Appeal No. 2000-1234 Page 8
Application No. 08/911,442
depicts a bin that accommodates a plurality of cassettes of a
first size and bin 6c accommodates cassettes of only a second
size.” (Examiner’s Answer at 6.) The appellant argues, “in
Fig. 1 of Sato et al., ‘bin’ 6C accommodates more than one
cassette, thus not meeting the claim limitation.” (Reply Br.
at 4.)
In deciding anticipation, “the first inquiry must be into
exactly what the claims define.” In re Wilder, 429 F2d 447,
450, 166 USPQ 545, 548 (CCPA 1970). Here, independent claim
11 specifies in pertinent part the following limitations: "a
cassette accommodating portion having a plurality of cassette
bins for accommodating a plurality of different types of
cassettes of different sizes housing different types of
recording media having different types of recording formats, .
. . each one of said cassette bins accommodating a plurality
of cassette having a first size or only one cassette having a
second size. . . .” Accordingly, limitations require inter
alia cassette bins wherein at least one of the bins
accommodate only one cassette.
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