Appeal No. 1997-1669
Application No. 08/185,649
for feeding sample vials into a gas chromatograph including a
rotatable heatable sample vessel store or block (30), a
lifting member (52) comprising a vertically displaceable rod
to transport vials into the block (30) from below the block
(30) and out of the block (30) and a second device for lifting
the block (30) and the sample vials so the sample vials engage
a stationary needle (34). Smith is relied upon to teach a
gear means for rotating a platen. The examiner relies upon
Lorch to teach displaceable rods (46, 48) for use on an
analysis device (3).
Based on the combined teachings of Stone, Otson, Chlosta
‘733, Smith and Lorch, the examiner concluded that it would
have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
time the invention was made to incorporate a heater into the
sample tray of Stone as taught by Chlosta ‘733 and to use the
device to sample headspace gases as taught by Otson because it
is well known in the art that heating the samples prior to
sampling decreases the sampling time significantly. The
examiner further urged that it would have been obvious to one
of ordinary skill in the art to use a lifting means such as
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