JPS62273534A - Automatic development processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent deterioration by oxidation and loss in quantity of a development processing liquid and, at the same time, to prevent rocking of the liquid surface caused by vibrations of a processing liquid tank, by providing a liquid-surface keeping member which covers the liquid surface between a carrying unit and the wall of the tank. CONSTITUTION:Driving rollers 432A-432E and driven rollers 437A-437D, which are respectively faced to and pressure-contacted with the driving rollers, hold a sheet-like photosensitive material and send it to the 1st stabilizing tank of the next process. Since a major part of the liquid surface of a bleach-fixing liquid BF except the liquid surface at the section where the photosensitive material is passed through for transportation is covered with liquid-surface keeping members 434A-434C, the air contacting area of the liquid BF is extremely small and the change of the liquid with lapse of time caused by oxidation and evaporation is sharply decreased. In addition, no dust and foreign matters enter into the liquid from the outside and the liquid does not flows out of the tank since the liquid surface does not fret even when this development processor vibrates. Therefore, a change in characteristics of this processing liquid caused by oxidation and evaporation can be prevented and a high-quality development processing becomes possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is directed to the use of exposed photosensitive materials such as photographic films,
The present invention relates to an automatic processing apparatus that automatically develops silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials such as photographic paper using processing solutions such as a developer, bleach-fix solution, and stabilizer.

[Conventional technology]

In general, automatic photosensitive material processing equipment develops and then dries photographic photosensitive materials that have already been photographed, and is particularly used for sheet-shaped photosensitive materials, such as color photographic paper, X-ray film for direct photography, and printing film. Therefore, it is desired that the processing equipment be downsized, stable processing, easy to operate, and easy to clean and maintain.

Automatic processing equipment that processes silver halide photosensitive materials such as photographic film and photographic paper usually has processing tanks for developing, fixing, washing, etc. (the contents, order, number, etc. of the photosensitive materials to be processed) (depending on the material) and a drying chamber are provided, and the photosensitive material is sequentially conveyed through each processing tank by conveyance means such as conveyance rollers, developed with each processing solution, and then transported into a drying chamber where it is exposed to hot air. After being dried, it is discharged outside the machine.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a conventional copying machine equipped with such an automatic processing device. The image exposure section 1O is composed of an image forming device and a photosensitive material processing device consisting of a development processing section 40 below the image exposure section 0 and a drying section on the left side thereof. Light source 12, first
It consists of a mirror 13, a second mirror 14, a third mirror 15, a lens 16, and a shutter 17. Exposure scanning by the light source 12 and mirrors 13, 14, and 15 is almost the same as that used in known electrophotographic copying machines, but the image is reversed by using an odd number of mirrors.
A latent image corresponding to the original image is formed directly on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material. Here, the shutter 17 is opened in synchronization with the above-mentioned exposure scanning, and is closed late at other times to prevent external light fog from occurring on the photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material used here is a silver halide photographic material on which a positive image is formed by exposure and development.

The silver halide photographic material is formed into a roll,
It is housed in the magazine 21 in a light-tight manner. The leading end of the roll-shaped silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to as roll-shaped light-sensitive material) R in the magazine 21 is sent between the conveyance sections.

The roll-shaped photosensitive material R inserted into the conveying section (2) is held by a group of conveying rollers that are in pressure contact with each other and sent upward, and is separated into a predetermined length, such as the short side of A4 size, the long side of B4 size, the long side of A3 size, etc. ) is fed and cut into cut sheets by a cutting device. This cut sheet-shaped silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to as sheet-shaped light-sensitive material) S is fed along a transport path shown by a dashed line in the figure. During this feeding process, while the sheet-like photosensitive material S is being fed and passing through the imaging position (focal glass surface) 18 of the image exposure section 10, the exposure scanning member is moved onto the document table glass 11 in response to this. The original image is exposed and scanned with a predetermined width, and the resulting scanning exposure light beam passes through a lens 16 and a shutter 17 to form a latent image on a sheet-like photosensitive material S at an imaging position 18.

Furthermore, the sheet-like photosensitive material S on which the latent image has been formed is sent to the development processing section 40 by a conveyance roller.

The development processing section 40 includes (1) a first developer tank 41, a second developer tank 42, a bleach-fix tank 43, a first stabilizer tank 44, and a second stabilizer tank 4.
(2) A replenishment circulation system consisting of a replenishment pump 46, a circulation pump 47, and a liquid temperature adjustment tank 48 having an internal heater located below each of the above-mentioned treatment tanks; (3) Further below the above treatment tanks. Developer supply tank 49 A, bleach-fix solution supply tank 49
B. Stable liquid replenishment tank 49 C1 Consists of a supply/drainage tank group consisting of a drain tank 49D, a drive system, and a conveyance system.

The sheet-like photosensitive material S sent from the paper feeding section and the conveyance section I is subjected to color development and fog exposure in the developing tanks 41 and 42 to form a developed image on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material S, which is then subjected to the next bleaching process. After bleaching and fixing in the fixing tank 43, the photosensitive material S is stabilized with a water-washing substitute stabilizing liquid in the first stabilizing tank 44 and the second stabilizing tank 45, and the photosensitive material S that has undergone these processes is transferred to the conveying roller of the drying section 50. 51, the sheets are conveyed by a conveying wire 52, the upper and lower surfaces thereof are dried by a hot air dryer 53, and the sheet is discharged and accumulated from a discharge port-ranu onto a discharge tray 55 provided outside the machine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing liquid replenishment circulation system of a conventional automatic development processing apparatus. Developer solution C in developer supply tank 49 A
D, and the bleach-fix solution BF in the bleach-fix solution supply tank/19B.
are supplied to the developer tanks 41 and 42 and the bleach-fix tank 43 at a constant rate through a replenishment pipe, a replenishment pump 46, a circulation pump 47, and a liquid temperature adjustment 1i 148, respectively.

Further, the developer 1cD in the developer tanks 41 and 42 is sucked out from the developer tank 41 by the circulation pump 47, mixed with the newly supplied developer CD in the circulation pump 47, and then sent to the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48 again. After that, it is refluxed into the developing tank 42.

Similarly, the bleach-fixing solution BF in the bleach-fixing tank 43 is also circulated through the circulation pump 47 and the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48, and during this time it is mixed with a new replenishing solution and refluxed into the bleach-fixing tank 43.

Each of the processing tanks 41, 43, and 44 is provided with overflow pipes 411, 431, and 441, respectively, to maintain a constant liquid level in each processing tank. Each processing tank 41, 43, 44 contains processing liquids CD, BF.
, new replenishment processing liquid is added to replenishment tank 4 to compensate for the deterioration of SR.
9A.

A certain number of ships will be supplied from 49B and 49C. With this replenishment, the amount of processing liquid in the processing tank increases, a part of which flows into the overflow pipe and is stored in the drain tank 49D via the tube.

Each of the above-mentioned processing tanks, that is, the first developer tank 41 and the second developer tank 42
, a bleach-fixing tank 43, a first stabilizing tank 44, and a second stabilizing tank 45. Inside each of the processing tanks, a gear train consisting of a plurality of gears receives rotational driving force from a drive source. Each of the rack members includes a plurality of roller rows and guide plates for conveying the material S, and a frame body that supports the gear train, the roller rows, the guide plates, and the like.

Each rack member can be attached to and removed from each processing tank, so when cleaning the processing tank or rack member, inspecting or repairing the tank, or when the tank is clogged with sheet photosensitive material (jam), etc. After the rack member is lifted out of the processing tank and the above-mentioned work is completed, the rack member is inserted into the processing tank again and installed at a predetermined position.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In such a conventional automatic processing apparatus, since the upper surface opening of each processing tank is almost entirely open,
The surface of each processing liquid in each processing tank is exposed to air over a wide area. For this reason, the processing solution deteriorates quickly due to oxidation, and the developer solution CD in particular deteriorates significantly, which has an adverse effect on the storage stability and durability of the processing solution.

Furthermore, the developer solution CD and bleach-fix solution BF are at high temperatures.

For example, since the processing liquid is heated and kept at a temperature of 38° to 40°, the evaporation loss of these processing liquids that come into contact with the air layer over a wide area increases. This causes problems such as a decrease in liquid volume and changes in liquid properties.

In order to avoid these interlayers, it is necessary to increase the processing liquid capacity in the processing tank and to replenish the new liquid, or to frequently replace the entire amount of processing liquid.

Furthermore, if the air contact area of the processing liquid is large, when the processing liquid tank vibrates, it will cause large fluctuations in the liquid level, and the processing liquid may get mixed into the pond tank, causing poor image quality, or may leak out of the tank and damage the equipment. This may cause defects such as malfunction, staining, and corrosion.

[Means for solving intervening vertices]

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate various drawbacks of conventional automatic processing apparatuses, prevent deterioration of processing liquid due to oxidation and loss of processing liquid volume, and prevent liquid level fluctuation due to vibration of processing tank. That is.

An automatic processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is an automatic processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material transport unit is removably provided in a processing liquid tank, in which a liquid is removed between the transport unit and the wall of the processing liquid tank. This is characterized by the provision of a liquid level pressing member that covers the surface.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the illustrated example. Note that the present invention is not limited to the aspects of this embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure shows the AA cross section. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine equipped with an automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention. Regarding the reference numerals used in these drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional members as in FIG. 8.

As shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 3, the copying apparatus according to the present invention includes:
The uppermost image exposure section [0, between the paper feed section and the photosensitive material transport section on the right side, the movable ring image processing section a11 located below the image exposure section 1o 4o - the woman (drying section on the ■ side) It consists of a division.

Image exposure section 1O1 paper feeding section General light material conveying section (9)
The structure between the drying section and the drying section is the same as that shown in FIG. 9, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The photosensitive material used in the present invention is a photosensitive material on which a positive image is formed by exposure and development processing, and in order to obtain a high-quality copy image, especially a color photographic image, halogen is used. A silver oxide photographic material is used. Suitable examples of such silver halide photographic materials include internal latent image type or other direct reversal type silver halide photographic materials, and reversal type (reversal development type) silver halide photographic materials. Further, the support (base) of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material may be opaque paper or the like or a transparent film.

Further, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material may be either color or black and white. Furthermore, it is also applicable to light-sensitive materials other than the above-mentioned silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials.

The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is drawn out from the paper feed section m, cut into sheets in the conveyance section 30, and then subjected to exposure scanning of the original image by the image exposure section [0, so that the photosensitive surface is A latent image is formed.

Thereafter, the sheet-shaped photosensitive material S is sent to a developing tank 41 of a developing processing section (automatic processing device) 40, and is sequentially transferred to a developing tank 42, a bleach-fixing tank 43, a first stabilizing tank 44, and a second stabilizing tank 45. After being conveyed, the paper passes through a drying section and is discharged onto a paper discharge tray 55.

The developer tanks 41 and 42 are liquid tanks 41 containing developer CD.
1), one outer unit that is immersed in the liquid tank 411 and can be attached and detached) 412, and two inner units that can be detached and attached to two processing liquid storage chambers formed in the outer unit 412) 413. 421.

In the outer unit 412, a group of driving conveying rollers for driving and conveying the sheet-like photosensitive material S, a driving gear train, a guide plate, etc. are arranged. In one inner unit 413, a driven roller facing the driving conveyance roller, a fog exposure device 414, a guide plate, etc. are arranged. A group of driven rollers, a guide plate, etc. are also arranged in the other inner unit (421).

Furthermore, a slow closing member 4 is provided above the developing tanks 41 and 42.
15.416, 422 are provided, and the developer CD
The contact area with air is kept to the necessary minimum, thereby minimizing changes in the developing solution CD over time due to oxidation and evaporation. It also prevents dust and foreign objects from entering and falling from the outside.

The bleach-fix tank 43, the first stabilizing tank 44, and the second stabilizing tank 45 have substantially the same structure as the developing tanks 41 and 42, and the liquid level of each processing liquid is in a slow closing state.

Next, the bleach-fix tank 43 will be described in detail as a representative example.

FIG. 1 is a central cross-sectional view of a bleach-fixing tank 43 in an automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A--A. Further, FIG. 4 shows a right side view of the bleach-fix tank 43, and FIG. 5 shows a left side view.

The outer unit, the inner unit, and the liquid tank 430 containing the bleach-fix solution BF of the bleach-fix tank 43 have a replenishment solution supply opening 430A, a discharge opening 430B for liquid circulation, and an overflow opening (not shown), and are chemical-resistant. It is a container made of integrally molded materials.

Inside this liquid tank 430, an outer unit is first installed.

The outer unit has a frame structure, and has two side plates 431.
A, 5 drive units rotatably supported between 4318-5432A, 432B, 432C
, 432D, 432E, and gears Gl, G2 . G3. G4. G5. G
6°G7. G8. G9 and guide plate 433A, 4
33 B, liquid level pressing members 434 A, 434 B
It is composed of.

The gear Gl is driven by a gear of a drive source (such as an AC motor) on the copying apparatus main body side. A rotating shaft 435 that is integral with the gear Gl is rotatably supported by the side plates 431A and 431C. A gear G2 is fixed to the rotating shaft 435, and rotates the idle gear G3. Gears G4 and G5 mesh with this gear G3 and rotate in opposite directions.

The gear G4. Each G5 has a drive roller 432A.

While 432D is fixed, both rollers are driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow.

The rotational driving force of the gear G3 rotates the gears G8 and G9 via the idle gears G6 and G7. As a result, gear G8. Drive rolls 432B and 432C, which are integral with rotating shafts to which G9 is fixed, are driven and rotated in the direction of the arrow.

Meanwhile, the gear G2 rotates the gear G11 in the direction of the arrow via the idle gear G10. The drive roller 432E, which is integral with the gear G11, is rotatable in the direction of the arrow.

In addition, four studs 436A, 436 are implanted in the left side plate 431A and the right side plate 431B and protrude outward.
B shows that when the outer unit is installed in the liquid tank 430,
This is a support member that comes into contact with the upper edge of the liquid tank 430 and stops.

Further, two positioning pins 436C are implanted in the left side plate 431A and the right side plate 431B and protrude upward.

436D is a pin for positioning when installing the inner unit into the outer unit. The inner unit has both side plates 431A on which the positioning pins are installed.

It is placed on the upper folding surface of 431B and locked.

The inner unit has a framework structure and includes five driven rollers 437A rotatably supported between two side plates.
, 437B, 437C, 437D, cleaning roller 437E, guide plate 433C, 433
D and a liquid level pressing member 434C.

The driving rollers face and press against the driven roller group, respectively, to grip and convey the sheet-like photosensitive material S, and feed it into the first stabilizing tank 44 for the next step.

Here, most of the liquid surface of the bleach-fixing solution BF, except for the portion through which the sheet-like photosensitive material S is conveyed, is covered by the liquid surface pressing members 434A, 434B.

Since it is covered with 434C, the contact area with air is extremely small, and changes in the processing liquid over time due to oxidation and evaporation are drastically reduced. Furthermore, there is no fear of dust or foreign matter entering from the outside, and there is little fluctuation in the liquid level when the processing apparatus vibrates, so there is no leakage of the processing liquid.

As described above, the processing liquid level in the sheet-like photosensitive material conveyance path between the both side plates of the outer unit is covered and protected by the above-mentioned liquid level pressing member.
The contact area of the processing liquid with the inner wall of the inner wall of 0 is still largely open to the atmosphere. In order to cover this liquid level, liquid level pressing members 438A and 438B were provided.

6 and 7 show the liquid level pressing member 438A,
438B is a perspective view showing a state in which side plates 431A and 431B are respectively attached.

The liquid level pressing member 438A has a box shape, and its bottom portion contacts and covers the processing liquid level. However, a portion of the bottom is open, allowing a portion of the gear G3 that meshes with the gear G2 to pass through.

Two protrusions 43 are provided on the side wall of the liquid level pressing member 438A.
8A S is integrally formed, and is positioned in a predetermined position by fitting into a hole in the side plate 431. After positioning, it is fixed to the side wall 431A with screws.

Similarly, the other liquid level pressing member 438B also has a box shape, and its bottom portion contacts and covers the processing liquid level. and,
Its side wall abuts against the side plate 431B and is fixed with screws.

The bottom surfaces of the liquid level pressing members 438A and 438B are installed slightly below the processing liquid level, that is, the upper end surface of the overflow pipe.

The structure of the liquid level pressing member in the bleach-fixing tank 43 has been described above.
Similar effects can be obtained by providing a similar liquid level pressing member for the second stabilizing tank 45. Especially in the developing tank, it is strongly alkaline (pH 10.0 to 10.4).
Because it contains the developer CD, the developer does not come out of the bath.
When splashed, the damage caused by damage to equipment and adhesion to the operator's clothing or skin is significant.

In addition, deterioration and changes over time due to oxidation and evaporation of the high-temperature developer are also significant.

However, by providing the liquid level pressing member according to the present invention, the above problem can be solved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above in detail, the automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention has a liquid level suppressing member provided in each processing tank to cover the processing liquid level and suppress the opening area as much as possible. This prevents changes in processing liquid properties due to oxidation and evaporation of the processing liquid, making it possible to develop high-quality images. In addition, due to the vibration of the processing equipment, the processing liquid may get mixed into the pond tank, be scattered, or
Since leakage from the bath can be prevented, it is possible to prevent damage caused by contamination of the equipment and damage caused by adhesion to personnel and clothing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure shows the AA cross section. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of a copying machine equipped with the above-mentioned automatic processing device. FIGS. 4 and 5 are a right side view and a left side view of a bleach-fixing tank in the automatic development processing apparatus. FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing a state in which the liquid level pressing member according to the present invention is attached to a side plate. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a copying machine equipped with a conventional automatic developing processing apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a processing liquid replenishment circulation system of the automatic developing processing apparatus. 40... Development processing section 41... First developer tank 4
2...Second developer tank ・↓3...Bleach-fix tank・
14...First stabilization tank 45...Second stabilization tank 4
30...Liquid tank 431A, 431B...
Side plates 432A, 432B, 432C, 432D
, 432E... Drive rollers 434A, 434B, 434C, 438A,
438B...Liquid level pressing member 437A, 437B, 437C,, 437D.
......... Driven roller G1~G11... Gear CD...
...Developer BF...Bleach-fix solution SR...Stabilizer S...Application for sheet photosensitive material Man
Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 5 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] An automatic development processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material transport unit is removably provided in a processing liquid tank, further comprising a liquid level pressing member that covers a liquid level between the transport unit and a wall of the processing liquid tank. Automatic processing equipment.