Task: songer_geniss

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals.
Your task is to identify the issue in the case, that is, the social and/or political context of the litigation in which more purely legal issues are argued. Put somewhat differently, this field identifies the nature of the conflict between the litigants. The focus here is on the subject matter of the controversy rather than its legal basis. Consider the following categories: "criminal" (including appeals of conviction, petitions for post conviction relief, habeas corpus petitions, and other prisoner petitions which challenge the validity of the conviction or the sentence), "civil rights" (excluding First Amendment or due process; also excluding claims of denial of rights in criminal proceeding or claims by prisoners that challenge their conviction or their sentence (e.g., habeas corpus petitions are coded under the criminal category); does include civil suits instituted by both prisoners and callable non-prisoners alleging denial of rights by criminal justice officials), "First Amendment", "due process" (claims in civil cases by persons other than prisoners, does not include due process challenges to government economic regulation), "privacy", "labor relations", "economic activity and regulation", and "miscellaneous".

LEWIS, Circuit Judge.
Appellant brought this suit charging that appellee was manufacturing and selling a fabric-measuring and price-computing machine, which infringed upon its exclusive rights under certain parents which it owned, to make and vend a machine of the same class. The usual relief was asked. As to some of the claims of some of the patents the plaintiff prevailed, from which defendant appealed; as to other claims the plaintiff failed and it has brought this appeal. The claims here relied on by appellant as infringed are nine in all; claims 1 and 21 in Pat. No. 1,369,663, issued to Hosch February 22, 1921, on his application of March 26, 1915; claims 6 and 7 in Reissue Pat. No. 14,898 to Scott on June 22,1920, his original application being January 29, 1917; claim' 1 in Pat. No. 1,453,300, issued to Wheeler on May 1, 1923, on his application of December 20, 1921; claims 3 and 8 in Pat. No. 1,434,998, issued to Hosch’s admx. on November 7,1922, on his application of November 15,1917; claim 12 in Pat. No. 1,371,028, issued to Hosch’s admx. and Turner on May 8, 1921, on their application of October 12, 1918, and claim 23 in Pat. No. 1,437,207, issued to Stocke on November 28, 1922, on his application of March 12, 1920 — -all said patents being assigned to appellant.
The Wheeler patent is for mountings for measuring machines. Each of the others named is for a measuring and computing machine, and each calls for parts in combination that make up the completed machine, and also teaches the mode of operation. Hosch began his work in 1911 or 1912, and after much experimentation, the appellant put upon the market in 1917 or early in 1918 its commercial machine for which it has since found ready sale. Appellee claims some sales were made in 1916. Others were and had been engaged on the problem and other patents than those named were issued for measuring and price-computing machines — some before those under which appellant claims and some after.
Appellee makes its machine under patents issued to Yanderveld, all subsequent to those assigned to appellant.
In general the two machines are alike in combination and operation. Each is enclosed in a metallic casing which is mounted and placed on a store counter for use. Access to the inclosed machine for use and operation is through a slot or mouth in one end of the casing, into which the edge of the cloth to be measured is inserted; and it is operated by levers or like means connected with the machine through the easing. The edge of the cloth is placed in the slot between two rollers, called the measuring roller and the presser roller, which at the time are apart. In appellant’s machine the measuring roller is under the presser roller, in appellee’s their relation to each other is reversed. The clerk having inserted the edge of the cloth in the position noted, then by manipulation brings the presser roller in contact with the cloth, and its edge is thus held between the two rollers. The clerk then begins the process of measuring hy pulling the cloth between the two rollers from left to right. This causes the rollers to rotate and the rotation of the measuring roller operates through gearing the whole mechanism, causing it to register in plain view by moving pointers on dials the yardage desired and its computed sale price to be displayed under windows in the top of the machine. In appellant’s machine there is a dial on its top and two hands which move with the measurement operation and point to the yardage and the fractions thereof as the cloth is being pulled through. In appellee’s machine a dial and an. arc which serve a like purpose are in the front end of the machine. A moving hand on the dial points to the fractions of a-yard and a moving hand on the arc points to the number of yards as the cloth is pulled through. It also has charts under windows in the top surface which show the yardage. These two exhibits illustrate the arrangement on the top of each machine. Also the front end of appellee’s on a smaller scale.
Appellant’s
Appellee’s,.
The two left-hand columns of figures as shown in each are stationary. They represent prices per yard. The two right-hand columns of figures in each are on webs under windows. These webs are taken up on rollers with the measuring operation and display the price-computations. Appellant’s exhibit, supra, illustrates the results when two yards have been measured; appellee’s when one and a half yards have been measured. It is observed that the computation is brought immediately opposite the yardage prices at which the goods are being sold. When the desired yardage has been measured, the machine is locked and at rest, and must he returned to the initial point before another measurement is begun. By manipulation of means for that purpose the clerk clips or notches the edge of the cloth at the point where it is to be severed from the bolt. The presser roller is then lifted or lowered from its contact with the cloth, the edge of the fabric released, and the measurement and computation are complete.
Having given this general description, we take up in the order named above the claims which appellant charges are infringed by ap-pellee’s machine.
Hosch Patent No. 1,369,663 — Claim 1.
“In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotary member mounted so as to be actuated by the movement of the goods thereover, of a dial, a pointer moving over the dial, means for effecting a movement of the pointer corresponding to the movement of the rotary member, a pair of stationary price scales, a pair of webs cooperating respectively with said price scales, and bearing rows of figures indicating the cost totals of yards of goods and frgetional parts thereof, a drum on which both of said webs are normally wound, and means for imparting simultaneous and corresponding movement to said webs, which movement corresponds to the movement of the rotary member and the said pointer.”
The infringement charged is in respect of that part of the combination underscored, supra, though the remainder of the claim has a bearing on the inquiry. The pair of webs in appellant’s machine must be wound around the drum, to which one end of each web is attached, before the measurement operation is started, one web throughout and continuously overlying the other on the drum, and each having its other end attached to a roller, one roller being under one of the windows by the side of the stationary price scale and the other roller being under the other window. On one side of each of these webs are the price-computation figures. As the measuring op-, eration proceeds these rollers revolve and simultaneously draw from the drum the two webs, thus bringing the computation figures thereon into proper relation with the price scales. Before another measurement is made, the drum, in the resetting of the machine, takes these webs from the two rollers. They are thus wound back and forth from the drum around the rollers and from the rollers around the drum, being around the drum in greater part when the measuring operation begins and around the rollers in greater part when it stops.
In appellee’s machine the price-indicating mechanism has no drum; it has two rollers, and only one web with computations on each side thereof. One end of the web is attached to the roller under one window and the other end to the roller under the other window. The rollers revolve, when a measurement is being made, and also when the machine is being returned to its initial position, in opposite directions. So, it may be said, the computation figures on the upper side of the web are brought under one of the windows, and those on its under side are brought under the other window.
It is argued on the rule of equivalents that this price-computing element in appellee’s machine infringes claim 1 supra, that appel-lee’s web with computations printed on both sides performs the exact function of appellant’s pair of webs each printed on one side, in that, each causes columns of figures to appear simultaneously in co-operative relation with the two price scales. Appellee admits that appellant’s two-web arrangement was an improvement and patentable, but it claims that the other parts of this element which it uses were old, appellant was not a pioneer, and is not entitled to a broad construction as to equivalents, and that, in fact, appellee’s one-web arrangement is taken precisely from Sauermileh No. 662,153, an expired patent for measuring textiles and registering computed sale prices. It is further contended for appellee that to hold a single web with computations on both sides the equivalent of appellant’s two webs would render the Hosch patent void as to this element in appellant’s combination; for inasmuch as appellee’s web is taken from Sauermileh, Sauermilch’s patent would anticipate Hosch. Hoseh’s purpose in having two webs is plain. He stated it in his patent:
“I make use of two flexible charts (webs) and two price per yard strips in order to materially increase the capacity of the machine without necessitating the provision of an extra long housing, such as would be required to take care of a single long price per yard strip and a corresponding wide single flexible chart.”
He divided a wide web, which required long rollers and which co-operated with a single long list of stationary prices, into two; thus enabling a great reduction in the length of the machine without decreasing its computing capacity. In that it is conceded to be an improvement.
Sauermilch’s patent was issued in November, 1900, and in the present state of the art his machine now would seem crude and cumbrous in size, shape and operation. It was operated by hand in turning a crank attached to a shaft. The goods to be measured was drawn through between two rollers in contact as if fed into the machine and not pulled through, and before the measurement began a stop pin was set for the number of yards and fractions to be measured. Other preliminary manipulations were required. But clearly, he had a list of prices at two windows, through which the yardage measured and the computed amount of the sale price appeared. His price-computing chart had figures on both sides, the figures on one side appearing at one window and the figures on the other side appearing at the other window. To accomplish this he operated it over six rollers. Whatever there was of invention in this has now become public property and may be used by any one. We cannot escape the conclusion that the price-indicating mechanism in appellee’s machine, in the respects now considered, one web with computations on both sides, is that of Sauermileh, and there was-no infringement as to that element of the combination, a pair of webs each with computations on one side. Appellant is entitled to exclude others from the use of its improvement, but it cannot exclude them from using what the art had long taught, a device now dedicated to the public, improvement upon which may be said to have been made by Vanderveld.
Hoseh Patent No. 1,369,663 — Claim 21.
“In a cloth measuring machine, the combination of a rotary member mounted so as to be actuated by the movement of the goods thereover, indicating mechanism including a dial and a pointer movable on said dial, mechanism driven by said rotary member for driving said pointer, and means controlled by said last named mechanism for arresting the rotation of said rotary member when said pointer has made one revolution on said dial.”
The part of the claim underscored is alleged by appellant to be infringed by defendant’s machine. It calls for means which automatically stops appellant’s machine when its measuring capacity has been reached. It will be observed that the “last named mechanism” refers to the mechanism driven by said rotary member which drives said pointer, and the rotation of the rotary member, the measuring roller, is arrested by means controlled by said “last named mechanism,” the mechanism for driving the pointer on the dial. In the chain of that mechanism between the roller and pointer for driving the pointer and as a part of it, there is a control gear wheel, in appellant’s machine. A pin projects upwardly from the edge of this wheel. When it makes one revolution the measuring capacity of the machine, 12 yards, has been reached. This is indicated by one of the moving hands on the dial. As heretofore said, the entire machine in all its parts is operated by the measuring roller as the cloth is drawn over it in the measuring operation. This projecting pin, when the gear wheel has made one revolution, comes in contact with a pivoted arm which causes a pawl attached to the end beyond the pivot to engage with a notched disc by means of which the measuring roller is automatically stopped.
The appellee’s machine is also stopped automatically when its measuring capacity, 12 yards, is reached. But it contends that the means it uses to accomplish that result is different from that of the appellant and operates upon a different principle, that the means it employs is not attached to, operated by or controlled by the “mechanism driven by said rotary member for driving said pointer.” In fact, the mechanism interposed between the measuring roller and the pointer on the dial may be all taken out of appellee’s machine and still the measuring roller could be automatically stopped at a given yardage. The measuring roller and the shaft with which it revolves are rigidly and permanently attached to each other. Appellee’s shaft is threaded. A half-nut is carried along the-threaded shaft while- the measuring operation is being made. When this nut reaches its extreme position a pin earned by it becomes so engaged it stops the roller at the time the pointer indicates 12 yards, its measuring capacity; and in consequence all other parts of the machine, including the gearing which causes the moving hand on the arc of its machine to indicate the yardage, as well as webs on rollers under windows in the top of its machine, automatically stop. The result of the means used by each is the same, but ap-pellee’s is clearly different from that called for in claim 21 and there is no identity in mode of operation between the two. Appellant primarily stops that part of the mechanism which drives the yardage pointer and secondarily the measuring roller, while ap-pellee goes direct to the seat of power which operates the whole machine. Its means for arresting the rotation of the rotary member is controlled by the revolving shaft, integral with the rotary member. We see no similarity in the two, except the result; mechanically and operatively they are essentially different and function differently. Moreover, the trial court found that appellant’s means of stopping the machine was anticipated and appel-lee cites in support of the finding two patents to Schwartz, No. 1,090,796, issued March 17, 1914, and No. 1,092,802, issued April 17, 1914. The first was for a fabric-measuring and cutting machine, and the second for a cloth-measuring and cutting and cost-computing machine. In the latter his specification calls for friction rollers to be rotated by frictional contact with the cloth drawn between them in the measuring operation, for automatically locking tbe machine when the length desired has been passed through it. He had a revolving dise and a stationary pointer on the dise which showed the yardage — not a revolving pointer and stationary discs, as in appellant and appellee. He first set the disc so that the pointer indicated the yards and fractions to be measured, and the dise revolved during the measuring operation until it brought zero under the pointer, when the machine is automatically stopped. He has a projection on the revolving disc which comes in contact with a sliding pin controlled by a spring, and these in co-operation automatically lock or stop the roller when the desired yardage is reached. It is difficult to avoid the identity between the two means used and the modes of operation by appellant and by Schwartz. We think the latter anticipated the former. Moreover, in view of Schwartz the claim in the respect now being considered should have a narrow construction, confining appellant to its exact means.
Scott Reissue Patent No. 14,898 — Claims 6 and 7.
Claim 6. “In a cloth measuring machine, the combination with a measuring roller, of a registering device actuated therefrom, a brake for preventing said registering device from returning to initial position, a cutting knife, means for simultaneously operating said cutting knife and setting sadd brake, and manmally operated means for\ releasing sadd brake.”
Claim 7. “In a doth measuring machine, the combination with a measuring roller, of a second roller cooperating therewith, a registering device actuated from said first named roller, a brake for preventing the return of said measuring roller and registering device to initial position, means for simultaneously disconnecting said rollers and setting said brake, and ma/nually operated means for releasing said brake.”
The underscored parts of the claims constitute the elements of the combination alleged to be infringed upon by appellee’s machine. It will be convenient to consider the two claims together.
Scott was not a pioneer in devising combinations in machines of the same class which accomplished all of the results achieved by his combination. Hosch No. 1,369,663 preceded him. Hosch called for a machine in which the cloth was drawn between a presser roller and a measuring roller, which caused the latter to put in action a train of gearing which operated registering devices of the yards that had been drawn through. It has a cutting knife to mark the correct yardage and indicate its point of severance from the bolt. On completion of the measurement manual depression of a pin in a slot in the side of the casing causes through pivotal connections the knife to notch the goods and the rollers to be simultaneously separated; and his gearing was so connected with other means that his registering device did not return to zero when the rollers were separated. The end of a lever extended through the easing and when the operator was ready to return the registering device he pressed down the lever, which caused the gearing to be disengaged with the means that held it against reverse motion. It should be said that in appellant’s machine only the indicating mechanism of yardage and price computation returns to zero, while in Scott’s and appellee’s machines the measuring roller, charts and indicators are all returned to their initial position. Also in Gebhart No. 1,250,843, who preceded Scott, the cloth is drawn between a measuring and presser roller. He has a knife to notch the cloth at the required length. This is done by depressing a handle and the operation simultaneously moves the presser roller away from the measuring roller. His registering device is on a revolving drum under a window and his gearing is so adjusted as to cause a brake to hold the drum with the registered figures from turning back to the initial position. The purpose in all of them in separating the rollers and holding the registering device is to enable the clerk to remove the goods from the machine and note the yardage and computation. It is then returned to zero in readiness to begin another measuring operation. For that purpose, in using the Gebhart machine a stem or rod with one end just through the casing is pushed inwardly by the clerk, which causes disengagement of a clutch and this permits the drum to rotate reversely and return to zero position under the pressure of a spring. Jones No. 443,528 also preceded Scott. His measuring machine has presser and measuring rollers between which the cloth is drawn. The presser is driven by the cloth and it operates a train of gearing which causes two discs to register. It has a knife for notching the goods and holding means which prevents a return of the mechanism to zero until the appropriate time. It has no means for separating the rollers, the spring for returning the mechanism to zero being strong enough for that purpose when the rollers are together. When it is desired to return the registering device, means are provided for that purpose. It seems obvious that a machine of this class would be entirely useless if there were no means for holding the registration when a measurement is completed, and more so if there were no means of -returning it to zero for another measurement. The art made it apparent to Scott at the time of his original application that means had been devised for operating the cutting knife, setting the brakes and disconnecting the rollers at substantially the same time, and manually operated means for releasing the brake had also been provided. It seems clear that all he could obtain was by way of improvement on what preceded him. In Railway Co. v. Sayles, 97 U. S. 554, 556, 557 (24 L. Ed. 1053), it is said:
“If the advance towards the thing desired is gradual, and proceeds step by step, so that no one can claim the complete whole, then each is entitled only to the specific form of device which he produces, and every other inventor is entitled to his own specific form, so long as it differs from those of his competitors, and does not include theirs.”
In Wichita Visible Gasoline Pump Co. v. Clear Vision Pump Co. (C. C. A.) 19 F.(2d) 435, we had occasion to quote this from Walker on Patents:
“Omission of one element or ingredient of a combination covered by any claim of a patent averts any charge of infringement based on that claim, whether or not the omitted ingredient was essential to the combination of the patent, and whether or not it was necessary to the operativeness of the device ; and it makes no difference that another element is made to do the work of itself and of the omitted element. A combination is an entirety. If one of its elements is omitted, the thing claimed disappears. Every part of the combination claimed is conclusively presumed to be material to the combination, and no evidence to the - contrary is admissible in any case of alleged infringement. The patentee makes all the parts of a combination material, when he claims them in combination and not separately.”
And we said, citing eases, that the principle announced was overwhelmingly supported. Among other cases cited was Jewell Filter Co. v. Jackson (C. C. A.) 140 F. 340, wherein we said:
“The absence from a device that is alleged to infringe a patented combination of a single element of that combination is fatal to the claim of infringement.”
Again, in Anakin Lock Works v. Dillon Lock Works (C. C. A.) 292 F. 45, we said:
“The claims of a patent involving mere improvements, in view of the prior art, are tb be narrowly construed and limited to the particular mechanism described, and a device which accomplishes the same result by means of different mechanism is not an ‘infringement.’ ”
With these principles in mind we come now to a comparative consideration of the means used in the two machines, Scott’s and appellee’s, for operating the cutting knife, setting the brake, disconnecting the rollers and releasing the brake. To accomplish the three first-named purposes Scott manipulates an elongated sleeve which extends outwardly through the easing of his machine and has a button or perforated cap on its outward end. When a measuring operation is completed the button is grasped, the sleeve pulled outward, turned upward and the button made to engage with an external catch, causing a spring to press against the measuring roller which holds -it and the registering device in its then position. The mechanism cannot then run back to zero until this spring is released. This manipulation of the sleeve also causes in quick succession, said in the claim to be simultaneous, a separation of the rollers and the knife to press upon and notch the goods as it is drawn out. The yardage and computation of price are noted by the clerk and the goods severed from the bolt at the notch in the edge of the cloth. In order to permit the indicating mechanism to return to zero Scott has a push rod extending entirely through said elongated sleeve and movable lengthwise therein. There is a button on the outer end of this rod. The rod is-pushed inwardly by pressure on the button and this releases the spring which pressed upon and held the measuring roller, thereupon the mechanism all returns to zero. The pressure on the button on the end of the rod does not move or disturb in any way the knife or the presser roller. Scott also says, in effect, in his specification that the brake may be released from the measuring roller without pressing on the button on the end of the sliding rod in the sleeve, that the sleeve may be so manipulated as to release the brake; but even so, it is the inner end of the rod in that manipulation that causes the release.
In appellee’s machine, when a measuring operation has been completed the clerk presses downward with his thumb the three levers shown in the photograph of appellee’s machine, supra. One of them sets a brake which holds the mechanism, one of them notches the cloth, and one of them separates the presser from the measuring roller. These levers can be operated successively, each performs a separate function; but owing to their proximity the thumb can bridge the spaces between them so that they can be pushed downward simultaneously. It appears that they are usually operated in that way, and that appellee in its circulars of instruction teaches that they be operated in that way. This operation of the levers in unison seems to be the basis of appellant’s complaint, that it is mechanically the same or an equivalent to Scott’s sleeve. When the clerk is ready to reset appellee’s machine he raises the reset lever and this causes it to run back to zero. The other levers are all lifted to up position before another measurement is made. Appellee controverts appellant’s contention and it claims that Scott’s “manually operated means for releasing said brake” in his combination is not found in its machine, that one of its levers performs the two functions of setting the brake and releasing it, whereas Scott sets the brake with his sleeve, and adds a separate and independent means, the sliding rod in the sleeve, with which he releases the spring in order to reset the machine. The combinations of Scott and Vanderveld were mere improvements, in view of the prior art, each is to be narrowly construed, each limited to the particular mechanism he describes. While they accomplish the same result their mechanisms are widely different and their modes of operation are not the same: Furthermore, it is our opinion that Scott has an independent and added element in his combination, separate and apart from the means which set the brake, separate the rollers and notch the cloth, not found in appellee’s machine — the push rod which resets Scott’s machine. On the authorities cited we are constrained to hold there is no infringement.
Wheeler Patent No. 1,453,300 — Claim 1.
“In a mounting for a measuring machine to be secured to a counter, and which is operated by pulling the fabric through the machine parallel with.the edge of the counter, the combination of a rail, a shoe mounted to slide along the rail and having fixed bearing cheeks to engage and slide upon the rail on its opposite sides, and a measuring machine supported on the shoe with its center of gravity disposed in a' vertical plane removed from the plane of the rail, whereby the forces developed at the said bearing cheeks of the shoe are reacted to by the said face of the rail, and operate to offer sufficient frictional resistance to prevent the measuring machine from being pulled along the rail by the fabric during the measuring movement.”
The weight of appellant’s machine as it rests on the rail attached to the rear edge of the counter causes it to tend to lean forward over the counter, which, of course, demonstrates that a plane through its center of gravity parallel, with the rail is on the counter side of the rail. It is claimed that the weight of appellee’s machine as it rests on the rail causes it to tend to lean rearward, which likewise demonstrates that its center of gravity is on the other side of the rail. This tilting or leaning tendency causes an impingement of the shoe on the rail; and as the cloth is drawn between the rollers further impingement in the shoe is caused by resistance to a rotary tendency of the machine due to the pull of the cloth. Obviously, these impingements hold the machine from being pulled along the rail during a measuring operation, and the strength of this resistance depends on how far co-action of shoe and rail has permitted it to lean. The measurement completed, it may then be moved along the rail if needed elsewhere. As to whether it will move freely without holding it against its tendency to lean depends on many things —primarily the relative location of center of gravity and rail, and Secondarily the size and shape of the shoe, the closeness of contact between shoe and rail, the nearness of the shoe to the side of the machine-supporting pedestal with which it is integral, and the weight of the machine; and Wheeler gives no rule or formula for their co-ordination in a given ease, or in any case. The distance between a plane through the center of gravity and a parallel plane through the top of the rail on a given level is fixed by the weight of the machine as it rests on the rail. Wheeler does not specify the size of shoe, thickness of rail, nearness of shoe to pedestal, or weight of machine; neither does Pedersen No. 1,463;589, relied on as anticipation. In those respects they are alike. Without stopping to describe the mechanical means of ap-pellee by which it attaches its machine to the counter and along which it is moved laterally for use at different points, it may be conceded for present purposes that appel-lee’s combination is a mechanical equivalent to that of Wheeler. For it seems clear to us, as found by the District Court, that Wheeler was anticipated by Pedersen, whose application was more than two years prior to Wheeler’s, and also that Wheeler was not in fact the first discoverer. Pedersen’s accompanying drawing, to which Ms specification refers and describes, as “thereby providing for the convenient use of the apparatus at any point along the counter,” leaves no discoverable difference between Pedersen and Wheeler. Pedersen shows the rail attached to the rear edge of the counter in the same way as in Wheeler, a shoe shaped exactly like Wheeler’s on the lower end of the supporting pedestal, into whieh shoe the rail is slideably fitted so as to slide the machine along the rail, the shoe having the same fixed bearing cheeks to engage and slide upon the rail on its opposite sides as in Wheeler. It seems clear from Pedersen’s drawing that a plane through the center of gravity would not be coincident with a plane through his rail, but to one side. It would, indeed, be a greater task to balance the machine on the narrow rail with exactness so that it would not overhand rearward or forward. Pedersen says nothing about the center of gravity in a vertical plane removed from the plane of the rail; and so it is argued Pedersen did not teach how his combination should be set up in order that the binding action or impingement in the shoe would hold the machine during the measuring operation and permit its ready movement along the rail at other times. The argument is not convincing. Pedersen taught all that Wheeler taught. If his patent is void on that ground, so is Wheeler’s. Each left to experimentation and practical test a workable adjustment of the combination. Reflecto lyte Co. v. Luminous-Unit Co. (C. C. A.) 20 F.(2d) 607. In substance, all that Wheeler did that Pedersen did not do, was to call attention to a law in physics, that is, in order to cause the impingement the plane through the center of gravity must not pass through the points of impingement — he suggested no method or formula for ascertaining the location of the plane of gravity and ^adjusting the shoe on the rail in relation thereto. And the pull of the cloth, whether the machine was in an upright or leaning position, necessarily would tend to prevent rotation by impingement in the shoe — matters of common knowledge. Granting invention, the combination of Wheeler seems to be identical with that of Pedersen.
The undisputed evidence shows that a combination in every respect like Wheeler’s was manufactured under Pedersen’s supervision, sold and used for the same purpose long prior to Wheeler’s application.
Hosch Patent No. 1,434,998 — Claims 3 and 8.
Claim 3. “In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary member mounted so as to be actuated by goods passed through the machine, a fixed pnce scale, a web having tabulated figures alining with the numbers of said price scale, to indicate the cost of different quantities of goods, means for guiding said web past said fixed scale, means for driving said web from said rotary member, means for exerting tension in said web to return the same to its zero position after each measuring operation, means for stopping the return movement at the zero position of the web, cm3, means for regulating the speed, of the return movement to prevent a shock to the web when arrested at its zero position.”
Claim “8. “In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rotary member mounted so as to be actuated by goods passed through the machine, a fixed price scale, a web having tabulated figures alining with the numbers of said price seale, to indicate the cost of different quantities of goods, means for driving said web from said rotary member, means for exerting tension in said web to return the samé to its zero position after each measuring operation, meanss for stopping the return movement at the zero position of the web, and means for regulating the speed of the return movement to prevent a shook to the■ web when arrested at its zero position.”
The underscored parts present the matter in controversy as to these claims. They are alike and may' be considered together. The District Court held there was no infringement and did not pass on the other defenses.
In Hosch’s described machine during a measuring operation the roller whieh takes the web from the chart drum is driven by the measuring roller and a spring in the chart drum from whieh the web is being taken is put under tension, whieh spring being thus put under tension is the power that re-tináis the web and the indicating mechanism to zero position when a measurement has been completed. Gearing connections transmit motion from the measuring roller to the pointer on the dial and the take-up roller. At the end of a measurement' when the clerk is ready to return the pointer and the web to zero position he cuts the line of power from the measuring roller to the chart or web take-up roller and to the pointer by pressing a finger plate whieh disconnects the gearing at a point intermediate the measuring roller and the registering means. The web and pointer run back to zero. The measuring roller and gearing between it and the point where the gearing was disconnected remain stationary. That is the larger part of the. whole mechanism. We have already said that the machine would he useless unless there were means to run it hack to the initial point in order to make another measurement. In being run back under the pressure of a spring, motion is accelerated, and if speed is not cheeked in some way before zero position is reached there will be a shock that might tear the web from the roller from which it is being taken and disrupt other parts. The element of the claims here in controversy deals with means to avoid that hazard.
Appellant checks the return speed in its machine by three brake shoes which come in contact with the inner surface of a drum because of centrifugal force as the speed accelerates, whereby the speed is subdued during the return to initial position. Just as zero is reached on the return motion coaction of a control wheel, a pin, a pivoted lever and a spring causes a pawl to engage the shoulder formed on the control wheel which blocks further reverse motion of the disconnected gearing and stops the registering devices at zero.
In appellee’s machine, when returning the measuring and price-computing mechanism to zero there is no disconnecting of the gear. The lever which sets the brake at the end of a measumig operation is lifted, releasing the brake and the whole machine (except the presser roller), including the- measuring roller, all gearing, chart rollers, chart or web and hands on the dial and arc run back to the initial or starting points where they were when the measuring operation began, moving under the motor power of a large spring on the shaft of the measuring roller. Under the proof appellee has no means of controlling or regulating the return speed during any considerable part of it, as in Hosch. Its machine reaches a very high speed, accelerating until just before it gets back to the starting point, approximately one-quarter yard from the end, as shown by the dial, when, on account of its high speed a friction ring automatically bears against four outwardly-flung fingers pivoted at one end and rotating at high speed and the whole mechanism is safely brought to a quick, safe stop at zero. Only about two- per cent, of the distance to- be covered on the return motion remains when the ring is brought to hear against the fingers. When that occurs the Angers drop quickly and the machine is at rest at the initial point, because of this friction braking action.- Just before the ring-is automatically brought to bear against the out-flung fingers they and the measuring roller fun with unchecked acceleration and attain • a velocity of more than two thousand revolutions per minute. Each machine runs back in about four seconds. It is claimed by appellant that

Question: What is the general issue in the case?
A. criminal
B. civil rights
C. First Amendment
D. due process
E. privacy
F. labor relations
G. economic activity and regulation
H. miscellaneous
Answer:

Answer: G