Appeal No. 1996-2015
Application No. 08/181,539
Here, Lee describes an apparatus for preparing uniform dispersions of a disperse phase
component (i.e., immiscible material) in a continuous phase component (i.e., carrier liquid), comprising
a first retaining means 12 for the disperse phase component, a second retaining
means 14 for the continuous phase component, a disperser means 40 (i.e., mixer unit), a first
supplying means 28-34-36-42 for supplying the disperse phase component at a constant rate, a
second supplying means 30-34-38-44 for supplying the continuous phase component at a
constant rate, and an outlet port 62 (i.e., means for supplying the dispersion to a polymerization means)
connected directly to any desired process (i.e., polymerization means) (col. 4, lines 65-68; col. 6, line
22 - col. 7, line 45; Fig. 1). Disperser means 40 is any mixer unit which provides rapid and complete
mixing and can be operated on a “demand” basis, preferably a gear pump mixer (col. 6, lines 7-18;
col. 7, lines 63-73; col. 11, line 74 - col. 12, line 1). Thus, Lee differs in failing to disclose the
specifically claimed disperser means (i.e., mixer).
China describes a mill mixer useful in treating suspensions of disperse and continuous phase
liquids with improved efficiency (page 1, lines 1-2, 9-11 and 16-19). The mixer comprises separate
input pipes 142 which feed liquids through hollow shafts 125 and 126 directly to a shear force field
between the working surfaces 149 and 156 of closely adjacent upper and lower rotors 151 and 146
and an output chamber 129 having an outlet 131 (Fig. 1; page 1, line 76 - page 2, line 120; page 4,
lines 41-87). One of the rotors may be stationary or both may rotate in the same or opposite directions
- 6 -
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007