JPH1130184A - Fluid feed pump and photographic processing device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate an error caused by solid difference between pumps so as to dispense with adjustment by providing a first pump part that can feed a first fluid, and a second pump part that can feed a second fluid, and setting the feed quantity of each fluid to specified relation. SOLUTION: An A-fluid suction pipe 44 and an A-fluid delivery pipe 45 are connected to a bellows 43 serving as a first pump part, and a B-fluid suction pipe 47 and a B-fluid delivery pipe 48 are connected to a container 46 serving as a second pump part. The container 46 is a fixed displacement container with content volume fixed, and the bellows 43, a variable displacement container with content volume changed, is provided inside the container 46. An A-fluid is discharged by the specified quantity by the contracting motion of the bellows 43. At the same time, a B-fluid is sucked since volume is enlarged on the outside of the bellows 43. Inversely, the A-fluid is sucked by the specified quantity by the expanding motion of the bellows 43, and the B-fluid is delivered since volume is reduced on the outside of the bellows 43.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved fluid supply pump and a photographic processing apparatus suitable for using the pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographic processing apparatus using such a pump will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the photographic processing apparatus 100 includes a film loading section 2 for loading a film 1 as an example of a photographic photosensitive material having a leading end connected to a reader, and a film 1 fed from the film loading section 2. A film developing unit 3 for performing a developing process, and a film drying unit 4 for heating the film 1 after the developing process by a drying heater and drying by a warm air sent out by a drying fan.
And a discharge unit 5 for discharging the dried film 1 and a film receiving unit 6 for temporarily storing the discharged film 1. The film 1 loaded in the film loading unit 2 is transported while being sandwiched between the transport roller and the idler roller, and is sent to the film developing unit 3. An optical sensor 7 is provided near the entrance of the film developing unit 3. The length of the film which is carried into the film developing unit 3 and developed is obtained from the signal of the optical sensor 7 and the film transport speed.

[0003] In the film developing section 3, a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution,
A developing area 30 in which seven processing tanks each filled with a developing liquid such as a stabilizing liquid are formed, and a transport roller unit 9 having a different length for transporting the film 1 in the developing area 30 are provided. Have been. The seven processing tanks 31 to 37 are arranged in order in the transport direction of the film 1. The first deep tank is the processing tank 31 for the developer, the next is the processing tank 32 for the bleaching liquid, and the next. Two are fixer processing tanks 33 and 34, and three shallow tanks are stabilizer tanks 35 to 37. Each processing tank has substantially the same structure even if the depth is different, and FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the processing tank 31 for the developer in a vertical sectional view.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
1 is provided with a sub-tank 31a on the side of the upper region, and the upper region of the processing tank 31 and the sub-tank 31a can be circulated. A replenishing line 12 forming a replenishing line is connected to the sub-tank 31a. The replenishing pump 13 is operated as needed to keep the activity of the developing solution constant, and the replenishing line is supplied from the developing solution tank 14 to the replenishing line. Refill the sub-tank 31a through the sub-tank 12. A flow rate sensor 15 is provided between the developer tank 14 and the replenishment pump 13, and measures a supply amount of the developer to the sub tank 31a. Further, the sub-tank 31a and the bottom of the processing tank 31 are connected by a circulation line 16 with a filter to form a circulation line, and a circulation pump 17 is provided in the middle of the circulation line 16. A heater for heating the developer, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the developer, and the like are provided inside the sub-tank 31a, but these are not shown here.

[0005] A water supply line 18 forming a water supply line as water supply means is also connected to the sub-tank 31a.
In order to compensate for the evaporation of water from the developer, the water supply pump 19 is operated at an appropriate time and water is supplied from the water supply tank 20 to the water supply line 1.
8 to the sub-tank 31a. A flow sensor 21 is provided between the water supply tank 20 and the water supply pump 19, and measures the amount of water supplied to the sub tank 31a. The developer processing tank 31 is connected to a discharge pipe 22 that forms a discharge line as a discharge unit. When the developer is replenished, the discharge pump 23 is operated simultaneously or sequentially, and the developer processing tank 31 is operated. A predetermined amount of the deteriorated developer is discharged from the discharge tank 24 to the discharge tank 24. A flow sensor 25 is provided between the discharge pump 23 and the discharge tank 24, and measures the discharge amount of the developer. An overflow discharge pipe 26 is additionally provided between the developer processing tank 31 and the discharge tank 24 in case of an unexpected situation.
Further, the processing tank 31 for the developer includes a liquid level sensor 11.
Is provided, and the respective amount of the developer stored in the developer processing tank 31 including the sub-tank 31a,
That is, the fluctuation of the storage amount is measured.

[0006]

However, since the replenishment pump and the discharge pump are provided separately and independently in one processing tank, there are the following problems. First, two pumps must be provided in one processing tank, which increases the size of the entire apparatus. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8, when the number of processing tanks increases, the number of pumps to be installed also increases. Further, it is necessary that the replenishment amount of the developer by the replenishment pump and the discharge amount of the developer by the discharge pump have a predetermined relationship (for example, replenishment amount = discharge amount). The supply / discharge amount must be adjusted. However, if adjustment is made for each pump, errors due to individual differences will occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a fluid supply pump for reducing the size of an apparatus using the pump and a photographic development processing apparatus suitable for using the fluid supply pump. To provide. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fluid supply pump that eliminates errors due to individual differences between pumps and requires no adjustment.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a fluid supply pump according to the present invention is characterized by a first pump section capable of supplying a first fluid, and a second fluid section. A second pump unit capable of supplying the first fluid and the second fluid. The second pump unit is capable of supplying the first fluid and the second fluid.

That is, one pump is provided with a first pump section and a second pump section, and this fluid supply pump has at least two pump functions. As a result, parts such as a casing part can be shared as compared with a case where at least two pumps are separately provided separately, so that the size of the entire apparatus using the pump can be reduced. Although the first and second pump units are described here, the number of pump units is not limited to two, and three or more pump units may be provided. Further, the supply amount of the first fluid and the supply amount of the second fluid are in a predetermined relationship, and errors due to individual differences between pumps are eliminated, so that adjustment due to individual differences is unnecessary. Here, the predetermined relationship includes, for example, a case where the supply amount of the first fluid and the supply amount of the second fluid are the same, but is not limited thereto. If the amount is the same, the fluid supply pump of the present invention can be used when the replenishing amount and the discharging amount of the developer are set to be the same in the photographic development processing apparatus.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first
The pump unit includes a first suction unit that suctions the first fluid, a first delivery unit that sends out the first fluid, the first suction unit and the first delivery unit connected to each other, and an inner volume of which is unchanged. Wherein the second pump unit sucks the second fluid, the second sending unit sends the second fluid, the second sucking unit and the second sending unit. Means is connected, and comprises a variable volume container capable of changing the internal volume, suction and delivery of the first fluid in the first pump section is performed by changing the volume of the variable volume container,
One in which the delivery / suction of the second fluid is performed in conjunction with the change in the volume.

[0011] According to this configuration, the suction of the first pump unit is performed.
When the volume of the variable volume container is changed by the delivery action, the suction / delivery action of the second pump is performed in conjunction with the change. Therefore, the second pump can also be driven by the drive source for driving the first pump, which can contribute to the miniaturization of the fluid supply pump itself.

Further, if the variable volume container is provided inside the constant volume container, the fluid supply pump itself can be further reduced in size.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first
The pump unit is connected to a first suction unit for sucking the first fluid, a first delivery unit for delivering the first fluid, and the first suction unit and the first delivery unit are connected to each other, and the internal volume is changed. A first variable volume container capable of being provided, wherein the second pump section is provided with a second variable volume container.
Suction means for sucking the second fluid, second delivery means for delivering the second fluid, a second volume connected to the second suction means and the second delivery means, and capable of changing the internal volume. In some cases, a variable container is provided, and the first variable volume container and the second variable volume container are provided inside a constant volume container filled with a medium.

According to this, when the internal volume of the first variable volume container is changed, the internal volume of the second variable volume container is changed via the medium. Therefore, the second pump can also be driven by the drive source for driving the first pump, which can contribute to the miniaturization of the fluid supply pump itself. Of course, the drive source may be provided on the second pump side. Also, the first
If the inner volumes of the variable volume container and the second variable volume container are the same, the supply amounts of the first fluid and the second fluid can be made the same.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inside of the container is divided into two spaces by a volume-invariable container having an invariable internal volume, and a movable body movable in the container, and the first pump section and the second pump section are divided into two spaces. There is a type that comprises a two-pump unit and supplies a fluid by moving the moving body.

According to this configuration, two spaces are formed by the moving body inside the constant volume container, and when the moving body moves, the volume of one space decreases and the volume of the other space increases. This volume decrease / increase is the same,
And the supply amount of the second fluid can be made the same. In addition, since the moving source only needs to be driven as a driving source, it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the fluid supply pump itself.

Examples of the structure of the moving body include a structure in which the volume-invariable container is formed in a cylindrical shape and the moving body slides inside the container, and a structure in which the moving body swings inside the volume-invariant container.

The features of a photographic processing apparatus suitable for using the fluid supply pump of the present invention include a developing tank for developing a photographic photosensitive material, and a supply pump for supplying a developing solution to the developing tank. And a discharge pump for discharging the developing solution from the developing tank. One of the first pump unit and the second pump unit is used as a supply pump, and the other is used as a discharge pump. That is.

Although a photographic developing apparatus is provided with a replenishing pump and a discharge pump in accordance with the number of developing processing tanks, the use of the fluid supply pump of the present invention makes it possible to reduce the size of the entire photographic developing apparatus. Can contribute. The replenishment amount of the developer by the replenishment pump and the discharge amount by the discharge pump must be adjusted between the pumps. Therefore, no adjustment is required because the error due to the above can be eliminated.

Another characteristic feature of the photographic processing apparatus suitable for using the fluid supply pump of the present invention is that a plurality of developing tanks for developing a photographic film and an adjacent one of the plurality of developing tanks are used. A first water supply pump and a second water supply pump for replenishing water provided in each of the matching tanks are provided, and the first pump unit is used as the first water supply pump, and the second pump unit is connected to the second water supply pump. It is to be used as a water supply pump.

In the development processing tank, a water supply pump is used in addition to the above-described replenishment pump and discharge pump. This is provided for replenishing water evaporating from the developing tank. By configuring the first water supply pump and the second water supply pump as one fluid supply pump, it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the entire photographic processing apparatus. Further, since the amount of moisture evaporating from adjacent tanks can be estimated to be the same, even when replenishing the same amount of water to these adjacent tanks, the use of the fluid supply pump of the present invention makes it possible to reduce the amount of water between the pumps. Adjustment is not required because errors due to individual differences can be eliminated.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a fluid (liquid) according to the present invention
The configuration of the supply pump will be described. FIG. 1 is a simple schematic diagram in which an independent A liquid tank 41 and an independent B liquid tank 42 are connected to a liquid supply pump 40, and the A liquid and the B liquid are independently mixed without mixing. Can be supplied. The liquid A is supplied by a first pump unit in the pump 40, and the liquid B is supplied by a second pump unit in the pump 40. In this figure, two liquids, liquid A and liquid B, are handled, but a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of liquids larger than this are handled.

[First Embodiment of Pump] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the pump. A liquid suction pipe 44 and an A liquid delivery pipe 45 are connected to a bellows 43 as a first pump section. A liquid B suction pipe 47 and a liquid B delivery pipe 48 are connected to a container 46 as a second pump section. Here, the container 46 is a constant volume container having a fixed internal volume, and the bellows 43 is a variable volume container having a variable internal volume. The bellows 43 is provided inside the container 46. Here, when the bellows 43 contracts, the volume inside the bellows decreases, and a predetermined amount of the liquid A is discharged. At the same time, since the volume increases outside the bellows 43, B
The liquid is aspirated. Conversely, when the bellows expands, the volume inside the bellows increases, a predetermined amount of the liquid A is sucked, and the volume outside the bellows 43 decreases and the liquid B is delivered.

[Second Embodiment of Pump] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the pump. Here, a liquid A bellows 49 as a first pump unit and a liquid B bellows 50 as a second pump unit are provided inside a container 51. A liquid B suction pipe 47 and a liquid B delivery pipe 48 are connected to the liquid B bellows 50. These bellows 49 and 50 are
The space between the outside of the bellows 49 and 50 and the inside of the container 51 is filled with a medium liquid 52. The bellows 49 and 50 are variable-volume containers.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a constant volume container. Here, when the A liquid bellows 49 contracts, the volume inside the bellows 49 decreases, and the A liquid is delivered. Then, on the outside of the bellows 49, the volume of the B liquid bellows 50 is extended via the medium liquid 52 in an attempt to increase the volume, and
The liquid is aspirated. Conversely, when the A liquid bellows 49 expands, the volume inside the bellows 49 increases, and the A liquid is sucked. Then, on the outside of the bellows 49, the volume of the B liquid bellows 50 shrinks via the medium liquid 52 in an attempt to reduce the volume, and the B liquid is delivered. The delivery amounts of the liquid A and the liquid B are the same.

[Third Embodiment of Pump] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the pump. Here, the A liquid suction / delivery pipes 44 and 45 and the B liquid suction / delivery pipe 4 are placed in a cylindrical container 53.
7, 48 are connected. A moving body 54 slidable along the longitudinal direction of the container 53 is provided inside the container 53. The inside of the container 53 is divided into two spaces by the moving body 54, and is divided into a first pump section for supplying the liquid A on the left side and a second pump section for supplying the liquid B on the right side in FIG. The moving body 54 itself has a constant volume. The container 53 is a constant volume container.

Here, when the moving body 54 moves to the liquid A side,
The volume of the liquid A decreases and the liquid A is delivered, and the volume of the liquid B increases and the liquid B is sucked. Conversely, the moving body 54
Moves to the liquid B side, the volume on the liquid A side increases and the liquid A is sucked, and on the liquid B side, the volume decreases and the liquid B is sent out. The delivery amounts of the liquid A and the liquid B are the same.

[Fourth Embodiment of Pump] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the pump. Here, the fan-shaped container 55
Liquid suction / delivery pipes 44 and 45 and B liquid suction / delivery pipes 47 and 48 are connected. A movable body 56 that can swing around a fulcrum 57 provided inside the container 55 is provided inside the container 55. The moving body 56 divides the inside of the container 55 into two spaces, and is divided into a first pump section for supplying the liquid A on the left side of FIG. 5 and a second pump section for supplying the liquid B on the right side. In addition,
The moving body 56 itself has a constant volume.
The container 55 is a volume-invariable container.

Here, when the moving body 56 swings toward the liquid A side,
The volume of the liquid A decreases and the liquid A is delivered, and the volume of the liquid B increases and the liquid B is sucked. Conversely, the moving body 56
Swings toward the liquid B side, the volume on the liquid A side increases and the liquid A is sucked, and the volume decreases on the liquid B side and the liquid B is sent out. The delivery amounts of the liquid A and the liquid B are the same.

[First Embodiment of Photographic Processing Apparatus] Next, a photographic processing apparatus suitable for using the fluid supply pump of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the entire apparatus.
, And has already been described, and a description thereof will not be repeated. FIG.
Describes the processing tank for the developer,
Members having the same functions as those of FIG. 9 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. The feature of the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is a refill / discharge pump 140. The pump 140 has a suction pipe 1 for sucking the replenishing developer from the developer tank 14.
A delivery pipe 12b for sending the developer to the sub tank 31a is connected to a suction pipe 22a for sucking the developer for discharge from the processing tank 31 and a delivery pipe 22b for discharging the developer to the discharge tank 24. The structure of the pump 140 is described in FIGS.
Any of the liquid supply pumps 40 may be employed. Here, the solution A corresponds to a replenisher, and the solution B corresponds to a developer in the processing tank 31. The processing tank 31 has a liquid level sensor 11
When the liquid level decreases due to evaporation of water in the processing tank, the water supply pump 19 is operated to supply water until the liquid level sensor 11 detects a predetermined liquid level. Next, the supply of the replenisher according to the state of the development processing and the discharge of the same amount of the replenisher as the supply amount of the replenisher are performed.

In the prior art shown in FIG. 9, the supply pump 13 and the discharge pump 23 are provided separately. However, in the configuration shown in FIG. Is used as a second pump, and a single replenishment / discharge pump 140 is employed, thereby achieving a reduction in the size of the entire apparatus.

[Second Embodiment of Photographic Processing Apparatus] FIG. 7
Shows another embodiment in which the fluid supply pump of the present invention is used for a water supply pump. The processing tanks used in the description here are the fixing liquid tanks 33 and 34. A first supply pump 62 and a second supply pump 63 for supplying the fixing solution from the fixing solution tank 60 to the respective fixing solution tanks 33 and 34 are provided. A suction pipe 61a and a delivery pipe 61b are connected to the first supply pump 62. The suction pipe 61a and the delivery pipe 61c are connected to the second supply pump 63. By branching the suction pipe 61a on the way, only one fixing liquid tank 60 is required. The fixing liquid tanks 33 and 34 are provided with discharge pumps 64 and 65 for discharging waste liquid and waste liquid tanks 66 and 67, respectively. Further, each fixing solution tank 33,
Feed pump 24 according to the invention for supplying water to
0 is provided. The water supply pump 240 is connected to the fixing water tanks 33 and 3 from one water supply tank 68.
Supply water to 4. The water supply tank 68 has a suction pipe 69
a is connected, and the pipes 69b and 69c from which this is branched are connected to the water supply pump 240. Also, suction pipe 6
The delivery pipe 69d corresponding to 9b and the delivery pipe 69e corresponding to the suction pipe 69c are similarly connected. The structure of the water supply pump 240 is the same as that of FIG.
5 to any of the liquid supply pumps 40 shown in FIG.

In the structure shown in FIG. 7, the supply pump and the discharge pump are separated from each other, but the supply pump 62 and the discharge pump 64 may be combined to have the same structure as the replenishment / discharge pump 140 shown in FIG. Needless to say, the supply pump 63 and the discharge pump 65 may be combined to have the same configuration as the replenishment / discharge pump 140.

Further, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. <1> In this embodiment, the fluid supply pump is used for supplying the developing solution and water, but other fluids can be used. <2> The photographic development processing device may be one that performs photographic paper development processing instead of photographic film development processing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fluid supply pump.

FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of a fluid supply pump.

FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of a fluid supply pump.

FIG. 4 is a third embodiment of a fluid supply pump.

FIG. 5 is a fourth embodiment of a fluid supply pump.

FIG. 6 is a first embodiment of a photographic processing apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a second embodiment of the photographic processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a photographic processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a processing tank for a developer according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

40 liquid supply pump 41 liquid A tank 42 liquid B tank 43 bellows 44 liquid A suction pipe 45 liquid B delivery pipe 46 container 47 liquid B suction pipe 48 liquid B delivery pipe 49 liquid A bellows 50 liquid B bellows 51, 53, 55 container 52 Medium liquid 54, 56 Moving body 60 Fixing liquid tank 61a Suction pipe 61b, 61c
Delivery pipe 62 First supply pump 63 Second supply pump 64, 65 Discharge pump 66, 67 Waste liquid tank 140 Replenishment / discharge pump 240 Water supply pump

Claims (10)

[Claims] A first pump unit capable of supplying a first fluid; and a second pump unit capable of supplying a second fluid, wherein the first fluid is supplied. A fluid supply pump, wherein an amount and a supply amount of the second fluid have a predetermined relationship. 2. The first pump section comprises: a first suction means for sucking a first fluid; a first delivery means for delivering a first fluid; and the first suction means and the first delivery means. A second container having a constant volume and a constant volume.
The pump unit includes a second suction unit that suctions a second fluid, a second delivery unit that sends out the second fluid, the second suction unit and the second delivery unit connected to each other, and changes an inner volume. A variable volume container is provided, and a suction / delivery operation of the first fluid in the first pump section is performed by changing a volume of the variable volume container, and the second fluid is interlocked with the change in the volume. 2. The fluid supply pump according to claim 1, wherein the fluid supply / suction operation is performed. 3. The fluid supply pump according to claim 2, wherein the variable volume container is provided inside the constant volume container. 4. The first pump section comprises: a first suction means for sucking a first fluid; a first delivery means for delivering a first fluid; and the first suction means and the first delivery means. A first variable volume container connected and capable of changing the internal volume,
The second pump unit includes a second suction unit that suctions a second fluid, a second delivery unit that sends out a second fluid, and the second suction unit and the second delivery unit are connected to each other. 2. A variable-capacity second container having a variable volume, wherein the first variable-volume container and the second variable-volume container are provided inside a constant-volume container filled with a medium. 3. The fluid supply pump according to item 1. 5. The first pump part and the second pump part by dividing the inside of the container into two spaces by a volume invariable container having an invariable internal volume and a movable body movable in the container. The fluid supply pump according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is supplied by moving the moving body. 6. The fluid supply pump according to claim 5, wherein the volume-invariable container is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the movable body slides inside the container. 7. The fluid supply pump according to claim 5, wherein the movable body swings inside the constant volume container. 8. The supply amount of the first fluid and the supply amount of the second fluid are equal to each other.
8. The fluid supply pump according to any one of items 7 to 7. 9. A developing tank for developing a photographic photosensitive material, a supply pump for supplying a developing solution to the developing tank, and a discharge pump for discharging the developing solution from the developing tank. The fluid supply pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one of the first pump unit and the second pump unit is used as a supply pump, and the other is used as a discharge pump. Photographic processing apparatus. 10. A plurality of developing tanks for developing a photographic film, a first water supply pump for replenishing water provided in each of adjacent tanks among the plurality of developing tanks, and a second water supply. And a pump.
The fluid supply pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first pump unit is used as the first water supply pump, and the second pump unit is used as the second water supply pump.