Ex Parte RICHARDS - Page 4




                Appeal No. 2002-0072                                                                           Page 4                   
                Application No. 08/956,912                                                                                              


                every element of the claimed invention.  See, for example, In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d 1475,                                 
                1480-1481, 31 USPQ2d 1671, 1675 (Fed. Cir. 1994).                                                                       
                        Kobler is directed to an apparatus for folding signatures, therein referred to as                               
                substrates.  As shown in Figure 3, first and second signatures are conveyed on a belt                                   
                17 toward a folding mechanism.  Kobler explicitly teaches that “selected” (column 5, line                               
                37) first signatures, for example, those with odd numbers, are deflected by a tongue 40                                 
                of a delay mechanism so that they travel a longer path, via belts 18 and 19, than the                                   
                even numbered second signatures, which remain on belt 17.  Thus, contrary to the                                        
                appellant’s argument (Brief, pages 6 and 7; Reply Brief, pages 1 and 2), it is our view                                 
                that Kobler’s delay mechanism “selectively” processes individual signatures, as is                                      
                required by claim 1.  The result of the selective processing of some signatures by the                                  
                delay mechanism is that a first signature is deposited on top of each second signature                                  
                at the downstream end of the delay mechanism, in edge alignment, thereby creating a                                     
                “signature grouping,” as also is required by claim 1.  Then, as shown in Figure 1, a                                    
                folding blade 14 cooperating with a folding mechanism 13 longitudinally folds the                                       
                signatures in each signature grouping simultaneously.  While the “selective processing”                                 
                and the “signature grouping” in the Kobler system differ from those disclosed in the                                    
                appellant’s specification, anticipation does not require that the reference teach the                                   
                appellant’s invention, but only that the claim on appeal "read on" something disclosed in                               
                the reference, i.e., all limitations of the claim are found in the reference.  See Kalman v.                            








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