JPH0764263A - Automatic processor for processing silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] By supplying the solid processing agent and the replenishing water contained in the storage container to the processing tank of the photosensitive material processing device in a timely manner, the concentration of the main agent of the processing liquid in the processing tank can be improved. Holds uniformly and obtains stable photographic performance. [Configuration] A unit amount of solid processing agent J is supplied to the solid processing agent supply means.
At least 50% of the replenishment water W in the unit amount is supplied after the fixed amount of time has elapsed after the supply of the replenishment water to the treatment tank 30 by 30 and before the dissolution of the solid processing agent J.
An automatic developing machine for processing silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, which is supplied into the processing tank by 40. Further, after the unit amount of the solid processing agent J is supplied by the solid processing agent supplying unit 30, at least 50% of the unit amount of the replenishing water is supplied by the replenishing water supplying unit 40.
Time T until supply by the unit of solid treatment agent J
The automatic developing machine for processing silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, in which the dissolution time S and is set in the range of 0.15 <T / S <0.6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, and more particularly to downsizing of the automatic developing machine and elimination of melting work, which can greatly improve workability and can be processed. The present invention relates to an automatic processor whose performance is dramatically improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a light-sensitive material) is used after exposure, development,
It is processed by steps such as desilvering, washing and stabilizing. The black-and-white silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is developed and fixed after exposure. Black and white developer, color developer, bleach for desilvering,
A bleach-fixing solution, a fixing solution for fixing treatment, tap water or ion-exchanged water for washing, a stabilizing solution for anhydrous washing, and a stabilizing solution for dye stabilizing treatment are used.

A liquid having a processing function for performing each of these processing steps is called a processing liquid. Each processing solution is usually 30
The temperature is adjusted to -40 ° C, and the light-sensitive material is dipped in these processing solutions and processed.

Such processing is usually carried out by an automatic processor (hereinafter,
It is also carried out by sequentially transporting the processing liquid in the processing tank containing the processing liquid.

When referred to as an automatic developing machine, it has a developing section, a fixing section, a desilvering section, a washing or stabilizing section and a drying section, and means for automatically and sequentially transporting the photographic light-sensitive material through each processing tank section. Generally refers to a developing machine having

In the case of processing with such an automatic processor, a method of replenishing a processing agent is generally widely used in order to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing tank constant.

Specifically, the replenishing solution is supplied from the replenishing tank to the processing tank at appropriate times to perform the processing operation.

In this case, the replenishing liquid itself stored in the replenishing tank is generally prepared and prepared in a different place, but in a minilab or the like, a fixed amount is stored in the replenishing tank installed close to the developing machine. It is usually adjusted all at once, but in its production, dissolution by hand or dissolution and mixing by a mixer has been performed.

That is, a processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a photographic processing agent) is commercially available in a powder or liquid form.
In the case of a powder, it is prepared by manually dissolving it in a fixed amount of water, and in the case of a liquid, it is concentrated so that a fixed amount of water is added and the mixture is simply stirred and diluted before use.

The replenishment tank may be installed next to the automatic machine, and it is necessary to secure a considerable space. In addition, even in the mini-laboratory where the number of laboratories is increasing rapidly recently, a replenishing tank is built in the main body of the developing machine, but at least 5 to 10 liters of each processing solution is necessary, and this much replenishing tank space is required inside the automatic processor. Need to secure.

Further, the replenishing processing agent is divided into several parts in order to obtain good and stable performance in photographic processing. For example, the color developing solution for color is divided into 3 to 4 parts, and the replenisher for the bleach-fixing solution for color is divided into a ferric salt of organic acid as an oxidizing agent and a thiosulfate as a reducing agent. That is, when the replenisher is prepared, the concentrated part of the ferric organic acid salt and the concentrated part containing thiosulfate are mixed and a certain amount of water is added for use.

The concentrated parts are put in a container such as a plastic container, and put together in an outer bag (for example, a cardboard box) to be marketed as a one-unit treating agent kit.

The replenishing treatment agent in which the above-mentioned part agent is made into a kit is used after dissolving, diluting, mixing and finishing to a fixed amount, but the replenishing treatment agent has the following drawbacks.

First, most of the conventional kits are concentrated aqueous solutions for improving workability, and some kits are aqueous solutions having a pH of 2.0 or less or 12.0 or more.
Many of them are dangerous to the human body, such as adherence to the skin, and some are corrosive, so they are contained in robust containers.
Further, since it is an aqueous solution, there is a limit to the degree of dissolution and concentration, and the weight and volume are larger than when it is a solid.

Secondly, each part agent is placed in a container,
Depending on the replenishment processing agent, the number of part agents is several, and the number of containers is considerably large when it becomes one unit, which requires a lot of space for storage and transportation.

A third drawback is the disposal of empty containers. The plastic containers for photographs have almost no biodegradability and accumulate, and when incinerated, a large amount of carbon dioxide gas is generated, which contributes to global warming and acid rain. Further, as a user's problem, it is pointed out that a large number of plastic containers are piled up in a narrow work space and cannot be crushed due to their strength, and the space is further reduced.

Fourthly, the life of a normal replenisher is usually several weeks, which is short and very unstable.

In a minilab that receives an average of about 30 color films per day, 10 liters of replenisher is often used for more than one month.

In such a case, the replenishing solution in the replenishing tank is much more exposed to air than the processing solution in the replenishing tank, which is inferior, and sufficient photographic processing performance may not be obtained.

In addition, taking the color developing replenisher for color paper as an example, when a color developing replenisher for color paper is prepared, after a certain amount of water is put in the replenishing tank,
Add the preservative-containing concentration kit A and stir, then add the color developing agent-containing concentration kit B and stir, then add the alkali agent-containing concentration kit C and stir, and finally add water to a certain amount. To finish. If this work order is incorrect, problems such as crystal precipitation, unstable photographic performance, and device failure will occur.

As described above, the method of preparing a replenishing solution using a commonly used concentration kit or the method of preparing a replenishing solution using a powder agent is exemplified by a color developing solution for color paper. There are the above-mentioned problems, and there are similar problems with bleach-fixing solutions, bleaching solutions and fixing solutions.

On the other hand, in addition to the method of preparing a replenisher using the concentration kit or powder as described above, a method of directly replenishing the concentration kit is known.

In this method, in order to improve the inefficiency of the dissolving work, the concentration kit is directly replenished in the treatment tank by using a supply means such as a bellows pump, and a certain amount of replenishing water is independently supplied. is there. Certainly, this method does not require a liquid preparation operation as compared with the method of adjusting the replenisher solution from the above-mentioned concentration kit or powder. Alternatively, since a replenisher is not prepared, the problem of storability is eliminated.

However, the above method also has many problems. That is, in order to supply the concentration kit, a tank for the concentration kit and a pump as a supply means are newly required, which is a problem that the automatic developing machine becomes large.

Further, since the concentration kit is a concentrated liquid, crystals are likely to precipitate near the outlet of the replenishing nozzle, which makes maintenance difficult. In the case of replenishing the concentrated liquid, if the replenishment accuracy is further deviated even a little, there is a problem that the photographic performance fluctuates greatly. As another problem, the conventional replenishment method and the amount of the waste poly container do not change even if the waste poly container is provided with the concentration kit.

Several proposals have been made for reducing the number of plastic containers and improving the chemical stability of the replenisher by methods other than the above.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-11032 discloses a technique of encapsulating a developing component in microcapsules, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-51.
-61837 discloses a photographic tablet containing a disintegrant. Furthermore, JP-A Nos. 2-109042 and 2-109043,
3-39735 and 3-39739 disclose a method of using a granulated photographic processing agent having a certain average particle diameter.

The photographic tablet containing the disintegrating agent described in JP-A-51-61837 merely proposes a tablet which is easily dissolved in water, and the solid processing agent is dissolved in the processing solution of the present invention. The idea of doing can not be recalled at all.

In the photographic industry, there is a strong demand for the development of a new replenishing system which produces almost no photographic waste liquid, uses no bottle, and does not require any dissolving work.

As a method for responding to this demand, JP-A-5-11
Japanese Patent Publication No. 9454 discloses a method in which almost all processing components are made into a solid processing agent and directly charged into a processing tank.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-213454 discloses a method in which a powdery processing agent is set in each part in an automatic developing machine and directly weighed into a processing tank while weighing each necessary amount. Discloses a method of using a granule treating agent found in JP-A-2-09042, which is common in that a solid chemical is used instead of a liquid treating agent which has been conventionally used. The two are different in that the solid processing agent is directly charged into the processing tank, while the latter is dissolved as a replenisher.

Here, in the above-mentioned method in which the solid processing agent and the replenishing water are separated and each is directly charged into the processing tank,
Similar to the conventional liquid replenisher supply method, the solid processing agent and the replenishing water are simultaneously supplied to the processing tank.

However, when the solid processing agent and the replenishing water are simultaneously supplied in one replenishing unit amount at once, the processing solution in the processing tank is diluted at once and the concentration fluctuation of the processing solution (hereinafter also referred to as concentration hunting) occurs. It has been found that it causes a big problem and affects the photographic performance, causing a problem.

On the other hand, it was found that even when the replenishing water is supplied after the solid processing agent is completely dissolved, a large concentration fluctuation occurs, which affects the photographic characteristics and poses a problem.

In order to prevent the above problems, it is possible to detect the concentration of the processing liquid main agent and control the supply of replenishing water to perform the processing, but this is a problem because the apparatus and control are complicated. Further, it is possible to use a method of supplying the solid processing agent and the supplementary water little by little, but this causes a problem in the accuracy and the durability of the solid processing agent supply means and / or the supplementary water supply means.

[0036]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is provided with a solid processing agent supply means and a replenishment water supply means for solving the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, suppressing the concentration hunting of the processing solution, and obtaining optimum photographic characteristics. It is an object to provide an automatic developing device.

[0037]

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that the above problems can be solved and achieved by the following constitution.

The above object is to provide at least one processing bath containing a processing liquid for processing the exposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and a solid processing agent supply means for supplying a unit amount of the solid processing agent to the processing tank. A solid processing agent supply control means for controlling and operating the solid processing agent supply means to supply a solid processing agent at a proper time, a replenishing water supplying means for supplying a unit amount of replenishing water to the processing tank, and the replenishing water supplying means. An automatic processor having at least one replenishing water supply control means for controlling and supplying replenishing water to the processing tank, wherein the unit amount of the solid processing agent is supplied into the processing tank by the solid processing agent supplying means. After a certain period of time has passed and until the solid processing agent is completely dissolved, at least 50% of the unit amount of replenishing water is controlled to be supplied into the processing tank by the replenishing water supplying means. It is accomplished by a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing automatic developing machine, wherein.

Further, the above-mentioned object is to supply the unit amount of the solid processing agent into the processor by the solid processing agent supply means,
The time T until at least 50% of the unit amount of replenishing water is supplied into the processing tank by the replenishing water supply unit and the dissolution time S of the unit amount of the solid processing agent are controlled within the following ranges. And an automatic processor for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material.

0.15 <T / S <0.6 Further, preferably, in the automatic processor of the present invention which achieves the above object, the unit supply amount of the solid processing agent to the processing liquid capacity of the processing tank is 0.1 to 3.0 g / It is characterized by being l.

More preferably, the automatic processor of the present invention which achieves the above object is characterized in that the unit supply amount for supplying the solid processing agent to the processing tank is 1 to 50 g.

The present invention will be described in detail below.

The solid processing agent of the present invention includes powder, granular processing agent, tablets and pills.

The powder referred to in the present invention is an aggregate of fine-grained crystals, and the granule is a powder obtained by adding a granulation step to a particle size of 50 to 50.
5000μm refers to a granular material, the tablet refers to a powder or granules compression-molded into a certain shape, but as a tablet molding method, a method of forming by tableting after granulation has the effect of the present invention. Are more preferable.

As the granulation method for forming granules, known methods such as rolling granulation, extrusion granulation, compression granulation, crushing granulation, stirring granulation, fluidized bed granulation and spray drying granulation can be used. Can be done.
In order to form tablets, the obtained granulated product has an average particle size of 100 to 2000 μm in that the granulated product is mixed and compressed under pressure, the components are not homogenized, and so-called segregation hardly occurs. Is preferably used, and more preferably 200 to 1500 μm. Furthermore, the particle size distribution is ± 200 for 50% or more of the granulated particles.
Those within a deviation of ˜250 μm are preferred. The obtained granulated product is used as it is as granules. When compressing the obtained granulated product under pressure, a known compressor such as a hydraulic press, a single-shot tableting machine, a rotary tableting machine, or a briquetting machine can be used.

Dissolution time S of the solid processing agent referred to in the present invention
Is a value obtained empirically, and 1 unit amount of the solid processing agent is dissolved in the processing solution under the condition that the processing solution temperature, circulation amount and the like are set so that the automatic processor of the present invention can be processed normally. It is calculated as the average time until the dissolution is completed by putting it in a fixed position.

The dissolution time S has different values depending on the shape of the automatic developing machine, the processing conditions such as the processing temperature, and so is set for each automatic developing machine, and the data is previously incorporated into the automatic developing machine for use. It is possible.

The unit amount referred to in the present invention indicates the amount of solid processing agent or replenishing water supplied in one series of replenishing operations, and the control means for starting the series of replenishing operations is a photosensitive material. Although it is possible to use a means for detecting the processing amount of the above and controlling according to the information, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0049]

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

An example of the automatic processor of the present invention (hereinafter, simply referred to as an automatic processor) will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus (printer processor) in which an automatic developing machine A and a photographic printing machine B are integrally configured.

In FIG. 1, in the lower left part of the photographic printing machine B, a magazine M containing photographic paper, which is an unexposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, in a roll is set. The photographic printing paper pulled out from the magazine is cut into a predetermined size through the feed roller R1 and the cutter section C to become a sheet-shaped printing paper. This sheet-shaped photographic paper is a belt conveying means B.
The image of the original image O is exposed by the light source and the lens L in the exposure section E by being conveyed by e. The exposed sheet-shaped photographic paper is further provided with a plurality of pairs of feed rollers R2, R3.
It is transported by R4 and introduced into the automatic processing machine A. In the automatic developing machine A, the sheet-shaped photographic paper is a color developing tank 1A, a bleach-fixing tank 1B, stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, 1E, which are processing tanks.
The inside (substantially three processing tanks 1) is sequentially conveyed by roller conveying means (reference symbol None), and color development processing, bleach-fixing processing, and stabilization processing are performed respectively. The sheet-shaped printing paper that has been subjected to each of the above processes is dried in the drying unit 5 and discharged to the outside of the machine.

The alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the transport path of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. Further, in the embodiment, the light-sensitive material is introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a cut state, but it may be introduced into the automatic developing machine A in a strip shape. In that case, if an accumulator for temporarily retaining the photosensitive material is provided between the automatic developing machine A and the photoprinting machine B, the processing efficiency is improved. Further, it goes without saying that the automatic developing machine A according to the present invention may be configured integrally with the photo printing machine B or may be the automatic developing machine A alone. Further, it goes without saying that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processed by the automatic developing machine A according to the present invention is not limited to the exposed photographic paper, and may be an exposed negative film or the like.
Further, as an explanation of the present invention, description will be made on the automatic developing machine A having the processing tank 1 of substantially three tanks including the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B, and the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D and 1E, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, the present invention can be applied even to an automatic developing machine having substantially four tanks including a color developing tank, a bleaching tank, a fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank. The above color developing tank 1
A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B, and the stabilizing tank 1E, the solid processing agent supply devices 3A, 3 for supplying the solid processing agent respectively.
B and 3E are provided.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire photosensitive material processing apparatus in which the automatic developing machine A, the photographic printing apparatus B and the sorter C according to the present invention are integrally combined. In the figure, the lid A1 of the automatic developing machine A is opened upward, and the storage container D storing the solid processing agent is inserted into the mounting portion A2 from the upper left side to the lower right side in the figure to be fixed.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing agent charging section and the processing agent supply means of the color developing tank 1A, which is a processing tank in the I-I section of the automatic processor A of FIG. In addition, the bleach-fixing tank 1B,
The stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, and 1E have the same configuration as the color developing tank 1A. Therefore, when the processing tank 1 is described below, the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B, the stabilizing tank 1C,
Both 1D and 1E will be referred to. It should be noted that, in the figure, a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material and the like are omitted for easy understanding of the configuration. In addition, in this example, a case where a tablet is used as a solid processing agent will be described.

The processing bath 1 for processing the photosensitive material is provided with a solid processing agent inlet 20 for supplying a solid processing agent (tablet) J integrally provided on the outside of a partition wall forming the processing tank 1, and a constant temperature bath 2. Have. The processing bath 1 and the constant temperature bath 2 are partitioned by a partition wall 21A having a communication window 21 formed therein so that the processing liquid can flow. Since the solid processing agent injection section 20 provided above the constant temperature tank 2 is provided with the enclosure 25 for receiving the solid processing agent J, the solid processing agent J does not move to the processing tank 1 in a solid state. It should be noted that the enclosure 25 has a mesh shape or a filter shape through which the processing liquid can pass but the solid processing agent J cannot pass until the processing solution is completely dissolved.

The cylindrical filter 22 is provided below the constant temperature bath 2 so as to be replaceable, and has a function of removing insoluble matter such as paper waste in the treatment liquid. Inside this filter 22,
It is connected to the suction side of the circulation pump 24 (circulation means) via a circulation pipe 23 provided through the lower wall of the constant temperature bath 2.

The circulation system is composed of the circulation pipe 23 forming the liquid circulation passage, the circulation pump 24, the processing tank 1 and the like. The other end of the circulation pipe 23, which communicates with the discharge side of the circulation pump 24, penetrates the lower wall of the processing tank 1 and communicates with the processing tank 1. With such a configuration, when the circulation pump 24 is operated, the processing liquid is sucked from the constant temperature tank 2 and discharged to the processing tank 1, and the processing liquid mixes with the processing liquid in the processing tank 1 and returns to the constant temperature tank 2 again. The cycle of entering will be repeated. The circulation direction of the processing liquid is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 3, and may be the opposite direction.

The waste liquid pipe 11 is used for overflowing the processing liquid in the processing tank 1. The waste liquid pipe 11 keeps the liquid surface level constant, and the components brought into the photosensitive material from other processing tanks and the photosensitive material. The component leaching from the material is stored,
Helps prevent the increase.

The rod-shaped heater 26 is arranged so as to penetrate the upper wall of the constant temperature bath 2 and be immersed in the treatment liquid in the constant temperature bath 2. The heater 26 heats the treatment liquid in the constant temperature bath 2 and the treatment bath 1, in other words, keeps the treatment liquid in the treatment bath 1 within a temperature range suitable for the treatment (for example, 20 to 55 ° C.). It is a temperature adjusting means.

The processing amount information detecting means 31 is provided at the entrance of the automatic processor A and is used for detecting the processing amount of the photosensitive material to be processed. The processing amount information detecting means 31 has a plurality of detecting members arranged in the left-right direction, and functions as an element for detecting the width of the photosensitive material and counting the detected time. Since the conveying speed of the photosensitive material is mechanically preset, the processing area of the photosensitive material can be calculated from the width information and the time information. The processing amount information detecting means 31 may be any one capable of detecting the width and the conveyance time of the photosensitive material such as an infrared sensor, a micro switch, an ultrasonic sensor. Further, in the case of a device capable of indirectly detecting the processed area of the photosensitive material, for example, in the case of a printer processor as shown in FIG. 1, the amount of the photosensitive material that has been printed or the number of processed photosensitive materials having a predetermined area is set. It may be detected. Furthermore, the detection timing is before the treatment in this example, but may be after the treatment or during the immersion in the treatment liquid (in such a case,
This can be done by appropriately changing the position where the processing amount information detecting means 31 is provided to a position that can be detected after processing or a position that can be detected during processing). Further, it is not necessary to provide the processing amount information detecting means 31 for each of the processing tanks 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and it is preferable to provide one for each automatic developing machine A. Reference numeral 32 is a processing amount supply control means for receiving the signal from the processing amount information detecting means 31 and controlling the processing amount supply of the processing agent.

The solid processing agent replenishing apparatus 30 which can be used in the present invention is set above the processing tank of the photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing the exposed photosensitive material, and contains the storage container 33, the storage container loading means 34, and the supply. It is composed of means 35 and drive means 36, and is sealed by the inside of the upper cover 301. The upper cover 301 is swingably connected to a main body 101 that houses the processing bath 1 and the constant temperature bath 2 by a support shaft 302 at the back of the main body, and the upper cover 301 is lifted in the direction of the chain line A in the figure. By greatly opening the front surface and the top surface on the operator side, it is possible to inspect the solid processing agent replenishing device 30 and replace the filter 22.

Further, a skylight 303 is swingably coupled to a part of the upper surface of the upper cover 301, and the skylight 303 is opened in the direction of the alternate long and short dash line B in the drawing to mount the storage container 33. Exchange.

Inside the main body 101 of the photosensitive material processing apparatus, a replenishing water supply means 40 is installed near the constant temperature bath 2. The supplementary water supply means 40 comprises a supplementary water tank 41, a bellows pump 42, a water suction pipe 43, and a water supply pipe 44. The replenishment water W contained in the replenishment water tank 41 is sucked through the suction pipe 43 by the suction action of the bellows pump 42, and is continuously supplied through the water supply pipe 44 to above the treatment liquid level in the constant temperature bath 2. .

The drive motor of the bellows pump 42 is driven and rotated by timing control by the replenishment water supply control means 45 to intermittently replenish.

The timing of replenishing water is not at the same time as the supply of the solid treating agent J to the constant temperature bath 2, and the replenishing water is finished before the solid treating agent J is completely dissolved. Alternatively, the replenishment timing is controlled such that the ratio T / S of the time difference T from the time of supplying the solid treatment agent J to the start of the replenishment water and the dissolution time S of the unit amount of the solid treatment agent J is within the range of 0.15 to 0.6. The timer is set so that By thus providing a time lag depending on the dissolution time of the solid processing agent J, supplementary water is added when the solid processing agent J is dissolved to some extent, concentration hunting of the processing solution is suppressed, and optimum photographic density is obtained. Always retained.

Unit supply weight M of solid processing agent J and processing tank 1
It is preferable to use the ratio of capacity V: M / V in the range of 0.1 to 3.0 g / l. If it is 0.1 g / l or more, the number of replenishing operations can be reduced, and it is preferable from the viewpoints of charging accuracy and durability of the charging device. On the other hand, if it is 30 g / l or less, the concentration hunting of the present invention is prevented. The effect described above is preferably obtained. Particularly, when the M / V is in the range of 1.5 to 3.0 g / l, the effect of the present invention becomes remarkable.

FIG. 4 shows a storage container (cartridge) 33 for storing the above-mentioned tablet type solid processing agent J, FIG. 4 (A) is a plan view including a partially cutaway sectional view, and FIG. 4 (B) is the storage container. 33 is a side view, and FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view thereof.

The storage container 33 is connected to a hollow quadrangular prism-shaped container main body 331 for storing a plurality of tablet type solid processing agents J and one opening of the hollow body of the container main body 331 to discharge the solid processing agent. Outlet member 332 having a discharge opening to allow
And a cap member 333 that closes the other opening of the container body 331, and a slide lid 334 that slides on the rail portion 332A of the outlet member 332 and is vertically movable.

Three partition walls 331S are integrally fixed inside the container body 331, and the inside of the container body 331 is divided into four compartments 331A, 331B, 331C and 331D. The outer circumferences of the substantially cylindrical solid processing agent J are circumscribed in the respective compartments, and about 10 of the solid processing agent J can be accommodated in a column. That is, ten solid processing agents J1A to J10A are contained in the first compartment 331A and the second compartment 331B.
The same number of solid treatment agents J1B,
C and J1D are stored respectively.

A projecting strip 331E projects from the bottom of each of the compartments of the container body 331 so as to come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the solid processing agent J at points to facilitate the movement of the solid processing agent J, and The powder dropped from the agent J is dropped from the top of the protrusion 331E. The powder that has fallen off the solid processing agent J is collected in the groove below the protrusion 331E, and even if the powder adheres in this groove, the solid processing agent J moves on the protrusion 331E without any problem.

Rail portions 332A are formed on both outer side surfaces of the outlet opening of the outlet member 332, and the slide lid 334 is provided.
It is slidable by fitting in groove portions 334A formed on both side surfaces of the. Further, the protrusions 334B projecting from both ends of the lower portion of the slide lid 334 engage with an opening / closing restriction member 355 described later to automatically open and close the slide lid 334.

Pins 332B project from both side surfaces of the outlet member 332, and are inserted into and removed from the cam grooves of the storage container loading means 34, which will be described later.

The back surface 333A of the cap member 333 is pressed by the pressing member of the storage container loading means 34, which will be described later,
The storage container 33 is pressure-bonded to the reference surface of the supply means 35. Also,
The rear surface 333A of the cap member 333 has an identification protrusion 333.
B is integrally formed to prevent erroneous loading of another different storage container.

FIG. 6 shows a storage container 33 and storage container loading means 34.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view for explaining the operation of the supply means 35 and the drive means 36.

The fixed frame 341 of the storage container loading means 34, the housing member 351 of the supply means 35, and the driving means 36 are fixed to the upper part of the main body 101.

The supplying means 35 is rotatably arranged on the housing member 351 and the inner peripheral surface of the housing member 351, and receives the fixed amount of the solid processing agent J in the storage container 33 from the inlet portion 351A and the outlet portion 351B. It is composed of a rotatable processing agent receiving member (rotor) 351 having a pocket portion 352A to be moved to and a shutter member 353 capable of opening and closing the outlet portion 352B.

Above the entrance of the housing member 351 of the supply means 35, an opening / closing restriction member for restricting the opening / closing of the slide lid.
355 is fixed. That is, the storage container loading means 34
When the storage container 33 attached to is pushed down in the direction C in the drawing from the initial position (the one-dot chain line in the drawing) and reaches the intermediate position (the one-dot chain line in the drawing), the protrusion of the slide lid 334 causes the opening / closing restricting member 3 to move.
5 prevents the descent. When the storage container 33 is further swung downward, the slide lid 334 remains stopped, so that the opening of the outlet member 332 of the storage container 33 is gradually opened. When the lowering of the storage container 33 reaches a predetermined position and is stopped, the opening of the outlet member 332 is fully opened, and the storage container 3 is opened.
The solid processing agent J in the front row in 3 is fed into the supply means 35. The solid line in the drawing shows this fully opened state.

Next, when the solid processing agent J in the storage container 33 is consumed in sequence and completely disappears, the storage container 33 is replaced by the generation of the remaining amount detection signal. That is, when the storage container 33 is retracted rearward, the storage container 33 and the container holding member 343 rotate clockwise and the left end portion rises. In the first half of this ascending process, the opening / closing restriction member 355 retains the slide lid 334 and raises only the outlet member 332 of the storage container 33 and the main body portion including the container main body 331. It is closed by the slide lid 334. Further, in the latter half of the process of raising the storage container 33, the opening state is kept closed and is returned to the initial state which is the top dead center.

The container body 341 of the storage container 33, the outlet member 3
The cap member 333 and the cap member 333 are made by synthetic resin molding, integrally molding or separately molding, and then bonded. In the state where the slide lid 334 is attached to the discharge opening of the storage container and closed, the inside is shut off from the outside air and is kept in a moisture-proof state. That is, when the container housing 33 containing the solid processing agent J is removed from the solid processing agent replenishing device 30, the slide lid 334 is automatically closed as described above. It is cut off from the outside air.

In the storage container 33 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the solid processing agent J is sequentially sent to the supply means 35 one by one from the four-row compartments of the container main body 331 and dropped into the solid processing agent input part 20. However, the number of compartments and the number of pockets 352A of the rotor 352 of the supply means 35 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and 4 or more or less solid treatment agents are dropped in one rotation of the rotor 352. You may make it supply.

(Experiment-1) Preparation of tablet for color development replenishment for color negative Operation (1) Potassium carbonate; 3750.0 g, sodium sulfite; 580.0
g, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid 5 sodium; 240.0
g in a commercial Van Dam mill until the average particle size is 10 μm. After granulating PEG # 6000; 500.0 g and mannitol; 800.0 g into this fine powder by adding 100 ml of water in a commercially available stirring granulator at room temperature for about 7 minutes,
The granulated product is dried at 70 ° C. for 120 minutes using a commercially available fluidized bed dryer to almost completely remove the water content of the granulated product.

Operation (2) Hydroxylamine sulfate; 360.0 g, potassium bromide; 40.
After crushing 0 g and 20.0 g of disulfocatechol disodium in the same manner as in the operation (1), 20.0 g of Pine Flow (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Co., Ltd.) is added and mixed and granulated. The amount of water added is 3.5m
After standing, the product is dried at 60 ° C for 60 minutes to almost completely remove water from the product.

Operation (3) CD-4 [4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-β-] as a developing agent
(Hydroxy) ethylaniline sulfate]; 650.0 g,
After crushing in the same manner as in operation (1), granulation was performed by adding 10 ml of water at room temperature for about 7 minutes, and the granulated product was dried at 40 ° C for 2 hours in a fluidized bed dryer to obtain the moisture content of the granulated product. Are almost completely removed.

Operation (4) The granule samples prepared in the above operations (1) to (3) were mixed at room temperature with a commercially available cross rotary mixer for 10 minutes, and further N-myristoylalanine sodium; 35.0 g
And mix for 3 minutes. The mixed granules thus obtained were continuously tableted with a rotary tableting machine (Kikusui Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Clean Press Collect H18) to obtain a diameter of 30 mm,
A color negative film color development replenishing tablet sample having a thickness of 10.0 mm and a weight of 12.0 g was obtained.

Next, a Konica Color Super DD-100 film (manufactured by Konica Corporation) was wedge-exposed according to a conventional method, and then a color negative film processor CL-KP-50 was used.
QA (manufactured by Konica Corp.) was modified by installing a solid processing agent supply device, a replenishing water supply device, and the like so as to match the embodiment of the present invention. Next, after the dissolution of a unit amount of the solid processing agent was completed by using this automatic processor, a continuous gap was provided for the processing so that the next unit amount of the solid processing agent was introduced.

Processes other than the color developing process are of a replenisher replenishing system, and the replenisher and the starting tank liquid are Konica Color Negative Processing Agent CNK-4-52 (Konica Corporation).
Manufactured by using a replenisher and a starter.

The processing steps are as follows.

[0088]

[Table 1]

The fixing was performed from 2 to 1, and the stabilization was performed from 3 to 1, and the bleaching tank was aerated with an air pump.

The supply timing T / S and the unit supply amount M of the processing tank V were adjusted and modified so as to have the values shown in Table 2, and 200 wedge-exposed films were processed. After completion of the treatment, the maximum transmission density (green Dmax) of each film sample and the transmission density of the unexposed part (green Dmi)
n) was measured, and the minimum and maximum values of each were determined. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0091]

[Table 2]

As is clear from Table 2, it is understood that the optimum photographic processing density can be obtained by performing the processing in the automatic developing machine provided with the supply timing of the present invention. Further, it is understood that by setting T / S to 0.15 <T / S <0.6, a further optimum photographic processing density can be obtained.

(Experiment-2) Color development replenishing tablet operation for color paper (A) Developing agent CD-3 [4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-
[Β- (Methanesulfonamido) ethyl] aniline sulphate]; 1500.0 g in a commercial Van Dam mill with an average particle size of 10 μm
Crush until After adding 1000.0 g of polyethylene glycol 6000; to this fine powder and granulating by adding 50 ml of water in a commercially available stirring granulator at room temperature for about 7 minutes,
The granulated product is dried in a fluidized bed dryer at 40 ° C. for 2 hours to almost completely remove the water content of the granulated product.

Operation (B) Disulfoethylhydroxylamine disodium salt; 40
0.0 g, sodium p-toluenesulfonate; 1700.0 g,
Chinopearl SFP (manufactured by Ciba Geigy); 300.0 g is crushed in the same manner as in the operation (A), and 240.0 g of Pine Flow (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Co., Ltd.) is added to this to granulate. The amount of water added is 60.0 ml, and after granulation, it is dried at 50 ° C for 120 minutes to almost completely remove the water content of the granulated product.

Operation (C) Potassium carbonate; 3300.0 g, sodium sulfite 37.0 g, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid 5 sodium salt; 330.0 g, p-
Simultaneous grinding of 130.0 g of sodium toluene sulfonate; lithium hydroxide monohydrate; 340.0 g with (A), mannitol; 600.0 g, polyethylene glycol # 6000; 1
Add 000.0 g and mix evenly with a commercial mixer. Then, in the same manner as in (A), the amount of water added is 100 ml and granulation is performed. After the granulation, the granulated product is dried at 60 ° C for 30 minutes to almost completely remove the water content of the granulated product.

Operation (D) The granule samples prepared in the above operations (A) to (C) were mixed at room temperature with a commercially available cross rotary mixer for 10 minutes, and further N-myristoylalanine sodium; 60.0 g
And mix for 3 minutes. The mixed granules thus obtained were continuously tableted by a rotary tableting machine (Kikusui Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Clean Press Collect H18) to give a diameter of 30 mm,
A color negative film color development replenishing tablet sample having a thickness of 10.0 mm and a weight of 10.0 g was obtained.

Next, Konica Color QA Paper Type A
5 (manufactured by Konica Corporation) was wedge-exposed according to a conventional method, and then color paper processor NPS-818 (Konica Corporation) was used.
(Manufactured by Co., Ltd.), the solid processing agent supply device, the replenishing water supply device, and the like were installed and modified so as to conform to the embodiment of the present invention. Next, after the dissolution of a unit amount of the solid processing agent was completed by using this automatic processor, a continuous process was performed with a gap so that the next unit amount of the solid processing agent was added.

Processes other than the color developing process are of a replenisher replenishing system, and the replenisher and the starting tank liquid are CPK-2-28 (Konica Corporation), a treatment agent for Konica color paper.
Manufactured by using a replenisher and a starter.

The processing steps are as follows.

[0100]

[Table 3]

Stable is a 3 to 1 countercurrent system.

Incidentally, the supply timing T / S and the unit supply amount M of the processing tank were adjusted and modified so that the capacity V of the processing tank was the value shown in Table 4, and the wedge-exposed paper and E2400 sheets were processed. After the treatment, the maximum reflection density (blue Dmax) of each paper sample and the reflection density of the unexposed area (blue Dmi)
n) was measured, and the minimum and maximum values of each were determined. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0103]

[Table 4]

As is clear from Table 4, it is understood that the optimum photographic processing density can be obtained by performing the processing in the automatic developing machine provided with the supply timing of the present invention. Furthermore, by setting T / S to 0.15 <T / S <0.6,
It can be seen that the optimum photographic processing density can be obtained.

[0105]

As described above, the automatic developing machine for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention is provided with a predetermined unit amount of solid processing agent and a predetermined amount of replenishing water, and a dissolution time of the solid processing agent. In consideration of the above, the time difference is provided and the components are supplied into the processing tank, so that the concentration of the main agent in the processing liquid does not fluctuate and the performance of the processing liquid is maintained constant. Further, the compact ratio of the feeder of the automatic processor and the effect of stabilizing the feeding control are excellent, and the replenishment can be easily reduced, and stable photographic performance can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the photosensitive material processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an automatic processor according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a side view of a storage container that stores the solid processing agent.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the storage container.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a storage container loading means and a supply means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E Processing tank 2, 2A, 2B, 2E Constant temperature tank 20 Solid processing agent feeding section 30 Solid processing agent replenishing device 31 Processing amount information detection means 32 Solid processing agent supply control means 33 Storage container (Cartridge) 34 Storage container loading means 35 Supply means 40 Replenishment water supply means 41 Replenishment water tank 42 Bellows pump 43 Water absorption pipe 44 Water supply pipe 45 Replenishment water supply control means J Tablet type solid processing agent W Replenishment water

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. At least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing an exposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
A solid processing agent supply means for supplying a unit amount of the solid processing agent to the processing tank, a solid processing agent supply control means for controlling and operating the solid processing agent supply means to supply the solid processing agent at a proper time, and a unit for the processing tank. An automatic processor having at least one replenishing water supply means for supplying replenishing water in an amount and at least one replenishing water supply control means for controlling and operating the replenishing water supply means to supply replenishing water to the processing tank. After supplying a unit amount of the solid processing agent into the processing tank by the solid processing agent supply means, after a lapse of a fixed time and until the solid processing agent is completely dissolved, at least the unit amount of replenishing water is added. 50
% Is controlled so as to be supplied to the inside of the processing tank by the replenishing water supply means, and an automatic developing machine for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. 2. At least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing the exposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,
A solid processing agent supply means for supplying a unit amount of the solid processing agent to the processing tank, a solid processing agent supply control means for controlling and operating the solid processing agent supply means to supply the solid processing agent at a proper time, and a unit for the processing tank. An automatic processor having at least one replenishing water supply means for supplying replenishing water in an amount and at least one replenishing water supply control means for controlling and operating the replenishing water supply means to supply replenishing water to the processing tank. Time T after supplying a unit amount of the solid processing agent into the processing tank by the solid processing agent supply means, until at least 50% of the unit amount of supplementary water is supplied into the processing tank by the supplementary water supplying means, An automatic processor for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, characterized in that the dissolution time S of a unit amount of a solid processing agent is controlled within the following range. 0.15 <T / S <0.6 3. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the unit supply amount of the solid processing agent with respect to the processing liquid capacity of the processing tank is 0.1 to 3.0 g / l. Automatic processor for processing. 4. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a unit supply amount of the solid processing agent supplied to the processing tank is 1 to 50 g. Automatic developing machine.