Photosensitive material processor
View Patent ↗Developer is supplied to a first spray pipe disposed in a developing bath. The inside of the developing bath is provided with a heater. A liquid-flow generating unit comprises a liquid-flow generating head and a branch duct, which is connected to a branch pipe of the first spray pipe via a rubber hose. A part of the developer flowing in the first spray pipe is forwarded to the liquid-flow generating head. By a gap-forming ring, a gap is secured between an outer surface of the heater and an inner surface of the liquid-flow generating head so that the developer uniformly flows along the outer surface of the heater in a longitudinal direction thereof. A heater cover is attached to the liquid-flow generating head. An inner surface of the heater cover inclines in the longitudinal direction of the heater.
1. A photosensitive material processor for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid, comprising
a processing bath for containing said processing liquid;
a heater disposed in said processing bath to heat said processing liquid; and
a liquid-flow generator attached so as to cover said heater and for forming a flow of said processing liquid near a circumferential surface of said heater,
wherein said liquid-flow generator comprises:
a liquid-flow generating head having an outflow opening formed between the circumferential surface of said heater and said liquid-flow generating head, said processing liquid being supplied from said processing-liquid supplying pipe to said liquid-flow generating head.
2. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein said heater is made in a rod shape and said liquid-flow generator forms the flow of said processing liquid in a longitudinal direction of said heater.
3. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a processing-liquid supplying pipe for supplying said processing liquid into said processing bath; and
a processing-liquid circulator for circulating said processing liquid, which is contained in said processing bath, via said processing-liquid supplying pipe after said processing liquid has been discharged through a discharge port.
4. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-flow generating head comprises:
a gap-keeping member for maintaining a first gap, which is formed between the circumferential surface of said heater and said liquid-flow generating head, in a constant state.
5. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 4 , wherein said gap-keeping member has a ring shape, and a plurality of ribs for abutting on the circumferential surface of said heater are formed on an inner surface of said gap-keeping member.
6. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 5 , wherein said ribs are disposed on the inner surface of said gap-keeping member at regular intervals.
7. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-flow generator further comprises:
a tubular guide cover attached to said liquid-flow generating head, said guide cover surrounding said heater and guiding said processing liquid, which has flowed out through said outflow opening, in the longitudinal direction of said heater.
8. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 7 , wherein a second gap formed between said guide cover and said heater becomes gradually narrower in the longitudinal direction of said heater.
9. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 7 , wherein said liquid-flow generating head and said guide cover are removably attached.
10. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-flow generator is connected to a branch pipe formed on said processing-liquid supplying pipe, and a part of said processing liquid flowing in said processing-liquid supplying pipe is forwarded to said liquid-flow generator.
11. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 10 , wherein said liquid-flow generator is connected to said branch pipe of said processing-liquid supplying pipe via a rubber hose.
12. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 11 , wherein said discharge port is formed at the bottom of said processing bath.
13. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 12 , wherein said processing liquid discharged from said discharge port is forwarded to said processing-liquid supplying pipe through a filter.
14. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein a flow velocity of said processing liquid is 0.05 m/Sec to 5.0 m/Sec at the circumferential surface of said heater.
15. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater controller for controlling said heater, said heater controller controlling said heater in accordance with a content of image colorant transferred into said processing liquid.
16. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 15 , wherein said heater controller calculates a rate of the content of said image colorant to control said heater on the basis of a duty ratio determined from said rate of the content.
17. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 16 , wherein said processing liquid is a developer for developing said photosensitive material.
18. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the processing bath is inclined toward a central section, and the heater is disposed in the central section.
19. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein a temperature measurement device is connected to said heater in order to control the heater on and off to maintain a temperature of the processing liquid.
20. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 19 , wherein the temperature measurement device is disposed in a discharge pipe of the processing bath.
21. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 19 , wherein the temperature measurement device is disposed in the processing bath.
22. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid-flow generating head comprises:
a gap-keeping member for maintaining a first gap, which is formed between an outer circumferential surface of said heater and said an inner circumferential surface of said liquid-flow generating head.
23. A photosensitive material processor for processing a photosensitive material with a processing liquid, comprising
a processing bath for containing said processing liquid;
a heater disposed in said processing bath to heat said processing liquid; and
a liquid-flow generator attached so as to cover said heater and for forming a flow of said processing liquid near a circumferential surface of said heater;
wherein said liquid-flow generator comprises:
a liquid-flow generating head having an outflow opening formed between the circumferential surface of said heater and said liquid-flow generating head, said processing liquid being supplied from a processing-liquid supplying pipe to said liquid-flow generating head; and
wherein said heater is made in a rod shape and said liquid-flow generator forms the flow of said processing liquid in a longitudinal direction of said heater.
24. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 23 , wherein said liquid-flow generating head comprises:
a gap-keeping member for maintaining a first gap, which is formed between the circumferential surface of said heater and said liquid-flow generating head, in a constant state.
25. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 24 , wherein said gap-keeping member has a ring shape, and a plurality of ribs for abutting on the circumferential surface of said heater are formed on an inner surface of said gap-keeping member.
26. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 25 , wherein said ribs are disposed on the inner surface of said gap-keeping member at regular intervals.
27. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 23 , wherein said liquid-flow generator further comprises:
a tubular guide cover attached to said liquid-flow generating head, said guide cover surrounding said heater and guiding said processing liquid, which has flowed out through said outflow opening, in the longitudinal direction of said heater.
28. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 27 , wherein a second gap formed between said guide cover and said heater becomes gradually narrower in the longitudinal direction of said heater.
29. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 27 , wherein said liquid-flow generating head and said guide cover are removably attached.
30. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 23 , wherein said liquid-flow generator is connected to a branch pipe formed on said processing-liquid supplying pipe, and a part of said processing liquid flowing in said processing-liquid supplying pipe is forwarded to said liquid-flow generator.
31. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 30 , wherein said liquid-flow generator is connected to said branch pipe of said processing-liquid supplying pipe via a rubber hose.
32. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 31 , wherein said discharge port is formed at the bottom of said processing bath.
33. A photosensitive material processor according to claim 32 , wherein said processing liquid discharged from said discharge port is forwarded to said processing-liquid supplying pipe through a filter.