JPH04151653A - Method and device for processing silver halide photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily form a high-quality image having superior stability by hermetically sealing at least one of processing tanks and carrying out a processing in the presence of gas having a larger weight per unit volume than air. CONSTITUTION:A processing device contg. at least a developing tank, a fixing tank and a washing tank and/or a stabilizing tank is used. At least one of the processing tanks is practically hermetically sealed and processing is carried out in the presence of gas having a larger weight per unit volume than air. The gas may be Ar, Kr, Xe, CO2, chlorofluorocarbon or propane but Ar is most preferable. A high-quality image having superior stability can easily be obtd.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for processing silver halide photographic materials and a processing apparatus used therein.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for processing a silver halide photographic material that can stably obtain high-quality prints even in a short-time rapid development process, and a processing apparatus used therein.

(Prior art) Wet processing of photosensitive materials uses processing solutions (developing solution, bleaching solution, fixing solution, bleach-fixing solution, washing water, etc.) stored in a processing tank.
This is done by transporting the photosensitive material inside and immersing it therein.

Conventionally, in photosensitive material processing equipment that performs such processing, the liquid level of the processing liquid stored in each processing tank is open, so the processing liquid evaporates or the temperature of the liquid decreases due to contact with air. There were disadvantages such as deterioration, alteration such as oxidation, and deterioration.

In particular, it is clear that if the processing solution is altered or deteriorated, it will have a negative effect on the development characteristics.
When the pH of the developer changes due to the incorporation of carbon dioxide,
The photographic properties of the processed light-sensitive material, such as density and gradation, change and become unstable.

In order to prevent such evaporation and deterioration of the processing liquid, the opening ratio of the processing tank (area of processing liquid surface/volume of processing liquid in the processing tank) is
Although techniques for reducing the aperture ratio are known, reducing the aperture ratio poses difficulties in machine design and operation, such as difficulty in transporting the photosensitive material.

Furthermore, it has been considered to provide a lid body such as a fixed lid or a floating lid near the surface of the processing liquid in the processing tank to improve the airtightness of the space above the liquid surface.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, even if such a lid is provided, it is difficult to completely seal the space above the liquid level because at least a conveyance path for the photosensitive material must be set. there were.

As a method to further improve the airtightness, a method is proposed in which the inlet and/or outlet of the photosensitive material is made into the narrowest slit shape that allows the photosensitive material to be conveyed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-8
4642), a method of providing a shutter means that can open and close the loading/unloading port (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-319040), and a method of providing a communication passage for photosensitive material that connects the processing liquid levels (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-319038). It is being However, the degree of sealing is still insufficient to obtain good quality prints, and the more efforts are made to improve the degree of sealing, the more complex the structure and design of the lid become, and the easier it is to attach and detach it. This was inconvenient and inconvenient during maintenance of the processing tank.

In particular, recent trends in the processing of photographic materials are toward speeding up processing, and in addition to speeding up, it is thought that equipment and operations will become simpler, and that there will be a shift from centralized processing to decentralized processing. It will be done.

In such systems, in order to speed up the processing, the processing solution becomes highly active, making it more likely to be contaminated by oxidized crude drugs, and in order to simplify the processing, the amount of replenisher solution must be reduced. Silver sulfide is likely to be generated in the washing and/or stabilization tank due to oxidation or concentration.

Furthermore, with the decentralization of processing, the amount of processing per processing device tends to decrease, and it is necessary to take into consideration the longer time when the equipment is not in operation. Even poor airtightness can have fatal effects, making them extremely susceptible to the effects of air.

Particularly in such situations, it has not been possible to obtain a sufficient blocking effect using conventional sealing means alone.

On the other hand, although it has been known as a technique to substantially seal a processing tank and fill it with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas, it has not yet been put to practical use. This seems to be because, as mentioned above, it is difficult to set up a completely sealed state, the influence of air entering through small openings is unexpectedly large, and it is not practical to supply inert gas. . Also,
JP-A No. 2-124570 describes that in a processing apparatus having an intermediate chamber between constant development and washing, an inert gas may be purged into the tank.
An additional structure for processing liquid stabilization is required: an intermediate chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and a processing apparatus for use in the method, by which a high-quality, highly stable image can be formed on a component.

(Means for Solving the Problems) It has been found that the above problems can be solved by the following method for processing a silver halide photographic material and a processing apparatus used therein.

Therefore, due to the structural design of the processing tank, a gas heavier than maintenance air may be contained.

Also, A golden seal is not ideal.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the degree of sealing of a processing tank can be defined by the partial pressure of argon gas after filling the processing El tank with 1 atm of argon gas and leaving it for one week. In the present invention,
It is preferable that the degree of sealing is 0.70 (0.70 atm) or more. Particularly preferably O85 (0.85 atm)
More than one can be used. In addition, the sealing degree is 0.95
(0.95 atm) or less is preferable.

For example, a processing apparatus having a carry-in opening described in JP-A-2-84642 can be used. The slint width of the opening is preferably about 1.5 to 2.5 mm.

In addition, a cover (M
A shank means can be provided at the loading and/or unloading port of the photosensitive material provided on the side surface of the processing tank for blocking contact with outside air or other gases in the processing tank when the photosensitive material is not being transported. Further, it is preferable that the entrance for carrying in and out of the photosensitive material provided on the cover is provided as high as possible above the processing liquid level in order to suppress the diffusion of the gas into the outside air as much as possible.

Hereinafter, the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view schematically showing a configuration example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention. The photosensitive material processing apparatus 1 includes a developing tank 2, a fixing tank (or a bleaching/fixing tank 3, a washing tank (or stabilizing tank) 4a to 4e, and a drying section 1) in this order. Inside and outside of the photosensitive material S
It has a configuration in which a conveyance means 5 for conveying it along a predetermined route is installed.

The developing tank 2 contains a developing solution 20 as a processing solution having a developing function, the fixing tank 3 contains a fixing solution (or bleaching/fixing solution) 30 as a processing solution having a fixing function, and washing tanks 4a to 4.
Washing water (or stabilizing liquid) 40a to 40e as processing liquids each having a cleaning function are filled in the chamber e to a predetermined liquid level.

The conveyance means 5 includes a conveyance roller 51 on the carry-in side and a conveyance roller 52 on the discharge side, each of which will be explained below, in each processing tank.
, a fully recessed conveyance roller 53, a reversing guide 54, a guide 5
It is composed of 5th grade.

The conveyance rollers 51 and 52 are used for each process! 2.3.
Each processing liquid 20.30.40a in 4 (4a to 4e)
Each pair of rollers are arranged on the liquid surface of the roller 40e.

The conveying roller 53 cooperates with the conveying rollers 51 and 52 to move the photosensitive material S into a U-shape (1
20.30.40 of each treatment liquid
They are arranged in pairs within a to 40e.

Further, a guide 55 is installed between the transport rollers 53 to properly guide the photosensitive material S to the rollers on the downstream side of the transport path.

Further, at the bottom of each processing tank 2.3.4a to 4e, a reversing guide 5 for reversing the photosensitive material S along the conveyance path is provided.
4 are arranged. The reversing guide 54 has an arcuate curved surface and is configured to reverse the traveling direction of the photosensitive material by about 180 degrees along this curved surface.

The conveyance rollers 51, 52 and 53 are made of a material having chemical resistance against the processing liquid, such as vinyl chloride, phenol resin, plastic such as nylon, or metal, and all or a portion thereof is rotationally driven. It is designed to hold and transport the photosensitive material. In this case, each roller is rotationally driven by a predetermined drive system (not shown) including a motor, gears, and the like.

The photosensitive material S carried out from the washing tank 4e to the drying section 1) through the carrying-out port 6G formed in the boundary wall 633 between the washing tank and the drying section forms a pair installed in the drying section 1). By the conveyance roller 56 and then by the staggered conveyance roller 57,
It is transported to the outlet 67 and dried by hot air sent from the hot air blower 1) 0 to the drying section 1) through the surin) 1) 1.

On the other hand, on the upper part of the developer tank 2, there is a cover CM>61 that surrounds the upper space 6a of the developer N2 (a space that requires shielding), and on the upper part of the fixer tank 3, there is a cover CM>61 that surrounds the upper space 6b of the fixer tank 3.
II) 62 is in the upper part of the washing tank 4 = ~4 e,
Cover (1) 6 surrounding the upper space 6C of the washing tanks 4a to 4e
3 are installed respectively.

The left and right side walls of these covers in the figure are joined to the tops of the left and right tank walls of each type 2 to 4, and are configured to substantially seal the spaces 6a to 6c from outside air according to the present invention. There is.

The shape of the cover is not particularly limited, but the shapes 6a to 6a in Fig. 1 can reduce the amount of gas inserted therein.
It is preferable that the cover narrows upwardly as shown in 6c, but the cover may also be oriented in a direction other than upwardly, such as laterally or diagonally.

Furthermore, in the present invention, since the gas to be inserted is heavier than air per unit volume, the gas accumulates over the surface of the processing liquid, so the top of each constricted cover (for example, a triangular Openings can also be provided at the apex portions 612 and 622 of the trapezoidal shape, and at the ceiling portion 632 of the trapezoidal shape. In the case where such an opening is provided, it is particularly preferable that the cover narrows upward, since this reduces the area of contact between the air and the gas. Further, it is preferable that the opening is provided in the shape of a slit at the top.

Also provided on each cover is an insertion valve 101, 102, 103 for inserting gas into the head space according to the invention.

Further, on the left side wall 61) of the cover 61 in the drawing, there is an inlet 65 for carrying the photosensitive material S into the processing apparatus, and boundary walls 621 and 631 exist as boundaries between the covers 61, 62 and 63, respectively. In the boundary wall 633 between the cover 63 and the drying section 1) on the right side in the figure, a carry-in/out port 66 is formed for carrying in and/or carrying out the photosensitive material S into the next processing tank or drying section. It is preferable that shutter means 7 (or 8.9) for opening and closing the entrances 65 and 66 are respectively installed.

A specific example of the structure of this shutter means will be explained based on FIGS. 2 to 5. Note that the shutter means is a cover 61.
Although the explanation has been made regarding the carry-in port 65 formed in the left side wall 61) in the figure, each carry-in/out port 66 may be provided in the same manner.

The shutter means 7 shown in FIG.
A cylindrical shielding member 70 (with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the groove) is rotatably housed inside the groove.

This shielding member 70 is formed with a slit 71 through which the photosensitive material S passes. The width of this slit 71 is
Preferably, the width is approximately equal to the width of the entrance 65.

The shielding member 70 usually stops with the slit 71 inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the photosensitive material passing direction of the loading port 65 (the position indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 2), and therefore the loading port 65 is closed. It has become. In addition, the photosensitive material S is
5, the shielding member 70 rotates until the slit 71 is parallel to the photosensitive material passing direction (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2), so that the entrance 65 is opened. This allows the photosensitive material S to pass through.

Such rotation of the shielding member 70 is performed by a driving means 73 shown in FIG. One end of the rotation shaft 72 of the shielding member 70 is connected to a rotor rotation shaft of a rotary solenoid 74 that is a drive source.

The terminal of the rotary solenoid 74 is connected to the relay switch 7
5 to the tfi76. In addition, a sensor (
For example, a touch limit switch) 77 is installed, and this sensor 77 is connected to a control section 78 containing a microcomputer or the like. This control section 78 is also connected to a relay switch 75.

When the rotary solenoid 74 is energized, the internal rotor rotates by a predetermined angle, that is, the inclination angle θ of the slit 71, and the state 1! (The loading port 65 continues to maintain the open state 1, and when the power is turned off, it returns to its original position (the loading port 65 is in the closed state II)
It operates to return to normal.

When the sensor 77 detects the presence of the photosensitive material S (approaching the second person 65), the control section 78 controls the relay switch 75 to turn on, thereby energizing the rotary solenoid 74 and shielding. Part 7
0 is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the loading port 65 is opened.

Conversely, when the sensor 77 does not detect the presence of the photosensitive material S, the control section 7B turns on the relay switch 7.
As a result, the rotary solenoid 74 is turned off, the shielding member 70 enters the state shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, and the entrance 65 is closed.

With such a configuration, the transport of the photosensitive material S and the opening and closing of the entrance 65 by the shutter means 7 can be performed synchronously.

It should be noted that the structure may be such that the drive means for rotating the shielding member 70 and the drive system for transporting the photosensitive material described above are shared.

FIG. 4 shows a driving means 73 for rotating the shielding member 70.
An example of the configuration of the shutter means 8 that does not require the following is shown.

The shutter means 8 shown in the figure has a cover 61 (or 6
2.63) A groove 651 with an arcuate cross section is formed toward the inside of the entrance 65 of JP-A-4-151 [;53 (6). (diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shielding member 8)
It has a configuration in which 0 is stored.

This shielding member 80 has a rotating shaft 81, and this rotating shaft 8
Both ends of the shielding member 80 are pivotally supported by the cover 61 (or 62, 63) via bearings (not shown), so that the shielding member 80 can rotate within the groove 651.

The shielding member 80 can freely rotate, and is normally in a state B (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4) in contact with the stopper part 68 (when the photosensitive material S is not passing through). stop,
Therefore, the loading port 65 is in a closed state.

Further, the photosensitive material S traveling in the direction of the arrow in the figure is placed at the entrance 65.
4, the shielding member 80 is pressed by the photosensitive material S and rotates by a predetermined angle counterclockwise in the figure (to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4), so that the entrance 65 is opened. This allows the photosensitive material S to pass through.

It is preferable to provide a taber or other guide (not shown) near the entrance 65 of the cover 61 to facilitate introduction of the photosensitive material S.

The means for rotating the shielding member 80, especially the means for keeping the shielding member 80 in contact with the stomper part 68 when the photosensitive material does not pass, is the rotating shaft 81 of the shielding member 80.
An arm 82 is fixed to one end, and a weight 83 is attached to the tip of the arm 82.
1 is applied clockwise in the figure to bring the flat end of the shielding member 80 into contact with and in close contact with the stopper portion 68.

When the photosensitive material S passes through the entrance 65, the photosensitive material S
The shielding member 80 rotates counterclockwise in the figure against the torque applied to the rotating shaft 81 due to the pressure, and the loading port 65 opens.

After the photosensitive material S has passed through the loading port 65, the shielding member 80 rotates clockwise in the figure again due to the torque of the weight 83 applied to the rotating shaft 81, comes into contact with the stopper part 68, and passes through the loading port. 65 is closed.

Note that the means for rotating the shielding member 80 is not limited to the above configuration, and may be configured to apply rotational force to the rotating shaft 81 using a biasing means such as a spring.

FIG. 5 shows the protection means 9, which is constituted by a deformable shielding member. As shown in the same figure, the entrance 65 formed in the cover 61 (or 62, 63) has a pair of pairs having a length approximately equal to the length of the entrance (the length in the width direction of the photosensitive material S). A shielding member 90.90 is attached.

The shielding member 90 is composed of a flange portion 91 which does not actually deform, and a thin portion 92 whose thickness gradually decreases toward the tip and which can be easily deformed by the entrance of the photosensitive material S. The flange portion 91 is attached to opposing edges 69, 69 of the loading port 65 by fixing devices such as bolts 93, for example.

This shielding member 90 is, for example, NRlIR, 5BR1BR
, CR, NBR, NIR, NB IR, etc., r rR, EPM, EPDM, U.

It is composed of various rubbers such as non-diene rubbers such as Q and CM, elastic materials (elastomers) such as soft resins such as foot resin, silicone resin, and Teflon, or a combination of two or more of these, and is photosensitive. When the material S is not being transported, the tips of the thin wall portions 92 are in close contact with each other, and the entrance 65 is blocked.

Normally, the adhesion force between the thin wall portions 92 is given by the elastic force of the thin wall portions, but it is possible to mix a magnetic material in the thin wall portions 92 (for example, a rubber magnet) to attract the thin wall portions to each other. It is also possible to provide or increase adhesion.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the photosensitive material S passes through the entrance 65, the photosensitive material S passes through the thin wall portion 9 of the shielding member 90.
2.92, and the thin portion 92.92 that was in close contact with the photosensitive material S is pushed apart by the thickness of the photosensitive material S.

In this state, the photosensitive material S has thin parts 92 and 92 on both sides.
It passes in the direction of the arrow in the figure while adhering to the inner surface of the.

At this time, since the photosensitive material S passes through while contacting the inner surfaces of both thin-walled portions, the space 6a and the outside do not communicate with each other across the entrance 65 even while the photosensitive material is passing through. This is highly effective in preventing evaporation, temperature drop, alteration, and deterioration of the processing liquid 20.

Note that the emulsion surface of the photosensitive material S has almost no adverse effects such as scratches due to sliding with the thin portion 92, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4-1.
51G53 (7) However, if this cannot be ignored, or if the sliding resistance is to be reduced, smoothing the inner surface of the thin section 92 or applying a lubricant such as silicone or Teflon to the inner surface. This can be addressed by surface treatment such as coating.

After the photosensitive material S passes through the entrance 65, the shielding member 90
return to their original state, and the thin members 92 come into close contact with each other, again blocking the entrance 65.

In the illustrated configuration example, a pair of shielding members 90 are attached to the entrance 65, but in the present invention, two or more pairs of shielding members 90 are attached to the entrance 65 along the traveling direction of the photosensitive material S. The shielding members can also be installed in multiple stages. In this case, the shielding effect of the entrance 65 increases.

Note that the shutter means shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 does not require a drive source for rotating the shielding member or its control means, etc. compared to the shutter means shown in FIG. 2, so the structure of the device is simpler. can be converted into

It goes without saying that the configuration of the shutter means is not limited to that described above.

Further, although the installation of a shunter means is not an essential condition in the present invention, if a shunter means is not installed, the entrance 65 may be made into a narrow slit shape to prevent the inserted gas from diffusing. It is necessary to make the opening area of the loading port 65 as small as possible.

Note that although the example configuration shown in FIG. 1 has a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washing tank arranged side by side, the configuration and arrangement of the processing tank are not limited thereto. For example, the developing tank may be a combination of a bleach tank, a fixing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, a washing tank, a stabilizing tank, a reversing tank, and a washing tank. Further, the washing tank may be an I tank.

Further, the processing liquid used can be changed as appropriate depending on the photosensitive material to be processed.The method and processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied to any processing liquid, but in particular,
Effective for highly active developers. Here, the highly active developer means, for example, a developer with increased herbal drug concentration or increased pll.

The photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention can also be used for black and white development processing.
It is also applied to color development processing.

As a black and white developer, a developing agent such as dihydroxybenzenes (e.g. hydroquinone), 3-pyrazolidones (e.g. 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone), or aminophenols (e.g. N-methyl=P~aminophenol) may be used alone or Can be used in combination.

Among the black and white development processing, the processing apparatus of the present invention is applicable to U.S. Patent No. 4,224,401, U.S. Pat.
4.272,606, 4.21). Super 1i! using the hydrazine derivatives described in No. 857, No. 4,243,739, etc. It is particularly suitable to apply to the method of obtaining an image in 1).

In this ultra-VltJi image forming method, a dihydroxybenzene-based developing agent is used as a developing agent, and a p-aminophenol-based developing agent or a 3-aminophenol-based developing agent is used as an auxiliary developing agent.
It is preferable to use a pyrazolidone developing agent.

The dihydroxybenzene developing agent is usually 0.05 to 0.
．． Preferably it is used in an amount of 8 mol/l.

In addition, when using a combination of dihydroxybenzenes and 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones or p-aminophenols, the former is added at 0.05 to 0.5 mol/
1, the latter is preferably used in an amount of 0.06 mol/1 or less.

1. Features of the developer used in the above ultra-high contrast image forming method
One is that it can tolerate the addition of a larger amount of sulfite preservative than conventional Lith developers.

Sulfite preservatives include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, formaldehyde sodium bisulfite, and the like.

Sulfite is used at least 0.3 mol/l, but if too large a quantity is added, it will precipitate in the developing solution and cause solution contamination, so the upper limit is preferably 1.2 mol/l.

The developer can also contain tertiary amine compounds as development accelerators, in particular the compounds described in US Pat. No. 4,269,929.

In addition, pHl1 buffering agents such as boric acid, borax, tribasic sodium phosphate, and tribasic potassium phosphate, as well as pH buffers described in JP-A-60-93433, can be used in the developer. .

;Development inhibitors such as potassium bromide and potassium iodide;F4 agents such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dimethylformamide, methyl cellosolve, hexylene glycol, ethanol, and methanol;Indazoles such as 5-nitroindazole system compound, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-5-
It may also contain antifoggants or black pepper inhibitors such as sodium sulfonate, benztriazole compounds such as 5-methylbenztriazole, and especially when using compounds such as 5-nitroindazole, dihydroxybenzene. It is common to pre-dissolve it in a separate area from the area containing the developing agent and sulfite preservative, and then mix the image area and add water when using it.

Furthermore, if the part where 5-nitroindazole is dissolved is made alkaline, it will be colored yellow, making it convenient to handle.

Furthermore, a color toning agent, a surfactant, a water softening agent, a hardening agent, etc. may be included as necessary.

The pH of the developer is preferably a high pH of 9.5 or higher, more preferably 10 to 12.3.

As the fixer, one having a commonly used composition can be used. As the fixing agent, in addition to thiosulfates and thiocyanates, organic sulfur compounds known to be effective as fixing agents can be used.

The fixing solution may contain a water-soluble aluminum salt such as aluminum sulfate or light bread as a hardening agent, and the amount of the water-soluble aluminum salt is usually 0 to 3.0 g.
It is AIt/iL. Furthermore, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (I[[) complex salt may be used as the oxidizing agent.

In the present invention, in particular, the color photographic light-sensitive material according to the present invention is composed of monodisperse silver chlorobromide or silver chloride grains in which the silver halide emulsion does not substantially contain silver iodide and contains 95 mol% or more of silver chloride. using a temperature of 30℃ or higher and 50℃
It is preferable to perform an ultra-rapid color development treatment in which the time required is 5 seconds or more and 45 seconds or less, particularly 5 seconds or more and 30 seconds or less.

In particular, when the color developing solution contains at least one type of N-hydroxyalkyl W-substituted paraphenylenediamine color developing agent, the effects of the present invention become remarkable and suitability for rapid processing increases, which is preferable.

Further, the temperature of the color developing solution is 30"C or more and 50"C or less, the time required is 5 seconds or more and 30 seconds or less, the temperature of the subsequent bleach-fixing is 30C or more and 50"C or less, and the time required is 5 seconds or more and 30 seconds or less. Below, the temperature of the subsequent washing and/or stabilization treatment is 20°C or more and 50°C or less, the time required is 15 seconds or more and 40 seconds or less, the temperature of the subsequent drying process is 40'C or more and 80°C or less, and the required time including the draining process. is 5 seconds or more and 30 seconds or less, and the total processing time from the start of development to the end of drying is 30 seconds or more1
It is particularly preferable that the time is 30 seconds or less.

Imaging systems including the useable photosensitive materials and processes of the present invention can be used for the rapid processing of commonly used color prints, but can also be used for intelligent color hardcopy applications where speed is more desired.

In particular, as an aspect of intelligent color hard copy, scanning exposure using high-density light such as a laser (such as a semiconductor laser) or a light emitting diode is used.
! Keyaki is preferred.

As the silver halide preferably used in the present invention, silver chloride, silver bromide, silver (iod)chlorobromide, silver iodobromide, etc. can be used, but especially for the purpose of rapid processing, silver iodide is used. Substantially free silver chloride content of 90 mol% or more, further 9
It is preferable to use 5% or more, particularly 98% or more of silver chlorobromide or silver chloride on the hole side.

In the photosensitive material according to the present invention, a hydrophilic colloid layer is incorporated into a hydrophilic colloid layer for the purpose of improving image sharpness, etc.
, No. 337.49OA2, pages 27 to 76, dyes that can be decolorized by processing (especially oxonol dyes) are used when the optical reflection density of the light-sensitive material at 680 nm is 0.
．． 70 or higher, or 12% by weight of titanium oxide that has been surface-treated with di- to tetrahydric alcohols (e.g. trimethylolethane) in the water-resistant resin layer of the support.
It is preferable to contain at least 14% by weight or more (more preferably at least 14% by weight).

Further, in the light-sensitive material according to the present invention, it is preferable to use a color image preservation improving compound as described in European Patent EP 0,277.589A2 together with a coupler.

Particularly preferred for use in combination with a pyrazoloazole coupler, that is, a compound (F) that chemically bonds with the aromatic amine developing agent remaining after color development to produce a chemically inert and substantially colorless compound. and/or a compound (G) that chemically bonds with the oxidized product of the aromatic amine color developing agent remaining after the color development treatment to produce a chemically inert and substantially colorless compound, either simultaneously or singly. This is preferable in order to prevent staining and other side effects due to the formation of coloring dyes due to the reaction of the coupler with the color developing agent remaining in the film or its oxidized product during storage after processing.

In addition, the photosensitive material according to the present invention contains an anti-mold agent as described in JP-A No. 63-271247 in order to prevent various molds and bacteria that grow in the hydrophilic colloid layer and cause image deterioration. It is preferable to add.

The support used in the photosensitive material according to the present invention may be a white polyester support for display or a support in which a layer containing a white pigment is provided on the support on the side having a silver halide emulsion layer. In order to further improve sharpness, it is preferable to coat an antihalation layer on the side of the support coated with the silver halide emulsion layer or on the back side.

In particular, it is preferable to set the transmission density of the support in the range of 0.35 to 0.8 so that the display can be viewed with both reflected light and transmitted light.

The photosensitive material according to the present invention may be exposed to visible light or infrared light, and the exposure method may be low-light exposure or high-light short-time exposure, and especially in the latter case, the A laser scanning exposure method in which the exposure time is shorter than 10 −4 seconds is preferred.

Further, during exposure, it is preferable to use a band stop filter as described in US Pat. No. 4,880.726, which eliminates light color mixture and significantly improves color reproducibility.

Exposed light-sensitive materials can be subjected to conventional black-and-white or color development processing, but in the case of color light-sensitive materials, for the purpose of rapid processing, it is preferable to carry out bleach-fixing processing after color development.
Particularly when the above-mentioned high silver chloride bill is used, ρ■ of the bleach-fix solution is preferably about 6.5 or less, more preferably about 6 or less, for the purpose of promoting desilvering.

Silver halide emulsions and other materials (additives, etc.) and photographic constituent layers (layer arrangement, etc.) applied to the photosensitive material of the present invention, and processing methods and processing materials applied to process this sensitive material. As additives, the following patent publications, especially European Patent EP 0,355.66OA2 (Japanese Patent Application Hei 1-1)
0701) are preferably used.

JP-A-4-x5+653 (1)) The color developer used in the present invention contains a known aromatic primary amine color developing agent.

Preferred examples are p-phenylenediamine derivatives, representative examples of which are shown below, but are not limited thereto.

D-IN, N-diethyl-P-phenylenediamine D-24-amino-NN-diethyl-3-methylaniline D-34-amino-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-N
-Methylaniline D-44-Amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)aniline D-4-Amino-N-ethyl-N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylaniline D-64- Amino-N
-Ethyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3-methylaniline D-74-amino-N-ethyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-3-methylaniline D-84-amino-N-
Ethyl-N-(β-methanesulfonamidoethyl)-3
-Methylaniline D-94-amino-N,N-diethyl-3(β-hydroxyethyl)aniline D-104-aminolN-ethyl-N-(β-methoxyethyl)-3methyl-aniline D-1)4 -amino-N-(β-ethoxyethyl)-N
-Ethyl-3-methylaniline D-124-amino-N-(3-carbamoylpropyl-Nn-propyl-3-methylaniline D-134-amino-N-(4-carbamoylbutyl-
N-n-propyl-3-methylaniline D-14N-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-3
-Hydroxypyrrolidine D-15N-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)3-
(Hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine D-16N-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)3-
Pyrrolidine carboxamide Among the above p-phenylenediamine derivatives, particularly preferred are exemplary compounds D-5, D-6, D-7, D-8 and D-1.
It is 2. Further, salts of these p-phenylenediamine derivatives with sulfates, hydrochlorides, sulfites, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, etc. may also be used. The amount of the aromatic primary amine developing agent used is preferably 0.002 mol to 0.2 mol, more preferably 0.005 mol to 0.1 mol per developer solution.

In practicing the present invention, it is preferred to use a developer solution that is substantially free of benzyl alcohol. Here, "substantially not containing" preferably means 2d1) or less,
More preferably, the benzyl alcohol concentration is 0.5 d/f or less, and most preferably, it contains no benzyl alcohol at all.

It is more preferable that the developer used in the present invention does not substantially contain sulfite ions. The sulfite ion functions as a preservative for the developing agent.
(12) It has a silver halide dissolving action and an action of reacting with an oxidized developing agent to reduce dye formation efficiency.

Such an effect is presumed to be one of the causes of increased fluctuations in photographic characteristics due to continuous processing. Here, "substantially not containing" preferably means a sulfite ion concentration of 3.0 x 10 -'' mol/l or less, most preferably not containing any sulfite ions.

However, in the present invention, a very small amount of sulfite ion used to prevent oxidation of the processing agent quint in which the developing agent is concentrated before being prepared into a solution for use is excluded.

The developer used in the present invention preferably does not substantially contain sulfite ions, and more preferably does not substantially contain hydroxylamine. This is because hydroxylamine functions as a preservative for the developing solution and also has silver developing activity itself, and it is believed that fluctuations in the concentration of hydroxylamine greatly affect photographic properties.

Here, "not containing substantially hydroxylamine" preferably means 5. A hydroxylamine concentration of less than OX 10-3 mol/l, most preferably no hydroxylamine at all.

It is more preferable that the developer used in the present invention contains an organic preservative instead of the hydroxylamine or sulfite ion.

The term "organic preservative" as used herein refers to any organic compound that reduces the rate of deterioration of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent when added to a processing solution for a color photographic light-sensitive material. That is, they are organic compounds that have the function of preventing color developing agents from being oxidized by air, among others, hydroxylamine derivatives (excluding hydroxylamine, the same shall apply hereinafter), hydroxamic acids, hydrazines, hydrazides, phenols, Especially α-hydroxyketones, α-aminoketones, sugars, monoamines, diamines, polyamines, quaternary ammonium salts, nitroxy radicals, alcohols, oximes, diamide compounds, fused cyclic amines, etc. It is an effective organic preservative. These are JP-A-63
-4235, 63-30845, 63-216
No. 47, No. 63-44655, No. 63-53551, No. 63-43140, No. 63-56654, No. 6
No. 3-58346, No. 63-43138, No. 63-1
No. 46041, No. 63-44657, No. 63-446
No. 56, U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,503, U.S. Patent No. 2.49
No. 4,903, Japanese Patent Publication No. 43020, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1973)
It is disclosed in various publications or specifications such as No.-30496.

Other preservatives include various metals described in JP-A-57-44148 and JP-A-57-53749;
Salicylic acids described in 9180588, JP-A-5
Alkanolamines described in JP-A No. 43532, polyethyleneimines described in JP-A-56-94349, aromatic polyhydroquino compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,746,544, etc., can be used as necessary. In particular, it is preferable to add alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, dialkylhydroquinolamines such as diethylhydroquinolamine, hydrazine derivatives, or aromatic polyhydroxy compounds, which may be contained.

Among the organic preservatives mentioned above, hydroxylamine derivatives and hydrazine derivatives (hydrazines and hydrazide II!
4) is particularly preferable, and its details are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1999-1-
No. 97953, No. 1-186939, No. 1-1869
No. 40, No. 1-187557, etc.

Further, it is more preferable to use the above-mentioned hydroxylamine derivative or hydrazine derivative in combination with amines from the viewpoint of improving the stability of the color developer and further improving the stability during continuous processing.

Examples of the above-mentioned amines include cyclic amines as described in JP-A-63-239447 and JP-A-63-1.
Examples include amines such as those described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 28340, and others such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1-186939 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1-187557.

In the present invention, 3.5% of chloride ions are added to the color developer.
It is preferable to contain Xl0-t to 1.5 Xl0-'mol/l. Particularly preferably, 4×10−” to 1×10
It is 1×10. Chlorine ion concentration is 1.5X10-' ~
If it exceeds 10-I mol/l, it has the disadvantage of slowing development and is not preferable in achieving the object of the present invention of rapid development and high maximum density. Moreover, if it is less than 3.5×10 4 mol/1, it is not preferable in terms of preventing capri.

In the present invention, 3. bromine ions are added to the color developer. O
It is preferable to contain
-5 to 5X10-' mol/i. Bromine ion concentration is lXl0-'mol/i! , more than 3.0X10-' mol/L will retard development and reduce maximum density and sensitivity.
If it is less than 1, capri cannot be sufficiently prevented.

Here, chloride ions and bromine ions may be added directly to the developer (or may be eluted from the photosensitive material into the developer during the development process).

When added directly to a color developer, examples of the chloride ion supplying substance include sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, lithium chloride, nickel chloride, magnesium chloride, manganese chloride, calcium chloride, and cadmium chloride, among which preferred ones are preferred. are sodium chloride and potassium chloride.

Alternatively, it may be supplied from an optical brightener added to the developer.

As a supply material for bromide ions, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, ammonium bromide, lithium bromide, calcium uride, magnesium bromide, manganese bromide, dibromide, Kel, cadmium bromide, cerium bromide, odor Among these, preferred are potassium bromide and sodium bromide.

When eluted from the light-sensitive material during the development process, both chloride ions and bromine ions may be supplied from the emulsion, or may be supplied from a source other than the emulsion.

The color developer used in the present invention preferably has a pH of 9
-12, more preferably 9-1). 0, and the color developer may contain other known developer component compounds.

In order to maintain the above pn, it is preferable to use various buffering agents. Examples of Il buffering agents include carbonate, phosphate, borate, tetraborate, hydroxybenzoate, glycyl salt, N, N-dimethylglycine salt, leucine salt, norleucine salt, guanine salt, 3゜4-dihydroxyphenylalanine salt, alanine salt, aminobutyrate, 2-amino-2
-Methyl-13-propanediol salt, valine salt, proline salt, trishydroxyaminomethane salt, lysine salt, etc. can be used. In particular, carbonate, phosphate, tetraborate, hydroquine benzoate are soluble, pH 9.0
High ρu7. It is particularly preferable to use these buffering agents because they have the advantage of having excellent buffering ability in the i range, having no adverse effects on photographic performance (such as capri) when added to color developing solutions, and being inexpensive.

Specific examples of these buffers include sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium borate, and boric acid. Potassium, sodium tetraborate (borax), potassium tetraborate, sodium 0-hydroxybenzoate (sodium salicylate), potassium o-hydroxybenzoate, sodium 5-sulfo-2-hydroxybenzoate (sodium 5-sulfosalicylate) , potassium 5-sulfo-2hydroxybenzoate (potassium 5-sulfo-salicylate), and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to these compounds.

The amount of the buffer added to the color developer is 0.1 mol/1
It is preferably at least 0.1 mol/! ~0.
Particularly preferred is 4 mol/1.

In addition, various chelating agents can be used in the color developer as an anti-settling agent for calcium or magnesium or to improve the stability of the color developer. For example, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid,
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N,N,N-)rimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'
-tetramethylenesulfonic acid, transsilohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,2-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine orthohydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-phosphonobutane-1,
2,4-)licarboxylic acid, ■-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N.

Examples include N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid.

Two or more of these chelating agents may be used in combination, if necessary.

These chelating agents may be added in an amount sufficient to sequester metal ions in the color developer. For example 1)
It is about 0.1g to 10g per serving.

Any development accelerator can be added to the color developer if necessary.

As a development accelerator, Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-16088 and No. 3
No. 7-5987, No. 3B-7826, No. 44-12
No. 380, No. 459019 and U.S. Patent No. 3.813
, No. 247, etc., and thioether compounds disclosed in JP-A-52-49829 and JP-A-52-49829.
p-phenylenediamine compounds disclosed in Publication No. 15554, JP-A No. 50137726, JP-B No. 44-3
No. 0074, JP-A-56-156826 and JP-A No. 52-
Quaternary ammonium salts disclosed in 43429, etc., U.S. Patent No. 2,494,903, U.S. Pat.
No. 82, No. 4,230,796, No. 3,253,91
No. 9, Special Publication No. 431, U.S. Patent No. 2.48
No. 2,546, No. 2596.926 and No. 3,582
, 346, etc., amine compounds described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-16088, Japanese Patent Publication No. 42-25201, U.S. Patent Publication No. 3.128.183, Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-1)
No. 431, No. 42-23883 and U.S. Patent No. 3.5
Polyalkylene oxides disclosed in publications or specifications such as No. 32501, other l-phenyl-3-pyrapritones, imidazoles, etc. can be added as necessary.

In the present invention, any antifoggant can be added if necessary. As antifoggants, alkali metal halides such as sodium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium iodide, and organic antifoggants can be used. Examples of organic antifoggants include benzotriazole, 6-nitrobenzimidazole, 5-nitroisoindazole, 5methylbenzotriazole, 5-nitrobenzotriazole, 5-chloro-benzotriazole, 2-thiazolyl-benzimidazole, 2 -thiapryl methyl-
Typical examples include nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as benzimidazole, indazole, hydroxyazaindolizine, and adeni/.

The color developer applicable to the present invention preferably contains an optical brightener. As an optical brightener, 4,4'
-Diamino-22'-disulfostylhene compounds are preferred. The amount added is 0 to 5 g/l, preferably 0.1 g to 4
/1.

Furthermore, various surfactants such as alkylsulfonic acids, arylsulfonic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and aromatic carboxylic acids may be added as necessary.

The processing temperature of the color phenomenon liquid that can be applied to the present invention is 30~
50°C, preferably 35-50°C. Processing time is 5
20 seconds to 20 seconds, preferably 5 to 15 seconds. The smaller the amount of replenishment, the better, but 20 to 600 per 1% of Angry Light material.
d is suitable, preferably 30 to 100 d.

When reducing the amount of replenishment, it is preferable to prevent evaporation of the solution and air oxidation by reducing the contact area with the air in the processing tank.The contact area between the photographic processing solution and the air in the processing tank is as follows: It can be expressed by the aperture ratio defined as . That is, aperture ratio/contact area (d) between processing liquid and air/capacity of processing liquid (ci) The above aperture ratio is preferably 0.1 or less, more preferably 0.001 to 0.05. be.

As a method for reducing the aperture ratio in this way, in addition to providing a shield such as a floating lid on the surface of the photographic processing solution in the processing tank, there is also a method using a movable lid as described in JP-A-1-82033; Examples include the slit development method described in Japanese Patent No. 63-216050.

It is preferable to reduce the aperture ratio not only in both color development and black-and-white development, but also in all subsequent steps, such as bleaching, bleach-fixing, fixing, washing, and stabilization.

Furthermore, the amount of replenishment can be reduced by using means for suppressing the accumulation of bromide ions in the developer.

Next, a desilvering process that can be applied to the present invention will be explained.

The desilvering step may generally include any process such as a bleaching step-fixing step, a fixing step-bleach-fixing step, a bleaching step-bleach-fixing step, or a bleach-fixing step.

The bleaching solution, bleach-fixing solution, and fixing solution that can be applied to the present invention will be explained below.

As the bleaching agent used in the bleach or bleach-fix solution, any bleaching agent can be used, but especially iron (
Organic complex salts of I[[) (e.g. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid,
Preferred are aminopolycarboxylic acids such as diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, complex salts of aminopolyphosphonic acid, phosphonocarboxylic acid, and organic phosphonic acid) or organic acids such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and malic acid; persulfates; hydrogen peroxide, etc. .

Among these, organic complex salts of iron (III) are particularly preferable from the viewpoint of rapid processing and prevention of environmental pollution, and aminopolycarboxylic acids, aminopolyphosphonic acids, or The organic phosphonic acids or their salts include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid,
diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid,
etc. can be mentioned. These compounds may be sodium, potassium, thium or ammonium salts. Among these compounds, iron (Ill) complex salts of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, 1.3 diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, and methyliminodiacetic acid are preferred because they have a high bleaching edge.

These ferric ion complex salts may be used in the form of complex salts, or ferric salts such as ferric sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric nitrate, ferric ammonium sulfate, and ferric phosphate. A ferric ion complex salt may be formed in a solution using a chelating agent such as aminopolycarboxylic acid, aminopolyphosphonic acid, or phosphonocarboxylic acid. In addition, a chelating agent can be used as a second
Aminopolycarboxylic acid iron complexes are preferred among iron complexes, which may be used in excess to form an iron ion complex salt, and the amount added is 0.01 to 1.0 mol/l, preferably 0.05 to 1.0 mol/l. 0.50 mol/I! It is.

Various compounds can be used as bleach accelerators in the bleach solution, bleach-fix solution and/or their pre-bath. For example, U.S. Pat.
Publication No. 630, Research Disclosure No. 1712
No. 9 (July 1978 issue), compounds having a mercapto group or disulfide bond, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 45-85
No. 06, JP-A-52-20832, JP-A No. 53-3273
Thiourea compounds described in No. 5 and US Pat. No. 3,706,561, or halides such as iodine and bromide ions are preferred because they have excellent bleaching properties.

In addition, bromides (e.g., potassium bromide, sodium bromide,
Rehalogenating agents such as ammonium bromide) or chlorides (eg, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, ammonium chloride) or iodides (eg, ammonium iodide) can be included. If desired, borax, sodium metaborate, acetic acid, sodium acetate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, #I#, phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate, citric acid, sodium citrate, tartaric acid, etc. with pH 1l buffering capacity.
More than all kinds! Acids, organic acids, alkali metal or ammonium salts thereof, or corrosion inhibitors such as ammonium nitrate and guanidine can be added.

The fixing agent used in the bleach-fixing solution or fixing solution is a known fixing agent, namely thiosulfates such as sodium thiosulfate and ammonium thiosulfate; thiocyanates such as sodium thiocyanate and ammonium thiocyanate; ethylene bisthioglycolic acid. , 36-cythia-1,8-octanediol, and other water-soluble silver halide solubilizers such as thioureas, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In addition, a special bleach-fix solution made of a combination of a fixing agent and a large amount of a halide such as potassium iodide as described in JP-A-55-155354 can also be used.In the present invention, thiosulfuric acid Preference is given to using salts, especially ammonium thiosulfate salts.

The amount of fixing agent per 1N is preferably 0.2 to 2 mol, more preferably 0.3 to 1.0 mol. The pH range of the bleach-fix solution or fix solution is preferably 3 to 9,
Furthermore, 4 to 8 are particularly preferable.

Further, the bleach-fix solution may contain various other optical brighteners, antifoaming agents, surfactants, and organic solvents such as polyvinylpyrrolidone and methanol.

Bleach-fix solutions and fixing solutions contain sulfites (e.g., sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, etc.) and bisulfites (e.g., ammonium bisulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, etc.) as preservatives.
, metabisulfite (eg, potassium metabisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, ammonium metabisulfite, etc.).

These compounds are approximately 0.02 to 0.02 in terms of sulfite ion.
1.0 mol/! It is preferably contained, more preferably 0.04 to 0.6 mol/! It is.

Sulfites are commonly added as preservatives, but other preservatives include ascorbic acid, carbonyl bisulfite adducts,
Alternatively, a carbonyl compound or the like may be added.

Furthermore, buffering agents, optical brighteners, chelating agents, antifoaming agents, antifungal agents, etc. may be added as desired.

After desilvering treatment such as fixing or bleach-fixing, washing with water and/or stabilization treatment is generally performed.

The amount of washing water in the washing step can be set over a wide range depending on the characteristics of the photosensitive material (for example, depending on the materials used such as couplers), the intended use, the washing water temperature, the number of washing tanks (number of stages), and various other conditions. Among these, the relationship between the number of flushing tanks and the amount of water in the multistage countercurrent method is described in the Journal of the Society.
of Morsilan Picture and Television Engineers (Journal of the 5
Ociety of MotionPicture a
The number of stages in the normal multistage countercurrent system is preferably 2 to 6, particularly 2 to 5. preferable.

According to the multi-stage countercurrent method, the amount of washing water can be greatly reduced, for example, to 500 id or less per 1 rrf of photosensitive material, and the effect of the present invention is remarkable. This causes problems such as bacteria propagation and the resulting floating matter adhering to the photosensitive material. As a solution to such problems, the method of reducing calcium and magnesium described in JP-A-62-288838 can be used very effectively. In addition, JP-A-57
Chlorine-based disinfectants such as isothiaduron compounds and thiahendazoles described in Publication No.-8542, chlorinated sodium isocyanurate described in Publication No. 61-120145,
Penzotriadur, copper ion and others described in JP-A No. 61-267761, “Chemistry of antibacterial and anti-mildew J” by Hiroshi Horiguchi.
(1986) Sankyo Publishing, Hygiene Technology Complete Edition “Microbial sterilization, sterilization, and anti-mold technology J (1982) Industrial Technology Society,
Japan Antibacterial and Antifungal Society Line “Encyclopedia of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents J” (1986
It is also possible to use the fungicides described in 2010).

Further, in the washing water, a surfactant as a draining agent and a chelating agent typified by EDTA as a water softener can be used.

The above-mentioned water washing step can be followed or the stabilizing solution can be directly treated without going through the water washing step. A compound having an image stabilizing function is added to the stabilizing liquid, such as an aldehyde compound such as formalin, or a film suitable for stabilizing the dye.
Examples include buffers for preparing H and ammonium compounds. Further, in order to prevent the proliferation of bacteria in the liquid and to impart anti-mold properties to the photographic material after processing, the various disinfectants and anti-mold agents described above can be used.

Furthermore, surfactants, optical brighteners, and hardeners can also be added. In the processing of the photosensitive material of the present invention, when stabilization is performed directly without passing through a water washing step,
No. 8543, No. 5B-14834, No. 60'2203
All known methods described in Japanese Patent No. 45 and the like can be used.

In addition, it is also a preferable embodiment to use chelating agents such as 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid and ethylenediaminetemethylenephosphonic acid, and magnesium and bismuth compounds.

A so-called rinsing liquid is also used as a washing liquid or stabilizing liquid used after the desilvering process.

The preferred pH of the water washing step or stabilization step is 4 to 10, more preferably 5 to 8. The temperature can be set in various ways depending on the use and characteristics of the photosensitive material, but generally it is between 20°C and 50°C.
, preferably 25°C to 45°C.

Although the time can be set arbitrarily, a shorter time is preferable from the viewpoint of reducing processing time, preferably 10 seconds to 60 seconds, and more preferably 15 seconds to 45 seconds. The smaller the amount of replenishment, the better from the viewpoints of running costs, reduced emissions, ease of handling, and the like.

A specific preferred amount of replenishment is 0.5 to 50 times, preferably 3 to 40 times, the amount brought in from the previous bath per unit area of the photosensitive material. Or, it is 500 d or less, preferably 300 d or less per photosensitive material. Further, replenishment may be performed continuously or intermittently.

The liquid used in the water washing and/or stabilization step can also be used in the previous step. An example of this is to reduce the amount of waste liquid by using a multi-stage counter-current system to reduce the overflow of the wash water into a bleach-fixing bath which is a pre-bath, and replenishing the bleach-fixing bath with concentrated liquid.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1 Color paper was processed using the processing apparatus whose front sectional view is shown in FIG.

As a color paper, Fuji Color Paper Super F
A-II was used.

The sample was subjected to gradation exposure of a three-color separation filter for sensitometry using a photosensitive needle (FWH type manufactured by Fuji Photo Film ■, color temperature of the light source was 3200°K). The exposure at this time was carried out so that the exposure time was 0.1 seconds and the exposure amount was 250 CI'Is.

After exposure, the sample is transferred to the color developing tank and rinsing tank.
Continuous processing (running test) was carried out using a processing apparatus in which argon gas was added to (1) and carbon dioxide gas was added to the bleach-fixing tank, until twice the tank capacity for color development was replenished in the next processing step.

Processing process 1-degree color development 42℃ 22 seconds 80Id2ffi bleach fixing
40°C22 seconds 6(ld 2ffi'J7s(
I) 45°c 7 seconds -0,51 rinse■
45℃ 7 seconds -0,5f rinse ■ 45℃
7 seconds −0,511J7s ■ 45”C7 seconds −
0, i rinse ■ 45°C 7 seconds 120d 0.5
N drying at 70 to 80°C for 15 seconds The amount of replenishment is expressed as the amount per photosensitive material.

In addition, each tank used so-called jet agitation in which a jet stream was sprayed perpendicularly to the sample surface, and a 5-tank countercurrent blade type was used for rinsing from ■ to ■.

The composition of each treatment liquid is as follows.

Sadate Niri l Oka 1 Oka Lt Oka Mizu
800 m 80
0 ml-Hydroxyethylidene-1゜■-diphosphonic acid 0.5g 0.5gdiethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid 1.0g 1.4gN
, N, N-1-rismethylenephosboxic acid 1.5g 2.0g Potassium bromide 0.01g Triethanolamine 8.1g 8.1g Sodium sulfite 0.14g 0.14g Potassium chloride 8.2g Potassium carbonate
18.7g 37gN-ethyl-
N-(3-Hydroxyp-a-pyr)-3-methyl-4 aminoaniline civaradruene sulfonate 12.8 g 27.
8 gN, N-bis(2-sulfoethylhydroxylamine 8.5 g 1). 0
g Fluorescent whitening side (WIIITEX 4B.

,00 Add water 1000 d 1000
idp H (25℃) 10
．． 05 10.05MA main I sowing
叉ノl 盈 Sararioka water
400 d 400 d Ammonium thiosulfate (70χ) 10 (Jd 250d Ammonium sulfite 40 g 100 g Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid iron (m) Ammonium dihydrate 73 g 183
gEthylenediaminetetraacetic acid 3.4g
8.5g ammonium bromide 20g
50 g672 9.6
24 Add water and make 1000 d
1000 dPH (25°C) 5.80 5.10-
Lou 2 Gorilla (tank fluid and refill fluid are the same) ion exchange water (
Calcium and magnesium were each 3 pp- or less) Furthermore, this processing equipment was left without operation for one week, and the conditions of various liquids were examined.

This cycle of running and stopping was carried out for three months. Note that the sealing degree according to the present invention is 0.91 for the developer tank.
The atmospheric pressure in the rinsing tank was 0.84 atmospheric pressure (Example 1).

Furthermore, the same test as above was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except for the following changes.

Example 2: Only the developer tank contains argon gas, the pond tank is open (
Air tightness): Developer tank airtightness 0.87 atm Example 3: Only the rinse tank contains argon gas, pond tank is open (as air); Rinse tank airtightness 0.85 atm Example 4: Developer tank and rinsing tank contains argon gas, pond tank is open (as air remains); Sealing degree of developer tank is 0.91 atm. Sealing degree of rinsing tank is 0.84 atm. Comparative example 1: All tanks are left in air. Comparative example 2: Developing. The tank and rinsing tank were filled with nitrogen gas, and the bleach-fix tank was left in air.Among the above, the developer tank containing argon gas (Example 1.2.4) did not retain the developer solution even after 3 months. No tarring was observed and the result was very good.

Comparative Example 2 was better than Example 3 and Comparative Example 1 in terms of taring of the developer, but tarring was clearly observed.

Further, in the case where the rinsing tank contained argon gas (Example 1.3.4), no turbidity was observed in the rinsing tank (2) even after 3 months, and the results were very good. Comparative Example 2 was better than Example 2 and Comparative Example 1 in terms of turbidity in the rinse tank (1), but turbidity was still clearly observed.

Furthermore, the bleach-fixing tank containing carbon dioxide gas (Example 1) did not cause turbidity, and it was found that the effect of the present invention was large.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, a high quality and highly stable image can be obtained on a component. The present invention is particularly useful for rapid, distributed processing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view schematically showing a configuration example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are a cross-sectional side view and a front view, respectively, showing an example of the configuration of a shutter means used in the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention. FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional side views showing other configuration examples of the shutter means, respectively. 1... Angry light material processing device 2... Developer tank 20... Developer solution 3... Fixer tank 30... Fixer solution 4 (4a to 4c)... Washing tank 40 (40a to 40c) . . . Washing water 5 . . . Conveying means 51.52.53.56.57 . . . Conveying roller 54.
...Reversing guide 55...Guide 61.62.63...Cover 6a, 6b, 6c-space 61). 621.631.632...Side wall 612.6
22.632...Top 65...Carry-in port 650.651...Groove 66...Carry-in/out port 67...Carry-out port 68...Stopper part 69...Edges 7.8, 9 ... Shutter means 70.80.90 ... Shielding member 71 ... Slit 72 ... Rotation shaft 73 ... Drive means 74 ... Rotary solenoid 75 ... Relay switch 76 ... Power supply 77 ... Sensor 78 ... Control section 81 ... Rotating shaft 82 ... Arm 83 ... Weight 91 ... Flange section 92 ... Thin wall section 93 ... Bolt 101.102.103 ...・Gas-inserted pulp 1)・・
・Drying section 1) 0...Hot air blower 1) 1...Slit 4 Figure 4 Procedures (Hosho 1991, April 20, 4, Agent (1) Specification page 10, No. 2 Correct "propane gas" in line 1 to "propane gas". 〉 (2) Correct rl, 5X10-'~ in page 47, line 15 of the same book by 1 degree. ro, Ig~4/1'' in the row is corrected to ``0.1~4g/IB.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a method of processing a silver halide photographic material using a processing apparatus including at least a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washing and/or stabilizing tank, at least one of the processing tanks is 1. A method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which is characterized by processing the material under conditions in which the material is tightly sealed and contains a gas whose weight per unit volume is heavier than air. (2) The processing method according to claim (1), wherein the gas is argon gas. (3) The processing tank is filled with argon gas of 1 atm, and the partial pressure of the argon gas (the sealing degree of the processing tank) after being left for one week is 0.70 atm or more ( 1)
Or the processing method described in (2). (4) In a processing apparatus for silver halide photographic materials that includes at least a developing tank, a fixing tank, and a washing and/or stabilizing tank, at least one of the processing tanks is substantially sealed. , The processing tank is filled with 1 atm argon gas, and the partial pressure of the argon gas (sealing degree of the processing tank) after being left for one week is 0.70 atm or more, and the weight per unit volume is heavier than air. A processing apparatus for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, characterized in that the light-sensitive materials are processed under conditions containing gas. (5) The processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lid that substantially seals the upper space of the processing tank narrows upward.