Apparatus and method for thermally processing an imaging material employing a multi-drum processor

A thermal processor for developing an image in an imaging media, the imaging media having a development duration at a development temperature for development of the image, the thermal processor comprising:

• a rotating first drum to heat the imaging media to the development temperature and maintain the imaging media at the development temperature for a portion of the development duration as the imaging media is transported along a surface of the first drum;
• and
• a rotating second drum which receives the imaging media from the first drum and maintains the imaging media at the development temperature for a remaining portion of the development duration as the imaging media is transported along a surface of the second drum,
• wherein the first drum has a diameter which provides the imaging media with a radius of curvature that provides the imaging media with cross-web stiffness sufficient to prevent wrinkling of the imaging media when being heated to the development temperature.

A method of thermally developing an imaging media comprising:

• bending the imaging media to have a radius of curvature that provides the imaging media with cross-web stiffness sufficient to prevent wrinkling of the imaging media as the imaging media is transported along a first portion of a thermal development path and heated to a development temperature, wherein cross-web is in a direction lateral to movement the imaging media along the transport path;
• maintaining the imaging media at the development temperature for a first portion of a development duration as the imaging is transported along the first portion of the thermal development path;
• and
• maintaining the imaging media at the development temperature for a remaining portion of the development duration as the imaging media is transported along a remaining portion of the thermal development path.