Process and device for developing a two-component diazotype material

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A VISIBLE AZO DYE ON A DIAZOTYPE SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING A VAPOR-PERMEABLE SUPPORT, A TWO-COMPONENT DIAZOTYPE LAYER, AND A LAYER OF A HEAT-ACTIVATABLE, DEVELOPING-VAPOR-PRODUCING COMPOSITION, SAID PROCESS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) PROVIDING A HEATED VAPOR IMPERMEABLE SURFACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACER ELEMENTS EXTENDING THEREFROM AND TERMINATING IN A PLANE SPACIALLY DISPOSED FROM SAID SURFACE; (B) POSITIONING SAID SHEET MATERIAL SUBSTANTIALLY IN SAID PLANE WITH SAID HEAT-ACTIVATABLE LAYER IN CONTACT WITH SAID ELEMENTS, WHEREBY VAPORS PRODUCED BY SAID COMPOSITON UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HEAT FROM SAID SURFACE ARE ENTRAPPED IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SURFACE AND SAID SHEET MATERIAL AND ARE FURTHER STEP OF POSITIONING A VAPOR IMPERMEABLE SURFACE AND (C) MAINTAINING SAID SHEET MATERIAL IN SAID POSITION FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO DEVELOP SAID DYE.