JPH07295182A - Solid processing agent replenishing device for silver halide photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a solid processing agent replenishing device capable of preventing the interaction of plural granules and obviating generation of blocking and replenishing the whole of exact replenishing amts. even in a high-humidity environment at the time of discharging the granular solid processing agents which are dividedly weighed and dividedly packaged in a prescribed amt. each from individual packages housing the solid processing agents consisting of mixture composed of the plural granules into a processing tank to replenish this tank with these processing agents. CONSTITUTION:This solid processing agent replenishing device for silver halide photographic sensitive materials is constituted to supply the individual packages M which are formed by hermetically sealing the previously dividedly weighed granular solid processing agents K into packaging materials to a supplying device installed near the processing tank 2 housing the processing liquid of the processing device for processing the silver halide photographic sensitive materials and to replenish the processing tank 2 with the granular solid processing agents K in the individual package M by unsealing the individual packages M. The granular solid processing agents K are previously dividedly weighed to 0.5 to 50g per unit replenishing amt. and are hermetically housed into the individual packages M. The granular solid processing agents K in the individual packages M are <=20wt.% of the granular solid processing agents K of a grain size below 149mum.

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 silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials, and more particularly to a light-sensitive material in which the workability is greatly improved by making the automatic processor compact and eliminating melting work. The present invention relates to a replenishing device of a processing device with a solid processing agent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a light-sensitive material) is used after exposure, development,
It is processed by steps such as desilvering, washing and stabilizing. The black-and-white silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is developed and fixed after exposure.

Such processing is usually carried out by an automatic processor (hereinafter,
It is also carried out by automatically transporting the light-sensitive material sequentially through the above-mentioned processing steps, such as an automatic developing machine).

In the case of processing with such an automatic processor, a method of replenishing a processing agent is generally widely used in order to keep the activity of the processing solution in the processing solution tank constant.

Specifically, the processing operation is carried out while supplying the replenishing solution from the replenishing tank (hereinafter also referred to as the replenishing tank) into the processing solution tank at appropriate times.

In this case, the replenisher solution stored in the replenishing tank is generally prepared and prepared in another place, but in an automatic developing machine called a minilab, which has been rapidly increasing in recent years, it is close to the inside of the developing machine. Usually, a fixed amount is prepared at a time when the replenisher runs out in a replenishment tank installed in the tank. In the preparation, manual dissolution or dissolution / mixing with a mixer has been performed.

That is, a processing agent for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a photographic processing agent) is commercially available in a powder form or a liquid form.
In the case of powder, it is prepared by manually dissolving it in a certain amount of water, and in the case of liquid, it is concentrated, so a certain amount of water is added and the mixture is manually stirred and diluted to prepare a solution. .

On the other hand, in recent years, from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment, development of a solid processing agent for the photographic processing agent has been carried out,
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2-109042, 2-109043, and 3-39379
The above-mentioned solid processing agents are disclosed in JP-A Nos. 3-39735, 4-19655 and 4-230748.

However, when a replenishing solution is prepared using the above solid processing agent, the dissolution time is longer than in the case of a liquid state, and the production efficiency is remarkably deteriorated due to the generation of dust. There is a desire to solve the problem.

However, all of these techniques are based on the use of replenisher, and use of replenisher has the following drawbacks.

(1) The replenisher cannot have a concentration exceeding the solubility (because crystals precipitate if the solubility is exceeded),
Limiting rapid processing and low replenishment (2) Complicated and troublesome replenisher dissolution and mixing (3) Danger of transportation of liquid treatment agent and handling (4) User's own It is difficult to fully automate replenishment of the concentration kit by hand. (5) It is difficult to make the automatic developing machine compact by having many built-in replenishment tanks. (6) When storing liquid replenisher for a long time. (7) When a plastic bottle for liquid is used, plastic pollution occurs due to disposal of waste bottle.

In order to solve these problems of using a replenisher, a method of directly adding a solid processing agent to a processing tank and dissolving it has been proposed in JP-A-5-119454 and JP-A-5-188533. . Although the problem disclosed in the above publication is certainly solved by using the replenisher,
The upper part of the dissolution part where the solid processing agent is put has high humidity, and in some areas the solid processing agent is placed in an environment of high humidity, so that the tablets stick to each other, or in some cases they dissolve. Problems in stable replenishment due to problems,
There is a problem that it takes a long time to dissolve and the processing performance becomes unstable.

In particular, when a solid processing agent in the form of granules, powders or pills is quantitatively cut out from the container and supplied, if the solid processing agent supply amount has an error, the photosensitive material is stabilized. It is difficult to handle. Therefore, precision is required to replenish the solid processing agent.

Generally, when a granular solid processing agent or a powdery solid processing agent is replenished, the volume is generally measured, and the replenishing device is also inexpensive. However, in the case of a solid processing agent for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, there are a plurality of types of granulated materials, and it is known to supply them separately (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-179729, etc.). However, in such a replenishing device, a plurality of replenishing devices are required for one type of processing tank, and a supply control means is required for each replenishing device, which not only increases the equipment complexity but also increases the cost. However, there is a drawback in that the size of the automatic developing machine incorporating the replenishing device increases due to the increased space.

Therefore, it is advantageous to prepare a mixture of a plurality of types of granules or powders, cut out a predetermined amount from this mixture storage container, and weigh and supply. When the above mixture is weighed and supplied, the granules or powders interact with each other and blocking easily occurs. In particular, the temperature of the processing liquid in the automatic processing machine is usually 20 ° C. to 50 ° C., and the upper part of the dissolution section into which the solid processing agent is charged has high humidity. In such a high-humidity environment, the above-mentioned phenomenon is emphasized and defective supply is likely to occur.

In order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, a technique has been disclosed in which the transporting portion and the discharge port for the solid processing agent are moisture-proof as a sealed moisture-proof space (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-213454). However, since the space of the sealed moistureproof space is required, there are problems such as high cost and adhesion of the solid processing agent to the transfer mechanism.

On the other hand, the divided supply method in which a fixed amount of the solid processing agent is contained in a bag such as a film-like sheet has a high weighing accuracy of the solid processing agent, and each packing is provided with moisture resistance, storability and stability. It has the advantage of excellent

However, in the conventional method of supplying a granular solid processing agent in a packaged manner, the particle size of the granular solid processing agent divided and weighed individually in the packaging material is not constant, and the granular solid processing agent of various sizes is mixed. Is housed. In particular, if the granular solid processing agent contains a large amount of powdery solid processing agent, the replenishing device is loaded with individual packages, the packaging material is opened, and the enclosed solid processing agent is supplied to the processing tank. In this case, it is difficult to discharge the powdery solid processing agent from the individual package, and the whole amount cannot be charged, resulting in poor weighing accuracy and scattering of powder around. A complex device is required to improve this.

[0019]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention provide the following improved granular solid processing agent replenishing device.

(I) The granular solid processing agent does not undergo changes in shape, volume, weight, component bias, etc., or blocking due to environmental humidity, and accurate weighing can be performed.

(Ii) A processing solution having a stable composition can be obtained by eliminating a supply amount error and scattering when a granular solid processing agent is charged.

(Iii) No complicated and precise replenishing device is required,
A stable solid processing agent can be supplied with an inexpensive replenishing device.

[0023]

In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have found that the above problems can be solved and achieved by the following constitution.

The above-mentioned object is to supply a granular solid processing agent preliminarily divided and weighed into a packaging material to a supply apparatus installed in the vicinity of a processing tank containing a processing solution of a processing apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. In a solid processing agent replenishing device for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which supplies a sealed individual wrapping body, opens the individual wrapping body, and replenishes the granular solid processing agent in the individual wrapping body into the processing tank, The granular solid processing agent is preliminarily divided and weighed into 0.5 to 50 g per unit replenishment supply amount and sealed and accommodated in the individual package, and the granular solid processing agent in the individual package has a particle size of less than 149 μm. It is achieved by a solid processing agent replenishing device for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, characterized in that the processing agent is 20% by weight or less.

Further, the granular solid processing agent of the present invention which achieves the above object is a granular solid processing agent having a particle size of less than 149 μm.
It is characterized by being less than or equal to wt%.

Further, the supply device of the present invention is a color developing tank,
It is characterized in that it is provided in at least one of a bleaching tank, a fixing tank, a bleach-fixing tank and a stabilizing tank.

Furthermore, the granular solid processing agent of the present invention is characterized by containing a binder.

The present invention will be described in detail below.
The solid processing agent of the present invention is a granular processing agent, and is characterized in that particles having a particle size according to JIS standard of less than 149 μm are 20% by weight or less. Granules have a particle size obtained by adding a granulation process to powder.
It refers to particles of 50 to 5000 μm.

The particle size according to the JIS standard in the present invention means JIS
-It can be determined by using the Z8801 sieve and measuring the weight of the granules or powders that pass or do not pass through the sieve by the sieving method, but when the particle size of less than 149 μm exceeds 20% by weight. However, there is a problem that the accuracy of feeding the granular processing agent from the individual wrapping material to the processing tank is remarkably reduced, the amount of the processing agent remaining in the individual wrapping material increases, and as a result, the processing stability becomes unstable.

The effect of the present invention is more remarkable when the amount of the granular or powdery treatment agent having a particle size of less than 149 μm is preferably 10% by weight or less.

The granulation method for forming granules according to the present invention includes rolling granulation, extrusion granulation, compression granulation, crush granulation, stirring granulation, fluidized bed granulation, spray drying granulation and the like. A known method can be used. Further, in the present invention, at the time of granulation, a water-soluble polymer or saccharide is used alone or in combination as a binder.
The effect of the present invention can be more remarkably achieved by adding and mixing 0.1 to 15% by weight and granulating.

As the water-soluble polymer or saccharide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose,
Celluloses such as methyl cellulose, dextrins such as pine flow and pa index (both manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Co., Ltd.), sugar alcohols such as mannitol and erythritol, polyalkylene glycols, α, β or γ cyclodextrin hydroxypropyl Examples thereof include cyclodextrins such as cyclodextrin, and among them, dextrins, sugar alcohols, and cyclodextrins are preferable from the viewpoint of solubility in the treatment liquid and processability.

The granular solid processing agent of the present invention is a known color developing component which is a processing agent for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials,
It is used as a bleaching component, a fixing component, a bleach-fixing component, a stabilizing component, a black-and-white developing component, etc., and as a color developing component, a paraphenylenediamine color developing agent, hydroquinone, metol, phenidone and its derivatives, etc. Known preservatives such as black and white developing agents, sulfites or their additions,
Solubilizing agents, alkali agents such as alkali metal hydroxides, buffer agents such as carbonates, borates and phosphates, chelating agents represented by aminopolycarboxylic acids and organic phosphonic acids,
Examples thereof include optical brighteners, surfactants, halides and the like. Examples of bleaching components include known ferric salts of organic acids, halides, chelating agents, rust preventives, bleaching accelerators, and the like.
As the fixing component, there are known fixing main agents such as thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioethers and their derivatives, known preservatives such as sulfites and adducts thereof, chelating agents and the like, and as stabilizing components, There are known ingredients such as anti-fungal agents, chelating agents, various metal salts, preservatives, solubilizers, formaldehyde derivatives, activators, etc. One or more ingredients may be granulated for each ingredient. A method of granulating a plurality of components and granulating is a preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention.

In the present invention, the granular processing agent is divided and weighed at 0.5 to 50 g per unit replenishment supply amount. Replenishment amount per unit refers to the total replenishment weight per unit of the granular processing agent that is charged when a certain amount of silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed, and the unit replenishment of the granular processing agent If the supply amount is too large, the dissolution of the granular processing agent is likely to occur, and if the unit replenishment supply amount is small, the number of times of injection for supplying a certain amount of the granular processing agent increases, and the accuracy of injection and the durability of the supply means are increased. Sex matters. It is preferably 1 g to 30 g per unit replenishment supply amount.

The packaging material used in the present invention has a moisture permeability.
Synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polythretin, polycarbonate, vinylon, eval, polyethylene terephthalate, which are 50g / m ² · 24hr (40 ° C-90% RH) or less For example, a single material or a composite material of two or more kinds or a film using an aluminum foil or the like between the films may be used, or a paper base coated with the above synthetic resin may be used. Water vapor permeability is preferably 20 g / m ² · 24 hr or less, particularly preferably 10 g / m ² · 24 hr
The following packaging materials.

The film thickness of the packaging material is 1 to 2000 μm from the viewpoints of usability, disposal property of the packaging material, friction property, moisture permeability and the like.
m, more preferably 10 to 500 μm.

As a method for packaging the solid processing agent, there are four-sided seal, three-sided seal, stick (pillow package, gusset package), PTP (velister package), cartridge, etc., but the effect of the present invention is remarkably exhibited. Is a 4-way seal, 3
The four-sided seal, the three-sided seal, and the stick wrapping, which are the one-sided seal and the stick wrapping, have different forms, and the above materials are used. However, when the peel-open method is used, a sealant agent can be laminated to provide the peel-open suitability.

A method of supplying the solid processing agent to the processing tank is a method of charging according to the processing amount of the light-sensitive material, but a method of opening and taking out the package is preferable, and an adhesive surface is separated at the time of opening. It is preferable to use a method of cutting, a method of opening a part of the seal packaging by cutting and tearing, a method of cutting by an external force such as a cutter, and a method of forcibly pushing out the solid processing agent.

It is within the scope of the present invention to solidify only one part of a certain treating agent in the granular solid treating agent used in the present invention, but preferably all components of the treating agent are solidified. That is. It is desirable that each component be molded as a separate granular solid processing agent and be individually packaged. It is also included in the present invention that the separate components are packaged in the order in which they are periodically added repeatedly in a package.

In the present invention, it is preferable to add all of the processing agents to be replenished to the respective processing solution tanks as granular solid processing agents according to the processing amount information. The replenishment water is replenished based on the evaporation amount information processing amount information or other replenishment water control information. In the present invention, the replenishment water means water other than normal water which has been subjected to anti-vibration treatment, a treatment liquid which continues to a treatment liquid tank having an ability to fix ion-exchanged water, or an overflow waste liquid.

Next, an embodiment using the solid processing agent replenishing device of the present invention will be described.

A granular sample for fixing treatment was prepared as follows.

Ammonium thiosulfate 2300 g Sodium thiosulfate 230 g Sodium sulfite 1850 g Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt 200 g Potassium carbonate 200 g Average particle size of each of the above compounds in a commercially available hammer mill
It was crushed until it became 50 μm or less.

2.5% by weight of the binder in Table 1 was added to the obtained powder.
Add and mix with a cross rotary mixer, then granulate for about 15 minutes with a commercial stirred granulator while adding 600 ml of water, then dry with a commercial fluidized bed dryer at 55 ° C for 1 hour. The particles were sized and / or classified as appropriate to adjust the particles having a particle size of less than 149 μm to be as shown in Table 1.

The particle size was measured by using a sieve of JIS-Z8801 and measuring the weight of the powder remaining or passing by the sieving method.

Next, 5 granules each having the particle size shown in Table 1 were prepared.
Graft by g, 4-way seal (polyethylene) shown in Fig. 7 (A)
100 μm), and 5 minutes packaging using a replenishing device having a rotary cutter type opening means shown in FIG.
Remaining amount of chemicals per 1 packet at that time (remaining amount of chemicals / 5g × 10
0%) is shown in Table 1. The smaller the remaining amount of chemicals, the better the replenishment accuracy.

[0047]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, when the weight% of the particles having a particle size of less than 149 μm is 20 or less, the chemical residue is preferably 2.0% or less, but when it exceeds 20% by weight, the chemical residue is large and the photograph It was found to affect the processing performance.

[0049]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an automatic processor AP for developing on-sheet printing paper. In the automatic processor AP, the sheet of photographic printing paper p has a color developing tank 1A, a bleach-fixing tank 1B, and stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, 1E.
After being treated with each of the treatment liquids therein, it is dried. Figure 1
In (A), as the liquid surface level, for the bleach-fixing tank 1B,
Stabilization tanks 1C, 1D, 1E are getting higher in sequence. Therefore, the structure is such that the overflow liquid from 1E flows into 1D, 1C, 1B due to gravity (counter current method). In this case, since mechanical supply means such as a pump is unnecessary,
It can be said to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the automatic developing machine AF for negative film development processing. With the automatic processor AF, a negative film f
Is a color developing tank 7A, bleaching tank 7B, fixing tanks 7C and 7D, stabilizing tank 7
After being processed by each processing solution in E, 7F, 7G, it is dried. The above color developing tank 7A, bleaching tank 7B, fixing tank 7D and stabilizing tank 7G
Each processing tank is provided with solid processing agent supply devices 8A, 8B, 8D, and 8G for supplying a solid processing agent. The replenishment water tank 4 has substantially the same configuration as that of FIG.

Further, if the overflow solution of the processing solution tank is used as replenishing water for the pre-bath processing solution tank of the processing solution tank, the effective components of the pre-bath processing solution tank brought out by processing the photosensitive material also overflow. Since it is contained in the liquid, the required amount of the granular solid processing agent can be reduced, and the amount of replenishing water in the processing liquid tank can be reduced.

FIG. 2A is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material processing apparatus in which an automatic processing apparatus AP and a photographic printing machine B are integrally constructed.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of (printer processor).

In FIG. 2 (A), a photographic printing paper which is an unexposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is provided at the lower left of the photographic printer B.
A magazine M containing (color paper) stored in a roll is set. The photographic printing paper p drawn out from the magazine is cut into a predetermined size via the feed roller R1 and the cutter section C _t to become the sheet-shaped photographic printing paper p. The sheet photographic printing paper p is conveyed by the belt conveying means Be, and exposed to the exposure section E.
At, the image of the original image O is exposed by the light source and the lens L. The exposed sheet photographic printing paper p is further conveyed by a plurality of pairs of feed rollers R2, R3, R4 and introduced into the automatic developing machine AP. In the automatic developing machine AP, the sheet of photographic printing paper p is a processing solution tank in each of the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B, the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D and 1E (substantially three processing solution tanks 1). Are sequentially conveyed by a roller conveying means (reference symbol None), and a color developing process, a bleach-fixing process and a stabilizing process are performed respectively. The sheet-shaped photographic printing paper p that has been subjected to each of the above processes is dried in the drying unit 6 and discharged outside the machine.

Incidentally, the alternate long and short dash line in the figure indicates the conveyance path of the printing paper p. Further, in the embodiment, the photographic printing paper p is introduced into the automatic developing machine AP in a cut state, but it may be introduced into the automatic developing machine AP in a strip shape.

Needless to say, the automatic developing machine AP according to the present invention may be constructed integrally with the photoprinting machine B or may be a single automatic developing machine AP. Further, as an explanation of the present invention,
The processing is performed on the automatic developing machine AP having the processing liquid tank 1 having substantially three tanks including the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1B, and the stabilizing tanks 1C, 1D, and 1E, but the present invention is not limited to this and is exposed. The automatic developing machine AF having a color developing tank for processing the negative film f, a bleaching tank, a fixing tank, and a stabilizing tank, or substantially four tanks or more processing liquid tanks (see FIGS. 4 and 5). However, the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the automatic processor AP.
The above-mentioned color developing tank 1A, bleach-fixing tank 1B, and stabilizing tank 1E are provided with dissolving tanks 2A, 2B and 2E, circulating tanks 2C and 2D, and a solid processing agent supply device 3A for supplying a granular processing agent. 3B and 3E are provided. Reference numeral 4 is a replenishing water tank for supplying replenishing water to the color developing tank 1A, the bleach-fixing tank 1C, and the stabilizing tank 1E. As described above, the overflow solution of the stabilizing tank is introduced into the bleach-fixing layer 1C to bleach-fixing tank. It is not necessary to supply supplemental water to 1C.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing agent supply section and the processing agent supply means of the bleach-fixing tank 1B, which is the processing solution tank, taken along the line I-I of the automatic processor AP in FIG. It should be noted that, in the figure, a transporting means for transporting the photosensitive material and the like are omitted for easy understanding of the configuration. Further, in this example, the case where the granular solid processing agent K is used as the solid processing agent will be described.

The bleach-fixing tank 1B for processing a light-sensitive material has a dissolving tank 2B integrally provided outside a partition wall 21 forming the bleach-fixing tank 1B. Communication window between bleach-fixing tank 1B and melting tank 2B
It is partitioned by a partition wall 21 on which 21A is formed, so that the processing liquid (bleach-fixing liquid) can be circulated.

The cylindrical filter 22 is replaceably provided inside the dissolving tank 2B and has a function of removing insoluble matter in the treatment liquid. The inside of the filter 22 is in communication with the suction side of the circulation pump 24 (circulation means) via a circulation pipe 23A that penetrates the lower wall of the dissolution tank 2B.

The circulation system is composed of circulation pipes 23A and 23B forming a liquid circulation passage, a circulation pump 24 and the like. The other end of the circulation pipe 23B communicating with the discharge side of the circulation pump 24 penetrates the outer wall of the bleach-fixing tank 1B and communicates with the bleach-fixing tank 1B. With such a configuration, when the circulation pump 24 operates, the processing liquid is sucked from the dissolution tank 2B, and the bleach-fixing tank 1B
Then, the treatment liquid mixes with the treatment liquid in the bleach-fixing tank 1B, enters the dissolving tank 2B again, and repeats circulation. The circulation direction of the processing liquid is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. 3, and may be the opposite direction.

The waste liquid pipe 11B is for overflowing the processing liquid in the bleach-fixing tank 1B, keeps the liquid surface level constant, and prevents the components introduced from other processing liquid tanks by adhering to the photosensitive material. , Helps to prevent the components dissolved from the light-sensitive material from accumulating and increasing.

The rod-shaped heater 25 is arranged so as to penetrate the upper wall of the dissolution tank 2B and be immersed in the treatment liquid in the dissolution tank 2B. The heater 25 heats the processing liquid in the dissolution tank 2B and the bleach-fixing tank 1B, in other words, the bleach-fixing tank.
Temperature range suitable for processing the processing liquid in 1B (for example, 20 to 55 ° C)
It is a temperature adjusting means that is held at.

The means for supplying the solid processing agent to the dissolution tank 2B comprises a solid processing agent supplying means 30 and a replenishing water supplying means 40.

The processing amount information detecting means 31 is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive material conveying entrance of the automatic developing machine AP and is used for detecting the processing amount of the photosensitive material to be processed. The processing amount information detecting means 31 has a plurality of detecting members arranged in the left-right direction, and functions as an element for detecting the width of the photosensitive material and counting the detected time. Since the conveying speed of the photosensitive material is mechanically preset, the processing area of the photosensitive material can be calculated from the width information and the time information. In addition,
The processing amount information detecting means 31 may be an infrared sensor, a micro switch, an ultrasonic sensor or the like as long as it can detect the width and the transport time of the photosensitive material. Further, in the case of a device capable of indirectly detecting the processed area of the photosensitive material, for example, in the case of a printer processor as shown in FIG. 2, the amount of the photosensitive material that has been printed or the number of processed photosensitive materials having a predetermined area is set. It may be detected. Further, the detection timing is before the treatment in this example, but may be after the treatment or during the immersion in the treatment liquid (in such a case, the position where the treatment amount information detecting means 31 is provided). Can be appropriately changed to a position that can be detected after processing or a position that can be detected during processing). Further, it is not necessary to provide the processing amount information detecting means 31 for each of the processing liquid tanks 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and it is preferable to provide one for each automatic developing machine AP. The supply control unit 32 is a treatment agent supply control unit that receives a signal from the treatment amount information detection unit 31 to control the treatment amount supply of the solid treatment agent and a replenishment water amount supply control unit that controls the replenishment water supply amount.

The solid processing agent supply means 30 that can be used in the present invention is a container 3 for storing the granular solid processing agent K.
3. It is composed of a supply device main body 34 which is a supply means and a drive means. The upper cover 102 of the automatic processing apparatus AP is swingably connected to a main body 101 that houses the bleach-fixing tank 1B and the melting tank 2B by a support shaft 103 at the back of the main body, and the upper cover 102 of FIG. By lifting in the direction of the one-dot chain line A in the drawing and largely opening the front surface and the upper surface on the operator side,
It is possible to inspect the solid processing agent supply means 30 and replace the filter 22.

A lid 104 is swingably connected to a part of the upper surface of the upper cover 102, and the lid 104 is opened in the direction of the alternate long and short dash line B in the drawing to form the granular shape of the storage container 33. The solid processing agent K is replenished.

FIG. 4 is an overall front view of the automatic developing machine AF for color negative film to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 5 is the automatic developing machine AF.
FIG. The automatic processor AF has substantially four processing solution tanks including a color developing tank 7A, a bleaching tank 7B, fixing tanks 7C and 7D, and stabilizing tanks 7E, 7F and 7G.

The processing liquid tanks 7A, 7B, 7D and 7G are connected to the dissolution tanks 9A, 9B, 9D and 9G, respectively, and the circulation pump 24
The processing liquid is circulated and stirred by A, 24B, 24D and 24G. Further, the above-described solid processing agent supply devices 8A, 8B, 8D, 8G are installed above the respective dissolution tanks 9A, 9B, 9D, 9G, and a corresponding appropriate amount of the solid processing agent is controlled and supplied. 9C, 9E and 9F are circulation tanks.

On the other hand, the replenishment water W in the common replenishment water tank 41
Is a bellows pump 42, a water absorption pipe 43, and a small pipe 44.
It is supplied to each melting tank 9A, 9B, 9D, 9G.

In FIG. 4, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the transport path of the film f. The film f is pulled out from the cartridge attached to the loading means in the operation section, and the color developing tank 7A and the bleaching tank are provided.
After being processed in 7B, fixing tanks 7C and 7D, and stabilizing tanks 7E, 7F and 7G, they are dried by the fan heater 61 of the drying unit 6 and discharged outside the machine.

In FIG. 5, 12 is a waste liquid tank for storing overflow liquid, 26 is a thermostat, and 27 is a liquid level sensor. The parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for controlling the supply of the solid processing agent and the replenishing water. When the processing amount information of the photosensitive material (printing paper p) sent to the automatic developing machine AP is detected by the detection means 31 and sent to the supply control means 32, a predetermined amount of the solid processing agent K and the replenishing water W, It is charged and replenished in the dissolution tank 2 by the respective supply means 30 and 40. This solid processing agent K and replenishing water W
Is replenished intermittently a plurality of times each time the signal of the detection means 31 is generated.

In the above-mentioned supply control, the set value preset by the solid processing agent replenishment condition setting input means 39, that is, the time interval of the solid processing agent K, the amount of one time charging, the number of times of charging, etc., is set for each replenisher. It is set and input to the supply control means 32.

When the number of times the solid processing agent K is charged reaches the preset theoretical number of times of charging, or when the completion of discharging the solid processing agent K remaining in the storage container 33 is detected by the residual detection means, the storage container Complete the supply of 33 sets. In this way, after the discharge of the total amount of the solid processing agent in the storage container 33 is completed, a storage container conversion alarm is generated and the container replacement operation is performed.

In the present invention, the solid processing agent is divided and weighed in 0.5 to 50 g per unit replenishment supply amount. The unit replenishment / supply amount means the total weight of the solid processing agent that is added when a certain amount of silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed. The unit replenishment / supply amount of the solid processing agent is too large. When the solid supply amount is small, the number of times of charging for supplying a certain amount of the solid processing agent increases, and the accuracy of charging and the durability of the supplying means become a problem.

It is a preferable mode for carrying out the present invention that the packaging material has an internal friction coefficient of 1.5 or less with the surface of the solid processing agent of the present invention. Here, the coefficient of friction in the package is a value obtained by the following method.

The solid processing agent is put into the packaging material, and the packaging material is sealed and hermetically sealed. HEIDON's "Static Friction Tester HEIDON-1" was cut at both ends of the packaging material at a temperature of 25 ° C and a relative temperature of 40%.
0 "is used to fix the packaging material and measure tan θ at which 80% or more of the solid processing agent slips off the packaging material. This tan θ is the coefficient of friction within the package between the solid processing agent and the packaging material. The coefficient of friction in this package is the surface property, composition, size,
Although the coefficient of friction in the package varies depending on the shape, the material of the packaging material, the surface roughness, and the storage state, the point is that the coefficient of friction in the package between the solid processing agent and the packaging material should be 1.5 or less when used.

The packaging material used in the present invention is preferably a synthetic resin material, specifically, polyethylene,
Examples thereof include polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, polycarbonate, vinylon, eval, and polyethylene terephthalate, which may be a single film or laminated with two or more kinds of films. However, an aluminum foil or the like may be used between the films, or a paper base coated with the above synthetic resin may be used.

Further, the moisture permeability of the packaging material is 50 g / m ² · 24hr (4
The effect becomes more remarkable when the temperature is 0 ° C./90% RH or less. That is, when the water vapor permeability is high, the amount of water passing through the packaging material increases, so that the solid processing agent exhibiting deliquescent partly deliquesces, causing an undesirable reaction with other photographic components. A packaging material having a moisture permeability of preferably 20 g / m ² · 24 hr or less is preferably used in the embodiment of the present invention.

The thickness of the packaging material is 1 to 2000 μm from the viewpoints of usability, disposal of the packaging material, friction and moisture permeability.
m, more preferably 10 to 1000 μm.

As a method for packaging the solid processing agent, there are four-sided seal, three-sided seal, stick (pillow packaging, gusset packaging), PTP (velister packaging), cartridge, etc., but the effect of the present invention is remarkably exhibited. The four-sided seals, the three-sided seals, and the stick wrapping have different forms, and the above materials are used. However, when the peel-open method is used, a sealant agent can be laminated to provide the peel-open suitability.

A method for supplying the solid processing agent to the processing tank is a method in which a solid processing agent which is weighed and divided into a fixed amount in advance is added according to the processing amount of the light-sensitive material, but the package is preferably opened. It is a method of taking out, a method of separating from the adhesive surface when opening, a part of the seal packaging is cut,
A method of opening by tearing, a method of cutting by an external force such as a cutter, and a method of forcibly pushing out the solid processing agent are preferably used.

Next, the packaging form used in the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a seal package, which is shown in FIG.
(B), (C) is the top view and sectional drawing which show the example of the four-way seal individual wrapping body M. FIG. 7 (D) shows an example of a three-way seal package. 8 (A) and 8 (B) show specific examples of stick wrapping bodies (pillow wrapping bodies), FIG. 8 (A) is a perspective view when the stick wrapping body is cut, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing the state where solid processing K encapsulated in is discharged.

FIG. 9 shows a specific example of the PTP package. Figure 9
(A) is a blister cross-sectional view in which the packaging material containing the granules is shallowly drawn and arranged in tandem. FIG. 9 (B) is a perspective view of the blister.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of various packaging forms.

FIGS. 10 (A), (B) and (C) show an example in which the granular solid processing agent K is packaged in each part in a series of packages,
FIG. 10D shows an example in which each package is separated. For example, in the case of granules for color development replenishment, one for each of the alkali part (A), the main drug part (B) and the preservative part (C) is contained in one packet as one supply unit, The various arrays described above are formed.

In FIG. 11, the granular solid processing agent K is divided and weighed, and the packaging material is heat-sealed to form a sachet, which is formed into an individual package M, and the individual package M is zigzag (Z-shaped). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of being folded and housed in a container 300.

12 to 17 are views showing various examples of the cutting and unsealing means of the individual wrapping body containing the granular solid processing agent K therein.

FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) are sectional views showing a replenishing device of the "U-shaped" half punching punch system.

FIG. 13 (a) is a perspective view of the replenishing device, and FIG. 13 (b).
[Fig. 4] is a plan view of the individual wrapping body after cutting and opening.

When the photosensitive material is processed, it is detected by the processing amount information detecting means, and when a certain amount is reached, a signal is sent by the processing agent supply control means 31 to rotate the conveying roller 301, and the solid processing agent K is rotated. The individual wrapping body M containing is moved to a position as shown in FIG. 12 (a) and stopped. The method of moving the individual wrapping body may be any method such as detecting a notch provided in advance in the individual wrapping body M, detecting a print pattern or an eye mark, detecting the solid processing agent K in the individual wrapping body M. Is required to accurately detect the required amount of the solid processing agent K. Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the punch male die 302 moves downward to cut the individual wrapping body M by the shearing action with the punch female die 303, and the solid processing agent K contained therein is stored in the dissolving tank of the automatic processor. It is thrown in 2. Punch male
The cut end cut by the 302 and the punch female die 303 has a U-shape like a punch cutting shape 306 as shown in FIG. 13B. 308
Ladder roller.

The used individual packages M enter the waste box 304 and can be discarded together. It is preferable to reuse the used individual package storage box 305.

14 and 15 are a sectional view and a perspective view showing another embodiment of the method for cutting off the individual wrapping body M, respectively.

In the figure, parts having the same functions as those in the above-mentioned embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

When the photosensitive material is processed, it is detected by the processing amount information detecting means 31, and when a certain amount is reached, a signal is sent by the processing agent supply control means 32 to convey rollers 301, 3
07 rotates and moves the individual wrapping body M containing the solid processing agent K to the position above the solid processing agent K and stops.
At this time, the tip of the individual wrapping body M has entered the ironing roller 308.

Next, the ceramic cutter 309 cuts the individual wrapping body M. When the cutting is completed, the ironing roller 308 and the conveying rollers 301 and 307 are rotated, and the solid processing agent K is ironed by the ironing roller 308, passes through the discharge port, and is put into the dissolving tank 2 of the automatic developing machine. The discarded individual packages M are discharged by the transport rollers 301 and enter the waste box 304.

In FIG. 16, the storage box 310 stores the solid processing agent individual wrapping body M in a state where the band portion is meandering, and the front end of the processing agent individual wrapping body M includes a roller 311a and a roller 311b. Sending out or lid by the first conveying means including the driving means
By opening and guiding 312, it is passed over the roller 313a, the second conveying means including the roller 313b and the driving means, and the lid 312 is closed to engage the first conveying means and the second conveying means. Before engaging with the second transport means, the cutting means (rotary cutter) 314 separates the upper and lower seal portions and guides them in the direction of arrow A to remove them.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the cutting and opening means of the individual wrapping body M for packaging the granular solid processing agent K.

In FIG. 17, the strip-shaped individual wrapping body M is wound around the circumferential surface of the drum 321 which is driven and rotated by the supply amount control means 32 and the drive means. Below the drum 321, a rotary cutter 322 is driven and rotated by a fixed amount. When the supply signal of the solid processing agent K is input, the drum 321 and the rotary cutter 322 are rotated to cut the lower side of the individual wrapping body M, and the granular solid processing agent K in the sachet is discharged to dissolve the dissolution tank 2 Supply to.

In FIG. 18, the strip-shaped individual wrapping body M is wound inside the cartridge 331, and the winding roller 332
The individual wrapping body M is wound up by the drive rotation of, and the lower side of the individual wrapping body M is cut by the rotation of the lower rotary cutter 333, and the granular solid processing agent K in the sachet is discharged.

19, 20, and 21 are perspective views showing another embodiment of a peel-open type replenishing device for reopening the individual wrapping body M and replenishing the granular solid processing agent in the sachets. In both cases, the winding adhesive surface of the packaging material (sheet) is peeled off and separated.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an example of the solid processing agent replenishing device of the present invention, in which the solid processing agent contained in the individual packaging body M is peeled off to remove the adhesive surface of the individual packaging body M. K is put into the processing tank 2.

An individual wrapping body M (see FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C) in which the solid processing agent is wrapped in a four-sided seal is pulled out from the storage box 341, and the leading end portion of the individual wrapping body M is set to the roller 342. When the photosensitive material is processed, it is set on the take-up shafts 343, 344 through the processing amount information detecting means 31, and when a certain amount is reached, a signal is sent by the processing agent supply control means 32 to supply the processing agent. By moving the motors of the winding shafts 343 and 344 which are also means, the individual wrapping body M containing the solid processing agent is moved by a certain length, and the solid processing agent in the sachet is charged. The method of moving the individual wrapping body M may be any method such as detecting the notch 345 provided in advance in the individual wrapping body M, detecting the print pattern, detecting the treatment agent of the wrapping body, etc. The unwrapping position is accurately detected, and the roller 342 and the winding shaft 343,
It is moved by 344. The roller 342 is installed for the purpose of fixing or positioning the individual wrapping body M, and is separated by the two winding shafts 343 and 344 (M ₁ , M
₂ ) The solid processing agent K is added.

After winding, the individual wrapping body M separated
₁ and M ₂ may be taken directly from the winding shafts 343 and 344, or may be rewound and the individual packages M ₁ and M ₂ may be discarded together with the storage box 341.

FIG. 20 shows a replenishing device of the type in which the adhesive surface of the individual wrapping body M is peeled off by the uniaxial winding shaft 354. The individual wrapping body M is a blister type wrapping in which a predetermined amount of the granular solid processing agent K is divided and weighed and stored in a shallow drawing wrapping material M ₁ and then a sheet-like wrapping material M ₂ is adhered and sealed. It is the body. The strip-shaped individual wrapping body M stored in the storage box 351 is pulled out by the rollers 352 and 353, and further, the winding shaft 354.
One of the packaging materials M ₂ is wound by the driving rotation of
By separating from the adhesive surface of the other packaging material M ₁ ,
The granular solid processing agent K in the shallow drawing portion is discharged and replenished to the lower dissolution tank 2.

FIG. 21 shows a replenishing device showing another embodiment of the uniaxial winding system. The individual wrapping body M wound and fixed on the circumferential surface of the rotary drum 361 is a four-sided seal wrapping body shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, and the tip of one wrapping material M ₂ is It is fixed to the winding shaft 363 and the other packaging material M ₁ is a rotating drum.
It is fixed to 361. By the driving rotation of the winding roller 363, the leading end of one packaging material M ₂ is wound up,
The individual wrapping body M is branched and separated at the position of the roller 362, and the granular solid processing agent K in the packaging is dropped and replenished into the dissolving tank 2. When the rotating drum 361 rotates once, the rotating drum 361 around which the new individual wrapping body M is wound is replaced or the new individual wrapping body M is wound around the rotating drum 361.

[0109]

As described above, the solid processing agent replenishing device for silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the present invention has the following effects.

(I) The granular solid processing agent does not change its shape, volume, weight and components due to environmental humidity, and does not cause a replenishment amount error.

(Ii) Particularly effective for replenishing a granular solid processing agent containing a para-phenylenediamine type color developing agent.

(Iii) No complicated and precise replenishing device is required,
A replenishment system can be obtained with an inexpensive replenishment device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic processor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a silver halide photographic material processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an automatic processor according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an entire front view of the automatic developing machine for negative film.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the automatic developing machine for the negative film.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a supply unit that controls the supply of a solid processing agent and makeup water.

FIG. 7 is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of a seal individual wrapping body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a stick package.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view and a perspective view of a PTP package.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of various packaging forms.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an individual wrapping body is housed in a container.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a punch shearing / opening means for an individual package.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a replenishing device having the punch shearing opening means.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a cutter cutting-off method of an individual wrapping body.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a replenishing device having the cutter cutting method.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a replenishing device having a rotary cutter type opening means.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a drum type replenishing device having a rotary cutter type opening means.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a cartridge type replenishing device having a rotary cutter type opening means.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a replenishing device having a biaxial winding peel-open type opening means.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a replenishing device having a uniaxial winding peel-open type opening means.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the unsealing means of the uniaxial winding peel open system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Processing liquid tank 1A, 7A Color development tank 1B Bleach fixing tank 1C, 1D, 1E, 7E, 7F, 7G Stabilization tank 2A, 2B, 2E, 9A, 9B, 9D, 9G Dissolution tank 3A, 3B, 3E Solid processing agent Supply device 4 Replenishing water tank 5 Replenishing water supplying means 7B Bleaching tank 7C, 7D Fixing tank 30 Solid processing agent supplying means 305,310,341,351,361 Storage box 301,307 Conveying roller 302 Punch male type 303 Punch female type 308 Ironing roller 309 cutter 314,322,333 Rotary cutter 342,352,362,343, 343,343 roller Take-up shaft 31 Processing amount information detection means 32 Supply control means 40 Replenishment water supply means AP, AF Auto developing machine K Granular solid processing agent M Individual packaging p Printing paper (photosensitive material) f Film (photosensitive material)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A granular solid processing agent pre-divided and weighed in a packaging material is hermetically sealed in a supply device installed in the vicinity of a processing tank containing a processing solution of a processing device for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. In the solid processing agent replenishing device for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which supplies an individual package, opens the individual package, and replenishes the granular solid processing agent in the individual package into the processing tank, The granular solid processing agent is divided and weighed in advance in a unit of 0.5 to 50 g per unit replenishment and supply in a sealed manner, and the granular solid processing agent in the individual package has a particle size of
A solid processing agent replenishing device for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, characterized by containing 20% by weight or less of a granular solid processing agent of less than 149 μm. 2. The solid processing agent for silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the granular solid processing agent is 10% by weight or less of a granular solid processing agent having a particle size of less than 149 μm. Replenishment device. 3. The halogenation according to claim 1, wherein the supply device is provided in at least one of a color developing tank, a bleaching tank, a fixing tank, a bleach-fixing tank and a stabilizing tank. Solid processing agent replenishing device for silver photographic light-sensitive materials. 4. The granular solid processing agent contains a binder, according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Item 6. A solid processing agent replenishing device for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to the item.