Appeal 2007-3992
Application 10/347,867
17. As in the machine described in the 867 Application, a stream of
tobacco is delivered onto a wrapping material which is then shaped into a
cylinder by a passage between a tongue and a garniture bed. (Labbe
at 2:35-54, and Figure 3.)
18. Figure 10 of Labbe is said to show a two-part tongue. (Labbe
at 3:37-39.)
{Labbe Figure 10 is shown below:}
{Labbe Figure 10 is said to depict a forming tongue.}
19. According to Labbe, part 32 is an "upstream" part, and part 33 is a
"downstream" part. (Labbe at 3:39–40.)
20. Labbe teaches that part 32 is formed from or coated with a plastic
material to which the gum does not stick. (Labbe at 3:40–42.)
21. According to Labbe, "[t]he downstream part 33 is formed of a hard-
wearing material, preferably steel, to withstand the high pressure of the
compressed tobacco in that region." (Labbe at 3:45–48.)
22. Labbe explains that:
[i]n the region of the upstream part 32 of the tongue the tobacco
is not so heavily compressed and therefore has less tendency to
lose its gum . . . [h]owever, a low-friction plastics material
would not have sufficient resistance to wear at the downstream
end where the pressure of tobacco on the tongue is greatest.
(Labbe at 3:56–66.)
7
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013