JPH1039480A - Replenishing liquid replenishing method and photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the simultaneous replenishment of replenishing liquids by a kit for replenishment. SOLUTION: A circulation pipe 120 for circulating the replenishing liquid is connected to a replenishing liquid tank and the mid-way of the circulation pipe 120 is provided with a three-way valve 124. A discharge pipe 126 is connected to the three-way valve 124. To replenish a developing tank with the replenishing liquid, a pump 128 is operated to keep the replenishing liquid circulated into the circulation pipe 120 and the three-way valve 124 is changed over for the prescribed period of time, by which the replenishing liquid is discharged in the prescribed amt. from the discharge pipe 126 to the developing tank. The similar operation is executed with the other processing tanks as well. The amt. of the replenishment is exactly determined by the changeover time of the three-way valve 124 and, therefore, the liquid replenishment is executable with the high accuracy and the simultaneous replenishment of the plural replenishing liquid tanks with the replenishing kit is executable without problems.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as a film processor and a printer processor having a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material and a replenishing tank for replenishing the processing tank with a replenisher. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic developing machines used in laboratories (for example,
Film processor, printer processor, etc.)
Film and color paper are being processed.

[0003] Film and color paper are developed by color development,
It is processed by being transported through a plurality of processing tanks containing processing solutions such as bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization, and water.

The composition and amount of the processing liquid in each processing tank change depending on the processing of a photosensitive material such as a film or color paper. For this reason, a system is provided in which each processing tank is replenished with a new solution from a replenishing tank in accordance with the processing amount of the photosensitive material.

[0005] A replenisher is supplied to the replenisher as needed. The replenishing agent supplied to the replenishing tank includes a solid such as a liquid, a tablet, and a powder. When the replenishing agent is a solid, diluting water is supplied together with the replenishing agent to make the liquid in the replenishing tank.

[0006] Since the processing solution in the processing tank needs to maintain a certain level of performance, it needs to be replenished with high accuracy in accordance with the processing amount. The replenishment accuracy is affected by the accuracy of a liquid feed pump from the replenishment tank to the processing tank and the accuracy of a liquid level detection sensor in the replenishment tank.
Therefore, if these precisions are low, the replenishment precision is reduced and the precision of the processing solution cannot be maintained.

In recent years, a batch replenishment system has been proposed in which a replenisher is collectively supplied to a replenishment tank corresponding to each processing tank. This has the advantage that the replenishment work becomes easier because all the replenishment tanks need to be replenished only once. However, in this batch replenishment system, it is necessary to match the replenishment timing of all replenishment tanks, so that replenishment accuracy is also required.

[0008]

However, this batch replenishment system requires a liquid feed pump for feeding a replenisher to each processing tank. However, when a plurality of liquid feed pumps are used in this way, since each liquid feed pump actually has an error (eg, overrun), the error accumulates as replenishment is repeated, and a certain replenishing tank becomes empty. However, a situation may occur in which the replenisher still remains in the other replenisher tanks, making batch replenishment impossible.

In view of the above facts, the present invention increases the precision of replenishment from the replenishing tank to the processing tank to maintain the processing performance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a replenisher replenishing method and a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of realizing a replenisher batch replenishing system.

[0010]

An object of the present invention is to provide a replenisher replenishing method for replenishing a replenisher stored in a replenisher tank to a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material. Formed as a part, having a branch in part, circulating the replenisher in a circulation path having a pump for circulating the replenisher in the replenishment tank, and passing the replenisher circulating in the circulation path through the branch. It is characterized in that a predetermined amount is discharged to the treatment tank via the hopper.

Next, the operation of the replenisher replenishing method according to the first aspect will be described. In the replenisher replenishment method according to the first aspect, when replenishment of the replenisher is performed, the replenisher in the replenisher tank is previously circulated to the circulation path by operating the pump.
It is preferable that the resistance of the circulation path be as small as possible so that the replenisher to be circulated does not receive the resistance.

Next, the replenisher circulating in the circulation path is
The solution is discharged to the processing tank for a predetermined time via a branch provided in a part of the circulation path, and the replenisher is refilled into the processing tank.

Here, in the conventional method of supplying the entire amount of the replenisher supplied by the pump to the processing tank, the amount of the replenisher supplied to the processing tank is directly affected by an error of the pump.

On the other hand, the replenisher in the replenisher is circulated through the circulation path by the operation of the pump, and the replenisher circulating in the recirculation path is discharged to the processing tank via a branch provided in a part of the circulation path. According to the method of the present invention, the amount of the replenisher supplied to the processing tank can be determined only by the discharge time, and the replenisher can be replenished with high accuracy.

Further, even when there are a plurality of processing tanks and replenishment tanks, the replenishment amount does not vary, so that the replenishment tanks can be replenished collectively with a replenishing kit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus for sequentially immersing a photosensitive material in a plurality of processing tanks in which a processing solution is stored, performing development processing, and replenishing the processing tank with a replenisher. A replenishing tank for storing the processing liquid, a replenishing solution circulating path configured with the replenishing tank as an inlet / outlet, a circulating means for circulating the replenishing liquid in the replenishing tank via the circulating path, Discharging means for discharging the replenisher flowing in the circulation path to the processing tank, and control means for driving the discharge means to discharge a predetermined amount of the replenisher in the circulation path to the processing tank. It is characterized by:

Next, the operation of the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect will be described. When the replenisher in the replenisher tank is replenished to the processing tank in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2, the replenisher in the replenisher tank is circulated through a circulation path such as a pipe by a circulating means such as a pump. It is preferable that the resistance of the circulation path be as small as possible so that the replenisher to be circulated does not receive the resistance.

When the control means opens the discharge means for a predetermined time, the replenisher flowing in the circulation path is discharged to the processing tank by a predetermined amount.

In the present invention, since the amount of liquid discharged to the processing tank is determined by the time when the discharging means is in the open state, the replenisher can be replenished to the processing tank with high accuracy.

Further, even when there are a plurality of processing tanks and replenishing tanks, the replenishment amount does not vary, so that the replenishing tanks can be collectively replenished with a replenishing kit.

It is preferable to use an electromagnetic valve which can be opened and closed instantly as the discharging means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the second aspect, a buffer tank for storing a predetermined amount of replenisher is provided on the circulation path side of the discharge unit, and the buffer tank is stored in the buffer tank. The replenisher is discharged to a processing tank.

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the third aspect,
The replenisher flowing in the circulation path is temporarily stored in the buffer tank, and the control unit opens the discharge unit for a predetermined time, so that the replenisher once stored in the buffer tank is discharged to the processing tank.

In the present invention, since the replenisher once stored in the buffer tank is discharged to the processing tank, the discharge of the replenisher is not affected at all by the circulation means and the circulation path. For this reason, the replenishment accuracy of the replenisher can be further improved.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a printer processor 10 as a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 schematically shows the printer processor 1.
0 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photographic printing unit 12 constituting a printer unit of the printer processor 10 includes a paper magazine 14 in which photographic paper P as a photosensitive material is stored.
Has a structure that can be loaded.

On the upper left side in FIG. 1 of the paper magazine 14, a drive 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 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. 1, the upper surface is in the horizontal direction (FIG. 1) on the downstream side in the transport direction of the photographic paper P on the right side with respect to the cutter 22.
A support base 46 is formed along the upper, left and right directions). 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. 1, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface). A nip roller 54 for nipping the endless belt 44 between the winding roller 52 and the winding roller 52 is disposed above the winding roller 52.

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 printing 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. 1, the endless belt 44 in this portion is formed in an S shape. Further, the endless belt 44 is disposed below the guide roller 56 and the tension roller 6.
2 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.
Above, rotate 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 (corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the endless belt 44) are formed.
(Only one is shown) is connected to this support base 46. These communication ducts 66 bypass the part of the endless belt 44 that passes 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. 1, an easel device 6 is provided above the endless belt 44 moving on the support base 46.
A movable piece (not shown) in the easel device 64 covers the periphery of the printing paper P when printing a bordered image on the printing paper P by exposure.

A diffusion box 28 for diffusing light is arranged 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, the light beam emitted from the light source 26 positioned adjacent to the CC filter 24 passes through the CC filter 24, is then 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 supported by a guide rail 32 installed in the photoprinting unit 12 so as to be movable in a horizontal direction (in FIG. 1, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). A prism 36 and a zoom lens 38 are attached to the support plate 34 so as to be arranged on the optical axis S, respectively.

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, and is located under the easel device 64. 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, which is composed of, for example, 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 the light transmitted through the negative film N whose color and intensity have been adjusted by the CC filter 24 for a predetermined time. Is provided.

Since the photographic printing unit 12 has the above-described structure, the printing 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 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 an 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 transport direction 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. Image 1 of negative film N
The printing exposure processing for the frame 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.

A developing solution is stored in a developing tank 74 as a processing tank in the processor section 72, and the photographic printing paper P is immersed in the developing solution to perform a developing process. The developed photographic paper P is conveyed to a bleach-fixing tank 76 as a processing tank 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 rinsing section 78 comprising a plurality of rinsing tanks adjacent to the bleach-fixing tank 76 and each holding rinsing water, and immersing the photographic paper P in the rinsing water in the rinsing tank to perform the rinsing treatment. Do.

The photographic paper P having been subjected to the water-washing process is conveyed to a 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 located 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.

Each processing tank is provided with a processor 72.
Replenisher tank 112 (112A, 112B, 112C, 11) as a plurality of storage units installed below the processing tank in the inside.
From 2D), a replenisher for development, a replenisher for bleaching, a replenisher for fixing and a replenisher for stabilizing bath are respectively replenished. That is, the replenisher tank 112A is for replenishing the developing tank 74 with the replenisher, and the replenisher tank 112B and the replenisher tank 112C are for replenishing the bleach-fixer 76 with the bleach-replenisher and the fixing replenisher. The replenisher tank 112D is for replenishing the washing section 78 with a stabilizing bath replenisher.

Here, a structure for replenishing the solution will be described by taking the developing tank 74 of each processing solution tank as an example.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of a circulation pipe 120 is connected to the side wall of the replenisher tank 112A for storing the development replenisher near the bottom, and the other end of the circulation pipe 120 is It is connected to a position separated from the bottom of the side wall.

The intermediate portion of the circulation pipe 120 is raised upward and extends to above the developing tank 74.

The circulation pipe 1 located above the developing tank 74
20 is provided with a replenisher discharge section 122. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the replenisher discharging section 122 is an electromagnetic three-way valve 124 controlled by the controller 130. The replenisher discharge section 122 normally takes a circulation path (that is, sucks the liquid from one end of the circulation pipe 120 and discharges it from the other end), but the three-way valve 124.
Is switched off, the circulation is terminated and the water is discharged in the direction of the discharge pipe 126. The discharge pipe 126 extends downward, and has a lower end disposed in the developing tank 74.

In the middle of the circulation pipe 120, a pump 128 is provided between one end and the three-way valve 124. The pump 128 is controlled by the control device 130. When the pump 128 is operated, the developing replenisher in the replenisher tank 112A is sucked from one end of the circulation pipe 120, and the sucked developing replenisher is again replenished from the other end. It is to be returned inside. The circulation pipe 120 is set to have a somewhat large diameter so that the resistance is small.
The replenisher circulates smoothly in the circulation pipe 120.

The replenisher tank 112A is provided with a float type liquid level sensor 132 for detecting the liquid level upper limit and a float type liquid level sensor 134 for detecting the liquid level upper limit. These liquid level sensors 132 and 134 are connected to the control device 130.

Above the replenisher tank 112A, a dilution water tank 136 for storing dilution water is arranged. One end of a dilution water discharge pipe 138 is connected to the bottom of the dilution water tank 136. The dilution water discharge pipe 138 is provided with a pump 140 controlled by the control device 130 at an intermediate portion, and the other end has a three-port three-position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 1.
42.

3 port 3 position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 14
2 is a total of 3 for one IN port and two OUT ports
It has two ports, and the other end of the dilution water discharge pipe 138 is connected to the IN-side port. A discharge pipe 144 connected near the upper part of the side wall of the replenisher tank 112A is connected to one OUT port of the three-port three-position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 142, and the other OUT port is used to develop dilution water. A discharge pipe 146 for discharging directly to the tank 74 is connected.

3 port 3 position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 14
2 is switched to a first position, a second position, and a third position by the control device 130, and when switched to the first position, the pump 140 side and the discharge pipe 144 side communicate with each other. When the pump 140 is switched to the third position, the pump 140 and the discharge pipe 146 communicate with each other. When the pump 140 is switched to the second position (neutral position), the pump 140 is turned off.
Side, the discharge pipe 144 and the discharge pipe 146 side are no longer in communication.

Therefore, when the pump 140 is operated and the three-port three-position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 142 is switched to the first position, the dilution water in the dilution water tank 136 is discharged to the replenisher tank 112A and moved to the third position. When switched, the dilution water is discharged to the developing tank 74. In addition, 3 ports 3
When the position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 142 is switched to the second position, the dilution water is not supplied to either the developing tank 74 or the replenisher tank 112A.

The control device 130 is connected to a monitor 148 (also shown in FIG. 2) as a display device so that a message or the like for replenishing the replenishing solution to the replenishing tank 112 can be displayed on the monitor 148. Has become.

In this embodiment, when the replenishing solution in the replenishing tank 112 runs short, the replenishing kit 202 shown in FIG. 4 is set in the replenishing part 200 (see FIG. 2) provided on the upper front side of the casing 10A. Replenisher is to be poured.

As shown in FIG. 4, a replenishing kit 202 of the present embodiment comprises a cardboard box 204 containing a bottle 203 containing a developing replenisher (concentrate), a bleach replenisher (concentrate).
, A bottle 207 storing a fixer replenisher (concentrate), and a bottle 209 storing a stabilizing bath replenisher (concentrate).

As shown in FIG. 2, the replenishing section 200 includes an openable / closable lid 224 on the casing 10A. A holder (not shown) for loading the refill kit 202 is provided inside the opening / closing lid 224. When the opening / closing lid 224 is opened, the refill kit 202 is loaded in the holder, and then the opening / closing lid 224 is closed, the opening / closing lid 224 is automatically closed. Each bottle is opened, and each replenisher (concentrate) is supplied to a predetermined replenisher tank 112 (112A to 112D). In addition, each replenisher tank 112A
To D, a predetermined amount of diluting water is added to a predetermined amount of replenisher (concentrate) that has been charged, and a replenisher (semi-finished solution) diluted by a predetermined amount is stored.

In the present embodiment, the replenisher tank 11
2 is replenished in a liquid state, but may be replenished with powder or tablets. In such a case, the replenisher tank 11
2 is liquefied by adding a predetermined amount of dilution water.

Next, the replenishment control of the replenisher according to the present embodiment will be described. First, the control device 130 determines whether or not the processing amount (for example, processing area) of the photographic paper P has exceeded a predetermined value based on the transport amount of the photographic paper P, and determines that the processing amount of the photographic paper P has exceeded the predetermined value. Then, a predetermined amount of a replenisher (semi-finished solution) is replenished from each of the replenisher tanks 112A to 112D to the developing tank 74, the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the washing section 78, and the predetermined amount is supplied from the dilution water tank 136. Refill the specified amount of dilution water.

In this embodiment, the refill tank 112
A predetermined amount of replenisher (semi-finished solution) from the dilution water tank 136
A predetermined amount of the diluting water from the above is combined with the processing tank to form a completed liquid (that is, in the present embodiment, the completed liquid is the first completed liquid in the processing tank).

More specifically, when replenishing the developing tank 74, the bleach-fixing tank 76, and the water washing section 78, the pump 128 is first operated, and the replenisher tanks 112A to 112D are supplied to the respective circulation pipes 120. The replenisher (semi-finished solution) is circulated. Next, by switching the three-way valve 124 for a predetermined time, a replenisher (semi-finished liquid) flowing in the circulation pipe 120 is discharged from the discharge pipe 126 to a predetermined amount to each processing tank. 3
Move the position electromagnetic pilot switching valve 142 from the second position to the third position.
To the dilution water tank 136 for a predetermined time.
A predetermined amount of the diluted water is discharged to each processing tank. This allows
The liquid replenishment for each processing tank is completed. When the liquid replenishment is completed, the pump 128 is stopped to stop the circulation of the replenisher. The bleach-fixing tank 76 is replenished with a bleach replenisher and a fixing replenisher.

In the present embodiment, since the pump 128 is operated before replenishing the replenisher, the operation of the pump 128 is stable at the time of replenishment, that is, the discharge amount of the pump 128 is stable. Therefore, the amount of liquid discharged to each processing tank can be accurately determined by the switching time of the three-way valve 124, and the replenisher can be replenished to the processing tank with high accuracy.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the amount of the chemical component actually involved in the processing of the printing paper P is determined with the accuracy of the three-way valve 124.

In general, the accuracy of the solenoid valve is higher than that of the pump (for example, about 10 times), so that the amount of the replenisher (the amount of the chemical component) to be charged is determined by the switching time of the three-way valve 124. The printer processor 10 according to the embodiment can perform liquid replenishment with higher precision than a conventional printer processor that determines the amount of replenisher to be supplied based on the operation time of the pump.

Therefore, the amount of each replenisher supplied can be made constant (that is, the amount of each replenisher in the replenisher tanks 112A to 112D can be reduced uniformly), and batch replenishment can be performed without any problem.

The amount of the replenisher discharged from the discharge pipe 126 per unit time is determined by the dimensions of the discharge pipe 126 (cross-sectional area, etc.) and the dimensions of the three-way valve 124 (cross-sectional area of the passage, hole diameter of the valve seat). Etc.).

The processing proceeds, and each replenisher tank 112A-D
When any of the liquid level positions becomes equal to or less than the preset lower limit, the controller 130 causes the monitor 148 to display, for example, a sign indicating that "supply is required".

Here, the operator who sees the display on the monitor loads the replenishing kit 202 into the holder of the opening / closing lid 224 and collectively replenishes the replenishing solution tank 112 with the replenishing solution (concentrated solution).

Next, the pump 140 is operated for a predetermined time to supply a predetermined amount of dilution water corresponding to the replenishing amount of the replenishing solution of the replenishing kit 202 to each of the replenishing solution tanks 112A to 112D.
As a result, a replenisher (semi-finished solution) diluted to a predetermined value is completed in each of the replenisher tanks 112A to 112D. [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, a buffer tank 150 is provided above the developing tank 74 as shown in FIG.

A predetermined amount of the replenisher supplied from the replenisher tank 112A is stored in the buffer tank 150, and the replenisher overflowed from the buffer tank 150 falls naturally and returns to the replenisher tank 112A. It has become. The inside of the buffer tank 150 communicates with the outside (atmosphere) through an air hole (not shown) provided on the upper part.

At the bottom of the buffer tank 150, a three-way valve 12
Four attached discharge pipes 126 are attached.

In the present embodiment, when the three-way valve 124 is switched, the replenisher in the buffer tank 150 falls naturally into the developing tank 74 and is replenished.

Here, when the replenisher in the buffer tank 150 is being discharged to the developing tank 74, the amount of the replenisher supplied to the buffer tank 150 is larger than the amount of the replenisher discharged from the buffer tank 150. (That is, it always overflows.)

In this embodiment, since the replenisher once stored in the buffer tank 150 is allowed to fall naturally into the developing tank 74, there is no influence of the replenisher before the buffer tank 150 upon discharging the replenisher. In this embodiment, the pump 128 may be replaced with a low-cost, low-precision pump, as long as the buffer tank 150 always overflows when the processing tank is replenished with the replenisher.

In the above embodiment, the treatment agent stored in the bottle of the replenishment kit is in a liquid state. However, the treatment agent is not necessarily required to be in a liquid state, and may be in the form of a paste, a slurry, or the like.
Powders, granules, tablets and the like may be used.

In the above embodiment, the partially completed semi-finished solution and the dilution water are introduced into the treatment tank.
The completely diluted complete solution may be charged into the processing tank, or may be entirely diluted in the processing tank without being diluted in the replenishing tank.

Instead of directly charging the semi-finished solution to the processing tank, the semi-finished solution may be converted into a finished solution in a stock tank and then charged into the processing, or the dilution water and the semi-finished solution may be fed into the processing tank via a mixer. You may put in.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid level sensors in the replenishing tank are divided into upper and lower limits. However, the liquid level sensors in the replenishing tank do not have to be divided into upper and lower limits. There may be.

In the above embodiment, the liquid level sensor is a float type sensor, but may be another type of sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor, a magnetostrictive sensor, or a laser displacement meter.

[0082]

As described above, in the replenisher replenishing method according to the first aspect, when replenishing the replenisher, the replenisher in the replenisher tank is circulated through the circulation path by operating the pump. Since the replenisher circulating in the circulation path is discharged to the processing tank for a predetermined time via a branch provided in a part of the circulation path, high-precision replenishment of the processing tank can be performed. This has an excellent effect that batch replenishment of the replenishing tank with the replenishing kit becomes possible.

According to the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, the amount of liquid to be discharged to the processing tank can be determined by the operation time of the discharging means, so that the replenisher can be replenished to the processing tank with high accuracy. This has an excellent effect that batch replenishment of the replenishing tank with the replenishing kit becomes possible.

Further, since the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the third aspect has the above-described configuration, it is possible to perform the liquid replenishment with higher accuracy without being affected by the circulation means such as a pump and the circulation path. Has an effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a printer processor according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printer processor shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a replenishing mechanism according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a replenisher discharging unit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refill kit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a replenishing mechanism according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Photographic paper (photosensitive material) 10 Printer processor (photosensitive material processing device) 74 Developing tank (processing tank) 76 Bleaching and fixing tank (processing tank) 78 Rinse part (processing tank) 112 Replenisher tank (replenishing tank) 120 Circulation pipe ( (Circulation path) 122 Replenisher discharge section 124 Three-way valve (branch, discharge means) 128 Pump (circulation means) 130 Control device 150 Buffer tank

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A replenisher replenishing method for replenishing a replenisher stored in a replenisher tank to a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material, comprising: Circulating the replenisher in a circulation path having a pump for circulating the replenisher in the replenishment tank, and discharging a predetermined amount of the replenisher circulating in the circulation path to the processing tank through the branch. How to replenish the replenisher. 2. A photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is sequentially immersed in a plurality of processing tanks in which a processing solution is stored to perform a development process, and a replenisher is replenished to the processing bath, wherein the processing solution is stored. A replenishing tank, a replenisher circulation path configured with the replenishment tank as an inlet / outlet; a circulating unit for circulating the replenisher replenisher in the replenishment tank through the circulation path; A photosensitive material, comprising: discharge means for discharging a replenisher flowing into the processing tank; and control means for driving the discharge means to discharge a predetermined amount of the replenisher in the circulation path to the processing tank. Processing equipment. 3. A buffer tank for storing a predetermined amount of a replenisher on the circulation path side of the discharging means, and the replenisher stored in the buffer tank is discharged to a processing tank. Photosensitive material processing equipment.