THERMAL DEVELOPING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal developing apparatus and a thermal developing method which employs a heating system of dividing a heater pattern into a plurality of parts according to the passing phases of a film and in which a predetermined quantity of heat is constantly suppied to a thermal developing photosensitive film carried while heated, so as to be able to keep constant finish density. SOLUTION: The thermal developing method includes the steps of: forming a latent image on a thermal developing photosensitive film; and heating and developing the thermal developing photosensitive film having the latent image formed thereon while carrying the film, by a heater which is divided into a plurality of heaters at least in the direction orthogonal to the carrying direction and which can individually and independently control temperature in each heater. The thermal developing photosensitive films are carried in such a manner that thermal developing photosensitive films having different sizes are not simultaneously involved with any heaters in the plurality of divided heaters. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI