Method for storing and regenerating photographic processing solutions

Abstract

A method for storing and reusing a photographic processing solution, and in particular an overflow developing solution, comprises contacting a processing solution which has been removed from a processing bath, in a storage vessel, with an effective amount of a preservative so as to prevent any substantial degradation in activity of the processing solution during a storage period. The solution then exits the storage vessel and is preferably reintroduced into the processing bath from which it was removed after treatment to increase the activity thereof, e.g., regeneration and/or removal of deleterious by products.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for storing and reusing processing solutions employed in a photographic processing system comprising: (a) introducing a replenishing solution into a photographic processing bath;   (b) transferring an overflow processing solution from the photographic processing bath into a storage vessel and contacting the overflow solution with a preservative separately introduced to said vessel in an amount effective to prevent any substantial degradation in activity of said overflow solution during a storage period; and   (c) therefore treating the stored solution to increase the activity thereof and reusing the treated solution at the end of said storage period.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1 wherein (c) comprises introducing the stored solution back into a photographic processing bath. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the treatment of (c) comprises the introduction of fresh processing chemicals into said solution prior to reuse. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the entire amount of preservative needed to prevent substantial degradation in activity within the storage vessel is introduced into the storage vessel prior to (b). 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 2 wherein the replenishing solution of (a) is introduced into the processing bath in an amount effective to provide the overflow solution of (b). 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said method comprises conducting substantially all of said stored solution back into a photographic processing bath without any substantial discard. 
     
     
       7. The method according to claim 2 wherein the processing solution includes a color developer, a fixing agent, and/or a bleach-fixing agent. 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 2 wherein the preservative comprises a pH buffer. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 2 wherein the preservative comprises at least one of hydroxylamine, hydrazine, ammonium or alkali metal thiosulfate, ammonium or alkali metal sulfite, and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the preservative is N,N-diethylhydroxylamine. 
     
     
       11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the preservative is triethanolamine. 
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the preservative is hydrazine diacetate. 
     
     
       13. The method according to claim 9 wherein said processing solution in said overflow storage vessel has a hydroxylamine concentration of about 0.05 M/l to 0.2 M/l per 0.01 M/l of a color developing agent present in the solution. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 9 wherein said processing solution in the storage vessel has a hydrazine concentration of about 0.005 M/l to 0.2 M/l per 0.01 M/l of color developing agent present in the solution. 
     
     
       15. The method according to claim 9 wherein said processing solution in said storage vessel has an alkylhydroxylamine concentration of about 0.001 M/l to 0.1 M/l per 0.01 M/l of a color developing agent present in the solution. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 2 wherein the processing solution comprises a color developing agent, the preservative comprises at least one of a hydroxylamine, hydrazine and derivatives thereof, and the processing solution is removed from and introduced back into the same photographic processing bath. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 2 wherein the processing solution is a fixing solution or a bleach-fixing solution, the preservative is an ammonium or alkali metal thiosulfate and/or sulfite and the processing solution is removed from and introduced back into the same photographic processing bath. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the overflow solution is introduced into an upper storage vessel and the replenisher is removed from a lower replenisher vessel, which vessels are arranged to fluidly communicate with each other. 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim 2 wherein the treatment of (c) further comprises the removal of deleterious byproducts from the processing solution. 
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 19 wherein halides are removed from the processing solution. 
     
     
       21. The method according to claim 2 wherein the storage period is from 2 to 6 weeks. 
     
     
       22. A method for regenerating a process solution in a photographic processing system comprising: (a) providing a storage vessel comprising an upper vessel disposed above a lower vessel which vessels are arranged so as to fluidly communicate via a one-way valve, and which vessels are separately fluidly connected to a process bath of a photographic processing system, wherein the lower vessel contains a processing solution;   (b) introducing the processing solution from the lower vessel into the process bath of the photographic processing system;   (c) introducing overflow from the process bath to the upper vessel, wherein the upper vessel contains a preservative;   (d) opening the one-way valve to transfer the overflow to the lower vessel, and then closing the one-way valve;   (e) introducing regenerating components into the overflow solution; and   (f) conducting the overflow solution back into the process bath.   
     
     
       23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the method further comprises: repeating steps (b) through (f).   
     
     
       24. A method for regenerating developer solution in a color photographic processing machine, comprising: (a) providing a storage vessel comprising an upper vessel disposed above a lower vessel, which vessels are arranged to fluidly communicate via a one-way valve, and which vessels are separately fluidly connected to a developer bath of a photographic processing machine, wherein the lower vessel contains a developer solution;   (b) introducing the developer solution from the lower vessel into the developer bath;   (c) introducing the overflow from the developer bath into the upper vessel, wherein the upper vessel contains a preservative selected from among hydroxylamines, or hydrazines and derivatives and/or mixtures thereof;   (d) opening the valve to transfer the overflow to the lower vessel, and then closing the valve;   (e) introducing regenerating components into the overflow solution; and   (f) introducing the overflow solution back into the developer bath.   
     
     
       25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the method further comprises: repeating steps (b) through (f).