APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THERMALLY PROCESSING AN IMAGING MATERIAL EMPLOYING A SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FOGGING ON THE IMAGING MATERIAL DURING THERMAL PROCESSING

摘要

A thermal processor (10, 80) and method for using the same which is particularly useful for developing a sheet of imaging material (26), such as photothermographic film. The thermal processor (10, 80) includes means for heating the imaging material (26) to develop the image in the imaging material (26). The thermal processor (10, 80) also includes a fog reduction system which removes a gaseous by-product (90) emitted from the imaging material (26) which can cause fogging of the image as the image is thermally developed in the imaging material (26).