JPH03150564A - Device for processing photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the temp. drop of a processing liquid in processing tanks by replenishing liquid and to allow the stable processing of a photosensitive material by heating the replenishing liquid and replenishing the liquid to the processing tanks. CONSTITUTION:A heater 50 for heating a developing soln. is provided in a developing tank 16 and a circulating pump 52 is interposed therein in order to stir the developing soln. in the developing tank 16. A pipeline 54 communicated at two points of the developing tank 16 is provided. The replenishing liquid is thereby heated and is replenished after the liquid is heated up to the prescribed temp. and, therefore, the developing soln. in the developing tank 16 and the fixer in a fixing tank 18 are maintained at a stable liquid temp. without being locally lowered in temp. The photographic characteristics, such a sensitivity and gradation, of a film 12 are, therefore, stabilized in the development processing in the developing tank 16. The generation of a fixing defect in the fixing processing in the fixing tank 18 is obviated. The stable processing is executed in this way.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing solution contained in a processing tank, and particularly to a replenishing device for replenishing a processing tank with a replenisher. The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus equipped with the following.

[Conventional technology]

A photosensitive material processing apparatus that processes photosensitive materials such as photographic film is equipped with processing tanks such as a developer tank containing a developer solution and a fixing tank containing a fixer solution. The film is immersed in a processing solution such as a fixing solution or a fixing solution to undergo development processing.

Further, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus, a heater is provided in each processing tank to maintain the processing liquid at a set temperature (for example, 35° C. for a developer). Furthermore, the photosensitive material processing equipment is provided with a replenishment device corresponding to each processing tank, and the processing liquid in each processing tank is replenished according to the amount taken out by the photosensitive material, and the processing liquid in each processing tank is replenished according to the amount taken out by the photosensitive material. Replenishment (referred to as processing replenishment) is used to compensate for deterioration caused by processing fatigue caused by the components of the developer reacting with components such as the developing agent in the developer and being consumed. Replenishment (referred to as chronological replenishment) is now performed to compensate for the deterioration caused by oxidative fatigue caused by overheating.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, when the environmental temperature is low, such as in winter, the temperature of the replenisher refilled by the replenisher is also low (for example, around 0°C to 5°C in the morning), and the replenishment of the replenisher causes the processing liquid in the processing tank to drop. The temperature of the area where the replenisher is mixed and the surrounding area decreases. As a result, the processing liquid in the processing tank cannot be locally maintained at a set temperature, resulting in a problem that stable processing with good sensitivity, gradation, and shedding cannot be performed.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of processing photosensitive materials in a good and stable manner.

[Means to solve the problem]

The invention according to claim (1) is a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid stored in a processing tank and set at a predetermined temperature, comprising: a replenishing means for replenishing the processing tank with a replenisher;
The invention according to claim (2) is characterized in that the method further comprises a heating means for heating the replenisher before replenishing the replenisher into the processing tank, the replenisher being disposed in the processing liquid of the processing tank, A guide path is provided for heating the replenisher liquid guided to the processing tank with the processing liquid.

The invention according to claim (3) includes a replenishment tank that stores the replenisher, and the heating means includes a heater that heats the replenisher in the replenishment tank.

[Effect]

In the invention of claim (1), the replenisher is heated by the heating means and is replenished into the processing tank before being replenished into the processing tank by the replenishing means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the predetermined temperature of the processing liquid in the processing tank from being locally lowered due to replenishment with the replenisher.

In the invention of claim (2), the replenisher is heated by the processing liquid itself in the processing tank, and the heated replenisher is replenished into the processing tank.

In the invention of claim (3), the replenisher in the replenishment tank is heated by a heater, and the heated replenisher is replenished into the processing tank.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, since it is possible to prevent the temperature of the processing solution in the processing tank from decreasing due to the replenisher replenishing the processing tank, an excellent effect can be obtained in that stable processing of the photosensitive material can be achieved.

〔Example〕

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an automatic developing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

The automatic developing device 10 includes an insertion port 14 for the film 12, and a developing tank 16, a fixing tank I8, a washing tank 20, . Drying section 22 and film receiving box 24
It is equipped with

A developer is stored in the developer tank 16, and the film 12
is immersed in a developer to be developed.

A heater 50 for heating the developer is disposed inside the developer tank 16, and a circulation pump 52 is interposed to agitate the developer in the developer tank 16, communicating with each other at two locations in the developer tank 16. A conduit 54 is provided. Therefore, the developer in the developer tank 16 is heated by the heater 50, and the circulation pump 52 is operated to stir and maintain the developer at a predetermined temperature.

Further, a replenishing device 56 is provided corresponding to the developer tank 16. This replenishment device 56 includes a replenishment tank 58 containing replenisher, a pipe line 60 that communicates the replenishment tank 58 and the developer tank 16, and a replenishment tank 58 that is interposed in the pipe line 60.
A pump 62 for replenishing the developer tank 16 with the replenisher in the developer tank 16 is provided.

As shown in FIG.
The pipe is bent into the developer solution No. 6 and heated. Therefore, when the pump 62 is activated, the replenisher is refilled from the replenishment tank 58 to the developer tank 16 via the pipe line 60. It is heated to about the same temperature as this developer.

The developer tank 16 is provided with a liquid level sensor (not shown), and when this liquid level sensor detects that the level of the developer has fallen below a predetermined level, a control device (not shown) operates the pump 62 to replenish the liquid. is now being carried out.

Further, a detector 15 for detecting passage of the film is provided near the insertion opening 14 for the photographic film 12 in the developing tank 16.

Depending on the film scene detected by the detector 15, a control device (not shown) operates the pump 62 to perform replenishment (processing replenishment). Further, a control device (not shown) operates the pump 62 at predetermined time intervals to perform replenishment (replenishment over time).

Further, the fixing tank 18 contains a fixing solution, and the developed film 12 is immersed in the fixing solution to be fixed.

A heater 70 for heating the fixing liquid is disposed inside the fixing tank 18, and a circulation pump 72 is interposed to agitate the fixing liquid in the fixing tank 18, which communicates with the fixing tank 18 at two locations. A conduit 74 is provided. Therefore, the fixing liquid in the fixing tank 18 is heated by the heater 70, and the circulation pump 72 is operated to stir it and maintain it at a predetermined temperature.

Further, a replenishing device 76 is provided corresponding to the fixing tank 18 . This replenishment device 76 includes a replenishment tank 78 containing a replenisher, a pipe line 80 that communicates the replenishment tank 78 and the fixing tank 18, and a replenishment tank 78 that is interposed in the pipe line 80.
The fixing tank 18 is provided with a pump 82 for replenishing the fixing tank 18 with the replenishing liquid in the fixing tank 18. The pipe line 80 is arranged such that a part between the pump 82 and the outlet of the pipe line 80 to the fixing tank 18 is bent into the fixing liquid of the fixing tank 18 and heated by the fixing liquid. . Therefore, when the pump 82 is activated, the replenisher is refilled from the replenisher tank 78 to the fixer tank 18 via the pipe line 80; , is heated to about the same temperature as this fixer.

The fixing tank 18 is replenished in the same way as the developer tank 16 by operating a pump 82.

The washing tank 20 contains washing water, and the fixed film 12 is immersed in the washing water and washed.

A replenishing device 90 is provided corresponding to this washing tank 20. This replenishment device 90 includes a replenishment tank 92 that accommodates flush water, a pipe line 94 that communicates this replenishment tank 92 and the flush tank 20, and a replenishment tank 92 that is interposed in this pipe line 94.
A pump 96 that supplies the washing water inside to the washing tank 20 is provided. Accordingly, when the pump 96 is activated, flushing water is replenished from the replenishment tank 92 to the flushing tank 20 via the conduit 94.

Further, a liquid level sensor (not shown) is disposed in the washing tank 20, and when this liquid level sensor detects that the level of the washing water in the washing tank 20 has fallen below a predetermined level, the pump 96 is activated. It has become so.

The drying section 22 is equipped with a drying chamber 26 for drying the film 12, and is also provided with an air introduction duct 28 and an exhaust duct 30 that communicate with this drying chamber 26.

A fan 32 and a heater 34 are arranged in the air introduction duct 28 , and the air introduced into the air introduction duct 28 by the fan 32 is heated by the heater 34 to become dry air, and this dry air is supplied to the drying chamber 26 . , and then exhausted to the outside via the exhaust duct 30.

Therefore, the wet film 12 that has been washed with water in the washing tank 20 is dried by drying air in the drying section 22. In the film receiving box 24, the films 12 dried in the drying section 22 are sequentially stored.

Note that a temperature sensor (not shown) is disposed inside the drying chamber 26, and when the temperature sensor detects the temperature inside the drying chamber 26, the heater 34 is turned on and off to maintain the temperature inside the drying chamber 26 at an appropriate temperature. It is supposed to be done.

Further, in the automatic developing device 10, a plurality of conveying rollers 36 supported rotatably by a rack (not shown) are arranged along the processing line of the film 12, and are inserted into the automatic developing device IO from the insertion opening 14. The film 12 is automatically conveyed by the conveying roller 36 and sequentially transferred to the developing tank 1.
6, the film is sent to a fixing tank 18, a washing tank 20, and a drying section 22, where it undergoes various treatments, and then sent to a film receiving box 24.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The automatic developing device 1O is provided with a main switch (not shown), and when the main switch is turned on, the developer tank 1 is turned on.
The heater 50 of No. 6 is energized, and the circulation pump 52 is activated to raise the temperature of the developer to a predetermined temperature. Further, in the fixing tank 18, a heater 70 is heated, and a circulation pump 72 is operated to raise the temperature of the fixing liquid to a predetermined temperature. Further, in the drying section 22 , the heater 34 is energized, and the fan 32 is operated to introduce air into the air introduction duct 28 , and the air is heated and supplied to the drying chamber 26 as drying air. The temperature is increased.

■■ When the temperature of the developer in the developer tank 16 and the fixer in the fixer tank 18 and the indoor temperature of the drying chamber 26 reach a predetermined temperature, the automatic developing device 10 enters the standby state.

These temperature states are detected by a temperature sensor (not shown), and the heaters 50, 70 and 34 are turned on and off as necessary.
It is set to be turned off.

In this standby state, the film 12 is transferred to the automatic developing device 10.
can be processed with. That is, the film 12 inserted into the automatic developing device 10 through the insertion port 14 is developed with a developer in the developer tank 16 while being transported by the transport roller 36, and is fixed with a fixer in the fixing tank 18.
The film is washed with washing water in the washing tank 20, dried with drying air in the drying section 22, and sent to the film receiving box 24. The film 12 inserted into the automatic developing device 10 in this manner is automatically developed while being conveyed by the conveying rollers 36.

Next, during the processing of the film 12 in the automatic developing device 10, if the liquid level in the developing tank 16 becomes below a predetermined level by a liquid level sensor (not shown), or if the amount of processed film 12 reaches a predetermined amount. (processing replenishment),
Further, the replenishing device 56 is operated at predetermined intervals (time-lapse replenishment) to replenish the developer tank 16 with the replenishing liquid in the replenishing tank 58. That is, the pump 62 is operated, and the replenisher is refilled from the replenishment tank 58 to the developer tank 16 from the discharge port via the conduit 60. At this time, since a part of the pipe line 60 is piped into the developer solution in the developer tank 16, the replenisher solution is heated by the developer solution and is brought to approximately the same temperature as the developer solution. Therefore, the temperature of the developer in the developer tank 16 is prevented from decreasing locally at the portion where the replenisher is replenished.

Further, in the fixing tank 18 as well, the replenishing device 76 is operated in the same manner as in the developer tank 16 described above. That is, pump 82
is activated, and the fixing tank 18 is replenished with the replenisher from the replenishment tank 78 via the conduit 80. At this time, since a part of the pipe line 80 is piped into the fixing liquid in the fixing tank 18, the replenishing liquid is heated by the fixing liquid and has a temperature substantially the same as that of the fixing liquid.

Therefore, the temperature of the fixer in the fixer tank 18 is prevented from decreasing locally at the portion where the replenisher is replenished.

In addition, in the washing tank, when the liquid level of the washing water becomes lower than a predetermined level by a liquid level sensor (not shown), the replenishing device 7
G is activated. That is, the pump 96 is operated and the washing water is supplied from the replenishment tank 92 through the pipe line 94 to replenish the washing water.

As described above, in this embodiment, the replenisher is heated to a temperature close to a predetermined temperature and then replenished, so that the developer in the developer tank 16 and the fixer in the fixer tank 18 may not be locally lowered. It can maintain a stable liquid temperature. Therefore, the developing process in the developing tank 16 stabilizes the photographic characteristics of the film 12, such as the sensitivity and gradation, and the fixing process in the fixing tank 18 does not cause fixing defects and is stable.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the same members, configurations, etc. as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

4 In this embodiment, a heater 110 and a liquid temperature sensor 112 are disposed in the replenishment tank 58 of the replenishment device 156 that supplies replenisher to the developer tank 16. Therefore, when the main switch (not shown) of the automatic developing device 10 is turned on, the heater 110 is heated to raise the temperature of the replenisher in the replenishment tank 58 to a predetermined temperature of the developer in the developer tank 16. When the temperature of the replenisher reaches a predetermined temperature, the temperature of the replenisher is detected by the liquid temperature sensor 112 and the heater 110 is turned off. Then, the liquid temperature of the replenisher is constantly detected by the liquid temperature sensor 112, and the heater 112 is turned on and off within an appropriate liquid temperature range to maintain the liquid temperature of the replenisher at the desired liquid temperature. There is. In this embodiment, the entire pipe line 60 is arranged outside the developing tank 16.

Further, a replenishing device 176 that replenishes the fixing tank 18 with replenishing liquid has a heater 120 and a liquid temperature sensor 122 disposed within the replenishing tank 78 . Therefore, when the main switch (not shown) of the automatic developing device 10 is turned on, the heater 12
The temperature of the replenisher in the tank 78 is raised to a predetermined temperature of the fixer in the fixing tank 18. When the liquid temperature of the replenisher reaches a predetermined temperature, the liquid temperature is detected by the liquid temperature sensor 122 and the heater 1
20 is turned off. The temperature of the replenisher is constantly detected by the liquid temperature sensor 122, and the heater 122 is turned on and off within an appropriate temperature range to maintain the temperature of the replenisher at a desired temperature. There is. Note that the entire pipe line 80 is piped outside the fixing tank 18.

The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the replenishment device 156 is activated,
Since the replenisher supplied from the replenishment tank 58 to the developer tank 16 is heated in advance to a desired temperature by the heater 110 in the replenisher tank 58, the developer in the developer tank 16 is locally lowered due to replenishment of the replenisher. be prevented from being

Also when the replenishment device 176 is activated, the replenishment tank 17
Since the replenisher refilled from the fixing tank 8 to the fixing tank 18 is heated in advance to a desired temperature by the heater 120 in the replenishing tank 58, the fixing fluid in the fixing tank 618 is locally lowered by replenishing the replenisher. be prevented from being

Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and their explanation will be omitted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the same members, configurations, etc. as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment, and explanations thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a check valve 210 is interposed between the pump 62 and the discharge port of the pipe line 60 in the pipe line 60 of the replenishing device 256 that supplies replenisher to the developing tank 16. The discharge port is provided in the developer in the developer tank 16. Therefore, when the replenishment device 256 is activated, the replenisher in the replenishment tank 58 is replenished into the developer tank 16 via the pipe line 60 and the check valve 210. At this time, since the replenisher is heated by the developer in the developer tank 16 and raised to a predetermined temperature as in the first embodiment, a local temperature drop of the developer in the developer tank 16 is prevented. Note that when the operation of the pump 762 is stopped, the check valve 210 prevents the developer in the developer tank 16 from flowing back into the replenishment tank 58.

A check valve 220 is interposed between the pump 82 and the outlet of the line 80 in the line 80 of the replenishing device 276 that replenishes the fixing tank 18 with the replenisher. It is provided in the fixing liquid of the fixing tank 18. Therefore, when the replenishment device 276 is activated, the replenisher in the replenishment tank 78 is replenished into the fixing tank 18 via the conduit 80 and the check valve 220.

At this time, as in the first embodiment, since the replenisher is heated by the fixer in the fixer tank 18 and raised to a predetermined temperature, a local temperature drop of the fixer in the fixer tank 18 is prevented. Note that when the operation of the pump 82 is stopped, the check valve 220 prevents the fixing fluid in the fixing tank 18 from flowing back into the replenishment tank 78 .

The other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, so their explanations will be omitted.

As shown on the right, in the third embodiment, each outlet of the pipes 60 and 80 opens into the developer and fixer, and all of the pipes 60 and 880 are disposed outside the developer tank 16 and the fixer tank 18. , a heater 11 is installed in the replenishment tank 58, 78 as in the second embodiment.
0 and liquid temperature sensor 112, heater I20 and liquid temperature sensor 12
2 may be provided.

In the above embodiment, an automatic developing device for developing a film has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to a photosensitive material processing device for processing other photosensitive materials, such as a planographic printing plate processing device for developing a planographic printing plate. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an automatic developing device to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an automatic developing device according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of a third embodiment of the automatic developing device. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of such an automatic developing device. 5G, 76.156.176.256.276...Replenishment device, 60.80...Pipeline, 110.120...Heater.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid stored in a processing tank and set at a predetermined temperature, the apparatus comprising a replenishing means for replenishing the processing tank with a replenisher, and a replenishing means for replenishing the replenisher into the processing tank. A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising: heating means for heating the replenisher before replenishing the replenisher. (2) The heating means is provided with a guide path that is disposed in the processing liquid of the processing tank and heats the replenisher liquid guided to the processing tank with the processing liquid. Photosensitive material processing equipment. (3) The photosensitive material processing according to claim 1, wherein the replenishment means includes a replenishment tank that stores the replenisher, and the heating means includes a heater that heats the replenisher in the replenishment tank. Device.