JPH0346655A - Photosensitive material processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent water for washing from being excessively supplied, to improve the effect and the efficiency of water washing and to reduce a running cost by timely supplying the quantity of the water for washing corresponding to the area of a photosensitive material to a water washing tank with the aid of a water supply means based on a signal detected by a detection means when the photosensitive material arrives at the water washing tank. CONSTITUTION:The detection means 12 which detects the area of the photosensitive material 11 at least before the photosensitive material 11 arrives at the water washing tank 5 is provided. Based on the signal detected by the detection means 12, the quantity of the water for washing corresponding to the area of the photosensitive material 11 is timely supplied to the water washing tank 5 when the photosensitive material 11 arrives at the water washing tank 5. In such a way, before the photosensitive material 11 is washed by water, the area of the photosensitive material 11 is appropriately detected by the detection part 12 and the quantity of the water-supply is made to correspond to the area of the photosensitive material 11 by the area detection signal. Besides, the timing of the water-supply is set just before the photosensitive material 11 is washed by the water in the water washing tank 5. Thus, the water for washing is prevented from being excessively supplied and the effect and the efficiency of the water washing are improved. Besides, the running cost is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention provides a method for automatically processing an exposed photosensitive material by sequentially transporting the exposed photosensitive material to a developing tank, a fixing tank, a washing tank, a drying section, etc. The present invention relates to a water supply means used in a photosensitive material processing apparatus, and more particularly relates to a water supply means for supplying washing water to the washing tank.

(Prior art) Photosensitive materials, such as X-ray photosensitive materials and photosensitive materials for printing,
The image is processed in a post-exposure processing device through various steps such as development, fixing, washing, and drying.

Water washing is performed to remove unnecessary substances remaining in the photosensitive material after such steps such as fixing, such as hypo in the fixing solution. In this case, running water is supplied to the washing tank, and overflowing washing water is discharged outside the machine.

The photosensitive material processing apparatus is used, for example, to automatically process photosensitive materials for graphic arts, photosensitive materials for medical use, color photosensitive materials, and the like.

In facilities such as emergency hospitals that urgently need X-ray results, photosensitive material processing equipment is often kept on standby, but the processing process itself can be shortened and speeded up. At the same time, there is a need to improve development quality.

In the rinsing process, high-cleanliness water rinsing is usually performed by supplying running water to a rinsing tank via a piping system that is directly or indirectly connected to a water pipe. In this case, it goes without saying that the more water supplied, the better the washing with running water, but even with this method, in order to obtain a sufficient washing effect, it is necessary to adjust the size of the photosensitive material to be processed. The amount of water must be set according to the largest size, especially for equipment that can process a wide range of sizes.
When processing small-sized items, there is a problem in that oversupply of washing water results in a large waste of washing water and increases running costs.

(Object of the invention) The present invention has been made to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus that eliminates excessive supply of washing water, does not cause a decrease in the washing effect, has good washing efficiency, and can reduce running costs.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus equipped with a water supply means for supplying washing water for commercially exposed photosensitive materials to a washing tank, the apparatus comprising: A detection means is provided for detecting the area of the photosensitive material before reaching the area of the photosensitive material, and the water supply means supplies an amount of washing water corresponding to the area of the photosensitive material to the area of the photosensitive material in response to a detection signal from the detection means. When reaching the washing tank, the washing tank is filled with (J) (1
The photosensitive material processing apparatus is coupled by a photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized in that

(Function) According to the present invention, using a photosensitive material processing apparatus, before washing the photosensitive material, the area of the photosensitive material is appropriately detected by the detection section, and the water supply valve is controlled based on this area detection signal. and adjust the amount of water supply to correspond to the area of the photosensitive paulownia wood.
In addition, by adjusting the water supply timing to just before the washing process of the photosensitive material starts in the washing tank, it is possible to avoid supplying an excessive amount of washing water, and to supply sufficient washing water to maintain a good washing effect. This enables extremely efficient water washing.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings in Attachment 4=J.

In explaining the embodiments, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, we will first explain the overall structure of the photosensitive material processing apparatus.
Next, the area measurement and water supply system of the photosensitive material according to the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the main parts of the internal structure of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention.

In the machine frame 2 of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1, a developing tank 3, a fixing tank 4, a washing tank 5, a squeezer 6, a drying section 7, drying racks 1-8, etc. are provided in the arrangement shown in the figure.

At the upper right side of the machine frame 2, there is an insertion table 1 arranged horizontally.
0 is provided, and exposed photosensitive material 1 is inserted from this insertion table 10.
1.

A detection section 12 consisting of a detection sensor is located near the insertion table 10.
A photosensitive material 1 is provided and inserted into a photosensitive material processing apparatus.
1 is configured to detect the width and length of 1.

Are the detection units 12 arranged perpendicular to the insertion direction of the photosensitive material 11? It consists of several light emitters and a light receiver, and is designed to detect transmitted light or reflected light when the photosensitive material 11 is inserted. If the width of the photosensitive material is constant, only one pair of light emitter and light receiver may be provided to detect only the length of the inserted photosensitive material.

The photosensitive material 11 is sequentially nipped and conveyed by a plurality of conveying rollers 13 arranged in each processing tank, and is immersed in the developer in the developing tank 3 .

The plurality of conveyance rollers 13 are rotated by a drive source and a drive mechanism (not shown), and the photosensitive material 11 is rotated by a drive source and a drive mechanism (not shown).
It is transported from the right to the left in the figure.

Next, the photosensitive assembly 11 is transported to fixing (t14) by the transport roller 13 via the development crossover rack 3a, and is immersed in the fixing solution in the fixing tank 4.

Next, after fixing, the photosensitive material 11 is transported by the transport roller 13 via the fixing crossover rack 4a into the washing tank 5, and is washed with washing water in the washing tank 5 [j].

After the water-washed photosensitive assembly 11 is squeezed out of the attached moisture by the squeeze roller of the squeeze rack 6,
It is transported into the drying section 7. Inside the drying section 7, a drying roller 4 and an air blowing pipe 15 for blowing out warm air are provided.
It is configured to dry the photosensitive material 11.

The dried photosensitive material 11 is then discharged from the drying section 7 into a photosensitive material receiver box 16 by a conveying roller 14.

The outline of the development process for the photosensitive material 11 has been explained in 4- above, and each part of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1 will be explained next.

A circulation path 22A is provided at the outer lower part of the developer tank 3.

22B, a circulation pump 23, and a heat exchanger 20, a developing circulation system is provided, and the developing solution is circulated in the direction of the arrow. The inside of the heat exchanger 20 is equipped with a heater 34 and a cooling water supply pipe (not shown), which maintains the temperature of the developer within a predetermined temperature range.
It is designed to stir the developer solution in the developer tank.

Further, the fixer tank 4 is also provided with a fixer circulation system (not shown) similar to the developer tank 3, which maintains the temperature of the fixer within a predetermined temperature range and agitates the fixer in the fixer tank 4. It looks like this.

A developer replenisher replenishment system and a fixer replenisher replenisher system are set in the developer tank 3 and fixer tank 4, respectively, and based on the width and length of the photosensitive material 11 detected by the detection unit 12,
The area of the photosensitive material 11 to be processed is calculated by the control unit 29, and based on the calculation results, the amount of washing water supplied, the timing of supply of washing water, the amount of replenishment of the developer replenisher, and the fixing replenisher are determined. The amount of replenishment is determined. Based on this determined replenishment amount, the operating time of the pump is determined, and a predetermined replenishment amount is replenished per unit area of the photosensitive material.

On the other hand, the upper part of the photosensitive material insertion table 10 includes a main switch, a main lamp, an alarm lamp, a display device for the developer temperature, fixer temperature, drying air temperature, washing water temperature, etc., a replenisher amount circulating liquid amount display device, An operation section 26 consisting of an operation panel (none of which is shown) is provided.

A control box 27 is arranged at the bottom of the box 16 of the photosensitive material receiver in the machine frame 2. The control box 27 operates in conjunction with the operation section 26, the detection section 12, the temperature detection section for the developer, fixer, etc., to control the temperature of the developer, fixer, and drying air, calculate the processing area of the photosensitive material, and replenish the temperature. A control section 29 is provided for controlling the amount and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 29 includes a CPU 29A, an input port 29B, an output port 29C, a RAM 29D, and a ROM.
29E, so that the detection signal of the insertion detection section 12 of the photosensitive material 11 and the detection signal of the temperature detection means 34A disposed in the heat exchanger of the developing circulation system are input to the input port 29B. It is configured. Also, output boat 2
The output signal from 9C is the drain solenoid valve 5C1 of the washing tank 5.
The water is supplied to each heater 34, a solenoid valve 37 for supplying water to the washing tank 5, and a solenoid valve 38 for supplying cooling water to the heat exchanger 20, respectively. Furthermore, the fixer circulation system is similarly configured.

Hot air generated by a hot air fan 28 and a heater (not shown) passes through the drying duct 8 and is blown into the drying section 7 from the air blowing pipe 15, thereby drying the photosensitive material 11.

When a series of work steps for the photosensitive material 11 is finished, for example, when one day's work is finished, limescale etc. are generated in the water washing tank 51, and when the next work starts, this limescale etc. is removed from the photosensitive material 11 to be processed. In order to prevent the washing water from adhering to the material, it is preferable to open the solenoid valve 5C and drain the washing water from the washing tank 5 to the outside of the machine via the drain pipe.

In this case, if the washing water in the washing tank 5 is not discharged to the outside of the machine and the photosensitive material processing apparatus I is operated for a long period of time, special measures should be taken to prevent limescale from forming in the washing tank 5. It is preferable to add the antibacterial agent to the washing water by the method described in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 62-300446, Utility Model Application No. 62-180635, Utility Model Application No. 62-180636, and the like.

Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to fill the washing tank 5 with water to 0. For this reason, the empty washing tank 5
After water is supplied to the photosensitive material 11, processing of the photosensitive material 11 is started.

Next, the water supply means in the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the water supply means of the present invention.

Rinsing water whose water source is tap water is supplied from the water valve 30 to the rinsing tank 5 via a conduit 31 and a solenoid valve 37.

Then, the supplied water is supplied to the photosensitive material processing apparatus I of the photosensitive material 11.
The photosensitive material 11 is supplied to the washing tank 5 in accordance with the processing amount of the photosensitive material 11 based on the width and length of the photosensitive material 11 detected by the detection unit 12 that detects insertion into the washing tank 5 . That is, based on the detection signal from the detection section 12, the area of the photosensitive material 11 is calculated in the control section 29, and the area of the photosensitive material 11 is calculated based on the predetermined supply amount per unit area of the photosensitive material 11. The amount of water supplied to the washing tank 5 is calculated according to the area. Further, based on the detection signal from the detection section 12, the control section 29 calculates the time from when the leading edge of the photosensitive material 11 passes through the detection section 12 until it reaches the washing water of the washing section 5. from now,
The photosensitive material 11 is inserted into the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1, passes through the detection unit 12, and reaches the washing tank 5. Immediately before entering the washing process, the supply of washing water to the washing tank 5 is started, and the photosensitive material (A material 1
Rinsing water is supplied to the rinsing tank according to the area of 1. The purpose of washing with water is to reduce unnecessary components (for example, hypo) remaining in the photosensitive film of the photosensitive material 11, but if the flow rate of washing water supplied to the washing tank 5 is extremely reduced, As the amount of unnecessary components remaining in the photosensitive material 11 increases, the concentration of components in the photosensitive film eluted from the photosensitive film of the photosensitive material 11 into the washing water in the washing tank 5 and the exposure during processing from processing tanks (e.g., developing tank, fixing tank, etc.) increase. There is a problem in that the concentration of the processing liquid (for example, developer, fixer, etc.) carried into the washing water in the washing tank 5 by the material 11 increases. Therefore, for example, it takes 30 to 500 cm to wash one photosensitive material 11 of 24.5 cm x 30.5 cm (4-cut size).
c It is necessary to supply preferably 100 to 300 cc of washing water.

However, the supply of this washing water may vary depending on the type of photosensitive material 11 or the temperature of the washing water.

Hereinafter, the operation of the water supply means of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1 of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, in step 112, the main power of the photosensitive material processing equipment is turned on.The heater in the heat exchanger 20 of the developer circulation system and the heater in the heat exchanger (not shown) of the fixer circulation system are turned on (step 114L). At step 116, the drying fan 28 and a not-shown cover are turned on to supply warm air to the drying section 7. At step 118, the developer temperature, fixer temperature,
It is determined whether the drying air temperature has reached a predetermined temperature, and if it has not reached the predetermined temperature, step 114
Return to and turn on the heater. If the developer temperature, fixer temperature, and drying air temperature have reached the predetermined temperatures, proceed to step 1.
Proceed to step 20 and insert the photosensitive material into the display device of the operation unit 26.
Display K (standby).

When the photosensitive material 11 is inserted from the insertion table O, the width and length of the photosensitive material 11 are detected by the detection section 12, and based on this detection signal, in step 124, the photosensitive material 11 inserted into the photosensitive material processing apparatus 1 is inserted. The area of the material 11 is calculated. Based on this calculation result, the opening time of the solenoid valve 37 is determined (step 126).

In step 127, the opening start time of the solenoid valve is calculated, and immediately before the photosensitive material 11 is washed in the washing tank 5 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the leading edge of the photosensitive material 11 passes the detection unit 12, the electromagnetic valve is opened in step 129. The valve 37 is opened, and in step 130, when the opening time of the solenoid valve 37 reaches a predetermined time, the solenoid valve 37 is closed. The opening time of the electromagnetic valve 37 is determined based on a predetermined value for the unit area of the photosensitive material. When washing water corresponding to the insertion area of the photosensitive material 11 into the processing apparatus 1 is supplied via the solenoid valve 37, the solenoid valve 37 is closed and the program ends.

Note that some wall portions 5a of the washing tank 5 are configured lower than other wall portions, so that the structure is designed so that overflow water accompanying water supply (Jj supply) can be drained to the drain portion 5b. has been done.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above (and various modifications are possible).

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides a photosensitive material processing apparatus equipped with a water supply means for supplying water for washing exposed photosensitive materials to a washing tank, at least before the washing water reaches the washing tank. A detection means for detecting the area of the photosensitive material is provided,
The water supply means is configured to supply an amount of washing water corresponding to the area of the photosensitive material to the washing tank in accordance with the detection signal of the detection means, in accordance with the arrival of the photosensitive material to the washing tank. Since rinsing water is supplied into the rinsing tank with just the right amount of water depending on the processing area of the photosensitive material and at the same time as the photosensitive material reaches the rinsing tank, it is possible to wash the maximum appropriate amount of water as before. There is no need to maintain the washing effect by running water, and even when processing small-sized photosensitive materials, extremely efficient washing can be performed without wasting washing water, and running costs can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a water supply means for supplying water to the apparatus shown in FIG. ...Photosensitive material equipment. 2... Machine frame, 3... Developing tank 4... Fixing tank, 5... Washing tank. 7... Drying section, 11... Photosensitive material 12... Detection section, 13... 1 general feed roller 29.
...Control unit, 34...Heater. 37.38 ...Valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising a water supply means for supplying washing water for exposed photosensitive material to a washing tank, the apparatus further comprising a detection means for detecting the area of the photosensitive material at least before reaching the washing tank, The water supply means supplies an amount of washing water according to the area of the photosensitive material according to the detection signal of the detection means,
A photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized in that the photosensitive material is configured to be supplied to the washing tank when the photosensitive material reaches the washing tank.