Appeal No. 2000-0335
Application No. 08/780,551 Page 13
Fujii further discloses (col. 6, lines 19-23) that:
Where the toner, like the condensed toner 11b,
cannot pass through the openings 4, the condensed toner
11b is brought back to the toner conveying member 10
side by the AC electric field and does not clog the
openings 4.
Moreover, Fujii discloses (col. 5, lines 46-49) that “when
condensation of the toner or admixture of rough foreign materials
with the toner occurs during long use of the toner, the diameter
of the toner may become approximately equal to the diameter of
the openings 4,” and that reference numeral 11b denotes the
condensed toner (col. 5, lines 62-64).
From the disclosure of Fujii, we do not agree with the
examiner's assertion that toner 11b represents a cloud of toner.
As disclosed by Fujii, toner 11b represents condensed toner
formed by condensation or admixture of rough foreign materials
with the toner. Thus, we find that 11b represents condensed
toner and not a cloud of toner.
From the disclosure that the toner particles 11 are
uniformly applied, and adhere to the toner conveying member, we
find insufficient evidence to suggest that Fujii discloses the
layer of toner on the toner conveying member 7, 17 to be in the
form of a layer. From the disclosure of Fujii that the toner can
Page: Previous 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007