Appeal 2007-0513
Application 10/274,797
1 Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
2 Sedwick discloses “a seaming head provided with a chuck and a body
3 portion rotatable relative thereto, which body portion carries the seaming rolls for
4 rolling a can end and flange on a can body into a double seam” (Sedwick 1:3-8).
5 The chuck (2) has an annular projection (13) and is rotated by a spindle (3) to
6 which the chuck is attached (Sedwick 1:88-91; 2:53-54). A steel plate (19) is
7 clamped between the chuck and a shoulder (20) on the spindle, and rotates with the
8 spindle (Sedwick 2:44-47). A gap between the steel plate and the chuck’s annular
9 projection is sized such that an outer edge portion (16) of the seaming rolls wedges
10 between the steel plate and the annular projection when the outer edge portion is
11 brought into contact with the chuck by use of a cam (Sedwick: 2:10-20, 52-58, 84-
12 88). The gripping contact of the steel plate with the seaming rolls causes rotation
13 of the seaming rolls (Sedwick 2: 58-61). The surface speed imparted to the
14 seaming rolls by the steel plate is varied by inward shift of the point of contact
15 between the steel plate and the seaming rolls as the double seam’s outer diameter
16 decreases due to compression of the seam during the double seaming operation
17 (Sedwick 2:92-99; figs. 2, 3). That surface speed variation prevents slippage
18 between the seaming rolls and the metal parts which they contact (Sedwick 2:99-
19 104).
20 The Examiner relies upon Sedwick’s spring plate 19 as corresponding to the
21 Appellant’s second drive mechanism for rotating the double seaming roll to reduce
22 relative rotational speed between the double seaming roll and a workpiece
23 (Answer 3, 5).
24 The Appellant argues (Br. 8):
25 Sedwick does not have a second drive mechanism that is normally
26 disengaged from the rotational drive means, and that becomes engaged as
3
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Last modified: September 9, 2013