JPH04317061A - Drying device for photosensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the drying device for photosensitive materials for rapid processing of the photosensitive materials. CONSTITUTION:Guide roller pairs 110, plural roller pairs 112 and plural rollers 114 are disposed along the transporting routes of a film F in a drying chamber 44. Plural rollers 122 are disposed on both sides of the transporting path for the film in the vicinity of the plural rollers. A pair of cloth belts 124, 126 which are endless belts consisting of a material having hygroscopicity are respectively put on both sides of the transporting path between these roller pairs and the rollers. Far IR heaters 128 and reflection plates 129 are disposed in the vicinity of these cloth belts 124, 126 and the cloth belts are heated and dries by the far IR rays radiated from the far IR heaters toward a pair of the cloth belts. The moisture sticking to the surface of the film after squeezing is sucked away and is heated and the drying treatment is executed by the hot wind blown out of hot wind supplying sections 136 disposed in the vicinity of the plural rollers 114 at the time when the film is crimped and transported by a pair of the heated and dried cloth belts.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material drying apparatus, and more particularly to a photosensitive material drying apparatus capable of shortening the processing speed of a photosensitive material processing apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, as the electronics field has progressed, speed has been required in the field of silver halide photographic processing. In particular, the need for rapid processing is increasing in the processing of photosensitive materials such as graphic arts photosensitive materials, photosensitive materials for scanners, and photosensitive materials for X-rays. Rapid processing here refers to the process from the time the leading edge of the photosensitive material is inserted into the automatic processor until it passes through the processing section, which includes development, fixing, washing, etc., and the drying section, until the leading edge of the film emerges from the drying section. Refers to processing that takes 20 seconds to 60 seconds. If the transport speed of an automatic developing machine is increased in order to shorten these processes, various problems such as poor fixing and poor drying occur. As one means of solving this problem, it is known to increase the concentration of thiosulfate in order to increase the fixing speed. It is also known and widely used to include a water-soluble aluminum compound in the fixing solution in order to harden the film surface of the sensitive material and improve drying properties. However, water-soluble aluminum compounds slow down the fixing speed due to their hardening effect, so in order to speed up the fixing speed, the fixing solution should contain no or only a small amount of water-soluble aluminum compounds. However, if the amount of the hardening agent is extremely small, the swelling rate of the emulsion coated on the light-sensitive material becomes large, resulting in poor drying properties. [0004]Fixing speed has also been improved by reducing the amount of water-soluble aluminum salt, which is a hardening agent, in the fixer;
On the other hand, there have been few attempts to reduce the amount of water-soluble aluminum salt because it has a disadvantageous effect on improving the drying rate, which is important in rapid processing. On the other hand, in photosensitive material drying apparatuses such as automatic processors, various methods for efficiently drying photosensitive materials in a short time have been studied. The photosensitive material is subjected to processing such as development, fixing, and washing with water, and is then squeezed to remove water on the surface and sent to a drying section where it is dried. In the early stage of drying in the drying section, the water content decreases at a constant rate, and this state is called the constant rate drying region. The drying further progresses and the drying ends when the surface temperature of the photosensitive material becomes approximately the same as the atmospheric temperature in the drying section and remains at a substantially constant value. The region following the constant rate drying region is called the decreasing rate drying region, and the rate at which the water content decreases is small. Some conventional photosensitive material drying apparatuses dry the photosensitive material by blowing hot air generated by a heater and a fan onto the surface of the photosensitive material. There are also devices that heat and dry the photosensitive material by emitting infrared rays, etc., and dry it almost evenly over the entire surface of the photosensitive material to avoid over-drying areas. . [0010]However, these photosensitive material drying apparatuses have been unable to dry the photosensitive material almost uniformly and efficiently over the entire surface in a short period of time, especially under the recent trend of rapid processing. There is. In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides a photosensitive material drying device capable of efficiently drying a photosensitive material over the entire surface of the photosensitive material in a short period of time in response to rapid processing of the drying device. It is a purpose. [0012] A photosensitive material drying apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is a photosensitive material drying apparatus that dries the photosensitive material while conveying it after being processed in a processing section,
a plurality of rollers provided in a direction intersecting the conveyance path of the photosensitive material; and a plurality of rollers that are stretched around the plurality of rollers to substantially uniformly contact the surface of the photosensitive material and convey the photosensitive material by driving the plurality of rollers. It is characterized by comprising an endless belt that absorbs moisture adhering to the surface of a photosensitive material, and a heating means that dries the endless belt by heating. [0013] In the photosensitive material drying apparatus according to the present invention, a hygroscopic endless belt heated by a heating means is brought into contact with the surface of the photosensitive material. Moisture adhering to the surface of the photosensitive material is absorbed by the endless belt, and heat is transferred to the photosensitive material to promote drying. The moisture absorbed into the endless belt is evaporated by heating the endless belt by the heating means, and the endless belt is dried again. [0014] In this way, the photosensitive material is dried evenly and quickly because moisture is absorbed and warmed by the endless belt that is in substantially uniform contact with the photosensitive material. By using this photosensitive material drying apparatus with a conventional drying means for blowing hot air onto the photosensitive material, it is possible to dry the photosensitive material more quickly and efficiently. The endless belt according to the present invention is made of a material that can withstand heating to a predetermined temperature and has high water absorption properties, such as amide fiber,
Carbon fiber, Tyranno fiber, Nomex (registered trademark of DuPont), etc. are applicable. Further, as a heating means for the endless belt, warm air or the like can be used, but preferably far infrared rays in the infrared region are used. Furthermore, it is natural that the width of the endless belt is longer than the width of the photosensitive material. The width dimension of the photosensitive material is 20 to 2,000 mm,
The width dimension of the photosensitive material applied to the photosensitive material drying apparatus according to the present invention is preferably 35 to 1,310 mm. In the processing solution used in the present invention, 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. Further, the dihydroxybenzene-based developing agent used in the present invention includes hydroquinone, chlorohydroquinone, bromohydroquinone, isopropylhydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, 2,3-dibromohydroquinone, 2,5-dimethylhydroquinone, among others, hydroquinone is preferred. Further, 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4-methyl-4-
Hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-
4,4-hydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-5-methyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-p-aminophenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1
-p-tolyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone and the like. Further, as the p-aminophenol auxiliary developing agent, N-methyl-p-aminophenol, p-aminophenol, N-(β-hydroxyethyl)-p-
Examples include aminophenol, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine, 2-methyl-p-aminophenol, p-benzylaminophenol, and among them, N-methyl-p-aminophenol is preferred. The dihydroxybenzene developing agent is preferably used in an amount of usually 0.05 mol/l to 0.8 mol/l. In addition, when using a combination of dihydroxybenzenes and 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones or p-amino-phenols, the former is 0.05 mol/l to 0.5 mol/l, and the latter is 0.06 mol/l. It is preferable to use the amount less than /l. Sulfite preservatives used in the present invention include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, and sodium formaldehyde bisulfite. Sulfite is used at least 0.3 mol/l, but if too large a quantity is added, it will precipitate in the developer and cause solution contamination, so the upper limit is preferably 1.2 mol/l. The developer of the present invention also contains a tertiary amine compound as a development accelerator, particularly US Pat. No. 4,269,92.
It can contain the compound described in No. 9. [0025] In addition, the developer of the present invention may contain pH buffering agents such as boric acid, borax, tribasic sodium phosphate, and tribasic potassium phosphate.
The pH buffer described in can be used. Further, development inhibitors such as potassium bromide and potassium iodide; organic solvents such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dimethylformamide, methyl cellosolve, hexylene glycol, ethanol, and methanol; 5-nitroindazole, etc. Antifoggants such as indazole compounds, sodium 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-5-sulfonate, benztriazole compounds such as 5-methyltriazole, or black pepper
) inhibitor; In particular, when using a compound such as 5-nitroindazole, it is dissolved in advance in a separate part from the part containing the dihydroxybenzene developing agent and sulfite preservative, and both parts are separated at the time of use. It is common to mix and add water. Furthermore, if the part where 5-nitroindazole is dissolved is made alkaline, it will be colored yellow and will be convenient to handle. [0027] Furthermore, a color toning agent, a surfactant, a water softener, a hardening agent, etc. may be included as necessary. As the fixing agent used in the present invention, in addition to thiosulfate and thiocyanate, organic sulfur compounds known to be effective as a fixing agent can be used. The fixer may also contain a water-soluble aluminum salt as a hardening agent, and the fixer may contain aluminum sulfate, ammonium aluminum sulfate, potassium aluminum sulfate, aluminum chloride, etc. as the water-soluble aluminum salt. However, a fixer containing no hardener may also be used. The amount of water-soluble aluminum salt used is preferably 0 to 0.01 mol/l, more preferably 0 to 0.005 mol/l. The pH of the fixer is preferably 5.3 or higher, more preferably 5.5 to 7.0. The amount of sulfite in the fixer is preferably 0.05 to 1.0 mol/l, more preferably 0.05 to 1.0 mol/l.
07-0.8 mol/l. In addition to the above-mentioned compounds, the fixing agent of the present invention can also contain additives such as various acids, salts, chelating agents, surfactants, wetting agents, and fixing accelerators. Examples of acids include inorganic acids such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and boric acid, formic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid,
Examples include organic acids such as phthalic acid. Examples of salts include lithium of these acids,
Examples include salts of potassium, sodium, ammonium, and the like. Examples of the chelating agent include aminopolycarboxylic acids such as nitrilotriacetic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and salts thereof. Examples of surfactants include anionic surfactants such as sulfates and sulfone compounds, nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycol and esters, and JP-A No. 57-6840 (title of the invention, photo). Examples include amphoteric surfactants described in (Fixer). Examples of wetting agents include alkanolamines and alkylene glycols. As the fixing accelerator, for example,
No. 35754, JP-A-58-122535, JP-A No. 58-122535
Examples thereof include thiourea derivatives described in No. 122536, alcohols having a triple bond in the molecule, and thioethers described in US Pat. No. 4,126,459. Among the above additives, acids and salts such as boric acid and aminopolycarboxylic acids are preferred because they are effective in promoting the object of the present invention. More preferably boric acid (salt)
It is a fixing agent containing. The preferred amount of boric acid (salt) added is 0.5 to 20 g/l, more preferably 4 to 20 g/l.
This amount is sufficient to reach 5 g/l. By applying the photosensitive material drying device according to the present invention to a photosensitive material processing device, the photosensitive material may be processed using a fixing solution that does not substantially contain a hardening agent such as a water-soluble aluminum salt. . The term "processing with a fixing agent that does not substantially contain a hardening agent" as used herein means that the coating film of the photosensitive material immersed in the fixing solution is substantially prevented from forming a hardening film. means that the amount of water-soluble aluminum salt added to the fixer is 0.01 mol/liter or less. This makes it possible to shorten the processing time of the fixing process and increase the efficiency of water washing, thereby reducing residual color of the photosensitive material after processing. The present invention can be applied to various photosensitive materials such as those for printing, X-ray, general negative, general reversal, general positive, and direct positive. Silver halide emulsions used in light-sensitive materials include:
As the silver halide, any silver halide used in ordinary silver halide emulsions can be used, such as silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, and silver chloroiodobromide. The silver halide grains may be obtained by any of the acid method, neutral method, and ammonia method. Even if silver halide grains have a uniform silver halide composition distribution within the grain, the core/silver halide composition may differ between the inside of the grain and the surface layer.
It may be a shell particle, a particle in which a latent image is mainly formed on the surface, or a particle in which a latent image is mainly formed inside the particle. Any shape of silver halide grains can be used. One preferred example is a cube having {100} planes as crystal surfaces. In addition, U.S. Patent No. 4,183,756, U.S. Pat. .Sci). 21-39 (19
73), the octahedron, 14
Particles having a shape of a face, dodecahedron, etc. can also be prepared and used. Furthermore, particles having twin planes may be used. The silver halide grains may be of a single shape or may be a mixture of grains of various shapes. Monodispersed emulsions are preferred in photosensitive materials for printing. As monodisperse silver halide grains in a monodisperse emulsion, the silver halide weight contained within a grain size range of ±10% around the average grain size r is 6% of the total silver halide grain weight.
The content is preferably 0% or more. The silver halide grains used in the silver halide emulsion contain cadmium salt, zinc salt, lead salt, thallium salt, iridium salt or complex salt, rhodium salt or complex salt during grain formation and/or growth process. Metal ions can be added using iron salts or complex salts to be included inside the particles and/or on the surface of the particles. In addition to sulfur sensitization and gold/sulfur sensitization, the photographic emulsion used in the present invention can also be subjected to reduction sensitization using a reducing substance, noble metal sensitization using a noble metal compound, and the like. As the photosensitive emulsion, the above-mentioned emulsions may be used alone, or two or more types of emulsions may be mixed. In carrying out the present invention, for example, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7tetrazaindene, 5-mercapto-1-phenyltetrazole, etc. , 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and the like, various stabilizers can also be used. Furthermore, if necessary, a silver halide solvent such as a thioether, or a crystal habit control agent such as a mercapto group-containing compound or a sensitizing dye may be used. Particularly in the case of photosensitive materials for printing, so-called high contrast agents such as tetrazolium compounds, hydrazine compounds, or polyalkylene oxide compounds may be added. In the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, the photographic emulsion may be spectrally sensitized to relatively long wavelength blue light, green light, red light or infrared light using a sensitizing dye. The dyes used include cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex cyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, myoxonol dyes, and the like. These sensitizing dyes may be used alone or in combination. Combinations of sensitizing dyes are often used, especially for the purpose of supersensitization. The silver halide photographic material may contain a water-soluble dye in the hydrophilic colloid layer as a filter dye or for various purposes such as preventing irradiation and halation. Such dyes include oxonol dyes, hemioxonol dyes, styryl dyes,
Included are merocyanine dyes, cyanine dyes, azo dyes, and the like. Among them, oxonol dyes, hemioxonol dyes and merocyanine dyes are useful. Specific examples of dyes that can be used include West German Patent No. 616,007, British Patent No. 584,
No. 609, No. 1,117,429, Special Publication No. 1986-77
No. 77, No. 39-22069, No. 54-38129, JP-A No. 48-85130, No. 49-99620,
No. 49-114420, No. 49-129537, P
B Report No. 74175, Photographic Abstract (Photo.Abstr.) 128 ('21
) etc. It is particularly suitable to use these dyes in light-sensitive materials for bright room printing. In the silver halide photographic material according to the present invention, when dyes, ultraviolet absorbers, etc. are included in the hydrophilic colloid layer, they may be mordanted with a cationic polymer or the like. Various compounds can be added to the above photographic emulsion in order to prevent a decrease in sensitivity and the occurrence of fog during the manufacturing process, storage or processing of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. It is also possible to use a technique in which a polymer latex is contained in a silver halide emulsion layer or a backing layer to improve dimensional stability. These techniques are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 39-17702, Japanese Patent Publication No. 43-13482,
etc. are described. Gelatin is used as the binder for the photosensitive material used in the present invention, but gelatin derivatives, cellulose derivatives, graft polymers of gelatin and other polymers, other proteins, sugar derivatives, cellulose derivatives, single or copolymers may also be used. Hydrophilic colloids such as synthetic hydrophilic polymer substances such as polymers can also be used in combination. The photosensitive material used in the present invention may further contain various additives depending on the purpose. These additives are described in more detail in Research Disclosure Vol. 176, Item 17643 (December 1978) and Research Disclosure Vol. 187, Item 18716 (November 1979), and the relevant sections are summarized in the table below. Indicated. Additive type RD
17643 RD18716 1. Chemical sensitizer page 23
Page 648, right column 2. Sensitivity enhancer
Same as above 3. spectral sensitizer
pages 23-24
Page 648 right column ~ Super sensitizer

Page 649, right column 4. brightener
24 pages 5. Antifogging agent pages 24-25
Page 649, right column and stabilizers 6. Light absorbers, filters pages 25-26
Page 649 right column ~ Dye ultraviolet absorber
Page 650 left column 7. anti-stain agent
Page 25 right column Page 650 left to right column 8. dye image stabilizer
Page 25 9. Hardener
26 pages 651
Page left column 10. binder
Page 26 Same as above
11. Plasticizer, lubricant Page 27 650 Right column 12. Coating aids/surfactants pages 26-27
Same as above 13. Static inhibitor
Page 27 Supports used in the photosensitive materials mentioned above include paper laminated with α-olefin polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene/butene copolymer), flexible reflective supports such as synthetic paper, cellulose acetate, Cellulose nitrate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate,
Examples include films made of semi-synthetic or synthetic polymers such as polycarbonate and polyamide, flexible supports provided with reflective layers on these films, and metals. Among them, polyethylene terephthalate is particularly preferred. As the undercoat layer, an organic solvent-based undercoat layer containing polyhydroxybenzenes described in JP-A-49-3972, JP-A-49-11118 and JP-A-52-10 are used.
No. 4913, etc., the water-based latex undercoat layer is mentioned. Further, the surface of the undercoat layer can usually be treated chemically or physically. Such treatments include surface activation treatments such as chemical treatments, mechanical treatments, and corona discharge treatments. EXAMPLES Example 1 Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic developing device 10
In the machine frame 12, a processing liquid processing section 11, a squeeze section 27, and a drying section 20 are provided. The processing liquid processing section 11 includes a developing tank 14, a fixing tank 16, and a washing tank 18, which are partitioned by a partition wall 13 along the transport direction of the film F. Film F insertion slot 1 of automatic developing device 10
An insertion rack 17 for drawing the film F into the automatic developing device 10 is arranged near the film processing device 5 . Further, an insertion detection sensor 80 for detecting the film F to be inserted is provided near the insertion opening 15. Further, an insertion table into which the film F is manually inserted or an auto feeder into which the film F is automatically inserted by a conveyance means can be attached to the insertion opening 15 of the automatic developing device 10. In the developing tank 14, a developer is stored, and a transport rack 24 having a transport roller 22 for transporting the film F by being driven by a motor (not shown) is immersed in the developer. There is. A fixer is contained in the fixing tank 16, and a conveying roller 26 is driven by a motor (not shown) to convey the film F.
A conveyor rack 28 having a fixing liquid is provided so as to be immersed in the fixing liquid. Further, the washing tank 18 contains washing water, and a transport rack 32 having transport rollers 30 for transporting the film F by being driven by a motor (not shown).
is placed immersed in washing water. Further, heat exchangers 19 are disposed below the developer tank 14 and below the fixer tank 16, and the developer in the developer tank 14 and the fixer in the fixer tank 16 are transferred to the heat exchangers, respectively. 19, where heat exchange is performed, and then sent back to the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16. Thereby, the liquid temperatures of the developer in the developer tank 14 and the fixer in the fixer tank 16 are maintained within predetermined ranges. A crossover rack 34 is disposed above the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16 and between the fixing tank 16 and the washing tank 18. These crossover racks 34 include a pair of nipping and conveying rollers 36 for conveying the film F from an upstream tank to a downstream tank in the transport direction of the film F, and a guide 38 for guiding the film F. Therefore, the automatic developing device 10 is inserted from the insertion port 15.
The film F fed therein is inserted into the developer tank 14 by an insertion rack 17, and is transported through the developer by a transport roller 22 and subjected to development processing. The developed film F is sent to the fixing tank 16 by the crossover rack 34, where it is carried through the fixing liquid by the carrying roller 26 and subjected to the fixing process. The fixed film F is sent to the washing tank 18 by the crossover rack 34, where it is carried in washing water by the transport roller 30 and washed. In this way, the film F is treated with the treatment liquid. Note that the developing tank 14, the fixing tank 16, and the washing tank 1
A drain pipe (not shown) is provided at the bottom of each of the drain pipes 8, and a drain valve 21 is attached to each of these drain pipes. Therefore, if necessary, these drain valves 21
By opening the developer tank 14, fixer tank 16, and washing tank 18, the developer, fixer, and washing water can be discharged. Further, the liquid levels in each of the developing tank 14, fixing tank 16, and washing tank 18 are set to approximately the same level, and as each processing liquid decreases, it is replenished by a replenishing liquid replenishment structure described later. The developing tank 14, the fixing tank 16, and the washing tank 18 are each provided with a floating lid 37 provided with an opening 37A having a guide function for carrying the film F into and out of each tank.
is located. These floating lids 37 prevent each processing liquid from coming into contact with unnecessary air. The aperture ratio of each processing liquid due to the openings 37A of these floating lids 37 is determined by dividing the opening area of the openings 37A into A (cm2).
), and the amount of processing liquid stored in each processing tank is Q (cm3), then the aperture ratio (cm-1) is expressed as A/Q. In Example 1, the aperture ratio of each treatment liquid was 0.01 (cm-1
) The opening area A of the opening 37A of each floating lid 37 is set as follows. Furthermore, the crossover rack 34 includes:
A rinsing tank 39 containing a rinsing liquid is arranged below each of them. An overflow tank (not shown) is connected to these rinsing tanks 39, so that each rinsing liquid can be discharged. A part of the lower roller of the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 36 is immersed in the rinsing liquid in the rinsing tank 39, and by driving the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 36, the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 36 is dried. Each processing liquid attached to the film F is washed away from the film F, and the processing liquid in the previous stage is prevented from mixing with the processing liquid in the latter stage, so deterioration of the liquid is suppressed and the amount of replenishment can be reduced. . In addition, the rinsing liquid in the rinsing tank 39 also causes the pinching conveyance roller 3
This prevents the processing liquids adhering to the surface of the wafer 6 from drying and remaining in the form of gum-like stains. As the rinsing liquid stored in these rinsing tanks 39, water or acetic acid aqueous solution is applied to the rinsing tank 39 disposed between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16, and the rinsing tank 39 is arranged between the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16. It is preferable that water is applied to the rinsing tank 39 between the rinsing tank 39 and the rinsing tank 39 so as not to affect the processing liquid downstream of each rinsing tank 39. Note that an exhaust fan 77 is provided below the processing liquid processing section 11, and the exhaust fan 77 directs the gas and water vapor generated in each processing tank to the outside of the machine frame 12 of the automatic developing device 10. It is discharged. Furthermore, a squeeze section 27 is provided between the washing tank 18 and the drying section 20. This squeeze part 2
7 includes a transport roller 42 that conveys the film F to the drying section 20 while squeezing the film F to which the washing water sent out from the washing tank 18 has adhered, and a guide 43 that guides the film F. Furthermore, the squeeze section 27 is provided with a far-infrared heater 41 and a fan 47. By these far infrared heater 41 and fan 47, the film F
is heated and dried in advance while being squeezed, and then inserted into the drying section 20. The fan 47 is an axial fan or a cross flow fan, and blows drying air uniformly onto the surface of the film F. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the drying section 20 is provided with a drying chamber 44, which is a photosensitive material drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Inside the drying chamber 44, guide roller pairs 1 are arranged in order from the top to the bottom of the drying chamber 44.
10, a plurality of roller pairs 112 and a plurality of rollers 114 arranged in a staggered manner are provided. At the bottom of the drying chamber 44, a roller 116, a large diameter roller 118, and a guide 11 are installed.
9 is placed. These rollers form a transport path for the film F inserted into the drying chamber 44, and are rotatable in the transport direction of the film F by transmitting driving force from a drive means (not shown). There is. A plurality of rollers 122 are arranged on the opposite side of the conveyance path of the plurality of roller pairs 112. A pair of endless cloth belts 124 and 126 are wound around the roller pair 112 and the roller 122, respectively, with the film F conveying path in between. A pair of cloth belts 1
24 and 126 are in contact with the film F while being sandwiched between each pair of rollers 112, and the pair of cloth belts 12
A film F is held between 4 and 126. Further, each of the pair of cloth belts 124 and 126 has a width equal to or larger than the width of the film F, and is made of a material with high hygroscopicity. Each of the cloth belts 124 and 126 is configured to come into contact with the entire surface of the film F being transported along the transport path and absorb moisture adhering to the surface of the film F. A plurality of far-infrared heaters 128 and a reflection plate 129 are arranged inside each of the cloth belts 124 and 126 and on the opposite side of the film F conveyance path. These far-infrared heaters 128 and reflectors 129 are arranged with the width direction of the cloth belts 124, 126 as the longitudinal direction. Further, each of the reflectors 129 corresponds to the far infrared heater 1.
The far infrared rays emitted from the film F are directed toward the transport path of the film F, and the cloth belts 124, 126 and the pair of rollers 112 are uniformly heated over substantially the entire surface by the far infrared heater 128 and the reflector 129. [0085] A hot air supply section 136 is arranged between the plurality of rollers 114 arranged downstream of the cloth belts 124 and 126, with the conveyance path in between. These warm air supply parts 1
36 is formed with a hot air outlet 138 for discharging hot air toward the film F transport path. These hot air supply units 136 are connected to a chamber 46 that includes a drying fan 45 that generates drying air and a heater that heats this drying air, as shown in FIG. As a result, the generated hot air is transferred to the hot air supply section 13.
6, and the hot air is discharged from the hot air discharge port 138 toward the surface of the film F. Most of the hot air discharged toward the surface of the film F is combined with fresh air from outside the automatic developing device 10, and is sent to the drying fan 45 and chamber 46 through a duct (not shown). , is again supplied to the hot air supply section 136. [0087] Also, the cloth belts 124, 12 in the drying chamber 44
A fan (not shown) is disposed near the belt 6, and by supplying dry air, the highly humid air that has absorbed moisture near the cloth belts 124 and 126 can be discharged. These fans (not shown) can be axial fans, cross-flow fans, or the like, and are used to uniformly blow drying air toward the surface of the film F. In addition, cloth belt 1
Dry warm air supplied through the chamber 46 may be used as a means for discharging the highly humid air near the chambers 24 and 126. The film F, which is squeezed and inserted into the drying chamber 44, is heated while being conveyed while absorbing moisture by the cloth belts 124 and 126, and is further dried by warm air discharged from the hot air discharge port 138. The roller 116, large-diameter roller 118, and guide 119 then turn the paper diagonally upward and send it out. The automatic developing device 10 is provided with a receiving box 49 for accommodating the film F sent out from the drying chamber 44, in which the dried film F is accommodated. Next, a structure for replenishing the developing tank 14 and the fixing tank 16 with the developing replenisher and the fixing replenisher will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the developer replenisher is previously filled into the cartridge 100 and sealed. The inside of this cartridge 100 is divided into three chambers by a partition wall, the first chamber 102 is filled with developer replenishment solution A, the second chamber 104 is filled with developer replenishment solution B,
The third chamber 106 is filled with a developer replenishment stock solution C. [0092] The fixing replenishment stock solution is also added to the cartridge 1 in advance.
20 is filled and sealed. Although three developer replenishment stock solutions and one fixer replenishment stock solution are used here, other combinations may be used, such as two developer replenishment stock solutions and two fixer replenishment stock solutions. The automatic developing device 10 houses these cartridges 100 and 120, and also stores the cartridge 1.
00 and developer replenishment stock solutions A, B in the cartridge 120,
A supply unit 130 is provided for supplying C and a fixing replenishment stock solution to a stock tank 50, which will be described later. The supply section 130 is provided in the width direction of the film F to be transported, that is, on the side of the automatic developing device 10 (not shown, but on the near side of the paper in FIG. 1). . This supply section 130 is connected to the automatic developing device 1 for an outer plate (not shown) that constitutes a part of the side outer wall of the automatic developing device 10.
A cartridge receptacle 134 fixed to the inner surface of the cartridge holder 134 is provided. A perforation (not shown) is provided at the bottom of the cartridge receiver 134. Since this perforation is provided corresponding to each of the cartridges 100 and 120, the cartridge inserted into the cartridge receiver 134
The developer replenishment stock solutions A, B, and C and the fixing replenishment stock solutions No. 00 and 120 are supplied to the stock tank 50, respectively. The stock tank 50 is connected to the automatic developing device 10.
It is arranged at the bottom 10A of the. As shown in FIG. 2, the stock tank 50 is divided into four tanks by partition walls. First tank 50A, second tank 50B and third tank 50
C is for the developer replenishment stock solutions A, B, and C, respectively, and the fourth tank 50D is for the fixing replenishment stock solution. These tanks 50
A to 50D are each provided with a liquid level sensor 52, and these liquid level sensors 52 allow the first tank 50A, second tank 50B, and
By detecting the liquid level in each of the third tank 50C and the fourth tank 50D, the remaining amount of each replenishment stock solution in the cartridges 100 and 120 can be detected, and it is now possible to determine when to replace the cartridges 100 and 120. ing. In the first embodiment, the stock tank 50 is
Although four tanks are provided by partitioning with partition walls, separate stock tanks may be provided for each of the developer replenishment stock solutions A, B, and C and the fixing replenishment stock solution. Inside the automatic developing device 10, there is a water tank 5 to which tap water is supplied, located behind the squeeze rack 40 in FIG.
4 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, this water tank 5
4 is also provided with a liquid level sensor 56. The liquid level sensor 56 detects the liquid level in the water supply tank 54 and can determine when to supply tap water. As shown in FIG. 2, in the automatic developing device 10, a first mixing tank 58 for preparing a replenisher to be supplied to the developing tank 14 and a fixing tank 16 are supplied. A second mixing tank 60 for preparing a replenisher is arranged. [0100] The stock tank 5 is connected to the first mixing tank 58.
0 first tank 50A, second tank 50B and third tank 50
AC developer replenishment stock solutions A, B, and C and tap water from a water supply tank 54 are supplied. That is, the first tank 50
A, the second tank 50B and the third tank 50C are connected to one end of the pipes 62A, 62B and 63C, respectively, and the other end of the pipes 62A, 62B and 62C is connected to the first mixing tank 58.
is connected to. [0101] Bellows pumps 64A, 64B and 64C are installed in the middle of these pipes 62A, 62B and 62C.
are arranged respectively. In addition, the water supply tank 54 includes a pipe line 6.
One end of the pipe line 66A is communicated with the other end of the pipe line 66A, and the other end of the pipe line 66A is communicated with the first mixing tank 58. A bellows pump 68A is disposed in the middle of the conduit 66A. Therefore,
When the bellows pumps 64A, 64B, and 64C and the bellows pump 68A are operated, the first tank 50A, the second tank 5
Developer replenishment stock solutions A, B, and C in the 0B and third tanks 50C and tap water in the water supply tank 54 are supplied to the first mixing tank 58 via the pipes 62A, 62B, and 62C, and the pipe 66A, respectively. The developer replenishment solutions A, B, and C are mixed and diluted with tap water to form a replenishment solution to be supplied to the developer tank 14. [0102] Also, a fourth tank 5 is connected to the second mixing tank 60.
0D fixing replenishment stock solution and tap water from a water supply tank 54 are supplied. That is, one end of a conduit 62D is communicated with the fourth tank 50D, and the other end of the conduit 62D is communicated with the second mixing tank 60. A bellows pump 64D is arranged in the middle of the conduit 62D. One end of a pipe line 66B is communicated with the water tank 54,
The other end of the pipe line 66B is communicated with the second mixing tank 60. A bellows pump 68B is disposed in the middle of the conduit 66B. Therefore, bellows pumps 64D and 68B
When activated, the fixer replenisher stock solution in the fourth tank 50D and the tap water in the water supply tank 54 are supplied to the second mixing tank 60 through the pipes 62D and 66B, and the fixer replenisher stock solution is diluted with the tap water. , and is used as a replenisher to be supplied to the fixing tank 16. Note that both ends of a conduit 71 for circulating the developer are communicated with the developer tank 14, and a circulation pump 72 is provided in the middle of the conduit 71. [0105] Here, the first mixing tank 58 has a pipe line 70.
One end thereof is communicated with the other end thereof, and the other end thereof is communicated with the upstream side of the circulation pump 72 side of the pipe line 71. Therefore, by the operation of the circulation pump 72, the replenisher mixed in the first mixing tank 58 is supplied to the developer tank 14 while being mixed with the developer circulating in the pipe 71 via the pipe 70. Then, the developer is refilled. Both ends of a conduit 75 for circulating the fixer are communicated with the fixing tank 16, and a circulation pump 76 is provided in the middle of the conduit 75. One end of a pipe line 74 is connected to the second mixing tank 60, and the other end is connected to a circulation pump 76 of a pipe line 75.
It is connected to the upstream side. Therefore, the replenisher mixed in the second mixing tank 60 by the operation of the circulation pump 76 is supplied to the fixing tank 16 while being mixed with the fixing fluid circulated in the pipe 75 via the pipe 74, and then fixed. The liquid is replenished. In general, in an automatic developing device, the liquid exchange rate of the developer and fixer is calculated as follows: liquid exchange rate = pump flow rate (l/m
in) ÷ tank capacity (l) x 100 (%), and usually both the developer and fixer are 20 to 250%, but the developer is 60 to 220% and the fixer is 70 to 210%.
% is preferable. [0109] Furthermore, the membrane surface flow velocity of the developer and fixer is expressed as: membrane surface flow velocity (m/min) = flow rate (l/min) ÷ pump path area (mm2). , 20-250 (m/min), but the developer is 30-190 (m/min) and the fixer is 30-250 (m/min).
130 (m/min), and in this Example 1, these liquid exchange rates and membrane surface flow rates are applied. [0110] The water supply tank 54 and the washing tank 18 are communicated with each other by a pipe (not shown), and the water supply tank 54 and the washing tank 18 are arranged so that the water levels in the water supply tank 54 and the washing tank 18 are at the same level. ing. The washing tank 18 is refilled with tap water from a water faucet to a pipe provided in the water supply tank 54 in response to the detection of the film F by an insertion detection sensor 80 provided near the film F insertion opening 15 of the automatic developing device 10. This is done by opening and closing a solenoid valve 92 placed in the middle of the passage 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic developing device 10 includes a cleaning pump 78 for cleaning the aforementioned crossover rack 34. This cleaning pump 78
The guide 38 and the pair of nipping and conveying rollers 36 provided in each crossover rack 34 can be cleaned by spraying tap water from a water tank 54 through a spray pipe (not shown) disposed on the upper end surface of the partition wall 13. . The cleaning water for the crossover rack 34 is mixed with an antibacterial agent to prevent the cleaning water outlet of the spray pipe (not shown) from being clogged with algae. Further, the crossover rack 34 is cleaned, for example, at the end of one day's operation of the automatic developing device 10. Next, the film F applied to Example 1
Also, the developer and fixer will be explained. (1) Preparation of AgI fine particles Add 0.5 g of potassium iodide and 26 g of gelatin to 2 liters of water and heat at 35°C.
80 ml of a silver nitrate aqueous solution containing 40 g of silver nitrate and 80 ml of an aqueous solution containing 39 g of potassium iodide were added over 5 minutes to the solution maintained at 100 ml while stirring. At this time, the addition flow rate of the silver nitrate aqueous solution and the potassium iodide aqueous solution was 8 ml/min each at the beginning of addition, and the addition flow rate was linearly accelerated so that the addition of 80 ml was completed in 5 minutes. [0115] After forming particles in this way, 35°
At C, soluble salts were removed by a sedimentation method. Next, the temperature was raised to 40°C and gelatin 10
．． 5g of phenoxyethanol and 2.56g of phenoxyethanol were added, and the pH was adjusted to 6.8 with sodium chloride. The resulting emulsion was monodisperse A with a finished weight of 730 g and an average diameter of 0.015 μm.
gI fine particles. (2) Preparation of tabular grains 4.5 g of potassium bromide and 20.6 g of gelatin in 1 liter of water
, thioether HO(CH2)2S(CH2)2S(C
Add 2.5 ml of 5% aqueous solution of H2)2OH and heat at 60°C.
Add 37 ml of silver nitrate aqueous solution (
3.43 g of silver nitrate), 33 ml of an aqueous solution containing 2.97 g of potassium bromide and 0.363 g of potassium iodide were added in 37 seconds using a double jet method. Next, after adding an aqueous solution of 0.9 g of potassium bromide, the temperature was raised to 70°C, and 53 ml of an aqueous silver nitrate solution (4.90 g of silver nitrate) was added over 13 minutes. Here, 15 ml of 25% ammonia aqueous solution was added, and after physical ripening for 20 minutes at the same temperature, 14 ml of 100% acetic acid solution was added. Subsequently, an aqueous solution of 133.3 g of silver nitrate and an aqueous solution of potassium bromide were added over 35 minutes by a controlled double jet method while maintaining the pAg at 8.5. Next, 10 ml of a 2N potassium thiocyanate solution and 0.05 mol % of AgI fine particles (1) were added to the total amount of silver. After physical aging at the same temperature for 5 minutes, the temperature was lowered to 35°C. In this way, monodisperse tabular fine particles with a total iodine content of 0.31 mol %, an average projected area diameter of 1.10 μm, a thickness of 0.165 μm, and a diameter variation coefficient of 18.5% were obtained. [0118] Thereafter, soluble salts were removed by a sedimentation method. The temperature was raised to 40°C again, and 35 g of gelatin, 2.35 g of phenoxyethanol, and 0.8 g of sodium polystyrene sulfonate as a thickener were added, and the pH was adjusted to 5.90 and pAg to 8.25 with sodium chloride and silver nitrate solution. Chemical sensitization was performed on this emulsion while stirring and maintaining the temperature at 56°C. First, thiourea dioxide 0.04
3 mg was added and held for 22 minutes to perform reduction sensitization. Next, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3
20 mg of a,7-tetrazaindene and 500 mg of sensitizing dye-A shown in Chemical Formula 1 were added. Furthermore, 1.1 g of calcium chloride aqueous solution was added. Subsequently, 3.3 mg of sodium thiosulfate, 2.6 mg of chloroauric acid, and 90 mg of potassium thiocyanate were added, and after 40 minutes, the mixture was cooled to 35°C. The preparation of tabular grains 1 was thus completed. ##STR1## Preparation of Coating Solution The following chemicals were added per mole of silver halide of the emulsion to prepare a coating solution.・2,6-bis(hydroxyamino)-4
-diethylamino-1,3,5-triazine

72mg・gelatin・trimethylolpropane
9g dextran (average molecular weight 3.9
18.5g Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (average molecular weight 600,000)
1.8g・Hardening agent 1,2-bis(vinylsulfonylacetamide)ethane Adjust the amount added so that the swelling rate is 225%・Chemical formula 2

34mg [0124] [Chemical formula 3]
10.9g [Chemical formula 3] (The thickness of the emulsion layer is 1.5 μm) Preparation of surface protective layer coating solution Prepare the surface protective layer so that each component is coated in the following amounts. did. Contents of surface protective layer
Application amount ・Gelatin

0.8g/m2 ・Sodium polyacrylate

(Average molecular weight 400,000)
0.023 ・Chemical formula 4
0.013
[Chemical formula 5]
0.045 [0131] [Chemical formula 6]
0.0065 [0133] [Chemical formula 7]
0.0030135 [Chemical formula 7] ・Chemical formula 8
0.001g/m2 [Chemical formula 8] Polymethyl methacrylate (average particle size 3
．． 7μm) 0.087・
proxel
0.0005 (adjusted to pH 6.4 with added soda) Preparation of support (1) Preparation of dye D-1 for undercoat layer The dye shown in chemical formula 9 was ball milled by the method described in JP-A-63-197943. Processed. embedded image 434 ml of water and Triton X-2
6.7% of 00R surfactant (TX-200R)
791 ml of the aqueous solution was placed in a 2 liter ball mill. dye 2
0 g was added to this solution. Zirconium oxide (ZrO
) and add 400 ml of beads (2 mm diameter) to
Grinded for days. After this, 160 g of 12.5% gelatin was added. After defoaming, the ZrO beads were removed by filtration. When the obtained dye dispersion was observed, the particle size of the pulverized dye had a wide distribution ranging from 0.05 to 1.15 μm in diameter, and the average particle size was 0.37 μm. [0141] By further performing a centrifugation operation, 0.
Dye particles larger than 9 μm were removed. In this way, dye dispersion D-1 shown in Chemical Formula 9 was obtained. (2) Preparation of support As a transparent support, a biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of 183 μm was subjected to corona discharge treatment, and a first undercoating liquid having the composition shown in chemical formula 10 was coated in an amount of It was coated using a wire bar coater at a concentration of 5.1 ml/m2 and dried at 175°C for 1 minute. Next, a first undercoat layer was provided on the opposite side in the same manner. The polyethylene terephthalate used contained 0.04 wt% of the dye of chemical formula 10. ##STR10## The dye shown in Chemical Formula 10 has the following structure.・Butadiene-styrene copolymer latex solution
79ml (solid content 40% butadiene/styrene polymerization ratio 31/69)
・2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine sodium salt 4% solution

20.5ml
·Distilled water

900.5ml (In the latex solution, add an emulsifying dispersant and add 0.4w of chemical formula 11 to the latex solid content.
Containing t%) [Chemical Formula 11] A second undercoat liquid having the composition shown below was applied to each side of the first undercoat layer on each side so that the amount of coating was as shown below. It was coated on both sides using a wire bar coater method and dried at 150°C.・Gelatin
1
60mg/m2 ・Dye dispersion D-1 (26mg/m2 as dye solid content) ・Chemical formula 12

8mg/m2 014
9] [Chemical formula 12] ・Chemical formula 13
0.27
mg/m2 [Chemical formula 13] [0152] - Matting agent Polymethyl methacrylate with an average particle size of 2.5 μm

2.5 mg/m2 Preparation of Photographic Material An emulsion layer and a surface protective layer were coated on both sides of the transparent support by coextrusion. The amount of silver coated per side was 1.7 g/m2. A photographic material was thus obtained. The swelling ratio of the hydrophilic colloid layer was measured after this photographic material was aged for 7 days at 25° C. and 60% RH. The dry film thickness (a) was determined using a scanning electron microscope of the section. The swelling membrane layer (b) is
The photographic material was immersed in distilled water at 21°C for 3 minutes, freeze-dried with liquid nitrogen, and then observed with a scanning electron microscope. [0154] When the swelling ratio is determined by [Equation 1] [0156], for this photographic material, 22
It became 5%. The obtained photographic material is exposed as a film F, and then processed by an automatic developing device 10. [0157] As the developing solution and fixing solution used in this automatic developing device 10, the following are applicable. <Developer concentrate> - Potassium hydroxide
56
．． 6g ・Sodium sulfite

200g ・Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

6.7g ・Potassium carbonate

16.7g ・Boric acid

10g ・Hydroquinone
83.3g
・Diethylene glycol
40g
・4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone

22.0g
・5-methylbenzotriazole
2g
Make up to 1 liter with water (adjust to pH 10.60). <Fixer concentrate> Ammonium thiosulfate
560
g ・Sodium sulfite

60g ・Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium dihydrate 0.10g ・Sodium hydroxide
24g
Make up to 1 liter with water (adjust to pH 5.10 with acetic acid). [0160] When starting the developing process, the developing tank 14 and fixing tank 16 of the automatic developing device 10 are filled with the following processing liquid. Developing tank 14: 333 ml of the above developer concentrate
, 667 ml of water and 10 ml of a starter containing 2 g of potassium bromide and 1.8 g of acetic acid were added to bring the pH to 10.25. Fixing tank 16: 250 ml of the above fixer concentrate
and 750 ml of water.The processing time for Dry to Dry (from the start of development of one film F to the end of drying) was 30 seconds, and the amount of washing water was 1
It flows only while the film is passing at a rate of 3 liters per minute, and is stopped the rest of the time. Furthermore, the replenishment and processing temperatures of the developer and fixer prepared and replenished in the first mixing tank 58 and the second mixing tank 60 are as follows:
Replenishment amount Developing 35°C
20ml/10 x 12 inches Fixing 32°
C 30ml/10×12 inches Washed with water 20°C 3l/1
It is said to dry at 55°C for minutes. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. First, the processing of the film F in the automatic developing device 10 will be described. [0164] The film F inserted into the automatic developing device 10 through the insertion port 15 is treated with a developer, a fixer, and washing water in the developing layer 14, the fixing tank 16, and the washing tank 18, and then transferred to the squeeze section 27. It is sent, squeezed and dried. The squeezed and dried film F is sent to the drying section 20, further dried, and then discharged to the receiving box 49. In the first embodiment, a rinsing tank 39 is provided between each processing tank, and the processing liquid adhering to the film F is washed away by the rinsing liquid. This prevents the processing liquid from the preceding processing tank from entering the subsequent processing tank, and prevents uneven processing of the film F with each processing liquid. Furthermore, the rinsing liquid prevents the processing liquid from the previous stage from adhering to the nipping conveyance rollers 36 of the crossover rack 34 and drying up, thereby simplifying maintenance of the crossover rack 34. Furthermore, since each processing liquid is prevented from unnecessary contact with air by the respective floating lids 37, deterioration due to oxidation or the like of each processing liquid does not occur. [0167] The film F sent to the drying section 20 is squeezed by the squeeze section 27 in the previous stage, and also
A far-infrared heater 41 and a fan 47 provided at 7 are used to dry and evaporate adhering moisture. This shortens the drying time. [0168] The film F inserted into the drying chamber 44 of the drying section 20 is passed through the pair of cloth belts 124, 12 in the drying chamber 44.
6 and is further transported by a plurality of rollers 114. [0169] The cloth belts 124, 126 are heated and dried by a far-infrared heater 128. The film F that comes into contact with these cloth belts 124 and 126 has moisture adhering to its surface absorbed by the cloth belts 124 and 126, and is also heated. In addition, the cloth belt 124,
Reference numeral 126 is rotated by rollers 112 and 122 driven by a drive means (not shown), and the dried portions contact the film F in sequence and convey the film F. [0170] Cloth belt 1 that has absorbed moisture from film F
24 and 126 are heated by a far-infrared heater 128 to evaporate moisture and dry again. [0171] The film F, which is being conveyed while the moisture is absorbed by the pair of cloth belts 124 and 126, is further conveyed by a plurality of rollers 114, and hot air generated by the drying fan 45 and the heater is sent to the hot air supply section 136. The hot air is blown onto the surface from the hot air outlet 138 to perform a drying process. The dried film F is inverted at the lower part of the drying chamber 44 and placed in a receiving box 49 of the automatic developing device 10.
is discharged to. As described above, in the drying section 20 according to this embodiment, the moisture adhering to the film F is absorbed and evaporated by the pair of heated cloth belts 124 and 126. By bringing the cloth belts 124 and 126 into close contact with both surfaces of the film 14 in the entire width direction, the film 1
Moisture on the surface of film F is absorbed almost evenly, and heat is transferred to film F to promote drying. FIGS. 4A to 4E show the state of moisture adhesion to the film F being dried in the automatic developing device 10. FIG. 4A to 4E show a cross section of the film F taken in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and the water contained in the emulsion layer and the water attached to the surface of the film F are removed from the drying chamber 44. It shows the change in The shaded areas of the emulsion layers shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C have a large amount of water content, the emulsion layer shown in FIG. 4D has a small amount of water content, and the emulsion layer shown in FIG. 4E is in a dry state, that is, The water content is almost zero. FIG. 4A shows the squeeze section 27 from the washing tank 18.
At this point, the film F has moisture attached to its entire surface. When this film F is squeezed, a portion of the surface still has moisture attached to it, as shown in FIG. 4B. Next, the film F conveyed to the drying chamber 44 comes into contact with the cloth belts 124 and 126 in the drying chamber 44, and as a result, as shown in FIG. The moisture contained therein is removed, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4C. Further, the film F is transported inside the drying chamber 44 and dried by blowing warm air from the hot air outlet 138, changing from the lapse rate drying state shown in FIG. 4D to the drying state shown in FIG. 4E. In this way, the film F can be dried substantially uniformly without causing uneven drying where the drying state differs partially. Here, the constant rate drying state means that the amount of heat to evaporate the water adhering to the film F is used to release the water contained in the emulsion of the film F to the surface of the film F. The lapse rate drying state refers to a dry state in which the amount of heat used to release the moisture contained in the emulsion of film F to the surface of film F is greater than the amount of heat that is attached to the surface of film F. It refers to a dry state in which the amount of heat is greater than the latent heat of vaporization. [0178] When the film F is discharged from the automatic developing device 10, it is dried so that it is in a dry state as shown in FIG. 4E.
The drying conditions of the squeeze section 27 and the drying section 20 are controlled by a control device (not shown). In this embodiment, the cloth belts 124 and 126 are heated to approximately 80° to 100°C by the far infrared heater 128, and the cloth belts 124 and 126 are heated to approximately 80° to 100°C.
4 for about 5 seconds, the automatic developing device 10 can shorten the processing time to 30 seconds, whereas the conventional automatic developing device with a drying device that blows hot air takes 45 seconds. Ta. [0180] In this example, a fixer containing substantially no hardener may be used. Example 2 Next, Example 2 according to the present invention will be described. Example 2
In this embodiment, the structure is basically the same as in the first embodiment, and the same parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. [0181] Film F, developer, and fixer according to Example 2 use the following film F, developer, and fixer. [0182] As a result, as in Example 1, it was possible to perform quick and even drying. (1) Preparation of emulsion Emulsion A 1 liquid ・Water

1.0l ・Gelatin (manufactured by Nittasha, photographic inert type) 20g ・Potassium bromide

5g ・1,3-dimethylimidazolidine-2-thione 20mg
・Sodium benzenethiosulfonate
8mg 2 liquid/water
40
0ml ・Silver nitrate

100g 3 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Potassium bromide

75g ・Potassium hexachloroiridium(III) acid 0.018mg40°C, pH=4.5
Add liquid 2 and liquid 3 at the same time to liquid 1, which is maintained at 12°C, while stirring.
It was added to the liquid over a period of minutes to form core particles of 0.15 μm. Subsequently, the following 4 liquids and 5 liquids were simultaneously mixed for 12 minutes. 4 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Silver nitrate

100g 5 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Potassium bromide

Thereafter, 70 g of the gel was washed with water using a flocculation method according to a conventional method, and photographic inert gelatin manufactured by Nitta was added. The pH was adjusted to 5.2 and the pAg to 7.5, and 8 mg of sodium thiosulfate and 12 mg of chloroauric acid were added to chemically sensitize at 65°C to obtain the optimal sensitivity/fog ratio. as 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3
200 mg of a,7-tetrazaindene and phenoxyethanol were added as a preservative. [0185] Pure silver bromide has an average particle size of 0.25 μm.
A monodispersed cubic emulsion was obtained. (Variation coefficient 12%) Emulsion B 1 liquid ・Water

1.0l ・Gelatin

20g ・Sodium chloride

5g ・1,3-dimethylimidazolidine-
2-thione 20mg ・Sodium benzenethiosulfonate
8mg 2 liquid/water
40
0ml ・Silver nitrate

100g 3 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Sodium chloride
36.6g
・Potassium bromide
28g
-Potassium hexachloroiridium(III) 0.018mgTo the first solution maintained at 38°C and pH 4.5, solutions 2 and 3 were simultaneously added over 10 minutes with stirring to form core particles of 0.161 μm. Subsequently, the following liquids 4 and 5 were added over 10 minutes. 4 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Silver nitrate

100g 5 liquid ・Water
40
0ml ・Sodium chloride
36.6g
・Potassium bromide
28g
Thereafter, water washing and chemical sensitization were performed in the same manner as Emulsion A, and a stabilizer and preservative were added. Finally, a silver chlorobromide monodispersed cubic emulsion containing 60 mol % of silver chloride and an average grain size of 0.20 μm (coefficient of variation 9%) was obtained. [0188] K4 Fe(CN)6 was added to Emulsion C 5 liquid at 3 x 10-5 mol/A.
g mol, and (NH4)3RhCl6 5×1
Grain formation was carried out in the same manner as in Emulsion B except that 0-7 mol/Ag mol was added. Thereafter, washing with water, chemical sensitization, and additives were carried out in the same manner as in Emulsions A and B, to finally obtain a silver chlorobromide cubic emulsion (coefficient of variation of 9%) containing 60 mol % of silver chloride. (2) Preparation of photographic material 30 mg/mol Ag of infrared sensitizing dye D-5 (shown in chemical formula 14) was added to emulsions A, B, and C thus prepared for infrared sensitization. provided. Furthermore, for supersensitization and stabilization, 4,4'-bis(4,6-dinaphthoxy-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-stilbendisulfonic acid disodium salt and 2,5-dimethyl-3-allyl-benzothiazole 300 mg of iodized salt per 1 mole of silver
and 450 mg were added. [0190] [0191] Furthermore, 100 mg/m2 of hydroquinone
, polyethyl allylate latex was added at a gelatin binder ratio of 25%, 2-bis(vinylsulfonylacetamido)ethane was added as a hardening agent at 86 mg/m2, and a polyester (polyethylene raphthalate) support was coated (
Gelatin was added and coated so that the total amount of gelatin was 2.0 g/m2. At this time, 0.5 g/m2 of gelatin was placed on the upper side of the emulsion layer as a protective layer, 20 mg/m2 of the dye shown in chemical formula 16, and 60 mg/m2 of polymethyl methacrylate with a particle size of 2.5 μm as a matting agent.
m2, 70mg/colloidal silica with a particle size of 10μm
m2, and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt and a fluorine-containing surfactant shown in Chemical Formula 15 as coating aids were coated simultaneously with the emulsion layer. ##STR15## The support of this example has a back layer and a back protective layer having the following compositions. [Back layer] Gelatin

2.0g/m2 ・Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate 80mg
/m2 ・Dye (chemical formula 17)

70mg/m2 ・Dye (chemical formula 18)

70mg/m2 ・Dye (chemical formula 19)

90mg/m2 ・1,3-divinylsulfone-2-propanol
60mg/m2 [0195] [Chemical 17] [Chemical 18] [Chemical 19] [Chemical 19] [Back protective layer] Gelatin

0.5g/m2 ・Polymethyl methacrylate (
Particle size 4.7μm) 30mg/m2
・Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate
20mg/m2 - Fluorine-containing surfactant (chemical formula 15)
2mg/m2 ・Silicone oil
100 mg/m2 The swelling ratio of the hydrophilic colloid layer was measured after the photographic material was aged for 7 days at 25° C. and 60% RH. The dry film thickness (a) was determined by scanning the sections using a scanning electron microscope. Swelling membrane layer (b)
was determined by immersing the photographic material in distilled water at 21°C for 3 minutes, freeze-drying it with liquid nitrogen, and observing it with a scanning electron microscope. When the swelling ratio is calculated using the above formula 1, the swelling ratio is within the range of 90% to 110% on the emulsion layer side, and 70% to 9% on the back layer side.
It was 0%. The obtained photographic material is exposed as film F and then processed using an automatic developing device 10 at the temperature and time shown below. [0201] The following developer and fixer are used in the automatic developing device 10. Developing at 38°C
14 seconds fixation 37°C
9.7 seconds water wash 26°C
9 second squeeze
2.4 seconds dry
55°C 8.3 seconds total
43.4
Second developer ・Hydroquinone

25.0g 4-methyl-4-hydroxymethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone


0.5g ・Potassium sulfite

90.0g ・Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium
2.0g ・Potassium bromide

5.0g ・5-
Methylbenzotriazole
0.2g ・2
-Methylcaptobenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid
0.3g ・Sodium carbonate

Add 20g water to make 1.0l (add sodium hydroxide to pH=
10.6). Fixer - Ammonium thiosulfate

210g ・Sodium sulfite (anhydrous)

20g ・Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium
0.1g ・Glacial acetic acid

Add 15g water to make 1.0L (adjust pH to 4.8 with aqueous ammonia). [0204] Even with the combination of film F, developer, and fixer configured as described above, the drying speed can be increased in the drying section 20 of the automatic developing device 10. [0205] Also in Example 2, a fixer containing substantially no hardener may be used. Example 3 Next, Example 3 of the present invention will be described. Furthermore, Example 3
The structure is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. Further, the film F, the developer, and the fixer may be the same as those in Example 1 or Example 2. Furthermore, a fixer containing substantially no hardener may be used. FIG. 5 shows an automatic developing device 1 according to the third embodiment.
The drying chamber 160 of the drying section 20 of 0 is shown. [0207] In this drying chamber 160, a glass cylinder 162 made of heat-resistant glass and having a hollow interior is arranged. This glass cylinder 162 is arranged with its axial direction along the width direction of the film F, and a pair of guide rollers 164 are arranged near the upstream side and near the downstream side of the glass cylinder 162 in the conveyance direction of the film 14. has been done. In addition, near each guide roller pair 164,
A roller 166 is arranged on one side of the film F conveyance path. [0208] A cloth belt 168, which is an endless belt, is stretched between the guide roller pair 164 and the roller 166. The cloth belt 168 is configured to contact the outer circumferential surface of the glass cylinder 162 over approximately half the circumference between the guide roller pair 164, and the conveying path of the film F is formed between the outer circumferential surface of the glass cylinder 162 and the cloth belt 168. Some are formed. [0209] This cloth belt 168 is made of a highly hygroscopic material, and is similar to the cloth belts 124 and 12 of Examples 1 and 2.
The material may be the same as No. 6. [0210] Glass cylinder 162 with a hollow interior
A far-infrared heater 128 and a reflection plate 129 are arranged at the axial center of the glass cylinder 162, with the axial direction of the glass cylinder 162 being the longitudinal direction. Further, a far-infrared heater 128 and a reflecting plate 129 are arranged inside the cloth belt 168 and on the opposite side of the glass cylinder 162 of the cloth belt 168. Each reflecting plate 129 is arranged so as to direct the far infrared rays emitted from the far infrared heater 128 toward the transport path of the film F. As a result, the cloth belt 168 and the glass cylinder 162 are heated by the far infrared rays emitted from the far infrared heater 128. [0212] Glass cylinder 162 and cloth belt 168
The film F that comes into contact with these is heated.
At the same time, the moisture adhering to the surface of the film F in contact with the cloth belt 168 is absorbed by the cloth belt 168, and the drying of the film F is promoted. [0213] Each of these rollers and glass cylinder 16
2 are connected to a driving means (not shown), and are configured to rotate in the transport direction of the film F by transmitting the driving force of the driving means. In Example 3, the moisture adhering to one surface of the film F is absorbed by the cloth belt 168, and the other surface of the film F is heated by the glass cylinder 162. That is, this drying chamber 160 is suitable for drying a film coated with a photosensitive material on one side. [0215] As explained above, the photosensitive material drying apparatus according to the present invention brings the endless belt heated by a heating means such as a far-infrared heater into contact with the photosensitive material, thereby removing the particles adhering to the photosensitive material. In addition to absorbing moisture almost evenly,
An endless belt heats the photosensitive material. Thereby, the drying speed of the photosensitive material can be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of an automatic developing device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of replenishment of replenisher.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a drying section according to Example 1.

FIG. 4 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the film before squeezing;
(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the film after squeezing, (C) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the film in the constant rate drying region, (D) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the film in the decreasing rate drying region, and (E) is after drying treatment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the film.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part similar to FIG. 3 showing a drying section according to Example 3. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 automatic developing device 14 developing tank 16 fixing tank 18 washing tank 20 drying section 39 rinsing tank 44, 160 drying chamber 112 roller pair 114, 122 roller 124, 126, 168 cloth belt 128
Far-infrared heater (heating means) 138 Hot air outlet F Film

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive material drying device for drying a photosensitive material while conveying it after being processed in a processing section, comprising: a plurality of rollers provided in a direction intersecting a conveyance path of the photosensitive material; and a plurality of rollers. an endless belt that is stretched around the surface of the photosensitive material to almost uniformly contact the surface of the photosensitive material, transports the photosensitive material by driving the plurality of rollers, and absorbs moisture adhering to the surface of the photosensitive material; 1. A photosensitive material drying apparatus, comprising: a heating means for drying.