JPS5852216B2 - film processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the use of light sensitive imaging systems;
And more particularly, it relates to high speed development of photosensitive film sheets having latent images.

Equipment is known and available for rapidly processing light sensitive film sheets while achieving acceptable density levels.

In the early stages of its development, one of the limiting factors in processing speed was the time required to dry film sheets immersed in processing liquids, for example in developer and fixing tanks.

On the other hand, rapid access for film sheet development has been achieved by preheating the developer solutions and applying them to the element from a nozzle or so-called triple par.

Although these and similar application modalities have produced acceptable density levels with reduced access periods, the final product often suffers from longitudinal and lateral non-uniformities and irregular development across the overall pattern. Show both.

A valuable improvement in development uniformity has been achieved in an apparatus that includes a roll for transporting an exposed film sheet through at least one section to which processing liquids are applied.

A distribution bar distributes liquid to a trough located above the transport passage and which is lower at one end than the other.

A perforated sheet extends longitudinally of the trough below the bar.

Liquid passes through this perforated sheet as it enters and exits the trough.

A ramp projects downwardly from the trough and terminates in close proximity to the transport channel.

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a treatment device incorporating the improvements of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid applicator in a first section of the treatment device shown in FIG. 3 and 4 are top and front views, respectively, of the trough shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing liquid flow from the first applicator of FIG. 2; 6 and 7 are a top view and a bottom view of the pan shown below the transport passage in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, and FIG.
This is a diagram cut at .

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1--2 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a partial front view of the bread.

10 and 11 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 showing another embodiment of the present invention in which a perforated sheet is used as the film support element.

Imaging systems that can be processed using the apparatus disclosed herein are in the form of photosensitive film sheets that undergo chemical or physical changes in the exposed areas when exposed to actinic radiation.

The film sheet can be a silver halide photographic material or support coated with a photocurable or photopolymerizable layer.

The support can be paper, plastic or even a metal sheet, which has been made photosensitive by incorporating a substance sensitive to actinic radiation or by having it coated thereon.

The processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a combination of developing, fixing, washing and drying sections 10, 12, 14, 16.

A sheet of light-sensitive film, such as a sheet of exposed silver halide film, is advanced through the apparatus in a horizontal path 18 by a pair of driven nip rolls.

Section 10, 12.14 has an introduction roll 19.20 and an output roll 21, 22.

The drying section 16 has a discharge roll 2L22.

In the section 10 there are two applicators 24, 26 above the passage 18 and below the passage 18 a pan 28.

The applicator 24.26 receives developer from a perforated triple bar 30.31 connected to the outlet of the pump 32.

Pan 28 receives solution through conduit 34 connected to pump 35.

Overflow from applicators 24, 26 and pan 28 is collected by tank 36.

The solution is replenished through conduit 40 and maintained at the desired temperature by device 42.

There are two applicators 26f in section 12.

This applicator receives fixing solution from triple pars 46, 47 supplied by pump 48.

Pump 48 receives absorbent on tank 49.

Tank 49 can be supplied with fixer concentrate through conduit 50 and its contents can be maintained at the desired temperature by means of device 51.

Pan 28f is connected to tank 4 via pump 52 and conduit 53.
Receive solution from 9.

Triple bars 30, 31, 46, 47 have holes p (FIG. 2) and are molded from chlorinated polyvinyl chloride tube stock.

In section 14, the film sheet advanced from fixing section 12 is flushed with wash water from triple par 54, and its back side is washed with water in pan 28W.

The bar 54 and conduit 55 connected to the pan 28w include
It is supplied with water by a pump 56 or by a gutter.

If a pump 56 is used, the water can be maintained at the desired temperature by means of a device 57.

This washed film sheet is then passed through a dryer 16.
pass through.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that rolls 19-22 have nidistomer sleeves 58.

Each of the applicators 24, 26 has a screen 60 fitted in its mouth and extending from end to end of an elongated trough 62.

Each screen 60 extends longitudinally of the trough 62 and its longitudinal ends are connected to a front wall and a rear wall 63.
, 64 are folded inwardly to provide tabs for engaging the inner surfaces of .

One tab is secured to the rear wall 64.

The lip along the top of wall 63 is below the top edge of wall 64.

An integral extension of the front wall 63 forms a downwardly projecting ramp 66 adjacent the passageway 18.

The lamp 66 is itself curved to provide a rounded lip and terminal flap 67.

Lamp 66 on applicator 24 and section 1
The first applicator 26f in 2 also projects to the point of proximity of the adjacent idler roll 19.

Additionally, the applicator 24 is provided with a screen 68 which is clamped at one longitudinal end to the rear wall 64 and wedged at the opposite end into the gap between the flap 67 and the ramp 66. ing.

Between its ends, the screen 68 has a planar portion 69 placed parallel to and in close proximity to the passageway 18.

Perforated sheets 60,68 were cut and formed from 60 mesh stainless steel screen.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lamp 66
is shorter than the front wall 63 of the trough 62 and the screen 60 is shorter than the lamp.

The bottom wall of the trough has a drain hole 70 located beyond the edge of the screen 60.

For these, the screen 60 extends beyond the end of the channel 18, ie it is longer than the width of the film sheet to be processed.

As shown in FIG. 5, film sheet F can be inserted into the nip between rolls 19, 20 and then advanced over pan 28.

Before that, pump 32.35 (FIG. 1) and device 42
keep it running.

Developer is pumped into bar 30 and pan 28 to the point where trough 62 and pan overflow.

Some of the solution from bar 30 flows down screen 60 to lamp 66, but most of this solution passes through the screen and overflows into layer 72 on lamp 66.

The layer 72 acts as a curtain and the play roll 19 and the lamp 6
6, the film sheet F falls until it reaches that point.

A pool then forms on the film sheet, as shown at T4.

The liquid in the pool 74 flows over the edge of the film seam (F) into the pan 28 or directly to the bottom of the tank 36.

Screen portion 69 tends to level pool 74 by expanding it from the center toward the edges of the film sheet.

This spreading action, combined with the movement of the film sheet F, agitates the solution and further enhances the image development.

In these respects, it should be noted that the distance between the film sheet F and the screen portion 69 is only about half the distance between the roll 19 and the bottom lip of the lamp 66.

1, 2 and 6-9, it can be seen that pan 28 extends from a point proximate roll 20 in section 10 to a point proximate roll 22.

The pan has a bottom wall 76, laterally disposed end walls 78, and side walls 80.

Bottom wall 76 has a drain hole 77 .

The end wall has a rearwardly bent protruding portion 81 to provide a lip.

Conduit 34 is connected to one of the side walls 80 and leads to a distribution housing 82 having a top wall and a side wall.

The liquid flows from the housing 82 to the perforation 83.
Flows through and fills the pan 28 and spills over the lip at the edge of the pan.

The protrusions 81 on the wall 78 have spaced notches 84.
and through which threads 86 of wire or other material (eg, nylon) are braided the length between walls 78 placed at acute angles with respect to walls 80.

The end of the thread (tread) 86 is fixed or tethered to the outermost notch.

The length of thread extending from lip to lip of bread is 18
provides support for the film sheets transported along.

In another preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 10 and 11, a perforated metal sheet 87 is used in place of thread 86 to provide support for the transported film sheet.

The preferred material for sheet 87 is type 316 stainless steel 20 gauge sheet providing a 40% open area with 1/8 inch diameter holes staggered on 3/16 inch centers.

It has been discovered that using metal sheet 87 as the support rather than the yarn support provides a cleaner backside on the treated film.

Sheet 87 extends from lip to lip of the pan and provides support for the film sheet being transported along path 18.

In FIG. 11, the end wall 7B of the pan 28 extends at a substantially 90 DEG angle with respect to the bottom wall 76 thereof.

Although in the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 a drain hole 77 is provided in the bottom 76 of the pan, this drain hole has been omitted from Figure 10 for ease of explanation. Please keep this in mind.

Sheet 87 has a flap 87f that closely matches pan wall 78.

The top of housing 82 resides near (or may touch, if desired) the lower surface of seat 87.

Sheet 87 may be attached to the pan by any suitable means, such as spot soldering.

This device includes pumps 32, 35□, 48. ! 52 and the supply of water to section 14, element 42,
It is brought into operation by supplying energy to 5L and 57, operating the dryer 16, and driving the rolls 20 and 220.

The liquid is maintained at a constant temperature ranging from 50 to 125 below, depending on the type of photosensitive film sheet to be processed.

That is, in a certain process, the devices 42, 51, 57
are heaters, and in others it is necessary to cool the liquid below room temperature.

Once the apparatus is activated, the film sheet is then inserted into the nip of the first set of rolls 19, 20 and advanced along the path 18.

The developer solution flows from the applicator 24, 26 to the image bearing surface of the film sheet.

The solution is spread on applicator 24 by screen section 69 and stirred.

The back side of the film sheet is wetted by the solution splashed onto it from pan 28.

In section 14, both sides of the film sheet are washed.

When the device is released from operation, the liquid remaining in the trough and pan drains through the drain holes 70,77.

This apparatus is particularly useful for processing a wide range of films having silver halide emulsions coated on one side thereof.

A convex example is a film used in aerial photography and having an antihalation layer on its back side.

With the apparatus disclosed herein, such films can be effectively processed with a high degree of lateral and longitudinal uniformity in a total access time of about 30 seconds.

An additional advantage is that the developed film also exhibits increased peak density and high slope.

In the foregoing it can be seen that the ramp 66 terminates at a point close to the passageway 18 and that the end of the ramp on this applicator is very close to the idler roll 19.

In the tests described above for wide film having a thickness of 4 to 7 mils, the distance between the rolls 19 of sections 10, 12 and the first lamp 66 was 20 mils, and the flow of liquid was in the form of a foil over the lamps. It was like filling the gap without generating .

The lips of all lamps and the planar portion 69 of the screen 68 were 15 mils from the passageway 18.

All liquids were heated to a temperature of approximately 1101''.

Momentary accumulation of used or aged developer along the center of the film sheet was avoided by the spreading and stirring action of the screen 68 on the applicator 24.

That is, the developer solution that first contacts the film sheet is continuously refreshed and this renewal minimizes concentration irregularities resulting from processing solution aging or ineffectiveness.

The uniformity of development in the longitudinal direction of the film is determined by using a flow pattern similar to that from holes p with increased spacing between drifle bars on the screen 6.
0 and layer 72 are strengthened in such a manner that they fail.

The irregular development pattern in the lateral direction of the film determines the uniformity of the layer 72 flowing from the applicator and the applicator 24.
is avoided by both the lower screen portion 690 action.

As the developer in pool 74 (FIG. 5) flows over the edge of the film sheet, it tends to irregularly wet the backside against that edge.

If it is dried and oxidized, the backside will spot and stain as a result of such wetting.

When using the apparatus disclosed herein, the backside of the film sheet is sufficiently wetted so that it is possible to prevent all of the developer on the backside from being neutralized by the fixing solution in pan 28f. It doesn't have a chance to dry before reaching.

Antihalation dye 6 is also removed by the fixer.

In section 14, residual salts formed from the processing liquid are washed away.

The sharpness of the spaced reaches of the support system 86 (FIGS. 6 and 9) and their wiping action across the backside prevents any developer having an antihalation layer or the like on its backside. Exclude the possibility of visible striae formation on the film.

Although two applicators are shown in each section 10, 120, there are light sensitive film sheets and processes that require the application of a single developer and/or fixer.

Although this apparatus has been described for processing conventional silver halide films, it is also useful for applying tanning or other processing solutions to image-containing photosensitive film sheets.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a treatment device incorporating the improvements of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid applicator in a first section of the treatment device shown in FIG. 3 and 4 are respectively an eave top view and a front view of the trough shown in FIG.
Figures 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams showing liquid flow from the first applicator in Figure 2, and Figures 6 and 7 are top views of the pan shown below the transport passage in Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 6, and Figure 9 is a section of the bread. Front view and 10th
Figures 6 and 11 are similar to Figures 6 and 7 showing another embodiment of the invention using a perforated sheet as the film support element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A section for applying a processing liquid to a sheet of photosensitive film, an introduction and delivery roll for transporting the film therethrough, and a section for transporting the film above and across the transport path. an elongated trough extending across the trough, a perforated sheet extending longitudinally of the trough, and an elongated distribution bar extending above the trough and delivering processing liquid to the bar. A conduit is connected to the bar for discharging processing liquid, the bar having holes oriented in the perforated sheet for discharging processing liquid, and the trough is connected to the bar at its longitudinal end. having one end lower than the other end and an integral, sloped lamp projecting downwardly from said one end and terminating in close proximity to said passageway; equipment. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the lamp is bent back to provide a solid lip adjacent the passageway. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lip is proximate to the introduction roll. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the perforated sheet extends end-to-end in overlying relation to the trough. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second perforated sheet extending above and adjacent to and across the passage on the underside of the trough. 6. A pan extending across and below said passageway, and conduit means connected to the pan for distributing process liquid into the pan, and said pan extending rearwardly to provide an overflow lip for said liquid. Claim 1 having longitudinal edges curved in
Apparatus described in section. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a plurality of slanted threads extend from lip to lip of the pan to provide support for a sheet of film transported through the passageway. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second perforated sheet extending below the trough, across and over the passageway. 9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a perforated sheet extends from lip to lip of the pan and provides support for a film sheet being transported through the passageway. 10. A second perforated sheet is provided extending below the trough, across and over the passageway;
Apparatus according to claim 9.