JPH10177244A - Photosensitive material processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a print of high quality by proving a bottom plate moving means for vertically moving a vertically movable bottom plate for supporting the bottom end of a photosensitive material. SOLUTION: The bottom plate moving means 45 is composed of an eccentric cam 46 and a drive source connected to the eccentric cam 46. This eccentric cam 46 is provided to engage with the bottom surface of a bottom plate 44 and be turnable around a driving shaft 47. The driving shaft 47 is extended up to the outside of a casing 34 and connected to the drive source. The eccentric cam 46 is turned by the rotary drive of the drive source, to vertically move the bottom plate 44. When the photosensitive material A is charged, the position of the bottom plate 44 is made low to secure space for housing the photosensitive material A. When the photosensitive material A is discharged, the position of the bottom plate 44 is made high to hold the photosensitive material A by a pair of discharging rollers 38 and 40. Therefore, coping with a change in the size of the photosensitive material A can be easily attained as well. When the photosensitive material A is charged or discharged, the bottom plate moving means 45 can be driven so that the bottom plate 44 is linked with the photosensitive material A.

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 performing processes such as development, fixing, washing and drying on a sheet-shaped exposed photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image information of one frame of a photographic film (hereinafter, referred to as a film) such as a negative film or a reversal film is photoelectrically read, converted into digital image information, and subjected to various image processing. After scanning in a one-dimensional direction with a light beam modulated in accordance with the image information obtained by image processing, scanning and exposing a photosensitive material conveyed in a direction substantially orthogonal thereto, and recording a latent image on the photosensitive material, 2. Description of the Related Art Development of a digital photo printer, which is an image recording apparatus adopting a digital exposure method that performs a photosensitive material process such as development to produce a reproduced image (print), is in progress.

[0003] In general, even in such a digital photo printer or a conventional surface exposure type photographic printing apparatus, a long photosensitive material wound in a roll shape is used. Image recording, development processing, and the like, and finally, each sheet is cut to produce a finished print. That is, the processing is performed in a belt shape from the exposure to the end of the processing of the photosensitive material such as development.

In an image recording apparatus using such a belt-shaped photosensitive material, in an exposure apparatus that performs imagewise exposure on the photosensitive material, a reservoir for temporarily storing the photosensitive material in a loop shape with the use of the belt-shaped photosensitive material is provided. It is provided in the device. This is because the processing speed of the photosensitive material processing apparatus is slower than that of the exposure apparatus, and there is a difference in processing speed between the two. In addition, in digital exposure, the amount of exposure is higher than that in surface exposure, so that development processing is performed immediately after exposure. This causes a problem that a so-called latent image regression in which the color / density balance is lost occurs. For this reason, in such an exposure apparatus, the exposed photosensitive material that cannot start the development process forms a loop and temporarily stays, so that the exposure operation is not stopped in response to the development delay with respect to the exposure. , It is possible to perform continuous work, and it is possible to prevent the latent image from retreating.
However, such a reservoir has a problem that the size of the apparatus is inevitably increased because the photosensitive material is temporarily stored in a loop shape.

On the other hand, in the above-described image recording apparatus using a belt-shaped photosensitive material, a photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing a series of processing of the exposed photosensitive material such as development includes a developing tank, a fixing tank, a washing tank and the like. Each of the tanks is provided with multiple rollers for transporting the photosensitive material while immersing the photosensitive material in each processing solution such as a developing solution or a fixing solution, and a drying device for drying the photosensitive material after washing with water. Also, a cutter for cutting the photosensitive material after drying or for each frame is provided. That is, the belt-shaped photosensitive material is subjected to processing such as development, fixing, rinsing, and drying while being time-controlled by roller conveyance, and is finally cut by a cutter one frame at a time to produce a finished print.

[0006] Each of the processes to be performed on the exposed photosensitive material requires a certain period of time (chemical process). Therefore, a certain period of time during which the photosensitive material is in contact with the processing solution in one processing tank is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of rollers provided in one processing tank increases, so that each processing tank inevitably increases in size, and the photosensitive material processing apparatus inevitably increases in size.

In order to solve such a problem, in an exposure apparatus, image exposure is performed using a photosensitive material previously cut into a cut sheet shape, and the exposed photosensitive material is stored in a flat member or a housing member such as a housing, for example, a stacker. , Cassettes, magazines, etc., and temporarily housed and re-fed, eliminating the need to form loops with the use of strip-shaped photosensitive material, miniaturizing the portion corresponding to the reservoir, and It is conceivable to reduce the size.

[0008]

However, in a photosensitive material processing apparatus, even if a cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material that contributes to miniaturization of an exposure apparatus is used, as described above, a multi-stage roller is provided in each processing tank. Therefore, each processing tank needs to be large enough to accommodate at least these rollers, and there is a limit to downsizing. Therefore, sufficient miniaturization corresponding to miniaturization on the exposure apparatus side is required. It's not easy. In addition, if the exposed photosensitive material cut into a cut sheet in advance is supplied to a conventional multi-stage roller type photosensitive material processing apparatus, the end of the photosensitive material abuts with each roller pair, so that the photosensitive material is easily damaged, so that a finished print is not obtained. There is also a problem that quality is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and to develop an exposed photosensitive material in the form of a cut sheet.
Provided is a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of realizing a significant downsizing of a photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing processes such as fixing, washing, and drying, and capable of producing high-quality prints without damaging edge pieces. It is in.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing an exposed photosensitive material in the form of a cut sheet, comprising at least an exposed photosensitive material. A developing unit for performing a developing process on the photosensitive material, a fixing unit for performing a fixing process on the photosensitive material after the developing process, a washing unit for performing a washing process on the photosensitive material after the fixing process, and performing a drying process on the photosensitive material after the washing process A drying unit, and a transport unit for transporting the exposed photosensitive material along a predetermined path, wherein each of the developing unit, the fixing unit, and the rinsing unit is open at the top and stores a corresponding processing liquid. And a casing in which the photosensitive material is carried in and the respective processings are performed by the corresponding processing liquid, and above the casing, in parallel with each other, and
A central roller is provided so as to be able to contact above the rollers on both sides, and three rollers for carrying in and discharging the photosensitive material by forming two pairs of rollers for nipping and transporting the exposed photosensitive material. A branch plate provided between the two pairs of three rollers for switching the pair of rollers for nipping and transporting the photosensitive material when the photosensitive material is loaded and discharged, and provided in the casing. And a bottom plate that supports a lower end of the photosensitive material and that can move up and down, and a bottom plate moving unit that moves the bottom plate up and down.

Here, it is preferable that each of the units is replaceable. Further, the bottom plate moving means includes an eccentric cam provided inside the casing and below the bottom plate, a drive shaft of the eccentric cam having one end protruding outside the casing, It is preferable to have a supporting means for densely and rotatably supporting, and a drive source connected to the drive shaft.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of an image recording apparatus to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an image recording apparatus that produces a finished print by subjecting a photosensitive material to imagewise exposure and performing a series of processing such as development, fixing, washing, and drying. 12 and a photosensitive material processing apparatus 16 of the present invention.

The image recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a photographic printing apparatus using digital exposure, that is, an image recorded on a film is photoelectrically read into a digital signal, and image processing is performed. An image recording apparatus corresponding to a digital photo printer that determines conditions and sets image information for recording, scans and exposes a photosensitive material with recording light modulated according to the image information, and records an image, such as a film scanner. And scans and exposes the photosensitive material by light beam scanning exposure to form an image according to the exposure conditions (image recording conditions) determined by the set-up device according to the read image. Also,
The image recording device to which the present invention is applied may be configured integrally with an input device such as the image reading device and the setup device.

A digital photo printer does not require an operator to determine exposure conditions, adjust filters and the like, is shorter in exposure time per image, and has a shorter exposure time than a conventional direct exposure apparatus. In addition to being constant in accordance with the size, editing layout such as image synthesis and image processing such as color / density adjustment and scaling can be freely performed. %
It has various advantages, such as being able to output reproduced prints. For such digital photo printers,
JP-A-6-217091 and 6-23 by the present applicant
Nos. 3052 and 6-245062.

In the image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the exposure method is not limited to such digital exposure (light beam scanning exposure). Of course, analog exposure (direct exposure) for exposing by irradiation may be used.

The exposure device 12 is for performing imagewise exposure on a photosensitive material in the form of a cut sheet, and basically contains a printing / conveying device, a light beam scanning device, a control substrate, a power supply unit, and the like. It is composed of an electrical component (both not shown). The exposure device 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is configured to perform exposure on a photosensitive material cut into a cut sheet, and is configured to expose a photosensitive material magazine containing a photosensitive material A wound in a roll shape. The photosensitive material A is taken out from the apparatus 12, and the cutter 24 is placed immediately before the exposure.
Or a cut sheet cassette containing cut sheet photosensitive material A of a predetermined size in advance and supplying the cut sheet photosensitive material directly to the exposure apparatus. There may be.
The exposure apparatus 12 is configured to temporarily store the exposed photosensitive material A in a flat plate or a housing member such as a housing, for example, a stacker, a cassette, or a magazine, and to re-feed the photosensitive material A. It is preferable to reduce the size of the portion corresponding to the reservoir and to reduce the size of the entire exposure apparatus 12 by eliminating the need for forming a loop due to the use of the material.

The photosensitive material processing apparatus 16 is an apparatus for performing various processes such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing, drying, and sorting on the exposed photosensitive material A. The loading section 18, the developing unit 20, Fixing unit 22 and washing unit 24
, A drying unit 26, and a sorter 28.
Note that the fixing unit 22 and the washing unit 24 are basically configured in the same manner as the developing unit 20, and therefore, in the following description, only the developing unit 20 will be representatively disclosed, and the fixing unit 22 and the washing unit 24 will be described. The description of is omitted. The carry-in section 18 includes the exposure device 12
Is a part for carrying the photosensitive material A imagewise exposed to the photosensitive material processing device 16, and an entrance roller 30 is provided adjacent to the discharge part of the exposure device 12.

A developing unit 20 is located downstream of the loading section 18.
Is provided. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the developing unit 20. The developing unit 20 is provided with the exposed photosensitive material A
A guide 32, a casing 34, a photosensitive material transport mechanism 37, and a bottom plate 44.
, Bottom plate moving means 45, liquid level sensor 48, and concentration sensor 50. The guide 32 is connected to the exposure device 12.
Is a plate-shaped guide for guiding the photosensitive material A conveyed from the transfer unit 18 through the carry-in unit 18 to the developing unit 20. It is provided extending to the position.

The casing 34 is filled with a developer,
The upper surface, which forms a developing tank for performing a developing process on the photosensitive material A, is an open casing, and is formed in a size that can accommodate at least one photosensitive material having a size to be used. Here, in the present invention, the cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material A
By eliminating all multi-stage rollers in each tank such as a developing tank (the developing unit 20 in the illustrated example),
Compared with a conventional developing tank using rollers provided in multiple stages, the size can be greatly reduced, and the overall size of the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be reduced. Specifically, the cross section in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction is reduced to about one photosensitive material, and the cross section in the conveyance direction is set to the thickness of the photosensitive material A + 10 m.
It is possible to reduce the size to about m.

The photosensitive material transport mechanism 37 includes three rollers 3
6, 38 and 40 and a branch plate 42.
The rollers 36 and 40 are driven rollers provided adjacent to and above the upper end of the casing 34 in the longitudinal direction (the depth direction in the figure) at predetermined intervals and parallel to each other. The roller 38 is a drive roller provided at the upper center of the rollers 36 and 40 so as to be able to contact and separate from any of these rollers, and its rotating shaft is connected to a drive source (not shown). That is, these three rollers 36, 3
The upper and lower portions of the casing 34 are closed by the openings 8 and 40. With this configuration, the roller 36 can be combined with the roller 38 to
While a pair of carry-in rollers for sandwiching and carrying the photosensitive material A in the casing 34 is configured, the roller 40 is combined with the roller 38 to sandwich the photosensitive material A from inside the casing 34 and squeeze the processing liquid. A discharge roller pair for discharging is configured. That is, the roller 38 functions as both a carry-in roller and a discharge roller. Note that at least one of the rollers 36 and 40 is a driving roller,
The roller 38 may be a driven roller.

The branch plate 42 is a plate-shaped member for switching the pair of rollers on which the photosensitive material A is nipped and conveyed between the time when the photosensitive material A is loaded and the time when the photosensitive material A is discharged, and the lower two rollers 36, 4
It is rotatably provided through the drive shaft 41 during 0, that is, immediately below the roller 38. When the photosensitive material A is carried in, the lower portion of the branch plate 42 rotates toward the roller 40,
The photosensitive material A conveyed into the casing 34 is guided downward from between the carry-in roller pair including the rollers 36 and 38, while the lower portion of the branch plate 42 rotates toward the roller 36 when the photosensitive material A is discharged. The photosensitive material A in the casing 34 to the carry-in roller pair including the rollers 36 and 38
The photosensitive material A lifted by the bottom plate 44 is guided to a discharge roller pair including the rollers 38 and 40. When the photosensitive material A is contained in the casing 34, the branch plate 42 also prevents the next photosensitive material A from being newly carried into the casing 34. Bottom plate 44
Is a member for supporting the lower end of the photosensitive material A carried into the casing 34 and for lifting the photosensitive material A when the photosensitive material A is discharged. The lower surface of the member is engaged with the eccentric cam 46 and moves up and down. It is configured to be possible.

The liquid level sensor 48 indicates that the developing solution filled in the casing 34 is reduced by use or the like, and when the developing solution falls below the reference amount, the developing unit needs to be replaced by a warning lamp, a warning buzzer, or the like. This is provided at a position in the casing 34 at a height corresponding to the reference amount. The liquid level sensor 48 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the liquid level of the developing solution, and various conventionally known sensors can be used. Density sensor 50
Informs that the developing unit needs to be replaced by a warning lamp, a warning buzzer, or the like when the developing solution filled in the casing 34 is deteriorated by use and the concentration is reduced to become lower than the reference concentration. And is provided at a position lower than the liquid level sensor 48 in the casing 34. The concentration sensor 50 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the concentration of the developer, and various conventionally known sensors can be used.

The bottom plate moving means 45 comprises an eccentric cam 46 and a drive source (not shown) connected to the eccentric cam. The eccentric cam 46 is provided so as to engage with the lower surface of the bottom plate 44, and is provided so as to be rotatable about a drive shaft 47. The drive shaft 47 extends outside the casing 34 and is connected to a drive source. Therefore, when the eccentric cam 46 is rotated by the rotation of the drive source, the bottom plate 44 is moved up and down. When the photosensitive material A is carried in, the position of the bottom plate 44 is lowered to secure a space for accommodating the photosensitive material A. When the photosensitive material A is discharged, the position of the bottom plate 44 is raised so that the photosensitive material A is held between the pair of discharge rollers. That is, the bottom plate 44 has a minimum position where the photosensitive material A is completely immersed in the developing solution, and a maximum position where the upper end of the photosensitive material A is nipped by the discharge roller pair. It is configured to be able to move up and down between positions. Here, at the time of loading / unloading the photosensitive material A, the bottom plate driving means 45 may be driven so that the bottom plate 44 is interlocked with the photosensitive material A.
Note that a conventionally known drive source such as a motor may be used as the drive source, and is not particularly limited. Further, the drive source may be provided directly on the drive shaft 47, or may be indirectly connected via an endless belt stretched over a pulley. The drive shaft 4
The drive shaft 4 extends outside the casing 34.
A support means 43 for supporting the casing 7 in a liquid-tight and rotatable manner on the casing 34 is provided. In addition, as a mechanism for making the liquid tight, various conventionally known sealing mechanisms may be adopted, and there is no particular limitation.

The mechanism for moving the bottom plate 44 up and down is not limited to the above-described example using the eccentric cam 46, and various mechanisms can be used. For example, the bottom plate 44 is suspended from above the casing 34 via a chain lowered into the casing 34 through the gap between the rollers 36, 38, and 40, and the chain is moved up and down by a driving source to raise and lower the bottom plate 44. In this case, since the bottom plate 44 is operated from above the casing 34, a sealing mechanism is not required. A support member slidable up and down interlocking with a drive source outside the casing 34 is projected from the side surface of the casing 34, the bottom plate 44 is fixed to the support member, and the support member is moved up and down to raise and lower the bottom plate 44. In this case, a long stroke can be taken, but a sealing mechanism is required at a portion of the side surface of the casing 34 where the support member passes.

The developing unit 20 shown in FIG.
It is preferable to use a cartridge system that can be replaced independently. In this case, the entire developing unit 20 including the photosensitive material transport mechanism 37 in the casing 34 may be replaceable, or the entire developing unit 20 may be replaceable in each casing 34 (including each part in the casing 34). With such a configuration, when the amount or concentration of the developer becomes equal to or less than the reference value and the liquid level sensor 48 or the concentration sensor 50 issues a warning, any special mechanism such as a developer circulation mechanism is provided. Instead, the developing process can be continuously performed only by replacing the developing unit 20 with an appropriate amount and concentration of the developing solution in advance. When the size of the photosensitive material A is changed, it is necessary to adjust the position of the eccentric cam 46 in the height direction according to the length of the photosensitive material A.
If a developing unit provided with an eccentric cam 46 at a position corresponding to the size of the photosensitive material A to be applied is prepared in advance,
By exchanging this, it is possible to cope with a simple mechanism without providing any special mechanism for changing the position of the eccentric cam 46 in the height direction. Therefore, by making the developing unit 20 replaceable,
A reduction in the amount and concentration of the developing solution and a change in the size of the photosensitive material A can be dealt with without complicating the apparatus, so that the apparatus can be further downsized.

The developing unit 20 of the present invention is similar to that of FIG.
As shown in (1), a treatment liquid management system may be provided to keep the liquid level and / or concentration of the developer constant. This processing liquid management system separately provides a bottle 70 storing a replenishing developer, and according to the detection result of the liquid level sensor 48 or the concentration sensor 50, these bottles 70
Is supplied to the casing 34 through the pump 72 and the supply pipe 74 to control the liquid level and / or concentration of the developer. Here, the replenishment developer may have the same concentration as the developer when controlling the liquid level, and may have a concentration higher than the developer when controlling the concentration. Further, as shown in the figure, the processing liquid management system circulates the developer in the casing 34 via the pump 72 and the circulation pipe 76 in order to eliminate and uniform the concentration of the developer. You may comprise. In this case, a concentration sensor may be provided in the bottle 70 to detect the concentration of the replenishing developer. As described above, when the level and concentration of the developing solution can be adjusted without replacing the developing unit 20, the developing unit 20 does not necessarily need to be formed into a cartridge and configured to be replaceable. Further, the supply pipe 74 and the circulation pipe 76 are not limited to the configuration inserted from the wall surface of the casing 34 as in the illustrated example, but may be configured to be inserted from above the casing 34.

A guide 52 is provided downstream of the developing unit 20.
, A fixing unit 22 is provided. The fixing unit 22 is for performing a bleach-fixing process on the photosensitive material A that has been subjected to the developing process. The fixing unit 22 is basically the same as the color developing unit 20 except that a bleach-fixing solution is filled in the casing 34 as a processing solution. The configuration is the same. In this bleach-fix unit, the density sensor detects the concentration of the bleach-fix solution, and the liquid level sensor detects the level of the bleach-fix solution.

A guide 54 is provided downstream of the fixing unit 22.
, A washing unit 24 is provided. The water washing unit 24 is for washing the photosensitive material A that has been subjected to the bleach-fixing process, except that the casing 34 is filled with water.
The configuration is basically the same as that of the color developing unit 20. In this bleach-fix unit, the concentration sensor detects the concentration of impurities in water, and the liquid level sensor detects the water surface.

A guide 56 is provided downstream of the washing unit 24.
, A drying unit 26 is provided. FIG. 4 shows a partially enlarged schematic view of the drying unit 26. Drying unit 2
Numeral 6 is for drying the photosensitive material A washed with the washing unit 24, and includes a guide 56, a casing 34a, a photosensitive material transport mechanism 37a, a bottom plate 44a,
It comprises an eccentric cam 46a, a heater 60, a fan 62, and a bottom plate moving means 45a. It should be noted that the configuration other than the heater 60 and the fan 62 is basically the same as that of the developing unit 20, so that only the heater 60 and the fan 62 will be described below.

The heater 60 is preferably a planar heater in that the photosensitive material A can be uniformly dried, and is provided so as to partially or entirely cover the inner side wall of the casing 34a. However, various heaters can be used. The fan 62 is connected to the casing 34.
The heat generated by the heater 60 is provided to the photosensitive material A evenly through a ventilation hole (not shown) at the rear of the photosensitive material A. In addition, as the fan 62, various conventionally known fans can be used, and there is no particular limitation.

Further, the drying unit is not limited to the above-described example, and for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a fan 62 may be provided on the side of the casing 34b. The drying unit 27 shown in FIG.
The drying unit 26 shown in FIG. 4 is configured similarly to the drying unit 26 shown in FIG. 4 except that a heat insulating material 64 is provided on the side of the casing 34b opposite to the fan 62 in the casing 34b. In this case, the casing 3 on the side facing the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material A carried into the casing 34b.
A fan 62 is provided outside of the photosensitive material A, and a flat heat insulating material 64 is provided inside the casing 34b opposite to the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material A. In this way, when the fan 62 is driven, warm air hits the emulsion surface side of the photosensitive material A, so that the photosensitive material A was dried without damaging the emulsion surface, and at the same time, was in contact with the heat insulating material 64. State. Therefore, the photosensitive material A can be dried in a standing state without loosening the photosensitive material A, and the leading end of the photosensitive material A can be reliably fed to the position of the roller 40b of the discharge roller pair at the time of discharge. That is, the photosensitive material A can be smoothly discharged from the roller 40b.

The sorter 150 is not particularly limited as long as it is a normal sorter having a large number of shelves. The sorter 150 is rotated or slid according to a sort information signal from the input operation unit to switch the shelf for storing the finished print. A predetermined number of finished prints according to the sort information are sorted and stored.

The image recording apparatus to which the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied basically has such a configuration. The operation of the apparatus will be described below. First, when the photosensitive material A in the form of a cut sheet that has been imagewise exposed in the exposure device 12 is transported to the entrance roller pair 30 of the carry-in section 18, the photosensitive material A is nipped and transported by the entrance roller pair 30 and transported to the developing unit 20. You. In the developing unit 20,
The branch plate 42 is rotated toward the roller 40 (discharge roller side), and the photosensitive material A is transferred to the roller 3 of the photosensitive material transport mechanism 37.
6 and 38, carried into the casing 34,
After being released from the nip of the roller pair, the entire surface of the photosensitive material A is immersed in the developing solution. At this time, the bottom plate 44 in the casing 34 is set at the lowest position by the rotation of the eccentric cam 46. At this time, the branch plate 42 immediately rotates to the roller 36 side (the carry-in roller side) and the next photosensitive material A
To prevent carry-in. After a lapse of a predetermined time required for the developing process after the photosensitive material A is immersed in the developing solution, the eccentric cam 46 rotates to raise the photosensitive material A via the bottom plate 44, and the upper end of the photosensitive material A is rolled. 38 and 40 (discharge rollers). Here, the photosensitive material A is nipped by the rollers 38 and 40, and is conveyed via the guide 52 to the fixing unit 22 which is the next step.

Thereafter, in the same manner as in the case of the developing unit 20, the toner passes through the fixing unit 22, the washing unit 24, and the drying unit 26 to be developed, bleach-fixed, washed,
The drying process is sequentially performed, and the latent image formed on the photosensitive material A is visualized as a finished print, which is stored in a sorter according to a sort information signal from an input operation unit.

The above-described photosensitive material processing apparatus 16 is integrated with the exposure apparatus 12 as an image recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be independent of the exposure apparatus 12. Good. In this case, a light-shielded cut sheet cassette (cassette) containing a cut sheet-shaped exposed photosensitive material exposed by a separate exposure apparatus, a loading mechanism for loading a cut sheet magazine, and a loaded mechanism. An opening mechanism for opening the cassette or the magazine, and a sheet feeding mechanism for feeding the photosensitive material from the opened cassette or the magazine to the entrance roller pair 30 of the carry-in section 18 of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 16. A cut sheet-shaped exposed photosensitive material supply device may be provided instead of the exposure device 12.

Although the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
Of course, various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a significant reduction in the size of a photosensitive material processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive material. Further, the tip of the cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material is not damaged. Therefore, it is possible to produce high-quality prints even in a small space that could not be installed conventionally. Especially,
By being connected to a miniaturized exposure device for exposing a cut sheet-shaped photosensitive material, it is possible to realize a significant miniaturization of the entire image recording apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus to which a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic view of one embodiment of a developing unit of the photosensitive material processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view of another embodiment of the developing unit of the photosensitive material processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged schematic view of one embodiment of a drying unit of the photosensitive material processing apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a partially enlarged schematic view of another embodiment of the drying unit of the photosensitive material processing apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image recording apparatus 12 Exposure apparatus 16 Photosensitive material processing apparatus 18 Carry-in part 20 Developing unit 22 Fixing unit 24 Rinse unit 26 Drying unit 27 Outlet roller pair 30 Inlet roller pair 32 Carry-in guide 34,34a, 34b Casing 36,36a, 36b, 38, 38a, 38b, 40,
40a, 40b Rollers 37, 37a, 37b Photosensitive material transport mechanism 42, 42a, 42b Branch plate 43, 43a, 43b Support means 44, 44a, 44b Bottom plate 45, 45a, 45b Bottom plate moving means 46, 46a, 46b Eccentric cam 41, 41a, 41b, 47, 47a, 47b Drive shaft 48 Liquid level sensor 50 Concentration sensor 60 Heater 62 Fan 64 Insulation material 70 Bottle 72 Pump 74 Supply pipe 76 Circulation pipe A Photosensitive material

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing an exposed photosensitive material in the form of a cut sheet, comprising: a developing unit for performing a developing process on the exposed photosensitive material; and a fixing process for the photosensitive material after the developing process. A fixing unit that performs, a washing unit that performs a washing process on the photosensitive material after the fixing process, a drying unit that performs a drying process on the photosensitive material after the washing process, and a conveying unit that conveys the exposed photosensitive material through a predetermined route. Each of the developing unit, the fixing unit, and the rinsing unit is open at the top, stores a corresponding processing liquid, and the photosensitive material is carried in to perform each processing using the corresponding processing liquid. A casing that is provided above and in parallel with each other, and a central roller is provided so as to be able to contact above the rollers on both sides,
Three rollers for carrying in and out the photosensitive material by forming two pairs of rollers for nipping and transporting the exposed photosensitive material; and between the two pairs of rollers of the three rollers. A branch plate that switches the pair of rollers that sandwiches and transports the photosensitive material between when the photosensitive material is loaded and discharged, and a bottom plate that is provided in the casing and that supports a lower end of the photosensitive material and that can move up and down, And a bottom plate moving means for moving the bottom plate up and down. 2. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said units is configured to be exchangeable. 3. The eccentric cam provided in the casing and below the bottom plate, a drive shaft of the eccentric cam having one end protruding outside the casing, and
The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support unit that supports the drive shaft in a liquid-tight and rotatable manner on the casing, and a drive source connected to the drive shaft.