THERMALLY DEVELOPABLE IMAGING MATERIAL

• US 20070082302A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Hunt, Bryan, Skinner, Mark, Vanous, James, Brearey, Robert, Geisler, Thomas, Kong, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,348,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/348
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/04 with macromolecular additives; with layer-forming substances
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/498 Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/49872 Aspects relating to non-photosensitive layers, e.g. intermediate protective layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/49881 characterised by the process or the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 2001/7635 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/02 Sensitometric processes, e.g. determining sensitivity, colour sensitivity, gradation, graininess, density; Making sensitometric wedges
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/04 Photo-taking processes
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 7/3041 Materials with specific sensitometric characteristics, e.g. gamma, density

Abstract

A photothermographic material having a Dmin and Dmax optical density. The material includes a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developable to produce an image when the photothermographic material is thermally processed; and an area disposed along a length of at least one edge of the photothermographic material, wherein the area has an optical density less than the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material.

Claims

1. A method of thermally processing a photothermographic material comprising a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers, the method comprising the steps of:

exposing an area along at least one edge of the photothermographic material such that, when thermally processed by a thermal processor, the image density of the area will be less than a Dmax and greater than a Dmin of the photothermographic material; and

providing means to transport the photothermographic material to the thermal processor such that the edge is first transported through the thermal processor.

2. A method of forming a visible image, the method comprising the steps of:

exposing a first area of a photothermographic material to form a latent image, the photothermographic material comprising a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developed when the photothermographic material is thermally processed;

exposing a second area, different than the first area, of the photothermographic material disposed along a leading edge of the photothermographic material such that, when developed, the second area has an image density less that the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material;

transporting the photothermographic material to a thermal processor such that the leading edge first contacts the thermal processor; and

thermally processing the first and second areas to develop the visible image.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

exposing a third area, different from the first and second areas, of the photothermographic material disposed along a side edge of the photothermographic material such that, when developed, the third area has an image density of about Dmax of the photothermographic material; and

thermally processing the first, second, and third areas to develop the visible image.