JPH0619100A - Automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically prepare a replenishment and correct vaporization which has been manually performed to simplify the machine and save manpower, to eliminate a replenishment tank to make the machine compact, to essentially eliminate the need for a PE container to provide a low-pollution technique and to regenerate and use an overflow to reduce the discharge of a waste soln. from the automatic developing machine. CONSTITUTION:This automatic developing machine is provided with at least a tank 16 for storing an overflow from a processing tank, a means 8 for supplying a processing agent to the tank 16 and a means for supplying a processing soln. which has been regenerated by a solid processing agent supplied in the tank 16 to the essential processing tank part of the machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and more particularly, it can be simplified by automating the replenisher solution adjusting operation and the evaporation correcting operation which have been conventionally performed manually. The present invention relates to an automatic processor for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which can be made compact and compact by eliminating the replenisher tank and can be made more compact and labor-saving.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Photosensitive materials are developed, desilvered, washed, and exposed after exposure.
It is processed by stabilization process, black and white developer or color developer for development, bleach / fixer / bleach-fixer for desilvering, tap water or ion exchange water for washing, stabilization A stabilizing solution is used for each. Normally, in an automatic processor, each processing solution is stored in a separate processing tank,
It is prepared by adjusting the temperature to -40 [deg.] C., and the photosensitive material is immersed in the processing solution in each processing tank while being transported.

In the above-mentioned automatic developing machine, in order to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing tank constant, the replenishing solution prepared in the replenishing solution tank is supplied to the processing tank at appropriate times. There is. There are a type in which the replenisher tank is arranged near the automatic processor and a type in which the replenisher tank is built in the automatic processor.

The replenisher solution prepared in the replenisher tank is prepared by dissolving and diluting a treating agent supplied in the form of powder or concentrate with a certain amount of water.

The processing agent is composed of various components (hereinafter referred to as "part agents" or "part agents") so as to exhibit good performance in photographic processing, and these parts agents are left in contact with each other for a long time. Function as a photographic processing agent is impaired due to reaction and deterioration, and in particular, since many processing agents easily react with each other by a redox reaction, generally, one or more types of parts agents are used. Separately prepared as a kit, these are mixed in fixed amounts at the time of use.

[0006] Each of the kitted parts agents is enclosed in an inner container such as a bottle or a bag, which is put together in a bag or box and is sold as a unit.

The adjustment of the replenisher requires a very complicated manual work and requires skill, and the failure of the adjustment immediately affects the photographic processing performance, and the development error of the negative film takes a serious responsibility. Becomes However, with the spread of so-called minilabs in recent years, a situation has arisen in which unskilled workers have no choice but to operate automatic processors, and there is a demand for simplification of quality control of processing solutions, including adjustment of replenishers. ing.

Further, due to the problem of installation space, there is an increasing demand for downsizing of the automatic processor, and from this viewpoint, it is necessary to reexamine the problem of the presence of the replenisher tank and the stock of the replenishing treatment agent kit. ing.

On the other hand, when the photographic processing industry is viewed from the viewpoint of environmental protection and resource saving, large and small plastic containers for supplying a processing agent (powder / concentrated liquid) are particularly problematic. That is, although plastic containers for photography are cheap and convenient for storage and transportation, and have excellent chemical resistance, empty containers are landfilled, discarded, or incinerated as industrial waste. The container has little biodegradability, and when it is accumulated and incinerated, a large amount of carbon dioxide gas is generated, which causes a problem such as global warming. In addition, as a user's problem, it is pointed out that a large number of plastic containers are piled up in a narrow work space and the space is further narrowed.

Further, in order to stabilize the finish quality of the light-sensitive material processed by the automatic processor, it is desired to stabilize the processing solution performance. In order to keep the processing solution performance stable, the most important items from the recent trend of low replenishment are management of the replenishment rate and prevention of concentration of the processing solution by evaporation.

Regarding the management of the replenishment rate, it is necessary to regularly check the replenishment amount, but in the recent minilab, the manufacturer who sells the automatic processor takes charge of the periodical check once a month. The actual situation is that it is carried out during a round of patrol. Therefore, even if the replenishment rate is wrong, it will be left until the patrol check. In addition, in order to prevent the concentration of the processing liquid due to evaporation, minilabs will perform evaporation correction by adding warm water to the amount of liquid that has evaporated and the liquid level has decreased since the previous day when the temperature control was completed every morning. Although it is necessary to carry out regular evaporation corrections every day, if the person forgets from time to time or the person changes, the rules cannot be observed, which causes fluctuations in the concentration of the processing solution.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been completed in view of the above. Therefore, firstly, the object of the present invention is to automate the replenishing solution adjusting operation and the evaporation correcting operation which have been conventionally performed manually. By doing so, it is aimed at simplification and labor saving,
The second is to eliminate the replenisher tank and to make it compact, and the third is to provide a pollution-reducing technology that does not substantially use a plastic container, and the fourth is to recycle and use the overflow liquid. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing the discharge of waste liquid from an automatic processor.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An automatic processor for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to the present invention comprises at least a storage tank for storing overflow liquid from the processing tank of the automatic processor, and a solid processing agent in the storage tank. And a supply means for supplying the processing liquid regenerated by supplying the solid processing agent into the storage tank to a substantial processing tank portion of the automatic developing machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a means for supplying water or warm water to the processing solution and / or overflow solution in the substantial processing tank of the automatic processor is provided, and the solid processing agent is in the form of tablets. Is to be.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the "substantial processing tank section" includes, in addition to the processing tank, a circulation line or a circulation system for circulating the processing liquid in the processing tank. For example, there are color developing solution, bleaching solution, fixing solution, bleach-fixing solution, superstabilizer solution, stabilizing solution tank, filtration filter tank of each tank, and temperature adjusting tank.

The automatic processor of the present invention has a storage tank for receiving the overflow liquid discharged from the processing tank.
The storage tank is provided in a portion other than the processing tank of the automatic processor.

The solid processing agent is supplied to the storage tank. Further, it is preferable that water or warm water (hereinafter referred to as "preparation liquid for supplementation or supplementary water") is supplied at the same time as the supply of the solid processing agent.

In the automatic developing machine of the present invention, the area of the processed photosensitive material is integrated by the detection device attached to the photosensitive material insertion port of the automatic developing machine, and when a certain unit is reached, one or several solid processing agents are added. It is configured to supply a predetermined amount to the storage tank one by one.

In the present invention, replenishment water, which is water or warm water, is replenished not only in an amount necessary to dissolve a predetermined amount of the supplied solid processing agent but also during the operation or stop of the automatic processor. It is preferable to add the amount of water to be added. Further, it is preferable that the supplementary water is supplied at the same site where the solid processing agent is supplied, but it may be supplied directly to the substantial treatment tank.

Conventionally, a replenisher solution dissolved in a large amount of water is replenished for each unit of a light-sensitive material to be processed, so that a replenisher tank and a replenisher pump must be installed for each processing solution. A replenishment tank and a replenishment pump were installed, and the space had to be secured, but according to the present invention, a small solid processing agent supply unit and a replenishment water replenishment mechanism are sufficient, which is advantageous for compactness. Is.

Further, replenishment water may be replenished to each solid processing agent replenishment section by providing a replenishment system separately, but a solenoid valve or the like may be provided in the replenishment system so that a required amount of replenishment water is replenished. Alternatively, one supply pump can be provided by adjusting the amount of supply with the thickness of the supply pipe of the supply water. Regarding the supply source of replenishing water, it is a preferred embodiment to branch from the washing water replenishing port of the automatic developing machine to provide an independent storage part, but the final washing tank of the automatic developing machine also serves as a water or warm water storage tank. It is also possible.

In the present invention, the replenishment water for evaporation correction during the operation and stop of the automatic developing machine is replenished with a liquid level detecting sensor provided in a substantial processing tank of the automatic developing machine to replenish the evaporated water content. Is preferred. That is, a sensor capable of substantially detecting the liquid surface of each processing tank, for example, the level of the evaporated liquid level is detected by a float switch, an electrode switch, etc., and a signal for starting the replenishment of replenishing water is issued to set a predetermined liquid level. It is preferable that the replenishing water is replenished until that time.

Next, the solid processing agent used in the present invention will be described. The solid processing agent is a generic term for those that are in a solid state as a form, and not only tablets, granules, powders and the like as simple substances, but also microcapsules and water-soluble films in which the above simple substance is wrapped with an alkali-soluble film. It also includes a packaged treatment agent packaged with the above-mentioned microcapsules or a water-soluble film.

To solidify the processing agent, a concentrated liquid or fine powder or granular photographic processing agent and a water-soluble binder are kneaded and molded, or a water-soluble binder is sprayed onto the surface of the temporarily molded processing agent. Arbitrary means such as forming a coating layer can be adopted (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-135887 and No. 2-20316).
No. 5, No. 2-203166, No. 2-203167,
2-203168 and 2-34009).

The method for producing the tablet treating agent is described in, for example, JP-A Nos. 51-61837, 54-155038 and 52-52.
No. 88025 and British Patent No. 1213808 can be manufactured by the general method described in the specification, and granule treating agents are, for example, JP-A Nos. 2-109042 and 2-109.
It can be produced by a general method described in the specifications of No. 043, No. 3-39735 and No. 3-39739. Further, the powder treating agent is described in, for example, JP-A-54-13333.
No. 2, British Patent No. 725892, No. 729862, and German Patent No. 3733861.

Further, the storage stability of the solid processing agent used in the present invention is extremely stable without causing deterioration of the processing capacity and discoloration due to the redox reaction during storage as seen in the conventional liquid kit. In particular, when solidified, by coating with a water-soluble binder, the effect of not changing the properties of the raw material of the treating agent is exerted for a very long period of time.

A treatment agent packaged or bound or coated with a water-soluble film or a binding agent is used for storing, transporting, and handling, and is exposed to high humidity, atmospheric humidity such as rain and fog, and water splash. Alternatively, it is preferably packaged in a moisture-proof packaging material to prevent damage from accidental contact with water by wet hands.

In the present invention, preferred solid processing agents are tablets, granules and powders, and particularly preferred are tablets.

[0029]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an automatic developing machine for a color negative film to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 1, 1 is a color developing tank, 2 is a bleaching tank, 3 is a fixing tank, 4 is a water washing tank, 5 is a stabilizing tank, and 6 is a drying section.

Now, the photosensitive material P is fed from the insertion port to the color developing tank 1
When it is carried in, the area detection sensor 7 detects the area of the photosensitive material, and when it is detected that the carried amount reaches a certain value, the supply device 8 of the solid processing agent supply means and the replenishment water supply means are replenished. The device 10 and the solenoid valve 12 are activated by receiving a signal from the control unit 11, and the solid processing agent and the replenishing water for liquid preparation are replenished to the storage tank 16. Therefore, the solid processing agent and the replenishing water are mixed, dissolved, and then replenished as a replenishing liquid to the respective processing tanks 1, 2, 3, and 5 through the replenishing pump 17 in the required amounts.

When the replenishing liquid is replenished, the liquid level of each processing tank rises, and the overflowed processing liquid of each processing tank is accumulated in the storage tank 16 through the overflow pipe 25. When the overflow liquid is excessively accumulated, it is devised to introduce it into a waste liquid recovery tank (not shown) other than the necessary amount.

When the temperature of the automatic developing machine is adjusted for several hours, the processing liquid in each processing tank 1 to 5 evaporates. 1
In response to the signal of 1, the replenishing device 10 of the replenishing water supply means and the solenoid valve 12 are operated, and the replenishing water for evaporation correction is replenished until the upper limit detection mechanism of the liquid level detection sensor 9 operates. In addition, it is preferable that the temperature of the warm water for washing 14, which is the replenishing water supplied through the replenishing water replenishing pipe 15, be adjusted for both the replenishing water for liquid preparation and the replenishing water for evaporation correction. Reference numeral 18 is a storage tank for water or hot water.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment in which a tableted solid processing agent is used to regenerate the liquid overflowing from the processing tank and return it to the processing tank.

When the control unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 operates in response to a signal from a photosensitive material area detection sensor (not shown) and the stepping motor 81 of the supply device 8 of the solid processing agent supply means operates, the drive pinion 83 rotates. Then, the push-out plunger 82 for supplying the solid processing agent, which is directly connected thereto via the rack, is raised by one step, that is, the thickness P of the solid processing agent 27, and only one solid processing agent 27 is pushed up to the supply position. Set to standby state. Next, the solid processing agent 27 that is pushed out by the pushing member 85 that moves leftward in accordance with the rotation of the stepping motor 84 and stands by at the uppermost portion is put into the overflow liquid storage tank 16. When the charging is completed, the stepping motor 84 rotates in the reverse direction and the pushing member 85
Returns to its original position and waits until the next command signal is issued. In addition, the command signal may instruct the supply of a plurality of solid processing agents, but at that time, the above-described operation is repeated a predetermined number of times.

At the same time when the solid processing agent is charged, the supply pump 17 operates as a circulation pump to dissolve the solid processing agent. At this time, the solenoid valve 19 is open and the solenoid valve 20 is closed. The processing liquid is previously stored in the overflow liquid storage tank 16 from the processing tank 1A through the overflow pipe 25.

When the area detection sensor 7 (see FIG. 1) outputs a signal, the water or hot water replenishing device 10 is activated to replenish water or hot water from the water or warm water storage tank 18. The replenishment amount of water or warm water is set so that the overflow liquid, the solid processing agent and the replenishing water are mixed to have a predetermined replenishing liquid concentration.

The liquid that has been mixed into the regenerated liquid is the solenoid valve 20.
Is opened and the solenoid valve 19 is closed to replenish the processing tank 1A. The control unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 controls the opening time of the solenoid valve 20 so as to open and close in proportion to the area of the photosensitive material to be processed.
Controlled by.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, when a replenisher is replenished from the overflow liquid storage tank to the processing tank, it is possible to separately pump a prescribed amount by using a bellows pump or the like. The operation of the supply pump 17 is such that the solenoid valve 20 is closed, the solenoid valve 19 is opened, and the supply pump 17 is stopped when a prescribed amount of replenisher is sent.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 is a temperature control heater, 22 is a processing rack, 23 is a processing liquid circulation pump, and 24 is a filtration filter section.

In FIG. 3, the solid processing agent is dissolved in the overflow liquid of the automatic processor, and water or hot water is directly supplied.
It is a schematic diagram showing a mode performed in a substantial processing tank, that is, processing tank 1A of an automatic processor or processing liquid filtration filter tank 24.

At the same time as the solid processing agent charged in the overflow liquid storage tank 16 is dissolved and replenished to the processing tank as a replenishment replenishing liquid, the water or hot water replenishing device 10 is operated and the water or hot water storage tank 18 is supplied. Direct replenishment of water or hot water is performed from the above to the substantial treatment tank. The timing of replenishing water or warm water to the substantial treatment tank is preferably at the same time as the replenishment replenisher is replenished, but even if there is a gap of several minutes before and after the treatment liquid stored in the treatment tank 1A When the ratio of the amount of the replenishing solution to the amount of the replenishing solution is 25: 1 or less, there is almost no influence on the performance of the processing solution, which is acceptable.

The above-mentioned water or warm water replenishing mechanism is
It can be particularly advantageously used when replenishing water vaporized while the automatic processor is in operation or stopped. That is,
The liquid level detection sensor 9 of the processing liquid constantly measures the liquid level, and when the evaporation amount exceeds a certain amount, a signal for replenishing water or hot water is issued from the control unit 11 shown in FIG. By supplying water or hot water, it is possible to always maintain the processing liquid at a regular liquid level. (Experimental Example 1) The solid processing agent used in the present invention was prepared as a reprocessing agent by the method described below.

(1) Color development and reproduction processing agent for color negative Operation (1) 3.0 g of hydroxylamine sulfate is pulverized in an air jet fine pulverizer until the average particle size becomes 10 μ. This fine powder was applied in a commercially available fluidized bed spray granulator at room temperature for about 7 minutes at 0.2.
After granulating by spraying with 0 ml water, the granulate is dried for 8 minutes at an air temperature of 63 ° C. The granulate is then dried in vacuum at 40 ° C. for 90 minutes to almost completely remove the water content of the granulate.

Operation (2) CD-4 [4 amino-3methyl-N-ethyl-N-β-hydroxylethyl) aniline sulfate as a developing agent] 6.
Similar to the operation (1), 0 g is pulverized in an air jet fine pulverizer and then granulated. The amount of water sprayed is 0.2 ml, and after granulation, it is dried at 60 ° C. for 7 minutes. The granulate is then vacuumed 4
Dry for 90 minutes at 0 ° C. to remove water almost completely.

Operation (3) 2.5 g of sodium 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate, 1.75 g of sodium sulfite, 15.4 g of potassium carbonate, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 600
0) 0.75 g and 0.35 g of sodium bromide are homogenized in a commercially available mixer, and then pulverized in an air jet fine pulverizer and granulated in the same manner as in the operation (1). The amount of water sprayed is 5.5
After granulation, the granules are dried at 70 ° C. for 10 minutes. The granules are then dried in vacuum at 40 ° C. for 90 minutes to remove water almost completely.

Operation (4) 1.75 g of sodium sulfite and 5 of diethylenetriamine
2.0 g of sodium acetate, 15.4 g of potassium carbonate and 1.1 g of polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) are granulated in the same manner as in step (3). The amount of water sprayed is 5.75 ml
And the drying temperature was 80 ° C. and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (5) The granulated product granulated by the above operations (1) to (4) is mixed with a mixer in a room where the humidity is adjusted to 25% or less and a relative humidity of 50% or less.
Mix evenly for a minute. Next, the mixture is solidified by a tableting machine of a solid processing agent which is modified from Tough Press Collect 1527HU manufactured by Kikusui Seisakusho. In solidifying, 2.00 g of the above mixture was charged into the above solid processing tableting machine and molded. By repeating this operation, 25 solid color development / regeneration processing agents for color films were prepared from the mixture.

(2) Bleaching Regeneration Treatment Operation (6) 110 g of ferric ammonium 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 2.5 g of 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid
g, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 2.5
Granulate g as in operation (3). The amount of water sprayed is 27.
The amount was 5 ml, the drying temperature was 80 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (7) Ammonium bromide 150 g, sodium nitrate 12.0
g, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 5.5
g and 14.5 g of maleic acid are granulated in the same manner as in the operation (3). The amount of water sprayed was 25 ml, the drying temperature was 77 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (8) The granulated product granulated in the above operations (6) and (7) was mixed in the same manner as in the operation (5) and then solidified. Operation (5) except that the filling amount of the solid processing agent tableting machine was 5.94 g.
In the same manner as above, 50 solid bleaching / regenerating agents for color negative films were prepared. (3) Fixing / regenerating agent operation (9) Ammonium thiosulfate 220 g, sodium sulfite 20
g, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 10
g, potassium thiocyanate 30.0 g, sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate 1.0 g, sodium hydrogen carbonate 1.
Granulate 0 g as in procedure (3). The amount of water sprayed is 1
The amount was 2.0 ml, the drying temperature was 77 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (10) The granulated product granulated in the above operation (9) was solidified in the same manner as in the operation (5). The filling amount of the solid processing agent tableting machine is set to 9.
Twenty-five solid fixing regenerating agents for color negative films were prepared in the same manner as in the operation (5) except that the amount was 96 g.

(4) Stable Regeneration Treatment Operation (11) Metahydroxybenzaldehyde 3.0 g, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 10.0 g, sodium hydrogen carbonate 0.35 g, and potassium hydroxide 0.5 g were operated (3). Granulate as in. Approximately 20 for the above granules at room temperature
In minutes,

[0054]

[Chemical 10] Further granulation was continued while spraying 0.6 g. Then, after drying at an air temperature of 65 ° C for 10 minutes, the granules were dried at 40 ° C for 90 minutes in vacuum.

Operation (12) The granulated product granulated in the above operation (11) was solidified in the same manner as in the operation (5). The filling amount of the solid processing agent tableting machine is 1.
In the same manner as in the operation (5) except that the amount was 156 g, twelve solid stable reproduction processing agents for color negative films were prepared.

(5) Color development / regeneration treatment agent for color paper Operation (13) Granules of 4.8 g of diethylhydroxylamine oxalate and 1.32 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate are granulated in the same manner as in operation (1). The amount of water sprayed is 0.25 ml and the drying temperature is 70
The temperature was 70 ° C. and the time was 70 minutes.

Operation (14) 9.30 g of a developing agent CD-3 [1- (N-ethyl-N-methanesulfonamidoethyl) -3-methyl-p-phenylenediamine sesquisulfate monohydrate] was operated ( Granulate as in 2). The procedure was the same as in the operation (2) except that the amount of water sprayed was 0.22 ml, the drying temperature was 63 ° C., and the time was 8 minutes.

Operation (15) 0.144 g of sodium sulfite, 15.8 potassium carbonate
g, polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 0, 7
5g, sodium hydrogen carbonate 0.54g, Chinopearl SF
Granulate 2.5 g of P (manufactured by Ciba Geigy) in the same manner as in the operation (3). The amount of water sprayed is 3.36 ml and the drying temperature is 73
The same operation (3) was carried out except that the time was 10 minutes at 0 ° C.

Operation (16) 10.8 g of potassium carbonate, 7,0 g of diethylhydroxylamine oxalate, 2.88 g of sodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, 0.54 g of sodium hydrogencarbonate,
Polyethylene glycol (molecular weight 6000) 0.75
Granulate g as in operation (3). The amount of water sprayed is 3.1
2 ml, the drying temperature was 73 ° C., and the procedure was the same as the operation (3) except that the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (17) The granulated product granulated in the above operations (13) to (16) was mixed in the same manner as in the operation (5), and then put in a solid processing agent tableting machine to effect solidification. Filling amount of solid processing agent tableting machine is 4.536
Twelve solid color development / regeneration processing agents for color paper were prepared in the same manner as in the operation (5) except that the amount was changed to g.

(6) Bleaching / fixing / regenerating agent for color paper Operation (18) 120 g of ferric ammonium ethylenediaminetetraacetate,
2.0 g of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 0.75 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate are granulated in the same manner as in the operation (3). The amount of water sprayed was 7.9 ml, the drying temperature was 80 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (19) Ammonium thiosulfate 167 g, sodium sulfite 22
g, sodium metabisulfite 15 g, ammonium bromide 20 g, and sodium hydrogencarbonate 0.7 g are granulated in the same manner as in the operation (3). The amount of water sprayed was 8.75 ml, the drying temperature was 77 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (20) The granulated product granulated in the above operations (18) and (19) was mixed in the same manner as in the operation (5) and then solidified. Solid processing agent A solid bleach-fixing reprocessing agent for 18 color papers was prepared in the same manner as in the operation (5) except that the filling amount in the tableting machine was 18.76 g.

(7) Stable Reclaiming Agent for Color Paper Operation (21) 1,2-Benzisothiazoline 3-one 0.04 g, 1-
Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid 0.65
g, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 1.3 g, Chinopearl SF
P (manufactured by Ciba Geigy) 2.60 g, ammonium sulfate 3.26 g, zinc chloride 1.3 g, magnesium chloride 0.
6 g, orthophenylphenol 1.3 g, sodium sulfite 2.6 g, and sodium hydrogencarbonate 1.0 g are granulated in the same manner as in the operation (3). The same operation (3) was performed except that the amount of water sprayed was 3.0 ml, the drying temperature was 65 ° C., and the time was 10 minutes.

Operation (22) The above granulated product was solidified in the same manner as in the operation (5). Solid reproduction processing agent Five solid stable reproduction processing agents for color papers were prepared in the same manner as in the operation (5) except that the filling amount in the tableting machine was 2.93 g. (Experimental Example 2) Next, a method of processing a light-sensitive material using the automatic processor of the present invention will be described below. Konica Color Negative Film Processor CL-KP-50QA is shown in Figure 1,
The control function, the solid regeneration treatment agent supply function, the liquid level detection function, the hot water supply function, and the like shown in FIG. 3 were remodeled and the following experiments were conducted.

Experiment 2-1 Confirmation of Stability of Processing Solution The following table shows standard processing conditions of the automatic processor.

[0067]

[Table 1] The stabilizing tank is replenished to the third tank, and the overflow solution is sequentially flown into the first tank and the second tank.

The processing solution for the automatic processor was prepared by the following method. I. Color developing tank liquid (21.0 liters) 15 liters of warm water at 35 ° C. was placed in a color developing tank of an automatic developing machine, and 399 solid color developing and reproducing treatment agents for color negative film prepared in Experimental Example 1 were added and dissolved. . At the same time as the solid color development and reproduction treatment agent was charged, the solid color development and reproduction treatment started to dissolve while slightly generating bubbles from the solid surface, and almost completely dissolved in 10 minutes and 10 seconds to become transparent. Next, a starter of the following formulation, which has been separately solidified as a starter component,
After pouring one and completely dissolving it, water was added up to the tank mark to complete the tank solution. Color negative color development starter Sodium bromide 1.2 g Sodium iodide 2.0 mg Sodium hydrogencarbonate 1.5 g Potassium carbonate 2.4 g

B. Bleaching solution (5.0 liters) 3.0 liters of warm water at 35 ° C. was placed in a bleaching tank of an automatic processor, and 250 solid bleaching / regenerating agents for color negative films prepared in Experimental Example 1 were added and dissolved. The above solid bleaching and regenerating agent started to dissolve at the same time when it was charged, while slightly producing bubbles from the solid surface, and completely dissolved in 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Next, 5 starters of the following formulation, which had been solidified separately, were added as starter components and completely dissolved, and then water was added up to the tank marked line to complete the tank solution. Bleach Starter for Color Negative Potassium Bromide 20g Sodium Bicarbonate 3g Potassium Carbonate 7g

C. Fixing solution (4.5 liter for the first tank, 4.5 liter for the second tank) Prepared in Experimental Example 1 by adding 3.0 liters of hot water at 35 ° C to the first and second tanks of the fixing tank of the automatic developing machine. The solid fixing and regenerating agent for color negative film thus prepared was added and dissolved in groups of 133 pieces each. At the same time as the solid fixing and regenerating agent was added, the solid fixing and regenerating agent started to dissolve while slightly generating bubbles from the solid surface.
Almost completely dissolved in 30 minutes. Next, water was added up to the tank mark to complete the tank solution.

D. Stabilizer (3.2 liters for 1 to 3 tanks) The color negative prepared in Experimental Example 1 was prepared by adding 3.0 liters of warm water at 35 ° C. to the first, second and third stabilizing tanks of the automatic developing machine. 38 stable regeneration treatment agents for film were added and dissolved.

At the same time as the solid stable regeneration treatment agent was charged, it started to dissolve while slightly generating bubbles from the surface of the solid, and was dissolved almost completely in 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Next, water was added up to the marked line to complete the tank solution.

In the overflow liquid storage tank, 1 liter of the same composition as each processing liquid was provided, and when 1 liter or more was stored, it overflowed from the storage tank side and was introduced into the waste liquid recovery tank.

Next, during the temperature control of the automatic processor, each of the solid reclaiming agents prepared in Experimental Example 1 was set in the solid reclaiming agent replenishing device 8 shown in FIG.

This reproduction processing agent actuates the light-sensitive material area detection sensor 7 so that the 135-size 24-shot film has two
When the main treatment is performed, they are put into the overflow liquid storage tank one by one, and at the same time, the circulation pump 17 is operated and melted. At the same time, the replenishment water replenishing device 10 and the solenoid valve 12 are activated,
40 ml of replenishing water for each color developing tank 1 and 2 for bleaching tank
For the fixing tank 3, 30 ml for the fixing tank 3, and 6 for the stabilizing tank 5.
It was set to supply 0 ml. At the same time as the temperature control is completed, the liquid level detection sensor 9 is actuated via the control unit 11 to evaporate each processing liquid without processing the film, and when the liquid level in each processing tank drops by 1 cm or more, replenishment water is added. Replenishment device 1
0 and the solenoid valve 12 are activated so that the replenishment water is supplied until the liquid level in each processing tank returns to a predetermined level.

20 pieces of Konica Color Super DD100 film photographed by the above-mentioned automatic processor were processed every day, and the stability of the processing performance for one month was observed.

For comparison, a method of preparing a replenishing solution in a conventional replenishing tank and replenishing it via each bellows pump was also evaluated.

Regarding the stability of processing performance, the control strip CNK-4 was processed every 30 times of Top and 30 processings, the photographic density was confirmed, and at the same time, the processing solution was sampled every 10 days, and the items shown in Table 3 were processed. The liquid composition was analyzed and evaluated.

Tables 2 and 3 show the photographic density measurement results of Experiment 2-1 and the analysis results of the processing solution composition. Further, by separating the solid reclaimed processing agent replenishment section and the dissolution section from the substantial processing tank section of the automatic processor, a part of the processing agent becomes moist around the extrusion member 85 and the solid reclaimed processing agent input port. It was also confirmed that it was smoothly put in without sticking.

[0080]

[Table 2]

[0081]

[Table 3]

From the results shown in Tables 2 and 3, it can be seen that the processing of the present invention is less stable in photographic performance and the composition of the processing liquid and is more stable than the processing of the conventional method.

Experiment 2-2 Next, processor C for Konica Color Paper Type QA
Similar to Experiment 2-1, a control function, a solid regeneration treatment agent supply function, a liquid level detection function, a hot water supply function, and the like were remodeled into L-PP718, and the running test was performed for 30 days.

The following table shows the standard processing conditions of the automatic processor.

[0085]

[Table 4] The stabilizing tank is replenished to the third tank, and the overflow solution is sequentially flown into the first tank and the second tank.

The processing solution for the automatic processor was prepared by the following method.

A. Color development tank liquid (23 liters) 18 liters of hot water at 35 ° C. was placed in a color development tank of an automatic processor, and 198 solid color development / regeneration treatment agents for color paper prepared in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1 were added and dissolved. . Next, 23 starters of the following formulation, which had been solidified separately, were added as starter components and completely dissolved, and then water was added up to the tank marked line to complete the tank solution. Color development starter for color paper Potassium chloride 7.0 g Potassium bromide 14.4 mg Potassium hydrogen carbonate 4.8 g Potassium carbonate 2.1 g

B. Bleach-fixing solution (23 liters) 15 liters of warm water at 35 ° C. was placed in a bleach-fixing tank of an automatic processor, and 207 solid bleach-fixing reprocessing agents for color paper prepared in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1 were added and dissolved.
Next, 23 starters of the following formulation, which had been solidified separately, were added as starter components and completely dissolved, and then water was added up to the tank mark to complete the tank solution. Bleach-fix starter for color paper Sodium hydrogen carbonate 3g Potassium carbonate 12g

C. Stabilizer (15 liters for 1 to 3 tanks) Automatic developing machine Stabilization tank 1st tank, 2nd tank, 3rd tank
12 liters of warm water at 5 ° C. was added to each of the solid stable regeneration treatment agents for color paper prepared in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1 to give 6 parts.
0 pieces were added and dissolved. Next, water was added up to the marked line to complete the tank solution.

Next, during the temperature control of the automatic processor, each solid reclaiming agent prepared in Experimental Example 1 was supplied to the solid reclaiming agent replenishing device 8 by 10 times.
Each piece was taken out of the polyethylene bag and set. This regenerating agent actuates the light-sensitive material area detection sensor 7, and when 1 m ^{2 of} color paper is processed, one is put into the overflow liquid storage tank and dissolved by the operation of the circulation pump 17, and at the same time, the replenishing water replenishing device 10 And the solenoid valve 12 are activated, and hot water of 80 ml in the color developing tank 1, 50 ml in the bleach-fixing tank 2, and 250 ml in the third tank of the stabilizing tank 5, respectively.
It was set to be supplied.

The photographed Konica Color Paper Type QA was set on the above-mentioned automatic processor, and 40 m ^{2 was} processed every day while printing, and the stability of the processing performance for one month was observed. In addition, as a comparison, a method of preparing a replenisher in a conventional replenishment tank and replenishing it via each bellows pump was also evaluated.

Similar to Experiment 2-1, the stability of the processing performance is T
Control strip CP for each op and 40 m ² treatment
After processing K-2 and confirming the photographic density, 200 at the same time
The treatment liquid was sampled for each m ² treatment, and the treatment liquid composition was analyzed and evaluated for the items shown in Table 6.

Tables 5 and 6 show the photographic density measurement results and the analysis results of the processing solution composition of Experiment 2-2.

[0094]

[Table 5]

[0095]

[Table 6]

From the results shown in Tables 5 and 6, it can be seen that the processing of the present invention is less stable in photographic performance and composition of the processing solution and is more stable than the processing of the conventional method.

[0097]

According to the present invention, by replenishing the overflow liquid storage tank with the solid regenerating processing agent for keeping the performance of the processing liquid constant, and directly supplying the regenerating liquid to the processing tank portion of the automatic processor. Since the replenisher stock tank can be removed from around the automatic processor or inside the automatic processor,
The automatic processor can be made compact. In addition, problems such as precipitation and turling related to the storage stability of the replenisher are eliminated, and low replenishment can be performed without worrying about the low processing amount of the automatic developing machine or the solubility of the developing agent in the replenisher. .

By solidifying the reprocessing agent used in the present invention, it is possible to provide an environmentally compatible replenishing agent that does not require the use of a plastic bottle. In addition, the replenishment water replenishment is required to dissolve the solid rejuvenation treatment agent, and the evaporation correction replenishment required to replenish the water evaporated during the operation and stop of the automatic processor. By replenishing with water, the process of preparing the replenisher can be eliminated, the concentration of the processing solution can be prevented, the composition of the processing solution in the automatic processor can be kept stable, and stable exposure The processing result of the material is obtained. Replenisher by detecting the area of the photosensitive material to be processed and replenishing solid replenishing treatment agent and replenishment water for liquid preparation, and detecting the liquid level in the processing tank and replenishing replenishment water for evaporation correction. The liquid preparation work and the evaporation correction work process can be made free and labor can be saved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of an automatic processor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Color developing tank 2: Bleaching tank 3: Fixing tank 4: Washing tank 5: Stabilizing tank 6: Drying part 7: Sensor for detecting area of photosensitive material 8: Supplying device for solid processing agent 9: Sensor for detecting liquid level 10: Replenishment Water supply device 11: Control unit 12: Solenoid valve 14: Hot water for flushing 15: Replenishment water supply pipe 16: Overflow liquid storage tank 17: Supply pump 18: Hot water storage tank 19: Solenoid valve 20: Solenoid valve 21: Temperature control Heater 22: Processing rack 23: Processing liquid circulation pump 24: Filtration filter section 25: Overflow pipe 81: Stepping motor 82: Plunger 83: Pinion 84: Stepping motor 85: Extrusion member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage tank for storing at least an overflow liquid from an automatic processor processing tank, a supply means for supplying a solid processing agent to the storage tank, and a solid processing agent supplied and regenerated in the storage tank. An automatic developing machine for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, comprising: a supply means for supplying the processing solution described above to a substantial processing tank portion of the automatic developing machine. 2. A silver halide photograph according to claim 1, further comprising means for supplying water or warm water to the processing solution and / or the overflow solution substantially in the processing tank of the automatic processor. Automatic developing machine for photosensitive materials. 3. The automatic developing machine for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials according to claim 1, wherein the solid processing agent is in the form of tablets.