JP3559416B2 - Treatment agent supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a processing agent replenishing apparatus for replenishing a processing agent into a replenishing tank for storing a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material, a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material, and a photosensitive material having a replenishing tank for replenishing the processing tank. It is suitable for a processing device such as a printer processor or a film processor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Photosensitive material processing equipment (eg, film processors, printer processors, etc.), which is an automatic processor used in the lab, has a plurality of processing tanks containing processing solutions and water for color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization. The film and the color paper are developed and processed by sequentially transporting the film and the color paper through the plurality of processing tanks.
[0003]
The component composition and amount of the treatment liquid in each tank changes depending on the treatment of the film or color paper. Therefore, a new replenisher is replenished from each replenishing tank to each processing tank in accordance with the processing amount.
[0004]
On the other hand, in recent years, a storage container for a processing agent for a replenisher has been loaded into a photosensitive material processing apparatus, the opening has been automatically opened, the processing agent has been charged into a replenishing tank, and then the storage container has been washed. For example, JP-A-6-82988 and JP-A-8-220722 are known.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, those disclosed in these publications have a structure in which the storage container is accurately positioned with respect to the cleaning nozzle or the opening member, and the storage container is opened and the inside of the storage container is cleaned with the cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning nozzle. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately position the storage container, and only the inside of the storage container is cleaned.
[0006]
Therefore, since only the inside of the storage container is cleaned, there is a disadvantage that dirt or the like due to the processing agent scattered outside the cover of the storage container cannot be cleaned. Further, in order to efficiently clean the inside of the storage container, a special cleaning nozzle for uniformly spraying the cleaning liquid is required.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a processing agent replenishing apparatus that can perform cleaning including the outside of a storage container without using accurate positioning of the storage container and using a special cleaning nozzle. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A processing agent replenishing apparatus according to claim 1 is a processing agent replenishing apparatus that replenishes a processing agent to a replenishing tank that stores a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material,
A space for attaching a storage container for enclosing the processing agent,
A container opening member for opening the storage container from above and below,
A cleaning unit for cleaning the inside and outside of the storage container through a cleaning liquid,
A processing agent sending port for sending the processing agent to the replenishing tank side,
A cleaning liquid outlet for discharging the cleaning liquid;
It is characterized by having.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the treatment agent supply device, the container opening member is a member that pierces the storage container.
[0010]
The treatment agent supply device according to claim 3 is characterized in that the container opening member is driven to compress the storage container.
[0011]
The cleaning agent replenishing apparatus according to claim 4 is characterized in that the cleaning liquid is dilution water for diluting the processing agent.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing agent supply device, wherein the cleaning liquid causes the processing agent to flow out of the storage container.
[0013]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the processing agent supply device, the processing agent delivery port also serves as the cleaning liquid discharge port.
[0014]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 1 will be described below.
A container opening member is opened from above and below the storage container attached to the space and enclosing the processing agent, the cleaning unit sprays the cleaning liquid, the inside and outside of the storage container are washed with the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid outlet discharges the cleaning liquid. I do. The processing agent outlet sends the processing agent flowing out of the storage container to the replenishing tank side, and replenishes the processing agent to the replenishing tank for storing the processing solution for processing the photosensitive material.
[0015]
Therefore, since holes are formed by the container opening members on the upper and lower sides of the storage container, the cleaning unit is disposed separately from the storage container, and the cleaning agent is flushed from the storage container with the cleaning liquid from the cleaning unit. Inside and outside can be washed. Therefore, unlike the structure in which the container is opened and the inside of the container is sprayed, dirt and the like caused by the processing agent scattered outside the lid of the container can be washed without accurately positioning the container. In addition, since the cleaning unit performs cleaning including the outside of the storage container, the inside and outside of the storage container can be efficiently cleaned without using a special cleaning nozzle for uniformly spraying the cleaning liquid.
[0016]
That is, the storage container is opened from above and below by the container opening member, and the cleaning liquid flows from the cleaning section not only inside the storage container but also outside the storage container, whereby the liquid introduction and the cleaning can be performed integrally.
[0017]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 2 will be described below.
It has a configuration similar to that of the first aspect and operates similarly. However, in the present invention, since the container opening member is configured to be a member that pierces the storage container, the needle-shaped member can easily open the upper and lower sides of the storage container.
[0018]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 3 will be described below.
It has the same configuration as that of the first and second aspects and operates in the same manner. However, in the present invention, since the container opening member is driven to compress the storage container, the drive reduces the volume of the storage container and improves the disposability.
[0019]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 4 will be described below.
It has a configuration similar to that of claims 1 to 3 and operates in a similar manner. However, in the present invention, since the cleaning liquid is a dilution water for diluting the treatment agent, the cleaning liquid need not be treated as a waste liquid.
[0020]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 5 will be described below.
It has a configuration similar to that of claims 1 to 4 and operates in a similar manner. However, according to the present invention, since the cleaning liquid flows out of the treatment agent from the storage container, the inside of the storage container can be more efficiently cleaned.
[0021]
The operation of the processing agent supply device according to claim 6 will be described below.
It has a configuration similar to that of the first aspect and operates similarly. However, in the present invention, since the processing agent delivery port also functions as the cleaning solution discharge port, the cleaning solution is allowed to flow from the cleaning section not only inside the storage container but also outside, so that the processing agent delivery port is liquid. Feeding and washing can be performed integrally.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A treatment agent replenishing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration of a printer processor 10 which is a photosensitive material processing apparatus to which the processing agent supply device of the present embodiment is applied.
[0024]
The printer processor 10 includes a printer unit 12 and a processor unit 14. The printer unit 12 prints an image of a negative film N set on a negative carrier 16 on photographic paper, which is a photosensitive material (not shown). 14.
[0025]
The processor section 14 is provided with a developing tank, a bleach-fix tank, a washing tank, and a drying section (not shown in FIG. 1), and develops photographic paper conveyed from the printer section 12. I have.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, a replenishing tank 18 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) as a plurality of replenishing tanks which are installed in the processor unit 14 and store processing solutions for processing photographic paper, respectively, The developing replenisher, the bleach-fix replenisher, and the stable replenisher as replenishers are sent to the bleach-fixing tank and the washing tank, respectively, and the developer replenisher, the bleach-fixing replenisher, and the stable replenisher are supplied to the respective tanks. It is to be replenished.
[0027]
Next, as shown in FIG. 2, a structure for replenishing the processing liquid will be described by taking the developing tank 20 in each processing tank as an example.
[0028]
The developing tank 20 is connected via a pipe 24 to a replenishing port 22 formed at a lower portion of the replenishing tank 18, and a developing tank is provided between the replenishing port 22 and one end of the pipe 24 from the replenishing tank 18 side. A replenishing pump 26, which is a replenishing means for sending a developing replenisher, is disposed on the tank side.
[0029]
A float switch 28 that can detect whether or not an amount of the developing replenisher exceeding a predetermined amount remains in the replenishing tank 18 is provided at a position in the middle of the replenishing tank 18 in the vertical direction. Have been.
[0030]
On the other hand, the refill pump 26 and the float switch 28 are connected to the control device 30, respectively. For this reason, the control device 30 can grasp the amount of the developing replenisher sent to the developing tank 20 based on the rotation amount of the rotating shaft of the replenishing pump 26 which can be detected from the rotating operation time of the AC motor. The remaining amount of the developing replenisher can be grasped from the liquid level detection signal from the switch 28.
[0031]
Further, the control device 30 is connected to a monitor 32 (also shown in FIG. 1) serving as a display device, and can display on the monitor 32 a message indicating the supply of the developing replenisher to the replenishing tank 18. .
[0032]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the storage container 40 according to the present embodiment is formed of a resin material in a cylindrical shape, and stores therein a processing agent for a developing replenisher in a sealed state. ing.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, on the upper front side of the casing 10 </ b> A, there is provided a replenishing unit 42 having a space inside and a cover 68 that can be opened and closed. Can be opened and closed by an opening / closing lid 68, and the replenishing portion 42 forms a space. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of needle-like members 46, which are metal container opening members extending upward and having tips formed like needles, are arranged at the bottom of the replenishing portion 42. ing.
[0034]
On the other hand, a sliding shaft 48 to which a disk 50 is fixed at the tip is disposed above the replenishing unit 42. A driving force is transmitted from the motor 52 to the sliding shaft 48 via a rack and a pinion (not shown), so that the sliding shaft 48 can move up and down. A plurality of needle-like members 44, which are metal container opening members extending downward and having tips formed like needles, are arranged on the lower surface of the disk 50 opposite to the bottom similarly to the bottom.
[0035]
Further, a passage serving as a washing pipe 54 for washing the inside and outside of the storage container 40 is formed in a portion of the casing 10A which forms a wall surface of the replenishing unit 42 and in an upper left portion of FIG. An end of the cleaning pipe 54 is a cleaning liquid injection port 56 which is a cleaning unit for spraying the cleaning liquid and cleaning the inside and the outside of the storage container 40 with the cleaning liquid.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the casing 10 </ b> A forming the bottom of the replenishing unit 42 has a delivery port 58, which is a processing agent delivery port, and is mixed to form a processing replenisher. The cleaning liquid is supplied to the replenishing tank 18 through the outlet 58.
[0037]
A switch 34 for detecting opening and closing of the opening / closing lid 68 is attached to the casing 10A. As shown in FIG. 2, the switch 34 is connected to the control device 30. When the open / close lid 68 is closed, the button 34A of the switch 34 is pressed, and the control device 30 causes the open / close lid 68 to be closed. However, it is becoming obvious.
[0038]
Further, the motor 52 is connected to the control device 30, and when the processing liquid replenishment start button 36 connected to the control device 30 is pressed, the motor 52 is driven to be fixed to the sliding shaft 48 and the sliding shaft 48. The disc 50 is lowered.
[0039]
The bleach-fixing tank, the washing tank, and the replenishing tank thereof have the same structure as the developing tank 20 and the replenishing tank 18, and thus the same description is omitted.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
For example, when a predetermined amount of photographic paper is developed in the developing tank 20, the replenishing pump 26 is operated in accordance with the processing, and the developing replenisher once stored in the replenishing tank 18 is sent to the developing tank 20 side. And replenish the deteriorated amount of the developing replenisher used for the processing in the developing tank 20. The same applies to a bleach-fixing tank and a washing tank.
[0041]
When the liquid level in the replenishing tank 18 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the float switch 28 detects this, and an instruction to supply the developing replenisher to the replenishing tank 18 is displayed on the monitor 32.
[0042]
Therefore, it is necessary to supply the developing replenisher to the replenishing tank 18. A specific procedure for replenishing the replenishing tank 18 with the developing replenisher will be described below.
[0043]
First, the operator opens the opening / closing lid 68 of the replenishing unit 42 as shown in FIG. Next, the storage container 40 is set inside the lid 68, and then the lid 68 is closed. Then, the processing liquid supply start button 36 is pressed.
[0044]
As a result, the motor 52 is driven to push down the upper needle-like member 44 of the needle-like members 44 and 46 above and below the replenishing unit 42, and the storage container 40 is moved up and down as shown in FIG. The treatment agent is penetrated by the needle-like members 44 and 46, and the treatment agent leaks out of the storage container 40. That is, the needle-like members 44 and 46 penetrate and open the storage container 40 for enclosing the processing agent from above and below, respectively.
[0045]
Further, at the same time as the penetration, or after raising the disk 50 as shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning pipe 54 and the cleaning liquid is injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 56, so that the inside and outside of the storage container 40 are cleaned by the cleaning liquid. The processing agent remaining in the storage container 40 is also flushed out of the storage container 40 by the cleaning liquid.
[0046]
Further, the processing agent and the cleaning liquid which have flowed out of the storage container 40 are sent out to the replenishing tank 18 at the lower portion through the outlet 58, and the replenishing tank 18 is replenished with the developing replenishing liquid.
[0047]
Note that other replenishers are similarly supplied to a predetermined replenisher tank.
As described above, since the holes are formed by the needle-shaped members 44 and 46 above and below the storage container 40, the cleaning liquid injection port 56 is disposed separately from the storage container 40, and the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid injection port 56 The inside and outside of the storage container 40 can be washed so that the processing agent flows out from the container. Therefore, unlike the structure in which the container is opened and the inside of the container is sprayed, dirt and the like due to the processing agent scattered outside the lid of the container 40 can be washed without accurately positioning the container 40.
[0048]
In addition, since the cleaning liquid injection port 56 performs cleaning including the outside of the storage container 40, the inside and outside of the storage container 40 can be efficiently cleaned without using a special cleaning nozzle that uniformly sprays the cleaning liquid.
[0049]
That is, according to the present embodiment, the storage container 40 is pierced from above and below and opened, and the cleaning liquid flows not only inside the storage container 40 but also outside the storage container 40, so that the processing agent is charged and the storage container 40 is The cleaning can be performed integrally.
[0050]
In addition, in the conventional apparatus for opening and cleaning, it was necessary to insert the cleaning nozzle into the storage container. Openings and storage containers were needed. Therefore, despite the small amount of the processing agent, the storage container and its lid must be large, and the ratio of the amount of the packaging material to the processing agent has been large. For this reason, the recyclability of the storage container is also deteriorated.
[0051]
However, as described above, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to insert the cleaning nozzle into the storage container 40. Therefore, when the processing agent is small, the processing agent can be prepared compactly with a small amount of packaging material. . For this reason, the present embodiment is particularly effective when a small amount of the processing agent is supplied.
[0052]
Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to set the storage container 40 in the replenishing section 42, close the opening / closing lid 68, and then to supply the processing agent to the predetermined delivery port 58 simply by pressing the processing liquid supply start button 36. Therefore, it is possible to prevent replenishment errors such as soiling of the floor or soiling of the apparatus due to failure to supply the processing agent, and operability is also improved.
[0053]
When the replenishment of the replenisher has been completed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the monitor 32 displays that the replenishment has been completed. Further, when the cover 68 is open (when the button 34A of the switch 34 is not pressed), the motor 52 is not rotated.
[0054]
Further, if the needle-like member 44 has returned to the initial position shown in FIG. 3 at the time when the cleaning liquid is injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 56 as shown in FIG. 6, the storage container 40 is easily washed with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning effect is further enhanced.
[0055]
Further, after the processing agent is put into the replenishing tank 18 from the storage container 40, the opening / closing lid 68 of the printer processor 10 is opened to take out the storage container 40 from the inside of the replenishing unit 42. And can be recycled as is.
[0056]
Further, in the present embodiment, the relatively hard resin container 40 is perforated with the needle-like members 44 and 46, but a relatively soft resin may be used, and in this case, the upper needle-like member 44 may be used. Is removed from the disk 50 so that only the lower needle-shaped member 46 is provided, and the storage container 40 is inserted into the replenishing section 42 to push down the disk 50.
[0057]
As a result, the storage container 40 is pierced by the lower needle-like member 46, and the processing agent is supplied to the replenishing tank 18. When the disk 50 is further pushed down to compress the storage container 40 to the point where the storage container 40 is crushed, the volume of the storage container 40 is reduced, and the disposability is improved.
[0058]
Further, the upper and lower portions may be made of a soft resin without using the entire storage container with a soft resin.
[0059]
Next, a treatment agent supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.
[0060]
As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, C-shaped cutter blades 64, 66 are employed as upper and lower container opening members instead of the needle-like members 44, 46. According to the cutter blades 64, 66, the most protruding and high portions of the cutter blades 64, 66 first enter the upper and lower surfaces of the storage container 40, and when the cutter blade 64 is further lowered, the upper and lower surfaces of the storage container 40 are circular. It will cut like a can opener along the circumference.
[0061]
However, since the last part does not have the cutter blades 64 and 66, the upper and lower surfaces of the storage container 40 are not cut off to the end but are connected only in part.
[0062]
Therefore, although the upper and lower surfaces of the storage container 40 are greatly opened, when the storage container 40 is taken out from the replenishing section 42, it becomes easy to handle without being separated. As described above, the container opening member does not necessarily need to be the needle-like members 44 and 46, and it is sufficient that the container opening member can pierce the upper and lower surfaces of the storage container 40. However, the larger the opening, the higher the effect of pushing out the cleaning liquid.
[0063]
In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid is water and the treating agent is a concentrated liquid. In other words, the washing water is supplied to the replenishing tank 18 together with the dilution of the concentrated liquid. However, the cleaning liquid is not necessarily water, but may be another liquid having cleaning ability. The treating agent may be a paste or a solid such as a powder.
[0064]
In particular, a high-viscosity material such as a paste or a powder is effective because the cleaning liquid has a high effect of being pushed out of the storage container 40. Thus, in the case of a paste-like processing agent, the cleaning liquid dissolves the processing agent. You can also.
[0065]
In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid is diluted water, but it is not always necessary to use it for dilution. If the treatment agent is liquid, it can be put into the replenishment tank 18 after a certain period of time without being pushed out by the cleaning solution. Then, after the charging, the replenishing tank 18 may be closed and the cleaning liquid may be passed in a state of being connected to the waste liquid tank.
[0066]
As a result, the liquid that has washed the storage container 40 can flow out to the waste liquid tank without falling into the replenishment tank 18. As described above, the cleaning liquid is not necessarily required to be diluted water. Alternatively, the processing agent delivery port and the cleaning liquid discharge port for discharging the cleaning liquid may be separately provided to control opening and closing.
[0067]
Further, a washing nozzle may be provided at the outlet of the washing tube 54, and the washing nozzle may not be provided. That is, if the amount of the cleaning liquid is large, the cleaning can be sufficiently performed without the cleaning nozzle, and if the cleaning nozzle is provided, the cleaning can be efficiently performed with a small amount of the cleaning liquid. Further, the cleaning nozzle may be a nozzle capable of spraying radiation, or may be a rotary nozzle or the like.
[0068]
On the other hand, the storage container 40 of the above embodiment has a cylindrical shape, but may have a cubic shape or a rectangular shape, or may have a deformed shape or only a part of the shape. Furthermore, a member for preventing erroneous loading may be attached so as not to be mistaken for another processing agent, and there is no particular limitation on the shape.
[0069]
On the other hand, in the above embodiment, the upper needle-like member 44 and the cutter blade 64 are driven by the motor 52, but the lower needle-like member 46 and the cutter blade 66 may be driven, and both the upper and lower sides are driven. May be. Also, a mechanism may be used that is linked to the closing operation of the opening / closing lid 68 of the printer processor 10 without using the motor 52.
[0070]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the treatment agent replenishing apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, there is no need to insert the cleaning nozzle for cleaning into the storage container. As a result, there is no need to position the storage container with high precision. It has an excellent effect that a high-precision cleaning nozzle is not required.
[0071]
Further, the treatment agent replenishing device of the present invention can also clean dirt attached to the outside of the storage container, and when a small amount of treatment agent is used, the amount of packaging material can be reduced, thereby improving recyclability. Further, the processing agent can be efficiently pushed out of the storage container by jetting the cleaning liquid.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer processor to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a developing tank and a replenishing tank to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a replenishing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a replenishing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the replenishing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state in which a storage container is pierced.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the replenishing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a state where the storage container is being cleaned.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a replenishing unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
18 Refill tank (refill tank)
40 storage container 44 needle-shaped member (container opening member)
46 Needle-shaped member (container opening member)
56 Cleaning liquid injection port 58 Delivery port 64 Cutter blade (container opening member)
66 cutter blade (container opening member)

Claims (6)

A processing agent replenishing device that replenishes a processing agent to a replenishing tank that stores a processing solution for processing a photosensitive material,
A space for attaching a storage container for enclosing the processing agent,
A container opening member for opening the storage container from above and below,
A cleaning unit for cleaning the inside and outside of the storage container through a cleaning liquid,
A processing agent sending port for sending the processing agent to the replenishing tank side,
A cleaning liquid outlet for discharging the cleaning liquid;
A treatment agent replenishing device comprising: The treatment agent supply device according to claim 1, wherein the container opening member is a member that pierces the storage container. The processing agent supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container opening member is driven to compress the storage container. 4. The treatment agent replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is dilution water for diluting the treatment agent. 5. The processing agent replenishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid causes the processing agent to flow out of the storage container. The processing agent supply device according to claim 1, wherein the processing agent delivery port also serves as the cleaning liquid discharge port.

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