Appeal No. 2001-0345
Application 09/041,416
substrate, the toner having a charge opposite the charge on the
substrate surface, followed by fixing or imaging. Finally,
either the non-fixed toner is removed, or the fixed toner is
removed after printing operations.
Our study of Doyle leads us to conclude that this reference
provides substantive teachings directly applicable to the subject
matter of independent claim 1 not apparently appreciated by both
the examiner and appellants. Although we recognize that the
embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 of Doyle focus upon the use
of powdered toner materials, page 3 of Doyle's specification
indicates that a liquid toner is alternatively taught or, at a
minimum, suggested for use in Doyle's embodiments. Page 3, lines
7-9.
Figure 1 in Doyle shows a substrate that has been charged
with a negative or grounded potential with respect to an
obviously positive charged potential applied to the toner in the
coating station 10. This charging appears to be applicable to
the entire surface as well as the application of the powdered
toner as well. Exposure station 20 fixes the image on the
underlying substrate 1 to the same extent as the fixing step of
independent claim 1 on appeal. Finally, the decorating station
30 uses an air knife 31 to remove all non-fixed powdered toner
4
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