JPS62273537A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To throw a proper quantity of a preservatives into a processing solution, by providing a control circuit which fetches and calculates information stored in a storage upon turning on a power supply switch and determines the supplying quantity of the preservatives to be thrown into the processing solution from a preservatives supplier. CONSTITUTION:When the liquid temperature and number of sheets to be processed in a unit time are outputted from a temperature detector 62 and number-of-sheet detector 63, the data are processed as the information regarding a preservatives supplying quantity and stored in a storage 65. A control circuit 67 which fetches the information stored in the storage 65 upon turning on of a power supply switch 66, determines a previously set preservatives supplying quantity by calculating the information, and controls a preservatives supplier 60, is provided. Therefore, when, for example, a timer 64 is used for controlling a period of 48hr and it is judged that no developing operation is performed during the period, the necessary quantity of the preservatives is determined and supplied by taking the liquid temperature into consideration when the power supply switch 66 is turned on. Accordingly, a proper quantity of preservatives can always be supplied to the processing solution in accordance with the information regarding the liquid temperature in the processing solution tank and number of sheets to be processed in a unit time.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] This invention exposes original information obtained from an original placed on a glass platen onto a photosensitive material such as photographic film or photographic paper. death,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which the exposed photosensitive material is sequentially passed through processing liquid tanks installed according to a development process for development processing.

[Background of the invention]

Generally, a preservative (sodium sulfite) is added to the developer and fixer in the processing liquid tank of this type of image forming apparatus in order to prevent the herbal medicine from deteriorating due to oxidation.

Adding more preservative than necessary will have a negative effect on color development, so it is recommended that the equipment be left unused for a long period of time (for example, one or two weeks) during summer holidays. It is recommended to add it when the processing liquid adheres to the photosensitive material and is carried away during the operation of the device, or to add it together with new liquid to compensate for the amount lost due to natural evaporation, or mixed with it. is not desirable.

However, it has been difficult to leave the timing and amount of the preservative to the user.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problem, and uses information such as the temperature of the processing solution in the processing solution tank and the number of sheets to be processed per unit time so that an appropriate amount of preservative can always be added to the processing solution. The purpose is to provide a forming device.

[Structure of the invention]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which processing liquid tanks for developing image-exposed photosensitive materials are arranged, including a timer for managing unit time in each processing liquid tank, and a timer for managing unit time in each of the processing liquid tanks. a detector for detecting the temperature of the processing liquid and/or the number of sheets to be processed during a set time; a memory for storing the detection signal of the detector as information; and retrieving the information stored in the memory by turning on a power switch; It is equipped with a control circuit that calculates and determines the amount to be dispensed from the preservative dispenser.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Note that this invention is not limited to the embodiments described here.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In this figure, 10 is an image exposure section, 20 is a paper feed section for photosensitive material, and 30 is a conveyance section.

40 is a development processing section, and 50 is a drying section.

The image exposure section 10 includes an original table glass 11. Light source 12. First mirror 13. Second mirror 14. Third mirror 15. It includes a lens 16 and a shutter 17. A first scanning unit consisting of the light source 12 and the first mirror 13 moves parallel to the document table glass 11 to expose and scan the document, and a second scanning unit consisting of the second mirror 14 and the third mirror 15 moves. It is mounted on a table and is configured to move in the same direction as the first unit and at half the moving speed of the first scanning unit. The above configuration of the image exposure section 10 is similar to that used in known electrophotographic copying machines.

By using an odd number of mirrors, the image is inverted and a latent image corresponding to the original image is directly formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material. The shutter 17 opens in synchronization with the exposure scan, and closes late at other times to prevent external light fog from forming on the photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material used in this invention is preferably a silver halide photographic material for obtaining a high quality copy image (color or black and white) in which a positive image is formed by a development process after exposure. It is also applicable to light-sensitive materials other than photographic light-sensitive materials. Such a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material may be, for example, an internal latent image type, another direct reversal type halide photographic light-sensitive material, or a versatile type (reversal development type).

The support (base) of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material may be opaque paper or the like or a transparent film.

The paper feed section 20 has a magazine 21 in which the photosensitive material is wound in a roll and stored in a light-tight manner removably installed therein, and also has a drawer roller 23 and a drawer for pinching and pulling out the photosensitive material from the magazine 21. It is equipped with a cutting device 24 that cuts the end when it reaches a predetermined length.

The conveying unit 30 has a photosensitive material path 34 having conveying rollers 31, 32, and 33 for photosensitive material cut into a predetermined length.
A first accumulator 35 is provided above the path 34 to temporarily roll up and store the photosensitive material, and a second accumulator 36 is provided below the path 34.

The conveyance rollers 31 to 33 are capable of forward and reverse rotation, and the photosensitive material sent from the paper feed section 20 is conveyed to the first accumulator 35, then reversed and lowered toward the second accumulator 36. While being transported to the second accumulator 36, the photosensitive material passes through the exposure window 37 of the front δd image exposure section 10, and the original image is exposed. Therefore,
The speed of the photosensitive material during this downward movement is synchronized with the light source scanning speed. The exposed photosensitive material accommodated in the second accumulator 36 is again accommodated in the first accumulator 35 by the transport rollers 31 to 33, and by switching the switching claw 38 provided in the middle of the path 34. Development processing section 4
sent to 0. At this time, the feeding speed of the photosensitive material is determined based on the processing liquid tank in each of the first developing tank 41A, second developing tank 41B, bleach-fixing tank 41C, first stabilizing tank 41D, and second stabilizing tank 41E provided in the developing processing section 40. It is designed to synchronize with the feed speed of the transport roller. Each of the processing liquid tanks 41A to 4
In the drying section 50, the photosensitive material that has completed the development process after passing through 1E is dried with hot air on its upper and lower surfaces by a hot air dryer 53 while being sandwiched between a conveying roller 51 and a conveying wire 52, and is then discharged from the discharge roller 54 to the outside of the machine. is discharged.

Inside each processing liquid tank of the development processing section 40, as shown in the second diagram, there is a float switch 42 for detecting the level of the processing liquid, and a replenishment switch that is started by a replenishment signal from the float switch 42 and stopped by a replenishment end signal. A pump 43 is provided. An input side 431 of the replenishment pump 43 is connected to a new liquid container 44 via a hose 45, and an output side 432 is connected to an auxiliary tank 46 having the same number of compartments as the types of processing liquid used in the processing liquid tanks 41A to 41H. It communicates with the lower surface via a hose 47. As shown in the third figure, each chamber of the auxiliary tank 46 communicates with each of the processing liquid tanks 41A to 41H via a hose 48, and is connected to the side surface (front side in the drawing direction) of the drawable frame 400 on which the developing processing section 40 is mounted. arm 401 on the side),
402 so that it can move up and down while maintaining its horizontal position. This auxiliary tank 46 transfers the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank into the auxiliary tank when it moves downward as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 2, and processes the processing liquid when it moves upward as shown by the solid line. When moving the entire apparatus or pulling out the developing processing unit together with its frame 400, the liquid level in the processing liquid tank is lowered to prevent the processing liquid from splashing and overflowing to the outside. I try to avoid it.

Further, as described above, the output side 432 of the replenishment pump 43
The reason why the auxiliary tank 46 is connected to the auxiliary tank 46 is because the auxiliary tank 46 is normally located at the upper level as shown by the solid line. This is because the processing liquid stagnates and its deterioration is accelerated, so if new liquid is replenished through the auxiliary tank, the processing liquid will not stagnate inside the hose 48.

A second tank is provided in all or part of each of the processing liquid tanks 41A to 41E.
As shown in the figure, the preservative dispenser 60 is attached by a certain attachment means (not shown), and the appropriate amount of preservative is always processed based on information about the temperature of the processing solution in the processing solution tank and the number of sheets processed per unit time. It is controlled so that it can be put into the liquid.

A temperature detector 62 for detecting the temperature of the processing liquid is provided in the processing liquid tank, and a sheet number detector 63 for detecting the number of sheets of photosensitive material to be processed is provided at a suitable location in the developing section 40. This temperature detector 62 is controlled by a unit time (
For example, the temperature of the liquid in units of one week or two weeks is output as a temperature signal, and the number detector 63 detects whether or not development processing has been performed during the unit time, and the processing frequency. This outputs the degree of the number of sheets as a number signal.

The reason for detecting the temperature of the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank is that the temperature of the processing liquid is controlled to be around 37.5° C. during development processing.

Therefore, by detecting this liquid temperature, it can be determined whether or not development processing has been performed.

On the other hand, if the liquid temperature cannot be continuously detected during such processing, that is, if it is left for a long time without being developed, the processing liquid may deteriorate due to oxidation once the liquid level reaches 25°C. The speed is different. That is, if the temperature is lower than 25°C, it will be slow, and if it is higher than 25°C, it will be faster. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the amount of preservative added depending on the temperature of the solution within a unit time, which is used to determine whether or not the image has been left for a long period of time without being developed.

Further, the amount of preservative to be added needs to be adjusted depending on how often the developing process is performed during the time set by the timer 64.

The number detector 63 is for detecting this.

The temperature detector 62 detects the liquid temperature and the number of sheets processed per unit time.
When the sheet number detector 63 outputs the information, it is processed as information on the amount of preservative added and stored in the storage device 65. The information stored in the memory device 65 is retrieved by turning on the power switch 66, and a control circuit 67 is provided to calculate and determine a preset preservative injection amount and to control the preservative dispenser 60. ing.

Therefore, for example, if the timer 64 manages 48 hours (two weeks) and it is determined that no development processing has been performed during that time, the required amount is determined in relation to the liquid temperature when the power switch 66 is turned on. It will then be put into use. In this case, the input amount is not used at all for 2 weeks, and the liquid temperature is 2.
If the temperature does not exceed 5°C, the standard is about 20cc, and this amount is increased or decreased depending on whether the temperature of the liquid exceeds 25°C, how many times the temperature has exceeded 25°C, and how many times the temperature has actually exceeded 25°C.

In addition, if the frequency of development processing during the above period is high (and the number of processed sheets is more than 50 A4 sheets per day on average, then preservatives should be added).
If it is less than this, the input amount will be calculated based on the information based on the number of sheets.

controlled.

The preservative contained in the preservative container 60 may be a preservative alone, or may be mixed with the same processing liquid as the processing liquid in the processing liquid tank to be introduced.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a processing liquid tank for developing an image-exposed photosensitive material is arranged, and a timer for managing a unit time in each processing liquid tank; A detector that detects the temperature of the processing liquid and/or the number of sheets processed during a set time, a memory that stores the detection signal of the detector as information, and the information stored in the memory that is retrieved by turning on the power switch.

The feature is that it is equipped with a control circuit that calculates and determines the amount of preservative dispensed from the preservative dispenser, so it is possible to always keep the appropriate amount based on information about the temperature of the processing solution in the processing solution tank and the number of sheets processed per unit time. Preservatives can be added to the processing solution, which can effectively prevent the oxidation of crude drugs in the developer and fixer when the equipment is left unused for long periods of time, such as during summer holidays. It has excellent effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a processing liquid tank, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a new liquid supply system to the processing liquid tank. FIG. 40--Developing processing section 41A to 41E--Processing liquid tank 60-Preservative dispenser 62--Temperature detector 63...Sheet number detector 64--Timer 65--Recorder 66--Power switch 67-・Control circuit diagram 3

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus in which a processing liquid tank is arranged for developing an image-exposed photosensitive material, a timer for managing unit time in each processing liquid tank, and a timer for managing a unit time of the processing liquid during the set time of the timer. A detector that detects the liquid temperature and/or the number of sheets to be processed, a memory that stores the detection signal of the detector as information, and the information stored in the memory is retrieved by turning on the power switch, calculated, and put in a preservative. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a control circuit that determines the amount of input from a container. (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preservative is prepared by mixing with a fresh solution.