Thermal development sheet cooling method, and thermal development apparatus

A thermal development apparatus comprising:

• a cooling unit, for cooling a thermal development sheet that is thermally developed at a predetermined development temperature,
• wherein said cooling unit includes
• a first cooling area, wherein said cooling unit employs a rotary member pair, kept at a temperature lower than a development temperature, to sandwich and feed said thermal development sheet that is developed, and reduces the temperature of said thermal development sheet to suppress further development progression,
• a second cooling area, wherein, following the discharge of said thermal development sheet from said rotary member pair, said cooling unit feeds said thermal development sheet in a non-contact state a predetermined distance through the air at a temperature lower than the temperature of said rotary member pair, thereby cooling said thermal development sheet while the inherent weight thereof induces curling,
• a third cooling area, wherein a guide member is provided along which said thermal development sheet is sandwiched and fed to correct the curved shape thereof, and wherein said cooling unit cools said thermal development sheet to the temperature of a sheet support member that is equal to or lower than a softening point temperature;
• and
• a fourth cooling area, wherein discharge rollers are provided for sandwiching and for discharging to the outside said thermal development sheet that is fed along said guide member, and wherein the temperature of said thermal development sheet is further reduced.