JP2907402B2 - Apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic processor and a method for processing a silver halide photosensitive material using the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine and a method for processing a silver halide photosensitive material using the apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for achieving high water saving efficiency and excellent finish performance. The present invention relates to a compact and inexpensive apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic processor and a method for processing a silver halide photosensitive material using the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, development processing of silver halide light-sensitive materials is generally carried out using an automatic developing machine. Such an automatic developing machine generally comprises developing, fixing, washing and drying. The photosensitive material that has been subjected to the developing and fixing processes is subjected to a washing step, in which a processing solution component in the preceding step, particularly a fixing solution component, contained in the material is washed away. If the washing is insufficient, especially in a black-and-white silver halide photosensitive material, performance problems such as deterioration of an image with time due to a residual fixing solution component in the material occur. Therefore, it is necessary to perform sufficient rinsing to sufficiently remove the residual fixing solution components in the photosensitive material. However, as described above, sufficient rinsing cannot be performed with the amount of rinsing water contained in the rinsing tank in the automatic developing machine. Met. For this reason, at present, tap water is always supplied at the time of rinsing treatment, and overflowing rinsing water is directly discharged to the sewer.

Under these circumstances, in recent years, from the viewpoint of resource saving and reduction of production cost, there has been an increasing demand for water saving at the time of washing an automatic developing machine with water. In other words, problems such as land subsidence in urban areas, rising water and sewage charges due to capital investment for lagging sewage treatment facilities compared to those in Europe and the United States, and water cuts due to specific weather conditions in summer in specific areas Demands for saving flushing water in order to cope with such problems are increasing in recent years, due to the recent increase in the amount of processing at plate-making shops and the problem of total wastewater control.

[0004] In response to the above-mentioned water-saving requirements, anhydrous washing and chemical treatment in which chemical treatment is carried out instead of the conventionally proposed washing treatment.
The non-pipe system or the countercurrent washing method, etc., causes the processing equipment to be complicated and large, such as an increase in processing tanks, for the current automatic developing apparatus for black-and-white silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, particularly for printing plate making, and as a result, The line becomes longer, and the processing time of the photosensitive material becomes longer. From the viewpoint of speeding up the processing associated with the recent mass processing, the direction is completely reversed and cannot be applied.

[0005]

Therefore, as one method, a water tank for storing washing water is provided in the vicinity of the water tank separately from the water tank for performing the water washing treatment, and a water tank is provided between the water tank and the water tank. A method of circulating washing water is conceivable. According to this method, the phenomena in the preceding process, which are carried into the washing water by the photosensitive material to be processed, components of the fixing solution, and photosensitive materials such as dyes, pigments, surfactants, and gelatin. The concentration of eluted components from the water increases with an increase in the amount of treatment, and in particular, in recent mass treatment, the value of iodine consumption as a legally defined water quality standard also exceeds the value in a short time. Drainage problems remain.

Regarding the above problems, the present inventors have previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 1-65440 and 1-65442 a oxidizing agent supplying means as a regenerating means for regenerating used washing water. It is proposed to provide.

However, in the method of circulating the washing water as described above, the length of the stagnation time in the washing water system increases the generation of water scale, mold, and the like, which accumulates in the circulation pipe. Techniques for adding chemicals such as bactericides and anti-bacterial agents to solve such problems have been known in the past, but their effects are not sufficient. A method that can simultaneously solve the conventional problem of occurrence of the above has not been realized yet.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to make it possible to recycle washing water, thereby improving the water saving efficiency of the washing water regeneration and purification apparatus for an automatic processor, and a silver halide photosensitive system using the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of processing a material.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine capable of removing scale, mold and the like generated by the conventional circulating use of washing water.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a method for processing a silver halide photosensitive material having an excellent water saving effect.
The object of the present invention is to provide a more compact and more cost-effective product. In particular, the present invention also provides simplicity that a conventional automatic developing machine can be easily attached.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for regenerating and treating washing water for an automatic developing machine, which can purify contaminated washing water to the extent that it can be drained.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a washing water for an automatic developing machine which eliminates troubles such as dirt attached to a circulation pipe which are apt to occur in a conventional water saving system by structurally eliminating the circulation pipe. Another object of the present invention is to provide a regeneration purifying apparatus.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine according to the present invention is provided for a silver halide photosensitive material comprising at least a developing section, a fixing section and a washing section. A regenerating means for regenerating and processing the washing water in the case of performing the processing in the automatic developing machine; an oxidizing agent for supplying a purifying agent to the washing section when the contaminant concentration of the washing water exceeds a predetermined value; A purifying agent supply unit containing a purifying agent; a draining unit including a unit for measuring a contamination concentration of the washing water so that at least a part of the washing water in the washing unit can be drained after the purifying agent is supplied; It is characterized by having a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain in water and an adding means for allowing a anti-binder to be present.

The apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine according to the present invention is characterized in that at least the washing water is used in an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photosensitive material comprising a developing section, a fixing section and a washing section. Supplying a regenerating means for treating while regenerating water, and a purifying agent containing an oxidizing agent, a preservative, and a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain to the washing portion when the contamination concentration of the washing water exceeds a predetermined value. A purifying agent supplying means, a draining means having a means for measuring a contaminated concentration of the washing water so that at least a part of the washing water in the washing section can be drained after the purifying agent is supplied, And a means for adding a bi-agent.

Further, the regeneration and purification apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that the regeneration means also functions as the purifying agent supply means.

Further, the regeneration purifying apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that a hydrogen peroxide solution is used as the oxidizing agent.

Further, the method for processing a silver halide light-sensitive material of the present invention is characterized in that the method is carried out by using the regeneration purifying apparatus of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing an example of the apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine according to the present invention. According to FIG. 1, an apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic processor according to the present invention comprises:
Automatically regenerates or purifies water in the washing tank 1 of an automatic processor for processing photosensitive materials based on the photosensitive material processing area information.
Purifying agent supply means 2 for supplying a purifying agent, and a washing tank 1
An oxidizing agent is added to decompose the hypo that is brought into the tank.However, when the concentration of the pollutant reaches a level that is considered from the accumulation of components eluted from the light-sensitive material, water must be replaced. both the drainage means 3 comprise means for measuring the pollutant concentration of the washing water to allow draining a portion of the washing water, a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain in the washing water in the washing tub 1 and antifungal agents, or anti And an adding means 4 for allowing the bi-agent to be present.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing another example of the regeneration and purification apparatus of the present invention. This is because the purifying agent is sent from the supply tank 2a to the dilution / mixing tank 2b at any time by receiving a replenishment signal of the developing solution of the automatic developing machine, and is diluted with water. Specifications. At this time, the mixed dilution water is fed from a nozzle injection type supply port for the purpose of increasing the stirring efficiency from the bottom of the washing section of the automatic developing machine.

According to the present invention, a circulating pipe is provided to further reduce the size of the conventional water saving system of the circulating water circulation system, increase the cost, and prevent contamination of the circulating pipe.
As a result, it is possible to provide an apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine, which is very excellent not only in water saving but also in maintainability.

[0022] As oxidizing agents to be used as regeneration and purification means in the present invention, oxides of metal or non-metal, oxygen acid or a salt thereof, a peroxide, although compounds containing acid-based organic like, washed with water The above-mentioned oxyacid is preferably sulfuric acid, nitrous acid, nitric acid, hypochlorous acid, etc. in view of the main purpose of decomposing the fixing solution component brought into the used washing water in the tank , and as the peroxide. Is particularly preferably a hydrogen peroxide solution, a fentonic acid drug or the like. Ozone is also preferably used.

These oxidizing agents are diluted with water or the like and then supplied to the washing tank 1. Usually, the oxidizing agents are automatically added from the purifying agent supplying tank in fixed amounts as needed, preferably within a fixed time. Is added to the washing tank 1 in such a manner that the supply valve is opened and dropped automatically at a rate of about once. The amount of addition can be arbitrarily selected depending on the type of photosensitive material, the amount of processing, the type of processing solution, and the like. In a system in which the required amount is automatically added in units, the amount of thiosulfate ion in the fixing solution to be introduced is reduced to 1 unit.
It is preferably added in the range of ２ mole to several times equivalent molar, particularly in the range of ２〜 to 3 times equivalent. In addition, since the amount of the fixing solution component actually introduced is proportional to the amount of the processed light-sensitive material, the amount to be added can be determined based on the amount of the processed light-sensitive material. The washing tank 1 can have a well-known stirring means in order to efficiently perform regeneration.

As the stirring means, it is preferable to use a circulating pump in the washing tank, or to introduce a stirring unit having a small propeller-shaped one into the washing tank of the automatic processing machine to utilize its function.

When the amount of treatment further increases and the degree of contamination progresses, it becomes necessary to drain all or at least a part of the washing water in the washing tank 1 and replace it with fresh washing water. However, in particular, when the degree of contamination exceeds the above-mentioned drainage standard, drainage to the sewer becomes impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to always detect the concentration of the washing water contamination and keep the concentration within an allowable range. Therefore, the contamination concentration of the washing water is measured by any method, preferably, the washing water in the washing tank is measured using a contamination concentration measuring means. A purifying agent is supplied to purify the washing water in the washing tank 1 to an allowable value. Thereafter, at least a part of the purified washing water is drained by the drainage means 3. Wash tank 1
The whole washing water may be drained, or only one part may be drained and replaced with fresh washing water for mixing and use.

In the present invention, the contaminant concentration of the washing water is considered to be required to satisfy the regulation of iodine consumption since the sewerage is discharged. It can be considered as the concentration of thiosulfate ions such as ammonium thiosulfate and sodium thiosulfate which are liquid components.

The purifying agent used in the present invention is an oxidizing agent.
And a preservative, and a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain and an antibacterial agent are added to the washing tank by adding means 4 separate from the purifying agent supplying means. Further, the effect of the present invention can be obtained even if a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain is contained as a purifying agent in addition to the oxidizing agent and the preservative, and the anti-binder is added to the washing tank by the adding means 4. . 1 and FIG.
Is provided separately from the purifying agent supply means 2, but is also used as a purifying agent, wherein the purifying agent contains an oxidizing agent, a preservative, a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain, and an anti-biase agent. It is also preferable from the point of compactness that the effect of the present invention is obtained similarly.

The preservative used in the present invention is used as a stabilizer for an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide. For example, phosphoric acid, barbituric acid, urea, acetanilide, oxyquinoline,
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, phenacetin, salicylic acid,
Dipicolinic acid, quinolinic acid, pyridinecarboxylic acid, ED
TA, ethylenediaminetetra (methylenephosphonic acid)
And the like. The amount of the preservative used varies depending on the product, but is, for example, 10 ^-7 to 1 times, more preferably 10 ^{-5 to} 0.5 times the weight of hydrogen peroxide, and in the case of an acid, the pH does not fall below 5.7. Should be added.

The compounds having a polyalkylene oxide chain used in the present invention include the following.

[0030]

Embedded image

[0031]

Embedded image The addition amount of the compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain is 1 ppm to 1000 ppm, more preferably 10 ppm to washing water.
ppm to 100 ppm, and when contained as a purifying agent, 0.01% to 10%, more preferably 0.1%, based on the purifying agent.
~ 5%.

The anti-foaming agent used in the present invention may be any as long as it does not adversely affect photographic performance. Specific examples include thiazolyl benzimidazole compounds, isothiazolone compounds, chlorophenol compounds, and bromophenol. Compounds, thiocyanic acid and isothianoic acid compounds, acid azide compounds, diazines and triazine compounds, thiourea compounds, alkylguanidine compounds, quaternary ammonium salts, organic tin and organic zinc compounds,
Cyclohexylphenol compounds, imidazole and benzimidazole compounds, sulfamide compounds,
There are various antibacterial agents and fungicides such as active halogen compounds such as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate, chelating agents, sulfite compounds, and antibiotics represented by penicillin. In addition, LE West, “Water Quality Cr”
iteria ”Phot. Sci. and Eng., Vol 9 No. 6 (19
65) A disinfectant described in JP-A-57-8542, JP-A-58-105145,
No. 59-126533, No. 55-111942, and No. 57-157244, various anti-fungal agents; "Chemistry of anti-bacterial and fungicide" by Hiroshi Horiguchi, Sankyo Publishing (Showa 57), "Anti-bacterial and antifungal technology" Chemicals such as those described in "Handbook", Japan Society of Antimicrobial and Fungicide, Gihodo (Showa 61) can be used.

Specific examples are shown below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. 1. 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3
-ON 2. 2. 2- (4-thiazolyl) -benzimidazole 3. methyl isothiocyanate 3,5-dichloro-4'-fluoro-thiocarbanilide 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol 2,4,6-trichlorophenol 7. 7. Sodium dehydroacetate 8. Sulfanilamide 3,4,5-tribromosalicylanilide 10. Potassium sorbate 11. Benzalkonium chloride 12. 1-Bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin 13. Monochloroacetamide 14. Monobromoacetamide 15. Monoiodoacetamide 16. Benzimidazole 17. Cyclohexylphenol 18. 19. 2-octyl-isothiazolin-3-one Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 20. Nitrilo-N, N, N-trimethinephosphonic acid 21. 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid Ethylenediamine-N, N, N ', N'-tetramethylenephosphonic acid 23. 24. Chlorinated sodium isocyanurate 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 25. 10,10'-oxybisphenoxyarsine 26. 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one

These exemplified compounds are described in US Pat.
2,767,172, 2,767,173, 2,767,174, 2,87
No. 0,015, British Patent No. 848,130, French Patent No. 1,555,416, etc., describe their synthesis methods and examples of application to other fields. There are also commercially available products, such as Predentol ON, Permachem PD, Topside 800, Topside EG5, Topside 300, Topside 600 (all manufactured by Permachem Asia), Fineside J-700 (manufactured by Tokyo Fine Chemical). ) Prozel
It can be obtained under the trade name of GXL (manufactured by ICI).

When the above anti-blur agent is supplied into washing water, it is preferably 0.01 to 50 g / l, more preferably 0.05 g / l.
5-20g / l is good. When contained as a purifying agent, the amount is 0.1 to 50 g / l, more preferably 1 to 20 g / l, based on the purifying agent.

When the oxidizing agent supply tank is provided as the regenerating means as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the purifying agent supplying means is preferably used in combination with the oxidizing agent supply tank from the viewpoint of compactness.

When the thiosulfate ion concentration of the washing water in the washing tank 1 exceeds the value corresponding to the reference value of the iodine consumption, for example, these purifying agents can be added in accordance with the concentration. And is added to the washing tank 1 from the purifying agent supply tank arranged adjacent to the washing tank 1.
Usually, it is automatically added from the supply tank by a fixed amount as needed, and preferably added to the washing tank 1 in such a manner that the supply valve is opened and automatically dropped at a rate of about once every fixed time. The amount of addition can be determined by experiments or the like according to the thiosulfate ion concentration in the washing water.

In the present invention, as a means for supplying a purifying agent in a fixed amount according to the thiosulfate ion concentration and automatically purifying the purifying agent, an ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) electrode is used to measure an ORP value and purify based on the measured value. A method of automatically adding the agent is possible. Specifically, a sodium thiosulfate solution having a predetermined concentration is adjusted to pH 4 or pH 7, and sodium hypochlorite is added thereto to increase iodine consumption, MnO ₄ The consumption and ORP value can be measured to determine the amount of purifying agent added. That is, for example, a 0.03 N-Na ₂ S ₂ O ₃ solution having a pH of 1
When sodium hypochlorite was added to each of the solutions having pH 7 and a certain amount, a sharp rise in the ORP value of the first solution was observed in the solution at pH 7, which coincided with the lowest value of iodine consumption. did. This indicates that the entire amount of S ₂ O ₃ ^2- has been oxidized. When sodium hypochlorite is further added, the rise of the second solution of the pH 7 solution and the sharp rise of the pH 4 solution are observed. Thus, the rise of the ORP value in the neutral or acidic region is +500 to 800 mV.
Purification can be performed automatically by adding sodium hypochlorite until the time is reached. In this way,
By measuring the ORP value in various cases, the amount of the purifying agent to be added can be determined.

The above-mentioned ORP electrode may be installed in a washing tank, and may be measured continuously or as needed, or may be measured by inserting it into the washing tank as needed. The measured value is automatically or artificially fed back to the purifying agent supply means, for example, by operating an electromagnetic on-off valve or the like,
The required amount of purifying agent can be supplied to the washing water in the washing tank. As described above, the washing tank may have a usual well-known stirring means to promote purification.

As another method of measuring the contamination concentration, there is a method of measuring the area of the processed photographic material and substituting it. That is, since thiosulfate ion, which is a main contaminant, is a component carried by the processed light-sensitive material, its amount is considered to substantially correspond to the amount of the processed light-sensitive material, that is, the total area. Therefore, the concentration of contamination when a predetermined amount of photosensitive material is processed by an experiment and the amount of the purifying agent required to purify the concentration to a predetermined value are determined in advance, and the processing is performed using the result. It is sufficient to measure and calculate the total area of the light-sensitive material and supply a corresponding amount of the purifying agent.

As such a method, specifically, a light-sensitive material is detected by a sensor provided near a light-sensitive material insertion port of an automatic developing machine, and a counter connected to the sensor is provided based on information from the sensor. To count the total area of the processed photosensitive material.
When the counted total area exceeds a value corresponding to a predetermined contamination concentration, a predetermined amount of a purifying agent is supplied to the washing tank based on the experimental value. At this time, the apparatus may have a system in which the experimental values are input in advance, and a system for calculating and automatically supplying a purifying agent in an amount corresponding to the total area value is provided in the apparatus. When the value exceeds a predetermined value, an alarm sounds, and in response to this, the alarm may be supplied artificially based on an experiment.

As a method of supplying at this time, it is preferable to supply the water as it is to the water in the washing tank in order to increase the stirring effect more than dropping the required purifying agent from the upper part of the washing tank. In particular, it is preferable to enter a position of 4 to 5 cm or less as an effect of dissolving in the liquid rather than the water surface of the washing tank.

By adding a purifying agent as described above,
At least a part of the washing water purified to a predetermined value, at least a value for setting a drainage standard, is drained by the drainage means 3. The drainage means has, for example, an electromagnetic valve and can be opened and closed automatically. However, the valve may be opened automatically after the supply of the cleaning agent, or automatically or artificially after the supply or purification of the cleaning agent is confirmed. It may open and drain.

In particular, in this case, as described above, when a specified amount of a purifying agent is added at a constant concentration, it is faster to dilute with water or the like and send a fixed amount at a stroke than to drop a small amount of a high concentration one at a time. Stirring is good. In particular, in a diluted state, a portion of the washed and washed water is automatically overflowed and drained to the sewer as it is, as the amount of water increases. At this time, the purifying agent may be added to the washing tank from one place, but it is injected by several nozzle injection ports to enhance the stirring effect and prevent contaminants from adhering due to the internal water circulation effect. Is preferably performed. In particular, it is particularly preferable that the nozzle hole is fed by a pump pressure at two or more places to enhance the injection effect. A type in which the injector is placed at the bottom of the washing tank and injected upward from the hole is particularly effective.

As in the present invention, the adhesion of dirt, which tends to occur in a conventional water-saving type automatic developing machine of a stagnant water washing type, can be particularly eliminated by eliminating the circulation pipe and taking in the diffusion effect.

As a result, the water quality in the automatic developing machine is always kept constant, and the water washing tank is not emptied due to the change of water, which is particularly preferable in terms of work efficiency. As a washing means of the automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied, conventionally known various washing tanks and washing methods can be used. In particular, in the present invention, it can be implemented immediately by simply attaching to a conventional automatic developing machine. In this case, it is particularly preferable to install the cleaning agent in the automatic developing machine in view of the installation space for the cleaning agent supply means and the cleaning agent itself. Specifically, it is preferable that the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 be absorbed in the automatic developing machine as it is.

As described above, by providing a purifying agent supply means as in the present invention and reusing the washing water, the water saving efficiency is increased, and further, the contaminated washing water generated by the increase in the treatment amount is purified. The concept of performing wastewater treatment was found for the first time by the present inventors as a result of earnest research, and has never been found in the prior art.

The silver halide light-sensitive material used in the present invention is preferably a black-and-white light-sensitive material, and particularly preferably a black-and-white negative film, a black-and-white reversal film, an X-ray film, a copying film, a printing film, a gravure film, a black-and-white paper. And computerized photosetting paper.

As for the developing section, fixing section and drying section of the automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied, all conventionally known various systems can be used.

In the black and white developer used, a combination of dihydroxybenzenes and 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones is preferably used as a developing agent. Of course, besides this, p
-It may contain an aminophenol-based developing agent.

The dihydroxybenzene developing agents used include hydroquinone, chlorohydroquinone, bromohydroquinone, isopropylhydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, 2,3-dichlorohydroquinone,
There are 2,5-dichlorohydroquinone, 2,3-dibromohydroquinone, 2,5-dimethylhydroquinone and the like, but hydroquinone is particularly preferred.

The developing agents for 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone or derivatives thereof include 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone and 1-phenyl-4-methyl-
4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4,4-dihydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone and the like.

Examples of the P-aminophenol-based developing agents include N-methyl-p-aminophenol, p-aminophenol, N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -p-aminophenol, N- (4-hydroxyphenyl) glycine, 2
-Methyl-p-aminophenol, p-benzylaminophenol, etc., and N-methyl-p-aminophenol is preferred.

The developing agent is usually from 0.01 mol / l to
It is preferably used in an amount of 1.2 mol / l.

The pH of the developer used is preferably in the range of 9 to 13. More preferably, pH 10 to 12
Range.

The alkaline agents used for setting the pH include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate,
PH adjusters such as potassium carbonate, tribasic sodium phosphate and tribasic potassium phosphate are included.

JP-A-61-28708 (borate),
A buffer such as JP-A-60-93439 (for example, saccharose, acetoxime, 6-sulfosalicylic acid), phosphate, carbonate and the like may be used.

Additives other than the above components include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite,
Sulfites such as ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite and formaldehyde sodium bisulfite; development inhibitors such as sodium bromide, potassium bromide and potassium iodide: ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dimethylformamide; Methyl cellosolve, hexylene glycol,
Organic solvents such as ethanol and methanol: mercapto compounds such as 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid sodium salt, indazole compounds such as 5-nitroindazole, 5-methylbenztriazole Antifoggants such as benztriazole-based compounds, etc., and further include, if necessary, a color toning agent, a surfactant, a disinfectant, a water softener, and an amino compound described in JP-A-56-106244. May be.

In the developing solution, a silver stain preventing agent, for example,
Compounds described in JP-A-243347 can also be used.

The developer used is described in JP-A-56-10.
An amino compound such as an alkanolamine described in No. 6244 can be used.

In addition, L. F. A. Meson, "Photographic Processing Chemistry", Focal
Presses (1966), pages 226 to 229, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,193,015 and 2,592,364, and JP-A-48-64933 may be used.

The fixing solution used is an aqueous solution containing a thiosulfate, and has a pH of 3.8 or more, and preferably 4.2 to 5.5.
Having.

The fixing agent includes sodium thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate, and thiosulfate ion and ammonium ion are essential components. Ammonium thiosulfate is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of fixing speed. The amount of the fixing agent used can be changed as appropriate, and is generally about 0.1 to 6
Mol / l.

The fixing solution may contain a water-soluble aluminum salt acting as a hardening agent, and examples thereof include aluminum chloride, ammonium sulfate, potassium alum and the like.

In the fixing solution, tartaric acid, citric acid or a conductor thereof can be used alone or in combination of two or more. It is effective that these compounds contain at least 0.005 mol per liter of fixing solution, and particularly effective is 0.01 mol / L to 0.03 mol / L.

Specifically, there are tartaric acid, potassium tartrate, sodium tartrate, potassium sodium tartrate, citric acid, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, lithium citrate, ammonium citrate and the like.

The fixing solution may contain a preservative (for example, sulfite or bisulfite), a pH buffer (for example, acetic acid or nitric acid), a pH adjuster (for example, sulfuric acid), a chelating agent having a water softening property, Compounds described in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-213562 can be included.

[0068]

The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples.

The film is processed by an automatic developing machine installed as shown in FIG. Film size 508 × 610mm ²
The type and amount of the purifying agent and 0.7 liter of water as shown in Table 1 are fed into the washing tank at any time according to the information from the developer replenishment operation signal of the automatic processor. At that time, the washing water in the washing tank overflows by the replenishment amount. By this method, the processing of 135 sheets of the large-sized film was continued for 4 months. At this time, I ₂
The consumption was measured. In addition, dirt in the washing tank rack was also evaluated. In addition, the above-mentioned film was used as a plate making printer P-607 (light source: ultra-high pressure mercury lamp URT-CHM-1) using a bright room turning film CRH (manufactured by Konica Corporation).
000) Exposed by Dainippon Screen Co., Ltd., having a blackening ratio of about 20% was used.

Table 2 shows the results.

[0071]

[Table 1]

[0072]

[Table 2] From the above results, it is apparent that according to the present invention, the water quality is kept constant even after long-term continuous use, the long-term operation can be performed without cleaning the washing tank, and the maintenance property is excellent.

[0073]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to recycle washing water for an automatic developing machine, and as a result, water saving efficiency is improved. In addition, the contaminated washing water is purified to the extent that it can be drained, and the troubles that occur in the conventional circulation piping can be structurally eliminated. Further, the apparatus of the present invention is compact and inexpensive, and can be easily attached to a conventional automatic developing machine, and is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rinse tank (means) 2 Purifier supply means 3 Drainage means 4 Addition means

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-244140 (JP, A) JP-A-2-247646 (JP, A) JP-A-1-142635 (JP, A) JP-A-1-154153 (JP) , A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03C 11/00 G03D 13/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A regenerating means for performing processing while regenerating washing water when the processing is performed by an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photosensitive material comprising at least a developing section, a fixing section and a washing section, and the washing water. A purifying agent supply means for supplying a purifying agent containing an oxidizing agent and a preservative to the washing section when the contamination concentration of the water exceeds a predetermined value, and at least a part of the washing water in the washing section can be drained after supplying the purifying agent. Drainage means comprising means for measuring the contaminant concentration of the washing water, and a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain in the washing water in the washing section, and an addition means for causing the anti-binder to be present, and Regeneration and purification equipment for washing water for automatic processors. 2. A regenerating means for performing processing while regenerating washing water when the processing is performed by an automatic developing machine for a silver halide photosensitive material comprising at least a developing section, a fixing section and a washing section, and the washing water. A cleaning agent supply means for supplying a cleaning agent containing an oxidizing agent, a preservative, and a compound having a polyalkylene oxide chain to the washing section when the contamination concentration exceeds a predetermined value; and Drainage means comprising means for measuring the contaminated concentration of the washing water so that at least a part of the washing water can be drained, and addition means for causing a deodorant to be present in the washing water in the washing section, Regeneration and purification equipment for washing water for automatic processors. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said regenerating means also functions as said purifying agent supplying means. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a hydrogen peroxide solution is used as said oxidizing agent. 5. A method for processing a silver halide photosensitive material, wherein the method is carried out by using the apparatus for regenerating and purifying washing water for an automatic developing machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.