JPH11295871A - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [abstract] (with correction) [Problem] It is desired to maintain the water absorption performance and to extend the life of the squeeze roller as far as possible, and it is desired that the squeeze roller be jam-treated or cleaned. The present invention provides a photosensitive material processing apparatus provided with a squeeze roller for easily and quickly responding. SOLUTION: (1) A squeeze roller provided at a position near an entrance in a drying processing area and receiving warm air for drying from below, for a photosensitive material that has been developed and conveyed from a previous process. Configured to receive by
(2) It has a color developing section, a bleach-fixing section, a stabilizing section, and a drying section, and the stabilizing section is composed of a plurality of processing units. (3) The squeeze roller is formed as a unit, and the unit can be attached to and detached from a fixed portion of the drying unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to exposure (printing).
More particularly, the present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus having a feature in a configuration of a drying processing unit for drying a photosensitive material after the development processing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a frame image recorded on a 35 mm-size negative film or the like is exposed on a silver halide photographic material (hereinafter referred to as photographic material or photographic paper) via a projection lens. Then, after developing the photographic light-sensitive material with the processing solution in the color developing processing section, the bleach-fixing processing section, and the stabilizing processing section, the water is evaporated in the drying processing section, and the water is evaporated. 2. Description of the Related Art A photographic material processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a "photosensitive material processing apparatus") configured to discharge to a sorter and accumulate it is known.

Further, the image on the negative film is subjected to digital conversion processing, and based on the digital image data, a photographic photosensitive material as described above is exposed, or a compact disk (digital image data) is recorded. CD), PC card used for digital electronic camera, magneto-optical recording medium (MO), Zip, digital video disk (DV
There is also known a photosensitive material processing apparatus for reading out image data from D) or the like, exposing the photosensitive material, and performing the same processing as described above to create an image.

[0004] Such a processing apparatus is provided with a pair of rollers called a transfer roller between each processing section.
The rollers ensure smooth transfer of photosensitive material between processes, and squeeze the processing liquid from the previous process (which is the color developing unit when viewed from the bleach-fixing unit) to the next process as little as possible. Let me.

As is apparent from the above, the transfer roller is also provided between the stabilizing section and the drying section.

When photographic light-sensitive material whose surface moisture has not been sufficiently removed enters the drying processing section, a great deal of heat is required to remove it. It is important to remove surface moisture as much as possible before entering.

As a surface material of the transfer roller (hereinafter referred to as a squeeze roller), a porous material such as a sponge is known.

[0008]

However, the transfer roller having the squeeze function provided between the stabilization processing section and the drying processing section, although between the processing sections, has a predetermined temperature range or a temperature gradient. Drying section with drying (drying room)
Is installed outside the section.

For this reason, the roller has a squeeze function in the initial state where the roller surface is dry, but the processing section related to development is a mode in which the photosensitive material is conveyed in a state of being immersed in a processing liquid. Therefore, in the case of continuous treatment, the water absorption quickly becomes saturated and it is difficult to achieve the initial purpose.

An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus which is configured to prevent the above-mentioned problems as far as possible and prolong the life of the squeeze roller.

Another object of the present invention is to make the squeeze roller into a unit and to easily attach and detach the unit to and from a fixed portion of a drying processing unit, and to perform a jam (clogging of photosensitive material) process or An object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of easily and promptly responding when cleaning is desired.

[0012]

The object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitution.

(1) The photosensitive material that has been developed and conveyed from the previous process is squeezed by a squeeze roller provided near the entrance in the drying processing area and at a position to receive warm air for drying from below. A photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized in that it is configured to receive the material.

(2) a color developing section, a bleach-fixing section,
A stabilization processing unit, and a drying processing unit, wherein the stabilization processing unit is configured by a plurality of processing units, and near the entrance in the drying processing unit area, and the hot air for drying is A squeeze roller is provided at a position where the squeeze roller is received from the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

(3) The squeeze roller is formed as a unit, and the unit can be attached to and detached from a fixed portion of the drying section. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to (1).

(4) The squeeze roller is formed as a unit, and the unit is suspended from a fixed portion of the drying unit. Photosensitive material processing equipment.

(5) The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to (1), (2) or (3), wherein the squeeze roller has a porous material on a surface thereof.

(6) The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to (5), wherein the porous material is a non-woven fabric made of resin fibers.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a photosensitive material processing apparatus for printing (exposure) digital image data on a photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to as photographic paper for convenience) and developing the printed photographic paper. It is.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an entire photosensitive material processing apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a processing apparatus). The processing device 1
Can be roughly divided into an exposure processing apparatus 2 for performing exposure according to digital image information on photographic paper P and a development processing apparatus 3 for developing the photographic paper after exposure.

The exposure processing apparatus 2 controls the entire processing apparatus and, at the same time, controls the host computer 200 for generating digital image data for recording, and scans the photographic paper P based on the data sent from the host computer 200. An exposure unit 205 including an exposure unit for exposing; a film scanner 210, a flatbed scanner 215, a PC card reader 220, a CD drive 225, and a monitor 230 as means for inputting digital image data to be recorded to the host computer. Etc. are provided.

An LED element can be used as the exposure means.

The monitor 230 is for displaying digital image data for output, a reproduced image of a hard copy, image processing status, and the like, and performs display according to command information input from a touch panel or a keyboard (not shown).

Reference numeral 250 denotes a magazine table provided in the exposure processing apparatus 2, and reference numeral 255 denotes a magazine mounted on the magazine table, which contains a long photographic paper P wound on a core.

Reference numeral 260 denotes a roller provided with a roller for drawing out the long photographic paper by a predetermined length, a cutter for cutting the photographic paper, or a roller for feeding the cut photographic paper toward the exposure unit. This is a photographic paper sending unit.

The operation of the exposure processing apparatus 2 having the above-described configuration will be outlined below.

Image information to be recorded is stored as digital data in a storage section of the host computer 200 via input means such as a film scanner 210.

If necessary, color tone adjustment and editing work are performed on the monitor 230 to complete the advance preparation.

Subsequently, when a print signal is given, the host computer 200 sends the photographic paper sending length information to the photographic paper sending section 260, pulls out the photographic paper by the length based on the information, and cuts the photographic paper into a predetermined length. And the exposure unit 20
The driving means controls appropriate means, such as transporting the photographic paper toward 5.

Further, the photographic paper is exposed through an appropriate exposure means provided in the exposure section 205 by an image recording signal for exposure based on digital image data to be stored.

The exposure is performed while transporting the photographic paper. The photographic paper that has been subjected to the exposure process reaches the transport unit 270 to be introduced into the developing device 3.

On the other hand, the developing device 3 comprises a color developing section 300 for color developing the photographic paper P, a bleach fixing section 305 for bleach-fixing the photographic paper P after color development, and a photographic paper after bleach-fixing. Stabilization processing unit 31 for stabilizing P
0, and a drying processing section 350 for drying the photographic paper P after the stabilization processing.

S is a sorter provided at one upper end of the apparatus for stacking the photographic paper P after the drying process.

These processing units have the configuration shown in FIG. 2 in which only the main parts are enlarged.

The color development processing section 300 and the bleach-fix processing section 305 are each composed of a tank (tank) for storing a processing liquid. Built-in detachable.

The entrance E of the photographic paper in the stabilizing section 310 is located at substantially the same height as the uppermost position of the bleach-fixing section 305, and a plurality of linearly arranged processings are disposed above the position. It has a unit 320.

The processing unit 320 has a tray-shaped support member 325 and a pair of rollers 335 supported by the support member and rotatable while being pressed against each other.
Are configured as main elements.

Each of the processing units is detachable from a side wall forming a rack of the stabilizing section 310.

FIG. 3 shows the detailed structure of the processing unit.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the processing unit 320 divided into a roller unit and a support member.

In other words, the processing unit 336 is inserted into a box-shaped space 329 formed on both sides of the support member 325 in FIG. Can be configured.

The supporting member 325 has a concave portion (liquid storage portion) 326 capable of storing a small amount of a stabilizing solution (processing solution).
And a slit 327 that allows the passage of photographic paper in a raised portion at the center between the liquid reservoirs.

Reference numeral 328 denotes a small hole communicating with a pipe provided on one side (left side) of the support member 325, and has a function of supplying the overflow of the stabilizing solution to the processing unit 320 immediately below.

In the processing unit immediately below, the small holes 328 are provided on the right side of the support member. That is, the overflow liquid is sequentially guided to the lower processing unit via small holes and pipes provided alternately in the adjacent processing units 320, such as left, right, and left.

Numeral 330 denotes walls which are parallel to each other to form a space 329, and a bearing fitted to the roller shaft 337, a coil spring for press-fitting, which is disposed around the bearing, and Structure 336 including bearing support member
The roller shaft 3 is large enough to fit
37 is inserted and a U-shaped cutout hole is provided to allow rotation.

When the two parts are integrated, the pawl 331 provided on the support member mechanically engages the bearing support member on the roller side to prevent slipping.

Roller 335 in the above processing unit
In a state incorporated in the apparatus body, a part of the outer periphery is immersed in the processing liquid stored in the concave portion, the processing liquid is supplied to the printing paper by rotation, and the processing liquid is squeezed immediately thereafter,
It has multiple functions of transporting photographic paper.

N is a helical gear provided on the device side, 340
Is a helical gear provided on one roller shaft 337 and meshing with the gear N, and 341 and 342 are both rollers 335
The two rollers can rotate while being pressed against each other via these drive systems.

Returning to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the processing unit 320 having the above configuration is divided into upper and lower parts when viewed from the supply of the stabilizing liquid (processing liquid).

A processing liquid is supplied from a processing liquid tank T1 storing a stabilizing processing liquid to a processing unit 320 located at the uppermost position in the upper section through a line L1 by a pump P1. The stable liquid that has overflowed and that has fallen naturally is collected in the lowermost processing unit (the fourth processing unit from the top in the figure) and then returns to the processing liquid tank T1. .

The processing liquid is also supplied from the processing liquid tank T1 to the processing unit 320 located at the uppermost stage in the lower section through the line L2. The liquid is collected in the liquid tank T3, a part is used as dilution water in the bleach-fix processing section, and a part is collected in the waste liquid tank. T2 is a tank for storing dilution water.

Numeral 350 denotes a drying section, which is a chamber adjacent to the stabilizing section 310 with a partition wall 351 at the transition section W therebetween, and occupies a space in the height direction with the stabilizing section. Almost the same.

Reference numeral 360 denotes a unit including a squeeze roller provided near the entrance (in the area of the drying section or above the drying section) (only a pair of rollers are shown in the figure). A heater provided in a lower part,
Further, it is installed at a position to receive warm air from below based on the operation of the blower fan 399.

A large number of pairs of rollers for transporting the photographic paper P while making a U-turn in the drying section (no reference symbol)
Is arranged.

In the drawing, the blower fan 399 is set to U
Although shown immediately below the turn section, the degree of freedom in design is wide, for example, an appropriate enclosure can be provided, or a ventilation path can be provided to force a part of the warm air to the squeeze roller.

In the embodiment, the drying section is maintained at a temperature of about 80 ° C. to about 90 ° C. and a humidity of about 20% to about 50%.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the structure of a unitized squeeze roller and a structure for attaching the squeeze roller to a fixed part in the drying processing area.

In the figure, the unit 360 has a substantially box shape. The upper end 363 of the side plate 361 that constitutes the unit projects, and a hook 365 that fits with the support pin 355 provided on the fixing portion 353 of the drying section is formed on the projecting portion.

Similar hooks are formed on the back side plate.

Reference numeral 366 denotes a handle which is attached to the upper plate of the unit and is used when the unit is attached or detached for cleaning or jam processing (processing for removing jammed photographic paper). It is provided.

Reference numerals 367, 368, and 369 denote roller pairs (hereinafter, also referred to as squeeze rollers) R1, R2, and R3 provided so as to be able to rotate while being pressed against each other, and support members S1, S2, and S3 for supporting the roller pairs. And a roller unit comprising:

The roller unit forms a gentle transport path from the inlet 500 to the outlet 501 so that the photographic paper can be transported smoothly.

G is a guide member extending from the intake port 500 to the discharge port 501 through a space between the roller units, and is provided at the intake and discharge port portions so as to protrude from the outer plate of the unit 360. is there.

Guide member G at outlet 501
The end of the first roller pair 3 of the drying unit in a state where the unit 360 is attached to the support pin 355.
57.

Reference numeral 371 denotes a stopper pin provided at a part of the lower end of the unit. When the hook is completely suspended on the support pin 355, it abuts against the regulating member 359 on the drying processing section side and stops. If necessary, it is possible to provide a lock member for preventing backlash of the unit.

The mounting of the unit may be a configuration other than the configuration in which the unit is suspended. For example, a guide groove may be provided on the drying processing unit side, and a unit fitting the guide groove may be provided on the unit side. A configuration can be adopted in which the unit is stopped at a predetermined position through relative sliding.

Further, the support pins on the drying section are threaded pins, and are rotated 90 ° from the state shown in FIG. 4, and holes are provided on the unit side for fitting the pins. Thereafter, a configuration in which the nut portion is fixed by using the screw portion may be used.

The roller pairs 367 to 369 receive power from a drive gear provided on the apparatus side and engage (engage) and engage with the drive gear at the time of attachment and detachment. It can be released.

A detailed description of the power transmission system will be omitted because it can be appropriately configured and the structure or configuration does not directly relate to the present invention.

The squeeze roller has an outer diameter of about 10 mm.
About 5mm on the circumference of the roller with shaft made of aluminum
The thickness of the porous material is provided.

As the porous material, Rubicel (made by Toyo Polymer Co., Ltd., Rubicell is a registered trademark), Wetlon (made by Kanebo Co., Ltd., Wetlon is a registered trademark of the company) made of polyurethane resin, or a polypropylene-based nonwoven fabric Etc. can be used. Further, although the water absorption is slightly reduced, a rubber material such as polyurethane can be used.

In the unit configuration, the upper squeeze roller has a surface with a higher depletion rate to reduce the nip pressure of both rollers, and the lower roller has a surface with a lower depletion rate to provide a surface with a lower depletion rate. When the nip pressure is increased, good water removal can be achieved.

The developing apparatus 3 having the above configuration
Then, when the photographic paper P exposed by the exposure processing apparatus 2 is introduced, the development processing apparatus sequentially performs the processes of color development, bleach-fixing, and stabilization in the above-described order, and then performs drying. After water contained in the photographic paper is squeezed by a squeeze roller provided in the processing unit (room), the paper is subjected to a full-scale drying treatment and discharged to a sorter outside the machine.

The squeeze roller is exposed to the heat or hot air in the drying chamber. Due to the surface heat and the hygroscopicity of the material, the squeeze roller absorbs, in particular, the water on the surface of the photographic paper and simultaneously absorbs the water absorbed by the hot air. discharge.

Therefore, even if the processing is performed continuously, the water is hardly saturated as compared with the conventional squeeze roller, and a good squeeze function can be maintained.

[0076]

Since the squeeze roller is provided in the area of the drying section (room), the squeeze efficiency is good and the squeeze roller can sufficiently withstand continuous processing, so that the operability is improved.

Further, the unit is easy to handle and can be attached and detached with a simple structure. Therefore, for example, cleaning or processing in case of jamming of the photosensitive material (jam) In such a case, the maintainability and operability were improved, such as quick response.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a photosensitive material processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of a processing unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the processing unit divided into a roller unit and a support member.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a unitized squeeze roller and a mounting structure for a fixing unit in a drying processing unit area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photosensitive material processing apparatus 2 exposure processing apparatus 3 development processing apparatus 200 host computer 205 exposure unit 210 film scanner 220 PC card reader 230 monitor 255 magazine 270 transport unit 300 color development processing unit 305 bleach-fix processing unit 310 stabilization processing unit 320 processing Unit 325 Supporting member 335 Roller pair 350 Drying processing unit (drying processing chamber) 360 Unit R1, R2, R3 Squeeze roller

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material, which has been developed and conveyed from a previous process, is received by a squeeze roller provided at a position near an entrance in a region of a drying processing unit and receiving warm air for drying from below. A photosensitive material processing apparatus characterized by having such a configuration. 2. A color development processing section, a bleach-fix processing section, a stabilization processing section, and a drying processing section, wherein the stabilization processing section comprises a plurality of processing units, A squeeze roller is disposed near the entrance of the squeeze roller and at a position receiving warm air for drying from below. 3. The squeeze roller is formed as a unit, and the unit can be attached to and detached from a fixed portion of the drying unit. Photosensitive material processing equipment. 4. The squeeze roller is formed as a unit, and the unit is suspended from a fixed portion of the drying unit.
3. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1. 5. The squeeze roller has a porous material on a surface thereof.
3. A photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the porous material is a non-woven fabric made of a resin fiber.