Photographic developer composition containing formaldehyde bisulfite alkanolamine condensation product and free alkanolamine

Abstract

Photographic developer composition for high-contrast elements comprising a .Iadd.dihydroxybenzene .Iaddend.developing agent, a .[.carbonyl bisulfite-amine.]. .Iadd.formaldehyde bisulfite-alkanolamine .Iaddend.condensation product and free .[.amine.]. .Iadd.alkanolamine. .Iaddend.A continuous process for using the developer composition in a continuous transport processing machine is also described.

I claim: 
     
       1. A liquid photographic developer composition comprising: a. a .Iadd.dihydroxybenzene .Iaddend.silver halide developing agent,   b. a .[.carbonyl.]. .Iadd.formaldehyde .Iaddend.bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product, and   c. at least about 0.075 mole of free alkanolamine per liter of developer composition.   
     
     
       2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said developing agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.50 mole per liter of developer composition, said .[.carbonyl.]. .Iadd.formaldehyde .Iaddend.bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is present in a concentration of from about 0.10 to about 1.0 mole per liter of developer composition and said free alkanolamine is present in a concentration of from about 0.075 to about 3.0 moles per liter of developer composition. .[.3. The composition of claim 2 wherein said developing agent is a dihydroxybenzene developing agent and said carbonyl bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is a formaldehyde bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation 
     
     
        product..]. 4. The composition of claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.wherein 
     
     
        said dihydroxybenzene developing agent is hydroquinone. 5. The composition of claim .[.3.]. .Iadd.2 .Iaddend.which also contains 5-nitroindazole or 
     
     
        6-nitroindazole. 6. The composition of claim 4 wherein said formaldehyde bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is sodium-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethane sulfonate and said free 
     
     
        alkanolamine is 2,2'-iminodiethanol. 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said hydroquinone is present in a concentration of about 0.136 mole per liter of developer composition, said sodium-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethane sulfonate is present in a concentration of about 0.33 mole per liter of developer composition and said 2,2'-iminodiethanol is present in a concentration of about 0.457 mole 
     
     
        per liter of developer composition. 8. In a continuous process for processing an exposed, high-contrast, photographic element wherein said element is processed in one continuous motion by transporting it into and out of at least one processing solution, the improvement comprising developing said element in a liquid developer composition comprising: a. a .Iadd.dihydroxybenzene .Iaddend.silver halide developing agent,   b. a .[.carbonyl.]. .Iadd.formaldehyde .Iaddend.bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product, and   c. at least about 0.075 mole of free alkanolamine per liter of developer   
     
     
        composition. 9. The process of claim 8 wherein said developing agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 0.50 mole per liter of developer composition, said .[.carbonyl.]. .Iadd.formaldehyde .Iaddend.bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is present in a concentration of from about 0.10 to about 1.0 mole per liter of developer composition and said free alkanolamine is present in a concentration of from about 0.075 to about 3.0 moles per liter of developer composition. .[.10. The process of claim 9 wherein said developing agent is a dihydroxybenzene developing agent and said carbonyl bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is a formaldehyde bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation 
     
     
        product..]. 11. The process of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein 
     
     
        said dihydroxybenzene developing agent is hydroquinone. 12. The process of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein said developer composition also 
     
     
        contains 5-nitroindazole or 6-nitroindazole. 13. The process of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein said photographic element comprises a silver halide emulsion in which the halide comprises at least 85 mole 
     
     
        percent chloride. 14. The process of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein said photographic element comprises a silver halide emulsion in which the halide comprises at least 90 mole percent chloride, 
     
     
        substantially no iodide and the balance bromide. 15. The process of claim 13 wherein said silver halide emulsion contains a mixture of gelatin and a 
     
     
        vinyl polymer as the binding agent. 16. The process of claim 15 wherein said vinyl polymer is a water-insoluble polymer of an alkyl acrylate or 
     
     
        alkyl methacrylate. 17. The process of claim 11 wherein said formaldehyde bisulfite-alkanolamine condensation product is sodium-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethane sulfonate and said free 
     
     
        alkanolamine is 2,2'-iminodiethanol. 18. The process of claim 17 wherein said hydroquinone is present in a concentration of about 0.136 mole per liter of developer composition, said sodium-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethane sulfonate is present in a concentration of about 0.33 mole per liter of developer composition and said 2,2'-iminodiethanol is present in a concentration of about 0.457 mole 
     
     
        per liter of developer composition. 19. The process of claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.wherein said photographic element is transported by rollers.