Appeal No. 96-3845
Application No. 08/209,260
inform us that the automatic capsule filling machine includes an
upper white sheet, a detachable black sheet, a middle white
sheet, and a bottom part with four studs, a frame, and screws.
We also fully appreciate that the particular capsule filling
apparatus of Norelli (page 3, lines 4 through 11) can be provided
with alternative elements for addressing capsules of a different
size, that the manual capsule filling apparatus of Inman (column
4, lines 48 through 52) can be used with a variety of capsule
sizes by providing additional body section parts and cap section
plates, and that the capsule filling apparatus of Austin (column
7, lines 69 through 75) may be adjusted to accommodate different
size capsules by replacing hinged units including bars 326 and
arms 339 on drum 320 (Figure 13).
With the above in mind, we turn now to independent claims 1
and 3.
As to the specific method of handling capsules set forth in
appellant’s claim 1, it is apparent to us that the applied
teachings, collectively considered, would have failed to suggest
the recited positioning and orienting of first and larger second
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Last modified: November 3, 2007