Appeal No. 2005-0584
Application No. 09/745,414 Page 2
10. An inlet arrangement for inserting a preform
into a furnace for drawing fiber, comprising:
an inlet;
an outlet downstream of the inlet,
a first conveying path through the inlet
arrangement extending from the inlet to the outlet, the
first conveying path for conveying the perform body
from and through the inlet to and through the outlet;
a first seal;
a closure member located downstream of the inlet
and between the first seal and the outlet, the closure
member selectively moveable between a closed position
that closes and seals the first conveying path and an
opened position that opens and unseals the first
conveying path; and
an injector located downstream of the closure
member and between the closure member and the outlet,
the injector for injecting a gas into the first
conveying path of the inlet arrangement.
The sole prior art reference of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims is:
Nicholson et al. (Nicholson) 5,713,979 Feb. 03, 1998
Claim 10 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being
anticipated by Nicholson.
We refer to the brief and reply brief and to the answer for
a complete exposition of the opposing viewpoints expressed by
appellants and the examiner concerning the issues before us on
this appeal.
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