Appeal No. 1999-0400
Application No. 08/316,938
for about 5 to 10 minutes to convert the particles to a uniform
diameter particle size, (5) compacting the uniform particles in
a marumerizer for about 15 to 90 seconds or in a conventional
rotating coating pan for about 15 to 30 minutes, (6) drying the
particles, (7) separating the microspheres using U.S. Standard
sieve screens, and (8) coating the microspheres having the
desired size with an acid-resistant polymer (see column 4,
lines 36 through 50; column 6 lines 1 through 46; and column 7,
lines 1 through 54).
The appellants do not dispute the examiner’s finding (see
page 5 in the answer) that Sipos meets all of the limitations
in claim 1 except for the one requiring the agglomerate-forming
sieve to be “conical.” As was the case with Edwards, Sipos
does not specify the shape of the agglomerate-forming sieve
(the 10 to 18 mesh S/S screen) disclosed therein.
As also was the case with Edwards, and notwithstanding the
appellants’ arguments to the contrary, the combined teachings
of Sipos, Edmonds and Bremer would have suggested the
implementation of Sipos’ sieve-agglomeration or granulation
step via a commonplace conical sieve of the sort disclosed by
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