JPS62187853A - Copying machine with photosensitive material processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the necessary power consumption of all copying and developing processes by putting all heating bodies in operation during a warm-up and operating some of the heating bodies after processing liquid reaches specific temperature. CONSTITUTION:When the main switch of a copying machine is turned on, a circulation pump 47 begins to operate and two heater units 484 and 485 is a liquid temperature control tank 48 start heating operation. The developing liquid CD in the liquid temperature control tank 48 is heated rapidly with electric power from the two heater units 484 and 485 and sent in a developing tank 42. Then the temperature of the developing liquid CD is measured by a resistance thermometer 486 and when the measured temperature reaches set temperature, e.g. 39.5 deg.+ or -0.5 deg.C and a liquid temperature 'Ready' mode is entered, its signal is inputted to an input/output port 102 to perform switching to intermittent operation by only one of the heating bodies 484 and 485.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a copying machine equipped with a photosensitive material processing device for developing photographic materials such as photographic film and photographic paper. ! ! The present invention relates to a copying apparatus having a liquid heating means. [Prior art] Generally, photosensitive material path 1! ! ! The device is used to develop and then dry photographic materials that have already been photographed.When developing photographic materials such as color photographic paper, X-ray film for direct photography, and printing film, it uses a developer, It is necessary to maintain the temperature of each processing liquid, such as a fixer, at a predetermined temperature, and in particular, the temperature of a developer must be precisely controlled. Conventionally, in order to raise the processing liquid to a predetermined temperature and maintain and control the temperature, a heater is attached to the bottom of each processing tank, and the heater 71! is controlled by a signal from a temperature sensor separately provided in the processing tank. [There was no way to control the on/off of [. During the development process using the photosensitive material processing apparatus described above, it takes a considerable amount of time for the ohming-up time from the start of heating by turning on the main switch until the temperature of the liquid reaches the appropriate temperature. In particular, the temperature of the developer is important, for example 39.5°±
The temperature is raised to 0.5°C, and the temperature is then controlled at a constant temperature. Such an ohming time takes a long time, especially when there is a large temperature difference between the room temperature and the initial liquid temperature. In order to shorten l'il during this warming-up period, a high-temperature, large-capacity heater is used. Figure 1jS7 shows an example of a copying machine equipped with such a photosensitive material processing device, which includes an image exposure section 10 at the top, a paper feed section 20 at the upper right, a photosensitive material transport section 30 at the middle, and a development processing section (photosensitive material processing section) at the bottom. It consists of a material processing apparatus) 401 and a drying section 50 on the right side thereof.゛The image exposure section 10 consists of a document table plus 11, a light source 12, a first scanning mirror 13, a second scanning mirror 14, a third scanning mirror 15, a lens 16, a fourth fixed mirror 17, and a fifth fixed mirror 18. There is. A rod-shaped halogen lamp is used as the light source 12, and provides uniform exposure without uneven light distribution in the axial direction. light! 12 and a first scanning mirror 13, the document table moves parallel to the lath 11 and irradiates the document. At this time, the exposure width on the positive side of the document platen is 10 to 1
It is 5xm. Second scanning mirror 14 and third scanning mirror 1
A second scanning unit consisting of 5 is mounted on a movable table and moves in the same direction as the first scanning unit and at half the speed of movement of the first scanning unit. Further, the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit operate in synchronization with the speed at which the photosensitive material is conveyed by the conveying section 30. The above exposure scanning is almost the same as that used in known electrophotographic copying machines, but the image is reversed by the final fjs5 mirror 18,
A latent image corresponding to the original image is formed directly on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material. On the other hand, a photosensitive material such as a silver halide photographic material is formed into a roll and is housed in the manon 21. Ma〃
The knife 21 is installed at a predetermined position in the paper feed section 20 of the copying machine so that it can be worn freely. Rolled photosensitive material R inside Manon 21
is fed into the conveying section 30 through the feeding section Z2. When the roll-shaped photosensitive material R inserted into the conveying section 30 is held by the rotation pins of the two pairs of feeding rollers 31 and 32 and fed a predetermined length, cutting II is started! It is cut by E33 to form a cut sheet. This sheet-like photosensitive material S is again fed by the feeding roller 32, held between the upper and lower conveying belts 34 that are in pressure contact with each other, and is then turned approximately at right angles to the intermediate position If (at the end) of the conveying rollers 35 and 36. Image position) 37
reach. When the leading edge of the sheet-like photosensitive material S passes the imaging position 37, in response to this, the first scanning unit exposes and scans the original image on the document table plus 11 with a predetermined width, and the second scanning unit also They move synchronously, and the scanning exposure light flux from these passes through the lens 16 and is reflected by the fourth mirror 1f, f:
A latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface of the sheet-like photosensitive material S at the imaging position 37 via t&5&r 18. The sheet-like photosensitive material S that has been scanned and exposed passes through the accumulator section 38 and then through each processing tank of the development processing section 40, including a developing tank 41, a bleach-fixing tank 43, a first stabilizing tank 44, and a second stabilizing tank 45. The completed processed sheet-like photosensitive material S is then dried with hot air in the drying section 50 and is discharged outside the machine from the discharge port. [Problems to be solved by the invention] In such a photosensitive material processing apparatus, the image exposure section 1
0, the power for illumination of the light source 12 and the power for driving each scanning unit, the power for driving the withdrawal member of the paper feed section 20 and the photosensitive material transport section 30, the power for driving the transport roller in the development processing section 30, and the processing liquid. The total power of various types of power, such as the power for generating heat from the heating heater and the power for operating the hot air dryer in the drying section 50, reaches 2 to 3 KV^. Of the above power, light source 1
The power for lighting in step 2, the power for operating the hot air dryer, and the heater for heating the processing liquid are all large! The power consumption is equal to eI. In particular, in order to shorten the heating up time of the processing liquid, that is, to start copying immediately after turning on the main switch of the copying machine, a heater with a large power capacity is required for heating the processing liquid. Therefore, copy it! &The total power required for the entire installation will further increase. Therefore, when installing the copying machine, it is necessary to use two
KV^ or more is required, and general existing indoor electrical work wiring (Io
oV, 15^, 50/60Hz), special wiring had to be done for the large capacity power supply. [Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art, reduces the forming-up time of a photosensitive material processing device, and reduces the maximum power consumption of the entire copying device, thereby making it possible to At home or at the office? It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus equipped with a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of continuously copying from an IX source. A copying machine equipped with the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is provided with a plurality of heating elements as heaters for heating the processing solution for developing the photosensitive material, and when the photosensitive material processing apparatus is turned on. This system is characterized in that all the heating elements are activated, and some of the heating elements are activated after the processing liquid reaches a predetermined temperature. [Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the illustrated example. Note that the present invention is not limited to the aspects of this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying machine equipped with a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention. Regarding the reference numerals used in these drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same functional members as in FIG. 7. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1, the copying apparatus according to the present invention includes:
A copying latent image forming device consisting of an image exposure section 10 on the top stage, a paper feed section 20 on the right side, and a photosensitive material conveyance section 30, a developing processing PL section 40 below the image exposure ff 510, and a drying section on the left side thereof. 50, and a photosensitive material processing apparatus. The image exposure section 10 includes a document table having a lath 11, a light source 12, and a first
It consists of a mirror 13, an fjS2 mirror 14, a third mirror 15, a lens 16, and a shutter 19. Light source IZ and the first
A first scanning unit comprising a mirror 13 moves parallel to the document table glass 11 to expose and scan the document. The fpJ2 scanning unit consisting of a second mirror 14 and a third mirror 15 is mounted on a movable table and moves in the same direction as the first scanning unit and at half the moving speed of the first scanning unit. Further, the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit operate in synchronization with the photosensitive material conveyance speed by the photosensitive material conveyance section 30. The above exposure scanning is almost the same as that used in known electrophotographic copying machines, etc., but by using an odd number of mirrors, the image is distorted and the latent image corresponding to the original image is transferred to the photosensitive material. Formed directly on the photosensitive surface. Here, the shutter 19 is opened in synchronization with the above-mentioned exposure scanning, and is otherwise closed to prevent external light fogging from occurring on the photosensitive material. The photosensitive material used in the present invention is a photosensitive material in which a positive image is formed by exposure and development processing, and in order to obtain a high-quality copy image and a color copy image, Noshima silver rodenide photographic light-sensitive material is used.・As the silver lodenide photographic light-sensitive material, for example, an internal latent image type or other direct reversal type silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, a reversal type (reversal development type) silver lodenide photographic light-sensitive material, etc. are suitable. It is. *The support (base) of the silver lodenide photographic light-sensitive material may be opaque paper or the like or a transparent film. Further, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material may be either color or black and white. Furthermore, it is also applicable to light-sensitive materials other than the above-mentioned silver helodenide photographic light-sensitive materials. The silver halide photographic material is formed into a roll,
The machine is stored in the door 21 in a light-tight manner. This ma〃
The knife 21 is removably placed at a predetermined position in the paper feed section 20 of the copying machine. The leading end of the roll-shaped silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter referred to as roll-shaped light-sensitive material) R in the manon 21 is fed into the conveyance section 30 . Next, the conveyance state of the sheet-like photosensitive material S within the conveyance section 30 will be described in (1) to (0) below. ■The roll-shaped photosensitive material R inserted into the conveying section 30 is held by a group of conveying rollers 31, 32, 35, and 36 that press against each other and is sent upward to a predetermined length (for example, A4 size short side, 84
When the sheet (long side of A3 size, long side of A3 size, etc.) is fed, it is cut by the cutting device 33 into a cut sheet. (2) This cut sheet-shaped silver halide photographic material (hereinafter referred to as sheet-shaped photosensitive material) S is transferred to the transport roller 32.
35 and 36, and is temporarily rolled up into the upper first Achiemulator 38A. 0 Next, the sheet-like photosensitive material S is transferred to a conveying roller 36.3.
5.32, is lowered, and is housed in the fjS2 Akiemulator 38B. During this conveyance process, the sheet-like photosensitive material S is moved to the image forming position 1! of the image exposure section 10! ! (Ii
In response to this, the first scanning unit exposes and scans the document image on the document platen glass 11 with a predetermined width while the document is being conveyed and passes through the document (the dot is on the lath surface) 37, and the second scanning unit also moves in synchronization. However, the scanning exposure light flux from these is
6, a latent image is formed on the sheet-like photosensitive material S at the imaging position 37. ■The sheet-like photosensitive material S, which has been exposed and scanned, housed in the second Akiemulator 38B is transported to the transport roller 36.35.
．． 32, and is once again wound up and stored in the seventeenth accumulator 38A. (2) Continuing with the reverse rotation of the conveyance rollers 36 and 35, the sheet-like photosensitive material S begins to descend, the conveyance direction is deflected by the clockwise rotation of the claw member 39A, and the sheet-like photosensitive material S is sent to the development processing section 40 by the conveyance roller 239B. The development processing section 40 includes (1) each processing tank including a first developing tank 41, a second developing tank 42, a bleach-fixing tank 1 43, an MS1 stabilizing tank 44, and a second stabilizing tank 45; (2) each of the above processing tanks; A replenishment circulation system consisting of a replenishment pump 46, a circulation pump 4F, and a liquid temperature adjustment tank 48 having an internal heater located below; (3) a developer replenishment tank 491 and a bleach-fix solution replenishment tank 492 located further below;
It consists of a stable liquid supply tank 493 and a liquid supply/drain tank group consisting of a drain tank 494, which are housed in one frame 400. The developer tanks 41 and 42 are liquid tanks 40 containing the developer CD.
1, one outer unit 410 immersed in the liquid 401 and detachable, and two inner units 411 and 421 detachably attachable to the outer unit 410. In the outer unit 410, a drive conveyance roller for driving and conveying the sheet-like photosensitive material S, a side plate, etc. are arranged. Further, the driving conveyance roller is driven and rotated by a gear train arranged on side plates provided on both sides of the outer unit 410. On the other hand, among the two inner units) 411 and 421, the first inner unit 411 on the side closer to the inlet for the sheet-like photosensitive material S has six units that are in pressure contact with the drive conveyance roller and can be driven to rotate. A driven roller and fog exposure means are provided. The developer tank 42 of the PIS 2 is constructed by fitting an inner unit 421 into an outer unit 410 installed in the liquid tank 401 . The inner unit 421 is provided with six driven rollers that are spring-biased and press-contacted with the drive conveyance roller and can be driven to rotate, as well as an idle plate and the like. As described above, ten drive rollers are arranged at fixed positions in the first developer tank 41, the liquid WJ401 forming the second developer [42], and the outer unit 410, and a gear train for driving these rollers is provided externally. are arranged, and all driving is done externally. The inner units 411 and 421, which have a group of driven rollers and the like that are driven to rotate by these driving loaves, can be taken out from the outer unit 410. Next, the bleach-fix tank 43, the first stabilizer tank 44, the second stabilizer'W
Is I45 also a bipartite unit consisting of an inner unit and an outer unit similar to developer tanks 41 and 42? It has an IFl structure, and the liquid tank 401
The developing processing section 40 is removably attached to the inside of the J! It consists of an i-liquid replenishment circulation system. The paper feed section 20 and the transport section 3
The sheet-like photosensitive material S sent from 0 to the developer tank 41
．． 42. A developed image is formed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material S through color development and capri exposure in the next bleach-fixing process 3.
After being subjected to bleach-fixing processing in the first stabilizing tank 44 and second stabilizing tank 45, the photosensitive material S is stabilized with a washing substitute stabilizing liquid. The sheets are conveyed by a conveyor wire 52, the upper and lower surfaces of which are dried by a hot air dryer 53, and are discharged from a discharge roller 54 to a discharge tray 55 provided outside the machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a replenishment circulation system for processing solution q in a photosensitive material processing apparatus. Developer replenishment W! Developer CD1 in I491
And bleach-fix solution supply W! The bleach-fix solution OF in 492 is
The developer WI 41 passes through the replenishment pipe, the replenishment pump 46, the circulation pump 47, and the liquid temperature side 9W148.
-42oJ: V l Self-propelled fifff43 constant f
i will be replenished. Further, the developer CD in the developer tanks 41 and 42 is sucked out from the developer tank 41 by the circulation pump 47, and is mixed with the newly supplied developer CDI in the circulation pump 47, and the liquid temperature is adjusted again Wj48. It is refluxed into the developing WJ 42 through the process. Similarly, the bleach-fix solution DF in the bleach-fix tank 43 is also circulated through the circulation pump 47 and the liquid temperature rI4 adjustment tank 4B, during which time it is mixed with a new replenishing solution and refluxed into the bleach-fix 43. In this manner, the processing solutions CD and OF in the developing tanks 41, 42 and the bleach-fixing tank 43 are agitated and distributed through the above-mentioned circulation, are homogenized, and are maintained at a constant temperature. Further, a portion of the increased amount of each processing liquid replenished from the replenishment tanks 491 and 492 and supplied to the developing WJ 42 and the bleach-fixing tank 43 via the above-mentioned circulation system is transferred to an oven having an opening at a constant liquid level.
/(-7a -Ir! 412 + 432 otte hydration tank 4
941:ll5E is accepted. Furthermore, a drainage valve 413 is installed in a part of the piping of the circulation system.
, 433 are provided, and when each of the processing QCDs and BFs in the processing tanks 41, 42, and 43 are exhausted, the pulp can be picked up and each processing liquid can be discharged to the paper discharge tank 494 below. On the other hand, the stable liquid SR in the stable liquid replenishment tank 493 is directly fed into the second stabilizing tank 45 by the replenishment pump 46. Then, a part of the increased stabilizer liquid SR passes through the over 70-pipe 442 and is stored in the drain liquid [494]6 and the first stabilizer W! A draining pulp 443 is provided below I44, and can drain exhausted stabilizer liquid SR into tank 494. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48. Figure 4 (
^) is a side sectional view thereof, and Fig. 4 (El) is a sectional view thereof. The housing 480 of the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48 has a hollow cylindrical portion 480
^, a left side plate 480B and a right side plate 480C,
A supply pipe 481 for inflowing the current test liquid is fitted and fixed into the upper opening of the left side plate 4800, which is integrally welded to form an a-tight state. Further, a supply pipe 482 for outflowing the developer is fitted and fixed in the upper opening of the right side plate 480C. Further, one pipe that is fitted and fixed into the opening near the center of each of the left side plate 480B and the right side plate 480C and that penetrates the hollow circle 112 portion 480^ is a supply pipe 483 for the bleach-fix solution. The supply pipe 481 and the developer pump chamber 471 of the circulation pump 47 communicate with each other through a tube 472. Further, the supply pipe 482 and the second developing tank 42 are connected to a tube 473.
It is connected by The left end of the supply pipe 483 is connected to the bleach-fixing solution pump chamber 475 of the circulation pump 4 through the tube 4F4, and the right end of the supply pipe 483 is connected to the tube 476.
It communicates with a bleach-fix tank 43 via. Said left side plate 48081. l: Above and to the left and to the right of the provided supply ff 483, the respective ends of two U-shaped heater units 484 and 485 are fixed to the left side plate 480B. The above heater units) 484 and 485 have heating elements (heater elements) 484^ and 485^ inside,
Its outermost periphery is made of a heat-resistant and chemical-resistant material 11, such as pipe material 4848.485B made of stainless steel, formed into a U-shape. The open ends of the pipe materials 4848 and 4858 are welded and fixed to the left side plate 480B. The heating elements 484 and 485 are incandescent sheathed heaters having internal incandescent wires that are fixed in place within the sheath by thermally conductive electrical insulators. The heating elements 484^ and 485^ are each 3501
11, outputs 700W when both are used at the same time. Both ends of the heating elements 484^ and 485^ are connected to conductive wires (lead wires). This connection is covered with a chemical-resistant insulating cap material, so it is safe to use! ! No problem occurs even if liquid etc. comes into contact with it. On the other hand, a resistance thermometer 486 is detachably provided above the supply W483. The resistance thermometer 486 has a resistance temperature detector 486^ therein as a temperature detection element, and the resistance temperature detector 486^ is held in a sealed state in a straight pipe-shaped heat conductive and chemical resistant pipe material 486B. There is. A collar is formed near the open end of the pipe material 486B, and a flanged bush 4 is fixed to the left side plate 480B.
Screw into the female neck part of 87. In addition, the resistance thermometer 48
The end of the lead wire connected to 6 connects to coated conductor wire 488. Next, the operation of the copying apparatus including the liquid temperature adjustment [48] according to the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the copying apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the operation display section of the copying apparatus. This copying apparatus is configured to be controlled by a microcomputer. 101 is a microcomputer (CPU) that controls the entire copying apparatus; 102 is an input/output port;
) (rlo), 103 is an operation display section. When the main switch of the copying machine is turned on, the circulation pump 4 starts operating and the liquid temperature is adjusted W! 2 of 48
Start heating using 484 and 485 heater units. That is, the developer CD is supplied from the pump chamber 471 of the circulation pump 41 through the tube 472, through the casing 480 of the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48, through the tube 473 to the second developer tank 42, and further $1 It circulates from the bottom opening of the developer tank 41 through a tube 477 to the pump chamber 471. In this circulation process, the developer C in the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48
D is 7 due to two heater units 484 and 485.
It is rapidly heated by the electric power of 00 amps and sent to the developing tank 42. The temperature of the developer CD is determined by the resistance thermometer 4.
The temperature is measured by 86 and the set liquid temperature, for example 39.5°
When the temperature reaches ±0.5°C and the liquid temperature becomes Ready, the signal is input to the input/output boat 102, and the heating elements 484, 48
Switch to intermittent operation using only one of 5. If the liquid temperature does not become Ready within a predetermined time after powering on with the main switch, or if the liquid temperature
If the system returns to preparation mode after becoming ready, the control failure will be displayed on the LED display board 104 of the operation display section 103.
Shown below. On the other hand, bleach-fixing w1. BF passes through the tube 474 from the pump chamber 4 f5 of the circulation pump 47 to the liquid temperature rR9114.
The water passes through the supply pipe 483 of No. 8, is supplied to the bleach-fix tank 43 via a tube 476, and is further returned to the pump chamber 475 through a tube 478 from the bottom opening of the tank 43. In this circulation process, the developer C in the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48
The bleach-fix solution BF passing through the supply pipe 483 is heated by the solution temperature D. During the warming-up by the two heater units 484 and 485, no other drive except for the processing liquid circulation system is performed, so the maximum output is well within 1.5 KV^. Next, when the liquid temperature Ready signal is input, the display mark 105 within the copy button 104 is illuminated in blue, making it possible to start copying. When the copy button 104 is turned on in this state, the roller group of the development processing section 40 starts rotating, the fog exposure means also turns on, and the hot air dryer 53 of the drying section 50 also starts operating. At the same time, the light source 12 of the image exposure section 1o lights up,
The aforementioned exposure scan is started. Each transport member of the photosensitive material transport section 30 is driven in conjunction with this exposure scan. This moves the photosensitive material to the imaging area! eI, and further sent to the development processing section 40 for various processing. l! 41,42,4
3°44.45, passes through the drying section 50, and then reaches the paper output tray 5.
It is discharged at 5. During this copying operation, only one of the heater capacities 484 and 485 is intermittently operating, so the power required for the entire copying apparatus is sufficient.
It can be paid below KV. In each of the copying processes described above, the developer solution CDS and bleach-fix solution BF are consumed and the amount of 11 in each processing tank 41, 42, 43 is reduced, and each processing solution becomes exhausted, so new processing solution is supplied less [491, It is necessary to replenish the quantity from 492. These new replenishment liquids are sent to each pump chamber 471, 475 of the circulation pump 48 by the replenishment pump 46,
Furthermore, adjust the liquid temperature! It flows into fI48. Due to the inflow of this new replenishing liquid, the temperature of the developer CD in the liquid temperature adjustment tank 48 is lowered. This drop in liquid temperature is measured by a resistance thermometer 486, and this input signal causes the heater unit 48
Only one of 4.485 is turned on and heating is restarted. Thereafter, the intermittent operation of heating and stopping is repeated, but even if the power required for heating, for example 350 -, and the power required for the copying process overlap, the power limit is 1.5 KV^ or less.

【Effect of the invention】

As explained in detail above, the copying machine and machine equipped with the photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention incorporates a plurality of heater units in the liquid temperature control tank and increases the heater capacity to achieve rapid heating. Reduce pump-up time,
In addition to reducing the waiting time to start copying, the heater capacity is reduced after warming up, reducing the power required for the entire copying and developing process. , it can be installed and copied anywhere.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a copying machine equipped with a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a processing liquid replenishment circulation system of the processing apparatus, Figs. Figure (B) is a perspective view, a side cross section, and a side cross section of the liquid temperature adjustment tank in the replenishment circulation system, respectively
5 is a control block diagram of the copying apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the scanning bearing section of the copying apparatus. Figure fjS7 is a block diagram of a conventional copy vc storage. 40...Development processing section 41.42...Developer tank 43
...Bleach-fix tank 46...Replenishment pump 47...
Circulation pump 48...Liquid temperature adjustment tank 480...Housing 481.482...Developer supply pipe 483
...Free-running M liquid supply pipe 484,485...Heater unit 486...Resistance thermometer 101...Microcomputer 103...Operation display section CD...Developer solution [IF/
・Bleach-fix solution

Claims (1)

[Claims] As a heater for heating the processing solution used to develop photosensitive materials.
A feature of the present invention is that a plurality of heating elements are provided, and all of the heating elements are activated when the photosensitive material processing equipment is warmed up, and some of the heating elements are activated after the processing liquid reaches a predetermined temperature. A copying machine having a photosensitive material processing device.