Ex Parte Kabeya et al - Page 6

                Appeal 2007-2421                                                                             
                Application 10/289,793                                                                       
                                        FINDINGS OF FACT                                                     
                      A.    JFE’s ‘793 Specification                                                         
                1)    JFE’s ‘793 specification states that hot-dip plating is a known                        
                method of continuous plating for a metal strip.  (Specification, p. 1).                      

                2)    JFE ‘793 states that the hot-dip process involves introducing the                      
                metal strip into a molten metal bath wherein the molten metal adheres                        
                to the surface of the strip.  (Id. at 2).                                                    

                3)    JFE ‘793 states that hot dip metal strip processing methods                            
                have long used submersed support rolls to control warp and vibration                         
                of metal strips during processing.  (Id. at 9-10).                                           

                4)    JFE ‘793 alleges that dross adheres to the submersed support                           
                rolls and metal strips and becomes a defect of the metal strip and that                      
                regular shut down of the lines is necessary for maintenance and                              
                replacement of the submersed rolls.  (Id. at 3).                                             

                5)    JFE ‘793 states that support rolls located outside of the metal                        
                bath can suppress vibration in the metal strip and that magnetic forces                      
                may be used to control the shape of the metal strip.  (Specification, p.                     
                28, Example 4 and Fig. 18).                                                                  

                      B.    Prior Art                                                                        
                            1.     Kawamura, JP 11-100651                                                    
                6)    Kawamura is directed to a continuous hot dip metal coating                             
                device that has gas wiping nozzles for regulating the amount of metal                        

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