Appeal 2007-0062
Application 10/706,797
1 (c) grasping the opposed top edges of the bag with a pair of
2 finger assemblies that move inwardly and down to grasp the top edges
3 of the bag, the motion being with respect to the bag;
4 (d) delivering the bag to a sealing apparatus; and
5 (e) sealing the bag.
6 The Examiner’s Findings
7 4. The Examiner found that Applicants’ specification does not
8 provide written description support for, among other things, the steps of
9 “providing a pair of finger assemblies and moving the finger assemblies up,
10 over, and down over the top edges of the bag” as recited per independent
11 claim 48 (Final Rejection 3 and Answer 3).
12 5. Specifically, the Examiner found that the delivering step only
13 includes moving the finger assemblies laterally, directing attention to the
14 portion of the Specification (14:3-5) that states: “The gripper assembly 50
15 then retracts laterally, as seen in Figure 7(i), and transfers the bag 46
16 longitudinally to the conveyor station 54.” (Final Rejection 4).
17 6. The Examiner found that Applicants’ specification does not
18 provide written description support for, among other things, “grasping the
19 opposed top edges of the bag with a pair of finger assemblies that move
20 inwardly and down to grasp the top edges of the bag” as recited in
21 independent claim 58 (Final Rejection 3 and Answer 3).
22 7. Specifically, the Examiner found that the specification (11:14-31)
23 describes “that the fingers assemblies are fixedly mounted to the gripper
4
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Last modified: September 9, 2013