JPH06301183A - Automatic developing machine for silver halide photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an insertion trouble and the moisture absorption deterioration of processing agents, make a machine compact, and improve the maintenance property by dividedly weighing the solid processing agents in advance, and specifying the horizontal shift distance when the solid processing agents are inserted. CONSTITUTION:The density in a processing tank is adjusted by a filter 12 provided in the processing tank while a solid processing agents 19 are dissolved in a dissolving chamber 11, and the process quantity of the photographic paper processed in an automatic machine is detected by a process quantity information detecting means. When the process quantity reaches a fixed quantity and the density of a processing liquid is deteriorated, a motor 14 is rotated to move a slide plate 15, solid processing agents 16 are received at a drop port 18 from processing agent storage tubes 17-1 through 17-3, and they are fed to the dissolving chamber 11. The horizontal shift distance (1) when the solid processing agents 16 dividedly weighed in advance are inserted is set to (the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent) <=(l)<=30cm. Three solid processing agent storage tubes 17-1 through 17-3 are installed in this case, the horizontal shift distance is expressed by l1 through l3, and all storage tubes are installed within the range.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic processor (hereinafter also referred to as an automatic processor) for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter also referred to as a light-sensitive material). More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which can improve the compactness of the automatic processor and improve the workability and can obtain more stable photographic performance. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials are
Processing is performed by steps such as development, desilvering, washing and stabilization.
Processing is usually carried out by an automatic processor, in which case a replenisher replenishing system is generally widely used and is controlled so as to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing tank constant. In the case of the replenisher replenishment method, the purpose is to dilute the eluate from the sensitive material, correct the evaporation amount, and replenish the consumption component.
A large amount of overflow liquid is usually discharged.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in regulations regarding the dumping of photographic waste liquids into the ocean and regulations regarding the disposal of plastic materials. A new system that eliminates photographic waste liquids and does not use bottles for liquefaction processing agents Development is required. In addition, safety regulations for packaging materials have been strengthened to ensure the safety of transportation of liquid hazardous materials, which has led to an increase in cost. In addition, the development of exposure control technology for printing has progressed in the minilab store, which has been increasing rapidly in recent years, and a system that allows anyone to print has been introduced. However, the work of dissolving the replenisher and the management of the treatment liquid are still difficult, and very serious mistakes such as mistakenly dissolving and replenishing the treatment agent are likely to occur. There have been many complaints about this conventional replenishment system.

Therefore, in the photographic industry, there is a strong demand for the development of a solid chemical replenishment system that produces almost no photographic waste liquid, does not use a processing agent bottle, and does not require any dissolution work.

As a method for responding to this demand, W092 / 20013
The publication discloses a method in which almost all processing components are made into a solid processing agent and directly charged into a processing tank. However, in this method, since the solid processing agent is directly charged into the processing tank, the processing agent adheres to the photosensitive material to be processed, causing an accident, or absorbing the evaporated water from the processing tank or the water in the atmosphere,
Solid processing agents stick to each other and the solid processing agents are not reliably added to the processing tank, or powder of the processing agent is generated, which causes clogging of the parts to be added and causes a problem of injection failure. did. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop technology to solve the above problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, to prevent a charging failure and deterioration of moisture absorption of a processing agent, to provide a compact, easy-to-maintain, stable photographic performance. To provide an automatic processor for obtaining

[0007]

The above object can be achieved by the present invention described below. That is, (1) In an automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials in which a solid processing agent for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is added, the solid processing agent is preliminarily divided and weighed. The horizontal movement distance 1 is set so that the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent is ≦ l ≦ 30 cm.

(2) The automatic movement for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is characterized in that the horizontal movement is a mechanism for holding the solid processing agent in a dropping port and moving the solid processing agent by relative movement. Machine.

[0009]

The inventors of the present invention have conducted an enormous amount of experiments on the introduction of the solid processing agent directly into the processing tank of the automatic processor, and have found that the optimal means for supplying the charging agent does not cause a failure of the charging device or change the photographic function. Asked about. That is, when the solid processing agent is set in the charging means and is charged into the processing liquid, the above problem can be solved by setting the horizontal movement distance l to be the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent ≦ l ≦ 30 cm. I found it.

When a solid processing agent is handled, there is a problem that due to the nature of humidity, the processing agent components are deteriorated and the solid processing agents are adhered to each other and solidified, resulting in poor charging. Moreover, when installing the charging means, it is originally desirable to install the charging means above the charging port. Further, it is effective in terms of dissolution of the solid processing agent that the charging port is located above the filter tank. However, the filter itself needs to be replaced within a certain period of time (for example, once every two weeks). If this is not done, clogging of the filter or the like will affect the photographic processing performance. Therefore, if there is a charging means in the upper part of the filter tank, it is necessary to remove the charging means when exchanging the filter, which may be a large negative factor in terms of user operability. For these reasons, the charging means needs to be installed at a certain distance or more from the charging port.

On the other hand, when the charging means is too far from the charging port, the solid processing agent is abraded during horizontal movement to generate dust, which causes the horizontal movement means to be clogged and cause a failure. Often. In addition, it is obvious that it becomes difficult for the user to handle due to the design and size of the device. Therefore, the present inventors have made diligent studies,
As a result of charging various solid processing agents with various charging devices, the distance 1 that moves horizontally when charging is set so that the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent is ≦ l ≦ 30 cm, so that even in the case of solid processing agents We have found that it is possible to provide an automatic processor that can be loaded and has excellent maintainability.

In the present invention, the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent represents the diameter of a circle passing through each vertex of the bottom surface when the solid processing agent is set in the charging means, and the bottom surface of the solid processing agent. When is a circle, it represents the diameter of the circle.

The horizontal movement distance 1 in the present invention means the distance from the center of the solid processing agent charging port provided in the automatic processor to the center of the tablet being prepared for charging, and two points in the case of linear movement. It is a straight line distance that connects, and in the case of circular motion, it represents the distance of an arc connecting two points.

The term "falling port" as used in the present invention refers to a hole provided for separating a fixed amount of the solid processing agent, and is guided from here to the charging port through horizontal movement.

The pre-divided and weighted solid processing agent of the present invention is a tablet. Powders and granule processing agents are not included in the present invention.
The tablet of the present invention is obtained by compressing powder or granules under pressure.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an automatic developing machine (hereinafter, simply referred to as an automatic processor) to which the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printer processor in which an automatic developing machine A and a photo printing machine B are integrally configured.

In the figure, in the lower left part of the photographic printing machine B, a magazine M containing a roll of unexposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive photographic paper M ₁ is set. The photographic printing paper M ₁ drawn out from the magazine is cut into a predetermined size via the feed roller R and the cutter section C to become a sheet-shaped photographic printing paper M ₁ . This sheet-shaped photographic printing paper M ₁ is conveyed by the belt conveying means B ₁ and at the exposure section E, the original image O
The image of is exposed. The exposed sheet-shaped printing paper M ₁ is further conveyed by a plurality of pairs of feed rollers R, and the automatic developing machine A
Will be introduced in. In the automatic developing machine A, the sheet-shaped printing paper M
₁ is a color developing tank 1A, and a bleach-fixing tank 1 is a processing tank.
B, stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D and 1E (substantially 3 tanks)
Are sequentially conveyed by roller conveying means (reference symbol None), and color development processing, bleach-fixing processing, and stabilization processing are performed respectively. The sheet-shaped printing paper that has been subjected to each of the above processes is dried in the drying section F and discharged to the outside of the machine.

Incidentally, the alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the transportation route of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. In the example,
The light-sensitive material is introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a cut state, but it may be introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a strip shape. In that case, if an accumulator for temporarily retaining the photosensitive material is provided between the automatic developing machine A and the photographic printing machine B, the processing efficiency is improved. Needless to say, the automatic developing machine according to the present invention may be configured integrally with the photoprinting machine B or may be a single automatic developing machine. Further, it goes without saying that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processed by the automatic developing machine according to the present invention is not limited to exposed photographic paper, and may be exposed negative film or the like. Further, the description of the present invention will be made on a developing machine of substantially three tanks including a color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the color developing tank, the bleaching tank, and the fixing tank can be used. The present invention can be applied to an automatic developing machine having substantially four tanks including a tank and a stabilizing tank.

FIG. 2 shows a solid processing agent replenishing device 2 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a mounting position where A, 2B and 2C are mounted on the automatic developing machine A shown in FIG.
2C is a color developing tank 1A and a bleach-fixing tank 1B shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
And is attached to the upper part of the stabilizing tank 1C at the position shown by the diagonal lines.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the solid processing agent replenishing device 2A. A dissolution chamber 11 for introducing the solid processing agent 16 is provided on the side of the color developing tank 1A.

While the solid processing agent is being dissolved in the dissolution chamber 11, the concentration in the processing tank is adjusted via the filter 12 provided in the processing tank. Further, the processing amount information detecting means detects the processing amount of, for example, the printing paper M ₁ processed in the automatic developing machine A. The information about the detected processing amount by the processing amount information detecting means is transmitted to the processing amount supply control means, and the start / stop of the motor 14 is controlled by the processing amount supply control means. That is, when the processing amount reaches a certain amount and the concentration of the processing liquid is deteriorated, the motor 14 rotates to move the slide plate 15, and the solid processing agent storage cylinder 17-1,
The solid processing agent 16 is received by the dropping ports 18 from the second and third and supplied to the melting chamber 11.

In FIG. 3, solid processing agent storage cylinders 17-1, 2, 3
Are installed, that is, the horizontal movement distance l in the present invention is represented by l ₁ , l ₂ and l ₃ , and all of them are installed within the scope of the present invention. When the supply of the solid processing agent storage cylinders 17-1, 2 and 3 is completed, the lid 19 is opened and the solid processing agent storage cylinders 17-1, 2 and 3 can be replaced all at once or each storage cylinder can be replaced.

Example 2 Using the automatic processor of Example 1, the installation location of the storage unit 13 was changed so that the values of l ₁ , l ₂ and l _{3 in} FIG. The operation of adding the color developing agent to was performed. Two solid treatment agents are to be put in each day, the first one is dropped from the cylinder of 17-3, then the whole contents of the cylinder of 17-1, the whole contents of the cylinder of 17-2, 17- Put all the contents of the cylinder of 3 in order.

When all the treating agents are exhausted
Each of 17-1, 17-2, and 17-3 cylinders was filled with 10 solid processing agents.

This operation was repeated 4 times. 4th time 17-
When the last 2 pieces (100th and 101st) remain in the cylinder of 1,
The sticking property of the two solid processing agents is evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria 1
Was evaluated according to. In addition, for the last one, the moisture absorption weight increase rate and the CD-3 residual rate were measured.

Further, the failure during the closing operation was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria 2. Further, the filter was replaced twice during the loading experiment, and the workability at that time was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria 3. Further, the setting property at the time of filling the solid processing agent was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria 4.

Evaluation Criteria 1 ・ Cannot be put because they are completely attached. × ・ Partially attached, but can be input △ ・ Completely separated. ○ Evaluation Criteria 2 ・ Closing powder prevents loading operation, disassembly and repair are required × ・ Motor abnormal noise occurs due to powder clogging △ ・ No abnormality ○ Evaluation Criteria 3 ・ Unit needs replacement × ・ Unit replacement Not necessary but difficult △ ・ Easy to replace ○ Evaluation criteria 4 ・ It is very difficult to set × ・ Slightly difficult to set △ ・ Easy to set ○ Moisture absorption weight increase rate (%) = {( Weight immediately before charging−weight after tableting) / weight after tableting × 100 The color developing agent used was prepared according to the following procedure.

Color developer for color paper Operation (1) Bis-sulfoethylhydroxylamine disodium 4
Granulate 00 g and Chinopearl SFP 180 g with a mixing granulator.
The amount of water sprayed was 27 ml.

Then, it was dried in a dryer at 60 ° C. for 6 hours,
The water content was 1% or less.

Operation (2) 648 g of the developing agent CD-3 is granulated with a mixing granulator. The amount of water sprayed was 22 ml. Then, it dried at 40 degreeC for 12 hours in the dryer, and made water content rate 1% or less.

Operation (3) Granules of 14.4 g of sodium sulfite, 1080 g of potassium carbonate and 54 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate are granulated in a mixing granulator. The amount of water sprayed was 114 ml. Then, it dried at 60 degreeC in the dryer for 6 hours, and made the water content rate 1% or less.

Operation (4) 1080 g of potassium carbonate, 288 g of sodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, 54 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate and 600 g of polyethylene glycol # 6000 are granulated with a mixing granulator. The amount of water sprayed was 196 ml. Then, it dried at 40 degreeC in the dryer for 12 hours, and made the water content rate 1% or less.

Operation (5) The granulated product granulated in the above operations (1) to (4) is mixed by a mixer.
Mix evenly for 20 minutes. Next, the mixture is solidified by a solid processing agent tableting machine modified from Tough Press Collect 1527HU manufactured by Kikusui Seisakusho. The filling amount was 10.5 g and molding was performed at a compression pressure of 990 kg / cm ² . The obtained solid processing agent was made into a cylindrical type having a diameter of 30 mm.

The results are shown in Table 1.

[0036]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, by keeping the horizontal movement distance within the range of the present invention, the solid processing agent does not deteriorate due to moisture absorption, and the charging failure does not occur. You can see that setting is easy.

Example 3 Another example of the embodiment of the present invention is shown below.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the charging means used in the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof. Circular rotating plate 21
Solid processing agent storage cylinder 23-1, on the orbit of the drop port 22 above the
When the rotating plate 21 is rotated once by the motor 25 by arranging 2 and 3, the solid processing agent 24 is held in the drop port 22, reaches the charging port 27, and charges the solid processing agent 24 to the processing tank. The horizontal movement distance l at this time represents a locus of movement from the center point at the position where the solid processing agent is set to the center point of the charging port, and is designed and installed so that the value falls within the range of the present invention. or,
It is desirable to provide a lid 26 on the solid processing agent storage cylinder 23 from the viewpoint of preventing moisture.

[0040]

The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the present invention is capable of reliably and stably supplying a predetermined amount to the processing tank without deteriorating the solid processing agent, It has the effects that stable photographic performance can be obtained, the filters and cartridges can be easily replaced, and the maintainability is excellent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printer processor in which an automatic developing machine A and a photo printing machine B are integrally configured.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a mounting position of a solid processing agent replenishing device on a self-portrait machine A.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram in which a solid processing agent replenishing device is provided in a developing tank.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another solid processing agent replenishing device.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the solid processing agent replenishing device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

M magazine M ₁ photographic paper A Auto developing machine 1A to 1E Processing tank F Drying section 2A, 2B, 2C Solid processing agent replenishing device 11 Dissolution chamber 12 Filter 13 Storage unit 14, 25 Motor 15 Slide plate 16 Solid processing agent 17-1 , 2, 3 Solid processing agent container 18 Drop port 19, 26 Lid 21 Rotating plate 22 Drop port 23-1, 2, 3 Solid processing agent container 24 Solid processing agent 27 Input port

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material in which a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is added, wherein the solid processing agent is divided and weighed in advance, and when the solid processing agent is added. Distance to move horizontally to
Is set so that the diameter of the circumscribed circle of the solid processing agent is ≤l≤30 cm, and the automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials is characterized by 2. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement is a mechanism for holding the solid processing agent in a dropping port and moving the solid processing agent by relative movement. Automatic developing machine for materials.