JP2000075459A - Treatment agent replenishment device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a processing agent replenishing apparatus which does not overflow a diluent from a replenishing tank and which can easily set the discharge amount of a replenishing pump. SOLUTION: The discharge amount per unit time of the refill pump 16 is set based on the power supply frequency at the place of shipment. The discharge amount per time is automatically corrected, and the driving time of the refill pump 16 is controlled using the corrected discharge amount per unit time. As a result, workability at the time of installation of the apparatus is improved, and there is no need to arrange a sensor for monitoring the discharge amount. At the top of the replenishing tank 12, a top liquid level sensor 28
Is provided to detect the liquid level before the overflow and automatically stop the water supply pump 24. This can prevent the dilution water from overflowing from the replenishing tank 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing agent replenishing apparatus which is used in a photosensitive material processing apparatus such as an automatic developing machine and has a replenishing tank for replenishing a processing solution into a processing tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic developing machines and the like (for example, film processors, printer processors, etc.) used in laboratories are:
Performs film and color paper processing. Films and color papers are processed in a plurality of processing tanks containing water or processing solutions for color development, bleach-fixing, washing and stabilization.

The composition and amount of the processing liquid in each tank changes depending on the processing of the film or color paper. For this reason, a system is provided in which each processing tank is replenished with a new solution from a replenishing tank in accordance with a processing amount.

Recently, a treatment agent replenishing apparatus has been proposed which treats a container filled with a treatment agent as a cartridge in order to prevent contamination by the treatment agent charged into the replenishing tank, and the container is loaded into equipment. As a result, the processing agent is automatically charged into the replenishing tank.

Specifically, when a container is loaded on the door and the door is closed, the mouth of the container is held by a holder provided above the receiving portion. Here, the washing nozzle rises from the receiving portion,
The plug closing the mouth is pierced, and the processing agent filled in the container flows out into the receiving portion. The receiving part is connected to the replenishing tank by a liquid sending pipe, and the processing agent flowing out of the receiving part flows to the replenishing tank. Next, the inside of the container is washed by spraying the washing liquid from the washing nozzle, and the washed washing liquid is sent to the replenishing tank,
Used as part of the dilution water.

[0006] In such a system, the dilution water sent to the replenishment tank is sent from the water tank through a water supply pipe by a washing pump, and the amount of water supplied controls the opening / closing time of an electromagnetic valve provided in the water supply pipe. It is adjusted by

However, if a trouble occurs in the washing pump, a large amount of dilution water may be sent and overflow from the replenishing tank.

On the other hand, the processing liquid stored in the replenishing tank is replenished to the processing tank through a replenishing pipe by a replenishing pump. When an AC pump is used as the replenishing pump, the frequency of the installation location is 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Since the discharge amount of the pump per unit time differs, the replenishment amount of the processing liquid sent to the processing tank cannot be determined.

Further, in the conventional processing agent replenishing apparatus, even if an abnormality occurs in the processing liquid in the processing tank, it is determined whether the cause is a change in the dilution water amount or a change in the processing liquid replenishment amount. could not.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above facts, the present invention does not allow a diluent to overflow from a replenishing tank, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing agent replenishing apparatus which can easily set the discharge amount of a replenishing pump and can notify the abnormality of the replenishing amount and the dilution amount.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the processing solution is replenished from the replenishing tank to the processing tank for processing the photosensitive material. The container is loaded into the receiving part,
When the treatment agent flows out to the receiving portion, the treatment agent is sent to the replenishing tank through the liquid sending means. Further, the diluting liquid is sent to the replenishing tank by a water supply means, and is stirred with the processing agent to prepare a processing liquid.

In this way, the processing liquid stored in the replenishing tank is supplied to the processing tank by the replenishing pump through the replenishing pipe.

Here, the discharge rate of the replenishment pump per unit time is set based on the power supply frequency at the shipping location, but the discharge rate varies depending on the power supply frequency at the installation location.

However, if the power supply frequency of the installation location is input, the discharge rate per unit time of the refill pump is automatically corrected according to the input value, and the refill pump is driven using the corrected discharge rate per unit time. Time is controlled. As a result, workability at the time of installation of the apparatus is improved, and there is no need to arrange a sensor for monitoring the discharge amount.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the upper liquid level detecting means is disposed above the replenishing tank. The upper liquid level detecting means is located below the liquid level when the water is full, and is positioned above the liquid level when the primary replenishment is completed.

Here, when the primary replenishment is completed, the upper liquid level detecting means is located below the liquid level, or at least a predetermined ratio earlier than the completion of the primary replenishment, If is located above the liquid level, it is determined that the diluent is abnormal and a notification is made.

That is, it is determined that the diluent is abnormal under the assumption that the processing agent is accurately charged into the replenishing tank and that the processing tank is replenished with a correct replenishing amount. It is a typical judgment method.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lower liquid level detecting means is provided below the upper liquid level detecting means.
This lower liquid level detecting means is located above the liquid level when the secondary replenishment is completed. When the secondary replenishment is completed, if the lower liquid level detecting means is located below the liquid level, or if the liquid level detecting means is positioned above the liquid level earlier than a predetermined ratio at which the secondary replenishment is completed. If there is, it is notified that the replenishment amount is abnormal.

That is, it is determined that the replenishing amount is abnormal on the assumption that the processing agent is accurately charged into the replenishing tank and that the correct amount of diluent is supplied to the processing tank. This is a determination after it is determined that there is no data.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the uppermost liquid level detecting means is provided at the uppermost part of the replenishing tank, and detects the liquid level before overflowing. When the maximum liquid level detecting means detects the liquid level, the water supply means automatically stops. Thus, it is possible to prevent the dilution water from overflowing from the replenishing tank.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A processor provided with a processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with a developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank and a washing tank, and performs processing for photographic paper conveyed from a printer. It is supposed to.

Here, the processing liquid to be replenished into the developing tank 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example. In this developing tank 10,
The processing liquid is replenished by a replenishing pump 16 through a replenishing pipe 14 connected to the bottom of the replenishing tank 12. A water supply pipe 18 is connected to the lower part of the side wall of the replenishing tank 12, and the mouth extends into the replenishing tank 12.

A check valve 20 is provided in the water supply pipe 18 so that the processing liquid in the replenishing tank 12 does not flow back to the electromagnetic valve 22 side. By providing the check valve 20 in this manner, the processing liquid does not flow back to the electromagnetic valve 22, and it is possible to use an electromagnetic valve having low chemical resistance.

The water supply pipe 18 is provided with a water supply pump 24, which sends the water in the water tank 26 to the multiple solenoid valves 22. As described above, the use of the multiple solenoid valves 22 does not require a distributor for switching the solenoid valves. In addition, in order to compensate for the moisture reduced by evaporation,
If a pipe is connected to one of the solenoid valves 22 (not shown) and led to the treatment tank, a pump for supplying water to the treatment tank is supplied to the water supply pump 2.
4 can be substituted. The opening and closing of the solenoid valve 22 is controlled by a signal from a higher-level liquid level sensor 30 described later.

An uppermost liquid level sensor 28 is provided at the uppermost portion of the replenisher tank 12 (the liquid level position immediately before the overflow). When the uppermost liquid level sensor 28 detects the liquid level, it is determined that the water pump 24 is not operating normally.
The interlock is working. This allows
In case of trouble of the water supply pump 24, it is possible to prevent water from overflowing from the replenishing tank 12.

On the other hand, a washing pipe 32 is connected to the solenoid valve 22. At the downstream end of the cleaning pipe 32, a nozzle 34 having a high cleaning ability is attached. The mouth 3 of the bottle B filled with the processing agent for development is
8 is loaded face down.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottle B filled with the developer, the bleaching agent, and the fixing agent is packaged in a cardboard box 90, and can be set in the apparatus without the cardboard box 90. ing. The mouth 38 of the bottle B protrudes from the cardboard box 90. This mouth 3
Numeral 8 is sealed by a lid 48, and is configured such that when it is crushed by the nozzle 34, the processing agent flows out of the mouth 38 into the liquid receiver 36.

The lid 48 is a resin seal having a cross-shaped groove, and can be opened by the nozzle 34 with a force of 10 kgf or less. The opening force can be adjusted (decreased) depending on the depth and shape of the groove. However, in consideration of the sealing property of the bottle B and the force acting on the nozzle 34, it is desirable to adjust the opening force to about 1 kgf to 6 kgf.

A plate-shaped rib 92 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle 34, and has a cross shape when viewed from the axial direction. By providing the rib 92 in this manner, when the mouth 38 is opened, the flow of the treatment agent flowing out of the bottle B is improved, and the treatment agent can be put into the replenishing tank 12 in a short time.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nozzle 3 corresponding to the bottle B of the developer, the bleaching agent, and the fixing agent is used.
4 have different projection heights. As a result, even if the three nozzles 34 are simultaneously raised, the lids 48 are sequentially pushed and broken, so that no burden is imposed on the driving means for moving the nozzles 34 up and down.

On the other hand, the loading section 46 of the cardboard box 90
The door 50 is openably and closably mounted so as to close the opening of the loading section 46. On the back side of the door 50, brackets 52 are protruded vertically and horizontally. The cardboard box 90 is sandwiched between the brackets 52. In addition, a holder 54 is provided on the back wall 46A of the loading portion 46. The holder 54 has a plate material horizontally extended and a circular concave portion 54A formed on a free end side.

The neck of the mouth 38 of the bottle B is engaged with the recess 54A of the holder 54, and the mouth 38 is positioned with respect to the nozzle 34.

The door 50 has a hook 58 projecting therefrom. A lock pin 60 projects laterally from the tip of the hook 58. This lock pin 60 is
2 is locked by a lock groove 64 provided at the tip end of
Lock 0.

The lever 62 is swingably supported by a shaft 66. Behind the shaft 66, a spring 68
At the top. A solenoid 70 is disposed behind the spring 68, and the plunger 72 contacts the upper surface of the lever 62 to maintain the lever 62 in a substantially horizontal state against the urging force of the spring 68. I have.

Here, when the door 50 is closed, the lock pin 60 hits the tapered surface 62A. From this, lever 6
2 swings counterclockwise, and the lock pin 60
4, the lever 62 returns to the original state by the urging force of the spring 68, and the door 50 is locked.

On the other hand, to release the lock, the solenoid 7
When the plunger 72 is pushed down by exciting 0, the lever 62 swings counterclockwise about the shaft 66 so that the door 50
Is released.

The nozzle 34 penetrates the bottom surface of the liquid receiver 36 provided below the loading section 46. The lower portion of the nozzle 34 is fixed to an elevating block 94 that moves up and down along a guide rail 96.

A rack 76 is attached to the back of the elevating block 94 along the longitudinal direction. The rack 76 is engaged with a pinion 80 rotated by a motor 78.

When the pinion 80 rotates, the elevating block 94 moves up, and the nozzles 34 push the lid 48 of the bottle B. However, since the heights of the nozzles 34 are different, the timings at which the nozzles 34 are pushed apart are different. The applied load is reduced.

An overflow port 82 is formed in a side wall of the liquid receiver 36. This overflow port 8
An overflow pipe 84 is connected to 2. The lower opening of the overflow pipe 84 reaches a liquid receiving tray 86 arranged on the lower surface of the apparatus, and discharges the processing agent to the liquid receiving tray 86 before the processing agent overflows from the liquid receiver 36.
The overflow port 82 is provided at a position higher than the opening 38 of the bottle B when the bottle is opened.

Further, an upper opening of the liquid feed pipe 40 penetrates through the bottom wall of the liquid receiver 36. This liquid sending pipe 40
Is connected to the lower part of the side wall of the replenishing tank 12 so as to feed the processing agent into the replenishing tank 12.

The replenishing tank 12 has a cylindrical shape.
When water is injected into the replenishing tank 12, a vortex is generated to enhance the stirring effect. Further, in the replenishing tank 12, a circular floating cover 42 for preventing oxidation of the prepared processing solution is provided.
Is arranged. The floating lid 42, in combination with the shape of the replenishing tank 12, minimizes the area in contact with air generated between the outer peripheral surface of the floating lid 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the replenishing tank 12.

The lower tank 4 is provided in the replenishing tank 12.
4 is disposed to manage the amount of the processing agent supplied from the liquid receiver 36.

Next, the operation of the processing agent replenishing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

First, when the processor is transported to the installation location, the power frequency of the installation location is input.

That is, the discharge rate per unit time of the replenishment pump 16 (AC pump) of the processing agent replenishment device provided in the processor is measured using water on the basis of 50 Hz. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the discharge amount used in the processing liquid replenishing apparatus is set to the measured discharge amount (50 Hz) × 5 at the time of shipment.
Automatic correction is performed using the formula of 0 Hz / power supply frequency Hz at the installation location × water / liquid correction value (having a unique value for each processing liquid).

Thus, the discharge amount per unit time of the refill pump 16 is automatically corrected, and the driving time of the refill pump 16 is controlled using the corrected discharge amount per unit time.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, when the cardboard box 90 is loaded on the door 52 and the door 50 is closed, the lock pin 60 is closed.
Are locked in the lock groove 64, and the door 50 is locked.

Here, the motor 78 is driven, and the three nozzles 34 are simultaneously raised as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid 42 of the mouth 38 is opened, and the bottle B is filled. Although the processing agent flows out to the liquid receiver 36, the lids 42 are opened one by one, so that no load is applied to the motor 78.

As described above, when the lid 42 is opened, the processing agent in the bottle B is supplied through the liquid feed pipe 40 to the replenishing tank 1.
2 and the floating lid 42 also rises with the liquid level.

At this time, the liquid feed pipe 40
Even if the bottle is clogged, the overflow port 82 is located at a position higher than the mouth 38 of the bottle B, so that the processing agent accumulated in the liquid receiver 36 closes the mouth 38 of the bottle B and an air lock occurs. The outflow from the part 38 stops. But,
When cleaning is started due to some trouble, the processing liquid is pushed out by the cleaning liquid and flows out to the liquid receiver 36, but is collected from the overflow port 82 to the liquid receiver 86 through the overflow pipe 84, thereby causing contamination or floor surface. Does not pollute.

Next, the water pump 24 is driven, the solenoid valve 22 is opened, and the water tank 2 is
The water of No. 6 is passed through the nozzle 34 as a cleaning liquid, the inside of the bottle B is cleaned with the jet water, and the electromagnetic valve 22 is closed. In this embodiment, the treatment agent filled in the bottle B is described as a liquid agent, but may be a liquid agent or a solid agent.
Water as a washing liquid may also use a chemical to enhance the washing property.

As described above, the water that has washed the bottle B is supplied from the liquid receiver 36 to the replenishing tank 12 through the liquid sending pipe 40, and is used as a part of the dilution water of the treatment agent.

Next, the solenoid valve 22 is opened, and the water in the water tank 26 is injected into the replenishing tank 12 through the water supply pipe 18 as dilution water. A turbulent flow is generated in the replenishing tank 12 by the injection pressure and the flow rate. Then, the treating agent and water are uniformly stirred, and a treating solution with stable performance is obtained in the replenishing tank 12.

Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a stirring device in the replenishing tank 12, so that the device can be simply configured. Further, since the specific gravity of the water as the dilution water is smaller than that of the treatment agent, the water is injected into the lower part of the replenishing tank 12 to agitate the treatment agent while the water rises, thereby further increasing the efficiency.

On the other hand, the amount of dilution water is
Although the measurement is made with reference to 0, if the water pump 24 runs out of control for some reason, when the uppermost liquid level sensor 28 detects the liquid level, the water pump 24 is interlocked.
This can prevent water from overflowing from the replenishing tank 12.

Next, each processing tank is replenished with a processing liquid from a replenishing tank 12 as needed.

Here, immediately after the processing liquid is prepared in the replenishing tank 12, the upper liquid level sensor 30 is below the liquid level. When the replenishment starts, the liquid level drops, and when the prescribed amount A is replenished, when the processing liquid replenishment apparatus is operating normally, the upper liquid level sensor 30 detects that there is no liquid, and further, the prescribed amount B−
When the specified amount A is replenished, the lower liquid level sensor 44 detects that there is no liquid.

On the other hand, if there is an abnormality in the processing liquid replenishing device and the upper liquid level sensor 30 does not detect the absence of the liquid even if the specified amount A is replenished (when the liquid is below the liquid level), the processing liquid is put into the replenishing tank 12. Considering the appropriate amount of the treatment agent, it is determined that the amount of dilution water is not correct, and a notification of dilution water abnormality is issued.

Even if the prescribed amount B-the prescribed amount A is replenished,
When the lower liquid level sensor 44 does not detect the absence of liquid (when the liquid level is below the liquid level), it is considered that the amount of the processing agent charged into the replenishing tank 12 is appropriate, and the amount of dilution water is also appropriate. When it is determined that the replenishment amount is not correct, a report of the replenishment amount abnormality is issued.

As described above, the mechanism can be simplified by judging abnormalities in the replenishment amount and the dilution amount under certain assumptions. Note that a fixed control range (for example, ± 20%) may be provided for the specified amount A and the specified amount B.

[0062]

According to the present invention, the above configuration is provided.
In the invention described in (1), since it is only necessary to input the power frequency of the installation place, the workability at the time of installation of the apparatus is improved, and it is not necessary to arrange a sensor for monitoring the discharge amount.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the abnormality of the diluent can be determined, and in the third aspect of the present invention, the abnormality of the replenishing amount can be determined.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the dilution water from overflowing from the replenishing tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a loading section of a cardboard box of the processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a loading section of a cardboard box of the processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing the movement of a nozzle of the processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view showing the movement of a nozzle of the processing agent replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Replenishment tank 16 Replenishment pump 24 Water supply pump (water supply means) 28 Uppermost liquid level sensor (Maximum liquid level detection means) 30 Upper liquid level sensor (Upper liquid level detection means) 32 Cleaning pipe (Water supply means) 36 Liquid receiver (Receiver) Part) 40 liquid sending pipe (liquid sending means) 44 lower liquid level sensor (lower liquid level detecting means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A replenishing tank for storing a processing solution replenished in a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material; a replenishing pump for discharging the processing solution stored in the replenishing tank to the processing tank through a replenishing pipe; A receiving part into which the treating agent is loaded and
A treating agent replenishing apparatus comprising: a liquid sending unit that sends the treating agent flowing out to the receiving unit to the replenishing tank; and a water sending unit that sends a diluent to the replenishing tank. A processing agent replenishing apparatus characterized in that a discharge amount per unit time of a replenishing pump is automatically corrected by inputting a power frequency of an installation location. 2. A replenishing tank for storing a processing solution to be replenished in a processing tank for processing a photosensitive material, a replenishing pump for sending the processing solution stored in the replenishing tank to the processing tank, In a processing agent replenishing apparatus, comprising: a liquid feeding means for sending to a replenishing tank; and a water sending means for sending a diluting liquid to the replenishing tank. And, when the primary replenishment is completed, it is provided with upper liquid level detecting means positioned above the liquid level, and when the primary replenishment is completed, the upper liquid level detecting means is positioned below the liquid level,
Alternatively, the processing liquid replenishing apparatus is characterized in that when the upper liquid level detecting means is positioned on the liquid surface at a predetermined rate or more before completion of the primary replenishment, the abnormal liquid is notified of a diluent abnormality. A lower liquid level detecting means disposed below the upper liquid level detecting means and positioned above the liquid level when the secondary replenishment is completed, wherein the lower liquid level detecting means is provided when the secondary replenishment is completed. If the lower liquid level detecting means is positioned below the liquid level, or if the liquid level detecting means is positioned above the liquid level at least a predetermined percentage of the time when the secondary replenishment is completed, the replenishment amount abnormality is reported. The processing agent replenishing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is characterized in that: 4. A maximum liquid level detecting means disposed at the top of the replenishing tank and detecting a liquid level, wherein the water supply means is automatically stopped based on a signal from the maximum liquid level detecting means. The treatment agent replenishing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein