Imaging device

An imaging device for flash imaging, through an imaging mask at an imaging film plane, a dry-process imaging film having a layer of an energy dispersible image forming material on a surface thereof, comprising:

• an energy source capable of emitting electromagnetic energy of an intensity sufficient to cause dispersion of the energy dispersible image forming material on the imaging film, an imaging mask at the imaging film plane for enabling electromagnetic energy from the energy source to be applied therethrough in a preselected pattern to the imaging film having the layer of an energy dispersible image forming material on a surface thereof, electromagnetic energy collecting means associated with the energy source, said energy collecting means including energy transmitting means for directing, collimating and shaping the energy emitted by the energy source to provide maximum utilization and substantially uniform distribution of the electromagnetic energy at the imaging film plane, said energy collecting means further including a chamber having an energy reflecting inner surface, said chamber encasing at least in part the electromagnetic energy source and the energy transmitting means and serving to intercept and reflect electromagnetic energy from the energy source in the direction of the energy transmitting means, and support means for maintaining the energy transmitting means and the energy intercepting and reflecting means of the energy collecting means in a predetermined position with relation to one another, the energy source, and the imaging mask at the imaging film plane whereby substantially the full intensity of the directed, collimated and shaped electromagnetic energy is applied to the imaging film through the imaging mask to attain rapid and substantially uniform dispersion in a preselected pattern of the energy dispersible imaging forming material on the imaging film.

An imaging device for flash imaging, through an imaging mask at an imaging film plane, a dry-process imaging film having a layer of an energy dispersible image forming material on a surface thereof, comprising:

• an energy source capable of emitting electromagnetic energy of an intensity sufficient to cause dispersion of the energy dispersible image forming material on the imaging film, an imaging mask at the imaging film plane for enabling electromagnetic energy from the energy source to be applied therethrough in a preselected pattern to the imaging film having the layer of an energy dispersible image forming material on a surface thereof, electromagnetic energy collecting means associated with the energy source, said energy collecting means including energy transmitting means for directing, collimating and shaping the energy emitted by the energy source to provide maximum utilization and substantially uniform distribution of the electromagnetic energy at the imaging film plane, said energy collecting means further including energy intercepting and reflecting means for directing electromagnetic energy from the energy source in the direction of the energy transmitting means, and support means including a housing having a bottom portion and a removable cover portion said cover portion having an opening therethrough for enabling electromagnetic energy from the energy source to be applied to an imaging film through the imaging mask, said support means serving to maintain the energy transmitting means and the energy intercepting and reflecting means of the energy collecting means in a predetermined position with relation to one another, the energy source, and the imaging mask at the imaging film plane whereby substantially the full intensity of the directed, collimated and shaped electromagnetic energy is applied to the imaging film through the imaging mask to attain rapid and substantially uniform dispersion in a preselected pattern of the energy dispersible image forming material on the imaging film.