Abstract: Chemical sensitization of silver halide photothermographic emulsions used in photothermographic elements, can be effected by the decomposition of sulfur containing compounds on or around the surface of the silver halide grains, usually under oxidizing conditions at elevated temperatures. Alignment of the sulfur containing compounds on the surface of the grains, can be accomplished with spectral sensitizing dyes and appears to be particularly effective in providing strong chemical sensitization effects.

Abstract: A method and system for compensating for density loss in an imaging apparatus while sequentially developing a plurality of photothermographic elements. In one embodiment, the present invention compensates for thermal energy dissipated while developing each of a plurality of photothermographic element. In another embodiment, the present invention compensates for thermal energy transferred from a heated member to indirectly heated components, such as the pressure rollers, between development cycles. The present invention achieves a more accurate characterization of the thermal energy stored by the imaging apparatus throughout the imaging sequence. In this manner, a more uniform density is achieved for all of the photothermographic elements of the imaging sequence.

Abstract: Infrared sensitive photographic elements comprise an opaque film support, an infrared sensitized silver halide emulsion layer and a hydrophilic colloid protective layer on one side of the film support, said protective layer comprising colloidal silica having an average particle size lower than 15 nanometers.The elements have an increased exposure latitude upon exposure to infrared laser diodes, and higher maximum density upon photographic processing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaporating a coating solvent from a coating on a first substrate surface of a substrate and for minimizing the formation of mottle as the coating solvent is evaporating. A drying oven includes an enclosure having an inlet and an outlet and defining a first drying zone. A plurality of drying subzones are within the first drying zone. At least two of the plurality of drying subzones employ different and controllable drying conditions. Physical barriers are not required to create the plurality of drying subzones.

Abstract: A thermal processor and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor including means for heating the imaging material which include a plurality of heated surfaces within the thermal processor. The thermal processor also includes means for transporting the imaging material through the thermal processor and means for bending the imaging material a plurality of times to have a plurality of curvatures and for positioning the imaging material adjacent to the plurality of heated surfaces when the imaging material is heated by the heating means.

Abstract: A thermal processor particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material, such as photothermographic film. A thermal processor useful for thermally developing an image in an imaging material. At least a first roller and a second roller are positioned to contact the imaging material when the imaging material is transported into the thermal processor. A first heating means includes first and second curved, heated portions which wrap around a first circumferential portion of the first roller and the second roller to heat these rollers.

Abstract: A method for minimizing coating defects caused by strikethrough when simultaneously slide coating a first fluid layer, a second fluid layer, and a third fluid layer. The method includes preparing the first, second, and third fluids such that the first solute is incompatible with the second and third solutes and such that the first fluid minimizes strikethrough of at least one of the second and third fluids to a slide surface when the first fluid is positioned between the slide surface and the second and third fluids. The present invention is useful in preparing imaging, data storage, and other media.

Abstract: A silver halide emulsion of average grain size 0.2 .mu.m or less comprising silver halide grains having a core and an outer shell, the core comprising at least 85 mol % of the total silver halide content of the grain and at least 50 mol % of the silver halide in the core being silver bromide, and the outer shell comprising silver halide of which greater than 50 mol % is silver chloride; the emulsion either containing no rhodium dopant, or containing rhodium dopant such that the concentration of said dopant is at least as great in the core as in the shell.

Abstract: A method for use with a slide coater including preparing a first coating fluid and flowing the first coating fluid down at least a first slide surface of a slide coater when coating of the first coating fluid onto the substrate is desired and flowing a minimizing fluid down the at least first slide surface when coating of the first coating fluid onto the substrate is not desired. The minimizing fluid has a composition which minimizes drying of the first coating fluid on the at least first slide surface. This invention applies to imaging, data storage, and other media.

Abstract: An article for cooling an imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The article includes a first cooling section on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor. The first cooling section is at a lower temperature than the first temperature. The first cooling section has a curved shape such that the imaging material is curved when riding on and being cooled by the first cooling section.

Abstract: A method for minimizing waste resulting from defects caused at the edges of a coating on a substrate which was applied to the substrate by a slide coater. A first fluid flows through the first slot main portion at a first flow rate and through the first slot end portions at flow rates which differ from the first flow rate. A second fluid flows through a second slot onto a second slide surface positioned relative to the first slide surface and oriented such that the second coating fluid flows from the second slide surface onto the first coating fluid.

Abstract: A multilayer silver halide color photographic element comprises a support having coated thereon a silver antihalation layer, an interlayer, at least two red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers, at least two green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers a yellow filter layer, and at least two blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers, wherein the interlayer provided between the silver antihalation layer and the red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer closest to the support contains a bleach accelerator releasing compound, and the silver antihalation layer contains a water-soluble organic thiol.The invention provides reduction in residual silver levels and backside turbidity after processing, without deleteriously affecting sensitometric properties of the photographic element.

Abstract: A solid state radiation detector and fabrication method therefor provide a plurality of modules disposed adjacent one another in a two-dimensional array. Each of the modules includes an array of thin film transistors. A continuous radiation detecting layer, such as a photoconductor layer is disposed over the modules. The radiation detecting layer generates electrical charge representative of a pattern of radiation. The thin film transistors are used to sense the electrical charge on a pixel-by-pixel basis to form a representation of an image. A continuous insulating layer can be disposed between the radiation detecting layer and a continuous conducting layer.

Abstract: A black and white photographic element comprising as a photosensitive medium a layer of a silver halide emulsion characterised in that the photosensitive medium comprises in the same layer or in an adjacent layer thereto a developer comprising a substantially non-diffusing polymeric compound having as a component part of its structure a plurality of units having a nucleus of general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein; each Z independently is a member selected from the group consisting of --OH and a group which leaves an --OH residue when contacted with an alkali (pH .gtoreq.10) at temperatures of .ltoreq.50.degree. C.

Abstract: A thermal processor includes an air flow preventing means that substantially prevents the flow of air from a processor exit into a thermal processing compartment. The prevention of air flow reduces processing defects that otherwise could occur in sheets of thermally processed material handled by the thermal processor. The reduction of processing defects enhances the quality of the sheet of thermally processed material. In particular, the reduction of processing defects can enhance image quality of a sheet of photothermographic imaging material. The prevention of air flow reduces processing defects by maintaining a substantially uniform temperature within a thermal processing compartment of the thermal processor, and by reducing the condensation of fatty acids on interior surfaces of the thermal processing compartment prior to filtration.

Abstract: A performance monitoring system and method are realized and implemented, respectively, by a software system. The software system can be configured to automatically monitor one or more remotely located laser imagers over a period of time to generate image quality control reports, eliminating the need for manual generation of such reports by a technician. The software system also can be configured to monitor modality usage, imaging media usage, and the occurrence of errors for each laser imager, and to automatically generate usage reports and error reports. In addition, the software system can be configured to automatically send the reports to users of the laser imagers, automatically initiate an order to send additional imaging media, and automatically initiate a request for dispatch of a service technician in response to an error condition.

Abstract: A vanadium oxide coating useful as an antistatic protection layer on a donor sheet or a receptor sheet of a thermal transfer system is provided. The preferred antistatic coating is formed from a composition of a vanadium oxide colloidal dispersion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a moving web with a coating fluid. The coating die has at least one feed slot for supplying the coating fluid to the moving web and a front face demarked from the at least one feed slot by a die edge. A guide mechanism guides the moving web in a first direction past the coating die such that a coating bead is formed in a gap between the moving web and the die edge. The spraying system sprays a cleaning fluid on at least a portion of the front face of the slide coating die such that the coating bead forms a substantially linear static wetting line on the front face of the coating die.

Abstract: A process for exposing a silver halide-containing photothermographic element with radiation to produce a latent image comprising a) providing a source of radiation which emits a beam of radiation to produce a spot having at least one dimension of height or length of less than 600 micrometers at a target site, b) providing at said target site a photothermographic silver halide element sensitive to radiation emitted by said radiation source, c) emitting radiation a first time in an imagewise distribution from said radiation source so that said radiation strikes said element as spots having at least one dimension of length or width which is less than 250 micrometers, and d) then emitting radiation a second time in an imagewise distributed manner so that at least some spots from radiation emitted said second time overlap spots where said first emitted radiation struck said photothermographic element.

Abstract: A cassette for use in an electronic radiographic imaging system having electronic components. The cassette includes a positioned photoreceptive medium, a light-tight frame, at least one power storage device, and an electronic interface structure for connection to electronic components within the radiographic imaging system. The cassette can also include an electrical interface structure for connection to a power source within the radiographic imaging system.