# US 5,708,903 A · Processing apparatus for light-sensitive materials > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,903 A - Document ID: US5708903A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/517,536 - Filed: 1995-08-21 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-08-26 - Assignees: Konica Corporation - Inventors: Teruo Kashino; Yorikatsu Miyazawa; Hideo Ishii; Yutaka Teraoka; Takao Tsuda; Kazushige Aoki; Kazuya Tsukada; Shoji Nishio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708903A ## CPC - G03D 3/065: {replenishment or recovery apparatus} - G03D 3/04: Liquid agitators (in general B01F) - G03D: APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS (apparatus specially adapted for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces G03F); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrographic, electrophotographic, or magnetographic methods or apparatus G03G) ## Abstract An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material includes a supply controlling section for controlling an amount of solid processing agents to be supplied per a unit time period in accordance with an amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per a unit time period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material, comprising: a processing tank in which a processing solution is stored; a dissolving tank in which a solid processing agent is dissolved, the dissolving tank communicating with the processing tank so that the processing solution flows between the dissolving tank and the processing tank; a solid processing agent supply section for supplying the solid processing agent into the dissolving tank; and a supply controlling section for controlling an amount of the solid processing agents to be supplied per a unit time period in accordance with an amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per a unit time period; means for detecting a processing condition of the light-sensitive material, wherein the supply controlling section controls the amount of the solid processing agents to be supplied per the unit time period in accordance with the amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per the unit time period based on a detection result of the detection means; and wherein the processing condition includes an intermittent processing and a continuous processing, and the amount of solid processing agent to be supplied per the unit time period in the intermittent processing is smaller than that in the continuous processing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an amount of solid processing agent to be supplied per the unit time period in the course of switching from the intermittent processing to the continuous processing is larger than that in the continuous processing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an amount of solid processing agent to be supplied per the unit time period in the course of switching from the continuous processing to the intermittent processing is smaller than that in the intermittent processing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the intermittent processing is switched to the continuous processing, the start of supply of the solid processing agent is made earlier by a predetermined time than the start of conveyance of the light-sensitive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the continuous processing is switched to the intermittent processing, the start of supply of the solid processing agent is made later by a predetermined time than the start of conveyance of the light-sensitive material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supply control section controls an amount of the solid processing agent for each supply operation so that the amount of the solid processing agent is changed in accordance with the amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per the unit time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for dissolving the processing agents, and a dissolution control section to control the dissolving means so that a dissolving speed of the solid processing agent is controlled in accordance with the amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per the unit time period. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for detecting a processing condition of the solid processing agent, wherein the dissolving speed of the solid processing agent is controlled in accordance with the amount of the light-sensitive material to be processed per the unit time period on the basis of a detection result of the detection means. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dissolving means changes a liquid flow in the dissolving tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dissolving means changes vibration to be given to the liquid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing tank includes a plurality of concentration sensors arranged in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the light-sensitive material, and the dissolving means controls the dissolving speed of the solid processing agent based on a concentration data from the concentration sensors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dissolving means changes a surface area of the solid processing agents to be supplied to the dissolving tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a concentration distribution adjusting a deviation means for adjusting a concentration of the processing solution in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the light-sensitive material in the processing tank to be within 5%. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a foam preventing means for preventing occurrence of foam in the dissolving tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the foam preventing means is one of a supersonic wave generating means for generating supersonic waves, a low frequency generating means for generating low frequencies, and an antifoaming agent mixed in the solid processing agent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a replenishing unit with a caster. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the replenishing unit includes a cartridge accommodating plural solid processing agents, a moving means for moving the cartridge to a predetermined supply position and a supply means for supplying plural solid processing agents in the cartridge set at a supply position to the dissolving tank. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the solid processing supply section is provided on a top plate covering an upper portion of the processing tank, and the replenishing unit includes lifting means to lift the cartridge to the upper portion so that the plural solid processing agents are fed from the cartridge to the solid processing supply section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the solid processing supply section is provided on a top plate covering an upper portion of the processing tank, and the replenishing unit includes pressing means for feeding the plural solid processing agents from the cartridge to the solid processing supply section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the solid processing agent is shaped in a form of a block, and the replenishing unit includes means for moving the block-shaped agent to a predetermined supply position and means for supplying the block-shaped agent from the predetermined supply position to the dissolving tank. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a washing tank containing a washing solution for washing processed light-sensitive materials, an alkali agent dissolving tank in which an alkali solid adjusting agent is dissolved, the alkali agent dissolving tank communicating with the washing tank so that the alkali solid adjusting agent is supplied to the washing tank, and an alkali solid adjusting agent supply section to supply the alkali solid adjusting agent to the dissolving tank. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising detecting means for detecting at least on of a processing amount of the aforesaid light-sensitive materials and a PH value of washing water, and an adjusting agent supply controlling section for controlling an amount of the alkali solid adjusting agents to be supplied in accordance with the detection. ### Claim 23 An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material having a surface, comprising a processing tank in which a processing solution is stored; conveyance means for conveying the light-sensitive material in a conveying direction so that the light-sensitive material is immersed in the processing solution; a dissolving tank in which a solid processing agent is dissolved, the dissolving tank communicating with the processing tank; a solid processing agent supply section for supplying the solid processing agents to the dissolving tank; and concentration distribution adjusting means for adjusting a deviation of a concentration of a processing agent in the processing solution in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the light-sensitive material in the processing tank to be within 5%, the concentration distribution adjusting means comprising circulating means for circulating the processing solution between the processing tank and the dissolving tank and a plurality of nozzles for jetting the processing solution onto the surface of the light-sensitive material, wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the concentration distribution adjusting means is circulating means that generates a plurality of circulation flows of a processing solution between the processing tank and the dissolving tank. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plural circulation flows is a circulation flow with a flow direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the light-sensitive material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of concentration sensors provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the light-sensitive materials in the dissolving tank, and a control means for controlling the concentration distribution adjusting means based on a concentration data from the plural concentration sensors. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising circulating means used for the dissolving tank independently of the processing tank so that the processing solution circulates in the dissolving tank. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising filter means between the dissolving tank and the processing tank. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material, comprising a processing tank in which a processing solution is stored; conveyance means for conveying the light-sensitive material so that the light-sensitive material is immersed in the processing solution; a dissolving tank in which a solid processing agent is dissolved, the dissolving tank communicating with the processing tank; a solid processing agent supply section for supplying the solid processing agents to the dissolving tank; and concentration distribution adjusting means for adjusting a deviation of a concentration of the processing solution in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the light-sensitive material in the processing tank to be within 5%; and wherein said concentration distribution adjusting means is a circulating means that generates a plurality of circulation flows of the processing solution between the processing tank and the dissolving tank; said circulating means comprising a plurality of nozzles for jetting out circulation flows into the processing tank, and at least one of the nozzles having a shape to spread the jetting flow into the processing tank. ### Claim 30 An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material, comprising: a developing tank in which a developing solution is stored; a dissolving tank in which a solid developing agent is dissolved, the dissolving tank communicating with the developing tank so that the developing solution flows between the dissolving tank and the developing tank; a solid developing agent supply section for supplying the solid developing agent into the dissolving tank; a fixing tank in which a fixing solution is stored; a washing tank containing a washing solution for washing processed light-sensitive materials; an alkali agent dissolving tank having an alkali solid agent supply section by which an alkali solid agent for adjusting a pH value of the washing solution is dissolved in the alkali agent dissolving tank, the alkali agent dissolving tank communicating with the washing tank so that the dissolved alkali solid agent is supplied to the washing tank, and a conveyor for conveying the light-sensitive material sequentially to the developing tank, the fixing tank and the washing tank so that the light sensitive material is developed in the developing tank, fixed in the fixing tank, and washed in the washing tank, the conveyor having squeezing rollers for squeezing the washed light-sensitive material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising detecting means for detecting at least one of a processing amount of the light-sensitive materials and a pH value of washing water, and an adjusting agent supply controlling section for controlling an amount of the alkali solid adjusting agents to be supplied in accordance with the detection.