JPH0216907B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and more particularly to a photosensitive material processing apparatus that does not require liquid supply/drain piping and is suitable for a so-called camera processor combined with a camera for copying or the like.

For example, a microfissure/camera processor for microfiring various documents, slips, etc. is handled in the same way as an office machine, so its installation and daily handling must be as simple as possible. Ru. For this reason, the photosensitive material processing equipment (hereinafter referred to as
In addition to adopting a closed system that does not require piping for supplying and draining liquids, it is also desirable to automate operations such as replenishing and replacing various processing liquids as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a highly automated processor that does not require liquid supply/drain piping and meets the above requirements.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a photosensitive material while sequentially transporting it through processing tanks such as development, fixing, and water washing, and to fill each processing tank with a processing solution and a cartridge receiving part for receiving a cartridge for recovering the processing liquid from the cartridge; means for injecting the processing liquid filled in the cartridge into each of the processing tanks; A means for collecting the cartridge into the cartridge, and a means for relatively moving the cartridge receiving part, the injection means and the collection means, and the moving means allows the injection means and the collection means and the cartridge to be attached and detached at the same time. This is achieved by a photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by the following.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a processor that is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a development processing section 11, a stop processing section 12, and a fixing processing section 13.
and a processing section consisting of water washing processing sections 14 and 15; 20 is a squeeze section 21 and a hot air drying section 22;
30 is a cartridge accommodating part for accommodating cartridges 31 to 35 of processing liquid or washing water, and 40 is a self-priming unit for injecting the processing liquid or washing water in the cartridges into the corresponding processing section. This is a liquid supply section equipped with type pumps 41 to 45. Further, F indicates a transport path of the photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as "film").

Among the processing sections, the development processing section 11, the fixing processing section 13, and the washing processing sections 14 and 15 have a large number of rollers disposed in the processing tank to transport the film in a U-shape. It is configured to process. Further, the stop processing section 12 serves as a cross-over between the development processing section 11 and the fixing processing section 13.
A stop liquid storage section consisting of two pairs of small-diameter rollers, a stop liquid supply pipe, and a drip-proof plate is provided here to perform the stopping process while the film passes through the stop liquid storage section. This improves the efficiency of shutdown processing, saves space, and shortens processing time.

The squeeze section 21 is constructed by arranging a large number of rollers R in a staggered manner, and the hot air drying section 22 is configured with transfer rollers R arranged in a staggered manner similar to the squeeze section 21 and facing the rollers R. It consists of a dry air blowing nozzle N provided.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the development processing system is composed of a development processing section 11, a developer cartridge 31, a developer supply pump 41, a developer circulation pump 51, a developer replenishment pump 61, and a filter 71. There is. The circulation pump 5 is provided in the development processing tank.
1. Liquid inlet/outlet of the circulation system consisting of filter 71 1
1A; 11B, a U-shaped pipe 11C for liquid injection connected to the liquid supply pump 41 and the replenishment pump 61, and a liquid drain port 11 to which a liquid drain pipe 81 equipped with a pot is connected.
D, an overflow pipe 11E, etc. are provided.

The developer cartridge 31 has a double structure in which a soft plastic bag is inserted into a hard plastic container 31A, and the developer is initially filled in the inner bag 31B. Above container 3
The space between the inner bag 1A and the inner bag 31B is used to collect developer that overflows due to replenishment that occurs during film processing. The cap 31C of the developing cartridge 31 includes liquid suction pipes 31D and 31E of the liquid supply pump 41 and replenishment pump 61, and the developing processing section 11.
A liquid receiving pipe 31F is provided which is connected to the overflow pipe 11E. The liquid suction pipes 31D and 31E are inserted into the inner bag 31B, and the liquid receiving pipe 31F is inserted into the inner bag 31B.
It is open to the outside.

Moreover, the cap 31C of the cartridge is
Together with the liquid supply pump 41, the liquid suction pipes 31D and 31E are movable from a position where they fit into the cartridge 31 as shown in FIG. 2 to a position where the liquid suction pipes 31D and 31E are completely pulled out from the cartridge 31.

The operation of the developing processing system of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below.

(1) Supplying liquid to the processing tank Pull up the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C, and remove the first cartridge 3 filled with developer.
1, return the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C to the positions shown in FIG. 2, and operate the liquid supply pump 41. This allows the cartridge 3
The developer in the first inner bag 31B is sent to the processing tank via a hose connected to the U-shaped tube 11C.
If the capacity of the cartridge 31 and the capacity of the processing tank are made substantially equal, the processing tank will be filled with the developer through this operation. The overflow is transferred from the liquid receiving pipe 31F to the cartridge 31 via a hose connected to the overflow pipe 11E.
is collected in the space outside the inner bag 31B.

(2) Cartridge conversion After completing the above operations, pull up the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C again, take out the empty first cartridge 31, and set the second cartridge 31 filled with developer. do.
Next, liquid supply is completed by returning the liquid supply pump 41 and cap 31C to the positions shown in FIG.

(3) Processing preparation and processing Circulating the developer, adjusting the temperature, and replenishing it during processing are carried out in the same way as in a normal processor. As described above, the overflowing developer due to replenishment is collected in the cartridge 31. In addition, if the liquid level in the processing tank drops for some reason, this is detected by the electrode switch 11F, and the liquid supply pump 41 can be operated until the liquid level recovers. There is.

If the amount of film processed exceeds a specified amount, or if the time spent in the processor exceeds a specified time, the developer is replaced. When replacing the drain pipe 81, the drain pipe 81 is opened to receive the developer in the processing tank into another container. Before supplying a new developer, clean the inside of the processing tank if necessary. The procedure for supplying a new developer is as described above.

Next, the stop processing system will be explained. As described above, the stop processing system of this embodiment has a small capacity stop liquid storage section. The cartridge 32 filled with stop solution is the same as the cartridge 31 for developer solution.
Unlike the above, it is a simple container without an inner bag, and the cap has one liquid suction pipe and one liquid receiving pipe.

The stop processing system does not have a liquid supply operation, and is configured such that the stop liquid is circulated from the cartridge 32 to the pump 42 to the stop liquid storage section to the cartridge 32 by the liquid supply pump 42 at the same time as the process starts. A small hole for liquid recovery is provided in the saucer portion of the stop liquid storage section, and when the liquid supply pump 42 is stopped, all the stop liquid is collected into the cartridge 32.

The fixing processing system is configured exactly the same as the developing processing system, and operates in the same manner.

Next, the water washing treatment system will be explained. The configuration of the water washing treatment system is similar to the shutdown treatment system described above. In other words, the cartridges 34 and 35 supplying washing water.
Like the one for stop liquid, this one does not have an inner bag, and the structure of the cap is also the same as that for stop liquid.

As for the operation, there is no liquid supply operation, and the liquid supply pumps 44 and 45 supply washing water at the same time as the process starts.
Cartridge 34 → Pump 44 → Washing section 14
→ Cartridge 34, cartridge 35 → Pump 45 → Water washing processing section 15 → Cartridge 35. Further, a small hole for liquid recovery is provided at the bottom of the processing tank, and when the liquid supply pump is stopped, the washing water is recovered into each cartridge.

The electrode switch for monitoring the liquid level, which is installed in the processing tank for development and fixing, is configured so that a low voltage current is supplied for several seconds per minute, and electrolysis of the processing liquid is performed. and prevents corrosion of the electrodes. Further, the output of this electrode switch may be used not only to operate the liquid supply pump as described above but also to generate an alarm. Furthermore, it can also be used as a timing signal to stop the liquid supply during the liquid supply operation to the processing liquid.

The processing liquid can be replaced, for example, as follows using a preset counter and two timers. The preset counter is a counter that is reset when the processing liquid cartridge is changed, and the allowable number of films to be processed per processing liquid cartridge is set therein. Both of the two timers are reset when the processing liquid cartridge is replaced; the first timer is set to one week, and the second timer is set to one month. Then, by the output of the counter or the first timer, whichever is earlier, a display "CHANGE CHEMICALS" to change the processing liquid cartridge is displayed.
Also, after the output of the second timer is received, when either the counter or the first timer is outputted, whichever comes first, the processing liquid cartridge can be replaced, and the liquid in the developing and fixing processing tanks can only be replaced. figure,
``CLEAN'' is displayed to instruct you to also clean the processor.
PROCESSOR” to notify the operator. This allows the processor to maintain its mechanism and processing liquid in good condition at all times.

FIG. 3 shows an overview of the electrical connections of the processor. In the figure, K ₁ is the liquid supply pump switch, K ₂ is the replenishment pump switch, K ₃ is the developer temperature priority temperature control switch, K ₄ is the elevator motor switch, or S ₁ is the elevator up/down switch, and S ₂ is the elevator motor switch. is the liquid supply door open/close detection switch, LS ₁
is the elevator upper limit switch, LS ₂ is the elevator lower limit switch, and TH ₁ and TH ₂ are the thermostats. Furthermore, D, S, F, W ₁ and W ₂ are abbreviations for developing solution, stop solution, fixing solution and washing water (two tanks), respectively. As is clear from the figure, the developer and fixer are always operated synchronously. here,
The elevator is a lifting mechanism for attaching and detaching the cap of the processing liquid cartridge to and from the cartridge (it goes without saying that a single liquid supply pump is sufficient), and can only be operated when the liquid supply section door is opened. It is structured as follows.

The temperature control switch _K3 , which prioritizes developer temperature, is configured so that it can be switched to the drying section heater side only when the developer tank heater is OFF.With this configuration, the electrical capacity of the entire processor can be reduced. This has the effect of making it possible to reduce the

The above embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments. For example, when a liquid supply pump is used as a means for supplying the processing liquid or washing water in a processing liquid cartridge to a processing tank, making the liquid supply means removable from the cartridge means that the liquid supply pump is In this case, only the liquid suction pipe inserted into the cartridge may be attached or detached. Moreover, the various controls described above can be performed by program processing by a microcomputer, and it goes without saying that this is effective.

As described above, the present invention has the remarkable effect of realizing a highly automated processor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a developing processing system, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of electrical connections. 10: Processing section, 20: Drying section, 30: Cartridge storage section, 31-35: Cartridge, 41-
45: Liquid supply pump.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus that processes a photosensitive material while sequentially transporting it through processing tanks such as developing, fixing, and washing, filling of each processing tank with a processing liquid and recovering the processing liquid from each processing tank are performed. a cartridge receiving part for receiving a cartridge for carrying out the above, means for injecting the processing liquid filled in the cartridge into each of the processing tanks, and means for collecting the processing liquid overflowing from each of the processing tanks into the cartridge;
and a means for relatively moving the cartridge receiving part and the injection means and collection means, so that the injection means and collection means and the cartridge can be attached and detached at the same time by the moving means. Photosensitive material processing equipment.