JPH08171187A - Apparatus and method for processing of imaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an efficient device for an imaging material by having a liquid recirculating loop. SOLUTION: A liquid recirculation loop has a processing cell 18, a reservoir 38 and a pump 42. Also, the processing chamber 19 of the processing cell 18 contains a processing liquid, and an imaging material 12 moves in the chamber 19. Furthermore, the reservoir 38 has a reservoir chamber containing a processor liquid, and is connected to the processing chamber 19 via a first line. The pump 42 is arranged between the reservoir 38 and the processing cell 18, and connected to the reservoir 38 via the second line, as well as to the processing cell 19 via the third line. Also, a replenisher tank 44 is functionally connected to the loop, and contains a replenisher for the feed to the loop.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the processing of silver halide photographic films, radiation films, diffusion transfer imaging materials, proof plates and proof materials, and other imaging materials (ie, developing, bleaching, stabilizing, Fixing and / or washing).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The processing or development of imaging materials such as photographic plates is a well known process. Generally, the exposed imaging material is transported through a bath of processing liquid.
The term "exposed" is used in this technical field to illuminate an imaging material, such as photographic film, with some form of imaging (or exposure) radiation, such as light or X-rays. I mean. The imaging material is generally exposed in the range of 30-70% in normal use.

Development uniformity and reproducibility depend on several factors including temperature, chemical activity of the developing solution and agitation. Automatic processors that control the various states of these factors are commonly used in the development of photographic elements. The developing device
It uses well known techniques for careful control of development parameters. The routine is temperature control that allows temperature changes up to ± 0.5 ° C. Furthermore, the mobility of the treatment liquid (also known as agitation) is important, and various methods are useful for causing this movement in the treatment liquid. Among such methods are roller movements and bath liquid recirculation.
The chemical activity of the treatment bath is maintained by an automatic replenishment process.

Reducing the amount of materials used in the processing of photographic film is desirable from both an economic and environmental standpoint. A 1 m ² dry sheet of a silver halide imaging material can absorb 40 ml or more of a developing solution, and with a known developing solution, it deteriorates due to the oxidation due to the oxidation of the developing solution in a large tank, Results in the use of no liquid. Manufacturers of new silver halide developers are able to process silver halide materials as efficiently as possible with the least amount of processing chemicals used, without sacrificing the high quality performance expected of such materials. We are trying to make the most of it.

Maintaining an appropriate level of chemical activity is an important aspect of the development process that ensures consistent product quality. During development, the components of the developer are exhausted as reactants and reaction products are formed. Exhaustion of hydroquinone and hydroxide ions as reactants results in hydroquinone monosulfonate and bromide ions as reaction products in their final form. The exhaustion of reactants and the formation of reaction products leads to a reduction in the capacity of the processing bath for further development. Filtering material from photographic elements also leads to poor development quality. The effect of agitation is to remove reaction products from the surface of the photographic medium and to supply fresh chemicals to the surface of the medium, resulting in the formation of layers into the layer where the imaging reaction is taking place. The diffusion is to ensure subsequent development of the medium. The effect of replenishment lies in the continuous supply of reactants and the dilution of reaction products, and consequently in maintaining the chemical activity of the entire processing bath.

The need for replenishment and the ability of the processing bath to maintain the film developed is determined by several factors, including the silver content of the film. The silver halide crystals convert the composition of the image silver (ie the amount used) and the developer to their contents. The overall need is that replenishment achieves a steady state of replenishment of bath activity, maintaining a constant level that provides consistently reproducible development results. Insufficient replenishment, that is, insufficient replenishment leads to a decrease in the activity of the processing bath as well as a decrease in the activity. The result of shortage replenishment is
Poor images (low density), low contrast, eventually resulting in exhausted processing baths that are either underdeveloped or underdeveloped. On the other hand, excessive replenishment causes excessive bath activity, excessive development, excessive image (high density), high contrast, and excessive fogging of the film.
Traditionally, the recommended consistency convention used very large reactant reservoir tanks, which was wasteful relative to the chemicals used.

It is necessary to distinguish between the developing solution in the replenishing device and the developing solution in the processing bath.
Added to maintain bath activity. The developer in the bath, known as the working developer, is obtained from a replenisher. However, the developer in the automatic processor contains reaction by-products similar to the reduced reactant levels when compared to the replenisher. In the steady state stage, the developer and reaction products react while the replenishment supplies fresh reactants and dilutes reaction by-products while accumulating reaction products during development and also reacting. Maintains a certain level while exhausting the substance. At a suitable replenishment rate, the system maintains a near steady state balance that results in timely development of the photographic film. Using a replenisher solution in the replenisher for film development results in a stronger developing bath than the second or working developer bath.
It usually leads to overdevelopment. However, by diluting the replenishment solution, or by adding some reaction products such as bromine, and even by passing some exposed film without replenishment,
Alternatively, it is common practice in the art to prepare a working developer bath from a replenisher by some combination that suppresses excess replenisher activity to the level of working developer.

To help maintain consistent chemical activity, it is common practice for automatic processing equipment to have a developer bath with a very large volume of liquid, eg, 20 liters or more. . These are commonly referred to as "deep tank processors". Deep tank processors have provided the highest throughput. In addition, the developer bath capacity, which contributes to the consistency of processing, has been given a margin.

However, the deep tank processor has a very big drawback. First, and most importantly, the use of large volumes of processing liquid and the consequent disposal is environmentally unfavorable. Second, the use of large amounts of processing liquid is economically unfavorable to the purchaser. Thirdly, it takes a very long time to heat a large amount of processing liquid to the operating temperature.

Shallow or volume-reduced tanks are commercially available to address the shortcomings of deep tank processing equipment. However, they have not been fully applicable. One of the main reasons for the lack of applicability is that the small volume processor has the required output (imaging material processing productivity, ie, throughput) and the same performance consistency as the deep tank processor ( Development uniformity and consistency).

US Pat. No. 5,168,296 discloses a processing tank having an internal chamber defined by developing chambers arranged in series. The processor was designed specifically for developing 35 mm film and using about 1 liter of developer. Although this is less than other deep tank processing equipment, it still uses a significant amount of developer, considering the thin films processed therein. Further, this reference discloses that replenishment is directly carried out into the most upstream chamber and liquid is caused to flow in the same direction as the film transport direction. As a result, the concentration of chemical phenomena was highest near the inlet of the processing apparatus and lowest near the outlet of the processing apparatus. Furthermore, the need for multiple compartments
This results in a relatively complex processor for manufacturing and maintenance.

PCT Patent No. 93-00612 defines an apparatus for photographic processing in small volume tanks and teaches the importance of agitation. This document states that in a small volume processor, the area of the tank limits sufficient agitation, and thus the supply of fresh processing solution to the film surface. This patent defines a means of ensuring that the film surface is supplied with fresh processing solution.

In EP-A-410322, a chemical phenomenon is exerted directly on the film for processing. This example requires a minimum of two distributions of developer composition. However, the material dispensed is
It is not a part of the developer in the processing tank.

As mentioned above, the chemical activity is maintained by supplementation, in which supplementation the fresh chemical phenomena on the same basis for the amount (area) of the film processed,
Or, more suitably, given on the same basis for the amount of silver image developed. For processing in most of the industrial black and white markets, such as in the medical and graphic arts areas, the specified replenishment rate is usually about 450 milliliters of replenisher for processing film per square meter. . This prescribed replenishment rate is
Based on the assumption that the phenomenological process develops about 50% of the available silver (as a result of normal exposure levels), and the weight of the material used for the silver coat is 3-4 per square meter of film processed. Based on the assumption that it is in the gram range, further processing and replenishment solutions are
It is based on the assumption that it will be diluted as specified by the feeder for the particular process and replenisher.
This defined replenishment rate is 35 milliliters for a 10 inch x 12 inch (25.4 cm) x (30.48 cm) film sheet which is 50% imaged with proper exposure, or 100% exposed. Inch x 12 inch (25.4c
For a film sheet of m) x (30.48 cm), this corresponds to about 70 ml. The recommended replenishment rates for processes where the weight of the film undergoing the process is greater than the weight of the silver coat, or where the balance of silver converted to images varies significantly from 50% is usually:
It is adjusted to correct the difference.

For example, in a data sheet for a company product, 39 milliliters (75% imaged) per square foot (929.0 cm ² ) of a 50% imaged silver halide photographic film. For films, we recommend 53 milliliters per square foot (929.0 cm ² ). 1 square foot (929.0c
39 ml per m ² ) corresponds to 420 ml per square meter. In one processor, 1
Uses as small as 29 milliliters per square foot (929.0 cm ² ) can be foreseen, which corresponds to 312 milliliters per square meter. For other devices, 5
22 to 35 milliliters per square foot (929.0 cm ² ) for 0% imaged film (equivalent to 235 to 375 milliliters per square meter)
The range of is recommended. In this regard, while numerous patents on the advantages of small volume tank processing equipment and the consequent reduction of chemical phenomena utilization are mentioned, such patent literature is always concerned with tank volume and filling of such tanks. It should be recognized that it relates to requirements related to emissions and emissions. No literature mentions the need for alternative replenishment, rather than the replenishment traditionally employed to extend and maintain the processable period and to extend the usable life of the developer.

One well-known commercially available processing chemical formulation achieves a reduction in the amount of replenishment chemicals used. However, that amount reduction does not translate into an equivalent reduction in the materials used, ie the absolute amount of hydroquinone used. The use of this formulation is:
While allowing reduction of replenisher volume from 450 to 125 milliliters, the concentration of hydroquinone used in the treatment bath should be at an appropriate concentration (hydroquinone in 1 liter is 65 grams by definition, but approximately 50- 80 grams,
The hydroquinone per liter increases by 1.5 to 2 times the specified amount (113.8 grams). As a result, the usage of hydroquinone is only reduced from 29.3 grams per square meter (at 50% imaging) to about 14.3 grams. This usage still leads to the waste of large amounts of hydroquinone. (When the film developed contains 4 grams of silver per square meter and the film is 50% imaged, the amount of hydroquinone used per square meter of film developed is about 1 gram total. It is.)

There remains an unmet need for methods and apparatus that minimize the use of the required chemicals, sufficient development uniformity and productivity (throughput). This requirement is particularly felt for the processing of imaging materials such as photographic film, proof plates, diffusion transfer imaging materials.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the problems associated with deep tank and small volume processors. In one example, the present invention is directed to an imaging material processing apparatus. The apparatus includes a liquid recirculation loop including a processing cell having a chamber containing a processing liquid through which the imaging material is conveyed. The loop also includes a reservoir having a reservoir chamber containing the processing liquid. This reservoir is connected to the chamber by a first liquid line. The loop also comprises a pump located between the reservoir and the processing cell. This pump is the second
Is connected to the reservoir by the liquid line and is connected to the processing cell by the third liquid line. The device further comprises a replenisher tank containing a replenisher. The replenisher tank is operably connected to the recycle loop for supplying replenisher to the recycle loop.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS.
The device 10 can be used to process the imaging material 12. The imaging material 12 is, for example, a material obtained by exposing a photographic film sheet having at least one surface coated with a photographic emulsion (for example, silver halide). The device 10 uses small amounts of chemicals. Imaging materials such as ordinary photographic film
There are many sizes and types, including those used personally. Other examples of imaging materials that can be processed by the apparatus 10 include graphic arts films (including high-contrast films such as EXCELERATE films) and radiation films (3M films, 3M TRIMA).
X film etc.), silver halide based diffusion transfer printing plate (ONYX plate etc.), proofing plate and proofing material (MATCHPRINT, VIKING etc.) and photo-sensitive polymer imaging materials. All of these imaging material brands are products of 3M, Inc. of St. Paul, Minnesota. Generally, these imaging materials are exposed to some extent before being processed by device 10. However, the unexposed material may be passed through the apparatus, for example to dry the processing liquid 24.

As used herein, the term "sheet" means a relatively short material, 8 inches by 10 inches, or a relatively long material wound on a core. The terms “processing”, “processable”, and the like used in the present specification mean a developing process (including a fixing and cleaning process in a broad sense) of an imaging material. Furthermore, "processing",
"Processable" and other terms refer to the activation process of other imaging materials.
It also means (in a broad sense, including stabilization and washing processes).

The device 10 comprises a top plate 14 and a bottom plate 16. The plates are positioned relative to each other, between which the processing cell 18 (ie the housing with the processing chamber) is formed. An end plate (not shown) is connected to the top plate 14 and the bottom plate 16 and constitutes another part outside the processing cell 18. Inlet 20 and outlet 22 of material are illustrated as being composed of top plate 14 and bottom plate 16. Since the inlet 20 and the outlet 22 are in communication with the processing chamber 19, the imaging material 12 can pass through the processing chamber 19.

The processing cell 18 is substantially flat and arranged substantially horizontally. By “substantially flat” is meant that the walls of the top plate 14 and bottom plate 16 that make up the processing chamber 19 are not too far from the imaging material 12. An example of a “substantially flat” processing chamber 19 is shown in FIGS. The processing chamber may have a curved shape such as an arc shape, but is straight in the illustrated example. The detailed shape of the chamber is not critical in this form of the invention. Another example of a substantially flat processing chamber is US Pat. No. 5,266,994.
No. 5,043,756, No. 5,1
36,323 and 5,365,299.

The processing chamber 19 may contain a processing liquid 24 effective for processing the imaging material passing through the chamber 19. As the processing liquid used in the apparatus 10,
Graphic arts film processing liquid (including EXCELERATE developer and rapid access liquid), radiation film processing liquid, and diffusion transfer developer or activation liquid (for example, ON
YX treatment liquid and other diffusion transfer liquids).

Processing chamber 19 is described in US Pat. No. 5,266.
It may also include a mesh material (not shown) as disclosed in 994 (Desai et al.). One of the actions of the mesh material is to keep the treatment liquid 24 on top by capillarity. Furthermore, the processing chamber 19
It may include a plastic element such as the blade disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,266,994 (Desai et al.). This blade holds the imaging material 12 below in the processing chamber 19.

10 inch × 12 inch (25.4 cm × 30.48c
In one example of a processing chamber 19 designed to process a sheet of image material of m), the chamber length from its inlet 20 to its outlet 22 is approximately 8 inches (20.3 cm). The chamber width is approximately 16 inches (40.6 cm). The chamber height is approximately 0.10 to 0.3 inches (0.254 to 0.762 cm). Chamber height is the distance from the inner surface of the bottom plate 16 to the inner surface of the top plate 14, as best shown in FIG. The volume of the processing chamber 19 in this example is approximately 12.8.
～38.4 is a cubic inch (210~629cm ^3).

The chamber height can be slightly smaller than the above range. However, if the chamber height is made very small compared to the above range, it becomes difficult to maintain a desired flow rate. Conversely, by changing the shape of the bottom plate 16 to one having a deeper recess, the chamber height can be made larger than the above range, for example, approximately 2 to 4 inches (approximately 5 to 10 cm). it can. However, the deeper the recesses in the bottom plate 16, the lesser the benefits of a small volume processor.

By selecting the chamber height of the processing chamber 19, the thickness of the processing liquid 24 contacting the photosensitive surface of the imaging material 12 can be set to a desired value. In other words, the treatment liquid 24 having a desired liquid thickness has a photosensitive surface on one side of which is photosensitive (for example, a plate surface such as an ONYX plate), or both sides are photosensitive (a radiation film. Etc.) should be in contact with the photosensitive surface. The desired liquid thickness is a thickness with which the imaging material 12 can be uniformly processed, and the processing liquid 24.
Between the thicknesses that can benefit from the use of a small amount of processing liquid with a minimum total amount of. An example of a desired liquid thickness range is 0.04 to 0.4 inch (0.1 to 1.0).
cm). Therefore, especially when the apparatus 10 processes an imaging material having a photosensitive surface on one side (the photosensitive surface of which faces the top plate 14), the inner surface of the bottom plate 16 and the processing liquid 24 are treated. The distance to the surface is
It must be equal to at least 0.04 inches plus the thickness of imaging material 12. In addition, when the apparatus 10 processes an imaging material having photosensitive surfaces on both sides,
The distance between the inner surface of the bottom plate 16 and the upper surface of the processing liquid 24 should be at least equal to 0.08 (0.04 × 2) inches plus the thickness of the imaging material 12. In addition, the device will function even if the liquid thickness is greater than 1.0 cm, for example, 2.5 cm or more. However, as mentioned above, increasing liquid thickness diminishes the benefits of small volume processing equipment.

When a liquid thickness of 0.04 inch is applied to an imaging material having a photosensitive surface on only one side, it exists in the processing chamber 19 of the above-described example (length is about 8 inches, width is about 16 inches). The volume of the processing liquid 24 to be treated is approximately 5.12 cubic inches (84 mm ³ ). When the liquid thickness is 0.4 inch, the volume of the processing liquid 24 is approximately 51.2 cubic inches (840 mm ³ ).

In another example of a processing chamber 19 designed to process wider imaging material 12, its internal length is approximately 16 inches (40.6 cm) and its internal width is approximately 24 inches (61 cm). The internal height (and the liquid thickness range) is the same as the above value.

By changing the size of the processing chamber 19 to a value different from the above, the processing speed and / or the volume of the processing liquid in the processing chamber 19 can be changed. Further, the size of the processing chamber 19 is reduced (for example, 30 cm in width),
Alternatively, by increasing the size, it is possible to process thin or wide imaging materials, and also to process imaging materials of various thicknesses. Further, in the illustrated example, the inner surfaces of the top plate 14 and the bottom plate 16 are flat, but instead, each inner surface may have an irregular shape.

The image pickup material 12 moves along the conveyance direction shown in the figure (see the arrow in the figure) to determine the moving surface. The processing liquid 24 moves across the imaging material 12 substantially as shown. This movement of the processing liquid is realized by the orientations of the processing liquid inlet port 26 and the processing liquid outlet port 28. It is also conceivable that the direction of the flow of the processing liquid may be different from that shown.

The apparatus 10 may have a reservoir tank 38, a line 40, a first pump 42, and a replenisher tank 44 in addition to the processing cell 18. Reservoir tank 38
Does not have such a large volume as compared with the processing chamber 19, for example. A second pump (not shown) may be provided to pump the replenisher from the replenisher tank 44 to the liquid circulation loop. The choice of replenisher is based on the imaging material 12 being processed.
Depends on. The working developer circulates in the liquid recirculation loop (cell 18, reservoir 38, line 40, first pump 42). In this example, a new replenisher can be added from the replenisher tank 44 to the reservoir tank 38. Further, the first pump 42 can be arranged between the reservoir tank 38 and the processing chamber 19 to send the processing liquid 24 from the reservoir tank 38 to the processing chamber 19.
The processing liquid 24 flows from the processing chamber 19 to the reservoir tank 3
Return to 8. The first pump 42 may be arranged on the upstream side of the reservoir tank 38. And, although it is not so preferable, the replenisher tank is not the reservoir tank 38,
It can also be connected to the processing chamber 19 or the line 40.

By using the reservoir tank 38, a new replenisher can be mixed with the operation processing liquid before the operation processing liquid comes into contact with the imaging material 12 in the processing chamber 19. Mixing is especially important when the replenisher and processing solutions are diluted below specified values to thin. Similarly,
Since the reservoir tank 38 can be heated, the temperature of the processing liquid can be kept constant throughout the recirculation loop, especially in the processing chamber 19. In addition, the volume of the reservoir tank 38 is small compared to large volume baths or deep tanks so that the process liquid 24 can be rapidly heated to the desired operating temperature (and quickly to the desired uniformity). Can be mixed). Mixing can be done by one of the known mixing mechanisms, such as a magnetic mixing mechanism (not shown). The temperature control can also be performed by one of the known liquid temperature control means, such as a thermocouple combination, a heating blanket or sleeve, and a program control mechanism (not shown).

Further, since the reservoir tank 38 is used, the processing chamber 19 is maintained at a relatively constant liquid level by compensating for the normal liquid loss and the unexpectedly large liquid loss in the processing chamber 19. You can
The apparatus 10 may include means for monitoring and controlling the volume of liquid in the processing chamber 19. For example,
A liquid level sensor and a program control mechanism (not shown) connected to the first pump 42. When an unexpected loss of liquid occurs, the flow rate of the processing liquid from the reservoir tank 38 to the processing chamber 19 can be instantaneously increased by instantaneously increasing the output from the first pump 42. . Furthermore, this minimizes the amount of air introduced into the liquid recirculation line 40, and the first pump 42
It is also advantageous in preventing the idling of the vehicle.

As described above, the volume of the reservoir tank 38 is not so large as the volume of the processing chamber 19 in one example. For example, the chamber volume of 25 ~
It is 150%. In another example, the reservoir tank 3
The volume of 8 is much larger than the chamber volume, eg
150-200% or more of the chamber volume.
If the volume of the reservoir tank is sufficiently large and heating is possible, it becomes easy to maintain the temperature of the processing liquid constant.
Further, when the large volume reservoir tank 38 is used, the apparatus 10 is configured so that the total volume of the working developer (the volume existing in the processing chamber 19, the reservoir tank 38, the line 40, and the pump 42) is a deep tank. It can be configured to be considerably smaller than that.

Generally, the recirculation rate is displayed as the number of turnovers per unit time. The term "number of changes" refers to the ratio of the volume of processing liquid 24 that replaces the volume of processing liquid 24 contained in the processing chamber 19 and other parts of the recirculation loop (reservoir tank 38, line 40, and pump 42). Means The recirculation rate of the treatment liquid 24 should be maintained so that the minimum value is 0.2 exchanges per minute (exchange rate). The direction of recirculation is substantially across the moving direction of the imaging material 12 moving in the processing chamber 19. More preferably, the recirculation rate is greater than 0.4 replacements per minute and 0.6
Most preferably, it is larger than the number of exchanges. An example of the range of recirculation rate when there is approximately 500 ml of working liquid in the loop is 100 to 1000 ml / min, more specifically 150 to 750 ml / min. For 300 ml of working process liquid, the recirculation rate is 60-600 ml / min. For 800 ml of working treatment liquid (when the treatment chamber 19 is large, etc.), the recirculation rate is 160-1600 ml.
/ Minute.

If the exchange rate during recirculation is less than 0.2 exchanges per minute, the uniformity of development will deteriorate. If the exchange rate greatly exceeds 2 exchanges per minute during recirculation, the processing liquid becomes small at the material inlet 20 and the outlet 22.

In addition to the benefits of the small volume of processing liquid 24 used in the liquid recirculation loop and the integration of reservoir tank 38 in the line, the use of apparatus 10 , The amount of replenisher added to the recirculating process stream can be minimized. The R / C ratio of the volume (R) of the replenisher added per 1 m ^{2 of the} surface of the imaging material to be processed to the volume (C) per 1 m ^{2 of the} surface of the imaging material of the processing liquid in the recirculation loop is 0. It is preferably larger than .12 (12%).
The R / C ratio is more preferably larger than 0.15 (15%), further preferably larger than 0.20 (20%), and most preferably larger than 0.25 (25%). . These R / C ratios are higher than those for industrial large volume baths (approximately 2-3%), but
The amount of replenisher that 0 actually adds is considerably less than that of an industrial bath. The recirculation element in the device 10 is significantly smaller than its total volume for large volume baths. The amount of processing liquid used per unit film in the apparatus 10 is
Much less than in large volume baths. Therefore,
In device 10, the R / C ratio is relatively high, but the volumetric ratio of replenisher is reduced.

The preferred average replenisher volume ratio in apparatus 10 is 100 ml of replenisher added to the recirculation loop per 1 m ^{2 of} silver halide imaging material developed.
Less than. This volume ratio is more preferably less than 85 ml, even more preferably less than 75 ml, even more preferably less than 65 ml. These preferred volume ratios are based on the use of specified dilutions of processing and replenisher solutions.

[0040]

EXAMPLES Examples using the apparatus 10 will be described below. In this example, a high contrast, hybrid type silver halide based graphic arts material (EXCELERATE) was used. The film sheet is sensitometric exposure
And 50% dot exposure. The film sheets were then interleaved with the fully exposed film sheets. In normal use of such graphic arts film,
The image is formed using about half the silver. The complete exposure of the film and the imaging using substantially all the silver in the film sheet is 2 for each film sheet.
It means consuming twice as much developer, which is equivalent to processing more film. The number of sheets of the completely exposed film placed between the 50% halftone-exposed films for measuring the photosensitivity is 1 in terms of area.
A to 2 m ^2, it was equal to the area of 2 to 4 m ² of normal exposure film. Several experiments were conducted with varying replenishment rates. These replenishment rates are determined by the area of the film to be processed and the specified dilution of the replenisher or treating solution (partial replenisher for almost some water, or partly for most water). Processing solution). The replenisher could be added automatically at the rate set for each sheet. Treatments were carried out for 8 hours per day for each series. Different sets at one replenishment level did not necessarily have to be done daily. Normal,
The starting point for processing was the processing chemistry state left in the previous set, but this state does not necessarily have to be at the same level.

The process and the data presented in the table below are based on the specified dilutions of processing and replenisher solutions.
These are intended to show the benefits of the device 10. However, it is also possible to use a replenisher having a low degree of dilution or an undiluted replenisher in the apparatus 10. This provides the development characteristics necessary to maintain processing activity. If a diluted or undiluted replenisher for the device 10 is used, the treated liquid 2 is discarded.
The volume of 4 is reduced. For example, when the undiluted replenisher is prepared by removing the diluted solution of EXCELERATE solution from the specified diluting solution consisting of a part of concentrated solution for a part of water, the replenishment rate is reduced by at least 50%. be able to.
In addition, this greatly reduces the percentage of volume of processing liquid 24 that is discarded to maintain processing activity (since the volume of processing liquid absorbed by a given imaging material is substantially constant. ). Dilutions, replenishment rates, solution temperatures, and other processing conditions can be adjusted to some extent to best process a particular imaging material with a particular processing solution.

Tables 1 to 4 show the photosensitivity performance of the photosensitivity measurement under the condition that the replenishment rate is decreased in various kinds of developing processes, and it is shown that these treatments are effective. That is, a constant photosensitivity measurement performance is maintained even when the replenishment speed is greatly reduced. Replenishment rate is 90 ml for 1 m ^{2 of} 100% exposed film
Can be reduced to less than. This corresponds to less than 45 ml / m ^{2 of} conventional exposed film. Also,
The replenishment rate can be reduced to less than 70 ml / m ^{2 of} 100% exposed film. This corresponds to less than 35 ml / m ^{2 of} conventional exposed film. This means that the amount of developer used is reduced by 90% or more, and this treatment is effective. At a replenishment rate of about 50 ml / m ^{2 of} fully exposed film, or about 25 ml / m ^{2 of} conventional exposed film, a continuous decrease in sensitometric performance is seen. That is, effective treatment cannot be maintained at such low replenishment rates.

The experimental results are displayed as the cumulative processing area (m ² ). The number of sets indicates (usually) the number of operating days. The speed indicates the photosensitivity of each cumulative processing area. As is well known, photosensitivity is a parameter that is particularly close to the stability of processing and is a basic guideline for performance.

Experimental results at the beginning of set 2 of Table 1 further emphasize the stability of the process. At the beginning of set 2 in Table 1, the speed is higher than normal, but immediately returns to normal.

[0045]

[Table 1]

[0046]

[Table 2]

[0047]

[Table 3]

[0048]

[Table 4]

Similar advantages are obtained when the apparatus 10 is used for the processing of silver halide based printing plates (eg ONYX printing plates). Uniform development is maintained and replenishment rate is greatly reduced. Usually, the processing of silver halide based imaging materials of this type, it is necessary to replenish the speed of 100~125ml per area 1 m ² of the plate surface to be treated. Device 10
Is used, 20 per 1 m ² of developed plate surface
Uniform development is maintained with a minimum replenishment rate of ~ 45 ml. As a result, a particularly desirable replenishment rate is approximately 25 ml / m ^{2 of} plate area to be processed.

The device 10 provides similar advantages for photographic photosensitive polymeric imaging materials such as proofs and plates. By reducing the consumption of the processing liquid 24 per 1 m ^{2 of the} image pickup material to be processed and maintaining uniform development, the waste of the processing liquid 24 can be reduced.

Further, the apparatus 10 can be applied to the processing of thin photographic film. A "thin" photographic medium refers to a silver halide photographic medium (eg
Color photographic medium, radiographic medium, graphic arts medium), or coating layer (emulsion layer, barrier layer, antistatic layer, antihalation layer, protective layer, and filter layer) on the substrate. It means a thinned product. The thickness of the film substrate is at least 0.02 mm, preferably 0.07 mm or less, and more preferably 0.06 mm or less. Most preferably, it is 0.025 to 0.055 mm. In some photographic structures the total thickness of the layers on the substrate is 8μ
As thin as m, the total thickness of each layer can be 160 μm in the most complex structures with many layers of 16 or 20 such as color photographic media. Therefore, the total thickness of the photographic medium including the base material and both the emulsion layer and the auxiliary layer is about 0.12 mm. This too is considered a thin photographic element (as long as it is based on a value of 0.76 mm or less) in the present invention. For imaging materials with thinner emulsion layers, replenishment rates lower than those for EXCELERATE may be acceptable.

The apparatus 10 may further include second and third processing cells (not shown) similar to the processing cell 18 and arranged in the vicinity of the processing cell 18. In order to process the developable imaging material 12, the processing cell 18 may contain a developing solution, the second processing cell may contain a fixing solution, and the third processing cell may contain a cleaning solution. Activable imaging material 12
The treatment cell 18 may include an activating solution, the second treatment cell may include a stabilizing solution, and the third treatment cell may include a cleaning solution for treating the above. For some activatable imaging materials, only two processing cells are sufficient. Other similar configurations are also useful with the device 10 and its method of use described above.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of the apparatus of the present invention in full scale.

2 is a schematic diagram showing the top of the processing cell of the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the processing cell of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Device 12 Imaging Material 14 Top Plate 16 Bottom Plate 18 Processing Cell 19 Processing Chamber 20 Inlet 22 Outlet 24 Processing Liquid 38 Reservoir Tank 40 Line 42 First Pump 44 Replenisher Tank

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Guglielmo Idge United States 55144-1000 3M Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota (No address) (72) Inventor Mark Terence Leonard United Kingdom, England, Harlow, The Pinnacles (No street number shown) in Minnesota 3M Research Limited (72) Inventor Basavaray Ratchapa Desai USA 37931 Knoxville, Tennessee (no street number shown) in Picture Product Limited

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An imaging material processing apparatus having a liquid recirculation loop, wherein the liquid recirculation loop contains a processing liquid (24), and a processing chamber (19) in which the imaging material (12) can move. Processing cell (1
8) and a reservoir chamber containing the treatment liquid (24),
A reservoir (38) connected to the processing chamber (19) by a first line, disposed between the reservoir (38) and the processing cell (18), and a second line to the reservoir (38). And a pump (42) connected to the processing cell (18) by a line 3 to provide a replenisher and a replenisher tank (44) for supplying the replenisher to the liquid recirculation loop. An image pickup material processing apparatus, which is functionally connected to. 2. The replenisher tank (44) is connected to a reservoir (38) of a liquid recirculation loop to supply replenisher to the reservoir, and the volume of the reservoir is the processing chamber (19). 2. The imaging material processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for heating and mixing the processing liquid in the reservoir (38), which is not so large as compared with the volume of (1). 3. A method of using the imaging material processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging material (12) is a silver halide based imaging material, the imaging material being passed through the processing chamber (19). And a process of replenishing the liquid recirculation loop with replenisher liquid at a replenishment rate of 25 to 90 ml for a 1 m ² area of the imaging material processed in the processing chamber.