constant temperature tank

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least a fixing bath or a bleach-fixing bath, and a washing bath or a stabilizing bath, which is directly pumped out from the washing bath or the stabilizing bath. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, comprising means for introducing a processing solution into a fixing tank or a bleach-fixing tank. 2. The tank into which the processing solution drawn out from the washing tank or the stabilizing tank is introduced is a tank to which a fixing replenisher or a bleach-fixing replenisher is directly replenished.
An automatic processor for the described silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. 3. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said washing bath or stabilizing bath comprises a plurality of processing baths arranged in a countercurrent manner. 4. A treatment liquid directly drawn from a frontmost tank of a plurality of processing tanks in which the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank is configured in a countercurrent manner is introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 3. 5. The control can be performed so that a processing liquid drawn out from the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank is introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank in a predetermined ratio with respect to the area of the photosensitive material to be processed. A control unit is provided.
4. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in 4. 6. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1, wherein the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath is directly replenished with a solid processing agent. 7. The treatment liquid pumped out from the washing bath or stabilizing bath is introduced in the vicinity of a position where the fixing replenisher or the bleach-fixing replenisher is replenished in the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath. Item 7. An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to items 1 to 6. 8. The replenishing water is replenished to either the washing tank or the stabilizing tank after starting to pump out the processing liquid introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank from the washing tank or the stabilizing tank. 8. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1, which is controlled as follows. 9. Replenishment water or overflow from the next tank into the processing tank from which the processing solution is pumped out until the processing solution introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank from the washing tank or the stabilizing tank has been pumped out. 9. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1, which has a means or a control function for preventing the liquid from flowing. 10. A sensor for detecting a decrease in the liquid level of the processing tank is provided in a tank for pumping out the processing liquid introduced into the fixing tank or the bleach-fixing tank from the water washing tank or the stabilizing tank. The sensor has a function of operating a liquid level lowering alarm means or a liquid level lowering recovery means in response to a signal that the liquid level has been lowered, and a predetermined processing liquid is pumped out from the washing tank or stabilizing tank. 2. The liquid level lowering warning means or the liquid level lowering recovery means, which is performed in response to the signal of the liquid level lowering from the sensor, is released for the above period of time, or the operation of the sensor is released. 9. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in 9. 11. The volume of the processing liquid introduced into the fixing bath or the bleach-fixing bath from the washing bath or the stabilizing bath is smaller than the volume of water replenished in the washing bath or the stabilizing bath. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1.