Appeal No. 96-3388 Page 6
Application No. 08/036,857
The examiner also notes Takei teaches a rotating cleaning
brush with a shaft for cleaning a transducer. (Id. at 3.) He
appears to conclude it would have been obvious to replace
Kusaura’s stationary brush with Takei’s rotating brush to
provide more cleaning agitation and prevent damage caused by a
large force concentrated in a small area. (Id. at 4.) In
response, the appellant argues the brush must be located to
accomplish cleaning as the optical pickup moves from one side
of the disk to the opposite side. (Reply Br. at 2.) He
asserts the combination of Kusaura with Okamoto would locate
the brush immediately adjacent the outer periphery of the disk
so the optical head would be cleaned twice when it is conveyed
from the lower side of the disk to the upper side. (Appeal
Br. at 5-6.)
We find the references would have failed to suggest the
means for cleaning of claim 8. The claim recites in pertinent
part “means ... for cleaning the lens of said optical pickup
assembly during its movement from said one side to said
opposite side ....” (Appeal Br. at 9.) The appellant
explains this limitation means the optical lens is cleaned
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Last modified: November 3, 2007