Abstract: A defoaming device and method for aeration, for use in a processor equipped with an aeration apparatus for sending air into a processing solution. The defoaming device includes a pipe for guiding foam produced in the aeration apparatus to outside the aeration apparatus; and at least one of a throttle portion, which is disposed midway in the pipe and formed by reducing a cross-sectional area of the pipe, and an air-stream guiding device for guiding an air stream into a portion of the pipe in a downstream direction corresponding to the direction of the flow of the foam. The flow rate of foam in the pipe is accelerated by the throttle portion and/or the air-stream guiding device, thereby positively removing the foam produced in the aeration apparatus.

Abstract: A drying apparatus for use in a photosensitive material processing system, which is designed so that nonuniformity of drying in a direction intersecting a belt-shaped photosensitive material, e.g., a photographic negative film, photographic paper, etc., is eliminated, and the overall electric power capacity of the system is minimized. A plurality of electric current heaters (44.sub.1 and 44.sub.2) are disposed in parallel in a direction intersecting belt-shaped photosensitive materials (F.sub.1 and F.sub.2) transported, and each electric current heater is individually current-controlled to change the temperature distribution of the heated air, thereby compensating for the nonuniformity of drying of the belt-shaped photosensitive materials (F.sub.1 and F.sub.2) in the lateral direction, for example. The electric current heaters (44.sub.1 and 44.sub.2) are individually current-controlled by making the current input time different for each electric current heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for controlling the temperatures of processing solutions in a photosensitive material processor, which enables the temperatures of processing solutions to be controlled with a smaller power source capacity yet with high efficiency. In a photosensitive material processor including a plurality of processing tanks 12 to 19 for processing a photosensitive material F and a drier 30, at least one processing tank is provided with a plurality of independently controllable electric heaters N1-1 to 1-3 capable of heating the processing solution therein. Depending on the heat capacity needed for each processing tank, power supply to the heater for the processing tank under low load is stopped when the power consumption of the processor proper is increased, thereby achieving an efficient distribution of power and, hence, enabling power source equipment of very small capacity to be used.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adding water to a photosensitive material processor for adding an amount of water corresponding to an amount of evaporation of a processing solution stored in a processing tank of the photosensitive material processor, to the processing tank, so as to keep the concentration of the processing solution constant. Relationships between an ambient condition which is determined by one of an ambient temperature and relative humidity of the photosensitive material processor, an ambient vapor pressure, and an ambient absolute humidity on the one hand, and the amount of evaporation of the processing solution on the other, are determined in advance. The ambient condition is detected, and the amount of water to be added to the processing tank is determined on the basis of the ambient condition detected and the relationships determined, so as to supply the determined amount of water to the processing tank.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for treating a photosensitive material comprising a treating solution tank storing a treating solution for treating the photosensitive material, a replenishing unit for replenishing the solution into the treating solution tank and a water adding unit for adding water into the treating solution tank, in which an overflow sensor is provided to sense an overflow of the treating solution out of the treating solution tank based on the difference in the thermal conductivity of the surrounding environment as observed while the overflow is taking place and while the same is not taking place, and a predetermined amount of the solution is intermittently added by a constant amount to evaluate an entire amount of the solution replenished until it overflows out of the treating solution tank so that a corresponding amount of water may be added by the water adding unit. Therefore, the actual evaporation loss may precisely be compensated with water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of compensating water for an apparatus for treating a photosensitive material to hold constant the concentration of treating solutions each stored within a plurality of treating tanks. An evaporation loss from the treating tank per unit of time according to its working condition and the environmental data corresponding to the environmental condition of each treating tank are previously evaluated and the environmental conditions prevailing at the place where the apparatus is provided and the working condition of the apparatus are determined. An amount of water to be compensated is calculated for each treating tank based on the evaporation loss per unit of time corresponding to the determined working condition and the environmental data and working condition time according to the determined environmental conditions.

Abstract: A continuous process of producing carbonaceous pitch, including heat-treating an aromatic heavy oil for obtaining a first cracked product, and thermally cracking the first product in a cracking zone by direct contact with a gaseous heat transfer medium to obtain distillable cracked components and a mesophase-containing pitch. A first portion of the liquid phase in the cracking zone, including the mesophase-containing pitch, is separated into a mesophase-rich pitch and a matrix pitch having a low concentration of mesophase. The mesophase-rich pitch is recovered while at least a portion of the matrix pitch is recycled to the cracking zone. The distillable cracked components are withdrawn from the cracking zone and separated into light, middle and heavy fractions. At least a portion of the heavy fraction is heat treated and is recycled to the cracking zone.

Abstract: A method of preparing an carbonaceous pitch, including the steps of:subjecting a raw material oil to thermal cracking conditions while removing cracked, light hydrocarbon components to obtain a pitch product containing at least 5 weight % of mesophase and not more than 10 weight % of light hydrocarbon components with a boiling point at 60 mmHg of 300.degree. C. or less and having a softening point of between 160.degree. and 220.degree. C., the raw material oil being composed mainly of a residual oil which has a boiling point of 350.degree. C. or more and which is derived from a naphthene base petroleum crude; andremoving the mesophase from the pitch product to obtain a substantially mesophase-free carbonaceous pitch.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carbon fibers, including the steps of:subjecting a raw material oil to thermal cracking conditions at a temperature of between 400.degree. to 500.degree. C. while removing cracked, light hydrocarbon components to obtain a pitch product containing at least 5 weight % of mesophase and not more than 10 weight % of light hydrocarbon components with a boiling point at 60 mmHg (absolute) of 300.degree. C. or less and having a softening point of between 140.degree. and 220.degree. C., the raw material oil having a boiling point of at least 500.degree. C. and containing at least 30 weight % of a residual oil which has a boiling point of at least 500.degree. C. and a metal content of at least 200 weight ppm and which is derived from a napthene base and/or intermediate base petroleum crude;removing the mesophase having a particle size of more than 10 .mu.

Abstract: A novel reformed mesophase pitch having a mesophase content MC of between 40 and 100%, a quinoline-insoluble content QI of between 5 and 70 weight % and anisotropic domains forming a continuous phase. The reformed mesophase pitch is obtained by heat-treating a dormant mesophase pitch which comprises dormant anisotropic components which are partially hydrogenated, polycyclic polycondensed ring aromatic hydrocarbons derived from the mesophase of a mesophase pitch by hydrogenation of the mesophase and which are soluble in quinoline. The dormant mesophase pitch is optically isotropic in nature but, upon being subjected to shear forces in one direction, capable of being oriented in said direction. Preferably, the reformed mesophase pitch has a softening point SP in .degree.C. satisfying the following conditions:when 40 .ltoreq.MC<100, ##EQU1## and when MC=100, ##EQU2## The reformed mesophase pitch is useful as precursor materials for carbon fibers.