Tablet-shaped processing agent and method for processing silver halide photographic light sensitive materials

Abstract: A tablet-shaped processing agent for providing a photographic processing solution of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The agent comprises a ferric complex salt of an organic acid, and an ammonium cation in an amount of not higher than 50 mol% based on the total cation contained therein.

Description: Field of the Invention This invention relates to processing agent for silver halide photographic light sensitive materials (i.e., photographic processing agents) and, particularly, to tablet-shaped photographic bleaching agents, which are capable of preventing the fine powder of the photographic processing agents from being scattered and displaying the working and social environment aptitudes without making use of any plastic-made bottle, and to a method for processing the silver halide photographic light sensitive materials with the above-mentioned photographic bleaching agents. Background of the Invention The processing solutions applicable to silver halide photographic light sensitive materials, such as a black-and-white developer, a fixer, a color developer, a bleacher, a bleach-fixer and a stabilizer; each of them has been put into a plastic-made bottle in the form of one or plural concentrated solutions for the purpose of easily handling them and then supplied to the users as a processing agent kit. The users have dissolved the processing agent kit in water to prepare the working solutions (or a starter solution or a replenisher solution) of the kit and then used the resulting solutions. Recently in the photographic processing industry, many small-sized photofinishing laboratories, so-called Mini-Labs, have been rapidly-established in which small-sized automatic processors are being used. With the spread of the mini-labs, the plastic-made bottles for processing agents have also rapidly been increased in numbers year by year. The plastics have been widely used for not only the bottles for photographic processing agents but also many other purposes, because they are light in weight and durable in nature. The plastic output in the whole world has been kept increased year by year and, the yearly output in 1988 has exceeded one billion tons. On the other hand, the waste plastics have also been fabulously increased. In Japan, for example, about 40% of the total output thereof are wasted yearly. When the plastic wastes are abandoned in the sea, the inhabitable conditicns for the oceanic life are deteriorated. In Europe, the acid rain problems have also been raised, because the plastics have been combustion-treated by trash burners having imperfect exhaust-gas treatment units. The above-mentioned problems have been getting serious. Therefore, some urgent countermeasures should be inevitably taken to solve the problems. In Europe, there are, at present, the positive movements to enact the legal regulations on, for example, an obligation to recycle plastics or not to use plastics but to use decomposable plastics. In the situations mentioned above, it is objectionable to use a lot of plastic bottles for photographic processing agents, even in one small part. Accordingly, it may be considered to make powder of concentrated photographic processing solutions. When this is the case, there raises some problems including, for example, a problem that workers' health may be affected because fine powder is scattered in the air when dissolving them and the workers may possibly inhale the scattering fine powder, or another problem that a trouble may be produced, because other photographic processing solutions is contaminated by the scattering fine powder. Accordingly, the techniques for granulating a photographic processing agent so as to make a granulated mixture have been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication Cpen to Public Inspection (hereinafter referred to as JP OPI Publication) Nos. 2-109042/1990 and 2-109043/1990, U.S. Patent No. 2,843,484 and JP OPI Publication No. 3-39735/1991. However, the following problems are still raised, such as labor safety and hygienic problems produced by scattering the powdery dust and other problems including the mixing-in of the granulated agents as the impurities to the other processing agents, and the agent preparation troubles produced by a caking phenomenon in which the granulated agents are precipitates or sets to the bottom of a vessel when dissolved in mater or by the failure of dissolving the granule produced by covering the granule with its own wet skimming. It is, therefore, the actual situation that a agent suitable for powdering or granulating is still considerably limited. In EP-A-0 450 293 a bleaching solution for a light-sensitive silver halide color photographic material is disclosed which contains a ferric complex salt of an organic acid and wherein 50 mol % or less of total cations are ammonium ions. In EP-A-0 540 296 which belongs to the state of the art according to Article 54(3) EPC another solid photographic processing agent is disclosed. The described photographic processing agent has a bulk density of 0.5 to 6.0 g/cm and comprises a photographic processing agent and at least one of the compounds represented by the formula (1) R-(O) n SO 3 X. The used photographic processing agent may be a ferric complex salt of an organic acid. In EP-A-0 537 365 an automatic developing apparatus for a silver halide photo-sensitive material is disclosed that comprises a processing tank containing a processing solution; means for stocking a solid processing agent; means for supplying the solid processing agent to said processing tank; means for detecting information on the amount of processing of said light-sensitive silver halide photographic material and means for controlling said supplying means according to said information for the amount of processing of the light-sensitive silver halide photographic material. As for the desirable forms of the processing agents capable of effectively employing the advantages which the above-mentioned dried agents have, the tableted agents are proposed in, for example, JP OPI Publication No. 51-61837/1976 and Canadian Patent No. 831,928. In FR-A-2 286 415 corresponding to said JP No. 51-61837/1976 a bleacher tablet is disclosed comprising 20 to 60 parts by weight sequestrene Ciba Greigy, 1 to 3 % by weight anhydrous sodium carbonate, 0.5 to 4 parts by weight polyglycol 6.000, 0.5 to 4 parts by weight lactose, 2 to 10 parts by weight sodium chloride, 0.2 to 4 parts by weight a swelling hydrocolloid and water up to 1.000 parts. However, the other new problems are raised when making tableted agents. The problems are as follows. Stains are produced when a development is carried out by making use of a processing solution prepared of a stored tablet and, further, a yellow stain is produced in the edge portions of a processed color paper. The above-mentioned two points are the important keys for the photographic characteristics and, if these troubles are produced, the commercial values of the agents are so dropped as to raise a serious problem. The settlements of the problems have now become urgent. Summary of the Invention After the present inventors have seriously studied, they discovered that the above-described problems relate to the ratios of the ammonium cation content of a tablet-shaped processing agent to the total cation content thereof and they have achieved the invention. As the other advantages, the abrasion degrees and solubility of a tablet-shaped agent can be improved and a working environmental aptitude can also improved without scattering any fine powder. The advantages are so amazing that no anticipation could be made at all from any knowledge so far. It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide processing agent for silver halide photographic light sensitive materials and a method of processing silver halide photographic light sensitive materials, in which the following special features can be provided. (1) Amounts of the packaging materials (including, particularly, plastic-made bottles) used therein can be reduced and a social environmental aptitude can also be provided; (2) Processing agents can be made light in weight by tableting them; the transportation cost can be reduced; and the storage spaces of the agents can be saved in every photofinishing laboratory; (3) Storage stability can be improved; and any stain production in making every development and any contamination on light sensitive materials after completing every processing treatment can be eliminated; (4) Any fine powder of every photographic processing agent cannot be scattered; and the working environmental aptitude can also be provided; (5) Any contamination can be prevented; and (6) The solubility of any tablet-shaped photographic processing agents can be improved; and the abrasion degrees of any tablet can also be reduced. The above-mentioned objects of the invention can be achieved with a tablet-shaped bleaching agent for providing a photographic processing solution of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by the following Formula (L); wherein A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are each -CH 2 OH, -COOM or -PO 3 M 1 M 2 wherein M, M 1 and M 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an ammonium group, provided that A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 may be the same with or the different from each other; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is more than 0 and up to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. Further, according to preferred embodiments of present invention (a) in the above-mentioned tablet-shaped bleaching agents for silver halide photographic light sensitive materials, the ratio of the ammonium cation content to the total cation content is not higher than 20 mol%; (b) the above-described tablet-shaped bleaching agent for silver halide photographic light sensitive materials is one prepared by granulating the agent and then by tableting it; and (c) it is a preferable embodiment of the invention that silver halide photographic light sensitive materials are processed with the tablet-shaped bleaching agent specified in the above-mentioned paragraphs (a), and (b), because the advantages of the invention can be displayed thereby. The above-mentioned cation forms a cation in a solution in which the tablet-shaped bleaching agent of the invention is dissolved. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig.1 is a schematic illustration showing an example of the automatic processors relating to the invention; and Fig.2 is a schematic illustration of a processing tank attached with a tablet-shaped bleaching agent supply unit; wherein 1 color developing tank; 2 bleaching tank; 3 fixing tank; 4 washing tank; 5 stabilizing tank; 6 drying section; 7 light sensitive material area detection sensor; 8 tablet-shaped processing agent supply unit; 9 liquid surface detection sensor; 10 water replenisher unit; 11 control section; 12 electromagnetic valve; 13 light sensitive material insertion section; 14 warm washing water; 15 water replenishing pipe; 16 main processing tank; 17 processing solution; 18 circulation pump; 19 thermostat heater; 20 sub-tank; 20A guide plate; 20B Top cover; 21 filter unit; 24 tablet-shaped bleaching agent; 24A uppermost tablet-shaped processing agent; 27 communicating pipe; 28 processing rack; 29 overflow outlet; 39 filter; 91 supply tray body; 92 piston slide table; 94, 99 each a plunger; 94A, 99A each a rack; 95, 97 each a stepping motor; 96, 98 each a pinion Detailed Description of the Invention Now, the invention will be detailed below. The ferric complex salts of the organic acids, which are used in the tablet-shaped bleaching agents of the invention and represented by Formula [L], will now be detailed. In Formula (L), A 1 through A4 may be the same with or the different from each other and represent each -CH 2 OH, -COOM or -PO 3 M 1 M 2 in which M, M 1 and M 2 represent each a hydrogen atom, an alkali-metal atom (such as that of sodium or potassium) or an ammonium group; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms (such as a propylene, butylene or pentamethylene group). The substituents include, for example, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The typical examples of the desirable compounds represented by the foregoing Formula (L) will be given below. (L-1) 1,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-2) 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-3) 2,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-4) 1,4-butanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-5) 2-methyl-1,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-6) N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-7) 1,3-propanediamine tetrakismethylene phosphonic acid, (L-8) 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediamine tetrakismethylene phosphonic acid, (L-9) 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-10) 2,4-butanediamine tetraacetic acid, (L-11) 2,4-pentanediamine tetraacetic acid, and (L-12) 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediamine tetraacetic acid As for the ferric complex salts of the above-given compounds (L-1) through (L-12), the sodium salts, potassium salts or ammonium salts of these ferric complexes may arbitrarily be used. Among them, the ammonium salts thereof are desirably used from the viewpoints of the effects of the objects of the invention and the solubility. Among the above-given examples of the compounds, those particularly desirable for the invention include (L-1), (L-3), (L-4), (L-5) and (L-9) and, inter alia, (L-1) is particularly more desirable. The above-given ferric complexes of organic acids may be added in a proportion within the range of, desirably, 0.01 to 2.0 mols per 1000 ml of a bleacher used and, more desirably, 0.015 to 1.5 mols/liter thereof. From the viewpoint of the offensive smell in the working environment, the bleachers relating to the invention are desired to have no acetic acid substantially. From the viewpoints of the stability of the processing characteristics and the bleaching fogginess, the bleachers relating to the invention are desired to contain the compounds represented by the following Formula (C). Formula (C) A 5 (COOM) n wherein n is an integer of not less than 2; A 5 represents a univalent group or a divalent group when n is 2 and A 5 represents a trivalent group when n is 3; and M represents an alkali-metal atom or another cation, provided, n numbers of Ms may be the same with or the different from each other. The typical examples of the compounds represented by Formula [C] will be given below. It is, however, to be understood that the invention shall not be limited thereto. (C-1) HOOCCH 2 C(OH)(COOH)CH 2 COOH (C-2) HOOC(CHOH) 2 COOH (C-3) HOOCCH 2 COOH (C-4) HOOCCH(OH)CH 2 COOH (C-5) HOOCCH=CHCOOH (C-6) HOOCCH 2 CH 2 COOH (C-7) (COOH) 2 (C-10) NaOOCCH=CHCOONa (C-11) KOOCCH=CHCOOK (C-12) H 4 NOOCCH=CHCOONH 4 Among the above-given exemplified compounds, the desired ones include, for example, exemplified compounds (C-3), (C-4), (C-5) and (C-6). The compounds represented by Formula (C) may be used either in the form of an acid or in the form of a potassium salt, a sodium salt, an ammonium salt, a lithium salt or a triethanol ammonium salt. The compounds represented by Formula (C) are to be contained in an amount within the range of, desirably, 0.05 to 2.0 mols and, more desirably, 0.2 to 1.0 mol per liter of a processing tank solution having a bleaching function. When a bleacher contains the imidazole and the derivatives each described in JP OPI Publication No. 64-295258/1989 or the compounds represented by Formulas (I) through (IX) given in the same Patent Publication, and at least one kind of these exemplified compounds, the rapid processing effect can be displayed. Besides the above-described accelerators, the exemplified compounds given in JP OPI Publication No. 62-123459/1987, pp.51-115; the exemplified compound given in JP OPI Publication No. 63-17445/1988, pp.22∼25; and the compounds given in JP OPI Publication Nos. 53-96530/1978 and 53-28426/1978, each may similarly be used. A bleacher may also contain, besides the above, a halide such as ammonium bromide, potassium bromide and sodium bromide, various kinds of fluorescent whitening agents, defoamers or surfactants. The tablet-shaped bleaching agent of the invention can be prepared in any ordinary procedures described in, for example, JP OPI Publication Nos. 51-61837/1976, 52-88025/1977 and 54-155038/1979 and British Patent No. 1,213,808. The tablet of the invention is molded in a specific form by applying pressure to powder or granule. To be more concrete, a plurality of solid agents applicable to the photographic processes relating to the invention are mixed up uniformly with a mixer and are then pulverized, so that they are granulated by making use of a fluidized-bed spray type granulating machine. The resulting granulated products and the other granulated products comprising plural solid agents separately prepared in the above-described procedures are mixed up and tableted, so that a tablet-shaped bleaching agent is prepared. From the viewpoints of the solubility and strength of the tablet-shaped bleaching agents of the invention, the bulk density thereof is to be within the range of, desirably, 1.00 to 3.00 g/cm 3 and, more desirably, 1.10 to 2.50 g/cm 3 . Next, the light sensitive materials applicable with the bleaching agents of the invention will now be detailed below. When a light sensitive material is for photographic use, silver iodobromide or silver iodochloride each having an average silver iodide content of not less than 3 mol% may be used as the silver halide grains thereof. Among them, silver iodobromide containing silver iodide in a proportion within the range of 4 to 15 mol% may desirably be used. Particularly, the average silver iodide content thereof suitable for the invention are within the range of, desirably, 5 to 12 mol% and, preferably, 8 to 11 mol%. As for the silver halide emulsions applicable to the light sensitive materials which are to be processed with the photographic processing agents of the invention, those described in Research Disclosure No. 308119 (hereinafter abbreviated to as RD308119) may be used. The places of the descriptions will be given below. [Item] [Page of RD308119] Iodine composition 993 I-A Preparation procedures 993 I-A, 994 E Crystal habit, Regular 993 I-A Twinned -ditto- Epitaxial -ditto- Halogen composition, Uniform 993 I-B Not uniform -ditto- Halogen conversion 994 I-C Halogen substitution -ditto- Metal content 994 I-D Monodispersion 995 I-F Solvent addition -ditto- Latent-image formed position, Surface 995 I-G Interior -ditto- Applicable light sensitive material, Negative 995 I-H Positive (including internally fogged grains) -ditto- Application upon mixing with emulsions 995 I-J Demineralization 995 II-A As for the silver halide emulsions, those physically, chemically and spectrally sensitized are used. The additives applicable to the processing steps mentioned above are detailed in Research disclosure Nos. 17643, 18716 and 308119 (hereinafter abbreviated to as RD17643, RD18716 and RD308119, respectively). The places of the descriptions will be given below. [Item] Page of [RD308119] [RD17643] [RD18716] Chemical sensitizer 996 III-A 23 648 Spectral sensitizer 996 IV-A-A,B, C,D,E,H,I,J 23∼24 648∼9 Super sensitizer 996 IV-A-E,J 23∼24 648∼9 Antifoggant 998 VI 24∼25 649 Stabilizer 998 VI 24∼25 649 The photographic additives are also detailed in the above-given Research Disclosures. The places of the descriptions are given below. [Item] Page of [RD308119] [RD17643] [RD18716] Color-stain inhibitor 1002 VII-I 23 648 Dye-image stabilizer 1001 VII-J 25 Whitening agent 998 V 24 UV absorbent 1003 VIII C, XIII C 25∼26 Light absorbent 1003 VIII 25∼26 Light diffuser 1003 VIII Filter dye 1003 VIII 25∼26 Binder 1003 IX 26 651 Antistatic agent 1006 XIII 27 650 Layer hardener 1004 X 26 651 Plasticizer 1006 XII 27 650 Lubricant 1006 XII 27 650 Activator, Coating aid 1005 XI 26∼27 650 Matting agent 1007 X VI Developing agent (contained in a light sensitive material) 1011 XX-B The light sensitive materials to be processed with the photographic processing agents of the invention can be applied with a variety of couplers. The typical examples of the couplers are given in the foregoing Research Disclosures. The places of the descriptions will be given below. [Item] Page of [RD308119] [RD17643] Yellow coupler 1001 VII-D VII C∼G Magenta coupler 1001 VII-D VII C∼G Cyan coupler 1001 VII-D VII C∼G DIR coupler 1001 VII-F VII F BAR coupler 1002 VII-F Other useful residual group-releasing coupler 1001 VII-F Alkali-soluble coupler 1001 VII-E The above-given additives may be added in the dispersion procedures detailed in RD308119, XIV and so forth. In the invention, it is allowed to use the supports detailed in the foregoing RD17643, p.28, RD18716, pp.647∼648 and RD308119, XIX. The light sensitive materials can be provided with auxiliary layers such as a filter layer detailed in the foregoing RD308119, VII-K and an interlayer. Further, the light sensitive materials may take a variety of layer arrangements such as normal, reversal and unit layer arrangements. Next, the color light sensitive materials desirably applicable with the photographic bleaching agents of the invention will be detailed below. As for the silver halide grains contained in a light sensitive material, those principally comprising silver chloride of at least 80 mol% or more, desirably 90 mol% or more and, more desirably, 95 mol% or more, can be used. The above-mentioned silver halide emulsions principally comprising silver chloride may further contain, besides silver chloride, silver bromide and/or silver iodide as the silver halide composition. In this case, the silver bromide content thereof is desirably not more than 3 mol%, more desirably, not more than 10 mol% and, further desirably, not more than 3 mol%. When containing silver iodide therein, the silver iodide content is, desirably, not more than 1 mol%, more desirably, not more than 0.5 mol% and, preferably, zero. The above-mentioned silver halide grains principally comprising silver chloride in a content of not more than 50 mol% are desirably applied to at least one silver halide emulsion layer and, more desirably, to the whole light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. The crystals of the foregoing silver halide grains may be regularly crystallized, twin-crystallized or other. Any one of the desired ratios of [1.0.0] face to [1.1.1] face may be applied. Further, the crystal structures of these silver halide grains may be uniform from the interior to the exterior of the grains or may also be different in the layer (or phase) structures (of the core/shell type) between the interior and the exterior of the grains. Still further, these silver halide grains may be of the type of forming a latent image mainly on the surfaces of the grains or of the type of forming a latent image inside the grains. In addition to the above, tabular-shaped silver halide grains (see JP OPI Publication Nos. 58-113934/1983 and 61-47959/1986) may also be used. Besides the above, the silver halides detailed in JP OPI Publication Nos. 64-26837/1989, 64-26838/1989 and 64-77047/1989 may also be used. The above-mentioned silver halide grains may be those prepared in any one of an acid process, a neutral process and an ammoniacal process. Or, they may also be prepared in such a manner that seed grains are prepared in an acid process and are then grown up in an ammoniacal process having a faster growing rate so as to grow them up to a desired size. When growing silver halide grains up, it is desired to control the pH and pAg in a reaction chamber and silver ions and halide ions are then jetted and mixed together in the chamber, successively and at the same time, so that the amounts of the ions jetted in may meet the growing rate of the silver halide grains, as described in, for example, JP OPI Publication No. 54-48521/1979. When a light sensitive material to be processed with the photographic bleaching agents of the invention is for color photographic use, the silver halide emulsion layers thereof contain each a color coupler. A red light sensitive layer is allowed to contain, for example, a non-diffusible cyan coupler capable of producing a partially cyan-colored image, such as, generally, a naphthol type or α-naphthol type coupler. A green light sensitive layer is allowed to contain, for example, at least one non-diffusible magenta coupler capable of producing a partially magenta-colored image, such as, ordinarily, a 5-pyrazolone type coupler and a pyrazolotriazole type coupler. A blue light sensitive layer is allowed to contain, for example, at least one non-diffusible yellow coupler capable of producing a partially yellow-colored image, such as, generally, a coupler having an open-chained ketomethylene group. These couplers may be any one of 6-, 4-or 2-equivalent couplers, for example. In the color light sensitive materials applicable with the photographic bleaching agents of the invention, a 2-equivalent coupler is particularly desirable to be contained. The suitable couplers are disclosed in, for example, the following publications; namely, W. Pelz, 'Farbkuppler' reported in 'Mitteilungen aus den Forschungslaboratorien der Agfa', Leverkusen/Munchen, Vol.III, p.111, (1961); K. Venkataraman, 'The Chemistry of Synthetic Dyes', Vol.4, pp.341∼387, Academic Press; 'The Theory of the Photographic Process', 4th Ed., pp.353∼362; and 'Research Disclosure', No.17643, VII. In the color light sensitive materials applicable with the photographic bleaching agents of the invention, it is desired, from the viewpoint of the effects of the invention, to use a magenta coupler such as those represented by Formula [M-1] given in JP OPI Publication No. 63-106655/1988 (including the typically exemplified magenta couplers No.1 through No.77 given in the same publication, pp.29∼34); the cyan couplers represented by Formula (C-I) or (C-II) given in the same publication, p.34 [including the typically exemplified cyan couplers (C'-1) through (C'-82) and (C"-1) through (C"-36) each given in the same publication, pp.37∼42]; the high-speed yellow couplers given in the same publication, p.20 (including the typically exemplified yellow couplers (Y'-1) through (Y'-39) given in the same publication, pp.21∼26. The color light sensitive material applicable with the photographic bleaching agents of the invention is preferably a color paper comprising silver chloride in an amount of not less than 80 mol%. After a silver halide photographic light sensitive material is exposed to light, it is processed in the processing steps such as a developing step, a desilvering step, a washing step and a stabilizing step. A black-and-white developer or a color developer is used in the developing step; a bleacher, a bleach-fixer or a fixer, in the desilvering step; a city water or ion-exchange water, in the washing step; and a stabilizer, in the stabilizing step, respectively. Each of the processing solutions is thermostated usually within the range of 30 to 40°C and the light sensitive materials subject to the processing are dipped in these processing solutions and then processed. The above-mentioned processes are commonly carried out through an automatic processing machine (hereinafter referred to as an automatic processor) in which the light sensitive materials are conveyed in order from a processing tank to another successive processing tank each containing the above-mentioned processing solution, respectively. When this is the case, a system of supplying the replenishers to the respective processing solutions is adopted to keep constant the activities of the processing solutions contained in the corresponding processing tanks. To be more concrete, the processing operations are carried out while timely supplying the replenishers from the corresponding replenisher tanks into the processing tanks, respectively. In the above-mentioned case, there are two replenishing methods; one method in which a replenisher itself is prepared in other place in advance and is then reserved in its own replenisher tank as required.; and the other method in which the replenisher is prepared directly in the replenisher tank. The processing agents are supplied in the form of powder or a concentrated solution and are then dissolved or diluted in a specific amount of water, so that they may be used. The control of the replenishing rate is essential for stabilizing the finished quality of a light sensitive material after it is processed through an automatic processor. For controlling the replenishing rate, it is needed to check up a periodical replenishing amount. Recently, however, it is the actual situation that such a checking-up can hardly be performed at most of the mini-labs. Therefore, no checking-up remains performed until the replenishing rate is noticed to be out of the allowable range. When the tablets of the invention are processed in combination with an automatic processor capable of solving the above-mentioned problems, the effects of the invention can excellently be displayed. Next, the above-mentioned automatic processor will be detailed below. Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing an example of the automatic processors, wherein the control mechanism of a color negative film processing unit is schematically illustrated. A color negative film is inserted into light sensitive material insertion section 13 and then passes through light sensitive material area detective sensor 7. When a specific area is detected, tablet-shaped bleaching agent supplying unit 8, replenishing water supplying unit 10 and electromagnetic valve 12 are operated upon receipt of the signal from control section 11, so that a processing agent for replenishment and replenishing water for preparing the solution are each supplied in an amount required into processing tanks 1, 2, 3 and 5, respectively. When the automatic processor is kept thermally controlled for some hours, processing solutions are evaporated from each of processing tanks 1 through 5 so as to lower the solution levels down to not higher than the specific levels. At the moment, solution level detector 9 is operated to operate replenishing water supplying unit 10 and electromagnetic valve 12 upon receipt of the signal from control section 11, so that replenishing water for compensating the evaporation may be supplied until uppermost level limit detection mechanism of solution level detection sensor 9 begins to operate. Also, hot washing water 14, that is replenishing water supplied from replenishing water supply pipe 15, is desirable to be temperature controlled together with replenishing water for preparing solutions- and replenishing water for compensating the evaporation. Further, in each of processing tanks 1 through 5, 1 is a color developing tank, 2 is a bleaching tank, 3 is a fixing tank, 4 is a washing tank and 5 is a stabilizing tank, respectively. In addition, 6 is a drying section. Fig.2 shows tablet-shaped bleaching agent supply unit 8 in the form of a schematic illustration. Upon receipt of the signal from light sensitive material area detective sensor 7, control section 11 is operated and when tablet-shaped processing agent supply stepping motor 95 is then operated, driving pinion 96 directly connected to the motor 95, which is coupled to rack 94A of tablet-shaped prccessing agent supply extrusion plunger 94, such driving pinion 96 lifts plunger 94 having the rack 94A up by one step that is a pitch length P of the processing agent, so that the uppermost tablet-shaped processing agent 24 stored in the processing agent supply tray 91 can be stood ready at the tablet dropping position. Therefore, one piece of tablet-shaped processing agent 24 stored in supply tray 91 is completely made ready to be dropped into the inside of filter unit 21 provided into processing agent supply tank (hereinafter referred to as a subtank) that is the processing agent dissolving section. As described above, tablet-shaped processing agent 24A standing ready at the uppermost position is slidden in the lateral direction through a tunnel formed of guide plate 20A and top cover 20B each provided to the upper part of subtank 20, by the forwarding movement of plunger 99 which can reciprocate horizontally over piston sliding table 92, so that the processing agent may be dropped on the surface of a solution in filter unit 21 of subtank 20. A part of plunger 99 is carved into rack 99A which is engaged with pinion 98 directly coupled to the foregoing stepping motor 97. When the stepping motor 97 starts in operation by a demand signal, the reciprocating movements thereof are started in operation. When tablet-shaped processing agent 24A is dropped completely into subtank 20 by a forwarding movement, the stepping motor 97 is reversely rotated and, thereby, plunger 99 is moved backward so as to restore the original position and is then stood ready until the next demand signal is received. There may be some instances where a demand signal may demand supply of a plurality of tablet-shaped processing agents. If this is the case, the above-described operation is repeated specific times. Tablet-shaped processing agents 24 thus supplied are gradually dissolved and are then supplied into main processing tank 16 by circulation pump 18. In addition, the solubility of tablet-shaped processing agents 24 can be more improved when the whole or a major part of the circulation flow of processing solution 17 being circulated between main processing tank 16 and subtank 20 by circulation pump 18 is directly made to pass through filter unit 21 provided inside subtank 20. In the figure, 19 is a thermostat heater, 27 is a communication pipe connecting main processing tank 16 and subtanks 20, 28 is a processing rack and 29 is an overflow outlet. In the above-mentioned constitution, supply tray 91 of tablet-shaped processing agent supply unit 8 is so structured as to be covered by vertical walls around the four quarters so that plunger 94 can be reciprocated up and down from the bottom. Thus, tablet-shaped processing agents 24 are protected to be kept in the almost tightly closed state in supply tray 91 and, further, the uppermost tablet-shaped processing agent 24A is also extruded to subtank 20 through the tunnel, being kept it in the almost tightly closed state, as mentioned above. Therefore, there is neither any danger of splashes of the processing solutions nor any contamination caused by the evaporation. The reciprocation speed of plunger 99 is properly set and the direction of dropping each tablet-shaped processing agent is so set to have the flat surfaces of the tablets to be vertical as shown in Fig.2. Therefore, water splashes can be reduced to the utmost. Upon receipt of a signal from light sensitive material area detective sensor 7, control section 11 is started in operation so as to operate tablet-shaped processing agent supplying stepping motors 95 and 97, pinions 96 and 98 driven by the stepping motors, plunger 94 having rack 94A and plunger 99 having rack 99A each linearly driven by the pinions, and replenishing water supply unit 10 and electromagnetic valve 12 at the same time when tablet-shaped processing agent 24 is supplied, so that replenishing water for preparing solutions can be supplied. The amount of replenishing water for preparing solutions may be good enough, provided that tablet-shaped processing agents 24 can be dissolved. This requirement can be satisfied by inputting in advance the operating time of electromagnetic valve 12 and replenishing water supply unit 10 to control section 11. When the level of processing solution 17 is lowered by the evaporation thereof in the processing tank in the course of controlling the temperature of an automatic processor or stopping the operation, solution level detective sensor 9 detects the lowered solution level and sends a signal to control section 11 so as to operate electromagnetic valve 12 and replenishing water supply unit 10, so that replenishing water for compensating an evaporation can be supplied up to the regular solution level. When reaching the regular level, solution level detective sensor 9 detects the regular level and sends a signal to control section 11, so that electromagnetic valve 12 and replenishing water supply unit 10 can be stopped in operation. EXAMPLES The typical examples of the invention will be detailed below. However, the embodiments of the invention shall not be limited thereto. Example 1 The following bleacher components for color paper use were mixed up well and tableted at a pressure of about 800 kg/cm 2 using a tableting machine modified of Model Tough Press Collect 1527HU manufactured by Kikusui Mfg. Works. Thus, eighty (80) pieces of tablet-shaped samples No.1-1 through 1-16 were prepared. <Powdered processing agent, bleacher for 1.0 liter use> Ferric complex salt of an organic acid (See Table 1) 0.35 mols Potassium bromide or ammonium bromide 1.50 mols Maleic acid 30 g Succinic acid 30 g Disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate 1.0 g In the resulting bleacher, the ratio of an ammonium cation to the total cations was varied as shown in Table 1 by suitably adjusting the proportions of potassium bromide and ammonium bromide. Every 20 pieces of the bleacher samples was collectively packed in a polyethylene envelope and tightly sealed. Each of them was aged at 50°C and 70%RH for 3 months. After they were aged, the packaging materials were cut by a cutter. The tablets were added into a agent mixer filled up therein with water and were then dissolved. Separate from the above, the tablets were dropped naturally from a height of 1 meter and the strength of each of the dropped tablets was observed with the eye and evaluated. The criteria of the tablet strength evaluation were as follows. o ○ Excellent without any damage; ○ Only a few damages found in the edge portions (probability: 2%); Δ Only a few damages found in the edge portions (probability: 10%); and × Damages found in the edge portions The more the mark ×, the more the damages were found. Next, with the processed color paper samples, the magenta reflection densities in the unexposed area and the residual silver amounts in the maximum density areas were each measured. After aging them for 10 days at 40°C and 70%RH, the contamination produced in the edge portions of the color paper samples were observed with the eye and evaluated. The criteria for evaluating the contamination produced in the edge portions will be given below. ○ Excellent without any contamination at all; Δ Only a few contamination found in the edge portions (probability: 1%); and × Contamination found. The more the mark ×, the more the contamination were found. The above-mentioned measurements and the results of the evaluation will be given collectively in Table 1. The ferric iron complexes of organic acids will be detailed below. EDTA·Fe Ferric sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate NTA·Fe Ferric sodium nitrilotriacetate CyDTA·Fe Ferric sodium 1,2-cyclohexanediamine tetraacetate EDTP·Fe Ferric sodium ethylenediamine tetramethylene phosphonate (L-1)Fe Ferric sodium salt of (L-1) (L-4)Fe Ferric sodium salt of (L-4) (L-5)Fe Ferric sodium salt of (L-5) (L-9)Fe Ferric sodium salt of (L-9) It can be proved from Table 1 that the ratio of the ammonium cation is excellent when the ratio thereof is not higher than 50 mol% and more excellent results can be displayed when it is not higher than 20 mol%. It can also be proved that the effects of the invention can be excellent by far when making use of the ferric complexes of the organic acids represented by the foregoing Formula [L] as a bleacher. As for the color paper, Konica QA Color Paper Type A-5 (manufactured by Konica Corp.) was used. The color paper samples were each exposed to light through a wedge in the ordinary procedures and were then subjected to a running process in the following processing steps. Processing step Temperature (°C) Processing time (sec) Replenisher (cc/m 2 ) Color developing 38 20 70 Bleaching 38 20 50 Fixing 38 20 40 Stabilizing 30 20 (In tank 1) - 30 (In tank 2) 120 Drying 60∼80 30 Tanks 1 and 2 for the stabilizing step were constituted as a counter-current system and the replenisher was supplied to tank 2. The following processing solutions used in the processing steps were as follows. Color developer Pure water 800 cc Potassium bromide 0.02 g Potassium chloride 3.3 g Potassium carbonate 25 g Potassium sulfite 0.2 g Sodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate 3.0 g 1-(N-ethyl-N-methanesulfoneamidoethyl)-3-methyl-p-phenylenediamine·3/2H 2 SO 4 ·H 2 O (CD-3) 4.5 g Sodium hydrogencarbonate 3.1 g HO-N(CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 Na) 2 6.5 g Cinopar SFP (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy AG) 2.5 g Add water to make in total of 1 liter Adjust pH to be pH=10.00 Bleacher A processing solution prepared by dissolving the foregoing tablet-shaped bleacher in water was used upon storing at 38°C for 7 days in a 1 ℓ vessel. The bath opening ratio was 20 cm -1 . Fixer Sodium thiosulfate 100 g Sodium thiocyanate 100 g Sodium bisulfite, anhydrous 20 g Sodium metabisulfite 4.0 g Disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate 1.0 g Add water to make in total of 1 liter Adjust pH with glacial acetic acid and aqueous ammonia to be pH=6.5 Stabilizer Water 800 cc 1,2-benzoisothiazoline-3-one 0.1 g 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid 5.0 g Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid 1.0 g Cinopar SFP (manufactured by Ciba-Geigy AG) 2.0 g Ammonium sulfate 2.5 g Zinc chloride 1.0 g Magnesium chloride 0.5 g o-phenylphenol 1.0 g Sodium sulfite 2.0 g Add water to make 1 liter Adjust pH with a 50% sulfuric acid solution or a 25% aqueous ammonia solution to be pH=8.0 Example 2 Eighty (80) pieces each of samples No. 2-1 through 2-16 were prepared in the ordinary procedures described in this specification by well mixing up the components of the following color negative bleacher so as to prepare a powdered processing agent for 1 liter use and by making use of a tableting machine. Ferric complex of an organic acid (see Table 2) 0.50 mols Sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid 5 g Potassium bromide or ammonium bromide 1.5 mols Sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate 0.42 mols Maleic acid 28 g The ratio of an ammonium cation content to the total cation content in the bleacher was varied as shown in Table 2 by suitably adjusting the ratios of potassium bromide to ammonium bromide and sodium nitrate to ammonium nitrate, respectively. The strength of each tablet was tested in the procedures and conditions described in Example 1. Next, a color negative film sample, Super DD100 (manufactured by Konica Corp.), was exposed to light through a wedge in the ordinary procedures and was then processed in the following processing steps. Processing step Processing temperature Processing time Color developing 38±0.3°C 3min 15sec Bleaching 38±2.0°C 45sec Fixing 38±2.0°C 1min 30sec Stabilizing 38±5.0°C 30sec (in tank 1) 30sec (in tank 2) Drying 60±5.0°C 1min. Tanks 1 and 2 of the stabilizing tank were constituted as a counter-current system and the replenisher was replenished to tank 2. The processing solutions used in the above-mentioned processing steps were as follows. Color developer (for 1 liter use) Potassium carbonate 30 g Sodium hydrogencarbonate 3.5 g Sodium 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonate 2.5 g Sodium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate 2.0 g 4-amino-3-methyl-N-(β-hydroxylethyl)-aniline sulfate, (CD-4) 4.8 g Sodium sulfite 3.5 g H)-N(CH 2 CH 2 SO 3 Na) 2 2.8 g Sodium bromide 1.3 g Potassium iodide 0.8 mg Bleacher (for 1 liter use) A processing solution prepared by dissolving the foregoing tablet-shaped bleacher in water was used after storing at 38°C for 7 days in a 1 ℓ vessel. The bath opening ratio was 20 cm -1 . Fixer (for 1 liter use) Sodium thiosulfate 200 g Sodium sulfite 20 g Potassium thiocyanate 100 g Sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate 5 g Sodium paratoluene sulfinate 4 g Stabilizer (for 1 liter use) m-hydroxybenzaldehyde 2 g Polyethylene glycol (having a molecular weight of 1540) 2 g A 10-mol ethylene oxide adduct of p-octylphenol 2 g Diethylene glycol 5 g With the processed color negative film sample, the blue transmission density in the unexposed areas and the residual silver concentration in the maximum density area were measured. The results thereof are shown in Table 2. In the table, the ferric complexes of organic acids were the same as those given in Table 1. It is proved from Table 2 that the results were excellent when the ammonium cation content were not higher than 50 mol% and more excellent when the content were not higher than 20 mol%. In particular, it is also proved that the results were remarkably excellent when containing a compound (L) of the invention and having an ammonium cation containing ratio of not higher than 10 mol%. Example 3 The granulated products were prepared by treating the color paper bleachers for Experiment Nos. (1-3), (1-6) and (1-8) tried in Example 1 and they were tableted, so that the tablets were produced. (See Experiment Nos. 3-1 through 3-3) (Treatment 1) The ferric complex salt of an organic acid (see Table 3) of 0.35 mols, succinic acid of 30 g, maleic acid of 30 g, disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate of 1 g and potassium bromide or sodium bromide were each mixed up uniformly by taking a time for 10 minuted, by making use of a mixer. Next, the mixture was pulverized in an air-jet pulverizing mill until they had an average particle size of about 10 µm. The resulting fine powder were granulated in a currently marketed fluid-bed spray granulator by spraying 4.5 cc of water for about 5 minutes and the resulting granules were then dried at 60°C for 10 minutes. Next, they were dried in a vacuum at 40°C for 2 hours, so that the moisture content of the granules was removed until the moisture was reduced to be not more than 2%. From the resulting granules, the fine granules smaller than 100 µm and those larger than 800 µm were each separately filtrated by making use of a currently marketed shaker. (The yield thereof was 90%.) (Treatment 2) The resulting granules were filled, in an amount filled of 6.0 g per tablet, in a mortar having a diameter of 30 mm and they were tableted at a compression of 800 Kg/cm 2 by a tableting machine, a modified model of Tough Press Collect 1527HU manufactured by Kikusui Mfg. Work, so that 80 pieces of bleacher could be prepared. After the resulting bleacher samples were stored in the same way as in Example 1, they were added to a agent mixer and then dissolved, respectively. Among the every sample, those prepared by granulating and then tableting them could have each the dissolving time 10 to 20% shorter than the others. Next, by making use of the color paper samples prepared in Example 1, the running processes were tested in the same way as in Example 1. The results of the evaluation tried in the same way as in Example 1 will be given collectively in Table 3. Therein, the same color developer, fixer and stabilizer as in Example 1 were used. It is proved from the contents of Table 3 that the tablet prepared by tableting them after they were granulated are capable of not only improving the solubility, but also displaying the effects of the invention excellently by far. Example 4 The tablet samples prepared in Example 3 and the color paper samples used in Example 1 were each used to carry out the rest in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the automatic processors equipped with the tablet-shaped processing agent supply units shown in Figs. 1 and 2 was used. The results of the evaluation carried out in the same way as in Example 1 will be given in Table 4. It is proved from Table 4 that, when making use of the automatic processor equipped with a tablet-shaped processing agent supply unit, the effects of improving the desilvering property and preventing any magenta stain and the contamination produced in the edge portions can much more be displayed. Example 5 The tablets having bulk density shown in Table 5 were prepared by changing the compression applied in (Treatment 2) of Experiment No. 3-3 shown in Table 3 given in Example 3. The strength of the tablets were evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 and the results thereof are shown in Table 5. The behavior of dissolving the tablets were observed and the results thereof are shown in the column of the remarks. Experiment No. Bulk density (g/cm 2 ) Tablet strength Remarks 5-1 0.50 ▵ Rapidly dissolved 5-2 0.90 ▵ Rapidly dissolved 5-3 1.00 ○ - ▵ Rapidly dissolved 5-4 1.10 ○ Rapidly dissolved 5-5 1.50 o ○ Rapidly dissolved 5-6 2.00 o ○ Rapidly dissolved 5-7 2.50 o ○ Rapidly dissolved 5-8 2.60 o ○ Dissolved in 10% longer time 5-9 3.00 o ○ Dissolved in 15% longer time 5-10 3.10 o ○ Dissolved in 25% longer time It is proved from Table 5 that the bulk density of the tablets is to be within the range of 1.00 to 3.00 g/cm 2 and preferably, 1.10 to 2.50 g/cm 2 , from the viewpoints of the strength and solubility of the tablets.

Claims: A tablet-shaped bleaching agent for providing a photographic processing solution of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by the following Formula (L); wherein A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are each -CH 2 OH, -COOM or -PO 3 M 1 M 2 wherein M, M 1 and M 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an ammonium group, provided that A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 may be the same with or the different from each other; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is more than 0 and up to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. The agent of claim 1, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is 5 to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. The agent of claim 1 or 2, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is not higher than 20 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. The agent of claim 1, 2 or 3, further containing a compound represented by the following Formula (C); Formula (C) A 5 - (COOM) n wherein A 5 is an organic group; M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an ammonium group, provided that a plurality of M's may be the same with or the different from each other; and n represents an integer of not less than 2. The agent of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, having a bulk density of 1.00 to 3.00 g/cm 3 . The agent of claims 1, 2 and 5, having a bulk densitiy of 1.00 to 2,50 g/cm 3 . A method for preparing a photographic bleaching solution of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material by dissolving a tablet-shaped bleaching agent in water, the agent comprising a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by the following Formula (L); wherein A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are each -CH 2 OH, -COOM or -PO 3 M 1 M 2 wherein M, M 1 and M 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an ammonium group, provided that A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 may be the same with or the different from each other; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is more than 0 and up to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. The method of claim 7, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is 5 to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. A method for processing a photographic light-sensitive material comprising: exposing the light-sensitive material; developing the exposed material; bleaching the developed material with a photographic bleaching solution; and replenishing the photographic bleaching solution by adding a tablet-shaped photographic bleaching agent, depending upon an area of the material to be processed, the agent comprising a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by the following Formula (L); wherein A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 are each -CH 2 OH, -COOM or -PO 3 M 1 M 2 wherein M, M 1 and M 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an ammonium group, provided that A 1 , A 2 , A 3 and A 4 may be the same with or the different from each other; and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is more than 0 and up to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein. The method of claim 9, wherein the ammonium cation content of the agent is 5 to 50 mol % based on the total cation contained therein.

Inventors: YOSHIMOTO HIROSHI, YOSHIMOTO, HIROSHI, YOSHIMOTO, HIROSHI, KONICA CORPORATION
Applicants: KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND, KONICA CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G03C5
IPC codes: G03C7, G03C5