JP2543201B2 - Photosensitive material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention sequentially conveys and processes an imagewise exposed light-sensitive material into a first processing tank containing a processing liquid and a second processing tank. The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing device.

[Prior Art] A photosensitive material on which an image is printed, for example, a photosensitive lithographic printing plate is sent to a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine which is a photosensitive material processing device, and a developing tank portion of this photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine. And then rinsed with water or rinsed with water, and then applied with a finisher solution at the finisher.

A developing solution is supplied into the developing tank, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is conveyed into the developing tank, and the developing solution is sprayed onto the surface of the photosensitive material for development processing. In particular, Jitsuko Sho 60-35
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 072, there is proposed a development processing apparatus in which the development process is divided into at least two development processes and the development time is set to a plurality of stages.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the development processing apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 60-35072, the developing ability of the developing solution depends on whether the number of processed photosensitive lithographic printing plates is small or large. Difference occurs, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processed when the number of processed sheets is small and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processed when the number of processed sheets are large, there is a difference in development processing, resulting in uneven development, and the development processing is I couldn't do it stably.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application has proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 63-149421 a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine capable of performing stable development processing corresponding to the required processing amount. In this processor, a main developing tank (first developing tank) and an auxiliary developing tank (second developing tank) are provided, and after the photosensitive tank is swollen in the main developing tank, finishing is performed in the auxiliary developing tank for development processing. .

However, in the above-mentioned processor, the developing solution surface of the first developing tank is higher than the developing solution surface of the developing solution used in the second developing tank, and the developing replenisher solution replenished in the second developing tank is It could not be stably supplied to the first developing tank, and continuous processing could not be performed for a long period of time in the first developing tank and the second developing tank.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can maintain the activity of the developer used in the first processing tank and the second processing tank in the apparatus for processing the photosensitive material in the plurality of processing tanks,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material processing apparatus capable of stably processing for a long period of time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, a liquid level setting means that is provided in the second processing tank and sets the liquid level of the processing liquid in the second processing tank. And a replenishing means for replenishing the replenishing liquid above the liquid level set by the liquid level setting means into the second processing tank, and a replenishing solution of the same amount as the replenishing liquid replenishing into the second processing tank. Supply means for supplying the processing liquid from the inside of the second processing tank to the inside of the first processing tank.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the replenisher is replenished by the replenishing means into the second processing tank. The same amount of processing liquid as the replenishment amount replenished into the second processing tank is supplied from the second processing tank into the first processing tank by the supply means.

Since the same amount of the processing liquid in the second processing tank as the replenishing liquid replenished in the second processing tank is supplied into the first processing tank, Since the activity can be maintained and the deterioration of the processing liquid in the first processing tank can be reduced, the photosensitive material can be stably processed for a long period of time.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the same amount of the second processing liquid as the replenishing liquid replenished in the second processing tank is supplied into the first processing tank. It is possible to maintain the activity of the developer used in step 1, and obtain an excellent effect that it can be stably processed for a long period of time.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processor 10 which is an example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention.

The photosensitive lithographic printing plate processor 10 has a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as “PS plate”) on which an image is printed by a printing device (not shown).
The first developing tank 14 for developing 12), the second developing tank 16 for developing the PS plate 12 in an auxiliary manner, and the overflow tank arranged between the first developing tank 14 and the second developing tank 16. 18 and PS version
12 is provided with a finisher tank 20 for applying a finisher solution 152 described later.

<First Developing Tank> As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of conveying rollers 22 are arranged on the side where the PS plate 12 is inserted into the first developing tank 14. The PS plate 12 on which an image is printed by a printing device (not shown) is inserted between the pair of transport rollers 22 and the inserted PS plate 12 is inserted.
To the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine 10 along the transport direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1).

The first developing tank 14 has a substantially inverted mountain shape in which the upper part is opened and the central part of the bottom part is projected downward. The developer 24 is contained in the first phenomenon tank 14. In the first developing tank 14, guide rollers 26, 28, 3 having the same diameter along the bottom wall.
0, 32, 34, 36, 38 are provided. These guide rollers 26 to 38 form a skewer-shaped roller in which a plurality of elastic rotating members are pivotally supported on the outer periphery of the shaft, and the shaft is supported by being supported between a pair of side plates (not shown). .

A guide roller 40 having a diameter larger than that of the guide roller 26 is arranged above the guide roller 26, and a guide roller 42 is arranged above the guide roller 36.
A guide roller 44 is arranged above. These guide rollers 4, 42 and 44 are supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) like the guide rollers 26 to 38.

A conveyance roller pair 46 is disposed between the guide roller 30 and the guide roller 32 at the center of the first developing tank 14.
The transport roller pair 46 is supported by a pair of side plates (not shown), and rotates by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown).

A guide roller 48 having a diameter larger than that of the guide roller 30 is arranged between the conveying roller pair 46 and the guide roller 30. The guide rollers 48 are skewered rollers and guide rollers 24 to 38.
It is supported by a pair of side plates similarly to. A guide 52 is attached to the shaft of the guide roller 48 via a bracket 50. One end of the guide 52 is fixed to the bracket 50, and the other end is disposed toward the pair of transport rollers 46.
Thus, the PS plate 12 is guided between the pair of transport rollers 46.

Therefore, the PS plate 12 sent out into the first developing tank 14 by the conveying roller pair 22 is inserted between the guide roller 26 and the guide roller 40, and is guided by the guide rollers 28, 30, and 48 and descends obliquely. By 52, it is inserted between the conveying roller pair 46. After passing through the conveying roller pair 46, the guide rollers 32, 34,
It is guided diagonally by 36, 42, 38 and rises diagonally, and guide roller 44
And is sent out onto the overflow tank 18. As a result, the PS plate 12 is immersed in the developing solution in the first developing tank 14 and developed.

The guide roller 32 is formed such that a plurality of elastic rotating members are supported on the outer periphery of a spray pipe 54 having a plurality of discharge ports formed in the axial direction. This spray pipe 54
Communicates with one end of the conduit 56. The other end of the conduit 56 is the second
It penetrates the bottom of the developing tank 16 and projects into the second developing tank 16, and the liquid level of the second developing tank 16 is set. Pipeline 56
A supply pump 58 (P ₇ ) is arranged in the middle of, so that the developing solution 24 in the second developing tank 16 is sprayed by the spray pipe 54.
Is supplied to the first developing tank 14.

By supplying the developing solution 24 in the second developing tank 16 into the first developing tank 14, the activity of the developing solution 24 in the first developing tank 14 can be maintained.

Further, a spray pipe 60 is disposed above the guide roller 32. The spray pipe 60 is provided with a plurality of discharge ports that are opened toward the conveying roller pair 46 along the axial direction. The spray pipe 60 is also in communication with the conduit 56, and the developer 24 in the second developing tank 16 is supplied to the spray pipe 60 by the supply pump 58, so that the first developing tank
Supplied into 14

Brush between spray pipe 60 and guide roller 42
62 are arranged. The brush 62 has a rotating shaft 64 rotatably supported by a side plate (not shown), and rotates by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown).

In the brush 62, a long carpet brush (not shown) is spirally wound and adhered to a rotating shaft 64 via a nylon sheet (not shown). This carpet brush is nylon, ETE
Molded with F, PPS, PP, etc. In addition, the outer diameter is preferably 40 mmΦ or less and 20 to 40 mmΦ, and the wire diameter of the carpet brush is 20 to 70 μ.
Is set to The rotation speed of this carpet brush is 300r
pm or less, preferably 60-200 rpm.

Alternatively, the brush 62 may be formed by providing a spiral groove on the rotating shaft, inserting a torsion brush (not shown) into this groove, and winding the same. In this case, the twist brush is a brush in which bristles are fixed to two wire rods, and when the wire rods of this twist brush are inserted into the groove, the bristles are scattered substantially uniformly outside the groove, and the bristles erected in a radial direction are rotated. Are arranged substantially uniformly around. This torsion brush is formed of the same material as the carpet brush.

As shown in FIG. 1, a brush 78 having the same configuration as the brush 62 is disposed below the conveying path of the PS plate 12 between the guide rollers 36.

A brush preventing plate 80 is arranged on the guide roller 42 side of the brush 62. The anti-vibration plate 80 prevents the rear end of the PS plate 12 passing between the brush 62 and the guide roller 36 from being eclipsed. Further, an anti-peeling plate 82 is arranged between the brush 78 and the guide roller 38. Like the anti-shatter plate 80, the anti-shock plate 82 prevents the rear end portion of the PS plate 12 from being scratched.

A conduit 84 communicating with the bottom of the overflow tank 18 is open above the first developing tank 14. A pump 86 (P ₆ ) is arranged in the middle of the pipe 84. A pipe 90 communicating with the water supply tank 88 is opened on the first developing tank 14, and a water supply pump 92 (P ₂ ) is arranged in the middle of the pipe 90. The water supply pump 92 is connected to a conductivity supplement controller 176 described later. Thus, the timing of water supply to the first developing tank 14 is controlled.

The lower end of the first developing tank 14 communicates with one end of a conduit 94. In the middle of the pipe 94, a conductivity detector 96 (S),
A circulation pump 98 and a filter 100 (F) are arranged.
The other end communicates with the spray pipes 54 and 60. Therefore, by the operation of the circulation pump 98, the developer 24 stored in the lower portion of the first developing tank 14 passes through the inside of the conduit 94, passes through the conductivity detector 96 and the filter 100, and then again the first developing tank 1
It is sent to the spray pipes 54 and 60 in 4. This allows
The conductivity of the developing solution 24 is detected, dusts in the developing solution 24 are removed, and the developing solution 24 in the first developing tank 14 is stirred.

Further, the conductivity detector 96 detects the conductivity of the developer 24 passing through the pipe 94 by the conductivity replenishment controller 176 described later, and detects the conductivity of the developer 24 in the first developing tank 14. The detection result is transmitted to the conductivity replenishment controller 176.

A liquid surface cover 102 is disposed above the first developing tank 14. The movement of the liquid surface lid 102 in the transport direction of the PS plate 12 is regulated by a stopper (not shown), but the movement in the liquid surface height direction is not regulated. Therefore, when the liquid amount of the developer 24 in the first developing tank 14 decreases and the liquid level of the developer 24 decreases, the liquid level cover 102 descends following this decrease. As a result, the liquid surface lid 102 prevents deterioration of the developing solution 24 caused by the developing solution 24 coming into contact with carbon dioxide gas in the air. Further, the liquid surface lid 102 prevents the developer 24 from evaporating.

Further, a guide cover 104 for reentry is disposed above the first developing tank 14. The guide cover 104 jumps over the first developing tank 14 into the second developing tank 16 in order to perform the developing processing and the finishing processing again after the developing processing.
Insert the guide.

<Overflow tank> The upper part of the side wall of the first developing tank 14 on the overflow tank 18 side is bent to the overflow tank 18 side, and the first developing tank 14
The developer 24 in 14 overflows the upper part of this side wall,
It is collected in the overflow tank 18.

A transport roller pair 106 is disposed on an upper portion of a side wall that partitions between the overflow tank 18 and the second developing tank 16. The transport roller pair 106 is rotatably supported by a side plate (not shown), and rotates by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown). The PS plate 12 sent out between the guide rollers 38 and 44 is inserted between the pair of transport rollers 106.

A small-diameter roller 108 is disposed in contact with the conveying roller located above the conveying roller pair 106. The roller 108 prevents the developing solution 24 in the second developing tank 16 attached to the upper carrying roller from entering the overflow tank 18.

Further, the transport rollers located below the transport roller pair 106 include rollers 110 arranged in the overflow tank 18.
And a roller 112 arranged in the second developing tank 16 are arranged in contact with each other. The roller 110 is carried out by the PS plate 12 in the first developing tank 14 to prevent the developer 24 attached to the lower transport roller from entering the second developing tank 16. Further, the roller 112 is the developer 24 in the second developing tank 16.
Are prevented from entering the overflow tank 18.

One end of a pipe 114 penetrating the bottom extends into the overflow tank 18 from the bottom to a predetermined height position, and the height of the pipe 114 depends on the height of the pipe 114 from the bottom.
The liquid level of the developer 24 in 8 is set. This pipeline 1
The other end of 14 opens into the drainage tank 116.

<Second Developing Tank> A transport roller pair 118 is disposed above the second developing tank 16 on the finisher tank 20 side.
18 is rotatably supported by a side plate (not shown), and is rotated by transmitting the driving force of a driving means (not shown). The PS plate 12 sent out from between the transport roller pairs 106 is inserted between the transport roller pairs 118. Thus, the PS plate 12 is transported substantially horizontally above the second developing tank 16.

PS plate 1 between the transport roller located above the transport roller pair 106 and the transport roller pair 118 located above the transport roller pair 1
A spray pipe 120 having the same structure as the above-mentioned spray pipe 54 is arranged above the second conveyance path. The discharge port of the developing solution 24 of the spray pipe 120 is opened toward the side of the carrying roller located above the carrying roller pair 106, and the supplied developing solution 24 is located above the carrying roller pair 106. It discharges between the carrying roller and the upper surface side of the PS plate 12. The spray pipe 120 is communicated with one end of a conduit 122. The other end of the conduit 122 communicates with the bottom of the second developing tank 16, and a circulation pump 124 is provided in the middle. The developer 24 is stored under the second developer tank 16, and the developer 24 is supplied to the spray pipe 120 by the operation of the circulation pump 124. As a result, the developer 24 becomes the PS plate 12
Is applied to the surface of the substrate.

A guide roller 126 is disposed below the PS plate 12 transport path corresponding to the spray pipe 120. Like the guide roller 32, the guide roller 126 is formed by a plurality of elastic rotating members supported on the outer periphery of a spray pipe 128 having a plurality of discharge ports formed in the axial direction. The spray pipe 128 is connected to a pipe 122, and the developer 24 is supplied by the operation of the circulation pump 124.

The spray pipe 128 has a plurality of outlets along the axial direction and a PS roller and a PS roller which are located below the transport roller pair 118.
An opening is formed between the plate 12 and the back side. Thus, the supplied developer 24 is discharged and applied to the back side of the PS plate 12.

One end of a pipe line 130 communicates with the bottom of the second developing tank 16. The other end of the pipe 130 communicates with the stock solution tank 131. In the middle of the line 130, the developing replenisher supply pump 132
(P ₁₎ is disposed. This developing replenisher supply pump 13
2 is connected to a processing supplement controller 164 described later,
Its operation is controlled.

One end of a pipe 134 is communicated with the bottom of the second developing tank 16. The other end of the pipeline 134 communicates with the water supply tank 88. A water supply pump 136 (P ₃ ) is arranged in the middle of the pipeline 134. The water supply pump 136 is connected to the electric power supplement controller 176 and the process supplement controller 164, and the operation thereof is controlled.

The developing replenisher supply pump 132, the pipe 130, the water supply pump 136, the pipe 134, and the processing replenishment controller 164 constitute replenisher supply means.

One end of a conduit 138 penetrates through the bottom of the second developing tank 16 and projects into the second developing tank 16. The other end of the pipe 138 is open to the drain tank 140, and the developer 24 overflowing the pipe 138 is discharged.

<Finisher Tank> A partition plate 142 is provided on the side wall for partitioning the second developing tank 16 and the finisher tank 20. The partition plate 142 holds the developer 24 adhered to the transport roller pair 118 in the finisher tank 20.
It is designed so that it will not be mixed into the finisher liquid 152 therein.

At the upper part of the finisher tank 20, there is a pair of conveyor rollers on the outlet side.
The transport roller pair 144 on which the 144 is disposed is rotatably supported by a side plate (not shown), and rotates by transmitting a driving force of a driving unit (not shown). Conveyor roller pair 14
4 is arranged at a position slightly lower than the pair of transport rollers 118.
The PS plate 12 sent out from between the conveying roller pairs 118 is inserted between the conveying roller pairs 144. As a result, the PS plate 12 is transported with the upper part of the second developing tank 16 inclined.

A spray pipe 146 having the same configuration as the above-mentioned spray pipe 54 is arranged above the transport path of the PS plate 12 between the transport roller pair 118 and the transport roller pair 144. The discharge port of the finisher liquid 152 of the spray pipe 146 is a pair of conveying rollers.
An opening is made toward the side of the conveying roller located above 144, and the supplied finisher liquid 152 is conveyed to the conveying roller pair 1
It discharges between the conveying roller located above the 44 and the upper surface side of the PS plate 12. The spray pipe 146 is communicated with one end of the conduit 148. The other end of the pipe line 148 communicates with the bottom of the finisher tank 20, and a circulation pump 150 is provided on the way.
Is arranged. The finisher liquid 152 is stored in the lower part of the finisher tank 20, and the finisher liquid 152 is sprayed by the operation of the circulation pump 150.
Supplied to 46. As a result, the finisher solution 152 is PS
It is discharged and applied to the surface of the plate 12.

A finishing liquid application box 154 is arranged below the PS plate 12 transport path in correspondence with the spray pipe 146. The finisher coating box 154 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has an opening 154A facing upward.
Are formed. This finisher liquid application box
Inside 154, a spray pipe 156 is arranged. This spray pipe 156 has a plurality of discharge ports along the axial direction similarly to the spray pipe 146.
It is formed toward the corner inside 154. The spray pipe 156 is communicated with a pipe 148, and the finishing liquid 152 is supplied into the finishing liquid application box 154 by the operation of the circulation pump 150. The finisher solution 152 supplied into the finisher solution coating box 154 has an opening 154A.
It is applied to the back surface side of the PS plate 12 that overflows from the top and passes over the top.

One end of a conduit 158 communicates with the bottom of the finisher tank 20. The other end of the conduit 158 communicates with the raw stock solution tank 160. A conduit replenishing liquid supply pump 162 (P ₄ ) is arranged in the middle of the pipeline 158. The finisher replenisher supply pump 162 is connected to the process replenishment controller 164 to control its operation.

Further, one end of a pipe line 166 communicates with the bottom of the finisher tank 20. The other end of the pipeline 166 communicates with the water supply tank 88. A water supply pump 168 (P ₅ ) is arranged in the middle of the pipe 166. The water supply pump 168 is connected to the conductivity replenishment controller 176 and the process replenishment controller 164, and its operation is controlled.

Further, one end of a pipeline 170 penetrates through the bottom of the finisher tank 20 and projects into the finisher tank 20. The protrusion height into the finisher tank 20 sets the liquid level of the finisher liquid 152 in the finisher tank 20. Pipeline 1
The other end of 70 is opened to a drainage tank 172, and the finisher liquid 152 overflowing the pipe 170 is discharged.

Processing replenishment controller on the insertion side of transport roller pair 22
A detector 174 connected to 164 is located. Detector 17
At 4 PS plate 12 at the insertion port of lithographic printing plate processor 10
The passage time of the PS plate is detected and the preset PS processing speed and
The area of the PS plate 12 inserted into the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine 10 is calculated by the processing replenishment controller 164 together with the width dimension of the PS plate.

The electric power supplement controller 176 is the electric power detector 96.
The water supply pumps 92, 136, 168 are operated based on the detection result of the first developing tank 14, the second developing tank 16, and the finisher tank 20.
Top up with water.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

The PS plate 12 on which an image has been printed by a printing device (not shown) is inserted between the guide roller 40 and the guide roller 26 of the first developing tank 14 after being inserted into the transport roller pair 22, and the first developing tank
It is sent into 14. This PS version 12 is a guide roller 28, 3
It is guided by 0 and 48, descends, and is sent to the center of the first developing tank 14.

The large-diameter guide roller 48 guides the leading end of the PS plate 12 without deviating from a predetermined conveying path, and the guide 52 functions to insert the leading end of the PS plate 12 between the pair of conveying rollers 46.

The PS plate 12 inserted into the transport roller pair 46 and sent out from the transport roller pair 46 includes guide rollers 32, 34, 36, 42, 3
It is guided by 8 and 44 and rises and is sent out from the first developing tank 14.

The PS plate 12 has a pair of transport rollers in the developing solution 24 in the first developing tank 14.
The developer 24 is sprayed by the spray pipes 54 and 60 immediately after being squeezed when being nipped and conveyed by 46. The developer 24 in the first developing tank 14 is circulated by the spray pipes 54 and 60.

Furthermore, both sides of the PS plate 12 are rubbed by the brushes 62 and 78, and the swollen or dissolved unnecessary photosensitive layer is rubbed off, so that the PS plate 12 is almost completely developed.

Also, since the brushes 62 and 78 are formed to have a small diameter,
A rotating shaft 64 is arranged in the developer 24. This allows the developer
Since the contact of 24 with the air is reduced, the deterioration of the developing solution 24 can be prevented, the first developing tank 14 can be downsized, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, the developer 24 overflowing from the first developing tank 14 and being discharged into the overflow tank 18 is discharged from a pipe 114 to a discharging tank 116.

The developer 24 that has overflowed from the first developing tank 14 and has been discharged to the overflow tank 18 is supplied by a pump 86 to a pipe 84.
, And is supplied again into the first developing tank 14, so that the developer 24 can be effectively used.

The PS plate 12 sent out from the first developing tank 14 is a pair of conveying rollers.
The developer 24 is squeezed out while being nipped and conveyed by 106, and is sent out between the conveying roller pair 118. It is sent toward the pair of transport rollers 118, and is transported in a substantially horizontal direction while being guided by the guide rollers 126 in the upper portion of the second developing tank 16.

In the middle of this transportation, spray pipe 12 to both sides of PS plate 12
0, the developer 24 is discharged and applied by the spray pipe 128. Thus, the PS plate 12 is completely developed.

The developing solution 24 in the first developing tank 14 is exhausted by the developing process of the PS plate 12, but the developing stock solution and water are replenished into the second developing tank 16 by the processing replenishment controller 164, and the second developing tank 16 1 The developer 24 is replenished in the developing tank 14 and fatigue is recovered. The developer 24 flows from the overflow tank 18 to the pipeline 11
It is discharged into the discharge tank 116 through 4.

In addition, the liquid level of the developer 24 in the second developing tank 16 rises due to the replenishment and is positioned above the open end of the pipe 56.
The height of the open end of the conduit 56 sets the liquid level of the processing liquid in the second developing tank 16. From this state, the supply pump 58 (P ₇ ) is activated, and the developer in the second developing tank 16 is
24 is sent to the spray pipes 54 and 60 of the first developing tank 14,
Supply into the developing tank 14. This supply amount is set to the same amount as the replenishment amount replenished in the second developing tank 16. Also, the second
The PS plate 12 coated with the developer 24 in the developing tank 16 is the first developing tank 14
Since it has been developed in advance, the deterioration due to the treatment of the developer 24 in the second developing tank 16 is small.

Therefore, since the developing solution 24 in the second developing tank 16 with extremely little deterioration is supplied into the first developing tank 14, the developing solution 24
Can be used for a long period of time.

Further, since the upper surface of the developing solution 24 is covered with the liquid surface lid 102, it is possible to prevent the developing solution 24 from being deteriorated due to contact with air, and to reduce evaporation of the developing solution 24. As a result, the PS plate 12 can be stably processed for a long period of time.

 Next, replenishment of the developer 24 will be described.

When a lot of PS plates 12 are developed in the first developing tank 14,
The developer 24 becomes fatigued. The degree of fatigue of the developing solution 24 is detected by the detector 174 for the area of the PS plate 12 to be processed, and is calculated by the processing replenishment controller 164, so that the deterioration of the developing solution 24 can be recovered by replenishing the developing solution 24. it can.

That is, the area of the PS plate 12 to be inserted is detected by the detector 174, and based on the detection result, the processing replenishment controller 164 controls the development replenisher supply pump 132 and the water supply pump 136.
And the developing replenisher supply pump 132 for supplying the developing replenisher by the replenishing amount corresponding to the area of the PS plate 12 after the operation time is calculated.
The feed pump 136 is adapted to be activated. next,
A supply pump for supplying the developing solution 24, which is almost the same as the replenishing amount replenished in the second developing tank 16 and is almost new, into the first developing tank 14.
Operate 58 (P ₇ ) for a certain period of time.

Further, the electric conductivity of the developing solution 24 is detected by the electric conductivity detector 96, the developing solution 24 is concentrated, and the electric degree is increased,
When it becomes a predetermined value or more, the conductivity replenishing controller 176 operates the water supply pump 92 to supply water to the first developing tank 14. Further, the water evaporation amounts of the second developing tank 18 and the finisher tank 20 are measured in advance, and the water supply pump 136 and the water supply pump 168 are operated in proportion to the operation of the water supply pump 92. This water replenishment rate is set to 10 cc to 1000 cc / time.

Alternatively, depending on the detected conductivity value, the water supply pump
136 and the water supply pump 168 may be operated to supplement the water evaporation amount.

The refining tank 20 has a processing replenishment controller.
A finisher replenishing liquid supply pump 162 and a water supply pump 168 replenish the finisher replenishing liquid and water at a constant ratio by 164.

As a result, the concentration of the developing solution 24 and the finishing solution 152 is prevented, the activities of the developing solution 24 and the finishing solution 152 are kept constant as well as the area replenishment, and stable development processing can be performed for a long period of time.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate 12 is used as the photosensitive material.
However, the present invention can be applied to other photosensitive materials such as a developing device for a waterless planographic printing plate and a developing device for a photosensitive recording material.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing machine according to the present invention. 10: Photosensitive planographic printing plate processor, 12: Photosensitive planographic printing plate (PS plate), 14 ... First developing tank, 16 ... Second developing tank, 18 ... Overflow tank, 20 ... Finisher Tank, 24 …… Developer, 56 …… Pipe, 58 …… Supply pump.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus for sequentially transporting and processing an image-wise exposed photosensitive material into a first processing tank containing a processing liquid and a second processing tank, wherein the second processing is carried out. Liquid level setting means provided in the tank for setting the liquid level of the processing liquid in the second processing tank, and a liquid level set by the liquid level setting means in the second processing tank or more Replenishing means for replenishing the replenishing solution to the first processing vessel, and replenishing means for supplying the same amount of the processing solution as the replenishing solution replenished into the second processing vessel from the second processing vessel into the first processing vessel. A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising: