Abstract: A method for processing a silver halide photographic material comprises the steps of loading the material into a chamber adapted to hold the material therein, introducing a metered amount of a first processing solution into the chamber, processing the photographic material with the first processing solution, introducing a metered amount of a second processing solution which is other than a second part of the first processing solution into the chamber without removing the first processing solution so that at least part of the total volume of the second processing solution is provided by the first processing solution and processing the photographic material with the second processing solution, the total volume of solution for each processing stage being spread over the whole area of the photographic material in a repetitive manner to enable uniform processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing system and method for processing photographic material. The processing system and method of the invention is adapted to recover water from humid air for reuse in the processor, as well as convert a liquid waste processing solution into a dry waste for disposal. In the system and method of the present invention, heated air is circulated through the processor and comes into contact with a cold surface to condense the heated air. The water resulting from this contacting of the heated air with the cold surface can be collected and recycled back to the processor for reuse in the processor. Further, waste solution can be absorbed by a matting material appropriately placed in the processor which evaporates the waste solution to a solid waste for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for reusing a washing solution within a processor for processing photographic material. In the method and system of the present invention, sequential washing stages are applied to the processor. During one of the wash stages, and preferably a wash stage subsequent to an initial a first wash stage (a second wash stage), a volume of washing solution which is greater than the washing solution applied in the first wash stage is applied. The washing solution applied in the second or subsequent wash stage is subject to a chemical treatment such as an ion exchange, and is thereafter, recycled back to the processor for reuse in processing photographic material and/or cleaning the components of the processor.

Abstract: An aqueous photographic bleach solution comprises, as primary oxidant, in a concentration eg from about 0.1 to about 1 Molar of a transition metal oxidizing agent and, as secondary oxidant, from about 0.03 to about 0.15 Molar of a persulphate or from about 0.1 to about 0.8 Molar of a peroxide. The primary oxidant is preferably a ferric complex of an aminopolycarboxylic acid such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), propylene diamine tetraacetic acid (PDTA), diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), or a substituted imino diacetic acid such as methyl imino diacetic acid (MIDA). The peroxide can be provided by a compound that liberates peroxide under the bleach conditions. The solutions of the invention are particularly suitable for use with a single use surface application device in which a small volume of the solution is used once and then discarded.

Abstract: A photographic washing bath comprises a chamber containing a wash solution for a silver halide photographic material having a pH of less than 7 and comprising water having dissolved therein an oxidizing agent, said oxidizing agent having an oxidizing potential of at least 1 volt and being in a concentration of from 0.05 to 2 Molar. The oxidation potential of the oxidizing agent is preferably at least 1.2 volts and may be hydrogen peroxide or a source of hydrogen peroxide, a persulphate, a perborate, a bromate, or an iodate. A washing process using the invention is suitable for being carried out in same chamber as the development and fixing stages in which case hydrogen peroxide is the preferred oxidizing agent because any peroxide remaining at the end of the wash stage can be removed by evaporation, thereby avoiding risk of contamination of the next stage to be carried out in the chamber.

Abstract: A method of delivering processing solution to a processing device wherein the processing solutions are provided within sealed members fixedly arranged on a movable web. The web moves relative to the processing area and the sealed members are ruptured when the processing solution within is required.

Abstract: A method of processing photographic material in which a fixed volume of processing solution is added to the surface of the material and spread repeatedly over the length of material. The processing solution is added to the material in at least two stages.

Abstract: A method of processing a photographic material in which the material is loaded into a rotatable chamber and a metered amount of solution is introduced into the chamber. The chamber is rotated and the solution is continuously swept along the surface of the material, forming a wave through which the material passes to enable uniform processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing photographic material comprises a chamber adapted to hold the material therein, means for introducing solution into the chamber, means for removing the solution from the chamber, and a member located within the chamber and filling a central part thereof. A gap is defined between the inner wall of the chamber and the central member in which the material is held, thereby retaining the material around the inner circumference of the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing system and method for processing photographic material. The processing system and method of the invention is adapted to recover water from humid air for reuse in the processor, as well as convert a liquid waste processing solution into a dry waste for disposal. In the system and method of the present invention, heated air is circulated through the processor and comes into contact with a cold surface to condense the heated air. The water resulting from this contacting of the heated air with the cold surface can be collected and recycled back to the processor for reuse in the processor. Further, waste solution can be absorbed by a matting material appropriately placed in the processor which evaporates the waste solution to a solid waste for subsequent disposal.

Abstract: A method of processing photosensitive material which passes through at least two processing solutions in which the material is rinsed after passing through a first solution and prior to passing through the second solution. The mixture of rinse solution and recovered first solution is returned to the process cycle to replenish the first solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing system and method for photographic material which is adapted to use sources of heat within the processing machine for photographic processing purposes. More specifically, in the system and method of the present invention, sources of heat such as electrical, electro-mechanical and mechanical components and dryers can be utilized to provide heat in a small scale processor which uses a low volume of processing solution. Therefore, the arrangement of the present invention is designed in such a manner that permits the efficient use of heat produced as a by-product of an operation of these components. Furthermore, the arrangement of the present invention includes heat supplying members such as heaters and/or heat storage members to assist in supplying heat to those areas of the processors where the heat can be used for processing.

Abstract: A method of replenishing a processing solution by adding the replenisher directly to the surface of the emulsion side of the material to be processed. This accelerates the processing of the material and maintains the sensitometry of the processing solution.

Abstract: A process for the processing of an imagewise exposed photographic material which has been subjected to development and bleach-fixing comprises a plurality of sequential washing steps and where a stain reducing agent is employed wherein the photographic material is contacted with an effective amount of the stain reducing agent in the wash liquid in a first washing step and the photographic material is subjected to a following washing step to remove the stain reducing agent. The process may employ a plurality of wash tanks in which the developed material is washed sequentially and the stain reducing agent is present in the wash liquid in a first wash tank and removed from the photographic material by the wash liquid in one or more following wash tanks. The temperature of wash liquids in the tanks is preferably within the range 40 to 70° C., preferably 45 to 65° C.

Abstract: A method of replenishing a processing solution by adding the replenisher directly to the surface of the emulsion side of the material to be processed. This accelerates the processing of the material and maintains the sensitometry of the processing solution.

Abstract: A class of pyrazolidone compounds suitable for use as electron transfer agents in photographic development comprises pyrazolidones substituted in the 1-position by an aromatic group that is substituted in the ortho, meta or para position by --O--CO--R, wherein R is a monovalent organic group having up to 24 carbon atoms. This ester group is hydrolyzable in an alkaline developer solution, thereby deactivating the electron transfer agents after a period of time and reducing the contamination effect of seasoning into the developer solution. Photographic recording materials can be developed in reactive association with the electron transfer agent. The electron transfer agent can be present in the photographic recording materials, or in develper solutions.

Abstract: A new fogging photographic processing solution for a reversal process comprises a compound (I) and a bi-nucleophilic agent. Compound (I) corresponds to the following formula: ##STR1## wherein A is a group capable of being adsorbed to the silver halide surface, L is a linking group and r is 0 or 1, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from an alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted, and an aryl group substituted or unsubstituted. A process of producing a positive image by imagewise exposure of a reversal silver halide material comprises contacting the material with the above fogging solution or by imagewise exposure of such a material containing a compound (I) and contacting the material with a solution comprising a bi-nucleophilic agent.

Abstract: Color photographic papers can be more rapidly color developed (up to 25 seconds) in the presence of a color developing solution containing a 3-pyrazolidone electron transfer agent. Despite the shortened processing time, color balance within the three color records of such color papers is maintained.

Abstract: Color photographic elements, especially color photographic papers, can be more rapidly color developed (up to 25 seconds) in the presence of a color developing solution containing a selectively diffusible color development photochemical such as a development inhibitor. Despite the shortened processing time, color balance within the three color records of such elements is maintained. The selectively diffusible color development photochemical has size and structure that enables it to have sufficient solubility in the color developing composition, and to selectively diffuse into the topmost red-sensitive emulsion layers of the processed color papers only.

Abstract: A class of pyrazolidone compounds suitable for use as electron transfer agents in photographic development comprises pyrazolidones substituted in the 1-position by an aromatic group that is substituted in the ortho, meta or para position by --O--CO--R, wherein R is a monovalent organic group having up to 24 carbon atoms. This ester group is hydrolyzable in an alkaline developer solution, thereby deactivating the electron transfer agents after a period of time and reducing the contamination effect of seasoning into the developer solution. Photographic recording materials can be developed in reactive association with the electron transfer agent. The electron transfer agent can be present in the photographic recording materials, or in develper solutions.