JPH09292694A - Photosensitive material processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photosensitive material processor coping with a system where developed negative film is returned in a state where it is housed in a cartridge without cutting negative film and is small-sized. SOLUTION: A station traveling route 714 where a station feeding out film F from the cartridge 14 loaded is traveled is provided on one side of a processing tank, and a catching station traveling route 718 where a catching station 716 holding the top end of the film F fed out from the cartridge 14 is traveled is provided at the other side. An immersing device 784 where the film F fed out is immersed in the processing tank in a state where it is folded several times is provided at the upper side of the processing tank. The film F is made in the state where it is folded several times between the station 740 and the catching station 716 by the immersing device 784, so that the length of each processing tank in a film longitudinal direction is made short. Also, the measure of the each processing tank in a film width direction is made a little larger than the width of the film F. The space of the processing tank is made small, so that a device is miniaturized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for developing a film contained in a film container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally used 135 size negative film is developed by removing the negative film from the spool shaft (or cutting it near the spool shaft) and carrying a plurality of processing tanks by carrying rollers or the like. Is supposed to do.

Further, the developed negative film is cut into a predetermined number of frames and returned to the customer as a piece negative.

In recent years, a new system has been proposed in which a developed negative film is returned in a state of being housed in a cartridge without cutting the negative film.

In this new system, the negative film is taken out from the cartridge deposited by the customer and developed, and the developed negative film is stored in the original cartridge and returned to the customer.

By the way, when an attempt is made to develop a negative film of a new system with an automatic processor for developing a negative size 135 film, a device for separating the negative film from the spool shaft of the cartridge and a negative film after the developing process are performed. A device for locking the spool shaft again is required, which causes a problem that the machine becomes complicated and becomes large in size.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, an apparatus for feeding a film from a cartridge so as not to remove the base end of the film from a spool shaft and developing the film fed out of the cartridge ( Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-319141) has been proposed. This device supports the cartridge and the leading edge of the film with the device,
The intermediate portion of the film is made substantially V-shaped with one member (roller or the like) and immersed in the treatment liquid.

However, in order to develop a long negative film having a large number of photographed images, a long processing tank is required, and the installation space of the processing tank becomes large, so that there is a problem that the apparatus cannot be downsized.

In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to provide a small-sized photosensitive material processing apparatus corresponding to a new system.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus which sends out a long film wound around a spool shaft from a film container and develops the film. A film storage container holding means for holding the stored film storage container and sending out the film stored above the processing tank, a film holding means for holding the leading end portion of the film sent out from the film storage container, and the film storage container holding means. And a moving means for moving the film holding means along the width direction of the film, and a plurality of processing tanks arranged along the moving direction of the film storage container holding means and the film holding means for performing a film developing process, A plurality of films between the film storage container and the film holding means are folded back into the processing liquid of the processing tank. It is characterized by having a dipping means for pickles, the.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The film is sent out from the film storage container held by the film storage container holding means, and the leading end of the film is held by the film holding means. The film accommodating container holding means and the film held by the film holding means are conveyed above the predetermined processing tank by the moving means. The intermediate portion of the film is made to be in a state of being folded back a plurality of times by the dipping means, immersed in the treatment liquid, and treated with the treatment liquid. After the predetermined processing is completed, the film is pulled up and conveyed to an adjacent processing tank for the next processing. Since the film is folded back a plurality of times, the length of the processing tank in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the film can be shortened. Furthermore, the length of each processing tank in the direction along the film width direction may be slightly larger than the width of the film. For this reason,
The installation space of the processing tank can be reduced, and the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be downsized.

The invention according to a second aspect is the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect, which further comprises a drying means for forcibly blowing dry air while moving the developed film in one direction. I am trying.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2,
The drying means can dry the film rapidly by forcibly blowing dry air while moving the developed film in one direction. In addition, the dried portion can be sent to the next step earlier than the case where the entire film is slackened and dried in a stationary state and then sent to the next step.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect, there is provided a recording means for recording the image of the film on the recording medium.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 3,
The image of the film is recorded on a recording medium such as photographic paper to produce a so-called print. In the present invention, the development process to the printing work can be performed without removing the film from the film storage container.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. (Cartridge and Film) First, the outline of the cartridge 14 and the film F used in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and 2, the cartridge 14 includes covers 18A and 18A.
B formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by superimposing B
It has. The casing 20 has a projecting portion 22 projecting in a tangential direction, and a leading end of the projecting portion 22 has a slit-shaped insertion opening 2 extending along the axial direction of the casing 20.
8 are formed. This insertion opening 28 is usually provided in the door 3
0, which causes the casing 2
The inside of 0 is in a light shielding state. The spool shaft 16 in the casing 20 is rotatably supported by side walls 24 and 26 closing both ends of the casing 20 in the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (B), 1 (C) and 2, a door shaft 32 is rotatably supported on the projecting portion 22 by hanging it between side walls 24 and 26. . The door shaft 32 rotates integrally with the door 30, and the door 30 rotates together with the door shaft 32 to open and close the insertion port 28. The front end exposed from the side walls 24 and 26 of the door shaft 32 has a door shaft 32
A key hole 34 for engaging a means for rotating (door driver 158 described later) is formed.

The casing 20 is divided into covers 18A and 18B along a line connecting the support position of the door shaft 32 of the side walls 24 and 26, the support position of the spool shaft 16 and the end portion on the side opposite to the protruding portion 22. There is.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1C, a notch hole 36 is formed at one end of the side wall 26 of the casing 20 on the opposite side of the protrusion 22 by a notch formed in the covers 18A and 18B. And formed on the cover 18B,
A display plate 38 that covers the notch hole 36 extends.
The display plate 38 is connected at the axial center side of the casing 20 with a narrow joint portion 38A, and at the outer peripheral side with a wide joint portion 38B.
Are joined by

The display plate 38 is designed such that, when the film F having undergone the development processing is accommodated in the cartridge 14, the joint portion 38A side is cut off and the display plate 38 is pushed into the notch hole 36 and bent. . Thus, it is possible to determine from the outside of the casing 20 whether the film F in the cartridge 14 has been developed or has not been developed.

Further, on the side wall 26, display holes 40A, 40B, 40C and 40D are formed at equal intervals around the spool shaft 16 (hereinafter, "display hole 40" when collectively referred to).
Say). These display holes 40 are used to display the state of the film F stored in the cartridge 14. For example, the round display hole 40A is
An unexposed, semicircular display hole 40B indicates that the exposure has been partially performed, an X-shaped display hole 40C has been exposed and has not been developed, and a rectangular display hole 40D has been developed. This makes it possible to determine which exposure state or processing state the film F contained in the cartridge 14 is in.

On the other hand, FIGS. 3A and 3B show the spool shaft 16 arranged in the casing 20. This spool shaft 16 has a winding portion 4 whose center portion in the axial direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3A) winds the film F.
2, on both sides of the winding portion 42, a flange portion 44
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the flange portion 44
, A flexible flange 72 formed of a thin resin that can be elastically deformed is attached.

The spool shaft 16 has a casing 2
A small-diameter ring 48 is attached to the end portion of the 0 side wall 26 side. As also shown in FIG. 1 (C) and FIG. 3 (B),
The ring 48 is integrally provided with a white plate 50 protruding radially outward with a predetermined width. As shown in FIG. 1C, the white plate 50 overlaps with any of the display holes 40 depending on the rotational position around the spool shaft 16, and exposes a white portion in the overlapped display hole 40. The exposed position of the white plate 50 clearly indicates the processing state of the film F in the cartridge 14 described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ring 48 is formed with a gear portion 48A, and when the door 30 is closed, the spool lock 76 attached to the cover 18B meshes with the gear portion 48A, and at a torque below a predetermined value. It doesn't rotate. On the other hand, when the door 30 is opened, the spool lock 76 separates from the gear portion 48A, and the spool shaft 16
Is designed to rotate smoothly.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), the winding portion 42 of the spool shaft 16 is formed with a cutout portion 52 along the axial direction. Is divided into a thick width winding portion main body 42B and a narrow width engaging portion 42A by the cutout portion 52. Further, the engaging portion 42
A is formed with a pressing portion 54 which is divided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction, and whose leading end protrudes in a direction to narrow the opening width of the cutout portion 52 toward the winding portion main body 42B.

On the other hand, the holding section 5 is provided on the winding section main body 42B.
On the outer side along the axial direction of No. 4, a pair of protrusions 56 projecting in a direction to reduce the opening width of the notch 52 is formed. The projection 56 overlaps with the holding portion 54 when viewed along the axial direction of the spool shaft.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 2, a label 78 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the casing 20. As shown in FIG. 1B, the label 78 includes a bar code 80 including various information such as a cartridge ID (identification number) for identifying the cartridge 14, a film type, and the number of shots (number of frames). Are printed in two steps on the cover 18B side.

As shown in FIG. 4, the trailer end FT of the film F has a claw portion (not shown) of an attach plate used when the film F is locked to the spool shaft 16 at the center portion in the width direction. A long hole 58 for hooking the () is formed.

Engagement holes 60 are formed on both sides of the elongated hole 58 in the width direction. The engagement hole 60 is provided in the film F
When the trailer-side end portion FT is inserted into the cutout portion 52 of the spool shaft 16, as shown in FIGS. At this time, the pressing portion 54 abuts between the engaging holes 60 of the film F, and serves to prevent the protrusion 56 from coming off, thereby engaging the trailer-side end FT of the film F with the spool shaft 16. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the tip 56A of the protrusion 56 has a shape protruding in the direction opposite to the drawing direction of the film F (arrow R direction).
Is prevented from coming off.

The film F is wound around the spool shaft 16 and accommodated in the cartridge 14 with the trailer end FT engaged with the spool shaft 16 as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the cartridge 14 has a key hole 62 formed in the end surface of the spool shaft 16 exposed from the side walls 24 and 26. When they are fitted together, the rotational force can be transmitted to the spool shaft 16.

As shown in FIG. 4, the film F
, Perforations 66 that clearly indicate the position of the image frame 64 are formed at one end in the width direction at predetermined intervals.
The perforations 66 are used for positioning the image frames 64 when performing image exposure and printing.

Further, an around perforation 68 is provided on the side opposite to the perforation 66 on the end FT side of the final image frame 64, and no image is recorded on the trailer side beyond this position. ,
Or, it clearly states that no image is recorded.

Further, the film F is provided with a detachment perforation 70 at a position separated from the trailer side end portion FT by a constant distance T. If the detachment perforation 70 is detected, the detachment perforation 70 of the film F is detected. The position of the end portion FT can be accurately determined. In addition, both ends in the width direction of the end FT on the trailer side of the film F are inclined to facilitate insertion of the spool shaft 16 into the notch 52.

Further, the film F is provided with a transparent magnetic recording layer, and the areas which are not covered by the image frame 64 at both ends in the width direction of the film F are used as magnetic tracks.

A magnetic track 80 for a developing station is provided on the side where the perforations 66 are formed. A magnetic track 82 for a camera is provided on the side opposite to the side where the perforations 66 are formed.

Further, the end portion FT side is closer to the end portion FT side than the perforation 66 of the image piece 64 on the end portion FT side, and the end portion FR is larger than the perforation 66 of the image piece 64 on the end portion FR side.
On the side, a magnetic track 88 for recording a film ID for identifying the film F is provided. Further, a bar code 90 is provided on the opposite side of the magnetic tracks 88. The bar code 90 includes a film ID for identifying the film F, is formed as a latent image in advance at the stage of manufacturing the film F, and is visualized by developing. The barcode 90 of the film F corresponds to the barcode 80 of the cartridge 14 described above.

Further, the film F has a magnetic track 8
The barcode 92 is recorded at the same position as the barcode 92. The barcode 92 indicates the frame number of the image frame 64, the manufacturer, the type of film, and the like. The barcode 92 is previously formed as a latent image at the stage of manufacturing the film F, and is visualized by developing. Things.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the development processing section 702 of the printer processor 700 of this embodiment, a color development processing tank 704 in which a color developing solution is stored, a bleach processing tank 706 in which a bleaching solution is stored, and a bleaching process are performed. A bleach-fixing treatment tank 708 in which a fixing liquid is stored, and a rinse treatment tank 71 in which a rinse liquid is stored.
0, stabilization processing tanks 712 in which the stabilizing solution is stored are sequentially arranged in the direction of arrow R.

A station traveling path 714 is provided on the side of the processing tanks in the direction of arrow B, and the arrow F of the processing tanks is shown.
A catching station traveling route 718 of a catching station 716 described later is provided on the direction side.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the station traveling route 714 has a substantially L-shaped base 720. A pair of rails 722 and a pair of rails 724 extending in the arrow R direction and the arrow L direction are arranged in parallel with each other on the linear portion 720A of the base 720.

An end portion of the base 720 on the arrow L direction side is lowered by one step, and a pair of rails 726 extending along the arrow B direction and the arrow F direction are arranged at the step portion 720B. On this rail 726, a freight car 728 traveling by a motor (not shown) is mounted.

On the other hand, the end of the base 720 on the arrow R direction side is also lowered by one step, and the stepped portion 720C here has a pair of rails 7 extending along the arrow B and arrow F directions.
30 and a rail 732 are provided. Rail 730
Is mounted with a freight car 734 that travels with a motor (not shown), and the rail 732 is equipped with a freight car 736 that travels with a motor (not shown).

On the upper surfaces of these freight cars 728, 734, 736, a pair of rails 738 set at the same height as the rails 722 and 724, respectively, are arranged. A station 740 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can run on these rails 722, 724, 738. (Station) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the station 740 has a box shape.

In the main body 144, a recess 150 for loading the cartridge 14 is provided near the center of the upper portion. The recess 150 is formed in such a shape that the lower half of the protrusion 22 of the cartridge 14 is inserted from the lower end.

Further, the main body 144 is provided with an opening 152 in the recess 150 and an opening 154 in the side plate 144F on the arrow F direction side, so that the bar code 80 (see FIG. 1) of the accommodated cartridge 14 can be seen from the outside. It is like this.

As shown in FIG. 9, the main body 144 has a door driver 158 for opening and closing the door 30 of the cartridge 14.
And a spool driver 16 for rotating the spool shaft 16.
A chucking device 162 with 0 is provided.

The door driver 158 and the spool driver 160 are rotated by a motor 164 and a motor 166, respectively, and a key (projection) that engages with a key hole is formed on the side surface of the shaft. The motor 164 and the motor 166 are mounted on a slide block 168 movably supported along a pair of guide rails 167 mounted on the main body 144. The slide block 168 slides along the spool shaft 16 in the axial direction.

The slide block 168 includes a main body 144.
Iron core 170A of solenoid 170 attached to
The door driver 158 and the spool driver 160 are normally connected to the cartridge 1 as shown in FIG.
4 has been retracted to a position away from it by a predetermined dimension.

When the solenoid 170 is energized,
The movable iron core 170A moves to the cartridge 14 side by a predetermined size, the tips of the door driver 158 and the spool driver 160 project from the opening 172 of the main body 144, the door driver 158 is inserted into the key hole 34 of the door shaft 32, and the spool driver 160 is inserted into the spool shaft. Engage with 16 key holes 62.

Inside the bottom of the main body 144, an pushing device 174 for pushing the cartridge 14 out of the recess 150.
Is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pushing device 174 has a lever 178 swingably supported by a column 176 provided upright on the bottom. A movable iron core 180A of a solenoid 180 is connected to one end of the lever 178. When the movable iron core 180 moves downward, the lever 17
The other end of 8 protrudes from a hole 182 formed in the bottom of the recess 150 to push the cartridge 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the main body 144 is
It has a plurality of rotatable guide rollers 184, and the groove 18 formed on the side surface of the rail 738 or the like described above.
6, and the rail 738 and the like are sandwiched. It should be noted that one of the plurality of guide rollers 184 is rotated by the motor 188, and the station 740 can be run by rotating the motor 188.

The sub-control device 200 provided inside the main body 144 wirelessly exchanges signals with a main control device (not shown) provided inside the printer processor 100. In addition, the station 740 is equipped with a battery (not shown) as a power source. In addition, station 74
0 solenoid 170, solenoid 180, motor 16
4, the motor 166, and the motor 188 are controlled by the sub control device 200.

Note that, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a freight car 728 equipped with a station 740 is positioned at the end of the rail 724 in the direction of the arrow L, the rail 7 of the freight car 728 is moved.
38 and the rail 724 of the base 720 are aligned, and the station 740 of the freight car 728 can be transferred to the rail 724 of the base 720.

The traveling of each of the freight cars 728, 734, 736 is controlled by a main controller (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the base 72
A cartridge loading device 742 is arranged above the end portion of 0 in the direction of the arrow L.

The cartridge loading device 742 is provided with a cartridge loading cylinder 744 for vertically storing the cartridge 14, and the cartridge 14 is dropped from the upper opening of the cartridge loading cylinder 744.

A cartridge pushing mechanism 746 is arranged below the cartridge loading cylinder 744. The cartridge pushing mechanism 746 includes a horizontally arranged base 748.
And the cylinder device 7 arranged on the base 748.
And 50.

Cylinder rod 75 of cylinder device 750
An extruding block 760 for extruding the cartridge 14 is attached to the tip of the cartridge 8. When the extrusion block 760 is moved in the direction of the arrow F, the cartridge 1 on the base is
4 falls from the end of the base 748 and is loaded into the recess 150 of the station 740 waiting below. In addition,
After extruding the cartridge 14, an extrusion block 760
When is pulled back, one cartridge 14 drops from the cartridge loading cylinder 744 onto the base.

In this embodiment, the bar code scanner 107 that reads the bar code 80 of the cartridge 14 is
It is provided on the base 748.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, a plate-shaped film guide 762 for supporting the lower surface of the film F is provided on the upper part of the color development processing tank 704 in the direction of the arrow F of the rail 726. There is. This film guide 762
When the film F is sent out from the cartridge 14 located at the end of the film F, the film F slides on the film guide 762 toward the arrow F direction side.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, a pair of upper and lower round bars 764 for guiding the film F are attached to the upper edge portion of each processing tank. A gap into which the film F can be inserted is provided between the round bars 764. The round bar 764 may be replaced with a rotatable roller.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 11, the catching station traveling path 71 is provided in the direction of the arrow F of the processing tank.
8 are provided.

Catching station traveling route 718
Includes an endless track 768 composed of a pair of rails 766 extending along the arrow L direction and the arrow R direction.

On the endless track 768, a catching station 716 which engages with the rail 766 and travels is arranged.

The catching station 716 has a box-shaped main body 770. The rail 7 is attached to the main body 770.
A substantially L-shaped support 772 is attached to the surface opposite to the 66 side. An L-shaped lever 774 is swingably attached to an intermediate portion of the column 772. Film F
Are sandwiched between the tip of the lever 774 and the main body 770. Normally, lever 774 is
The tip of the film F is urged away from the film F by a spring 776 attached to the film F.
In the case of sandwiching, the movable iron core 780 of the solenoid 778 attached to the tip of the column 772 urges the tip of the lever 774 toward the main body 770.

The main body 770 has a sensor 781 for detecting the film F, wheels engaged with the rails 766, motors (not shown) for rotating the wheels, and sub-control devices (not shown) for controlling these motors and solenoids 778. ) Etc. are built in.

Input / output of control signals and input of power supply are as follows.
It is performed by a power supply line 782 provided along the endless track 768. Further, when the sensor 781 detects the film F (leading edge), a detection signal is sent to the main controller (not shown) via the power supply line 782.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, the film F sent from the cartridge 14 is located above the processing tank.
Immersion device 784 for immersing the liquid in the processing liquid of the processing tank
Is arranged.

The dipping device 784 has an arrow R direction and an arrow L.
It is composed of a pair of rails 786 extending along the direction and a hanger 788 running on the rails 786.

The hanger 788 is provided with wheels 790 that engage with the rails 786, one of the wheels 790 being adapted to be rotated by a motor 792.

Inside the hanger 788, seven vertical cylinders 794 are arranged along the arrow B and arrow F directions.

Cylinder rod 796 of each cylinder 794
Is directed downward, and a block 798 attached to the tip of the roller has a pair of upper and lower rollers 800 and 802.
Is rotatably mounted. The roller 800 and the roller 802 are separated from each other by a predetermined size, and the film F can be inserted into the gap between the rollers in the axial direction (sideways) of the rollers. Each cylinder 794 is individually controlled by a main controller (not shown). The motor 792 is also controlled by a main controller (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 13, a drying section 130, an exposing section 132, a paper carrying device 134, a thermal development transfer part 136, and a print carrying device 138 are provided on the side of the stabilizing tank 712 in the direction of arrow B. . (Drying Section) As shown in FIG. 13, a drying section 130 for drying the developed film F is provided in the stabilizing treatment tank 712 in the direction of arrow B. The drying unit 130 includes a water absorbing device 420 and a drying fan 422.

The water absorbing device 420 is provided with cylinders 424 at the upper and lower sides of the film F transport path, and a holder 428 for supporting a roll of water absorbing paper 426 is attached to each cylinder rod 424A. . The holder 428 is provided with a pair of rollers 429 around which the water absorbing paper 426 is wound around the transport path side of the film F. The water-absorbent paper 426 is attached to the film F that is pulled out while being wound on the winding shaft 427 rotated by a motor (not shown) when the station 740 loaded with the cartridge 14 moves in the direction of arrow B. Absorb water.

The drying fan 422 is arranged on the side of the water absorbing device 420 in the direction of the arrow B, and blows dry air (warm air) toward the film F to dry the film F. (Exposure part) The exposure part 13 is provided on the arrow B side of the drying part 130.
2 are arranged.

The exposure section 132 includes a negative carrier 450 that holds the film F in a flat shape. This negative carrier 450 is a cylinder (not shown) that is horizontally attached to the film F.
It is configured to move along the width direction (front and back direction in FIG. 13). The side surface of the negative carrier 450 (see FIG.
A slit into which the film F enters is provided on the front side).

Above the negative carrier 450, a mirror box 456, a CC filter 458 and a light source 460 are sequentially arranged. Further, below the negative carrier 450, a lens 462, a black shutter 464, a paper mask 468, and a paper support 470 are sequentially arranged.

In the direction of arrow F of the paper support base 470,
The nipping roller 472 is arranged, and the nipping roller 472 is provided.
A support shaft 474 is disposed below the. A photosensitive material 475 is wound around the support shaft 474 in a roll shape.

The nipping roller 472 is rotated by a motor (not shown) and conveys the photosensitive material 475 to the paper support base 470.

Photosensitive material 47 rather than paper support 470
5, a water application section 476 for applying water to the photosensitive material 475, a nipping roller 478, a nipping roller 48.
0 and the heat development transfer section 136 are arranged.

Further, a nipping roller 482 is arranged above the water application section 476, and the arrow B of the nipping roller 482 is arranged.
A support shaft 484 is arranged on the direction side. An image receiving material 485 is wound around the support shaft 484 in a roll shape. The nipping roller 482 is rotated by a motor (not shown) and conveys the image receiving material 485 toward the nipping roller 478.

A dye fixing material having a mordant is applied to the image forming surface of the image receiving material 485, and the nipping roller 47 is used.
The image-receiving material 485 conveyed toward No. 8 is conveyed to the heat development transfer section 136 by the nipping roller 478 and the nipping roller 480 with the image forming surface side facing the photosensitive material 475. (Heat Development Transfer Unit) In the heat development transfer unit 136, the photosensitive material 475 and the image receiving material 485 are sandwiched and conveyed by a bonding roller and a heating roller (not shown), and the photosensitive material 475 is conveyed.
And the image receiving material 485 are heated to a predetermined temperature.

Below the heat development transfer section 136, a nipping roller 48 for conveying the image receiving material 485 downward (in the direction of arrow D).
6 and a nipping roller 488 that conveys the photosensitive material 475 in the arrow F direction. In addition, this nip roller 48
6, 488 are rotated by a motor (not shown).

The photosensitive material 475 conveyed by the nip roller 488 in the direction of arrow F is wound around the winding shaft 490 rotated by a motor (not shown).

A cutter 494 driven by a cylinder 492 is arranged below the nip roller 486.

Below the cutter 494, a print conveying device 138 in which a plurality of baskets 498 are attached to a belt conveyor (not shown) is arranged. (Print Conveying Device) The endless belt 496 of the print conveying device 138 has a.

On the arrow B direction side of the exposure section 132, the cartridge 14 loaded in the station 740 is taken out and the funnel-shaped duct 5 arranged at the end on the arrow B direction side.
A magic hand 806 for throwing into 00 is provided.

The cartridge 14 discharged from the lower end of the duct 500 is designed to drop into a predetermined basket 498 of the print carrying device 138. (Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

First, the cartridge 14 to be developed is dropped from the upper opening of the cartridge loading cylinder 744, and the cartridge 14 is put on standby.

Cartridge 1 located on base 748
The barcode 80 of No. 4 is read by the barcode scanner 107.

Thereafter, the cartridge 14 is pushed out in the direction of arrow F by the cartridge pushing mechanism 746, and the base 74
8 is loaded into the recess 150 of the station 740 waiting on the arrow F direction side (see FIG. 10).

Next, the chucking device 162 of the station 740 is operated, the door driver 158 engages with the key hole 34 of the door shaft 32, and the spool driver 160 engages with the key hole 62 of the spool shaft 16. Then motor 1
64 is rotated to open the door 30, and then the spool driver 160 is rotated to load the film F into the cartridge 14.
It is sent out from the insertion port 28 of.

As shown in FIG. 11, the film F sent from the cartridge 14 slides on the film guide 762 toward the arrow F direction side.

A catching station 716 is waiting in front of the film F. When the leading edge of the film F is detected by the sensor 781 of the catching station 716, the film feeding is stopped and the solenoid 778 is activated to operate the film F. The tip of the is clamped by the tip of the lever 774 and the main body 770. At this time, the film F remains inside the cartridge 14.

Next, the hanger 788 is attached to the film guide 7
62 moves upward in the direction of the arrow R, the cylinders 794 of the hanger 788 are actuated, and the blocks 798 are aligned in the direction of the arrow R of the film guide 762. Thereafter, the station 740 supporting the film F and the catching station 716 simultaneously move in the direction of arrow R for a predetermined distance, and the film F moves to the rollers 800 and 80.
2 is inserted (see FIG. 12).

Next, the remaining film F is sent out from the cartridge 14 and each cylinder 794 is operated to alternately lower the blocks 798 supporting the middle portion of the film F as shown by the solid line in FIG. This allows
The image forming portion of the film F is dipped in the color development processing solution to perform the color development processing.

During the color development processing, the blocks 798 may be alternately moved up and down as shown by solid lines and imaginary lines. In this way, by shaking the film F during the color development process, the liquid can be stirred and uneven processing can be prevented.

When the color development processing is completed after a lapse of a predetermined time, the block 798 moves upward as shown by the solid line in FIG. 15, and the film F is pulled up from the color development processing tank 704.

When the film F is pulled up, the station 740, the catching station 716 and the hanger 788 simultaneously move in the direction of the arrow R, and the bleaching tank 7
Stop above 06. After that, the block 798 descends alternately and the bleaching process is performed.
Bleach-fixing treatment, rinsing treatment, and stabilizing treatment.

The stabilization process is performed by the station 740.
Wagon 73 was waiting on the side of the rail 732 in the direction of arrow F
It will be held in the state where you have changed to 6.

When the stabilization process ends, block 798.
Rise in a staggered manner (see FIG. 15) and film F
Is raised.

After that, the catching station 716
The front end of the lever 774 of is separated from the main body 770, and the front end of the film F is released. Next, the freight car 736 equipped with the station 740 moves in the direction of the arrow B at a predetermined speed and, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 15, a block 798.
Are arranged in a straight line, and the film F is moved to the drying unit 130 side and dried.

A freight car 736 equipped with a station 740.
Is stopped at the end portion on the arrow B direction side, the film F is wound up by a predetermined pitch, and when the first image frame 64 on the cartridge 14 side is positioned at the opening of the negative carrier 450, the conveyance of the film F is temporarily stopped and the black Shutter 46
4 is operated for a predetermined time to perform exposure, and the image of the image frame 64 is printed on the photosensitive material 475. The image frame 64 can be stopped at the opening of the negative carrier 450 by detecting the perforation 66 of the film F with a sensor.

The image-printed photosensitive material 475 is
After being coated with water by the water coating section 476, it is conveyed to the heat development transfer section 136 in a state of being superposed on the image receiving material 485,
The photosensitive material 475 and the image receiving material 485 are heated while being conveyed while being sandwiched between the laminating roller and the heating roller. As a result, the movable dye of the photosensitive material 475 is released, the released dye is transferred to the dye fixing layer of the image receiving material 485, and an image is formed on the image receiving material 485.

After that, the light-sensitive material 475 and the image-receiving material 485.
The used photosensitive material 475 is separated from the take-up shaft 49.
Wound to zero.

On the other hand, the image-receiving material 485 on which the image is formed is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 494 to form the so-called print 122, and drops into the basket 498 below.

When the printing is completed, the spool driver 160 is rotated, the film F is entirely wound around the spool shaft 16 of the cartridge 14, and the door 30 is closed. When the door 30 is closed, the energization of the solenoid 170 is stopped and the door driver 158 and the spool driver 1
The tip of 60 is separated from the cartridge 14.

After that, the magic hand 806 operates,
The cartridge 14 is dropped into the duct 500, and the cartridge 14 is placed in the basket 49 containing the print 122.
Drop into 8.

The station 740, which has become empty after the cartridge 14 has been taken out, is transferred to the freight car 734 (shown by the solid line in FIG. 6) waiting in the direction of the arrow L, and the freight car 734 equipped with the station 740 is As shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
Position 40 at the end of rail 722.

Then, the station 740 is moved to the rail 72.
2 and run in the direction of the arrow L to the rail 72
Transfer to the freight car 728 waiting at the end of 2. After that, the freight car 728 equipped with the station 740 is moved to the arrow F direction side, and waits until the next cartridge 14 is loaded.

In this embodiment, since the film F between the station 740 and the catching station 716 is folded back a plurality of times by the dipping device 784, the length of each processing tank in the arrow F direction and the arrow B direction is shortened. can do. Furthermore, the dimension of each processing tank in the film width direction (the dimension in the arrow R direction and the arrow L direction) may be slightly larger than the width of the film F. Therefore, the space of the processing tank can be small.

If the vertical dimension of the folded film F is increased, the length of each processing tank in the arrow F direction and the arrow B direction can be further shortened.

In the above-described embodiment, the film F
Was transported in the horizontal direction for drying and exposure, but the film F may be transported in the vertical direction for drying and / or exposure. This makes the device taller but requires less installation space.

In the above-described embodiment, the image receiving material 4
The print 122 was obtained by using 85 and the photosensitive material 475, but a method of obtaining a print 122 by developing an ordinary photographic paper with a processing liquid may be used, and a film image is read by a CCD camera or the like. Inkjet type,
A method of obtaining the print 122 by a color printer such as a thermal type may be used, and the method of obtaining the print 122 is not limited to the above.

Incidentally, although these explanations have been made by using the cartridge type new film as an example, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied even if the 135 film inserted in the conventional type cartridge is used. .
Further, if a device for pulling out the leading end of the film from the patrone is separately provided, the processing can be performed even when a patrone that has not been unbuffered is loaded.

Further, the film is not limited to the color negative film, and can be used by processing the color reversal film or the black and white film by changing the processing liquid.

As the treatment liquid used in the present invention, known treatment liquids can be used. For example, a color developing solution, a black and white developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, a bleach-fixing solution, an adjusting solution, a stabilizing solution and the like can be mentioned. These treatment liquids may be concentrated liquids or used liquids. Further, it may be used in a replenishment system or a disposable system.

The color developing solution used in the present invention is preferably an alkaline aqueous solution containing an aromatic primary amine type color developing agent as a main component. Aminophenol compounds are also useful as the color developing agent, but p-phenylenediamine compounds are preferably used. Typical examples thereof include 3-methyl-4-amino-N, N-diethylaniline and 3-methyl-4-amino-N-diethylaniline. Methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxyethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N
-Ethyl-N-β-methanesulfonamidoethylaniline, 3-methyl-4-amino-N-ethyl-N-β-methoxyethylaniline and sulfates, hydrochlorides or p-toluenesulfonates thereof. . These compounds can be used in combination of two or more depending on the purpose.

The color developing solution may be a pH buffer such as an alkali metal carbonate, borate or phosphate, a development inhibitor such as a bromide salt, an iodide salt, a benzimidazole, a benzothiazole or a mercapto compound. It generally contains an agent or an antifoggant. If necessary, hydroxylamine, diethylhydrosylamine, sulfite hydrazines, phenylsemicarbazides, triethanolamine, catecholsulfonic acids,
Triethylenediamine (1,4-diazabicyclo [2,
2,2] octane) and other preservatives, organic solvents such as ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, quaternary ammonium salts, development accelerators such as amines, dye-forming couplers, competitive couplers, sodium boron hydride, etc. Various fogging agents, auxiliary developing agents such as 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, viscosity imparting agents, various chelating agents represented by aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminopolyphosphonic acids, alkylphosphonic acids, phosphonocarboxylic acids, For example, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, nitrilo-
N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N, N ′, N′-tetramethylenephosphonic acid,
Ethylenediamine-di (o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)
And salts thereof can be used.

The black-and-white developing solution used in the reversal process includes dihydroxybenzenes such as hydroquinone and 1
Known black-and-white developing agents such as 3-pyrazolidones such as -phenyl-3-pyrazolidone or aminophenols such as N-methyl-p-aminophenol can be used alone or in combination.

The pH of the color developing solution and the black and white developing solution
Is generally 10 to 12. The replenishing amount of these developing solutions depends on the color photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, but is generally 1 liter or less per 1 m 2 of the light-sensitive material, and 100 ml by reducing the bromide ion concentration in the replenishing solution. It can also be:

A bleaching process is usually carried out after color development. The bleaching process may be performed simultaneously with the fixing process (bleach-fixing process), or may be performed individually. In order to further speed up the processing, a processing method of performing bleach-fixing after bleaching may be used. Further, treatment with two continuous bleach-fixing baths, fixing treatment before the bleach-fixing treatment, or bleaching treatment after the bleach-fixing treatment can be optionally carried out. As the bleaching agent, compounds of polyvalent metals such as iron (III), peracids, etc. are used. Typical bleaching agents are:
Organic complex salts of iron (III), for example, complex salts of aminopolycarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid; Sulfates, hydrogen peroxide, etc. can be used. Further, the aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salt is particularly effective in both the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution. PH of a bleaching solution or bleach-fixing solution using these iron (III) aminopolycarboxylic acid complex salts
Is usually 5.5 to 8, but it can be processed at pH 4.5 to 6.5 for rapid processing or for high silver chloride light-sensitive materials.

If necessary, a bleaching accelerator can be used in the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and their pre-bath.
Specific examples of useful bleach accelerators are described in the following specifications; US Pat. No. 3,893,858, Western European Patent No. 1,290,812, JP-A-53-95630, Research. Disclosure No. No. 17,129 (1
Compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide bond described in, for example, July 1978);
Derivatives described in US Pat. No. 3,70
Thiourea derivatives described in JP-A-6-561;
6235, the iodide salt; West German Patent No. 2,748,
No. 430, a polyoxyethylene compound;
The polyamine compounds described in JP-A-5-8836; bromide ions and the like can be used. Of these, compounds having a mercapto group or a disulfide group are preferred from the viewpoint of a large accelerating effect, and particularly the compounds described in US Pat. Compounds are preferred. Further, U.S. Pat.
The compounds described in No. 834 are also preferred. These bleaching accelerators are particularly effective when bleaching or bleach-fixing a color light-sensitive material for photography.

Examples of the fixing agent include thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas, and a large amount of iodide salts. The use of thiosulfates is common, especially ammonium thiosulfate. Is the most widely used. As a preservative for the bleach-fixing solution, sulfite bisulfite, sulfinic acid or carbonyl bisulfite adduct is preferable.

The silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is generally washed with water and / or stabilized after the desilvering treatment.

By the cascade method, the liquid volume can be greatly reduced. Ca and M described in JP-A-62-288838
The use of a method of reducing g is effective for reducing suspended solids. Further, isothiazolone compounds, siabendazoles, chlorine-based bactericides such as sodium chlorinated isocyanurate described in JP-A-57-8542, and other benzotriazoles, etc., Hiroshi Horiguchi, "Chemistry of Microbiocidal Agents" It is also possible to use the bactericides described in "Technology for Microbial Sterilization, Sterilization, and Microprotection" edited by the Society for Hygiene Technology, and "Encyclopedia of Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Agents" edited by Japan Society for Antimicrobial Prevention and Prevention.

The pH of the washing water in the processing of the light-sensitive material is
Preferably it is 5-8. The washing water temperature and washing time can be variously set depending on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material, intended use, etc., but is preferably 3
A range of 20 seconds to 5 minutes is selected at 0 to 45 ° C. Further, instead of the above washing with water, it is possible to directly treat with a stabilizing solution. In such stabilization treatment, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 7-8543, No. 58-14834, No. 60-220.
All known methods described in No. 345 can be used.

In some cases, the washing treatment may be followed by a further stabilizing treatment. As an example of the stabilizing treatment, formalin or its substitute compound and a surfactant which are used as the final bath of a color light-sensitive material for photographing are contained. A stabilizing bath can be mentioned. Various chelating agents and antimicrobial agents can also be added to this stabilizing bath.

Various treatment liquids used in the present invention are 10 ° C.
Used at ~ 50 ° C. Normally 33 ° C to 38
Although the temperature of ° C is standard, the temperature can be increased to accelerate the processing to shorten the processing time, and conversely, to lower the temperature to improve the image quality and improve the stability of the processing liquid.

The composition of the color developing solution, bleach-fixing solution, bleaching solution, fixing solution, stabilizing solution and the like used in the present invention is described in Re
of Search Disclosure 37038 (February 1995)
XXIII. The materials described in the section (Exposure and processing, pages 101 to 115) can be used. Further, as a specific prescription, those described in "Photographic Industries Separate Volume, Newest Photographic Prescription Handbook" by Akira Sasai (Photographic Publishing Company, published on July 20, 1983) can also be used.

The following may be mentioned as typical specific processing solutions used in the present invention.

As a color developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution and a stabilizing solution for a color negative film, JP-A-4-359249 can be used.
Nos. 1 and 2, especially the color developing replenisher, bleach replenisher, fixing replenisher, stabilizer No. 1 described in Example 1.
18 can be used. These may be stored in a container as they are, or may be concentrated and stored. For example, the stabilizing solution No. 18 may be concentrated 100 times.

[0138]

As described above, since the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect has the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to perform development processing in a state where the film is folded back a plurality of times, and the processing tank installation space is reduced. It has an excellent effect that it can be made small and the photosensitive material processing apparatus corresponding to the new system can be downsized.

Since the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect has the above-mentioned structure, it has an excellent effect that the film after being processed with the processing solution can be dried quickly and with high quality.

Since the light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the third aspect has the above-mentioned structure, an excellent effect that processing from development to printing can be collectively performed by one apparatus without removing the film from the film storage container Have.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a left side view of a cartridge,
(B) is a front view of the cartridge, and (C) is a right side view of the cartridge.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge.

3A is a front view of a spool shaft, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line 3 (B) -3 (B) of the spool shaft shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a film.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a printer processor.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a traveling system of a processing tank, a station, and a catching station.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a traveling route of a station.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the station.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the front side of the station.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the cartridge loading device.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state where a station and a catching station hold a film.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a film is inserted between rollers of the dipping device.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the arrangement of a drying unit, an exposing unit, a paper carrying device, a heat development transfer unit, and a print carrying device.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the film is immersed.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a film is pulled up.

[Explanation of symbols]

F film 14 cartridge (film container) 16 spool shaft 100 printer processor (photosensitive material processing device) 130 drying unit (drying unit) 132 exposure unit (recording unit) 134 paper conveying device (recording unit) 136 thermal development transfer unit (recording) Means) 784 Immersion device (immersion means) 704 Color development processing tank 706 Bleaching processing tank 708 Bleach fixing processing tank 710 Rinsing processing tank 712 Stabilization processing tank 716 Catching station (film holding means, moving means) 740 Station (film accommodating container holding means) , Moving means) 809 Development processing section (development processing means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for feeding a long film wound on a spool shaft from a film storage container and developing the film, wherein the film storage container holding the film is held and the stored film is processed. A film accommodating container holding means for sending out above the tank, a film holding means for holding the leading end of the film sent out from the film accommodating container, the film accommodating container holding means and the film holding means along the width direction of the film. Between the moving means for moving, a plurality of processing tanks arranged along the moving direction of the film holding container holding means and the film holding means for developing the film, and between the film holding container and the film holding means And a dipping means for dipping the film back and forth so that the film is dipped in the treatment liquid in the treatment tank. Photosensitive material processing equipment. 2. The light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drying means for forcibly blowing dry air while moving the developed film in one direction. 3. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising recording means for recording an image on a film on a recording medium.