Appeal 2007-2421
Application 10/289,793
that sticks to the surface of a steel strip fed into a metal dip tank.
(Kawamura, p. 6).
7) Kawamura describes its hot dip metal process as employing a
conventional settling tank. Specifically, Kawamura states:
Next, modes for reducing a continuous hot dip metal
coating device according to the present invention to
practice will be discussed based of Figs. 1 to 3. In these
modes, a plurality of sets of magnetic force generating
means (for example, direct current electromagnets) (2)
and noncontact type range finders (3) (for example,
ultrasonic range finders) or an array of linear motors (4)
are disposed as shown in Fig. 1 in a conventional
continuous settling tank provided with gas wiping
nozzles (5).
(Id. at 8, emphasis added).
C. Declaration Testimony
1. Mr. Kazuo Kawamura
8) Mr. Kawamura is one of the named coinventors of the
Kawamura reference relied upon by the Examiner. (Kawamura
Declaration, p. 1).
9) Mr. Kawamura testifies that all CGLs operating in Japan at the
time of the invention were equipped with submersed support rollers.
(Id. at 1-2).
10) Mr. Kawamura testifies that he omitted the submersed support
rolls from his application drawings because he deemed it unnecessary
7
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