Apparatus for cooling a thermally processed material

摘要

Disclosed is an apparatus for cooling a thermally processed, imaging material which has been heated to a first temperature by a thermal processor. The cooling apparatus includes a cooling article, on which the imaging material rides after the imaging material exits the thermal processor, and an imaging material transport mechanism. The cooling article is at a lower temperature than the first temperature to cool the imaging material. The transport mechanism conveys the imaging material over the cooling article. The transport mechanism operates at a rate of speed that is faster than an operational rate of speed of an imaging material conveyance device of the thermal processor. This speed differential allows the transport mechanism to apply tension to the imaging material as the imaging material passes over the cooling article to minimize imaging material defects during cooling.