JPH0943802A - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To provide a cascade pipe of a processing tank capable of accurately maintaining a liquid level of a processing liquid in a processing tank of a photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus at a predetermined height. SOLUTION: A plurality of processing tanks containing the same type of processing liquid have at least one processing tank internally having only an overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end, an overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end, and the overflow. A processing tank having therein a cascade pipe having an opening at an upper end position higher than the height of the opening of the pipe, and an overflow pipe of one processing tank of related processing tanks and a cascade pipe of another processing tank. And are connected by piping,
Moreover, the height of the opening of the overflow pipe is set higher than that of the opening of the cascade pipe connected by a pipe.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a photographic light-sensitive material such as film or photographic paper (hereinafter, simply referred to as a photographic processing apparatus). More specifically, a photograph which is provided in the developing unit of the photographic processing apparatus and which can properly maintain the height of the liquid surface of a plurality of adjacent processing tanks containing processing solutions such as developing solutions and fixing solutions. Regarding a processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a development processing apparatus includes an insertion section 1 for feeding a film P which is a photographic photosensitive material, a development section 2 for developing the film P, and a development-processed film P for drying. A drying section 3 and a stocker 4 for storing the dried film P are provided, and the developing section 2 is also provided.
A replenishment tank, a water replenishment tank, a waste liquid tank, and the like are connected to.

In the developing section 2, there is incorporated a processing tank 5 comprising a color developing tank for color developing the film P, a bleaching tank for bleaching, a fixing tank for fixing, and a stabilizing tank for stabilizing the development. The processing tank 5 contains processing solutions such as a developing solution, a bleaching solution, a fixing solution, and a stabilizing solution. A rack 8 is incorporated in the processing tank 5. The film P which is a photographic photosensitive material fed into the developing section 2 is conveyed in the rack 8 of the processing tank 5 as shown by a broken line, and is sequentially conveyed into the processing liquid in the processing tank 5 to be developed. A transport mechanism for transporting the film P is incorporated in the rack 8. As the transport mechanism, a plurality of sprockets 9 that can be engaged with the square holes of the leader to which the leading end of the film P is connected are used. In the present invention, the invention is not limited to developing the film P, and when developing photographic paper as a photographic light-sensitive material, the transport mechanism uses a plurality of paired feed rollers that sandwich the photographic paper. What is used can be used.

A processing solution 6 such as a developing solution and a fixing solution is contained in the processing tank 5 of the developing section 2.
When the film P passes through the inside, it undergoes various treatments. In the processing step, part of the processing liquid 6 is the film P.
Since it adheres to the film and is transferred to the next process together with the film P, the amount of the processing liquid 6 in the processing tank 5 gradually decreases if left as it is. Therefore, in general, the film P
A sufficient amount of the treatment liquid 6 in the treatment tank 5 according to the treatment amount of
Is replenished.

As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid level of the processing liquid 6 in these processing tanks 5 is a partition wall 11a between adjacent processing tanks 5a and 5b containing the same type of processing liquid.
The liquid level is adjusted and held by a notch 7a provided at an appropriate position (hereinafter, referred to as a notch method). Therefore, by supplementing a sufficient amount of the treatment liquid to the treatment tank 5a having the highest liquid level to be held, the extra supplemented treatment liquid overflows from the notch 7a to the adjacent treatment tank 5b. . Further, similarly, an excess amount of the processing liquid 6 in the processing tank 5b is cut out 7
From b to the processing tank 5c, the liquid levels of the processing tanks 5b are maintained at a predetermined height, and thus the processing liquids 6 of all the processing tanks 5 are sequentially maintained at a predetermined height. It will be.

In this case, instead of providing the notch 7 in the partition wall 11, as shown in FIG. 6, an overflow pipe 20a having an opening at a predetermined height is provided in the processing tank 5a.
Processing tank 5b adjacent to the lower end of this overflow pipe
The liquid level can be maintained in the same manner as in the notch system by connecting the bottom of the pipe to the pipe 12a (hereinafter, referred to as the bottom pipe system). Alternatively, the overflow pipe 20a
The lower end of the processing tank 5a is connected to the opening provided on the side wall 13a of the processing tank 5a, and the opening and the opening provided on the side wall 13b of the processing tank 5b below the opening are connected by piping. Can also maintain the same liquid level (hereinafter referred to as side wall piping method).

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned notch system, when the space between the rack 8 and the partition wall 11 installed in the processing tank is small, the resistance to the flow of the processing liquid flowing therethrough is small. Since it is large, the processing liquid does not flow into the notch 7 sufficiently, so that the height of the liquid level in the processing tank cannot be properly maintained. In addition, the liquid level of the processing tank on the outflow side of the processing liquid must be higher than that of the processing tank on the inflow side of the processing liquid. The degree of freedom to change is extremely low.
Furthermore, because the combination of cascades differs depending on the processing specifications, the presence of the notch provided in the partition wall may be a problem, and once the notch is provided in the partition wall, such a case cannot be dealt with. However, it is difficult to combine the processing tanks.

Further, even if the treatment liquids have the same specific gravity at first, in the process of treatment, treatment liquids having different specific gravities may be mixed by so-called carry-in from a treatment tank containing another adjacent treatment liquid. At this time, the specific gravities of the processing liquids are not the same between the processing tanks. Therefore, in the bottom piping method and the sidewall piping method, there is a possibility that a predetermined movement of the processing liquid does not occur due to the influence of the difference in the specific gravity of the processing liquid between the processing tanks connected by the piping. For example, if the outflow side processing tank that discharges the processing liquid has a smaller specific gravity than the inflow side processing tank that receives the processing liquid supply, the liquid surface of the inflow side processing tank corresponds to the specific gravity difference. Therefore, it becomes stable at a position lower than the predetermined height by the height corresponding to the hydraulic pressure.

Further, another reason why the height of the liquid surface of the processing tank cannot be maintained at a predetermined height is that when the processing liquid overflows through the notch or the overflow pipe, the liquid surface of the overflow is generated. Is not at the same level as the height of the bottom surface of the cutout or the opening surface of the overflow pipe, and as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the liquid level is raised by h above those levels. . Further, since the liquid level rise amount h is not constant such that it increases as the overflow amount increases, it further promotes that the liquid level of the processing liquid cannot be maintained at a predetermined height. In this case, if the above-mentioned notch is used, the influence of the surface tension of the processing liquid or the rack in the processing tank becomes a resistance, and the flow of the processing liquid to the notch does not occur smoothly. The liquid level rises due to the influence of the above. Also, using a conventional overflow tube,
Since the wall thickness of the pipe to the opening of the overflow pipe is constant,
Similar to the case of the notch, the liquid level rises by about 4 mm due to the influence of the surface tension of the treatment liquid.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is a photographic processing provided with a processing tank capable of suppressing the rise of the liquid level of the processing liquid and accurately maintaining the liquid level of the processing liquid at a predetermined height. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0011]

A photographic processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a developing section for developing a photographic light-sensitive material by passing it through a processing solution contained in a plurality of processing tanks. In the device, a plurality of processing tanks containing the same type of processing liquid among the plurality of processing tanks are
At least one processing tank internally having only an overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end, an overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end, and a cascade pipe having an opening at an upper end position higher than the height of the opening of the overflow pipe And a cascade pipe of another processing tank among the plurality of processing tanks containing the same type of processing liquid, which are related to each other. Is connected by a pipe, and the height of the opening of the overflow pipe is higher than the opening of the cascade pipe connected by a pipe, whereby the processing overflowed to the opening of the overflow pipe of the processing tank. Liquid has the cascade pipe via the cascade pipe connected to the overflow pipe by a pipe. Is supplied to another processing tank, the liquid level of the processing tank is characterized by comprising held at a predetermined height.

Further, in the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe are provided with thin-walled portions at the openings, and the processing tank is used when the processing liquid overflows from the openings. Also, the rise of the liquid level of the processing liquid in the cascade pipe is suppressed to a low level.

Further, in the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, the opening of the cascade pipe of the processing tank is covered with a cap according to the processing specifications, so that the supply of the processing liquid is shut off.

According to the cascade piping of the processing tank in the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, the height of the processing liquid in each processing tank of the photographic processing apparatus can be accurately maintained at a predetermined height.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A photographic processing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a cascade pipe of a processing tank in a photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an overflow due to a difference in wall thickness of a thin portion provided in an opening. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the liquid level of.

In the cascade pipe of the processing tank according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, an overflow pipe 20 having an opening at the upper end, a cascade pipe 21 having an opening at the upper end, or both of them are provided in the processing tank 5. The overflow pipe 20 and the cascade pipe 21 are provided, and are connected to the corresponding cascade pipe 21 and the overflow pipe 20 of different processing tanks. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of the overflow pipe 12a provided in the treatment tank 5a on the outflow side for discharging the treatment liquid 6 and the cascade pipe 21b provided on the treatment tank 5b on the inflow side for receiving the treatment liquid supply. The lower end of is connected by a pipe 12a. Further, similarly, the lower end of the overflow pipe 20b of the processing tank 5b and the processing tank 5c are similarly processed.
The lower end of the cascade pipe 21c is connected by a pipe 12b,
The related processing tanks are sequentially connected by piping to complete the entire cascade piping. However, although the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe are separated from the wall of the processing tank in FIG. 2, the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe may be integrally formed with the wall of the processing tank. Further, the pipes 12a and 12b for connecting the processing tanks to each other.
Can be performed by a general piping method such as hose piping. The rack 8 provided in the processing tank 5 is omitted in FIG.

In this case, the basic height of the liquid surface of the processing liquid 4 in each processing tank is uniquely determined by the height of the openings provided at the upper ends of the overflow pipes 20a and 20b of the processing tank. To be done. Then, the height of the openings provided at the upper ends of the cascade pipes 21b and 21c of the processing tank on the inflow side need only be made lower than the height of the openings of the overflow pipes 20a and 20b of the corresponding processing tank on the outflow side. The flow of the treatment liquid is sure to occur regardless of the specific gravity of the treatment liquid. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it is shown that there is only one processing tank 5b having both the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe, but even if there are a plurality of such processing tanks. Good.

As described above, according to the cascade piping of the present invention, if a sufficient amount of the processing liquid is constantly supplied to the processing tank 5a where the processing liquid is first discharged, the liquid level of each processing tank is increased. It can be automatically adjusted to a predetermined height and automatically held.

According to the cascade piping of the present invention,
Unlike the notch method, the overflow location is not limited to the partition wall, and the overflow pipe is selected by relatively freely selecting the position where the rack does not obstruct the flow of the processing liquid into the overflow pipe as described above. Can be installed, so that the processing liquid can smoothly flow into the overflow pipe. In addition, when it is not necessary to move the processing liquid between the processing tanks due to differences in the combination of cascades depending on the processing specifications, at least the opening of the cascade pipe is capped to interrupt the supply of the processing liquid. You can deal with it alone.

Next, in order to maintain the height of the liquid level of the processing liquid in the processing tank more accurately, the processing liquid is generated when the processing liquid flows into the overflow pipe and when the processing liquid flows out of the cascade pipe. It is necessary to keep the rise in the liquid level due to such overflow low. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the thin wall portion 1 in which the wall thickness of the openings of the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe is reduced
0 is provided to cause contraction of the overflow flow at a position beyond the side wall of the opening. Since the influence of the contraction of the flow affects the liquid level of the processing liquid at the point where the overflow starts, the liquid level rise amount h0 in this case is larger than the liquid level rise amount h in the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe having the conventional openings. Can be made smaller. Specifically, the thin portion 1 of the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe
When the wall thickness of 0 is 2 mm and the length is 13 mm, the liquid level rise amount can be reduced to 2 mm as compared with the liquid level rise amount of 4 mm in the processing tank when the wall thickness is 5.5 mm without the thin portion. it can.

The thinner the thin wall portions of the overflow pipe and the cascade pipe are, the more effective they are in suppressing the rise of the liquid level, but this causes a problem in molding.

The thin portion is shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 3 (c).
As shown in FIG. 5, it may be provided on the upstream side of the overflow, or conversely, it may be provided on the downstream side of the overflow.

[0024]

As described above, according to the method of cascade piping of the processing tank and the overflow pipe and the cascade tube in the photographic processing apparatus of the present invention, the liquid level of the processing liquid in the processing tank can be accurately adjusted to a predetermined height. Since it can be held, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the quality of the photosensitive material caused by the fluctuation of the liquid level of the processing liquid in the processing step.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a cascade pipe of a processing tank in a photographic processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cascade pipe of the processing tank of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in overflow liquid level due to a difference in wall thickness of an opening.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a photographic processing device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a notch type processing tank.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a bottom piping type processing tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5, 5a, 5b, 5c Treatment tank 6 Treatment liquid 10 Thin wall portion 12a, 12b Pipe 20a, 20b, 20c Overflow pipe 21a, 21b, 21c Cascade pipe

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus comprising a developing section for passing a photographic light-sensitive material through a processing solution contained in a plurality of processing tanks for development processing, wherein the plurality of processing tanks are provided. A plurality of processing tanks containing the same type of processing liquid, at least one processing tank having only an overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end therein;
An overflow pipe having an opening at the upper end and a processing tank having therein a cascade pipe having an opening at a position at the upper end higher than the height of the opening of the overflow pipe,
Further, among a plurality of processing tanks containing the same type of processing liquid, an overflow pipe of one processing tank of related processing tanks and a cascade pipe of another processing tank are connected by piping, and the overflow pipe The height of the opening is higher than the opening of the cascade pipe connected by a pipe, whereby the processing liquid overflowing into the opening of the overflow pipe of the processing tank is connected by a pipe to the overflow pipe. Further, the photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus is characterized in that it is supplied to another processing tank having the cascade pipe via the cascade pipe, and the liquid level of each processing tank is maintained at a predetermined height. 2. An overflow pipe and an opening of the cascade pipe are provided with thin-walled portions having a reduced wall thickness, and the processing liquid in the processing tank and the cascade pipe when the processing liquid overflows from the opening The photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rise of the liquid level is suppressed low. 3. The photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein among the plurality of processing tanks, the opening of the cascade pipe of the processing tank is covered with a cap according to processing specifications, and the supply of the processing liquid is shut off. Material processing equipment.