Appeal No. 1997-4444
Application 08/427,884
Claim 1
Appellant argues that Yamakawa does not disclose "said
locating platen being fixed relative to said movable
mechanical couplers." Appellant notes that "fixed" is defined
by Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary as "securely
placed or fastened: STATIONARY" and "not subject to change or
fluctuation." Appellant interprets "fixed" to mean
"stationary."
The Examiner interprets "fixed relative to" to mean that
the relationship between the platen and the couplers is fixed,
i.e., that they move together as noted in the § 112, second
paragraph, rejection. The Examiner states that the only fixed
relationship is in the vertical direction and, thus, "'fixed'
has been interpreted as 'fixed in a vertical direction'"
(EA17).
In the context of claim 1, "fixed" with regard to the
"movable mechanical couplers" indicates that "fixed" should be
interpreted to mean that the platen is "stationary" and the
mechanical couplers are "movable." Since we do not consider
"fixed" to be misleading, as discussed with respect to the
§ 112, second paragraph, rejection of claim 1, we do not agree
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