Appeal No. 1998-0331
Application No. 08/297,257
prior art, for supporting an art rejection under 35 U.S.C. §
103. Vallance teaches that tapered roller bearings are
"capable of carrying some thrust" and "prevent the imposed
radial load from including excessive end thrust." See p. 284.
Hermann teaches that it was known in the art to support
machine tool spindles with tapered roller bearings, and that
it was known that such bearings provide strong accurate radial
support for the spindle and are capable of bearing the axial
thrust imposed on the spindle. See col. 1, ll. 25-31. Acme
teaches that it was known to support spindles with tapered
roller bearing in the multiple spindle bar machine art. See
footnote 6, supra.
The second matter requiring the examiner’s attention
relates to the recitation in claim 1 of "bearing loading means
for applying a force on the first and second set of tapered
roller bearings to minimize lateral movement of the bearings .
. . and thus minimize movement of the spindle carrier and
workpieces supported by the spindle carrier in a direction
parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle carrier"
(emphasis added). The examiner should determine if the
appellants' use of the word "lateral" to describe the movement
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