EP0851286B1 - Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0851286B1
EP0851286B1 EP97203818A EP97203818A EP0851286B1 EP 0851286 B1 EP0851286 B1 EP 0851286B1 EP 97203818 A EP97203818 A EP 97203818A EP 97203818 A EP97203818 A EP 97203818A EP 0851286 B1 EP0851286 B1 EP 0851286B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fixer
solution
processing
developing
starter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97203818A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0851286A1 (de
Inventor
André Roefs
Benedictus Jansen
Frank Michiels
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Agfa Gevaert NV
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV, Agfa Gevaert AG filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP97203818A priority Critical patent/EP0851286B1/de
Publication of EP0851286A1 publication Critical patent/EP0851286A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0851286B1 publication Critical patent/EP0851286B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/395—Regeneration of photographic processing agents other than developers; Replenishers therefor
    • G03C5/3958—Replenishment processes or compositions, i.e. addition of useful photographic processing agents
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/264—Supplying of photographic processing chemicals; Preparation or packaging thereof
    • G03C5/266—Supplying of photographic processing chemicals; Preparation or packaging thereof of solutions or concentrates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/38—Fixing; Developing-fixing; Hardening-fixing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C2200/00—Details
    • G03C2200/43—Process
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C2200/00—Details
    • G03C2200/44—Details pH value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C2200/00—Details
    • G03C2200/52—Rapid processing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/395—Regeneration of photographic processing agents other than developers; Replenishers therefor

Definitions

  • This invention is related to a black-and-white processing method in a processor of a black-and-white silver halide photographic material.
  • it is related to fixing solutions used as fixer starter solutions.
  • a developer replenisher having a higher pH value (in an amount of at least 0.5) than its development starting solution has been described in US-A 5,503,965.
  • Addition of starter, including at least one alkali agent, to the fixer in order to have a difference of pH between new liquid and running liquid within 0.2 has been described for a fixer having a pH after adding starter from 4.0 to 5.0 as in JP-A 03-68937, whereas a pH from 4.3 to 5.3 is controlled in JP-A 06-250350.
  • Replenishing fixer solutions having a higher thiosulphate concentration than in the fixer at the start of processing, wherein pH of the fixer is more than 3.8 and preferably from 4.2-5.5 has been described in JP-A 06-230527, for rapid processing applications. Starter tablets have further been described in JP-A 04-032839.
  • Electrolysis can proceed for example by passing the fixer around a circulation loop which includes an electrolytic cell. Electrolytic removal of silver also has the benefit of enabling a lower regeneration rate of fixer to be used. This is fully consistent with recent trends to reduce the volume of treatment liquids used in photographic processing. Electrolysis of the fixer solution, known as most efficient method of chemical recovery of the said fixer solution in order to reduce the slow down effect on fixation rate of increasing amounts of silver ions present in the fixer, however makes pH and sulfite ion concentration decrease.
  • the objects of the present invention have been attained by providing a method of processing in a processor an image-wise exposed black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material comprising the steps of developing in a developing solution and fixing in a fixer solution, characterized in that upon starting of the processing the said fixer solution comprises a mixture of a fixer starter solution and a fixer replenisher solution and in that said fixer solution is replenished with the said fixer replenishing solution and in that the fixer starter solution is a buffering solution, being a developing solution, wherein said fixer starter solution alters pH to a value in the range from - 0.3 up to + 0.3 units of the pH of the fixer solution after seasoning.
  • said method comprises the step of mixing a fixer starter solution and a fixer replenisher solution in a fixer unit or tank of the said processor.
  • fixer solution used in the method of the present invention has an important influence on the sensitometric results.
  • the fixer solution chemistry in the processor is the replenishment fixer solution chemistry with a supplementary additive mixed therewith, said supplementary additive being the fixer starter solution.
  • said supplementary additive is the developing solution which acts as fixer starter solution.
  • the fixer starter solution comprises developing agent(s) in a molar amount versus thiosulphate ions in the fixer replenisher solution of from 0.015 up to 0.080.
  • fixer replenisher solution is defined as the unused fixer present in the fixer container which is, in the method of the present invention, mixed in the fixer unit with fixer starter is added further to the fixer unit as the film is being processed, acting as a commonly used “replenisher” too.
  • the "seasoned fixer” is defined as the fixer present in the fixer unit of the processor after processing enough film in order to reach a steady-state or an equilibrium situation, depending on the amounts of replenisher used. In order to reach said steady-state, the said fixer is topped up with the "fixer replenisher solution” defined hereinbefore.
  • the said fixer solution comprises a mixture of a fixer starter solution and fixer replenisher solution, wherein it is understood that both solutions have been mixed before addition to the fixer unit or tank of the automatic processor.
  • an additional step is the step of adding of a fixer starter solution to the fixer replenisher solution which is present in the said fixer unit or tank.
  • fixer starter solution is present in the fixer tank before fixer replenishing solution is added thereto and mixed therewith and mixed therewith is however not excluded, so that more generally the method of the present invention comprises the step of mixing of fixer starter solution and fixer replenishing solution in a fixer unit or tank of the said processor.
  • said fixer starter solution is mixed with the fixer replenishing solution in the processor before starting processing.
  • the fixer starter solution is thus a developing solution.
  • the fixer starter solution comprises developing agent(s) in a molar amount versus thiosulphate ions in the fixer replenisher solution of from 0.015 up to 0.080.
  • the fixer starter solution which is a developing solution is a buffering solution, wherein said buffering solution alters pH of the fixer to the required value: so in a preferred embodiment said fixer starter solution alters pH to a value in the range from - 0.3 up to + 0.3 units of the pH of the fixer solution after seasoning.
  • Lowering pH by addition of fixer starter solution (to a pH value of e.g. 4.5) by mixing with fixer replenisher solution is especially useful in combination with fixer electrolysis.
  • an amount of fixer starter solution is proportional to tank volume of the fixer solution in the processor. In another embodiment according to the method of the present invention an amount of fixer starter solution is less than 10 % of volume of replenisher solution with which it is mixed upon starting processing.
  • Fixer solutions may contain aluminum ions as hardening agent but in a preferred embodiment according to the method of the present invention the fixer is free from aluminum ions. It is clear that the light-sensitive black-and-white silver halide photographic materials processed according to the method of the present invention should be hardened to such an extent that in a fixation step free from aluminum ions no problems as e.g. sludge formation or troubles with physical properties of the materials occur.
  • a survey of hardening agents available in order to foreharden coated hydrophilic gelatinous layers of the said photographic materials has been given e.g. in Research Disclosure 38957, Chapter IIb.
  • aluminum salt solutions as e.g.
  • aluminum sulfate may be spray-coated onto or coated in an afterlayer onto the protective antistress layer or another outermost layer of the photographic material, in favour of hardening of the surface layer and in favour of physical properties obtained for the processed material after fixation in a fixer free from hardening aluminum ions, especially with respect to surface glare, pressure sensitivity and unevenness in the processing.
  • said material passes from the developer to the fixer, said material carries with it a certain amount of developer liquid containing used and unused developing agents and other components.
  • said developing agents act as contaminants to the fixer and the fixer is thus contaminated with developer.
  • the efficiency of fixing can be improved by the use of "cascade" fixing, in which the photographic material passes through two or more fixing vessels, the fixer moving counter-current to the photographic material.
  • the period of time spent by the photographic material in the fixer is thereby increased while the volume of fixer required to fill the processing apparatus is increased.
  • Said method comprises Said method comprises developing the photographic material by treatment with a developer, and fixing the developed photographic material by treatment with a fixer while reducing the level of silver ions in the fixer by electrolysis, characterized in that, between developing and fixing, the photographic material is treated with an intermediate treatment liquid for a period of time less than the treatment time with the fixer, the intermediate treatment liquid containing used fixer.
  • the apparatus for the processing of photographic material in one embodiment according to the method of the present invention comprises a plurality of treatment vessels including a developing vessel and a fixing vessel, the apparatus including means for feeding photographic material to be processed along a photographic material path through the developing vessel and the fixing vessel in turn, and an electrolytic cell for removing silver ions from fixer in the fixing vessel, wherein further an intermediate treatment vessel, having a photographic material path length less than that of the fixing vessel, may be positioned between the developing vessel and the fixing vessel and wherein means may be provided for feeding used fixer from the fixing vessel to the intermediate vessel.
  • fixer starter solution is added to the first fixer tank in this case, said first tank containing fixer replenisher solution or that the mixture of fixer starter solution and fixer replenisher solution is present in the first tank before starting processing.
  • the apparatus further comprises a pump for pumping used fixer from the second fixing vessel to the first fixing vessel.
  • the fixing vessels may have a cascade relationship whereby used fixer overflows from the fixing vessel into the intermediate vessel as regeneration liquid is added to the fixing vessel.
  • the treatment vessels may be positioned one above the other in a vertical configuration.
  • the developing vessel may be positioned above the first fixing vessel which in turn is positioned above the second fixing vessel.
  • This configuration is preferred, in order to prevent fixer from entering the developing vessel.
  • a pump will be required to transfer used fixer upwardly into the first fixing vessel.
  • the vessels may be positioned side by side in an essentially horizontal configuration, especially where the fixing vessels have a cascade relationship.
  • An electrolytic silver recovery cell may be of known construction.
  • the cell comprises a cylindrical housing fitted with a central anode surrounded by a removable cathode.
  • the housing has inlets and outlets for the liquid to be desilvered.
  • a glass reference electrode enables control of the desilvering process, which is carried out either at constant potential, at constant current or according to some other control regime.
  • silver is deposited and builds up on the cathode.
  • the cathode is periodically replaced.
  • Silver can be recovered from the used cathode in a known manner, and usually the cathode can be re-used.
  • the silver recovery cell may be an electrolysis unit from an "ECORAP" processor (trade mark product from Agfa-Gevaert NV) or a Curix "EOSFIX” electrolysis unit (trade marketed product from Agfa-Gevaert NV).
  • An apparatus for the electrolytic recovery of silver from solutions containing silver is known from EP-A 0 611 838 and from US-A 5,639,362.
  • fixer solution for that intermediate treatment liquid has the effect of triggering the start of the fixing reactions.
  • the fixing reactions quickly reach their optimum rate.
  • the photographic material is treated with the first fixer liquid for a period of time less than half that of the fixer treatment time, most preferably less than 25 % that of the fixer treatment time.
  • the intermediate treatment time should be compared with the total fixer treatment time.
  • Treatment with the first fixer liquid for a relatively short period of time can most easily be achieved by providing a shorter photographic material transport path through the intermediate treatment liquid, for example by providing the intermediate treatment liquid in an intermediate vessel having a path length less than that of the vessel containing the fixer, thereby enabling the photographic material to pass through the apparatus at a constant speed.
  • One or more fixing vessels in the method of the present invention are regenerated by addition thereto of the replenisher solution.
  • the fixer is replenished with fixer replenisher solution in an amount of from 20 up to 100 ml/g of silver to be fixed, more preferably from 20 up to 75 ml/g and still more preferably from 20 up to 50 ml/g of silver calculated on the basis of the replenisher solution having the same composition as that of the fixing solution before addition of fixer starter solution.
  • fixer is replenished with fixer replenishing solution in an amount proportional to the tank volume of the fixer solution.
  • sheet materials such as (medical and industrial) X-ray film, presensitised plates, graphic art films and paper, offset plates etc. can be processed.
  • any film for medical diagnostic imaging may be processed, wherein said film may be exposed with a laser directed by digitized data obtained after conversion of information captured by suitable means after exposure to radiation of part of the human body or exposed after conversion of X-rays by one or two intensifying light-emitting screen(s) brought into contact with the said film and wherein said film may comprise cubic and/or ⁇ 111 ⁇ or ⁇ 100 ⁇ tabular silver halide crystals rich in silver chloride and/or crystals rich in silver bromide, crystals rich in silver chloride however being most preferred, provided that with minimum amounts of silver coated a sufficient covering power is attained in the film after rapid ecological processing (with e.g.
  • said method comprises the step of developing in a developing solution, wherein said solution comprises one or more developing agents selected from the group consisting of hydroquinone, l-phenyl-5-pyrazolidine-1-one, ascorbic acid, reductic acid, stereoisomers or derivatives thereof.
  • developing solutions comprising ascorbic acid have e.g. been disclosed in EP-A's 0 731 381, 0 731 382 and 0 732 619.
  • the method comprises the steps of developing, rinsing, fixing and drying, wherein the total processing time of these steps is from 30 up to 300 seconds.
  • a time of 300 seconds permits processing of e.g. industrial X-ray films coated with huge amounts of silver as has e.g. been described in EP-A's 0 620 482, 0 620 483, 0 620 484, 0 621 506, 0 622 668 and 0 698 817.
  • a total processing time for the processing cycle comprising the steps of developing, rinsing, fixing and drying of from 30 up to 95 seconds, and for medical X-ray films said time is even more preferred between 30 and 60 seconds as set forth e.g. in EP-A 0 678 772, 0 709 730, 0 712 034 and 0 712 036.
  • Examples 1 and 4-6 are reference examples and are not in the scope of the claimed subject matter.
  • This Example is illustrative for the (unexpected) influence of fixer seasoning on photographic results obtained.
  • the sensitometric curve of a photographic system is strongly dependent on a large number of parameters among which one is the processing.
  • sensitometric characteristics not only usual processing parameters such as processing speed, agitation, developer composition, replenishing rates, immersion times and processing design is determining sensitometric characteristics. In order to show that seasoning of the fixer solution is also a factor influencing sensitometric characteristics two experiments were performed.
  • the first one was performed with a developer solution continously added as a fresh solution while the fixer solution was seasoning, the second one with a fixer solution added continously as a fresh solution while the developer solution was seasoning.
  • the said film material was exposed in such a way as to have 1/3 of the said total film surface exposed and 2/3 of the said surface unexposed.
  • the first experiment thus shows the effect of exhaustion of the fixer, while the second experiment shows the effect of exhaustion of the developer.
  • the said difference can be considered to be neglectable and the photographic instability to be minimized.
  • carry-over and data of replenishment about 25 ml carry-over, with replenishing amounts of the fixer of 600 ml/m 2 ) one would expect an amount of 4 % of the developer in the fixer to be sufficient to obtain identical sensitometric data.
  • an amount of 8 % of developer in the fixer is required in order to obtain the desired shift in gradation. Further it can be experimentally measured that pH of the fixer shifts from 4.3 to 4.6.
  • pH of the fixer was modified to a value of 4.6, being the same as the end pH in the foregoing experiment, by adding potassium hydroxide.
  • This Example is illustrative for the occurrence of smell of the fixer if no fixer starter in the processor is used according to the method of the present invention.
  • Experiment No. 1 in this Example is an illustration of a classical example of processing of an X-ray film for medical purposes: the fixer has a distinct smell at the start (YES) vs. after seasoning (NO*): smell decreases with time as pH increases due to carry-over of the developer. Nevertheless this may take time in the order of several days, particularly in the case of low film consumption (e.g. only a few m 2 per day). The remark should be made that high replenishment amounts are required in this "common" situation.
  • Experiment No. 2 is illustrative for a decrease in smell (NO-NO*) when a fixer is used having a higher pH value: however as a function of the construction or maintenance of the processor a high carry-over from developer to fixer may cause aluminum ions to become still more insoluble in the fixer solution, thereby forming aluminum-salt deposit. Moreover replenishment amounts stay high.
  • Experiment No. 3 illustrates that the problem becomes even more severe when low replenishment amounts are used for the fixer: increased cleaning frequency as a result of aluminum-salt deposit are severe drawbacks the processing system is suffering from.
  • Experiment No. 4 is illustrative for the use of decreased replenishment amounts which require use of a fixer replenisher with a lower pH value in order to avoid aluminum precipitation in the seasoned fixer.
  • a fixer replenisher with a lower pH value in order to avoid aluminum precipitation in the seasoned fixer.
  • the start pH of the fixer solution is low, which may cause smell of the processor.
  • fixer temperatures of 38°C the problem becomes stringent.
  • Experiment No. 5 performed according to the method of the present invention illustrates that the use of a fixer starter offers the opportunity to get a constant pH value at the start and during seasoning of the fixer, even at low replenisment rates without the presence of smell, nor of a decreased stability of the fixer due to aluminum deposit.
  • composition of the concentrated fixer solution is given hereinafter:
  • EOS FIX equipment (trade name product from Agfa-Gevaert N.V.) in combination with a CURIX HT330 processor (trade name product from Agfa-Gevaert) makes pH decrease from a pH at the start of 5.4 to a value of 5.15 (after seasoning, replenishing amounts being 600 ml/m 2 ) and even to a value of 4.8 for lower replenishing amounts (after seasoning, replenishing amounts being 400 ml/m 2 ). For still lower replenishing amounts differences in pH value at the start and after seasoning may even exceed 0.6 pH units. Application of a replenisher having too low a pH value results in too low a pH value after seasoning, whereas application of a replenisher having too high a pH value results in other problems as will be made clear in the Examples 5 and 6.
  • the processing composition for the developer was as follows: demineralized water 300 ml hydroquinone 88 g 4,4'-hydroxymethyl-methyl-phenidone 4.00 g potassium iodide 0.080 g 5-methylbenzotriazole 0.300 g 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole 0.030 g aqueous potassium sulphite (655 g/l 365 ml aqueous potassium carbonate (765 g/l 55 ml aqueous potassium hydroxyde (755 g/l 40 ml Trilon B 14 ml Borax 5.25 g Diethylene glycol 86 ml pH (adjusted with potassium hydroxyde) 10.84 Water to make 1 l
  • the processing composition for the developer and the fixer was the same as given hereinbefore in Example 5.
  • the drying unit in the processor was installed in such a way that an unexposed MAMORAY MR7 film was completely dry, in order to test if intermix-processing of different types of films was possible. Therefore the quality of the dried CURIX ORTHO DGL film was examined: a qualitative figure from "0" (perfect) over “1” (good), “2” (acceptable), “3” (bad) to "4" (very bad) was given after examination in reflection of gloss of the processed film and examination of the presence of spots due to drying (especially "overdrying”). At the higher fixer pH of 4.9 the qualitative figure is quickly changing from “1" to "4" if more rapid drying is installed in the processor; at lower pH (4.50) a figure of "1" is attainable for the films in the same drying conditions.

Claims (10)

  1. Verfahren zur Verarbeitung eines bildmäßigen belichteten lichtempfindlichen schwarzweißfotografischen Silberhalogenidmaterials in einer Entwicklungsmaschine mit wenigstens den Schritten Entwickeln in einer Entwicklerlösung und Fixieren in einer Fixierlösung, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fixierlösung beim Anlauf der Entwicklung ein Gemisch aus einer Fixierbad-Starterlösung und einer Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung enthält, dadurch dass, die Fixierlösung mit der Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung regeneriert wird und dadurch, dass es sich bei der Fixierbad-Starterlösung um eine Pufferlösung handelt, die eine Entwicklerlösung ist, und wobei die Fixierbad-Starterlösung den pH-Wert in einen Wert im Bereich von - 0,3 bis + 0,3 Einheiten des pH-Wertes der Fixierlösung nach Akklimatisation ändert.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, mit dem Schritt Mischen der Fixierbad-Starterlösung und einer Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung in einer Fixierpartie bzw. Fixierwanne der Entwicklungsmaschine.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fixierbad-Starterlösung vor dem Anlauf der Verarbeitung mit der Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung in der Entwicklungsmaschine gemischt wird.
  4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fixierbad-Starterlösung eine oder mehrere Entwicklersubstanzen in einer Molmenge von 0,015 bis 0,080, bezogen auf die Thiosulfat-Ionen in der Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung, enthält.
  5. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fixierlösung frei von Aluminium-Ionen ist.
  6. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Menge an Fixierbad-Starterlösung dem Wannenrauminhalt der Fixierlösung in der Entwicklungsmaschine proportional ist.
  7. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Menge an Fixierbad-Starterlösung weniger als 10 Vol.-% der Regeneratorlösung, mit der sie beim Anlauf der Verarbeitung gemischt wird, beträgt.
  8. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Fixierbad mit Fixierbad-Regeneratorlösung in einer Menge von 20 bis 100 ml/g zu fixierenden Silbers regeneriert wird.
  9. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, weiterhin mit dem Schritt Entwickeln in einer Entwicklerlösung, die eine oder mehrere Entwicklersubstanzen aus der Reihe Hydrochinon, 1-Phenyl-5-pyrazolidin-1-on, Ascorbinsäure, Reduktinsäure, Stereoisomere und deren Abkömmlinge enthält.
  10. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, mit den Schritten Entwickeln, Spülen, Fixieren und Trocknen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die gesamte Verarbeitungszeit dieser Schritte 30 bis 300 s beträgt.
EP97203818A 1996-12-30 1997-12-05 Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien Expired - Lifetime EP0851286B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP97203818A EP0851286B1 (de) 1996-12-30 1997-12-05 Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96203727 1996-12-30
EP96203727 1996-12-30
EP97203818A EP0851286B1 (de) 1996-12-30 1997-12-05 Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0851286A1 EP0851286A1 (de) 1998-07-01
EP0851286B1 true EP0851286B1 (de) 2003-10-15

Family

ID=26143497

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97203818A Expired - Lifetime EP0851286B1 (de) 1996-12-30 1997-12-05 Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0851286B1 (de)

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2704295B2 (ja) * 1989-08-07 1998-01-26 コニカ株式会社 ハロゲン化銀写真感光材料の処理方法
JPH05100392A (ja) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-23 Chiyuugai Shashin Yakuhin Kk ハロゲン化銀カラー写真感光材料用処理液の供給方法
JPH05313320A (ja) * 1992-02-26 1993-11-26 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd ハロゲン化銀写真感光材料の処理方法およびこれに用いる定着液
JPH06230527A (ja) * 1993-02-05 1994-08-19 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd ハロゲン化銀写真感光材料の処理方法
JPH06250350A (ja) * 1993-02-22 1994-09-09 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd ハロゲン化銀写真感光材料の処理方法
GB2303220B (en) * 1995-07-06 1999-05-05 Kodak Ltd Photographic developing and fixing process

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0851286A1 (de) 1998-07-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5565308A (en) Method of processing black and white photographic elements using processors having low volume thin tank designs
US5272499A (en) Photographic silver halide photosensitive material processing apparatus
EP0569008B1 (de) Beschleunigung der Silberentfernung durch Thioetherverbindungen
US5895743A (en) Method of processing light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials
EP0851286B1 (de) Verfahren zur Verarbeitung lichtempfindliche photographische Silberhalogenidmaterialien
JPS6323528B2 (de)
EP0908764B1 (de) Verfahren zur Verarbeitung eines photographischen Schwarzweiss-Silberhalogenidmaterials
US4343892A (en) Method and apparatus for silver recovery during photographic processing
US6083672A (en) Method of processing a black-and-white silver halide photographic material
US5355191A (en) Photographic processing apparatus and method
US5736304A (en) Method of processing black-and-white photographic materials
US5888707A (en) Method of processing photographic material
JPH10198005A (ja) 感光性ハロゲン化銀写真材料の処理の方法
JPH0247733B2 (ja) Shashinkankozairyonoshorihoho
EP0742481A1 (de) Verfahren zur Verarbeitung photographischer Schwarzweissmaterialien
JPH048777B2 (de)
JP3244562B2 (ja) 写真材料の処理法
JP3182633B2 (ja) ハロゲン化銀カラー感光材料の処理方法
US5620834A (en) Method of processing photographic silver halide materials
US5922520A (en) Photographic processing method and tank
JPH0736079B2 (ja) ハロゲン化銀写真感光材料の水洗方法
US5698381A (en) Processing system for the development of photographic materials
JP3535306B2 (ja) 水洗槽の洗浄方法
JPH04104146A (ja) 写真処理方法および処理装置
JPH05323552A (ja) 写真感光材料の水洗方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990104

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: BE DE FR GB

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20000112

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AGFA-GEVAERT

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031015

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20031015

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69725546

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20031120

Kind code of ref document: P

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20040116

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040716

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 746

Effective date: 20040921

EN Fr: translation not filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20061123

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20071205

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071205