JPH1184612A - Processing device of photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve thermal safety of a heater by cutting the power supply when the heater is judged to cause overheat based on specified characteristic values. SOLUTION: In a temp. controlled tank 22, a processing liquid Q is heated by a heater 60, the liquid level of the processing liquid Q is detected by a level meter 31, a replenisher liquid is supplied through a replenishing port 83, and the temp. of the processing liquid is measured by a thermometer 41. The period from when the processing liquid Q becomes lower than a specified level range to when the level reaches a specified level range by supplying the replenishing liquid is measured by a first detecting part. The measured period is compared with a limit allowance time, and if the measured time is longer, the system judges that the possibility of overheat of the heater 60 is high and turns off the power supply of the heater 60. The temp. of the processing liquid is measured by a second detecting part, and the measured temp. is compared with a limit allowable temp, and if the measured temp. is higher than the limit allowance temp, the system turns off the power supply of the heater 60. The temp. near the heater 60 is measured by a third detecting part, and the measured temp. is compared with a limit allowance temp. If the measured temp. is higher than the limit allowance temp., the system turns off the power supply of the heater 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and more particularly to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution in a processing tank, and more particularly, to an improvement in a safety device for a heater for a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid in a processing tank, the processing liquid is heated by a heater. There has been known a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which when a heater detects one heater and it is determined that the heater causes excessive heating, the power supply to the heater is turned off.

[0003]

However, even if the heating heater is overheated, if the power supply to the heating heater is not cut off due to a detection error or a failure in the detection unit, the surroundings of the heating heater may be overheated. This has a serious effect such as thermal deformation of the processing vessel container and breakage of the surrounding mechanism of the heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which the safety of a heater for heating a processing solution for a photosensitive material is further improved. .

[0005]

The above object is achieved by the following means. That is, in a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid in a processing tank, a heating unit installed inside the processing tank and heating the processing liquid, and after the processing liquid falls below a predetermined water level range. The characteristic value of a factor that causes overheating of at least two of the heating units at a temperature in the vicinity of the heating unit and a detecting unit for detecting the time required to reach the predetermined water level range by the supply of the replenishing water and the detecting unit for the temperature of the processing liquid. Detecting means having a detecting unit for detecting,
Determining means for determining whether or not the heating means causes overheating based on the characteristic value detected by the detection means; and shutting off a power supply of the heating means when the determination means determines that the overheating occurs. A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: a heating cutoff unit.

Here, the cause of the overheating of the heating means is the cause of the overheating of the heating means. For example, the water level of the processing liquid keeps decreasing with the passage of time, and the heating means causes Excessive heating by contacting the outside air above the liquid surface of the liquid, excessive heating of the heating liquid due to ON / OFF failure of the heating heater, the processing liquid becomes high temperature, and the heating means is excessively heated. In addition, it also refers to a cause such as an excessive operation due to an increase in the temperature in the vicinity of the heater in the absence of the processing liquid due to an erroneous operation.

[0007] The photosensitive material as used herein refers to a photosensitive or sheet-like material having a long length, such as a color plate for printing plate making, a color film, a monochrome film, a sheet-shaped X-ray film for medical use, and the like. Say.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, an exposure and development processing apparatus for printing plate making will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of an exposure and developing apparatus for printing plate making according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of a developing tank of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a configuration of a first detection unit of the detection means of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a configuration of a second detection unit of the detection means of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a developing tank of the photosensitive material processing apparatus, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a safety device for a heater in the developing tank. .

In FIG. 1, the configuration of an exposure and development processing apparatus for printing plate making is composed of an exposure section and a development section.
The roll-shaped dedicated color paper is taken out from the unit 1 and the roll-shaped dedicated color paper is cut into a designated size by the cutter unit 12. Next, the document and the color paper P are overlapped and exposed on the photographing table 13, and are sent to the next process via the transfer unit 14. Next, in the second exposure unit 15, the image is inverted from a negative image to a positive image, a color development process is performed in a development process 16, and a bleaching and fixing process is performed in a fixing process 17. Further, the color paper is subjected to a stabilization process in a stabilization process 18, and the color paper is dried in a drying process 19. And it is designed to be stored in a basket. The size of the color paper to be processed is a relatively large size such as A1 size or A2 size.

2 and 3, the developing tank in the developing step and the fixing tank in the fixing step are mechanically and functionally similar, and only the developing tank will be described as a representative. The processing tank 20 is composed of a main processing tank 21 for transporting and processing the color paper P, which is a photosensitive material, and a constant temperature tank 22, and the main processing tank 21 and the constant temperature tank 22 are connected to a pipe 2
4, the processing liquid is circulated by a circulation pump 25. In the embodiment, a description will be given of a type in which a main processing tank and a constant temperature bath are separated as processing tanks, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an integrated type that is not separated may be used.

In the main processing tank 21, the color paper P contains the processing liquid Q.
The color paper P is transported through a predetermined transport path by the processing rack 26 being driven by a tank having a volume of about 20 liters to be developed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the constant temperature bath 22 heats the processing liquid Q by the heater 60, controls the level of the processing liquid by the water level gauge 31, supplies the processing agent by the processing agent hopper 81, and supplies the replenishing water port 83.
The supply of replenishment water and the management of the temperature of the processing solution are performed by the thermometer 41. In addition, detection of characteristic values of factors that cause excessive heating of a heater described later is concentrated.
The constant temperature bath 22 has a volume of about 2 liters, and the main processing bath 21 has a smaller size than about 20 liters. The thermostatic chamber container 23 is a plastic noril material (PP0) for chemical resistance and rust prevention. Heater 60 and thermostatic chamber container 23
The gap with the wall is about 2.5 mm. When the heater 60 is heated in the absence of the processing liquid Q, the deformation starts in about 2.5 minutes.

The treatment agent hopper 81 supplies the treatment agent J to the thermostatic bath 2
Put into 2. When the bellows pump 82 operates, the replenishing water is replenished to the thermostatic bath 22 through the replenishing water port 83.

The detecting means detects the characteristic value of the factor causing the overheating of the heater 60, and the judging means detects the overheating of the heater 60 based on the characteristic value of the factor detected by each detecting section. Is determined. In addition,
Details will be described later. 2 is an electric circuit block, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

Next, the water level gauge 31 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. The float 301 floats on the surface of the processing liquid Q, and there is a rod 302 integrated with the float 301 and having a hole 304.
Opposed to the hole 304 is an optical sensor 303 having a light emitting part and a light receiving part. When the water level of the liquid surface fluctuates, the rod 302 integrated with the float 301 moves up and down, and this movement is detected by the optical sensor 303.
And the water level of the treatment liquid Q is measured.

Next, the thermometer 41 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The temperature of the processing liquid Q is measured by the temperature sensor section 411. The set temperature of the processing liquid Q is 37 ° C. ± 0.5.
It has become.

Further, the heating means will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The heating means 60 as the heating means has a heating element 601 built in a cylindrical pipe 602 and an electric capacity of about 140.
0W. Further, a thermostat 51 is further built in the cylindrical pipe 602 so that the thermostat 51 is put in the processing liquid Q and heated.

Next, an electric circuit block diagram of a developing tank of the photosensitive material processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. Control unit 70
Reference numeral 1 controls each electric circuit of the developing tank.

A water level gauge circuit 702 is a measuring circuit of the water level gauge.
The first detection determination circuit 703 measures the time from when the treatment liquid Q falls below the predetermined water level range to when it reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water. , It is determined that there is a high possibility that the heater 60 will be overheated, and a signal to turn off the power of the heater 60 is issued. More specifically, the detecting means measures the time from when the treatment liquid Q falls below the predetermined water level range to when it reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water, using the water level gauge 31, and the determining means compares the time with the limit allowable time. If the measurement time is long, it is determined that there is a high possibility that the heater 60 will be overheated. Further, the heating cutoff means cuts off the power supply to the heater.

A thermometer circuit 704 is a temperature measuring circuit for measuring the temperature of the processing solution, and a second detection / judgment circuit 705 is provided for heating when the temperature of the processing solution rises beyond a predetermined temperature range as compared with the predetermined temperature range. It is determined that the possibility of excessive heating of the heater 60 is high, and a signal to turn off the power of the heater 60 is issued. A heater opening / closing circuit 706 turns on / off a power supply of the heater, and a heater driving circuit 707.
Is a circuit for supplying power to the heater. More specifically, the detecting means measures the temperature of the treatment liquid by the thermometer 41, and the judging means measures the measured value and the limit allowable temperature (for example, 42
If the measured temperature is equal to or higher than the permissible limit temperature as compared with (° C.), it is determined that there is a high possibility that the heater 60 will be overheated. Then, the heating cutoff unit cuts off the power supply to the heater 60. As a cause of the measured temperature exceeding the limit allowable temperature, for example, there is a case where the ON / OFF operation of the heater 60 becomes abnormal and the ON state is continued.

The third detection / judgment circuit 708 measures the temperature in the vicinity of the heater, and if the measured temperature is equal to or higher than the limit allowable temperature, the heater 60 may be overheated. It is determined that the temperature is high, and a signal to turn off the power of the heater 60 is issued. When the temperature near the heater is equal to or higher than the limit allowable temperature, a signal to turn off the power of the heater 60 may be issued, or the power may be turned off directly. Further, the timer circuit 709 mainly sets the timing of each detection. More specifically, the detecting means detects the temperature in the cylindrical pipe 602 which is the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 601 with the thermostat 51, and the determining means is also the thermostat 51, and when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, It is determined that the heater 60 is overheating. The heating shut-off means is also provided by a power shut-off mechanism provided in
0 is turned off. As a factor that causes the temperature to become equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, for example, the heater 60 is energized in a state where the processing liquid Q is not put into the processing tank due to erroneous operation, and the temperature in the cylindrical pipe 602 rises rapidly and becomes 70 ° C. or higher by the thermostat 51 . In this case, the power supply to the heater 60 is shut off in about two minutes. Therefore, the thermostat container is not deformed by heat.

A transport circuit 710 is a drive circuit for a processing rack for transporting the photosensitive material.
Reference numeral 11 denotes a circuit for controlling a drive timer of a bellows pump 82 for feeding replenishing water, and a circulating pump drive circuit 712 is a pump drive circuit for circulating the processing liquid Q between the main processing bath 21 and the constant temperature bath 22. The hopper drive circuit 713 is a drive circuit for a motor (not shown) that feeds the processing agent from the hopper into the thermostat.

Next, the operation of the developing section of the photosensitive material processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. After inverting the negative image to a positive image in the second exposure unit 15, a color developing process is performed in a developing process 16, and bleaching and fixing processes are performed in a fixing process 17.
Further, a stabilization process is performed in a stabilization process step 18, and a drying
The developed color paper is dried in step 9 and the processed paper is discharged to a basket.

Here, the operation of the developing step 16 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. First, a processing solution Q is formed in a developing tank by a processing agent and water supply.
Accumulates until a predetermined water level is reached, and thereafter the water level is managed by the water level meter 31. The processing liquid Q is circulated between the main processing bath 21 and the constant temperature bath 22 by the circulation pump 25,
, The processing liquid Q is heated and controlled at a predetermined temperature. When the above preparations are completed, the color paper P is developed while being transported by the drive of the processing rack 26.

Next, the flow chart of the safety device for the heater in the developing tank will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The detection of the safety device for the heater is performed by incorporating three detection units during the operation of the developing process. Have been. The first detection unit measures the time from when the treatment liquid Q falls below the predetermined water level range to when it reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water (F01), and the measurement time is longer than the limit allowable time. In this case, it is determined that there is a high possibility that the heater 60 will be overheated (F02), and the power of the heater 60 is turned off (F07).

The second detector measures the temperature of the processing liquid (F03), and if the measured temperature is higher than the limit allowable temperature, the heater 60 may be overheated. It is determined that the temperature is high (F04), and the heater 60
Is turned off (F07).

Further, the third detecting section measures the temperature in the vicinity of the heater (F05). If the measured temperature is higher than the limit allowable temperature as compared with the limit allowable temperature, the heater 60 becomes overheated. It is determined that the possibility is high (F06), and the power of the heater 60 is turned off (F07). In addition, the first
Therefore, even if one of the third detection units fails, the remaining detection units operate to ensure safety against the heat of the heater. As described above, the safety of the heater can be further improved.

Next, a modification of the embodiment will be described. The embodiment is an example of an exposure and development processing apparatus for printing plate making similar to the above, which has four detection units for detecting overheating of the heater. Of the detection units, up to three are the same as in the above-described embodiment, and the other one is configured to detect the water level of the processing liquid Q by using the thermometer 41 of the second detection unit. Here, a method of detecting the water level will be described with reference to FIG. 5. When the temperature detection portion 411 of the thermometer 41 is below the water level L1 of the processing liquid Q, the temperature of the processing tank is measured. When the temperature detecting section 411 is above the water level L2 of the processing liquid Q, the outside air temperature lower than the processing tank above the liquid level is measured. The thermometer 41 detects the water level based on the temperature difference.

The judgment by the judging means based on this detection judges whether this temperature change is positive or negative. If the temperature change is negative, that is, if the heating means overheats when the water level falls below the temperature detecting portion 411, As a determination, the power of the heater is turned off.

In the embodiment, three and four detectors have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the embodiment, two detectors, the first detector and the third detector, or the second detector may be used. It may be two of a detection part and a third detection part.

[0032]

According to the structure described above, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a heating means installed inside the processing tank for heating the processing liquid and at least two characteristic values of the heating means for causing excessive heating are detected. A detection unit having a detection unit, a determination unit that determines whether the heating unit causes overheating based on the characteristic value detected by the detection unit, and a determination unit that determines that overheating is to be performed by the determination unit. The provision of the heating cutoff means for cutting off the power supply to the heating means makes it possible to increase the safety of the heater against heat and to reliably detect the characteristic value.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the characteristic value is a time from when the treatment liquid falls below the predetermined water level range to when it reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water, the treatment liquid temperature, or Since the temperature is close to the heating means, the detection of the characteristic value is reliable, and the safety of the heater against heat is further improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the time from when the treatment liquid falls below the predetermined water level range to when it reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water exceeds the predetermined time, Since it is determined that the heating means causes overheating, a factor that causes overheating can be detected at an early stage, and safety against heat is further improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the determining means determines that the heating means causes overheating when the temperature of the processing solution rises beyond the predetermined temperature range. Can be detected earlier, and the safety of the heater against heat can be further improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the detecting section of the detecting means detects the processing liquid temperature when the water level of the processing liquid is above the temperature sensor section of the detecting section and the processing liquid temperature when the water level is below. The water level is detected based on the temperature difference from the outside air temperature above the processing liquid level, and the processing liquid temperature is detected when the processing liquid water level is above the temperature sensor unit of the detection unit. When the heater is reduced in size, and particularly when the heater and the respective detectors are provided on the thermostat side, the respective detectors can be further separated from the heater, and the safety of the heater against heat is further improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the processing tank is configured to be separated into a main processing tank in which the photosensitive material is transported and processed, and a constant temperature tank having the heating means and the detection means. Therefore, even if the processing bath is separated into a main processing bath and a constant temperature bath, the safety against the heat of the heater is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration sectional view of an exposure and development processing apparatus for printing plate making according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the configuration of a developing tank in the developing step of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a thermostat of the developing tank of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a first detection unit of the detection unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a configuration of a second detection unit of the detection unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a third detection unit of the detection unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an electric circuit block diagram of a developing tank of the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a safety device for a heater in a developing tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 16 Development Processing Step 17 Fixing Processing Step 20 Processing Tank 21 Main Processing Tank 22 Constant Temperature Tank 23 Constant Temperature Tank Container 31 Water Level Meter 41 Thermometer 411 Temperature Sensor 51 Thermostat 60 Heating Heater 601 Heating Element 602 Cylindrical Pipe P Color Paper Q Processing Liquid

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid in a processing tank, wherein the heating means is disposed inside the processing tank and heats the processing liquid, and wherein the processing liquid is disposed outside a predetermined water level range. At least two of a temperature detecting part for detecting a time from when the replenishing water is supplied to reaching a predetermined water level within a predetermined water level range, a detecting part for detecting a temperature of the processing liquid, and a temperature near the heating means;
Detecting means having a detecting unit for detecting a characteristic value of a factor that causes the heating means to overheat; determining means for determining whether the heating means causes overheating based on the characteristic value detected by the detecting means; A photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising: a heating cutoff unit that cuts off a power supply to the heating unit when the determination unit determines that excessive heating occurs. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic value is a time from when the processing liquid falls below a predetermined water level range to when the processing liquid reaches a predetermined water level range by supplying replenishment water, a temperature of the processing liquid, and a temperature near a heating unit. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the time from when the treatment liquid falls below the predetermined water level range to when the treatment liquid reaches the predetermined water level range by supplying replenishing water exceeds a predetermined time, the heating means causes excessive heating. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determination is made.
Or the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines that the heating unit causes excessive heating when the temperature of the processing liquid rises beyond a predetermined temperature range. Item 2. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to item 1. 5. A processing liquid temperature when a water level of a processing liquid is above a temperature sensor unit of the detection unit, and a processing liquid surface when the water level of the processing liquid is below the temperature sensor unit. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a water level is detected based on a temperature difference from a higher outside air temperature, and a processing liquid temperature is detected when a processing liquid water level is above a temperature sensor unit of the detection unit. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The processing tank according to claim 1, wherein the processing tank is configured to be separated into a main processing tank in which the photosensitive material is transported and processed, and a constant temperature tank having the heating unit and the detection unit. Item 6. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.