Appeal No. 1997-2499
Application No. 08/228,449
The “liquid state catalyst coating means” is defined in
the specification at page 7, line 23 through page 9, line 7.
We find the liquid-state catalyst coating means 10 is
described as a liquid state catalyst coating unit 10. We
observe that the specification defines the coating means as
follows (page 8, line 13 to page 9, line 7)
The liquid-state catalyst coating means 10
comprises a retaining tank 10a for retaining the
liquid-state catalyst and a roller assembly arranged
inside this retaining tank 10a. The liquid state
catalyst retained inside the retaining tank 10a has
a catalyst concentration preferably within a range
from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight. As the
solvent, an alcohol, acetone, water, or the like is
used. The roller assembly comprises a lower roller
10b, a middle roller 10c, and an upper roller 10d,
which three rollers are aligned in as vertical
direction. In addition, two adjoining rollers are
brought into contact with each other. Note that, at
the time of operation of the erasing apparatus, the
rollers are driven to rotate in the direction
indicated by the arrow in the figure. The lower
roller 10b acts as a feeding roller of the liquid-
state catalyst. Preferably roughening is applied to
the surface thereof so as to enhance the feeding
property of the liquid-state catalyst. The middle
roller 10c acts as a liquid-state catalyst coating
roller, and the periphery thereof is covered by the
liquid-state catalyst fed from the lower roller 10b.
The upper roller 10d acts as a backup roller with
respect to the middle roller 10c. The recording
paper is made to pass between the middle roller 10c
and the upper roller 10d, and at this time, the
recording surface of the recording medium, that is
the recording agent retaining surface on which a
10
Page: Previous 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007