JPH07319144A - Drying device for photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a drying device where a photosensitive material is stably and rapidly uniformly dried after the processing of development and the high- quality finishing of development is realized, and which is miniaturized to make space small and save energy by measuring the temperature of a photosensitive material carrying means and the temperature of an irradiation means for radiating far infrared rays and controlling the temperature so as to be optimum. CONSTITUTION:A pair of carrying rollers 311 and 312 being the carrying means for carrying the photosensitive material 122 is disposed by leaving specified space. A drying heater 321 being the irradiation means for radiating the far infrared rays is provided in the center of the line of the pair of rollers 311 and 312 and a guide 313. Furthermore, temperature sensors 311S, 312S and 321S being the temperature measuring means are attached. Based on the measured result of the temperature sensors 311S and 312S for the pair of rollers 311 and 312 and the temperature sensor 321S for the heater 321, which are the temperature measuring means, the temperature of the heater 321 being the irradiation means for radiating the far infrared rays is controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing device for developing a photographic light-sensitive material, and more particularly to a drying device of the processing device for drying the light-sensitive material which has been developed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automatic processor for a photographic light-sensitive material, the time required for each processing of development, bleaching, fixing and stabilization has been greatly shortened in recent years, and the technology of rapid development has been greatly advanced. Similarly, in the drying step after the development processing, the technique of rapid drying is similarly improved, and a far-infrared ray drying device has been proposed for a general hot air drying technique.

In this drying device, a far infrared lamp or a nichrome wire heating system is used as a heat source heater. When a bar heater is used, a reflecting plate is provided to the photosensitive material to be conveyed. On the other hand, the heat ray irradiation is performed as uniformly as possible, and the air stream dried by heating is sprayed on the surface of the photosensitive material to uniformly dry and improve the drying efficiency. Alternatively, the drying efficiency may be increased by changing the position or density of the infrared heat source in the drying device. Then, the temperature and humidity (water content) of the photosensitive material are detected, and the infrared irradiation means is controlled to dry.

[0004]

However, the technique for rapid drying of photographic light-sensitive materials by far infrared rays is not yet established. Therefore, it is possible to stably and quickly dry the photographic light-sensitive material, which includes shortening the conveying path by rapid drying to miniaturize the drying device, which is as small as possible and consumes heat energy. There is an increasing demand for a drying device which requires a small amount of heat and has a high thermal efficiency, as the size of an automatic processor is reduced.

In particular, in a color photo minilab installed in a store of a photographic light-sensitive material retail store, the installation space must be as small as possible, and it must be able to operate sufficiently with the rated power of the AC power supply installed in the store. Is an essential condition. In addition, it is naturally desired that such an automatic developing machine should be equipped with an exposure device in the previous step, and the steps from printing exposure to developing, bleaching, fixing, stabilizing and drying should be processed by one machine. Therefore, it is becoming more and more necessary to reduce the installation space and save energy by downsizing the device. At the same time, it has been strongly demanded that uniform drying be performed stably and quickly, and that high quality development finish can be achieved.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. That is, a drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material that can uniformly and rapidly dry the light-sensitive material after development processing, realize a high-quality development finish, and reduce the space and energy consumption by downsizing. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

The above-mentioned object is, in a drying apparatus of a photographic light-sensitive material for drying a developed photographic light-sensitive material, a conveying means for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, the photographic light-sensitive material and the conveying means. Irradiating means for irradiating far infrared rays, temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the conveying means and the irradiating means, and control means for controlling the temperature of the irradiating means based on the measurement result of the temperature measuring means And a drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material.

Further, the above-mentioned object is, in a photographic light-sensitive material drying apparatus for drying a developed photographic light-sensitive material, a conveying means for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, and a distance from the photographic light-sensitive material and the conveying means. Irradiating means for irradiating infrared rays, measuring means for measuring the temperature of the conveying means and the amount of electric power supplied to the irradiating means, and control for controlling the amount of electric power supplied to the irradiating means based on the measurement result of the measuring means. And a means for drying a photographic light-sensitive material.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an automatic developing machine (exposure and development processing apparatus) incorporating a drying device of the present invention will be first described in general with reference to the schematic side view of FIG.

An automatic developing machine (exposure and development processing apparatus) 1 incorporating an embodiment of a drying apparatus 300 of the present invention is a printing apparatus 10.
0, a developing device 200, and a drying device 300.

In the printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100
Photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to simply as "sensitized material") 122 stored in a magazine 121 loaded inside is fed out and exposed position 1
When it is sent to 07, the negative film 104 sent to the negative mounting table 101, the exposure lamp 102 provided in the lamp box 103 is turned on and the shutter (not shown) operates,
Imaging exposure is performed by the projection lens 105 and the mirror 106. The image-exposed photosensitive material 122 is conveyed to the developing device 200 via the guide roller 108, the photosensitive material detection sensor 111 that detects the passage of the photosensitive material, and the feeding roller 109. The conveying path of the photosensitive material 122 is shown by a chain line.

In the developing device 200, the color developing tank 201, the bleach-fixing 202, and the stabilizing tanks 203, 204, 205 are passed through the delivery roller 20.
It is sent to the drying device 300 by 6.

The photosensitive material 122 of the long roll delivered from the magazine 121 is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter (not shown) before reaching the exposure position 107, and thereafter, it is exposed, developed and dried as cut paper. Although not shown in the drawing, it may be collected on the pedestal 341, or may be wound up after exposure, development processing, and drying as it is for a long roll, and then cut for each development-processed image.

The photosensitive material 122 thus sent to the drying device 300 is guided in the row of the conveying roller pairs 311, 312 by the guide 313 provided between the conveying roller pairs 311 and 312.
Further, in the lower U-turn portion, two lower guides 314 make a U-turn to guide and convey. Then, a pair of conveying rollers 311, 312 for conveying the photosensitive material 122 downward and a guide 313.
Row, and the row of the drying roller 321 for irradiating far infrared rays at the center of the row of the pair of feed rollers 311, 312 and the row of guides 313 which makes a U-turn by the lower guide 314 and then feeds upward. It is arranged as shown in the figure, facing the emulsion surface of 122. And the drying heater 32 that irradiates this infrared ray
The row 1 allows the photosensitive material 122 to be dried while being conveyed by the conveying roller pairs 311, 312 and the guide 313.

Further, an air supply fan 331 is attached to the upper part of the row of the dry heaters 321, and air in the direction of the arrow blown out from the two-forked nozzle 331N is heated by the dry heaters 321 and conveyed. It is sprayed on the emulsion surface of 122 as shown by the arrow, and along with water vapor evaporated from the photosensitive material 122 passes through the air holes provided in the lower guide 314 as shown by the arrow and enters the exhaust duct 333 from the exhaust hole at the bottom of the drying device 300.
An exhaust fan 332 is attached to the outlet of the exhaust duct 333, and the air is forcibly exhausted by the exhaust fan 332, so that the air with water vapor evaporated from the sensitive material 122 in the exhaust duct 333 is , Forcibly discharged in the direction of the arrow on the outside of the device.

Next, embodiments of each invention of the present application will be individually described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the drying device 300 described in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the sensitive material 122 is transported to the drying device 300 through the transport path indicated by the alternate long and short dash line as described with reference to FIG. 1. The transport roller is a transport means for transporting the sensitive material 122. The pairs 311, 312 are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval as shown in the figure. And a pair of transport rollers 31
A guide 313 is provided between the first and the third 312, and two lower guides 314 are provided at the lower U-turn portion as shown in the drawing.
It makes a U-turn of 22 and carries it.

A row of conveying roller pairs 311 and 312 and a guide 313 for conveying the photosensitive material 122 downward, and a conveying roller pair 31 for making an U-turn by a lower guide 314 and then conveying it upward.
A drying heater 321 that is an irradiation unit that irradiates far infrared rays is provided at the center of the row of the guides 1 and 312 and the guide 313, and a pair of conveyance rollers 311 and 312 that is the conveyance unit and the pair of conveyance rollers.
The photosensitive material 122 conveyed by 311 and 312 is arranged to irradiate far infrared rays.

Then, a pair of conveying rollers which is the conveying means.
311 and 312 are temperature sensors 311S and 312S which are temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312, and the drying heater 321 which is the irradiation means is a temperature for measuring the temperature of the drying heater 321. A temperature sensor 321S, which is a measuring means, is attached as shown.

The temperature sensors 311S and 312S of the pair of conveying rollers 311 and 312, which are the temperature measuring means, and the drying heater 32.
The drying device 300 configured to control the temperature of the drying heater 321 that is the irradiation means for irradiating the far infrared rays based on the measurement result of the temperature sensor 321S of 1 is the drying device of the present invention.

Next, the drying apparatus 300 of the present invention constructed as described above, therefore, is based on the measurement results of the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312 and the temperature of the drying heater 321, and the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312. The temperature of the drying heater 321 and the temperature of the drying heater 321 are controlled such that the temperature is the optimum temperature for drying the sensitive material 122 without damaging the sensitive material 122, and the sensitive material 122 is dried.

That is, the pair of drying rollers 311 and 312 are mainly heated by irradiation of far infrared rays from the drying heater 321 which is an irradiation means for irradiating far infrared rays, and are sandwiched by the pair of heated conveying roller pairs 311 and 312. The sensitive material 122 conveyed by heating is heated by the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312, and the sensitive material 1
Moisture in 22 is evaporated, but at the same time, the sensitive material 122, which is conveyed with the emulsion surface of the drying heater 321 irradiated with far infrared rays toward the drying heater 321 side, is also heated by direct irradiation of far infrared rays and sensed. Moisture in the material 122 is evaporated and dried.

As described above, the drying device 300 of the present invention is provided with the photosensitive material 1
Unlike the conventional method of detecting the temperature and humidity (water content) of 22 and controlling the infrared irradiation means, the irradiation means for irradiating the temperature of the conveying roller pair 311 and 312, which is the conveying means for the photosensitive material 122, and far infrared rays. The temperature of the drying heater 321 is measured, and the relationship between these temperatures is controlled so as to reach the optimum temperature for drying the sensitive material 122 without damaging it.

By doing so, the conveying roller pair
Since the temperatures of 311 and 312 and the drying heater 321 can be set to the optimum temperature for drying the sensitive material 122 without damaging the sensitive material 122, it is possible to dry the sensitive material 122 uniformly and stably and quickly with high quality. to enable.

The width of the drying heater and the conveying roller is preferably wider than that of the photosensitive material. The most preferable value is about 1/5 to 1 times the diameter of the conveying roller.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the irradiation means for irradiating far infrared rays is controlled by another means in the drying apparatus of the above-mentioned invention explained in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the present invention is a drying heater which is an irradiation means for irradiating far infrared rays of the drying apparatus of the invention described above.
Up to the arrangement of 321 is exactly the same.

Then, a pair of conveying rollers which is the conveying means.
311 and 312 are temperature sensors 311S and 312S which are temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312, and a drying heater 321 which is the irradiating means measures the amount of electric power supplied to the drying heater 321. It has a measuring means to, based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement result and the amount of power supply, the far infrared rays, configured to control the amount of power supply to the drying heater 321 which is irradiation means for irradiating. The drying device 300 is the drying device of the present invention.

Next, the drying apparatus 300 of the present invention configured as described above, therefore, based on the measurement results of the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312 and the amount of electric power supplied to the drying heater 321,
The sensitive material 122 is dried by controlling the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 311 and 312 and the amount of electric power supplied to the drying heater 321 to be the optimum temperature for drying the sensitive material 122 without damaging the sensitive material 122. It will be.

That is, the pair of drying rollers 311 and 312 are heated mainly by irradiation of far infrared rays from the drying heater 321 which is an irradiation means for irradiating far infrared rays, and are sandwiched by the pair of heated conveying roller pairs 311 and 312. The sensitive material 122 conveyed by heating is heated by the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312, and the sensitive material 1
Moisture in 22 is evaporated, but at the same time, the sensitive material 122, which is conveyed with the emulsion surface of the drying heater 321 irradiated with far infrared rays toward the drying heater 321 side, is also heated by direct irradiation of far infrared rays and sensed. Moisture in the material 122 is evaporated and dried.

As described above, the drying device 300 of the present invention is provided with the photosensitive material 1
Unlike the conventional method of detecting the temperature and humidity (water content) of 22 and controlling the infrared irradiating means, the irradiation means for irradiating the temperature of the conveying roller pair 311 and 312, which is the conveying means of the photosensitive material 122, and far infrared rays. The amount of power supplied to a certain drying heater 321 is measured, and these relationships are controlled so that the optimum temperature at which the photosensitive material 122 is dried without being damaged is obtained.

By doing so, the pair of conveying rollers
Since the temperatures of 311 and 312 and the amount of electric power supplied to the drying heater 321 can be set to the optimum temperature for drying the sensitive material 122 without damaging the sensitive material 122, the sensitive material 122 can be uniformly and stably and rapidly raised. Allows you to dry to quality.

FIG. 3 is a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the temperature of the carrying roller which is the carrying means, and the vertical axis represents the optimum temperature of the drying heater which is the irradiating means for irradiating far infrared rays with respect to the temperature of the carrying roller.

In this figure, four types of control are shown: A shown by a solid line, B shown by a one-dot chain line, C shown by a dashed line, and D shown by a two-dot chain line. In any case, it is shown that the temperature of the drying heater, which is the irradiation means, is controlled to decrease as the temperature of the transportation roller, which is the transportation means, increases.The actual control means is realized by controlling the power supply to the drying heater. is doing.

With this construction, stable drying can be obtained even by controlling the heater only when the photosensitive material is in the automatic developing machine. Furthermore, even if there is a change in the drying load due to a difference in size of the photosensitive material, a difference between continuous processing and intermittent processing, it is possible to perform stable drying.

Next, the means for supplying / exhausting air and the control correction based on the temperature of the supplied / exhausted air in the drying apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 2, as already described with reference to FIG. 1, an air supply fan 331 and an exhaust fan are attached to the outlets of the exhaust duct 333 in the drying device 300 to force air in the direction of the arrow. Supply and exhaust. In this way, the air flow path is secured and the vapor and gas evaporated from the sensitive material 122 are exhausted by the supply pressure, while the air supply fan 331 and the exhaust fan 332 are used.
The forced air flow by the transfer rollers 311 and 312 and the sensitive material
The sensitive material 122 is sprayed onto the 122 so that the temperature unevenness does not occur and the sensitive material 122 is dried efficiently and stably.

As the fan, an axial flow fan having a water column of about 1 to 50 mmaq, a sirocco fan or the like can be used.

Further, the air supply fan 331 has a temperature sensor 331S,
The exhaust fan 332 is provided with a temperature sensor 332S, and the temperature of the drying heater 321 that is an irradiation unit that irradiates the far infrared rays is corrected based on the measurement results of the temperature sensors 331S and 332S that are the temperature measurement units. .

In this way, a sensitive material which is stable against changes in the environmental temperature of the automatic processor and changes in the air supply / exhaust means, that is, fluctuations in the capacity of the blowing means such as the axial fan and the sirocco fan, is obtained. Allows drying.

4 and 5 are views showing another embodiment of means for supplying and exhausting air.

In FIG. 4, the photosensitive material 122 conveyed horizontally by the conveying roller pairs 311, 312 and the guide 313 is a drying heater.
It is heated and dried together with the conveying roller pairs 311 and 312 by 321. Further, the nozzle 3 is provided by an air supply fan 331 (not shown).
The flow of air in the direction of the arrow blown out from 31N is sensed 122
And, it will be sprayed to the conveying roller pair 311 and 312. By mounting the temperature sensors 331S and 332S in the vicinity of the nozzle 331N and the air discharge port 335, for example, at the illustrated positions, the photosensitive material 122 can be dried efficiently and stably without causing temperature unevenness.

FIG. 5 shows a drying device as air supply / exhaust means.
An air intake 334 is provided in the lower part of 300 and an air discharge port 335 is provided in the upper part, and the air is supplied and exhausted by natural convection of heated air. The temperature sensors 334S and 335S may be attached near the air intake port 334 and the air discharge 335, for example, at the illustrated positions.

FIG. 6 shows the transport path, the transport roller, the drying heater and the like of FIG. 2 in an extracted manner.

In FIG. 6, a conveying roller which is a conveying means.
Temperature sensor 311 which is a temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of 311
S is provided on the side facing the drying heater 321 which is the irradiation means, and a temperature sensor 312S for measuring the temperature of the transport roller 312 is provided on the side not facing the drying heater 321.

With the above arrangement, the temperature sensors 311S, 312
By feeding back the temperature information by S to the temperature control of the drying heater 321, this drying load fluctuation is caused by the size of the photosensitive material entering the drying device 300, and the drying load fluctuation such as intermittent or continuous processing. Therefore, the temperature information by the temperature sensors 311S and 312S changes, and this is fed back to the temperature control of the drying heater 321. That is, the conveying roller pair 31
If the temperature of 1,312 is lowered, the temperature of the drying roller 321 is increased, that is, the irradiation temperature of far infrared rays is increased so that the temperature of the pair of conveying rollers 331,312 is quickly increased to a predetermined temperature. This makes it possible to maintain a stable dry state.

Further, with this configuration, the temperature difference between the temperature sensors 311S and 312S greatly changes between the normal rotation of the pair of transport rollers 311 and 312 and the abnormal rotation stop. It is possible to detect an abnormality in the transport system of the drying device 300. That is, it is possible to detect an abnormality such as deterioration and stop of the air supply / exhaust fan, stop of the transport roller drive motor, gear damage, and the like, and notify as an abnormality.

Next, the drying heater used as the irradiation means for irradiating the far infrared rays used in the drying apparatus of the present invention will be described.

A ceramic heater is preferably used as the drying heater 321 for irradiating far infrared rays used in the drying device 300 of the present invention. Ceramic heaters have problems such as relatively large variations in resistance, changes in performance over time due to use, and changes in output depending on the voltage of the power supply used. Although unevenness is likely to occur, the present invention covers the above-mentioned drawbacks and is capable of generating far infrared rays with high efficiency, which is a characteristic of a ceramic heater, has excellent durability, and has a constant heater temperature or an amount of electric power supplied to the heater. In that case, the present invention effectively functions to generate stable far infrared rays, and it is preferable to use the drying device of the present invention.

In other words, the ceramic heater is effective for stable and quick drying of the photosensitive material 122, downsizing of the drying device 300, and reduction of the space thereof (the quick drying enables the transport path to be short and downsizing). It is an effective heater and is preferably used in the drying device of the present invention.

Next, the conveying roller which is a conveying means for conveying the photosensitive material used in the drying device of the present invention will be described.

The drying device 300 of the present invention has a drying heater 321 for directly irradiating the photosensitive material 122 with far infrared rays for drying the photosensitive material 122.
Direct Far Infrared Output and Far Infrared Conveyance Roller Pair 311 and 312
The photosensitive material is heated by the pair of conveying rollers 311, 312 which are heated.
Stable and quick drying of the photosensitive material 122 is achieved by both outputs of the indirect far infrared output for heating the photosensitive material 122 by heating the material.

The temperature of the conveying rollers 311 and 312 is preferably in the range of 80 to 200 ° C., and good results are obtained by adjusting the temperature within ± 10 ° C. with respect to the set temperature. Therefore, the conveyance rollers 311 and 312 are preferably made of a heat-resistant material, and a nip method that can reliably transfer heat to the photosensitive material 122 is preferable because good results can be obtained.

Here, the materials that can be used for the conveying roller are selected, but in any case, the heat resistance is preferably 100 ° C. or higher, and particularly preferably 200 ° C. or higher.

[Rubber system] ・ Silicone rubber ・ Fluorine rubber ・ Nitrile rubber ・ Styrene rubber ・ Polychloroprene rubber ・ Butyl rubber ・ Butadiene isobutylene synthetic rubber etc. [Plastic system] ・ Phenolic resin ・ Teflon resin ・ Engineering plastic (PPS etc.) Metal system] -SUS304-SUS316-SUS316L-SUS317-Titanium By configuring the transport rollers 311 and 312 of the drying device 300 in this way, rapid drying of the photosensitive material 122 can be achieved.

Next, the nip roller which is the above-mentioned conveying roller used in the drying apparatus of the present invention will be described.

The nip roller which is the above-mentioned transport roller is
Although it is made of a heat-resistant material, it is preferable to use silicon rubber and to use it at a temperature in the range of 100 ° C to 150 ° C from the viewpoint of rapid drying. That is, when the photosensitive material 122 is conveyed to the drying device 300 as shown in FIG.
And a drying heater 321 which is an irradiation means for irradiating the far infrared rays to the nip rollers 311 and 312 made of the silicone rubber so that the far infrared rays are directly applied to the sensitive material 122 and the nip rollers 311 and 312 of the silicone rubber. When the photosensitive material 122 is placed in the drying device 300, the silicone rubber nip rollers 311 and 312 are moved by the irradiation means.
The photosensitive material 122 is controlled to be in a temperature range of 0 ° C. to 150 ° C., and the photosensitive material 122 is rapidly dried by direct irradiation of the nip rollers 311 and 312 of silicon rubber and the drying heater 321 to the photosensitive material 122.

The set temperature of the nip rollers 311 and 312 at this time is preferably within a range of ± 10 ° C. with respect to the set temperature. For that purpose, it is preferable that the temperature measurement accuracy of the nip rollers 311 and 312 is set to ± 2 ° C. or less and that the dry heater 321 which is a far infrared heater is subjected to PID control or the like with respect to the deviation with respect to the set temperature.

FIG. 7 shows a graph of PID control when the set temperature is 130 ° C. as an example.

A light-sensitive material which is dried in this way is particularly preferable in the case of rapid drying of color paper.

Next, the sensitive material detecting means of the drying apparatus of the present invention and the operation control of the drying apparatus by the detecting means will be described with reference to FIG.
2 will be described.

First, the drying device 300 of the present invention has a detecting means for detecting whether or not the photosensitive material 122 is present in the drying device 300, for example, a photocoupler, a photoreflector, or a sensor such as a microswitch. These sensors are sensitive materials 12
When 2 is detected, the drying heater 321 which is an irradiation means for irradiating far infrared rays is operated, and the transportation heaters 311 and 312 which are transportation means for the photosensitive material 122 are heated to a predetermined temperature.
It controls 1 or controls the amount of power supply.

Further, the detecting means for the sensitive material 122 has a sensitive material detecting sensor 351 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in front of the drying device 300 which is a drying step, that is, at an inlet portion thereof. When the photosensitive material 122 is detected, the drying heater 321 which is the irradiation means is controlled as described above.

Further, the means for detecting the photosensitive material 122 is a device for sending out the photosensitive material 122 which is connected to the entrance of the developing device 200 and / or the front side of the developing device 200, and in the present embodiment, a print having the photosensitive material detecting sensor 111. The signal from the sensitive material detection sensor 111, which is the detection means from the apparatus 100, starts the energization / control of the drying heater 321 which is the irradiation means of the drying apparatus 300 as described above, and the sensitive material 122 passes through the drying apparatus 300. After that, the energization / control of the drying heater 321 is stopped by the signal of the sensitive material detection sensor 352 provided at the outlet of the drying device 300.

As described above, the drying apparatus 300 of the present invention operates as a drying apparatus at least when the photosensitive material 122 is conveyed into the drying apparatus 300.

A general user who uses an automatic processor (hereinafter simply referred to as an automatic processor) rarely uses the maximum processing capacity of the automatic processor fully, and the actual use is about 1/10. It is common to use abilities. Therefore, most of the time, it is in the “waiting” state in which the photosensitive material 122 is not processed. Therefore, when the photosensitive material 122 is not actually processed, the drying device 300 does not operate, and the photosensitive material 122 is operated after entering the processing step of the developing machine, that is, the chemical solution processing step of the developing device 200. It becomes energy saving operation.

For example, in the case of color paper,
The chemical treatment time for color paper is about 2 minutes, and in the drying apparatus 300 of the present invention, the transport rollers 311 and 312 are used for 2 minutes.
It means that it is necessary to raise the temperature of to the set value.
However, it is difficult to raise the temperature of the conveying rollers 311 and 312 to the set value within the above two minutes after starting the use.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, an area of good dryness is obtained by an experiment in advance, and the transport rollers 311 and 312 are inevitably at a temperature at the initial stage when the photosensitive material 122 having undergone the chemical solution processing step enters the drying device 300. Is low, so dry heater
The temperature of the drying heater 321 is controlled so as to raise the temperature of 321 and dry with the irradiation heat of far infrared rays. Then, the temperature of the transport rollers 311 and 312 is gradually increased with the passage of time, and the drying heater 321 is controlled so that the temperature of the transport rollers 311 and 312 can be maintained at a stable maintenance value. It is preferable to perform control to change to the set temperature.

By controlling the drying heater 321 which is the irradiation means for irradiating the far infrared rays as described above, the drying device 3
It is possible to operate 00 with energy saving, and thus reduce the amount of heat exhausted from the automatic developing machine in the long term.

The photographic light-sensitive material is a photographic light-sensitive material which is processed by a chemical solution containing water as a main component and then the water contained in the light-sensitive material is evaporated in a drying step, and is not limited. Examples thereof include a color negative film, a color reversal film, a negative color paper, a positive color paper, a monochrome film, a monochrome paper, an X ray film, a printing film and a PS plate.

A particularly suitable light-sensitive material for use in the drying apparatus of the present invention is a color paper, monochrome paper, or other light-sensitive material having a base having a heat resistance of 100 ° C. or higher. The drying apparatus of the present invention utilizes heat conduction from the transport roller to achieve rapid processing, but more rapid drying is possible when the heat resistance of the base is high.

The heat resistance of 100 ° C. or higher means that the temperature at which thermal deformation occurs is 100 ° C. or higher. There is no particular upper limit, but a range of 100 ° C to 200 ° C is sufficient.

[0074]

According to the present invention, the photosensitive material after the development processing can be dried uniformly and stably and quickly.
Further, a drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material has been provided which can realize a high-quality development finish, can also reduce the size and space of a drying device, and can save energy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an automatic developing machine incorporating a drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory view of the drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a temperature of a conveyance roller and a temperature of a drying heater of the drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the drying device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram mainly showing a conveyance path of the drying device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing that the set temperature of the conveyance roller of the drying device of the present invention is set to 130
The PID control figure when it was made into ° C.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the transport roller and the temperature of the drying heater of the drying apparatus of the present invention over time.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic developing machine (exposure and development processing equipment) 100 Printing equipment 111, 351, 352 Sensitive material detection sensor 122 Photosensitive material (sensitive material) 200 Developing equipment 300 Drying equipment 311, 312 Conveying rollers 311S, 312S, 321S, 331S, 332S , 334S, 335S
Temperature sensor 313 Guide 314 Lower guide 321 Drying heater 331 Air supply fan 331N nozzle 332 Exhaust fan 334 Air intake 335 Air exhaust

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A photographic light-sensitive material drying apparatus for drying a developed photographic light-sensitive material, wherein a conveying means for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, and irradiating far infrared rays to the photographic light-sensitive material and the conveying means. Irradiation means, temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of the conveying means and the irradiation means,
A drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a control unit that controls the temperature of the irradiation unit based on the measurement result of the temperature measurement unit. 2. A drying apparatus for a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the control means is controlled so that the temperature of the conveying means and the temperature of the irradiating means have a predetermined relationship. . 3. A supply / exhaust means for supplying / exhausting air in the drying device, and a temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of the air to be supplied / exhausted, and the control means based on a measurement result of the temperature measuring means. The control of (1) is corrected.
Or a drying device for the photographic light-sensitive material as described in 2 above. 4. A drying apparatus for a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said conveying means are provided on a side facing said irradiating means and a side not facing said irradiating means. . 5. The drying apparatus for a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation means is a ceramic heater. 6. A pair of nip rollers, each of which is a pair of nip rollers, is made of a heat-resistant material.
2. A drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material as described in 2 or 4. 7. The nip roller is a silicone rubber roller, and the irradiating means is arranged so as to directly irradiate the photographic photosensitive material being conveyed and the nip roller, and when the photographic photosensitive material enters the drying device. 7. The apparatus for drying a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 6, wherein said nip roller is controlled by said control means so as to be in a temperature range of 100 [deg.] C. to 150 [deg.] C. by said irradiation means. 8. A detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the photographic photosensitive material, and controlling the irradiating means on the basis of a detection result of the detecting means.
4. A device for drying a photographic light-sensitive material described in 4, 5, or 7. 9. The apparatus for drying a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 8, wherein the detection means is provided before the drying step, and the irradiation means is controlled based on the detection result of the detection means. 10. The energization of the irradiation means is started by a signal of the detection means from the entrance of the processing device for performing the development processing and / or the device for feeding the photographic photosensitive material connected to the front side of the processing device, 9. The energization of the irradiation means is stopped after the photographic light-sensitive material has finished passing through the drying device.
Or a drying device for the photographic light-sensitive material as described in 9 above. 11. A photographic light-sensitive material drying apparatus for drying a developed photographic light-sensitive material, wherein a conveying means for conveying the photographic light-sensitive material, and irradiating far infrared rays to the photographic light-sensitive material and the conveying means. Irradiation means, measuring means for measuring the temperature of the conveying means and the amount of electric power supplied to the irradiation means, and control means for controlling the amount of electric power supplied to the irradiation means based on the measurement result of the measuring means. A drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material, which is characterized in that 12. The apparatus for drying a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 11, wherein the control means is controlled so that the temperature of the transport means and the amount of power supplied to the irradiation means have a predetermined relationship. 13. The photographic material according to claim 11, wherein energization to the irradiation means is controlled so that the temperature of the irradiation means decreases as the temperature of the conveying means increases. Drying device. 14. An air supply / exhaust means for supplying / exhausting air in the drying device, and a temperature measuring means for measuring a temperature of the air to be supplied / exhausted, and the control means based on a measurement result of the temperature measuring means. The control of is corrected.
A drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material as described in 11, 12, or 13. 15. The photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein temperature measuring means for measuring the temperature of said conveying means is provided on a side facing said irradiating means and a side not facing said irradiating means. Drying device. 16. The apparatus for drying a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 15, wherein said irradiation means is a ceramic heater. 17. The pair of nip rollers, each of which comprises two heat-conveying means, is made of a heat-resistant material.
A drying device for the photographic light-sensitive material described in 1, 12, 13 or 15. 18. The nip roller is a silicon rubber roller, and the irradiating means is arranged to directly irradiate the conveyed photographic photosensitive material and the nip roller, and when the photographic photosensitive material enters the drying device. 18. The apparatus for drying a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 17, wherein said nip roller is controlled by said control means so that said nip roller falls within a temperature range of 100 ° C. to 150 ° C. by said irradiation means. 19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the photographic light-sensitive material, and controlling the amount of electric power supplied to the irradiation unit based on a detection result of the detection unit. , 13, 14, 15 or 16 for drying a photographic light-sensitive material. 20. The detection means is provided before the drying step,
20. The drying device for a photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 19, wherein the irradiation means is controlled based on a detection result of the detection means. 21. The energization of the irradiation means is started by a signal from the detection means from the entrance of the processing device for performing the development processing and / or the device for feeding the photographic light-sensitive material connected to the front side of the processing device, The power supply to the irradiation means is stopped after the photographic light-sensitive material has finished passing through the drying device.
A device for drying a photographic light-sensitive material described in 8, 19 or 20.