JP2003241322A - Detector cleaning mechanism in photographic processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a detector cleaning mechanism in a photographic processing apparatus that can easily and easily clean a detection unit of a detector without disassembling a transport device or the like. SOLUTION: In a photographic processing apparatus in which an optical detector is mounted on an apparatus main body and various operations are detected by the detector, a gas supply path is provided in the apparatus main body, and a connecting pipe is connected to the gas supply path. And an air pump connected via the gas supply port, and a gas outlet of the gas supply path is opened toward the detector of the detector, so that the detector of the detector is cleaned by gas blown from the gas outlet. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning mechanism for cleaning an optical detector mounted on a main body of a photographic processing apparatus mainly for printing an image on a printing paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a photographic processing apparatus for printing an image on photographic paper includes, for example, a conveying device for conveying the photographic paper, a printing processing device for printing the image on the printing paper, and a printing processing device. A developing processing device for developing the printing paper on which the image is printed, and after printing the image on the printing paper transported by the transporting device by the printing processing device, the printing paper is further processed on the developing processing device. I finish the print by developing it.

The above-described photographic processing apparatus is provided with an optical detector composed of a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor in order to grasp the carrying state of the printing paper carried by the carrying apparatus to the printing processing apparatus. The detector is installed on the conveying path of the conveying device, the detector detects the passage of photographic paper, etc., and the control device controls the operation timing of various components based on the detection signal.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned processing apparatus, paper dust or the like generated from the photographic paper conveyed during continuous operation constitutes the detector of the detector, specifically, the detector. It may adhere to the light emitting surface of the light emitting sensor or the light receiving surface of the light receiving sensor, and if paper dust is left on it, the sensitivity of the detector will decrease and accurate detection will not be possible. There is.

Therefore, conventionally, the operator cleans the detector by periodically blowing air on the detecting portion of the detector using an air spray can or the like. Often, the detector is mounted in a recessed position inside the main unit,
For example, even if a gas spray can is used to blow gas, the outlet of the spray can does not reach the detection part of the detector, and the detection part of the detector cannot be cleaned in many cases.

In such a case, it is the current practice to remove the detector unit of the detector after removing the unit of the conveyer unit from the main body of the apparatus or disassembling a part of the equipment constituting the conveyer device. However, it is needless to say that only a trained operator can remove or disassemble the unit, and it takes time and time for cleaning as a whole.

The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily and easily clean the detecting portion of the detector without disassembling the conveying device or the like. It is a point to provide a cleaning mechanism for the detector in the photographic processing apparatus that can be used.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 mounts an optical detector on the main body of the apparatus and detects various operations by this detector. A cleaning mechanism for the detector in a photographic processing device, wherein a gas supply passage is provided in the main body of the device, and a gas outlet of the gas supply passage is opened toward the detecting portion of the detector and blown out from the gas outlet. The gas is used to clean the detection part of the detector.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the gas supply means according to claim 1 is connected to a gas supply means.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the gas supply means according to claim 2 can be automatically operated.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 schematically shows a photographic processing device equipped with a cleaning mechanism for a detector according to the present invention. Conveying device 2 for conveying the photographic printing paper P delivered from the reading device 10 and the paper magazine 20, the conveying device 2
A printing processing device 3 for printing an image on the printing paper P conveyed by exposure, a developing processing device 4 for developing the printing paper P on which the image is printed by the printing processing device 3, and a developed printing paper. Drying processing device 5 for drying P, and each of these component devices 10, 2,
A control device 6 for mainly controlling 3, 4, and 5 is mounted.

The image reading apparatus 10 includes a lamp housing 11 containing a light source composed of a halogen lamp, a film mask 12 for setting a developed film, and a CCD.
A scanner (not shown) including a (Charge Coupled Device) is provided, and when scanning the image of the film, the developed film set on the film mask 12 is irradiated with the light of the halogen lamp in the lamp housing 11. Then, the image of the film is read by the scanner.

The carrying device 2 is provided with a first carrying unit 2a provided between the paper magazine 20 and the printing processing device 3 and a second carrying unit provided in the exposure section of the printing processing device 3.
The transport unit 2b and the third unit 2c disposed between the printing processing apparatus 3 and the developing processing apparatus 4 are provided. Each of the transport units 2a to 2c includes a driving roller 21 and a pressure roller 22. A plurality of conveying roller pairs 2
3 is installed.

The printing processing apparatus 3 is provided with a laser exposure apparatus 30 for performing line exposure with a laser beam on the photosensitive surface of the photographic printing paper P being conveyed, and a laser exposure apparatus for a digital image processed based on digital data. By 30, the photographic printing paper P conveyed by the second conveying unit 2b is digitally exposed.

The development processing device 4 includes a plurality of processing liquid tanks 41.
And a transport device 42 for transporting the printing paper P, and the processing bath 41 stores various processing liquids such as a developing liquid.

The drying processing apparatus 5 includes a drying processing chamber 51, a heater 52 for generating hot air for drying the printing paper P in the drying processing chamber 51, and a carrying device 53 for carrying the printing paper P. Is provided and the photographic printing paper P transported by the transport device 53 in the drying processing chamber 51 is dried by the warm air from the heater 52.

On the other hand, the second transport unit 2b has a transport path 25 of the second transport unit 2b in addition to the transport roller pair 23 composed of the drive roller 21 and the pressure contact roller 22 which is in pressure contact with the drive roller 21, as described above. Photographic paper P
Two sets of detectors 7 for detecting passage of the laser beam are mounted, and the operation timing of the second transport unit 2b or the laser exposure device 30 is controlled based on the signals output from these detectors 7. It is controlled by the device 6.

The detector 7 is a luminescence sensor 7 that emits light.
1 and a light receiving sensor 72 that receives the light emitted from the light emitting sensor 71.
The light receiving sensor 72 is disposed in an opposed manner on the inlet side and the outlet side of the transport path 25 in the second transport unit 2b with the transport path 25 interposed therebetween.

Specifically, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting sensor 71 is mounted on a cast support block 27 which constitutes the machine body 26 of the second carrying unit 2b, and the light receiving sensor 72 is provided on the second carrying unit. The unit 2b is attached to a support plate 28 made of a metal plate that constitutes a machine body 26 of the unit 2b.

In the above-described photographic processing apparatus, in the embodiment shown in the figure, the gas supply passages 8a and 8b are provided in the machine body 26 of the second transport unit 2b, and the gas supply passage 8a is provided.
The gas outlet of 8b is opened toward the detector of the detector 7, and the detector of the detector 7 is cleaned by the gas blown from the gas outlets of the gas supply paths 8a and 8b. .

Specifically, the downstream side opening end of the support block 27 constituting the machine body 26 forms a gas supply passage 8a which opens to the side of the light emitting surface 71a of the light emitting sensor 71.

Further, the support plate 28 which constitutes the machine body 26,
As shown in FIG. 3, a plate piece 82 having a cross-section hat type having a semi-cylindrical portion 81 is fixed, and the semi-cylindrical portion 81 of the plate piece 82 and the support plate 28 form a gas supply passage 8b. In addition, the light receiving sensor 72 is provided on the downstream side of the gas supply path 8b.
A nozzle 83 whose end opens toward the light-receiving surface 72a of the light-receiving sensor 72, and air is received from the light-receiving sensor 72 through the tip of the nozzle 83. The surface 72a is sprayed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gas supply passage 8
As a gas supply means for supplying a gas to a.8b,
The electric air pump 80 is installed in the device body 1,
The air discharge port of the air pump 80 and the upstream opening of the gas supply passages 8a and 8b are connected by a communication pipe 84 separately prepared, and the air discharged from the air pump 80 is connected to the communication pipe 84 and the gas. The light is emitted onto the light emitting surface 71a of the light emitting sensor 71 and the light receiving surface 72a of the light receiving sensor 72 via the supply paths 8a and 8b.

Further, the drive of the air pump 80 is controlled by the control device 6, and in the embodiment, the air pump 80 is automatically controlled by the control device 6 at the start and end of the operation of the photo processor. The pump 80 is driven for a fixed time (for example, 10 seconds).

The photographic processing apparatus described above is used in the film mask 1
The image of the developed film set in 2 is read by the scanner, and the image read by the scanner is exposed by the laser exposure device 30 of the printing processing device 3 onto the photographic paper P conveyed by the conveyance device 2.

The photographic printing paper P which has undergone the image printing process is
The processing solution tank 4 of the development processing apparatus 4 is sent to the development processing apparatus 4.
At 1, the development, bleach-fixing, and stabilization processes are sequentially performed, and then the drying process is performed by the drying device 5 to complete the print.

By the way, in the above photographic processing apparatus, the air pump 80 is automatically driven for a certain period of time under the control of the controller 3 at the start of the photographic processing operation and at the end of the photographic processing operation, and the air pump 80 discharges the air. The air is
It is sprayed onto the light emitting surface 71a of the light emitting sensor 7 and the light receiving surface 72a of the light receiving sensor 72 through the communication pipe 84 and the gas supply paths 8a and 8b. Along with this, the light emitting surface 71a of the light emitting sensor 7 and the light receiving sensor 72 are sprayed. The light receiving surface 72a is automatically cleaned, and the paper dust and the like adhering to the light emitting surface 71a to the light receiving surface 72a is removed by the air. In the above embodiment, the electric air pump 80 is mounted and controlled. By controlling the device 3, the air pump 80 is automatically driven for a certain period of time, and the gas supply passage 8a
Although air is blown to the light emitting surface 71a of the light emitting sensor 7 and the light receiving surface 72a of the light receiving sensor 72 via 8b, the present invention is not limited to this, and a manual air pump may be used as a work port in the apparatus body 1. Installed in the vicinity, the discharge port of this air pump and the gas supply paths 8a and 8
The upstream opening of b may be connected by a communication pipe 84, and the operator may manually operate the air pump.

In the above embodiment, the luminescence sensor 7 is used.
Although the detector 7 configured by 1 and the light receiving sensor 72 is used, the detector is not limited to this, and a detector configured by, for example, a CCD image sensor may be used.

In the above embodiment, the support block 2
7 by making a hole in the support block 27 itself
While forming a, a plate piece 82 having a hat-shaped cross section is fixed to the support plate 28, and the semi-cylindrical portion 81 of the plate piece 82 and the support plate 28 form the gas supply passage 8b. ,
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, a separately prepared vinyl pipe may be provided along the side surface of the machine body 26,
You may make it utilize this pipe as a gas supply path.

In the above embodiment, air is used as the cleaning gas, but the gas is not limited to this, and a gas other than air may be used.

In the above embodiment, the detector 7 mounted on the second transport unit 2b is cleaned. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other detections mounted on the photographic processing apparatus are performed. You may make it clean the container.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the gas supply passage is provided in the main body of the apparatus in which the optical detector is mounted, and the gas outlet of the gas supply passage is the detector of the detector. The gas is blown out from the gas outlet to clean the detection part of the detector.By simply blowing a gas such as air into the gas supply passage, the gas is supplied through the gas supply passage. Since the detection portion of the detector can be cleaned, the detection portion of the detector can be easily and easily cleaned without disassembling the transport device and the like as in the conventional case.

According to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
By connecting the gas supply means to the gas supply passage according to claim 1, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the gas is directly supplied to the gas supply passage through the gas supply means, and the detector of the detector is detected. Can be cleaned more reliably.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the gas supply means according to the second aspect can be automatically operated, and in addition to the effect of the invention according to the second aspect, the detector The detector can be cleaned automatically.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a photographic processing apparatus equipped with a detector cleaning mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a cleaning mechanism for a detector according to the present invention.

3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 device body 2 Conveyor 2b Second transport unit 3 Baking equipment 6 control device 7 detector 71 luminescence sensor 72 Light receiving sensor 8a / 8b gas supply path 80 Air pump (gas supply means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cleaning mechanism for a detector in a photographic processing device, wherein an optical detector is mounted on the main body of the device and various operations are detected by the detector, and a gas supply path is provided in the main body of the device. A photograph characterized in that the gas outlet of the gas supply passage is opened toward the detector of the detector and the detector blows out from the gas outlet to clean the detector of the detector. Cleaning mechanism for detectors in processing equipment. 2. A cleaning mechanism for a detector in a photographic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gas supply means is connected to the gas supply path. 3. A cleaning mechanism for a detector in a photographic processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gas supply means can be automatically operated.