JPH04355754A - Apparatus for regenerating used-up rinse water of nonsilver salt photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve stability in feed rate of a used-up rinse solution to a flocculation tank and stability in flocculation treatment and regeneration treatment. CONSTITUTION:The used-up rinse solution resulting from treatment of the nonsilver salt photosensitive material is regenerated by treatment in the processing apparatus comprising a coagulation process and a filtration process 26. The used-up rinse solution regeneration apparatus and an automatic developing machine 1 using it are characterized by providing the flocculation process with a means 2 for feeding the used-up rinse solution to a flocculation tank (aerating tank) by setting time length, a means 4 for detecting a level in the tank 3 and indicating it, and a means for stopping feed to the tank 3 by this detection.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a processing device for washing fatigue liquid which is used for washing in the processing of photosensitive materials using non-silver salt substances as photosensitive substances, and whose washing function has deteriorated and is no longer suitable as washing water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a treatment device for coagulating and filtering a washing fatigue liquid to separate dissolved components and water contained in the liquid.

0002

[Prior Art] Development processing of non-silver salt photosensitive materials, such as photosensitive lithographic printing plates, using an automatic processor is usually carried out after imagewise exposure of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is performed, and the photosensitive layer is eluted in an imagewise manner. , a method is used in which the developer and eluate are washed away from the plate surface by washing with water. The above-mentioned washing is carried out by supplying washing water to the printing plate from a shower nozzle or the like to wash the printing plate, and then circulating the water used for washing and repeatedly using it for washing. However, if this type of washing water is used repeatedly for a long period of time, foreign matter will be generated in the washing water and adhere to the plate surface, causing printing stains. Therefore, the washing fatigue liquid whose function has deteriorated in this way is disposed of as waste liquid. will be processed as

[0003] As a treatment technique for washing fatigue liquid, a coagulating agent and a neutralizing agent, or a filter aid and a neutralizing agent are added to the washing fatigue liquid in a coagulation tank, and then filtered, and the filtrate is reused as washing water. The present inventor proposed a treatment method (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 3-90239 and 3-105971).

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned regeneration process, when adding a flocculant, a filter aid, a neutralizing agent, etc. to the washing fatigue liquid in the flocculation tank for flocculation treatment, It is advantageous to maintain a constant amount of washing fatigue liquid to be coagulated in order to stably perform the coagulation process. It has been recognized that there is a problem in which sediments generated during processing adhere to the sensor, causing malfunction and making it difficult to perform processing stably.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in a processing apparatus that regenerates washing fatigue liquid generated in the processing of non-silver salt photosensitive materials by a process including a step of coagulating the water in a coagulating tank and then filtering it. providing a processing device for
To provide a processing device that can perform coagulation processing stably for a long period of time, to provide a processing device that can always maintain a stable liquid amount in a coagulation tank during coagulation processing, and to coagulate and filter washing fatigue liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing device for non-silver salt photosensitive materials, which has a means for recycling the non-silver salt photosensitive materials and using the water as washing water, and improves the stability of the reprocessing process.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the following (1) or (2).

[0007] ■ A treatment device for washing fatigue liquid generated in the processing of non-silver salt photosensitive materials, which has a coagulation step and a filtration step, in which the coagulation step sends the washing fatigue liquid to a coagulation tank at a set time. A non-silver salt photosensitive device comprising: a liquid feeding means for liquid, a notification means for detecting and notifying the liquid level in the flocculating tank, and a means for stopping liquid feeding to the flocculating tank upon the detection. Processing equipment for material washing fatigue liquid. A processing apparatus for non-silver salt photosensitive materials, comprising the processing apparatus described in (1) above and a means for using the liquid processed and regenerated by the processing apparatus in a washing section of an automatic processor.

[0008]

[Function] When sending the washing fatigue liquid to the flocculation tank, the present invention uses the liquid feeding time instead of the liquid level sensor as a means to regulate the liquid feeding amount, and the liquid level is only used to detect abnormalities in the liquid feeding amount. When a sensor is used and an abnormality is detected, the system notifies the user of the abnormality and stops the flow of liquid to the coagulation tank, which prevents malfunctions caused by deposits from coagulation adhering to the liquid level sensor. This solves the problem of fluctuations in the amount of liquid fed, which impairs the stability of the flocculation process, or that the liquid overflows from the flocculation tank.

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a processing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an automatic developing machine for processing non-silver salt photosensitive materials. Its internal structure is not shown, but while conveying the non-silver salt photosensitive materials, a developing solution is supplied to the photosensitive layer, and a brush roller is used to process the non-silver salt photosensitive materials. After the surface of the photosensitive layer is rubbed and a dissolution image is applied to remove the photosensitive layer in an image-wise manner, the deposits are removed using a squeezing roller and sent to the washing section, where the washing water to be recycled and reused is sprayed from a nozzle onto the plate surface. The material is then washed with water using a squeezing roller to remove deposits, and the water washing is completed before being sent to the next process (rinsing treatment or desensitization treatment).

[0011] The washing waste liquid in the automatic developing machine 1 is pumped to a pump 2.
is sent to the flocculation tank 3. The pump 2 is operated manually or at fixed time intervals (for example, once every
It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the process is automatically started at an interval longer than the time required for the aggregation and filtration processes. The operation of the pump 2 is configured to be automatically stopped after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the pump 2 as a means for sending a certain amount of washing waste liquid to be agglomerated to the aggregation tank 3.

Furthermore, a liquid level sensor 4 is provided to detect a liquid level that is higher than the highest liquid level sent at the above time setting and at a height that does not overflow from the aggregation tank 3. 3, and when the liquid level exceeds the liquid level height set by the time setting and is detected by the liquid level sensor 4, a buzzer and/or display is activated by the control circuit 5 to notify of an abnormality based on the detection signal. The notification device 6 consisting of a container is activated, the operation of the pump 2 is stopped as a means of stopping liquid feeding to the coagulation tank 3, and the switch 7 of the circuit that supplies power to all drive devices of the processing device is turned off. , the pump 2, the rotation motor 29 of the centrifugal filter described later, the motor, etc., are configured so that all the drive devices of the processing apparatus are stopped.

When the operation of the pump 2 is stopped according to the above time setting, the oxidizing agent is transferred from the oxidizing agent tank 10 and the two types of filter aids (powder) are transferred from the filter aid containers 15 and 17 into the coagulation tank 3. The operation of the pump 11 and rotary feeders 16 and 18 is controlled so that a predetermined amount is added. Further, based on the pH measurement value of the washing fatigue liquid measured using the glass electrode 20, a predetermined pH is set by the control mechanism 21.
The operation of the pump 13 is controlled so that the neutralizing agent is added from the neutralizing agent tank 12 so as to be adjusted within the range. 22 is an amplifier, and 23 is a stirrer.

Furthermore, the pump 25 is configured to operate after a predetermined time after all of the pumps 11, 13 and rotary feeders 16, 18 have stopped operating, and the coagulated washing waste liquid is sent to the centrifugal filter 26. There is. The operation of the pump 25 may be stopped based on the detection of the liquid level by providing a liquid level sensor in the coagulation tank 3, but it is preferable to stop the pump 25 after a certain period of time from the start of the operation. The stirrer 23 is the pump 1
1, 13, and at least one of rotary feeders 16, 18
The pump 25 rotates from the time when the pump 25 starts operating until the time when the pump 25 stops operating.

The flocculated washing fatigue liquid is centrifugally filtered into a filtrate and a residue in a centrifugal filter 26 through an inner tank 27 having a rotating perforated cylindrical wall and a filter cloth 28 installed inside the inner tank 27 . 29 is a motor that rotates the inner tank 27. The filtrate filtered by the centrifugal filter 26 flows down to the storage tank 32 through a pipe 31. The operation of the motor 29 is based on the storage tank 3.
When the upper liquid level sensor 33 provided at 2 detects the liquid level, it is configured to stop.

The storage tank 32 includes a liquid level sensor 33 that detects a liquid level close to the bottom of the tank, and a liquid level sensor 34 that detects the liquid level when the tank is filled. When the liquid level is detected by the liquid level sensor 34 within a predetermined time after the liquid level sensor 33 detects the liquid level, the pump 36 is activated to discharge the liquid in the storage tank 32, and the liquid level decreases. When the surface sensor 33 detects the liquid level, the pump 36 stops operating, and if the liquid level sensor 34 does not detect the liquid level within the predetermined time, a notification device (not shown) is activated and the filter replacement lamp flashes. It is composed of pump 3
The filtrate sent in step 6 and filtered through the cartridge filter 37 is returned to the washing section of the automatic developing machine 1 as washing water.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the control circuit 5. As shown in FIG. The control circuit is mainly composed of a microprocessor, and the detection signal from the liquid level sensor 4 provided in the flocculation tank 3 is input to the microprocessor 40. It has an interface and is configured to control the operation of the switch 7 of the circuit that supplies power to the pump 2 that sends the washing fatigue liquid to the coagulation tank 3, the notification device 6, and all the drive devices of the processing device.

Liquid level sensors used to detect the liquid level in the flocculation tank include inner bulb type, outer bulb type liquid level gauge, celsin type liquid level gauge, displacement type liquid level gauge, and glass tube type liquid level gauge as float sensors. Surface meters, telescopic tube type level gauges, acoustic level gauges, electrode type level gauges, capacitance type level gauges, etc. can be used.
Preferably, it is an electrode type liquid level gauge or a float type liquid level gauge.

In the processing apparatus for non-silver salt photosensitive materials of the present invention, the liquid capacity of the washing tank and aggregation tank of the automatic processor is usually 5 to 5.
18 l is preferred.

The material of the coagulation tank is preferably a chemical-resistant cylindrical tank made of a metal with a protective film such as vinyl chloride resin, stainless steel, or fluororesin (for example, Teflon), and the liquid level sensor is also made of a chemical-resistant material. It is appropriate to use chemical substances. It is preferable to use a stirring propeller for stirring during the aggregation treatment. It is preferable to use a glass electrode as the indicator electrode for pH measurement.

In the aggregation step of the present invention, diatomaceous earth, cellulose-based aids, other mineral-based aids (for example, perlite), etc. can be used as filter aids. Commercially available filter aids include diatomaceous earth filter aids,
Radiolite #100, #700, #800 (Showa Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.); as a cellulose filter aid, Fibucell SW-10, BH-40 (Japan Diatomaceous Earth Co., Ltd.)
), other mineral filter aids other than diatomaceous earth include Celite Hyflo Super Cell (Japan Diatomaceous Earth Co., Ltd.),
Filter aids such as Topcoperlite #36, #37, carbon (activated carbon), asbestos, etc. can be used.

[0022] In addition, in the aggregation step, as a neutralizing agent, an acid agent such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid, an aqueous solution such as caustic soda or sodium carbonate,
Powdered alkaline agents such as slaked lime and limestone can be used. Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide, silver oxide, oxygen acid, etc. are added to the washing fatigue solution containing sulfites, which produce substances that have a strange odor or are harmful to hygiene through neutralization treatment, to prevent the production of the above substances. (Nitrite, nitric acid, permanganate,
Oxidizing agents such as chromic acid, chloric acid, hypochloric acid, etc.) and their salts may also be added.

[0023] It is preferable that the filter aid is added at the same time as the neutralizing agent or before the neutralizing agent is added, and the filter aid and the neutralizing agent are added while stirring the washing fatigue liquid to be added. It is preferable to do this, and when using a stirrer as the stirring means,
The rotation speed is preferably 500 to 1800 rpm.

Centrifugal filtration can be preferably applied to the filtration step in the present invention. In this case, the rotation speed is 50
The speed is preferably 0 to 2000 rpm, and suitable filter media include woven or nonwoven filter cloth made of cotton, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or the like. The filtration process can be performed in two stages, and the filter medium used in the latter stage filtration process should have a smaller mesh size than that used in the earlier stage filtration process in order to capture fine particles of sediment. is preferred.

The washing fatigue liquid to which the present invention is advantageously applied is:
Non-silver salt photosensitive materials are recycled and reused in the water washing process after the development process, and the content of developer components brought in by the photosensitive materials from the development process and components eluted from the photosensitive materials becomes relatively large, and the water washing function Rinse water is degraded or damaged.

The non-silver salt photosensitive material and its development treatment before washing with water include, for example, negative or positive photosensitive lithographic printing plates using diazo resin, o-quinonediazide compound, photopolymer, etc. as the photosensitive material. Contains the washing fatigue liquid generated during the process.

More specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-17
No. 5757, No. 62-24263, No. 62-2426
No. 4, No. 62-25761, No. 62-35351,
No. 62-73271, No. 62-75535, No. 62
-89060, 62-125357, 62-1
No. 33460, No. 62-159148, No. 62-16
No. 8160, No. 62-175757, No. 62-175
No. 758, No. 62-238565, No. 63-1881
No. 41, No. 63-200154, No. 63-20565
No. 8 and JP-A No. 1-159654, water washing fatigue liquid generated in the processing of photosensitive planographic printing plates,
For example, JP-A-1-149043, JP-A-1-1501
No. 42, JP-A-1-154157, JP-A-1-154
There is a water washing fatigue liquid, etc., which is generated in the processing of a photosensitive material having a structure in which a silicone layer is laminated as a photosensitive layer and an ink repellent layer on a substrate, as described in No. 158 and the like.

[0028]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, the following effects (1) to (4) can be obtained in a processing apparatus that regenerates the washing fatigue liquid generated in the washing step of processing non-silver salt photographic materials by a process including coagulation and filtration.

(2) The occurrence of abnormalities in the amount of liquid sent to the aggregation tank where the aggregation process is performed is improved.

[0030] This improves the stability of washing fatigue liquid treatment including coagulation and filtration.

(2) Overflow from the flocculation tank due to an abnormality in the amount of liquid fed to the flocculation tank is automatically prevented.

[0032] The stability of washing fatigue liquid treatment including coagulation and filtration is improved by ■■ to ■. (2) The stability of the washing process of an automatic developing machine, in which washing fatigue liquid is regenerated through a process including coagulation and filtration and used as washing water, is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram of a control circuit of a main part of the apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Automatic developing machine 2, 11, 13, 25, 36...pump ３‥Flocculation tank 4, 33, 34...Liquid level sensor 10‥Oxidizer tank 12. Neutralizer tank 15, 17. Filter aid container 26‥Centrifugal filter machine 32‥Storage tank

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A processing device for washing fatigue liquid generated in the processing of non-silver salt photosensitive materials, the processing device having a coagulation step and a filtration step, wherein the coagulation step is performed by transferring the washing fatigue liquid to a coagulation tank at a set time. A non-silver salt characterized by having a liquid feeding means for feeding a liquid, a notification means for detecting and notifying the liquid level in the flocculating tank, and a means for stopping liquid feeding to the flocculating tank upon the detection. Processing equipment for water washing fatigue liquid for photosensitive materials. 2. A processing apparatus for non-silver salt photosensitive materials, comprising the processing apparatus according to claim 1 and means for using the liquid processed and regenerated by the processing apparatus in a washing section of an automatic processor.