Appeal No. 2000-1354 Page 7
Application No. 08/894,129
clamping mechanism 47 to release the lower die 45 via
retraction of the clamping claws 47a.
Then, under these conditions, the arm of the
unillustrated automatic exchanger device grips the lower
die 45. Once the arm grips the lower die, the lower die
45 is detached from the lower main shaft 30 by lowering
the lower main shaft 30, in the manner shown in FIG. 3.
Once, removal of the upper and lower dies 23 and 45
is completed, the arm of the unillustrated automatic
exchanger device is pivoted so that the next upper and
lower dies which are gripped by the arm approach the
upper and lower main shafts 3 and 30 in turn attachment
of the next dies can be carried out by reversing the
detachment procedure. Through this technique dies can be
automatically replaced with the next required dies.
Claims 14 to 28
We will not sustain the rejection of claims 14 to 28
under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
Independent claim 14 reads as follows:
Sheet working center comprising:
a body;
a work table whereon a sheet to be worked is placed;
means for holding and moving said sheet on said
table;
upper and lower tools for working on opposite sides
of said sheet at a working level; and
a transfer device for moving said lower tool in a
direction perpendicular to the plane of said sheet, said
lower tool being mounted in said transfer device which is
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