JPH0562976B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an apparatus for directly fog exposing a positive type silver halide photographic light-sensitive material for reversal in its processing solution. The present invention relates to a fog exposure apparatus that can perform stable optical fogging without being affected by coloring or discoloration of a liquid.

[Background of the Invention] It is well known that a direct positive image can be obtained by developing a direct positive internal latent image type silver halide photographic light-sensitive material while subjecting it to fogging treatment. Typical methods for performing this fogging treatment are the chemical fogging method, which uses chemicals to fog, and the optical fogging method, which fogs with light. Of these, the optical fogging method is practical because it can be processed under normal developing conditions. It is convenient.

The method of fogging with light is usually to immerse the image-exposed photosensitive material in a developing solution.
A method is used in which the entire surface of a photosensitive material is exposed.

Here the light quality of the light source (intensity, spectral distribution, etc.)
Since the exposure amount and exposure amount have a great effect on the quality of a positive image, fog exposure must be performed under appropriately controlled conditions.

By the way, it is well known that the developing solution gradually becomes colored (or discolored) as the photosensitive material is processed. This is because the composition of the developer decomposes and reacts due to air oxidation, and the products thereof gradually accumulate in the developer. It is inevitable that such coloring will occur to some extent in actual use.

When a photosensitive material is exposed to fog while immersed in such a colored developer, part of the irradiated light that passes through the solution is absorbed, so the amount of light received by the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material decreases, and The light quality itself changes due to absorption in a specific wavelength range, and as a result, optical fog is weakened and affects a positive image. Therefore, in order to maintain a constant level of fogging light, it is necessary to adjust the light source itself according to the degree of coloring of the liquid. It is extremely difficult to do so.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-87051 proposes to perform fog exposure by providing an exposure tube with a transparent end face in order to reduce the influence of coloring of the developer. However, the transparent end surface through which the fogging light passes is easily contaminated by decomposition reactants floating in the colored developer, and the exposure tube is attached to the side of the developing tank integrally with the light source. Because there are
Each time the exposure tube is removed and the transparent end surface is cleaned of dirt, it is necessary to drain the liquid from the tank, which is very troublesome. Furthermore, attaching such an exposure tube to the side wall of the processing tank complicates the shape of the processing tank, which is not preferable from the standpoint of compactness.

Another option is to place the light source itself in the processing solution and perform fog exposure while bringing it close to the photosensitive surface, but this is not preferable because there is a risk of corrosion of the light source by the processing solution, electrical leakage, etc. .

[Object of the Invention] In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a fog exposure apparatus that has a simple configuration and can perform stable optical fog over a long period of time.

[Structure of the Invention] The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide a fog exposure apparatus for performing fog exposure on the photosensitive surface of a silver halide photographic material in a processing solution. A light-transmissive blocking member is arranged in the optical path between the light source and the light source facing the surface, and fog exposure is performed on the photosensitive surface of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material through the blocking member. This is achieved by providing a fog exposure apparatus that performs the following.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The light source section 1 consists of a light source lamp 2 and a casing 3 containing the light source lamp 2. The light source section 1 is attached to a window section 8 formed in the side wall 4 of the processing liquid tank, and the light source section 1 is attached to a window section 8 formed in the side wall 4 of the processing liquid tank, and the light source section 1 is configured to have a light source lamp 2 and a casing 3 containing the light source lamp 2. Light passes through the window 8 and enters the processing liquid tank. Further, a light scattering plate 6 installed in the casing 3 is used to diffuse the light emitted from the light source lamp 2 and to emit uniform fogging light over the entire body. A transparent plate 7 prevents the processing liquid 5 from entering the window portion 8 .

On the other hand, the direct positive type silver halide photographic light-sensitive material (hereinafter simply referred to as a light-sensitive material) 9 is used after image exposure is completed.
It enters the processing liquid tank with its photosensitive surface facing the light source section 1 side, and is moved and conveyed through the processing liquid 5 by the pair of feed rollers 10, 10' and 11, 11'.

The photosensitive material 9 is exposed to fog while being conveyed from the pair of feed rollers 10, 10' to the pair of feed rollers 11, 11'.

In this embodiment, a transparent glass block 12 is placed in the optical path between the light source section 1 and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material 9 that is being moved and conveyed. The glass block 12 transmits light, and all of its side surfaces are covered with the light shielding plate 1 except for the surface facing the photosensitive material 9 and the light source section 1.
3, the appropriate fog exposure position with respect to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material 9 (in this embodiment, this is during conveyance movement between the pair of feed rollers 10, 10' and the pair of feed rollers 11, 11'). Light leakage to other areas is prevented.

By arranging such a glass block 12, most of the processing liquid between the light source section 1 and the photosensitive material 9 is spatially excluded, and the processing liquid 5 through which the fogging light passes before reaching the surface of the photosensitive material 9 is removed. Since the distance within the processing liquid 5 is extremely short, the optical influence caused by fogging light passing through the processing liquid 5 is extremely reduced.

Therefore, even if the processing liquid becomes colored or discolored over time,
As a result of this, there is almost no variation in the quantity and quality of the fogging light, so that stable optical fogging is achieved and a positive image of good quality can be stably obtained.

Furthermore, since the glass block 12 is provided independently of the light source section 1, it can be easily removed and maintenance and care are simple.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In order to prevent corrosion or electrical leakage caused by the processing liquid 5, a light source unit 14 is provided above the liquid level of the processing liquid 5, and the light source unit 14 includes a light source lamp 2, a casing 15 containing the light source lamp 2, and a transparent plate. It consists of 19.

On the other hand, feed roller pairs 22, 22' and 23, 2
A hollow block 16 is disposed in the optical path between the light source section 14 and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material 9, which is conveyed through the processing liquid 5 by the light source section 3'. The hollow block 16 has transparent plates 20 and 21 on its end face facing the light source section 14 and photosensitive material 9, and a light shielding plate 17 on its side face to maintain watertightness and prevent light leakage. Further, a light scattering plate 18 is arranged inside the hollow block 16 to uniformly distribute the fogging light.

In this configuration, the light emitted from the light source lamp 2 passes through the hollow block 16 and enters the processing liquid 5.
Since the fog light reaches the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material 9 inside, the distance through which it passes through the processing liquid 5 is actually extremely short, and the fogging light is optically affected by the coloring or discoloration of the processing liquid 5 over time. Things just disappear.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, the fog exposure apparatus of the present invention has a simple configuration and can provide stable optical fog over a long period of time without being affected by coloring or discoloration of the processing liquid. It is extremely easy to maintain and care for.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1, 14...Light source section, 2...Light source lamp, 5...
...Treatment liquid, 6,18...Diffusing plate, 7,19,2
0, 21...transparent plate, 9...photosensitive material, 12...glass block, 13, 17...shading plate, 16...hollow block.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a fog exposure device for performing fog exposure on the photosensitive surface of a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material in a processing solution, a light source section between the photosensitive surface of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material and a light source section facing the photosensitive surface is provided. A fog exposure apparatus characterized in that a light-transmitting block member is disposed in the optical path independently of the light source section, and fog exposure is performed on the photosensitive surface of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material through the block member. .