JPH0418552A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate useless capacity inside a processing rack and to reduce the capacity of a processing liquid in each processing tank by adopting structure so that a guiding block is formed in a hollow shape inside. CONSTITUTION:The guiding block 31 is arranged inside the loop of a timing belt. The guiding block 31 is provided with block main bodies 31A and 31B whose both side surfaces 31C and 31D are made into a circular arc shape, and has the structure so as to be integrally connected via a connecting part 31. Then, the surface of the guiding block 31 is formed with an unfoamed skin layer 31G, and its inside is made into the hollow shape 31H. Besides, the hollow shape 31H is a continuous or discontinuous foamed one. Thus, the capacity of a photosensitive material carrying and processing rack is increased, a space housing the processing liquid is reduced, and the capacity of the tank can be reduced, as well.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a developing device having a rack for forming a photosensitive material transport path in a photosensitive material processing tank.

[Conventional technology]

The process of developing a film, especially a color film, generally consists of the following steps: developing, bleaching, fixing, washing, stabilizing, and drying, and there are usually more developing steps than for black and white films.

For this reason, recently there are products that automatically transport the entire process of film development using an endless timing belt (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-1
No. 91258). In this developing device, the film is pulled out from the cartridge by the supply mechanism, passes through processing tanks for developer, bleach, fixer, washing water, and stabilizer by an endless timing belt, and then passes through a dryer where it is accumulated. It looks like this.

In such a developing device, a rack is provided with a guide member for guiding the film into each processing tank, a lid for covering the surface of the processing liquid, and the like. Conventionally, when the parts of such a rack are made of resin, most of them are manufactured by injection molding.

In the case of resin injection molding, it is necessary to make the wall thickness of the molded product as thin as possible in order to prevent sink marks and warpage of the molded product. For example, thin guide members 61 as shown in FIG. 8 are manufactured, and these are interconnected with screws 62 to form the film guide path G as shown in FIG. 9. Also, this screw 62
Instead, a configuration in which a pair of processing racks 61 are integrally connected by a connecting portion 63 can also be applied.

On the other hand, in order to increase the wall thickness of the guide member and to produce a molded body without warpage or sink marks, there is a method of manufacturing a guide member of a predetermined shape by cutting an extruded resin material or a block. In this method, for example, an extruded material or block having a rectangular cross section is manufactured, and belt guides, holes, etc. are formed by cutting means to form a predetermined guide member.

[Problem that the invention sought to solve]

However, in the case of the guide members shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a space is formed between the pair of guide members 61 and 61, so that a processing liquid such as a developer is filled in this space. exists. Therefore, the capacity of the processing liquid in the rack increases, and as a result, the tank capacity of the developing device increases, and the processing liquid is replenished according to the amount of photosensitive material processed, and a considerable amount of the processing liquid is replaced. The processing liquid in the tank is always maintained at a constant quality, but the liquid exchange rate at this time will decrease if the processing tank capacity is large, and the residence time of the refilled processing liquid in the processing tank will become longer, resulting in air oxidation. There was a problem in that quality deteriorated due to heat deterioration and other factors.

On the other hand, in the case of a method in which a resin extrusion material or a block is manufactured and then cut, it is not suitable for mass production of guide members. Also,
In the case of a method in which a block is manufactured from a low-foamed molded body and then cut, the photographic light-sensitive material comes into direct contact with the foamed molded body, which may cause damage to the photographic light-sensitive material.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention reduces the volume of processing liquid,
By reducing the overall tank capacity of the developing device, it is possible to downsize the developing device, improve the exchange rate of processing liquid in the tank by refilling, improve the quality of the processing liquid, and prevent damage to photosensitive materials. An object of the present invention is to provide a developing device that can prevent the above problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention is a developing device having a processing rack for forming a photosensitive material transport path in a processing tank, and the resin member forming the processing rack is a resin molded member having a smooth surface and a hollow portion inside. It is characterized by the use of

[Effect]

The resin molded member used in the present invention has a smooth surface and a hollow portion inside, and by using a specific low foam molding force and gas filling method, an injection molded product having a thickness with few warps or sink marks can be obtained. The hollow shape in this case may be formed by foaming. As a result, the capacity of the photosensitive material transport processing rack is increased, the space for storing the processing liquid is reduced, and the tank capacity can be reduced.

Further, since the surface of the guide member is formed to be smooth, damage to the photosensitive material being transported in the processing tank is prevented.

In the case of a developing device equipped with a conveyance path in which the photosensitive material is raised after being immersed in a downward direction, the present invention provides a guide block between the downward conveyance path and the upward conveyance path, and this guide block is formed into a hollow shape. be able to.

Further, in the present invention, when a pair of films are guided in parallel to each other, the guide blocks provided for each of these films are both hollow, so that they can be molded integrally.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional front view of a developing device 12 to which the present invention is applied. The outside of the developing device 12 is constituted by a frame 14, so that all external light is blocked. The lower part of this frame 14 is supported on a floor 18 by a plurality of support legs 16.

The frame 14 includes a plurality of processing tanks 20 extending in the vertical direction,
22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are provided in series, and each is partitioned by a standing wall 33. The processing tank 20 is filled with a developing solution, the processing tank 22 is filled with a bleaching solution, the processing tank 24 is filled with a fixing solution, the processing tanks 26 and 28 are filled with washing water, and the processing tank 30 is filled with a stabilizing solution. is a drying room, and a heater 34 and a fan 35 are arranged below to blow hot air upward.

Further, a supply device 36 is arranged on one side of the processing tank 20 to pull out the developing film 38 from the cartridge 40 and send it to the processing tank 20, and a stacking device 42 is arranged on one side of the processing tank 32. The processed film 38 is stacked.

There is 1 film transport unit (processing rank) in each processing tank.
00 is placed therein, and the film 38 is dipped into the tank and taken out after being turned over.

In this film transport unit 100, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of side plates 102 are disposed facing each other, and a plurality of support rods (not shown) are hung to define an interval.

Further, sprocket wheels 116 and 118 (FIG. 1) as winding wheels are fixed near both ends of the side plate 102, that is, near the top and bottom ends in the attached state, so that driving force can be transmitted. One end of the rotating shaft 117 fixed to the upper sprocket wheel 116 protrudes from the side plate 102, and a sprocket wheel 120 is fixed to the tip thereof. A chino 122 is wound around this sprocket wheel 120, and receives rotational force from a driving force of a motor (not shown), thereby allowing the rotating shaft and the sprocket wheel 116 to rotate.

An endless timing belt 124 is wound around these sprocket wheels 116,118.

This timing belt 124 is the sprocket wheel 11
6.118, the hook is rotated and driven.

A pair of guide bars 146 as guide means are provided on the opposite side of the support plate 140 across the timing belt 124, that is, on the outer periphery of the timing belt 124, each corresponding to a straight portion of the timing belt 124. These guide bars 146 are fixed to a pair of cover plates 148 that extend between the side plates 102.

This guide bar 146 has a groove 147 formed on its surface facing the timing belt 124 . The U-shaped groove 147 has a width slightly larger than the width of the engagement protrusion 130 protruding from the timing belt 124, and serves to allow the engagement protrusion 130 to pass through when the timing belt 124 moves. .

The outside of the cover plate 148, that is, the timing belt 1
A flexible plate 152 is attached to the side opposite to 24 as a film meandering prevention mechanism.

A pair of triangular anti-meandering pawls 156 are integrally formed on the other end of the flexible plate 152.

These claws 156 pass through the cover plate 148 and protrude in correspondence with one side of the film 38 being conveyed, and serve as a restricting means to prevent the film 38 from moving in a meandering manner.

Further, regulation blocks 162 are fixed near both sides of the cover plate 148 in correspondence with these flexible plates 152, and correspond to the other sides of the moving film 38, thereby also preventing the film 38 from meandering. It looks like this.

The bar plate 148 is provided with a plurality of through holes (not shown), which serve to circulate the processing liquid.

A guide block 3 is installed in the loop of the timing belt 124.
1 is placed. As shown in FIG. 3, this guide block 31 includes block bodies 31A and 31B whose both side surfaces 31C and 31D are formed in an arc shape, and these block bodies 31Δ and 31B are integrally connected via a connecting portion 31C. It has a connected structure.

A plurality of holes 31E are formed in these block bodies 31A and 31B, respectively, passing through both side surfaces 31C. Further, groove-shaped belt guides 31 for running the timing belt 124 are provided on both sides of the connecting portion 31D.
F is formed in the vertical direction. Also, guide block 3
The first connecting portion 31C is arranged between the parallel portions of the timing belt 124.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide block 31 has an unfoamed skin layer 31. G, and its interior is hollow 31
It is formed into H. This hollow 3IH may be a continuous or non-continuous foam.

The guide block 31 having a hollow interior and an unfoamed skin layer on the surface can be formed by, for example, an injection molding method called a counter pressure system or an injection molding method called a simpress process. .

Here, the counter pressure system is a system in which gas (nitrogen gas or air) is injected into the cavity while maintaining a constant pressure above the foaming pressure, suppressing foaming at the tip of the flow, and controlling the pressure inside the cavity filled with a predetermined amount of resin. Open quickly,
This is a method that causes uniform foaming.

If this method is used, a product with a surface equivalent to that of a solid and a uniformly foamed interior can be obtained, and a molded product with a thick wall and less warpage and sink marks can be obtained.

In addition, the Shinpress process is a molding method that takes advantage of the advantages of injection molding and structural form molding (S-F), and uses ribs, bosses, and thick walls to prevent sink marks and warpage in injection molded products. This is a molding method that introduces gas into the base and makes the base part hollow.

In the case of this simple press process, the gas is introduced through the gate, so each hollow part is all connected to the gate. Therefore, a gate hole remains, but by closing this hole after molding, the entire surface can be made into a skin layer.

The developing device of this embodiment configured as described above operates as follows.

First, the leading ends of the two films 38 are pulled out from the cartridge 40 and fixed to the rear end of the leader L.

The film 38, which moves following the movement of the league, is prevented from meandering by the claws 156 and the regulation block 162 that protrude inward from the cover plate 148 after the league moves, so that the film 38 is kept under appropriate tension and Development processing is performed without contacting other parts in the processing tank. In particular, since the meandering prevention claw 156 restricts the movement of the film in the width direction in correspondence with the opposing side surfaces of the pair of films 38, meandering can be reliably prevented.

The film 38 descends in the processing tank 20, reverses and rises, and because the timing bell 124 is reversed by the sprocket wheel 116, it is separated from the timing belt 124 again and reversed with the support bracket 184. The film is inserted between the folding guide means formed by the rollers 190, reversed downward, and delivered to the film transport unit 100 in the processing tank 22.

In this way, guided by the movement of the leader L, the film 38 is sequentially moved to each processing tank 22. 24. 26. Bleach by soaking at 28°30°, inverting, taking out, and transferring.

Fixing, washing, and stabilization processing are performed, and the film is sent to the processing tank 32. A drying process is performed in this processing tank 32, and the film is sent to a film stacking device.

In such a developing device, each processing tank 22, 24.
26, 28, and 30 are developer solutions, respectively.

It is filled with processing solutions such as a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a washing water 1 stabilizing solution. In this case, each processing tank is provided with a guide block 31 as shown in Fig. 3, and the volume corresponding to this guide block 31 is not filled with processing liquid, and the volume corresponding to this guide block 31 is not stored in each processing tank. The processing liquid capacity will decrease.

Therefore, the capacity of the tank for supplying the processing liquid to each of these processing tanks can be reduced, and the speed of liquid exchange by replenishment can be increased.

This effect is particularly advantageous for systems with low replenishment rates, which can maintain a high level of processed liquid crystal quality. Further, since both side surfaces 31C of the guide block 31 facing each film are arcuate, there is no risk of contact even if the film 38 meanders, and even if the film 38 comes into contact, the surface is a smooth skin. The layered structure prevents damage to the film. In addition, the block body 31A
, 31B, the processing liquid circulates through the holes 31E, so the quality of the processing liquid is guaranteed.

In addition, conventionally, in order to prevent evaporation of each processing solution, foamed propylene or the like has been attached to the processing rack on the surface of the processing solution in the processing rack. A protrusion 31J that protrudes in the horizontal direction is provided on the upper part of the guide block 31, and the protrusion 31J is shaped to cover the surface of the processing liquid, and a slit 31K through which the film 38 can be inserted is provided in the protrusion 31J. By doing so, evaporation of the processing liquid can be prevented. In this case, the protrusion 3
1J is integrally molded with the guide block 31 described above to form a skin layer on its surface, and the inside can be made of foam or hollow. Therefore, it is not necessary to attach a member such as a floating lid in addition to the guide block, and the production efficiency of the guide block is also increased.

Incidentally, the guide block shown in Figure 3 was made of Noryl resin (FN215 J, Japan GE Plastics @).
It was manufactured using low foaming injection molding using a counter pressure system. This guide block has a maximum wall thickness of 18 mm, and with normal molding methods, sink marks occur and it is not possible to mold it into the specified shape, or it is necessary to cut out the thickness, divide it, mold it, and assemble it. It was something I couldn't get.

When molded using the counter pressure system as described above, a smooth skin layer was obtained on the surface and the inside was foamed uniformly, making it possible to obtain a guide plotter that was optimal as a guide means. When this processing rack was compared with a conventional injection molded product, it was found that the volume increased by about 1.5 to 5, and it was extremely effective in reducing the dead space of the tank capacity.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the side plate 1 in the first embodiment is
02 and the cover plate 148 are also shown manufactured by the same molding method as in each of the above embodiments. Further, the guide bar 146 is also integrally molded to the cover plate 148.

In addition, when filling the processing tank, this transport unit is fitted with a rectangular frame-shaped evaporation prevention member 170 from below and positioned at the liquid level, so that the liquid between the frame 14, which is the side wall of the processing tank, and this transport unit is fitted. This covers the surface and prevents the processing liquid from evaporating from this area. Further, the cover plate 148 can also be integrally molded with the side plate 102.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the evaporation prevention member 170 is also formed integrally with the side plate 102 and is hollow inside. As a result, the evaporation prevention member can be automatically loaded by loading the transport unit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the guide block has a hollow structure, sink marks and warpage do not occur. The volume of processing liquid can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view showing one embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the main parts in FIG. 1, and FIG.
4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the guide block in the present invention, and FIG. The figure is an exploded perspective view showing the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is the fourth embodiment.
A vertical sectional view showing an embodiment, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of essential parts of a conventional guide member. 12... Developing device, 20.22, 24.26.28.30.32. Processing tank, 31... Guide block, 31A, 31B... Block body, 31C... Connection part, 31H...・Air condition, 38...film.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A developing device having a processing rack for forming a photosensitive material transport path in a processing tank, and the resin member forming the processing rack is a resin molded member having a smooth surface and a hollow portion inside. A developing device characterized by using. (2) The conveyance path includes a conveyance path in which the photosensitive material is raised after being immersed in a downward direction, and includes a guide block that is provided between the downward conveyance path and the upward conveyance path and has a hollow interior. The developing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The developing device according to claim (2), wherein the guide blocks provided for the pair of films guided in parallel to each other are integrally molded.