Appeal No. 96-2742 Application No. 08/311,371 electrical instruction signals to the recording and reproducing unit without going through the control means. For the loading instruction signals from the carrying means to the recording and reproducing unit, the examiner relies (Answer, page 6) on lines 2-8 on page 6 of appellants' specification: The carrying apparatus 8 . . . inserts such medium to the loading unit 6a of the recording and reproducing unit 6, causes the loading unit 6a to insert the recording medium into the loading unit 6a and thereafter causes the carrying mechanism 8a to be retired . . . . The examiner asserts (Supplemental Answer, pages 1 and 2) that the above-noted portion discloses that the carrying apparatus "causes the loading unit 6a" to do something, and "[t]o cause such an action, some sort of signal must be sent (via a mechanical, electrical or other medium)." In quoting the above portion (Answer, page 6), the examiner substitutes "read/write processing unit 6b" for the last occurrence of "loading unit 6a" as "an attempt to make it read as it is believed [was] intended" (Supplemental Answer, page 2). Further, the examiner alludes to a potential issue under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph. Thus, the examiner 6Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007