Appeal 2006-3398
Application 10/132,199
as the sheets are produced by the laser printer. Belec describes processing more
than one sheet from a sheet stack as a collation rather than processing the sheets
seriatim at very high velocities. As such, Belec would provide motivation for one
skilled in the art at the time of the invention to modify Parkander to handle the
sheets from buffer supply 11 as a collation, rather than handling them singly as
disclosed in Parkander. Specifically, the modified Parkander apparatus would
separate and deflect the corner of each sheet’s lead edge downward as each sheet is
counted and then an auger collation deflection mechanism 20 would bias the
leading edge of the entire collation downward toward the removal means 13, so
that the stack is processed as a collation. Thus, even when the teachings of Belec
and Parkander are combined, we do not find any motivation from the combined
teachings to modify Parkander to restrain from singling and then release for
singling each separator and at least the associated group of sheet material or to
modify Parkander to add a restraining unit arranged to restrain from singling each
separator and its following group of sheet material and then release them for
singling under control of the controller, as required by claims 1 and 17.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
We conclude that the Examiner erred in rejecting claims 1 and 17 under 35
U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over Parkander and Belec.
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