Appeal 2007-1799
Application 10/036,991
containment chamber (Call 4: ¶ 0035; ‘674 13:22-24 and 15:13-15).
Accordingly, Call teaches a sanitizer module for sanitizing the mailpiece
positioned down stream of the incoming mail handler.
Call teaches that containment chamber includes HEPA filters to filter
air released into the environment from inside the containment chamber (Call
8: ¶ 0110; ‘674 15:3-7). As Call explains, once mail has passed through the
mail sampling system (e.g., containment chamber) it is further processed by
conventional mail handler machines (e.g., an outgoing mail handler) (Call 9:
¶ 0121; ‘674 15:20-21). However, prior to reaching the outgoing mail
handler, the mail must pass through a transition zone (e.g., the outgoing side
of the containment chamber) which is not only filtered, but is also operated
under negative pressure to avoid contamination of the environment outside
of the chamber (Call 2: ¶ 0020 and 9: ¶ 0116 ; ‘674 13:11-19). While we
recognize that claim 1 requires a filtered transition area downstream of the
sanitizer module, we note that both the claim and Appellants’ Specification
fail to specifically define the intended scope encompassed by an area
downstream of the sanitizer module. At best Appellants’ Specification states
[a]ppropriate filtration and sealing can be provided in transition
area 43 of the feed path F that is a passage between the clean
room 42 and sanitization area 42 [sic, 40]. A containment
module (not shown), for example, can be placed around that
area with filtration devices and an opening along the feed path
F to accommodate the largest mailpiece which can be sorted by
the system.
(Specification 12: ¶ 038; see also 16: ¶ 048 and 19: ¶ 056).
As discussed above, Call teaches a sanitizer module as a subsystem of
the containment chamber. The containment chamber is filtered and operated
under negative pressure. Accordingly, we find that the transition from the
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