Appeal No. 1999-1113
Application No. 08/888,354
1. A moisture sensor for an agricultural combine having a clean grain
elevator, the moisture sensor comprising:
a vertically extending chamber mounted to the clean grain elevator,
the chamber having an upper inlet and a lower outlet, clean grain enters the
chamber from the clean grain elevator through the inlet and exits the
chamber back into the clean grain elevator through the outlet;
a capacitance sensing means is positioned in the chamber between
the outlet and the inlet, the capacitance sensing means senses the
capacitance of clean grain in the chamber and provides a capacitance
signal that can be related to grain moisture;
a flow control means for controlling the flow of clean grain through the
chamber.
The examiner relies on the following reference:
Oetiker et al. (Oetiker) 4,547,725 Oct. 15, 1985
Instant claim 7, added by amendment on July 30, 1997, corresponds to claim 1 of
U.S. Patent 5,616,851.
Claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Oetiker.
Claim 7 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph, as relying on an
inadequate written description, the examiner taking the position that “[c]laim 7 has no
support in the original specification.”
Reference is made to the brief and answer for the respective positions of
appellants and the examiner.
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