Bleach-fix Patents (Class 430/400)
  • Patent number: 5650264
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming an image by processing a silver halide color photographic material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer on a support, wherein at least one layer of the silver halide emulsion layers of said color photographic material comprises silver halide grains which is high in silver chloride content and whose silver chloride content is 80 mol % or more; said silver halide grains are tabular silver halide grains having (100) planes as main planes; and said color photographic material is processed with the replenishment rate of a replenisher having a bleaching capacity in a desilvering step being 150 ml or less per m.sup.2 of the photographic material. The method for forming an image on a silver halide color photographic material of the present invention is excellent in delivering characteristics, even when the replenishment rate of bleach-fix solution is reduced remarkably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kawai, Mitsuo Saito
  • Patent number: 5633125
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the selective extraction of the halide ions from photographic fixing solutions.The process consists of bringing the photographic fixing solution into contact with a liquid membrane comprising a solvent and a crown-ether carrier capable of carrying the halide ions from the fixing solution into an aqueous solution which is thus loaded with halides, and is then removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Didier J. Martin
  • Patent number: 5627005
    Abstract: A plurality of different materials which are required for use in a process and which are to be kept separate up to a predetermined stage in the process are supplied with each different material being encapsulated within a plurality of discrete shells, the shells serving to keep the different materials separate from each other. The shells for the different materials are distinguishable from each other so as to permit subsequent sorting of the shells into batches of shells all containing the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew Green, Paul C. Ward
  • Patent number: 5620834
    Abstract: Black-and-white silver halide photographic materials are processed with the use of a processor which requires no silver recovery means, no water supply and no drain. The photographic material is transported through a series of processing tanks including a developer tank, one or more fixer tanks, and one or more wash or stabilizer tanks. Replenishment of the fixing solution is controlled so that the rate of replenishment of the fixer tank is a function of the level of one or more chemicals in the last tank through which the material is transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey K. Green
  • Patent number: 5616452
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a photosensitive material. The apparatus having at least one processing tank containing a processing solution for processing the photosensitive material, a replenishment system for replenishing the processing solution comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts each having independent usage rates, means for measuring the distribution of transmittance of the photosensitive material being processed by the at least one processing tank, and means for independently supplying the first and second parts to the at least one processing tank in accordance with the distribution of the transmittance of the photosensitive material being processed, the ratio of the volume of the first part to the volume of the second part to be delivered to the tank being at least 10 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Gogle, William S. Lane
  • Patent number: 5580706
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing a silver halide photographic material, having on one side of a support a hydrophobic polymer layer as the outermost layer and on the side opposite an emulsion layer, by means of an automatic developing apparatus. The apparatus has a drying operation part which is equipped with two or more hot rollers arranged so that the silver halide photographic material may be wrapped partly around each of the hot rollers in turn and the contact between the rollers and the material may alternate between the front surface and the back surface of the photographic material, whereby the moisture in the photographic material evaporates from the surface areas when they are not in contact with the hot rollers. This method results in improvements in the drying characteristics of the photographic material and the transportation characteristics of the automatic developing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 5580705
    Abstract: A method for processing silver halide color photographic light-sensitive materials is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Ueda, Satoru Kuse
  • Patent number: 5578431
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed photographic silver halide color material in a machine containing a number of processing tanks or processing tanks which are supplied from a non-replenished source, the method comprising increasing the temperature of at least one of the tanks automatically by a predetermined amount related to the area of photographic material already processed and optionally, the time of treatment in said at least one processing tank is increased by a predetermined factor related to the area of photographic material already processed and the volume of the non-replenished processing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Fyson
  • Patent number: 5578428
    Abstract: A process for the bleaching of an exposed photographic material utilizes a peroxide bleach solution to remove metallic silver from the exposed photographic material. The silver from the photographic material passes into the bleach solution such that at least part of the excess silver over that required to catalyze the bleaching action is removed from the bleach solution by forming an insoluble silver compound, for example, by the addition of a halide. The invention provides an apparatus for use in the bleaching method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Fyson
  • Patent number: 5578429
    Abstract: A method of imagewise exposing and processing a photographic silver halide color material in a machine containing a number of non-replenished processing tanks or processing tanks that are supplied from a non-replenished source,the method comprising increasing the exposure time automatically by a predetermined factor related to the area of photographic material already processed and the volume of the non-replenished processing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Fyson
  • Patent number: 5578430
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed photographic silver halide material in a machine containing a number of non-replenished processing tanks or processing tanks that are supplied from a non-replenished source, the method wherein the silver halide comprises at least 95% by weight silver chloride and processing in each tank is carried out with sufficient agitation to avoid the need for replenishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Fyson
  • Patent number: 5573895
    Abstract: A recycling method for photographic processing waste liquid is disclosed. The photographic processing waste liquid is subjected to evaporative concentration under a reduced pressure of not higher than 700 mmHg and at a temperature of not higher than 90.degree. C. The resulting distillate is used as a solvent for photographic processing agents or as an evaporation compensator for processing tanks of an automatic processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Komatsu, Masao Ishikawa, Moeko Hagiwara, Kenji Ishida, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Shinsaku Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 5573896
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerel R. Carli, David G. Foster, Edgar P. Gates, David L. Patton, John H. Rosenburgh, Sheridan E. Vincent
  • Patent number: 5565308
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed black and white silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerel R. Carli, David G. Foster, Edgar P. Gates, David L. Patton, John H. Rosenburgh, Sheridan E. Vincent
  • Patent number: 5556737
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a color image in a silver halide color photographic material comprising a reflective support having coated thereon a composition comprising a polyester resin and a white pigment mixed and dispersed in said polyester resin, at least one yellow color forming silver halide photosensitive emulsion layer, at least one magenta color forming silver halide photosensitive emulsion layer, and at least one cyan color forming silver halide photosensitive emulsion layer on said support, each of said yellow, magenta and cyan color forming silver halide photosensitive emulsion layers having silver halide grains containing 95 mol % or more of silver chloride, wherein said method comprises the steps of exposing imagewise said silver halide color photographic material to light, developing said imagewise exposed silver halide color photographic material in a color developing solution, subjecting said developed silver halide color photographic material to desilvering by bleac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5534395
    Abstract: A method of processing a silver halide color photographic material by processing with a color developing solution an imagewise exposed silver halide color photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and immediately thereafter processing said photographic material with a bleach-fixing solution, wherein said bleach-fixing solution contains an imidazole compound represented by the following formula (.alpha.) and the replenishment rate of said bleach-fixing solution is 200 ml or less per m.sup.2 of the photographic material: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsushige Kamada, Kazuaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5534389
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for processing a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing at least one kind of a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound with a developing solution containing a polyhydroxybenzene type developing agent, wherein the developing solution is a developing solution prepared by using a solid processing agent, a solid processing agent for a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound comprising a polyhydroxybenzene type developing agent and a solid processing agent for a black-and-white light-sensitive silver halide photographic material containing a tetrazolium compound or a hydrazine compound comprising a thiosulfate fixing agent and water in an amount of 300% or less based on an amount of the thiosulfate fixing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Arai, Tadashi Sekiguchi, Takeshi Habu, Shiyouji Nishio, Hiroyuki Usiroyama, Kenichi Tanaka, Akira Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5521055
    Abstract: In photographic processing apparatus, by-products are produced due to the chemical reactions which occur during the processing of photographic materials. It is known to remove some of these by-products in accordance with the area of photographic material processed and a knowledge of the average level of production of the by-products. This leads to inaccuracies in maintaining a fixed level of the by-products in the processing solutions. Described herein is a method of controlling a subsystem which removes by-products from the processing solutions by using data relating to the exposure given to a photographic material in the printing stage of the processing apparatus to calculate the amount of by-products produced so that they can be exactly removed from the processing solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Christopher B. Rider
  • Patent number: 5518845
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the rate of replenishment of chemical solutions in a photographic processing apparatus used for copying a photographic negative having a transmittance onto photographic material includes a number of steps and an apparatus for carrying out those steps. First, light is exposed onto the photographic negative to form a latent image of the photographic negative on the photographic material. Next, the latent image formed on the photographic material is developed by placing the photographic material in chemical solutions. The photographic material reacts with the chemical solutions to form an amount of dyes on the developed photographic material. The exposure given to the photographic material is measured and then the amount of dyes on the developed photographic material is obtained from the measured exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Christopher B. Rider
  • Patent number: 5480768
    Abstract: A method for processing an exposed silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is provided, comprisingdeveloping the photographic material with a developer,fixing the photographic material with a fixer,stabilizing the photographic material with a stabilizer, andreplenishing at least one of the developer, the fixer and the stabilizer by supplying a processing composition,wherein the processing composition is a solid composition, meeting the following requirement,2.ltoreq.S/R.ltoreq.70wherein S is a dissolving time (in minutes) of a unit by weight of the solid composition supplied and R is an amount (in m.sup.2) of the photographic material processed per unit weight of the solid composition supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ishida, Shigeharu Koboshi
  • Patent number: 5480769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling electrolytic silver recovery for two film processing machines which enables the fixing baths to be connected with a silver recovery unit according to their level of silver concentration. According to the invention, the silver concentration in a fixing bath having a liquid connection with the silver recovery unit and in an unconnected fixing bath is continually calculated by electronic means and a control signal is generated when the difference in silver concentration between the connected and the unconnected fixing baths reaches a pre-definable level, said control signal causing actuators to connect the silver recovery unit with the fixing bath having the higher concentration of silver. When the silver concentration reaches a pre-definable level an electrolysing current in the silver recovery unit is switched on and remains switched on until the silver concentration falls below the pre-defined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Ueffinger, Franz Huettemeister
  • Patent number: 5474878
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material using a roller transport automatic processing machine having a developing tank containing a developing solution, a fixing tank containing a fixing solution, a washing tank containing a washing solution and a drying means, comprising the steps of:developing the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material,fixing the developed material,washing the fixed material, anddrying the washed material,wherein said method is carried out under the following condition:9.0.ltoreq.H.sub.D.sup.0.75 .times.T.ltoreq.21.0, H.sub.D =H.sub.1 +H.sub.2, H.sub.1 .ltoreq.H.sub.2,wherein H.sub.D represents transport line length, in meters, of the material entry point into the developer solution to the material entry point into the washing solution, H.sub.1 represents transport line length, in meters, of the material entry point into the developer solution to the material entry point into the fixing solution, H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhiko Sakuma
  • Patent number: 5466563
    Abstract: A method of processing silver halide photographic material comprises the steps of passing a belt for conveying an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic material through the processing tanks, carrying the silver halide photographic material on the belt and processing the silver halide photographic material conveyed by the belt in the processing tanks while replenishing the tanks with constant amounts of replenishing solutions respectively, wherein the method comprises detecting a level of developing solution in development tank and supplying the development tank with an additional fresh developing tank solution or overflow solution from the development tank when said level of developing solution in the tank falls to a predetermined level. This method makes it possible to reduce an amount of the processing solution waste to be drained from the processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Ishikawa, Bryan A. I. Snelling
  • Patent number: 5460926
    Abstract: A method for developing light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials, in a compact automatic developing machine, comprising transporting the light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials to a processing tank which contains a processing solution for processing an exposed light-sensitive silver halide photographic material. The processing tank includes a processing portion, and a receiving portion for receiving a solid processing agent. A solid processing agent is supplied to the receiving portion of the processing tank based on information on the amount of processing of the light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials. The solid processing agent is preferably in the form of tablets which contain all components necessary to process the light-sensitive silver halide photographic material. The processing solution is circulated between the processing portion and the receiving portion at a flow rate of not less than 0.5 times the processing tank volume per minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Komatsu, Shigeharu Koboshi, Masao Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5453348
    Abstract: An image forming method for silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The method is excellent in stability and rapidness of processing. And in the photographic color image formed by the method, staine formation due to storage is inhibited in unimaged area of the picture. The method is comprises steps of developing an imagewise exposed silver halide color photographic material with a color developer, bleaching with a bleaching solution, immediately after the developing step, and treating, after the bleaching step, with a solution having fixing capability. The bleaching solution contains a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by the following formula A, and the solution having fixing capability contains at least one of thiocyanate and an iodide in a total amount of not less than 0.5 mol per liter of the solution, ##STR1## wherein A, through A.sub.4 are each a --CH.sub.2 OH group, a --COOM group or a --PO.sub.3 M.sup.1 M.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Kuse, Masao Ishikawa, Shigeharu Koboshi
  • Patent number: 5436118
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed silver halide photographic element comprising developing and desilvering the photographic element in a low volume thin tank processor wherein the processor operates at 15% or less of maximum production capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerel R. Carli, David G. Foster, Edgar P. Gates, David L. Patton, John H. Rosenburgh, Sheridan E. Vincent
  • Patent number: 5434035
    Abstract: A method of treating a seasoned fixing solution comprising desilvering a fixing solution containing a chelating compound represented by Formula IMOOC(CH.sub.2)m(X)p((CH.sub.2).sub.n COOM).sub.q (I)where X is N, or C--OH;n and m are independently 0, 1, or 2;if X is N then p is 0 or 1 and q is 1 or 2;if X is C-OH then p is 0, 1 or 2 and q is 1 or 2; andM is a cationic counterion; andfurther containing a carryover amount of a bleaching agent which is a complex of ferric ion and a tridentate or a tetradentate ligand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mary E. Craver, Manuel A. Santos-Rosario, Keith H. Stephen
  • Patent number: 5427877
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electrolytic silver recovery system for a photographic processor, the control being effected in response to the surface area of the photosensitive material moved through the processing solutions. The apparatus determines the amount of silver deposited in the fixing bath of the processor from the width, length and density of the photosensitive material and used as an electrical signal for controlling the electrolytic current of the silver recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew Green, Gerhard Ueffinger, Gerd Hoitz
  • Patent number: 5378588
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for processing a silver halide photographic light sensitive material comprising the steps ofdeveloping the light sensitive material with a developing solution,treating the light sensitive material with a fixing capacity-having solution, and thentreating the light sensitive material with a processing solution (S), wherein part of or the whole of overflow from a tank containing the processing solution (S) is allowed to flow into a tank containing the fixing capability-having solution, and wherein solid processing chemicals are added to the fixing capacity-having solution or the overflow from the tank containing the processing solution (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 5366853
    Abstract: A tablet-shaped bleaching agent for preparing a bleaching solution for color silver halide photographic materials is disclosed, along with the method of making it, the method of using it to prepare a bleaching solution, and the method of processing a color silver halide photographic material using a replenishing solution made from the tablet as a bleaching solution. The tablet has a bulk density of 1.00 to 3.00 g/cm.sup.3, and a total ammonium content of no more that 50 mol % of the total cation content in the tablet. The tablet comprises a ferric complex salt of a compound represented by Formula (L) and an organic polyacid according to Formula (C). In Formula (L), A.sub.1-4 each represent --CH.sub.2 OH, --COOM, or --PO.sub.3 M.sub.1 M.sub.2, and X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group of 3-6 carbon atoms. In Formula (C), A.sub.5 represents an organic group, and n is an integer of not less than 2. ##STR1## Formula (C) A.sub.5 --(COOM).sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 5360700
    Abstract: A process for developing and its after-treatment of an exposed silver halide photographic material which is capable of replacing a step of rinsing by water washing and a step of final stabilization by formaldehyde, with a single stabilizing step without water rinsing followed by directly to a drying step is disclosed.The process comprises a solution capable of bleaching containing a ferric complex salt of organic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and a like, and a stabilizing solution containing a certain aldehyde compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Kawamura, Shigeharu Koboshi
  • Patent number: 5342740
    Abstract: A method of processing an imagewise exposed silver halide color photographic material is disclosed, wherein the photographic material comprises a support having thereon a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a silver halide emulsion having a silver chloride content of at least 80 mol %. The processing method comprises the steps of color developing the photographic material in a color developing solution, and then bleach-fixing in a bleach-fixing solution, further comprising replenishing the bleach-fixing solution as the photographic material is processed by adding thereto a regenerated bleach-fixing replenisher and collecting the resulting overflow solution from the bleach-fixing tank, the regenerated bleach-fixing replenisher comprising a regenerating agent and the overflow solution from the bleach-fixing tank, and wherein the solids content of the regenerating agent is at least 70 wt % of the total weight of the regenerating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Goto, Takatoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5334492
    Abstract: A method for processing photographic silver halide materials with aqueous processing baths which are replenishedduring processing, in which at least one chemical substance in the form of a plurality of solid bodies of geometrically defined shape and of the same size and composition is added to replenish at least one processing bath, is distinguished by a low consumption of chemicals and by a minimal accumulation of overflow for subsequent disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ubbo Wernicke, Werner Went
  • Patent number: 5316898
    Abstract: A solid composition for bleaching an exposed and developed silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material and processing method thereof. The composition contains at least one kind of ferric complex salt and is in the form of a tablet having a bulk density of 1.0 to 2.5 g/cm.sup.3. The composition provides excellent solubility and preservability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Ueda, Hiroshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5310629
    Abstract: A silver recovery element (10) for treating a photographic developer solution containing silver ions comprises a substrate (20) having thereon a hydrophilic colloid layer containing physical development nuclei. The invention also comprises a process for recovering silver from a photographic developer solution containing silver ions, such process comprising contacting the solution with the silver recovery element. The contacting is for a time sufficient to reduce the concentration of silver in the solution to a desired level. The recovery element and process for its use are useful in treating a seasoned photographic developer solution containing silver ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hugh G. McGuckin, John S. Badger
  • Patent number: 5298371
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for processing a silver halide light-sensitive material in which processing can be carried out while maintaining and controlling the processing performance of a bleach-fixing solution. This results in making it possible to reduce the amount of the bleach-fixing solution used. The method comprises subjecting an image-wise exposed silver halide light-sensitive material to bleach-fixing processing in a bleach-fixing solution after a color development processing, wherein a bath containing the bleach-fixing solution is divided into plural parts by at least one anion exchange membrane wherein an anode and a cathode are disposed in different parts so that electrification can be carried out between the anode part and the cathode part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5288728
    Abstract: Silver is recovered from a mixture of seasoned photoprocessing solutions by contacting the solutions with a mercapto-s-triazine or water-soluble salt thereof, the mercapto-s-triazine having the formula ##STR1## wherein: R is hydrogen, --NH.sub.4, --OH, alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, cyclohexyl, oxazinyl, phenoxy, --NR'.sub.2 or SR";whereinR' is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, cyclohexyl, naphthyl or benzyl;and whereinR" is alkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, phenyl, cyclohexyl, naphthyl or benzyl;m is an integer from 1 to 3; andn is 0 or an integer from 1 to 2.Using these compounds, silver ion complexes with the compound of formula I and the complex can be allowed to settle and separated from the solutions to decrease silver ion concentration in the solutions. The mixture of solutions includes a seasoned stabilizer solution and other seasoned solutions, including bleach, bleach-fix, and developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Nathan O. Spears, Ernest R. Anderson, Elizabeth A. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5279930
    Abstract: It is known to replenish processing solutions in photographic processing apparatus in accordance with the throughput of material being processed. However, in low usage apparatus, there is no allowance for other losses which may occur, for example due to evaporation and/or oxidation. Described herein is a method of replenishing such processing solutions which allows for losses due to evaporation and/or oxidation. The method comprises determining a relationship between loss rates due to evaporation and/or oxidation, and water evaporation rate from the apparatus. It has been found that the relationship is substantially linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew Green, Susan Carter, Peter J. Twist
  • Patent number: 5256524
    Abstract: Disclosed is a processing method for silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material in which a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is processed with a processing solution capable of fixation and then a part or all of the overflow from stabilizer is allowed to enter in the processing solution capable of fixing wherein said silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material contains a coupler represented by Formula 2eq-1 and said stabilizer contains substantially no formaldehyde but contains a compound represented by Formula I or Formula II: ##STR1##R.sub.1 --O--(R.sub.2 --O).sub.m --X.sub.1 (Formula I) ##STR2## The total amount of silver coated in said silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is not less than 3 g and not more than 10 g per m.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Shigeharu Koboshi, Masao Ishikawa, Mayumi Emoto
  • Patent number: 5244777
    Abstract: A method of recovering silver from used photographic fixer solutions characterized in that the solution contains an alkali metal sulphite as the sole silver halide solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: John R. Fyson
  • Patent number: 5238793
    Abstract: A method of processing a photographic element having a layer comprising a silver halide emulsion sensitized with a cyanine dye where the dye is present in the processing solution at a concentration sufficient to cause formation of solid dye particles. The method comprises contacting the element with at least one processing solution in the presence of an effective amount of a dye solubilizing compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## halogen, hydrogen, hydroxy, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, and sulfo,R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl, with the proviso that the dye solubilizing compound comprises at least four solubilizing groups as substituents on R.sub.5 's or R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Harry A. Hoyen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5234801
    Abstract: A method for continuously processing an image-wise exposed silver halide color photographic material comprising the steps of color developing, bleach-fixing and at least one of washing with water and stabilizing. A replenisher is supplied to the bleach-fix bath to result in an overflow of from 30 to 500 ml/m.sup.2 of the photographic material processed. The bleach-fixing step further comprises collecting the bleach-fix overflow, regenerating the collected bleach-fix bath overflow by adding thereto a regenerant to produce a regenerated bleach-fix bath, and reusing the regenerated bleach-fix bath as a replenisher to the bleach-fix bath. The regeneration rate defined as the amount of bleach-fix overflow used for regeneration divided by the total amount of overflow multiplied by 100% is more than 80%. The photographic layers of the silver halide color photographic material have a degree of swelling of from about 2.5 to 4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takatoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5219717
    Abstract: The invention is accomplished by providing an iodide ion absorbing method and article. The article is a composite article comprising a surfactant, an iodide absorbing medium, and a polymer that is permeable to iodide ion overlaying the iodide absorbing medium. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the polymer is an ionic polymer and the surfactant is an ionic surfactant with a charge opposite to that of the polymer. The surfactant can be incorporated in the absorbing medium, in the polymer, or it can overlay the polymer. In a preferred form of the invention, a substrate is coated with the iodide absorbing medium, a layer of an ionic polymer is overlaid on the absorbing medium, and a layer incorporating an ionic surfactant is overlaid onto the polymer. The ionic surfactant also may be placed in a layer between the polymer and the absorbing medium. A preferred absorbing medium is silver bromide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Schmittou, Glenn T. Pearce, Michael R. Roberts, Jacob J. Hastreiter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5210008
    Abstract: A method of processing photographic materials in which development is followed by at least one further chemical treatment preceded and followed by washing and in which the liquid of the washing which follows this chemical treatment is removed in particular from the region of entry of material into this following washing bath and supplied to the material in the region of the preceding washing, preferably the material discharge region of the preceding washing, is distinguished by exceptionally low loss of chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ubbo Wernicke, Egon Bachem
  • Patent number: 5210009
    Abstract: An element and a process for recovering silver from a photographic developer solution containing silver ions. The silver recovery element (10) comprises a support (12) having a hydrophilic colloid layer (16) containing physical development nuclei on at least one of two opposing outer surfaces. Raised portions (20) space adjacent surfaces in the element's rolled-up configuration. The element can be contacted with the developer solution to recover silver from the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hugh G. McGuckin, John S. Badger
  • Patent number: 5206121
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in which water for preventing the concentration of processing solution in a processing tank from being increased due to evaporation and a replenisher for avoiding a lowering of the effectiveness of the processing solution are added to the processing tank of a photographic processing apparatus. Before the processing tank is replenished with a replenisher, the processing tank is replenished with water by an amount corresponding to the amount of water evaporated therefrom until the liquid surface level reaches the original liquid surface level i.e. replacing evaporated water, and then, the processing tank is replenished with replenisher. Thereafter, the processing solution is discharged by an amount equal to the amount of replenisher added in order to return the liquid surface level to the original liquid surface level. Thus, the performance of the processing solution can be restored while the concentration of the processing solution is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fujita, Chuji Tsukada
  • Patent number: 5202228
    Abstract: Silver sulfide is reversed in a process for regenerating a dissolved silver-containing spent bleach fixer solution. The process is particularly suited for treating the bleach fixer solution in a manner which enables recycling of the solution giving rise to considerable reduction in cost of bleach fixer solution and reduced environmental pollution. The process comprises introducing a hydrosulfide reagent into the bleach fixer solution, which contains silver, to precipitate silver sulfide while maintaining pH and thiosulfate levels in the bleach fixer to allow for reuse. The precipitate is isolated from the bleach fixer solution to remove silver thereby and hence enable recycling of the bleach fixer solution. It is preferred to adjust the pH and sulfite levels following silver removal to complete the regeneration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Technology Transfer Barbados Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Dutka, Paul H. Whitney, Keith E. Malcolm
  • Patent number: 5194368
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide emulsion layer containing silver iodide with a processing solution having fixing ability after developing the light-sensitive material. The object of the present invention is to speed up the fixing process in the foregoing method and to reduce the amount of waste liquor from the fixing process. The present invention is characterized in that the processing with the processing solution having fixing ability is performed while the processing solution is brought into contact with an anion-exchange resin and that 20 to 2,000 l of the processing solution per liter of the anion-exchange resin is brought into contact with the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ueda, Tetsuro Kojima, Tohru Kitahara, Tomokazu Yasuda, Yoshihiro Fujita, Takatoshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5187050
    Abstract: A method for processing a silver halide photographic material is described, comprising the steps of:(a) developing a silver halide photographic material comprising a support having thereon at least one hydrophilic colloidal layer, including at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer containing tabular silver halide grains having an aspect ratio of at least about 4, the total number of hydrophilic colloidal layers having a degree of swelling of about 250% or less; and(b) after developing a predetermined amount of said silver halide photographic material, adding a single replenisher of the developer comprising a 3-pyrazolidone developing agent represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.o represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Yamada, Takashi Toyoda, Sumito Yamada
  • Patent number: 5180648
    Abstract: In processing photographic picture-taking film having picture information born on itself or on a container for the film, the picture information on the film itself or the container is read for determining a processing condition, for example, an amount of processing solution to be replenished on the basis of the read picture information. Then the film is processed under the determined or optimum condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Nakamura