Patent Publication Number: US-4929975-A

Title: Automatic film processor

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through developing, fixing, rinsing and drying stations to effect automatic development of the film. 
     2. Prior Art Statement 
     The known automatic film processors for the automatic development of an exposed film include the roller conveyor type, loop type and horizontal conveying type. 
     In the roller conveyor type processor, the film is passed through the treating liquids (such as developing liquid, fixing liquid and rinsing water) by a number of rollers. This type of processor has disadvantages in that its construction is complicated and troublesome maintenance is required. In the loop type processor, the film is conveyed by rollers disposed above and below each of the treating liquid vessels. The disadvantages of this type of processor are similar to those of the roller conveyor type processor in that construction is complicated and maintenance is troublesome. In the horizontal conveying type processor, the film is conveyed linearly in the horizontal direction and treating liquids are vigorously sprayed onto the conveyed film. However, the treating liquids, and particularly the developer liquid, are deteriorated due to oxidation. 
     The known automatic developers have further disadvantages in that they are large in size for the following reasons. In the roller conveyor type processor, the film is conveyed through each of the treating liquid vessels by a number of rollers disposed deep in the vessel which extends vertically for a long distance. In the loop conveying processor, the film is suspended between the rollers disposed at the upper and lower portions in the treating liquid vessels which are large in size. In the horizontal conveying type processor, the film is conveyed horizontally and each treating liquid is vigorously sprayed onto the film. However, in order to complete the treatment at a high speed, the film must contact each treating liquid by a long pass in the horizontal direction, which results in the increased size of the device. This virtually limits the treating speed of the device. The horizontal conveying type processor has another disadvantage in that it requires a pump for ejecting the treating liquid which complicates the structure of the film processor. 
     In the automatic film processor in which an exposed film is processed continuously, successive processing operations including development, fixing and rinsing must be conducted in order and then the film should be dried sufficiently. In the drying step, water must be thoroughly removed, for example, by the use of a sponge. If water drops are left on the film, blurs are formed on the surface of the dried film. Drying at an excessively high temperature results in deterioration in granularity due to softening of the gelatine membrane, which might cause intense curling. On the contrary, the treating speed of the entire system is decreased if the drying speed is lowered. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a first object of this invention is to provide an automatic film processor which is simple in construction and easily maintainable and in which deterioration of treating liquids, particularly degradation of developer liquid due to oxidation, can be suppressed. 
     A second object of this invention is to provide an automatic film processor which is small in size and adapted for high speed processing. 
     A third object of this invention is to provide an automatic film processor which is simple in construction without requiring a pump, and which is small in size and adapted for high speed processing. 
     A fourth object of this invention is to provide an automatic film processor which is free from the appearance of blurs due to uneven drying, deterioration in granurality or occurrence of curling, and which is adapted for high speed drying to realize high speed processing. 
     The first object of this invention is accomplished by the provision of an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through a series of treating liquid vessels respectively containing developing liquid, fixing liquid and rinsing water, which comprises: 
     a pump means for forming a constant regular flow to rise a portion of the liquid surface of at least one treating liquid vessel; and 
     flow guide means for guiding the constant regular flow onto the liquid surface; 
     whereby the underside of the exposed film is allowed to contact with the surface of the raised portion of the liquid. 
     Namely, according to the first aspect of this invention, the surface of the treating liquid is raised partially and the exposed film is allowed to contact the raised portion of the treating liquid while preventing the treating liquid from mixing vigorously with air to prevent oxidation of the treating liquid. 
     The second object of this invention is achieved by the provision of an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through a series of treating liquid vessels respectively containing developing liquid, fixing liquid and rinsing water, which comprises: 
     an ultrasonic wave generating means associated with at least one of the treating liquid vessels for applying ultrasonic vibration to the exposed film so as to accelerate the treating speed. 
     In other words, according to the second aspect of this invention, the treating speed is increased by the utilization of ultrasonic wave. 
     The third object of this invention is achieved by the provision of an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through a series of treating liquid vessels containing respectively developing liquid, fixing liquid and rinsing water, which comprises: 
     an ultrasonic wave generating means associated with at least one of the treating liquid vessels for applying ultrasonic vibration to the treating liquid near the liquid surface of said treating liquid so as to form a rised portion on the liquid surface and for applying ultrasonic vibration to the downside of said exposed film to accelerate the treating speed. 
     Ejecting flow is formed on the surface of the treating liquid by the utilization of the ultrasonic wave. At the same time, vibration by the ultrasonic wave is applied to the film in contact with the ejecting flow, whereby the treating speed is accelerated. 
     The fourth object of this invention is achieved by the provision of an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through a series of treating liquid vessels respectively containing developing liquid,  fixing liquid and rinsing water, and then for passing the treated film to a drying station, which comprises: 
     an ultrasonic wave generating means associated with the drying station for applying ultrasonic vibration to the film so as to accelerate drying of the film. 
     By applying an ultrasonic wave to the film, water adhering to the surface of the film is evenly dispersed to wet the surface uniformly so as to prevent the formation of blurs upon drying and to promote vaporization of water in order to decrease the time required for drying. 
     The second and fourth objects of this invention may also be achieved by the provision of an automatic film processor for passing an exposed film successively through a series of treating liquid vessels respectively containing developing liquid, fixing liquid and rinsing water, and then for passing the treated film to a drying station, which comprises: 
     an ultrasonic wave generating means associated with at least one of the treating liquid vessels for applying ultrasonic vibration to the exposed film so as to accerelate the treating speed; and 
     further ultrasonic wave generating means associated with the drying station for applying ultrasonic vibration to the film so as to accerelate drying of the film. 
     The processing speed of the entire film processor is further accelerated by the last mentioned aspect of this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing an embodiment according to the first aspect of this invention; 
     FIGS. 2 to 6 are schematic illustrations respectively showing embodiments of the developing station according to this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing an embodiment according to the second aspect of this invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing another embodiment according to the second aspect of this invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration showing a further embodiment according to the second aspect of this invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration showing an embodiment according to the third aspect of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Initially an embodiment according to the first aspect of this invention will be described by referring to FIG. 1. An exposed roll film 10 is fed from a supply reel 12. The film 10 is clamped by feed roller pairs 14, 14 to be passed through a developing station 16, fixing station 18, a first rinsing station 20, a second rinsing station 22 and a drying station 24 in this order, and then taken up by a take-up reel 26. Each feed roller pair 14 is disposed between one processing station and the next processing station to convey the film 10 at a constant speed. 
     The developing station 16 comprises a developer liquid vessel 16a containing a developer liquid, a pump 16c for forming a raised regular flow 16b and a flow guide member 16d. The flow guide member 16d guides the developer liquid discharged from the pump 16c upwardly in the vertical direction so that the developer liquid wells out on the surface of the liquid. The well-out port of the flow guide member 16d opens transverse to the travelling direction of the film 10 and extends to cover the entire width of the film 10. The top edges of the well-out port are bent to form downward rims so that the developer liquid discharged from the flow guide member 16d wells out of the port to form a regular flow. In other words, a portion of the liquid surface is raised. 
     An arcuated guide member 16e projecting downwardly extends between the fore and aft roller pairs 14. The side edges of the film 10 are guided by the arcuated guide member 16e to be conveyed along the arcuated path so that the surface of the exposed film 10 contacts the raised portion of the regular flow 16b to be developed. 
     The construction of the fixing station 18, the first rinsing station 20 and the second rinsing station 22 is similar to that of the developing station 16 except in that a fixing liquid and rinsing liquids, respectively, are used in place of the developer liquid. Accordingly. the construction of stations 18, 20 and 22 are not described for simplicity. 
     The drying station 24 comprises a heater 24a and a fan 24b. The film 10 is dried by hot air heated by the heater 24a and blown by the fan 24b. 
     According to this embodiment, the film 10 is successively passed through the stations 16 to 24 at a constant speed and processed at respective stations. For instance, the film 10 moves through the developing station 16 at which it contacts the raised portion of a regular flow 16b of the developer liquid, the regular flow being formed by the pump 16c and the flow guide member 16d, to be subjected to development. Fixing and rinsing treatments are conducted similarly in the fixing and rinsing stations 18 to 22, and then the film 10 is dried and taken up by the take-up reel 26. 
     Although the fixing and rinsing stations 18 to 22 have the same construction as the developing station 16 in the embodiment described above, the constructions of the fixing and rinsing stations 18 to 22 may be differenciated within the scope of this invention. 
     Different embodiments of the developing station, according to this invention, are shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. 
     The developing station 116 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a pump 116c disposed in the developer liquid vessel 116a. The developer liquid contained in the developer liquid vessel 116a is pumped by the pump 116c and guided by the flow guide member 116d to be ejected obliquely to form a fall-like flow (raised regular flow 116b) from the liquid surface. The underside of the film 10, conveyed along a substantially horizontal pass, contacts the raised regular flow 116b of the developer liquid to effect development. 
     The developing station 216 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a pump 216c disposed in a developer liquid vessel 216a containing a developer liquid which is guided by a flow guide member 216d to be ejected obliquely from the liquid surface. An integral or separate flow guide plate 216e extends horizontally from the liquid eject port of the flow guide member 216d. The downstream end of the flow guide plate 216e projects upwardly so that the developer liquid is raised at the eject port and at the downstream end of the flow guide plate 216e. As a result, a regular flow having two raised portions 216b, 216b is formed. The underside of the film 200 conveyed along a substantially horizontal pass contacts the developer liquid at these two raised portions 216b and 216b. 
     A further modified embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, wherein the flow guide plate 216e has plural steps 216f so that the developer liquid forms a regular flow having plural raised portions 216b. 
     A flow guide member 316d of the developing station 316 shown in FIG. 5 is a circular disk having an opening for passing an upward flow of the treating liquid at substantially the center thereof, the peripheral edge of the circular disk being bent upwardly. The developer liquid is fed from a pump 316c through a center opening and flows over the upside of the flow guide plate 316d so that a regular well-out flow 316b is formed at the peripheral edge. A film 300 is conveyed along a horizontal or arcuated pass while contacting the well-out flow 316b. 
     The developing station 416 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a flow guide member 416d which guides the developer liquid along plural vertical flow lines. The developer liquid is pumped by a pump 416c and flows through plural flow lines to form plural raised portions 416b on the liquid surface. A film 400 conveyed along a substantially horizontal pass contacts the developer liquid at these plural raised portions 416b. 
     Although the developing station has been described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 may be incorporated in the fixing and rinsing stations. Within the scope of this invention, the same or different embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 may be incorporated arbitrarily in the developing, fixing and rinsing stations. 
     According to the present invention, a portion of the treating liquid is raised to form a regular flow having a rised portion, and the film is moved while contacting with the rised portion of the regular flow. The number of the feed roller pairs can be decreased to simplify the construction to realize easy maintenance of the system as compared to the conventional roller conveying system or loop conveying system. Since the developer liquid is flown to form a regular flow rather than being sprayed onto the film, vigourous mixing of the developer liquid with air is prevented to suppress deterioration thereof due to oxidation. 
     The second aspect of this invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 7. An exposed film 10 is supplied from a supply reel 12 and moved by roller pairs 14 through a developing station 16, a fixing station 18, a first rinsing station 20, a second rinsing station 22 and a drying station 24 to be taken up by a take-up reel 26. Drums 16f to 22f are disposed in the treating liquid vessels 16a to 22a of respective stations 16 to 22, and the film 10 is immersed in the treating liquids in the vessels 16a to 22a while moving along the circumferences of the drums 16f to 22f. A developer liquid is contained in the treating liquid vessel 16a, and a fixing liquid is contained in the treating liquid vessel 18a. The treating liquid vessels 20a and 22a contain rinsing liquids. 
     Ultrasonic vibrators 16g to 22g, which act as the ultrasonic wave generating means, are mounted on the bottoms of the treating liquid vessels 16a to 22a to generate ultrasonic waves. Each of the ultrasonic vibrators 16g to 22g is actuated by an actuating circuit (not shown). Preferably, the ultrasonic wave generated from each of the ultrasonic vibrators 16g to 22g is focused at the vicinity of the surface of the film 10 which moves along the circumferences of the drums 16f to 22f. Otherwise, the portion or whole mass of the treating liquid may be vibrated by the ultrasonic vibrator. Anyway, the ultrasonic wave is applied to the film 10 to accelerate the treating speed. In the developing station 16, penetration of the developer liquid into the photosensitive emulsion layer of the film 10 is promoted by the action of the ultrasonic wave so as to accelerate the reaction between the latent image in the silver halide crystallites and the developing agent to promote reduction of silver ions (blackening) in the silver halide crystallites. In the fixing station 18, the speed of dissolving silver halide is accelerated by the application of the ultrasonic wave to promote the removal rate in the fixing step. In the rinsing stations 20, 22, removal of the fixing liquid or silver thiosulfate is accelerated to increase the rinsing rate. 
     The drying station 24 comprises an electric heater 24a serving as heating means, a fan 24b serving as air blower means, and an ultrasonic vibrator 24g serving as ultrasonic wave generating means. The ultrasonic vibrator 24g opposes the underside, i.e. the side to be subjected to development, of the film 10, and the ultrasonic wave is applied to the underside of the film 10. Air blown from the fan 24b is heated by the heater 24a to form hot stream which impinges the film 10. 
     Rinsing water adhering on the film 10 is dispersed rapidly, under the action of the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic vibrator 24g and applied to the film 10, to form a thin membrane. The ultrasonic wave also acts to scatter water mists from the film. The drying speed is considerably increased by the combined action of ultrasonic wave and hot air stream heated by the heater 24b. The film 10 passing out of the drying station 24 is taken up by a take-up reel 26. 
     Reference numeral 28 designates an optical sensor for detecting the fore end of the film 10, and ultrasonic vibrators 16g to 22g and 24g are actuated as the fore end of the film 10 is sensed by the sensor 28. 
     In the illusrated embodiment, ultrasonic vibrators are incorporated in all of the developing, fixing, rinsing and drying stations 16 to 24, whereby treatments at every station are accelerated so that the pass, i.e. the distance of the film 10 contacting each treating liquid, of each treating station time can be decreased. The construction of the entire system is simplified, the size of the system is decreased, and the treating speed of the system is increased. 
     Each of the ultrasonic vibrators 16g to 24g may be made of a quartz vibrator, or a vibrator utilizing the piezoelectric phenomenon of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) which is one of ceramics, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) which is one of plastics or a composite material of ceramics (PECM). However, it is to be noted here that means for generating ultrasonic wave is not limited only to the vibrators described above for example only. 
     Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, wherein respective treating stations 516 to 522 comprise spraying nozzles 516f to 522f disposed at the bottoms of respective treating liquid vessels 516a to 522a to spray respective treating liquids onto the underside of the film 10. Ultrasonic vibrators 516g to 522g are disposed above respective treating liquid vessels 516a to 522a so that ultrasonic waves are applied to the upside of the film 10. At the developing station 516, the developer liquid is collected in a tank 516h and recirculated by a pump 516e to the spraying nozzle 516f. Similar collection tanks and recirculating pumps are provided in respective stations 518 to 522. Different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in which the ultrasonic wave is transmitted to the film 10 through the treating liquid, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted through air in this embodiment. The other members denoted by the same reference numerals as used in FIG. 7 have the same constructions and exhibit the same functions, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated. 
     A developing station 616 of a further embodiment is shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the developer liquid in the treating liquid vessel 616a is pumped by a pump 616c and guided obliquely by a flow guide member 616d to form a regular flow 616b which is raised upwardly. An ultrasonic vibrator 616g is mounted on the bottom of the treating liquid vessel 616a to serve as the means for generating the ultrasonic wave so that the ultrasonic wave is focused on the raised portion of the regular flow 616b. As a result, ultrasonic vibration is applied to the film 10 contacting the raised regular flow 616b to accelerate the treating speed. The object of this invention may also been achieved by transmitting the ultrasonic wave generated from the ultrasonic vibrator 616g through the developer liquid rather than focusing it at the vicinity of the film 10. Ultrasonic vibration may be applied to the upside of the film 10 as shown in FIG. 8. 
     In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, all of the treating stations 16 to 22 and 516 to 522 are provided with ultrasonic vibrators. However, the present invention may encompass an embodiment in which an ultrasonic vibrator is incorporated only in one of these treating stations. 
     The present invention may be applied not only to a so-called two-bath processing system wherein the development and fixing are effected by a separate developing station and fixing station, but also to a so-called mono-bath processing system wherein develoment and fixing are effected in a single combined bath. 
     When an ultrasonic vibrator is provided at the drying station to prevent uneven drying and to accelerate the drying speed, the object of the invention may be achieved by constructing the treating stations other than the drying station according to the conventional technology. 
     As has been described hereinabove, ultrasonic vibration is applied to the film during at least one processing steps so that the treating speed is considerably accelerated to promote processing. High speed processing can be realized and the size of the processing system can be decreased. 
     When the rinsed film is dried during the application of the ultrasonic wave, waterdrops adhering on the film are dispersed by the action of ultrasonic vibration to form a thin membrane and are concurrently scattered to the atmosphere. Formation of blurs due to uneven drying is prevented and the film may be dried rapidly at a relatively low temperature. Deterioration in granularity and the occurrence of curling are prevented, also accordingly. Rapid drying enables high speed operation of the system and also the realization of a compact system. 
     The third aspect of this invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 10. An exposed film 10 is supplied from a supply reel 12, passed through a developing station 716, a fixing station 718, a first rinsing station 720, a second rinsing station 722 and a drying station 724, and taken up by a take-up reel 26. A developer liquid is contained in a developer liquid vessel 716a of the developing station 716, and a fixing liquid is contained in a fixing liquid vessel 718a of the fixing station 718. Rinsing water vessels 720a and 722a of the rinsing stations 720 and 722 contain rinsing water. A guide member 32 for guiding the film 10 close to the surface of each treating liquid contained in the treating liquid vessels 716a to 722a is disposed between adjacent guide roller pairs 30. The film 10 travels above the opening of each of the treating liquid vessels 716a to 722a while being guided by each guide member 32 along an arcuated path coming close to the liquid surface. 
     Ultrasonic vibrators 716g to 722g are mounted on the bottoms of respective treating liquid vessels 716a to 722a to serve as ultrasonic wave generating means. Each of the ultrasonic vibrators 716g to 722g are actuated by an actuating circuit (not shown) and focused at the vicinity of the center of the liquid surface. As a result, the treating liquid contained in each of the treating liquid vessels 716a  to 722a forms a spout on the liquid surface near the focal point of the ultrasonic wave. The treating liquid contained in each of the treating liquid vessels 716a to 722a spouts upwardly from the liquid surface and scatters vigorously from the spouting liquid to form mists. As the film 10 travels at the vicinity of spouting liquid, the spouting mists contact with the downside of the film 10 so that develoment, fixing and rinsing are effected over the vessels 716a to 722a. The ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to the film 10 per se so that treatments by respective stations are promoted to accelerate the treating speeds. 
     The flow rate of the spouting flow rising from the liquid surface or the quantity of mists emitted therefrom may be controlled by changing the electric voltage for actuating each of the ultrasonic vibrators 716a to 722g. In this manner, the treating speed at each treating station 716 to 722 may be controlled. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, all of the developing, fixing and rinsing stations 716 to 722 are provided with ultrasonic vibrators, so that treatments at every steps are promoted to decrease the passes in respective treating stations. Considerable simplification, reduction in size and high speed operation of the entire system may be realized at the same time. However, the present invention may include a system in which the ultrasonic vibrator is provided in any one or more of the treating stations. 
     Although a single ultrasonic vibrator 716g to 722g is used in each of the treating stations 716 to 722 in the illustrated embodiment, plural ultrasonic vibrators may be used in each treating station. When plural ultrasonic vibrators are used, one of them is used to generate an ultrasonic vibration suited for spouting the liquid over the surface of the treating liquid and the other is used to generate an ultrasonic vibration optimal for promoting processing of the film. 
     Although it is preferred to transmit the ultrasonic vibration through the treating liquid to increase the efficiency of the action of the vibrator, the present invention includes those wherein ultrasonic vibration is applied through air above the treating liquid. 
     As has been described hereinabove, since a spouting flow is formed on the liquid surface by the application of the ultrasonic wave and the film is moved so that the downside of the film contacts the spouting flow according to this invention, the number of required conveyor rollers can be decreased and the pump means can be eliminated to simplify the construction of the system. The depth of each treating liquid vessel can be decreased and each treatment can be promoted by the utilization of the ultrasonic vibration to shorten the path of each treatment. Size reduction and high speed operation of the system can be realized, accordingly.