JP2742308B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention sequentially immerses a photosensitive material image-exposed to each processing solution stored in a plurality of processing tanks formed of a synthetic resin and partitioned by a partition wall. The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus that performs processing by causing the processing.

[Prior art] In a photosensitive material processing apparatus that automatically conveys and processes an image-exposed photosensitive material, processing units such as a developing unit, a fixing unit, a washing unit, a squeezing unit, and a drying unit are sequentially arranged adjacently. ing. The photosensitive material is sequentially conveyed to each of these processing sections, developed and fixed, washed with water in a washing section, and the photosensitive material moistened by the washing is dried in a drying section after the washing water is squeezed out in a squeeze section. After that, it is accumulated on the stocker.

Processing units such as a developing unit, a fixing unit, and a washing unit are provided with processing tanks in which processing liquids are stored, respectively, and the image-exposed photosensitive material is immersed in these processing liquids to perform each processing. . By the way, in order to reduce the number of parts and to reduce the weight of each processing tank such as the developing section, the fixing section and the washing section, the sled tanks are integrally formed of a synthetic resin as a processing tank body in a shape in which each sled tank is partitioned by a partition wall. It is molded into. As a matter of course, the height of the partition wall is set higher than the liquid level in the processing tank so that the processing liquids are not mixed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when the processing tank is formed of a synthetic resin, a flow mark is formed on the surface of the partition wall. If the partition wall has a flow mark, the processing liquid may climb up the partition wall and mix with an adjacent processing liquid due to capillary action and surface tension. For this reason, the height of the partition wall may be increased and a large step may be provided between the partition and the liquid surface. However, if the partition wall is made unnecessarily high, the apparatus itself becomes large and wasteful. It is also conceivable to cover the partition wall with another member to prevent the transmission of liquid due to capillary action and surface tension, but this is not preferable because the number of parts increases.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of preventing an adverse effect on processing due to mixing of processing solutions in adjacent processing tanks without using a separate member and without changing the size of the processing tank. The goal is to obtain

[Means for solving the problem]

The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing tank main body having a plurality of processing tanks integrally formed of a synthetic resin and partitioned by a partition wall, and is subjected to image exposure to each processing solution stored in these processing tanks. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing by sequentially immersing the photographic photosensitive material, wherein the processing tank body has a smooth surface by removing flow marks generated on a partition wall during molding. It is characterized by.

(Operation)

According to the present invention, the processing tank main body is left in a chamber filled with an organic solvent (for example, trichlene) in a mist state after molding for a predetermined time. Thereby, the flow mark generated on the surface of the partition wall can be removed. When the flow mark is removed, the processing liquid in each processing tank does not climb up the partition wall due to capillary action and surface tension, and the processing liquids in the adjacent processing tanks are mixed, and it is sure that the processing liquid is adversely affected. Is prevented.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.

The photosensitive material processing apparatus 10 has a function of developing, fixing, rinsing, and drying a film 20 as a photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material processing apparatus 10 is provided with a housing 18 provided with openable lids 12, 14, and 16 for shielding external light from being provided on an upper portion. A film 20 is provided on the upper left side of the housing 18.
An insertion table 22 for inserting the processed film is provided, and a film stocker 24 for storing the processed film is provided on the right side surface.

An insertion slot 26 into which the film 20 is inserted is formed near the insertion table 22 of the housing 18, and a detector 28 for detecting the passage of the film 20 is attached near the insertion slot 26.

The detector 28 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element (both not shown) near the film insertion port 26, and are arranged along the film width direction so as to face each other. Each light receiving element is turned on and off according to the width and length of the inserted film 20, depending on whether or not the light is blocked by the film 20. The detector 28 is
A type of detector in which a pair of light emitting elements and a light receiving element are disposed adjacent to each other, and which is turned on and off by the light receiving element receiving light of the light emitting element reflected by the film 20.

Inside the housing 18, a box-shaped processing tank main body 30 having an open top is disposed. The inside of the processing tank body 30 is partitioned by a partition wall 32, and a developing tank 34, a fixing tank 36, and a washing tank 38 are formed in the order of transport of the film 20. The developing tank 34 is slightly deeper than the fixing tank 36 and the washing tank 38. The fixing tank 36 and the washing tank 38 are
Its depth is the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, the partition wall 32 is formed to have a slightly higher height than the liquid surface of each processing liquid, thereby preventing the liquid from being mixed. The flow mark 140 (see FIG. 4 (A)) on the surface of the partition wall 32 has been removed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), immediately after molding of the processing tank main body 30, flow marks 140 are generated on the surface of the partition wall 32. Therefore, in this embodiment,
Processing tank body 30 made of molded synthetic resin (SF molding)
Is left in a chamber 144 filled with atomized trichlorene 142 for a predetermined time (10 minutes in this embodiment) (FIG. 4 (B)), thereby removing the flow mark 140 and smoothing. Surface can be formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, metal processing lower brackets 110, 112, and 11 are provided at four corners of a lower portion of the processing tank main body 30, respectively.
4, 116 are installed. These lower brackets 11
Reference numerals 0, 112, 114, and 116 correspond to a middle base 118 (see FIG. 2) formed at a middle portion of the housing 18 in the height direction. A circular hole 120 is provided in a lower bracket 110 of one section of the processing tank body 30, and lower brackets 112, 114, 11 of the other three corners are provided.
6 are provided with long holes 122, 124 and 126, each of which has a major axis along the radial direction centered on the circular hole 120. A female screw 119 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) is formed in the middle base 118 corresponding to the circular hole 120 and the elongated holes 122, 124 and 126. Lower bracket 110
A bolt 128 is inserted into the circular hole 120 (see FIG. 5 (B)) and screwed and fixed to the female screw 119. On the other hand, the slots 122, 124, 126 of the lower brackets 112, 114, 116
Each has a stepped bolt 130 inserted therein (see FIG. 5 (A)) and screwed with the female screw. That is, in the lower brackets 112, 114, and 116, the tightening force is limited by the stepped bolts 130, not in a secure state. For this reason, expansion and contraction due to the influence of the periphery of the processing tank body 30 is adjusted by the long holes 122, 124, and 126, thereby preventing the processing tank body 30 from being distorted and damaged or damaged. A transport rack 40 is inserted and arranged in the developing tank 34, and the fixing tank 36,
A transport rack 42 is disposed in the washing tank 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport rack 40 is a pair of side plates supported in parallel by a stay 41 (only one different side plate is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). , The other side plate is omitted), and a plurality of transport rollers 46 arranged in a staggered manner between these side plates 44 and rotatably supported. The ends of the stays 41 in the axial direction are respectively screwed from outside the side plates 44 with bolts 43, whereby the side plates 44 are fixed. A guide 48 for reversing the film 20 is disposed below the side plate. The transport roller 46 has a role of transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) to rotate and applying a transport force to the film. For this reason, the film 20 inserted into the developing tank 34 is turned down after being transported downward to the bottom, and is transported upward toward the upper part of the developing tank 34,
Sent out from 34. Thus, the film 20 is developed with the developer stored in the developing tank 34.

The transport rack 42 contacts a pair of side plates 50, two rollers 52 disposed vertically between the side plates 50, a large-diameter roller 54 disposed below them, and these rollers 52, 54. It is composed of a small-diameter roller 56 arranged in contact with the roller. A guide 58 for reversing the film 20 is provided below the side plate 50.
Is arranged. The rollers 52, 54, and 56 receive the driving force of a driving unit (not shown) to pinch and convey the film 20.

The transport rack 42 transports the film 20, which has been fed into the fixing tank 36 or the washing tank 38, downwardly toward the bottom, then reverses and transports it upward, and sends it out of the fixing tank 36 or the washing tank 38. As a result, the film 20 conveyed in the fixing tank 34 is fixed by the fixing liquid stored in the fixing tank 36. Also a washing tank
The film 20 transported in the inside 36 is washed with the washing water stored in the washing tank 38.

As shown in FIG. 1, an upper bracket 92 made of metal (for example, stainless steel) is attached to each opening edge of the processing tank body 30 parallel to the direction in which the film 20 is transported. The upper bracket 92 has a plurality of cuts formed on its long side in parallel with the short side, and is bent at a substantially right angle so that the cut is a boundary and a step is formed. The pair of upper brackets 92 are both directed outward of the processing bath main body 30. A circular hole 98 is formed in each of the bent pieces 49 and 96 bent at a different level, and in the bent piece 94 on the higher side, and corresponds to the tip of the cylindrical portion 100 protruding from the processing tank main body 30. A female screw (not shown) is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 100, and a bolt (not shown) is inserted from above the circular hole 98 of the bent piece 94 and screwed with the female screw, thereby forming the upper bracket 92 into the processing tank. It is fixed to the main body 30.

On the other hand, among the bent pieces 94 and 96, the lower bent piece 96 has a role as a receiving stand for the transport racks 40 and 42,
It corresponds to the lower end surface of the hanger part 102 of the transport racks 40, 42. The hanger portion 102 is formed of a synthetic resin having a crank-shaped cross section. The thickness of the hanger portion 102 is relatively thick, and the surface area of the bent piece 96 and the surface area of the lower end surface of the hanger portion 102 opposed thereto are substantially equal. It is the same.

The hanger portion 102 is fastened together with the side plate 44 by a bolt 43 when the stay 41 for supporting the side plates 40 and 42 in parallel with each other is attached. The width dimension W ₁ of the hanger part 102 (see FIG. 1) is the lower bending piece sandwiched between the higher bending pieces 94.
Is the spacing dimension W ₂ of 96 substantially the same, by which they fit fits, and is capable of placing the transport rack-and-pinion 40, 42 to the proper position. That is, the developing tank 34, the lower-side bent piece 96 of the upper bracket 92 and the hanger part 102,
It has a function as a means for positioning the transport racks 40 and 42 with respect to the fixing tank 36 and the washing tank 38. The hanger section 102
The material is not limited to a synthetic resin, but may be a metal such as stainless steel.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of transport rollers 60 is disposed in the developing tank 36 on the side of the insertion port 26. This transport roller pair 60
The film 20 inserted from the insertion slot 26 is inserted between the
It is sent out into the developing tank 34.

Further, between the developing tank 34 and the fixing tank 36, the film 24 sent out from the inside of the developing tank 34 is turned downward, and
An upper reversing guide 62 for guiding toward 36 is arranged.

Between the fixing tank 36 and the washing tank 38, there is provided a crossover rack 64 having a function of reversing the film 20 sent out from the fixing tank 36 into the washing tank 38 and inserting a film for re-water washing. Are located.

A squeeze section 66 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the film 20 in the washing tank 38, and a drying section 68 is provided on the downstream side.

A squeeze rack 70 is arranged in the squeeze section 66.
The squeeze rack 70 is disposed between a pair of side plates 72 (only one side plate is shown in FIG. 2 and the other side plate is not shown) and is rotatably supported between these side plates 72. And a pair of transport rollers 74 and 76. These transport roller pairs 74 and 76 are rotated by a driving force of a drive unit (not shown) being transmitted, and pinch and transport the film 20 sent from the washing tank 38 toward the drying unit 68. As a result, the washing water adhering to the film 20 is squeezed out.

In the drying section 68, a box-shaped drying chamber 78 is arranged.
The squeeze section 66 side of the drying chamber 78 has a film insertion port 78A
The film 20 is inserted into the drying chamber 78A. Furthermore, the film exit 78B is on the film stocking 24 side.
Is provided, and the film 20 in the drying chamber 78 is sent out.

In the drying chamber 78, a plurality of pairs of conveying rollers 80 are arranged along the horizontal direction. A plurality of pairs of guides 82 approaching in the transport direction of the film 24 are arranged between the transport roller pairs 80.

The plurality of pairs of transport rollers 80 are rotated by a driving force of a drive unit (not shown) being transmitted, and transport the film 20 toward the film stocker 24.

A plurality of hot air outlets 84 are formed in the upper and lower walls of the drying chamber 78. The hot air outlet 84 communicates the duct opening 86 of the duct 86 covering the periphery of the drying chamber 78 with the drying chamber 78. An air intake port (not shown) is formed at one end of the duct 86, and a fan 88 is arranged in the middle of the duct. A heater (not shown) is arranged in the middle of the duct 86.

The duct 86 from the air intake by the operation of Juan 88
The air sucked into the inside is heated by the heater to become hot air, passes through the duct opening 86A, and is supplied into the drying chamber 78 from the hot air outlet. With this, the transport roller pair 80
The film 20 is dried while being transported.

The transport roller pair 90 is located on the film stocking 24 side of the drying section 68.
Is arranged. The film 20 sent out from the inside of the drying chamber 78 is inserted into the transport roller pair 90, and sent out to the film stocker 24.

 Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

The film 20 sent into the inside from the insertion opening 26 is inserted into the developing tank 34 by the conveying roller pair 60, and the conveying rack 40
After being conveyed downward, it is conveyed upward and sent out of the developing tank 34. Thereby, it is immersed in the developing solution in the developing tank 34 and developed.

The film 20 sent out from the inside of the developing tank 34 is turned downward by the upper turning guide 66 and sent into the fixing tank 36.

The film 20 sent into the fixing tank 36 is transported by a transport rack 42.
After being conveyed downward, it is conveyed upward and sent out of the fixing tank 36. Thereby, it is immersed in the fixing solution in the fixing tank 36 and fixed.

The film 20 sent out from the fixing tank 36 is turned downward by the crossover rack 64, and
It is sent inside. Film sent into washing tank 38
20 is transported downward by the transport rack 42, then inverted and transported upward, and transported to the squeeze unit 66.

The film 20 conveyed to the squeeze section 66 is conveyed horizontally in the drying chamber 78 of the drying section 68 after moisture adhering in the washing tank 38 is squeezed out. Hot air is supplied to the drying chamber 78, and while being horizontally conveyed by the conveying roller pair 80, warm air is blown from the upper and lower hot air outlets 84 onto the front and back surfaces of the film 20 to be dried. The film 20 dried in the drying section 68 becomes a processed film and the film stock 24
To be accumulated.

The processing tank body 30 of this embodiment is an integrally molded product of a synthetic resin, and each processing tank (developing tank, fixing tank, washing tank) is a partition wall 32.
Is divided by Since the height of the partition wall 32 is slightly higher than the liquid level of each processing liquid, the partition walls 32 are not usually mixed with the processing liquid adjacent to each liquid. However, in the case of the conventional treatment tank body, the flow mark
Due to the occurrence of 140 (FIG. 4 (A)), the processing liquid may climb up the wall and mix with the adjacent processing liquid due to capillary action and surface tension. However, in this embodiment,
Since the process of removing the flow mark 140 (surface treatment) is performed, it is possible to prevent the treatment liquid from being mixed due to capillary action and surface tension. Since the procedure for removing the flow mark 140 only involves leaving the processing tank main body 30 in the chamber 144 filled with the trichlorene 142 as described in the configuration of the embodiment (see FIG. 4B), Work is easy. Further, since there is no need to attach a separate member to the partition wall 32, the structure is simple, and it is not necessary to take measures to increase the size of the apparatus such that the height of the partition wall 32 is extremely increased.

In the present embodiment, the entire processing tank body 30 is
Although placed in the chamber 144 filled with 2, and subjected to surface treatment,
Only the upper end portion of the partition wall 32 may be immersed in the trichlene solution.

The processing tank 30 includes bolts 128 and stepped bolts on the middle base 118 of the housing 18 by lower brackets 110, 112, 114, and 116.
Only one corner fixed by a bolt 128 is fixed as a fixed end.

Here, the processing tank body 30 made of synthetic resin is expanded and contracted by the temperature of the liquid stored in each tank of the processing tank body 30, the drying air from the drying unit, and the like. When this expansion and contraction occurs, the three corners are restricted in tightening by the stepped bolt 130, so that the processing tank main body 30 can freely move in accordance with expansion and contraction, and the processing tank main body 30 may be distorted. It is stretched without.
Thereby, no excessive force acts on the processing tank main body 30, and no trouble such as damage or breakage of the processing tank main body 30 occurs. In addition, the processing tank body 30
Film 20 formed by transport racks 40, 42, etc.
The film 20 can be properly conveyed without changing the conveyance path of the film 20.

In this embodiment, the lower brackets 112, 114, and 116 are formed with the long holes 122, 124, and 126 whose major diameters extend in the radial direction around the circular hole 120, respectively, but are larger than the outer dimensions of the stepped bolt 130. A circular hole may be provided. Further, a pin may be attached to the end face of the lower bracket 112, 114, 116 on the side of the middle base 118, and a long groove or a circular hole larger than the outer dimension of the pin may be provided in the middle base 118 corresponding to the pin.

The lower brackets 110, 112, 114, and 116 are not limited to metal and may be a synthetic resin having sufficient precision and strength to position the processing tank body 30. Further, other types of bolts may be used to attach the lower brackets 110, 112, 114 to the middle base 118 without being limited to the stepped bolts 130.

Next, the transport racks 40 and 42 of the present embodiment are not directly supported by the processing tank main body 30 but are supported via the upper bracket 92 and the hanger portion 102, and the loads of the transport racks 40 and 42 are applied. This can prevent the processing tank body 30 from being damaged or damaged.

Since the upper bracket 92 is fixed to the processing tank main body 30 in advance by bolts and protects the opening edge of the processing tank main body 30, it is necessary to provide a separate support member or the like on the outer periphery of the processing tank main body 30. And can withstand the load of the transport racks 40 and 42 with a simple structure.

Also, when the transport racks 40, 42 come into and out of the processing tank body 30, even if the transport racks 40, 42 contact the opening edge of the processing tank body 30, they are protected by the upper bracket 92. Damage or breakage can be prevented.

In addition, the bracket 92 includes stepped bent pieces 94 and 96.
As a result, unevenness is formed on the upper end surface, and the portion corresponding to the concave portion is used as the mounting portion of the hanger portion 102, so that the positioning of the hanger portion 102 is easy, and the transport racks 40, 42 are properly positioned. Can be arranged.

Further, since the upper bracket 92 is made of metal, the processing tank body 30 made of synthetic resin can be used without using the upper bracket 92.
The transport racks 40 and 42 can be disposed with higher accuracy than the case where the transport racks 40 and 42 are disposed only by using only the transport racks 40 and 42.

In the present embodiment, a configuration in which concave and convex shapes are fitted as the positioning means is applied, and the bent piece 96 of the upper bracket 92 is fitted as the concave side, and the lower end face of the hanger part 102 is fitted as the convex side. These irregularities may be formed in reverse.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention includes:
This has an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent adverse effects on processing due to mixing of processing solutions in adjacent processing tanks without using a separate member and without changing the size of the processing tank.

The processing of the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention includes, in addition to development, fixing, washing and drying, processing such as color development, bleaching, stabilization, and rinsing. Further, the photosensitive material is not limited to a film, but may be another photosensitive material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a processing tank main body according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a photosensitive material processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is a line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 (A) is a perspective view showing a flow mark generated on a wall, FIG. 4 (B) is a cross-sectional view showing a chamber filled with trichlorene, FIG.
FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the processing tank main body is fixed to the middle base by stepped bolts, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where it is fixed by bolts. 10 Photosensitive material processing device 18 Photographic housing 20 Film 22 Partition walls

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A processing tank main body having a plurality of processing tanks integrally formed of a synthetic resin and partitioned by partition walls, wherein a photographic photosensitive material image-exposed to each processing liquid stored in these processing tanks is provided. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for performing processing by sequentially immersing the photosensitive material, wherein the processing tank body has a smooth surface formed by removing a flow mark generated on a partition wall during molding. Material processing equipment.