Appeal No. 98-3125
Application Nos. 08/294,730, 90/003,655, 90/003,826 and
90/004,552
horizontal main conveyor means associated with the loading
section (2) for conveying groups of logs toward the drum, with
said main conveyor means having a discharge end below the axis
of rotation of the drum; drive means (not shown) for
continuously driving the main conveyor means; and "auxiliary
feed means" below the axis of rotation of the drum in the form
of a separate driven chain conveyor associated with the feed
cylinder (3) and located between the discharge end of the main
conveyor means and the inlet end of the debarker drum for
assisting the movement of groups of logs fed by the main
conveyor means into said inlet end of the drum. Given this
teaching in Sepling, we find the examiner's use of the Hill
and Wehr patents to be mere surplusage and sustain the § 103
rejection of claim 1 on the basis of Sepling alone. As has
been made clear by our reviewing Courts on numerous occasions,
anticipation or lack of novelty is the ultimate or epitome of
obviousness. See, in this regard, In re Fracalossi, 681 F.2d
792, 794, 215 USPQ 569, 571 (CCPA 1982); In re Pearson, 494
F.2d 1399, 1403, 181 USPQ 641, 644 (CCPA 1974).
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