JPH0279843A - Method and device for processing photographic material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform development processing with a small quantity of processing solution by forming a slit opposed to the emulsion surface of photographic material to be processed on a processing solution supply board and feeding the processing solution supplied from the slit to a gap between the supply board and the emulsion surface thereof so that photographic processing is performed. CONSTITUTION:The processing solution supply board 1 is provided opposed to and close the traveling photographic material to be processed F and the slit 3 is formed facing to the emulsion surface of the photographic material to be processed F on the supply board 1, then photographic processing is performed by feeding the processing solution supplied from the slit 3 to the gap 2 between the supply board 1 and the emulsion surface. In such a case, the gap 2 between the back surface of the supply board 1 and the emulsion surface is within the range of 0.05-5mm. Since the gap 2 between the processing solution supply board 1 and the emulsion surface is narrow, the processing solution spreads all over the emulsion surface in a short time and the solution can be uniformly supplied by supplying the processing solution to the gap 2 through the slit 3. Thus, development can be completely performed by supplying a small quantity of new processing solution.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to silver halide photographic materials in the form of rolls or sheets (including both those having a reflective support and those having a transparent support). The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing photographic materials (hereinafter referred to as "photosensitive materials"), and more particularly to a method and apparatus for processing photographic materials that can be developed with a small amount of processing solution and generates a small amount of waste solution.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, there are various methods for developing photographic materials, such as dipping, spraying, and spraying, but in general, a processing solution is placed in each processing tank arranged horizontally. The photosensitive material is immersed in this processing liquid, and is conveyed through a plurality of guide rollers while being curved to be sequentially processed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In such immersion processing, minilab systems are being developed in response to recent demands for smaller amounts of processing liquid, shorter processing times, and smaller installation spaces.

However, even in such an improved minilab system, problems remain in transportation of photographic materials, handling of waste liquid, etc. That is, the small developing machine used in the minilab system has at least one color developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank (or a bleaching tank/fixing tank), and a washing tank or a stabilizing tank as an alternative to washing. A large number of rollers for conveying photographic material are provided in each tank and between the seeds.

The processing liquid is stored in various locations and replenished according to the processing amount, but after a certain amount of use, fatigue reaches its limit and the processing liquid must be replaced. Therefore, the generation of waste liquid is unavoidable, and the treatment of this waste liquid becomes a problem. For this reason, small volume liquid processing is desired.

In addition, processing solutions (especially color developing solutions) must be used for rapid processing.
Since the entire processing liquid must be heated to an appropriate processing temperature, there is a problem in that it takes time to warm up the processing liquid at the start of processing.

Furthermore, even though the size has been reduced, if the tanks are arranged side by side, space for at least three tanks and the attached equipment is required, and further miniaturization is desired. It is also possible to stack the tanks, but this poses a maintenance problem and is not practical.

Furthermore, in small-volume processing, uniform dispersion of the processing liquid is an important issue, and for this reason, it is desired to develop a technique that allows simple uniform dispersion.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the amount of processing liquid and waste liquid,
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for processing a photographic material, which requires almost no warming up at the start of processing, is maintenance-free, can be made compact, and allows simple uniform diffusion.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A method for processing a photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object has a processing liquid supply stand facing and close to the traveling photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, A slit is formed in the table facing the emulsion surface of the photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, and photographic processing is carried out by feeding the processing liquid supplied from the slit into the gap between the supply table and the emulsion surface.

Further, the processing apparatus for photographic light-sensitive materials of the present invention which achieves the above-mentioned object has a processing liquid supply stage facing and adjacent to the traveling photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, and the supply stage is provided with a A slit is formed toward the emulsion surface, and the processing liquid supplied from the slit is sent into the gap between the supply table and the emulsion surface, and the gap between the lower surface of the processing liquid supply table and the emulsion surface is It is characterized by being in the range of 0.05 to 511 Il.

[Function] In the present invention, since the gap between the processing liquid supply stage and the emulsion surface is very narrow, when the processing liquid is supplied to the gap through the slit, the processing liquid spreads over the entire surface of the emulsion within a short time. Enables uniform liquid supply.

Furthermore, since the processing liquid is removed in response to the transport of the photographic material, sufficient development can be achieved even with a small supply of new processing liquid.

And because it processes a small amount of liquid, almost no waste liquid is generated.

Further, since the processing is performed in the gap between the supply table and the emulsion surface of the photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, uniform development is possible, unlike conventional processing using multiple tanks, and the apparatus can be made more compact.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of a processing apparatus suitable for the processing method of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

The following explanation will be made regarding color vapor, which will be referred to as a photographic material. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to color but also to monochrome photographic materials.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a processing liquid supply stand for color development (CD), which is provided opposite the emulsion surface of the moving photographic light-sensitive material F to be processed. The lower surface of this table 1 is provided close to the emulsion surface, and a gap 2 is formed between the supply table 1 and the emulsion surface.

The width of this gap 2 <1) may be in the range of u = o, os ~ 51, but preferably u = 0.08 ~ 3 mm,
More preferably, it is 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

This gap may be appropriately determined depending on the concentration of the processing liquid, the size of the area to be processed of the photographic material, etc. In the present invention, when the lower surface of the supply table 1 has an uneven part (for example, a beat) as shown in FIG.
Determine the tan based on the flat part. If there is no flat part on the lower surface of the supply table 1, the pattern is determined based on the part closest to the emulsion surface.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a slit provided in the supply table 1, which is provided from the top to the bottom of the table 1. Although the shape of the slit is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the cross section is straight, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, but it does not have to be. What is important is that the slit 3 is formed facing the emulsion surface. Since it is sufficient to face the emulsion surface, it is not necessary to supply the liquid from the top of the supply table 1, and the liquid may be supplied from the side of the supply table 1. Note that the means for supplying the color developer (CD) to the slit is not particularly limited, and may be supplied continuously or intermittently depending on development consumption, and is usually supplied by an intermittent pumping means.

The material of the supply table 1 is not particularly limited, but a resin molded product is preferable in order to reduce weight and cost. The shape is not particularly limited, but the bottom surface may have a recessed beat (as shown in Figure 1).
By providing the IA (liquid pool) or a convex portion (not shown), an agitating flow or a vortex is formed, and the effect of stirring the liquid can be achieved. Also, the area is calculated as one frame of service size photosensitive material F (for example, one frame size is 8.2 cm).
x12cm, 1 frame area approximately 100cm2, below:
The frame size of the service size means this value unless otherwise specified. ) minutes or more is convenient for intermittent continuous processing.

4 is a photographic material developing stand. A vibration device may be attached to the developing pedestal 4 in order to vibrate the photographic light-sensitive material and improve liquid agitation on the emulsion surface.
D This is a heater for heating the processing liquid. 6 is a squeeze means, such as a squeeze roller, a squeeze air,
Measures such as wiping and suction can be used.

7 is a bleach-fixing (BF) processing liquid supply table, and 8 is a slit provided in the supply table 7.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a processing liquid supply table for washing alternative stabilization (ST) provided as necessary, and 1o denotes a slit. Supply stand 7
, 9 and the emulsion surface may be the same as the gap between the CD liquid supply table 1 and the emulsion surface, or may be different. If they are different, it is preferable that U≠0.05 to 5III11.

A method of performing photographic processing using the above apparatus will be explained. Although not limited to the photographic light-sensitive material F, in this example, the above-mentioned one frame size is 8.2 cllX.
A service size photographic material of 12 cm and one frame area of approximately 100 cm2 is used. This photographic light-sensitive material F is intermittently run on the developing table 4. This travel leads to the lower part of the CD liquid supply table 1.

If the gap on the bottom surface of the CD liquid supply table 1 is large enough to handle one frame of service size photosensitive material F in one process, intermittent continuous processing is performed as follows. be able to. That is, when a predetermined frame portion of the photographic light-sensitive material F reaches the lower part of the CD liquid supply table 1, the photographic light-sensitive material F
Stop transporting. A CD processing liquid is supplied through the slit 3. The CD processing is completed in a few seconds, and the photographic material F is conveyed again. After being squeezed by the squeeze means, the photographic material F reaches the lower part of the BF liquid supply stage 7. The previously CD-processed frame reaches a predetermined position on the BF liquid supply table 7. The BF treatment liquid is supplied through the slit 8 and the BF
It is processed. After the BF processing, the relevant frame portion is similarly subjected to no ST processing as required.

In the above treatment, the treated waste liquid is stored in a waste liquid tank (not shown).

When the above processing is completed, the apparatus is washed with washing water, and the washing waste liquid is stored in a waste liquid tank (not shown). Note that the cleaning water supply line may be the same as the treatment liquid supply line, or may be a separately provided cleaning water supply line.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto and includes the following aspects.

(1) In the above embodiment, the photo processing method was explained by providing each of the CD, BF, and ST processing tables, or CD processing → cleaning → BF processing → cleaning → ST processing is performed using only the CD stage 1. be able to.

(2) Furthermore, it is also possible to form an integrated processing liquid supply table as shown in FIG. 2, which can perform the three steps of CD processing, BF processing, and ST processing. In the figure, 11 is a processing liquid supply table, and 12, 13, and 14 are slits. 15, 16, and 17 are squeeze means (air squeeze).

In the above embodiment, the liquid supply table 11 is used for photographic material F.
It is also possible to provide the processing liquid on the lower side of the slit and supply the processing liquid from below to above through the slit. In this case, the developing pedestal 4 can be omitted by increasing the tension of the photographic material F.

(3) Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a processing liquid supply stand 1' may be provided opposite the photographic light-sensitive material F running on the inclined surface, and the processing liquid may be supplied from the slit 3' on the inclined surface. By arranging the treatment liquid supply stands for CD→BF-+ST in an upward direction, back contamination can be prevented.

(4) Also, as shown in FIG. 4, a sponge material 18 may be provided in the gap between the processing liquid supply stage l and the emulsion surface.If a sponge material with liquid retention properties is used, the supplied liquid can be pumped through the slit 3. Do not put the pump, etc. at high pressure.

Since there is no need to carry out the process, the device can be simplified. The sponge material used here is a spongy material with open cells, such as PVC foam, which is preferably used, but various types with different cell sizes and hardness can be used. It is.

Furthermore, there are also ways to use water-absorbing resins that function in the same way as sponges, porous sintered materials called new ceramics, perforated metal plates, mesh materials, woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, metal sintered bodies, etc. is also included.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the sponge material in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 may be replaced with a rotating body 19 such as a roller or a roll.
The squeezing means 6 in this embodiment employs wiping means such as a sponge.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, parts with the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same configuration, and therefore their explanations will be omitted.

In addition, when the photographic material is a direct positive (color) photographic material and the CD liquid does not contain a fogging agent, the CD
A fog exposure means is provided before processing or during the CD processing step.

The photographic material and processing time to which the present invention can be preferably applied will be described below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The silver halide grains used in the silver halide emulsion layer of the photographic light-sensitive material processed according to the present invention include, for example, silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, and silver iodobromide. silver chloride at least 80 mol %, especially 9
Preferably, it is substantially silver chloride, containing 0 mol%,
The amount of bromide and iodide is preferably extremely small.

In particular, when the silver chloride content is 95 mol % or more, it is preferably used because the desired effect of the present invention can be achieved well and furthermore, it is quick. Particularly preferably silver chloride is 98 mol% or more. In a special case, the blue-sensitive layer is silver halide containing 30 mol% bromide and the other two layers, e.g. *! l! ! It is also a preferred embodiment that the light layer and the red light-sensitive layer contain about 99 mol % of chloride. The silver halide is preferably a core-shell particle having a double layer structure.

The silver chloride preferably used in the present invention is at least 8
Silver halide emulsion layers containing 0 mol %, in particular 90 mol %, of silver halide grains contain color couplers. These color couplers react with color developing agent oxidation products to form non-diffusible dyes. Color couplers are advantageously incorporated in non-diffusive form in or closely adjacent to the photosensitive layer.

Thus, the red-sensitive layer may contain, for example, a non-diffusive color coupler, generally a phenolic or alpha-naphthol coupler, which produces a cyan partial color image.

The green-sensitive layer may contain, for example, at least one non-diffusive color coupler which produces a magenta partial color image, usually a 5-pyrazolone color coupler and a pyrazolotriazole coupler. The blue-sensitive layer may, for example, contain at least one non-diffusive color coupler that produces a yellow color image, generally a color coupler having an open chain ketomethylene group.

Color couplers can be, for example, 6-4- or 2-equivalent couplers.

In the present invention, 2-equivalent couplers are particularly preferred.

Suitable couplers are disclosed, for example, in the following publications:
Agfa research report (MitLeilung I mouth)
den Forschungslaboratory
der Agfa), Leverkusen/Munich (Levcrkusen/Munchen),
Vol, m, p, 111 (1961)
"Color coupler" (F
arbkuppler) ; Kay Ventakataraman (
K.

Venkataraman), “The Chemistry of Synthetic Dice J”
irsry of Synthetic Dyes), V
ol, 4. :141-387, Academic Press (
Academic Press), “The Theory of the Photographic Processes J (The
Theory of the Photography
phic Process), 4th edition, pp. 353-362; and Research Disclosure.
No. 17643, Section ■.

In the present invention, in particular, JP-A-6:1-10665
General formula [M-1 as described in Specification No. 5, page 26
] (Specific examples of these magenta couplers include No. I to No. 77 described in JP-A-63-106655, pages 29 to 34.), also described in page 34. The general formula [
C-I] or [C-II] (Specific examples of cyan couplers include those described in the same specification, 3
(C″-1) to (c′-82) described on pages 7 to 42, (
C″-1) to (C″-36)), same <2
The high-speed yellow couplers described on page 0 (specific examples of cyan couplers include (Y'-1) to (Y'-39) described on pages 21 to 26 of the same specification) were processed according to the present invention. It is preferable to use it in combination with a photographic light-sensitive material, from the viewpoint of the desired effect of the present invention.

In the present invention, when a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic mercapto compound is used in combination with the high silver chloride photographic light-sensitive material preferably used in the present invention, not only the desired effects of the present invention can be favorably achieved, but also This can be cited as a more preferred embodiment of the present invention because it has the additional effect of minimizing the influence on photographic performance that occurs when a bleach-fix solution is mixed into the film.

Specific examples of these nitrogen-containing heterocyclic mercapto compounds include JP-A-6:1-1 (J6655 Specification, 42-45
Examples include (I'-1) to (1'-87) described on page.

Silver chloride content preferably used in the present invention 80 mol%,
In particular, silver halide emulsions of greater than 90 mole % may be prepared by conventional methods (eg, single or double flow with constant or accelerated feed of material).

1) Adjustment method using double inflow method while adjusting Ag is particularly preferred: Research Disclosure No. 17
643, Sections E and II.

Silver halide emulsions can be chemically sensitized. Sulfur-containing compounds such as allyl isothiocyanate, allylthiourea or thiosulfate are particularly preferred; reducing agents can also be used as chemical sensitizers, such as those described in Belky patents 493,464 and 56
8,687, and polyamines such as diethylenetriamine or aminomethylsulfinic acid derivatives, such as diethylenetriamine, as described in Berly Patent No. 547.32:1. Noble metals and noble metal compounds such as gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium or rhodium are also suitable sensitizers. This chemical sensitization method is used in Zeitschrift Fair Bissenschaftliche Photography (Z, Wiss, Photo,) 46.65~
72 (1951) by Earl Koslowski (R.
siovsky); see also Research Disclosure No. 17643, cited above.

Silver halide emulsions are prepared by optically known methods 1 using common polymethine dyes such as dinitrodianines, basic or acidic carbocyanines, rhodacyanines, hemicyanines, styryl dyes, oxonols and the like.
Can be sensitized: F.M. Hammer (F, M.
The Cyanin Soy and Related Compounder J
e Dyes and related Compoun
ds) (1964) Ullmann's Hemy (l l l5
annsEnzyklpadie der techn
ischen Chemie) 4th edition.

See Volume 18, page 431 and the following, and Research Disclosure No. 17643, section 1 above.

Conventional antifoggants and stabilizers can be used in the silver halide emulsions. Azaindenes are particularly suitable stabilizers, with tetra- and penta-azaindenes being preferred, especially those substituted with hydroxyl or amino groups.

Compounds of this type are described, for example, in the paper by Birr, Zeitschrift Ver Wissänschaftliche Fotografie (Z, Wiss, Photo) 47.
．． 1952, p. 2-58, and the above-mentioned Research Disclosure No. 17643, Section ■.

The components of the photographic light-sensitive material can be incorporated by conventionally known methods; for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,322,027, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,764. : No. 136 and No. 3,765,89
See No. 7.

Components of the photographic material, such as couplers and UV absorbers, can also be contained in the form of charged latex; see patent application No. 2,541,274 and European patent application No. 14,921; the components are It can also be fixed in photographic materials as a polymer; for example, US Pat. No. 2,044,992, US Pat. :17
See 0.952 and 4,080,211.

As supports for the photographic materials processed according to the invention, conventional supports can be used, for example supports of cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate and supports of polyesters. In the present invention, paper supports are used. Particularly suitable and these can be coated, for example, with polyolefins, especially polyethylene or polypropylene; in this regard, Research Disclosure No. 17643, supra. Section VVT
reference.

Conventional woody film formers can be used as protective colloids or binders for photosensitive materials,
These are, for example, proteins, especially gelatin, algines or derivatives thereof such as esters, amides or salts, cellulose conductors such as carboxymethyl cellulose and cellulose sulfate, starch or its derivatives or hydrophilic synthetic binders; Reference may also be made to the binders shown in Section IX.

The layer of photographic material provided on the support can be hardened by conventional methods, for example using epoxide, heterocyclic ethyleneimine or acryloyl type hardeners. Furthermore, the photographic constituent layers can be cured by a method according to US Pat. No. 2,218,009 to produce a color photographic material suitable for high temperature operation. The above layer can also be cured with diazine, triazine or 1,2-dihydroquinoline type hardeners or vinylsulfone type hardeners. Other suitable curing agents are disclosed in Patent Application Publication No. 2, 4.
39,551, 2,225, 2:10 and 2.
No. 317,672 and Research Disclosure 17643, supra, Section Blade.

Further, in the most preferable processing step in the present invention, the processing time of all processing steps (excluding the drying step) of the color development step, bleach-fixing step, and water washing or stabilization step is preferably 90 seconds or less, and particularly preferably 60 seconds or less. It ranges from seconds to 75 seconds, more preferably from 9 seconds to 60 seconds, and most preferably from 15 seconds to 50 seconds.

In the present invention, the processing time of the color development step is preferably within 35 seconds, more preferably in the range of 3 seconds to 30 seconds, even more preferably in the range of 5 seconds to 25 seconds, and most preferably 7 seconds. It is in the range of seconds to 20 seconds.

Further, in the present invention, the processing time of the bleach-fixing step in the processing steps is preferably 10 to 50%, but from the viewpoint of the desired effect of the present invention, it is more preferably in the range of 20 to 40%. used.

In the above, the time for all processing steps refers to the time from when the photographic light-sensitive material comes into contact with the color developing solution until just before the drying step begins. Color development processing time refers to the time from when the photographic material or color developer comes into contact with the bleach-fix solution. Stabilization processing time refers to the time from when the photographic material is washed with water or comes into contact with the stabilizing solution until just before the same location begins the drying process. It is time for the processing process.

[Effect of the invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of processing liquid and waste liquid,
It is possible to provide a method and apparatus for processing a photographic material that does not require ohming-up at the start of processing, can be made compact without maintenance, and can uniformly diffuse a processing solution.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. 2 to 5 are schematic sectional views showing other embodiments of the present invention. F: Photographic photosensitive material 1: CD liquid supply stand 2: Gap 3.8, 10 Nislit 4: Developing stand 6 Nisqueeze means 7: BF liquid supply stand 8: ST liquid supply stand

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A processing liquid supply stage is provided opposite to and in close proximity to the traveling photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, and a slit is formed in the supply stage toward the emulsion surface of the photographic light-sensitive material to be processed. A method for processing a photographic material, characterized in that photographic processing is carried out by sending a processing liquid supplied from the slit into a gap between a supply table and an emulsion surface. 2. A processing liquid supply stage is provided opposite to and adjacent to the traveling photographic light-sensitive material to be processed, and a slit is formed in the supply stage facing the emulsion surface of the photographic light-sensitive material to be processed. A photographic photosensitive device having a structure in which the processing liquid to be supplied is sent into a gap between a supply table and an emulsion surface, and the gap between the lower surface of the processing liquid supply table and the emulsion surface is in the range of 0.05 to 5 mm. Material processing equipment.