JPS63104052A - Automatic developing machine for photograph - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly mix and dissolve a treating liquid in a treating tank and quickly equalize the composition of the liquid, by executing stirring and/or shearing actions to the treating liquid at a higher speed than that of the time of treatment, in case of excluding the time of treatment of a photographic sensitive material. CONSTITUTION:When a treating tank 1 has been filled with a liquid, a driving switch of a carrying roller 2 is turned on. In this case, a rotating speed of a motor 10 is set so as to become higher than a speed at the time of carrying of a photographic sensitive material, by a controller 11. When the carrying roller 2 starts to drive, a shearing member 3 is driven thereby, and a shearing action is executed to a treating liquid by a rotary member 5. When the rotary member 5 is driven energetically in the treating liquid, the treating liquid jets out of a hole or a slit 4, the liquid is subjected to shearing force, and also, the jetted liquid itself shows a turbulent liquid state. In this way, sufficient liquid shearing or stirring is executed to the treating liquid, and the liquid composition becomes uniform.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic photographic processor for processing photographic light-sensitive materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic photographic processor capable of rapidly mixing and dissolving processing liquids in a processing tank and making the liquid composition uniform, and capable of performing stable processing.

[Prior Art] In a color photo lab, a negative photosensitive material such as a color negative film is developed to create a negative image, this negative image is printed on color paper, and a positive image based on the negative image is made into a color vapor positive photo. Printed on photosensitive material.

In the processing of color photographs, there are automatic developing machines for negative photosensitive materials, automatic developing machines for positive photosensitive materials,
Various types of automatic developing machines for negative and positive processing are known, and full-color copying machines such as the Konica Color Seven are also known.

In order to process photographic materials while replenishing replenishment processing liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as replenishment drops) using an automatic processor,
Usually, start treatment liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as start liquid)
Two types of processing liquids are used: a replenisher and a replenisher.

An automatic developing machine uses conveyor rack rollers, endless belts, etc. to feed the processing tank filled with start liquid as described above.
A photographic film or photographic paper containing a latent image is automatically developed. At this time, the processing tank is replenished with a replenisher, but the replenishment methods include a method in which a fixed amount of replenisher is intermittently supplied to cause the processing solution in the processing tank to overflow, and a method in which a fixed amount of replenisher is There are methods of continuously supplying.

Automatic photographic processors automatically carry out steps such as 1 color development, bleach-fixing (or bleaching and fixing), and stabilization (stabilizing treatment as an alternative to water washing) when processing photographic light-sensitive materials or color materials. It is common to have more than one processing tank,
In this case, the processing liquid filled in each processing tank needs to be subject to fairly strict temperature control, and this temperature control also needs to be carried out strictly when replenishing the replenisher. Even a slight change in the liquid temperature will have a significant impact on photographic performance and will significantly reduce the commercial value of the finished print.

Conventionally, temperature control of this type of automatic processor has been performed by an electric heater in a heating section and a continuous operation of a cooling section using cooling water.

However, in recent years, some areas in Japan have been experiencing droughts where water supply is restricted once every few years, and these areas are running out of drinking water and washing water, making it difficult to cool automatic processors. A situation is emerging in which it is not permissible to use water.

Furthermore, in addition to droughts, water is extremely valuable in desert regions overseas, and there are regions where it is extremely difficult to use water to cool the processing solution of automatic processors. In such regions, the emergence of an automatic processor that uses as little water as possible for cooling the automatic processor is eagerly awaited.

Generally, a desired amount of work space is required around each of these automatic processors, in which operations such as preparing a replenishment cock, correcting evaporation, replacing the processing solution, and dissolving the replenisher are performed. It is dangerous and undesirable to have water piping under the feet where these operations are performed.Furthermore, cooling water piping is always required when installing or relocating an automatic developing machine. However, such construction requires time and money.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed the following:
The device shown in No. 53 was proposed earlier. l! II, 9th
As shown in the figure, the magazine 1 attached to the mounting part 1 [11]
The photographic paper 102 in 03 is transferred from the main body entrance part 105 to the main body 1.
04, developer tank 106, bleach-fix tank 107, first
After being automatically developed through the washing alternative stabilizing tank 108 and the second washing alternative stabilizing tank 109, it is dried in the drying section 110, and after being taken out from the main body outlet 111, or after being taken out from the main body 1
After cutting and other processes are performed at the upper part of 04, it becomes a product print or a color copy.

Current a' tank 106, bleach-fix tank 107. The first water washing substitute stabilizing tank 108 and the second washing substitute stabilizing tank 109 are sequentially arranged in parallel as shown in the figure, and each tank is provided with rollers for conveying exposed photographic materials such as photographic paper. It is configured such that a predetermined process is performed while the photosensitive material 102 is immersed in a liquid. It has replenisher supply tanks 112, 113, and 114 that automatically replenish the processing solution for processing the photosensitive material, and a water supply tank 115 (optional) that stores water for diluting or dissolving the processing agent. ) is made into a kit, and further includes a waste liquid tank (not shown) for storing the waste liquid after treatment.
4) and/or reserve tank 116.1
17 (optional) is removably housed. In addition, 118J19.120 is a replenisher kit, 121
118, 119, and 120 indicate an opening/closing lid that also serves as a shelf on which the kits 118, 119, and 120 are placed. Each of the kits 4106 to 109 is equipped with a liquid circulation pump having a filter for stirring and cleaning the processing liquid. If such aZt is used, it is a waterless type that does not have a washing tank and has a built-in waste liquid tank, so the equipment can be easily operated without the need for utility supply means such as water pipes or waste liquid discharge piping means. In addition, since such piping is not required, piping construction costs can be kept low, the entire device can be made compact, and it can also be used in cases where water supply cannot be secured.
It is suitable not only for so-called demonstrations, but also as a full-color copy machine for general offices.

The processing solution in an automatic developing machine such as the above-mentioned apparatus is provided with a processing solution circulation system for the purpose of uniform processing solution temperature, removal of suspended matter in the processing solution by a filter, and stirring. The liquid circulation pump in this circulation system is always in operation as long as the main switch of the automatic processor is turned on, even when photographic material is not being processed. The reality is that it is in trouble. Therefore, the liquid circulation pump has heat, and the processing liquid of the automatic developing machine is heated up by the heating of the liquid circulation pump. Furthermore, since the entire surface of a typical small automatic developing machine is covered with a panel for light shielding and makeup purposes, the heat from the liquid circulation pump gets trapped inside the panel.
The liquid is indirectly heated up, and the temperature of the processing liquid tends to further rise. Therefore, a large amount of cooling water is required to stop this temperature rise, but for the reasons mentioned above, it is not preferable to use a large amount of water.

Therefore, the present applicant filed Japanese Patent Application No. 59-69157 and Japanese Patent Application No. 59-69157.
We proposed a technology that makes it possible to omit cooling water and cooling piping using the device shown in No. 9-7.1837. That is, according to these techniques, an automatic processor is provided with an outside air inlet, a fan, etc., so that warm air inside the apparatus is exhausted by the fan, etc., and cooled outside air is introduced through the outside air inlet. This makes it possible to cool the tank or processing liquid.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Although such an apparatus allows the processing liquid to be cooled without using cooling water, it has been found that this apparatus also has other problems. That is, in order to forcibly exhaust the warm air inside the device, it is necessary to use a Mars fan in the device, which not only increases the size of the device 2 but also increases the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, if the fan is made smaller, a large number of fans are required, which also increases manufacturing costs and increases the size of the device. Furthermore, the fan runs almost all day long to exhaust the air warmed by the pump.
The power consumption by the fan was not small, and the power consumption of the entire AH was enormous.

Therefore, if the liquid circulation pump, which is a source of energy, can be eliminated, the fans used can be smaller and fewer in number.
Although the above-mentioned problem is solved, the liquid circulation pump stirs the liquid in order to make the liquid uniform, so a stirring means to replace the liquid circulation pump is required.

As a technique for stirring the processing liquid without using a liquid circulation pump, conventionally, the techniques disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 56-137148 and No. 56-137
A technique such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6-139150 is known. Of these, the former is processed by changing the gap between the film surface and the fixing plate by driving the film on a fixing plate installed in the processing tank with the rotation of a conveyance roller with an eccentric shaft. The liquid is stirred, and therefore, stirring is only performed when the photographic material is transported. On the other hand, in the latter case, the stirring member provided on the conveyance roller stirs the liquid by driving the conveyance roller, so stirring is possible when the photographic light-sensitive material is conveyed and other times. Because the stirring speed is slow, sufficient stirring is not carried out. Therefore, in order to obtain a processing solution with a uniform liquid composition, long-term stirring is required, which has negative effects such as a decrease in the processing capacity of photographic materials. affect

In addition, in both cases, when the stirring power of the processing solution is most needed, for example, when preparing the starting solution, when idling the processing solution before processing, or when replenishing the replenisher, the stirring power is sufficient. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain a uniform liquid composition, which causes uneven development.

This proposal was made in view of the above, by making it possible to perform agitation and/or shearing on the processing liquid at a faster speed than during processing, except when processing photographic light-sensitive materials. The action can be carried out quickly and sufficiently, a uniform processing solution can be obtained, and stable processing can be achieved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic photographic processor capable of efficiently and economically processing photographic materials.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The automatic photographic processing machine of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned technical problem a, replenishes the start processing solution in the processing tank with a replenishment processing solution as needed, and processes the photographic process. An automatic photographic processor for automatically developing photosensitive materials, which includes a stirring member and/or a shearing member for homogenizing the processing solution in at least one processing tank of the automatic processor. The HA8 of the stirring member and/or shearing member is performed by the driving force of the conveying means for the photographic light-sensitive material, and the driving force of the stirring member and/or shearing member except when processing the photographic light-sensitive material is It is characterized by having a structure in which the driving speed is faster than the driving speed during conveyance.

[Example] An example of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the stirring member and/or shearing member according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example. 4 and f3s are perspective views showing other examples of the rotating member, FIGS. 6 to 8 are perspective views showing the other side of the stirring member and/or shearing member according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an automatic photographic processor to which the present invention is most suitable.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a processing tank, in which the photosensitive material is passed through the tank by a transport means such as a transport roller 2, and one of the development processing steps is performed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a stirring member and/or shearing member for making the liquid composition of the processing liquid spread in the processing tank l uniform, and the one shown in FIG. Although the shearing member 3 is shown as a shearing member 3 constituted by a rotating member 5, it may be constituted as an agitating member 3 consisting of an agitating blade without holes or slits 4, or it may be formed partially or entirely as a net-like body. may be done,
Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shearing member 3 (including the stirring member) may be configured to have a combination of holes and slits, and is moved as the conveying roller 2 is driven. One or more of them are arranged in the processing tank l. Its installation is carried out on the shaft 2A of the conveying roller 2, for example, as shown in FIG. lli member 3
may be provided and driven directly by the shaft 28, or a third
As shown in the figure, an endless belt 6 is provided between the two conveying rollers 2 and 2', and the shearing member 3 has one end connected to the conveying roller 2, 2'.
2' is drivably fixed by a shaft 8 to a transport rack (not shown) or the like supporting the belt 2', and has a roller 9 at the other end that contacts the belt 6, and one or more rollers 9 are connected to the belt 6. The shearing member 3 may be driven by bringing the roller 9 into contact with the belt 6. Furthermore, other means may be used as long as the shearing member 3 is moved using the power of the conveying roller 2. Any means may be used.

The rotating member 5 constituting the shearing member 3 may be composed of one or more pieces, and its size and shape are not limited to those shown in the drawings, but may be formed in various sizes and shapes.

Also, when the shearing member 3 is replaced with the stirring member 3, the number, size, and shape of the stirring member are arbitrary as described above.

Rotating member 5 and hole or slit 4 that constitute shearing member 3
Although the size and shape of the rotating member 5 are not particularly limited and are arbitrary, as shown in FIGS. The particles are formed so as to pass through the holes or slits 4 without escaping by collecting them, and the particles are forced to pass through the holes or slits 4, and a shearing force is applied during this passage. It is better to configure the poorly soluble compound into smaller particles. On the other hand, the shape of the hole 4 is a small circular shape (for example, 0.0 to 5 m + Preferably, 0.1-0.2
The diameter of 1 is the most preferable.
Small circular holes 4 having the same diameter or different diameters may be arranged on the top. The arrangement of the holes 4 is not limited to an even arrangement. The same applies to the slit 4. Alternatively, holes and slits may be provided in combination.

Note that the configuration of the g(Ur member (or stirring member) 3 is not limited to the above. For example, when it has a conveyor belt 18 for conveying a photographic light-sensitive material, the rotating member 5 may be provided on the belt 19. Alternatively, belt 19 is adjacent to conveyor belt 18 but can be driven separately (see FIG. 8).

In the present invention, the driving speed of the shearing or stirring member 3, which is driven in conjunction with the driving of the conveyance roller 2, is higher than that when processing the photographic light-sensitive material except when processing the photographic light-sensitive material. It is configured to be driven by
One way to do this is, for example, by using a control device 11 that can change the rotational speed of a motor 10, which is a drive source for driving the conveyance roller 2. That is, the rotational speed of the motor 10 can be changed stepwise or steplessly depending on whether the photographic material is being processed or not, so that the conveyance roller 2 and the shearing roller connected to the conveyance roller 2 can be changed stepwise or continuously. The driving speed of the stirring member 3 is increased or decreased as necessary. Note that the means for changing the drive speed is a gear a4t12 that transmits the power of the motor 10 to the conveyance roller 2 without relying on the motor 10.
This may be done by using a transmission gear or the like, or other means may be used. For example, as a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 or 3, a stepwise transmission mechanism 13A or 13B or a continuously variable transmission mechanism as shown in FIG. 6 or 7 may be provided. That is, FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which the gear 15 of the shearing or stirring member 3 is switched and brought into mesh with one of the gears 148 and 14B having different numbers of teeth using the clutch mechanism 16. On the other hand, in FIG. 7, a staged roller gB with a different diameter is used as the roller 9 that contacts the endless belt 6, and is moved back and forth by a switch 17.

Incidentally, the continuously variable or stepwise transmission mechanism 13A or 13B may be provided at a position as shown in FIG.

The shearing or stirring member 3 is driven by the shearing or stirring member 3.
Since this is accompanied by the driving of the conveying roller 2, it is also driven during the processing of the photographic photosensitive material. In some cases, the shearing or stirring member 3 may be configured to be stopped from being driven.

The driving of the shearing member 3 according to J of the present invention is performed not only when the photographic light-sensitive material is being processed, but also when a new start solution is prepared in the processing tank L, during idling before processing, or when replenishing the replenisher. The rotational speed of the motor 10 is increased to speed up the driving of the shearing member 3. By doing so, the shearing action of the shear member 3 on the processing liquid can be effectively performed, and a processing liquid with a uniform liquid composition can be obtained. Particularly when a poorly soluble substance such as benzyl alcohol is present in the processing liquid, it is more preferable to perform the shearing action by the shearing member 3 with the fast drive.

[Action of the Invention] The action of the present invention having the above configuration is as follows. In other words, the necessary amount of processing solution prepared as a starting solution is filled in processing tank 1. In this case, even if the starting solution is prepared in processing tank 1, it is also necessary to fill processing solution prepared in processing tank 1 with the replenisher supply tank or dissolution tank (not shown). When the processing tank 1 is filled with the liquid, which may be prepared in step 1) and transferred to the processing tank, the drive switch (not shown) for the transport roller 2 is turned on. At this time, the rotation speed of the motor 10 is controlled by the control device 11.

The speed is set to be faster than the speed at which the photographic material is transported. When the transport roller 2 starts to drive, the shearing member 3 is driven accordingly, and the rotating member 5 provided on the member 3 applies a shearing action to the processing liquid. This action is achieved by forcefully driving the rotating member 5 through the processing liquid, causing the processing liquid to be ejected from the holes or slits 4, thereby subjecting the liquid to shearing force, and causing the ejected liquid spout to form a disordered pattern. exhibits. In this way, sufficient liquid shearing or agitation is provided to the processing liquid.

The liquid composition becomes uniform. After that, the control device 11
By changing the rotational speed of the motor 10, the driving speed of the conveying roller 2 is switched to a speed suitable for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, and the photographic light-sensitive material is processed.

Similarly, the drive speed of the shearing member 3 can be increased when replenishing the replenisher, or when the processing solution must be idled again after some time elapses before processing the next photographic material. to quickly homogenize the treatment solution and carry out the treatment.

The driving source for the stirring member 3 and/or the shearing member other than when processing the photographic light-sensitive material (when stopped) may be from a source other than the driving force of the conveying means, for example, from a filtration pump circulation.

[Effect of retardation] The present invention has the above-mentioned structure and function, and can solve the above-mentioned technical problems. In particular, when a photographic light-sensitive material is not processed, that is, when a new starting solution is prepared, The drive speed of the stirring member and/or shearing member can be increased during idling before processing or when replenishing the replenisher, so even if the solution contains a poorly soluble compound, it can be done uniformly in a short time. A processing solution can be obtained, stable processing can be performed, and photographic materials can be processed efficiently and economically.

Regarding the application of the present invention, the scope of the present invention is limited in terms of the type of automatic processor (dedicated type or combination type, etc.), the configuration of the processing tank, the processing capacity, the composition of the photographic processing solution, etc. Since there are no specific elements and it is widely applied to automatic processors that process photographs, specific examples of automatic processors and photographic processing solutions are 1, for example, JP-A-58-14834 and JP-A-58-34448. , No. 57-13214 and No. 58-18631, Japanese Patent Application No. 58-238578, No. 58-238579, No. 59-119840, No. 5
No. 9-120658, No. 60-280207, No. 61
27236, etc., and the explanation in this specification will be omitted.

The present invention is preferably applied to all of the 4F photographic processing tanks, such as color development tanks, bleach-fix tanks, and water-washing alternative stabilization tanks, but may be applied to at least 1 tank.
It is particularly preferable to apply it to a color developing tank (CD tank).

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the stirring member and/or shearing member according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing other examples of rotating members, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing other examples of rotating members.
Is the Wl# member and/or the shear@ member other than the Wl# member and/or the shear@ member related to J issued by the present invention? The perspective view shown in FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an automatic photographic processor to which the present invention is most suitable. In the figure, ■ is a processing tank, 2.2' is a conveyance roller, 3 is a stirring member and/or shearing member, 4 is a hole or slit,
5 is a rotating member or stirring blade, 7 is a transport rack, IO is a motor, 11 is a control device, 1: 1A, 13B is a step-change mechanism Patent applicant Roku Konishi Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Representative Patent attorney Nobuaki Sakaguchi (
Idiot 1) Figure 2: Purification of the drawing; I;,: (No change to inner name 2) No.
/T+ (no changes in content, -) Figure 8 Figure 4 Figure 5 2 In Figure 1, 1 is the processing 15, 2.2' is the conveyance roller, 3
4 indicates a shearing member, 4 indicates a hole or slit, and 5c indicates a rotating or moving member. 1'21 @ i7 + No change in writing) No. 9
Figure procedure amendment writing format) % formula % Name (127) Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. 4 Agent 160 Address 5th floor, 5th floor, Building 2, 7-10-11 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Correction order Date: January 27, 1988 8 Details of the amendment as per attached sheet

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an automatic photographic processing machine that automatically develops a photographic light-sensitive material by replenishing a replenishment processing solution to a start processing solution filled in a processing tank as necessary, at least one of the automatic processing machines The processing tank has a stirring member and/or a shearing member for homogenizing the processing liquid, and the stirring member and/or shearing member is driven by the driving force of the means for transporting the photographic light-sensitive material. and a structure in which the stirring member and/or the shearing member are driven at a faster driving speed than the driving speed during processing of the photographic light-sensitive material except when processing the photographic light-sensitive material. Automatic developing machine. (2) The automatic developing machine for photographs according to claim 1, wherein the automatic developing machine is a waterless type without a washing tank and is also a pipeless type without a water pipe for washing. Machine.