Appeal No. 1997-2499
Application No. 08/228,449
recording is performed by the non-catalyst-
containing recording agent composed of the near IR
erasable dye is directed so as to come into contact
with the middle roller 10c, whereby the recording
agent on the recording paper coated by the liquid-
state catalyst.
Based upon the above disclosure we interpret the “liquid-
state catalyst coating means” as an integral part of the
apparatus wherein liquid state catalyst from a retaining tank
is coated onto a recording medium by the utilization of
rollers.
In comparison, the admitted prior art does not describe a
“liquid-state catalyst coating means.” We can infer from the
admitted prior art that an appropriate catalyst, for example,
a tetra butyl ammonium butyl triphenyl borate is applied to
the recording surface of the recording medium. We can
moreover infer that the catalyst is applied upstream of the
“erasing processing means.” However, we cannot infer from the
admitted prior art whether the catalyst is necessarily in a
liquid state. Nor can we infer whether the catalyst was
coated on the medium as opposed to being sprayed on the medium
or the medium being dipped into the catalyst. Indeed, there
is no requirement in the admitted prior art that the liquid-
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