JPH0341448A - Processor for photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the deterioration of processing solutions by air oxidation, evaporation and processing and to stabilize finishing performance by supplying the processing solutions to the spacings between opposite walls, transporting a prescribed photosensitive material and replenishing the fresh processing solutions from a specific circulating system. CONSTITUTION:The transporting path R is formed of the spacing consisting of the respectively sectionally arc-shaped opposite walls 1a, 2a of the developing tank A, the fixing tank B and the washing tank C and the processing solutions are respectively stored therein. The photosensitive material (e.g. a photosensitive material for X-rays) constituted by providing hydrophilic colloidal layers contg. >=1 layers of emulsion layers on both surfaces of a base is transported in this transporting path R and is processed. The fresh processing solutions from a processing solution circulating system D having the capcity of >=1 times the processing solution capacity of the tanks A, B, are heated preferably by a heater 34 and are supplied via pipes 3, 4 to the tanks A, B. The overflowing solution is returned from a pipe 7 to a solution storage tank 32 and is circulated, by which the photosensitive material is processed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic material containing at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of a support. Regarding.

[Prior Art] A silver halide photographic material comprising at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of a support is developed in a light-sensitive material processing apparatus, and this material is, for example, placed in a processing tank. In some cases, an exposed silver halide photographic material is conveyed by a roller conveying mechanism into the stored processing liquid, and is immersed for a predetermined period of time to be developed.

Also, for example, JP-A-62-89052, JP-A-62-92
As disclosed in No. 954, No. 63-259661, etc., there is a method in which a processing tank is formed into a slit shape or a shape close to a slit shape, and the photosensitive material is transported and processed by a roller transport mechanism.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the former case, the development process for processing photographic light-sensitive materials takes place for seven days.
A large amount of fixing solution, washing solution, etc. is required, and 3. I
! The contact area with the air was large relative to the volume of the treatment liquid in the tank, and the performance of the treatment wave was likely to fluctuate due to air oxidation and evaporation. Further, when a silver halide photographic material is transported by a roller transport mechanism, a large number of rollers are required, and there are problems such as cleaning the rollers, replacing them due to deterioration over time, and increasing maintenance costs.

On the other hand, the latter has the advantage that the processing tank is shaped like a slit or close to a slit, which reduces the amount of processing liquid used, suppresses air oxidation and evaporation, and prevents fluctuations in the performance of the processing liquid. have. On the other hand, since the amount of processing liquid is small, there is a risk of deterioration of the processing liquid due to processing, concentration, etc.
Fluctuations in temperature greatly affect processing, resulting in uneven processing and difficulty in achieving desired photographic performance.

This invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it prevents air oxidation and evaporation of the processing liquid, suppresses fluctuations in the performance of the processing liquid, and prevents deterioration and concentration of the processing liquid due to processing.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing device that suppresses temperature fluctuations and stabilizes photographic finishing performance.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a method for conveying and developing a silver halide photographic material containing at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of a support. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus for processing, walls of processing tanks are opposed to each other at a predetermined distance to form a gap, and a processing liquid is stored in the gap between the opposing walls, and a conveyance path for conveying the silver halide photographic photosensitive material. and further includes a processing liquid circulation system having a liquid filling volume that is one or more times the processing liquid volume of the processing tank, and a new processing liquid is supplied from this processing liquid circulation system for processing. .

This silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is a high-sensitivity film such as X-ray, and includes at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of a support. The body is made of transparent material. This silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, for example, the one described in JP-A No. 63-23154 previously filed by this applicant, has excellent sensitivity, capri, and graininess, and even with a small amount of gelatin, it is easy to remove. It is preferably used because it causes less darkening and pressure desensitization.

The transport path formed between the opposing walls of the processing tank is a space capable of storing a predetermined amount of processing solution capable of processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and transporting the photographic light-sensitive material. This conveyance may be in either the horizontal or vertical direction, and there is no particular limitation, but if the material is conveyed and supplied in the vertical direction, the installation area of the apparatus can be reduced.

In addition, the processing tank is equipped with a processing liquid circulation system that has a liquid filling volume that is at least one times the processing liquid volume, and new processing liquid is supplied through this processing liquid circulation system. ing. The processing liquid circulation system can be equipped with a heating means for heating the processing liquid. The processing tank volume in the present invention refers to the volume filled between opposing walls for supplying processing liquid during the processing state.

[Function] In this invention, the processing liquid is stored in the transport path formed by the gap between the inner walls of the processing tank, and the transport path allows
A silver halide silver halide photographic light-sensitive material containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer is conveyed on both sides of the support, and a new processing solution is supplied to this processing tank from a processing solution circulation system. The liquid filling volume of this processing liquid circulation system is more than one times the processing liquid volume of the processing tank, and since new processing liquid is supplied, even if the processing liquid in the processing tank is small,
It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the processing solution and fluctuations in concentration and temperature due to processing, resulting in stable photographic finishing performance.

Further, by heating the supplied processing liquid to a predetermined temperature using a heating means provided in the processing liquid circulation system, temperature fluctuations in the processing liquid can be effectively suppressed and processing can be performed at a predetermined processing temperature.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the upper wall surface of a processing tank of this photosensitive material processing apparatus.

The photosensitive material JA processing equipment is equipped with a developing tank A, a fixing tank B, and a washing tank C.
A sufficient amount of processing liquid such as a fixing liquid and a water washing liquid is stored to process the silver halide photographic material P containing at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of the support. It is now possible to do so.

A drying section (not shown) is provided downstream of the washing tank C, and this drying section may use normal hot air drying, an infrared heater, a combination of these, or microwaves.

The processing tanks of developing tank A, fixing tank B, and washing tank C are each constructed in the same way, and are arranged vertically facing each other with hollow walls 1 and 2 each having an arcuate cross section. 141a and 2a are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval to form a gap. In the gaps between the opposing walls 1a and 2a of the upper and lower hollow walls 1 and 2, lA filling liquid is stored, respectively, and a conveyance path R for conveying the silver halide photographic material P is formed through these gaps. One ends of the upper and lower hollow walls 1 and 2 are communicated with each other through a communication vibe 3, and a processing liquid is supplied from a supply vibe 4 connected to this communication vibe 3.

Discharge ports 5.
6 are formed, and the processing liquid supplied from this discharge port 56 is supplied toward both sides of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P conveyed through the conveyance path R. The processing liquid stored in the transport path R overflows from the outflow vibrator 7 and is discharged. Further, a discharge vibrator 8 is provided at the lower part of the conveyance path R for discharging the processing liquid when exchanging it, etc., and this discharge vibrator 8 is provided with a solenoid valve 30 and is controlled by a control device 31.

The developing tank A and the fixing tank B are equipped with a processing liquid circulation system having a liquid filling volume that is one or more times the processing liquid volume of the processing tank. This processing liquid circulation system consists of a supply vibrator 4, an outflow vibrator 7, a storage tank 32 and a pump 33 connected to these, and the storage tank 32 has a built-in heater 34 as a heating means. The pump 33 and the heater 34 are the control device 3
1, the pump 33 is driven during operation of the device,
The processing liquid is supplied from the supplying vibrator 4 to the developing tank A and the fixing tank B via the communicating vibrator 3, and the processing liquid overflowing from the outflowing vibrator 7 is returned to the storage tank 32 and circulated.

A temperature sensor 35 is provided in the storage tank 32, and this temperature information is input to the control device 31, which drives the heater 34 to maintain the processing liquid at seven predetermined grades.

The storage tank 32 of the developer tank A is replenished every day with new development, and the developer is overflowed from the storage tank 32 to keep the amount of developer constant. Similarly, the reservoir tank 32 of the fixer JfJ B is replenished with new fixer, and the fixer overflows from the reservoir tank 32 to keep the fixer constant.

On the loading side of the developer 4fIA, there is a pair of upper and lower transport rollers 9;
A guide roller 10 guides the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P to the developing tank A, and a similar pair of upper and lower transport rollers 11 are provided between the developer +=A and the fixing tank B, and a guide roller 10 guides the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P to the fixing tank. Guide roller 12 leading to B, or fixing tank B
A similar pair of upper and lower conveyor rollers 13 is provided between the and the washing tank C.
A transport roller 1 is provided on the discharge side of the washing tank C.
The setting number is 4.

The opposing wall 2a constituting the processing tank is formed continuously with the developing tank A, the fixing tank B, and the washing tank C, and the opposing wall 1a of the developing tank A has an upper conveying roller 9 installed on both sides thereof. ．．
It is located close to 11. This developer tank A is sealed or released when the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P passes the conveying roller 9.11, and is in a sealed state with substantially no air flowing into the developing tank A. Similarly, the fixing tank B also has an opposite wall 1.
A is provided in close contact with the upper conveyance rollers 1113 disposed on both sides thereof, and the washing tank C is also similarly provided in close contact with the opposite wall 1a or the upper conveyance rollers 13.14. It is in a sealed state with no air inflow.

Conveyance roller 11 below the conveyance rollers 11 and 13 provided between the processing tanks. ．． Reference numeral 13 stores the dropped developing solution and fixing solution in the receiving portions 15 and 16 to prevent the processing solution from the previous stage from being carried into the processing tank at the subsequent stage.

The processing liquid in the processing tank is stored in the transport path R formed by the gap between the opposing walls 1a and 2a of the hollow walls 1 and 2 of the processing tank, and is transported along the transport path R. The required amount of water is reduced, the opening area of the processing tank can be reduced, and performance deterioration of the processing liquid due to air oxidation and evaporation can be prevented.

Furthermore, by supplying and replenishing the processing liquid circulation system with a new processing liquid, it is possible to prevent the silver halide photographic material P from being processed with a processing liquid that has deteriorated due to processing, thereby stabilizing the photographic finishing performance.

The gaps are set at intervals that can store the processing solution and transport the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P. For example, the average interval is preferably 3 mm to 95 mm, more preferably 5 mm to 55 mm. However, it is not limited to this.

Further, a large number of discharge ports 5.6 are formed on the opposing walls 1a and 2a of each processing tank, and the processing liquid is directed from these discharge ports 5.6 toward both sides of the silver halide photographic photosensitive material P. , and is designed to be supplied at a predetermined pressure. By supplying this processing liquid, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P is transported without contacting the wall surface, eliminating the need for a conventional roller transport mechanism for transporting the material into the processing liquid, and reducing maintenance such as roller cleaning. This eliminates the need for long-term roller replacement due to deterioration over time.

Further, the arrangement of the discharge ports 56 formed in the opposing walls 1a and 2a,
By setting the shape and discharge pressure, etc., the processing liquid can be evenly supplied to both sides of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P, and the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P can be processed stably without uneven development, and the desired sensitivity can be achieved. , gradation, and other photosensitive characteristics can be obtained.

The discharge ports 5 formed in the opposing walls 1a and 2a of the processing tank preferably have a diameter of 0.2 to 10 mm, for example, and a large number of these discharge ports 5 and 6 are provided, but the number is not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to provide four or more of each.

Further, the ejection ports 5.6 may be arranged, for example, in an oval shape in a staggered manner, or may be arranged in a slit shape in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the silver halide photographic material. It is also possible to arrange it at a predetermined angle from the conveyance direction.

Further, the discharge pressure from the discharge ports 5 and 6 is set so that the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material P can be smoothly conveyed and the silver halide photographic light-sensitive feather material P can be maintained in a state where it does not come into contact with the opposing walls 1a and 2a. For example, 10-100mm/Ag
is preferred. This discharge pressure may be controlled by a pump, or the processing liquid may be stored at a higher position than the processing tank, and a constant discharge pressure may be obtained by the pressure of gravity.

The processing liquid communication vibe 3, supply pipe 4, and outflow pipe 7 can be set at arbitrary positions depending on the individual apparatus. Further, in order to prevent clogging of the discharge port 5.6 when supplying the processing liquid, it is preferable to provide a filter (not shown) in the supply path.

The processing speed S of this photosensitive material processing apparatus is determined by 5=LXT. This processing speed S is preferably, for example, 54 to 124 m/sec, and L is from the core position of the 10th hole of the processing tank to the drying section. It is preferable that the length of the processing line up to the core of the final delivery roller is, for example, 0.50 m < 32 m, and T is the time required to pass through the processing line length L.

Note that the conveyance path may be formed in a V-shape by the wall opposite to the hollow wall of the processing tank, or the conveyance path may be formed in a vertical direction by the wall opposite to the hollow wall of the treatment tank.

Alternatively, the opposing wall surface of the hollow wall of the processing tank may be formed of a porous material, and the material may be supplied through the holes of this porous material member. In addition, in this embodiment, the wall of the processing tank is hollow, and a discharge port is formed on the wall surface opposite the hollow wall to supply the processing liquid. A supply pipe may be provided to extend through the supply pipe, and the water may be supplied from this supply pipe.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the photosensitive material processing apparatus;
Components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 and FIG.

In this embodiment, in the processing liquid circulation system provided in the developer sA and the fixing tank B, a supply tank 50 is arranged above the processing tank, and the processing liquid is supplied from the supply tank 50 via the supply vibrator 4. It is designed so that it is always supplied to the processing tank at a constant pressure.

This supply tank 50 is provided with a level sensor 51 that detects the liquid level of the processing liquid, and the control device 31 controls the pump 33 based on the information from this level sensor 51, and supplies the liquid from the storage tank 32 via the feeding vibrator 52. It is fed under pressure to the tank 50.

In each of the embodiments described above, the heater 34 is provided in the storage tank 32, but if the heater 34 is provided in the vibrator closer to the processing tank than the storage tank 32, heating energy can be saved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, the opposing walls of the processing tank are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval to form a gap, and the conveyance path for conveying the photographic photosensitive material is formed in this gap. Since the processing liquid is stored and transported within this conveyance path, the contact area with air relative to the volume of the processing liquid in the processing tank is reduced, and the processing liquid due to air oxidation and evaporation is reduced. It is possible to effectively prevent fluctuations in performance.

Furthermore, the processing liquid circulation system is equipped with a processing liquid circulation system having a liquid filling volume that is one or more times the processing liquid volume of the processing tank. l! Since processing is carried out by supplying liquid, even if the processing liquid in the processing tank is small, deterioration of the processing liquid and fluctuations in concentration and temperature due to processing can be suppressed, resulting in stable photographic finishing performance.

In addition, by heating the supplied processing liquid to a predetermined temperature using a heating means provided in the processing liquid circulation system, temperature fluctuations in the processing liquid can be effectively suppressed and processing can be performed at a predetermined processing temperature.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the upper wall surface of a processing tank of this photosensitive material processing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a photosensitive material processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment. In the figure, A is a developing tank, B is a fixing tank, C is a washing tank, D is a processing (night shield ring system, P is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, R is a transport path, 1.2 is a hollow wall, 1a, 26 a is the opposite wall, 4 is the supply vibe, 7 is the outflow vibe, 5.6
31 is a control device, 32 is a storage tank, 33 is a pump, 34 is a heater, and 50 is a supply tank. 2 Indication of drawing procedure amendment case 1999 Patent Application No. 175997 Name of the invention Person who makes amendments to photosensitive material processing equipment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 1-26-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Name (1
27) Konica Corporation

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a photosensitive material processing apparatus that conveys and develops a silver halide photographic material containing at least one photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of a support, the wall of the processing tank are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval to form a gap, a processing liquid is stored in the gap between the opposing walls, and a transport path for transporting the silver halide photographic material is formed, and the processing liquid volume in the processing tank is What is claimed is: 1. A photosensitive material processing apparatus comprising a processing liquid circulation system having a liquid filling volume that is one or more times larger than that of a photosensitive material processing apparatus, wherein a new processing liquid is supplied from the processing liquid circulation system for processing. 2. The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing liquid circulation system includes heating means for heating the processing liquid.