JPH0844028A - Automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic sensitive material and its replenishment control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To compensate the cumulative replenishment error even if a replenishing amt. error is caused by comparing the area information of a photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amt. of a solid processing agent with the process information to correct the replenishing amt. CONSTITUTION:A processing amt. information detecting means 31 (e.g. an IR sensor, microswitch, ultrasonic sensor, etc.) is provided close to the photosensitive material carrying inlet of an automatic developing machine AP to detect the amt. of photosensitive material to be processed. A control means 32 is a means to control the action for replenishing a solid processing agent on receipt of a signal from the detecting means 31 and also used, in this case, as a means for controlling the supply of a replenishing water. The information on the processing amt. of a silver halide photographic sensitive material is detected by the detecting means 31, the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amt. of solid processing agent is compared with the processing amt. information by the control means 32, and the replenishing action of a solid processing agent replenishing means 30 per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed is corrected.

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 a light-sensitive material in which the workability is greatly improved by making the automatic processor compact and eliminating melting work. The present invention relates to an automatic developing machine for use with a solid processing agent, which has a replenishing device with a solid processing agent and has remarkably improved replenishing accuracy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a light-sensitive material) is used after exposure, development,
It is processed by steps such as desilvering, washing and stabilizing. The black-and-white silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is developed and fixed after exposure.

Such processing is usually carried out by an automatic processor (hereinafter,
It is also carried out by automatically transporting the light-sensitive material sequentially through the above-mentioned processing steps, such as an automatic developing machine).

Now, in the case of processing with such an automatic processor,
A method of replenishing a processing agent for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials (hereinafter also referred to as a photographic processing agent) in order to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing solution tank constant is widely adopted.

Specifically, the processing operation is carried out while supplying the replenishing solution from the replenishing tank (hereinafter also referred to as the replenishing tank) into the processing solution tank at appropriate times.

In this case, the replenisher stored in the replenishing tank itself is generally prepared and prepared in another place, but in an automatic developing machine called minilab which has been rapidly increasing in recent years, it is close to the inside of the developing machine. Usually, a fixed amount is prepared at once when there is no replenisher in the replenishment tank installed by hand, and in that preparation, manual dissolution or dissolution mixing with a mixer has been performed. .

That is, the photographic processing agents are usually sold in liquid form on the market, and in use, a concentrated liquid kit is used, a certain amount of water is added, the mixture is manually stirred, and diluted to prepare a solution. We are making a replenisher.

The above replenisher solution preparation requires a certain amount of time for dissolution. In the minilab and the like, the liquid kit is in an undissolved state during the preparation, so that the liquid is supplied so as not to be sent to the processing liquid tank as a replenishing liquid with a processing agent largely different from the specified concentration. Had to stop.

In general, a method of temporarily stopping the continuous processing of the light-sensitive material, restarting it after preparing the replenishing solution, and then restarting the processing of the light-sensitive material is a great hindrance. Has become.

On the other hand, in recent years, from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment, development of a solid processing agent for the above photographic processing agent has been under development.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2-109042, 2-109043, and 3-39379
The above-mentioned solid processing agents are disclosed in JP-A Nos. 3-39735, 4-19655 and 4-230748. But,
When a replenisher is prepared using the above solid processing agent, its dissolution time is longer than that in the case of a liquid form. As a result, there is a problem that the continuous processing stop time is increased and work efficiency is significantly deteriorated.

In order to solve these problems, a method of directly adding a solid processing agent to a processing tank and dissolving it is disclosed in JP-A-5-119454.
No. 5,188,533 and the like. However, even with these techniques, it has been difficult to constantly and stably replenish a fixed amount of the solid processing agent.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-213454 discloses an automatic developing machine as a processing apparatus for a photosensitive material into which a granular solid processing agent is added, which quantitatively measures and replenishes a granular or powdery solid processing agent. Is proposed. However, it is difficult to replenish solid processing agents such as granules, powders, pills, and small tablets that are not constant in size and shape while counting the number of solid processing agents constantly. A certain amount is cut out from the storage container and replenished by a method such as weight, volume, operating time and number of times of the replenishing device. However, when a fixed amount is cut out in this way, an error occurs in the solid processing agent replenishment amount, and it is difficult to stably and accurately replenish. The causes of the supply amount error are listed below.

(A) Powders, granules, pills, small tablets and the like have a gap between particles and are difficult to be accurately weighed as compared with the case where a liquid is weighed by a pump or the like. If we try to weigh accurately, the weighing means becomes an expensive device.

(B) The volume and weight of the solid processing agent change after the container is set due to moisture absorption, which causes an error in the replenishment amount each time.

(C) When the container is transported or loaded,
Granules are finely crushed or blocked due to rubbing between the solid processing agents in the storage container, and the specific volume is changed, resulting in a replenishment amount error.

(D) The granular solid processing agent in the container is
Granules with large specific gravity and small granules are unevenly distributed and accumulated on the bottom of the container due to vibrations during transportation or loading of the container, and when cut out and replenished with a constant volume or constant weight, the replenishment amount for each time and the total replenishment amount become It causes an error. This phenomenon becomes remarkable especially in a mixture of plural kinds of granules or powders.

(E) In a mixture of a plurality of types of granules, the components are gradually biased after the container is set, and a replenishment amount error occurs. For example, in a solid processing agent for replenishing color developing solution, after replenishing a plurality of times, a relatively large amount of a low-density residue (developing agent) in the container is replenished in the dissolving tank, and a high-density solid When the treatment agent (alkali agent) is added, the treatment liquid becomes turbid, and rarely a fine precipitate is generated. This precipitate causes clogging of the filter in the dissolution tank. The same reduction occurs when the particle size varies depending on the solid processing agent.

(F) Mistakes and malfunctions are accumulated without being canceled. That is, as the above-mentioned error is repeated, a cumulative replenishment amount error occurs, and finally, the replenishment becomes excessive or insufficient, which affects the processing performance of the photosensitive material.

In addition to the above, since the solid processing agent has a strong hygroscopic property, it tends to adhere to the replenishing device (especially the measuring section). When the solid processing agent adheres to the measuring section, the measured amount of the solid processing agent is less than the set replenishment amount, and the concentration of the consumption component of the processing liquid decreases. Separately, the solid processing agent adhering to the replenishing device closes the moving path of the solid processing agent flowing during replenishment, so that the amount of the moving solid processing agent is less than the set replenishment amount. Concentration of consumption components decreases. When processing photosensitive materials,
The decrease in the concentration of the consuming component of the processing liquid causes the processing liquid to become inactive and has a serious problem.

[0020]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION As a result of various studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have aimed to provide an improved solid processing agent replenishing device which can achieve the following results. .

(I) Even if a cumulative replenishment amount error occurs due to changes in the shape, volume, weight, and component deviation of the solid processing agent due to environmental humidity, vibration during transportation, etc., the cumulative replenishment error that has occurred is eliminated.

(Ii) Stable solid processing agent replenishment is performed with an inexpensive replenisher without the need for a complicated and precise replenisher.

[0023]

The above object can be achieved by the following means. That is, the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the invention of claim 1 is accommodated in a holding means for holding a container for containing a solid processing agent, a dissolving part for dissolving the solid processing agent, and the container. In an automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing a unit amount of the solid processing agent into a plurality of times, the holding means is a unit of the solid processing agent. A processing amount information detecting means for holding a containing container containing a quantity and detecting processing amount information of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, area information of the light-sensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent, and the processing amount information. And a control means for correcting the replenishing operation amount of the solid processing agent replenishing means per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed.

An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the invention of claim 11 has a holding means for holding a container for containing a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent. In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A holding amount container for holding the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and processing amount information detecting means for detecting the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
By comparing the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent with the processing amount information, an abnormal state has occurred in the solid processing agent replenishing means and / or the distribution channel of the solid processing agent. And an alarm means for notifying that.

An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the invention of claim 15 has a holding means for holding a container for containing a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent. In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A holding amount container for holding the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and processing amount information detecting means for detecting the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
It has a residual amount detecting means of the solid processing agent and a cross-linking preventing means for preventing cross-linking of the solid processing agent accommodated in the accommodating means, and the operation of the cross-linking preventing means allows the residual amount detecting means to perform the operation. It is characterized by preventing the solid processing agent from adhering.

[0026]

According to the above construction, the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the invention of claim 1 holds the container for holding the solid processing agent, and dissolves the solid processing agent. Part, and a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing a unit amount of the solid processing agent contained in the accommodation container into a plurality of times, in an automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, The holding means holds a container containing the solid processing agent in a unit amount, the processing amount information detecting unit detects the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent. Of the solid processing agent replenishing means per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed by comparing the area information with the processing amount information. Humidity and transportation The shape of the solid processing agent due to vibration or the like,
Even if a cumulative replenishment amount error occurs due to changes in volume, weight, component bias, etc., the accumulated replenishment error that has occurred is eliminated, and a stable composition of the processing liquid is obtained, and no complicated or precise replenishment device is required. A solid replenisher can be replenished stably with an inexpensive replenisher, no precipitation occurs in the treatment tank, and the filter is not clogged, so the circulation of replenisher in the filter is stable and there is no process unevenness. That is the effect.

The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material automatic developing machine according to the invention of claim 11 has a holding means for holding a container for containing a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent. In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A holding amount container for holding the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and processing amount information detecting means for detecting the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
By comparing the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent with the processing amount information, an abnormal state has occurred in the solid processing agent replenishing means and / or the distribution channel of the solid processing agent. Since it is possible to determine that the replenishment is abnormal when the processing amount information largely deviates from the theoretical value with respect to the area information, the replenishment abnormality occurs. As a result, the photosensitive material is no longer processed while the activity of the processing solution becomes inadequate.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which comprises means for holding a container for accommodating a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent. In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A holding amount container for holding the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and processing amount information detecting means for detecting the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
It has a residual amount detecting means of the solid processing agent and a cross-linking preventing means for preventing cross-linking of the solid processing agent accommodated in the accommodating means, and the operation of the cross-linking preventing means allows the residual amount detecting means to perform the operation. Since the solid processing agent is prevented from adhering, the operation of the remaining amount detecting means is stable.

In the system of the present invention, the amount of the solid processing agent filled in the solid processing agent container is accurately weighed and produced in a processing agent production factory for one set, and then the solid processing agent is filled in the container. Can be shipped. This one set is weighed (hereinafter also referred to as “cut out”) in multiple times by a replenishing device, and when it is charged into the dissolution section, the amount of the solid processing agent filled per one container is used as a unit amount. This is to correct the replenishing device of the automatic processing machine.

That is, when processing a light-sensitive material, the amount of the processing agent replenished per unit area of the light-sensitive material is constant. It is proportional to the quantity. Therefore, the amount of the photosensitive material that can be processed per unit amount (hereinafter referred to as the reference processing amount) or a value correlated with the reference processing amount is input in advance in the automatic developing machine. Therefore, the replenishment amount for one cut-out of the unit amount of the processing agent stored in the storage container is divided into a plurality of times and becomes the amount of replenishing the unit amount of the processing agent at a rate at which the standard processing amount of the photosensitive material is processed. Similarly, if the replenishment amount is controlled by monitoring and correcting so that the replenishment is performed at a rate according to the proportional relationship, the fluctuation range of the processing liquid activity can be kept within a certain range without the replenishment amount error being accumulated. Can be housed within.
Note that the reference processing amount or a value correlated with the reference processing amount relates to area information of a photosensitive material corresponding to a unit amount of the solid processing agent of the present invention. Is judging.

The storage container is divided into a plurality of storage chambers,
Each one of the storage chambers may be used as a filling unit amount, and each filling unit amount may be divided into a plurality of times for replenishment. By partitioning, it becomes possible to improve the correction accuracy without increasing the replacement frequency of the storage container. Further, the present invention can be applied to a case in which a large number of accommodating chambers or accommodating containers each having one of the respective compartments as a filling unit amount are assembled to form a single package. One treatment agent may be divided into a plurality of different treatment agent components and accommodated in separate accommodation chambers to form one accommodation container. Alternatively, the automatic processing machine may have a container, and the solid processing agent may be transferred from the package filled with one set to the container to replenish the dissolving agent with the solid processing agent from the container.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a developing machine AP for developing a sheet of photographic paper. In the automatic developing machine AP, the sheet photographic printing paper p is processed by each processing solution in the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B and the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D and 1E, and then dried. In FIG. 1 (A), the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, and 1E are sequentially higher in liquid level than the bleach-fixing tank 1B. Therefore, the overflow liquid from 1E has a structure (counter current system) that flows into 1D, 1C, and 1B by gravity. The color developing tank 1
A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B and the stabilizing tank 1E are provided with replenishing devices 3A, 3B and 3E relating to the solid processing agent replenishing means of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the automatic processor AF for negative film development processing. In the automatic processor AF, the negative film f is composed of a color developing tank 7A, a bleaching tank 7B, a fixing tank 7C,
After being treated with the treatment liquids in 7D and stabilizing tanks 7E, 7F, 7G, it is dried. Color developing tank 7A, bleaching tank 7
Solid processing agent replenishing devices 8A, 8B for supplying solid processing agents to the processing tanks B, fixing tank 7D, and stabilizing tank 7G, respectively.
8D and 8G are provided. Note that the replenishment water tank 4 has substantially the same configuration as that of FIG.

The solid processing agent of the present invention may be powder, granules, pills, small tablets or the like, and there is no problem in mixing these. Although the object of the present invention can be achieved by using a liquid substance together with a safe substance such as water which does not become a dangerous substance, granules are preferable. These solid processing agents may be filled in a cartridge of paper, plastic or the like, and one set may be set in the automatic developing machine together with the container, or may be used by replacing the storage container with the storage part of the developing machine.

The powder in the present invention refers to an aggregate of fine crystal grains. The granules referred to in the present invention are those obtained by adding a granulation step to powder, and refer to granules having a particle size of 50 to 5000 μm. The tablet in the present invention refers to a powder or granules compression-molded into a certain shape. More preferably, at the time of granulating the granules, each component, for example, an alkali agent, a reducing agent, a bleaching agent, a preservative and the like are separately granulated.

The granule type solid processing agent K is described in, for example, JP-A-2-
It can be produced by a general method described in the specifications of 109042, 2-109043, 3-39735 and 3-39739. Further, powder processing agents include, for example, JP-A-54-133332, British Patents 725,892, 729,862 and German Patent 3,733,86.
It can be produced by a general method as described in the specification such as No. 1 and the like.

Of the above solid processing agents, the pills or small tablet-shaped solid processing agents preferably have a bulk density of 1.0 to 2.5 g / cm ³ from the viewpoint of solubility and the effect of the object of the present invention. When it is more than 1.0 g / cm ³ , the strength of the obtained solid is more preferable, and when it is less than 2.5 g / cm ³ , the solubility of the obtained solid is more preferable. When the solid processing agent is granules or powder, the bulk density is preferably 0.40 to 0.95 g / cm ³ . The solid processing agent according to the present application is a solid processing agent for granular color paper (color development replenishing agent, bleach-fixing replenishing agent, stable replenishing agent, using a manufacturing method substantially similar to that described in JP-A-2-09042). ) Was produced. The following is a replenishment amount of each solid processing agent per one packaging unit and one replenishment operation.

[0038]

[Table 1]

With the automatic processor AP for color paper processing,
Assuming that Konica Color QA Paper Type A6 (manufactured by Konica Corporation) is processed by 8 m ² per day, theoretically, the color developing replenisher is the 60th time, the bleach-fixing replenisher is the 25th time,
At the 150th time of the stable replenishment agent, the inside of the container for accommodating each solid processing agent becomes empty. However, an error occurs due to a measurement error of the solid processing agent replenishing device, moisture absorption of the solid processing agent, blocking, and the like. If an error occurs in this way, and the storage container becomes empty before the empty detection of the solid processing agent in the storage container and after the theoretical number of times, the remaining amount of the solid processing agent in the storage container still remains. There are two cases, one with and one with. The case where the container is empty is when the processing agent is excessively replenished with respect to the area of the photosensitive material. When there is a remaining amount in the storage container, it means that the replenishment is insufficient.

Conventionally, in the system in which the consumption of the solid processing agent in the storage container is detected by the remaining amount detecting sensor and the storage container is newly replaced every time the remaining amount is exhausted, the processing is continued.
The amount of solid processing agent that adheres to the replenishing device decreases and the amount of solid processing agent is not replenished according to the set amount due to the difference in the solids of the device. It was found that the above error occurred.

As another conventional method, the number of theoretical additions is prioritized regardless of the remaining amount of the processing agent, the color developing replenisher is the 61st time, the bleach-fixing replenisher is the 26th time, and the stable replenisher is the 15th time.
It was found that when a storage container storing each new replenisher was loaded into the replenishing device for the first time and then charged, a slight precipitate was generated in the color developing and dissolving tank. Also, it has been found that the solid replenisher in the replenishing device gradually increases cumulatively due to the color developing agent, which causes a problem.

In the solid processing agent replenishing means of the present invention, when the container for holding one set of the predetermined amount of the solid processing agent is loaded in the replenishing device, the replenishing operation amount is corrected by the control means to replenish the solid processing agent. Therefore, the problems due to the above-mentioned accumulated error and the occurrence of precipitates and the like are solved, and stable processing is possible. In particular, when a large amount of photosensitive material is processed and the container is frequently replaced, the effect of the automatic developing machine of the present invention is great. Note that the replenishment operation amount is an amount related to the replenishment amount of the solid processing agent in the operation of the replenishing device, and refers to the number of operations, the duration time, and the like.

It is within the scope of the present invention to solidify only a part of the components of a solid treating agent used in the present invention, but preferably all components of the treating agent are solidified. Good. It is desirable that each component be molded as a separate solid processing agent and packaged in the same manner. It is also included in the present invention that the separate components are packaged in the order in which they are periodically added repeatedly in a package.

In the present invention, it is preferable to add all the processing agents to be replenished to the respective processing solution tanks as solid processing agents according to the processing amount information. When replenishment water is required, it is replenished based on the evaporation amount information processing amount information or other replenishment water control information. In this case, the liquid to be replenished in the treatment liquid tank can be only replenishing water. In the present invention, the replenishment water is useful in the sense that the waste liquid can be reduced by using a treatment liquid succeeding a treatment liquid tank having fixing ability or an overflow waste liquid. Also, 1 water tank
Placing the inside of the automatic developing machine is a preferable method for making the automatic developing machine compact.

[0045]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

An example of the automatic developing machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2A is an overall configuration diagram of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus (printer processor) in which an automatic processing apparatus AP and a photographic printing apparatus B are integrally configured.

In FIG. 2A, in the lower left part of the photographic printing machine B, a magazine M in which photographic paper p (color paper) which is an unexposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is stored in a roll is set. . Photographic paper p drawn from the magazine
Is cut into a predetermined size through the feed roller R1 and the cutter unit _Ct to form a sheet of photographic printing paper p. The sheet photographic printing paper p is conveyed by the belt conveying means Be,
In the exposure unit E, the image of the original image O is exposed by the light source and the lens L. The exposed sheet photographic printing paper p is further conveyed by a plurality of pairs of feed rollers R2, R3, R4 and introduced into the automatic developing machine AP. In the automatic processor AP, the sheet-shaped printing paper p is a color developing tank 1 which is a processing liquid tank.
A, bleach-fixing tank 1B, stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, 1E (processing solution tank 1 having substantially three baths) are sequentially conveyed by roller conveying means (reference symbol None), respectively, color development processing and bleach-fixing Processing and stabilization processing are performed. The sheet-shaped photographic printing paper p that has been subjected to each of the above processes is dried in the drying unit 6 and discharged outside the machine.

Incidentally, the alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the conveyance path of the printing paper p. Further, in the embodiment, the photographic printing paper p is introduced into the automatic developing machine AP in a cut state.
It may be guided in the automatic developing machine AP in a band shape.

It goes without saying that the automatic developing machine AP according to the present invention may be constructed integrally with the photoprinting machine B or may be a single automatic developing machine AP. Further, as an explanation of the present invention, a color developing tank 1A, a bleach-fixing tank 1B, a stabilizing tank 1C, 1
The processing is performed on the automatic processor AP having the processing liquid tank 1 having substantially three baths and five tanks having D and 1E, but not limited to this, a color developing tank for processing the exposed negative film f, and bleaching. A self-developing AF having a structure having substantially four baths including a bath, a fixing bath, and a stabilizing bath, or a processing liquid bath having more than four baths.
The present invention can be applied even to (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the automatic processor AP. Color developing tank 1A, bleach-fixing tank 1B, stabilizing tank 1E
In each of the processing liquid tanks, the dissolution tank 2A relating to the dissolution section of the present invention,
2B and 2E, circulation tanks 2C and 2D, and solid processing agent supply devices 3A, 3B and 3E for supplying the solid processing agent are provided.
The replenishing water tank 4 supplies replenishing water to the color developing tank 1A and the stabilizing tank 1E.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing agent supply section and the processing agent supply means of the bleach-fixing tank 1B, which is the processing liquid tank, in the section I--I of the automatic processor AP of FIG. 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 the granular solid processing agent K is used as the solid processing agent will be described.

The bleach-fixing tank 1B for processing the light-sensitive material has a dissolving tank 2B integrally provided outside the partition wall 21 forming the bleach-fixing tank 1B. Bleach-fixing tank 1B and dissolution tank 2B
Is partitioned by a partition wall 21 having a communication window 21A formed therein, so that the processing liquid (bleach-fixing liquid) can be circulated.

The cylindrical filter 22 is replaceably provided inside the dissolution tank 2B and has a function of removing insoluble matter in the treatment liquid. The inside of the filter 22 is communicated with the suction side of the circulation pump 24 (circulation means) via a circulation pipe 23A provided through the lower wall of the dissolution tank 2B. When the present invention is used in an automatic developing machine having a filter as in this example, no precipitation occurs in the processing tank, and the filter is not clogged, so that the replenisher solution circulation in the filter section is stable and uneven processing occurs. Absent.

The circulation system is composed of circulation pipes 23A and 23B forming a liquid circulation passage, a circulation pump 24, and the like. The other end of the circulation pipe 23B communicating with the discharge side of the circulation pump 24 penetrates the outer wall of the bleach-fixing tank 1B, and the bleach-fixing tank 1B.
Is in communication with. With such a configuration, the circulation pump 24
Is activated, the processing liquid is sucked from the dissolving tank 2B and discharged to the bleach-fixing tank 1B, and the processing liquid mixes with the processing liquid in the bleach-fixing tank 1B, enters the dissolving tank 2B again, and repeats circulation. . The circulation direction of the processing liquid is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 3, and may be the opposite direction.

The waste liquid pipe 11B is used to overflow the processing liquid in the bleach-fixing tank 1B, keeps the liquid level constant, and removes components adhering to the photosensitive material from other processing liquid tanks. , Helps to prevent the components dissolved from the light-sensitive material from accumulating and increasing.

The rod-shaped heater 25 is arranged so as to penetrate the upper wall of the dissolution tank 2B and be immersed in the treatment liquid in the dissolution tank 2B. The heater 25 heats the processing liquid in the dissolution tank 2B and the bleach-fixing tank 1B. In other words, the processing liquid in the bleach-fixing tank 1B is brought into a temperature range suitable for the processing (for example, 20 to 55 ° C.). It is a temperature adjusting means for holding.

The means for supplying the replenishing liquid to the dissolution tank 2B comprises a solid processing agent replenishing means 30 and a replenishing water supplying means 40.

The processing amount information detecting means 31 is related to the processing amount information detecting means of the present invention and is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive material conveying entrance of the automatic developing machine AP and is used for detecting the processing amount of the photosensitive material to be processed. To be Processing amount information detecting means 31 of the present embodiment
Has a plurality of detection members arranged in the left-right direction and functions as an element for detecting the width of the photosensitive material and for 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 31 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. 2, 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 processing amount information detecting means 31 is provided can be appropriately changed to a position that can be detected after processing or a position that can be detected during processing. Further, the processing amount information detecting means 31
Need not be provided for each processing liquid tank 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, but it is preferable to provide one for each automatic developing machine AP. The control means 32 according to the present invention is a solid processing agent replenishment control means for controlling the replenishing operation amount of the solid processing agent in response to the signal from the processing amount information detecting means 31, and in this embodiment controls the supply amount of the replenishing water. It also serves as a supplementary water supply control means.

The solid processing agent replenishing means 30 that can be used in the present invention is the container 3 for containing the granular solid processing agent K.
3. The replenishing device main body 34, which is replenishing means, and the driving means. The upper cover 301 of the automatic developing machine AP is swingably coupled to the main body 101 that houses the bleach-fixing tank 1B and the dissolving tank 2B by a support shaft 302 at the back of the main body, and the upper cover 301 of FIG. The solid processing agent replenishing means 30 is inspected and the filter is lifted by lifting in the direction of the dashed-dotted line A in the drawing and largely opening the front side and the upper side on the operator side.
22 exchange work can be done.

A lid 303 is swingably connected to a part of the upper surface of the upper cover 301, and the lid 303 is opened in the direction of the alternate long and short dash line B in FIG. The solid processing agent K is replenished.

FIG. 4 is an overall front view of a color negative film automatic developing machine AF to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the automatic developing machine AF. The automatic processor AF includes a color developing tank 7
A, bleaching tank 7B, fixing tanks 7C and 7D, stabilizing tanks 7E and 7
This is a treatment liquid tank configuration of substantially four baths of F and 7G.

Each processing liquid tank 7A, 7B, 7D, 7G
Are respectively connected to the dissolution tanks 9A, 9B, 9D and 9G, and the treatment liquid is circulated and stirred by the circulation pumps 24A, 24B, 24D and 24G. In addition, each of the melting tanks 9A, 9B, 9
Above the D and 9G, the solid processing agent replenishing device 8 is provided.
A, 8B, 8D, and 8G are installed, and a corresponding appropriate amount of solid processing agent is replenished. 9C, 9E and 9F are circulation tanks.

On the other hand, the replenishment water W in the common replenishment water tank 41
Is an independent four-channel bellows pump 42, a water absorption pipe 43, and a water supply pipe 44, and each of the dissolution tanks 9A, 9B, 9D,
Supplied to 9G. In addition, bellows pump 42, water absorption pipe 4
3, water pipe 44, each of the dissolution tank 9A, 9B, 9D,
It has 4 systems to supply replenishment water W to 9G.
Only the system is marked and the other three systems are not shown.

In FIG. 4, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the transport path of the film f. The film f is pulled out from the cartridge attached to the loading means in the operation section, processed in the color developing tank 7A, the bleaching tank 7B, the fixing tanks 7C and 7D, and the stabilizing tanks 7E, 7F and 7G, and then the fan of the drying section 6 It is dried by the heater 61 and discharged outside the machine.

In FIG. 5, 12 is a waste liquid tank for storing overflow liquid, 26 is a thermostat, and 27 is a liquid level sensor. The parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the details of the solid processing agent replenishing means 30.

In this embodiment, granules, powders, pills, small tablets, etc. are used as the solid processing agent.

The solid processing agent replenishing means 30 is the above-mentioned granular type (or powder-like or pill-like, small tablet) solid processing agent K.
And a detachable storage container (cartridge) 33, and a transfer screw that makes the storage container 33 removable and receives the solid processing agent K from the receiving opening 34A to the discharging opening 34B.
A replenishing device 34 for replenishing the melting tank 2B by transporting it by 35,
It comprises a shutter 36 for opening and closing the discharge opening 34B and a driving means 37. The replenishing device 34 serves both as a holding means and a solid processing agent replenishing means according to the present invention.

The solid processing agent K is contained in the container 33, and the outlet of the container 33 is sealed by a seal 331 when not in use. After the storage container 33 is mounted upside down on the replenishing device 34 and the seal 331 is pulled out and peeled off, the solid processing agent K is conveyed by the driving rotation of the conveying screw by the driving means 37 and is discharged from the discharge opening 34B and melted. It is put into the tank 2. The shutter 36 movably provided in the vicinity of the discharge opening 34B is opened by the cam 371 of the driving means 37 operated by the motor M by the urging force of the spring 372, so that the solid processing agent K can be introduced. . 1 of solid processing agent K
The amount of replenishment for each time is controlled by controlling the number of rotations of the motor M, so that a fixed amount of the solid processing agent K is dividedly replenished. That is, in this embodiment, the replenishing operation amount of the replenishing device 34 is controlled by controlling the rotation number of the motor M. In addition, a predetermined amount of one set of the solid processing agent K is contained in the storage container 33 at 100 cm ³ to 2000.
cm ^3, preferably is to not 200 cm ³ 1500 cm ³ accommodated.

The remaining amount detecting sensor 38 is related to the remaining amount detecting means of the present invention, has a piezo element, and has the solid processing agent K in the container.
A signal is output when the remaining amount of is less than the set value.
Below the discharge opening 34B of the replenishing device 34, the melting tank 2B
Is provided with a mesh-like enclosure 28, and receives the solid processing agent K input from the upper solid processing agent replenishing means 30. Although the enclosure 28 is a filter member that temporarily holds the solid processing agent K, the undissolved or undissolved components of the replenished solid processing agent K can be moved to the dissolution tank 2B without any problem.

The solid processing agent used in the present invention is packaged in a container in a unit amount and collected in one set.
The container may be the container according to the invention of claim 1 of the present invention, or is a separate body from the automatic developing machine for supplying the solid processing agent to the container of the invention of claim 2. It may be a container.

The unit amount is packaged to a predetermined amount before the processing agent is stored in the replenishing device of the automatic developing machine according to the present application or before the storage container containing the processing agent is set in the holding means. It means being weighed, for example, a mode in which a predetermined amount of granules or powder is packed.

In the system of the present invention, one set has already been weighed, produced and packaged in the treatment agent production plant. The solid processing agent or the container filled with the solid processing agent, which is weighed in advance at the time of shipping of the product, according to claim 8 or 9 of the present invention, is the weighing amount and packaging as described above, and the filling amount before replenishment. Is a solid processing agent or a container filled with the solid processing agent so that the value does not change. This one set is divided into a plurality of times by a replenishing device, weighed, cut out, and replenished to the melting portion. The replenishment operation is, for example, an operation such as charging. At that time, even if there is some error, variation, or input error in each replenishment operation, even if the cutting device with low accuracy is inexpensive, when one set is replenished, one set is replenished. Since the theoretical amount of light-sensitive material that can be processed in minutes and the amount of processing that has been actually processed are compared in area to correct the amount of replenishment operation, no cumulative error occurs.

When the filling amount for one set is small, the frequency of setting in the automatic processor is increased and the accuracy is improved.
The user's handling is extremely deteriorated. On the other hand, when the filling amount for one set exceeds a certain amount, the interval for obtaining the processing amount information necessary for controlling the replenishing operation amount is extended, so that the accuracy is deteriorated or the abnormality detection capability is deteriorated. To do. In addition, the fluctuation range of the concentration of the treatment liquid expands, which affects the processability.

As the unit amount of the solid processing agent in the present invention, when the processing solution in the processing tank is replenished for 0.01 to 5 revolutions, more preferably 0.05 to 3 revolutions, In terms of processing performance, the effective replenishment accuracy of the present invention can be maintained. The above-mentioned numerical value of the number of rotations is a ratio of the amount of the replenishing liquid to the case where the solid treating agent is dissolved in water to form a replenishing liquid with respect to the total volume of the treating liquid in the processing tank. However, when the solid processing agent is directly dissolved in the processing solution, the amount of the replenishing water W that is approximately replenished in the processing solution can be substituted.

Further, particularly in the case of a solid processing agent for a color developing solution, accuracy is required for the concentration in the processing solution, so that the unit amount is preferably 1 rotation or more, and preferably 0.5 rotations or less. desirable.

Specifically, when the processing solution capacity of the color development processing tank is 12 liters and 9 g of color development solid processing agent and 65 ml of replenishing water are replenished per 1 m ^{2 of} the light-sensitive material to be processed, 9 / (0.06 per rotation) / 12) (g / revolution) of the treating agent needs to be replenished, so that the unit amount is preferably 1 × 9 / (0.06 / 12) = 1660 g or less, more preferably 830 g or less.

Further, as one embodiment of the present invention, an experiment was conducted under the conditions shown in Tables 2 and 3 using the automatic developing machine of FIG. 1 (A). Table 2 shows the conditions of the developing machine, the solid processing agent K, and the replenishing amount of the replenishing water W when the color paper was processed by using the granular solid processing agent as the solid processing agent K in this example. . The amount of replenishing water to the bleach-fixing tank 1B depends on the overflow from the stabilizing tank 1C. Further, each of the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, and 1E is a processing tank of 11.8 (l), and since it has a total of three baths, it is set to 11.8 × 3 (l).

[0079]

[Table 2]

In the present embodiment, the unit amount of the granular solid processing agent for the development processing according to the conditions of Table 2 and the processing agent renewal rate when the solid processing agent of the unit amount is completely replenished Table 3 shows the numerical values expressed as a ratio to the number.

[0081]

[Table 3]

Under the above conditions and 2.5 to 25 m ² per day
An experiment was carried out in which a running process was performed at an average rate of 10 m ² for the processing rate of the light-sensitive material. When processing was continued until the color developing solution was renewed for 10 revolutions, the processability was very stable. When the unit amount of the granular color developing solid processing agent was set to 500 g and the experiment was carried out, when the number of rotations exceeded 5 revolutions (7750 g), the developability became large. Further, although there is some variation in developability after one rotation (1550 g), there is no problem, and after 0.5 rotation (775 g), the developability is extremely stable. In the bleach-fixing and stabilizing treatments, the performance of the treatment liquid was hardly affected when the number of revolutions was 3 or less.

FIG. 7A is a sectional view of a screw type solid processing agent replenishing means 50 showing another embodiment. Figure 7
7B shows II of the solid processing agent replenishing means 50 shown in FIG. 7A.
It is a sectional view in -II.

The replenishing means 50 serves as a containing portion for the solid processing agent K and the hopper 51 according to the containing means of claims 2, 12 and 16 of the present invention.
And is a device for replenishing a fixed amount of the solid processing agent K by the discharge part 54 by controlling the rotation speed of the transport screw 52. The transport screw 52 has a gear 52A at one end thereof and a spindle
The gear 58A of 58 is engaged. Spindle 58 is a set of blades
Has 53. The wiper 55 is made of an elastic member and is arranged on each of the pair of blades 53. A lid 51A is provided at the opening of the hopper 51 so as to be openable and closable. The solid processing agent K conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the drawing is dissolved by the replenishing water W in the receiving means 57, 58 is a filter member, and 59 is a replenishing water supply pipe.

In FIG. 7B, the blade 53 is centered around the support shaft 58.
A and 53B rotate in the direction of the arrow shown. At this time, wiper 55
Is rubbing the inner wall surface of the hopper 51 and the piezo element of the remaining amount detection sensor 38 to stir and clean the solid processing agent,
Further, it is a cross-linking preventing means for preventing cross-linking of the solid processing agent. Since the solid processing agent has high hygroscopicity, it is preferable to provide a device for preventing crosslinking and for assisting discharge in the accommodating portion in order to maintain the accuracy of supply.

In the present invention, ensuring stable operation of the remaining amount detecting sensor is one of the most demanding requirements for obtaining the effects of the present invention.

Since many solid processing agents have a high hygroscopic property and are easily blocked, in order to maintain the concentration of the developing solution accurately within a certain range and maintain stable developing performance, the solid processing agent storage portion or It is particularly preferable to install a scraping device in the replenishing device. Since the solid processing agent easily adheres to the constituent members in the replenishing device and the remaining amount detecting sensor, the scraping device, which is a cross-linking preventing means, comes into contact with the surface of the remaining amount detecting sensor to perform a scraping operation (hereinafter also referred to as cleaning. It is possible to prevent the solid processing agent from adhering to the surface of the remaining amount detecting sensor and prevent the function of the remaining amount detecting sensor from being deteriorated. In particular, the treatment agent is a substance that is very active in chemical reactions, so it becomes difficult to remove the moisture-absorbed treatment agent if it remains in contact with the surface of the remaining amount detection sensor for a long time. It has also been found that cleaning the can provide the effect of extending the life of the remaining amount detection sensor. In addition, when the solid processing agent is exhausted (when the storage container is replaced, etc.),
By carrying out the cleaning, the surface of the remaining amount detection sensor comes into contact with the cross-linking prevention means on a regular basis, so the operation of the remaining amount detection sensor can be confirmed by reading the change in the signal at this time. Therefore, the effect that simple and extremely reliable control can be performed was obtained.

It is necessary to supply a unit amount of the solid processing agent to the replenishing means 50. More preferably, a function of automatically opening the package which is the container and a function of opening and closing the package and the opening of the hopper 51 in an airtight manner are provided in the holding part of the container filled with a unit amount of the solid processing agent. Good work environment with no scattering of fine powder during opening and mounting. Since the storage means is provided in place of the holding means, the same effect as the automatic developing machine having the holding means is obtained.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a slide type solid processing agent replenishing means 60 showing still another embodiment of the present invention. The container 61 containing the granular solid processing agent K is detachably attached to the replenishing device 63. The piston 65, which is controlled and driven according to the processing amount of the photosensitive material, moves in the horizontal direction (to the right), and a fixed amount of the solid processing agent K enters the measuring hole 62.
Moves in the opposite horizontal direction (to the left), and a fixed amount of the solid processing agent K is supplied to the receiving means 67 by the discharge part 64. Above discharge part 64
A receiving means 67, a filter member 68, a replenishment water supply pipe 69, and a piezo element of the remaining amount detection sensor 38 are provided below. Further, when the piston 65 is provided with a member (not shown) for cleaning the detection portion of the piezo element which is the remaining amount detection sensor 38 when the piston 65 moves horizontally for the refilling operation, the operation of the remaining amount detection sensor 38 It is preferable because stability is improved.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a rotor rotating solid processing agent replenishing means 70 showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

A container 71 for containing the granular (or powder, pill, or small tablet) solid processing agent K
Is removably attached to the upper portion of the replenishing device 74. The fixed main body 741 of the replenishing device 74 includes a receiving opening 741A and a discharging opening 741.
B, and a cylindrical hollow portion for slidingly rotating the rotary conveyance member (rotor) 75. The rotary transfer member (rotor) 75 has a measuring hole 75A for receiving and transferring a fixed amount of the solid processing agent K in a divided manner. The solid processing agent K in the storage container 71 is a rotary transport member.
By the rotation of 75, it is introduced from the receiving opening 741A, and after a fixed amount is dividedly received by the measuring hole 75A, it is put into the dissolving tank 2 from the discharging opening 741B. The remaining amount detection sensor 38 is a sensor that has a piezo element and that detects the remaining amount of the solid processing agent K in the container 71. Reference numeral 76 is a receiving means provided above the dissolving tank 2 for receiving the solid processing agent K and the replenishing water W which are replenished from above, passing through the filter member 77, and throwing it into the processing liquid in the dissolving tank 2.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a solid processing agent replenishing means having a table feeder. The solid processing agent replenishing means 80 has an opening in the rotating body 82 that rotates around the rotating shaft 85.
The table member 86 provided with 83 is rotated to cut out and replenish the solid processing agent. The container 81 has a solid processing agent discharge port 84.
Are arranged so as to be able to face the opening 83 of the table member 86. In this embodiment, when the fan-shaped opening 83 is rotated by the driving means (not shown) and faces the discharge port 84, the storage container 81
A certain amount of the solid processing agent is cut out. The table member 86 continues to rotate after the solid processing agent is cut out, and the cut solid processing agent is put into the receiving portion 87. If the whole amount of the solid processing agent cut out at this time cannot be added, a replenishment error occurs.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10, the solid processing agent is not replenished while counting the number of solid processing agents, but the weight, volume, operating time and number of times of the supply means shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are used. The present invention can be applied to any solid processing agent replenishing means 30 that measures the amount of the solid processing agent K to be replenished. That is, the solid processing agent replenishing means 30 includes a screw feeder shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a slide type feeder shown in FIG. 8, a rotary feeder shown in FIG. 9, a table feeder shown in FIG. Cating feeder, roll feeder, step disc feeder, belt feeder, chain feeder, apron feeder,
Known powder measuring and conveying means such as a vibration feeder can be used. Among them, a rotary feeder, a step disk feeder, and a screw feeder are particularly preferable for handling the solid processing agent from the viewpoints of quantitativeness, stable supply, and moisture resistance.

As the rotary feeder, a star type rotor having a rotor blade surface of an arc shape, a raised bottom rotor having a rotor blade portion of a raised bottom shape, and an impact is applied to the rotor by rotating the rotor. It is particularly preferable to use a combination of an impact type rotor and a method in which the scraper scrapes off the treatment agent adhering to the inside of the rotor according to the rotation of the rotor, because the treatment agent is suppressed from adhering and stable operation can be realized.

As the screw feeder, a standard screw, a screw with a paddle, a ribbon screw,
Various shapes such as a cut flight screw can be used. Further, a twin screw screw, a double winding screw, a pitch changing screw and the like may be used together.

As the remaining amount detecting sensor 38, various types such as a weight type, a diaphragm type, a rotary vane type, a vibration type, a piston type, a pendulum type, a weighing type, a capacitance type, and an ultrasonic type can be adopted. . Further, when the solid processing agent replenishing means has a motor as a driving means, a method of detecting from the fluctuation of the driving torque and current value of the motor is also preferable. It is particularly preferable to use a piezo element from the viewpoint of sensitivity. Also, if a wiper for scraping off the processing agent attached to the remaining amount detection sensor is provided,
This is preferable because it improves reliability. Further, if it is used also as the above-mentioned crosslinking preventing device, the structure of the device becomes simpler, which is more preferable. Further, if there is at least one remaining amount detecting sensor 38, the remaining amount can be detected, but by disposing a plurality of remaining amount detecting sensors, it is possible to detect the remaining amount more accurately. The remaining amount detection sensor can be arranged at any position such as the receiving opening, the discharging opening, the hopper, and the replenishing means, through which the solid processing agent K passes.
Further, when a plurality of remaining amount detection sensors are arranged, they can be arranged at two different places, or different kinds of sensors can be used together. Further, for the detection of the remaining amount of the solid processing agent K and the detection of the presence or absence of blockage, the presence or absence of the blockage can be detected by using the remaining amount detection sensor as well. May be provided independently.

As a means for preventing cross-linking, it is possible to employ a method in which a swivel screw is provided in the accommodating means so as to scrape it, or a method in which the accommodating portion is vibrated by a vibrator.

The present invention can be applied not only to powder or granules, but also to tablet or pill-like solid processing agents (especially those having a small diameter) when such measuring means is used.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for controlling replenishment of the solid processing agent and replenishing water, and FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a solid processing agent replenishing step. When the processing amount information of the photosensitive material (printing paper p) sent to the automatic developing machine AP is detected by the detecting means 31 and sent to the replenishment controlling means 32, a predetermined amount of the solid processing agent K and the replenishing water W are Replenishing means 30, 50, 60, 70, 8
0 and 40 are added to the dissolution tank 2 to replenish it. This replenishment of the solid processing agent K and replenishment water W is dependent signal generation of the detection means 31, carried out intermittently a plurality of times (k ₁ ~k _n).
However, the timings at which the solid processing agent K and the replenishing water W are replenished do not necessarily have to be the same, and may be performed at independent timings.

The above-mentioned replenishment control is performed by the solid treatment agent replenishment condition setting input means 39, that is, a preset value, that is, a solid treatment agent K feeding time interval, one feeding amount, and a standard treatment per filled unit amount. The amount, the theoretical number of times of injection, etc., obtained from the standard processing amount are set for each replenisher, and are input to the replenishment control means 32. Further, when it is detected by the remaining amount detection sensor 38 that the solid processing agent in the storage container is exhausted, the area of the photosensitive material processed until the filling unit amount is consumed is compared with the reference processing amount to correct the area. I do. That is, when the area of the processed photosensitive material is larger than the standard processing amount,
Since the amount is less than the set replenishment amount, the replenishment operation amount is increased, the operation time of the replenishment operation is shortened, and the like, so that the area of the photosensitive material processed between the replenishment operations is reduced. On the contrary, if the processed photosensitive material area is smaller than the standard processing amount, it is more than the designed replenishment amount, so the replenishment operation amount is reduced, the replenishment operation timing is extended, etc. Correction is made to increase the area of the light-sensitive material to be processed. Also. The ratio of the correction operation amount by this correction is preferably corrected so as to match the theoretical value while the unit amount is replenished next time or after several times.

The correction operation performed by the automatic processor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In S1, each initial setting value is input as follows. 1
The theoretical processing area per storage container is Cap, the initial value of the replenishment interval is Pit, the alarm level (insufficient replenishment amount) is Ala1, the alarm level (excessive replenishment amount) is Ala2, and the correction level is Cor. Incidentally, the theoretical processing area Cap relates to the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent of the present invention, and is the area information of the photosensitive material of the standard processing amount of the photosensitive material. This operation may be performed by manual input from a key board,
A method of inputting by a discriminating means such as a bar code printed on a container for containing the solid processing agent K may be used. A method of inputting by means of an identification means such as a bar code is preferable because it is possible to cope with changes in set values (replenishment amount, difference in density of each solid processing agent K) due to changes in the prescription of the solid processing agent K and the like. In addition, it is possible to input using a floppy disk, an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like.

At S2, initialization is executed according to each set value. That is, P = Pit, X = Cap, and x = 0 are substituted and set as initial values. Here, P is the feeding interval by the solid processing agent replenishing means, X is the theoretical processing area per one container, Y is the processing area of the photosensitive material detected by the processing amount detection sensor, and is a count value used for determining the replenishment timing. .

At S3, the solid processing agent accommodating container is set, and it is confirmed that the accommodating container has been set by a confirmation operation with a set confirmation button or a sensor for automatic recognition.

In S4, the execution of the development processing and the processing area of the photosensitive material processed by the execution of the development processing are integrated.

At S5, the alarm level is confirmed. This confirmation is made by comparing X / Cap> Ala1. For example, when X does not satisfy X / Cap> Ala1, it means that the processing of the photosensitive material is progressing with an abnormally small replenishment amount.
It is possible that the processing agent is clogged or the sensor is abnormal somewhere in the container or the device.

In S6, the refill timing is determined.
If the integrated value Y of the processed area of the photosensitive material is Y ≧ P with respect to the set value P of the replenishment interval, the process proceeds to S7. If Y ≧ P, the process returns to S4 to proceed with the development processing and the integration of the processing area of the photosensitive material.

In S7, the solid processing agent replenishing operation is executed. Then, in S8, the replenishment interval count is reset.

Subsequently, in S9, the remaining amount of the solid processing agent detected by the remaining amount detecting sensor 38 is confirmed. If the remaining amount of the solid processing agent is less than the predetermined amount, it is judged as "absent" and proceeds to S10. If it exceeds the predetermined amount, it is judged as "present" and the process returns to S4 and the processing area of the developing material and the photosensitive material is integrated. move on.

At S10, the alarm level is confirmed. This confirmation is performed for each of X / Cap> Ala1 and X / Cap> Ala2. When X does not satisfy X / Cap> Ala1, it is the same as S5. On the other hand, when X does not satisfy X / Cap <Ala2, the solid processing agent replenishment amount is too large. It is determined that the device is abnormal, etc., and S13
Proceed to.

In S11, the replenishment accuracy is confirmed. This confirmation is made by comparing | X / Cap | ≦ Cor. That is, if the measured value X of the processed area of the photosensitive material is within the range of the correction level Cor, which is the allowable fluctuation range for the theoretical processed area Cap per container, the process returns to S3 and the next solid processing agent is added. Is loaded. If it is outside the range of the correction level Cor, S1
Proceed to step 2 and correct the replenishment interval P.

The correction level Cor is outside the predetermined range in consideration of the range of the fluctuation value and the range allowable from the viewpoint of processability because the normal replenishment operation or the detection value of the sensor fluctuates to some extent. It is preferable to set so that correction is performed when It is preferable to set within a range of about 0.1 to 10% from the theoretical processing area Cap, and to satisfy 0.1 ≧ Cor / Cap ≧ 0.001. More preferably in the range of about 5% (Cor / Cap≈0.05)
Set to.

The correction of the replenishment interval P performed in S12 is a function P = f (X, Cap) set based on the measured value X of the processed area of the photosensitive material and the theoretical processed area Cap per container.
The replenishment interval P is set based on The function is set so that when the value of X is negative, the replenishment amount of the solid processing agent is too small, so that P is small, and when the value of X is positive, the replenishment amount of the solid processing agent is too large, so that P is increased. Function.

In S13, the display of the alarm for the replenishment operation abnormality is executed. The alarm is displayed by a picture or a character, a warning sound is emitted, a warning light is emitted, or the like.

In S14, it is detected that the operator has carried out the recovery procedure based on the display of the alarm executed in S13.
For example, the presence / absence of opening / closing operation of the inspection port of the replenishing device may be detected by a micro switch or the like.

In S15, a replacement display is executed to prompt the operator to replace the storage container. The exchange display is based on a picture or a character display, a warning sound is emitted, a warning light is emitted, or the like.

The embodiment for performing the correction control of the replenishment timing has been described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The automatic processing machine of the present invention is not limited to this, and the replenishing amount of the solid processing agent may be corrected by increasing or decreasing the operating time of the solid processing agent replenishing means, or a combination of both may be used.

The judgment of the above correction conditions and correction operation is 1
It is preferable to perform this for each storage container, but it may be determined when several storage containers are collected. Alternatively, the determination may be made by referring to the data of the container for several times.

Further, in the automatic developing machine of the present invention, when the cartridge is replaced, the replenishment rate of the treating agent in the treating agent replenishing device is improved by performing the forced replenishing operation to replenish the remaining treating agent. It is preferable because it can prevent the treating agent from rising and staying in the container for a long period of time. Further, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the solid processing agent K at the time of replacement. However,
In the present invention, the processing amount information is detected by the processing amount information detecting means 31, and the solid processing agent K is detected by the remaining amount detecting sensor 38.
It is necessary to perform the forced replenishment operation after detecting that the remaining amount of is less than the set value.

In this way, after replenishing the whole amount of one set of the solid processing agent, an alarm for converting the container is generated,
A container exchange operation is performed.

Further, the correction of the replenishment operation amount by the control means according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment in which the replenishment timing correction control shown in FIG. 12 is performed, and the integration is performed until the processing amount of the photosensitive material reaches a predetermined area. from the ratio of preset the theory put number and the input number amount (k _n), may be a method of setting a correction condition in the next replenishment operation. That is, in the carrying screw method shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when remaining, for example, at the time of each replenishment, the number of rotations of the carrying screw 52 is increased and the drive screw is rotated extra to rotate the solid processing in the container 33. Agent K
I tried to replenish the amount. In the opposite case, the number of rotations may be reduced to replenish the amount of fuel, so that the replenishment amount may be corrected each time.

[0121] be a result there is an error in the previous replenishment (k ₁ to k _n), by correcting the replenishment (amount), 1 storage container
When the solid processing agent K for the set has finished processing the photosensitive material having a predetermined area, the total amount is exactly replenished.

Further, the correction control of the replenishment operation amount may be a combination of the method of performing the correction control of the replenishment timing and the method of performing the correction control of the replenishment amount for each time.

Further, it is preferable that a control means is provided so as to be able to continue the processing without interrupting the processing immediately when performing the operation of supplying a new processing agent such as the container replacement operation. . That is, the remaining amount detection sensor
When 38 detects that the remaining amount of solid processing agent K has run out,
Even after the operator is notified to replenish the solid processing agent to the replenishing device, continuous processing can be performed without stopping the processing of the developing machine until the replenishment work by the operator is completed. As described above, the control that allows the processing of the predetermined area of the photosensitive material is incorporated so that the continuous processing can be performed without allowing the processing of the predetermined area of the photosensitive material. Is being pursued. Also, the allowable amount of continuous processing during this replenishment work is
A warning is issued when the allowable processing amount (area of processed photosensitive material) within a preset range of safe processing performance is exceeded, and a notification and operation control to prohibit further processing are performed. In addition, the component concentration of the processing liquid does not fluctuate significantly. After the operator completes the replenishment work and confirms the completion of the replenishment work by means of key input or automatic detection by the operator, the amount of the photosensitive material processed during the replenishment work is equivalent to the processing area. Since the solid processing agent is insufficiently replenished, the insufficient amount is replenished and the normal replenishment mode is entered. Further, if the above-mentioned processing prohibition control is performed, the notification and the cancellation of the operation are performed at the same time.

FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the color print processing apparatus, and FIG. 14 is a front view of the processing apparatus. This solid processing agent replenishment condition setting input means manually inputs the condition value by the key operation of the keyboard 391, and the floppy disk 392.
It is preferable to input the data to and set it from the viewpoint of simplicity. It is also preferable in terms of simplicity to input the condition value from a bar code value reader or the like.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B in the automatic processor AP for processing color photographic paper,
Although the processing liquid tank having substantially three tanks of the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D and 1E has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color developing tank 7A, the bleaching tank 7B, the fixing tanks 7C and 7D,
The present invention is also applicable to the automatic developing machine AF for processing a color negative film having a substantially four-tank structure having the stabilizing tanks 7E, 7F and 7G, or a structure having more than one processing liquid tank.

[0126]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The described automatic developing device for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials has the following effects.

(I) Even if a cumulative replenishment amount error occurs due to changes in the shape, volume, weight, and component deviation of the solid processing agent due to environmental humidity, vibration during transportation, etc., the accumulated replenishment error that has occurred is eliminated and stable. A treatment liquid having the above composition is obtained.

(Ii) It is possible to stably supply solid processing agent with an inexpensive replenishing device without requiring a complicated and precise replenishing device.

The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material automatic developing apparatus according to claim 11 can determine that the replenishment is abnormal when the processing amount information largely deviates from the theoretical value with respect to the area information. It has the effect of eliminating the processing of the light-sensitive material which is generated and the activity of the processing solution is inadequate.

Further, the automatic developing device for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 15 has an effect that the operation of the remaining amount detecting means becomes stable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic processing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a silver halide photographic material processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an automatic developing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front side overall configuration diagram of a negative film developing machine.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the automatic developing machine for the negative film.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of solid processing agent replenishing means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the solid processing agent replenishing means.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the solid processing agent replenishing means.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the solid processing agent replenishing means.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the solid processing agent replenishing means.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for controlling replenishment of a solid processing agent and replenishing water.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a solid processing agent replenishment correction step.

FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of a color print processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Processing liquid tank 1A, 7A Color developing tank 1B Bleach fixing tank 1C, 1D, 1E, 7E, 7F, 7G Stabilizing tank 2A, 2B, 2E, 9A, 9B, 9D, 9G Dissolving tank 3A, 3B, 3E, 8A, 8B, 8D, 8G Solid processing agent replenishing device 4 Replenishing water tank 7B Bleaching tank 7C, 7D Fixing tank 22 Filter 30, 50, 60, 70, 80 Solid processing agent replenishing means 31 Processing amount information detecting means 32 Replenishment controlling means 33, 61, 71, 81 Storage container (cartridge) 34 Replenishing device main body 35 Conveying screw 36 Shutter 37 Driving means 38 Remaining amount detection sensor 40 Replenishing water supplying means 51 Hopper 52 Conveying screw 55 Wiper 65 Piston 75 Rotating conveying member (rotor) AP, AF automatic processing machine K Granular solid processing agent P Replenishment interval value p Printing paper (photosensitive material) f Film (photosensitive material) W Replenishment water X Count value representing the difference from theoretical processing area Y Replenishment timing Western Count value of the processing area

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A holding means of a container for containing a solid processing agent, a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent, and a unit amount of the solid processing agent contained in the container are divided into a plurality of parts. In an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion, the holding means holds a container containing the solid processing agent in a unit amount, Processing amount information detecting means for detecting the processing amount information, and comparing the area information and the processing amount information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent, the above-mentioned per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed. An automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a control means for correcting the replenishing operation amount of the solid processing agent replenishing means. 2. An accommodating means for accommodating a solid processing agent, a dissolution section for dissolving the solid processing agent, and a unit amount of the solid processing agent accommodated in the accommodating section are divided into a plurality of times to dissolve the dissolution section. In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing with, the accommodating means is capable of accommodating the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and detects processing amount information of the silver halide photographic material. Comparing the processing amount information detecting means with the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent and the processing amount information, the solid processing agent replenishing means per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, comprising: a control means for correcting the replenishing operation amount. 3. The processing amount information of the light-sensitive material processed while the control means replenishes the unit amount of the solid processing agent,
The replenishment operation amount of the solid processing agent replenishing unit per unit area of the photosensitive material to be processed is corrected by comparing the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in 1 or 2. 4. The area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent is processing amount information corresponding to the area capable of processing the photosensitive material according to the processing capacity of the unit amount of the solid processing agent. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means increases or decreases the amount of the area of the photosensitive material processed during the replenishing operation and the subsequent operation. Automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials. 6. The control means corrects the amount of replenishment operation by increasing or decreasing the time required for one operation of the replenishment operation or by increasing or decreasing the number of repeating units performed in one operation of the replenishment operation. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 7. The control means controls the flow rate of the solid processing agent to the measuring section of the replenishing device to correct the replenishing operation amount of the replenishing means. An automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material as described in the above item. 8. The unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container is a filling unit amount of the solid processing agent which is weighed in advance when the product is shipped. An automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials as described in the item 1. 9. The unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storing means is supplied from a container filled with the solid processing agent which is weighed in advance at the time of shipping the product. An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to any one of 1. 10. The solid processing agent is directly added to a processing bath for processing a photosensitive material or a processing bath in a dissolution bath connected to the processing bath by a processing bath.
An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to any one of 1. 11. A holding means for holding a container for housing a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent.
In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A processing amount information detecting means for holding a container containing the solid processing agent in a unit amount and detecting processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and area information of the light-sensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent. And an alarm means for notifying that an abnormal state has occurred in the solid processing agent replenishing means and / or the solid processing agent distribution channel by comparing the processing amount information with the processing amount information. Automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials. 12. A container for accommodating a solid processing agent replenishing device, a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent, and a unit amount of the solid processing agent contained in the container is divided into a plurality of times to divide the solid processing agent into a plurality of parts. In an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing a dissolving portion, the accommodating means can accommodate the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light sensitive material. Processing amount information detecting means for detecting the area, the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent and the processing amount information, and the solid processing agent replenishing means or the distribution path of the solid processing agent. An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: an alarm means for notifying that an abnormal state has occurred in the. 13. An abnormal state occurs in the solid processing agent replenishing means or the distribution path of the solid processing agent by comparing the area information of the photosensitive material corresponding to the unit amount of the solid processing agent with the processing amount information. 11. The automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm means for notifying that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is operating. 14. A unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container or the amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container with respect to the weight of the solid processing agent replenished while the processing liquid in the processing tank is updated once. The weight ratio of the solid treatment agent of the unit amount is 0.
14. A halogenation characterized in that a solid processing agent, which is pre-filled in a unit amount of 01 to 1, is developed by the automatic processor according to any one of claims 1 to 13. Replenishment control method for automatic developing machine for silver light-sensitive material. 15. A holding means for holding a container for housing a solid processing agent replenishing device, and a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent.
In the automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which has a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing the dissolving portion by dividing the unit amount of the solid processing agent stored in the storage container into a plurality of times, the holding means is A holding amount container holding a unit amount of the solid processing agent, a processing amount information detecting unit for detecting processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, a remaining amount detecting unit of the solid processing agent, and the storing unit. A halogenation characterized by having a cross-linking prevention means for preventing cross-linking of the contained solid processing agent, and preventing the solid processing agent from adhering to the remaining amount detecting means by operating the cross-linking preventing means. Automatic developing machine for silver photographic light-sensitive materials. 16. A housing means for housing a solid processing agent replenishing device, a dissolving section for dissolving the solid processing agent, and a unit amount of the solid processing agent housed in the housing means are divided into a plurality of times to obtain the solid processing agent. In an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having a solid processing agent replenishing means for replenishing a dissolving portion, the accommodating means can accommodate the solid processing agent in a unit amount, and the processing amount information of the silver halide photographic light sensitive material. Processing amount information detecting means for detecting, a residual amount detecting means of the solid processing agent, and a cross-linking preventing means for preventing cross-linking of the solid processing agent housed in the housing means, of the cross-linking preventing means. An automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, characterized in that the solid processing agent is prevented from adhering to the remaining amount detecting means during operation.