Appeal No. 2002-2184
Application No. 08/406,297
passages in the surface of the manifold plate affixed to the surface of the orifice plate.
(See brief at page 38.) We agree with appellants. Appellants argue that the ink supply
paths 32 in Figure 2 appear to be formed in the surface of the plate that is affixed to the
orifice plate, but none of those passages communicate with any of the orifices in the
orifice plate as required by claim 67. (See brief at page 38.) We agree with appellants.
The examiner maintains at page 4 of the answer that the array of passages is
item 32 which appellants address as discussed above. In the response to arguments
section of the answer, the examiner maintains that Yasuhara disclose pressure
chambers formed in a first surface and a corresponding array of passageways leading
from the pressure chamber to a second surface of the pressure chamber plate. The
examiner appears to maintain that the pressure chambers and ink passages of item 32
extend throughout the entire plate and thereby meets the language of claim 67. Here,
the examiner appears to changes the interpretation of the teachings of Yasuhara from
that set forth in the statement of the rejection. We disagree with the examiner’s
interpretation/application of Yasuhara. The examiner essentially maintains that the
passageways 32 (or 38) go through the manifold plate and that their cross section in the
surface of the manifold plate would meet the language of claim 67. First the language
of claim 67 requires that there be passages through the manifold plate and passages in
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