JPH103157A - Liquid replenishing mechanism for developing processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid replenishing mechanism for a developing processor capable of reducing the frequency of the maintenance of squeezing rollers. SOLUTION: The liquid replenishing mechanism for developing processor, for replenishing to a processing solution tank 42 with a replenishing liquid, in a developing processor for developing a photographic paper exposed with the image of a negative film, is provided with a supplying device 110 for dropping the replenishing liquid on a pair of first squeezing rollers 112a, and 112b arranged in the upper part of the processing tank 42, a diffusion member 116 which is arranged on the lower side of at least one side roller 112b of a pair of the first squeezing rollers and provided with a curved surface 116a formed along the outer periphery of the squeezing roller 112b, a little away therefrom and a pair of second squeezing rollers 118a and 118b arranged on the lower sides of a pair of the first squeezing rollers.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing apparatus for developing a photographic paper on which an image of a negative film has been exposed, and more particularly to a replenishing mechanism of a developing apparatus for replenishing a processing solution tank with a replenishing solution. In particular, the invention relates to a diffusion mechanism for diffusing a replenisher on a squeeze roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an apparatus for exposing a film image to a photographic paper and developing the film, a developing process of the photographic paper is performed.
A plurality of processing tanks each containing a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a cleaning solution are provided. The exposed photographic paper sequentially passes through these processing tanks to perform a developing process. In such an apparatus, a squeeze roller for squeezing out the processing liquid adhering to the photographic paper is arranged in order to prevent the processing liquid in the processing tank from being brought into an adjacent processing tank. Conventionally, when replenishing a processing tank with a new processing liquid, the replenisher has been supplied directly into the processing tank.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional replenishing solution supply method, the replenishing solution does not directly flow on the squeeze roller. There is a problem that dirt relatively easily adheres and maintenance needs to be performed frequently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid replenishing mechanism for a developing apparatus which can reduce the frequency of maintenance of a squeeze roller. It is in.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, a liquid replenishing mechanism of a developing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a liquid replenishing mechanism for developing a photographic paper on which a negative film image has been exposed. In the developing apparatus, a replenishing mechanism of the developing apparatus for replenishing a processing solution tank with a replenishing solution, wherein the replenishing solution is dropped onto a first pair of squeeze rollers disposed above the processing tank. A diffusion member disposed below at least one of the first pair of squeeze rollers and having a curved surface formed along the outer peripheral surface slightly apart from the outer peripheral surface of the squeeze roller; And a second pair of squeeze rollers disposed below the first pair of squeeze rollers.

In the liquid replenishing mechanism of the developing apparatus according to the present invention, the replenisher dropped from the supply device is disposed so as to be in contact with at least one of the first pair of squeeze rollers. It is characterized by further comprising a diffusion roller for diffusing in the longitudinal direction of the pair of squeeze rollers.

Further, in the liquid replenishment mechanism of the developing apparatus according to the present invention, the diffusion roller has a spiral groove on a surface thereof.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a developing apparatus 10 is roughly composed of an exposure section 12, a photographic paper alignment section 14, a developing section 16 and a drying section 18.
The exposure unit 12 includes a light source unit 22 for irradiating the negative film F with light and a lens 24 for enlarging the negative image (a plurality of single lenses via a zoom lens or a switching unit to obtain a plurality of magnifications). And an exposure table 26 for supporting the photographic paper P below the light source unit 22.
And photographic paper cassettes 28 and 30 for supplying photographic paper onto the exposure table 26. Photographic paper cassette 28,3
A roll of photographic paper is stored in 0,
The photographic paper is unwound from the photographic paper cassette 28 or 30, cut into individual photograph sizes by a cutter 32 or 33, and supplied onto the exposure table 26. The photographic paper P, which is cut into pieces one by one and supplied onto the exposure table 26, is exposed to a predetermined time and then sent to the photographic paper alignment unit 14.

The photographic paper aligning unit 14 converts the exposed photographic papers P from a state in which they are arranged in a line as shown in FIG. 2 to a state in which they are arranged in two lines in a staggered manner as shown in FIG. In this state, the photographic paper P is conveyed along a path shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and is delivered to the development processing unit 16. By arranging the printing papers P in two rows in this manner, the speed of the development processing is increased. The photographic paper aligning section 14 includes a dot matrix printer (not shown).
The negative frame number etc. are printed on the back side of.

In the apparatus of the present embodiment, the developing section 16 includes one developing solution tank 34, one fixing solution tank 36,
And two washing tanks 38, 40, 42. Photographic paper P
Are processing racks 44, 46, 48, 5 inserted into each tank.
By means of 0,52, each tank is reciprocated up and down in each tank along a path indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and subjected to development, fixing, and washing processes. Below the washing tanks 38, 40, and 42, a developer replenishing tank 54 for supplying the developing solution to the developer tank 34 and a fixing solution replenishing tank 56 for supplying the fixing solution to the fixing solution tank 36 are provided. And a washing liquid replenishing tank 58 for refilling the washing tank 42 with the washing liquid. Below these tanks, drain cocks 60, 62, 64 for discharging the drainage from the developer tank 34, the fixing tank 36, and the washing tanks 38, 40, 42 to the outside are arranged. .

The photographic paper P discharged from the rinsing tank 42 after the completion of the rinsing is carried into the drying processing unit 18 and is dried.
The roller 8 is reciprocated in the vertical direction by rollers (not shown) arranged in the inside 8. The photographic paper P is dried by sending out the air heated by the heater (not shown) from the air duct 66 during the vertical conveyance. After the drying is completed, the completed photograph is discharged to the outside of the developing device 10 through the discharge port 68, and is sorted by a sorter (not shown).

A cover 70 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper part of the development processing section 16. When maintenance of the processing rack in each processing tank is required, the cover 7 is provided.
0 can be opened as shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure, and maintenance can be performed by pulling up the processing rack from the processing tank.

Next, the characteristic portion of the present invention in the developing apparatus configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the processing tanks 34,
Processing racks 44,4 inserted into 36,38,40,42
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a processing rack 44 as a representative structure of 6, 48, 50, and 52. Other processing racks have the same structure as that shown in FIG.

Generally, a processing rack arranged in each processing tank transports a photographic paper with two rollers therebetween,
There is a type in which rollers are arranged in a staggered manner and conveyed using the waist (rigidity) of photographic paper. The processing rack of this embodiment employs a configuration in which rollers are arranged in a staggered manner.

The processing rack 44 includes a processing rack body 72.
And three rows of transport rollers 74, 76, 78 arranged in a zigzag pattern on the processing rack body 72. 3
The transport rollers 74, 76, 78 in the rows are driven to rotate at a constant speed via a gear train by a rotary drive source such as a motor (not shown). The photographic paper P enters the processing rack 44 from the photographic paper entrance at the upper left in the figure, and the transport rollers 78 in the left column in the figure.
And is transported downward between the transport rollers 76 in the central row. Then, after being turned upward in the lower part of the processing rack main body 72, the transport rollers 74 in the right-hand row in FIG.
The paper is transported upward between the transport rollers 76 in the central row, and is discharged from the photographic paper outlet at the upper right in the figure. In addition,
The interval between the transport rollers is about 30 mm, and the length of the photographic paper used for ordinary simultaneous printing is about 127 mm in the longitudinal direction. It is transported across the rollers. Further, when the photographic papers are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner, the amount of deviation from the adjacent photographic paper (the dimension indicated by s in FIG. 3) is about 80 mm.

The rollers arranged in such a zigzag manner and transporting the printing paper using the waist of the paper transported the printing papers P1, P2, P3,... Arranged as shown in FIG. In this case, there arises a problem that only the leading photographic paper P1 gradually shifts rearward with respect to other photographic papers as shown by a broken line in FIG.

The reason will be described below.

First, in the process of transporting the photographic paper P,
When the leading end of the photographic paper P comes into contact with an adjacent transport roller 76 (here, a case where the photographic paper P is moved from the transport roller 74 toward the transport roller 76 will be described as an example)
The leading end of the printing paper P does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller in a tangential direction, but contacts the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller at a certain angle as shown by A in FIG. At this time, assuming that the photographic paper P has moved from the position indicated by A to the position B indicated by the two-dot chain line, the feeding distance d of the photographic paper P
In contrast, the transport roller 76 has a distance L larger than d.
, And the transport roller 76 is rotated at a higher speed than when the photographic paper P contacts the tangential direction. Since the drive system of the transport roller 76 drives the transport roller at a speed based on the case where the photographic paper P contacts the tangential direction of the transport roller, the transport roller 76 uses the drive force by the backlash of the drive system. Also rotates ahead. Then, after the transport roller 76 is rotated forward by the amount of the backlash, the constant speed rotation of the drive system is not a transport force for the photographic paper, but rather a resistance, and the photographic paper P is braked. This braking force tends to shift the printing paper P backward.

Here, within the distance s (approximately 80 mm) between the first photographic paper P1 and the second photographic paper P2 in FIG. 3, about three transport rollers exist as described above.
Since these three transport rollers are all in a state preceding the driving force by the amount of the backlash, the printing paper P
1, the braking force of three transport rollers is applied, and the printing paper P1 is shifted backward. In contrast, 2
When the leading edge of the second photographic paper P2 comes into contact with the transport roller, the transport roller is pressed by the first photographic paper P1, so that it is not pushed by the photographic paper P2 and rotates at a high speed. Since the rotation is maintained, the paper does not rotate freely by the amount of the backlash, but as long as it rotates at a constant speed, this transport roller generates a braking force on the second photographic paper P2. However, the other three transport rollers transporting the second photographic paper P2 have already been biased in the reverse direction and the driving force has been shifted to the preceding state. The paper P2 receives only the braking force of the leading transport roller, and the force for shifting the photographic paper P2 backward is small. Therefore, compared to the leading photographic paper P2, the amount shifted backward is small. Further, since the second and subsequent sheets of photographic paper all have the same contact condition with the transport roller, even if they are shifted, all the photographic papers are displaced in parallel by substantially the same amount. For this reason, only the leading photographic paper P1 to which a large braking force is applied gradually shifts rearward as the conveyance progresses.

In the processing rack of the present embodiment, in order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 5, a freely rotatable pressing roller 80 is arranged on both sides of a transport roller 76a located substantially at the center in the vertical direction of the unit. doing. Since the photographic paper is conveyed between the pressing roller 80 and the conveying roller 76a in this manner, the slip between the photographic paper P and the roller does not occur in this portion, and a large braking force is applied to the first photographic paper P1. However, the printing paper P1 can be accurately conveyed by a predetermined distance. Thereby, the leading photographic paper P
It can be resolved that only 1 is greatly shifted rearward.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the mechanism for preventing such a shift of the photographic paper. The belt 82 is attached to the transport rollers 74 and 78 on both sides of the transport roller 76 located substantially at the center in the vertical direction of the processing rack. The belt 82 and the transport roller 76 sandwich the photographic paper P to prevent the photographic paper P from slipping. Even with such a configuration, the displacement of the first photographic paper P1 can be prevented.

Next, FIG. 8 is a view showing a return roller disposed in the middle of each processing rack.

For example, taking the processing racks 44 and 46 as an example, the photographic paper P discharged from the processing rack 44 will be described.
Is turned downward by hitting the return roller 84, and is carried into the processing rack 46. At this time, it is preferable that the return roller 84 rotates freely as the photographic paper P moves so as not to damage the photographic paper.
Therefore, the return roller 84 is supported rotatably.

Conventionally, such a return roller 84 is constituted by a single roller continuous in the width direction as shown in FIG. Using such a return roller 84,
When the direction of the photographic papers arranged in two rows is to be changed as shown in FIG.
When the second photographic paper P2 collides with the return roller 84, the return roller 84 is still restrained by the first photographic paper P1. It does not enter a free rotation state. For this reason, there has been a problem that the leading end portions of the second and subsequent photographic papers are damaged by collision with the return roller.

In this embodiment, in order to solve this problem, the return roller 84 is divided into two rollers 84a and 84b as shown in FIG. 10, and each roller freely rotates independently of the frame 85. Have to be able to. In this way, the return roller can be rotated without being affected by the adjacent rows of photographic paper P in the two rows of photographic paper P shown in FIG. 3, so that damage to the leading end of the photographic paper is eliminated. be able to.

Next, FIG. 11 shows the processing racks 44, 46, 4
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a structure useful for performing maintenance of 8, 50, and 52, and FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a processing rack viewed from a side. All the processing racks have a structure as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and FIGS. 11 and 12 show the structure of the processing rack 44 as a representative thereof.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, on the side of the processing rack body 72, three hooking levers 86, 88, 90 are rotatable in the plane of the paper by pins 92, 94, 96 while being vertically separated. Attached to. Development processing device 1
In a normal operating state of 0, the hook lever 86,
Numerals 88 and 90 are closed as shown by arrow C in FIG. 11, and the processing rack 44 is housed in the processing tank 34. In this state, the processing rack 44 is immersed in the liquid below the squeeze roller 98.

The processing rack 44 is pulled upward from the liquid tank 34 for maintenance such as cleaning of rollers provided on the processing rack 44. At this time, as shown in FIG. Then, it is pulled out to the position shown by the two-dot chain line and hooked on the upper end of the liquid tank 34. Thus, the processing rack 44 is supported in a state of protruding above the liquid tank 34. As described above, the hook levers are provided at three locations in the vertical direction. Therefore, if the maintenance of only the squeeze roller 98 is to be performed, the uppermost hook lever 86 is moved to the liquid tank 34.
And squeeze roller 98 is projected above liquid tank 34. When maintenance is required below the squeeze roller 98, the hook lever 88 or 90 is pulled out as necessary to change the amount of protrusion of the processing rack 44. As described above, by providing a mechanism capable of holding the processing rack in a state of protruding above the liquid tank, there is no need to hold the processing rack by hand, and maintenance of the processing rack can be easily performed. Even when the processing rack is completely removed from the liquid tank and cleaned, the hook lever 90
When the processing rack is completely pulled out of the liquid and left for a while, the processing rack can be easily drained. The hook lever 8
6, 88, 90 are provided with stopper portions 86a, 88a, 90a.
This portion is brought into contact with the processing rack main body 72 so as to stop at the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a view showing the arrangement of squeeze rollers in a processing rack. FIG. 13 shows the processing racks 44 and 46, but similar squeeze rollers are arranged in other processing racks.

In FIG. 13, squeeze rollers 98a,
98b plays a role of squeezing out the processing liquid adhering to the photographic paper P and preventing the processing liquid from being carried into an adjacent processing tank. Further, the processing rack 52 arranged in the final washing tank 42 plays a role of improving the drying efficiency in the next drying step by squeezing the cleaning liquid adhered to the printing paper P.

In such a squeeze roller, since the roller is constantly rotating, the processing liquid adhered to the squeeze roller from the photographic paper P adheres to the photographic paper P again when the roller makes one rotation. There is a problem. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the squeeze rollers 98a, 98b
Elastic blade 100 so that the tip is in contact with
a, 100b are arranged so that the processing liquid transferred from the printing paper P is washed off into the processing tank. This prevents the processing liquid once transferred from the printing paper P to the rollers from returning to the printing paper P again when the rollers 98a and 98b make one rotation, and the amount of the processing liquid brought into the adjacent processing tank. Is reduced. The blade 100
Preferably, a and 100b are formed of a material having high chemical resistance and abrasion resistance and a low coefficient of friction.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the squeeze roller 98a and the blade 100a. As shown, the processing liquid adhering to the squeeze roller 98a is removed by the blade 100a.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a squeeze roller disposed in the final washing tank 42. In the same manner as described above, the cleaning liquid adhering to the squeeze
By removing at 04, the drying efficiency in the next drying step can be improved.

FIG. 16 shows a specific arrangement of squeeze rollers in a processing rack.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the arrangement of squeeze rollers in the washing tanks 38, 40, and 42. As shown in FIG.

The washing tanks 38, 40, and 42 have different levels of washing liquid. The washing tank 38 has the lowest water level, the washing tank 40 has a higher water level, and the washing tank 42 has the highest. . When replenishing the washing tanks 38, 40, and 42 with new washing liquid, the washing tank 42 in the last stage is replenished with the washing liquid, and the overflowing washing liquid is supplied to the washing tank 40 in the preceding stage, and further overflows there. The washing liquid thus supplied is further supplied to the water washing tank 38 in the preceding stage. The washing liquid overflowing in the first washing tank 38 is discharged from the lower part of the washing tank 38 to the drain tank as drain liquid. By doing so, a new washing liquid is supplied to the cleanest washing tank 42, the washing liquid in the washing tank 42 with less contamination is supplied to the preceding washing tank 40, and the washing liquid in the washing tank 40 is further added. Rinse tank 3 in the first stage
8 is supplied. Then, the processing liquid from the adjacent fixing liquid tank 38 is carried in, and the cleaning liquid in the most dirty water washing tank 38 can be discharged as drainage liquid. This makes it possible to effectively use the new cleaning liquid.

Here, when the cleaning liquid is supplied to the final-stage water rinsing tank and the adjacent water rinsing tank, in this embodiment, the cleaning liquid to be supplied is poured into the squeeze roller, and the cleaning of the squeeze roller is performed at the same time. I have to.
Specifically, in FIG. 17, when a new cleaning liquid is supplied to the washing tank 42, the cleaning liquid supplied to the supply unit 110 is dropped substantially at the center of the squeeze roller 112 a, and the length of the roller is The squeeze roller 112a is cleaned in the direction. The spiral roller 114 is a roller having a spiral groove formed symmetrically with respect to the center in the longitudinal direction of the roller body as shown in FIG. 18, and the cleaning liquid is supplied along the groove 114a to the center of the squeeze roller 112a. Is diffused toward both ends. The cleaning liquid that has cleaned the squeeze roller 112a is then transferred to the next squeeze roller 112a.
Then, the squeeze roller 112b is cleaned. A curved surface 1 is formed below the squeeze roller 112b so as to have a slight gap with respect to the outer peripheral surface thereof.
A diffusion member 116 having 16a is arranged. The cleaning liquid that has cleaned the squeeze roller 112b is separated from the squeeze roller 112b and the curved surface 116a by the surface tension.
And is supplied to the squeeze rollers 118a and 118b to clean the squeeze rollers 118a and 118b. By providing the diffusion member 116 below the squeeze roller 112b, the cleaning liquid that has cleaned the squeeze roller 112b does not fall directly into the washing tank 42.
Since it can be used for cleaning of the cleaning liquids 18a and 118b, the cleaning liquid can be effectively used.

The washing tanks 38 and 40 are also provided with a washing liquid supply unit 110 as shown in FIG. 17. In the washing tank 40, the washing liquid overflowing in the adjacent washing tank 42 is used as the washing tank. The squeeze roller is supplied to the supply unit 110 and performs cleaning of the squeeze roller as in the case of FIG. In the washing tank 38, the adjacent washing tank 4
The cleaning liquid overflowing at 0 is supplied to the supply section 110 of the washing tank 38, and the squeeze roller is cleaned similarly.

When the washing liquid in the washing tanks 38, 40 and 42 evaporates and the water level of the washing liquid falls below a predetermined value, the washing liquid is replenished in the same manner as described above, and the squeeze roller is cleaned. Will be

The squeeze rollers of the rinsing tanks 38, 40, and 42 are also provided with blades for wiping off the cleaning liquid. In the case of the rinsing tank, the cleaning liquid dropped from the squeeze roller 112b causes the squeeze roller 118a, 118b
Squeeze roller 118
The blades 122 and 124 are provided only in the portions b and 120b.

Next, FIGS. 19 and 20 are views showing the drainage tank.

As described above, the washing tanks 38, 40, 4
In 2, the new washing liquid is supplied to the washing tank 42, and the dirty washing liquid is gradually discharged from the lower part of the washing tank 38 as drainage. The discharged drainage is stored in a drainage tank 130. Also, in the developing solution tank 34 and the fixing solution tank 36, new processing liquid is supplied to the upper part of each tank, and the discharged liquid is gradually discharged from the lower part of each tank. Of these drains, the drain of the developer is stored in a drain tank 134, and the drain of the fixer is stored in a drain tank 136. The drain tank is provided with a sensor for detecting a full state of the drain liquid, and when this sensor detects that the drain is full, it is notified to the outside, and the operator drains from the drain tank. Work to remove the liquid. However, when this sensor fails, the drainage liquid may overflow from the drainage tank, and it may take time to remove the overflowed liquid.
In the present embodiment, the overflow of the drainage from the drainage tank is prevented.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, overflow ports 136, 138, and 140 are provided above the drainage tanks 130, 132, and 134, respectively.
At 0,132,134, the drainage liquid overflowing is drained. The drained liquid is discharged by a pipe 142 to a tray 144 disposed at a position directly visible to an operator. Since the pipe 142 is commonly connected to the overflow ports 136, 138, and 140 of the three drainage tanks, the drainage is drained to the tray 144 when any of the three drainage tanks overflows. You.
However, also in this embodiment, a sensor for detecting the fullness of the drainage is provided, and the drainage is discharged to the tray 144 in a special case such as a failure of the sensor. If the operator finds that the tray 144 is overflowing with drainage, the drain cocks 60, 62, connected to the lower part of the drainage tanks 130, 132, 134 via pipes 150, 148, 146, respectively. Drain the drain from 64. At the same time, the tray 144 is cleaned. The drain cock 60,
62 and 64 are disposed directly above the tray 144. The tray 144 is provided so that when drainage is stored in the drainage container from the drain cocks 60, 62 and 64, the drainage does not spill on the floor or the like. It also has a function as a receiving pan.

As described above, by providing the overflow port at the upper part of the drainage tank, it is possible to prevent the drainage from overflowing on the floor surface even when the sensor breaks down.

Next, FIG. 21 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a stirring mechanism in a processing liquid replenishing tank.

Usually, processing solutions such as a developing solution, a fixing solution, and a cleaning solution are prepared by mixing two or three kinds of chemicals. Conventionally, each chemical is manually prepared outside the developing apparatus. After mixing, the resulting processing solution was transferred to a replenishing tank. In this embodiment, in order to reduce this trouble, the chemicals to be mixed are directly charged into the replenishing tank, and the mixing and stirring are performed in the replenishing tank.

In FIG. 21, the refill tank 58 (5
At the end of (4, 56), a medicine inlet 150 is formed, and a stirring rod 15 for stirring the medicine is provided substantially at the center.
2 is formed. A lid 156 for sealing the insertion port 154 is mounted on the insertion port 154, and a stirring rod 152 is rotatably supported on the lid 156. A rotating arm 158 is fixed to the upper end of the stirring rod 152. Refill tank 58 (5
A pulley 160 is disposed above the refill tank 58 (54, 56) via a bracket (not shown). A rotating plate 162 is fixed to the pulley 160, and a pin 164 fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 162 is in contact with a tip 158 a of the rotating arm 158. Accordingly, the rotation of the pulley 160 causes the stirring rod 152 to rotate.
Is rotated. To the right of pulley 160, pulley 160
The motor 166 is fixed to the same bracket as the bracket on which the motor 1 is supported, and the belt 1 is located between the pulley 168 and the pulley 160 attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 166.
70 have been bridged.

Further, a lid 174 supported so as to be openable and closable about a shaft 172 is disposed at the input port 150, and a magnet 176 is attached to the back of the lid 174. A magnetic sensor 178 is arranged at a position facing the magnet 176 when the lid 174 is opened as shown by a broken line, and can detect that the lid 174 is opened. The magnetic sensor 178 and the motor 166 are both connected to the control device 179,
The control device 179 controls the rotation of the motor 166 based on the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 178.

In the stirring mechanism 200 configured as described above, when the lid 174 is opened, the magnetic sensor 178 detects this, and a detection signal is sent to the control device 179, and the control device 179 rotates the motor 166. By rotating the stirring rod 152, the chemicals are automatically stirred.

Next, FIG. 22 is a plan view of the stirring mechanism 200 as viewed from above, and shows three replenishing tanks 54, 56, 58.
Are connected to one motor 166
2 shows a configuration for simultaneous driving. The stirring rods 152 disposed in the respective replenishment tanks have pulleys 160a, 16
0b, 160c are attached to the pulleys 160a, 160b, 160c and the pulley 1 of the motor 166.
A belt 170 is stretched between the first and second belts 68. A one-way clutch 180 is disposed on the pulley 160c of the developer replenishing tank 54,
Is rotated only in a clockwise direction, for example.
The rotation of 0c is transmitted to the stirring rod.

In the stirring mechanism 200 configured as described above, the lids 174a, 174b, and 17 of the three replenishment tanks are provided.
4c, the magnetic sensor 178 is opened.
a, 178b, or 178c reacts and the control device 1
79 causes the motor 168 to rotate. At this time, the magnetic sensors 17 of the cleaning liquid replenishing tank 58 and the fixing liquid replenishing tank 56 are used.
8a, 178b, or both are lids 174a,
When the opening of 174b is detected and the magnetic sensor 178c does not detect that the lid 174c is opened, the control device 179 rotates the motor 168 in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, only the stirring rods of the cleaning solution replenishment tank 58 and the fixing solution replenishment tank 56 rotate, and the developer replenishment tank 5
The stirring bar No. 4 does not rotate due to the action of the one-way clutch 180. When the magnetic sensor 178c detects that the lid 174c of the developer replenishing tank 54 has been opened,
The control device 179 controls the other magnetic sensors 178a, 178b.
, The motor 166 is unconditionally rotated clockwise. Accordingly, the stirring rod of the developer replenishing tank 54, the stirring rod of the fixing liquid replenishing tank 56, and the stirring rod of the cleaning liquid replenishing tank 58 rotate together.

The reason why the rotation states of the stirring rods of the three replenishing tanks are different is as follows. That is, the developer has the property of being easily degraded by oxidation as compared with the fixing solution and the cleaning solution. Therefore, even if the fixing solution and the cleaning solution are stirred at the same time when the other processing solutions are stirred, the fixing solution and the cleaning solution are hardly deteriorated by oxidation. Therefore, there is no problem even if the stirring rod rotates when replenishing another processing solution.
On the other hand, if the developer is stirred at the same time as the replenishment of only the other processing solutions, it will be deteriorated by oxidation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a one-way clutch is provided only on the stirring rod for the developer, and the developer is stirred only when the developer is replenished. In this way, deterioration of the developer due to oxidation is prevented.

As described above, in the above embodiment, when the replenisher is supplied to each processing tank, the replenisher is dropped on the upper squeeze roller, and the replenisher drops from the upper squeeze roller. Is supplied to the lower squeeze roller, so that the squeeze roller is completely washed with the new replenisher, and the degree of dirt on the squeeze roller can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention can be applied to a modification or modification of the above embodiment without departing from the gist thereof.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When replenishing the processing liquid into the processing tank, the processing liquid is dropped onto the squeeze roller, so that the squeeze roller can be washed with a still clean replenisher and the degree of dirt on the squeeze roller can be reduced. Thus, the frequency of maintenance can be reduced.

Further, since there is provided a diffusion member for supplying the replenisher falling from the upper squeeze roller to the lower roller, it is possible to clean the entire squeeze roller from the upper squeeze roller to the lower squeeze roller with the replenisher. Can be.

Since the diffusion roller is provided adjacent to the squeeze roller, the replenisher dropped on the squeeze roller can be efficiently diffused in the longitudinal direction of the squeeze roller.

[0061]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which photographic papers are arranged in a line.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which photographic paper is arranged in two rows in a staggered manner.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a leading photographic paper is gradually delayed.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a typical structure of a processing rack.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a transport roller is rotated quickly.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification of the structure of the processing rack.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a return roller disposed in the middle of a processing rack.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional return roller.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a return roller of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration for holding a processing rack in a state of protruding from a processing tank.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration for holding a processing rack in a state of protruding from a processing tank.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of squeeze rollers in a processing rack.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a squeeze roller and a blade in contact with the squeeze roller.

FIG. 15 is a view showing an arrangement state of squeeze rollers in a final-stage washing tank.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement configuration of squeeze rollers in a processing rack.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an arrangement configuration of squeeze rollers in a washing tank.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a configuration of a spiral roller.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a drainage tank.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a drainage path for drainage from a drainage tank.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a stirring mechanism in a processing liquid replenishing tank.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the stirring mechanism as viewed from above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Development processing apparatus 12 Exposure part 14 Printing paper alignment part 16 Development processing part 18 Drying processing part 20 Negative 22 Light source part 24 Zoom lens 26 Exposure table 28,30 Printing paper cassette 32,33 Cutter 34 Developer tank 36 Fixer tank 38 , 40, 42 Rinse tank 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 Processing rack 54 Developer replenishment tank 56 Fixer replenishment tank 58 Cleaning liquid replenishment tank 60, 62, 64 Drain cock 66 Air duct 68 Discharge port 70 Cover 72 Processing rack body 74 , 76, 78 conveying roller 80 pressing roller 82 belt 84 return roller 86, 88, 90 hook lever 92, 94, 96 pin 98, 102, 112, 118, 120 squeeze roller 100, 104, 122, 124 blade 114 spiral roller 116 Diffusion member 130, 132, 134 136, 138, 140 Overflow port 142, 146, 148, 150 Piping 144 Tray 152 Stirrer rod 154 Insertion port 156, 174 Cover 158 Rotating arm 160, 168 Pulley 162 Rotating plate 164 Pin 166 Motor 170 Belt 172 Shaft 176 Magnet 178 Magnet 178 Sensor 200 stirring mechanism

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid replenishing mechanism of a developing device for replenishing a processing solution tank with a replenishing solution, wherein the replenishing solution is replenished with a replenishing solution. A supply device for dropping on a first pair of squeeze rollers disposed on an upper portion of the processing tank; and a supply device disposed below at least one of the first pair of squeeze rollers and slightly separated from an outer peripheral surface of the squeeze roller. A diffusion member having a curved surface formed along the outer peripheral surface; and a second member disposed below the first pair of squeeze rollers.
And a squeeze roller of the pair. 2. A diffusion device which is disposed so as to be in contact with at least one of the first pair of squeeze rollers and diffuses a replenisher dropped from the supply device in a longitudinal direction of the first pair of squeeze rollers. The liquid replenishment mechanism of the development processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a roller. 3. The liquid replenishment mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the diffusion roller has a spiral groove on a surface thereof.