Appeal 2006-3345
Application 10/256,982
As stated supra, Kujubu’s heater head 51, heater strip 72, and heater wire 74
are heated only after the vacuum box 22 has been evacuated. As such, Kujubu
does not disclose continuously heating the sealing bar while the vacuum is being
generated. The Examiner found that Kujubu discloses that its sealing bar is
continuously heated during the closing step from the time the bag is clamped to the
time the bag is sealed and cut while the bag is still supported, the vacuum is still
being generated, and the bag is still clamped by the sealing bars (Answer 5). The
claim, however, requires that the sealing bar is continuously heated during the
generating step. As stated supra, Kujubu does not turn on the limit switch to heat
its heater head 51 until after “the desired degree of vacuum within the bag 1 has
been obtained” (i.e., the vacuum has been generated). As such, Kujubu does not
disclose continuously heating at least one sealing bar “during” this generating step.
Claim 14, directed to a vacuum packaging machine, recites “a heater which
is continuously connected to a source of current to generate heat with at least one
of said opposing sealing bars when (i) said vacuum generator is operated to
generate said vacuum, and (ii) said sealing mechanism is operated to close said
opposing sealing bars about the open end of the package.” As stated supra,
Kujubu discloses that after the desired degree of vacuum within the bag 1 has been
obtained and after the bag has been clamped by the heater head 51, the limit
switch, which controls the connection of the lead wires of the heater components to
the power source, is turned “ON” so that electric current is passed through the
heater strip 72 and the heater wire 74, whereupon the bag 1 is heat sealed. Thus,
Kujubu discloses that the heater head 51, heater strip 72, and heater wire 74 are
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