An automatic developing apparatus

Abstract: An automatic developing apparatus is proposed to satisfactorily transport a film by preventing a treatment liquid 1 from being passed up onto gears and the like located above the surface of the treatment liquid 1 and to restrain the treatment liquid from being oxidized and decreasing in its quantity. A cylindrical shaft 21 having an axis of rotation extending normal to a liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface L in order to transmit a torque from the above of the liquid surface L to the below of the liquid surface L via the shaft 21. Since the shaft 21 is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L, the treatment liquid 1 in contact with the shaft 21 is left in contact therewith at a specified height position, thereby eliminating a likelihood that the treatment liquid is passed up onto bevel gears 23, 15, etc. located above the liquid surface L via the shaft 21. Further, the rotation of the shaft about its axis of rotation does not cause the treatment liquid 1 near the liquid surface L to be scooped up. This restrains the treatment liquid 1 from being reacted and mixed with air.

Description: The present invention relates to an automatic developing apparatus in which a film transport unit provided with film transport rollers is sunk in a treatment tank containing treatment liquid used for the development of a film or like photosensitive material to immerse the film in the treatment liquid to develop it and particularly to an automatic developing apparatus in which a torque is transmitted from the outside of the treatment tank to the film transport rollers via the liquid surface in the treatment tank. Known automatic developing apparatuses include a plurality of treatment tanks 52 for containing treatment liquids 51 which are liquid agents such as developer, bleaching liquid and fixer, for example, as shown in FIG. 4. Transport units (hereinafter, "rack") 53 provided with a plurality of transport rollers for transporting a photosensitive material such as a film are sunk in the respective treatment tanks 52, so that the film can be developed by being immersed in the respective treatment liquids 51 while being transported in the respective treatment tanks 52. The film developed by being passed through the respective treatment tanks 52 is then transported to an unillustrated drying assembly to be dried and discharged from the apparatus. The aforementioned plurality of transport rollers of the rack 53 include a pair of feed rollers 54a, 54b, large-diameter rollers 55a, 55b, 55c, ..., first small-diameter rollers 56a, 56b, 56c, ..., second small-diameter rollers 57a, 57b, 57c, ... and reverse rollers (not shown). These rollers are so provided that the axis of rotations thereof all extend along the widthwise direction of the film. The reverse rollers are provided at the bottom end of the rack 53 without being held in contact with any other roller, and a transport direction of the film being transported is reversed by being guided by the circumferential surfaces of the The feed rollers 54a, 54b are adapted to introduce the film into the treatment tank 52 and are so arranged near a film inlet as to face each other. The large-diameter roller 55a is provided in an inner upper portion of the rack 53 such that a portion of its circumferential surface crosses liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 51 in the treatment tank 52. The large-diameter rollers 55b, 55c, ... are provided in this order in downward direction from the large-diameter roller 55a so that intervals between the successive rollers (including an interval between the large-diameter rollers 55a and 55b) are substantially equal, and are completely immersed in the treatment liquid 51. The first small-diameter rollers 56a, 56b, 56c, ... are provided to face the large-diameter rollers 55a, 55b, 55c, ... so that the film introduced by the pair of feed rollers 54a, 54b can be transported by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter and small-diameter rollers while being tightly held. The second small-diameter rollers 57a, 57b, 57c ... are provided to face the large-diameter rollers 55a, 55b, 55c, ... at the side opposite from the first small-diameter rollers 56a, 56b, 56c, ... so that the film having its transport direction reversed by the reverse rollers can be transported by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter and small-diameter rollers while being tightly held. A torque to be given to these transport rollers is transmitted from a drive source (not shown) outside the treatment tank 52 via gears and spur gears provided in the treatment tank 52. Hereinafter, the principle of rotating the respective transport rollers is described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The large-diameter rollers 55a, 55b, 55c, ..., the first small-diameter rollers 56a, 56b, 56c, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 57a, 57b, 57c, ... shown in FIG. 4 are connected with first spur gears 65a, 65b, 65c, ..., second spur gears 66a, 66b, 66c, ... and third spur gears 67a, 67b, 67c, ... while sharing the same rotatable shafts. The first spur gears 65a, 65b, 65c ... are in mesh with the second spur gears 66a, 66b, 66c ... and also with the third spur gears 67a, 67b, 67c ..., respectively. At this time, the first spur gear 65a integrally provided with the large-diameter roller 55a is, similar to the large-diameter roller 55a, provided such that a portion of the teeth portion on its circumferential surface crosses the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 51 in the treatment tank 52 when the rack 53 is set in the treatment tank 52. Further, the reverse rollers are connected with the first spur gear located in a bottommost position in the rack 53 while sharing the same rotatable shaft. Fourth spur gears 68a, 68b, 68c ... are provided between the first spur gears 65a and 65b, between the first spur gears 65b and 65c, ... such that each is in mesh with the corresponding pair of the first spur gears. The first spur gear 65a located in an uppermost position in the rack 53 is in mesh with a fifth spur gear 70 provided coaxially with a gear 69, to which a torque is transmitted from the drive source, at a side opposite from an engaging portion with the fourth spur gear 68a. It is noted that spur gears provided coaxially with the feed rollers 54a, 54b (see FIG. 4) are not illustrated. However, the torque from the drive source is transmitted to the feed rollers 54a, 54b at least via, e.g. the fifth spur gear 70 so that the feed rollers 54a, 54b are rotated to introduce the film between the large-diameter roller 55a and the first small-diameter roller 56a. By the above construction, if the torque from the drive source is given to simultaneously rotate the gear 69 and the fifth spur gear 70 in, e.g. a direction E of FIG. 5, the first spur gear 65a in mesh with the fifth spur gear 70 is rotated in a direction F which is opposite from the direction E, and the second spur gear 66a, the third spur gear 67a and the fourth spur gear 68a which are in mesh with the fifth spur gear 65a are rotated in the direction E. The first spur gear 65b in mesh with the fourth spur gear 68a is rotated in the direction F by the rotation of the fourth spur gear 68a in the direction E, with the result that the second spur gear 66b, the third spur gear 67b and the fourth spur gear 68b which are in mesh with the first spur gear 65b are rotated in the direction E. Thereafter, the large-diameter rollers 55a, 55b, 55c, ... provided coaxially with the first spur gears 65a, 65b, 65c, ... are all rotated in the direction F by the rotation of all the first spur gears 65a, 65b, 65c, ... in the direction F. On the other hand, the first small-diameter rollers 56a, 56b, 56c, ... and the second small diameter rollers 57a, 57b, 57c, ... are all rotated in the direction E by the rotation of all the second spur gears 66a, 66b, 66c, ... and all the third spur gears 67a, 67b, 67c, ... in the direction E. Accordingly, in FIG. 4, the film having passed through the film inlet (not shown) and passed between the feed rollers 54a, 54b is transported to a lower side while being successively passing between the large-diameter roller 55a and the first small diameter roller 56a, between the large-diameter roller 55b and the first small-diameter roller 56b, ... by the rotation of the large-diameter rollers 55 and the first small-diameter rollers 56. After having the transport direction thereof reversed by the reverse rollers, the film is transported upward from the lower side while passing between the corresponding pairs of the large-diameter roller 55 and the second small-diameter rollers 57 by the rotation of the large-diameter rollers 55 and the second small-diameter rollers 57. Thereafter, the film is transported to the next treatment tank 52 while passing between the large-diameter roller 55a and the second small-diameter roller 57a. In other words, the film passes along a film transport path indicated by P in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a section along A-A of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 6, slit-shaped outlets 58 are formed in positions corresponding to the film transport path inside the rack 53 and the treatment liquid 51 is admitted into the treatment tank 52 through the outlets 58. In the conventional construction, a part of the irregularity on the circumferential surface of the first spur gear 65a having an axis of rotation extending in parallel with the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 51 crosses the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 51 in the treatment tank 52. Accordingly, while the first spur gear 65a is rotated, the treatment liquid 51 is scooped up by the teeth (projections) of the first spur gear 65a and, therefore, either 1 ○ directly deposits on the teeth or 2 ○ falls after being scooped up, thereby being mixed with the treatment liquid 51 in the treatment tank 52. Here, in the case 1 ○, the scooped treatment liquid 51 is also passed onto the second spur gear 66a, the third spur gear 67a and the fifth spur gear 70 in mesh with the third spur gear 65a and is solidified on the circumferential surfaces of these spur gears. This results in loads acting on the torque transmission from the drive source and an unsatisfactory torque transmission, thereby hindering the film transport. On the other hand, in the case 2 ○, since the treatment liquid 51 is frequently brought into contact with air by being scooped up, the oxydation of the treatment liquid 51 is promoted, thereby reducing a function as the treatment liquid 51, and the evaporation thereof increases, thereby decreasing an amount of the treatment liquid 51 which is predetermined in accordance with specifications cannnot be ensured. US-A-5 134 430 relates to a conveyor rack for conveying photosensitive material within a submerged treatment area such as a developing tank, wherein the conveying rollers below the liquid surface are driven by a worm gear mechanism, comprising a single main driving shaft mounted with a number of bevel gears with which a worm gear attached on the driven shaft of each roller is meshed. EP-A- 0 622 676, GB 962 798 A, EP-A-0 608 859 and GB-953 584 A relate to roller conveyor units comprising a plurality of vertically spaced sets of rollers for feeding film or the like along a prescribed path through a processing tank, the rollers are rotatably arranged in a mounting receivable in said tanks, a vertically disposed common drive spinner for driving the rollers of all the sets, and individual take-off gearing for each set for driving the rollers of that set from the spindle. It is the object of the present invention to provide an automatic developing apparatus, which is able to transmit easily torque to a plurality of transport rollers This object is fulfilled by an automatic developing apparatus having the features disclosed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent subclaims. The invention is directed to an automatic developing apparatus comprising a treatment tank for containing a treatment liquid used to develop a photosensitive material, and a transport unit comprising a plurality of sets of transport rollers for transporting the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material is developed by sinking the transport unit in the treatment tank to thereby immerse the photosensitive material in the treatment liquid, comprising: a torque transmitting means for transmitting a torque from the outside of the treatment tank to the respective sets of transport rollers below a liquid surface in the treatment tank, and a gear mechanism for driving the sets of transport rollers below the liquid surface , wherein the torque transmitting means further comprises a shaft-shaped transmitting portion having an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface, wherein the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface, whereas the remaining portion of the torque transmitting means is so arranged as not to cross the liquid surface, characterized in that said transmitting portion is in engagement with a second shaft below the liquid surface via meshed two gears, the axis of rotation of one gear being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the other gear, and that torque is transmitted from said second shaft via a system of gears to a further plurality of shafts, below the liquid surface, said system of gears each having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axes of the further plurality of shafts. With this construction, the torque given from the outside of the treatment tank is transmitted to the respective transport rollers of the transport unit sunk in the treatment tank, thereby driving the respective transport rollers to transport the photosensitive material in the treatment tank. The torque transmitting means is comprised of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion which has the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface and is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface, and the remaining portion which is so arranged as not to cross the liquid surface. The torque is transmitted from the above of the liquid surface to the below of the liquid surface via the shaft-shaped transmitting portion. In other words, in the above construction, only the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is in contact with the liquid surface of the treatment liquid, but the portion other than the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is out of contact with the liquid surface. Here, since the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface, the treatment liquid in contact therewith is left in contact with this transmitting portion at a specified height position. Accordingly, the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion does not cause the treatment liquid to be passed onto the torque transmitting means located above the liquid surface via the shaft-shaped transmitting portion. Therefore, unlike the prior art, there is no likelihood that the drive of the torque transmitting means is hindered by the solidification of the treatment liquid thereon. Thus, according to the above construction, the torque can be smoothly transmitted from the outside of the treatment tank to the respective transport rollers via the liquid surface of the treatment liquid without creating superfluous loads, with the result that the photosensitive material can be satisfactorily transported. Further, since the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface, the treatment liquid near the liquid surface will not be scooped up during the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion unlike the prior art. This securely restrains the reaction of the treatment liquid with air to a larger degree than the prior art and, as a result, considerably restrains the oxidation and evaporation of the treatment liquid. Therefore, according to the above construction, a reduction in the function of the treatment liquid and a decrease in the quantity of the treatment liquid can be securely suppressed and, as a result, a satisfactory development in accordance with the specifications of the treatment liquid can be performed. Preferably, the shaft-shaped transmitting portion has a cylindrical shape. By making the shaft-shaped transmitting portion cylindrical, the cross section thereof in the liquid surface of the treatment liquid does not change regardless of whether it is stationary or in rotation. Accordingly, as compared to a case where the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is in the shape of, e.g. a rectangular prism, the liquid surface is unlikely to be rippled and, as a result, there is little likelihood that the treatment liquid is mixed with air by the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion. Therefore, in the case that the shaft-shaped transmitting portion has a cylindrical shape, the oxidation and evaporation of the treatment liquid can be considerably slowed down as compared to a case where it has any other shape. As a result, the treatment liquid can be used for a longer period of time while avoiding a reduction in its quality. Preferably, the torque transmitting means further comprises a first rotatable shaft above the liquid surface and at least one second rotatable shaft below the liquid surface, the first and second shafts extending in parallel with the liquid surface and each being connected to the shaft-shaped transmitting portion by torque transmission gears. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a section along A-A of FIG. 2 showing the schematic inner construction of a rack of an automatic developing apparatus according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a section showing an arrangement of transport rollers provided in the rack, and a film transport path, FIG. 3 is a section showing an arrangement of gears and shafts provided coaxially with the respective transport rollers in the rack, FIG. 4 is a section showing an arrangement of transport rollers and a film transport path provided in a rack of a prior art automatic developing apparatus, FIG. 5 is a section showing an arrangement of gears and shafts provided coaxially with the respective transport rollers in the rack of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a section along A-A of FIG. 4 showing the schematic inner construction of the rack of the prior art automatic developing apparatus. One embodiment of the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. An automatic developing apparatus according to the invention is provided with a treatment tank 2 for containing treatment liquid 1 used for developing a film or like photosensitive material, and a rack 3 (transport unit) including a plurality of transport rollers for transporting the film. The rack 3 is sunk in the treatment tank 2 to immerse the film in the treatment liquid 1, thereby developing the film. The rack 3 includes a first transport path W1 for transmitting a film having a width of 24 mm in accordance with the APS (advanced photo system), a second transport path W2 for transporting a so-called 135 size film having a width of 35 mm and the aforementioned plurality of transport rollers for the respective treatment paths. The first and second transport paths W1, W2 run parallel to each other, so that two kinds of films having different widths can be simultaneously transported for development. Hereinafter, the respective transport rollers provided in the respective transport paths are described. As shown in FIG. 2, the rack 3 include large-diameter rollers 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, ... and first small-diameter rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, ... and second small-diameter rollers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, ... as transport rollers corresponding to the first transport path W1 shown in FIG. 1, and an unillustrated pair of feed rollers and unillustrated reverse rollers. The respective rollers are all provided so that their axes of rotation extend along the widthwise direction of the film and in parallel with liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1. The pair of feed rollers are adapted to introduce the film into the treatment tank 2, and are so arranged as to face each other near an unillustrated film inlet of the rack 3. On the other hand, the reverse rollers are provided at the bottom end of the rack 3 without being held in contact with any other roller, and a transport direction of the film being transported is reversed by being guided by the circumferential surfaces of the reverse rollers. The large-diameter roller 4a is provided in an upper position inside the rack 3 so that the circumferential surface thereof is not brought into contact with the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 in the treatment tank 2 by its rotation even if the rack 3 is set in the treatment tank 2. The large-diameter rollers 4b, 4c, 4d ... are provided in this order in downward direction from the large-diameter roller 4a so that intervals between the successive rollers (excluding an interval between the large-diameter rollers 4a and 4b) are substantially equal, and are completely immersed in the treatment liquid 1. The first small-diameter rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, ... are so provided as to face the large-diameters 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, ... so as to transport the film introduced by the pair of feed rollers by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter and small-diameter rollers while tightly holding the film. The second small-diameter rollers 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d ... are provided to face the large-diameter rollers 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d ... at the side opposite from the first small-diameter rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d ... so that the film having its transport direction reversed by the reverse rollers can be transported by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter and small-diameter rollers while being tightly held. As shown in FIG. 2, the rack 3 also includes large-diameter rollers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, ..., first small-diameter rollers 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, ... and second small-diameter rollers 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, ... as transport rollers corresponding to the second transport path W2 shown in FIG. 1, and an unillustrated pair of feed rollers and unillustrated reverse rollers. The large-diameter rollers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, ... and the large-diameter rollers 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, ... share rotatable shafts 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d (see FIG. 1), respectively. Further, the first small-diameter rollers 8a, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 9a, ... are provided coaxially with the first small-diameter rollers 5a, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 9a, ..., respectively. Likewise, the pair of feed rollers and the reverse rollers provided in the second transport path W2 are provided coaxially with the pair of feed rollers and the reverse roller provided in the first transport path W2, respectively. Therefore, the large-diameter rollers 7a, ... and the first small-diameter rollers 8a, ... are arranged to face each other, respectively so as to transport the film introduced to the pair of feed rollers by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter rollers and the small-diameter rollers while tightly holding it. Further, the large-diameter rollers 7a, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 9a, ... are provided to face each other, respectively at the opposite side from the first small-diameter rollers 8a, ...so as to transport the film having its transport direction reversed by the reverse roller by the rotation of the respective pairs of the large-diameter rollers 7a, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 9a, ... while tightly holding it. Next, a mechanism of the automatic developing apparatus for transmitting a torque from a drive source (not shown) outside the treatment tank 2 to the respective transport rollers is described below. As shown in FIG. 1, in the rack 3, a shaft 11 having an axis of rotation extending in parallel with the rotatable shaft 30a of the large-diameter rollers 4a, 7a is provided above the large-diameter rollers 4a, 7a. A gear 12 coaxially rotatable with the shaft 11 by the torque from the drive source is secured to one end of the shaft 11. At an end of the rotatable shaft 30a opposite from the large-diameter roller 4a with respect to the large-diameter roller 7a, a first spur gear 13 is provided coaxially with the rollers 7a, 4a. This first spur gear 13 is in mesh with a second spur gear 14 which is coaxial with the shaft 11 and is secured in a position more inward than the gear 12 inside the rack 3. On the other hand, a bevel gear 15 is provided coaxially with the rollers 4a, 7a at a side of the rotatable shaft 30a opposite from the first spur gear 13. The first spur gear 13 and the bevel gear 15 are provided above the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 so as not to scoop up the treatment liquid 1 by being brought into contact with the treatment liquid 1 in the treatment tank 1 while being rotated. At a side of the rotatable shaft 30b of the large-diameter rollers 4b, 7b provided below the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1, a bevel gear 16 is provided coaxially with these rollers 4b, 7b opposite from the large-diameter roller 7b with respect to the large-diameter roller 4b. At sides of the rotatable shafts 30c, 30d, ... opposite from the large-diameter rollers 7c, 7d, ... with respect to the large-diameter rollers 4c, 4d, ..., third spur gears 17c, 17d, ... are provided coaxially with these rollers. Between the bevel gear 16 and the third spur gear 17c, and between the third spur gears 17c, 17d, ..., fourth spur gears 18b, 18c, 18d, ... are provided in mesh with the corresponding ones of the gears 16, 17c, 17d, ..., respectively. At sides of the respective rotatable shafts of the first small-diameter rollers 5b, 5c, 5d, ... shown in FIG. 2 opposite from the first small-diameter rollers 8b, 8c, 8d, ... with respect to the first small diameter rollers 5b, 5c, 5d, ..., fifth spur gears 19b, 19c, 19d, ... sharing the same rotatable shafts with these rollers are provided as shown in FIG. 3. The fifth spur gears 19b, 19c, 19d, ... are so provided as to be in mesh with the bevel gear 16, the third spur gears 17c, 17d, ... in this order, respectively. At sides of the respective rotatable shafts of the second small-diameter rollers 6b, 6c, 6d, ... shown in FIG. 2 opposite from the seond small-diameter rollers 9b, 9c, 9d, ... with respect to the first small diameter rollers 6b, 6c, 6d, ..., sixth spur gears 20b, 20c, 20d, ... sharing the same rotatable shafts with these rollers are provided, likewise, as shown in FIG. 3. The sixth spur gears 20b, 20c, 20d, ... are so provided as to be in mesh with the bevel gear 16, the third spur gears 17c, 17d, ... in this order at the opposite side from the fifth spur gears 19b, 19c, 19d, respectively. At a side of the rotatable shaft of the first small-diameter roller 5a opposite from the first small-diameter roller 8a with respect to the first small-diameter roller 5a and at a side of the rotatable shaft of the second small-diameter roller 6a opposite from the second small-diameter roller 9a with respect to the second small-diameter 6a, there are provided unillustrated spur gears which share the same rotatable shafts with the respective rollers and are in mesh with the bevel gear 16. Spur gears provided coaxially with the pair of feed rollers are not illustrated. However, the torque from the drive source is transmitted to the feed rollers at least via, e.g. the second spur gear 14 so that the respective feed rollers can introduce the film between the large-diameter roller 4a (7a) and the first small-diameter roller 5a (8a) by their rotation. Further, the respective reverse rollers are connected with the third spur gear located in a bottommost position in the rack 3 while sharing the same rotatable shaft therewith. Next, the shaft drive, which is a feature of the invention, is described below. In this embodiment, a torque is transmitted from the bevel gear 15 to the bevel gear 16 via the liquid surface L by means of a shaft having an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rack 3 is provided with a cylindrical shaft 21 (shaft-shaped transmitting portion) having an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1. This shaft 21 is made of metal such as SUS (stainless steel) 316 or resin which is unlikely to be oxidized by the treatment liquid 21, and is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 and supported by a shaft supporting member 22. A bevel gear 23 is secured coaxially with the shaft 21 in a position of the shaft 21 above the liquid surface L, whereas a bevel gear 24 is secured coaxially with the shaft 21 in a position of the shaft 21 below the liquid surface L. The bevel gear 23 is in mesh with an upper teeth portion 15a of the bevel gear 15 which is located above the rotatable shaft 30a, whereas the bevel gear 24 is in mesh with an upper teeth portion 16a of the bevel gear 16 which is located above the rotatable shaft 30b. In other words, the construction according to this embodiment for transmitting a torque from the outside of the treatment tank 2 to the bevel gears and spur gears arranged below the liquid surface L via the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 is, unlike the prior art, not such that a torque transmitting member such as a gear located in vicinity of the liquid surface L and having an axis of rotation extending in parallel with the liquid surface L is brought into contact with the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1. Instead, the torque of the bevel gear 15 located above the liquid surface L and having the axis of rotation extending in parallel with the liquid surface L is translated into the torque of the shaft 21 having the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L, which is then transmitted to the bevel gear 16 located below the liquid surface L and having the axis of rotation extending in parallel with the liquid surface L. In such a construction, the treatment liquid 1 will not be scooped up as a matter of fact since the shaft 21 in contact with the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L. As described above, in this embodiment, the torque transmitting means of claim 1 for transmitting a torque from the drive source outside the treatment tank 2 to the respective transport rollers is constructed by the respective shafts, gears, spur gears, rotatable shafts and bevel gears. Further, the rack 3 further includes slit-shaped discharge ports 10a for discharging the treatment liquid 1 toward the film being transported along the first transport path W1 and admitting it into the treatment tank 2, and slit-shaped discharge ports 10b for discharging the treatment liquid 1 toward the film being transported along the second transport path W2 and admitting it into the treatment tank 2. Opening areas of the respective discharge ports 10a, 10b correspond to the widths of the corresponding films. The automatic developing apparatus according to this embodiment is provided with a heater (not shown) for heating the treatment liquid 1 to a suitable temperature and a pump (not shown) for circulating the treatment liquid 1 heated by the heater between the inside and outside of the treatment tank 2. With this construction, the temperature of the treatment liquid 1 in the treatment tank 2 can be constantly maintained at a temperature suited for the development of the film. Next, the operation of the automatic developing apparatus provided with the above torque transmitting means is described. In the description below, the rotating directions of the respective shafts, gears, spur gears and bevel gears are defined as follows for the sake of convenience. Specifically, in FIG. 3, for those having the axes of rotation extending in parallel with the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1, A, B denote clockwise and counterclockwise directions about the respective axes of rotation, respectively. On the other hand, for those having the axes of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1, C denotes a rotating direction in which, when the thumb of the right hand is so placed as to point downward along the axis of rotation, the remaining four fingers point and D is a rotating direction opposite from the rotating direction C. It is further assumed that the respective rotating directions in FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond to those in FIG. 3. In the above construction, when torque is transmitted from the drive source to the gear 12 in FIG. 1, thereby causing the gear 12 to rotate, e.g. in the direction B shown in FIG. 1, the shaft 11 and the second spur hear 14 are likewise rotated in the direction B in synchronism with the gear 12. Accordingly, the first spur gear 13 in mesh with the second spur gear 14, and the bevel gear 15 provided coaxially with the first spur gear 13 are rotated in the direction A. Then, the bevel gear 23 in mesh with the upper teeth portion 15a of the bevel gear 15 is rotated in the direction C in FIG. 1, with the result that the shaft 21 and the bevel gear 24 provided coaxially with the bevel gear 23 are likewise rotated in the direction C and the bevel gear 16 having the upper teeth portion 16a in mesh with the bevel gear 24 is rotated in the direction A. At this time, since the shaft 21 is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1, the torque of the bevel gear 15 is transmitted to the bevel gear 16 via the bevel gear 23, the shaft 21 and the bevel gear 24 without scooping up the treatment liquid 1 during the rotation of the shaft 21. If the bevel gear 16 is rotated in the direction A, the fifth spur gear 19b, the sixth spur gear 20b and the fourth spur gear 18b which are in mesh with the bevel gear 16 as shown in FIG. 3 are rotated in the direction B. The rotation of the fourth spur gear 18b in the direction B causes the third spur gear 17c in mesh with the fourth spur gear 18b to rotate in the direction A. Hereafter, in similar manners, the fifth spur gears 19c, ..., the sixth spur gears 20c, ..., and the fourth spur gears 18c, ... are rotated in the direction B, whereas the third spur gears 17d, ... in mesh with the fourth spur gears 18c, ... are rotated in the direction A. Accordingly, the large-diameter rollers 4a, ... (large-diameter rollers 7a, ...) and the reverse rollers provided coaxially with the bevel gears 15, 16 and the third spur gears 1 7b, 1 7c, ... are all rotated in the direction A, whereas the first small-diameter rollers 5b, ... (first small-diameter rollers 8b, ...) provided coaxially with the fifth spur gears 19b, ... and the second small-diameter rollers 6b, ... (second small-diameter rollers 9b, ...) provided coaxially with the sixth spur gears 20b, ... are all rotated in the direction B. Thus, in FIG. 2, a film having a width of 24 mm which has passed between the unillustrated film inlet and the feed rollers is transported downward while successively passing between the corresponding pairs of the large-diameter rollers 4 and the first small-diameter roller 5. After having its transport direction reversed from downward to upward by the reverse rollers, the film is transported upward from the bottom while passing successively between the corresponding pairs of the large-diameter rollers 4 and the second small-diameter rollers 6. Thereafter, the film is transported to the next treatment tank 2 after passing between the large-diameter roller 4a and the second small-diameter roller 6a. On the other hand, a film having a width of 35 mm is transported downward while successively passing between the corresponding pairs of the large-diameter rollers 7 and the first small-diameter rollers 8, has its transport direction reversed from downward to upward by the reverse rollers, and is then transported upward from the bottom while passing successively between the corresponding pairs of the large-diameter rollers 7 and the second small-diameter rollers 9. Finally, the film is transported to the next treatment tank 2 after passing between the large-diameter roller 7a and the second small-diameter roller 9a. In other words, this film passes along a film transport path indicated by an arrow P in FIG. 2. As described above, in the construction for transmitting a torque from the outside of the treatment tank 2 to the respective transport rollers via the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1, the shaft 21 is provided in a position where it can be in contact with the liquid surface L, and the torque is transmitted from the above of the liquid surface to the below of the liquid surface L by means of this shaft 21 according to the invention. At this time, since the shaft 21 is rotated about the axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L, the treatment liquid 1 in contact with the shaft 21 is left in contact with the shaft 21 at a specified height position even if the shaft 21 is rotated. Accordingly, the rotation of the shaft 21 does not cause the treatment liquid 1 to passed up onto, e.g. the bevel gears 23, 15 located above the liquid surface L via the shaft 21, with the result that the treatment liquid 1 is solidified on the bevel gears 23, 15 in no likelihood. Therefore, the torque can be smoothly transmitted to the respective transport rollers via the liquid surface L without causing any load on the rotation of the bevel gears 23, 15. Further, since the liquid treatment 1 near the liquid surface L will not be scooped up even if the shaft 21 is rotated, the oxidization and evaporation of the treatment liquid 1 can be considerably restrained unlike the prior art. As a result of that, a reduction in the function of the treatment liquid 1 and a decrease in the quantity thereof can be securely suppressed. Therefore, even if the treatment liquid 1, which is specified to be used in small quantity and is, thus, likely to be influenced by the oxidation, is used, a satisfactory development in accordance with the specifications of each treatment liquid 1 can be ensured. Further, since the reduction in the function of the treatment liquid 1 is suppressed, it becomes easier to control the quality of the treatment liquid 1. Although the shaft 21 having the axis of rotation extending normal to the surface L has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment, the shape thereof is not particularly limited to it, provided that it has an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface L. The shaft 21 may be in the shape of a polygonal prism, a cone, or an inverted cone. In such a case as well, the same effects as this embodiment can be obtained since the shaft 21 will not scoop up the treatment liquid 1 while being rotated. Particularly, if the shaft 21 has a cylindrical shape as in this embodiment, the cross section of the shaft 21 in the liquid surface L does not change regardless of whether the shaft 21 is stationary or in rotation. Thus, as compared to a case where the shaft 21 is in the shape of a polygonal prism, the liquid surface L is unlikely to be rippled and, accordingly, there is little likelihood that the treatment liquid 1 is mixed with air by the rotation of the shaft 21. Therefore, in the case that the shaft 21 has a cylindrical shape, the oxidation of the treatment liquid 1 can be considerably slowed down as compared to a case where it has any other shape. As a result, the treatment liquid 1 can be used for a longer period of time while avoiding a reduction in its quality. If the shaft 21 has a shape of, e.g. a polygonal prism, the treatment liquid 1 acts as loads on the respective side surfaces of the shaft 21 during the rotation of the shaft 21. However, if the shaft 21 has a cylindrical shape, such loads can be considerably reduced. As a result, the torque can be more satisfactorily transmitted by more smoothly rotating the shaft 21. Although the surface of the shaft 21 is even in this embodiment, it may be made uneven, e.g. by forming grooves therein in order to further avoid the treatment liquid 1 being rippled during the rotation of the shaft 21. Although the torque is successively transmitted to the respective transport rollers located below the liquid surface L of the treatment liquid 1 via the spur gears in this embodiment, the invention is not limited to this torque transmitting construction. For example, the invention may be applied to a construction in which the torque is transmitted to the respective transport rollers via a belt mechanism, a crank mechanism or a cam mechanism. As described above, the inventive automatic developing apparatus is provided with the torque transmitting means for transmitting the torque from the outside of the treatment tank to the respective transport rollers via the liquid surface of the treatment liquid. The torque transmitting means is comprised of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion having an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface, wherein the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface, whereas a remaining portion of the torque transmitting means is so arranged as not to cross the liquid surface. Accordingly, the treatment liquid in contact with the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is left in contact therewith at a specified height position, and there is no likelihood that the treatment liquid is passed up onto the torque transmitting means located above the liquid surface via the shaft-shaped transmitting portion by the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion. Thus, unlike the prior art, the drive of the torque transmitting means will not be hindered by the solidification of the treatment liquid thereon. Therefore, according to the above construction, the torque can be smoothly transmitted from the outside of the treatment tank to the respective transport rollers via the liquid surface of the treatment liquid without creating superfluous loads, with the result that the film can be satisfactorily transported. Further, unlike the prior art, the treatment liquid near the liquid surface will not be scooped up during the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion. This securely restrains the reaction of the treatment liquid with air to a larger degree than the prior art and, as a result, considerably restrains the oxidation and evaporation of the treatment liquid. Therefore, according to the above construction, a reduction in the function of the treatment liquid and a decrease in the quantity of the treatment liquid can be securely suppressed and, as a result, a satisfactory development in accordance with the specifications of the treatment liquid can be performed. If the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is formed to have a cylindrical shape, the liquid surface is unlikely to be rippled and there is little likelihood that the treatment liquid is mixed with air by the rotation of the shaft-shaped transmitting portion as compared to a case where the shaft-shaped transmitting portion is in the shape of, e.g. a polygonal prism. As a result, the oxidation and evaporation of the treatment liquid can be considerably slowed down, and the treatment liquid can be used for a longer period of time while avoiding a reduction in its quality. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Treatment Liquid 2 Treatment Tank 3 Rack (Transport Unit) 4a, 4b ... Large-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 5a, 5b ... First Small-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 6a, 6b ... Second Small-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 7a, 7b ... Large-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 8a, 8b ... First Small-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 9a, 9b ... Second Small-Diameter Roller (Transport Roller) 11 Shaft (Torque Transmitting Means) 12 Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 13 First Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 14 Second Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 15 Bevel Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 16 Bevel Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 17c, 17d, ... Third Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 18b, 18c, ... Fourth Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 19b, 19c, ... Fifth Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 20b, 20c, ... Sixth Spur Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 21 Shaft (Torque Transmitting Means, Shaft-Shaped Transmitting Portion) 23 Bevel Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 24 Bevel Gear (Torque Transmitting Means) 30a, 30b, Rotatable Shaft (Torque Transmitting Means) L Liquid Surface P Film Transport Path

Claims: An automatic developing apparatus comprising a treatment tank (2) for containing a treatment liquid (1) used to develop a photosensitive material, and a transport unit (3) comprising a plurality of sets of transport rollers (4-9) for transporting the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material is developed by sinking the transport unit (3) in the treatment tank (2) to thereby immerse the photosensitive material in the treatment liquid (1), comprising: a torque transmitting means (11-21, 23, 24, 30) for transmitting a torque from the outside of the treatment tank (2) to the respective sets of transport rollers (4-9) below a liquid surface (L) in the treatment tank (2), and a gear mechanism (16 - 20) for driving the sets of transport rollers (4b - 9d) below the liquid surface (L), wherein the torque transmitting means (11-21, 23, 24, 30) further comprises a shaft-shaped transmitting portion (21) having an axis of rotation extending normal to the liquid surface (L), wherein the shaft-shaped transmitting portion (21) is so arranged as to cross the liquid surface (L), whereas the remaining portion of the torque transmitting means (11-21, 23, 24, 30) is so arranged as not to cross the liquid surface (2), characterized in that said transmitting portion (21) is in engagement with a second shaft (30b) below the liquid (L) surface via meshed two gears (16, 24), the axis of rotation of one gear (24) being oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the other gear (16), and that torque is transmitted from said second shaft (30b) via a system of gears (17, 18) to a further plurality of shafts (30c, 30d), below the liquid surface, said system of gears (17, 18) each having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the axes of the further plurality of shafts (30c, 30d). An automatic developing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shaft-shaped transmitting portion (21) has a cylindrical shape. An automatic developing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the torque transmitting means (11-21, 23, 24, 30) further comprises a first rotatable shaft (30a) above the liquid surface (L) and at least one second rotatable shaft (30b) below the liquid surface (L), the first and second shafts (30a, 30b) extending in parallel with the liquid surface (L) and each being connected to the shaft-shaped transmitting portion (21) by torque transmission gears (15, 16).

Inventors: KIMURA YASUTO, NISHIMOTO YOUJI, KIMURA, YASUTO, NISHIMOTO, YOUJI, Kimura, Yasuto c/o Noritsu Koki Co.,Ltd., Nishimoto, Youji c/o Noritsu Koki Co.,Ltd.
Applicants: NORITSU KOKI CO LTD, NORITSU KOKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G03D3
IPC codes: G03D3