Appeal No. 1998-2504
Application No. 08/664,279
BACKGROUND
The appellants’ invention relates to an automatic cartridge feeder with a priority slot.
The priority slot is used to process cartridges out of the sequence set forth for the
cartridges in the cartridge magazine. An understanding of the invention can be derived
from a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced below.
1. A cartridge feeder system for engagement with a drive unit and for
providing cartridges to the drive unit for processing, the feeder system comprising:
a magazine port that mates with a removable cartridge magazine having a plurality
of shelves adapted to receive a cartridge for processing by the drive unit;
a priority slot separate from the magazine port and adapted to directly receive a
cartridge for processing by the drive unit; and
a transport mechanism that exchanges cartridges between the magazine port and
the drive unit by performing steps comprising:
exchanging cartridges between cartridge shelves of the cartridge magazine
and the drive unit;
detecting placement of a cartridge in the priority slot; and
in response to said detection, interrupting said cartridge exchange to
transport the priority slot cartridge to the drive unit.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the examiner in rejecting the
appealed claims are:
Kobayashi et al. (Kobayashi) 5,353,269 Oct. 04, 1994
(filing date Aug. 19, 1992)
Fago EP 0 392 620 Oct. 17, 1990
2
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