JP3050692B2 - 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 photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material while transporting the same in a processing solution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a photosensitive material processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, an insertion portion for inserting the photosensitive material is provided, and the photosensitive material fed into the device from the insertion portion is fixed in a developing tank in the device. It is guided and conveyed into a tank and a washing tank, and is immersed in a processing solution to perform a developing process, a fixing process, and a washing process.

[0003] A processing rack is provided in each of these tanks, and a crossover is provided above the boundary between these tanks.
Over the rack is disposed. These processing racks and crossover racks are provided with a roller and a guide plate that sandwich and transport a photosensitive material between a pair of side plates. After the photosensitive material inserted into the photosensitive material processing apparatus is transported in the processing solution by rollers provided on processing racks in each tank such as a developing tank , the rollers in the crossover rack
And the guide is once guided through a transfer path outside the processing liquid into an adjacent tank.

[0004] The photosensitive material which has been developed, fixed and washed with water is
It is conveyed to a drying section arranged downstream of the washing tank, and after being subjected to a drying treatment, is discharged.

[0005] By the way, in such a photosensitive material processing apparatus,
Near the upstream and downstream sides of each processing tank, the liquid level in the processing tank
The crossover roller is positioned so that it is located above
The photosensitive material is moved by these rollers in each processing tank.
The liquid is fed into the processing liquid and is discharged from the processing liquid to a processing tank on the downstream side. Further, a gear for transmitting a driving force to the rollers of the processing rack to rotate integrally therewith is provided outside one side plate of the processing rack. In the processing rack, a driving force is transmitted via a gear to rotate the rollers at a constant speed to convey the photosensitive material.

[0006]

[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, during the operation of the photosensitive material processing apparatus, but also the treatment liquid to the surface of the upper located roller of the liquid surface of the treatment liquid is in a state of adhering a photosensitive material processing in a state in which the operation of the device is stopped, processing
Roller surface above the liquid and not immersed in the processing liquid
The processing liquid adhering to the surface slowly dries and dissolves in the processing liquid
The components that have been deposited precipitate and crystallize. As a result, roller
May stick to each other .

When the components in the processing liquid are deposited and fixed on the surface of the roller, there is a problem that the surface of the photosensitive material conveyed by the roller is damaged and the finish is impaired. In particular, in the case of a hypo-type fixing solution which does not use ammonia, components are easily precipitated and crystallized.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and suppresses the drying of rollers and the like disposed above the surface of the processing liquid, and prevents the components of the processing liquid from depositing on those surfaces. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for processing a photosensitive material, which prevents the processing.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is immersed in a processing solution by a roller disposed in a processing tank and is processed while being transported. A photosensitive material discharge roller disposed above the liquid surface of the processing tank on the upstream side in the photosensitive material transport direction and a photosensitive material insertion roller disposed above the liquid surface of the downstream processing tank. a cover of substantially box shape which is attached to the transport direction both end portions in a state of being immersed in the treatment liquid together with the space covered by integral between them, cover the space inside the upper
And separates the upstream and downstream processing tanks
An inclined plate , wherein the cover is formed with the photosensitive material discharging roller and the photosensitive material inserting roller, and a space between the roller and the photosensitive material discharging roller is shielded from outside air.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is conveyed by rollers disposed in a processing tank which is rotated by transmitting a rotational force by a gear, and a processing solution in a plurality of processing tanks. A photosensitive material processing apparatus that performs processing while sequentially immersing the photosensitive material in a photosensitive material discharging roller disposed above the liquid surface of the processing tank on the upstream side in the photosensitive material transport direction and the liquid level of the processing tank on the downstream side. A photosensitive material insertion roller disposed above and a substantially box-shaped roller that integrally covers a space therebetween and is mounted with both ends in the transport direction inserted into the processing liquid. A cover that covers the gear disposed above the liquid surface of the processing liquid and has a substantially box-shaped gear cover having an opening lower end inserted into the processing liquid; Rollers for material insertion and between Characterized in that the periphery of the gear and during the formation of the space blocked from outside air.

[0011]

In the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cover is provided between adjacent processing tanks.
The cover is provided so as to cover a photosensitive material discharging roller provided in an upstream processing tank and a photosensitive material inserting roller which feeds a photosensitive material provided in a downstream processing tank. Both ends of the photosensitive material along the transport direction are immersed in the processing solution, and the wall surface in the transport width direction is brought into close contact with the side plate of the processing rack.

Thus, the roller disposed above the processing liquid is held in a small space surrounded by the processing liquid and the cover, and is isolated from the outside air. Depending on the photosensitive material, the processing liquid taken out of the processing tank on the upstream side adheres to the surface of these rollers. By blocking the rollers from the outside air, evaporation of the processing liquid adhering to the rollers can be suppressed. . For this reason, the processing liquid adhering to the surface of the roller disposed above the processing liquid does not evaporate, and its components do not precipitate and adhere to the surface of the roller. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention.
A slope plate above the space formed inside the cover.
Treatment liquid attached to the top surface of the cover
It can be returned to the processing tank along the upper surface of the plate.

[0013] The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention covers the rollers by the roller cover, by formic Ya cover, has a small space that is isolated from the atmosphere around the gear. Since the gear is provided on the side plate, for example, covering the gear of the one side of the opening of the box adjacent two directions is opened attached to the side plate, inserting the opening of the other surface of the opening in the processing solution Often, this allows the surroundings of the gear disposed above the level of the processing liquid to be shielded from the outside air. For this reason, it is arranged above the processing liquid.
Evaporation of the processing liquid adhering to the gear is suppressed, and the components are precipitated.
It does not come out and stick to the gear.

The inside of the roller cover and the inside of the gear cover are
They may be connected to each other or may be provided independently. What is necessary is that the roller cover and the gear cover can be shielded from the outside air by the roller cover and the gear cover in the state of being mounted on the processing apparatus.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing machine 10 which is a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. First, the schematic structure of the automatic developing machine 10 will be described.

The automatic developing machine 10 has a processing unit 11 and a drying unit 20 provided in a casing 12. Processing unit 11
Is a photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as "film") as a processing tank
The developing tank 14, the fixing tank 16, and the washing tank 18, which are partitioned by the partition 13 along the transport direction of F, are provided.

A main insertion port 15 is provided on an end face of the casing of the automatic developing machine 10 (left side face in FIG. 1). An insertion table 17 is attached to the insertion port 15, and the film F is fed into the insertion port 15 while being placed on the insertion table 17. A pair of transport rollers 19 is provided downstream of the insertion port 15, and the film F sent from the insertion table 17 is transported to the processing unit 11 by being nipped by the transport rollers 19.

A developing solution is stored in the developing tank 14. Further, in the developing tank 14, a transport rack 24 having a group of rollers 22 for transporting the film F by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is disposed in a state of being immersed in the developer. The fixing tank 16 adjacent to the downstream side of the developing tank 14
Inside, a fixing solution is stored. In the fixing tank 16, a transport rack 28 having a group of rollers 26 for transporting the film F by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is disposed in a state of being immersed in the fixing solution.

A washing tank 18 adjacent to the downstream side of the fixing tank 16
Inside, washing water is stored. A transport rack 32 having a group of rollers 30 for transporting the film F by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown) is provided in the washing tank 18.
Are disposed in a state of being immersed in washing water.

A crossover rack 34 is provided above the processing section 11. The crossover rack 34 includes a guide plate 38 for guiding the film F from a processing tank on the upstream side in the transport direction of the film F to a processing tank on the downstream side.

Therefore, the film F sent from the insertion opening 15 into the automatic developing machine 10 is conveyed in the developing solution by the group of rollers 22 in the developing tank 14 and developed. The developed film F is sent to the fixing tank 16 by the crossover rack 34, where it is conveyed through the fixing solution by the roller group 26 and subjected to fixing processing. The film F that has been subjected to the fixing process is sent to the washing tank 18 by the crossover rack 34, where it is conveyed through washing water by the roller group 30 and washed. The water-washed film F is sent to the drying unit 20 and dried.

A transport roller 44 is provided in the drying section 20 along the horizontal direction, and a transport path for the film F is formed. Further, a chamber 46 is provided on the side opposite to the conveyance path of the conveyance roller 44, and the chamber 46 is provided between the conveyance rollers 44 adjacent to each other along the horizontal direction.
A slit hole for blowing dry air onto the surface of the film F transported by the transport roller 44 is provided.

The transport roller 44 is arranged so as to come into close contact with the film F along the width direction of the film F. These transport rollers 44 are rotated by the driving force of a drive unit (not shown) and are transported while rotating to pinch the film F.

Below the drying section 20, a drying fan 45 is mounted. The drying fan 45 is connected to the automatic developing machine 1.
The outside air is sucked in and sent out to the chamber 46 as dry air. A heater (not shown) is interposed between the drying fan 45 and the chamber 46, and heats the drying air sent by the drying fan 45 to supply the drying air to the chamber 46. The drying air supplied to the chamber 46 is supplied to the film F transported between the transport rollers 44 from the slit.
And the film F is dried.

Downstream of the drying section 20, an automatic developing machine 10
A receiving box 49 is provided so as to protrude from the outer wall. The film F discharged from the drying unit 20 is stored in the receiving box 49.

Hereinafter, the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a roller pair 52 is supported between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18 between the pair of side plates 50 of each of the transport racks 28 and 32 so as to be rotatable. ing. The roller pair 52 includes the transport rack 28,
The roller groups 26 and 30 constitute a part of the roller groups 26 and 30, and are disposed above the surface of the processing liquid at the upstream part (the photosensitive material insertion side) and the downstream part (the photosensitive material discharge side) of each of the roller groups 26 and 30. positioned. The upstream roller pair 52 is configured to pinch the film F fed from the upstream processing tank and feed it into the processing tank. Further, the roller pair 52 at the downstream portion is configured to pinch and transport the transported film F immersed in the processing liquid in the processing tank, and to send the film F to the downstream processing tank.

In the roller pair 52, the upper roller is disposed above the level of the processing liquid, and a part of the outer periphery of the lower roller is immersed in the processing liquid. The roller pair 52 is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft inserted into a bearing 54 attached to the side plate, and an endless coil spring 56 is wound between the bearings 54.
A nip force is applied to the roller pair 52 by the urging force of No. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a gear 58 is provided at the end of the rotation shaft of one of the rollers 52, and a plurality of gears 58 provided on the side plate 50 are provided. (The transport rack 32 side is omitted in FIG. 2). The driving force of a driving means (not shown) is transmitted to these gears 58 so that the gears rotate. As a result, the roller group 52 formed by the roller pair 52 and a large number of rollers wound on the side plate 50 is rotated. (Shown in FIG. 1) rotate at a constant speed.

The portions of the gears 58 and 60 projecting from the processing liquid are covered with a gear cover 62 to which the present invention is applied. The gear cover 62 is a substantially rectangular box formed of a transparent resin. The gear cover 62 is open at two surfaces adjacent to each other, one opening is directed to the side plate 50, the other opening is directed downward (downward on the paper surface in FIG. 4), and extends downward. The tip of the protruding portion is inserted into the fixing solution. For this reason, the periphery of the gears 58 and 60 is in a state of being cut off from the outside air.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing tank 16 of the crossover rack 34 and the partition 13 of the washing tank 18 are provided.
A guide plate 38 is disposed above the first plate. The guide plate 38 is stretched over a side plate 66 of the crossover rack 34 laid across the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18, and is sent out by a roller pair 52 at a downstream portion of the fixing tank 16. The leading end of the film F is guided between the pair of rollers 52 at the upstream of the washing tank 18.

A roller cover 68 to which the present invention is applied is provided between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18. The roller cover 68 is a long, substantially rectangular box formed of a transparent resin, and is disposed along the width direction of the transport path of the film F. The roller cover 68 has an opening on one surface along the longitudinal direction, and this opening is directed downward (to the lower side of the paper in FIGS. 2 and 3). The roller cover 68 is disposed so as to cover the roller pair 52 on the downstream side of the fixing tank 16, the guide of the crossover rack 34, and the roller pair 52 on the upstream side of the washing tank 18.
The tips of the downwardly extending portions are inserted into the fixing solution in the fixing tank 16 and the washing water in the washing tank 18, respectively. Therefore, a conveyance path for the film F is formed in the roller cover 68 from the fixing tank 16 to the washing tank 18.

The roller cover 68 is attached to the transport rack 28
Are disposed between the side plates 50 of the cross-over rack 34 and between the side plates 66 of the cross-over rack 34, and both sides in the longitudinal direction are provided with the guide plate 38 of the cross-over rack 34 and the transport rack 2.
The cut 70 is formed so as not to interfere with the pair of rollers 52 of FIG. Further, the roller cover 68 is fixedly held by the automatic developing machine 10 in a state where a plurality of projections 72 protruding from the crossover rack 34 are in contact with the cuts 70.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a partition plate 68 A is provided between the roller cover 68 and the guide plate 38 on the upper inner surface. The partition plate 38 </ b> A returns the fixing liquid condensed on the inner surface of the roller cover 68 to the fixing tank 16 along the upper surface of the guide plate 38.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. The film F placed on the insertion table 17 is fed into the insertion port 15 by the feeder, is nipped by the transport rollers 19, and is sent to the developing tank 14. In the developing tank 14, the film F is immersed and transported in a developing solution and subjected to a developing process.

The developed film F is supplied to the developing tank 14
From the fixing bath 16 and is conveyed in the fixing solution to be subjected to a fixing process. The film F subjected to the fixing process is sent out of the fixing tank 16 by a pair of rollers 52 at a downstream portion of the transport rack 28, and is sent between the pair of rollers 52 at an upstream portion of the washing tank 18 by a guide of a crossover rack 34. Further, the roller group 30 in the washing tank 18 conveys the washing water and the surface of the film F is washed.

The film F having been subjected to the water-washing treatment is supplied to the drying unit 20.
It is sent inside. In the drying section 20, the film F is transported while being nipped by the transport rollers 44. In the drying section 20, drying air is blown out from a slit hole of the chamber 46, and the film F is heated and dried by the drying air.

The film F sent from the drying unit 20
Is stored in the receiving box 49, and a series of normal processing from the development processing to the drying processing is completed.

Here, in the fixing tank 16, the fixing solution adheres to the film F, and the fixing solution is carried out by the film F. The fixing liquid adhering to the film F or scattered around due to the rotation of the roller F adheres to the roller pair 52, the guide plate 38, the roller pair 52 in the upstream part of the washing tank 18 and the periphery thereof in contact with the film F. . The fixing solution adhering to the roller pair 52 and the guide plate 38 is gradually dropped into the fixing tank 16 or the washing tank 18 when the operation of the automatic developing machine 10 is completed for one day. Since the surroundings of the roller pair 52 and the guide plate 38 are shielded from the outside air by the roller cover 68, they become saturated by slight evaporation of moisture in the fixing solution. Also, the surface of the guide plate 38 does not dry, and components in the fixing solution do not precipitate and crystallize, and do not adhere to these surfaces.

The fixing liquid is attached to the gears 58 and 60 for driving the roller pair 52 by the rotation of the automatic developing machine 10 during operation. The periphery of the gears 58 and 60 is covered by the gear cover 62. Since the gears 58 and 60 are not dried, the gears 58 and 60 are not dried. For this reason,
The components in the fixing solution are not deposited and fixed on the gears 58 and 60. When the components in the fixing solution adhere to the gears 58 and 60, poor engagement of the gears 58 and 60, poor transmission of driving force due to uneven wear of the teeth, etc., and an increase in torque for driving the gear 58 occur. Since the components in the fixing solution are not fixed to the gears 58 and 60, the film F can be transported by the roller group 26 without fail.

The roller cover 68 and the gear cover 62 are
Since it is transparent, the internal visibility is good and maintenance of the automatic developing machine 10 is easy. Roller pair 5
By covering the roller 2 and the gears 58 and 60 with the roller cover 68 and the gear cover 62, respectively, it is possible to prevent the fixing liquid from scattering due to the rotation of the roller pair 52 and the gear 58. In this embodiment, the roller cover 68 is attached by making the projection 72 formed on the side plate 66 of the crossover rack 34 abut on the cut 70 formed on the roller cover 68, but the method of attaching the roller cover 68 is as follows. It is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of shafts are stretched between the side plates 66 of the crossover rack 34 or between the side plates 50 of the transport rack 28, and these shafts are brought into contact with the inner surface of the roller cover 68 to support the roller cover 68. You may make it. Further, although the guide plate 38 is covered by the roller cover 68, the roller cover 68 and the crossover rack 34 are integrated to form the roller cover 68.
A guide plate 38 may be provided in advance in the inside and assembled.

In this embodiment, the roller cover 68 and the gear cover 62 are separately provided.
And the gear cover 62 may be formed integrally. For example,
As shown in FIG. 5, a rack cover 74 in which the roller cover 68 and the gear cover 62 are integrated may be provided.
The rack cover 74 includes the roller cover 68 and the gear cover 6.
2 are integrally formed by internally communicating with each other. Thus, the roller pair 52, the guide plate 38, and the gears 58 and 60 disposed above the level of the fixing liquid may be integrally covered to shut off the outside air. Also, the roller cover 6
The gear 8 and the gear cover 62 may be integrated with the rack 28 and the crossover rack 34 in an assembled state. At this time, it is a matter of course that the rack cover 74 has a shape that does not interfere with other members such as the roller pair 52.

In this embodiment, the roller pair 52, the guide plate 38, and the gear 58 to which the fixing solution in the fixing tank 16 adheres.
Has been described with the roller cover 68 and the gear cover 62, but the rollers, gears and the like to which the developing solution in the developing tank 14 adheres may be covered. At this time, a plurality of gear covers 62 and roller covers 68 may be connected or integrally formed to cover the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16.

[0043]

As described above, in the rack cover of the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention, by evaporating the processing liquid adhering to the roller by shutting off the periphery of the roller from outside air, Prevents components in the processing solution from precipitating. Further, it is possible to prevent the processing liquid attached to the surface of the roller from scattering due to the rotation of the roller.

Thus, the photosensitive material can be finished with high quality without damaging the surface of the photosensitive material processed by the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automatic developing machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a mounted state of the roller cover according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a modified example of a roller cover and a gear cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Automatic developing machine (photosensitive material processing apparatus) 14 Developing tank 16 Fixing tank (processing tank) 18 Rinse tank 20 Drying unit 28 Transport rack 34 Crossover rack 38 Guide 52 Roller pair (roller for inserting photosensitive material, roller for discharging photosensitive material) ) 58 gear 62 gear cover 68 roller cover F film (photosensitive material)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-161431 (JP, A) JP-A-2-199453 (JP, A) JP-A-2-168254 (JP, A) JP-A-1-266541 (JP) , A) JP-A-61-250648 (JP, A) JP-A-3-87740 (JP, A) JP-A-4-53251 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) G03D 3/00-17/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material while immersing the photosensitive material in a processing liquid and transporting the photosensitive material by a roller disposed in the processing tank, wherein a liquid level of the processing tank on an upstream side in a photosensitive material transport direction is provided. The photosensitive material discharging roller and the photosensitive material inserting roller disposed above the liquid surface of the processing tank on the downstream side and the space therebetween are integrally covered, and both ends in the transport direction are processed. Substantially box-shaped cover that is attached while immersed in liquid, and placed above the space inside the cover
Inclined plate that separates the upstream processing tank and the downstream processing tank
Preparative comprising a photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by forming a space blocked from outside air between the photosensitive material discharge roller and the photosensitive material insertion rollers and their by said cover. 2. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for transporting a photosensitive material by rollers disposed in a processing tank that is rotated by transmitting a rotational force by a gear and sequentially immersing the photosensitive material in processing solutions in a plurality of processing tanks. A photosensitive material discharging roller disposed above the liquid surface of the processing tank on the upstream side in the photosensitive material transport direction and a photosensitive material insertion disposed above the liquid level of the processing tank on the downstream side. Roller and a substantially box-shaped roller cover which integrally covers the space between these rollers and is mounted in a state where both ends in the transport direction are inserted into the processing liquid; A substantially box-shaped gear cover having an opening lower end inserted into the processing liquid while covering the arranged gear; and a photosensitive material discharging roller and a photosensitive material inserting roller, and a space between these rollers and the photosensitive material discharging roller. A space around the gear that is isolated from outside air Photosensitive material processing apparatus being characterized in that form.