JP2724265B2 - Heat transfer equipment for photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat transfer device for a photosensitive material processing apparatus for transferring heat to a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing processing such as development on photosensitive materials such as films and photographic papers, a developing solution and a fixing solution are stored in processing tanks for developing, fixing and washing. Each of the processing liquids such as washing water and the like is stored, and these processing liquids are heated by a heating device so as to have a preset liquid temperature.

As this heating device, a temperature control tank is provided in communication with the processing tank alongside each processing tank, and the processing liquid is circulated between the processing tank and the temperature control tank, and a heater is inserted into a stainless steel pipe. There is a type in which the cartridge type heater is inserted into the temperature control tank. In this heating device, the processing liquid in the temperature control tank is heated by the heater, and the operation of the heater is controlled so that the processing liquid in the processing tank maintains the set temperature.

[0004] However, in the heating apparatus using the temperature control tank, the same number of heaters and heater controllers as the number of processing tanks are required. Further, since the heater is configured to heat the processing liquid by contacting the processing liquid, in order to increase the rate of temperature rise of the processing liquid, use a heater having a large heat capacity or reduce the surface temperature of the processing liquid. Temperature (for example, about 100 ° C.). When the surface temperature of the heater is increased, the processing liquid in contact with the heater locally becomes high in temperature, and may cause liquid deterioration.

[0005] A plurality of processing liquids are heated by heating a processing liquid in a specific processing tank with a heater and exchanging heat with the heated processing liquid for the processing liquid in another processing tank. There has also been proposed a heating apparatus in which the processing solution in the tank is heated by a single heater (see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-158448). Thereby, the number of heaters and controllers can be reduced. However, in this apparatus, only the processing liquid in a specific processing tank is directly heated by a heater, and the processing liquid in the other processing tank exchanges heat with the heated processing liquid. Large loss and low thermal efficiency. Therefore, the rate of increase in the temperature of the processing solution during heat-up is slow, and the heating method differs between the specific processing tank and the other processing tanks. There was a problem that it was difficult to make a state.

[0006] For this reason, the present applicant has proposed, as a technique related to the present invention, a heating device in which a flow pipe and a heater through which a circulating treatment liquid passes are cast into a single heat conducting block ( See Japanese Patent Application No. 3-279758). In this heating device, since the heat guide block is made of metal having a large heat capacity, it is not necessary to use a heater having a large heat capacity or to make the surface temperature of the heater extremely high, and the processing liquid locally becomes high and deteriorates. Never. In addition, if a plurality of flow pipes are cast in a single heat conducting block, the processing liquids in the plurality of processing tanks can be heated without performing heat exchange between the processing liquids, so that the heat efficiency is high and the processing in all the processing tanks is performed. The state where the liquid temperature is uniform can be easily maintained.

In the above-mentioned heating device, the processing liquid absorbs heat from another device such as a pump, or is heated by dry air, and when the liquid temperature becomes higher than the set temperature, the cooling liquid generated by the fan is generated. The air is blown onto the heat guide block to cool it, so that the temperature of the processing liquid becomes the set temperature.

[0008] By the way, one of the means for performing heat transfer conventionally has been described.
As one, a heat pipe is known. This heat pipe is configured by depressurizing the inside of a metal pipe and enclosing a small amount of a liquid (working fluid) such as water or alcohol. When the heat pipe is disposed so as to be in contact with each of the two portions having a temperature difference, the portion in contact with the portion having a high temperature absorbs the latent heat and evaporates (vaporizes) the working fluid. The vapor moves to a low-pressure part in contact with a low-temperature part, then releases latent heat to condense (liquefy), and returns to a part in contact with the high-temperature part using natural flow or capillary action. Is done. Thus, in the heat pipe, heat transfer is performed by a substance flow due to the pressure gradient of steam,
A large amount of heat is transferred by a small temperature difference, and in some cases, the apparent thermal conductivity reaches several thousand times that of a metal, so that low-loss heat transfer can be realized.

The pipe used as the heat pipe is
In consideration of the heat transfer efficiency (heat efficiency), it is made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity (generally copper). However, a metal such as copper corrodes when it comes into contact with a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus. In order to prevent this corrosion, it is conceivable to insert the heat pipe into a stainless protective tube, for example, and use it.
Since there is a space between the heat pipe and the protection tube, the thermal efficiency is reduced, and the heat pipe is not effective as a means for heat transfer. In addition, when the surface of the heat pipe is coated with, for example, a fluororesin or the like, there is a problem that thermal efficiency is reduced. For this reason, no heat pipe has been applied to heat transfer for heating and cooling the processing solution of the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and provides a heat transfer apparatus for a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of performing heat transfer for heating and cooling a processing solution with high thermal efficiency. Is the purpose.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat conducting block in which a pipe through which a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus passes is cast , and a heat source is formed by casting.
And Mareta heat conducting block comprises a heat conducting block pipe is cast the heat source and the treatment liquid to pass through at least one of, and brought into close contact with the heat pipe to the heat-conducting block.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first heat conducting block into which a heat source is cast, and a second heat conducting block into which a pipe through which a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus passes is cast. And a heat pipe which is in close contact with the first heat conduction block and the second heat conduction block and connects the first heat conduction block and the second heat conduction block.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat-sensitive block in which a pipe through which a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus passes is cast .
Alternatively, a heat pipe is brought into close contact with a heat conduction block in which a heat source and a pipe through which the processing liquid passes are cast, and a part of the heat pipe is arranged at a temperature lower than a set temperature of the processing liquid. I have.

It is preferable that a part of the heat pipe is disposed in a passage of air used as drying air for drying the photosensitive material.

Further, it is preferable to attach a radiation fin to a part of the heat pipe. In addition, it is preferable that a part of the heat pipe be brought into close contact with a heat transfer block to which a pipe through which a replenisher to be added to the treatment liquid passes is adhered.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, when a heat pipe is brought into close contact with a heat-conducting block in which a pipe through which a processing liquid of a photosensitive material processing apparatus is cast is used , as described above, For example, if the heat pipe is heated by a heat source such as a heater, the heat generated by the heat source is efficiently transmitted to the heat guide block through the heat pipe, and the heat is processed by the heat held by the heat guide block. Since the liquid is heated, the processing liquid can be heated with high thermal efficiency.

In a photosensitive material processing apparatus, the processing liquid receives heat from the surrounding environment, and the temperature of the processing liquid sometimes becomes higher than a set temperature. Even in such a case, for example, if a part of the heat pipe is disposed at a portion having a lower temperature than the temperature of the processing liquid, excess heat is efficiently transmitted to the low-temperature portion, so that the processing liquid can be provided with a high thermal efficiency. Can be cooled.

On the other hand, when the heat pipe is brought into close contact with the heat-conducting block into which the heat source is cast , heat is efficiently transmitted to the material to be heated which is in contact with a part of the heat pipe, and the material to be heated is subjected to high thermal efficiency. Can be heated. For example, the pipe through which the processing liquid passes through the heat pipe is cast
The heat generated from the heat source is efficiently transmitted to the heat conducting block if the heat conducting block is brought into close contact with the heat conducting block, and the processing liquid is heated by the heat retained in the heat conducting block, so that the processing liquid can be heated with high thermal efficiency. it can.

The pipe through which the heat source and the processing liquid pass is cast.
When the heat pipe is brought into close contact with the inserted heat guide block, if a part of the heat pipe is disposed in a portion having a temperature lower than the liquid temperature of the processing liquid, excess heat is efficiently transmitted to the low temperature portion, and the processing is performed. The liquid can be cooled with high thermal efficiency.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, heat transfer for heating and cooling the processing liquid can be performed with high thermal efficiency by bringing the heat pipe into close contact with at least one of the heat conducting blocks. it can. It should be noted that, before Symbol
Adhesion to the heat-conducting block arsenide Topaipu constitutes a heat-conducting block with molten metal, can be carried out by casting this molten metal. Further, the heat conductive block may be brought into close contact with the surface of the heat conductive block. Further, a hole may be formed in the heat conducting block, and the heat conducting block may be pressed into the hole.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the heat source is cast.
The first heat-conducting block, and piping the treatment liquid passes through casting was
The heat pipe is closely connected to the inserted second heat conducting block. Thereby, the heat generated from the heat source is efficiently transmitted to the second heat conduction block via the first heat conduction block and the heat pipe, and the processing liquid is heated by the retained heat of the second heat conduction block.
The processing liquid can be heated with high thermal efficiency. Further, since the processing liquid passes through the pipe and the heat pipe does not come into contact with the processing liquid, the heat pipe does not corrode.

Further, if the heat pipe and the first heat conducting block or the second heat conducting block can be detached, when a heat source constituted by a heater or the like is replaced due to a failure,
The heat pipe may be removed from the first heat conduction block or the second heat conduction block, and the first heat conduction block may be replaced after separating the first heat conduction block and the second heat conduction block. It is not necessary to remove the heater, and work such as heater replacement can be easily performed.

Further, since the heat source and the pipe are cast into different heat conducting blocks, the position of the first heat conducting block and the second heat conducting block can be changed by changing or bending the length of the heat pipe. Relationships can be changed. For this reason, the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the heat source and the piping is improved,
It is also possible to reduce the size of the photosensitive material processing apparatus. In addition, the number of circulation pipes cast into the second heat conduction block may be singular or plural. If a plurality of pipes are cast into the second heat conducting block and different processing liquids are passed through the respective pipes, the different processing liquids can be heated to the same liquid temperature.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the heat pipe is brought into close contact with a heat-conducting block in which a pipe through which the processing liquid passes is cast , or a heat-conductive block in which a heat source and a pipe through which the processing liquid passes are cast. A part of the pipe is located at a temperature lower than the set temperature of the processing liquid. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus, the processing liquid receives heat from the surrounding environment, and the temperature of the processing liquid may be higher than a set temperature. In such a case, it is necessary to cool the processing solution. However, as described above, the heat conductivity of the heat pipe is extremely high, so that excess heat is radiated to the low-temperature portion through the heat pipe with high thermal efficiency. Thus, the processing liquid is cooled with high thermal efficiency. In addition, since heat is radiated through the heat pipe, heat can be transferred and radiated through the heat pipe to any low-temperature portion that requires heating in the photosensitive material processing apparatus. Energy saving can be realized as compared with the case where excess heat is radiated around the block arrangement site.

It is preferable that a part of the heat pipe that dissipates heat is disposed in an air passage used as drying air for drying the photosensitive material. As described above, by radiating heat through the heat pipe, it is possible to radiate heat to any part of the photosensitive material processing apparatus that requires heating. Therefore, by arranging the heat pipe in the passage of the air used as the drying air, excess heat is radiated to the passage, and this heat can be used for heating the air used as the drying air. Therefore, it is possible to save energy for heating the air to be a dry air.

Further, it is preferable that a heat radiating fin is attached to a part of the heat pipe where heat is radiated. This makes it possible to increase the surface area of a portion of the heat pipe where heat is dissipated, as compared to a case where the heat pipe is simply disposed in any portion of the photosensitive material processing apparatus that requires heating, for example, in a passage of air used as drying air. Therefore, heat can be radiated more efficiently.

Further, it is preferable that a part of the heat pipe is brought into close contact with a heat conducting block to which a pipe through which a replenishing solution to be added to the processing solution passes is adhered. This makes it possible to make the temperature of the replenisher almost the same as the temperature of the processing liquid.
Even if the replenisher is replenished, the temperature of the processing solution does not fluctuate greatly, and the accuracy of adjusting the temperature of the processing solution is improved. Further, it is not necessary to newly provide a heating means or the like for heating the replenisher.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a photosensitive material processing apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment.
It is shown.

Inside the photosensitive material processing apparatus 11, a color developing tank 12, a bleaching tank 14, bleaching / fixing tanks 16, 18, washing tanks 22, 24, and a stabilizing tank 26 are arranged in this order. In each processing tank, a developer, a bleaching solution, a bleaching / fixing solution, a washing water, and a stabilizing solution are stored, respectively. In each processing tank, a transport rack (not shown) for transporting the photosensitive material F inserted in the photosensitive material processing apparatus 11 is provided. The photosensitive material F having the image printed thereon and inserted into the photosensitive material processing apparatus 11 is transported by a transport rack provided in each of the processing tanks, sequentially passes through each processing tank, and is immersed in each processing solution. Is processed.

A heater 32 is provided in the color developing tank 12 so as to contact the developing solution. This heater 32
The developer is a cartridge-type heater in which a heating element is inserted into a stainless steel pipe, and the developer stored in the color developing tank 12 is heated by the heater 32. Heater 3
A liquid temperature sensor 33 is attached in the vicinity of the two locations so as to be in contact with the developer. The liquid temperature sensor 33 is connected to the control circuit 30 (see FIG. 4), detects the liquid temperature of the developer, and outputs the detection result to the control circuit 30.

A circulation pipe 35 is attached to the color developing tank 12, and a pump 36 is provided at an intermediate portion of the circulation pipe 35.
Are arranged. The developing solution in the color developing tank 12 is sent into the circulation pipe 35 by the pump 36, passes through the circulation pipe 35, is again sent out into the color developing tank 12, and is circulated. A radiator 38 is provided at an intermediate portion of the pipe 35, and a fan 39 connected to the control circuit 30 is provided near the radiator 38.
(See also FIG. 4). The control circuit 30 controls the turning on and off of the heater 32 so that the temperature of the developer reaches a predetermined set temperature, and receives the heat from the pump 36 while the heating by the heater 32 is stopped, for example. If the liquid temperature is higher than the set temperature,
By operating the fan 39, the radiator 38 and the fan 39
To cool the developer.

A flow meter 41 is provided at an intermediate portion of the pipe 35. The flow meter 41 detects the flow rate of the developer passing through the pipe 35 and outputs a detection result to the control circuit 30. When the detected flow rate becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control circuit 30 determines that a pump failure or abnormality has occurred, and issues an alarm.

The bleaching tank 14 and the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 are also provided with circulation pipes 44, 45 and 46 in the same manner as the color developing tank 12, and the processing liquid in each processing tank is provided at an intermediate portion of each pipe. The pump is circulated by the pumps 42A, 42B, 42C provided. These pipes 44, 45, 4
The heat transfer device 10A according to the present invention is provided on the downstream side of the position of the pump 42 in the intermediate portion of No. 6. In this heat transfer device 10A, intermediate portions of the pipes 44, 45 and 46 are cast into a single heat conducting block 48 so as to be parallel to each other, as shown in detail in FIG. The heat conducting block 48 is made of molten metal, and is preferably made of aluminum, brass, cast steel, copper, or the like having a high thermal conductivity. In addition, in each of the pipes 44, 45, and 46, a portion cast into the heat conduction block 48 is formed of titanium in consideration of heat transfer efficiency.

The heat guide block 48 is connected to the pipes 44, 4
5, 46 are placed in a mold and then formed by filling the mold with molten metal. Therefore, the heat transfer block 48 is securely in close contact with the surroundings of the pipes 44, 45, 46, so that the efficiency of heat transfer between the heat transfer block 48 and each pipe is very high.

At the center of the heat guide block 48, each pipe 4
4, 45, and 46 at equal distances from each other.
A circular hole is formed in parallel with 4, 45, 46, and one end of the heat pipe 50 is press-fitted into the circular hole. As will be described later, since the pipe constituting the heat pipe 50 is made of copper, the pipe is slightly deformed at the time of press-fitting and is in close contact with the heat guide block 48, so that the efficiency of heat transfer between the heat guide block 48 and the heat pipe 50 is high. . If a slight gap is formed in a part of the contact surface between the heat pipe 50 and the heat guide block 48, the gap may be filled with heat transfer grease or the like to improve the heat transfer efficiency. Good.

On the other hand, an intermediate portion of the heat pipe 50 is bent at a right angle, and the other end is sandwiched between aluminum heat conducting blocks 52 and 54. Heat conduction block 52, 5
4, a plurality of screws 56 are screwed together.
The other end of the heat pipe 50 is in close contact with the heat guide blocks 52 and 54 by the tightening force of the heat pipe 50. Heat conduction block 5
2 has a heater 60 in the same manner as the heat conducting block 48 described above.
, And a safety thermo 62 for detecting the temperature of the heat conducting block 52 is attached. The heater 60 and the safety thermo 62 are connected to the control circuit 30 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat pipe 50 is formed by closing both ends of a pipe 49 made of a metal having a high thermal conductivity (eg, copper), and covering the inner wall of the pipe 49 with a metal-made mesh wick 51. Is formed. The pressure inside the heat pipe 50 is reduced, and a small amount of water is sealed as a working fluid. Note that the mesh wick 51
Instead, a wick composed of a groove formed in the inner wall may be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature difference 2
When the end 50A of the heat pipe 50 is disposed so as to be in contact with the high temperature side and the end 50B is in contact with the low temperature side, the inside of the heat pipe 50 is reduced in pressure as described above. In this case, water absorbs ambient heat as latent heat and easily evaporates (vaporizes), and the pressure on the end 50A side increases. The water vapor passes through the middle part of the pipe 49 and moves to the lower end 50B side, then releases latent heat to the surroundings to condense (liquefy). The liquefied water is returned to the end 50A via the wick 51 by its own weight or by capillary action. Thus, heat transfer is performed by circulating water inside the heat pipe 50. In this embodiment, a heat pipe FRHP (trade name) manufactured by Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. is used as the heat pipe 50.

In the first embodiment, one end of the heat pipe 50 is brought into close contact with the heat conduction block 52 heated by the heater 60, and the other end is brought into close contact with the heat conduction block 48 into which the pipes 44, 45 and 46 are cast. , The heat generated from the heater 60 is transmitted to the heat conduction block 48 via the heat conduction block 52 and the heat pipe 50, and the processing liquid passing through the pipes 44, 45, 46 by the heat retained in the heat conduction block 48. Is heated.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fan 63 for cooling the heat guide block 48 is arranged near the heat guide block 48. The bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tank 1
A liquid temperature sensor 58 for detecting the temperature of the processing liquid in each tank is attached to each of the tanks 6 and 18. The fan 63 and the liquid temperature sensor 58 are connected to the control circuit 30 (FIG. 4).
reference). The control circuit 30 determines whether the processing liquid in each processing tank has reached the set temperature based on the liquid temperature detected by one of the liquid temperature sensors 58 and the temperature of the heat conductive block 52 detected by the safety thermo 62. In addition, the on / off of the heater 60 is controlled so that the temperature of the processing liquid 52 becomes a predetermined temperature, and when the temperature of the processing liquid becomes higher than the set temperature, the fan 63 is operated to cool the heat conduction block 48 so that the processing is performed. Cool the liquid.

Circulation pipes 64, 65 and 66 are attached to the washing tanks 22 and 24 and the stabilization tank 26, similarly to the bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18, and intermediate portions of the respective pipes. The processing liquid is circulated in each pipe by pumps 70A, 70B, and 70C disposed in the pipes. A heat transfer device 10B is provided at an intermediate portion of these pipes downstream of the portion where the pump 70 is provided. The heat transfer device 10B has the same configuration as the heat transfer device 10A described above, and the heat transfer block 6 in which pipes 64 , 65 , and 66 are cast.
8 is provided. Heat guide block 68 is also heat pipe 50
The heat generated from the heater 72 is transmitted to the heat guide block 68 via the heat guide block 74 and the heat pipe 50, and the inside of the pipes 64, 65, 66 The passing processing liquid is heated.

In the vicinity of the heat guide block 68, a fan 76 for cooling the heat guide block 68 is provided. The control circuit 30 turns on and off the heater 72 based on the liquid temperature detected by the liquid temperature sensors 78 provided in the washing tanks 22 and 24 and the stabilizing tank 26 and the temperature of the heat guide block 74 detected by the safety thermo 62. The operation of the fan 76 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. The photosensitive material F having the image printed thereon and inserted into the photosensitive material processing device 11 is first immersed in the developing solution in the color developing tank 12 and then sequentially immersed in the processing solution in the downstream processing tank. Is performed. The developer in the color developing tank 12 is heated by the heater 32 and circulated through the pipe 35 to be uniformly heated to the set temperature. The processing solutions in the bleaching tank 14 and the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 are similarly circulated through the pipes 44, 45 and 46, and the heat transfer device 1
It passes through the heat conduction block 48 of 0A. Heat conduction block 4
Heat generated from the heater 60 is transmitted through the heat guide block 52 and the heat pipe 50 with high thermal efficiency and is heated. The retained heat heats the processing liquid through the pipe walls of the pipes 44, 45 and 46. .

As described above, heat is transferred to the heat guide block 48 by using the heat pipe 50, and all the processing liquids in the bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 are supplied to the pipes 44, 45 and 46.
Since the heat is circulated through the inside and heated by the heat guide block 48, the heat efficiency for heating the processing liquid is high. Therefore, when the temperature is adjusted by any one of the liquid temperature sensors 58 of the three processing tanks, the bleaching tank 14 and the bleaching / bleaching unit only need to raise the heating temperature in the piping portion of the heat conducting block 48 to, for example, about 60 ° C. at the maximum. The processing liquid temperature of the fixing tanks 16 and 18 is set to, for example, a set temperature 38.
The temperature can be raised to ° C. and maintained. As described above, since the temperature of the processing liquid is not partially increased, the processing liquid does not deteriorate. Similarly, when the heat transfer device 10B heats the processing liquid in the washing tanks 22, 24 and the stabilization tank 26, the heat efficiency for heating is high and the processing liquid is not partially heated.

The heat conducting block 48 includes a plurality of pipes 4.
4, 45, 46 are provided with a plurality of pipes 6 in the heat conducting block 68.
Since 4, 65 and 66 are cast and each pipe is heated under uniform heating conditions, the temperature of the processing liquid in each processing tank can be uniformly heated to maintain a uniform liquid temperature. it can. After the heat generation of the heater 60 or 72 is stopped, the fan 63 or 76 is operated, so that the temperature of the processing liquid does not increase even if the processing liquid receives the heat retained by the pump 42 or 70, and the processing liquid does not rise. Can be maintained at the set temperature.

Further, when the heater 60 is out of order, for example, after removing the screw 56 to separate the heat conducting block 52 and the heat conducting block 48, only the heat conducting block 52 into which the heater 60 is cast may be replaced. Further, unlike the case where the pipe through which the processing liquid circulates and the heater are cast into the same heat conducting block, it is not necessary to drain the processing liquid from the pipe, and the maintenance property is high. Further, since each processing solution is heated by circulating through each pipe and does not come into contact with the heat pipe 50, the heat pipe 50 is not corroded by the processing solution.

Further, by changing the length of the heat pipe, the presence / absence of bending of the intermediate portion, and the degree of bending, the heat conducting block 48 and the heat conducting block 52 and the heat conducting block 68 and the
Since the positional relationship of the heat block 74 can be changed, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the piping and the heater is high, and the size of the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat conducting block 4 in which the pipes 44, 45 and 46 are cast is used.
8 and the heat-conducting block 52 into which the heater 60 has been cast are arranged apart from each other, and are connected via the heat pipe 50 which is in close contact with both, but the present invention is not limited to this. As an example, as shown in FIG. 9, the heat pipe 50 is sandwiched between the heat guide block 48 in which the pipe 44 is cast and the heat guide block 52 in which the heater 60 is cast, and the heat pipe 50 is tightened with the screw 56. May be brought into close contact with the heat conduction block 48 and the heat conduction block 52. The above configuration is used, for example, when the temperature of only a processing liquid in a specific processing tank (for example, a developing tank) is adjusted at a set temperature different from the processing liquid in another processing tank.
It can be used in place of a conventional cartridge type heater. Also in this case, the processing liquid can be heated with high thermal efficiency, and the processing liquid is not partially heated, so that the deterioration of the processing liquid can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, a plurality of pipes 44, 45 and 46 are cast into a single heat conducting block 48. However, a plurality of pipes are routed so as to be cast into a single heat conducting block. If it is difficult, the individual pipes 44 and 45 are cast into different heat conducting blocks 48A and 48B, and the respective heat conducting blocks 48A and 48B and the heater 60 are cast as shown in FIG. 10 as an example. A heat pipe 50A that closely adheres each of the heat guide blocks 52,
It may be configured to be connected via 50B. This configuration is effective when it is difficult to arrange the pipes 44 and 45 so as to be close to each other, and it is possible to transfer heat to each of the pipes 44 and 45 at positions apart from each other via the heat pipe 50. In addition to this, there is an effect that the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the piping, the heater, the processing liquid tank, and the like is high, and the size of the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same portions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the heat transfer device 80A of the photosensitive material processing device 81 in the second embodiment, the heater 60 is cast in the heat guide block 48 together with the pipes 44, 45, 46. As shown in detail in FIG.
Are located at the center of the heat conducting block 48,
6 are equally spaced from each other. A circular hole is formed in the center of the heat guide block 48 coaxially with the heater 60, and one end of the heat pipe 50 is press-fitted into the circular hole.

The heat pipe 50 has an intermediate portion bent at a right angle, and the other end thereof is in contact with a portion having a temperature lower than the temperature of the processing liquid, for example, a water supply portion for adding the evaporation from each processing tank. Are located. A plurality of radiation fins 82 are attached to the other end, and a fan 63 for blowing cooling air to the radiation fins 82 is provided near the radiation fins 82. On the other hand, also in the heat transfer device 80B, the heater 72 is cast together with the pipes 64, 65, and 66 in the heat guide block 68, and a radiation fin 84 is provided at the other end of the heat pipe 50. Is provided with a fan 76.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. The processing liquid in the bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 is supplied through a pipe 4
It is circulated through 4, 45, 46 and passes through the heat guide block 48. The heat guide block 48 is heated by the heat generated from the heater 60, and the retained heat causes the pipes 44, 4.
The processing liquid is heated through the tube walls 5 and 46. As described above, all the processing liquids in the bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 are circulated in the pipes 44, 45 and 46 and are heated by the heat guide block 48 to the set temperature. Is high in thermal efficiency for heating the processing liquid, and the processing liquid is not partially heated, so that the processing liquid does not deteriorate. Similarly, the processing liquids in the washing tanks 22, 24 and the stabilization tank 26 also have high thermal efficiency for heating, and do not partially raise the processing liquid.

When the processing liquid in the bleaching tank 14, the bleaching / fixing tanks 16 and 18 receives heat from the pump 42 or the like and the temperature of the processing liquid rises while the heater 60 is not operated, the control circuit 30 controls the fan. Activate 63. The heat held by the heat conducting block 48 is the heat pipe 5 press-fitted into the heat conducting block 48.
0 is also transmitted to one end. The heat transmitted to one end of the heat pipe 50 is transmitted with high thermal efficiency to the other end having a lower temperature inside the heat pipe 50 and is radiated at the other end. Here, a fan 63 is provided at the other end of the heat pipe 50.
Since the cooling air is blown, and the surface area of the heat dissipating portion is increased by the heat dissipating fins 82, the heat held by the heat conducting block 48 is dissipated with high thermal efficiency, and the processing liquid is cooled in a short time.

When the processing liquid in the washing tanks 22, 24 and the stabilizing tank 26 receives heat from the pump 70 or the like and the liquid temperature rises, the fan 76 is operated, and the heat retained in the heat guide block 68 is increased with high thermal efficiency. The heat is radiated, and the processing liquid is cooled in a short time.

Further, since heat is radiated through the heat pipe 50, by changing the length of the heat pipe 50, the presence / absence of bending of the intermediate portion, and the degree of bending, for example, any photosensitive material processing apparatus 81 requiring heating can be used. Since heat can be transmitted to the site through the heat pipe 50 and radiated, the heat can be transmitted not only to the processing liquid but also to any site of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 81 . Therefore , energy saving of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 81 is realized as compared with the case where the heat guide blocks 48 and 68 are directly cooled and excess heat is radiated around the portions where the heat guide blocks 48 and 68 are provided as in the first embodiment. it can.

In the second embodiment, the heat pipe 50 is used.
The radiation fins 82 are attached to the other end of the fins to improve the heat radiation efficiency. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the radiation fins 82 may be omitted. In this case, although the efficiency of heat radiation is reduced, the effect is obtained that heat can be transmitted and radiated to the portion of the photosensitive material processing apparatus that requires heating via the heat pipe 50.

In the heating apparatus already proposed by the present applicant (see Japanese Patent Application No. 3-279758), for example, a single pipe and heater are cast into a heat conducting block as follows. Thus, the present invention can be easily applied. That is, as shown in FIG.
A block 102 made of, for example, aluminum corresponding to the heat conductive block 100 and the block 102 is formed on the opposing surfaces of the block 102 in parallel with the heater 104 and the pipe 106, respectively.
Carve out a letter-shaped groove. The other end of the heat pipe 108 to which the heat radiation fin 110 is attached at one end is sandwiched between the heat guide block 100 and the block 102 corresponding to the groove, and is tightly attached by tightening with the screw 112. Thereby, the heat possessed by the heat guide block 100 can be radiated with high thermal efficiency.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the heat transfer device 86A of the photosensitive material processing device 87 according to the third embodiment, one end of two heat pipes 50A and 50B is press-fitted into the heat guide block 48. One heat pipe 50A has a middle portion bent at a substantially right angle, and a heat guide block 52 in which a heater 60 is cast is attached to the other end. A radiation fin 82 is attached to the other end of the other heat pipe 50B, and as shown in FIG.
The radiation fins 82 are connected to the drying section 8 of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 87.
In order to correspond to the outside air inlet 98A of No. 8, an intermediate portion is arranged to be bent at substantially a right angle.

The heat transfer block 6 of the heat transfer device 86B
8, two heat pipes 50C and 50D are press-fitted, and the other end of one heat pipe 50C is provided with a heater 72C.
A heat-conducting block 74 into which is cast is attached, and a radiation fin 84 is attached to the other end of the other heat pipe 50D. Also in the heat pipe 50D, the radiation fins 84 are arranged so as to correspond to the outside air intake 98A (not shown in FIG. 8).

The drying section 88 is provided adjacent to the stabilizing tank 26 and includes a fan 90 for generating an air flow and a fan 90.
And a heater box 92 which includes a heater (not shown) and is arranged on the exhaust side of the heater. The air flow generated by the fan 90 is heated by a heater in a heater box 92 and supplied as a drying air into a drying chamber 94 through which a photosensitive material F (not shown) processed through each processing tank passes. As a result, the photosensitive material F is dried.

A part of the drying air used for drying is returned to the suction chamber 98 via the return duct 96, and the rest is discharged out of the drying unit 88. The outside air intake 98A is open to the intake chamber 98. Intake chamber 98
Communicates with the intake side of the fan 90. When the fan 90 is operated, the outside air that has passed through the radiating fins 82 and 84 is sucked into the intake chamber 98 through the outside air intake 98A, and the return duct 96 is The air is mixed with the drying air returned via the fan 90 and is supplied to the fan 90.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. Heat generated from the heater 60 is transmitted to the heat guide block 48 via the heat pipe 50A and heated, and the processing liquid is heated through the pipe walls of the pipes 44, 45 and 46 by the retained heat. Further, heat generated from the heater 72 is transmitted to the heat guide block 68 via the heat pipe 50C and heated, and the processing liquid is heated through the pipe walls of the pipes 64, 65 and 66 by the retained heat. As described above, heat is transmitted to the heat conduction block 48 and the heat conduction block 68 by using the heat pipes 50A and 50C, and the processing liquid in each processing tank is circulated in each pipe to be heated by the heat conduction block 48 or the heat conduction block 68. High heat efficiency for heating the processing solution,
Since the temperature of the processing liquid is not partially raised, the processing liquid does not deteriorate.

On the other hand, the fan 90 and the heater box 92
When the drying air is generated and the drying unit 88 is operated, a part of the drying air used for drying is discharged out of the drying unit 88. As a result, the processing liquid receives heat, and the liquid temperature may become higher than the set temperature. However, the operation of the fan 90 causes the outside air intake 9 of the intake chamber 98 to move.
Outside air is sucked in through 8A, and the sucked outside air is blown to the radiating fins 82 and 84 as an air flow, so that excess heat transmitted through the heat pipes 50B and 50D is radiated. The processing liquid is cooled. As described above, the processing liquid receives heat from the outside according to the operation of the drying unit 88, but at the same time, the amount of heat radiated by the radiation fins 82 and 84 increases, so that the processing liquid can be automatically maintained at the set temperature. .

Since the outside air sucked through the outside air inlet 98A is heated to some extent by the heat radiation from the radiating fins 82 and 84, the energizing time of the heater of the drying section 88 can be shortened, and the photosensitive material can be shortened. Energy saving of the processing device 87 can be realized. In addition, it is not necessary to provide a separate fan at the location of the radiating fins 82 and 84 and to operate the fan to release the heat when the temperature of the processing liquid becomes higher than the set temperature. It becomes unnecessary and the control becomes simple.

In the third embodiment, the radiating fins 82 and 84 are arranged so as to heat the outside air sucked through the outside air inlet 98A of the drying section 88. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not something. For example, if the intermediate part of the pipe through which the replenisher supplied to each processing tank passes is cast into a heat conducting block and this heat conducting block is heated via a heat pipe, the photosensitive material processing apparatus can be installed in a low-temperature environment. Also in this case, since the replenisher is pre-heated, fluctuations in the temperature of the process liquid in the processing tank due to replenishment of the replenisher are suppressed to a small extent.

Further, a heat pipe connected at one end to a heat conducting block for heating the processing liquid is circulated, and the replenisher stored in the storage tank in the replenisher supplying section is supplied with the processing liquid in the above embodiment. If the heating is performed in the same manner as the heating, the replenisher is also heated at the same time as the heating of the processing liquid at the start of the operation of the day, and the occurrence of dew condensation in the supply unit can be prevented.

In the above embodiment, the heat pipe is pressed into the hole provided in the heat conducting block, or is tightly attached to the heat conducting block by being sandwiched between a plurality of heat conducting blocks and tightened with screws. After casting only 49 into the heat conducting block, a wick 51 may be provided inside the pipe 49, and the heat pipe 50 may be formed by closing the both ends under reduced pressure. In this case, since the pipe 49 is closely adhered by being cast into the heat conducting block, the thermal efficiency is very high. In the above embodiment, the pipe and the heater are brought into close contact by being cast into the heat-conducting block. However, they can be brought into close contact by press-fitting or tightening as described above.

[0070]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the heat conducting block into which the pipe through which the processing liquid passes is cast , the heat conducting block into which the heat source is cast, and the heat source and the processing liquid pass through. A heat pipe in which a pipe is cast, and a heat pipe is closely attached to the heat guide block, so that heat transfer for heating and cooling the processing liquid can be performed with high thermal efficiency. , Which is an excellent effect. According to the second aspect of the invention, the heat source is cast.
The first heat-conducting block, and piping the treatment liquid passes through casting was
Since the heat pipe is closely connected to the inserted second heat guide block, an excellent effect that heat transfer for heating the processing liquid can be performed with high thermal efficiency can be obtained.

[0071] In the present invention of claim 3, wherein, in the heat-conducting block pipe is cast either heat conducting block pipes were cast the treatment liquid passes, or the heat source and the treatment liquid passes, it is brought into close contact with the heat pipe, Since a part of the heat pipe is disposed at a position lower than the set temperature of the processing liquid, an excellent effect that heat transfer for cooling the processing liquid can be performed with high thermal efficiency can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a heat guide block and a heat pipe according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the heat pipe.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram showing connections of devices constituting the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a heat guide block, a heat pipe, and a radiation fin according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of radiation fins and the like in the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the heat guide block and the heat pipe.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of the heat guide block and the heat pipe.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example in which a heat pipe is attached to a conventional heat conducting block to perform heat radiation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 heat transfer device 32 heater 44 circulation pipe 45 circulation pipe 46 circulation pipe 48 heat conduction block 50 heat pipe 52 heat conduction block 60 heater 64 circulation pipe 65 circulation pipe 66 circulation pipe 68 heat conduction block 74 heat conduction block 80 heat transmission device 82 radiation fin 84 heat radiation Fin 86 Heat transfer device 88 Drying section 98A Outside air intake

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and heat conducting block pipe is cast to the processing solution of the photosensitive material processing apparatus passes, the heat-conducting block heat source is cast, piping heat source and the treatment liquid to pass through the casting
A heat transfer block for a photosensitive material processing apparatus, comprising at least one of a heat transfer block and a heat pipe. 2. A first heat conducting block into which a heat source is cast, and a pipe through which a processing liquid of a photosensitive material processing apparatus passes is cast.
Light-sensitive material having a second heat-conducting block, a heat pipe connecting the first heat-conducting block and the second in close contact with the heat-conducting block the said first heat-conducting block the second heat-conducting block, the which Heat transfer device for processing equipment. 3. A heat pipe is attached to a heat-conducting block in which a pipe through which a processing solution of a photosensitive material processing apparatus is cast , or a heat-conducting block in which a heat source and a pipe through which the processing liquid passes are cast . A heat transfer device for a photosensitive material processing apparatus, wherein a part of the heat pipe is disposed at a position lower than a set temperature of the processing liquid. 4. A heat transfer device for a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said part of said heat pipe is arranged in an air passage used as drying air for drying the photosensitive material. 5. A heat transfer device for a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a radiation fin is attached to said part of said heat pipe. 6. The heat for a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said part of said heat pipe is brought into close contact with a heat conducting block to which a pipe through which a replenisher to be added to said treatment liquid passes is adhered. Transmission device.