Appeal No. 1996-4167 Page 6
Application No. 08/324,369
blocking position in which extrudate flow to the respective filter is blocked and flow
through the respective flow passage is blocked. Shirato, Lin and the Admitted Prior Art
do not teach or suggest a filter-replacement device having a start-up outlet bore
communicating with the first flow passage, the first cartridge having a tap for diverting
extrudate from the inlet to the outlet bore. Thus, neither Shirato, Lin or the Admitted
Prior Art has a start-up position for the first cartridge in which, extrudate flow to the first
filter is blocked and in which the tap communicates with the inlet to receive the
extrudate and direct the extrudate to the outlet bore.
To supply these omissions in the teachings of Shirato, Lin and the Admitted Prior
Art, the examiner relied on the teachings of either Konno or Gaul. Konno and Gaul
both teach the use a filter-replacement device for an extruder having a housing having
an inlet and an outlet for flowing plastic extrudate; a single flow passages for the
extrudate extending between the inlet and the outlet; a start-up outlet bore
communicating with the single flow passage; a single linear bore that extends through
the single flow passage; and a single cartridge adapted to move back and forth inside
the single bore. The single cartridge has both a replaceable filter and a tap for diverting
extrudate from the inlet to the outlet bore. The tap can be replaced with a filter. The
single cartridge is movable between two positions. A first/start-up position in which,
extrudate flow to the filter is blocked and in which the tap communicates with the inlet to
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