JPS5943740B2 - Photographic processing solution replenishment device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a processing liquid replenishing device for a photographic processing tank, and more particularly to a bird's fountain system for replenishing processing liquid in response to a predetermined liquid level in a photographic processing tank.
The present invention relates to a photographic processing solution replenishment device equipped with an untain system.

In the automatic processing of photosensitive materials, it is necessary to renew the processing liquid as it is used to compensate for a decrease in processing capacity.

To renew the processing solution, measure the width and length of the photosensitive material being carried into the photographic processing tank, refill the processing tank with new processing solution in an amount proportional to the area of the photosensitive material, and replace the used processing solution. This is done by partially discharging it. In the first processing tank, for example, a developing tank, the processing liquid in the tank adheres to the processed photosensitive material and is taken out in an amount proportional to the area of the photosensitive material, so that the processing liquid in the processing tank is lower than a predetermined liquid level. descend. By making up for this loss with new processing liquid and replenishing until a predetermined liquid level is reached, it is possible to replenish the amount proportional to the area of the photosensitive material, that is, the processing amount. This is usually called the reduced replenishment method, and the Bird's Fountain system is used because it is simple to construct and maintain, and is inexpensive. However, the amount of processing solution refilled using the reduced replenishment method is smaller than the amount necessary to compensate for the decrease in processing solution capacity, so even if the processing solution capacity in the processing tank can be extended to a certain amount, It is not possible to maintain the fluid capacity at the required level. Therefore, the capacity of the processing solution is increased by a so-called forced replenishment method, in which new processing solution in excess of the amount taken out by the photosensitive material is supplied to the processing tank using a pump, etc., and the used processing solution, that is, the processing solution in the processing tank, overflows. The optimum amount of replenishment that can maintain the amount of replenishment is applied in proportion to the processing area of the photosensitive material. Even if the processing liquid does not process the photosensitive material, it deteriorates over time and its processing ability decreases.

This reduction in processing capacity tends to be greater as the processing liquid temperature increases. Further, the processing liquid evaporates and decreases in weight over time. This evaporation loss tends to increase as the temperature of the processing liquid increases. When the evaporation loss of the processing liquid progresses significantly, the liquid level drops significantly and the transport rollers, etc. that were submerged in the liquid come out into the atmosphere. It becomes irreversibly solidified and becomes a hindrance to the transportation of the photosensitive material. 5. Under certain conditions, the reduction in performance of the processing liquid over time can be generally compensated for by replenishing the processing liquid in an amount commensurate with the evaporation loss over time.

A bird's fountain system is an excellent replenishment mechanism for compensating for this evaporation loss. Furthermore, under certain conditions, even if the evaporation loss is extremely small, the decline in throughput over time may be greater, and it is necessary to compensate for this decline in throughput by using a forced replenishment method. Even during the processing of photosensitive materials, processing capacity continues to decline over time and evaporation loss progresses, so it is natural that replenishment is required to compensate for this. Proportionately, the amount of replenishment to compensate for this is also added for compulsory replenishment. The above applies not only to development processing but also to fixing processing and other processing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a photographic processing solution replenishment device which is equipped with a bird's fountain system and has a forced replenishment function in addition to a reduction replenishment function. .

The present invention has been made to achieve the above objects,
A bird's fountain that supplies the processing solution in the storage container in response to a second processing solution level lower than the first processing solution level at which the processing solution in the photographic processing tank overflows and is discharged from the overflow port. and a system for forcibly replenishing the processing liquid to the first processing liquid level by supplying gas into the liquid storage container of the Bird's Fountain system, and discharging the processing liquid in the photographic processing tank from the overflow port. This is a photographic processing liquid replenishing device comprising forced replenishment means for causing overflow.
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in cross section, of a main part of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The processing tank 1 is provided with a liquid drain cylinder 3 having an overflow port 2 at the top thereof which causes the processing liquid to overflow at a first processing liquid level A. The Bird's Fountain system consists of a liquid storage tank 4 and a liquid storage container 5, and the bottom of the liquid storage tank 4 and the bottom of the processing tank 1 are connected through a pipe 6, and the second processing liquid level B is connected to the bottom of the liquid storage tank 4 and the bottom of the processing tank 1.
is determined by the level of the opening 7 of the reservoir 5 into the reservoir 4. The forced replenishment means consists of a pipe 8 that sends gas from the opening 7 into the liquid storage container 5, and a pump 9 that supplies gas to the pipe 8. It operates under the control of a controller 11 which is activated by a signal from a passage detector 10. When the photosensitive material is passed through the processing liquid to the first processing liquid level A in the embodiment apparatus having the above-described structure, the pump 9 is turned on only while the photosensitive material passage detector 10 detects the passage of the photosensitive material. operates to send a set amount of gas into the liquid storage container 5, and the processing liquid in the liquid storage container 5 is supplied to the liquid storage tank 4 in an amount corresponding to the amount of gas sent. The processing liquid in the liquid storage tank 4 passes through the pipe 6 and moves to the processing tank 1 until it reaches equilibrium with the level of the processing liquid in the processing tank 1. When the processing liquid level in the processing tank 1 reaches the first processing liquid level A due to the processing liquid transferred from the liquid storage tank 4, it overflows from the overflow port 2. The processing liquid in the processing tank 1 evaporates and decreases in volume over time without passing through the photosensitive material, and when it begins to drop below the second processing liquid level B, that is, the processing liquid level in the liquid storage tank 4 reaches the level where the liquid is stored. When the container 5 leaves the opening 7, air enters through the opening 7, the processing liquid is supplied from the liquid storage container 5, and the processing liquid in the processing tank 1 is maintained at the second processing liquid level B. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment using a forced replenishment means that supplies gas through the processing liquid in the liquid storage container 5, but as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the processing liquid A forced replenishment means that supplies gas without using the gas may be used, and in this case, the amount of gas supplied can also be controlled by operating the solenoid valve 12 with the controller 11.

The controller 11 operates the pump 9 or the solenoid valve 12 in response to the passage signal from the photosensitive material passage detector 10, and the control mode is such that it operates when there is a passage signal and when the passage signal disappears. The throughput of the photosensitive material can be controlled by turning it off, intermittently turning it on for a predetermined period of time while the passing signal continues, or turning it on for a predetermined period of time every time the passing signal reaches a set integral value. Forced replenishment can be carried out accordingly. In addition, there are methods to activate the function for a predetermined period of time when a set time has elapsed since the passing signal disappears, methods to activate the function additionally every time the time without a passing signal reaches a set integral value, and methods to activate the function additionally every time the passing signal is absent. Forcible replenishment can be carried out over time by additionally operating for a set period of time depending on the time from when the passage signal is received. It is also possible to perform a combination of forced replenishment depending on the processing amount of the photosensitive material and forced replenishment depending on the passage of time. These photosensitive material passage detectors 1
The gas supply timing and supply amount based on the signal from 0 may be determined by providing a time-lapse operation circuit or a time limit mechanism in the controller 11 and operating according to a predetermined program. The photosensitive material passage detector 10 may be photoelectric, electrical, mechanical, etc., and when a mechanical device is used, the gas supply path may be directly turned on and off. Further, the signal from the photosensitive material passage detector 10 may not be directly used, and the gas supply means may be controlled based on the operation of the drive system that conveys the photosensitive material. Furthermore, the gas supply means may be controlled based on the operation of the processing liquid circulation system and temperature control system to the processing tank. The first processing liquid level A is determined by the level of the overflow port 2, and the second processing liquid level B is determined by the level of the opening 7 of the liquid storage container 5 to the liquid storage tank 4. The level B needs to be lower than the first treatment liquid level A by enough to prevent the treatment liquid in the storage container 5 from flowing out from the overflow port 2 due to the function of the bird's fountain system.

Practically speaking, when vibrations are applied to the processing device, the second processing liquid is increased to such an extent that even if the processing liquid in the processing tank 1 flows out from the overflow port 2 and is reduced in volume, the processing liquid in the liquid storage container 5 is not supplied. It is preferable for the level B to be lower than the first processing liquid level A in terms of handling. However, it is possible that the second processing liquid level B is at a level that prevents the transport rollers, guide members, etc. that were submerged in the liquid from coming out into the atmosphere when the processing liquid reaches the first processing liquid level A. This is preferable in order to prevent problems caused by drug precipitation. Since the present invention is a photographic processing solution replenishing device having the above-described configuration, in addition to the reduction replenishment function of the processing solution replenishing device equipped with the Bird's Fountain System, gas is added to the liquid storage container that constitutes the Bird's Fountain System. A forced replenishment function is also provided by the simple additional configuration of supply, and both the effect of reduced replenishment and the effect of forced replenishment are achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing, partially in section, the essential parts of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively show partially in section another embodiment relating to gas supply to a liquid storage container. FIG. 1... Processing tank, 2... Overflow port, 4...
...Liquid storage tank, 5...Liquid storage container, 7...
...Opening, 8...Pipe, 9...Pump, 10...Photosensitive material passage detector, 11...
...Controller, 12...Solenoid valve, A...
- First processing liquid level, B... Second processing liquid level.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Processing in the liquid storage container in response to a second processing liquid level lower than the first processing liquid level at which the processing liquid in the photographic processing tank overflows and is discharged from the overflow port. a bird's fountain system for supplying liquid, and a processing liquid in the photographic processing tank by forcibly replenishing the processing liquid to the first processing liquid level by supplying gas into the liquid storage container of the bird's fountain system. A photographic processing solution replenishing device comprising forced replenishment means for causing the solution to overflow from the overflow port. 2. Claim 1, wherein the forced replenishment means is controlled to supply a required amount of gas into the pre-liquid storage container at the required time depending on the processing amount of the photosensitive material and/or the passage of time. Photographic processing solution replenishment device as described.