Photography – Fluid-treating apparatus – Fluid application to one side only of photographic medium
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-08
2001-04-10
Rutledge, D. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Fluid-treating apparatus
Fluid application to one side only of photographic medium
C396S606000, C396S626000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213657
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic processor for a sliver halide light-sensitive photographic material (hereinafter referred to as automatic processor), and more specifically to an automatic processor for a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material, which enables rapid processing, and can obtain a stable processing characteristics exhibiting improvements in uneven processing and oxidation degradation of the processing compositions.
A Silver halide light-sensitive photographic material is processed as follows. For example, the photographic material is conveyed employing a roller conveyance mechanism and is processed while being immersed for predetermined periods in enough processing composition for silver halide light-sensitive photographic material (hereafter it is called as processing composition in short) filled in processing tanks such as a developing tank, a bleach-fixing tank, etc. During processing photographic materials, working components in the processing composition stored in a tank are consumed and the processing composition is subjected to fatigue degradation. Furthermore, for example, when a developing composition is alkaline, the degradation is caused by the decreases in alkalinity due to neutralization reaction upon absorbing carbonic acid gas and aging fatigue caused by oxidation.
In order to solve the above problems, as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. 3-59655, it is proposed that in the conveyance path of a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material, a coating roller is disposed; with this coating roller, a processing composition supply roller is provided; between the coating roller and supply roller, the processing composition staying portion is provided, and in accordance with the rotation of the coating roller, the coating composition is supplied and coated onto the image forming surface of a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In such a case, uneven processing is easily caused and this is remarkable at rapid processing. Especially uneven processing is caused at the end portion of the light sensitive material. Further, compositions of the developing composition or the bleach-fixing composition stored in the tank can vary and the processing stability is degraded. Furthermore, the coating development method causes uneven processing and stain. Recently light sensitive material is processed after cutting and transported in majority of processing way in view of rapid processing and environmental adaptability. In the occasion uneven processing at the end portion is remarkable. And also supplying roller and transporting portion are stained during long time processing depending on ingredients of the composition.
In order to overcome the above problems, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection Nos. 9-90579, 9-90580, 9-90581, etc. describe methods in which two kinds of partial color developing compositions (hereafter it may be referred to as two composition development in short) are supplied to a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material (hereinafter referred to as light-sensitive material) during the gas phase. This method improves processing stability. However, two processing composition supply means are independently arranged and after a first partial composition is supplied, a second partial composition is supplied. The following was found. Because the second partial composition is supplied after the first partial composition is supplied, the processing time is extended. Though the processing stability is improved, the mixing ratio of two compositions fluctuates depending on positions causing uneven development and the problem is not fully solved.
Recently it is found that the first composition is flow into the second composition when the second composition is coated in case of two composition processing, and consequently the rapid processing is avoided. The reaction does not start until the second composition is coated, time is lost. A new problem is also found that period during the coatings of the first and second compositions is shortened to improve the time loss, vigorous uneven processing is caused.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, the present invention is accomplished. Objects of the present invention is to provide the following. First, the uneven processing such as uneven development at the end portion of the light sensitive material and uneven processing due to the fluctuation of mixing ratio of two compositions is avoided. Second, rapid processing is improved. Third, the storage stability of a processing composition is improved so that in practice, the composition is subjected to neither deposition nor oxidation degradation. Fourth, uneven processing due to fluctuation of the mixing ratio of two compositions is minimized. Fifth, staining automatic processor members caused by the dripping of a coating composition, etc. can be decreased. Fourth, the dimensions of an automatic processor are decreased.
MEANS FOR DISSOLVING THE TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER
The present invention and its embodiment are described.
The automatic processor for a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material of the invention comprising at least a process of coating a processing composition for a development process. The automatic processor comprises at least two reservoirs to store partial processing compositions separately, a supply means to supply each of said partial compositions to said silver halide light-sensitive photographic material after mixing said partial compositions and coating means to coat the mixed partial processing compositions on the surface of the silver halide light-sensitive photographic material.
A heating means is preferably provided with the automatic processor which directly heats said silver halide light-sensitive photographic material.
According to this quicker processing can be achieved by supplying a processing composition upon directly heating a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material.
The silver halide light-sensitive photographic material is heated preferably not lower than 45° C.
According to this quicker processing can be achieved by supplying a processing composition upon directly heating a silver halide light-sensitive photographic material.
The automatic processor preferably comprises control means to control the total processing composition supply amount from said processing composition supply exit to said coating roller being at 10 to 160 ml per m
2
of said light-sensitive material.
By setting the total processing composition supply amount at 10 to 160 ml per m
2
, the appropriate amount of the processing composition can be supplied to the coating and thus, it becomes possible to decrease the dimensions of the automatic processor.
The mixture of the partial processing compositions is coated on an image forming surface of said silver halide light-sensitive photographic material preferably through a composition flow path. The composition flow path distance is preferably 5 mm to 150 mm.
The processing composition can be uniformly supplied and coated onto the image forming surface of the silver halide light-sensitive photographic material according to this.
The supply means to supply each of said partial compositions to said silver halide light-sensitive photographic material after mixing said partial compositions preferably comprises a control means to control volume of the mixture at-staying position at 1 to 100 ml.
By control the volume at staying position at 1 to 100 ml, adequate amount of compositions can be supplied whereby uneven development is avoided and compact automatic processor can be provided according to this.
A preferable example of the supply means is composed of stirring roller.
In this case, two partial compositions are supplied to the silver halide light sensitive material with simple means and stain of the parts of the automatic processor due to the leak of compositions are restrained.
The supply preferably c
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Konica Corporation
Rutledge D.
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