Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus (10) for securing a movable blinds rail (110, 112) to a fixed surface (124) includes a casing (12) having a detent (18) affixed to an inner surface thereof. An elongate rod (20) is included having first (22) and second (26) ends and a protruding member (28) extending from the rod between the ends. The rod first end extends out of a first opening (32) of the casing and the protruding member slidably cooperates with the detent to secure the rod in a first fixed position. In this manner, the apparatus is coupled to the moveable blinds rail, and the rod first end is used to contact a fixed surface to secure the movable blinds rail thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of registering to an imaging web moving within an imaging web handling apparatus along an imaging web path. The imaging web comprises a support having a coating of photosensitive microcapsules on the surface thereof. The photosensitive microcapsules have an internal phase of a photosensitive composition and a color former. Exposure of the imaging web to actinic radiation defines an image area and a border area.A registration mark is formed on the web by exposing a portion of the web area to actinic radiation so that the portion undergoes a color or reflection change, or exposing all but a portion of the border area to actinic radiation so that the exposed area undergoes a color or reflection change. The registration mark is detected and in response to detection of the registration mark, an operation is performed on the imaging web.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging process wherein the pressure application developer means is not contaminated during pressure development. The process involves an imaging web including a support having a layer on the surface thereof of photosensitive microcapsules including an internal phase of a photohardenable photosensitive composition and a color former. The imaging web is image-wise exposed to a first source of actinic radiation to form an image area; this exposure defines a border area in the web comprising the areas of the imaging web surrounding the image area. The image area of the imaging web is contacted with an opaque receiver sheet. The border area is then uniformly exposed to a second source of actinic radiation to harden the microcapsules in the border area.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging process wherein the pressure application developer means is not contaminated during pressure development. The process involves an imaging web including a support having a layer on the surface thereof of photosensitive microcapsules including an internal phase of a photohardenable photosensitive composition and a color former. The imaging web is image-wise exposed to a first source of actinic radiation to form an image area; this exposure defines a border area in the web comprising the areas of the imaging web surrounding the image area. The image area of the imaging web is contacted with an opaque receiver sheet. The border area is then uniformly exposed to a second source of actinic radiation to harden the microcapsules in the border area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pressure developing imaging sheets are described. In a three roll embodiment, first and second rolls are journaled into a housing to form a nip for rupturing microcapsules on the surface of an imaging sheet as it is passed through the nip. Such rolls are aligned at a slight skew angle and are resiliently pressed into one another by means of a third roll supported at a skew angle relative to the roll it contacts. In a two roll embodiment, the first and second rolls are crowned and pressed into contact with one another to present a uniform nip. In a four roll embodiment, the first and second rolls are aligned in parallel with each other, while a skewed roll backs up each of the first and second rolls. The backup rolls may alternatively be crowned. In any embodiment, the imaging sheet is directed into the nip to contact one roll at an angle of arc along the roll ahead of the nip.

Abstract: Imaging sheets having a coating containing chromogenic material and a photosensitive composition with at least the photosensitive composition encapsulated in rupturable microcapsules as an internal phase are processed by contacting the imaging sheets with a traveling pile formed by magnetically attractable free particles on a magnetic brush to rupture the microcapsules coating the surfaces of the imaging sheets by means of a soft pliable brushing action of the pile against the imaging sheets.