Radiation imagery chemistry: process – composition – or product th – Regenerating image processing composition – Bleach-fix
Reexamination Certificate
2002-06-13
2003-11-11
Le, Hoa Van (Department: 1752)
Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product th
Regenerating image processing composition
Bleach-fix
Reexamination Certificate
active
06645708
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a photofinishing processing solution supply cartridge, container or packaging system, as well as a processing system having a supply cartridge, container or packaging system that is adapted to hold processing solution and collect spent processing or cleaning solution. More particularly, the present invention relates to a chemical supply cartridge, container or packaging system having an integrated silver recovery process for photoprocessing systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Current photographic processing machines are typically large, costly systems which are highly dependent on infrastructure, such as water supply and access to drain(s). The quantity of chemicals used in processing photographic materials has been historically high. Further, many processes rely on the use of concentrated chemistry and necessitate an additional source of water. As an added factor, almost all processors require significant infrastructure to support the treatment of spent solution and silver recovery.
There are a number of chemical delivery cartridges available that supply fresh photo-chemicals to photoprocessing machines. The machine operators who use the photo-chemicals are typically required by law to treat the effluent or spent processing solution from the process to reduce the level of aqueous silver before discharging the spent processing solution or effluent to municipal waste water treatment systems. These silver recovery treatment systems are typically sold as add-ons to the processors and require additional maintenance and operator intervention.
Current photographic processing machines are typically detached from the apparatus, method or mechanism of silver recovery. With the additional plumbing, solution transfer and operator intervention is required for an add-on mechanism. With the need for additional equipment and plumbing, inefficiencies in the overall processing system are created. Further, current photographic processing machines which have a detached silver recovery system positioned beside the processor define a larger overall footprint for the combined system and are higher in cost to maintain. There also remains a greater potential for failure of the silver recovery system and an increased likelihood for chemical exposure due to leaks and the additional plumbing that is needed to transport the solution from the processing machine to the detached silver recovery mechanism.
Further, in most current photoprocessing applications, concentrates are supplied to the customer who then dilutes them with water to significantly increase the volume subsequently requiring treatment. This is inconvenient or impractical in dispersed or less conventional market places such as retail stores, aircraft, and cruise ships since a water supply and plumbing is needed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,013 discloses a housing pack for photographic processing solution. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,013 discloses a container having a first chamber for holding processing solution and a second chamber for collecting spent solution. However, in this patent the collected waste solution is only passed through a solution absorption substance to create a solid waste in which the amount of leachable silver in the spent solution is unchanged. U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,013 does not provide for a treatment of the spent solution in the supply cartridge in which the concentration of leachable silver in the spent solution is reduced with respect to the silver TCLP (Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure) test for non-hazardous waste based on U.S. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) definitions so that the customer realizes waste management advantages. Advantages with this classification include reduced record keeping, training and cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,594 discloses a container having a flexible inner bag which is divided into a liquid storage chamber and a used-liquid storage chamber. However, like U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,013, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,594 does not provide for a supply cartridge which both collects and renders spent solution RCRA non-hazardous which can be subsequently transported and treated with reduced regulatory control.
Federal Waste management regulations define the hazardous
on-hazardous characteristics of most photoprocessing solutions through the Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) for silver. If a solution is negative in this test, it is not a format characteristic RCRA hazardous waste, which allows numerous handling exemptions such as the ability to transport the solution by a non-hazardous hauler without excessive paperwork. Within the context of the present invention, leachable silver is defined as the analysis of the amount of silver that will leach from a solid or the amount of silver that is present in a liquid. The leaching test is used to determine if the material is a hazardous waste by using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) (EPA Test Method 1311). Solids are reduced in size and subjected to a dilute acid solution. The leachate is then analyzed to determine the amount of silver extracted from the solid. Liquids are directly analyzed for total recoverable silver.
There is presently a need for the improvement of the chemical supply system so that photoprocessing machines can utilize a silver recovery technique with a chemical supply cartridge without the need for a separate or detached silver recovery device. That is, there is presently a need for a chemical supply cartridge or container that can be retrofitted to an existing processor or can be fluidly connected to a new or stand-alone processor, which is adapted to supply processing solution to the processor, as well as collect and treat spent solution for the purpose of reducing TCLP leachable silver in the spent solution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Recent advancements in the minimization of solution usage in photoprocessing has made delivering and removing of working strength photographic chemistry economically viable. The present invention provides for a chemical management cartridge that both delivers fresh chemistry and receives, accumulates and renders spent effluent in a manner which permits the spent effluent to be disposed of in a less-regulated manner. Within the context of the present invention, spent or waste solution or effluent refers to processing solution which has gone through a photoprocessing cycle and is no longer resident in the processor (or processing equipment). For a stand-alone or new processor, the integration of the spent solution management with the chemical supply delivery system gives the practical advantage of permitting a processing of photographic materials without direct connections to a water supply or drain. It also enables a single service organization to both deliver supply solutions and remove spent solutions. For an existing processor, the cartridge of the present invention can be retrofitted to the processor, be adapted to deliver processing solution to the processor, and used to collect and treat spent solution from the processor. If the existing processor includes the necessary plumbing, the cartridge of the present invention can be adapted to reduce leachable silver in the spent solution and deliver the spent solution to an existing plumbing system without requiring special handling.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes the ability to deliver working strength chemistry (i.e. for use in a minilab where “solution volume in” equals “collected solution volume” for de-silvering), thereby eliminating dilution errors during operation. A secondary advantage is an improvement in portability and the reduction of the “footprint” of the processor that allows processing of film to occur in less conventional market places, including mobile locations such as an aircraft or cruise ships. By leveraging these advantages, placement of the photoprocessor machines in dispersed or less traditional retail locations is permitted.
The system of the present invention also enables an apparently dry op
Call Robert B.
Horn Richard R.
Mathewson Jay E.
Timmons Donna M.
Eastman Kodak Company
Le Hoa Van
Novais David A.
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