Method and apparatus for processing photosensitive material

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus for processing silver salt photosensitive material with a small amount of processing solution. The processing solution uniformly reacts with the photosensitive material for maintaining high processing quality. The apparatus of the invention includes: a process tank 96 which is relatively small in volume; and a developer supply roller 98 which is partly soaked in the processing solution. New or unused developer is temporarily stored in a temporary reservoir 100 formed on the circumference of the roller, held in pores of sponge formed on the surface of the developer supply roller, and supplied to an inlet of photosensitive material PM in the process tank 96 with rotation of the roller 98. The new processing solution is uniformly diffused, along the width of the photosensitive material PM, in the vicinity of the inlet in the stored processing solution. Accordingly, the photosensitive material PM is evenly and efficiently processed. The invention allows smaller equipment as well as improvement of processing quality. Furthermore, the smaller volume of processing solution prevents accumulation of sludge, thus saving time and labor for maintenance.