DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 01/29/2026 has been entered.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“a feeder for supplying the circuit component…” in claim 1 line 4.
“a transfer material supply unit configured to supply…” in claim 1 line 6.
“a moving device configured to move…” in claim 1 line 16.
“a control device configured to control…” in claim 1 line 17.
“multiple transfer material supply units for supplying…” in claim 2 line 2.
“board tilting device configured to tilt…” in claim 6 line 5.
“a transfer pin storage section configured to store” in claim 7 line 3.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 6, and 10-13 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2011/082242 to Kawazoe (translation previously provided by examiner) in view of US 2010/0242268 to Hiraki, WO 2018/163323 to Hamane (translation previously provided by applicants), and JP 2001-085830 to Nishida (translation provided by examiner).
As per claim 1, as best understood, Kawazoe discloses a component mounting machine for mounting a circuit component on a mounting surface of a three-dimensional board formed in a three-dimensional shape (see substrate Pb in Fig 1, 4, and 6-8 that has a rectangular prism shape which is a three-dimensional shape), the component mounting machine comprising:
a transfer material supply unit (see adhesive supply container 10 in Fig 1) configured to supply a transfer material on a transfer table (see adhesive supply container 10 in Fig 1);
a transfer pin (see transfer pins 8 in Fig 1-2 and 5-8) for transferring the transfer material on the transfer table to the mounting surface of the three-dimensional board (see Fig 5-6);
a suction nozzle (see suction nozzles 7 in Fig 1-2, 4, and 6-8) configured to pick up and mount the circuit component (see electronic component Cp in Fig 1, 4, and 6-8) on the mounting surface of the three-dimensional board (see Fig 8);
a mounting head (see mounting head 5 in Fig 1-2) configured to exchangeably hold the suction nozzles and transfer pins (see plurality of tool mounting portions 6 configured to couple to both the suction nozzles 7 and the transfer pins 8; see Translation Page 2-5),
a moving device (see mounting head drive unit 23 and/or robot 4 in Fig 1) configured to move the mounting head; and
a control device (see control device 20 in Fig 1) configured to control an operation of the moving device (see Translation Page 3), wherein
the control device controls the operation of the moving device to control an operation of immersing a lower end of the transfer pin in the transfer material on the transfer table (see Fig 5), attaching the transfer material to the lower end of the transfer pin (see Fig 5-6), and transferring the transfer material to the mounting surface of the three-dimensional board (see Fig 6; see Translation Page 3-4).
As per claim 1, Kawazoe discloses the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, but Kawazoe does not explicitly disclose that the transfer material supply unit supply unit spreads the transfer material in a film shape on the transfer table. However, such spreading devices are very well-known in the art and it would be an obvious choice to include for one of ordinary skill in the art in order to control the amount of transfer material is applied to the transfer pins as would be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Hiraki discloses a similar component mounting machine including moving device (see bond head moving devices 22 and 23 in Fig 1) that moves a transfer pin (see transfer pin 33 in Fig 1-2) to immerse a lower end of the transfer pins into transfer material (see paste adhesive material 32 in Fig 1 and 3) of a transfer material supply unit (see paste supply table 9 in Fig 1 and 3), wherein the transfer material of the transfer material supply unit is spread on a transfer table in a film shape by a adjusting plate (see adjusting plate 35 in Fig 1) so that the depth of the transfer material can be adjusted (Para 0031).
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the transfer material supply unit to include the structure of Hiraki so as to spread the transfer material in a film shape on a transfer table. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that spreading transfer materials in a film shape is well-known in the art as evidenced by Hiraki and therefore it would be a routine matter to include a transfer material supply unit capable of spreading the transfer material in a film shape on a supply table as taught by Hiraki; the obvious advantages being that the spreading of the transfer material in a film shape on a supply table would allow for the depth of the transfer material to be adjusted (Hiraki: Para 0031) for example to control the amount of transfer material that is attached to the transfer pin.
As per claim 1, Kawazoe and Hiraki disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Kawazoe discloses a single mounting head (see mounting head 5 in Fig 1-2 and 4) configured to mount the circuit components (see electronic components Cp in Fig 1, 4, and 6-8) on the three-dimensional board (see Fig 8), and that the transfer pins (see transfer pins 8 in Fig 1-2, 4, and 6-8 attached to tool mounting portions 6) are held by the mounting head to be exchangeable with suction nozzles (see suction nozzles 7 in Fig 1-2, 4, and 6-8 exchangeably attached to tool mounting portions 6 along with the transfer pins 8; see Translation Page 2-5) configured to pick up the circuit components (see Fig 8; see Translation Page 2-5), but Kawazoe does not explicitly disclose multiple mounting heads. Hiraki further discloses the use of multiple heads (see transfer head 5 and bonding head 3 in Fig 1) for performing separate tasks such as applying transfer material to a substrate and mounting components to the substrate. However, it is very well-known in the art to provide multiple mounting head for mounting components in a component mounting machine to increase the versatility of the component mounter and/or increase the mounting speed of the component mounting machine, further merely providing multiple mounting heads is a simple duplication of known working parts and therefore would only involve routine skill in the art.
Hamane discloses a similar component mounting machine including multiple mounting heads (see coating head 32 and mounting head 37 in Fig 1) wherein the different attachments including coating nozzles (33) for applying a viscous fluid to the substrate and collection units (38) which can be suction nozzles for mounting components to the substrate can be freely attached/detached to the mounting heads, wherein the multiple mounting heads are configured to have the same structure such that the coating nozzles and the suction nozzles can be freely attached to the mounting heads, i.e. are exchangeable (see Translation Para 0019-0020).
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the component mounting machine of Kawazoe so as to include multiple mounting heads as taught by Hamane which can exchangeably accommodate suction nozzles and/or the transfer pins. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that merely providing multiple mounting heads with exchangeable tools is a simple duplication of known working parts and therefore would only involve routine skill in the art especially in view of Kawazoe, Hiraki, and Hamane which disclose the use of multiple heads and/or exchangeable tools; the obvious advantages of providing multiple mounting heads with exchangeable suction nozzles and transfer pins being increasing the versatility of the component mounter and/or increasing the mounting speed of the component mounting machine as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
As per claim 1, Kawazoe, Hiraki, and Hamane disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Kawazoe further discloses that the transfer material supply unit (10) is provided in a free space of a feeder section which appears to be adjacent to a feeder (see component supply table 2 in Fig 1) for supplying the components (see Cp in Fig 1), but is silent regarding whether the transfer material supply unit is detachably set in a feeder setting section configured to set a feeder for supplying the circuit component, or if the feeder setting section includes a groove or if the transfer material supply unit includes a protrusion that fits in the groove. However, providing detachable connections for elements of a component mounting machine are well-known in the art so that the elements can be customized for a given job and therefore would be an obvious choice for one of ordinary skill in the art in order to increase the adaptability of the component mounting machine.
Nishida discloses a similar component mounting machine (see Fig 1) including a feeder setting section (see feeder base 7 in Fig 1-2) where component feeders (see tape feeders 8 in Fig 1 and 3) and/or a transfer material supply unit (see coating unit 9 in Fig 1 and 4) are detachably set (see Fig 1), wherein the feeder setting section includes grooves (see interval B provided between mounting guide portions 7e in Fig 2) and the transfer material supply unit includes a protrusion (see base member 20 in Fig 4 that cooperates with mounting guide portions 7e to mount the coating unit 9 to the feeder base 7, wherein translation Page 6 indicates that the coating unit occupies 7 of the guide portions 7e, therefore it would be inherent and/or obvious that the bottom of the base member 20 includes protrusions that match the guide portions 7e for alignment, this is further supported by Fig 4b that shows unlabeled guide portions 7e going over a bottom most portion of the base member 20) that fits in the groove (see Fig 1-2 and 4; see translation Page 4-7) such that space savings and reduced equipment cost can be achieved by reducing the need for a dedicated space and driving mechanism for the transfer material supply unit (see translation Page 7).
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the component mounting machine of Kawazoe so as to include a feeder setting section for setting a component feeder comprising a groove in which a protrusion of the transfer material supply unit fits to detachably set the transfer material supply in it in the feeder setting section as taught by Nishida. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that it is well-known in the art to provide detachable connections for feeders/supplying units of a component mounting machine and therefore it would have been a routine matter to provide a feeder setting section with groove(s) for fitting with protrusion(s) of a transfer material supply unit and/or the component feeders so that they can be detachably set as taught by Nishida; the obvious advantages being the detachable connection of the transfer material supply unit and the feeders would allow for the location, the number, and the variety of feeding/supplying/transferring elements on the component mounting machine to be customizable for a given job to thereby increase the adaptability of the component mounting machine as would be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and the protrusion of the transfer material supply unit that fits in the groove of the feeder setting section would allow for space savings and reduced equipment cost can be achieved by reducing the need for a dedicated space and driving mechanism for the transfer material supply unit as taught by Nishida (Nishida: translation Page 7).
As per claim 6, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1, but Kawazoe does not disclose that the three-dimensional board is formed in a shape in which the mounting surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, or that the component mounting machine includes a board tilting device configured to tilt the three-dimensional board so the mounting surface can be horizontal during a transfer material transfer operation and a component mounting operation. However, Hamane discloses a similar component mounting machine for applying transfer material (via coating head 32 in Fig 1) and mounting a component (via mounting head 37 in Fig 1) to mounting surfaces (see step shaped formation surfaces 51, 51a, 51b in Fig 4 and 10) of a three-dimensional board (see three-dimensional substrate 50 in Fig 4 and 9-10) is formed in a shape in which the mounting surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane (see Fig 4 and 10), the component mounting machine including a board tilting device (see arm 26 in Fig 1-2 and 9) that tilts the three-dimensional board so that the mounting surfaces are held horizontal for a transfer material transfer operation and a component mounting operation (see Fig 9; see Translation Para 0023-0024)
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the component mounting machine of Kawazoe to include a board tilting device as disclosed in Hamane that tilts a three-dimensional board with a non-horizontal mounting surface so that the mounting surface can be made to be horizontal during a transfer material transfer operation and a component mounting operation. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that board tilting devices for making non-horizontal mounting surfaces horizontal for mounting/transferring steps are known in the art and therefore it would only involve routine skill to determine the use a bord tilting device for such three-dimensional boards especially in view of Hamane; the obvious advantages of the board tilting device being that this would allow for the component mounting machine to transfer material and mount components on differently shaped boards increasing the adaptability of the component mounting device as would be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
As per claim 10, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Kawazoe further discloses that the transfer pins (8) and the suction nozzles (7) are exchangeable on the mounting head using suction and holding sections (see tool mounting portions 6 in Fig 2 and 4-8 that are capable of holding the transfer pins 8 and the suction nozzles 7 and providing suction to the suction nozzles) of the same configuration (see Translation Page 2) and therefore the coupling portions of the transfer pins and the suction nozzles would inherently and/or obviously have the same shape, and Hamane discloses multiple mounting heads (see coating head 32 and mounting head 37 in Fig 1) wherein different attachments including coating nozzles (33) for applying a viscous fluid to the substrate and collection units (38) which can be suction nozzles for mounting components to the substrate can be freely attached/detached to suction and holding sections (i.e. for holding the nozzles 33 and 38 and providing suction to the suction nozzles 38) of the mounting heads, wherein the multiple mounting heads are configured to have the same structure such that the coating nozzles and the suction nozzles can be freely attached to the mounting heads, i.e. are exchangeable (see Translation Para 0019-0020). Therefore at the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above combination of Kawazoe, Hiraki, and Hamane as to provide the coupling portions for the transfer pin and the suction nozzles to be the same shape so that they can be exchangeable on suction and holding sections of the mounting head as taught by Kawazoe and Hamane. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that tools that are exchangeable would inherently or obviously have coupling portions of the same shape and therefore it would only involve routine skill in the art especially in view of Kawazoe and Hamane which disclose the use of exchangeable tools including nozzles and pins; the obvious advantages of providing the transfer pin and the suction nozzle with a coupling portion with a same shape would be that this would allow for them to be easily exchanged in the same manner and would simplify manufacturing of the transfer pin, the suction nozzles, and the coupling portions as they would have a consistent shape as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
As per claim 11, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Nishida further discloses that the transfer material supply unit includes a base (see base member 20 in Fig 4) from which the protrusion extends, a main body (see plate 22 in Fig 4) that is slidable on the base (the plate 22 is slidable with base member 20 along the guide grooves 7e), and a transfer table (see transfer table 23 in Fig 4) that holds the transfer material (see flux coating film 26 in Fig 4), the transfer table provided on the main body (see Fig 4).
As per claim 12, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 11. Nishida further discloses the main body is movable between an inner set position (see Fig 4 in which the plate 22 and the rest of the coating unit 9 are inserted fully into the feeder base 7) and an outer draw-out position (see Fig 1 in which the plate 22 and the rest of the coating unit 9 is fully retracted from the feeder base 7).
As per claim 13, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Nishida further discloses the transfer material supply unit includes a lock member (see engaging mechanism 21) configured to fit in a lock hole (see locking section 7d in Fig 4) of the feeder setting section
Claims 2-3 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2011/082242 to Kawazoe (translation previously provided by examiner), US 2010/0242268 to Hiraki, WO 2018/163323 to Hamane (translation previously provided by applicants), and JP 2001-085830 to Nishida (translation provided by examiner) in further view of US 2011/0114258 to Chau.
As per claim 2, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Kawazoe further discloses that the component mounting machine includes multiple transfer pins (see transfer pins 8 in Fig 1-2) and that the transfer material is individually transferred to the mounting surface of the three-dimensional board by selectively using the multiple transfer pins (see Fig 6; see Translation Page 4), but Kawazoe does not explicitly disclose that there are multiple transfer material supply units for supplying multiple types of transfer materials so that transfer pins can individually supply each type of transfer material.
Chau discloses a similar transfer apparatus for applying multiple transfer materials to a substrate for mounting components, including multiple transfer material supply units (see adhesive discs 15 in Fig 4-5) that contain different type of adhesives and multiple transfer pins (see stamping pins 16 in Fig 3-7) configured to each individually transfer the different adhesives supplied by the multiple transfer material supply units to the substrate (see preamble, Para 0003, 0005, and 0020-0022).
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the component mounting machine of Kawazoe to include multiple transfer material supply units with different types of transfer materials and to individually transfer the different types of transfer materials using the transfer pins as taught by Chau. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that it is well-known in the art to provide different types of transfer material to be used for different functions and/or mounting different components and therefore it would be a routine matter to include a multiple transfer material supply units with different transfer materials such that different transfer pins individually supply the different transfer materials as taught by Chau; the obvious advantages being that different transfer materials being supplied by the multiple transfer material supply units and the pins individually would allow for the component mounter to be able to transfer different types of transfer materials that may be required for specific applications (Chau: Para 0005) without requiring another component mounter or a separate application device as would be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
As per claim 3, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, Nishida, and Chau disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 2. Chau further discloses that the multiple types of transfer materials can be a flowable solder and an adhesive (Chau: Para 0003 and 0005).
Claim 7 is rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2011/082242 to Kawazoe (translation previously provided by examiner), US 2010/0242268 to Hiraki, WO 2018/163323 to Hamane (translation previously provided by applicants), and JP 2001-085830 to Nishida (translation provided by examiner) in further view of US 2015/0060529 to Oka.
As per claim 7, Kawazoe, Hiraki, Hamane, and Nishida disclose the elements of the current invention as detailed above with respect to claim 1. Kawazoe further discloses that the transfer pins (8) and the suction nozzles (7) are exchangeable (see Translation Page 2), but Kawazoe does not explicitly disclose a transfer pin storage section that stores a transfer pin for exchange or that the transfer pin is automatically exchangeable. However, in light of Hiraki which discloses a nozzle storage (see nozzle stocker 20 in Fig 1) that is used to automatically exchange nozzles when different components are to be mounted (Para 0037 and 0040-0041), it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the nozzle stocker to include transfer pins so that the transfer pins can be automatically exchangeable so that transfer pins for specific components or materials can be used automatically in the component mounting machine similar to the nozzles of Hiraki.
Further, Oka discloses a similar component mounting machine comprising a working head (see working head 28 in Fig ) configured to hold a variety of different tools including a pin tool (see flux transfer tool 76 in Fig 2) and a ball holder (see ball holder 82 in Fig 3), and wherein a working tool station (see working tool station 106 in Fig 1) holds the different types of tools such that the working head can automatically exchange the different tools depending on the operation using a well-known technique (Para 0039 and 0043).
At the time the application was filed, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill it the art to modify the component mounting machine of Kawazoe so as to include a transfer pin storage section that stores a transfer pin for exchange so that the transfer pin can be automatically exchangeable as taught by Oka and similar to the nozzle exchange system of Hiraki. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that automatic exchanging systems for working tools such as transfer pins and nozzles are well-known in the art and therefore it would have been a routine matter to provide a transfer pin storage section that stores a transfer pin for automatic exchange especially in view of Hiraki and Oka; the obvious advantages of providing a transfer pin storage section that stores a transfer pin so that the transfer pin can be automatically exchangeable being that this would allow for the component mounting machine to apply different amounts and/or different patterns of transfer materials using different transfer pins without requiring a separate mounting machine, application machine, or separate application process, thereby increasing the adaptability of the component mounting machine as would be generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Applicant’s response, filed 01/29/2029, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1 under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP 2011/082242 to Kawazoe in view of US 2010/0242268 to Hiraki and WO 2018/163323 to Hamane have been fully considered and are persuasive in view of the filed claim amendments. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of JP 2001-085830 to Nishida (see above 103 rejection).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
CN 103517627 to Kawaguchi discloses a similar component mounting machine in which a protrusion of a component feeder cooperates with a slot of a feeder setting section to detachably set the feeder in the feeder setting section.
US 2016/0330882 to Nagata discloses a similar component mounting machine in which a transfer material supply unit provided in a feeder setting section has a transfer table that holds the transfer material in a film form and is capable of sliding forward and backwards.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Joshua D. Anderson, whose telephone number is (571) 270-0157. The examiner can normally be reached from Monday to Friday between 7 AM and 1 PM Arizona time.
If any attempt to reach the examiner by telephone is unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Hong, can be reached at (571) 272-0993.
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Applicants are invited to contact the Office to schedule an in-person interview to discuss and resolve the issues set forth in this Office Action. Although an interview is not required, the Office believes that an interview can be of use to resolve any issues related to a patent application in an efficient and prompt manner.
/JOSHUA D ANDERSON/
Examiner, Art Unit 3729
/THOMAS J HONG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3729
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