JPH0664324B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus that conveys and processes a photosensitive material into a processing tank to which a processing liquid is supplied.

[Conventional technology]

The processing liquid supplied into the processing tank evaporates from the liquid surface into the air.

For this reason, the concentration of the treatment liquid in the treatment tank differs between the vicinity of the liquid surface and the bottom of the treatment tank, and the amount of the treatment liquid in the treatment tank gradually decreases. In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to provide a lid on the processing bath to cover the surface of the processing liquid.

However, if the liquid surface is completely covered with the lid, the lid must be removed every time the photosensitive material is conveyed into the processing tank, which complicates this work.

It is also possible to provide an opening through which the photosensitive material passes through, but in this case, the lid is always open regardless of whether the photosensitive material is transported or not. The treatment liquid evaporates though it is less than when there is no lid.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a lid provided in the treatment tank,
An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus which can be opened when the photosensitive material is conveyed and closed when the photosensitive material is not conveyed to cover the surface of the processing liquid.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is a photosensitive material processing apparatus for transferring and processing a photosensitive material into a processing tank to which a processing liquid is supplied, wherein the photosensitive material transfer means and the transfer means are driven. A driving source, which is provided in the processing tank, and a conveyance port through which the photosensitive material passes and is conveyed into the processing tank and through which the photosensitive material passes and is conveyed outward from the inside of the processing tank; And a movable cover for closing the transfer port, and an opening / closing unit which is driven by the drive source and which engages with the movable cover to move the movable cover to open and close the transfer port. Occasionally, the drive source drives the opening / closing means to open the conveying port, and after the conveyance of the photosensitive material is completed, the driving direction of the driving source is reversed to drive the opening / closing means to close the conveying port. It is characterized by making it a state.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the transfer means is driven by the drive source, and the photosensitive material is transferred into the processing tank. When the photosensitive material is conveyed, the drive source drives the opening / closing means, and the opening / closing means moves the movable lid to open the conveying port. With the transfer port open, the photosensitive material is transferred into the processing tank through the transfer port and immersed in the processing solution for processing. The photosensitive material immersed in the processing liquid is again conveyed outward from the conveying port.

After the conveyance of the photosensitive material, the drive source drives the opening / closing means with the driving direction in the opposite direction, and the opening / closing means moves the movable lid to close the conveyance port. When the transfer port is closed, the surface of the processing liquid in the processing tank is covered with the movable lid.

As a result, the lid of the processing tank is opened when the photosensitive material is conveyed, and is closed after the photosensitive material is conveyed, so that the evaporation of the processing liquid is better prevented, and the driving source of the conveying means and the opening / closing means are Since it also serves as a drive source, there is no need to use a new drive source, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

Example of Invention

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a processing tank 10 of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention.

The processing bath 12 is filled with the processing liquid 12.
About half of the rack 14 is submerged in 12.

The rack 14 is provided with a pair of side plates 16 and 18 as shown in FIG. These side plates 16 and 18 are supported in parallel with each other by stays (not shown) arranged at the four corners between the side plates 16 and 18.

Between the side plates 16 and 18, four sets of transfer rollers 20 to 26 as a transfer means that are immersed in the treatment liquid 12 are suspended.

Further, between the side plates 16 and 18, two sets of conveying rollers 28 and 30 as conveying means are provided above the conveying rollers 20 to 26. Guides 39, 41 are provided above the transport rollers 28, 30.
Are arranged.

A block 32 is laid between the side plates 16 and 18 above the one roller 20A of the transport roller 20. A block 34 having a width larger than that of the block 32 is arranged above the other roller 20B and the roller 26A and is stretched between the pair of side plates 16 and 18. A space between the blocks 32 and 34 serves as a conveyance inlet 35 for the photosensitive material 36. A block 38 is also arranged above the roller 26A and is stretched between the side plates 16 and 18.
A space between the blocks 38 and 34 serves as a transport outlet 37 for the photosensitive material 36. The blocks 32, 34 and 38 form a fixed lid.

Between roller 20A and roller 22A and between roller 26A and roller 24A
The guides 40 and 42 are disposed between the guides 40 and 42, and the guides 44 and 42 disposed between the guides 40 and 42 and the rollers 20B, 22B, 24B, and 26B. A transport path is formed.

Further, a guide 45 for reversing the conveying direction of the photosensitive material 36 is arranged in a portion surrounded by the rollers 22A, 22B, 24A, 24B and the bottom of the processing tank 10.

Therefore, the photosensitive material 36 is nipped and guided by the pair of transport rollers 28, transported from the transport inlet 35 into the processing tank 10, and blocked.
After passing between the block 32 and the block 34, it is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance roller 20, lowered, and inverted by the guide 45. The inverted photosensitive material 36 is guided by the guide 42 and the guide 44 and ascended, and is sent out to the next step by the pair of conveying rollers 30.

A movable lid 46 is arranged above the block 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the movable lid 46 is a rectangular flat plate whose both longitudinal ends are inserted into slide grooves 16A and 18B (see FIG. 3) provided in the pair of side plates 16 and 18, respectively. , Side plate 16,
It is movable in 18 width directions. A rectangular through hole 46A is provided in the middle portion of the movable lid 46 in the width direction.

Above the movable lid 46, a shaft 50 is laid between the pair of side plates 16 and 18, and is rotatably supported.
As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the shaft 50 is a side plate.
It penetrates through 18, and the tip portion thereof further projects to the outside of the processing tank 10. Sprocket 51 at the tip of the shaft 50
Is attached. A chain belt 53 is wound around the sprocket 51 with the sprocket 52. The sprocket 52 is attached to a drive shaft of a motor 55 as a drive source via a gear box 54. As a result, the driving force of the motor 55 is transmitted to the shaft 50 via the chain belt 53.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a gear 94 is attached to the shaft 50 between the side wall of the processing tank 10 and the side plate 18. This gear 94 meshes with a gear 96 pivotally supported on the side plate 18,
The gear 96 also meshes with a gear 98 pivotally supported on the side plate 18. The gear 98 meshes with a gear 100 attached to the tips of the rotary shafts of the transport rollers 20B and 26B, respectively.

Therefore, the driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 is transmitted to the gears 94, 96,
It is adapted to be conveyed to the conveying rollers 20B and 26B via 98 and the gear 100.

The gear 94 meshes with the gear 102 attached to the tip of the rotary shaft of the conveying roller 28, and the conveying roller 28 is rotated by the transmitted driving force to convey the photosensitive material 36.

A pair of fixing flanges 56 are attached to the shaft 50 as shown in FIG. The fixing flange 56 is attached between the side plates 16 and 18 of the shaft 50, and the end faces of the expanded diameter portions are arranged to face the side plates 16 and 18, respectively.
The movable flange facing the expanded portion of the fixed flange 56.
58 are assigned. A friction material 60 is arranged between the expanded diameter portion of the movable flange 58 and the fixed flange 56, and is fixed to the fixed flange 56.

A compression coil spring 62 is arranged between the movable flange 58 and the side plates 16 and 18. The compression coil spring 62 presses the movable flange 58 against the fixed flange 56 via the friction material 60.

A pin 64 is provided at the expanded diameter portion of the movable flange 58 with its tip facing the side plates 16 and 18. This pin 64 is a shaft
It is arranged between the movable cover 46 and the movable lid 46, and is inserted between a pair of protrusions 66 provided upright on the movable lid 46. This allows
When the movable flange 58 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the rotation is transmitted to the movable lid 46 via the pin 46, moves rightward in FIG. 1, and the stopper portion 32 provided on the block 32 is moved.
It comes in contact with A. In this state, as shown in FIG. 4, a conveyance inlet 35 and a conveyance outlet 37 for the photosensitive material 36.
Is open.

Further, when the movable flange 58 rotates clockwise in FIG. 1 from this state, the rotation is transmitted to the movable lid 46 via the pin 64 and moves leftward in FIG. 1, and the stopper portion provided on the block 38 is moved. It comes in contact with 38A. In this state, as shown in FIG.
The transport outlet 37 and the transport outlet 37 are closed.

The shaft 50, the fixed flange 56, the movable flange 58,
The friction member 60, the compression coil spring 62, and the pin 64 constitute opening / closing means.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

If the photosensitive material 36 is not transported into the processing tank 10, the first
As shown in the figure, the movable lid 46 is in contact with the stopper portion 38A of the block 38. In this state, the transport inlet 35 and the transport outlet 37 of the photosensitive material 36 are closed by the movable lid 46. Therefore, since the processing liquid is covered by the fixed lids (blocks 32, 34, 38) and the movable lid 46, evaporation of the processing liquid is prevented.

When the photosensitive material 36 is conveyed into the processing tank 10, the photosensitive material 36 is nipped and conveyed by the conveying rollers 28 and is then conveyed into the processing tank 10. At this time, the driving force of the motor 57 for rotating the shaft 50 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 is transmitted to the carrying roller 28, whereby the photosensitive material 36 is carried. At this time, the movable lid 46 is moved to the right in FIG. 1 by this driving force. Through hole in this state
46A corresponds to the transport inlet 35, and the movable lid 46 that has blocked the transport outlet 37 moves to be in the open state as shown in FIG.

When the movable lid 46 comes into contact with the stopper portion 32A of the block 32, the movable flange 58 slides on the friction material 60, and the driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 is not transmitted. The driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 is transmitted to the transport rollers 20B and 26B to drive the transport rollers 20B and 26B. This allows the photosensitive material 36
Passes through the through hole 46A and the transport inlet 35, is sandwiched and transported by the transport roller 20, and descends in the processing tank 10. The photosensitive material 36 that has descended in the processing tank 10 is sandwiched by the transport rollers 22, then inverted by the guides 44, sandwiched by the transport rollers 24, and rises in the processing bath 10. The photosensitive material 36 that has risen in the processing tank 10 is sandwiched by the transport rollers 24, is transported to the outside of the processing liquid 12 from the transport outlet 37, is guided by the pair of transport rollers 28, and is sent to the next step. As a result, the photosensitive material 36 is transferred to the processing tank 10
It is dipped in the treatment liquid 12 therein and treated.

After the photosensitive material 36 is sent out from the processing tank 10, the drive transmitted to the transport rollers 20 to 24, 26, 28 is temporarily stopped. Then, the motor 55 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the movable cover 46 is moved to the left side in FIG. 1 by this reverse rotation, and the state shown in FIG. 1 is obtained. In this state, the transfer entrance 35 and the transfer exit 37 are movable lids 46.
Closed by. As a result, when the photosensitive material 36 is not transported, the surface of the processing liquid is covered and evaporation of the processing liquid is prevented.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the second embodiment, the driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 is moved by the movable lid 46.
The transmission mechanism is different from that of the first embodiment except that the transmission mechanism is different.

A fixing flange 68 is attached to the shaft 50 as shown in FIG. This fixing flange 68 is a shaft 50
68A and the expanded portion that is expanded from this mounting portion 68A
It is formed with 68B. The end surface of the expanded diameter portion 68B facing the side plate 16 has an uneven shape with a gentle slope. A movable flange 70 having an uneven end surface corresponding to the uneven shape is pivotally supported by the shaft 50 and arranged between the fixed flange 68 and the side plate 16. The movable flange 70 is pressed against the fixed flange 68 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 62. This movable flange 70 is the first
The pin 64 is inserted between a pair of protrusions 66 provided on the movable lid 46 similar to the embodiment.

The shaft 50, the fixed flange 68, the movable flange 70,
The compression coil spring 62 and the pin 64 constitute opening / closing means.

When the driving force is transmitted to the shaft 50 and rotates, the movable flange 70 rotates via the fixed flange 68. The rotation of the movable flange moves the movable lid 46. When the movable lid 46 comes into contact with the stopper portion 32A of the block 32, the movable flange 70 is prevented from rotating. However, since the rotational driving force is transmitted to the shaft 50, the fixed flange 68 rotates, and the convex portion of the fixed flange 68 rotates while sliding on the gentle slope from the concave portion of the movable flange 70.
Is moved toward the side plate 16 against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 62 (see FIG. 7). Therefore fixed flange
68 is firstly moved to the movable flange 58 by the rotational driving force of the shaft 50.
Rotate while biasing counterclockwise. Thereby, the movable lid 46 can be maintained in the open state. Also the transport entrance 3
5. When the transport outlet 37 is closed, the motor 55 reverses to move the movable lid 46 to the left in FIG. When the movable lid 46 comes into contact with the stopper 38A of the block 38, the convex portion of the fixed flange 68 slides on the gentle slope from the concave portion of the movable flange 70 as in the closed state, and the movable lid 46 is closed. Can be maintained.

Since no friction material is used in this second embodiment,
The number of parts is reduced as compared with the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the third embodiment, the driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 is moved by the movable lid 46.
The transmission mechanism for transmitting to is different from that of the first embodiment and is otherwise the same as that of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of blades 72 are attached to the shaft 50 radially around the shaft 50. These blades 72 have elastic force.

The movable lid 46 is provided with a protrusion 74 so that the tips of the blades 72 come into contact with each other.

The shaft 50 and the blades 72 form an opening / closing means.

These blades 72 are moved by the driving force transmitted to the shaft 50 to the eighth position.
It is designed to rotate counterclockwise. This rotation causes the tip of the blade 72 to come into contact with the projection 74, move the movable lid 46, and open the state (the state shown in FIG. 8). In this state, the movable lid 46 is in contact with the stopper portion 32A of the block 32, the blade 72 is in contact with the protrusion 74, and its rotation is blocked, but since it has elasticity, it passes over the protrusion 74. This operation is continuously performed, and the movable lid 46 can maintain the open state.

When closing the transport inlet 35 and the transport outlet 37,
The motor 55 reversely rotates and moves the movable lid 46 to the left side in FIG. As a result, the movable lid 46 moves the stopper 38 of the block 38.
The blade 72 comes into contact with A and blocks the rotation of the blade 72, but since it has an elastic force, it passes over the protrusion 74. This operation is continuously performed, and the movable lid 46 can maintain the closed state.

In the third embodiment, since the fixed flange, the movable flange, the compression coil spring, etc. are not used, the number of parts is further reduced as compared with the second embodiment.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the present invention, the lid of the processing tank is in the open state when the photosensitive material is conveyed and is in the closed state after the conveyance of the photosensitive material, so that the evaporation of the processing liquid is better prevented and the conveying means By using both the drive source and the drive source of the opening / closing means, there is no need to use a new drive source, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention,
2 is an exploded perspective view showing a rack immersed in the processing tank, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a closed state of the movable lid. 5, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment and corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment. 6 is an operation diagram showing the operation of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment and corresponding to FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a third embodiment showing a section taken along line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 10 …… Treatment tank, 12 …… Treatment liquid, 35 …… Conveying inlet, 37 …… Conveying outlet, 46 …… Movable lid, 51,52 …… Sprockets, 53 …… Chien belt, 55 …… Motor, 94 ～ 102 ... Gear.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for carrying and processing a photosensitive material into a processing tank to which a processing liquid is supplied, the carrying means carrying the photosensitive material, and a drive source for driving the carrying means. A transfer port which is provided in the processing tank and through which the photosensitive material passes and is transferred into the processing tank, and through which the photosensitive material passes and is transferred from the inside of the processing tank to the outside; A movable lid for closing; and an opening / closing means that is driven by the drive source and that engages with the movable lid to move the movable lid to open and close the transport port. Drive the opening / closing means to open the transfer port, and after the transfer of the photosensitive material is completed, drive the opening / closing means with the driving direction of the drive source in the reverse direction to close the transfer port. A photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by the above.