Photographic photosensitive solution manufacturing method and apparatus

Claim 1

A method for manufacturing photographic photosensitive solution, comprising the steps of: preparing in advance Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions and supplying said Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions to respective storage tanks; providing for said storage tanks respective motor-controlled flow control valves having a rate of change of flow rate with valve stroke which is small and linear; and controlling said flow control valves to supply Ag⁺ and X⁻ solution from said storage tanks to a precipitation vessel at rates determined in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 2

A method for manufacturing photographic photosensitive solution, comprising the steps of: preparing in advance Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions and supplying said Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions to respective storage tanks; providing for said storage tanks respective motor-controlled flow control valves having a rate of change of flow rate with valve stroke which is small and linear; and controlling said flow control valves to supply Ag⁺ and X⁻ solution from said storage tanks to a precipitation vessel at rates determined in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 7

An apparatus for manufacturing a photographic photo­sensitive solution, comprising: respective raw material storage tanks for storing previously prepared Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions; a flow control valve connected to an outlet of each of said tanks for controlling an outlet flow rate of each of said Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions from the respective tanks; a precipitation vessel for adding Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions received through said flow control valves; means for agitating the added Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions in said precipitation vessel; and a controller for controlling said flow control valves in accordance with a predetermined program, each of said flow control valves comprising: an electric motor; a feed screw mechanism and coupling plate for converting rotation of said motor into linear motion; a valve shaft connected to said coupling plate for moving said valve shaft vertically; a valve casing having a valve seat formed therein and comprising an inlet-side casing, said valve shaft extending along a central axis of said inlet-side casing, and an outlet side casing merging with said inlet-side casing; a valve body connected to said valve shaft, said valve body comprising a working face in the form of a circular truncated cone tapered towards an outlet of said valve, and a valve head disposed in said outlet-side casing, said valve head being shaped with respect to a valve opening area between a surface of said valve head and said valve seat so that a rate of change of flow rate with valve stroke is small and linear, a valve stroke to fully open said valve seat occurring in said inlet-side opening.

Claim 8

An apparatus for manufacturing a photographic photo­sensitive solution, comprising: respective raw material storage tanks for storing previously prepared Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions; a flow control valve connected to an outlet of each of said tanks for controlling an outlet flow rate of each of said Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions from the respective tanks; a precipitation vessel for adding Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions received through said flow control valves; means for agitating the added Ag⁺ and X⁻ solutions in said precipitation vessel; and a controller for controlling said flow control valves in accordance with a predetermined program, each of said flow control valves comprising: an electric motor; a feed screw mechanism and coupling plate for converting rotation of said motor into linear motion; a valve shaft connected to said coupling plate for moving said valve shaft vertically; a valve casing having a valve seat formed therein and comprising an inlet-side casing, said valve shaft extending along a central axis of said inlet-side casing, and an outlet side casing merging with said inlet-side casing; a valve body connected to said valve shaft, said valve body comprising a working face in the form of a circular truncated cone tapered towards an outlet of said valve, and a valve head disposed in said outlet-side casing, said valve head being shaped with respect to a valve opening area between a surface of said valve head and said valve seat so that a rate of change of flow rate with valve stroke is small and linear, a valve stroke to fully open said valve seat occurring in said inlet-side opening.