Patent ID: 6811333
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G03D

Abstract:
A thermal development apparatus comprising:a heating section, which has at least a portion of its outer surface formed in an arc shape and has a smooth layer on outermost surface of the arc-shaped portion, for carrying photothermographic imaging material being in contact with the smooth layer on the arc-shaped portion while heating the photothermographic imaging material; and a plurality of opposed rollers, arranged along a carrying path of the photothermographic imaging material carried by the smooth layer on the arc-shaped portion of the heating section, for pressing the photothermographic imaging material against the arc-shaped portion, wherein following formula and relations P=2&pgr;R&agr;/360, 2r+3&gE;P>2r, and &bgr;&lE;60 are satisfied when R (mm) denotes a radius of the arc-shaped portion, r (mm) denotes a radius of the opposed rollers, &agr; (degree) denotes an angle between lines respectively connecting a center of the arc-shaped portion and centers of the two opposed rollers adjacent to each other, P (mm) denotes a pitch of the opposed rollers, and &bgr; (degree) denotes a contact angle of the photothermographic imaging material to the opposed roller.