DETAILED ACTION
Representative Figures
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(A1) as being anticipated by WU (CN 106955517 A; Published 18 JULY 2017 – previously made of record by the Examiner, including machine translation).
Since CN 106955517 A is Yuping WU’s (the instant inventor), patent document, claim limitation correspondence should be self-evident. In this regard, several of the figures of the instant application are substantially identical to Figures 1-9 of CN 106955517 A. The additional inclusion of the various shafts/screws (i.e., “3”, “4”, “5” and “10”) in, for example, Figures 2 and 6A – 6C of the instant application is noted. The reference numerals used are the same in both the instant application and CN 106955517 A.
From the machine translation for CN 106955517 A generated by the SEARCH tool:
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. A pendulum movement of multi-axis laminated spiral solid-liquid separating machine, comprising a fixing ring 1, a movable ring 2, and there are two parallel spiral shaft 3, screw shaft 3 radial is provided with staggered fixing ring 1 and the movable ring 2 to form a cavity; further comprising a main driving rod 4, a pair of driving rod 5, a locating rod 10; the spiral shaft 3 through a transmission mechanism 6 connect the main driving rod 4, transfer mechanism 6 may be a gear transmission, chain transmission, or belt transmission. main drive rod 4 may also be connected with an independent drive motor (not shown) to drive, but not must be through the spiral shaft 3 to drive. main driving rod 4 located above the cavity, through two supporting plates 7 for supporting, also alternatively provided with four eccentric bearing 8 on the main driving rod (4); each eccentric bearing 8 respectively through a driving piece 9 connect secondary drive rod 5, secondary driving rod (5) is sleeved on one end of the movable ring 2, all the movable ring 2 connection as a whole. and the driving plate 9 and the movable ring 2 integrally with the driving plate 9 of the movable ring 2 as rotating movable ring 21; The supporting plate 7 is provided with a guide device (71), the abdicating hole 72 for connection fixing ring 1 of the support hole 73, for accommodating cavity hole of the solid-liquid separating part 74, and fixing the main drive rod 4 of the fixing hole 75. The locating rod (10) is sleeved in the movable ring 2 upper end, all the movable ring 2 connect together, positioning the rod 10 passes through the support plate of the guide device 7, 71 on the guide device 71 is a linear hole for the locating rod 10 to linearly move over. the secondary driving rod 5 passes through the support plate of the hole 7 is 72, for the secondary driving rod 5 driven by the swinging motion, the fixing hole 75 for fixing the main drive rod 4. The spiral shaft 3 through the transmission mechanism 6 drives the main driving rod 4 to move, the drive driving rod 4 on the eccentric bearing 8 drives the rotating movable ring 21 movement, rotating the movable ring 21 through secondary drive rod 5 drives all the movable ring 2; the locating rod 10 under the action of the eccentric bearing 8 and guide device 71 drive all movable ring 21 upper end to do the linear movement, the auxiliary driving rod 5 under the action of the eccentric bearing 8 and hole 72 drive all movable ring 21 lower end do pendulum movement.
The guide device (71) and the guide rod (10) are identified using the same reference numerals in each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application.
The guide rod (10) is depicted in the same place in Figure 1 in the drawings of each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application.
The guide device (71) is depicted in the same place in Figure 2 in the drawings of each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application. The guide device (71) is depicted in each Figure 2 as an “elongate slot” (71). Guide device (71) of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, MUST have "a diameter” “larger than a diameter of the guide rod (10)," (i.e., in the vertical, up and down direction) if the device is to operate in the manner disclosed, that is, such that, the locating rod 10 may “linearly move over”.
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Drawings
The Replacement Sheet of 09 FEBRUARY 2026 is approved.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 09 FEBRUARY 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments of 09 February 2026
Applicant has argued:
As set forth above, amended claim 1, among other things, recites the contents of "a diameter of the guide device (71) is larger than a diameter of the guide rod (10)."
As shown in FIG. 2 of the present application, which are provided below for reference, and disclosed in paragraph [0050] of the present application, the guide device 71 is a linear hole, and a diameter of the guide device 71 is slightly larger than a diameter of the guide rod, so that the guide rod 10 makes a linear motion in the guide device 71.
However, as disclosed in the specification and FIG. 2 of WU which are provided below for reference, WU fails to disclose discloses the correspondence between a diameter of guide rod and a diameter of guide device.
In other words, WU fails to disclose at least the limitations of "a diameter of the guide device (71) is larger than a diameter of the guide rod (10)," as recited in amended claim 1 of the present application.
At least for the foregoing reasons, independent claim 1, as amended, is patentable over WU under 35 U.S.C. § 102(A1/A2).
Reconsideration and withdrawal of these objections and rejections are respectfully requested.
These arguments are not found persuasive.
The guide device (71) and the guide rod (10) are identified using the same reference numerals in each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application.
The guide rod (10) is depicted in the same place in Figure 1 in the drawings of each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application.
The guide device (71) is depicted in the same place in Figure 2 in the drawings of each of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, and the instant application. The guide device (71) is depicted in each Figure 2 as an “elongate slot” (71). Guide device (71) of CN 106955517 A, the applied reference, MUST have "a diameter” “larger than a diameter of the guide rod (10)," (i.e., in the vertical, up and down direction) if the device is to operate in the manner disclosed, that is, such that, the locating rod 10 may “linearly move over”.
Accordingly, these arguments are not found persuasive.
The Drawing objections and Specification objections have been withdrawn in view of Applicant’s submissions.
Conclusion
All claims are identical to or patentably indistinct from, or have unity of invention with claims in the application prior to the entry of the submission under 37 CFR 1.114 (that is, restriction (including a lack of unity of invention) would not be proper) and all claims could have been finally rejected on the grounds and art of record in the next Office action if they had been entered in the application prior to entry under 37 CFR 1.114. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL even though it is a first action after the filing of a request for continued examination and the submission under 37 CFR 1.114. See MPEP § 706.07(b). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT JAMES POPOVICS whose telephone number is (571) 272-1164. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, JENNIFER DIETERLE can be reached on (571) 270-7872. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROBERT J POPOVICS/ Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1776