Automatic processer

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic processer comprising capable of processing at least two different kinds of light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials having at least one processing tank for processing commonly the light-sensitive materials. The automatic processer is capable of performing developing processing of different kinds of light-sensitive materials simultaneously.

Description: This invention relates to an automatic processer suitable for processing different light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials (hereinafter referred to as "light-sensitive materials"), simultaneously. At color photographic developing stations, negative light-sensitive color films are developed to prepare negative images, which are printed, to form positive images based on the negatives images, on positive light-sensitive color papers. According to prior art color developing processing, three types of apparatus, namely an automatic processer for negative light-sensitive materials, an automatic processer for positive light-sensitive materials and an automatic printing device, are used separately. These generally require working space around them, and further space is required for workings such as supplemental cock adjustment, evaporation, correction tank liquid exchange and supplementing. Accordingly, when the aforesaid apparatus are placed separately, the working spaces around each apparatus must not overlap. Such a requirement may cause problems in a narrow place such as a small scale color developing station. Thus miniaturization of automatic processers is now becoming very important. In view of this, a processing machine is proposed comprising an integral combination of an automatic processer for color paper and an automatic printing device. However, since a negative light-sensitive material and a positive light-sensitive material are processed with processing liquors separated from each other, an automatic machine for a negative light-sensitive material and an automatic machine for a positive light-sensitive material have not been integrally combined. There have been attempts to develop two different light-sensitive materials, ie a negative color film and a color paper, with one processing liquor. The use of a common processing liquor. particularly a developing solution, is described in Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 32734/1978, Japanese Patent Publication No. 35298/1977 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2779/1978. Japanese Provisional Patent Publication No. 95342/1983 discloses the processing of different light-sensitive materials, ie a color film and a color paper, with a developer of the same composition by circulating the developer between the two processers. However, the negative light-sensitive film and positive light-sensitive material for printing comprise silver halide compositions which are entirely different from each a other, and good photographic performance cannot be obtained by processing with a developer of the same composition. In order to process rapidly a negative light-sensitive material and a positive light-sensitive material separately in different automatic processers, without waiting time, it is required to use the processing liquor at a constant temperature and to use flow washing water continuously. It would be very desirable to have an automatic processer capable of developing processing different light-sensitive materials simultaneously or separately, which does not require a large installation area, which is compact and which enables saving of energy and washing water. The present invention provides an automatic processer capable of simultaneously processing at least two different light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials in different developing solutions, said materials being selected from (i)a color negative film and a color reversal film, and (ii)a color paper, which processer comprises: (a) at least two sets of processing tanks, each set comprising a plurality of processing tanks, said sets of processing tanks having at least one processing tank in common and each set having a color developing tank which is not shared with any other set of processing tanks; and (b) conveying means for conveying the photographic materials (i) and (ii) via separate paths through the sets of processing tanks. The present invention also provides a process for automatically processing at least one light-sensitive silver halide photographic material, which comprises processing the at least one material in a processer as defined above. The automatic processer of the present invention is compact since a processing liquor tank is commonly used. This ensures that working space around the automatic processer is saved. Furthermore costs for driving, temperature control and further circulation may be reduced by the common use of the means for conveying the light-sensitive materials, processing liquor circulation pumps and temperature controlling means. Substantially no washing water may be used, which lowers n energy costs and the risk of pollution. According to a preferred embodiment. the sets of processing tanks are provided in an integral combination in the body of the processer. Advantageously the processer has no water washing tank for washing the light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials by flowing of water. The processer preferably has no heat-exchange type cooling means with water at the color developing tank. The processer also preferably has at least one processing tank, other than the color developing tank, in which the processing temperature is lower by 3 °C or more than that of the color developing tank. Fig 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of an automatic processer according to this invention; Fig. 2 is plan view of the automatic processer of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a processing tank; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a position in which the automatic processer according to this invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another embodiment of an automatic processor according to this invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of an automatic processor according to this invention; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of an automatic processer according to this invention. In this invention,"different light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials" means different materials selected from for example, a color negative film and a color paper, a color reversal film and a color reversal paper and and silver halide color direct positive film and a silver halide color paper. Furthermore "water washing tank for washing of the light-sensitive silver halide photographic material by flowing of water" means a tank in which water is supplemented in excess of 6000 ml per 1 m² of the light-sensitive material. Accordingly a processing tank for rinsing with a small amount of water of not more than 6000 ml per 1 m² of the light-sensitive material and surface washing with sponge are not included within the scope of this wording. The processing steps used in the automatic processer of this invention may be any processing steps already known. Typical examples are: The steps surrounded by rectangles are common processing steps. In the processing steps (1) to (13) an exposed silver halice color paper (A) and an exposed silver halide color negative film (B) are processed by an automatic processor of this invention. The representations A and B following the steps refer to the processing steps for the two light-sensitive materials A and B respectively. The processer of this invention may have a constitution in which each of two different photographic matarials is processed separately or processing liquors are mutually communicated with each other, such as by an overflow process in which processing liquor flows into another processing tank or processing liquors are mutually circulated through a pipe a using a pump. The processing liquors to be used in the processing steps include those conventionally used for processing light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials. For example, the color developing solution to be used in the color developing processing step may contain a p-phenylenediamine derivative as the color developing agent. The bleaching solution to be used in the bleaching processing step is a processing liquor for converting silver such as of a silver image into a silver halide, and an oxidizing agent such as EDTA iron chelate may be employed. The bleach-fixing solution to be used in the bleach-fixing processing step is a processing liquor for bleaching the silver image simultaneously with fixing. It may contain a bleaching agent such as EDTA iron chelate and a fixing agent such as thiosulfate. The fixing solution to be used for the fixing processing step is a processing liquor for dissolving the silver halide remaining in the emulsion layer of the light-sensitive material after development for stabilization against light. It may contain a fixing agent such as a thiosulfate. The stabilizing solution to be used for the stabilizing processing step is a processing liquor for stabilization of the dye image formed on the light-sensitive material, it may contain a chelating agent for a metal ion. The stopping solution, the rinsing solution and the amplifying solution to be used may be those well-known in the art. The different light-sensitive materials of this invention are most preferably a combination of a negative color film and a color paper. The tank for processing commonly the different light-sensitive materials is preferably the bleach-fixing processing tank or the stabilizing processing tank. In this invention, when the processing tank for processing commonly the different light-sensitive materials is a bleach-fixing tank, the bleach-fixing solution to be used in the tank should preferably contain a ferric complex of an organic acid, said organic acid having a molecular weight of at least 300. Examples of particularly preferred organic acids having a molecular weight of 300 or more are: (1) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Mw = 393.27); (2) Diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 573.12); (3) Cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (Mw = 364.35); (4) Cyclohexanediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 508.23); (5) Triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid (Mw = 494.45); (6) Triethylenetetraminehexamethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 710.27); (7) Glycoletherdiaminetetraacetic acid (Mw = 380.35); (8) Glycoletherdiaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 524.23); (9) 1,2-Diaminopropanetetraacetic acid (Mw = 306.27); (10) 1,2-Diaminopropanetetramethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 450.15); (11) 1,3-Diaminopropane-2-ol-tetraacetic acid (Mw = 322.27); (12) 1,3-Diaminopropane-2-ol-tetramethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 466.15); (13) Ethylenediamine-di-ortho-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (Mw = 360.37); (14) Ethylenediamine-di-ortho-hydroxyphenylmethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 432 31); and (15) Ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonic acid (Mw = 436.13). The organic acid used in the organic acid ferric complex may be, for example, any one selected from these organic acids, or, if desired, two of more organic acids may be used in combination. Particularly preferred organic acids are: (I) Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid; (II) Cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid; and (III) Glycoletherdiaminetetraacetic acid. The ferric complexes of the aforesaid organic acids may b used in the form of free acids (hydrogen salts), alkali metal salts such as sodium salts, potassium salts and lithium salts, or ammonium salts or water-soluble salts such as triethanolamine salts, preferably in the form of potassium salts, sodium salts or ammonium salts. Although it is sufficient to use one ferric complex two or more may also be used in combination. The amount of the complex employed can be chosen as desired, and depends on the silver quantity and the silver halide composition of the light-sensitive material to be processed, but if generally used at a lower concentration than other aminopolycarboxylic acid salts due to its higher oxidative power. For example, it can be used in an amount of 0.01 mole or more, preferably 0.05 to 0.6 mole, per liter of the liquor employed. In the supplemental liquor, it should be used in a high concentration up to its solubility limit for a low level of supplementetion. A stabilizing liquor is preferably employed in this invention, because of the compactness of the automatic processer and because the storability of the dye images of two different light-sensitive materials (e.g. negative film and paper) are good following processing with a stabilizing liquor subsequent to processing with a processing liquor having fixing ability, such as fixing solution or bleach-fixing solution, without passing through a water washing step. The stabilizing liquor preferably comprises a least one compound selected from those below, since the effect of this invention can be improved with additional improvement of the generation of silver sulfide in the stabilizing liquor during extended processing with low frequency of renewal as well as improvement of the stain at the unexposed portion in the processed light-sensitive material. (A) Benzoic acid ester compounds; (B) Phenolic compounds; (C) Thiazoline compounds; (D) Imidazole compounds; (E) Guanidine compounds; (F) Carbamate compounds; (G) Morpholine compounds; (H) Quaternary phosphonium compounds; (I) Quaternary ammonium compounds; (J) Urea compounds; (K) Isoxazole compounds; (L) Propanolamine compounds; (M) Amino acid compounds; (N) Triazine compounds; and (O) Pyridine compounds. In this invention, when the processing tank for processing commonly the different light-sensitive materials is a stabilizing tank, it is preferred that the stabilizing liquor to be employed comprises at least one of these compounds (A) to (O). Examples of compounds (A) to (O) are: (1) Sodium o-phenylphenolate; (2) 2-Octyl-4-isothiazoline; (3) Benzisothiazoline-3-one; (4) 2-Methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one; (5) 5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one; (6) 2-Thiomethyl-4-ethylamino-6-(1,2-dimethylpropylamino)-s-triazine; (7) Hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine; (8) 4-(2-Nitrobutyl)morpholine; (9) 4-(3-Nitrobutyl)morpholine; (10) 2-(4-Thiazolyl)benzimidazole; (11) Dodecylguanidine hydrochloride; (12) Methyl hydroxybenzoate; (13) Propyl hydroxybenzoate; (14) n-Butyl hydroxybenzoate; (15) Isobutyl hydroxybenzoate; (16) Methyl benzoate; (17) o-Cyclohexylphenol; (18) 1,2-Benzisothiazoline-3-one; (19) 2-Octyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one; (20) 2-(4-Thiazolyl)-benzimidazole; (21) 2,6-Dimethylpyridine; (22) 2,4,6-Trimethylpyridine; (23) Sodium-2-pyridinethiol-1-oxide; (24) Cyclohexidine; (25) Polyhexamethylenebiguanidine hydrochloride; (26) Methyl-1-(butylcarbamoyl)-2-benzimidazole carbamate; (27) Methylimidazole carbamate; (28) Tri-n-butyl-tetradecylphosphonium chloride; (29) Triphenylnitrophenylphosphonium chloride; (30) Dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride; (31) Didecyldimethylammonium chloride; (32) Laurylpyridinium chloride; (33) N-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-N′-(4-chlorophenyl)urea; (34) N-(3-trifluoromethyl-4-chlorophenyl)-N′-(4-chlorophenyl)urea; (35) 3-Hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole; (36) D,L-2-benzylamino-1-propanol; (37) 3-Diethylamino-1-propanol; (38) 2-Dimethylamino-2-methyl-1-propanol; (39) 3-Amino-1-propanol; (40) Isopropanolamine; (41) Diisopropanolamine; (42) N,N-dimethylisopropanolamine; and (43) N-luryl-β-alanine. Of the above antimicrobial agents, preferred compounds are thiazoline compounds, pyridine compounds, guanidine compounds and quaternary ammonium compounds. Above all, thiazoline compounds are particularly preferred. The amount of the compounds (A) to (O) in the stabilizing liquor is from 0.002 g to 50 g, preferably from 0.005 g to 10 g, per liter of the stabilizing liquor, because no effect is exhibited at a level lower than 0.002 g, while an amount over 50 g is not desirable in view of the cost. The pH of the stabilizing liquor is not particularly limited, but is preferably from 0.5 to 12.0, more preferably from 5.0 to 9.0, most preferably from 6.0 to 9.0. The pH controller which can be contained in the stabilizing liquor may be an alkali agent or acid agent generally known in the art. It is preferred to use a small amount of such agents. This invention is now further described in detail in the following Examples. Example 1 Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an automatic processer, Fig. 2 is a plan view of an automatic processer, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a processing liquor tank and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the position in which an automatic processer is set. In Fig. 1, the processer body 1 is equipped at its front with a feeding section 4 for feeding a negative light-sensitive material 2, i.e an undeveloped negative color film, or a positive light-sensitive material 3, i.e. a color paper, and at its back with a removing section 5 for removing the processed light-sensitive materials 2 and 3. Between the feeding section 4 and the removing section 5, namely at the inner portion of the processer body 1, there are arranged successively from the feeding section side to the removing section, adjacent to each other, a developer tank 6, a bleaching liquor tank 7, a fixing liquor tank 8, first stabilizing liquor tanks 9 and 10, a second stabilizing tank 11 and drying section 12. In the processing liquor tanks 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the drying section 12, there are arranged a number of guide rollers 13. Around the guide rollers 13 is a pair of endless belts 14 and 15 which act as conveyers. The endless belt 14 conveys the positive light-sensitive material 2, while the endless belt 15 conveys the negative light-sensitive material 3. Each of these endless belts 14 and 15 is driven by the driving motor 16 located on the feeding section side. At the feeding section 4 is arranged a holding section 17, at which is set the undeveloped negative light-sensitive material 2 or the positive light-sensitive material 3. The light-sensitive material 2 or the light-sensitive material 3 is supported at its end by a clip which is not shown on the endless belt 14 or 15 and is conveyed by the endless belt 14 or 15. The developer tank 6, the bleaching liquor tank 7, the fixing liquor tank 8, the first stabilizing liquor tanks 9 and 10, and the second stabilizing liquor tank 11 are constituted as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the developer tank 6 is constituted of a negative developer tank 6a and a positive developer tank 6b, which are filled with developers suitable for their respective uses. The negative light-sensitive material 2 is processed in the negative developer tank 6a separately from the positive light-sensitive material 3 which is processed in the positive developer tank 6b so that the photographic performance may be exhibited to the greatest extent. The bleaching liquor tank 7, the fixing liquor tank 8, and the first stabilizing tanks 9 and 10, are each constituted of a single tank. The second stabilizing tank 11 is constituted of a negative stabilizing liquor tank 11a and a positive stabilizing liquor tank 11b. In this case, either the negative stabilizing liquor tank 11a or the positive stabilizing liquor tank 11b may be omitted. Stabilizing processing of the light-sensitive material is effected with a stabilizing liquor without washing water, whereby water is rendered unnecessary, and provision of a water discharging pipe is not required. Therefore the positioning of the machine is not particularly limited. A cascade pipeline 18 is provided between the tanks 9 and 10. The supplemental liquor supplemented to the first stabilizing liquor tank 10 at the later stage overflows into the first stabilizing liquor tank 9 at the previous stage. With such a constitution, the stabilizing liquor which overflows can be utilized to enhance the efficiency of the stabilizing processing. Of course, the stabilizing liquor tank may not necessarily be two tanks, but also may be one tank or three tanks, depending on the requirements. This automatic processer, as shown in Fig. 4(a), has a working space 19 therearound, since it does not require space for two automatic processers B and C for the negative light-sensitive material or the positive light-sensitive material as shown in Fig. 4(b). This reduces the installation area 20 to a great extent. When subjecting an undeveloped negative light-sensitive material 2 to developing processing, the magazine 21 housing the negative light-sensitive material 2 is set on the holding section 17, and the light-sensitive material 2 is conveyed, while being supported on the endless belt 14 through the clip which is not shown. The material is then processed in the negative developer tank 6a, the common bleaching liquor tank 7, the fixing liquor tank 8, the first stabilizing liquor tanks 9 and 10, and the stabilizing liquor tank 11 for exclusive use for the negative material, and then conveyed to the drying section. Thus developing processing is effected. The processed negative light-sensitive material 2 is separated from the endless belt 14 at the removing section 5, and wound up on a wind-up reel 22. On the other hand, when the undeveloped positive light-sensitive material 3 is subjected to developing processing, the magazine housing the positive light-sensitive material 3 therein is set on the holding section 17, and the light-sensitive material 3 is conveyed, while being supported at its tip by a clip on the other endless belt 15. It is developed in the posi-developer tank 6b, followed by processing similarly as described above. In the above description, the conveying mechanism for the light-sensitive materials employs the same endless belts 13 and 14, but any other conveying mechanism conventionally employed may be used for example a friction drive system using fixed rollers, a leader conveying system or a chain conveying system. The mechanisms employed for conveying the negative light-sensitive material 2 and the positive light-sensitive material 3 through the processing tanks may also be different from each other. For example, as one desirable system, the negative light-sensitive material 2 may be conveyed by a short leader system, while the positive light-sensitive material 3 by an endless belt conveying system. When the negative light-sensitive material 2 and the positive light-sensitive material 3 are processed in the common processing tank, liquid circulation through the common processing tank may be possible with one pump. The liquid can be introduced into the pump from any portion of the common processing liquor, and the liquid can be delivered to any portion of the liquor. In feeding to the processing liquor, it is desirable to employ a system in which a stirring effect is caused by blasting the liquid being fed directly against the surface of the processing liquor. The circulation pump is required for stirring and temperature control, as described above. The amount of liquor to be circulated may be the minimum necessary for such purposes. The two circulation pumps required for the negative light-sensitive material 2 and the positive light-sensitive material 3 in the prior art can be reduced to one common pump. The stabilizing liquor tanks are arranged in place of a water washing tank. The stabilizing liquor is capable of processing with a supplemental amount of about 1/100 to 1/5 of the washing water of the prior art, and the color image can be stabilized to an extent which is not inferior to that obtained by washing with water. Thus water pipes can be omitted, as there is no washing water tank, and the automatic processer can be located at any desired place, because no special piping is required. Example 2 Fig. 5 is a structure in which a processing liquor tank 6 is constituted of a negative developer tank 6a and a positive developer tank 6b, and a common processing liquor tank is constituted of two different stabilizing liquor tanks 50 and 51. This is practiced in the case when both or one of the negative developer and the positive developer is a developing-fixing solution or a developing-bleach-fixing solution, and only the different stabilizing liquor tanks are common. Example 3 Fig. 6 is a structure in which a bleach-fixing solution tank 61 is arranged subsequent to the negative developer tank 6a in the developing processing step of a negative light-sensitive material. According to this embodiment, since processing is performed with one bleach-fixing tank 61 after the developing processing, a circulation pump or temperature controlling meter for the processing liquor can further be saved. In the developing processing step of the positive light-sensitive material, amplifying processing is performed by use of a peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide with an amplifying liquor tank 62 subsequent to the positive developer tank 6b. According to this embodiment, since the quantity of silver applied on the positive light-sensitive material is small, the bleaching step or the bleach-fixing step can be obviated. A stabilizing liquor tank 63 is provided as the common processing tank. Example 4 Fig. 7 a structure in which a bleach-fixing liquor tank 71, first stabilizing liquor tanks 72 and 73 and a second stabilizing liquor tank 74 are arranged subsequent to a negative developer tank 6a in the developing processing of a negative light-sensitive material. On the other hand, in the developing processing step of positive light-sensitive material, the bleach-fixing liquor tank 71, and first stabilizing liquor tanks 75, 76 and 77 are arranged, respectively, subsequent to the positive developer tank 6b. A cascade pipeline 78 is arranged between the first stabilizing liquor tanks 73 and 77, a cascade pipeline 79 between the first stabilizing liquor tanks 77 and 76, a cascade pipeline 80 between the first stabilizing liquor tanks 76 and 72, and a cascade pipeline 81 between the first stabilizing liquor tanks 72 and 75. Accordingly, when a first stabilizing liquor is supplemented into the first stabilizing liquor tank 73 in the developing processing step of negative light-sensitive material, the liquor will overflow through the cascade pipelines 78, 79, 80 and 81 to supplement the first stabilizing liquor tanks 73, 77, 76, 72 and 75 in the abovementioned order. By such an arrangement, the degree of washing in the first stabilizing liquor tanks 72 and 73 in the negative developing processing step is higher than that in the first stabilizing liquor tanks 75, 76 and 77 in the developing processing step of the positive light-sensitive material. Example 5 On a triacetate film base are provided a halation prevention layer and a gelatin layer, on which a red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a green-sensitive silver halide emulsion, a filter layer containing yellow colloidal silver and a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer were applied to give a total silver quantity of 70 mg/100 cm². The above emulsion layer contains silver iodobromide with about 4.5 mole % of silver iodide, in which there were employed α-(4-nitrophenoxy)-α-pivalyl-5-[γ-(2,4-di-t-aminophenoxy)butylamido]-2-chloroacetanilide as the yellow coupler in the blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, 1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-3-{[α-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)-acetamido]benzamido}-3-pyrazolone and 1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-3-{[α-(2,4-di-t-amylphenoxy)-acetamido]benzamido}-4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)-5-pyrazolone as the magenta couplers in the green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and 1-hydroxy-N-{α-(2,4,t-amylphenoxy)butyl}-2-naphthoamide as the cyan coupler in the red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. In each emulsion layer were added additives such as dye sensitizers, film hardeners and extenders. Thus, a color film sample was prepared. A resin-coated paper substrate was coated with a coupler prepared by dissolving 2-(1-benzyl-2,4-dioxyimidazolidin-3-yl)-2-pivalyl-2′-chloro-5′-[4-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)butaneamido]acetanilide in dibutylphthalate, subjecting the solution to protective dispersion in an aqueous gelatin solution and mixing the dispersion with a silver chlorobromide emulsion. The amount of the coupler employed per 100 cm² was 24 mg and the silver 0.85 mg. On this coating was provided a gelatin intermediate layer containing dioctylhydroquinone, and a coupler, prepared by dissolving 3-(2-chloro-5-[1-(octanedecyl)succinimido]-anilino}-1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-5-pyrazolone in dibutylphthalate, subjecting the solution to protective dispersion in an aqueous gelatin solution and thereafter mixing the dispersion with a green-sensitive silver chlorobromide emulsion, was coated thereon and dried. The amount of the coupler employed per 100 cm² was 49 mg, and the silver 0.87 mg. On this layer was coated a color turbidity prevention layer of a gelatin solution of dioctylhydroquinone, followed further by coating and drying of a coupler, which was prepared by dissolving 2-[2-(2,4-di-t-pentylphenoxy)-butaneamido]-4,6-dichloro-5-methylphenol in dibutylphthalate, subjecting the solution to protective dispersion in an aqueous gelatin solution and mixing the dispersion with a red-sensitive silver chlorobromide emulsion. The amount of the coupler coated per 100 cm² was 30 mg, and the silver 0.75 mg. Thus, a color paper sample was prepared. These samples, after exposure in a conventional manner, were subjected to processings as described below. (Color negative processing) (Color paper processing) The color developing solutions employed had the compositions shown below: [For color paper processing] [Supplemental color developing solution for paper processing] [Color developing solution for color negative film] (made up to one liter with water, and adjusted to pH 10.06 with potassium hydroxide or 20 % sulfuric acid). [Supplemental color developing solution for color negative film] (made up to one liter with water, and adjusted to pH 10.12 with potassium hydroxide or 20 % sulfuric acid). [Bleach-fixing solution] (common) (made up to one liter with water, and adjusted to pH 7.5 with acetic acid and aqueous ammonia). [Supplemental bleach-fixing solution] (common) (made up to one liter with water, and adjusted to pH 7.0 with acetic acid and aqueous ammonia). [First stabilizing solution and supplemental first stabilizing solution] (common) [Second stabilizing solution and supplemental second stabilizing solution] (made up to one liter with water). The supplemental color developing solution was supplemented into the color developing bath in an amount of 15 ml per 100 cm² for the color negative film and 3.2 ml per 100 cm² for the color paper, and the supplemental bleach-fixing solution into the bleach-fixing bath in an amount of 8.0 ml per 100 cm² of the light-sensitive material. The supplemental first and second stabilizing solutions were each supplemented in an amount of 10 ml per 100 cm² of the light-sensitive material. The amount of processing was 2.0 m²/day for the above color negative film, while that for the above color paper was 12 m²/day. Such processings were conducted continuously for 30 days. The thus obtained color negative films and color papers were subjected to compulsory deterioration tests under the high temperature and high humidity conditions of 80 °C and 60 RH % for 2 weeks. As the result, every light-sensitive material was found to be very small in generation of yellow stain.

Claims: An automatic processer capable of simultaneously processing at least two different light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials in different developing solutions, said materials being selected from (i) a color negative film and a color reversal film, and (ii) a color paper, which processer comprises: (a) at least two sets of processing tanks, each set comprising a plurality of processing tanks, said sets of processing tanks having at least one processing tank in common and each set having a color developing tank which is not shared with any other set of processing tanks; and (b) conveying means for conveying the photographic materials (i) and (ii) via separate paths through the sets of processing tanks. A processer according to claim 1, wherein the sets of processing tanks are provided in an integral combination. A processer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing tank in common is a bleach-fixing tank or a stabilizing tank. A processer according to any one of the preceding claims, which does not contain a water washing tank. A processer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying means are each endless belts, friction drives, fixed rollers, leader conveyors or chain conveyors. A process for automatically processing at least one light-sensitive silver halide photographic material, which comprises processing the at least one material in a processer as defined in any one of the preceding claims. A process according to claim 6, wherein the common tank is a bleach-fixing tank which contains a bleach-fixing solution comprising a ferric complex of an organic acid, said organic acid having a molecular weight of at least 300. A process according to claim 7 wherein the ferric complex is iron (III) sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. A process according to claim 6, wherein the common tank is a stabilizing tank which contains a stabilizing solution comprising an antimicrobial agent. A process according to any one of claims 6 to 9, where the at least one material is a silver halide color negative film and a silver halide color paper.

Inventors: KAKUHARI HIROYUKI, KOBAYASHI KAZUHIRO, KOBOSHI SHIGEHARU, KUSE SATORU, KAKUHARI, HIROYUKI, KOBAYASHI, KAZUHIRO, KOBOSHI, SHIGEHARU, KUSE, SATORU
Applicants: KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND, KONICA CORPORATION
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G03D3
IPC codes: G03C7