Appeal No. 1997-1598
Application 08/456,699
figure 7 of EP ‘387 extends to a point immediately adjacent
impeller 105, the teaching in EP ‘387 that “the gas bubble
created in front or upstream of the impeller is continuously
removed” (col. 11, lines 12-14) indicates that the gas
separation must start in a spiral flow path created by the
spiral strip (answer, pages 6-7). Also, the examiner argues
that some rotational movement of the suspension must take
place due to frictional forces between the rotating spiral
strip and the pulp suspension, and states that he finds it
difficult to believe that such friction does not cause gas
separation (answer, pages 8-9).
Appellants rely upon a declaration of Kaj Olof Henricson
(attachment to paper no. 10, filed July 5, 1996), one of the
EP ‘387 inventors, wherein it is stated (paragraphs 3 and 4)
that spiral strip 100, which has a relatively large clearance
with housing inlet 102, creates a high pressure and pushes the
pulp toward impeller 105 without causing significant spiral
movement of the pulp or causing gas separation from the pulp.
Henricson states that it is the high rotational speed of
impeller 105 which causes the gas separation (see id.).
Appellants’ claim 27, which is the sole independent
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