JPH028285Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) This invention relates to a leader sheet in a photographic film processing apparatus which guides and conveys photographed photographic film using a leader sheet.

(Prior art) In this type of processing device, various types of conveyance mechanisms are provided for conveying the leader sheet itself, but among them, a sprocket is inserted into the feed hole of the leader sheet and rotated. A type in which the leader sheets are fed one after another is widely used because of its reliable conveyance.

As shown in FIG. 1, this conveyance mechanism has sprockets 1 disposed at predetermined intervals in each processing zone such as development, fixing, washing, and drying. A rectangular feed hole 3 is arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction in the widthwise center of a leader sheet 2 made of resin such as polyester and has a length longer than the distance between the feed holes 3, and a feed protrusion 4 is inserted into the feed hole 3.
By biting and rotating the leader sheet 2, the leader sheet 2 is sequentially fed to the next sprocket, thereby conveying the photographed film 5 connected to the rear end of the leader sheet 2, and predetermined processing is performed on the film. It is configured to add. Incidentally, reference numeral 6 denotes a guide roller for pressing the leader sheet 2 toward the sprocket 1 side to facilitate biting.

However, conventionally, the spacing between the feed holes 3 of the leader sheet 2 is such that the sprocket 1
The length of the feed hole 3 in the feeding direction is set with relatively high accuracy in relation to the distance between the axes of the feed hole 3 and the spacing between the feed projections 4, etc., and the length of the feed hole 3 in the feeding direction is such that when the leader sheet is engaged with the feed projection 4, the leader sheet is Since the feed protrusion 4 was formed to have a size necessary and sufficient to fit into the feed projection 4 so as not to wobble in the feed direction, the following inconvenience occurred.

That is, the accuracy error of the distance between the axes of sprocket 1,
Due to expansion and contraction phenomena caused by the temperature of the leader sheet 2 or changes over time, or wear of the guides that guide the leader sheet 2, the gap between the feed protrusion 4 of the sprocket 1 and the feed hole 3 of the leader sheet 2 may If a slight deviation occurs in the proper dimensional relationship, when the leader sheet 2 is sent to the next sprocket, the feed protrusion 4 and the leading feed hole 3a will not match, causing a biting failure, resulting in irregular noises and poor running. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral portion of the feed hole 3 is deformed by the pressure exerted by the feed protrusion 4, so that it cannot withstand long-term use. In particular, in areas where the leader sheet needs to be conveyed in a curved manner, the proper dimensional relationship is likely to be deviated from, so it has been practically impossible to prevent defective biting over a long period of time.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) This invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, and even if there is a deviation in the proper dimensional relationship between the feed protrusion of the sprocket and the feed hole of the leader sheet, such deviation can be corrected. The purpose is to prevent the occurrence of poor biting when absorbed and sent to the next stage sprocket.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve this objective, this invention expands at least one of the feed holes of the leader sheet located at the beginning of one end in the feed direction in the same direction as the feed direction. It is characterized in that a play area is formed in the hole for initial engagement with the next stage sprocket.

(Example) Hereinafter, the configuration of this invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

3 and 4 show a schematic configuration of a photographic film processing apparatus to which the leader sheet according to the invention is applied, and this processing apparatus has processing zones such as a developing processing zone 10 and a fixing processing zone 11. are doing. Each processing zone has two feeding protrusions on the circumference.
Sprockets 20 having a number of sprockets 1 are arranged with a predetermined distance between their axes. These sprockets 2
0 is applied with a rotational force in a counterclockwise direction (in FIG. 4) by a drive mechanism (not shown).

Note that 30 is a pressing roller that presses down the leader sheet 40 to facilitate the engagement of the sprocket 20, and 31 is a guide rod that restricts the leader sheet and film from lateral deflection during conveyance.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the leader sheet according to this invention.

The leader sheet 40 is formed of a flexible rectangular thin plate made of resin such as polyester, and its length in the longitudinal direction is set to be larger than the distance between the axes of the sprockets 20. In the center of the leader sheet 40 in the width direction, rectangular feed holes 41 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction. The feed hole 41 is the feed protrusion 2 of the sprocket 20.
1, and their arrangement intervals correspond to the respective intervals of the feed projections 21.

Of the feed holes 41, two of the feed holes 41a and 41b located at both ends in the longitudinal direction are enlarged in the longitudinal direction to form play areas in the holes.
When feeding the leader sheet to the next stage sprocket, this play area absorbs the deviation in the dimensional relationship between the feed hole 41 of the leader sheet and the feed protrusion 21 of the sprocket 20, and prevents the feed protrusion from initially biting into the feed hole. The role is to ensure that the work is carried out reliably. Therefore, in this sense, the purpose can be achieved by enlarging only the feed hole 41a located at the head in the feed direction, but it is also possible to enlarge the feed hole 41b located second from the head as in the illustrated embodiment. When the play area is formed in a gradual manner, the transition from the initial biting motion to the next biting motion can be performed more smoothly, which is preferable. In the illustrated embodiment, the reason why the feed hole on the rear end side of the leader sheet 40 is also provided with an idle area is to enable the leader sheet 40 to be used without worrying about its longitudinal direction.

(Operation of the Embodiment) Next, the operation when transporting photographic film using the illustrated leader sheet will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, two photographed films 50 are attached to the rear end of the leader sheet 40 in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the feed hole 41 using tape 51 or the like, and the rear ends of the films are attached to the rear end of the leader sheet 40 in the longitudinal direction. The film is connected to the front end of the leader sheet, and in this manner, a plurality of films are connected in a continuous manner. Next, when the first leader sheet 40 is inserted into the insertion slot (not shown) of the film processing device, the leader sheet 40 is taken in by a take-in roller or the like, and is placed in the first stage of the development processing zone 10, which is the first processing zone. sprocket 20
sent to a. Since each sprocket is constantly rotated counterclockwise by a drive device (not shown), the feeding protrusion 21 of the sprocket 20 moves toward the leader sheet 4 in conjunction with the action of the presser roller 30.
As a result of the leader sheet 40 being bitten into the feed hole 41 of No. 0 sequentially from the leading side, a downward moving force is applied to the leader sheet 40, and the leader sheet 40 is sent to the next stage sprocket 20b.

Since the length of the leader sheet 40 in the longitudinal direction is set to be longer than the distance between the axes of the sprocket 20, the leading sprocket is inserted before the rear end sprocket hole of the leader sheet 40 passes through the previous sprocket 20a. 41a reaches the next stage sprocket 20b and meshes with one of the feed protrusions 21 of the sprocket 20b. At the time of initial engagement with the next stage sprocket, the feed hole 41a located at the top of the leader sheet 40 is expanded in the same direction as the feed direction (longitudinal direction), and the play area relative to the size of the feed protrusion 21 is increased. Because it is formed,
Even if there is a deviation in the proper dimensional relationship between the feed hole 41 and the feed protrusion 21 due to an accuracy error in the distance between the axes of the sprocket 20, an expansion/contraction phenomenon of the leader sheet 2, etc., the deviation occurs in the play area. Since the feed protrusion 21 is absorbed by the feed hole 41
It is securely caught in the hole a, and does not lead to a situation where a bad biting occurs. Moreover, since the feed hole 41b located second from the front is also formed with a play area in a gradually decreasing manner, the biting operation transitions extremely smoothly. This also applies when a temporary deviation occurs in the dimensional relationship at a location where the leader sheet needs to be conveyed in a curved manner, such as between processing zones.

The leader sheet 40 sent to the next sprocket 20b in this way is
It is given a moving force by the sprocket and sent to the next sprocket, and the same operation is performed thereafter. As a result, the film connected to the rear end of the leader sheet 40 is conveyed through each processing zone as the leader sheet 40 moves, and is subjected to predetermined processing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the leader sheet 4
A feed hole 41 is provided along the longitudinal direction in the center of the width direction of 0.
The case where the leader sheet 40 is shown is shown.
It is also possible to arrange them in rows on both sides of the width direction. In this case, it goes without saying that two sprockets are provided in the axial direction corresponding to the feed holes.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, this invention enlarges at least one of the perforations of the leader sheet at the leading end of the perforation in the feed direction in the same direction as the feed direction. Since a play area is formed for the initial biting of the next stage sprocket, due to accuracy errors in the distance between the sprocket axes, expansion and contraction phenomena of the leader sheet itself, etc., the proper alignment between the feed protrusion of the sprocket and the feed hole of the leader sheet is determined. Even if there is a discrepancy in the dimensional relationship, the feed protrusion of the next sprocket will reliably bite into the feed hole located at the beginning, effectively preventing the occurrence of bad biting and making it easier to feed the leader sheet. It can be done properly.
As a result, not only do irregular noises and running problems disappear, but also the situation where the surrounding area of the feed hole is subjected to pressing force by the feed protrusion is eliminated, which has excellent effects such as significantly extending the life of the leader sheet. It is something that plays.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the general structure of a leader sheet conveying mechanism in a photographic film processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the drawbacks of a conventional leader sheet, and FIGS. 3 to 5 are views of the present invention. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a photographic film processing apparatus, FIG. 4 is a front sectional view, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a leader sheet. 10... Development processing zone, 11... Fixing processing zone, 20... Sprocket, 21... Feeding protrusion, 40... Leader sheet, 41... Feeding hole,
50... Photographic film.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] It has a length longer than the distance between the axes of sprockets arranged at intervals in each processing zone such as development, fixing, water washing, drying, etc., and has a feed hole in the longitudinal direction that engages with the feed protrusion on the circumferential surface of the sprocket. In a leader sheet for transporting a film in a photographic film processing apparatus which is arranged in a row at intervals and is sequentially transported from a previous sprocket to a next sprocket by rotation of a sprocket, at least one of the feed holes is provided. Photographic film processing characterized in that a feed hole located at the head of one end in the feed direction is enlarged in the same direction as the feed direction to form an play area in the hole for initial engagement with the next stage sprocket. Leader sheet for transporting film in equipment.