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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I, claims 1-6 and 11-20 in the reply filed on October 16, 2025 is acknowledged. The grounds for traversal are found persuasive. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in MPEP § 821.04(a), the restriction requirement between inventions of Group I and II, as set forth in the Office action mailed on July 16,2025, is hereby withdrawn and claims 7-10 hereby rejoined and fully examined for patentability under 37 CFR 1.104. In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant(s) are advised that if any claim presented in a divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01.
Claim Objections
The claims are objected to because the lines are crowded too closely together, making reading difficult. Substitute claims with lines one and one-half or double spaced on good quality paper are required. See 37 CFR 1.52(b).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites “wherein the deposition material is deposited through the first opening and the second opening, respectively;” which is unclear. How is the deposition material deposited related “respectfully” to the first and second opening. Claim 1 recites “representing a pre-defined first deposition path and a pre-defined second deposition path for the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head as a plurality of points” which is unclear. How are the pre-defined first and second deposition paths related to the first and second motorized deposition heads? Claim 1 recites “the pre-defined first deposition path and the pre-defined second deposition path describe a first segment and a second segment” which is unclear. How are the pre-defined first and second deposition paths related to the first and second segment? The Examiner suggests the following amendments:
1. (Currently amended) A multi-head additive manufacturing machine comprising:
a first common guide aligned to a first direction;
a second common guide aligned to a second direction;
a multi-deposition unit comprising at least a first deposition device and a second deposition device,
wherein the first deposition device and the second deposition device are independently actuatable to
provide different quantities of deposition material;
a multi-head unit (MHU) movable with respect to the first common guide and the second common
guide and comprising at least a first motorized deposition head and a second motorized deposition head
movable with respect to one another along a third guide aligned to a third direction, the first direction,
the second direction and the third direction defining a three-dimensional reference frame for
deposition; wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head
comprise a first opening and a second opening, respectively, wherein the deposition material provided by the first deposition device and the second deposition device is deposited through the first opening and the second opening, respectively;
an electronic control unit (ECU) programmed to:
control a movement of the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head
via actuators within the three-dimensional reference frame by processing at least a discretized sequence
of coordinate value sets within the three-dimensional reference frame representing a pre-defined first
deposition path and a pre-defined second deposition path for the first motorized deposition head and
the second motorized deposition head as a plurality of points, respectively;
provide, via a pre-defined first deposition quantity information for the first motorized deposition head
and a second deposition quantity information for the second motorized deposition head, each of the
pre-defined first deposition quantity information and the second deposition quantity information being
associated to the plurality of points, a pre-defined quantity of material to be deposited along the pre-
defined first deposition path and the pre-defined second deposition path via the first opening and the
second opening and a deposition system;
wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head are controlled
with identical movements along the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the coordinate values further include first position information along the third direction for the
first motorized deposition head and second position information along the third direction for the second
motorized deposition head such that, for at least a section of the discretized sequence where the first
motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously deposit, the pre-
defined first deposition path and the pre-defined second deposition path describe a first segment and a
second segment, respectively, wherein the first segment and the second segment are arbitrarily different, non-mirrored, non-replica, and the first segment and the second segment having, for a first span along the first direction and for a second span along the second direction, a corresponding first length associated to the first motorized deposition head and a corresponding second length associated to the second motorized deposition head so that a length of the first segment is different from a length of the second segment,
the electronic control unit coordinating the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized
deposition head by operating the actuators and the deposition system so that, when the first motorized
deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously operate based on the section, each coordinate value set of the discretized sequence having identical coordinate values along the first direction and the second direction and different values along the third direction and for first deposition information and second deposition information, is simultaneously reached by the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head so that the first segment and the second segment are synchronously deposited over a same time interval by having a first travelling speed of the first motorized deposition head lower than a second travelling speed of the second motorized
deposition head when the first segment is shorter than the second segment.
Claim 3 recites “each printed object or sub part” which lacks antecedent basis. The Examiner suggests the following amendments: “a printed object or a sub part”.
Claim 7 recites “wherein the deposition material is deposited through the first opening and the second opening, respectively;” which is unclear. How is the deposition material deposited related “respectfully” to the first and second opening. Claim 7 recites “representing pre-defined first and second deposition paths for the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head as a plurality of points” which is unclear. How are the pre-defined first and second deposition paths related to the first and second motorized deposition heads? Claim 7 recites “the first and deposition paths describe a first segment and a second segment” which is unclear. How are the first and second deposition paths related to the first and second segment? The Examiner suggests the following amendments:
7. (Previously Presented) A manufacturing method for two or more objects or sub-parts with a multi-
head additive manufacturing machine, wherein
the multi-head additive manufacturing machine comprises:
a first common guide aligned to a first direction;
a second common guide aligned to a second direction;
a multi-deposition unit comprising at least of a first deposition device and a second
deposition device, wherein the first deposition device and the second deposition device are
independently actuatable to provide different quantities of deposition material; and
a multi-head unit (MHU) movable with respect to the first common guide and the second
common guide and comprising at least a first motorized deposition head and a second motorized
deposition head movable with respect to one another along a third guide aligned to a third direction, the first direction, the second direction and the third direction defining a three-dimensional reference frame for deposition; wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head comprise a first opening and a second opening, respectively, wherein the deposition material provided by the first deposition device and the second deposition device is deposited through the first opening and the second opening, respectively;
the manufacturing method comprising steps of:
via an electronic control unit (ECU), receiving at least a discretized sequence of coordinate value sets
within the three-dimensional reference frame representing pre-defined first and second deposition paths
for the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head as a plurality of
points, respectively;
providing, via a pre-defined first deposition quantity information for the first motorized deposition head and a second deposition quantity information for the second motorized deposition head, each of the pre-defined first deposition quantity information and the second deposition quantity information being associated to the plurality of points, a pre-defined quantity of material to be deposited along the first and second deposition paths via the first opening and the second opening and a deposition system;
and
controlling predetermined movements within the three-dimensional reference frame of the first
motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head along the third direction to
implement the first and second deposition paths,
wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head are
controlled with identical movements along the first direction and the second direction,
wherein the coordinate values further include first position information along the third direction for the
first motorized deposition head and second position information along the third direction for the second
motorized deposition head such that, for at least a section of the discretized sequence where the first
motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously deposit, the first
and second deposition paths describe a first segment and a second segment, respectively, wherein the first segment and the second segment are arbitrarily different, non-mirrored, non-replica, and the first segment and the second segment having, for a first span along the first direction and for a second span along the second direction, a corresponding first length associated to the first motorized deposition head and a corresponding second length associated to the second motorized deposition head so that a length of the first segment is different from a length of the second segment,
the electronic control unit coordinating the first motorized deposition head and the second
motorized deposition head by operating the actuators and the deposition system so that, when the first
motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously operate based on
the section, each coordinate value set of the discretized sequence having identical coordinate values
along the first direction and the second direction and different values along the third direction and for
first deposition information and second deposition information, is simultaneously reached by the first
motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head so that the first segment and the
second segment are synchronously deposited over a same time interval by having a first travelling
speed of the first motorized deposition head lower than a second travelling speed of the second
motorized deposition head when the first segment is shorter than the second segment.
Claim 9 recites “the decomposition of a second computational model” which lacks antecedent basis. The Examiner suggests the following amendments: “a decomposition of a second computational model”.
Claim 11 recites “each printed object or sub part” which lacks antecedent basis. The Examiner suggests the following amendments: “a printed object or a sub part”.
Claims not listed above are rejected as being dependent upon a rejected claim.
For further examination purposes, the scope of the claims are read in light of the suggested claim amendments.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the objection and the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art of record does not teach or reasonably suggest:
the multi-head additive manufacturing machine, as recited by claim 1-6 and 11-20, particularly wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head are controlled with identical movements along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the coordinate values further include first position information along the third direction for the first motorized deposition head and second position information along the third direction for the second motorized deposition head such that, for at least a section of the discretized sequence where the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously deposit, the pre-defined first deposition path and the pre-defined second deposition path describe a first segment and a second segment, respectively, wherein the first segment and the second segment are arbitrarily different, non-mirrored, non-replica, and the first segment and the second segment having, for a first span along the first direction and for a second span along the second direction, a corresponding first length associated to the first motorized deposition head and a corresponding second length associated to the second motorized deposition head so that a length of the first segment is different from a length of the second segment, the electronic control unit coordinating the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head by operating the actuators and the deposition system so that, when the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously operate based on the section, each coordinate value set of the discretized sequence having identical coordinate values along the first direction and the second direction and different values along the third direction and for first deposition information and second deposition information, is simultaneously reached by the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head so that the first segment and the second segment are synchronously deposited over a same time interval by having a first travelling speed of the first motorized deposition head lower than a second travelling speed of the second motorized deposition head when the first segment is shorter than the second segment; OR
the manufacturing method for two or more objects or sub-parts with a multi-head additive manufacturing machine, as recited by claims 7-10, particularly wherein the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head are controlled with identical movements along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the coordinate values further include first position information along the third direction for the first motorized deposition head and second position information along the third direction for the second motorized deposition head such that, for at least a section of the discretized sequence where the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously deposit, the first and second deposition paths describe a first segment and a second segment, respectively, wherein the first segment and the second segment are arbitrarily different, non-mirrored, non-replica, and the first segment and the second segment having, for a first span along the first direction and for a second span along the second direction, a corresponding first length associated to the first motorized deposition head and a corresponding second length associated to the second motorized deposition head so that a length of the first segment is different from a length of the second segment, the electronic control unit coordinating the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head by operating the actuators and the deposition system so that, when the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head simultaneously operate based on the section, each coordinate value set of the discretized sequence having identical coordinate values along the first direction and the second direction and different values along the third direction and for first deposition information and second deposition information, is simultaneously reached by the first motorized deposition head and the second motorized deposition head so that the first segment and the second segment are synchronously deposited over a same time interval by having a first travelling speed of the first motorized deposition head lower than a second travelling speed of the second motorized deposition head when the first segment is shorter than the second segment.
In the remarks filed on October 16, 2025, Applicants arguments that the Written Opinion concludes that it would be "obvious" to adapt D2's teaching to D1 because "the apparatus of D2 works with polar coordinates," but "this is directly transposable to a system using Cartesian coordinates," and that such adaptation would be an obvious task (Written Opinion, p. 7, §3- §3.1). That statement does not identify the claimed coordination constraint (identical X/Y per point, different Z and deposition info per head, speed compensation to equalize completion time of different-length segments) in either D1 or D2, nor does it provide a reasoned motivation to combine the references to arrive at those constraints. Simply asserting that one could convert polar to Cartesian does not supply a rationale for implementing our paired, per-point identical-XY control model, our non-mirrored/non-replical segment requirement, or our time-synchronization by speed adjustment when segment lengths differ. Such arguments against D2 (US 2015/0035198) reading on the limitations of the instant claims are found persuasive by the Examiner. Swanson et al. (US 2010/0021580: e.g., fig. 1), Wolfgram (US 2014/0363532: e.g., figs. 2-6) and Neboian et al. (US 2019/0118467; e.g., fig. 1) are cited as the closest prior art found by the Examiner, but they, as well as the other prior art of record, do not teach or reasonably suggest the limitations of claims 1-20 as mentioned above in the reasons for allowance.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH S LEYSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5061. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-4:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sam Xiao Zhao can be reached at 5712705343. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.S.L/Examiner, Art Unit 1744
/XIAO S ZHAO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1744