Heat-sink imaging apparatus for live skin tissue using pulsed energy source

A recording system for recording the surface topology of live skin tissue, said recording system comprising:

• an energy transmitting and contact member spring mounted for a given predetermined inward movement when a given inward pressure is applied thereto;
• a heat imageable recording medium supported in confronting relation to one side of said energy transmitting and contact member, which recording medium is to be brought into contact with said energy transmitting and contact member to depress the same when an image of said live skin tissue is to be made, said recording medium comprising a substrate facing said member and upon he outer side of which there is a layer of a heat-responsive imaging material exposed to be engaged by said live skin tissue, and which, upon conduction of a given amount of heat energy to any given portion thereof, will be heated to a given imaging temperature in the absence of any substantial heat-sinking applied to said outer side of the recording medium;
• energy applying means for applying energy to said heat transmitting and contact member which energy is transmitted to the substrate of said recording medium to provide heat energy therein in sufficient amounts to effect conduction of at least said given amount of heat energy to each of the various portions of said layer of imaging material of the recording medium, to provide selective imaging of unheat-sinked or minimally heat-sinked portions of said layer of imaging material;
• and means responsive to a given movement of said energy transmitting and contact member for applying energy to said member for a predetermined period, and wherein, said energy applied by said energy applying means to said energy transmitting and contact member is heat energy conducted to the substrate of the recording medium.

A recording system for recording the surface topology of live skin tissue, said recording system comprising:

• an energy transmitting and contact member;
• a heat imageable recording medium supported in confronting relation to one side of said energy transmitting and contact member, which recording medium is brought into contact with said energy transmitting and contact member to depress the same when an image of said live skin tissue is to be made, said recording medium comprising a substrate facing said member and upon the outer side of which there is a layer of a heat-responsive imaging material exposed to be engaged by said live skin tissue and which, upon conduction of a given amount of heat energy to any given portion thereof, will be heated to a given imaging temperature in the absence of any substantial heat-sinking applied to said one side of the recording medium;
• energy applying means for applying energy to said heat transmitting and contact member which is transmitted to the substrate of said recording medium to provide heat energy therein in sufficient amounts to effect conduction of at least said given amount of heat energy to each of the various portions of said layer of imaging material of the recording medium, to provide selective imaging of unheat-sinked or minimally heat-sinked portions of said layer of imaging material, said energy applying means including a body to be heated to a given temperature;
• said energy transmitting and contact member being a heat storing member which is initially contiguous to said body to be heated and stores sufficient heat energy to transmit said given amount of heat energy to said various portions of the layer of imaging material of said recording medium when the recording medium is brought into contiguous relation thereto;
• and there is positioned between said body to be heated and said heat storing member a material of relatively low heat conductivity, so that when the heat stored in said heat storing member passes into said recording medium the heat storing member will receive heat only slowly from said body to be heated while remaining contiguous thereto.

A recording system for recording the surface topology of live skin tissue, said recording system comprising:

• an energy transmitting and contact member against which a heat imageable recording medium is to be pressed by said live skin tissue, said recording medium to include a substrate upon the outer side of which there is a layer of a heat-responsive-imaging material exposed so as to be engaged by said live skin tissue and which, upon conduction of a given amount of heat energy to any given portion thereof, will be heated to a given imaging temperature in the absence of any substantial heat-sinking applied to the outer side of the recording medium;
• heat applying means for applying energy to said heat transmitting and contact member which energy is transmitted to the substrate of said recording medium in sufficient amounts to effect conduction of at least said given amount of heat energy to the various portions of said layer of imaging material thereof, to provide selective imaging of unheat-sinked or minimally heat-sinked portions of said layer of imaging material, said heat applying means including a body whose temperature is to be heated to a given temperature;
• said energy transmitting and contact member being a heat storing member which is at least initially contiguous to said body to be heated where it stores therein sufficient heat energy to produce said given amount of heat energy conducted to said various portions of the layer of imaging material of said recording medium brought into contiguous relation thereto;
• and means following the imaging of said recording medium for withdrawing said body to be heated from its position contiguous to said energy transmitting and contact member to prevent discomfort or damage to said live skin tissue if held for a prolonged period in its position pressing the recording medium against said member.

Apparatus for recording the surface topology of live skin tissue, said apparatus comprising:

• a recording station and a recording strip-severing station;
• a strip of imageable recording material extending by said fingerprint recording and strip-severing stations, said strip of recording material having an imaging layer on one side thereof;
• said recording station including imaging means responsive to application of a given live skin tissue pressure to said strip of recording material by providing an image of the surface topology of the skin tissue applied thereto;
• means for automatically advancing the imaged portion of said strip of recording material to said strip-severing station when pressure on said strip of recording material is relieved;
• said strip-severing station including strip-severing means mounted for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position where the imaged portion of said strip of material is severed from the rest of the same;
• and means for operating said strip-severing means.

Apparatus for recording the surface topology of live skin tissue, said apparatus comprising:

• a recording station and a recording strip-severing station;
• a strip of imageable recording material extending by said recording and strip-severing stations and between take-up and supply reels, said strip of recording material having an imaging layer covered by an optically transparent exposed release material which will not adhere to a pressure sensitive adhesive material, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on the opposite side thereof;
• said recording station including imaging means which, upon application of live skin tissue to said imaging layer of said strip of recording material, provides an image of the surface topology thereof;
• means for momentarily rotating said supply reel to advance the imaged portion of said strip of recording material to said strip-severing station after a live skin tissue image is formed;
• said recording strip-severing station including a strip-severing means mounted for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position where the imaged portion of said strip of imageable recording material is severed from the rest of the same, the strip of imageable recording material from which the imaged portion thereof has been severed maintaining its integity to form a web of such material which is would upon said take-up reel;
• and means for operating said strip-severing means.

Apparatus for recording a fingerprint and applying the same to a check or the like, said apparatus comprising:

• a fingerprint recording station and a check-receiving station;
• a strip of heat-imageable recording material initially wound on a supply reel and extending therefrom passed said fingerprint recording and check-receiving stations and then extending upon a take-up reel, said recording material having a substrate upon which is coated a heat-responsive imaging layer, an exposed layer of pressure sensitive adhesive material on said substrate, and an exposed optically transparent exposed release material on said imaging layer;
• said fingerprint recording station including imaging means responsive to the application of a given finger pressure to said heat-responsive imaging layer of said strip of heat imageable recording material for providing an image of the surface topology of the skin tissue applied thereto and for automatically advancing the imaged portion of said strip of heat imageable recording material to said check-receiving station when pressure on said strip of material is relieved;
• said check-receiving station including a strip-severing and recording material applying means mounted for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position where the fingerprint imaged portion of said strip of material is severed from the rest of the same and applied to a check at said check-receiving station, the strip of heat imageable recording material from which the fingerprint portion thereof has been severed maintaining its integity to form a web of such material which is wound upon said take-up reel;
• and means for operating said strip-severing and recording material applying means.