Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Post imaging processing – Stabilizing
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-18
2004-02-03
Le, Hoa Van (Department: 1752)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Post imaging processing
Stabilizing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06686134
ABSTRACT:
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-102469, filed Mar. 30, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a processing composition for silver halide color photographic lightsensitive material. More particularly, the present invention relates to a processing composition which is excellent in the capability of reducing stain attributed to sensitizing dyes remaining in the lightsensitive material after the processing thereof and which is free of any precipitation deposits during the low-temperature storage thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Under the circumstances wherein digital cameras and color printers are making striking progress, in the processing of silver halide color photographic lightsensitive materials, it is desired to speedily supply images of high quality to customers. However, simple time reduction in the conventional processing procedure would cause termination of processing before satisfactory washing away of sensitizing dyes from the lightsensitive material with the result that, on a white ground of color print, images would be colored by a large amount of residual sensitizing dyes to thereby become unbearable for appreciation. Further, with respect to color negative films, there have occurred such occasions that the density of minimum density portions is increased with the result that a color balance is deteriorated to thereby disenable providing appropriate prints.
Moreover, in recent years, the use of tabular silver halide grains, presenting an important fundamental technology for highly sensitive photographic lightsensitive materials, increases the amount of sensitizing dyes remaining in the lightsensitive material after the processing thereof, although it enables increasing the amount of sensitizing dyes used per volume so as to exert the effect of enhancing the photographic speed and the ratio of photographic speed to graininess. An increase of the amount of residual sensitizing dyes cannot be ignored depending on processing conditions, and would result in occurrence of phenomena such as a density increase at minimum density portions of color negative films and coloring of highlight portions of color reversal films.
Research Disclosure 20733 discloses the method of using a bistriazinylaminostilbenedisulfonic acid compound as an example of means for removing any residual color attributed to sensitizing dyes. This method has widely been employed in the processing of color photographic lightsensitive materials. Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. (hereinafter referred to as JP-A-) 6-329936 discloses a bistriazinylaminostilbenedisulfonic acid compound which has high solubility and is capable of reducing the residual color even in the expedited processing. Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,153,364 and 6,153,365 proposed methods of reducing the residual color with the use of highly stable compounds of novel structure.
However, there is a demand for further concentrating of the processing composition from the viewpoint of reduction of waste containers, recycling facilitation, reduction of transport and storage costs, etc. Any compound which is stably dissolved under a condition of high salt concentration after concentrating and exerts satisfactory effects even in the expedited processing when used below solubility, and which is excellent in the compound stability during storage has not yet been found.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a processing composition for silver halide color photographic lightsensitive material, which enables reducing stain attributed to sensitizing dyes remaining in the lightsensitive material after the processing thereof and which is free of any precipitation deposits during the low-temperature storage thereof.
This object has been attained by the following invention.
(1) A photographic processing composition for silver halide color photographic lightsensitive material, comprising at least one compound represented by the formula (I):
A
1
—X—L—Y—A
2
(I)
wherein each of A
1
and A
2
independently represents an aryl group or an aromatic heterocyclic group; L represents an aromatic heterocyclic group, with the proviso that a triazine ring is not represented thereby; and each of X and Y independently represents O, S or NR
1
, wherein R
1
represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the molecule of the formula (I) has a substituent containing at least one of —OH, —CO
2
M and —SO
3
M groups, wherein M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, an ammonium or a pyridinium, and provided that the molecule of the formula (I) has no azo group.
(2) The photographic processing composition according to item (1) above, wherein, in the formula (I), L is a pyridinediyl group, a pyrazinediyl group, a pyrimidinediyl group, a pyridazinediyl group or a phthalazinediyl group.
(3) The photographic processing composition according to item (1) or (2) above, for use in color development processing.
(4) The photographic processing composition according to item (1) or (2) above, for use in bleach processing or bleach-fix processing.
(5) The photographic processing composition according to item (1) or (2) above, for use in fixing processing.
(6) The photographic processing composition according to item (1) above, for use in a use solution in which the concentration of compound represented by the formula (I) is in a range of 0.05 to 20 mmol/L.
(7) A method of forming an image, comprising using the photographic processing composition for silver halide color photographic lightsensitive material according to any of items (1) to (6) above.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The general formula (1) will be described in detail below.
Each of A
1
and A
2
independently represents an aryl group or an aromatic heterocyclic group. The aryl group is preferably a substituted aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 6 to 10 carbon atoms, and most preferably 6 to 8 carbon atoms, which is, for example, 3-carboxyphenyl, 4-carboxyphenyl, 3,5-dicarboxyphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 2-sulfophenyl, 4-sulfophenyl or 5,7-disulfo-2-naphthyl. The heterocyclic group is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and most preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, which is, for example, 2-furyl, 2-pyrimidinyl or 2-benzothiazolyl.
The aromatic heterocyclic group represented by L is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and most preferably 2 to 8 carbon atoms, which is, for example, 3,5-(1,2,4-triazole)diyl, 3,5-isothiazolediyl, 2,6-pyridinediyl, 2,6-pyrazinediyl, 2,6-pyrimidinediyl, 3,6-pyridazinediyl or 1,4-phthalazinediyl. Provided that a triazine ring is not represented by L.
Each of X and Y independently represents NR
1
, O or S. The substituent represented by R
1
is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methyl, ethyl, i-propyl or n-propyl).
The compound represented by the general formula (I) (hereinafter also referred to as “compound of the present invention”) has a carboxyl, sulfo or hydroxyl group. This carboxyl, sulfo or hydroxyl group may be in free form or in the form of a salt. In the form of a salt, the counter ion may be selected from among an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium and pyridinium. Of these, an alkali metal and an alkaline earth
Nakai Yasufumi
Suzuki Makoto
Yabuki Yoshiharu
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Le Hoa Van
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
Photographic processing composition containing heterocycle... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Photographic processing composition containing heterocycle..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photographic processing composition containing heterocycle... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3324436