JPH0217010B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been improved so that it can be adapted to an improved processing liquid tank that is effective when applied to an automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials, particularly long photographic paper wound into a roll. The present invention relates to a conveying device for photographic light-sensitive materials.

Conventionally, developing processing for photographic materials wound into rolls, especially for color, has been carried out exclusively in dedicated developing laboratories. From the above point of view, it has been common practice for cameras to be designed for the purpose of processing photographic materials of the same size, and to be equipped with separate processors or processing devices for photographic materials of different sizes.

However, as the level of in-store technicians has improved over the past few years, and in response to customer requests, it has become possible to perform development processing in-store as well, and to respond to requests for quick service. However, it is almost impossible to prepare processing machines and processing equipment for different sizes of photographic materials. For other sizes, processing had to be done by a separate processing laboratory or by hand, so the development of a processing machine or processing device that can be used commonly for different sizes is the key to this type of production. This has been a strong demand from the industry.

Therefore, based on requests from this type of industry, Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of the applicant of this patent, has registered Utility Model No. 1438264 (Utility Model Registration No. 1438264
Although he devised a processing device for photographic light-sensitive materials, such as No. There were also opinions that the same amount of processing solution would be required to fill each processing solution tank, resulting in considerable economic losses. This tendency is due to the fact that when processing photographic paper (hereinafter referred to simply as "paper"), such as after the New Year, or during the tourist and wedding seasons, processing is concentrated on large-sized papers.
When processing paper, there was a noticeable difference between the off-season and other times, and this was identified as a real problem.
The development of processing machines and processing equipment adapted to the throughput of photographic light-sensitive materials has also become desirable.

The desire of the applicant for this patent to continue improving and improving these points is reflected in Utility Model Application No. 1987-87322 (Utility Model Application No. 1987-190648), which was filed on June 14, 1981. As described in the specification attached to the application of Our continued desire for development made it possible to provide an "automatic developing device for photographic materials" that was adapted to the amount of material to be processed.
Utility model registration application filed at the same time as this patent application (1), namely Utility Model Application No. 1983-31114 (Utility Model Application No. 1983-138853)
However, these methods had some problems when processing photographic materials during the off-season.

Among these problems, the one that is particularly problematic is that photographic materials are transported even during off-season development processing by the transport mechanism inside each processing liquid chamber from which processing liquid has been drained. This is an unavoidable problem or drawback in that the processing liquid of each pre-treatment adheres to each pulley, each roller, etc. of these conveyance mechanism parts, causing uneven development.As an incidental problem, Another point was to make the processing time for photographic materials the same during the season and during the off-season.

Therefore, the applicant of this patent has proposed the above-mentioned "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials," which the applicant of this patent had previously devised, and the "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials," as stated in the utility model registration application (1) filed on the same date as this patent application. We have improved the ``transport mechanism for photographic materials'' in the ``automatic developing device for photographic materials'' to eliminate the above-mentioned difficulties and drawbacks.
This makes it possible to provide an "automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials" equipped with an economically advantageous "transport mechanism for photographic light-sensitive materials," and the present invention is hereinafter referred to as Utility Model Registration No. 1438264 described above. No. (Jikko 56-43804)
Components that have become publicly known through other documents, actual objects, etc., and components described in Utility Application No. 1987-87322, the above-mentioned utility model registration application (1), etc. should be omitted as much as possible. , Utility Model Registration No.
It may be equipped with the processing device of No. 1438264, but
This will be explained in detail by way of an example shown in the drawings, in which it is installed in an automatic developing device that processes a long length of photographic paper (hereinafter referred to simply as paper) that is wound into a roll as a photographic light-sensitive material. I decided to.

First of all, Figure 1 shows the appearance of what is commonly called an automatic developing machine, which has an automatic developing device that performs developing processing on long photographic paper wound into a roll, and a drying device. In Fig. 1, which is visually the same as conventional automatic developing machines, X is an automatic developing device, Y is a drying device,
Z is a paper take-out part.

In this automatic developing device The top panel 5 is formed of a window frame panel 3 that can be opened and closed, and a part of the top panel 5 near the front panel 2 is also a window frame panel 6 that can be opened and closed. 7 is a control box with an upper panel 8 equipped with a start and stop switch, a display and various operation buttons, etc. 9 is a control box for each This is a built-in part of the processing liquid circulation mechanism that is equipped with a circulation pump, filter, etc. for circulating each processing liquid in the processing liquid tank. The external appearance is substantially the same as that of a conventional automatic developing device, as is the drying device Y and the paper take-out section Z, whose explanations are omitted because they are equivalent to conventional ones.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the processing liquid tanks, a part of the leader belt, and the processing liquid which are arranged in a series inside the automatic developing device X for long photographic paper, which has been improved according to the present invention. Part of the circulation mechanism is laid out on one plane, and the other part is arranged longitudinally.
Rollers for paper guides, etc., which have become publicly known in No. 2003) and are described in other documents, are omitted.
This is an explanatory diagram that facilitates the explanation of the outline of the main components of the present invention.
0 is a developer tank 11, a bleach-fix tank 12, and although not shown, a water washing tank, a stable film hardening tank, etc., as well as a leader in the transport mechanism 30, which will be described later, which is a feature of the present invention. belt 31,
In the processing liquid tank portions 31 arranged in a series along the running direction, 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ , . . . (other than 17 ₁ are not shown) are partition walls between the processing liquid tanks. The length of each processing liquid tank constituting this processing liquid tank section 10, that is, the length along the running direction of the leader belts 31, 31, is determined by the printing temperature of a photo printing machine called a printer during the normal season. A leader belt 31 determined in consideration of speed,
Based on the running speed of 31, first determine the length of the developer tank 11, which requires a relatively long processing time and requires accuracy in processing time, and use this length as the standard for each other processing solution tank. The length of the rinsing tank, etc. is determined.

In the present invention, each of the required processing liquid tanks in the processing liquid tank section 10 is designed based on the amount of each processing liquid and the economical efficiency of each processing liquid, taking into account the amount of paper processed during the off-season. The running speed of the loose leader belts 31, 31 is determined by the overflow pipes ₁₈ 11 , 18 ₁₂ located at a lower position than the partition walls 17 ₁ , 17 2 , . . . as seen in the developer tank ₁₁ shown above. ,...(18 ₁₁
dividing walls 11 ₁ , 12 ₁ , 13 ₁ , ... (11 (Other than ₁ are not shown) each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ...
(Other than A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ are not shown), and during the season, each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ ,
A ₁₃ , ... are filled with each processing solution, and during the off-season, one of each processing solution chamber is used.
The processing liquid is drained from A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , . _. . , and only the other processing liquid chambers B ₁₁ , B ₁₂ , .
19 ₁₂ , ... (other than 19 ₁₁ are not shown), adjust the liquid level, and move the developer tank 11, bleach-fix tank 12, ...
etc., to increase the economic efficiency of each processing liquid consumed in each processing liquid tank in the processing liquid tank section 10.
The processing time for each processing solution remains the same.

Also, 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ , 20' ₁₂ ,...
...(Except for 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ are omitted)
is a processing liquid circulation mechanism installed in each of the processing liquid chambers A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , etc., taking into consideration the volume of that chamber, and this is a pump 21
₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , ... (21 ₁₁ , 2
1' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ (omitted), one end is opened at the bottom of the processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ..., and the other end is the pump 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21
₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , . . . and on-off valves 23 ₁₁ , 23' ₁₁ , 23 ₁₂ , 23' ₂₃ , . . .
(Other than 23 ₁₁ , 23' ₁₁ , 23 ₁₂ are not shown) Processing liquid suction pipes 22 ₁₁ , 22' ₁₁ , 22 ₁₂ , 2
2' ₁₂ , (other than 22 ₁₁ , 22' ₁₁ , 22 ₁₂ are not shown), filter units 24 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ ,
24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ , ... (24 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂
pumps 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ ,
Opening/closing valves 26 ₁₁ , ₂₆ ' _{11 ,} 26 ₁₂ , 26 _{' 12} , . _. . from 21 ₁₂ , 21' ₁₂ , .
(Other than 26 ₁₁ , 26' ₁₁ , 26 ₁₂ are not shown) Processing liquid delivery pipes 25 ₁₁ , 25' ₁₁ , 25 ₁₂ , 25'
₁₂ , ... (other than 25 ₁₁ , 25' ₁₁ , 25 ₁₂ are not shown), and the tips are each processing liquid chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ ,
Filter units 24 ₁₁ , 24' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ , . . . are opened at the upper part.
Processing liquid return pipes 27 ₁₁ , 27' ₁₁ , 27 ₁₂ , 2
7' ₁₂ , ... (other than 27 ₁₁ , 27' ₁₁ , 27 ₁₂ are not shown). In addition, each processing liquid chamber
The respective treatment liquid replenishment and supply mechanisms to A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , . . . are omitted from illustration.

Finally, the transport mechanism 3 featured in the present invention
0 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, leader belts 31 and 3 in this conveyance mechanism 30 for conveying photographic paper, that is, paper.
1 is the utility model registration No. 1 that was previously filed by Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd., the joint venture company of the patent applicant.
1336946 (Utility Model Publication No. 54-44592) etc., and similarly to this leader belt, each processing liquid tank forming the processing liquid tank part 10 is attached in the length direction of the processing liquid tank part 10. Although the conveyance mechanism 30 is made to run at a constant speed along the inside of both sides and the upper side of the inside, the characteristic of this conveyance mechanism 30 is that the leader belts 31, 31 can be moved at a constant speed during the season and during the off-season. It is characterized by the fact that the running speed can be changed to obtain the same processing effect, and the uneven development that tends to occur during off-season processing can be eliminated using an extremely simple method. It has the following. This will be explained below.

In Figures 2 and 3, 32, 2, 32 ₁ ,
32 ₁ , 32 ₂ , 32 ₂ , ..., 32 _o , 32 _o , 33
₁ , 33 ₁ , 33 ₂ , 33 ₂ , 33 ₃ , 33 ₃ , ...3
3 _n , 33 _n , 34 ₁ , 34 ₁ , 34 ₂ , 34 ₂ ,...
..., 34 _i , 34 _i , 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , 35 ₂ , 35 ₂ ,
..., 35 _g , 35 _g , 36, 36, 36 ₁ , 36
₁ ,...36 _o+1 , 36 _o+1 , 37, 37, etc. are omitted from illustration, but the leader belt 31,
31 run in parallel at a constant speed and perform various treatments on the paper being conveyed during the conveyance. 32, 32 are pulleys for starting paper introduction, and developer tank 11
The pulleys 32 ₁ and 32 ₁ on the front wall of the developer tank 11
Pulley of the section for transporting paper to, processing liquid tank section 1
Pulleys 33 ₁ , 3 arranged in each processing liquid of 0
3 ₁ , 33 ₂ , 33 ₂ , ..., 34 ₁ , 34 ₁ , 34 ₂ ,
34 ₂ , etc. and pulleys 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , 35 mounted above the dividing walls 11 ₁ , 12 ₁ , etc.
₂ , 35 ₂ , ..., etc. are the pulleys of the section for changing the conveyance direction of the paper (35 ₁ , 35 ₂ , ..., etc. are above each dividing wall, and when used during the season, they will be in the processing liquid. (as a general rule), the pulleys 32 ₂ , 32 ₂ , 32 ₃ , 32 ₃ , etc. placed above the partition walls 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ , . . . between each processing liquid tank are used for paper transfer. The pulleys 32 _o and 32 _o disposed on the rear wall of the last processing liquid tank in the processing liquid tank section 10 or on the rear wall of the washing tank are the pulleys of the paper transport section. Pulley 32 _o , 32 _o and subsequent pulleys 36, 36, 3
6 ₁ , 36 ₁ , . . . 36 _o+1 , 36 _o+1 ), etc. can be called return pulleys for the leader belts 31, 31, etc., and can be distinguished from each other. In addition, a sprocket wheel is normally fixed to the shaft of each of these pulleys, and driving force is transmitted as in an example described later, and 37, 37 are tension pulleys of the leader belts 31, 31. 38, 38 ₁ , 38 ₂ , etc. (only some of which are shown) are for paper guides attached to shafts between coaxial pulleys of required parts, as is well known, in order to guide the paper. It's a roller.

In addition, P is the rolled paper attached to the paper attachment part, and the leader belts 31, 31 arranged between adjacent pulleys, pulleys for guiding the paper, guide rollers, etc. Since this is a technical means that is in the public domain, illustrations and explanations are omitted.

During the season, the required processing liquid is supplied to each chamber A ₁₁ , B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ... of each processing liquid tank of the processing liquid tank section 10, and the overflow pipe 19 with an on-off valve is ₁₁ , 19 ₁₂ , ... are closed, and each processing liquid circulation mechanism 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ ,
20' ₁₂ , . An intermediate sprocket foil 43 and a tensioner are connected to a small diameter sprocket foil 42 fixed to the pulley shafts of the pulleys 32, 32 from a large diameter sprocket foil 41 attached to a rotating shaft, which can be called a drive shaft that is rotated through a reduction gear. The other pulleys 32 ₁ , 32 _{1 ,} 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ ,
The sprocket wheels 48 ₁ , 48 _{2 ,} . _. . (mostly not shown) are fixed to the respective pulley shafts of 35 2 , 35 ₂ , . By rotating not only the pulleys 32 ₁ , . . . , but also the other pulleys and causing the leader belts 31, 31 carrying the paper to run, the so-called developing process for the paper can be properly performed.

Now, during the off-season, each of the above rooms
A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , A ₁₃ , . . . are empty, and the other chambers B ₁₁ ,
The required processing liquid is supplied only to B ₁₂ , B ₁₃ , ..., and overflow pipes with on-off valves 19 ₁₁ ,
Open the on-off valves 19 ₁₂ , . . . and operate only one of the processing liquid circulation mechanisms 20 ′ ₁₁ , 20 ′ ₁₂ , 20 ′ ₁₃ , .
0 from the small diameter sprocket wheel 45 on the driving motor M side to the large diameter sprocket foil 44 on the pulley 32, 32 side, and then the intermediate sprocket foil 43 and tension sprocket foils 46, 47.
By tensioning the leader belt 3, the processing time is the same as during the season, and
1 and 31 may be run on the same route as during the season, and various treatments may be applied to the paper.

However, in this case, each of the empty chambers A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , and
A ₁₃ The pulleys and rollers used to guide the paper had the disadvantage that the pretreatment liquid tends to adhere unevenly, leading to so-called uneven development.

Therefore, as shown by the chain line in Figure 2, the leader belt is attached to one of the empty chambers in each processing liquid tank.
Leader belt 3 in A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , A ₁₃ , etc.
Pulley 33 for changing running direction of 1, 31 ₁ , 3
3 ₁ , 33 ₂ , 33 ₂ , ... 34 ₁ , 34 ₁ , ... etc., directly from the pulleys 32 ₁ , 32 ₁ to the pulleys 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ or directly from the pulleys 32 ₂ , 32 ₂ As for the pulleys 35 ₂ and 35 ₂ , the processing liquid tank section 1
0, and the loosened portions are connected to pulleys 36' _o , 36' _o+1 , 36 belonging to the pulley for returning the leader belt, as shown by chain lines in FIG. The leader belts ₃₁ , 31 can be used as they are without any processing by the extremely simple method of stretching them to the pulley 36 _o via ′ _{o+x and 36′ o+y.} Not only has this been achieved, but the biggest cause of uneven development caused by passing the paper through chambers A ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , . . . that do not contain processing liquid can be eliminated.

That is, in the present invention, similar to the invention of Utility Model Application No. 1987-87322 filed earlier by the present patent applicant and the utility model registration application (1) filed on the same date, a photographic light-sensitive material represented by paper is proposed. By changing the conveyance speed of the paper according to the processing amount and optimizing the amount of each processing liquid used, it has become possible to perform so-called development processing on photographic light-sensitive materials economically. Unlike the invention in utility model registration application (1),
Of each processing liquid tank, during the off-season when only the other chamber divided by the dividing wall is used as a processing liquid tank, the transport mechanism part in the other chamber that is not filled with the processing liquid is photographed. Since it is not used as a material transport mechanism, it is possible to completely eliminate uneven development caused by processing liquid adhering to rollers, etc. for transport and guidance of parts of the transport mechanism that are not used. Ta.

Note that the conveying mechanism 30 of the present invention may be of a known type that conveys the photosensitive material using both side edges, but in this case, the pulley 3
2, 32 and 32 ₁ , 32 ₁ , pulley 32 ₁ , 32 ₁
and 35 ₁ , 35 ₁ , pulley 32 ₂ , 32 ₂ and 35 ₂ ,
_35. In other words, even when transporting photographic material when one chamber is not used as a processing liquid tank, the same type of transport mechanism part belonging to the above-mentioned known method is additionally provided.

As is clear from the above description, the automatic developing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention is a so-called automatic development system in which the photographic light-sensitive materials are processed by meandering through each processing liquid tank arranged in a series using a conveyance mechanism. In each processing liquid tank in the device, in particular, the processing liquid tank that requires a relatively long time for processing and requires precision in processing time is used as a reference, as well as other required processing liquid tanks, and between each processing liquid tank. It is possible to divide the processing liquid chambers at locations that do not impede the transfer of photographic material by dividing walls lower than the partition walls of By making it possible to use each processing liquid chamber as a processing liquid tank and operating the processing liquid circulation mechanism accordingly, a large amount of photographic light-sensitive materials such as photographic film and large photographic paper can be stored. During seasons when the amount of processing increases dramatically, such as after the new year when consumption is high, or during the tourist and wedding seasons, each processing liquid chamber is fully used as a processing liquid tank, and processing is performed as in the off-season. When the consumption of photographic light-sensitive materials decreases, one of the divided processing liquid chambers in each processing liquid tank is used as a processing liquid tank, and the conveyance speed of the paper is changed by the conveyance speed variable mechanism.
Of course, it is possible to economically optimize the consumption of each treatment liquid depending on the season by performing the treatment for the same time as the treatment time during the season, and furthermore, the present invention The transport mechanism for the photographic light-sensitive material in the processing tank is configured such that during the off-season when one of the processing liquid chambers of each processing liquid tank is used as a processing liquid tank, the photographic light-sensitive material does not pass through the other processing liquid chamber of each processing liquid tank. With a droplet that can be transported, partial processing is performed that may cause uneven development due to the processing liquid adhering to each member of the transport mechanism in the processing liquid chamber that does not contain the processing liquid. Even during this off-season,
It has now become possible to provide an automatic developing device that has an excellent effect of providing processing effects that are the same as during the season.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show the structure of an embodiment of an automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention, which is implemented as an automatic developing device for long photographic paper wound into a roll. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of a so-called automatic developing machine equipped with the present invention, and in order to clearly show the processing liquid tanks improved by the present invention, some parts are cut vertically and some parts are laid out on a flat surface. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the variable running speed mechanism of the leader belt in the conveyance mechanism. X... Automatic developing device, Y... Drying device, 1...
Outer panel, 2...Front panel, 3, 6...Window frame panel, 4...Roll paper handling opening with dark bag, 5...Top panel, 7...Control box, 8...Top panel, 9 ... processing liquid circulation mechanism built-in section, 10 ... processing liquid tank section, 11 ... developer tank, 12 ... bleach-fix tank, 17 ₁ , 17 ₂ , ...;
...Partition wall, 11 ₁ , 12 ₁ , ...; ...Dividing wall, A ₁₁ ,
B ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ...; ... Processing liquid chamber, 18 ₁₁ , 1
8 ₁₂ , ...; ...overflow pipe, 19 ₁₁ ,
19 ₁₂ ,...;... Overflow pipe with on-off valve, 20 ₁₁ , 20' ₁₁ , 20 ₁₂ , 20' ₁₂ ,...;...
...Treatment liquid circulation mechanism, 21 ₁₁ , 21' ₁₁ , 21 ₁₂ , 2
1' ₁₂ , ... ; ... pump, 22 ₁₁ , 22' ₁₁ , 22
₁₂ , 22' ₁₂ , ...; ... Processing liquid suction pipe, 23 ₁₁ , 2
3' ₁₁ , 23 ₁₂ , 23' ₁₂ , ..., 26 ₁₁ , 26' ₁₁ ,
26 ₁₂ , 26' ₁₂ , ... ; ... Opening/closing valve, 24 ₁₁ , 2
4' ₁₁ , 24 ₁₂ , 24' ₁₂ , ...; ... Filter unit, 25 ₁₁ , 25' ₁₁ , 25 ₁₂ , 25' ₁₂ ,
…;……Processing liquid delivery pipe, 27 ₁₁ , 27' ₁₁ , 27
₁₂ , 27' ₁₂ , ... ; ... Processing liquid return pipe, 30 ...
Conveyance mechanism, 31...Leader belt, 32, 32
₁ , 32 ₂ , ..., 33 ₁ , 33 ₂ , ..., 34 ₁ , 3
4 ₂ , ..., 35 ₁ , 35 ₂ , 35 ₃ , ..., 36 ₁ ,
36 ₂ ,...,36 _o+1 ,37...Pulley, M...
...Drive motor, 40, 49...Chain, 4
1,42,43,44,45,48,48 _1,4
8 ₂ ,...;... Sprocket foil, 46, 47
...Tension sprocket foil.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Processing liquid tanks, each equipped with a processing liquid supply mechanism, an overflow pipe, a processing liquid circulation mechanism, etc., are arranged in a series, and the photographic material is conveyed through each processing liquid tank while meandering in sequence. In an automatic developing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials equipped with a conveyance mechanism for carrying out processing, each of the processing liquid tanks requires a relatively long time for processing, and accuracy is required in the processing time. With the processing liquid tank as a reference, it is divided between the meandering sections by a dividing wall lower than the partition wall between each processing liquid tank along with other required processing liquid tanks, and the processing liquid in each divided processing liquid chamber is divided into the respective processing liquids. The processing liquid circulation mechanism installed in each chamber enables circulation, and one of the processing liquid chambers of each divided processing liquid tank has an overflow pipe that opens at a higher position than the dividing wall. Each of the liquid chambers is provided with an overflow pipe with an on-off valve that opens at a position lower than the dividing wall, and furthermore, when the other processing liquid chamber in each processing liquid tank is used as a processing liquid tank, , it is possible to transport the photosensitive material without passing it through one of the processing liquid chambers in each processing liquid tank, and it is also equipped with a conveyance speed variable mechanism unit that changes the conveyance speed, so that both of the processing liquid chambers can be processed individually. An automatic developing device for photographic light-sensitive materials, characterized in that the time for processing the photographic light-sensitive material as a liquid tank is the same as the time for processing the photographic light-sensitive material using each of the other processing liquid chambers as a processing liquid tank. .