Rapidly processable silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and the processing thereof

Abstract: A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support bearing on at least one side thereof at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion hydrophilic layer, comprising gelatin in an amount of from 1.90 to 3.50 g/m², wherein the swelling of the material is from 30 to 58 g/m² when it is treated with developer-I for 15 seconds at 35°C:

Description: Field of the Invention This invention relates to a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and the processing thereof and, particularly, to a rapidly processable silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which possesses excellent sensitivity and drying properties and which also has relatively less roller-mark trouble, and the processing thereof. Background of the Invention In recent years, the consumption of silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials is increasing year by year. Accordingly, the amount of processing silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials is also increasing. There has therefore been a demand to make the processing thereof more rapid, that is, to increase the processing quantity thereof within a set period of processing time. The above-mentioned tendency is also found in the field of X-ray sensitive products such as medical X-ray films. For example, as the frequency of diagnoses is being increased in the popularization of periodic physical examinations and so forth, inspection items are also increased to make diagnoses more accurate and, accordingly, the number of X-ray photographs is further increased. On the other hand, it is also required to let every examinee know the results of the examination as soon as possible. In other words, there is a strong demand that X-ray photographs should be processed more quickly than before so as to diagnose properly and without delay. Particularly in angiography, X-ray photography in operations and so forth, there is a clear requirement that an X-ray photograph should be processed as soon as possible so that it can be seen. To satisfy the above-mentioned demands of medical circles, it is required to process X-ray films more rapidly, as well as to expedite the automation of diagnoses (such as X-ray photographing, transporting and so forth). When a super-rapid processing can be carried out, however, there may be the following problems: (a) Density may not satisfactorily be obtained, (Sensitivity, contrast and maximum density may be deteriorated); (b) Fixing may not satisfactorily be performed; (c) Films may not satisfactorily be washed; (d) Films may not satisfactorily be dried; and so forth. In medical X-ray films, silver images having a blue-black tone are preferable from the viewpoint of making diagnoses easier, and the blue-black tone is required to keep longer when it is stored for a long time. In a rapid process, however, there is a fear of changing the tone of a silver image into a sepia tone, because the fixing may not satisfactorily be performed. [see the above-mentioned (b)]. One solution of the above-mentioned problems is to reduce the gelatin content. In particular, the drying property [i.e., the above-mentioned (d)] may be improved thereby. On the other hand, however, if the gelatin content is reduced, such troubles as coating mottles and coating streaks are apt to arise, when coating a silver halide light-sensitive material. Besides, if films have a relatively low gelatin content, when they are scratched by each other or by other substances, there may be a trouble that the density of the scratched portions may be darkened more than in other portions, that is the so-called black-abrasion mark is apt to appear. If films have a relatively low gelatin content, when using an automatic processor, the roller of the processor may sometimes leave traces on the films, that is the so-called roller-mark may be left thereon. Further, in a rapid processing, the sensitivity of silver halide grains and the rate of development are required to be raised, because the density is not enough as mentioned in Item (a). This also causes the above-mentioned roller-mark. As mentioned above, super-rapid processing has been desired. The super-rapid processing mentioned in this specification means that the total processing takes 20 seconds to 60 seconds, [in other words, a quotient (sec) divided a full length (meter) by a line-transport speed (meter/sec)], from the time when the leading edge of a film is inserted into an automatic processor to the time when the leading edge of the film is delivered from a drying section after the film was passed through a developing tank, a cross-over section, a fixing tank and the drying section. In Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 47045-1976, it is said that the gelatin content is an essential factor for rapid processing and a total processing time including the time required for passing through a cross-over section is from 60 seconds to 120 seconds. This processing time does not satisfy the requirements for the recent super-rapid processing. On the other hand, the swelling degree of films in a developer is an essential factor for solving the above-mentioned problems caused in films having a low gelatin content. The technologies concerning these problems are described in, for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 111933-1983 and 65233-1986. In the technology described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 11933-1983, such gelatin content is not less than 3.75 g/m² so that the material cannot be expected to perform any rapid processing. In Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 65233-1986, there is a description of the gelatin contents of emulsion layers, but there is no description of the gelatin content of a protective layer arranged on the emulsion layers nor that of any processing time. In addtion to the above, the technologies described in both Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 11933-1983 and 65233-1986 cannot solve the above-mentioned problems regarding rapid processing, because the developers used in the examples of those inventions did not contain glutaraldehyde which greatly influences the swelling degrees of films. Figure 1 shows an example of an automatic processing apparatus which can be used for processing the light-sensitive materials of the invention; and Figure 2 shows the front view of the operation panel of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. It is an object of the invention to provide a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which has excellent sensitivity and drying properties and suffers from substantially fewer roller-marks, even if the gelatin content thereof is reduced to the lowest level and on which a super-rapid processing can be performed within a total processing time of from 20 to 60 seconds. According to the present invention there is provided a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support bearing at least one side thereof at least one layer comprising a nonionic surface active agent, at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion hydrophilic layer comprising, on one side of said support, silver in an amount less than 3.2g/m² and gelatin in an amount from 2.0 to 3.5 g/m², wherein the swelling of the material is from 30 to 58 g/m² when it is treated with the following developer-I at 35°C for 15 seconds. Developer-1 Potassium sulfite 55.0 g Hydroquinone 25.0 g 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone 1.2 g Boric acid 10.0 g Potassium hydroxide 21.0 g Triethylene glycol 17.5 g 5-methylbenztriazole 0.05 g 5-nitrobenzimidazole 0.10 g 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole 0.02 g Glutaraldehyde bisulfite 15.0 g Glacial acetic acid 16.0 g Potassium bromide 4.0 g Water to make 1 liter, and the silver halide grains of said silver halide emulsion have an average silver iodide content of not more than 5mol%, the surface of said grains having a silver iodide content of 0.1 mol% to 0.5 mol%. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the invention are processed with an automatic processor with a total processing time of from 20 to 60 seconds. The silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the invention are comprised of a support bearing on one side thereof one or more gelatin-containing hydrophilic colloidal layers including at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. The silver halide grains contained in the photographic emulsions used in the invention may be regularly crystallized, irregularly crystallized or crystallized composites. The grains may also be a mixture of variously crystallized grains. The silver halide grains used in the silver halide emulsion of the invention may be prepared by any of the ordinary methods such as a neutral method, an acid method, an ammonia method, a normal precipitation method, a reverse precipitation method, a double-jet method, a controlled double-jet method, a conversion method or a core/shell method. The silver halide emulsion used in the invention may optionally be chemically sensitized, and may also be spectrally sensitized with e.g. a methine dye. The silver halide emulsion used in the invention may incorporate any compounds which have been well-known such as an antifogging agent or a stabilizer. As for the binders or protective colloids incorporated in the emulsion layers and interlayers of the light-sensitive materials of the invention, gelatins or other hydrophilic colloids may be used together with the gelatins. The gelatin content of the hydrophilic colloidal layers used in the invention is from 2.0 to 3.50 g/m² and, preferably, from 2.00 to 3.30 g/m². When processing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the invention with the above-mentioned developer-I at 35°C for 15 seconds, the swelling degree thereof is within the range of from 30 to 58 g/m², preferably from 35 to 55 g/m² and, more preferably. from 40 to 51 g/m². In the invention, the term, "swelling degree", is defined as follows: (a) A photographic light-sensitive material, 30.5 x 25.4 cm in size, which was exposed to as much light as to give its maximum density if it was processed, is allowed to stand for 5 hours at 23°C and 55%RH; (b) The weight of the light-sensitive material is measured; (c) The light-sensitive material is dipped into the above-mentioned developer-I kept at 35°C, for 15 seconds at 35°C, and is taken out from the developer. While holding the light-sensitive material by one of the corners thereof for 30 seconds, the developer remaining thereon is allowed to drop off from the light-sensitive material; (d) The weight is measured; (e) The increased weight is obtained by comparing the weight (b) with the weight (d). The procedure from (a) through (e) is repeated three times to obtain the average value of the increased weight. The swelling degree is determined by converting the above-mentioned average value into a value per square meter. The conversion may be given by the following equation: In the invention, any of the well-known hardeners may be used independently or in combination for the purpose of obtaining a swelling degree within the above-mentioned range. The amount added is varied according to the kind of hardener; a person skilled in the art can select an amount so as to meet his desired swelling degree. The hardeners which may be used include, for example, a chromium salt such as chrome alum and chromium acetate; an aldehyde such as formaldehyde, glyoxal or glutaraldehyde; an N-methylol compound such as dimethylolurea or methylol dimethylhydantoine; a dioxane derivative such as 2,3-dihydroxydioxane; an active vinyl compound such as 1,3,5-triacryloyl-hexahydro-2-triazine or 1,3-vinylsulfonyl-2-propanol; an active halogen compound such as 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-3-triazine; and a mucohalogeno acid such as mucochloric acid or mucophenoxychloric acid. Typical examples of such hardeners will be given below. Typical examples of hardeners: In the invention, one can also use the hardeners disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 112034-1985 and 61742-1985. For example, it is allowed to use polymers each having a functional group capable of making a cross-linking reaction with gelatin through a hardener, as disclosed in, for example. U.S. Patent No. 4,207,109. Further, macromolecular hardeners each having a functional group capable of reacting with gelatin, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 66841-1981; British Patent No. 1,322,971; U.S. Patent No. 3,671,256; D.M. Burness, J. Pouradler, 'The Theory of the Photographic Process', 4th Ed., (T.H. James ed.), Macmillan, New York. 1977, pp. 84- ; and G.A. Campbell, L.R. Hamilton, I.S. Poaticeilo, 'Polymeric Amine and Ammonium Salts', (E.J. Goethals ed.). Pergamon Press. New York, 1979. pp. 321-332. The macromolecular hardeners preferably used include, for example, a dialdehyde starch; a polyacrolein; a polymer having an aldehyde group such as an acrolein copolymer described in U.S. Patent No. 3,396,029; a polymer having an epoxy group described in U.S. Patent No. 3,623,875; and a polymer having a dichlorotriazine group described in U.S. Patent No. 3,362,827, Research Disclosure, No. 17333, 1978; a polymer having an active ester group described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 66841-1981; and a polymer having an active vinyl group or a precursor of the active vinyl group, described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 142524-1981 and 65033-1979, U.S. Patent No. 4,161,407 and Research Disclosure No. 16725, 1978. Among the above preferred hardeners, the particularly preferable hardeners include, for example, a polymer of which the principal chain is bonded to an active vinyl group or a precursor of the active vinyl group through a long spacer, described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 142524-1981. In the light-sensitive silver halide emulsions used in the light-sensitive materials of the invention, the average grain size of the silver halide grains is generally not less than 0.4 µm and, preferably, from 0.45 µm to 2.5 µm. In the invention, the term "average grain size" means the grain diameter in the case of globular-shaped silver halide grains, or an average value of the diameter of a circle image having the same area as that of the projective image of each grain in the case of cubic or shaped grains other than the globular-shaped ones. In the case that an individual grain size is ri, and the number thereof is ni, the average grains size r will be defined by the following equation: In the invention, the silver content of the silver halide emulsion layers coated on at least one side of the support is generally less than 3.2 g/m² (on the one side of the support) and, more preferably, from 3.0 g/m² to 1.2 g/m². At least one layer constituting a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material of the invention contains a nonionic surface active agent. As for the nonionic surface active agents which can be used in the invention, it is preferable to use the compounds described in Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication No. 76741-1985, pp. 267-273. Particularly preferred compounds are the compounds given below. Nonionic surface active agents The amount of the nonionic surface active agents used in the invention is, generally, within the range of from 1 to 500 mg per m² of a photographic light-sensitive material used and, preferably, from 3 to 150 mg. The iodide content in the at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer is within the range of, preferably, from 0.2 to 4 mol%, more preferably from 0.5 to 4 mol% and, particularly, from 1.0 to 4 mol%. Such iodide content can be measured using a method as described in Society of Photographic Science and Technology of Japan, The Elements of Photographic Engineering - Silver Photography , Corona Publishing Co., p. 279. The iodide content of the grain surface is preferably not more than 0.4 mol%. The iodide content of silver halide grains from the surface down to 50Å in depth may be measured by a method of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) by making use of Mg.Kα rays and a Perkin-Elmer Model PHI-560. In this specification, the term, "an iodide content of silver grain surface", means an iodide content down to 50Å deep. It is preferred that a dyestuff is present in at least one layer constituting a light-sensitive material of the invention. For example, it is possible to use a dyestuff having a maximum absorption wavelength of from 520 to 580 nm, which is capable of still remaining in the layer even after processing. In this case, it is advisable that such a dyestuff has a maximum absorption wavelength of from 530 to 570 nm and more preferably from 540 to 560 nm. Such dyestuffs include, for example, an anthraquinone dye, an azo dye, an azomethine dye, an oxonol dye, a carbocyanine dye, and a styryl dye. From the viewpoint of color fastness against fading by light, it is preferable to use anthraquinone dyes, azo dyes or azomethine dyes. They include, for example the following dyes: The above-given dyestuffs may be added into emulsion layers and other hydrophilic colloidal layers such as an interlayer, a protective layer, an antihalation layer and a filter layer by various methods. Such dyestuffs may be dissolved or dispersed directly into an emulsion layer, or they may also be added thereto either in the form of an aqueous solution or after being dispersed in a solvent. Such solvents include, for example, various types of lower alcohols, methyl cellosolve, a halogenated alcohol, acetone, water and pyridine and mixtures thereof. They may also be added in the form of a solution, into an emulsion. They can also be dissolved in a substantially water-soluble high boiling solvent having a boiling point not lower than about 160°C and the resulting solution is added to a hydrophilic colloidal solution and dispersed therein. Such high boiling solvents include, for example, alkyl esters of phthalic acid, such as dibutyl phthalate and dioctyl phthalate; phosphoric acid esters such as diphenyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, and dioctylbutyl phosphate; citric acid esters such as acetyltributyl citrate; benzoic acid esters such as octyl benzoate; alkyl amides such as diethyllairyl amide; aliphatic acid esters such as dibutoxyethyl succinate and diethyl azelate; and trimesic acid esters such as tributyl trimesate. It is also possible to use organic solvents each having a boiling point of from about 30°C to about 150°C, which include, for example, lower alkyl acetates such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; ethyl propionate; secondary butyl alcohol; methylisobutyl ketone; β-ethoxyethyl acetate; methylcellosolve acetate; and solvents readily be soluble in water, such as a lower alcohol. A preferred proportion of the dyestuffs to the high-boiling solvents used therein is 10 : 1 to 1 : 10 by weight. The dyestuffs and other additives may also be added in the form of a filling polymer latex composition into an emulsion. The polymer latexes used therein include, for example, a polyurethane polymer or a polymer formed from a vinyl monomer. A preferred proportion of the dyestuffs to the polymer latexes used therein is 10 : 1 to 1 : 10 by weight. Such dyestuffs may be localized in a specific layer in such a manner that a hydrophilic polymer having an opposite charge is made to coexist as a mordant in the layer and is then made to interact with the dyestuff molecules. The polymer mordants are polymers having a portion of a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring containing a secondary or tertiary amino group, and a polymer containing the quaternary cationic group thereof. Such mordants have a molecular weight of, preferably, not less than 5000 and more preferably not less than 10000. These mordants include, for example, a vinylpyridine polymer and a vinylpyridinium cationic polymer; a vinylimidazolium cationic polymer; a polymer mordant capable of cross-linking to gelatin or the like; an aqueous sol type mordant; a water-insoluble mordant; a reactive mordant capable of covalent-bonding to a dyestuff; a polymer induced from an ethylene-unsaturated compound having a dialkylaminoalkyl ester residual group:a product produced through a reaction of a polyvinylalkyl ketone with an aminoguanidine; and a polymer produced from a 2-methyl-1-vinylimidazole. Further, such a dyestuff may be dissolved with a surface active agent. As for useful surface active agents, they may also be an oligomer or a polymer. Instead of the above-mentioned high-boiling solvents or using the high-boiling solvent in combination, a hydrophilic polymer may be used. A microcapsulation method may be applied, in which a polymer having, say, a carboxyl group or a sulfonic acid group in the side chain is used. It is also possible to include a hydrosol of a lipophilic polymer in the resulting hydrophilic colloidal dispersion. As for the dyestuffs preferably used in the light-sensitive materials of the invention, which is made decolorant in or effluent from a developing process, there are various compounds well-known as anti-halation dyestuffs or an anti-irradiation dyestuffs including, for example, the following compounds having the formulas and the maximum absorption wavelengths when they are in the form of aqueous solutions as shown. (Exemplified compounds) The particularly preferred compounds among the above-given dyestuff compounds are those having the following Formula [I]: wherein R¹ and R² are each an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkylaminocarbonyl group, an amino group, an acylamino group or a trifluoromethyl group; M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali-metal atom or an ammonium group; and n is an integer of 0,1 or 2. The above-exemplified compounds may be synthesized by the methods such as described in British Patent No. 560,385; U.S. Patent No. 1,884,035; and Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 22069-1964. Typical examples of the dyestuffs mentioned above and other useful compounds are disclosed in West German Patent No. 616,007; British Patent Nos. 584,609 and 1,177,429; Japanese Patent Examined Publication Nos. 7777-1951, 22069-1964 and 38129-1979; Japanese Patent O.P.I. Publication Nos. 85130-1973, 99620-1974, 114420-1974, 129537-1974, 28827-1975, 108115-1977 and 185038-1982; U.S. Patent Nos. 1,878,961, 1,884,035, 1,912,797, 2,098,891, 2,150,695, 2,274,782, 2,298,731, 2,409,612, 2,461,484, 2,527,583, 2,533,472, 2,865,752, 2,956,879, 3,094,418, 3,125,448, 3,148,187, 3,177,078, 3,247,127, 3,260,601, 3,282,699, 3,409,433, 3,540,887, 3,575,704, 3,653,905, 3,718,472, 3,865,817, 4,070,352 and 4,071,312; and PB Report No. 74175; Photo. Abs., 1 28 ('21). These dyestuffs may be added to any photographic component layer of the light-sensitive material. Namely, they may be added to at least one of the component layers including, for example, light-sensitive emulsion layers, Other hydrophilic colloidal layers which are non-light-sensitive layers such as interlayers, a protective layer or a subbing layer arranged next to the emulsion layers coated. The dyestuffs are contained preferably in silver halide emulsion layers or layers closer to the support of the light-sensitive material than the emulsion layers, or in both such layers. To be more effective, it is further preferable to contain them in a coated layer arranged next to the transparent support of the light-sensitive material. It is preferred that such dyestuffs are contained as close as possible and the dyestuf contents are as large as possible. The amount of the dyestuffs added is preferably from 0.2 mg/m² to 20 mg/m² and more preferably from 0.8 mg/m² to 15 mg/m². The dyestuff can be introduced into a hydrophilic colloidal layer by any ordinary method. Namely, the dyestuff is dissolved to make an aqueous solution having a suitable concentration and, when an emulsion layer is colored, the aqueous dyestuff solution is added into a silver halide emulsion before coating the silver halide emulsion. Otherwise, the resulting aqueous dyestuff solution is added into an aqueous hydrophilic colloidal solution. Then, the resulting solutions may be coated, directly or through the other hydrophilic colloidal layers, on a support by a variety of coating methods. The time of adding such an aqueous dyestuff solution may be any time during the preparation of the light-sensitive material. However, it is preferred to add it immediately before coating, from the viewpoint of preparatory convenience. With the purpose of improving the dimensional stability and other properties of photographic component layers and other hydrophilic colloidal layers, light-sensitive materials of the invention can contain dispersions of water-insoluble or hardly soluble synthetic polymers. If required, a variety of additives such as a development accelerator, an optical brightening agent or a UV absorber may be used in the light-sensitive materials of the invention. In the light-sensitive materials of the invention, the photographic emulsion layers and other layers thereof may be coated over one or both sides of any support which is usually applied to photographic light-sensitive materials. For coating them, there are available any methods such as a dip-coating method, a roller coating method, a curtain coating method or an extrusion coating method. As for the automatic processors which can be used to process the light-sensitive materials, for example in 20 to 60 seconds, there is no special limitation to the types thereof; thus, a roller transport type or a belt conveyor type may be used. Among them, the roller transport type is used preferably. An example of an automatic processing apparatus preferably used as the automatic processor for the invention is shown in accompanying Figure 1. When using this automatic processing apparatus to process light-sensitive materials, about 500 sheets of 10"x12" sized film can be processed every hour, in spite of its compact size - not larger than about 800 mm in each dimension (height, width and depth). Further, this apparatus can incorporate two units of built-in type replenishing tanks each having a capacity of about 25 liters so that the dimensions may be limited to about 1200 x 800 x 800 mm in size. The construction of the automatic processor shown in Fig. 1 is as follows. The apparatus is shielded by housing 20 against outside light. To the left side of housing 20, film insert table 1 is provided to supply an unprocessed light-sensitive material into the apparatus and, to the right side thereof, film basket 2 is provided to deliver a processed light-sensitive material from the apparatus. To the upper front of housing 20, operation panel 3 is provided. Panel 3 is equipped with an operating switch and an indicator necessary for operation. When operating this switch, a conversation type display 32 (See Fig. 2) on operation panel 3 indicates an operation start or stop, a temperature setting and a display of processing temperature or faults etc. In addition to the above, a voice conversation type display may also be included. In this operating method, a separate remote control box (not shown) is provided, besides remote control receiver 31. Therefore, remote control can be made in an emergency from a surgical operation room, for example, so that an immediate action can be taken by this remote control. When controlling the processing liquid level, differences in processing time may be avoided and the processability of a light-sensitive material may also be controlled. Besides the above, for the purpose of avoiding the variations of voltage and loads as well as avoiding the processing time scattering, a suitable drive motor is so selected as not to cause any scattering in the constant drive speed of transport roller 4. Further, a variable drive speed control may be provided, or an automatic drive speed control may be provided which can automatically sense every kind of light-sensitive material. In either case, the drive speed can be kept constant. A film width sensing means (not shown) is provided to film feed inlet 1a of film insert table 1, so that the width of every light-sensitive material being inserted may be determined and outputted to a control section. In the control section, the area of the light-sensitive material is computed to determine the replenishment of processing liquid. In housing 20, both film width sensing means provided close by film feed inlet 1a and the control section are arranged separately and, therefore, the two are connected by an electric wire. Between the two, however, there is a large capacity such as a heater and there may be some instances where an electric noise or the like is generated by the load so as to transmit wrong information. If this is the case, an optical fiber may effectively be utilized as connecting means. In developer tank 6, fixer tank 7 and washer tank 8, there are provided thermostat tanks. These thermostat tanks are made of moldings and each thermostat tank may be integral with the respective processing tank. These thermostat tanks can be formed so as not to leave any remaining liquid when draining, if the shapes of the thermostant tanks are carefully designed. Such thermostat tanks may each have a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of a thermally controlled processing liquid. The temperature sensors used therein include, for example, a thermistor, a platinum sensor and a silicon sensor. Information sent from the temperature sensor is inputted to the temperature control section to control every liquid to the respective suitable temperature. In drying section 9, not only is temperature information but also humidity information is inputted so as to control a heater and a fan to keep suitable drying conditions according to the temperature, humidity and airflow, for example. This control mechanism may also be applied to various drying means. In the drawing, reference numeral 91 is a squeezing section and 92 is a drying means section. Every liquid of developer tank 6, fixer tank 7 and washer tank 8 is drained through cock 22 which is provided in the wall of housing 20 so as to be readily available. The automatic processor is connected to various attachments such as a film supplier by which sheet type light-sensitive materials are supplied one after another. As for the interfaces for the above-mentioned attachments, an optical fiber can also be utilized from the viewpoint of noise protection. A system may also be integrated into the body for supplying electric power to the attachments. The control system of automatic processors may also be provided with a microcomputer and thereby a computation of replenishing processing liquids, a temperature control, a driving control and so forth may be performed. In checking up these data, inputs, a driving system and so forth, the maintenance efficiency may be improved by making use of a hand-held computer. In the above-mentioned automatic processor, rubber-made rollers are preferably used. As for the materials of such rollers, a silicone rubber or an ethylene-propylene rubber such as EPDM are preferably used. When making use of such an automatic processor, excellent transportability and image quality may be maintained even over a wide range of roller surface coarseness, for example Rmax from 0.1 to 100 µm. As compared to the conventional types of automatic processors in which the transportability and image quality are maintained by setting the Rmax thereof in the range of from 1 to 15 µm, the above-mentioned automatic processors are particularly advantageous. (The coarseness, Rmax, is specified in Japanese Industrial Standard JIS B-0601). In the above-mentioned automatic processors, the numbers of rollers such as rubber rollers are usually 1 to 8 rollers in a developing section. In these processors, there is not so much influence found on image quality even when the hardness of rubber rollers used is increased by 30 degrees, for example. When making use of a rubber roller having a hardness of 30 degrees, there is no adverse influence found even when the hardness is increased to 60 degrees by changes with the passage of time. If the processor is of the conventional type, image quality variation is found when the variation range of hardness is about 10 degrees or more. As compared to such conventional type processors, there is neither variation in hardness nor hindrance but considerable flexibility even if the hardness distribution is wide. The hardness is in accordance with the rubber hardness specified in JIS K-6301. Further, the interval distance between films, i.e. the distance between the trailing end of a previous film and the leading end of the next film inserted thereafter, can be 5 to 80 mm whereas, conventionally, it is 40 mm at the shortest. Further a rapid processing can be performed. More sheets can be processed. The processing capacity can be improved by 20 % at maximum as compared with conventional type processors. Also, the total number of rollers can be reduced. For example, about 20 rollers less can be used as compared with a conventional processor having the same processing capacity. For example, a conventional processor has 110 rollers, while this processor need have only 85 rollers. The ratio of the number of opposite rollers to the total number of rollers can be increased to be within the range of from 0.5 to 1.0 whereas it is conventionally about 0.45. Thereby, the processing time can be shortened while image quality can be maintained. Regarding the quantity of each processing liquid replenished, in the conventional processors, the developer replenishment is 33 cc (+10%, -0%) per 10 x12 sized sheet, and the fixer replenishment is 63 cc (+10%, -0%) per 10" x12" sized sheet, while in the above-mentioned processor, the developer replenishment is from 5 to 40 cc per 10" x12" sized sheet and the fixer replenishment is from 10 to 70 cc per 10"x12" sized sheet and the processability and image quality can be maintained and a small quantity replenishment can be achieved. Regarding the washing water, conventional processors requires 1.5 to 5 liter of water per minute, while the above-mentioned processor requires 0.5 to 3.0 liter per minute to maintain the processability and image quality. Besides the above, in the above-mentioned processor, there is generally little scum or contamination even without any fixer filter. Conventional processors have both developer and fixer filters. Regarding the drying property, in the above-mentioned processor, sufficient drying can be maintained with the drying airflow of from 6 to 14 m³ per minute and the heater capacity of from 2 to 4 kW at 200 V. Conventional processors require an airflow of about 14 m³ per minute and a heater capacity of 3.5 kW. The Examples of the invention will be described in detail. Of course the invention is not limited to the following Examples. Example-1 There was prepared a monodisperse cubic silver iodobrimide emulsion containing 2.0 mol% silver iodide having an average grain size of 0.20 µm by controlling the temperature, pAg and pH to be 60°C, 8.0 and 2.0, respectively, in a double-jet method. Taking a part of this emulsion to serve as a core, the grains were grown as follows. A solution containing the core grains and gelatin was added at 40°C, pAg 7.0 and pH 9.5 to both of an ammoniacal silver nitrate solution and a solution containing potassium iodide and potassium bromide in a double-jet method, so that the primary coated layer containing 30 mol% silver iodide was formed on the core grains. An ammoniacal silver nitrate solution and a potassium bromide solution were then added at pAg=9.0 and pH=9.0 in a double-jet method, so that the secondary coated layer was formed on the primary coated layer. Thus, a mono-disperse cubic silver iodobromide emulsion was prepared. The emulsion grains were made to be 1.0 µm, 0.6 µm and 0.5 µm in total size. These three sizes of grains were mixed up and used. Grains having iodide contents of 2.5 mol% and 5.5 mol% were obtained for every grain size. Further, grains having surface iodide contents of 0.6 mol%, 0.4 mol% and 0.1 mol% were also obtained for every grain size. The resulting emulsions were mixed with the following spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in the amounts given below: Grain size Spectral sensitizing dye A B 1.0 µm 270mg/AgX mol 12mg/AgX mol 0.6 µm 450mg/AgX mol 20mg/AgX mol 0.5 µm 540mg/AgX mol 24mg/AgX mol Spectral sensitizing dye A Spectral sensitizing dye B Next, the resulting emulsions each containing the above-mentioned spectral sensitizing dyes A and B were mixed with gold thiocyanate and ammonium thiosulfate and were then suitably gold-sulfur sensitized. The sensitized emulsions were stabilized by 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-tetrazaindene and the gelatin contents of the emulsions were adjusted as shown in Table-1. The gold-sulfur sensitized emulsions having the grain sizes of 1.0 µm, 0.6 µm and 0.5 µm were mixed with each other in the weight ratio of 25:40:35, respectively. The average grain size of the mixed emulsion was 0.665 µm. The grains were mixed, for example, in the following manner. With respect to Emulsions Type A, those having the same iodide content of 2.5 mol% in each grain, the same iodide content of 0.1 mol% on each surface and the above-mentioned three different kinds of average grain sizes were mixed in the ratio of 25:40:35, respectively. Emulsion type Iodide content in grain (mol%) Iodide content in grain surface (mol%) Grain size (µm) Ratio A 2.5 0.1 1.0, 0.6, 0.5 25:40:35 B 2.5 0.4 1.0, 0.6, 0.5 25:40:35 C 2.5 0.6 1.0, 0.6, 0.5 25:40:35 D 5.5 0.1 1.0, 0.6, 0.5 25:40:35 Further, the following additives were added to the emulsions and the solutions for protective layers, respectively. Still further, the protective layer solutions contained the hardeners given in Table-1 so as to have the swelling values shown in Table 1. The names and amounts of the additives added per mol of silver halide to the emulsions were 400 mg of t-butylcatechol; 1.0 g of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (having molecular weight of 10,000); 2.5 g of styrene-anhydrous maleic acid copolymer; 10 g of trimethylol propane; 5 g of diethylene glycol; 50 mg of nitrophenyl-triphenylphosphonium chloride; 4 g of ammonium 1,3-dihydroxybenzene-sulfonate; 15 mg of sodium 2-mercaptobenzimidazole-5-sulfonate; 70 mg of 1 g of 10 mg of 1,1-dimethylol-1-bromo-1-nitromethane. As for the protective layer solutions, the following solutions a and b were prepared. Protective layer solution - a: This solution has the following composition. The amount added is expressed per liter of coating liquid used. Protective layer solution - b: Protective layer solution - b was prepared by removing the chemicals marked by asterisks * from the composition of the above-mentioned protective layer solution - a. The undermentioned samples were prepared by coating the aforementioned two kinds of protective layer solutions. The protective layer solution - a contained a nonionic surface active agent, but the solution b did not contain any nonionic surface active agent. The above-mentioned emulsions and the protective layer solutions having the gelatin contents shown in Table-1 were simultaneously multicoated at a coating rate of 60 meters per minute over both sides of subbed polyester film supports in a slide-hopper, in the order of silver halide emulsion layers (the viscosity and surface tension of the coating solution were 18 cp and 35 dyn/cm, respectively, and coated layer thickness of 50 µm) and protective layers (the viscosity and surface tension of the coating solution were 11 cp and 26 dyn/cm, respectively and coated layer thickness of 17 µm), respectively, so that Samples No. 1 through No. 18 were prepared. The amounts of silver coated were 2.5 g/m² and 3.4 g/m² each per side of the support. The sensitometry of the resulting samples was carried out as follows. A sample was sandwiched between two pieces of optical wedges of which density gradients were so adjusted to be mirrorwise symmetrical and was then exposed to a light source having a color temperature of 5,400°K from both sides at the same time, using the same quantity of light and for 1/12.5 of a second. The process was carried out in the following steps with a roller-transport type automatic processor shown in Fig. 1, which takes 45 seconds to complete all the processing steps. Processing temperature Processing time Inserting - 1.2 sec Developing + cross-over 35°C 14.6 sec Fixing + cross-over 33°C 8.2 sec Washing + cross-over 25°C 7.2 sec Squeezing 40°C 5.7 sec Drying 45°C 8.1 sec Total: - 45.0 sec A processor having the following features was used. Rubber rollers were used. Among the rubber rollers, those used in cross-over sections were made of silicone rubber having a hardness of 48 degrees and those used in processing liquid tanks were made of EPDM (ethylene-propylene rubbers) having a hardness of 46 degrees. The coarseness of the roller surfaces were Dmax=4 µm and there were 6 rollers in the developing section and 84 rollers in total. The numbers of the opposed rollers were 51 and the ratio of the numbers of opposed rollers to the numbers of total rollers was 51/84 = 0.61. The amount of developer replenished was 30 cc per 10"x12" sized sheet, the amount of fixer replenished was 60 cc per 10"x12" sheet and the amount of washing water used was 1.5 liter per minute. The airflow of the drying section was 11 m² per minute and the capacity of heater was 3 kW (200 V). The total processing time was 45 seconds as mentioned above. The developer used was the aforementioned Developer-I containing glutaraldehyde and the fixer used was the fixer XF manufactured by Konishiroku Photo Ind. Co., Ltd. From the resulting characteristic curves of each sample, the amounts of exposure at the density of base density + fog density + 1.0 were obtained and the relative sensitivities were also obtained. With respect to each sample, the line speed of the above-mentioned 45 second processable automatic processor was slowed down by a half and then the sensitivities in terms of the conventional processing rate of 90 seconds were also obtained. The drying property of each sample was further evaluated in the following manner. Namely, the above-mentioned 45 second automatic process was carried out and the samples passed through the drying section were evaluated generally for touch, the degrees of the adhesion to other samples and so forth. The results thereof are graded from 1, poor, to 5, excellent. If a sample is ranked as from 3 to 5, the samples may have no problem, but if ranked as 1 or 2, such a sample cannot practically be used. The roller-marks were evaluated in such a manner that the 45 second automatic process was carried out and, at the density of 1.0, the degree of the density irregularity i.e., the roller-mark caused by the roughness of the rollers was visually evaluated. The results thereof are grades from 1, poor, to 5, excellent. If a sample is ranked as from 3 to 5, the sample may have no problem, but if ranked as 1 or 2, such a sample cannot practically be used. The test of the tone variations caused by silver content was assessed in the same manner as in the above-mentioned sensitometry; a sample exposed and processed was allowed to stand for a day at 60°C and 80%RH and then the variation of silver tone was evaluated visually. The results thereof are graded from 1, poor, to 5, excellent. If a sample is ranked as from 3 to 5, the sample may have no problem, but if ranked as 1 or 2, the sample cannot practically be used. The results from the above-mentioned evaluations are shown in Table-1. It is found from Table-1 that the samples relating to the invention are excellent in both density and drying property, have less roller-marks and further are suitable for super-rapid processing, even when they are processed in the 45 second processing. As compared with the conventional 90 second processing and especially with Sample No. 1 having a high gelatin content, it is also found that the processing time can be shortened by one half and the processing capability can be doubled, in spite of the sensitivity being more than equivalent to that of Sample No. 1. Example-2 Ten (10) grams of the aforementioned exemplified dyestuff No. 11 were weighed and then dissolved in a solvent of 10 cc of tricresyl phosphate and 20 cc of ethyl acetate. The resulting solution was dispersed and emulsified in 100 cc of a 15% aqueous gelatin solution containing 750 mg of an anionic surface active agent, so that a dyestuff solution A was prepared. Five (5) grams each of dyestuffs No. 2 and No. 3 were weighed and then dissolved in a solvent of 770 cc of tricresyl phosphate and 170 cc of ethyl acetate. The resulting solution was then dispersed and emulsified in 1000 cc of a 15% aqueous gelatin solution containing 3.5 g of an anionic surface active agent, so that a dyestuff solution B was prepared. Further, two (2) grams of the aforementioned exemplified dyestuff N were weighed and then dissolved in water, so that dyestuff solution C was prepared. The resulting dyestuff solutions were added to Emulsions A, B and C used in Example-1, as shown in Table-2. The protective layers used and the coating method applied were the same as in Example-1. With the resulting samples, the sensitivities, drying properties, roller-marks and sepia tone variations thereof were checked up in the same manners as in Example-1, and the results thereof are shown in Table-2. As shown in Table-2, it is found that, when adding dyestuffs, the effects of the invention can further remarkably be displayed with excellent drying properties, and less in both roller-marks and variation of silver tones. As described above, the silver halide photographic light-sensitive materials of the invention can display excellent sensitivity and drying property and roller-marks and silver tone variations can be reduced to very few, even if the gelatin contents are reduced to the lower limit where a super-rapid processing may be performed with a total processing time from 20 to 60 seconds.

Claims: A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a support bearing on at least one side thereof at least one layer comprising a nonionic surface active agent, at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion hydrophilic layer, comprising, on one side of said support, silver in an amount less than 3.2 g/m² and gelatin in an amount of from 2.0 to 3.50 g/m², wherein the swelling of the material is from 30 to 58 g/m² when it is treated with developer-I for 15 seconds at 35°C: Developer-I Potassium sulfite 55.0 g Hydroquinone 25.0 g 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone 1.2 g Boric acid 10.0 g Potassium hydroxide 21.0 g Triethyleneglycol 17.5 g 5-methyl-benztriazole 0.05 g 5-nitro-benzimidazole 0.10 g 1-phenyl-5-mercapto-tetrazole 0.02 g Glutaraldehyde bisulfite 15.0 g Glacial acetic acid 16.0 g Potassium bromide 4.0 g Water to make 1 litre, and the silver halide grains of said silver halide emulsion have an average silver iodide content of not more than 5 mol%, the surface of said grains having a silver iodide content of 0.1 mol% to 0.5 mol%. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1 which is capable of being completely processed by an automatic processing machine in from 20 seconds to 60 seconds. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the gelatin is present in an amount of from 2.00 g/m² to 3.30 g/m². A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the swelling is from 40 g/m² to 51 g/m². A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the average size of the silver halide grains contained in each said layer is from 0.4 µm to 2.5 µm, the amount of silver contained in each said layer is from 1.2 g/m² to 3.2 g/m². A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the nonionic surface active agent is present in an amount of from 1 mg/m² to 500 mg/m². A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the silver iodide content of the silver halide grains is from 0.5 to 5 mol%. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least one layer comprises a dye. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 8 wherein the dye has a light absorption maximum of from 520 nm to 580 nm and is capable of remaining after processing in the layer in which the dye is contained. A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material according to claim 8 wherein the dye is capable of decolouring or flowing away from the light-sensitive material during the processing thereof. A process for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the processing is carried out in an automatic processor for from 20 seconds to 60 seconds.

Inventors: ARAI MASUMI, NAGASAKI SATORU, SUZUKI AKIO, TSUJI NOBUAKI, YOSHIDA EIJI, ARAI, MASUMI, NAGASAKI, SATORU, SUZUKI, AKIO, TSUJI, NOBUAKI, YOSHIDA, EIJI
Applicants: KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND, KONICA CORPORATION
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G03C5
IPC codes: G03C5, G03C1