JP3273288B2 - Storage container for solid processing agents for silver halide photographic materials - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid processing agent (hereinafter referred to simply as "processing agent") container for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and more particularly to a container for processing or transporting a tablet when the processing agent is a tablet. The present invention relates to a storage container for a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which has improved problems of breakage and generation of powder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Silver halide photographic materials are usually black-and-white developing solutions, fixing solutions, color developing solutions, bleaching solutions, bleach-fixing solutions,
Development processing is performed using a processing liquid such as a stabilizing liquid, and an image-wise image is obtained. Each processing solution used here is usually contained in a plastic bottle in the form of one or a plurality of concentrated solutions for ease of use, and supplied to the user as a processing agent kit. The user dissolves these treatment agent kits in water and uses the solution (start solution or replenisher)
Create and use.

[0003] In recent years, in the photographic processing industry, the number of small-scale developing laboratories using a small automatic developing machine called a minilab has been rapidly increasing, and with the progress of minilabs, the amount of plastic bottles for processing agents has been increasing year by year. It is increasing rapidly.

[0004] Because of its light and strong properties, this plastic has been widely used in addition to photographic processing agent bottles. The worldwide production of plastics is steadily increasing year by year, to over 100 million tons per year in 1988. On the other hand, the amount of plastic that is discarded is enormous, and even in Japan, about 40% of the production is discarded every year. When such waste plastic is dumped into the ocean, it causes deterioration of the habitat of marine organisms.In Europe, it is burnt in incinerators with inadequate exhaust gas treatment facilities. It is also one of the causes of such problems, and is becoming a big problem every year.

[0005] Under such circumstances, it can be said that it is extremely undesirable to use a large amount of plastic bottles as a processing agent for photographic use, though it is a part.

Therefore, it has been considered to make a concentrated solution of a photographic processing agent into a powder. In such a case, fine powder may soar during dissolution and be inhaled by an operator, in which case the effect on health may be affected. Or a rise in the processing agent component may be mixed into another photographic processing solution, thereby contaminating the photographic processing solution and causing a problem in photographic performance. For this reason, a technique of granulating a photographic processing agent to form a granular mixture is disclosed in, for example,
No. 9042, No. 2-1009043, U.S. Pat.No. 2,843,484 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-39735, but they are still proposed in occupational safety and health problems due to dust of flying chemicals, impurities in other types of processing liquids. Problems, such as the caking phenomenon that causes sedimentation and coagulation at the bottom of the dissolution vessel during dissolution, resulting in poor dissolution, and the coating of the powder with its own wet film, resulting in poor dissolution, resulting in poor workability when preparing the processing liquid. In fact, the range of use of powdered and granulated photographic processing agents is extremely limited.

[0007] Therefore, as a preferred form of the treatment agent which takes advantage of these advantages of the solid state, a tablet form is disclosed in
-61837 and JP-A-5-119454.

[0008] However, these tablet-like processing agents have some disadvantages. For example, these tablet-like processing agents are usually transported in a container, and during the transportation process, the tablet may be broken or powder may be generated in the container due to vibration, dropping during handling, or the like. When such damage occurs, it becomes impossible to accurately supply a certain amount of the processing agent to the automatic processor, and the processing agent concentration in the processing tank cannot be maintained at a target value. It becomes impossible to keep the photographic performance constant.

Further, the generation of powder prevents the tablets from being sent out of the container, and adheres to the input section of the automatic developing machine,
There is a problem that the sticking occurs due to the absorption of moisture, thereby narrowing the inlet and making it impossible to feed the tablet.

As a result of various studies by the present inventors, when photographic tablet processing agents are arranged in a certain form and stored in a container, the size of the container is adjusted to a specific range with respect to the height and thickness of the tablet. It has been surprisingly found that the above-mentioned problem can be solved, and the present invention has been achieved.

[0011]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tablet, which is used as a solid processing agent, for transportation and handling. To provide a solid processing agent storage container for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials that has improved the problems of tablet breakage and powder generation during storage. Second, by reducing the amount of processing agent packaging material including plastic bottles, The aim is to improve environmental suitability. Further, a third object is that an automatic developing machine (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an automatic developing machine) is used to precisely supply a tablet-shaped solid processing agent by a fixed amount.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for storing a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which can be supplied to a silver halide photographic material.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a storage container for storing a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material in the form of a tablet.
The body treatment agent is a tablet in which a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet solid treatment agent is a separate tablet.
Agent solid processing agent in contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface of which is configured to retract and the linear rows, 1.0 5 times the height in the container (H) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent diameter (D) in the range of 1.3 0 times to no, and to the container width (W) is 1.0 5-fold of the thickness (T) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent I 1.4 0 Baidea, tablet-shaped solid
The bulk density of the body treatment agent is in the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for solid processing agent accommodating container, wherein 1.1~3.0g / cm ³ der Rukoto, to achieve the object of this configuration.

The container for storing a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention is a storage container for storing a solid processing agent for a tablet-shaped silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and capable of being discharged from an openable and closable opening. Are stored in parallel in the storage container.
The supplied tablet-like solid processing agent is the outer periphery of the tablet-like solid processing agent.
A part of the surface is in contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface of another
Te are retract and the linear rows, 1.0 5-fold to 1.3 0 times the height in the container (H) is the diameter of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent (D), and the container of width (W) is to 1.0 5-fold of the thickness (T) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent I 1.4 0 Baidea, the
The bulk density of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent is characterized in 1.1~3.0g / cm ³ der Rukoto.

The tablet in the present invention refers to a solid preparation obtained by molding a solid chemical used in processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material by applying pressure to a certain shape.

In the present invention, the diameter (D) of the tablet is
It refers to the length of the longest diameter that can be obtained on a plane (compression plane) perpendicular to the compression direction during tablet molding.

In the present invention, the thickness (T) of the tablet means
It refers to the length that can be taken the longest in the compression direction during tablet molding.

In the present invention, the container height (H) refers to the length of the shortest length of the tablet in the direction of the diameter (D) of the tablet in the movable air conditioning of the tablet when the tablet is filled in the container. Say that.

In the present invention, the width (W) of the container is defined as the length of the shortest length in the container in the thickness (T) direction of the tablet in the space in which the tablet can be moved when the tablet is filled into the container. Say that.

In the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the tablet means a surface connecting the edges of the two compressed surfaces of the tablet in the direction of the thickness (T) of the tablet. A preferred tablet filling method is
A part of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet is arranged in a straight line so as to be in contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface of another tablet so that part or all of the outer peripheral surface can be rotated or slipped while sequentially contacting the container wall surface. This is the filling method.

The tablet for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention can be manufactured by a general tablet manufacturing method. For example, it can be produced by a general method described in JP-A-51-61837, JP-A-54-155038, JP-A-52-88025 and British Patent 1,213,808. And, as a method for producing a tablet according to the present invention, a method of mixing and powdering each drug powder, a method of mixing each powder and granulating and granulating,
A method of granulating the respective powders and mixing them into granules, followed by tableting may be mentioned, but the method is most preferred from the viewpoint of the solubility of the tablets, the resistance to attrition and the storage stability.

Examples of the shape of the tablet according to the present invention include a short columnar shape, a stone-like shape, a short triangular prism shape, a short square prism shape, a pill shape and the like. In view of the above, a short columnar shape having a rolling outer periphery is preferably used.

The tablets for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention include a tablet for color development processing, a tablet for black-and-white development processing, a tablet for bleaching processing, a tablet for fixing processing, a tablet for bleach-fixing processing and a tablet for stable processing. Tablets and the like.

When the treating agent container of the present invention is made of synthetic resin, the synthetic resin includes polyethylene (either high-pressure method or low-pressure method), polypropylene (either unstretched or stretched), polyvinyl chloride, Polyvinyl acetate, nylon (stretched, unstretched), polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, vinylon, eval, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), other polyesters, rubber hydrochloride, acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer,
Epoxy-phosphate resins (polymers described in JP-A-63-63037, polymers described in JP-A-57-32952) and the like are used. Among them, polyethylene is particularly preferably used. Polyethylene can be easily formed in the container of the present invention, has little breakage of tablets, has excellent recyclability, and transmits oxygen at 20 ° C. and 65% RH atmosphere of a synthetic resin required as preferable conditions for the container. 50ml / m ²・
The condition of 24 hr · atm or less, more preferably 30 ml / m ² · 24 hr · atm or less is easily satisfied. The thickness of the container wall of the container of the present invention made of synthetic resin is 10 to 30 from the viewpoint of the effect of the object of the present invention.
A range of 00 μm is used, preferably a range of 200 to 2000 μm.

The tablet of the present invention preferably has a bulk density of 1.1 to 3.0 g / cm ³ , more preferably 1.2 to 2.4 g / cm ³ , from the viewpoint of the effects of the present invention. is there. In order to obtain this bulk density, the desired bulk density can be obtained by adjusting the compression molding pressure of a tableting machine and adjusting the binder components such as polyethylene glycol and saccharides.

The tablet in the present invention is a tablet obtained by compressing powder or granules under pressure, and the physical strength Z of the tablet is in the range of 0.3 to 3.5, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 3.0. is there. When the strength Z is less than 0.3, the obtained solid processing agent is extremely brittle and cannot be put to practical use. On the other hand, if the strength Z exceeds 3.0, the elasticity of the solid processing agent is lost, so that the solid processing agent is easily chipped and the solubility of the solid processing agent is extremely deteriorated. Here, the physical strength Z is defined by the following equation.

Z = tablet crushing strength of tablet (kg) / length of tablet in longitudinal direction (mm) Further, in the present invention, the water content of the solid processing agent is as follows:
It may be in the range of 0.1 to 15% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 15% by weight.
It is in the range of 10% by weight, most preferably in the range of 1 to 8%. Here, the moisture content was determined by heating to a constant weight at 105 ° C. using a commercially available electronic moisture meter to determine the reduced weight.

The photographic processing agent component constituting the solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material used in the present invention includes:
A conventionally known one is used.

For example, color developing agents include a developing agent (paraphenylenediamine-based color developing agent, etc.), an antioxidant (hydroxylamine such as hydroxylamine sulfate, diethylhydroxylamine, di (sulfoethyl) hydroxylamine, and sulfurous acid). Salts), development inhibitors (bromides, chlorides, iodides, etc.), xylating agents (diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1'-disulfonate, 1,2-dihydroxy acid) Benzene-3,5-disulfonate, etc.), alkaline agents (potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, potassium phosphate, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydrogen carbonate, etc.),
Examples include a fluorescent whitening agent and a development accelerator. Further, the bleaching agent includes a bleaching agent (eg, ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetate, ferric diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, ferric β-alaninediacetate), a halogenating agent (eg, ammonium bromide, ammonium chloride). And bleaching accelerators. Fixing agents include fixing agents (ammonium thiosulfate,
Sodium thiosulfate, rodane salts, mesoions, etc.), antioxidants (sulfites, metabisulfites, etc.), pH adjusters (acetates, succinic acid, maleic acid, sodium hydroxide, etc.), fixing promoters, etc. No. As the bleach-fixing agent, the above-mentioned chemical components used in the bleaching agent and the fixing agent are used. Examples of the stabilizing agent include a surfactant, a formaldehyde substitute compound, a chelating agent, a fungicide, and an antioxidant.

[0029]

The solid processing agent storage container of the present invention has a height (H) of a container in which a plurality of tablets of the solid processing agent are arranged in a straight line and stored.
1.3 0 but from 1.0 5 times the diameter (D) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent
In the range of times, and by the container of the width (W) is in the range of 4 0 fold 1. 1.0 5 times the thickness of the solid processing agent (T), during transport and handling of the container containing tablets occurrence problem of corruption or powder of the tablet so the effect to say that to solve at the time of
Things.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural view of a main part showing an example of an automatic processing machine using the solid processing agent storage container of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the automatic processing machine showing a processing tank provided with a processing agent supply section. 3 (A) and 3 (B) are a plan view and a side view showing an example of the solid processing agent storage container of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing an example of a tablet supply device, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a supply rotor of the tablet supply device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive material supply device such as a conventionally known exposed film supply device or an automatic printer.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a main part of the automatic developing machine, and a color developing tank 3, a bleach-fixing tank 4,
It has stabilization tanks 5, 6, 7, a drying section 8 and a discharge section 9.
The photosensitive material supply device 1 and the automatic processing machine main unit 2 transport the photosensitive material by a row of squeezing conveyance rollers from the photosensitive material supply device 1 to each of the tanks 3 to 3 of the automatic processing machine main unit 2 as shown by a dashed line conveyance path R. 7
Then, the paper is sent to a discharge section 9 as a developed film or a print through a drying section 8 and discharged from the discharge section 9 to the outside of the apparatus.

The color developing solution in the color developing tank 3 and the bleach-fixing tank 4
A processing solution called a bleach-fixing solution or a stabilizing solution for the stabilization tanks 5 to 7 is prepared by dissolving a processing agent in water such as ion-exchanged water, mineral water, tap water, etc., and develops color during processing in the developing solution Preparation of each processing solution in the developing tank 3 and the like is performed by replenishing the above-described water to the color developing tank 3 and the like in an amount corresponding to the processing amount of the photosensitive material by a conventionally known replenishing water supply device (not shown). The processing is performed by replenishing the processing agent in an amount corresponding to the processing amount of the photosensitive material by the preparation apparatus shown in FIG.

The preparation apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is provided in the color developing tank 3, the bleach-fix tank 4, and the stabilizing tank 7, and the stabilizing tanks 5 and 6 are provided.
As for the stabilizing solution, the overflowing stabilizing solution of the stabilizing tank 7 enters the stabilizing tank 6 by the connecting pipe 76 shown by the dotted line in FIG. The stabilizing solution prepared in the stabilizing tank 7 is literally diverted whenever it enters the stabilizing tank 5. FIG.
Reference numerals 312, 412, and 712 denote treatment agent supply units of the preparation device, respectively.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a processing tank corresponding to the color developing tank 3, bleach-fixing tank 4, or stabilizing tank 7 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 11 denotes an overflow pipe, which is connected to an individual or common waste liquid tank (not shown) when the processing tank 10 is the color developing tank 3 or the bleach-fixing tank 4, but is stable when the processing tank 10 is the stabilizing tank 7. Vessel 6
And corresponds to the above-described communication tube 76. The above-mentioned overflow pipe is also provided in the stabilizing tank 5 which is the last tank for the flow of the stabilizing liquid.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a processing agent supply unit corresponding to the aforementioned 312, 412, 712, and reference numeral 13 denotes a processing liquid preparation unit. Treatment agent supply section 12
Is an autonomous machine main unit 2 which can be opened and rotated as indicated by the arrow A.
The solid processing agent storage container 15 is attached and detached as shown by the dashed line by opening the partial door 14 which is provided to be openable and rotatable as shown by the arrow B in the machine frame top plate.

The solid processing agent storage container 15 is mounted on a mounting table 16 which is swingably provided in the processing agent supply section 12, and the mounting table 16 is rotated counterclockwise from a dashed line position to a solid line position. By doing so, the delivery side door 15a of the solid processing agent storage container 15 is opened, and the delivery end coincides with the receiving end of the tablet supply device 17. The set information of the solid processing agent storage container 15 is sent from the set detection unit 18 to the processing agent supply control unit 19.
Is input to

On the other hand, the processing amount information such as the area obtained from the width and length of the photosensitive material sent to the automatic processing machine from the processing amount detection means 20 provided at the photosensitive material receiving port of the automatic processing machine main part 2 is obtained. It is input to the processing agent supply control unit 19. The processing agent supply control unit 19 drives the supply motor 21 based on the set information and the processing amount information to rotate the supply rotor 17a of the tablet supply device 17. Each time the supply rotor 17a makes one rotation, one processing agent tablet J rolls into one processing agent receiving recess provided in the supply rotor 17a, and the tablet J is processed from the processing agent receiving recess through the chute 22. The liquid drops into the dissolving section 23 of the liquid preparing section 13. Note that the tablet J preferably has a rolling outer periphery as shown in the illustrated example, but may have a slippery shape.

The solid processing agent storage container 15 shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 has four chambers partitioned by a partition wall 15b of a tablet storage chamber for storing a plurality of tablets J arranged in a straight line in contact with the rolling outer periphery. Have Until the solid processing agent storage container 15 is set in the tablet supply device 17, the tablet storage chamber is kept closed by the delivery side door 15a, so that the stored tablets J of the highly hygroscopic processing agent are absorbed. There is very little to do. 15c is a rail to make the tablet J roll easily,
15d is the tablet feeding device 17 for the delivery end of the solid processing agent storage container 15.
The solid-state processing agent storage container 15 is set on a mounting table of a different processing tank, that is, for example, the processing agent of the color developing tank 3 is replenished to the bleach-fixing tank 4. This is an identification protrusion for preventing

The solid processing agent storage container 15 shown in FIG. 5 independently guides the tablets J in the tablet storage container compartment adjacent to the partition wall 15b of the solid processing agent storage container 15 shown in FIGS. The container has a structure in which the middle part is removed except for a portion connected to the ceiling wall and the floor wall. When this container 15 is compared with the containers shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frictional force is slightly applied to the tablet J, but there is an advantage and a disadvantage that air from the delivery side is more likely to enter the back side.

(Example 1) The height H and width W of each tablet storage chamber of the solid processing agent storage container 15 as described above are 1.03 ≦ H / D ≦ 1.50, 1.03 with the diameter D and width T of the tablet J. ≤ W / T ≤ 1.50. As a result, the delivery side door 15a of the solid processing agent storage container 15 that has sealed the tablet storage chamber is opened, and the solid processing agent storage container 15 is set in the tablet supply device 17, and the tablet J is supplied by the tablet supply device 17 into one tablet. Even if the air coming into contact with the solution surface comes into the solid processing agent storage container 15 via the tablet supply device 17, the individual tablets The most replenished tablet J at the delivery end, which is refilled first in the storage chamber, exclusively absorbs moisture to prevent moisture from penetrating into the interior, so that the absorption of moisture from the tablets J located further behind is extremely reduced. In combination with the fact that the tablets J are rolled one by one into the tablet supply device 17 and replenished, the solid processing agent storage container 15 of the present invention eliminates the generation of powder and the breakage of the tablets, and the processing by the tablets J Replenishment of the agent is performed stably and accurately. As the material of the solid processing agent storage container 15, a high-density polyethylene having a thickness of 1000 μm was used.

The tablet feeder will be further described below. FIG. 7 shows the solid processing agent storage container shown in FIGS.
15 shows an example of a supply rotor 17a for dropping 15 tablets J to the dissolution unit 23. The supply rotor 17a has a pulley rotated by the supply motor 21 and drops two tablets J every half rotation. It is. PS1 to PS4 are tablet sensors composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element for inputting information as to whether or not a tablet J is present in each of the four tablet receiving recesses of the supply rotor 17a to the processing agent supply control section 19, and The processing agent supply control unit 19 controls the rotation of the supply rotor 17a based on the above.

In the example of FIG. 6, the solid processing agent storage container 15 is set in the tablet supply device 17 as described below. But,
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the one used in this tablet supply device.

As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, the solid processing agent storage container 15 is placed on the mounting table 16, and the mounting table 16 together with the solid processing agent storage container 15 is pressed against the urging by a spring (not shown). Rotate counterclockwise to the solid line position. In the meantime, the cam pin 15d of the solid processing agent storage container 15 enters the cam groove 17b provided on the side plate of the tablet supply device 17, is guided by the cam groove 17b, and the cam pin 15d enters the bent end of the lower end of the cam groove 17b. As a result, the delivery end of the solid processing agent storage container 15 is brought into close contact with the reception end of the tablet supply device 17, and
By locking the clockwise rotation by the spring 16, the solid processing agent storage container 15 is set, that is, mounted. To stabilize the mounting state, the mounting table 16 is provided with an elastic member that pushes the solid processing agent storage container 15 so that the cam pins 15d enter the bent ends of the cam grooves 17b.

Further, while the cam pin 15 d is descending in the cam groove 17 b, the projections projecting to the left and right lower ends of the delivery side door 15 a of the solid processing agent storage container 15 are formed in the tablet feeding device 17.
When the solid processing agent storage container 15 is set at the solid line position, the delivery side door 15a is engaged with the door regulation guides 17c and 17d provided in FIG. And the open state shown in FIG. When the delivery side door 15a in FIG. 4 is lowered until the delivery end of the solid processing agent storage container 15 is hermetically closed, further lowering can be stopped by the stop pins planted at the upper right and left ends.

The solid state agent storage container 15 mounted at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6 causes the cam pin 15d to come out of the bent end of the cam groove 17b against the pressing force of an elastic member (not shown) provided on the mounting table 16. , The mounting table 16 is rotated clockwise by the spring bias when it comes out. As a result, the solid processing agent container 15 also rotates, so that the door regulating guide 17
The delivery side door 15a regulated by c and 17d closes the delivery end of the solid processing agent storage container 15. When the closing is completed, the sending-side door 15a is moved to the door regulating guide 17.
c and 17d, the solid processing agent storage container 15 moves together with the solid processing agent storage container 15 to the dotted line position. At the dotted line position, the solid processing agent storage container 15 is removed from the mounting table 16 as shown in FIG. It can be removed from part 12.

In the following, the dissolution of the supplied tablet J will be further described. In the example of FIG. 2, the processing liquid preparation section 13 and the processing tank 10 communicate with each other so that the processing liquid flows through the communication hole 10a in the boundary wall. Therefore, the liquid level of the processing liquid preparation section 13 is kept at the same level as the liquid level of the processing tank 10, and the dissolving section 23 surrounded by a net or a filter is in the processing liquid. 24 is the melting part
23 is a heater for heating the processing liquid so that the tablet J is easily dissolved. The treatment liquid preparation unit 13 is also provided with a filtration chamber 25 surrounded by a cylindrical filter, and the filtration chamber 25 and the bottom of the treatment tank 10 are connected by a communication pipe 27 having a pump 26. Pump 26
Feeds the processing solution in the filtration chamber 25 into the processing tank 10,
The processing liquid flows into the 25 from the outside, so the processing liquid preparation section
The processing liquid flows from the processing tank 10 through the communication hole 10a into the processing tank 10, so that the processing liquid is circulated.

The processing liquid is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2 and may be circulated in the reverse direction. Alternatively, the processing liquid preparation unit may be a part of the processing tank 10 and a dissolving unit may be provided in the processing bath 10. Good.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the container 15 for storing a solid processing agent. FIG. 8 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view of the container, and FIG. FIG. The solid processing agent storage container 15 accommodates a plurality of tablet-type solid processing agents J, and has an outlet opening through which the solid processing agents J can be discharged.
A hollow rectangular column-shaped container main body 151 having 151F, and an opening / closing door 152 for opening / closing an outlet opening 151F of the container main body 151
And a rear lid member 153 for closing the other opening of the container body.

Inside the container body 151, three sets of partition walls 151S protrude toward the inner wall ceiling and the inner wall bottom.
The solid processing agents J housed in the container body 151 are separated and aligned in four rows, and substantially four rows of communicating compartments 151A, 151B,
151C and 151D are formed.

Rail portions 151R are formed on both outer side surfaces on the side of the outlet opening portion 151F, and are fitted into grooves 151A formed on both inner side surfaces of the opening / closing door 152 so as to be slidable. When the solid processing agent J is replenished, it is automatically opened and closed by driving the replenishing device.

The inner wall height H of each of the compartments 151A to 151D of the container body 151 and the diameter D of the solid processing agent J stored in the compartments.
Is set in the range of 1.03 to 1.50.
The ratio W / T of the width W of each compartment to the thickness T of the solid processing agent J is set in the range of 1.03 to 1.50. By setting each compartment and the solid processing agent J in this way,
The problem of breakage and powder generation of the solid processing agent J stored in the container 151 during transportation and handling is eliminated.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the solid processing agent container according to the present invention. FIG. 9 (A) is a partially cutaway perspective view of the container, and FIG. 9 (B) is a front view of an opening. is there. In this embodiment, the partition wall 15b in FIG. 4 is extended to the vicinity of the outlet opening, so that breakage of the solid processing agent J and generation of powder can be further reduced, and the moisture-proof effect is enhanced. FIG.
As shown in (B), the height H and width W of the container 15 were set to the dimensions shown in claim 1 with respect to the diameter D and thickness T of the solid processing agent J.

FIG. 10A is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the container body 151. As shown in FIG. The rail 15c is integrally formed at the bottom of the inner wall of the container body 151, so that the outer peripheral surface of the solid processing agent J can make point contact with its own weight. The rail 15c is not provided on the inner wall ceiling of the container body 151.

FIG. 10B is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the container body 151. At the bottom of the inner wall of the container body 151, two rails 15c are integrally formed. The outer peripheral surface of the solid processing agent J is stably mounted on the rail 15c and can be skewed down during supply.

FIG. 10C is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the container body 151. In this embodiment, a groove 15g is formed substantially at the center of the bottom of the division chamber wall in place of the protruding rail 15c. The outer peripheral surface of the solid processing agent J is placed on the flat surfaces at both ends of the groove 15g and slides down during supply. This groove 15g can accommodate the powder that is missing from the solid processing agent J that accumulates at the bottom of the container body 151, and reduces the contact area between the outer peripheral surface of the solid processing agent J and the bottom of the container body 151 to allow for sliding during supply. make it easier.

Example 2 The tablets of the processing agent used in the experiment are tablets for replenishing color development prepared by the same method as described in Example 10 of JP-A-5-232656. The tablet is a short cylinder having a diameter of 30 mm and a thickness of 10 mm. FIG.
Was prepared by changing the size of the container similar to that of Example 1 shown in Table 1 as shown in Table 1 below, and subjected to a transportation test.
In the transportation test, the vehicle was fixed on the bed of a 4-ton truck, and made two round trips on a regular road between Tokyo and Hakata to examine the degree of tablet breakage and the state of powder generation. Furthermore, the tablet was set in the tablet supply device used in Example 1 and the supply state of tablets was examined.

The results are summarized in Table 1.

[0059]

[Table 1]

H, W, T, and D in Table 1 have the same meanings as in the first embodiment.

The evaluation in Table 1 was performed according to the following criteria.

(Evaluation of tablet breakage status) ：: No breakage Δ: Slight breakage is observed (no actual damage) ×: Clearly breakage is recognized and affects tablet feeding XX: Half or more tablets Clearly damaged (evaluation of powder generation status) ○: almost no powder generation △: slight generation observed ×: powder generation was observed as the inside of the container became whiter (evaluation of the supply status of tablet feeding device) ：: No problem at all △: Slightly poor movement, but feed possible ×: Poor feed occurrence Table 1 shows that the height H and width W of the container are the diameter D and width T of the tablet J.
Relationship with the, 1.0 5 ≦ H / D ≦ 1. 3 a 0, and 1.0 5 ≦
W / T ≦ 1. During 4 0, it is found possible to achieve all the effects better.

Example 3 An experiment was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the material of the treating agent storage container used in Experiment No. 1-7 of Example 2 was changed as shown in Table 2. . The results are shown in Table 2.

[0064]

[Table 2]

The evaluations in Table 2 are the same as in Example 2.

From Table 2, it can be seen that the material of the container is preferably a synthetic resin, and particularly preferably a polyethylene.

(Example 4) The bulk density of the tablets used in Experiment Nos. 1-7 of Example 2 was determined by adjusting the compression pressure of the tableting machine and the addition of polyethylene glycol (average molecular weight: 4000) as shown in Table 3 below. An experiment was performed in the same manner as in Example 2 except that a modified one was prepared as shown. In addition, 200m of each tablet
The dissolution rate under stirring in a beaker filled with 1 l of water was determined. The results are summarized in Table 3.

[0068]

[Table 3]

The evaluations in Table 3 are the same as those in Table 1 of Example 2. Regarding the dissolution rate, ○ indicates dissolution within 10 minutes, Δ indicates dissolution within 10 to 20 minutes, and X indicates dissolution within 20 minutes. It took more than a minute.

As shown in Table 3, in the present invention, the tablet preferably has a bulk density of 1.1 to 3.0 g / cm ³ , particularly 1.2 to 2.0 g / cm ³ .
It turns out that the thing of 0 g / cm ³ is suitable.

[0071]

According to the present invention, by using the container for storing a solid processing agent of the present invention, tablet breakage and generation of powder during transportation and handling of a container containing tablets for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. The remarkable effect that the problem is solved is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram showing an example of an automatic developing machine using a solid processing agent storage container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an automatic developing machine showing a processing tank provided with a processing agent supply unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view and a side view showing an example of the solid processing agent storage container of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the solid processing agent storage container of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view and a front sectional view showing another example of the solid processing agent storage container of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing an example of a tablet supply device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a supply rotor of the tablet supply device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view and a front view showing another embodiment of the solid processing agent storage container.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view and a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the solid processing agent storage container body.

FIG. 10 is a front sectional view showing still another embodiment of the solid processing agent storage container body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photosensitive material supply device 2 main part of automatic processing machine 3 color developing tank 4 bleach-fixing tank 5, 6, 7 stabilization tank 8 drying section 9 discharge section 10 processing tank 12, 312, 412, 712 processing agent supply section 13 processing liquid preparation Part 14 Partial door 15 Solid processing agent storage container 151 Container body 15a Delivery side door 15b Partition wall 15c Rail 15d Cam pin 15e Identification protrusion 15g Groove 16 Mounting table 17 Tablet supply device 17a Supply rotor 18 Set detection means 19 Treatment agent supply control unit 20 Processing amount detection means 21 Supply motor 22 Chute 23 Melting unit 24 Heater 25 Filtration chamber 26 Pump 27 Communication tube PS1 to PS4 Tablet sensor J Tablet solid processing agent (tablet)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification symbol FI B65D 85/84 B65D 85/84 (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03C 5/26 510 G03C 5 / 26 520 G03D 3/00 G03D 13/02 B65D 85/00 B65D 85/84

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container for accommodating a tablet-shaped silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for solid processing agent, more to the container
The tablet-like solid processing agents stored in parallel are
Part of the outer peripheral surface of the processing agent is the outer peripheral surface of another tablet-like solid processing agent
It is configured to retract and the straight column portion in contact of the container height (H) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent diameter (D)
1.0 to 5-fold: 1. the range of 3 0 fold, and to the container width (W) is 1.0 5-fold of the thickness (T) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent I 1.4 0 Baidea, the The bulk density of the tablet-like solid processing agent is 1.
1~3.0g / cm ³ Der silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for solid processing agent accommodating container, wherein Rukoto. 2. A storage container which stores a solid processing agent for tablet-like silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and which can be discharged from an openable and closable opening, wherein a plurality of tablets are stored in parallel in the storage container.
The solid processing agent in the form of a tablet has a part of the outer peripheral surface of the tablet solid processing agent.
In contact with a part of the outer peripheral surface of another tablet-like solid processing agent ,
Retract and to have a height (H) is 1.0 5 times to 1.3 0 times the diameter range (D) of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent within said vessel, and the vessel width (W) What There 1.0 5-fold to 1.4 0 Baidea thickness of the tablet-shaped solid processing agent (T), the tablet-shaped solid
The silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for solid processing agent accommodating container the bulk density of the treatment agent, characterized in 1.1~3.0g / cm ³ der Rukoto. 3. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for the solid processing agent container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material of the container is a synthetic resin. 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the synthetic resin is polyethylene . 5. A method according to claim 1 to the the serial <br/> mounting any one of 4 silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for a solid and wherein the <br/> have a door of the container delivery side Processing agent storage container. 6. An opening / closing door of the container is opened and a delivery side is provided.
Is set in the processing agent supply unit of the automatic processor.
And the tablet-like solid processing agent in the container is sent out.
6. A container for storing a solid processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 5 , wherein the container has a structure in which the solid processing agent is sequentially fed from the photosensitive material.