JP3355837B2 - Method for regenerating developer for photosensitive material and apparatus for developing photosensitive material - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for regenerating a developing solution for a photosensitive material for developing an image-exposed photosensitive material and an apparatus for developing a photosensitive material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for regenerating a developer for a photosensitive material capable of reducing development waste liquid and a developing apparatus for the photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional automatic processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, such as a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, which develops a large number of photosensitive materials, includes components eluted from the photosensitive material into a developing solution as the developing process is repeated. Gradually accumulates and the developer becomes tired,
Further, there is fatigue due to air, evaporation of water from the developing solution, and the like, and sufficient development cannot be performed. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the developing solution or an aqueous solution containing a part of the developing solution component, or to replace the developing solution. However, when the replenishment amount and the replacement frequency of the developing solution and the developing solution component are increased, the amount of the waste liquid increases and the operation becomes complicated. Conversely, if the replenishment rate or the replacement frequency is reduced, the components eluted from the photosensitive lithographic printing plate cannot be dissolved in the developer together with the problem of developability, causing sludge and causing clogging of pipes and the like. .

Conventionally, as a countermeasure, a lid is provided in a developing tank to reduce the evaporation of a developing solution or contact with air, or a photosensitive lithographic printing plate described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 1-310354 is placed downward. And a method of immersing in a developing solution (hereinafter abbreviated as a dip developing tank) and the like. Further, a floating lid is provided on the surface of the developer in the dip developing tank described in JP-A-1-310355, or a dissolved gas in the developer is supplied as described in JP-A-63-177140. A device for removing the same has been proposed.

An automatic developing machine for a photosensitive lithographic printing plate provided with a removing filter for removing sludge-forming components, dusts and the like which can no longer be dissolved in a developing solution has been widely used. As the number of components increases, clogging of the filter occurs, so that there is a problem that the filter is frequently replaced. As a countermeasure against the clogging, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-1864 describes that the dust in the filter is removed by flowing the developer backward.

[0005]

However, in these methods and apparatuses, components eluted from the photosensitive material are removed,
Since accumulation in the developer is not prevented, the replenishment amount of the developer component and the frequency of replacement of the developer are still large, and the amount of waste developer is large.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have made intensive studies to overcome such difficulties, and as a result, have found that a specific molecular weight cutoff that can remove even components eluted from a photosensitive material in a used developer is limited. By using an ultrafiltration device provided with an ultrafiltration membrane, and adding at least one component of an alkali component and another developer component damaged by the development process to the permeate from the ultrafiltration device, Reproducible developer having excellent developing performance, thereby prolonging the life of the developer, reducing the amount of waste liquid, and thus improving the developability of the photosensitive material even when the amount and frequency of replacement of the developer is reduced. The present inventors have found that it is possible to keep them for a long time, and have reached the present invention.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for regenerating a photosensitive material and an apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, which make it possible to extend the life of a developer and drastically reduce the amount of waste developer. It is in. Another object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material regenerating method and a photosensitive material developing apparatus capable of maintaining uniform developability with respect to the photosensitive material for a long period of time even when the amount and frequency of replacement of the developer are reduced. To provide.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a developing solution used for developing a photosensitive material, wherein the developing solution has a molecular weight cut off of 100,
Ultrafiltration is performed by an ultrafiltration apparatus equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight of 000 or less (expressed in terms of protein molecular weight). A method for regenerating a developing solution for a photosensitive material, comprising: adding a replenishing solution to a developing solution for developing a photosensitive material; A developing tank (1) for developing the material, a concentration tank (15), and a pipeline (21) for supplying used developer from the developing tank to the concentration tank
And an ultrafiltration device (14) equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 100,000 or less (molecular weight expressed in terms of protein), and a pipe for supplying used developer from the concentration tank to the ultrafiltration device A line (27), a line (23) for returning the non-permeate from the ultrafiltration device to the concentration tank, and mixing the permeate of the ultrafiltration with an aqueous solution containing an alkali component and at least one other developer component Tank (13) for producing a replenisher, a pipeline (26) for supplying the ultrafiltration permeate from the ultrafiltration device to the mixing tank, and an alkali component and at least one other developer to the mixing tank. An apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, comprising: a pipe (25) for supplying an aqueous solution containing components; and a pipe (20) for supplying a replenisher from the mixing tank to the developing tank. Easily achieved by .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The photosensitive material applicable to the present invention is a photosensitive material that develops using a change in solubility in a developer after exposure,
Although not particularly limited, for example, a positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate or a negative photosensitive lithographic printing plate subjected to image exposure can be used. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate, on a support, for example, those having a photosensitive layer capable of developing with alkaline water containing a photosensitive substance such as a quinonediazide compound, a diazo resin, and a photopolymerizable compound and an alkali-soluble resin. is there.

[0010] The developer used in the present invention contains an alkali component, and other components are appropriately selected according to the photosensitive material. Can be used. For example, as a developer used when a photosensitive lithographic printing plate is used as the photosensitive material, for example, sodium hydroxide, an alkali component such as potassium hydroxide, a silicate and water as main components, other, pH adjuster, Additives such as a surfactant and, if necessary, a solvent or the like are added to adjust the pH to about 10 to 13. These include a negative type, a positive type and a negative-positive type.

The alkali component and at least one other developer component used in the present invention are not particularly limited, but are a plurality of components which are worn by a development process in the developer and are used. It is preferable to select appropriately according to the photosensitive material to be used and the developing solution. The addition of the alkali component and at least one other developer component is preferably performed using an aqueous solution containing the additive component at a high concentration (hereinafter, abbreviated as an adjusting solution). The components contained in the adjustment liquid are generally dissolved in the adjustment liquid, but quickly dissolve or disperse when mixed with the permeate from the ultrafiltration device described in detail below. If it is, it may be in a solid state in the adjustment liquid.

When a developer mainly containing an alkali component, a silicate and water, which is particularly suitable for the above-mentioned photosensitive lithographic printing plate, is used as the developing solution, the alkali solution and the silicate are adjusted to a high concentration as the adjusting solution. It is preferable to contain them, and it is more preferable to contain an alkali component, a silicate, a surfactant and the like at a high concentration. In the present invention, the permeated liquid from the ultrafiltration device and the adjustment liquid are mixed (hereinafter, abbreviated as a replenisher) and added to the developing solution remaining in the developing tank. Since the developer remaining in the developing solution is depleted of the developing component, the concentration of the replenishing component in the replenishing solution needs to be higher than that of the unused developing solution. For example, p
For H, it is preferable to increase the height by about 0.5 to 1.5.

The ultrafiltration device (14) used in the present invention
Is not particularly limited as long as it is provided with an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 100,000 or less (expressed in terms of protein molecular weight). It is preferable to use a film that can be used at pH 10 to 13. In addition, the solute rejection by each molecular weight may be broad. The material of the membrane is preferably polysulfone or polyethersulfone.

The molecular weight cutoff of the ultrafiltration membrane is selected as follows.
It is preferable to use a binder polymer having the same order as the average molecular weight of the binder polymer used in the composition of the photosensitive material to be developed. If the cut-off molecular weight of the ultrafiltration membrane is extremely small compared to the average molecular weight of the binder polymer, the filtration rate may not be sufficiently increased, and the cut-off molecular weight may be lower than the average molecular weight of the binder polymer. If it is extremely large, the solute removal efficiency may decrease.

The effective membrane area of the ultrafiltration membrane
It is preferable that the amount of processing per unit is large, but the size of the device is small.
It is inconvenient even if it is too large from the viewpoint of, for example,
01m^Two-10m^TwoBe selected from a range of
General and preferably 0.03 m ^Two~ 5m^TwoIt is. Ultrafiltration
The form of the membrane depends on the filter module used.
Any device can be used.
From the viewpoint of production, hollow fibers or laminated flat membranes are preferred.
Tube type or spy
Lal type and the like are preferred. When using a hollow fiber membrane
May be an internal pressure type or an external pressure type. Ma
When using a flat laminated membrane,
Tangential combined with pump (tube pump)
It is suitable to suppress concentration polarization by making it flow.
is there.

The material of the module of the ultrafiltration device may be metal or plastic or any material as long as it is not eroded by the developer in a short time, but is preferably metal such as stainless steel or the like. An alkali-resistant material such as plastic such as polysulfone is preferable. The ultrafiltration membrane and the filtration module may be used alone or in combination.

Next, a developing apparatus using the method for regenerating a developer for photosensitive material of the present invention will be described. The developing tank (1) used in the present invention is for developing a photosensitive material using a developing solution, and is not particularly limited, and various types of conventionally proposed methods can be adopted. .
For example, a shower system, an immersion system, a brush system, and the like can be given. In the present invention, a shower system or an immersion system is preferable.

The development processing tank (1) is provided with a pipeline for supplying an unused developer or a replenisher and a pipeline for discharging the used developer. The form and position of the supply port and the discharge port of the conduit can be arbitrarily determined according to the developing method to be used, and can be installed at the upper part and / or lower part of the developing tank. It is preferable to employ an overflow method for discharging the used developer, since it is easy to control the surface of the developer constantly.

The thickening tank (15) used in the present invention
Has means for storing the used developer supplied from the development processing tank (1) and appropriately supplying the used developer to the ultrafiltration device (14). Further, there is provided a means for returning the ultrafiltration membrane unpermeated liquid after the ultrafiltration treatment to the concentration tank again, and performing the ultrafiltration a plurality of times to remove the concentrated unpermeated liquid into the concentration tank (15). It is preferable that the developing device can be discharged to the outside of the developing device by a waste liquid discharging means installed at an arbitrary position in a pipe line connecting the ultrafiltration device to the inside of the developing device.

In order to temporarily accumulate the used developing solution supplied from the developing tank (1), a used developing solution storage tank (buffer tank) is provided between the developing tank and the concentration tank. It is preferable to install the filter because the time and interval of ultrafiltration can be arbitrarily set with respect to the processing in the developing tank. The mixing tank (13) used in the present invention is a tank for mixing the permeate of the ultrafiltration device and at least the adjusting solution to produce a replenisher, and receives the supply of the permeate of the ultrafiltration device. A pipeline, a pipeline for receiving the supply of the adjusting solution, and a pipeline for supplying the replenisher to the developing tank are provided. It is preferable that the mixing tank is provided with a stirrer inside, because the mixing of the liquid can be performed quickly and the uniformity of the replenisher can be maintained.

If a replenisher storage tank (buffer bank) is provided in a pipe for supplying a replenisher from the mixing tank (13) to the developing tank (1), the regeneration of the used developer and the developing process This is preferable because the supply of the replenisher to the tank can be performed independently. Hereinafter, the method for regenerating a developer for a photosensitive material and the apparatus for developing a photosensitive material according to the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings and specific examples. It is not limited to a specific example.

The method and apparatus for regenerating a developer for a photosensitive material according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The developing device described below may be housed in the same housing, or may be housed in a plurality of housings. The photosensitive material is conveyed to the development processing tank (1), and after being subjected to a predetermined development processing, is discharged. Replenisher storage tank (10)
Inside, a replenisher to be supplied to the development processing tank (1) is stored. A used developer discharged from the developing tank (1) is stored in the used developer storage tank (11). The adjusting liquid storage tank (12) stores an adjusting liquid to be supplied to a mixing tank described later. The mixing tank (13) is a tank for producing and storing a replenisher by mixing the permeated liquid of the ultrafiltration device and the adjusted liquid from the adjusted liquid storage tank. The ultrafiltration device (14) is a device that includes an ultrafiltration membrane and ultrafilters a used developer. The concentration tank (15) is a tank for concentrating the used developer.

First, the used developing solution subjected to the developing process in the developing tank (1) overflows from the top or is discharged from the outlet provided at the bottom through the pipe (21). The liquid is sent to the developer storage tank (11). When the liquid in the used developer storage tank (11) reaches a certain amount, the used developer is sent to the concentration tank (15) via the pipe (24). The used developer is supplied, for example, by providing a liquid level detecting means such as a level sensor in a used developer storage tank (11), and in a pipe (24) based on a signal from the sensor. It is preferable to perform this by activating the liquid sending means. When the amount in the used developer storage tank (11) becomes equal to or less than the specified amount, the liquid feeding means is stopped, and the used developer from the development processing tank (1) is again used in the used developer storage tank (11). To accumulate. When the liquid supply to the enrichment tank (15) is completed, the enrichment tank (1)
The liquid feed pump provided between 5) and the filter housing (16) is operated, and the used developer is sent to the ultrafiltration device (14) via the filter housing (16).

The filter housing (16) is not essential to the developing device of the present invention, but is preferably installed to remove solids from the used developer. As the filter, a filter having a low pressure loss is preferable. For example, a strainer or a compact cartridge type filter is used. The used developer enters an ultrafiltration device (14) and is separated by an ultrafiltration membrane. The permeated liquid that has passed through the ultrafiltration membrane is sent to the mixing tank (13) via the pipe (26). The used developer (non-permeate) that does not pass through the ultrafiltration membrane is returned to the concentration tank (15) again and concentrated. At this time, the pressure applied to the ultrafiltration membrane is controlled by the flow rate of the liquid pump and the opening / closing state of a valve provided on the circulation side of the ultrafiltration device (14). It is preferable that the pressure is set in advance so as to be a pressure.

The above separation and concentration step is preferably performed continuously, and as a result, the concentration tank (15)
The solute concentration of the solution in the inside gradually increases, and the volume of the solution decreases. When the amount of liquid in the enrichment tank (15) has reached a predetermined amount or less or the solute concentration has reached a predetermined amount or more, the separation / concentration step is terminated by stopping the liquid sending pump or the like. The drain valve provided in () is opened, and the solution accumulated in the concentration tank (15) is discharged out of the system from the drain pipe as waste liquid.
In addition, the concentration tank (15), the pipeline (23) and the pipeline (2
The solute concentration may be maintained below a certain level by continuously discharging the waste liquid from 7) and the like.

Next, the relationship between the concentration and the adjustment liquid will be described. Thickening tank (15) before ultrafiltration starts
And V ₂₄ of a liquid amount, also After filtration, when the amount of liquid discharged out of the developing apparatus and V _28, enrichment by ultrafiltration (the difference between the first reciprocal of concentration ratio) y is (1)
Given by the formula.

## EQU1 ## y = 1- (V ₂₈ / V ₂₄ ) (1) The permeate sent to the mixing tank (13) is mixed with the replenisher at a predetermined ratio k. This ratio is determined so that, when a fixed amount is added as a regenerating developer to the developing tank by mixing the permeate and the replenisher, the developer has a sufficient activity to obtain sufficient developer sensitivity. The replenisher is stored in a replenisher tank, and is supplied by a predetermined amount by a liquid pump (not shown) provided in the pipe (25) between the replenisher and the mixing tank (13). If the predetermined amount is V ₂₅ and the permeate amount is V _{26, the} predetermined amount is given by the following equation.

[0027]

V ₂₅ = V ₂₆ / k (2) Since V ₂₆ is expressed using the enrichment y and V ₂₄ from the equation (1), the local quantification is

V ₂₆ = yV ₂₄ / k (3) However, actually, considering the mass balance of the liquid volume, V
Preferably in a ₂₅ = V _28, preferably better to adjust the replenisher concentration to this relationship is maintained.

In the mixing tank (13), the permeate and the replenisher are mixed and the replenisher is prepared. The obtained replenisher is sent to a replenisher storage tank (10). A predetermined amount of the replenisher stored in the replenisher storage tank (10) is sent to the developer tank by a pump (not shown) in response to, for example, a replenishment request signal from the developer tank.

[0029]

EXAMPLES As examples, the case where the method of reusing the developing solution of the photosensitive material of the present invention is applied to a photosensitive lithographic printing plate is shown below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples and the present invention, unless the gist is exceeded. It is not limited to the comparative example. (Preparation of photosensitive lithographic printing plate) A 0.24 mm-thick aluminum plate (material 1050, tempered H16) was degreased in a 5% by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 60 ° C. for 1 minute, and then 0.5 Electrolytic etching treatment was performed at 25 ° C. and a current density of 60 A / dm ² for 30 seconds in a hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, and graining was performed. Then, after a desmut treatment in a 5% by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 60 ° C. for 1 minute, a 20% by weight
Anodizing was performed in a sulfuric acid solution at 20 ° C. and a current density of 3 A / dm ² for 1 minute. After washing and drying, a photosensitive solution having the following composition was prepared, and coated and dried on the grained board so that the weight of the dried coating film became 2.0 g / m ^2. Got a version.

[0030]

Table 1 Compound (weight average molecular weight) obtained by esterifying naphthoquinone-1,2-diazide-5-sulfonic acid chloride to polyhydroxyphenyl obtained by condensation polymerization of pyrogallol and acetone so that the esterification ratio becomes 20%. Novolak resin (weight average molecular weight 7,000) by co-condensation polymerization of m-cresol / p-cresol (7/3) and formaldehyde 72 parts by weight Victoria Pure Blue BOH 1 part by weight 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid 4 parts by weight 2-trichloromethyl-5- [β- (2-benzofuryl) vinyl] -1,3 , 4-Oxadiazole 1 part by weight Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether 2000 parts by weight

A positive original film was brought into vacuum contact with the obtained positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and 3 kW from a distance of 1 m.
Was exposed for 60 seconds using a metal halide lamp.
A positive original film having an image area ratio of 50% was used. (Preparation of developer and replenisher for photosensitive lithographic printing plate) 30 L of a developer having the following composition was prepared.

[0032]

[Table 2] Potassium hydroxide (48.6% aqueous solution) ··· 1125 g A-type potassium silicate (40% aqueous solution) ··· 5250 g Surfactant (Emulgen 147) ··· 7. 5 g p-tert-butylbenzoic acid 15 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 4.5 g dehydrochlorination Adjusted to 30 liters including the above composition.

Also, 10 liters of a replenisher having the following composition was prepared.

[0034]

[Table 3] Potassium hydroxide (48.6% aqueous solution) ····· 6000 g A-type potassium silicate (40% aqueous solution) ···· 7500 g Surfactant (Emulgen 147) ····· 50 g p-tert-butylbenzoic acid ... 100 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ... 30 g dehydrochlorination ... adjusted to 10 liters including the above composition.

(Automatic Developing Machine and Filtration Apparatus) As an automatic developing machine for a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, MKC manufactured by Mitsubishi Kasei KK
860 JXR was used. Therefore, the above-described apparatus group for regenerating the developing solution as schematically shown in FIG. 1 is provided separately from the developing machine. (Development of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate) 25 L of the above-mentioned developer was charged into a developing tank of an automatic developing machine.
A solution obtained by adding 500 ml of the replenisher to 1 liter was used as an initial regenerating developer and charged in a regenerating developer storage tank. Further, 10 liter of the replenisher was charged in the replenishing solution storage tank.

The automatic developing machine was operated, and the temperature of the developing solution in the developing device was set at 27 ° C., so that development was possible. Therefore, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate (1000 mm x 800 mm)
Was inserted, it took 20 seconds to pass through the developing tank, and further, it took a total of 45 seconds to develop through the dryer.
Therefore, five photosensitive lithographic printing plates were processed in five minutes. Therefore, since the processing amount of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate per 5 minutes is 4 m ² , the supply amount of the regenerating developer at one time is set to 808 ml by adding the replenishment over time, and ultrafiltration is performed once every 25 minutes. At a rate of

The photosensitive lithographic printing plate (1000 mm × 8
00 mm) on the first day in the above-mentioned process, and then leave it for 500 hours (approximately 8 hours), leave it for one day and night, and replenish it on the second day (replenishment) so that the sensitivity is the same as the first day. (Liquid + permeate) was manually performed, and the 500 plate processing (about 8 hours) was performed again by the above processing. In the same way, 8 per day
A treatment of 500 plates was performed for 6 days, and a total of 3,000 plates (2400 m ² : 96 m ² / l in terms of initial charge) were treated. As a comparative example, an experiment in which the regeneration process was bypassed was also performed. In the comparative example, processing was performed in the same manner as in the example, except that the replenisher diluted 4 times with water was used instead of the regenerating developer. In this case, the replenishment rate of the treatment was 50 (ml / m ² ), and the replenishment rate over time was 2 (ml / m ² ).
Min).

In the processing of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, in order to investigate the effect of liquid fatigue due to the gradual accumulation of components eluted from the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in the developing solution,
The step sensitivity (number of clear steps) of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate was examined at a ratio of 1 plate to 250 plates. At the same time, 10 ml of the developing solution in the developing solution tank was sampled, and the UV absorption when the sample was diluted 200 times with distilled water (280 n
By measuring m), the amount of eluted novolak resin was quantified. Further, the amount of waste liquid discharged from the automatic developing machine to the outside of the system every day, the amount of replenisher required for processing replenishment and replenishment over time, and the amount of replenisher required for daily replenishment were examined. These results are summarized in Table 1 for Examples and Table 2 for Comparative Examples.

[0039]

[Table 4]

[0040]

[Table 5]

From the results shown in Table 1 and Table 2, the total waste liquid amount obtained by summing the waste liquid on each day is 52.5 liters in the example and 140 liters in the comparative example. Further, when the daily replenishment amount is based on the replenisher solution and the total replenisher solution is calculated by adding the replenisher solution required for processing and fatigue over time, the total replenisher volume is 35.7 liters in the example and 36.3 liters in the comparative example. Was. It can be seen that the reduction in the replenisher volume is achieved mainly by daily replenishment.

When the results are analyzed in more detail, in the comparative example, the step sensitivity is lowered by 3/4 step at the stage of the 2000 plate, and in the case of ordinary use, it is necessary to totally replace the developing solution at this stage. . However, in the embodiment, it can be used even at the stage of 3000 plate. From the above results, it can be seen that components eluted from the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in the developer were removed by the method of recycling and using the developer of the present example, stable development was obtained, and the life of the developer was prolonged. . further,
It can be seen that the amount of waste liquid has been reduced to almost one third. It can also be seen that the amount of replenisher used as the basis for the regenerated developer is slightly reduced.

[0043]

According to the method for regenerating a developer for a photosensitive material or the apparatus for developing a photosensitive material of the present invention, the components eluted from the photosensitive material are prevented from gradually accumulating in the used developer. As a result, the life of the developing solution can be extended, and the amount of the developing waste solution and the amount of the adjusting solution can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of a photosensitive material development processing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 development processing tank 10 replenisher storage tank 11 used developer storage tank 12 adjustment liquid storage tank 13 ultrafiltration module permeate and adjustment liquid mixing tank 14 ultrafiltration module 15 enrichment tank 16 filter housing

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-31591 (JP, A) JP-A-4-172355 (JP, A) JP-A-5-337470 (JP, A) JP-A-5-337470 72680 (JP, A) JP-A-5-72698 (JP, A) JP-A-5-327183 (JP, A) JP-A-51-121958 (JP, A) JP-A-5-94275 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03F 7/26 G03F 7/30 501 B01D 61/14 500 C02F 1/44 ZAB

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An ultrafiltration device provided with an ultrafiltration device having an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 100,000 or less (molecular weight indicated by protein) is subjected to an ultrafiltration treatment. A replenisher by adding an alkali component and at least one other developer component to the permeate of the filtration so as to have a concentration higher than that of the developer, and using the replenisher for developing the photosensitive material. A method for regenerating a developer for photosensitive materials, comprising: 2. The photosensitive material development processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive material is a photosensitive lithographic printing plate. 3. The method for regenerating a photosensitive developer according to claim 2, wherein the other developer component is a silicate. 4. A developing tank (1) for developing a photosensitive material, a concentration tank (15), and a pipeline (21) for supplying used developer from the developing tank to the concentration tank.
And an ultrafiltration device (14) equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 100,000 or less (molecular weight expressed in terms of protein), and a pipe for supplying used developer from the concentration tank to the ultrafiltration device A line (27), a line (23) for returning the non-permeate from the ultrafiltration device to the concentration tank, and mixing the permeate of the ultrafiltration with an aqueous solution containing an alkali component and at least one other developer component Tank (13) for producing a replenisher, a pipeline (26) for supplying the ultrafiltration permeate from the ultrafiltration device to the mixing tank, and an alkali component and at least one other developer to the mixing tank. An apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, comprising: a pipe (25) for supplying an aqueous solution containing a component; and a pipe (20) for supplying a replenisher from the mixing tank to a developing tank. 5. The photosensitive material according to claim 4, wherein the developing tank is of a shower type or a dipping type, and the used developer is discharged from the developing tank in an overflow type. Developing device.