JP4112046B2 - Solution supply method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solution supply method and apparatus, and in particular, when a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed using an automatic processor, a processing for automatically supplying the processing solution to be used to an automatic processor processing tank. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for supplying a solution such as a liquid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The processing of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material undergoes the steps of image development, black-and-white photography through silver development, fixing, washing and drying, and color development, silver bleaching, silver salt fixing, washing, stabilization and drying. There is a color photo. The processing solution used for processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is usually supplied to each processing tank of an automatic processor and used for processing. When processing silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials continuously in an automatic processor, the composition in each processing tank changes depending on the processing, and the activity decreases, so a replenisher to compensate for this decrease is used for each processing. Used as a replenisher in the tank.
[0003]
When this replenisher is replenished to each processing tank, generally, a small amount of replenisher is supplied from the replenisher tank according to the processing amount of the photosensitive material to each processing tank to maintain the activity of the processing liquid. . In this replenisher tank, the replenisher is dissolved and stored in another place, and it is generally replenished as needed, and the processing liquid is produced manually.
[0004]
The processing solution used for processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is prepared by mixing a concentrated solution and dilution water according to each processing solution. It is supplied as a plurality of parts to prevent deterioration of the processing solution during storage. In such a state, the preparation of the treatment liquid is complicated, and it is easy for mistakes to occur. Therefore, the treatment liquid may have an inappropriate composition as the treatment liquid. In addition, during dissolution and mixing, the concentrated liquid scatters and adheres to the human body, clothes, and peripheral devices, causing contamination and damage.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In recent years, for the sake of environmental conservation and resource saving, many small automatic processors have been used, and at the same time the replenishment amount has been reduced, the replenishment amount has become smaller and the replenishment amount has become smaller. Even if there is any fluctuation, it will affect the activity of the processing solution. Furthermore, storing the dissolved processing solution in the replenishing solution tank until it is used will cause evaporation of moisture and deterioration and deterioration due to air. When such a processing solution is used, the processed photographic properties are deteriorated.
[0006]
In order to avoid this, in recent years, a method has been adopted in which a processing solution is directly taken out from a processing solution container and added to a processing tank of an automatic developing machine, which is a good method for dealing with a small amount of replenishment. It turns out that it is.
[0007]
However, even in this method, the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage container cannot be completely used up, and the processing liquid remains in the container, and when the container is collected, it may cause scattering to the human body and clothes, causing contamination, There is air in the processing liquid transfer path, which causes deterioration of the processing liquid in the transfer path, and this air causes the replenishment pump to not operate correctly, and the replenishment liquid transfer amount is not correct. As a result, the processing liquid in the processing tank is deteriorated, and the processed photographic properties are lowered.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to first supply a processing solution used for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material by eliminating the entry of air into the processing solution transfer path, whereby the processing solution in the transfer route is used. In addition, the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage container is completely used up, thereby eliminating the scattering to the human body, clothes, equipment, etc. during the collection of the container, and contamination due to this, and for another purpose, By properly operating the replenishment pump, the correct replenishment amount is sent into a processing tank such as an automatic developing machine, and as a result, there is no deterioration in the performance of the processed photographic.
[0009]
These objects can be achieved by the present invention described below.
The solution is hermetically sealed in a deformable container made of a polymer compound, and a tube that forms a flow path leading to the processing tank of the automatic processor is connected to the container. A solution supply method in which a flow path is formed and the gas sucked from the container and sent to the tube is returned to the container. The solution is hermetically stored in a deformable container made of a polymer compound, a tube that forms a flow path leading to the processing tank for the automatic processor is connected to the container, and a pump is connected to the flow path. A solution supply apparatus, wherein an airtight flow path is formed between pumps, and a backflow device is connected to the airtight flow path.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses a partly processed processing solution for adjusting the processing solution stored in a deformable container made of a polymer compound material, and each container uses a tube for processing in the container. Connect the fluid tightly. The processing liquid is supplied to the automatic processor processing tank by the connected tube and pump. The tubes connected in this way contain bubbles, which cause deterioration of the processing liquid and further reduce the accuracy of the pump used to transfer the processing liquid. In order to remove the bubbles, the present invention is to detect bubbles in the tube, thereby controlling the pump, and then to push the detected bubbles back into the processing liquid storage container.
[0011]
In the method and apparatus of the present invention, the processing liquid can be supplied to the automatic processor processing tank without deteriorating the processing liquid and reducing the accuracy of the pump, and at the same time, the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage container can be supplied. The entire amount can be taken out, thereby eliminating the scattering and contamination of the human body and clothes due to the residual liquid when collecting the storage container.
[0012]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows an outline of the flow of a processing solution when the present invention is used in a processing solution supply method of an automatic processor. By the rotation of the pump 9, the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 as a container passes through the tube 4 to the separation tank 5 as a gas-liquid separation unit provided in the tube 4 on the container 1 side from the backflow device 7. enter. A strainer may be installed between the processing liquid storage container 1 and the separation tank 5. In the separation tank 5, after separating the bubbles 15 as the gas in the tube 4 and the treatment liquid 2, the separation tank 5 passes through a gas detection sensor 6 that senses the bubbles 15 by the tube 4. Here, bubbles 15 in the processing liquid 2 are detected. The gas detection sensor 6 provided in the tube 4 on the container 1 side from the backflow device 7 is connected to the pump 9, and the pump 9 stops when the bubble 15 is detected. On the other hand, the treatment liquid 2 and the bubbles 15 are returned to the inside of the treatment liquid storage container 1 by the backflow device 7 through the flow path through which the bubbles 15 have come. In this state, only the processing liquid 2 is present between the processing liquid storage container 1 and the backflow tank 71 , and there is no bubble 15. The processing liquid 2 from which bubbles have been removed by the backflow device 7 enters the pump 9 through the tube 4 and is sent to the automatic processor processing tank 10 as a fixed processing liquid 2. During this time, the tube 4 is hermetically connected in the flow path up to the pump 9.
[0013]
Separately, in order to obtain the required liquid concentration of the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1, a necessary amount of dilution water 13 is added to the automatic processor tank 10 by the pump 12, and the concentration of the processing liquid 2 is increased. Kept.
[0014]
The processing liquid supply method of the present invention also requires that the diluted water be periodically sent to the automatic processor tank 10 by using water instead of the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1. The processing solution 2 having a concentration can also be made in the automatic processor processing tank 10.
[0015]
The solution supply method and apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The processing solution 2 used for processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material as a solution is supplied to the processing solution storage container 1 as a deformable container using a polymer compound. The processing solution 2 used for processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is one that is supplied as a plurality of part solutions used with the diluting water 14, one that is supplied as one part solution, and a processing solution that can be used as it is. There is what is supplied as.
[0016]
The treatment liquid storage container 1 used here is a cylinder with the upper and lower ends sealed (FIG. 2), two base cloths are stacked, four sides are sealed, and a mouth is provided in part. Various types such as (FIG. 3), a rectangular container provided with a mouth (FIG. 5), and the like can be used.
[0017]
The polymer compound used in the processing liquid storage container 1 is not limited as long as it is a material that does not change in quality due to the processing liquid 2 stored therein or does not adversely affect the processing liquid 2. Specific examples thereof include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylidene chloride, polyamide, polyphenylene oxide, polyarylate, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, cellulose acetate, silicone, etc., preferably polyethylene, nylon good material such as is. The treatment liquid storage container 1 preferably has a gas barrier property. Specifically, the oxygen permeability is preferably 60 ml / m ² atm · day (20 ° C., 60%) or less.
[0018]
Reference numeral 4 denotes a tube, and one end 3 communicates with the processing liquid storage container 1, and the other end forms a flow path leading to the automatic processor processing tank 11. The connection of the one end 3 of the tube 4 to the treatment liquid storage container 1 may be configured such that the tip is easy to insert, for example, a pointed or slanted shape, or an injection needle or the like is provided at the tip. The one end 3 is preferably inserted from above or from the side of the processing liquid storage container 1 so as to prevent leakage of the solution and to eliminate residual liquid, and is positioned at the lower bottom. Alternatively, a communication portion that can be inserted into the processing liquid storage container 1 or its stopper may be formed, and the one end 3 may be inserted therefrom. Further, a suction pipe for entering the solution can be provided in a stopper or the like, and the one end 3 can be communicated therewith. The tube 4 can be made of Teflon, vinyl chloride, polyethylene, metal or the like.
[0019]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a separation tank as a gas-liquid separation unit formed in communication with the tube 4 and separates bubbles and the processing liquid 2. The configuration is such that a residence chamber having a diameter larger than that of the tube 4 is formed, so that one residence chamber, or several in some cases, is continuously provided. Reference numeral 6 denotes a gas detection sensor, in which a float 62 is accommodated in a chamber 61 formed to have the same diameter or a large diameter as the tube 4, and a sensor 63 such as a float sensor, a photoelectric sensor, a photomicrosensor, or a proximity sensor is provided at the bottom. It is.
[0020]
A reverse flow device 7 is provided between the processing liquid storage container 1 and the pump 9, and sends back the air in the tube 4 and the processing liquid to the processing liquid storage container 1. The piston 72 is connected to the reverse flow tank 71 communicated with the tube 4. Is sealed with an O-ring 73, is attached so that it can freely enter and exit, and a piston 74 can be easily pulled out with a rib 74 interposed. Further, the backflow device 7 can be formed in a concertina type so that the bellows container 75 is directly provided in the backflow tank 71 or the tube 4 and pressurized air is sent to the backflow tank 71. In another embodiment, the gas-liquid separator 5 and the backflow device 7 can be integrated (FIGS. 11 and 12). That is, the backflow device 7 causes the gas and liquid to flow back to the processing liquid storage container 1 by the volume fluctuation of the volumetric containers such as the backflow tank 71 and the bellows container 75 that communicate with the tube 4.
[0021]
The processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 is directly connected to the processing liquid storage container 1 through the tube 4, and one end 3 of the tube 4 is placed at a position located at the bottom in the processing liquid storage container 1. The processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 is sucked by the rotation of the pump 9, and at the same time, the deformable processing liquid storage container 1 starts to be deformed. When the air in 1 is sucked and the air bubbles are detected by the gas sensor 6 , the operation of the pump 9 is stopped. It can be seen that the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 has disappeared by stopping the pump 9 and can be replaced with a new processing liquid storage container 1. During this time, the treatment liquid 2 does not come into contact with air at all, and the stability of the treatment liquid 2 is maintained.
[0022]
After all the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 is sucked, the air that has been in the processing liquid storage container 1 from the beginning is sucked. In this state, air bubbles and the processing liquid 2 are detected by the gas sensor 6. In this case, it is difficult to accurately detect the gas sensor 6. Therefore, by providing the separation tank 5 , the bubbles 15 and the treatment liquid 2 can be separated, and the gas sensor 6 can be accurately detected. The operation is lost. It can be understood that the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 has disappeared when the gas detection sensor 6 detects the bubbles 15 in a state where the bubbles and the processing liquid 2 are sufficiently separated.
[0023]
When bubbles are detected by the gas detection sensor 6 and it is found that the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 has run out, it is replaced with a new processing liquid storage container 1 in which the processing liquid 2 is stored. Thereafter, the volume of the processing liquid 2 is reduced by the operation of the piston 8 in the backflow tank 71, whereby the backflow tank 71, the liquid sensing gas detection sensor 6 , the gas-liquid separation tank 5, and the tube 4 for transferring the processing liquid 2. The bubbles 15 inside and a part of the processing liquid 2 are extruded into the newly connected processing liquid storage container 1, and there are no bubbles from the tip 3 of the tube 4 in the processing liquid storage container 1 to the backflow tank 71. As a state, a new treatment liquid 2 is used. By repeating this operation, the treatment liquid 2 can be used stably without being exposed to air. Further, a valve may be provided between the backflow tank 71 and the pump 9 to prepare for backflow.
[0024]
The air bubbles pushed back by the operation of the backflow device 7 rise to the upper part of the processing liquid storage container 1 and remain in the upper part of the processing liquid storage container 1 until all of the processing liquid 2 is sucked and air is sucked. Finally, when this air is sucked again, it is sensed that the processing liquid 2 in the processing liquid storage container 1 has completely disappeared.
[0025]
By operating the piston 8 of the backflow tank 71 or pressing the bellows container 75, the volume in the backflow tank 71 is reduced, and after the bubbles and the processing liquid 2 in the flow path are pushed back into the processing liquid storage container 1, The piston 8 of the backflow tank 71 is returned by the repulsive force of the ridge 74, the bellows container 75 is restored, and the volume in the backflow tank 71 is increased, so that the processing liquid is introduced from the tip 3 of the tube 4 in the processing liquid storage container 1. Only 2 are aspirated. As the pump 9 rotates, a certain amount of the processing liquid 2 is added to the automatic processor processing tank 10.
[0026]
Separately, the dilution water 14 in the dilution water tank 13 is supplied from the pump 12 through the tube 11 and a necessary amount of the dilution water 14 is added to the automatic processor processing tank 10 to obtain a processing solution composition necessary for processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. It is held and stable processing can be performed. Furthermore, by storing and using water for dilution in the treatment liquid storage container 1, the same functions as the pump 12, the dilution water tank 13, and the dilution water 14 can be achieved.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, first, a solution is hermetically sealed in a deformable container made of a polymer compound, and a tube that forms a flow path to the automatic processor processing tank is connected to the container, Forming a hermetic flow path leading to a container and a pump communicating with the flow path, and returning the gas sucked from the container and sent to the hermetic flow path to the container; The solution is hermetically stored in a deformable container, and a tube that forms a flow path leading to the processing tank for the automatic processor is connected to the container. A pump is connected to the flow path, and an airtight flow is provided between the containers. On the other hand, since the backflow device is connected to the airtight flow path while forming the path, the processing liquid stored in the deformable processing liquid storage container using the polymer compound is passed through the tube forming the flow path in a sealed state. When sending gas, if gas is sent to the tube, Viewing, or to stop the operation of the pump is sensed by the sensing device, it backhaul and can be returned to the vessel by the backflow device. Therefore, there is no supply of a solution containing bubbles, the cause of deterioration of the processing solution is eliminated, and a precise solution supply can be performed without reducing the pump accuracy. In addition, the gas can be easily returned to the container, the container can be replaced very smoothly, and various processing liquids and the like can be supplied smoothly. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the exchange of the empty container is performed by removing the tip of the tube from the container and inserting it into the container, and therefore can be achieved by an extremely simple operation.
[0028]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the bubbles and the processing liquid in the flow path can be easily pushed back into the processing liquid storage container, and the processing liquid can be accurately and automatically developed without any bubbles in the flow path. By moving to the processing tank, there is no degradation of the processed photographic properties, and in addition, all the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage container can be taken out. It can be lost. According to the fifth, sixth, and seventh aspects, the gas and the liquid can be separated, and the absence of the solution in the processing liquid storage container can be easily detected by the gas sensor, and the detection is accurate and the pump malfunctions. Disappear.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the flow of a processing solution according to the solution supply method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the state of use of an embodiment of a container used in the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state of use of the container. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state of use of the container used in the present invention. Side view of another embodiment of the gas-liquid separator used in the invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the gas-liquid separator used. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the gas sensor used in the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operating state. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a backflow device used in the present invention. FIG. 11 is a sectional diagram for explaining an embodiment of a main part of the invention . Example cross-sectional explanatory drawing [Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Processing liquid storage container 2 Processing liquid 3 Tube tip 4 Tube 5 Separation tank 6 Gas detection sensor 7 Backflow device 8 Piston 9 Pump 10 Automatic processor processing tank 11 Tube 12 Pump 13 Dilution water tank 14 Dilution water 15 Bubbles 17 Float stopper 18 Float stopper

Claims (8)

The solution is hermetically sealed in a deformable container made of a polymer compound, a tube that forms a flow path leading to the processing tank of the automatic processor is connected to the container, and the container is connected to a pump that communicates with the flow path. A solution that forms a flow path and returns the gas sucked from the inside of the container and sent to the airtight flow path to the container by using a backflow device that sends back the air and processing liquid to the container. Supply method. The solution supply method according to claim 1, wherein one end of the tube is inserted into the container by being inserted into the container. The solution is hermetically sealed in a deformable container made of a polymer compound, a tube that forms a flow path leading to the processing tank of the automatic processor is connected to the container, a pump is connected to the flow path, and between the container and the pump A solution supply device characterized in that an air-tight flow path is formed, and a back-flow device that feeds back the air and processing liquid in the tube to the container is connected to the air- tight flow path. The solution supply device according to claim 3, wherein the backflow device comprises a variable volume container communicating with a tube. The solution supply apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a gas-liquid separation unit is provided in a tube on a container side of the backflow device. The solution supply apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a gas detection sensor is provided in the gas- liquid separation unit . The solution supply device according to claim 3, wherein a gas detection sensor is provided in a tube on a container side of the backflow device. 8. The solution supply apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gas detection sensor is formed by a float floating in the processing liquid and a sensor for detecting the position thereof.

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