Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

John A Svendsen

Michael P Juaire

Robert J Ryther

Robert M Biegler

Rosanne E Gronseth

John J Allen

Steven W Sorensen

John Orlin Kirkwold

Alfredo G Viglienzoni

Youngtzung Shih

Anderson L Griffin

Paul C Star

Ralph E Peterson

An apparatus, system, and method for processing photothermographic elements. The apparatus thermally develops a photothermographic element by heating the photothermographic element between a heated member, having a resilient layer, and a plurality of rollers. The apparatus can be a component of other apparatus and systems including those having the ability to expose the photothermographic element to form a latent image.

Apparatus, system, and method for processing photothermographic elements

A developer for sheets of dry silver media includes an oven having a film entrance and a film exit. A bed of spaced rollers of low thermal conductivity foam material is positioned within the oven between the entrance and exit. A roller drive mechanism rotates the rollers causing the film to be transported through the oven and developed without visible patterns.

Flat bed thermophotographic film processor

A thermal developing unit for the thermal development of photothermographic media which comprises a means for thermally developing photothermographic media by placing said media in contact with a heated element within a case, a first and second opening for venting gas from said case, said first opening being connected to an area surrounding said heated element said second opening being connected to an area within said unit where said media passes after it has been thermally developed, and in a path by which said gas can be vented through at least one of said first or second openings from said case there is a filter cartridge comprising a filter housing containing a chemical filtration media having no bonded absorbent partculates therein.

Photothermographic thermal processor filtration system

A process for thermally developing a photothermographic media within an enclosed processor comprising the steps of transporting a photothermographic element with a latent image thereon to a thermal heating element comprising a rounded heating element such as a drum, placing said photothermographic media with a latent image into contact with said drum, heating said photothermographic media with a latent image thereon with said drum to generate a photothermographic media with a visible image thereon, then removing said media with a visible image thereon, said process comprising venting gas from at least two separate areas within said processor, said at least two areas including a first vent at a position above the axis of the heating drum, and a second vent at a position sufficiently near a point on the drum where the photothermographic media with a visible image thereon is removed from the drum so that at least some vapor material leaving said photothermographic media with a visible image thereon exits through said second vent.

Filter for a photothermographic developer

A film handling system which permits industrial X-rays to be made on site comprises a film cassette having an area for a supply of film and an exposure area and the cassette after exposure of a film is placed in the throat of a processor. Upon placing the cassette in the throat of the processor a rack and pinion dispenses an exposed film from the cassette and upon removal of the cassette a film is moved from the storage area to the exposure area. The exposed film is processed in the processor.

Film exposure and processor system

A device for high quality development of latent image on a strip of heat developable paper or film. The devices includes a heat conductive member which affords conduction of a uniform predetermined quantity of heat to all areas of the paper. The heat conductive member includes means to vent moisture from the paper to the atmosphere during the development process, to aid in bringing about uniform development of the paper or film. The heat conductive member may further include means to provide uniform pressure to the film or paper during the development process.

Growing community of inventors

Marine on St. Croix, MN, United States of America

John A Svendsen