JPH07295183A - Processing method and processing device for silver halide photographic sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable rapid processing without deformation of guides and generation of a transportation defect in spite of processing a photosensitive materials at a high temp. and to obviate contamination of the photosensitive materials under processing without generation of clogging in the groove parts of the guides in spite of use of a high-concn. developing agent. CONSTITUTION:This processing method includes a stage for processing the silver halide photographic sensitive materials under conditions of 40 to 50 deg.C of at least one of processing liquids, a stage for developing these materials by using a developer contg. 15 to 60mmol/liter developing agent and a stage for transporting the photosensitive materials along the guides installed along the transporting direction in order to support both ends of the materials. The coefft. of linear expansion of the members constituting the guides is <=6X10<-5> to >=-1.0X10<-5> (cm/cm deg.C), the inside width of the grooves of the guides is 0.5 to 5.0mm and the depth of the grooves is 2 to 5mm.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which is simple and quick, has a small amount of processing waste liquid, and is free from conveyance defects and contamination of the light-sensitive material during processing. The present invention relates to a processing method and a silver halide photographic material processing apparatus used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, that is, when a light-sensitive material is processed using an automatic developing device, especially a small processor called a minilab, a member generally called a leader is attached to the tip of the light-sensitive material. Is being processed. In order to simplify the work of attaching the leader, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-141645,
It has been proposed that guides for supporting both ends of the photosensitive material are arranged along the conveying direction of the photosensitive material to carry the material.

On the other hand, in recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental protection, it has been desired to reduce the discharge amount of the processing waste liquid, and for example, so-called low replenishment treatment for reducing the replenishment amount of the treatment liquid has been performed. However, when the replenishment amount of the developing solution is reduced, there is a problem that the eluate from the light-sensitive material during processing is accumulated and the activity of the developing solution is lowered.

As a means for recovering the activity of the developer,
It is generally known that the processing temperature of the solution is raised or the concentration of the developing agent is increased.However, when the automatic developing device having the above-mentioned guide is used, all the transport paths from the beginning to the end of the processing are continuous. Therefore, a new problem has been found that strain is generated due to temperature expansion and the like, and good conveyance is hindered. That is, when the temperature of the treatment liquid is 40 ° C. or higher, the difference in temperature between the treatment and the case where the temperature control is stopped after the treatment is large, and the expansion of the guide is at a level that cannot be ignored. In the case of the guide conveyance as described above, the photosensitive material is conveyed along the groove of the guide in such a manner that both ends thereof are sandwiched by the guide grooves, but the guide expands due to the rise in temperature and distortion occurs in the processing tank. In that case, the resistance at both ends of the photosensitive material increases, and a photosensitive material having a length of 1 m or more generally receives a considerably large resistance as a whole. In addition, since the drive unit of the transfer is located in a limited part of the guide, it is not possible to maintain a constant transfer time due to the resistance, or the transfer length is changed due to the expansion of the guide, so that the transfer between the processing tanks and the turn part are changed. In the worst case, the timing between the drive rollers may be misaligned, and the conveyance becomes unstable. In the worst case, the photosensitive material may be distorted,
It may be scratched.

Further, when the concentration of the developing agent is increased, the developing agent or its oxidative decomposition product is easily deposited in the groove portion of the guide in the vicinity of the interface between the processing liquid and air, and as a result, the conveyance is caused by clogging of the guide groove portion. It was also found that the photosensitive material is apt to be contaminated due to defects and adhesion of deposits.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the first object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material which can easily and satisfactorily convey a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material regardless of whether a leader transportation system is used. An object of the present invention is to provide a material processing method and a photosensitive material processing apparatus used for the method. Further, a second object of the present invention is to provide a photosensitive material processing method and a photosensitive material processing apparatus used therefor, which are capable of rapid processing without deforming guides or defective conveyance even when processing at high temperature. Especially. A third object of the present invention is to discolor the guide even when a high concentration amine color developing agent is used,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material processing method and a photosensitive material processing apparatus used for the method, in which the groove is not clogged and the photosensitive material is not contaminated during processing.

[0007]

The object of the present invention has been achieved by the following means, that is, the invention of claim 1 relating to the present application relates to a method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, which is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. A step of treating the material under the condition that the temperature of at least one treatment liquid is 40 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less, and a concentration of 15 mmol / liter or more, 60 mmol
Developing with a developing solution containing a developing agent in an amount of less than 1 liter / liter, and when processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, along a guide installed along the transport direction to support both ends of the light-sensitive material. Of the linear expansion coefficient of the member constituting the guide is 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm
/ Cm ° C) or less, -1.0 × 10 ^-5 (cm / cm ° C) or more, the inner width of the groove of the guide is 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, and the groove depth is 2 mm. It is characterized in that it is 5 mm or less.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is a silver halide having a processing tank for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and a conveying means for conveying the light-sensitive material through a predetermined path in the processing tank. An apparatus for automatically transporting photographic light-sensitive material, wherein guides for supporting both ends of the light-sensitive material are installed along a transport direction in a transport path of the light-sensitive material, and a linear expansion coefficient of a member constituting the guide is 6 × 10 ^-5 (cm / cm
4.degree. C.) or less and -1.0.times.10.sup.- ⁵ (cm / cm.degree. C.) or more, and the inner width of the groove of the guide is 0.5 mm or more
The groove depth is 0 mm or less and the groove depth is 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, wherein the member constituting the guide comprises a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I). It is characterized by containing a polymer compound formed by coalescence.

[0010]

[Chemical 2]

In the formula, R represents an alkyl group, and n is 10 to 10.
Represents an integer of 1,000,000. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

In the processing method of the silver halide light-sensitive material of the present invention, the activity of the developing solution is set to be high especially for rapid processing. Specifically, the concentration of the developing agent is 15 mm
It is a step of developing using a developing solution of ol / liter or more and 60 mmol / liter or less, and further a step of treating at a temperature of the treating solution of 40 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less. Regarding the temperature of the processing liquid, the temperature of the processing liquid in at least one processing tank needs to be in the above range, but from the viewpoint of rapid processing, the processing liquid contains a developing solution, that is, the developing processing step is performed with the developing solution. It is preferable that the concentration of the main agent is 15 mmol / liter or more and 60 mmol / liter or less, and the processing temperature of the developer is 40 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less.

When the concentration of the developing agent is less than 15 mmol / liter, rapid processing of the light-sensitive material becomes difficult and 60 mmo.
If it exceeds 1 / liter, the deposition of the developing agent is very likely to occur, and it becomes difficult to properly set the guide shape in the guide transporting process of the present invention. Furthermore, since many developing agents are incorporated into the photosensitive material during development, they may not be sufficiently washed out in the post-bath process and remain in the photosensitive material, which may adversely affect the image. Not preferable.
Further, if the temperature of the treatment liquid is less than 40 ° C., rapid treatment becomes difficult, and if it exceeds 50 ° C., it is difficult to control the temperature difference distortion and the deterioration of the material in the guide conveyance treatment. This is also not preferable because the deterioration of the developer is remarkable.

Further, in the processing method of the present invention, by using a member having a linear expansion coefficient most suitable for the above processing conditions of the present invention as a guide, the processing of the light-sensitive material under the conditions of the present invention can be carried out simply and quickly. It has been found out that the photosensitive material can be carried well and the transportability of the photosensitive material is good.

Specifically, the linear expansion coefficient of the member forming the guide is 6 × 10 ^-5 (cm / cm ° C.) or less, -1.0.
× 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or higher, preferably
5.8 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or less, −0.9 × 10
^-5 (cm / cm ° C) or higher. Linear expansion coefficient is 6 × 10 ^-5
If it exceeds (cm / cm ° C.), the dimensional accuracy of the groove is lowered due to the temperature of the processing liquid, so that stable conveyance cannot be performed, and further, deterioration of the resin due to the high-concentration amine-based developing agent may cause deterioration of durability. , -1.0 × 10 ^-5 (cm / c
If it is less than (m ° C.), the guide shrinks in the processing liquid, and the transportability of the photosensitive material is lowered, which is not preferable. From these viewpoints, 5.8 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or less, −
It is preferably 0.9 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or more.

In order to achieve the effect of the present invention, it is preferable to use a polymer compound formed of a polymer containing a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I) as a member constituting the guide. .

[0017]

[Chemical 3]

In the formula, R represents an alkyl group, and n is 10 to 10.
Represents an integer of 1,000,000. Here, examples of the alkyl group represented by R include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, and the like, and a methyl group is particularly preferable. Specific polymer compounds include polyphenylene ether resins (hereinafter referred to as PPE) such as compounds having poly (2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide) as a main component, polyphenylene oxide resins (hereinafter referred to as PPO), and the like. Can be mentioned. The polymer compound formed of the polymer containing the repeating unit represented by the general formula (I) may be used alone as a homopolymer, and is modified with another resin,
It may be used after being polymerized.

Examples of polymer alloys include polymer alloys with styrene resins, polyamide resins (PA), polyolefin resins, polybutylene terephthalate resins, polyphenylene sulfide resins and the like.
In the present invention, the polymer alloy refers to a polymer multi-component system in which different kinds of polymers coexist microscopically, including a block copolymer, a graft copolymer and a polymer blend. As the polymer alloy, specifically, modified polyphenylene ether (hereinafter, referred to as modified PPE) and modified polyphenylene oxide (hereinafter, referred to as modified PPO) containing a styrene-based resin and alloyed with styrene-based resin are preferable. Examples of commercially available products include "Noryl (trade name)" manufactured by GE Plastics Co., Ltd., "Zylon (trade name)" manufactured by Asahi Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd. and "Yupiace (trade name)" manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company. As polymer alloys with PA such as nylon, "Zylon (trade name)", "Linex A (trade name)" manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corporation, "Sumitomo SP" manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
"A", "Artley", "Remalloy" manufactured by Mitsubishi Petrochemical Co., Ltd., etc. are available as polymer alloys with polyolefin resins such as polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate resin.
"Yupiace" manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc., "Dialloy" manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., and polymer alloys with polyphenylene sulfide resin and the like include "Upiace" manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc., respectively.

Among these polymer alloys, those which are particularly preferably used in the present invention include modified PPE modified with a styrene resin, modified PPO, and a polymer alloy with a polyphenylene sulfide resin (hereinafter referred to as PPS). To be

The styrene-modified PPE, modified PPO or P
PE / PPS polymer alloys are suitable for the content of PPE component.
Therefore, the coefficient of linear expansion changes. That is, in the general formula (I)
Reduced polyphenylene ether content
The linear expansion coefficient increases. Unmodified polyphenylene
The coefficient of linear expansion of tell is 2.7 × 10^-Five~ 3.1 x 10^-Five(C
m / cm ° C), but the thermal transformation temperature is as high as 193 ° C.
Yes Modified due to modification with styrene due to problems in moldability
It uses polyphenylene ether. styrene
The linear expansion coefficient tends to increase as the mixing ratio of
6.0 x 10 ^-FiveThe present invention when it exceeds (cm / cm ° C)
Cannot be applied to. In this case, the styrene mixture ratio
To reduce the coefficient of linear expansion, glass fiber and filler
The coefficient of linear expansion can also be reduced by mixing
Wear.

In the present invention, the linear expansion coefficient of the member constituting the guide is 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or less, −1.
It is necessary to set it to 0 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or more, but various modifications are made to the base resin in order to obtain desired processability and thermal characteristics, or two or more resins are used. In the case of preparing a polymer alloy with, since the linear expansion coefficient is not preferable as a member constituting the guide when out of the above range, by adding a glass fiber or an inorganic filler to the polymer compound, the desired linear expansion coefficient Need to adjust to range. For example, when PPE is modified with polystyrene (hereinafter referred to as PS), the coefficient of linear expansion and the heat distortion temperature change as follows due to the addition of glass fiber (GF). Here, the coefficient of thermal expansion is ASTM D696, and the heat distortion temperature is A
It was measured by STMD648 (18.6 kg / cm).

Linear expansion coefficient Thermal deformation temperature Unmodified PPE 2.7-3.1 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C. 193 ° C. Modified PPE (without filler) 7.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C. 100 ° C. Modified PPE (GF 10% strengthened) 5.0 × 10 ^-5 cm / cm ° C. 100 ° C. modified PPE (GF 20% strengthened) 4.0 × 10 ^-5 cm / cm ° C. 103 ° C. modified PPE (GF 30% strengthened) 3.0 × 10 ^-5 cm / cm ° C. 105 ° C. When a polymer compound containing a polymer containing a repeating unit represented by the general formula (I), which is preferably used as a member constituting the guide of the present invention, is modified with PS, When the glass fiber or the inorganic filler as described above is not used, the content of PS to be transformed should be as small as possible so long as the desired transformation property can be ensured with respect to the PPE as the base material. Is preferred . FIG. 5A shows an infrared absorption spectrum of PS modified PPE having a linear expansion coefficient of 5.3 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C., and FIG. 5B shows a linear expansion coefficient of 7.5 ×.
2 shows an infrared absorption spectrum of PS-modified PPE at 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C. As shown in FIG. 5, in the infrared absorption spectrum analysis, the PS content can be known by comparing the heights of the first absorption peaks of PS and PPE. In the spectrum, peaks based on PPE are indicated by x and peaks based on PS are indicated by ◯. When a resin of PS-modified PPE without a filler is used as a guide member, FIG.
As shown in, the first absorption peak of the PPE spectrum is PS
It is more preferable to use, as the member, a resin having a larger first absorption peak than the above.

The same applies to a polymer alloy with a polyamide resin, and a polymer alloy obtained by adding a polyamide resin such as 6 nylon to PPE also has a predetermined linear expansion coefficient by adding a filler such as glass fiber. By adjusting to the range, it can be used as a member constituting the guide of the present invention. However, when the content of the polyamide resin is large, the polymer alloy with the polyamide resin increases the water absorption rate and affects the dimensional accuracy. Therefore, attention should be paid to the blending amount.

Polymer alloys with polyolefin resins such as polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate resins have lower water absorption and higher impact resistance than polymer alloys with the above polyamide resins. It can be used as a component. Also in this case, it is necessary to adjust the blending amount of each resin or to add a filler so as to obtain a preferable linear expansion coefficient.

The polymer alloy of PPE and PPS has little deterioration in physical properties and can be suitably used as a member constituting the guide of the present invention.

As described above, when a material having a suitable coefficient of linear expansion is selected from the highly mass-producible resins as the member constituting the guide of the processing apparatus of the present invention, the repeating unit represented by the general formula (I) is used. Polymer compounds formed of polymers containing units are preferred, and in particular modified PPE, PPE / PP
S-polymer alloys are preferable, and modified PPE / PPS polymer alloys are also preferably used from the viewpoint of improving moldability.

The guide used in the processing method of the present invention has an inner width of the groove of the guide of 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or more.
It is below, preferably 1.0 mm or more, 3.0 mm
It is the following. When the inner width of the groove of the guide is less than 0.5 mm, the treatment liquid and its oxide are deposited in the vicinity of the interface between the treatment liquid and air, and the groove portion is apt to be clogged.
If it exceeds 5.0 mm, the stability of the transportation of the photosensitive material is deteriorated, which is not preferable. The groove depth of the guide is 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less, preferably 2.5 mm or more,
It is 4.5 mm or less. If the groove depth is less than 2 mm,
It is not preferable that the photosensitive material is easily separated from the guide, and if it exceeds 5 mm, the image portion of the photosensitive material is scratched or the resistance during conveyance is unnecessarily increased.

If desired, the guide may be formed by forming a corner R at the groove entrance or inside the groove, or by putting putty to make the forming angle smooth. By chamfering the corners of the guide groove by 0.1 R or more to make them smooth, it becomes easier to prevent the deposition of high-concentration developing agent deposits and oxides, and to prevent scratches on the photosensitive material. preferable.

In particular, it is most preferable to process the guide into a shape satisfying the above conditions by using the polymer compound formed of the polymer having the repeating unit represented by the general formula (I).

[0031]

EXAMPLES A processing apparatus for a photosensitive material suitable for the processing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to a specific example, but the processing apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this specific example.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic developing machine 10 according to the present invention. The outside of the automatic developing machine 10 is covered with a frame 12 so as to be shielded from light. The lower part of the frame 12 is supported on the floor surface 16 by a plurality of support legs 14.

A plurality of standing walls 18 are provided from the bottom of the frame 12.
And a developing tank 20, a bleaching tank 22, a fixing tank 24, washing tanks 26 and 28, and a stabilizing tank 30 are formed, and processing liquids are stored in the respective tanks (hereinafter collectively referred to as necessary). It is called the processing tank 32.).

A film loading section 34 is provided on the left side of the processing tank 32 (developing tank 20) in FIG. The film loading section 34 is provided with a holding section 38 for holding the cartridge 36, and the cartridge 36 held by the holding section 38.
The negative film 40 drawn out from the sheet is sandwiched by a pair of rollers 42, wound around a roller 46, and conveyed to the processing tank 32. A cutter 44 is arranged on the downstream side of the holding portion 38, and when the negative film 40 is completely pulled out from the cartridge 36, the cutter 44 operates and cuts.

As shown in FIG. 2, each processing tank 32 has
The processing racks 33 are respectively arranged, and the processing racks 33 are arranged so as to be immersed in the respective processing liquids except for a part above.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in the developing tank 20 of FIG. 1, the processing rack 33 has guide grooves 33A (a width slightly larger than the wall thickness of 40, which guides both ends of the negative film 40 in the width direction. There is a slight gap between) and is formed. Although not shown, the guide groove 33A is also provided in the processing rack 33 arranged in another processing tank 32. The negative film 40 is guided in each processing tank 32 in a substantially U-shape along the guide groove 33A. These guide grooves 33A do not need to be continuous along the film transport direction, and may be provided intermittently.

A transport roller 45 constituted by a large-diameter roller 45A and a pair of small-diameter rollers 45B is arranged near the liquid surface, near the bottom and in the middle of the processing rack 33, and the guide groove is provided. The negative film 40 fed along 33A is sandwiched and a conveying force is applied.

Two rollers 45C are arranged around the large-diameter roller 45A of the conveying roller 45 located at the bottom so that the negative film 40 can be stably turned. Each of these rollers preferably changes its outer diameter at different axial positions so as to come into contact with the film 40 only in the vicinity of both perforations in the width direction that are off the image plane.

A portion above the processing rack 33, that is, a portion located above the liquid surface is a crossover portion, and is formed by the transport rollers 47 provided on the outlet side and the inlet side of two adjacent processing racks 33, respectively. It is configured. Each of the transport rollers 47 is composed of a large-diameter roller and a small-diameter roller, so that the negative film 40 can be reliably delivered to the next processing rack 33.

As a result, the negative film 40 is guided by the guide groove 33A while receiving a conveying force from the conveying roller 45, and is processed by each processing liquid while being transferred in each processing tank 32 in a substantially U-shape. It is discharged from 30 and delivered to the drying unit 56 in the next process.

A space is formed below the stabilizing tank 30,
The heater 50 and the blower 52 are arranged to form a warm air supply means and supply the warm air to the drying section 56 located on the downstream side of the processing tank 32 through the duct 54.

In the drying section 56, the negative film 40 is dried by being guided and conveyed in a substantially U shape by the guide roller 48 and the guide member 49 and exposed to warm air during the conveyance.

The negative film 40 that has been dried by the drying section 56 is sandwiched by the roller pair 64. The roller pair 64 is rotated by the driving force, and the negative film 40 is sent to the discharge section 66 by this rotating force.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the developing tank 20 of the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of each of the jet blowing means and the transport guide groove used in the developing tank 20 of FIG. In practice, the jet blowing means and the transport guide groove are arranged closer to each other than the illustrated state. As shown in FIG. 2A, U of the negative film 40 is placed in the developing tank 20.
An upstream chamber 102 and a downstream chamber 104 are provided outside the letter-shaped movement trajectory. The lower ends of the chambers 102 and 104 are connected to each other by a connecting cylinder 106, and the connecting cylinder 106 is connected to a bottom opening 116 of the frame 12 via a hanging cylinder 108, and the bottom opening 116 is connected to a pressure pump (not shown). It is in communication.
As a result, the drooping cylinder 108 pressure-feeds the developer in the developing tank 20 into the chambers 102 and 104.

Film 40 in chambers 102, 104
Slit plates 112 and 114 are fixed to the side through which the film passes, and slit-like jet stirring outlets 82 having a lateral direction in the longitudinal direction are provided at both ends of the film 40, as shown in FIG. Correspondingly arranged between drive rollers 45A, 45B for driving the film 40, the developer in the chambers 102, 104 is passed in the direction of arrow A to the emulsion surface of the film 40. . In the chambers 102 and 104, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, recesses 102A and 104A are formed in a portion where the drive roller 45B is present.
It houses 5A and 45B.

To the slit plates 112 and 114, the tip ends of both leg portions of a plurality of guide plates 120 and 122 each having a U-shaped planar shape are fixed, and the guide plates 120 and 122 are connected to each other to form the film 40. Passage portions 124 and 126 are formed. Plates 130 and 132 forming the guide groove 33A are disposed between the passing portions 124 and 126 corresponding to the front and back surfaces of the width direction both ends of the passing film 40, and the slit plates 112 and 114 and the guides, respectively. It is fixed to the plates 120 and 122. The pair of guide plates 120 and 122 are connected by a communication tube 135 at appropriate positions in the vertical direction so as not to interfere with the large-diameter drive roller 45A. The guide plates 120 and 122 are separated in the vertical direction so as not to interfere with each roller as shown in FIG. 3, but if they are shaped so as not to interfere with each roller, they are continuously arranged vertically. May be.

Guide plate 12 constituting the guide groove 33A
0, the plates 130 and 132 have a resistance to various processing liquids of the photosensitive material, and have a linear expansion coefficient of 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ (cm / cm ° C.) or less, −1.0 × 10 5.
Any material can be used as long as it is ^-5 (cm / cm ° C) or more, and specifically, polyphenylene ether resin (for example, ZYLON manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corporation), modified polyphenylene oxide resin (for example, Japan GE Plastics). Noryl), hard polyvinyl chloride resin (for example,
Mitsubishi Resin Chemical Co., Ltd., etc., and the various materials described in detail in the present specification can also be preferably used. It is preferable to use a material that is easily processed and has high durability.

In this embodiment, the plurality of guide plates 120 and 122 having a U-shape are connected to the plates 130 and 13 respectively.
2 is fixed and a U-shaped groove 33A for accommodating the film width direction end portion is formed between these plates 130 and 132. However, the shape configuration of the guide groove 33A can be variously modified. The U-shaped groove that is the guide groove 33A may be integrally formed of a single material, for example, by extrusion molding.

Jet agitation is performed in the chambers 102 and 10.
From the openings 82 formed in the slit plates 112 and 114 that close the nozzle 4, the jets are ejected at a substantially right angle toward the passing film 40. The jet stirring jetting direction in the vicinity of the liquid surface is at a liquid surface W rather than at right angles to the transport direction of the film 40.
It is tilted away from. In order to improve the effect of jet agitation, that is, to prevent vibration and flexure of the film 40 and to reliably give a jet agitation blowout to the emulsion surface of the film 40, the film 40 is opposed to the jet agitation opening. A communication tube 135 is provided at the position where the connection is made and serves as a partition wall.

The method and apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of the present invention exerts a remarkable effect when applied to a case where rapid processing is carried out using a small processing apparatus. here,
A small processor is 35 mm under the condition of 2 minutes of development processing.
* Equivalent to a film size of 24 sheets, 60 to 5 per hour
This refers to a processing device having the capacity to carry out the main processing, preferably 1
It refers to a processing device having a processing capacity of 50 to 10 per hour.

FIG. 4 shows another mode of the jet stirring means. In the above-described embodiment, the jet agitation is performed from the outside of the U-shaped movement locus of the film, but FIG. 4A shows that the jet agitation is performed from between the films 40 that draw a U-shaped movement locus. 4B is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one mode of the processing tank in which the emulsion surface of the film 40 faces the inside of the U-shaped movement locus, and FIG. 4B is a transport path showing the film guided by the guide. A side view is shown. Figure 4
In (a), the cross sections of the plates 130 and 132 that form the guide groove 33A are shown. Further, rubber-made conveying rollers (driving rollers) 45A and 45B are installed at several places along the conveying path of the guide groove 33A. As shown in FIG. 4B, these are rubber rollers having a width of about 3 mm fixed to the drive shaft, corresponding to the perforations at both ends outside the image range of the film, and rotated by the drive source. Then, the film 40 is driven. The rubber drive rollers 45A and 45B are installed so as to contact only the vicinity of the guide holes at both ends of the film 40 and not the emulsion surface.

A box 80 having an opening 82 which is a means for jet agitation is arranged between U-shaped movement loci of the film as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and is not shown by a pipe communicating in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. It communicates with the pressure pump. The opening portion 82 of the box body 80, that is, the slit-shaped jet agitation outlet 82 whose longitudinal direction is the lateral direction is disposed correspondingly between the upper and lower drive rollers 45A. The developer in the developing tank 20 is pressure-fed into the box 80 by the pressure of the pressure pump, and the film 40 is fed from the opening 82 of the box 80.
It is jetted in the direction of arrow A toward the emulsion surface inside the U-shaped movement locus of. The opening near the processing liquid surface W is the processing liquid surface W.
It is inclined toward the direction away from.

In this embodiment, both ends of the film 40 are held by the guide grooves 33A and are stably conveyed. However, the film 40 is prevented from bending due to jet agitation, and the stability of the film 40 is further improved. To improve, a freely rotatable roller is placed in contact with the film or at a slight distance (opposed to FIG. 4) on the non-emulsion side of the film 40 at a position opposite the jet agitation jet 82 to improve. It is also possible to support the bending of the film due to jet agitation by the roller 82A indicated by the line). Further, the film 40 is driven by the rubber drive rollers 45A and 45B, but other rotating bodies such as a drive gear may be used instead of the rubber roller as long as they do not contact the emulsion surface.

As a modified example of the means for performing jet agitation, there is a small jet agitator in which a processing liquid supply pipe communicating with a processing liquid pressure pump is connected to a small box provided with a slit. By attaching a small number of small jet agitation devices provided with only one slit at a desired attachment position in the treatment layer, and by attaching a desired number and a desired injection direction,
Jet stirring conditions can be easily adjusted.

Since the photosensitive material whose both ends are guided by the guide is subjected to jet agitation, depending on the jet agitation conditions,
There is a possibility that the photosensitive material may bend or come off the guide. For this reason, it is preferable that a wall is provided as a surface opposed to the jet stirring jetting direction to support the film. The wall may be a flat guide or a freely rotatable roller which is arranged at a blocking position so that the photosensitive material is not separated from the guide by the jetting pressure of jet stirring. For the same purpose, it is also effective to prevent the bending of the photosensitive material by performing the second jet stirring from the direction opposite to the jet stirring blowing direction.

As described above, the jet agitation, especially in the case of the developing tank 20, is preferably carried out at the initial stage of swelling in the developing treatment liquid, so that it does not affect the liquid surface.
It is preferably close to the processing liquid surface, and the first jet stirring is preferably performed within 15% of the processing time of the photosensitive material in the processing liquid, more preferably within 10% to 3%. .

In all of the present embodiments, the guide groove and the jet stirring means of the present invention are applied to the developing tank, but they can be suitably applied to any processing tank in the processing apparatus. From the viewpoint of processing efficiency, these are preferably used in the developing step, the desilvering step or the water washing step, and further, two or more kinds of these processing steps (processing tanks), especially both the developing step and the desilvering step. It is preferable to use

Examples of various processing agents, photosensitive materials and the like that can be used in the method and apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material of the present invention will be described below, but the processing agents and the like that can be used are limited to these. It is not something that will be done.

The color developing solution used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention will be described. Known aromatic primary amine color developing agents can be used in the color developer used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention. A preferred example is a p-phenylenediamine derivative, and as a representative example, N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2-methyl-N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 2-amino-5-diethylaminotoluene. Two
-Amino-5- (N-ethyl-N-laurylamino) toluene, 4- [N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) amino] aniline, 2-methyl-4- [N-ethyl-N- ( β-hydroxyethyl) amino] aniline, 4
-Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -aniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N
-Ethyl-N- [β- (methanesulfonamido) ethyl] -aniline, N- (2-amino-5-dienylaminophenylethyl) methanesulfonamide, N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine, 4- Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-methoxyethylaniline, 4-
Amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N-β-ethoxyethylaniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-
N-β-butoxyethylaniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (4-hydroxybutyl) aniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (3
-Hydroxypropyl) aniline and the like, or a color developing agent represented by the general formula (I) in JP-A-4-443. Especially 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (β-hydroxyethyl) -aniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (4
-Hydroxybutyl) aniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (3-hydroxypropyl) aniline, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- [β
-(Methanesulfonamido) ethyl] -aniline is preferably used.

Further, these p-phenylenediamine derivatives may be salts such as sulfates, hydrochlorides, sulfites and p-toluenesulfonates.

The concentration of the aromatic primary amine developing agent used in the present invention must be 15 mmol or more and 60 mmol or less per liter from the viewpoint of rapid processing, and is 20 to 50 mmol / liter. Is preferred.

As the developing agent, 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- [β- (methanesulfonamido) ethyl] -aniline is particularly preferably used.

In the practice of the present invention, it is preferable to use a color developing solution containing substantially no benzyl alcohol. Here, the term "substantially free from" means preferably 2 ml / liter or less, more preferably 0.5 ml.
The concentration of benzyl alcohol is less than 1 liter / liter, and most preferably, no benzyl alcohol is contained.

The color developer used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention may contain an organic preservative in place of or in addition to hydroxylamine and sulfite ion.

The term "organic preservative" as used herein refers to all organic compounds which reduce the deterioration rate of an aromatic primary amine color developing agent when added to a processing solution for a color photographic light-sensitive material.
That is, it is an organic compound having a function of preventing the color developing agent from being oxidized by air, and among them, various hydroxylamines described in JP-A-63-5341, JP-A-63-106655 and JP-A-4-144446. Derivatives (excluding hydroxylamine), JP-A-63
-43138, Hydroxamic acids, JP-A-63-63
Hydrazines and hydrazides described in No. 146041, phenols described in Nos. 63-44657 and 63-58443, and α-described in No. 63-44656.
Hydroxyketones and α-aminoketones, 63-3
Various sugars described in 6244 can be used in combination. Further, in combination with the above compound, JP-A-63-423
5, No. 63-24254, No. 63-21647,
63-146040, 63-27841 and 63-25654, the monoamines, 63-3.
0845, 63-14640 and 63-431.
No. 39, the diamines, No. 63-21647, No. 63-26655, and the polyamines described in No. 63-44655, quaternary ammonium salts, No. 63-535.
Nitroxy radicals described in No. 51, 63-431
40 and 63-53549, alcohols, 63-56654, oximes, 63
The tertiary amines, diamide compounds, and condensed amines described in JP-A-239447 are particularly effective organic preservatives.

Other preservatives are disclosed in JP-A-57-44.
148 and 57-53749, various metals, salicylic acids described in JP-A-59-180588,
JP-A-63-239447 and 63-128340.
Amines described in JP-A-1-186939 and JP-A-1-187557, alkanolamines described in JP-A-54-3532, and JP-A-56-94349.
Polyethyleneimines described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,743
The aromatic polyhydroxy compound described in No. 6,544 and the like may be used as necessary. In particular, alkanolamines such as triethanolamine, dialkylhydroxylamines such as N, N-diethylhydroxylamine and N, N-di (sulfoethyl) hydroxyamine, N,
Hydrazine derivatives such as N-bis (carboxymethyl) hydrazine (excluding hydrazine). Alternatively, it is preferable to add an aromatic polyhydroxy compound represented by sodium catechol-3,5-disulfonate.

Particularly, hydroxylamines represented by the general formula (I) of JP-A-3-144446 are preferable, and among them, compounds having a sulfo group or a carboxy group are preferably used.

Chloride ions in the color developer used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention are 3.0 × 10 ^{-2 to} 1.5 × 10 5.
It is preferable to contain ^-1 mol / liter. Particularly preferably, it is 3.5 × 10 ⁻² to 1 × 10 ⁻³ mol / liter.

Used in the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention,
Bromine ion in the color developer is 3.0 × 10 ^{-5 to} 1.0
It is preferable to contain ^{x10 -1} mol / liter. More preferably, it is 5.0 × 10 ^{−5 to} 5 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / liter.

Here, the chlorine ion and the bromine ion may be directly added to the color developing solution or may be eluted from the light-sensitive material to the color developing solution during the development processing.

When added directly to the color developing solution, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, chloride ion-providing substances,
Ammonium chloride, lithium chloride, magnesium chloride,
Included is calcium chloride. Further, it may be supplied from a fluorescent whitening agent added to the color developing solution. Sodium bromide, potassium bromide as a bromide ion source,
Ammonium bromide, lithium bromide, magnesium bromide,
When calcium bromide elutes from the light-sensitive material during the development process, chlorine ions and bromine ions may be supplied both from the emulsion and from sources other than the emulsion.

The color developer used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention preferably has a pH of 9 to 12, and more preferably 9 to 11.0. The color developer contains other known developer components. Can be included.

In order to maintain the above pH, it is preferable to use various buffers. As the buffer agent, carbonate, phosphate, borate, tetraborate, hydroxybenzoate,
Glycylic acid, N, N-dimethylglycine salt, leucine salt, norleucine salt, guanine salt, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine salt, alanine salt, aminobutyric acid salt, 2
-Amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol salt,
Valine salt, proline salt, trishydroxyaminomethane salt, lysine salt and the like can be used. Particularly, carbonates, phosphates, tetraborates, and hydroxybenzoates have excellent solubility and buffering ability in a high pH range of pH 9.0 or more, and even when added to a color developing solution, they have excellent photographic performance. It is particularly preferable to use these buffers, since they have the advantages of being free from adverse effects (fogging, etc.) and being inexpensive.

Specific examples of these buffers include sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium borate. , Potassium borate, sodium tetraborate (borax),
Potassium tetraborate, sodium o-hydroxybenzoate (sodium salicylate), potassium o-hydroxybenzoate, sodium 5-sulfo-2-hydroxybenzoate (sodium 5-sulfosalicylate), 5-sulfo-
Examples thereof include potassium 2-hydroxybenzoate (potassium 5-sulfosalicylate).

The amount of the buffer added to the color developer is
It is preferably 0.1 mol / liter or more, and particularly preferably 0.1 mol / liter to 0.4 mol / liter.

In addition, various chelating agents can be used in the color developing solution as a precipitation preventing agent for calcium and magnesium or for improving the stability of the color developing solution. For example, nitrilotriacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, N, N, N-trimethylenephosphonic acid, ethylenediamine-N, N,
N ', N'-tetramethylenephosphonic acid, trans-silohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,2-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol ether diaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediamine orthohydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid Acid, 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N, N-bis (2-
Hydroxybenzyl) ethylenediamine-N, N′-diacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid and the like can be mentioned.
Two or more of these chelating agents may be used in combination, if necessary. The amount of these chelating agents added may be an amount sufficient to block the metal ions in the color developing solution. For example, it is about 0.1 g to 10 g per liter.

Any development accelerator can be added to the color developing solution, if necessary. As a development accelerator, Japanese Patent Publication No. 37
-16088, 37-5987, 38-782.
No. 6, No. 44-12380, No. 45-9019, and thioether compounds represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,247, and JP-A Nos. 52-49829 and 50-.
No. 15554, p-phenylenediamine compounds, JP-A-50-137726, JP-B-44-300
74, JP-A-56-156826 and JP-A-52-43.
429 and the like, quaternary ammonium salts, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,494,903, 3,128,182, 4,230,796, 3,253,919, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-11431. No. 2,482,546
Nos. 2,596,926 and 3,582,346
Compounds described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 37-16088
No. 42-25201, U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,1.
No. 83, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 42-11431, 42-2388
3, polyalkylene oxides represented by U.S. Pat. No. 3,532,501, etc., 1-phenyl-3-
Pyrazolidones, imidazoles and the like can be added if necessary. The benzyl alcohol is as described above.

In the color developer used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, any antifoggant can be added, if desired. As the antifoggant, alkali metal halides such as sodium chloride, potassium bromide and potassium iodide, and organic antifoggants can be used. Examples of organic antifoggants include benzotriazole and 6
-Nitrobenzimidazole, 5-nitroisoindazole, 5-methylbenzotriazole, 5-nitrobenzotriazole, 5-chloro-benzotriazole, 2
Representative examples thereof include nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as -thiazolyl-benzimidazole, 2-thiazolylmethyl-benzimidazole, indazole, hydroxyazaindolizine and adanine.

The color developing solution used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention preferably contains a fluorescent whitening agent.
As a fluorescent whitening agent, 4,4′-diamino-2,2′-
Disulfostilbene compounds are preferred. 0 to add
5 g / liter It is preferably 0.1 g to 4 g / liter.

If necessary, various surfactants such as alkyl sulfonic acid, aryl sulfonic acid, aliphatic carboxylic acid, aromatic carboxylic acid and polyalkyleneimine may be added.

The developing solution is preferably replenished at a low replenishing rate, and is preferably 75 to 300 ml, and more preferably 75 to 250 ml per m ^{2 of the} silver halide photographic light-sensitive material.

The processing temperature of the color developing solution used in the light-sensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention is 40 ° C. or higher and 50 ° C. or lower, preferably 43 ° C. to 50 ° C. According to the method of the present invention, the development processing can be performed in a processing time of 20 seconds to 2 minutes, that is, 2 minutes or less.

After color development, desilvering processing is performed. In the desilvering process, the bleaching process and the fixing process may be performed separately,
It may be performed at the same time (bleach-fixing process). Further, in order to speed up the processing, a processing method of bleach-fixing processing after bleaching processing may be used. Further, treatment with two continuous bleach-fixing baths, fixing treatment before the bleach-fixing treatment, or bleaching treatment after the bleach-fixing treatment can be optionally carried out.

Examples of the bleaching agent used in the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution include iron salts; compounds of polyvalent metal salts such as iron (III), cobalt (III), chromium (IV) and copper (II); Acids; quinones; nitro compounds and the like. Typical bleaching agents are iron chloride; ferricyanide compounds; dichromate; iron
Organic complex salts of (III) (for example, metal complex salts of aminopolycarboxylic acids such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid, methyliminodiacetic acid, 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid, glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid) ); Persulfate; Bromate; Permanganate; Nitrobenzenes and the like. Of these, iron ethylenediamine tetraacetate
(III) Complex salts and 1,3-diaminopropanetetraacetic acid iron (II
I) Iron (III) aminopolycarboxylates including complex salts
Complex salts are preferable from the viewpoint of rapid processing and prevention of environmental pollution, and ferric aminopolycarboxylic acid salts or salts thereof as described in JP-A-4-144446, page 11, are also preferable.
Further, the aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salt is particularly useful in both the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution. A bleaching solution or a bleach-fixing solution using these aminopolycarboxylic acid iron (III) complex salts is used at a pH of 3-8.

Known additives such as rehalogenating agents such as ammonium bromide and ammonium chloride; pH buffering agents such as ammonium nitrate; metal corrosion inhibitors such as ammonium sulfate are added to the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution. can do.

In addition to the above compounds, the bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution preferably contain an organic acid for the purpose of preventing bleach stain. Particularly preferred organic acid is a compound having an acid dissociation constant (pKa) of 2 to 5.5, and specifically, acetic acid, propionic acid and the like are preferable.

Examples of the fixing agent used in the fixing solution and the bleach-fixing solution include thiosulfates, thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas, and a large amount of iodide salts. Use of thiosulfates Are generally used, and ammonium thiosulfate is most widely used. Further, the combined use of thiosulfates and thiocyanates, thioether compounds, thioureas and the like is also preferable.

As preservatives for the fixing solution and the bleach-fixing solution, sulfites, bisulfites, carbonyl bisulfite adducts or sulfinic acid compounds described in European Patent EP 294,769A2 are preferable. Furthermore, for the purpose of stabilizing the fixer and bleach-fixer, various aminopolycarboxylic acids,
Addition of organic phosphonic acids (eg 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, N, N, N ′, N′-ethylenediaminetetraphosphonic acid) is preferred.

The bleaching solution and the bleach-fixing solution may further contain various fluorescent whitening agents, defoaming agents, surfactants, polyvinylpyrrolidone, methanol and the like.

If necessary, a bleaching accelerator can be used in the bleaching solution, the bleach-fixing solution and their pre-bath.
Specific examples of useful bleaching accelerators include US Pat.
93,858, West German Patent 1,290,812, JP-A-53-95630, Research Disclosure No. 17129 (July 1978) and the like, which have a mercapto group or a disulfide bond; Thiazolidine derivatives described in JP-A-50-140129; thiourea derivatives described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,561; iodide salts described in JP-A-58-16235; West German patent 2,748,430. The polyoxyethylene compounds described in JP-B No. 45-8836; the polyamine compounds described in JP-B-45-8836; the bromide ion and the like can be used. Among them, a compound having a mercapto group or a disulfide group is preferable from the viewpoint of a large accelerating effect, and particularly, US Pat. No. 3,893,8
58, West German Patent 1,290,812, JP-A-53
The compounds described in -95630 are preferred. Further, the compounds described in US Pat. No. 4,552,834 are also preferable. These bleaching accelerators may be added to the light-sensitive material. These bleaching accelerators are particularly useful when bleach-fixing a color light-sensitive material for photography.

The total time of the desilvering process is preferably as short as possible so long as no desilvering failure occurs. According to the method of the present invention,
The desilvering process can be performed in 2 minutes or less, and the preferable time is 10 seconds to 2 minutes. The processing temperature is 25 ° C
The temperature is 50 ° C, preferably 35 ° C to 45 ° C. In the preferable temperature range, the desilvering rate is improved, and the generation of stain over time after the processing is effectively prevented.

In the desilvering process, it is preferable that the stirring is strengthened as much as possible. Therefore, it is particularly preferable to use jet stirring under the conditions of the present invention in the desilvering step.

The stirring improving means such as jet stirring of the present invention is effective in any of a bleaching solution, a bleach-fixing solution and a fixing solution. It is considered that the improvement of the stirring speeds up the supply of the bleaching agent and the fixing agent into the emulsion film, and consequently the desilvering rate. Further, the above-mentioned stirring improving means is more effective when a bleaching accelerator is used, and the acceleration effect can be remarkably increased.

The washing solution and the stabilizing solution include hard water softeners such as inorganic phosphoric acid, polyaminocargonic acid and organic aminophosphonic acid, metal salts such as magnesium salt, aluminum salt and bismuth salt; surfactants; A film agent or the like can be contained.

The amount of washing water used in the washing step depends on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material (for example, depending on the material used such as coupler), the purpose of use, the washing water temperature, the number of washing tanks (the number of stages), replenishment methods such as countercurrent and forward flow, and various other factors. It can be set in a wide range depending on the condition. Further, as a solution to the problems such as the propagation of bacteria and the adhesion of the produced floating substances to the light-sensitive material, which occur when the amount of washing water is greatly reduced in the multi-stage countercurrent system, JP-A-62-
The method of reducing calcium ion and magnesium ion described in No. 288828 can be used very effectively. Also, isothiazolone compounds, siabendazoles, chlorine-based bactericides such as chlorinated sodium isocyanurate described in JP-A-57-8542, and benzotriazole, etc., Hiroshi Horiguchi, "Chemistry of Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents" (19
1986) Sankyo Shuppan, Hygiene Technology Association, "Microbial Sterilization, Sterilization, and Antifungal Technology" (1982), Industrial Technology Association, Japan Antibacterial and Antifungal Society, Ed., Antibacterial and Antifungal Encyclopedia (1986) A bactericide can also be used.

The washing water has a pH of 4 to 9, preferably 5 to 8. The washing water temperature and washing time can be set variously depending on the characteristics of the light-sensitive material, application, etc.
10 seconds to 10 minutes at ℃, preferably 15 to 25 ℃ to 45 ℃
A range of seconds to 3 minutes is selected.

Examples of dye stabilizers that can be used in the stabilizing solution include aldehydes such as formalin and glutaraldehyde, N-methylol compounds, hexamethylenetetramine, and aldehyde sulfite adducts. The stabilizing solution may also include other pH adjusting buffers such as boric acid and sodium hydroxide; 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; sulfurization such as alkanolamines. Inhibitors; fluorescent whitening agents; antifungal agents and the like may be contained.

The overflow solution accompanying the washing with water and / or the supplementation of the stabilizing solution can be reused in other steps such as the desilvering step.

The present invention can be applied to any processing tank, but is preferably a color developing tank, and as described above, particularly a developer containing little or no benzyl alcohol or sulfite ion or a relatively high chloride ion concentration. It is effective as a developer.

(Example 1) The effects of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the results of processing the light-sensitive material using the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of the above-mentioned example. The invention is not limited to this.

The following processing solutions were prepared. [Color developer] Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 4.0 g 4,5-Dihydroxybenzene-1,3-disulfonic acid disodium 1.0 g Potassium hydroxide 6.0 g Potassium bromide 4.0 g Potassium iodide 0.001 g Sodium sulfite 4 0.0 g potassium carbonate 40.0 g N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride 4.0 g 4-amino-3-methyl-N-ethyl-N- (hydroxyethyl) aniline sulphate 7.0 g Water was added to 1000 ml pH (25 ℃ / adjusted with potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid)
10.05 [bleach-fixing solution] Chelating agent represented by the following general formula A
0.17 mol

[0102]

[Chemical 4]

Ferric nitrate nonahydrate 0.15 mol Ammonium thiosulfate 1.25 mol Ammonium sulfite 0.10 mol Metacarboxybenzenesulfinic acid 0.05 mol Water was added to 1000 ml pH (adjusted at 25 ° C./acetic acid and ammonia water) 5.8 [Washing Water] Tap water is used as an H-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120B manufactured by Rohm and Haas Co.) and an OH type anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-40).
0) filled with mixed-bed column to treat calcium and magnesium ions at a concentration of 3 mg / liter or less, and then 20 mg of sodium isocyanurate dichloride.
/ Liter and 0.15 g / liter of sodium sulfate were added. The pH of this liquid was in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. [Stabilizer] 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one 0.1 g polyoxyethylene-p-monononyl phenyl ether (average degree of polymerization 10) 0.2 g Water was added to 1000 ml pH (25 ° C / in hydrochloric acid and ammonia water) 8.50) The basic steps of the development processing are shown below.

Treatment process Temperature Time Color development * 60 seconds Bleaching fixation * 60 seconds Washing with water (1) * 15 seconds Washing with water (2) * 15 seconds Washing with water (3) * 15 seconds Stable * 15 seconds Drying 80 ° C 30 seconds * Temperature is Each was changed as shown in Table 1 below.

(Washing was carried out in a three-tank countercurrent system from (3) to (1).) Next, the processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 was adjusted so as to follow the above-mentioned processing steps, and the photosensitive material conveying guide 33A was used.
The conditions of the material and the processing temperature were changed as shown in Table 1 below, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material was rapidly processed, and the transport state was evaluated.

The color negative film S is used as the light-sensitive material.
Using G400 (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), the processing time, the occurrence of film jamming, and the scratches and damages of the film were observed as the evaluation of the transport state. The results are shown in Table 1.
Shown in.

[0107]

[Table 1]

As is clear from Table 1, when a guide formed of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion outside the range of the processing method of the present invention or a guide having a shape outside the range is used, the processing temperature is higher than that of the present invention. It can be seen that jamming occurs frequently within the range of the method, and the processing time is changed to make the processing conditions unstable. In particular, when the inner width of the groove of the guide exceeds 5 mm or the depth of the groove is less than 2 mm, jamming or separation of the film from the guide easily occurs,
On the other hand, when the inner width of the groove of the guide is less than 0.5 mm or the depth of the groove exceeds 5 mm, the transport resistance of the film increases and the processing time becomes unstable, and the guide is further transported to the film. It can be seen that scratches are likely to occur. Further, when the processing temperature was lower than the range of the present invention (No. 1), the film was conveyed normally, but sufficient color development was not obtained in the developing time of 60 seconds.

On the other hand, it can be seen that those satisfying the conditions of the processing method of the present invention can obtain good transport performance.

(Example 2) The following processing solutions were prepared. [Color developer] Tank liquid (g) Replenisher (g) Diethylenediaminetetraacetic acid 4.0 4.0 4,5-Dihydroxybenzene-1,3-diphosphonate disodium 0.5 0.5 Sodium sulfite 3. 9 3.9 Potassium carbonate 37.5 39.0 Potassium bromide 2.7-Potassium iodide 0.013-N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride 4.2 5.5 5.5 2-Methyl-4- [N-ethyl- N- (β-Hydroxyethyl) amino] aniline sulfate (as shown in Table 2) Water was added 1000 ml 1000 ml pH (adjusted with 25 ° C / ammonia water) 4.5 4.0 [bleaching solution] tank Liquid (mol) Replenisher (mol) 1,3-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid Ferric ammonium ammonium monohydrate 0.33 0.50 Ferric sulfate nonahydrate 0.30 4.5 Ammonium bromide 0.80 1.20 Ammonium nitrate 0.20 0.30 Acetic acid 0.67 1.0 Add water 1000 ml 1000 ml pH (adjusted at 25 ° C / ammonia water) 4.5 4.0 [Fixing Liquid] Common to tank liquid and replenisher (g) Ammonium sulfite 28 Ammonium thiosulfate (700 g / l) 280 ml imidazole 15 Ethylenediaminetetraacetate 15 Add water to 1000 ml pH (adjusted at 25 ° C / acetic acid and ammonia water) 5 .8 [Rinsing water] Common tank liquid and replenisher tap water is filled with H-type strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Amberlite IR-120B manufactured by Rohm and Haas Co.) and OH type anion exchange resin (Amberlite IR-400). Water is passed through the mixed bed type column, and calcium and Processes Neshiumuion concentration below 3 mg / liter, followed by the addition of sodium isocyanurate dichloride 20mg / liter and sodium 0.15 g / l of sulfuric acid. The pH of this liquid was in the range of 6.5 to 7.5. [Stabilizer] Common to tank liquid and replenisher 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one 0.1 g Polyoxyethylene-p-monononyl phenyl ether (average degree of polymerization 10) 0.2 g Water added 1000 ml pH (25 ° C / Adjusted with hydrochloric acid and ammonia water) 8.50 The treatment process is shown below.

[Treatment Step] Treatment step Treatment temperature Treatment time Replenishment amount * Tank capacity Color development 45 ° C. 90 seconds 200 ml 2.0 liter Bleach 45 ° C. 30 seconds 130 ml 0.7 liter Fixing (1) 45 ° C. 30 seconds 100 ml 0.1. 7 liter Fixing (2) 45 ° C. 30 seconds 70 ml 0.7 liter Water washing (1) 45 ° C. 15 seconds-0.4 liter Water washing (2) 45 ° C. 15 seconds-0.4 liter Water washing (3) 45 ° C. 15 seconds 400 ml 0.4 liter Stable 45 ° C. 3 seconds 70 ml 0.2 liter Dry 80 ° C. 20 seconds * Replenishment amount per 1 m ² of light-sensitive material.

(4-tank countercurrent multistage cascade from water washing (3) to fixing (2)) (2-tank countercurrent multistage cascade from fixing (2) to fixing (1)) 1 [PVC (hard polyvinyl chloride resin): linear expansion coefficient of 7.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C.] and N
o. 2 [PPE-M1 (GF30% strengthened, modified PP
E): A member having a coefficient of linear expansion of 3.0 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C.] was used to modify the processing apparatus so as to satisfy the above-mentioned processing steps. The color negative film S is used as the photosensitive material.
G800 (manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.) was continuously processed until the total replenishment amount of the color developing solution reached 4.0 liters. The transportability of the film immediately before the treatment and the state of scratches on the film after the treatment were evaluated. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0113]

[Table 2]

As is clear from Table 2, when the concentration of the developing agent is high, discoloration of the guide and deposition of precipitates easily occur near the interface between the color developing solution of the guide and air.
When a processing device in which the width and the depth of the groove are out of the preferred range of the present invention is used, clogging of the groove portion occurs, and conveyance failure or film contamination is likely to occur. On the other hand, it is understood that when the conditions of the present invention are satisfied, good transportability is obtained and scratches on the photosensitive material do not occur. Further, when the concentration of the main drug is less than the range of the present invention (No. 1, 2), the present Example 2
No sufficient color development was obtained under the developing conditions.

(Embodiment 3) Next, the evaluation of the treatment process by the change of the guide member will be described.

The following three types of PS-modified PPE were evaluated as the guide member of the same processing apparatus as that used in Example 1. The PS modified PPE evaluated are shown below. (In each case, PS modified PPE Zylon manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corporation was used.) (1) Zylon X302V Linear expansion coefficient: 4 × 10 ⁻⁵
cm / cm ° C (2) Zylon 220V Linear expansion coefficient: 8 × 10 ^-5
cm / cm ° C. (3) Zylon 201V Linear expansion coefficient: 8 × 10 ⁻⁵
cm / cm ° C. Evaluation was carried out by using the sample in the color developing solution used in Example 1 at 50 ° C.
The sample was soaked for 3 months and the tensile strength, elongation, bending strength, and bending elastic modulus were measured, and the change was calculated with the value of the sample before immersion as 100. Tensile strength and elongation are according to ASTM D63
8. Flexural strength and flexural modulus were measured according to ASTM D790. Results are shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, among the PS-modified PPE, the samples having a linear expansion coefficient of more than 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C. were remarkably lowered in tensile rupture elongation by immersing them in the treatment liquid. However, the material is fragile. These samples are
As shown in FIG. 6, since the change in flexural modulus is small, there is a disadvantage in that, in actual use, it may be delayed in finding the sign of deterioration of the resin. The immersion test is according to ASTM
Although the test piece is used under no load condition, when it is actually used as a guide for the processing device, a mechanism for transmitting drive is provided in addition to the guide for the photosensitive material, which causes deformation or damage. Etc. are more likely to occur. Furthermore, since the processing device repeatedly operates and stops, the processing temperature is accordingly warmed during operation, and the temperature is repeatedly decreased during stop, so stress concentration is high in the member with high linear expansion coefficient. Is increased and the fatigue of the material is accelerated.

In fact, in the processing apparatus equipped with the guide made of Zylon 220V, a short photosensitive material such as 12-shot film was conveyed for 3 months after the start of use, but after 3 months, As a result, the resin of the guide member deteriorates, resulting in a decrease in dimensional accuracy and frequent jamming. Further, in a long photosensitive material such as a 36-sheet film, since one photosensitive material passes through a turn portion and a nip roller portion for performing a plurality of driving operations, the dimensional accuracy of the guide is deteriorated due to thermal expansion. However, good conveyance could not be performed even within 3 months after the start of use.

On the other hand, the zylon is used as a guide member.
In the case of a processing device using X302V, even after 3 months of use,
Good conveyance was possible regardless of the length of the photosensitive material.

[0120]

According to the method for processing a light-sensitive material of the present invention and the processing apparatus used therefor, a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material can be easily and favorably conveyed, and the guide is deformed even if the processing is performed at a high temperature. It is possible to process quickly without causing any trouble or poor conveyance, and even if a high-concentration amine color developing agent is used, the guide will not discolor and the groove will not be clogged. It shows the excellent effect of no contamination.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2A is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a developing tank of a photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged sectional view of a guide groove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of jet stirring means and guide grooves used in the developing tank of FIG.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a developing tank of the photosensitive material processing apparatus of the present invention in which jet stirring is performed from the inside of the photosensitive material, and FIG. 4B is a guide in FIG. Figure 3 shows a side view of a guided film transport path.

FIG. 5 (a) is a linear expansion coefficient of 5.3 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm.
Represents the infrared absorption spectrum of PS modified PPE at ℃,
(B) is a PS having a linear expansion coefficient of 7.5 × 10 ⁻⁵ cm / cm ° C.
3 shows an infrared absorption spectrum of modified PPE.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing changes in tensile strength, elongation, bending strength, and bending elastic modulus in a guide member immersion test.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Development tank 33A Guide groove (guide)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A step of processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material under the condition that the temperature of at least one processing solution is 40 ° C. or more and 50 ° C. or less, and a developing agent having a concentration of 15 mmol / liter or more and 60 mmol / liter or less is contained. And a step of developing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, the step of carrying along a guide installed along the carrying direction to support both ends of the light-sensitive material. The coefficient of linear expansion of the member constituting the guide is 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ (c
m / cm ° C) or less, -1.0 × 10 ^-5 (cm / cm ° C)
Above, and the inner width of the groove of the guide is 0.5 mm
Above, 5.0mm or less, groove depth is 2mm or more, 5mm
The following is a method of processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, characterized in that: 2. An automatic transport processing apparatus for a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, comprising a processing tank for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, and a transporting means for transporting the light-sensitive material through a predetermined route in the processing bath. Then, guides are installed along the conveying direction to support both ends of the photosensitive material in the conveying path of the photosensitive material, and the linear expansion coefficient of the member forming the guide is 6 × 10 ⁻⁵ (c
m / cm ° C) or less, -1.0 × 10 ^-5 (cm / cm ° C)
Above, the inner width of the groove of the guide is 0.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less, and the groove depth is 2 mm or more and 5 mm or less. Treatment of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, apparatus. 3. The halogenated compound according to claim 2, wherein the member constituting the guide contains a polymer compound formed of a polymer containing a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I). Processing device for silver photographic light-sensitive materials. [Chemical 1] In the formula, R represents an alkyl group, and n is 10 to 100,000.
Represents an integer of 0.