JPS62246057A - Photographic processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To uniformly heat circulating processing liquid by a compact device by interposing a cylindrical heater in a part of a processing liquid circulation path and heating the processing liquid which flows in a conduit. CONSTITUTION:The cylindrical heater body 34 is interposed in a feed water pipe 26 between a filter 32 and a developer tank 14. The heater body 34 is fitted through a flange 31 and a gasket 33 so that its axis is coaxial with the axis of the feed water pipe 26, and the conduit 34A communicates with a feed water path 26A, so that the circulating developer 18 flows through the conduit 34A. A heater wire 36 as a heat source is embedded in the heater body 34 and a current is supplied to the heater wire 36 to heat the heater body 34, thereby heating the developer 18 which flows in the conduit 34A. Consequently, the circulating developer can be heated uniformly by the compact structure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is used in a photographic processing apparatus for processing light-sensitive materials, and particularly relates to a photographic processing apparatus capable of circulating a processing liquid.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In a photographic processing apparatus, the processing capacity of the developer in the developer tank decreases depending on the development process of photographic paper, so the replenisher must be periodically replenished. There is a need.

By the way, in general, in photo processing equipment, the developer is stirred by circulating the developer in the developer tank to prevent the fatigue solution from accumulating around the base of the print, thereby eliminating development defects and saving replenisher fluid. ing.

In this case, when the developer is circulated, its temperature becomes low during circulation, so a heater is installed in the middle of the Wi loop path to heat it and maintain it at an appropriate temperature.

However, conventional heaters are usually disposed separately from the circulation path, which limits the space for the entire photoprocessing apparatus.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographic processing apparatus which is compact in shape and is capable of uniformly heating a circulating processing liquid.

[Means and effects for solving the problem 3 No. 1 of this application]
The photographic processing apparatus according to the invention includes a processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid for processing a photosensitive material, a circulation path for guiding the processing liquid from the processing liquid tank to the processing liquid tank again, and a circulation path for guiding the processing liquid from the processing liquid tank to the processing liquid tank again. It is characterized by having a cylindrical body interposed in a part thereof, a heater 21 embedded in the body, and a heater for heating the processing liquid flowing through the conduit of the body.

Therefore, since the heat source is embedded in the main body constituting a part of the processing liquid circulation path, the shape is compact and uniform heating is possible.

On the other hand, in the second invention in the order of appearance. In addition to the first invention, since a chamber is provided on the outer periphery of the main body, the processing liquid passing through this chamber can be heated by the heat source.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a photographic processing apparatus 10 according to this embodiment.

The photosensitive material 12 to be processed by this photoprocessing apparatus 10 is guided by a rack (not shown) and transported in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

The photographic processing apparatus 10 is equipped with a developer tank 14 and a fixer tank 16, and after the exposure processing of the photosensitive material 12 is completed in the previous step, it is transported to the developer tank 14, and then further transported to the fixer tank 1516. It has become so.

Note that this transportation is carried out in a meandering manner within each tank as shown in FIG. 1 by the guidance of the rack.

The developer tank 14 and the fixer tank 16 each contain a developer 18.
and a fixer 20 are respectively filled. Further, a circulation device 22 for circulating the developer 18 and the fixer 20 is disposed in the developer tank 14 and the fixer tank 16. This circulation device 22 has the same device installed on the developer tank 14 side and the fixer tank 16 side, respectively, except for the heater part.
The circulation device 22 on the side of the developer tank 14 will be explained below.

Developer W! A water supply pipe 26 and a drainage pipe 28 are attached to the side wall 24 of 14, and a pump 30 sucks out the developer 18 from the developer tank 14 and sends it back into the developer tank 14 via a filter 32. ing. As a result, the developer 18 in the developer tank 14 is constantly fluidized and stirred.

A cylindrical heater body 34 is interposed in the water supply pipe 26 between the filter 32 and the developer tank 14 .

As shown in FIGS. 2(A) and (B), the heater body 3
4 is attached via a flange 31 and a gasket 33 so that its axis is coaxial with the axis of the water supply pipe 126, and its pipe line 34A communicates with the water supply channel 26A, so that the developer 18 to be circulated is A heater wire 36, which is a heat source, is embedded in the heater body 34 that passes through the pipe line 34A, and by passing a current through the heater wire 36, the heater body 34 is heated, and the inside of the pipe line 34A is heated. The developing solution 18 flowing through can be heated.

Two temperature sensors 38 and 40 are also embedded in the heater body 34. Each temperature sensor is a resistance temperature detector 38
A, 40A, which is part of the bridge circuit, is arranged at both shaft ends of the heater body 34, and is connected to the developer 18.
The temperature before and after passing through the heater main body 34 can be detected as an unbalanced voltage.

Signal lines 38B and 40B of the temperature sensors 38 and 40 are wired to a microcomputer 42, and a solid state relay 37 (see FIG. 4) that conducts and interrupts current to the heater wire 36 is connected to the microcomputer 42. It is controlled by a computer 42. That is, the temperature of the developer 18 is controlled to be maintained at a set temperature.

Note that the control of this microcomputer 42 will be described later.

The heater body 34 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity such as ceramic, so that the entire heater body 34 can be heated uniformly and the heater wire 36 can be easily buried during molding. ing.

The heater wire 36 includes two heating wires 36A, one for low power and one for high power.
36B, and current can be passed through either or both of them as required.

A cylindrical body 44 that accommodates the heater body 34 is disposed on the outer periphery of the heater body 34 . The water supply vibrator 26 passes through the axial center of both end surfaces of the cylindrical body 44, and one ends of two vibrators 46 and 48 are attached to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 44, which is otherwise closed. It serves as a water supply and drainage vibe for the circulation device in the fixer tank 16.

Therefore, the other ends of the two vibrators 4.6.48 are attached to the side wall of the fixer bath 16, and the pipes 46.
48 pipes 46A and 48A communicate with the inside of the fixing tank 16 and a chamber 50 provided between the cylindrical body 44 and the heater main body 34, respectively.

Thereby, when the fixer 20 is circulated, the fixer 20 can be heated simultaneously with the developer 1B by the single heater main body 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, an inverter circuit 54 is interposed in the motor 52 for operating the pipe 30, and a signal line 53 of the inverter circuit 54 is connected to the microcomputer 42.

Thereby, the rotation speed of the motor 52 can be changed steplessly in response to the frequency change of the inverter circuit 54. Therefore, the change frequency (Fl) is set according to the degree of deterioration of the developer 18 corresponding to the number of processing of the photosensitive material 12, hardness or normal image quality processing, the rotation of the motor 52 is changed, and the rotation of the motor 52 is changed. The circulating amount of the developer 18 flowing through can be easily adjusted.

Note that when processing a high-tone image quality to a soft-tone image quality, the circulation speed in the developer tank 14 (the flow state of the developer 18) is set to a static state, with a circulation amount smaller than the circulation amount for processing normal image quality. It is designed to be in a state close to . On the other hand, when processing to obtain high-contrast image quality, a large amount of circulation is used.

A replenishment tank 64 is disposed near the developer tank 14, and a replenisher 62 containing a developing agent is provided in response to a decrease in the developer 1B depending on the amount of processing of the photosensitive material 12 or a decrease in developing ability. can be replenished.

That is, a replenishment vibro 8 is attached to the side wall 66 of this replenishment tank 64, and a filter 70 and a pump 72 are interposed in the middle of the replenishment vibro 16, and the driving force of a motor 74 attached to the pump 72 is Refill fluid 6
2 is filtered through a filter 70 and then supplied to the developer tank 14.

The driving power for the motor 74 is supplied to the microcomputer 42 via a solid state relay 73 (see FIG. 4).
When a predetermined processing area of the photosensitive material 12 has been reached, the pump 72 is controlled to operate for a certain period of time (TS).

Furthermore, this microcomputer 42 has a photosensitive material 1.
Processing amount sensor 7 that detects the width dimension and number of sheets processed in 2
8 signal i80 is read directly.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base 81 of the processing amount detection sensor 78 is disposed at the entrance of the photosensitive material 12 in the developer tank 14.

A rectangular hole 82 is provided in the middle part of the base 81.
The photosensitive material 12 passes through this rectangle 82 and reaches the developer tank 14. A light emitting section 84A and a light receiving section 84B of a photoelectric switch that use light in a wavelength range that does not sensitize photosensitive materials are attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the rectangular hole B2, respectively.

A plurality of light emitting parts 84A and light receiving parts 84B of the photoelectric switch are arranged along the width direction of the photosensitive material 12, and depending on the width dimension of the photosensitive material 12, some of the light emitting parts 84A and a plurality of light receiving parts 84B are arranged along the width direction of the photosensitive material 12.
The width dimension of the photosensitive material 12 can be obtained by cutting off the optical signal from A and calculating the conduction state of each charging switch by the microcomputer 42.

The processing amount detection sensor 78 uses a plurality of lever-type limit switches to perform mechanical detection that conducts the leading end of the photosensitive material 12 when it is transported and breaks the conduction when the rear end passes. You may use other means.

The microcomputer 42 also stores the conveyance speed of the photosensitive material 12, so that the processing amount of the photosensitive material 12 is calculated as an area, and the necessary replenisher 62 is calculated.
The amount of replenishment is calculated.

Control by the microcomputer 42 will be explained in detail below.

The microcomputer 42 includes an empty cooking detection means, a poor circulation detection means, and a dashed line detection means, which will be explained separately.

First, the dry cooking detection means will be explained according to FIG.

Temperature sensor 40. That is, the downstream temperature (T[l) is A
After being converted into a digital signal by the /D conversion circuit 8B, the C of the microcomputer 42 is sent via the interface 90.
It is input to PU.

The microcomputer 42 has a set temperature (TC) manually set in advance by a temperature setting device 92, and this set temperature (TC)
TC) downstream temperatures (TO) are to be compared.

After this is compared, the heater wire solid state relay 37 and the warning buzzer 1 are connected via the interface 90.
00 is connected to the operating solid state relay 104.

Next, the poor circulation detection means detects when the flow rate of the developer 14 flowing through the water supply vibrator 26 and the drainage vibrator 28 has decreased.
This is determined based on the difference in temperature between the developer 18 before and after the heater main body 34, and is controlled.

The downstream temperature (TD) measured by the temperature sensors 38, 40
) and upstream temperature (TU) are A/D conversion circuit 87.8
After digital conversion in step 8, these temperature differences (TIJ -T
I) ) is calculated.

The microcomputer 42 records the temperature difference (
TO) is input, these are compared to determine an appropriate frequency (FO), and the inverter circuit 54 is operated via the interface 90 to adjust the circulation amount.

Further, the disconnection detection means sequentially measures the rate of increase from the upstream temperature (Tll) to the downstream temperature (TO) over a certain period of time while power is being supplied to the heater wire 36, and determines the conduction state of the temperature sensors 38 and 40. It is configured to issue a warning with a warning buzzer 100 or the like if there is no temperature rise.

That is, the upstream temperature (TO) and downstream temperature (TD) are each converted into digital signals by A/D conversion circuits 87 and 88, and then input to the CPU of the microcomputer 42 via the interface 90.

The microcomputer 42 calculates the temperature rise from upstream to downstream, and outputs it if there is no change. When outputting, a signal is sent to the solid state relay to cut off the power supply to the heater wire 36 via the interface 90. 37, and the solid state relay 104 for operating the warning buzzer 100 also sends the signal.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

When the photosensitive material 12 is transported into the processing liquid tank 14 and processed,
Processing capacity decreases accordingly.

This is because the fatigue solution accumulates around the photosensitive material 12 and the developing agent contained in the developer 18 decreases as the photosensitive material 12 is processed. The developer 18 is circulated by a circulation device 22 and constantly stirred.

Thereby, uneven development can be prevented, and the developer 18 can be used without waste.

The developer 18 is sucked out by the pump 30 to the drainage channel 28A, passes through the filter 32 to the water supply channel 26A, and flows into the developer tank 14 again. Here, water supply channel 2
A cylindrical heater main body 34 is interposed in the middle of 6A, and the developer 18 is heated here to an appropriate temperature of 38°C.
After that, the developer reaches the developer tank 14, so there is no temperature drop due to circulation.

In addition, this heater body 34 has two electric heaters, one low power and one high power! Since 36A and 36B are buried, the heating power can be changed as necessary.

Further, since the heater body 34 is made of ceramic, the heater wire can be easily embedded during molding, and the developer 18 passing through the heater body 34 can be heated uniformly, so there is no temperature unevenness.

A cylindrical body 44 is disposed on the outer periphery of the heater body 34, and when the fixer 20 is mixed with the cylindrical body 44, the cylindrical body 44 passes through a chamber 50 provided by the cylindrical body 44. can also be heated.

The following description will be made according to the control flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5(A) to 5(G).

First, as shown in FIG. 5(A), in step 200, the temperature (TC) value set by the temperature setting device 92 is taken in.

Next, when it is determined in step 201 that the process has started, the temperature difference (TO) during proper circulation is read in step 202, the circulation pump 30 is activated, and power is supplied to the heater wire 36 (hereinafter referred to as turning on the heater) (step 202). 204.206)
.

After turning on the heater, empty cooking detection control is executed in step 208, and then poor circulation detection control and disconnection defect detection control are executed (steps 210 and 212).

In step 214, the circulating amount of developer is controlled, and in steps 216 and 218, temperature control and replenishment amount are controlled, respectively.

Next, if the development process is to be continued in step 220, the process moves to step 208.

As shown in FIG. 5(B), in the subroutine of step 208, the downstream temperature (TO) is determined in step 222.
is the temperature (TL
), it is determined that empty cooking is occurring, and step 224
In step 226, the power supply to the heater wire 36 is cut off (hereinafter referred to as "heater off"), and the warning buzzer 100 is sounded in step 226, so that the worker can know this in advance.

When the warning buzzer 100 is deactivated in step 22B, the process moves to step 200.

In step 222, the downstream temperature (TO) is changed to the temperature (TL
), return to the main routine.

Next, a subroutine for poor circulation detection control will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. 5(C).

In step 230, the downstream temperature (TO) and the upstream temperature (TU
) is compared with the set temperature (TO). here,
If the temperature difference is higher than the set temperature (TO), it is determined that the circulation amount of the developer 1B is decreasing, and this correction frequency (FO) is read (step 232).

Next, in step 234, the current frequency is converted to a correction frequency (FO
), and if the current frequency is low, step 23
6, the frequency of the inverter circuit 54 is increased. This is repeated in step 234 where the current frequency and correction frequency (FO
) become equal, the process moves to step 238, the frequency is fixed, and the process moves to the main routine.

Thereby, even if the pump 30 is operating normally but the circulating amount of the developer 18 is reduced due to clogging of the filter 32, etc., the circulating amount can be automatically adjusted.

Note that in step 230, the temperature difference is determined as a set temperature (To
), return to the main routine here.

After moving to the main routine in step 238, the process moves to a subroutine for wire breakage detection control shown in FIG. 5(D).

First, in step 240, it is determined whether the heater is on, and if it is determined that the heater is on, step 24
2: downstream temperature (TD) and upstream temperature (Tυ) at fixed time intervals
Compare the temperature rise between

Here, if there is no temperature rise within a certain period of time, the temperature sensors 3B, 40 (thermal resistance sensors 38A, 40B or signal line
B, 40B) It is determined that the wire itself is disconnected, the process proceeds to step 244 and the heater is turned off, and then the warning buzzer 100 is sounded in step 246.

When the warning buzzer 100 is deactivated in step 248, the process moves to step 200.

Note that if the heater is not turned on in step 240 and if there is a temperature difference in step 242, it is determined that the condition is normal, and the process moves to the main routine.

Next, circulation amount control will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. 5(E).

If it is determined in step 250 that it is necessary to change the circulation amount, the process moves to step 252, and the corresponding frequency (Fl) is read.

Specifically, when the photosensitive material is not fed, the throughput detection sensor 78 detects this and controls the circulation rate to about half the normal rate (41/min) to perform development. &, To prevent oxidation of 1B, or to change from normal image quality to soft-tone image quality, it is preferable to reduce the amount of circulation (and to process the developer 18 in a nearly stationary state. When changing to a process in which

and the frequency (Fl) depending on these purposes
is calculated.

In step 254, the current frequency and the frequency (Fl
), and if the current frequency is higher, the frequency of the inverter circuit 54 is lowered in step 256, and if it is lower, the process moves to step 25 and the frequency of the inverter circuit 54 is lowered.
Increase the frequency of 4.

This is manipulated again, and when the frequencies become equal, step 254
After the process moves to step 260 and the frequency of the impark circuit 54 is fixed, the process moves to the main routine.

As shown in FIG. 5(F), in the temperature control subroutine, in step 262, the downstream temperature (TD) and the set temperature (
The downstream temperature (TD) is compared with the set temperature (TC).
), the heater is turned off and the process returns (step 264); if the downstream temperature (TD) is lower, the heater is turned on in step 265 and the process returns.

By controlling this, the temperature of the developer 18 can be brought close to the set temperature and the temperature can be kept uniform.

FIG. 5(G) shows a subroutine for controlling the replenishment amount.

In step 266, the number of processing times of the photosensitive material 12 is integrated by its area and processing speed, and it is determined whether a predetermined number of processing steps (area) has been reached. If the photosensitive material 12 has not reached the predetermined processing@(area), the process returns.

Further, when the photosensitive material 12 reaches a predetermined number of processing times (area), after reading the appropriate replenishment time (TS), the pump 72 that transports the replenisher 62 to the developer tank 14 is activated (step 267, step 268).

When the replenishment time ends, the pump 72 is stopped and the process returns (steps 270 and 272).

In this way, in the circulation device 22 applied to this embodiment,
The microcomputer 42 performs temperature control, circulation amount control, and replenishment amount control, and also compensates for poor circulation of the developer 18, dry cooking, and disconnection of the signal line, so the developer 18 is maintained in an optimal state. No developing defects will occur.

In this embodiment, the circulation device 22 installed in the developer tank 14 has been described, but the circulation device 22 may be used as a circulation device for other processing liquid tanks such as the fixer tank 16.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the photographic processing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application includes a processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid for processing a photosensitive material, and a processing liquid that is pumped from this processing liquid tank to the processing tank again. It has a circulation path that faces directly, a cylindrical body interposed in a part of the circulation path, and a heater that includes a heat source embedded in this body and heats the processing liquid flowing through the pipe line of this body. Because of this feature, it has a compact shape and has an excellent effect of being able to uniformly heat the circulating treatment liquid.

Further, in the second invention of the present application, in addition to the above-mentioned effects of the invention, a chamber is provided on the outer periphery of the main body, so that the processing liquid passing through this chamber can be heated by the heat source.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a piping diagram of the photo processing apparatus according to this embodiment, Figures 2 (A) and (B) are perspective views of the heater section, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the processing amount detection sensor, and Figure 4 is the control The block diagram and FIGS. 5(A) to 5(G) are control flowcharts. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12... Photosensitive material, 14... Developer tank, 18... Developer, 30... Pump, 34... Heater main body, 36... Heater wire, 42... Microcomputer, 52 ...Motor, 54...Inverter circuit. Figure 2 (A) Figure 2 (B) Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 (B) Figure 5 (C) Figure 5 (D) Figure 5 (E) Figure 5 (F3

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid for processing a photosensitive material, a circulation path for guiding the processing liquid from this processing liquid tank to the processing liquid tank again by a pump, and a part of the circulation path intervening. 1. A photographic processing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical main body; and a heater having a heat source embedded in the main body and heating a processing liquid flowing through a conduit in the main body. (2) The photographic processing apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the main body is made of ceramic. (3) A processing liquid tank containing a processing liquid for processing a photosensitive material, a circulation path for guiding the processing liquid from this processing liquid tank to the processing liquid tank again by a pump, and a part of the circulation path intervening. a cylindrical main body, a heater having a heat source embedded in the main body and heating a processing liquid flowing through a pipe line of the main body, and a chamber provided on the outer periphery of the main body, through which the A photographic processing apparatus characterized in that a processing liquid to be processed is heated by the heat source. (4) The photographic processing apparatus according to claim (3), wherein the main body is made of ceramic. (5) The chamber is formed on the entire outer periphery of the main body.
The photographic processing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it is a double tube.