Appeal No. 1996-2050
Application 08/146,779
2 and 3 picks up said films on each surface thereof, the films being laid thereon in their
final form. [Page 2, left col., lines 8-15, and right col., lines 44-46; emphasis supplied.]
Thus, we find that one of ordinary skill in this art would have reasonably inferred from Thiele that the 3
purpose of the semi-resilient surface for the coating rolls of the apparatus of Thiele is to form, maintain
and transfer a smooth film of uniform thickness to the surface of the paper sheet.
We find that Lux discloses that the purpose of surface treating rolls in apparatus used in the
manufacture of metal sheet or metal coils is “to squeegee the surface of the metal sheet or to apply . . .
solutions . . . to . . . the surface of the metal sheet” and that while “[r]ubber rolls have been used for
this purpose for a long period of time,” “rolls made of compacted sheets of fabric” are “superior to
rubber rolls” and have “improved squeegee action, resistance to damage induced by the coil edge or
splice, and useful life” (col. 1, lines 12-34; emphasis supplied). Lux further discloses that “[w]hile the
fabric rolls typically have a longer useful life than the rubber rolls, they are . . . susceptible to damage
when exposed to very harsh chemical environments” created in the manufacture of the metal sheets
(col. 1, lines 35-53). Thus, Lux discloses a particular “polyolefin fiber roll that is resistant to physical
damage and resistant to . . . harsh aqueous chemical environments,” which rolls “effectively squeegee
liquids from the surface of a metal strip even after being physically damaged,” even “if needed,
dressing the sides of the compacted pile to form a smooth cylindrical surface” (col. 2, lines 30-36, and
58-59; emphasis supplied). Lux teaches that “[a]fter compaction of the discs and formation of the roll,
surface dressing is usually required to obtain a relatively cylindrical smooth surface . . .usually . . . by
use of conventional devices . . . such as by use of a grinder, skiving knife or other means” (col. 4, lines
17-22; emphasis supplied; see also col. 9, lines 16-22). Lux demonstrates the performance of a
dressed, that is, smoothed, roll with respect to squeegeeing efficiency by “continuously squeegee hot
water from the surface of a mating steel roll” (col. 9, lines 25-51). Thus, we find that Lux would only
3In evaluating the teachings of Thiele and Lux, we must, of course, consider the specific teachings
thereof and the inferences one of ordinary skill in this art would have reasonably been expected to draw
therefrom. In re Fritch, 972 F.2d 1260, 1264-65, 23 USPQ2d 1780, 1782-83 (Fed. Cir. 1992); In
re Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA 1968). In evaluating the relevance of the
various teachings of these references, we must presume skill on the part of those of ordinary skill in this
art. See In re Sovish, 769 F.2d 738, 743, 226 USPQ 771, 774 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
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