JPS59136734A - Processor of photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an automated processor which eliminates the need for feed piping by providing each processing tank for a photosensitive material with a means which injects processing solution or washing water detachably. CONSTITUTION:A feed water pump 41 and a cap 31C are lifted to set a cartridge 31 filled with the developing solution and returned to their original positions, and then the liquid feed pump 41 is put in operation. The developing solution in the inner bag 31B in the cartridge 31 is sent to a processing tank 11 through a hose connected to an U-type tube 11C. An overflowing solution is recovered in the space outside of the inner bag 31B in the cartridge 31F from a liquid receiving pipe 31F through a hose connected to an overflow pipe 11E. The washing processing system circulates the washing water by liquid feed pumps 44 and 45 in the order of the cartridge 34, the pump 44, a washing processing part 14, and the cartridge 34 and then circulates it in the cartridge 35 similarly. Thus, the processor which eliminates the need for feed piping is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and more particularly to a photosensitive material processing apparatus that does not require liquid supply/drain piping and is suitable for so-called camera processors that are combined with cameras for copying and the like.

For example, a microfiche camera processor for microfiring slips, etc., is handled in the same way as a 44-day office machine, so its installation and daily handling should be as simple as possible. required. For this reason, the photosensitive material processing equipment (hereinafter referred to as "processor") built into this type of equipment uses a closed system that does not require piping for supplying and draining liquids, and also allows operations such as replenishment and replacement of various processing liquids. , it is desirable to automate as much as possible.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a processor that satisfies the above-mentioned requirements and is automated in sieving and does not require supply/drainage piping.

The gist of the present invention is that, in a processor that processes a photosensitive material while sequentially transporting it through processing tanks such as developing, fixing, and washing, a cartridge receives a cartridge filled with processing solution or washing water used in each processing tank IC. The present invention is characterized in that a receiving portion and a means for injecting the processing liquid or washing water in the cartridge into each of the processing tanks are provided, and the injecting means is configured to be removable from the cartridge.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a processor that is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a development processing section 11.
Stop processing unit 12. Fixing processing section 13 and washing processing section 14
．． 15, a processing section, 20, a drying section, consisting of a squeeze section 21 and a hot air drying section 22, 30, a cartridge accommodating section for accommodating cartridges 31 to 35 of processing liquid or washing water, and 40, the cartridges. This is a liquid supply section equipped with self-priming pumps 41 to 45 for injecting the processing liquid or washing water in the processing section into the corresponding processing section. Also F
indicates the transport path of the photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as "film").

Among the processing sections, the development processing section 11. Fixing processing section 13
Each of the washing processing sections 14 and 15 is constructed such that a large number of rollers are disposed in a processing tank and the film is processed while being transported in a V-shape.

Further, the stop processing section 12 utilizes a crossover section between the development processing section 11 and the fixing processing section 13 to
A stop liquid reservoir consisting of two pairs of small-diameter rollers, a stop liquid supply pipe, and a drip-proof plate is provided here, and the stop process is performed while the film passes through the stop liquid reservoir. It increases efficiency, saves space and reduces processing time.

The squeeze section 21 is constructed by arranging a large number of rollers R in a staggered manner, and the hot air drying section 22 is configured with transfer rollers R arranged in a staggered manner similar to the squeeze section 21 and facing the rollers R. It consists of a tilting wind blowing nozzle N provided.

The developing processing system is shown in detail in FIG. 2, and includes a developing processing section 11. Developer solution car) IJ Tsuji 31. Developer liquid supply pump 41. Developer circulation pump 51. It consists of a developer replenishment pump 61 and a filter 71. The development processing tank has a liquid inlet/outlet 11A; 11B for a circulation system consisting of the circulation pump 51 and filter 71, and a U-shaped pipe 11c for liquid injection connected to the liquid supply pump 41 and replenishment pump 61.
, a drain pipe 81 with a cock. Drain port 11 to which is connected
D and over 70-pipe IIE etc. are provided.

The developer cartridge 31 consists of a container 31A made of hard plastic and a bag made of quality plastic.
It has a 2° layered structure in which p' is larger, and the developer is initially filled in the inner bag 31B. The space between the container 31A and the inner bag 3113 is used to collect developer that overflows due to replenishment that occurs during film processing. The cap 31C of the developer cartridge 31 is provided with a liquid suction pipe 31D for the liquid supply pump 4-1 and the replenishment pump 61.

31E and a liquid receiving pipe 311'' connected to the overflow pipe LIE of the developing processing section 110.The suction pipes 31D and 31E are inserted into the inner bag 31B, and the liquid receiving pipe 31F is connected to the overflow pipe LIE of the developing processing section 110. is open to the outside of the inner bag 31B.

Further, the cap 31C of the cartridge moves together with the liquid supply pump 41 from the position where it fits into the cartridge 31 as shown in FIG. 2 to the position where the liquid suction pipes 31D and 31E are completely pulled out from the cartridge 3.1. configured to be possible.

The operation of the developing processing system of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below.

(1) Supplying liquid to the processing tank, pulling up the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C, and heating the first cartridge 31 filled with the developer.The liquid supply pump 41 and cap C are shown in FIG. Return it to the position and operate the feeding mepong 41. As a result, the developer in the inner bag 3113 of the cartridge 310 is sent to the processing tank via the hose connected to the U-shaped tube 11C. If the volume of the cartridge 31 and the capacity of the processing tank are made substantially equal, the processing tank will be filled with the developer through this operation. The overflow is transferred from the liquid receiving pipe 31F to the cartridge 3 via a hose connected to the overflow upper pipe LIE.
1 is collected in the outer space of the inner bag 31B.

(2) Cartridge conversion After completing the above operations, reconnect the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C. 1, take out the empty first cartridge 31, and set the second cartridge 31 filled with developer. Next, by returning the liquid supply pump 41 and the cap 3IC to the 'positions shown in FIG. 2, the liquid supply is photonized.

(3) Preparation for processing, circulation of processing developer, temperature adjustment, replenishment accompanying processing, etc. are carried out in the same manner as in a normal processor. As described above, the overflowing developer due to replenishment is collected in the cartridge 31. In addition, if the liquid level in the processing tank drops for some reason, this is detected by the electrode switch IIF, and the liquid supply pump 41 can be operated until the liquid level recovers. There is.

If the amount of film processing liquid exceeds the specified amount, or if the time in the processor exceeds the specified time, the developer is replaced. When replacing the drain pipe 81, the cock of the drain pipe 81 is opened to receive the developer in the processing tank into another container. Before supplying a new developer, clean the inside of the processing tank if necessary.

The procedure for supplying a new developer is as described above.

Next, the stop processing system will be explained. As described above, the stop processing system of this embodiment has a small capacity stop liquid storage section. The cartridge 32 filled with the stop solution is a simple container that does not have an inner bag, unlike the cartridge 31 for the developer, and each cap has one liquid suction pipe and one liquid receiving pipe. It is.

The stop processing system does not have a liquid supply operation, and is configured such that the stop liquid is circulated from the cartridge 32 to the pump 42 to the stop liquid storage section to the cartridge 32 by the liquid supply pump 42 at the same time as the process starts. A small amount of water for liquid recovery is provided in the tray of the stop liquid reservoir, and when the liquid supply pump 42 is stopped, all the stop liquid is collected into the cartridge 32.

The fixing processing system is configured exactly the same as the developing processing system.
The operation is also the same.

Next, the water washing treatment system will be explained. The configuration of the water washing treatment system is similar to the shutdown treatment system described above. That is, the cartridges 34 and 35 for supplying washing water, as well as for the stop liquid,
It does not have an inner bag, and the structure of the cap is the same as that for stop liquid.

Regarding the operation, there is no liquid supply operation, and the liquid supply pumps 44 and 45 supply washing water to the cartridge 3 at the same time as the process starts.
4 → Bottom 44 → Washing section 14 → Cartridge 34
．． It is configured to circulate in the order of cartridge 35 → bong 45 → water washing processing section 15 → cartridge 35. Also,
A small hole for liquid recovery is provided at the bottom of the processing tank, and when the liquid supply pump is stopped, the washing water is recovered into each cartridge.

The electrode switch for monitoring the liquid level, which is installed in the processing tank for development and fixing, is configured so that a low voltage current is supplied for several seconds per minute, and electrolysis of the processing liquid is performed. and prevents corrosion of the electrodes.

Further, the output of this electrode switch may be used not only to operate the liquid supply pump as described above but also to generate an alarm.

Furthermore, it can also be used as a timing signal to stop the liquid supply during the liquid supply operation to the processing liquid.

The processing liquid can be replaced, for example, as follows using a preset counter and two timers. The preset counter is a counter that is reset when the processing liquid cartridge is replaced, and the allowable number of films to be processed per processing liquid cartridge is set therein. Both of the two timers are reset when the processing liquid cartridge is replaced, and the first timer is set for one week and the second timer is set for one month. Then, by the output of the counter or the first glue timer, whichever is earlier, a message indicating that the processing liquid cartridge should be replaced is displayed.
CHANGECHEMICALSJ, and after the output of the second timer, process i at the time of the output of the counter or the first timer, whichever is earlier.
! I! The display ``CLEANPROCBSSORJ'' is displayed to inform the operator that not only the liquid cartridges, developer and fixing tanks should be replaced, but also the processor should be cleaned. It becomes possible to maintain good conditions.

FIG. 3 shows the electrical connections of the processor. In the figure, Kl is the liquid supply pump switch, K is the replenishment pump switch, K3 is the developer temperature priority temperature control switch, l (4 is the elevator motor switch, and SI
is the elevator lift selector switch, St is the liquid supply door opening/closing detection switch, LS is the engineering V beta upper limit switch, LS
, is the elevator lower limit switch, and TH,, TH2 are the thermostats. Also, D, S, F, W,
and W2 are abbreviations for developing solution, stop solution, fixing solution, and washing water (2 tanks), respectively.

As is clear from the figure, the developer and fixer are always operated synchronously. Here, the elevator refers to attaching and detaching the cap of the processing liquid cartridge to the cartridge.
It goes without saying that the liquid supply pump may also be a single unit), and is configured to be operable only when the liquid supply section door is opened.

The developer temperature priority type temperature control switch 3 is a switch configured so that it can be switched to the drying section heater side only when the developer tank heater is OFF.With this configuration, the electricity of the entire processor is reduced. This has the effect of making it possible to reduce the capacity.

The above embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments. For example, when using a liquid supply pump as a means for supplying the processing liquid or washing water in the processing liquid cartridge to the processing tank,
Making the liquid supply means detachable from the cartridge means that only the liquid suction pipe inserted into the cartridge of the liquid supply pump may be detachable. Further, the various controls described above can be performed by program processing by a microcomputer, and it goes without saying that this is effective.

As described above, the present invention has the remarkable effect of realizing a highly automated processor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a developing processing system, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of electrical connections. 10: Processing section, 20: Drying section, 30: Cartridge housing section, 31-35 Nicart cartridge, 41-45: Liquid supply pump. Figure 1, 51 32 33 34 35 2nd
Figure 3-231-

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a photosensitive material processing apparatus that processes a photosensitive material while sequentially transferring it through processing tanks such as developing, fixing, and washing, a cartridge receiving part that receives a cartridge filled with a processing solution or washing water used in each processing tank; , a means for injecting the processing liquid or washing water in the cartridge into each of the processing tanks; and ++B, the injecting means is configured to be removable from the cartridge.