JPS6145242A - Treatment of photographic material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify, speed up, and uniformize processing operation, and to render a processing device small in size and simple in structure by attaching dots of a processing soln. on the photographic functional surface of a photographic material in matrix arrangement. CONSTITUTION:The dots of the processing soln. are attached to the photographic functional surfaces 22, 24 of the photosensitive material in matrix arrangement. Each dot dij is formed of a minute droplet of the processing soln., arranged in matrix on a photosensitive sheet A. It is preferable to generate such droplets by using an ink jet ejection head. As a result, the processing soln. 33 can be easily and uniformly attached and allowed to diffuse into the photosensitive layer 22, and since the processing soln. 33 is fed on only a necessary image area, the device can not only be reduced in size, but an amt. of soln. 33 to be attached can be made minimum, too, thus permitting this device to be adapted for use in formation of color hard copies, etc., from CRT as development processing devices in offices and general houses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a method of image forming and processing of photographic materials, and more particularly to a method of supplying a processing liquid to a photographic functional layer.

(Prior art) Photographic materials such as diazo and other non-silver salt photosensitive materials, positive or negative, black and white or color silver halide photosensitive materials using silver halide as a photosensitive material, black and white or color diffusion transfer photosensitive materials, etc. When forming an image using the photographic material, an image precursor-containing layer that is the main body of image formation, or an auxiliary layer or an auxiliary layer that is placed in contact with or in a laminated relationship with this layer and has image formation, image control, and management functions. It is assumed that the photographic functional layer such as the image-bearing layer is subjected to the uniform and all-over action of the processing agent at all locations and for the same amount of time by immersion in the processing solution, spreading of the processing paste, etc.

In order to titrate this premise, many problems have conventionally arisen regarding processing equipment, equipment, processing cost, work safety, health and environment, environmental protection, etc.

Conventionally, the development process of general silver halide photosensitive materials requires at least two steps: a development step and a fixing step. In particular, for color silver halide photosensitive materials, in addition to the color development and bleach-fixing steps, the photographic processing of the image・It involves auxiliary processes to maintain physical quality or improve image storage stability, and to maintain a constant pH 1 halogen ion concentration, developing agent concentration, Not only is the management of temperature, etc. complicated, but the processing equipment is also large and compact, making it difficult to assemble the processing equipment.

Furthermore, in the process of producing color prints using conventional color developing solutions, the chemicals contained in the color developing solutions often contain toxic substances that are dangerous to the environment, and their disposal into the environment is prohibited. It is strictly regulated by law. Therefore, it was necessary to apply treatment to remove such toxic chemicals before releasing them into the wastewater system.

On the other hand, color diffusion transfer light-sensitive materials include, for example, 5X-70 manufactured by Polaroid Company or JL P manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company.
By using the two-color diffusion transfer film unit "negative-positive integrated" seen in R-10 film, color photographs can be easily obtained, and its value is being recognized as a so-called one-step photograph.

The above-mentioned "negative-positive integrated" two-color diffusion transfer photographic film unit is normally housed in a camera, and after taking a picture, it is immediately pushed out of the camera and developed in a bright place, so that the color image can be immediately viewed through a transparent film. have

The color diffusion transfer photosensitive material is developed using a viscous paste-like high alkaline processing composition contained in a small bag called a processing bond. In particular, in a "negative-positive integrated" type color diffusion transfer film unit, the processing paste spread inside the film unit does not leak out of the film unit, and the processing bond is not discarded, so such color diffusion transfer photographic products are Although it is an advantage that the process is waste-free, with virtually no waste related to the process, it takes a lot of man-hours to create a process bond that contains the paste, and the total
It is quite difficult to spread the image and it is only practical when the image area is small.On the other hand, it is a system for easily producing color prints from ordinary negative film or reversal film using the color diffusion transfer method. The Ektaflex PCT system manufactured by Eastman Kodak is known.

Such color diffusion transfer light-sensitive materials are prepared by applying a conventional negative film to a light-sensitive sheet consisting of a light-sensitive layer having at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer combined with a color image-forming substance on a support using an enlarger or the like. After exposing the film or reversal film, the photosensitive sheet is immersed in a non-viscous alkaline processing liquid having a viscosity substantially the same as water to impregnate the photosensitive layer with the processing liquid. The dyeable image-receiving layer is superimposed on the coated image-receiving layer and passed through a pair of suppression rollers. After the image is diffusely transferred to the dyeable image-receiving layer, the photosensitive sheet and the image-receiving sheet are separated to take out the color image.

Color diffusion transfer light-sensitive materials do not require processes such as bleaching, fixing, and washing, and are more resistant to temperature and density changes in alkaline processing solutions than the general color photographic materials that require the aforementioned color development processing. Color photographic materials do not require strict processing procedures;

In this way, color diffusion transfer photosensitive materials have the advantage that color images can be easily and easily obtained, and can be processed compactly, so they can be used to produce color images such as CRT color display images and color copies.
In recent years, it has been used in a wide range of fields, such as office machines and printing systems for original titles.

However, compared to the method of obtaining color images using the above-mentioned color development method, color diffusion transfer photography usually uses a processing solution (hereinafter referred to as actipator) having a high concentration of alkali.
In particular, in a diffusion transfer process such as the above-mentioned Ectartux PCT system, the photosensitive sheet must be immersed in an actuator having a viscosity substantially the same as that of non-viscous water, and a flat plate is used to house the actuator. A processing liquid container such as a tray and a vat or a vertical thin vat was required. The presence of a processing liquid container containing such an activator is beneficial from the standpoint of safety, as well as making the processing equipment more compact.
I didn't like it when I was looking at it.

Safety refers to accidents that occur when moving the processing liquid container. For example, when photograph processing is completed and the activator inside the processing container is returned to its original position, or when the activator is discarded, human bodies and clothes may be damaged. This refers to problems such as activator scattering and adhering to equipment, etc., or a large amount of activator leaking out due to arc rolling and overturning of processing liquid containers, etc., causing disaster.

There is a need for a simple and safe compact processing device and processing method that does not require a dipping process such as immersing photographic materials in a container containing an activator, or in other words, does not require a large processing container. Ta.

Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned dipping method and paste spreading method, a spray method in which a processing solution is sprayed onto the functional layer surface of the photographic material was disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 34-18.
Proposed for second prize.

However, in this spray method, there is a difference in the density of the mist droplets in the plane perpendicular to the spray direction, and the density of the mist droplets is higher at the center and lighter toward the periphery, and the size of the mist droplets is different. time, place, etc.
There is no guarantee that it will be affected by the processing liquid. In addition, the mist droplets can fly and escape for a considerable distance on air currents, which is extremely inconvenient for the working environment, and is especially dangerous in a dark room because they are hardly noticed.

5. In other words, because the mist droplets are extremely fine, they are easily inhaled into the lungs, and because there is no directionality in their escape, they penetrate into every gap in the airflow and adhere to objects, contaminating and damaging them.

(Objective of the Invention) A first object of the present invention is to provide a method for uniformly supplying a processing solution to a photographic functional layer without any processing blemishes.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a processing method for image formation of photographic materials that is simple and quick to operate, poses no problems in terms of work safety and health, and protects the environment, and uses small and simple processing equipment. There is a particular thing.

The third objective is to provide a processing method that is suitable for a one-step processing method and satisfies the first objective.

A fourth object is to provide a method for supplying an actipator to a color diffusion transfer photosensitive material that satisfies the first object.

(Structure of the Invention) The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for processing a photographic material, which is characterized in that a processing liquid is deposited in a matrix on the photographic functional layer surface of the photographic material.

In the present invention, depositing the processing solution in an IJ hook-like manner refers to a state in which minute droplets of the photographic processing solution are regularly arranged and deposited on the surface of the photographic functional layer in the form of a matrix. For example, FIG. 1 shows an example in which processing liquids are arranged in a matrix using a single tube Noil.

Further, each dot dij is formed by minute droplets with a controlled amount of liquid, and is arranged in a matrix on the photosensitive sheet A. The dot matrix may be formed using a so-called multi-nozzle inkjet method in which the nozzle head is composed of a plurality of nozzles.

For example, the processing liquid may be placed in a staggered manner on the surface of the photographic functional layer using an inkjet method comprising 12 x 2 multi-nozzles arranged vertically and horizontally. (Figure 1(b)).

In the present invention, the size of the micro droplets of the photographic processing liquid deposited in a matrix is determined by the VC@
Specifically, it is preferable to use various inkjet ejection heads currently used in inkjet recording systems.

The inkjet method, which utilizes the ink supply mechanism in the present invention, is a recording method in which an ejecting head driven by an electric signal flies ink toward a recording medium such as paper, and images such as characters and figures are drawn on the recording medium. It is.

Such inkjet methods can generally be divided into two types.

That is, in the first method, ink droplets are generated using a continuous vibration generation method such as ultrasonic waves, an electric charge is applied to the ink droplets, and the flight trajectory of the ink droplets is controlled using a supine electrode to select the necessary ink droplets. Either a droplet of ink is placed on a pixel point, or an electric field is applied between the lip of the ejection port and the annular electrode, and the scattering range of the ink droplet, which is generated in the form of a mist using a continuous vibration generation method, is centered around the axis of the ejection orifice. A method for forming a record by two-dimensional density variation of the number of ink droplets passing through an aperture while controlling the cone diameter to be within a predetermined cone diameter, the method being disclosed in US Patent No. 3,060.4.
No. 29, No. 3,596,275, No. 3,298,03
No. 0 and No. 3,416,153, etc.

Another second method is the so-called drop-on-dealing method.
7)' (drop-on-demand) method, in which all the generated ink droplets are placed on a controlled or restricted trajectory to land at a predetermined pixel point without waste. be.

The ink droplets used in this method are produced by, for example, a piezo vibrating element installed in the ejection head generating mechanical vibrations in immediate response to an electric pulse signal, which quickly increases the pressure of the ink mother liquid at the ejection orifice. It is ejected as ink droplets from the ink. This method has attracted much attention because it does not require the recovery of vane ink compared to the first method mentioned above.
No. 20 and No. 3.946.398, etc., as disclosed in detail.

The drop-on demand method is preferably used in the present invention.

2nd position and proviso) are schematic diagrams of an example of an ejection head according to the present invention.

The second position shows a front view, and FIG. 2 (G) shows a plan view thereof.

In both figures, the ejection head 1 is composed of a substrate 11 having four parts inside and a flexible substrate 12. The injection head 1 distributes a processing liquid from a processing liquid (e.g. activator) tank 17 into a plurality of nozzles 13, a plurality of necks 14 communicating with the nozzles 13, a pressure chamber 15, and a nuclear pressure chamber 15. This is a multi-nozzle type ejection head having a common processing liquid chamber 16 and having a structure in which the above-mentioned portions 13, 14, 15, and 16 are arranged in the same plane.

Rad 1 passes from the processing liquid tank 17 to the injection pipe through the supply pipe 18.
is supplied to the common processing liquid chamber 16. Further, a part of the wall of the pressure chamber 15 is a flexible wall, and a piezoelectric transducer 19 electrically connected to the electronic pulse generator 110 is adhered to the outside thereof. The piezoelectric transducer 19 is a suitable flexible plate that can bend toward the inside of the pressure chamber 15 when it receives an electrical signal from the front electronic pulse generator 110, and is made of, for example, a piezoelectric crystal, and is made of a conductive thin film to convert the pressure into the pressure chamber 15. It is adhered to the outer wall surface of the chamber 15.

In this method, the piezoelectric transducer 19 rapidly bends the flexible wall of the pressure chamber 15 inwardly in response to an electrical signal from the electronic pulse generator 110, resulting in a rapid decrease in the volume of the pressure chamber 15. The processing liquid inside is ejected from the nozzle 13 as small droplets 111 of the processing liquid, and the photographic material 112 facing the object is ejected.
A predetermined pattern arrangement of dots 113 is achieved by placing dots on the top.

Next, the present invention will be explained by taking as an example the processing of a color diffusion transfer photosensitive material.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of a color diffusion transfer photosensitive material used in the present invention. The photographic material 2 is composed of a photosensitive sheet A and an image-receiving sheet B. A photosensitive layer 22 consisting of a silver halide emulsion layer combined with a
is formed on the support 23 and an image receiving layer 24'f for fixing the dye image diffusely transferred from the photosensitive layer 22 as a result of the development process. This image-receiving layer 24 contains a mordant, and a useful mordant is selected depending on the physical properties of the dye that is diffusely transferred, other components contained in the photosensitive sheet, transfer conditions, etc. Usually, a high molecular weight polymer mordant is used. used. The photosensitive sheet A and/or the image-receiving sheet B must contain a lower pH value layer called a neutralizing layer that has a function of neutralizing alkali brought in from the processing solution and a timing layer that controls the neutralization of the alkali. is preferred.

Regarding such photosensitive materials and image forming methods, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,983.606, U.S. Pat.
This method is disclosed in JP-A No. 3,907,563 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-37646.

In the present invention, the image-receiving layer, photosensitive layer, protective layer, and other auxiliary layers are referred to as photographic functional layers.

FIG. 4 shows a method and configuration 3 for supplying the processing liquid from the jet head to the surface of the photosensitive sheet.

A photosensitive sheet A that has been exposed to light on the exposure side by an enlarger, printer, CRT, etc. is wound around a platen 30 that rotates clockwise at a constant rotational speed and is moved to a position of an ejection head 31. The activator 33 ejected continuously or intermittently from the nozzle 32 of the ejecting head 31 under electrostatic or piezoelectric action flies as minute droplets and lands on the surface of the photosensitive sheet A4. The actuator 32 spreads over the entire photosensitive sheet A due to the movement of the ejection head or the deflection of the flight direction of the micro droplets of the actipator.
At the same time, the image receiving sheet B is transferred in the direction of a pair of pressure rollers 34 and 35 so as to overlap with the photosensitive sheet A.
Overlap A and image receiving sheet B.

After a predetermined period of time, the image-receiving sheet B is peeled off from the photosensitive sheet A, and a transferred image is obtained on the image-receiving layer 24 of the image-receiving sheet B. If the supports 21 and 23 of photosensitive sheet A and image receiving sheet B are each opaque supports, photosensitive sheet A and image receiving sheet B can be taken out in a bright place when they are integrated.

The timing of alignment of the micro droplet 33 of the actipator with the photosensitive sheet A and the image receiving sheet B'vii may be at the same time as the micro droplet 330 of the actipator lands, or the micro droplet 33 of the actipator may be aligned over the entire photosensitive sheet A. Although it is possible to complete the predetermined pattern with the dots, it is preferable that the micro droplets be superimposed once they have substantially uniformly permeated into the photosensitive layer 22.

In Figure 2J4, the position where the photosensitive sheet A and the image receiving sheet B overlap is shown above the horizontal line of the platen 30, but of course they may be placed below. In this case, since there is a fear that minute droplets may drip, the speed at which the photosensitive sheet is transported or the position where it is overlapped with the image-receiving sheet B are conveniently selected.

The micro droplets 33 of the activator are delivered to the nozzle 3 of the ejection head 31 connected to the activator housing 36 such as a cartridge.
2, but a pump or a cock may be disposed between the injection head 31 and the actuator housing 36.

As mentioned above, by applying a variety of conventional inkjet methods and arranging a charging device or an oscillating device to give minute droplets and giving vibrations of an appropriate period to the nozzle, a uniform pattern synchronized with the vibration of the nozzle can be produced. An array of actuator microdroplets can be generated.

The activator used for processing diffusion transfer photosensitive materials generally contains caustic alkali as its main component and has a very high alkali concentration.
7. Parts that come into contact with the activator, such as the pressure chamber 38 and the activator housing 36, are made of, for example, stainless steel or 47-fluorinated ethylene, 47-thinated ethylene and ethylene copolymer described in JP-A-57-178764 and JP-A-57-178765. It is preferable to use a material such as fluororesin or polyester elastomer that exhibits strong corrosion resistance against alkalis and chemicals such as other organic solvents contained in the actipator. However, if an alkali is incorporated in the photographic functional layer of the photographic material, the activator may have a pH substantially the same as that of water, so that measures regarding the corrosion resistance of the material can be omitted.

In color diffusion transfer photosensitive materials that are developed by the above-mentioned immersion method, approximately 0.181 cc of activator per 100 square centimeters is generally absorbed into the photosensitive layer or image-receiving layer before the development process is performed. The diameter of the nozzle 32 of the jetting head 31, which determines the volume of the minute droplets of activator deposited on the surface of the photosensitive layer, is therefore the minimum ml of activator required by the above-mentioned photosensitive material.
- and preferably has a nozzle diameter of about 20μ to 200μ.

In order to cause the actipator to land on the surface of the photosensitive sheet A or image receiving sheet B as a uniform and stable minute droplet, the viscosity, surface tension, specific gravity or conductivity of the actipator, as well as the distance between the jetting head 31 and the photosensitive sheet member are required. is an important factor.

The activator used in the present invention preferably has a viscosity of 1 to 30 centivoise and a surface tension of 20 to 50 dynes ZcWL.

In Fig. 4, nozzle 3 is placed on the surface layer of the photosensitive layer of photosensitive sheet A.
Although it has been shown that minute droplets of the actipator are ejected from 2, it is also possible in the present invention to replace the photosensitive sheet A and the image-receiving sheet B and make the minute droplets of the actipator land on the image-receiving layer of the image-receiving sheet B. included in

As a light source for imagewise exposure to the photosensitive sheet A, electromagnetic waves including visible light can be used. Generally, light sources used for normal color printing, such as tungsten lamps, mercury lamps, halogen lamps such as iodine lamps, xenon lamps, laser beams, CRT light sources, fluorescent tubes, light emitting diodes (LE, D, etc.) are used as light sources. Can be used as When using IJD as an exposure means, it is difficult to obtain blue light, so to reproduce a color image, for example, green,
A photosensitive sheet is exposed using three kinds of IBDs that emit red and infrared light, and each photosensitive layer that is sensitive to these lights releases yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes. This becomes possible by designing.

The original image used in the present invention may not only be a line image such as a drawing, but also a photographic image with gradation. The print from the original image may be a contact print overlapping the original image, a reflective print, or an enlarged print. In addition, the electrical signals of images taken by a video camera or transmitted from a television station are optically converted using a CRT or 01" T (optical fiber tube), and this image is focused on a photosensitive sheet by contact or with a lens. It can also be exposed as an image.

In addition to the method of directly contacting or projecting the original image, there is a so-called method in which the original image illuminated by a light source is read by a light receiving element such as a phototube or COD, and the information is processed as necessary by storing it in a memo IJ- such as a computer. After image processing, this image information can be reproduced on a CRT and used as an image-like light source, or three types of CRT can be used based on the processed image information.
The exposure may be carried out by scanning with the ED emitting light. FIG. 5 shows another diffusion transfer photosensitive material 4 in which the present invention can be carried out suitably. 41 and an image receiving layer 42 are coated with an opaque layer and/or a reflective layer 43 interposed therebetween.

In the above-mentioned diffusion transfer photosensitive material, the photosensitive layer 41 and the image-receiving layer 42 are integrated, so unlike the diffusion transfer photo-sensitive material composed of two sheets, a pre-exposed photosensitive sheet and an image-receiving sheet, the process of overlapping two sheets is required. Since it can be removed and the pressure roller can be omitted, it is very advantageous in terms of making the mounting R'fr more compact.

Regarding color diffusion transfer sensitive materials or film units having a photosensitive layer and an image-receiving layer on the same support, and image forming methods, for example, U.S. Pat. , No. 669, 4
, No. 076.529 and JP-A-57-119345,
It is described in No. 58-37645, No. 58-42043, etc. For example, in US Pat. 4
, 419.434, it is preferable to arrange on the surface of the photosensitive layer or image-receiving layer a layer consisting of minute voids or pores or a layer consisting of capillaries having openings above and below. In particular, it is preferable to move the ejection head or the photosensitive material so that the minute droplets of the actuator from the ejection head fill the minute gaps and capillaries.

The photographic materials used in the present invention provide monochrome or multicolor positive images. In the three-color system, the silver halide emulsion layers of a photographic material each have a dye image-providing substance associated therewith, each image-providing substance having a color within the visible spectral range to which said silver halide emulsion is sensitive. Absorbs the main spectrum.

For example, a back-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a yellow dye image-providing material combined therewith, a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a magenta dye image-providing material combined therewith, and a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer has a magenta dye image-providing material combined therewith. , cyan dye image-providing material are combined.

The image forming substance used in the present invention is a dye image forming substance (expressed as cpm) when creating a color photographic image, and a silver complex salt compound when forming a black and white image. It is also possible to create a black image by using two or more types of CPM at the same time, as described in Japanese Patent No. 47-3479.

The cpm used in the present invention can be positively or negatively developed and initially mobile or immobile during treatment with an alkaline composition. CPM useful in the present invention, which develops into an initially mobile positive, is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
．． No. 606, No. 3,536.739, No. 2.756.
No. 142, No. 3,705,184, No. 3,482,9
No. 72, No. 3,880,658 and No. 3,854,
No. 985. Examples of negative developing CPMs useful in the present invention are common couplers that react with oxidized aromatic primary amine color developers to form or release dyes, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,550 and Canadian Pat. This is described in National Patent No. 602,607.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention cpm is a dye,
tjktB'ecV Yy? X(l, &*(D
RR) Th;E=・Such compounds are well known in the art and have been oxidized. or reacts with a non-oxidized developer or electron transfer agent to release the dye. Examples of such non-diffusible DRRs include negatively expressed compounds, such as U.S. Pat.
No. 3,725,062, No. 3,698,897, No. 3,628゜952, No. 3,443,939,
No. 3,443,940, No. 4,053゜312, No. 4,076,529, and JP-A-51-104343
No. 53-46730, No. 53-50736, No. 51-113624, No. 53-3819, No. 54-
No. 54021, No. 56-16131, No. 57-850
No. 55 and Research Disclosure (RCse
a-rchDisclosure) 15157 (19
76), 15654 (1977) K.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 51
Dye-releasing agents such as those described in No. 104343 and No. 57-85055 are used. Such compounds are stabilized sulfonamide compounds that can undergo alkaline cleavage upon oxidation to release a diffusible dye.

In other preferred embodiments of the invention, positively expressing compounds, such as U.S. Pat.
, 199.354, 4,199.355, 4,
Non-diffusible DRR compounds of the type disclosed in JP-A No. 232.107, JP-A-56-142530 and JP-A-57-105738 can be used.

The cpm is contained in the emulsion layer itself or in a layer adjacent to the emulsion layer. Usually, M containing Cpm is coated as a separate layer below the emulsion layer in the exposure direction.

The activator used in the present invention is generally a liquid composition containing processing components necessary for development with a silver halide developer and formation of a diffusion transfer dye image, and the solvent is mainly water and other materials. It may also contain hydrophilic solvents such as methanol and methyl ceresol.

The activator is the pH required to cause development of the photosensitive layer.
- Contains sufficient alkali to maintain and neutralize acids formed during development and dye image formation processes. As the alkali, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, diethylamine, or amines are used. p) It is desirable to contain caustic alkali having a temperature of 113 or higher at a temperature of 12 degrees. Incidentally, such an alkali may be contained in the photographic functional layer in advance.

The activator used in the present invention may contain a silver halide developer, but the developer is preferably contained in the photosensitive layer or image-receiving layer. For example, a silver halide developer is required to be included in such a copying book.
It is preferable to use the above-mentioned AfI hard body as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 53330, and in particular, for inclusion in the image-receiving layer, a silver halide developer as described in British FF No. 2.056.101 is preferable. It is desirable that the compound be stabilized by a metal salt or the like.

In the present invention, the silver halide developer is cpm and a
It is preferable to use a substance that undergoes hydrogenation, such as hydroquinones, aminophenol 5L3-t' terrasolidinones, phenylenediamines, reductones, and the like.

In preferred embodiment B of the invention, the silver halide developer in the method is oxidized during development to reduce the silver halide to metallic silver. The oxidized developer then cross-oxidizes the dye-releasing redox compound. Subsequently, the cross-oxidized product is hydrolyzed under alkaline, thereby releasing the diffusible dye or its precursor in an imagewise distribution, which then diffuses into the image-receiving layer to provide the dye image.

In the use of the above dye-releasing redox compound, a dye image is produced by developing a silver halide emulsion with a silver halide developer to form a negative or positive image in the emulsion layer. That is, the silver halide emulsion used is, for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 6, No. 3,935.014 and No. 3.957,48
In the case of the direct positive emulsion described in 8@ etc., a positive image can be obtained on the image-receiving layer.

After the color diffusion transfer photosensitive material is exposed by the method described above, droplets of the activator ejected from the jetting head penetrate into various layers. When a silver halide developer is contained in the photosensitive layer, development of the exposed photosensitive silver emulsion layer is initiated as the actipator penetrates.

On the other hand, if a K/% silver halide developer is present on the image-receiving layer side of the image-receiving sheet, the imagewise photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer exposed from the overlapped area of the photosensitive sheet and the image-receiving sheet is Development begins. In the case of a direct positive type, the silver halide developer present in the photosensitive layer or image receiving layer or the activator develops the unexposed areas of each silver halide emulsion layer and develops the unexposed areas of each silver halide emulsion layer. Oxidized developer is produced corresponding to the unexposed areas of the silver emulsion layer.

The developed body of the developer is then converted into a CPM cross-layer, and the recognized CPM undergoes a hydrolysis reaction under alkaline conditions, and the diffusible dye or its precursor is released in an imagewise distribution depending on the degree of exposure. . At least a portion of the imagewise distributed diffusible dye or its precursor is diffusely transferred to the image-receiving layer to form a positive image of the original. From the lower pH value layer disposed on the photosensitive layer or image-receiving layer side, development with a silver halogenide developer in the photosensitive layer, cross-breeding reaction with CPM, or diffusion transfer of a diffusible dye to the image-receiving layer. The image is stabilized by lowering the pH value of the image-receiving layer.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to uniformly infiltrate the processing liquid into the photosensitive layer using a simple method.
There is no need to immerse the photosensitive sheet or image-receiving sheet in a processing container containing a large amount of alkaline processing liquid, and the processing liquid can be supplied only to the screen necessary for the processing liquid to permeate, so the device can be made more compact. It also minimizes the adhesion of processing liquid to the photosensitive sheet or image-receiving sheet, so it can be used as a processing device to easily create color prints in the office or home, such as color hard copies from CRTs. Are suitable.

EXAMPLE Using an on-demand inkjet with a nozzle head and a processing liquid supply system made to be alkali-resistant and having a nozzle diameter of 80 μm and a number of nozzles of 24 to 9, the processing liquid was applied to the exposed area on the exposed area color diffusion transfer photosensitive sheet. The dots were superimposed on the image-receiving sheet using a pair of superimposing rollers. When the photosensitive sheet and the image-receiving sheet were separated for a certain period of time, a beautiful color image corresponding to the degree of exposure was obtained on the image-receiving sheet, indicating that the processing solution was uniformly distributed.

On the other hand, the processing solution was sprayed onto the exposed color diffusion transfer photosensitive sheet using a sprayer. Micro droplets of the processing liquid adhered non-uniformly onto the photosensitive sheet, resulting in unnatural shading in the image density that differed from the original image.

Compared to the conventional method in which a photosensitive sheet is immersed in a processing solution, the processing method according to the present invention prevents the processing solution from adhering to the back side of the photosensitive sheet, and improves the workability of preparing the processing solution and cleaning up the processing equipment. It was found that LaK is superior in terms of safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

gilm is a diagram showing an example of matrix-like landing points of microdroplets. FIG. 2 is a front view and a plan view of the treatment agent jetting head. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a color diffusion transfer photosensitive material to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 4 is a structural diagram for supplying a processing liquid to a photosensitive sheet from a jetting head. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a photographic material to which the present invention can be applied. 1 and 31... Injection nozzle, 2 and 4...
・Photographic material A...Photosensitive sheet, 22 and 41.
...Photosensitive layer, B...Image receiving sheet, 24 and 42...Image receiving layer, 13 and 32...
Nozzles, 33 and 111... processing droplets. Agent Patent attorney No 1) Parent-in-law Figure 1 Figure 2 (?L) Figure 3 Figure 4 Yo

Claims (1)

[Claims] A method for processing a photographic material, which comprises depositing a processing liquid in a matrix on the surface of a photographic functional layer of the photographic material.