JPH10197999A - Container for photographic processing agent - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a container by which segregated recovery by each material can be easily performed after replenishment without spoiling the workability of replenishment for processing agent. SOLUTION: An aluminum sheet 308 is arranged on the neck part 306 of a container main body 302 through a gasket 316, and is held and fixed by the bottom part 312 of a cap 310 through the gasket 316. Thus, processing agent can be easily discharged from a bottle 300 by making a hole on the sheet 308, and the sheet 308 can be easily detached just by taking off the cap 310 after the processing agent is discharged. Thus, the empty bottle 300 can be easily segregated by each material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container for a photographic processing agent used for a developing solution or a fixing solution for a printer processor in which a photographic printer and a processor are combined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic developing machines used in laboratories (for example,
In a film processor, a printer processor, etc., the film or the color paper is processed by being transported through a plurality of processing tanks containing a processing solution such as color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization, and water.

[0003] By the way, the composition and amount of the processing liquid in each tank changes depending on the processing of the film or color paper. Therefore, each processing tank is replenished with a new solution from the replenishing tank in accordance with the processing amount. To replenish the replenishing tank, a resin bottle containing the processing solution is set at a predetermined position inside the apparatus. Is done by the system. An aluminum sheet laminated with a resin material is attached to the opening of this bottle, and the bottle is set inside the apparatus so that the opening faces downward, and a tapered rod-shaped piercing member is pierced into the aluminum sheet. As a result, the aluminum sheet is broken and the processing liquid inside the bottle flows out. This allows
The replenishment of the replenishing tank is performed.

[0004]

By the way, it is preferable that the empty bottle after the replenishment of the liquid is separated into a metal portion and a resin portion and collected from the viewpoint of reuse of the bottle. However, in the bottle having the above configuration, the aluminum sheet must be peeled off from the opening, and the aluminum sheet is not always peeled off at once.
There is a problem that the peeling operation is troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above fact, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic processing agent container which does not impair the operability of replenishing the processing agent and which can be easily separated and collected for each material after the replenishment. .

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for a photographic processing agent, wherein the container is provided with a hollow container body and is detachably provided in an opening of the container body and is opened with a piercing force of a predetermined size or more. The sheet member, in the mounted state to the container body, tightly fixes the sheet member to the opening of the container body, closes the container body, and releases the mounted state to remove the sheet member from the container body. A separable fixing member.

According to the photographic processing agent container having the above structure, when the sheet member is opened by a piercing force of a predetermined size or more, the inside of the container body communicates with the outside, and the processing agent in the container body is discharged. be able to.

Further, when the mounting state of the fixing member to the container main body is released, the state of the sheet member being in close contact with the container main body is released, and the sheet member can be separated from the container main body.
Therefore, as compared with a conventional bottle in which the aluminum seal is fixed to the opening, the container main body and the sheet member can be easily separated, and the container main body, the fixing member, and the sheet member can be surely separated and collected.

The treating agent mentioned here includes not only a liquid in the form of water or a gel (that is, regardless of the viscosity), but also a treating agent in another form such as a powdery or granular solid.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for a photographic processing agent according to the first aspect, wherein the fixing member can be screwed into a screw portion formed in the container body and has an opening at the bottom. A bottomed cylindrical cap having a portion formed thereon, disposed around the sheet member, and clamping the periphery of the sheet member between the bottom portion of the cap and a tightening force on a screw portion of the cap, the sheet A ring-shaped seal member for supporting a breaking force when the member is pierced.

According to the photographic processing agent container having the above-described structure, the fixing member includes the cap and the sealing member. When the cap is screwed into the screw portion formed at the opening of the container body, the cap is attached. Even if the breaking force at the time of perforation acts on the sheet member due to the tightening force, the sheet member is securely held between the bottom of the cap and the seal member. In addition, since the gap between the sheet member and the container body is sealed by the seal member without a gap, even if the contents of the container body are liquid, there is no leakage during transportation.

When the sheet member is pierced, for example, a tapered piercing means breaks and opens the sheet member through the opening of the fixing member. Here, although the sheet member is perforated, the fixing member itself is not deformed, and after sorting and collecting, the sheet member can be reused only by washing with the container body. For this reason, the regeneration cost is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for a photographic processing agent according to the first or second aspect, wherein the sheet member has a thin film shape having at least one surface laminated with a resin material. It is characterized by being a metal foil.

In the photographic processing agent container having the above-described structure, the sheet member is formed of a thin metal foil, so that the permeation of the outside air, particularly oxygen, is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent oxidation (deterioration) of the treatment agent before opening the container (that is, before perforating the sheet member).

Further, since at least one surface of the metal foil is laminated with the resin material, the opening of the container is securely sealed by the elasticity of the resin material, and leakage of the processing agent can be prevented.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Configuration of Photo Printing Unit 12 of Printer Processor 10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a printer processor 10 to which a photographic processing agent container according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. A schematic of 10 is shown. As shown in FIG. 11, the photoprinting unit 12 constituting the printer unit of the printer processor 10 has a structure in which a paper magazine 14 in which photographic paper P is stored can be loaded.

On the upper left side of the paper magazine 14 in FIG. 11, a driving roller 16 around which the vicinity of the leading end of the photographic paper P is rotatably supported.
The driving roller 16 receives the driving force of a motor (not shown) inside and rotates. Further, a pair of nip rollers 18 are arranged at positions facing the drive roller 16 with the photographic paper P interposed therebetween. For this reason, the drive roller 16 sandwiches the photographic paper P between the nip rollers 18 and sends the photographic paper P into the photo printing unit 12.

On the other hand, a cutter 22 comprising a pair of upper and lower blades and having these blades moved by a motor 20 is installed in the photoprinting unit 12, and the photographic paper P coming out of the paper magazine 14 is The cutter 22 will cut immediately.

In FIG. 11, on the downstream side in the transport direction of the printing paper P, which is on the right side with respect to the cutter 22, the upper surface is in the horizontal direction (FIG. 1).
(Upper, left and right directions) is provided. A winding roller 52 around which the endless belt 44 is wound is disposed between the support base 46 and the cutter 22 in a horizontal direction (in FIG. 11, a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 11). On the upper side of the winding roller 52,
A nip roller 54 for nipping the endless belt 44 between the winding roller 52 and the winding roller 52 is disposed.

A guide roller 56 around which the endless belt 44 is wound is located downstream of the support base 46 in the transport direction of the photographic paper P. At a position adjacent to the guide roller 56, a pressing roller 58 whose lower surface is substantially the same height as the upper surface of the winding roller 52 is disposed, and the pressing roller 58 presses the outer periphery of the endless belt 44. ing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the endless belt 44 in this portion is formed in an S shape. Further, the endless belt 44 is wound around the tension roller 62 below the guide roller 56 to form an inverted triangular movement trajectory. Then, the guide roller 56 is driven and rotated by the driving force of a motor (not shown) to move the endless belt 44 in FIG.
1. Rotate it clockwise.

On the other hand, the endless belt 44 is formed with a large number of small holes (not shown) over the entire area thereof, and an upper surface of a support 46 on which a part of the endless belt 44 is placed is provided.
A number of holes (not shown) are formed corresponding to the small holes of the endless belt 44. Further, the inside of the support base 46 is formed in a hollow shape, and a pair of communication ducts 66 (FIG.
(Only one is shown) is connected to this support base 46. These communication ducts 66 bypass the part of the endless belt 44 passing below the support base 46 and reach below the endless belt 44, and are connected to a fan box 70 provided with a suction fan 68. .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
An easel device 64 is provided on the upper end of the endless belt 44 that moves on the upper side. When printing a bordered image on the photographic paper P by exposure, a movable piece (not shown) in the easel device 64 prints the photographic paper P. It is designed to cover the surrounding area.

A diffusion box 28 for diffusing light is disposed outside the casing 10A constituting the outer frame of the printer processor 10 and immediately above the easel device 64. A CC filter 24 composed of three sets of C, M, and Y filters that are movable so that the amount of filter inserted into the filter can be changed is arranged. Therefore, after the light emitted from the light source 26 located adjacent to the CC filter 24 passes through the CC filter 24, the light is bent while being diffused by the diffusion box 28, and is sent immediately below. Then, this light beam passes through the negative film N on the negative carrier 30 placed on the upper surface of the casing 10A.

Further, a support plate 34 is mounted on a guide rail 32 installed in the photoprinting unit 12 in a horizontal direction (see FIG.
The prism 36 and the zoom lens 38 are attached to the support plate 34 so as to be respectively disposed on the optical axis S of the light beam.

Accordingly, the light beam that has passed through the negative film N and has become an exposure light beam passes through the prism 36 and further passes through the zoom lens 38 whose magnification can be changed. An image of the negative film N is formed on the paper P.

A density measuring device 40 for measuring the density of the negative film N, such as a color filter and an optical sensor such as a CCD, is arranged in the photographic printing unit 12. The bent light beam is sent to the density measuring device 40. The concentration measuring device 40 is connected to a controller (not shown), and the data measured by the concentration measuring device 40 and
An exposure correction value at the time of printing exposure is set based on data input by a key by an operator.

Further, in the optical path between the zoom lens 38 and the easel device 64, there is provided a black shutter 41 for printing and exposing for a predetermined time the light whose color and intensity have been adjusted by the CC filter 24 and transmitted through the negative film N. Is provided.

Since the photographic printing unit 12 has the above-described structure, the photographic paper P sent from the paper magazine 14 is cut into a desired length by the cutter 22 and then placed on the endless belt 44. The exposure light beam is conveyed to an image printing position which is a position on the optical axis S. Then, the exposure light from the light source 26 reaches the photographic paper P via the prism 36 and the zoom lens 38 and the like, and the black shutter 41 is opened for a predetermined time so that the image recorded on the negative film N is printed on the photographic paper P. The portion where the image is printed becomes the image portion.

At this time, the air in the support base 46 escapes from the inside of the loop of the endless belt 44 to both ends in the width direction through the communication duct 66 and is sucked by the suction fan 68 and blown out to the outside. The inside becomes negative pressure. This negative pressure is transmitted to the photographic paper P on the endless belt 44 through the hole of the support base 46 and the small hole of the endless belt 44, and the photographic paper P is sucked into the endless belt 44 as shown by the arrow A. You. For this reason, the printing paper P is not merely put on the endless belt 44 but is sucked toward the endless belt 44, so that the printing paper P
Is surely conveyed by the endless belt 44 and is arranged horizontally on the image printing position.

Further, the printing paper P on which the image printing exposure has been completed is sandwiched between the guide roller 56 and the pressing roller 58, and the conveying direction thereof is changed from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, and is sent out in the vertical direction. It is. Thereafter, as shown by a path K representing a transport path of the photographic paper P, the photographic paper P is transferred via a transport path 60 including a plurality of pairs of rollers.
The developer is conveyed to the processor unit 72 which performs each of the processing of development, bleach-fixing, washing and drying.

Thus, the printing exposure processing for one frame of the image of the negative film N is completed. By repeating this, the printing paper P subjected to the printing exposure processing is sequentially conveyed to the processor unit 72 one by one.

(Structure of the Processor 72) A developer is stored in a developing tank 74 in the processor 72, and the photographic printing paper P is immersed in the developer to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper P is transported to a bleach-fixing tank 76 adjacent to the developing tank 74. A bleach-fixing solution is stored in the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the photographic printing paper P is immersed in the bleach-fixing solution to perform the bleaching process and the fixing process. Printing paper P that has been fixed
Is transported to a washing section 78 which is adjacent to the bleach-fixing tank 76 and includes a plurality of washing tanks in which washing water is stored, and immerses the photographic paper P in the washing water in the washing tank to perform a washing process.

The photographic paper P having been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed to the drying unit 80 located above the water-washing unit 78. The drying unit 80
The photographic paper P is dried by exposing the photographic paper P to hot air blown in the direction of arrow B from the chamber 82 side disposed below the transport path of the photographic paper P.

A transport path 84 composed of a plurality of pairs of rollers is provided downstream of the drying section 80 in the transport direction of the photographic paper P.
The photographic paper P discharged from the drying unit 80 after the drying process is completed is discharged to the outside of the printer processor 10 while being sandwiched by the plurality of pairs of rollers, and is stacked.

The developing tank 74, the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the washing tank are provided with a developing replenisher as a photographic processing agent and a bleach-fix, respectively, from a replenishing tank 112 as a plurality of storage units provided in the processor unit 72. The replenisher, washing replenisher and stable replenisher are sent and replenished to the respective tanks.

(Liquid replenishing structure) Next, as shown in FIG.
The structure for replenishing the solution will be described using the developing tank 74 in each processing tank as an example.

The developing tank 74 is connected via a pipe 114 to a discharge port 112 A formed near the lower part of the replenishing tank 112. The replenishing tank 112 is replenished with a predetermined amount of the developing solution used and deteriorated by the developing process of the photographic paper P in the developing tank 74 so that the developing solution can be activated. A development replenisher, which is a replenisher, is temporarily stored. Further, a replenishing pump 116, which is a replenishing means for supplying a developing replenisher from the replenishing tank 112 to the developing tank 74, is disposed between the discharge port 112A and one end of the pipe 114.
The rotary shaft 16 is rotated by an AC motor (not shown).

It is possible to detect whether or not an amount of the developing replenisher exceeding a predetermined first predetermined amount remains in the replenishing tank 112 at the middle position of the replenishing tank 112 in the vertical direction. A float switch 118 is provided, and the float switch 118 serving as a sensor can detect the level of the developing replenisher in the replenishing tank 112.

The replenishing tank 112 is connected via a pipe or a pump to a water storage tank (not shown) for storing water (for example, ordinary tap water) for dissolving (thinning) the developing replenisher. This refill tank 11
When the developing replenisher is replenished into the interior of 2, the predetermined amount of dissolving water is replenished from the water storage tank, and the developing replenisher is adjusted to a predetermined concentration. In the present embodiment, the water for dissolution is stored in the water storage tank, but the replenishment tank 112 may be directly connected to the water supply.

On the other hand, the refill pump 116 and the float switch 118 are connected to a control device 120, respectively. Therefore, the control device 120 can grasp the amount of the developing replenisher sent to the developing tank 74 based on the rotation amount of the rotating shaft of the replenishing pump 116 that can be detected from the rotating operation time of the AC motor, Further, the float switch 118
The remaining amount of the developing replenisher can be grasped from the liquid level detection signal from the CPU.

The control device 120 is connected to a monitor 122 (see FIG. 10) serving as a display device, and sends a message of supply of the replenisher to the replenishment tank 112.
2 can be displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a pipe 158 is connected to the upper end opening 112B of the replenishing tank 112, and further connected to a three-way valve 180 including an electromagnetic valve and an electric valve via the pipe 158. I have.

(Structure of Replenishing Unit 160) On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the replenishing unit 160 includes three opening / closing doors 164 in which a part of the casing 10 A can be turned around a shaft 162. . Here, as shown in FIG. 8, a mounting portion 166 and a holding portion 168 are formed on each opening / closing door 164. The mounting portion 166 is capable of mounting the bottle 300 with the opening / closing door 164 fully opened (the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the hold portion 168 has a thick plate shape. In addition, the hold portion 168 is formed with a slope that is gradually inclined downward toward the center when the door 164 is fully closed. The shape of this slope corresponds to the shape of the tapered portion below the neck 306 of the bottle 300 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Further, a through hole 170 corresponding to the neck portion 306 of the bottle 300 is formed in the holding portion 168, and the holding portion 168 is inserted between the mounting portion 166 and the holding portion 168 with the neck portion 306 of the bottle 300 inserted into the through hole 170. Bottle 300
The bottle 300 is set by fitting.

Here, in the present embodiment, the predetermined door 16
When the respective bottles 300 of the developing replenisher, the bleach-fix replenisher, and the stable replenisher are set inside the bottle 4 and the doors 164 are fully closed, the bottles 300 are arranged in parallel with each other.
Further, for example, the height of the bottle 300, the shape of the tapered portion below the neck 306, or the formation position of the neck 306 with respect to the container body 302 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) depends on the type of replenisher (ie, development replenishment). Solution, bleach-fix solution, and stabilizing solution), and by changing the shape of the hold unit 168 and the dimension between the mounting unit 166 and the hold unit 168 for each shape of the bottle 300 for each replenisher, If only a specific bottle 300 can be set in the section 168, it is possible to prevent the replenisher from being mixed due to a mistake in setting the bottle 300 (misloading).

Each door 1 is provided inside the door 164.
An independent room 172 is formed for each 64. Room 1
72 has a mortar-shaped slope gradually inclined downward toward the center, and further has a hole 176 at the center thereof.
Are formed. From the bottom of this hole 176, the pipe 1
78 are connected. As shown in FIG. 7, the pipe 178 is connected to the three-way valve 180,
To the pipes 158 and 182. The three-way valve 180 is connected to the control device 120. In the case of a liquid replenishment operation described later, the pipe 182 side is closed, the pipes 178 and 158 are communicated with each other, and the replenisher flowing out of the bottle 300 is supplied to the pipe 158. A predetermined replenishment tank 112 can be replenished through the replenishment tank 112, and in the case of a cleaning operation, the pipe 158 side can be closed, the pipe 178 and the pipe 182 can be communicated, and wastewater flowing through the pipe 178 can be sent to the wastewater tank 212. The wastewater tank 212 may collectively collect all the wastewater from each room 172, or may be provided independently for each wastewater from each room 172. Further, when the above-mentioned water for dissolution is used as the washing water, the water can be directly poured into the replenishing tank 112 and the wastewater can be reused as the water for dissolution. In this case, the three-way valve 180, the pipe 158, the pipe 182, and the wastewater tank 212 are unnecessary.

A long hole 185 having a long diameter is formed in the side wall 184 of the room 172 in the vertical direction.
86 are arranged through. Room 172 for pipe 186
The inside tip side is bent upward at a substantially right angle,
A perforation nozzle 188 is fitted at the tip.
The perforated nozzle 188 has a bottom diameter of the pipe 18.
6 has a substantially conical shape larger than the diameter of the opening / closing door 1 and is set on the holding portion 168 and the placing portion 166.
64 faces the opening (see FIG. 3) of the neck 306 of the bottle 300 in the closed state. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the perforation nozzle 188 is hollow, and a plurality of small holes 214 are formed in the outer peripheral portion. For this reason, the water or air sent through the pipe 186 can be discharged to the outside through the small holes 214. As shown in FIG. 9, the other end of the pipe 186 is connected to the motor 1 via a holding member, a plurality of gears, etc. (all not shown).
90, and can be moved up and down (that is, moved in a direction of coming into contact with and away from the bottle 300) along the elongated hole 185 by the driving force of the motor 190.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the pipe 186 is connected via a flexible hose 192 to a three-way valve 194 composed of an electromagnetic valve or an electric valve. The three-way valve 194 has one end connected to the pump 19 through a pipe 196.
8 from the pump 198 to the pipe 200
Washing water storage tank 202 storing washing water through
Connected to The other side of the three-way valve 194 is connected to the fan 206 via the pipe 204, and further connected from the fan 206 to the drying unit 210 via the pipe 208. Further, the three-way valve 194 is also connected to the control device 12.
During the washing operation described above, the drying unit 210 side is closed and the pipe 186 and the washing water storage tank 2 are connected.
02, and the washing water sent by the pump 198 can be jetted from the perforation nozzle 188. After the washing operation is completed, the washing water storage tank 202 side is closed to allow communication between the pipe 186 and the drying unit 210,
The drying air sent by the fan 206 is passed through the perforating nozzle 18.
8 can be blown out.

(Structure of Bottle 300) Next, a bottle 300 as a container for a photographic processing agent according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottle 3
Reference numeral 00 denotes a container main body 302. Container body 302
Is formed in a hollow box shape by a resin material. The upper end of the container body 302 has a tapered shape with a gradually decreasing diameter, and a cylindrical neck 306 with a male screw 304 formed on the outer peripheral portion. The upper end of the neck 306 is open, and the above-described replenisher can be taken in and out through the opening. An aluminum sheet 308 as a sheet member is disposed at an upper end of the neck 306. The aluminum sheet 308 has a neck portion 30 of aluminum (hereinafter, referred to as “Al”) or an alloy thereof (hereinafter, referred to as “Al alloy”) having a thickness of about 35 μm.
It is formed by laminating the 6-side surface with polyethylene (hereinafter, referred to as “PE”) having a thickness of about 6 μm to 40 μm. Note that the configuration of the sheet member is not limited to this, and, for example, those described below can be applied as the sheet member.

(1) One surface of Al or Al alloy is polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as “PET”)
And the other side is laminated with PE.

(2) A sheet obtained by laminating one surface of Al or an Al alloy with stretched polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as “PP”) and laminating the other surface with PE.

(3) A sheet in which one surface of a thin film PE is laminated with unstretched PP. (4) A sheet in which one surface of a thin film of PE is laminated with stretched PP, and the other surface is further laminated with PE.

(5) A sheet in which one side of a stretched thin film PP is laminated with unstretched PP.

(6) A sheet obtained by laminating one surface of a thin-film PET base material on which silica has been deposited with unstretched PP.

Note that the above example is merely an example,
A sheet member of another material such as a sheet member having no metal foil such as Al or an Al alloy or a metal other than Al and an alloy thereof is also applicable.

The bottle 300 has a cap 310 as a fixing member. This cap 310
It is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom opening toward the neck portion 306, and has a male screw 30 formed on the neck portion 306 on its inner peripheral portion.
4 is screwed into the neck 306, and by screwing into the neck 306, the aluminum sheet 308 is pressed by the bottom 312 of the cap 310,
The aluminum sheet 308 can be fixed to the neck 306. Also,
A circular opening 314 is formed in the bottom 312 of the cap 310 so that the aluminum sheet 308 can be perforated with the cap 310 fitted.

Further, between the aluminum sheet 308 and the bottom 312 of the cap 310 and between the aluminum sheet 308 and the neck 306, a ring-shaped packing 316 having a rectangular cross section as a sealing member is provided.
These packings 316 are attached to the neck 30 of the container body 302.
6, or a packing 3 made of a resin material or a rubber material that is more flexible and elastic than the cap 310, and is disposed between the aluminum sheet 308 and the neck 306.
16 prevents liquid leakage by eliminating a gap between the aluminum sheet 308 and the neck 306 when the aluminum sheet 308 is fixed to the neck 306. On the other hand, the packing 316 provided between the aluminum sheet 308 and the bottom 312 of the cap 310, when the cap 310 is screwed and fitted to the neck 306, the aluminum sheet 308 is resiliently attached to the neck 306 by the elastic force of the packing 316. When the aluminum sheet 308 is pressed and broken by the perforation nozzle 188 to pierce the aluminum sheet 308, the aluminum sheet 308 is held against the reaction force of the pressure rupture.

(Operation of the present embodiment) Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

For example, when the photographic printing paper P is developed in the developing tank 74, the replenishing pump 116 is operated in accordance with the development, and the developing replenisher once stored in the replenishing tank 112 is sent to the developing tank 74. Then, the developing replenisher used in the processing in the developing tank 74 and degraded is replenished. The same applies to the bleach-fix solution and the stabilizing bath solution.

When the liquid level in the replenishing tank 112 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the float switch 118 detects this, and an instruction to supply the replenishing liquid to the replenishing tank 112 is sent to the monitor 122.
Will be displayed.

Next, a procedure for replenishing the replenisher with the replenisher tank 112 will be described. First, the opening / closing door 1 of the replenishing unit 160
64 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8), and pushes the container body 302 while inserting the neck 306 of the bottle 300 into the hole 176 of the hold part 168, and places the bottle 300 on the placement part 166. . In this state, when the opening and closing door 164 is closed (solid line state in FIG. 8) and the control device 120 shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 is operated, the three-way valve 194 is operated, the pipe 182 side is closed, and the pipe 178 is closed. The pipe 158 is communicated, and the motor 190 is further driven. As a result, the pipe 158 is moved upward, and the perforated nozzle 188 is moved.
Moves toward the bottle 300 and penetrates through the opening 314 of the cap 310 and contacts the aluminum sheet 308 as shown in FIG.

In this state, when the perforating nozzle 188 further moves upward by the driving force of the motor 190, as shown in FIG.
8, the aluminum sheet 308 is opened, and a replenisher (for example, a developer replenisher, a bleach-fix replenisher, a stable replenisher, etc.) in the container body 302 flows down. However, in this state, since the gap between the perforation nozzle 188 and the aluminum sheet 308 is small, the amount of the replenisher flowing down is small. Further, since the perforation nozzle 188 has a substantially conical shape, the opening formed in the aluminum sheet 308 gradually increases as the perforation nozzle 188 moves upward. Further, since the diameter of the bottom of the perforation nozzle 188 is larger than the diameter of the pipe 186, when the perforation nozzle 188 moves to the state shown in FIG. 6, the aluminum sheet 308 formed by the elevation of the perforation nozzle 188 and the outer periphery of the pipe 158 Since a gap is formed between the replenisher and the portion, the replenisher flows down from the inside of the container body 302 more than the state shown in FIG.

In this way, the replenisher flowing down from the bottle 300 (container main body 302) flows into the hole 176 and the pipe 17 formed in the bottom 174 of the room 172 shown in FIG.
8, and the three-way valve 180 and the pipe 15 shown in FIG.
8 to the refill tank 112. Here, when the bottle 300 according to the present embodiment is applied, the operator only needs to open the opening / closing door 164, set the bottle 300, close the opening / closing door 164, and operate the motor 190,
Opening and refilling operations, ie, aluminum sheet 308
Is performed inside the closed replenishing unit 160 (that is, each room 172). Therefore, the troublesome work of refilling the bottle by hand by the operator is not required, and
When refilling, the replenisher does not splash and stain the hands and clothes of the workers.

Next, in the state shown in FIG. 6, after the inside of the container main body 302 has completely flowed down, washing and drying operations of the bottle 300 are performed. In the cleaning operation, first, the three-way valves 180 and 194 are operated by operating the control device 120 shown in FIGS. Thereby, the pipe 158 side of the three-way valve 180 is closed, and the pipe 178 and the pipe 182 are communicated, and the three-way valve 194 is closed, and the pipe 186 and the pipe 196 are communicated. Three-way valve 18
When the operations of 0 and 194 are completed, the pump 198 is operated, and the washing water in the washing water storage tank 202 is sent to the pump 198 via the pipe 200.
Through a pipe 196, a three-way valve 194, a hose 192, and a pipe 186 to a perforation nozzle 188 at a predetermined water pressure. As a result, washing water is injected from the small holes 214 of the perforation nozzle 188, and the inside of the bottle 300 is washed. The washing water after washing flows down from the bottle 300,
In this state, since the pipe 178 is connected to the wastewater tank 212 via the three-way valve 180 and the pipe 182, the washing water after washing does not flow into the replenishing tank 112.

Next, when cleaning under predetermined conditions (for example, predetermined time) is completed, the pump 198 is stopped, and
The three-way valve 194 is switched, the pipe 196 side is closed, and the pipe 204 and the hose 192 communicate. Further, in this state, the drying unit 210 and the fan 206 operate, and drying air is guided from the drying unit 210 to the pipe 208 to the fan 206, and further, the drying
4. Dry air is sent to the perforation nozzle 188 via the three-way valve 194, the hose 192, and the pipe 186. Thereby, the drying air blows out from the small holes 214 of the perforation nozzle 188, and the inside of the bottle 300 is dried.

After these washing and drying operations are completed,
The empty bottle 300 is taken out by opening the opening / closing door 164, and is replaced with another new bottle 300. In this state, since the inside of the bottle 300 is cleaned and dried, the empty bottle 300 is dried. When taking out 300, hands and clothes are not stained by excess replenisher or the like.

Further, the removed empty bottle 300 is recycled. In this case, the cap 310 is removed from the neck 306 of the container main body 302, and further, the aluminum sheet 308 and the packing 316 are removed, so that the material for each material is removed. Collected separately. Here, the container body 302 and the cap 31
0, the aluminum sheet 308, and the packing 316 are independent and separate parts, and the aluminum sheet 308 for assembling them is connected to the container body 30 via the packing 316.
2 is tightly attached to the neck 306. Therefore, the container body 3
By removing cap 310 from 02, each part of aluminum sheet 308 and packing 316 can be easily removed and separated. In addition, unlike the case where the aluminum sheet 308 is directly fixed to the neck 306, the aluminum sheet 308 does not break and remain when the aluminum sheet 308 is removed, so that the number of working steps can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the bottle 300 is used for replenishing the developing replenisher, the bleach-fix replenisher, and the stabilizing solution for the printer processor 10. May be used for

In this embodiment, the packing 316 as a seal member has a rectangular cross section (see FIG. 2), but the packing 316 does not need to have a rectangular cross section. For example, the aluminum sheet 308 of the packing 316
By forming a plurality of projections and depressions (or projections) on the side surface, it is possible to improve the holding force for holding the aluminum sheet 308 when the cap 310 is screwed into the neck 306 and tightened. Also, by forming irregularities on the aluminum sheet 308 side of both packings 316 so that the upper and lower packings 316 can mesh with each other, and engaging the irregularities of both packings 316 with the aluminum sheet 308 sandwiched therebetween, the clamping force and the seal can be improved. The effect improves together.

In the present embodiment, the aluminum sheet 3
08 has a configuration in which both surfaces are laminated with polyethylene, but the lamination with polyethylene may be formed on any one surface of the aluminum sheet 308.

Further, the bottle 300 is filled with a replenishing solution, but may be filled with a liquid, a highly viscous gel-like liquid, or a solid such as powder or granules.

In this embodiment, three types of replenishers are used: a replenisher for development, a replenisher for bleaching and fixing, and a stabilizing solution. The present invention may be applied to a printer processor of a type that forms a liquid. That is, in this case, by applying the bottle 300 according to the present invention to each chemical solution constituting each replenishing solution, each chemical solution is released in the closed space in the replenishing unit 160, so that the operation with the chemical solution is performed. The hands and clothes of the user are not soiled, and the complicated work of mixing and preparing liquids using a mixing and preparing tool such as a liquid preparation tank in the printer processor 10 can be eliminated. In addition,
Also in this case, as described above, the height of the bottle 300, the shape of the tapered portion below the neck 306, or the neck 306 with respect to the container body 302 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
The formation position is changed for each chemical solution, and the holding portion 168 is formed.
By changing the shape of the bottle and the size between the mounting portion 166 and the holding portion 168 for each shape of the bottle 300 of each chemical solution, it is possible to set only the specific bottle 300 to the specific holding portion 168. Can be prevented from being mixed in due to a mistake in setting (misloading).

[0073]

As described above, in the photographic processing agent container according to the present invention, not only can the processing agent in the container body be easily discharged by simply breaking the sheet member, but also the fixing member can be removed from the container body. The separation of the container body, the fixing member, and the sheet member can be easily performed simply by removing, and the collection of the broken sheet member and the reuse of the container body and the fixing member can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a photographic processing agent container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a photographic processing agent container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of a photographic processing agent container and a perforation nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a state in which a perforation nozzle is in contact with a sheet member of a photographic processing agent container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a state in which a sheet member of the container for a photographic processing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention is pierced by a piercing nozzle.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a state where a perforation nozzle has completely penetrated a sheet member of a photographic processing agent container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view schematically showing a replenishment tank of a printer processor to which a photographic processing agent container according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied and the periphery thereof.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of a replenishing unit of a printer processor to which a container for a photographic processing agent according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically showing a system for sending cleaning water or dry air to a perforation nozzle.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a printer processor to which a container for a photographic processing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 11 is a view schematically showing a structure of a printer processor to which a container for a photographic processing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 300 Bottle (photoprocessing agent container) 302 Container main body 304 Male screw (screw part) 308 Aluminum sheet (sheet member) 310 Cap (fixing member) 312 Bottom part 314 Opening 316 Packing (seal member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] A hollow container main body; a sheet member detachably provided to an opening of the container main body, the sheet member being opened with a piercing force of a predetermined size or more; and a sheet member mounted to the container main body. Close the container body by tightly fixing it to the opening of the container body,
A fixing member capable of separating the sheet member from the container body by releasing the mounted state. 2. The fixing member, wherein the fixing member is screwed to a screw portion formed in the container body and has a bottomed cylindrical cap having an opening formed in a bottom portion, and is disposed around the sheet member; A ring-shaped seal member that clamps the periphery of the sheet member with the bottom of the cap by a tightening force on the screw portion of the cap and supports a breaking force when the sheet member is pierced. The container for a photographic processing agent according to claim 1. 3. The container for a photographic processing agent according to claim 1, wherein the sheet member is a thin metal foil laminated on at least one surface with a resin material.