Appeal No. 1997-2986
Application No. 08/260,784
four different fittings on what appears to be a roll of coil
stock (col. 23, lines 26-35). We agree with the examiner that
the four sets of patterns in Figure 19 can be characterized as
representing "several nested routines ready for cutting"
(Answer at 7), as each of the sets of four patterns represents
a single nest program. Levine further explains that a group
of such patterns can be run together as a job lot:
In addition to optimizing the usage of the
sheet material, the microprocessor is programmed
to identify groups of patterns of a common job
lot so that a job lot can be identified and an
inventory created. It lists the patterns in the
order they are to be plotted on the plotting
table and, where fabricators have numerical
control tape readers at the coil line which
feeds out the sheet material, the computer can
also punch out a tape to directly operate the
metal feed onto the plotting surface. [Col. 22,
lines 29-38.]
Levine does not disclose any method or apparatus for
sorting or unloading the cut pieces. For this teaching, the
examiner relies on Taijonlahti. Taijonlahti's invention (see
Figs. 1 and 2) is a conveyor mechanism 2 located between a
shearing mechanism 1 and an unloading and handling mechanism 3
(col. 3, lines 16-23) and serving "as a buffering conveyor
storage for compensating a momentary operating speed
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