Appeal No. 2000-0335
Application No. 08/780,551 Page 11
Appellants assert (answer, 7) that appellants' cloud of
toner particles is substantially different from the layer of
toner on conveying member 7 of Fujii. Appellants argue that a
layer of toner particles cannot reasonably be deemed a cloud of
toner particles, and that Fujii cannot reasonably be read to
teach or suggest the step of forming a cloud of toner particles
between the first and third electrodes. Appellants additionally
argue (reply brief, page 3) that figure 3 of Fujii only shows
toner 11 adhering to toner conveying member 7, and asserts that
"[t]he most that can be said about either Fig. 3 or Fig. 2 in
Fujii is that toner 11 is conveyed to the vicinity of hole 4 as a
layer on toner conveying member 7."
Fujii discloses that an object of the invention is to convey
the toner to control means while holding the toner on a toner
supporting member, and forming an alternating electric field
between the control means and the toner supporting member (col.
1, lines 46-50). As shown in figure 3, a toner container 13 is
shown along with blade 14 which is used to apply the toner 11
onto the toner conveyer member 7 (col. 3, lines 56-60). As shown
in figure 4, the toner on the conveying member 17 is made into a
uniform thin layer by the action of blade 14 and passes to the
position of the control member (col. 5, lines 14-17). Toner 11
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