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 II, readable on claims 1-10. 19, and 20, in the reply filed on Dec 18, 2025, is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that “Applicant respectfully asserts that restriction is not proper here because, among other things, the Examiner has failed to establish the claims as they are grouped are sufficiently distinct to warrant restriction, or the Examiner has failed to show that there will be a serious burden on the Examiner if the claims are examined together.” This is not found persuasive because the Examiner had specifically shows that “Restriction to one of the following inventions is required under 35 U.S.C. 121:
Claims 1 and 11-14, drawn to a robotic system with a working support, classified I. in B25J9/0096.CPC.;
Claims 1-10 and 19-20, drawn to Robotic Gripping jaw or fingers, classified in II. B25J15/08.CPC.; and
Claims 15-18, drawn to a Method of Programing Controlled Operation, classified III. in B25J9/1612 and 1635.CPC.
The inventions are independent or distinct, each from the other because: Inventions Group I and II are related as combination and subcombination. Inventions in this relationship are distinct if it can be shown that (1) the combination as claimed does not require the particulars of the subcombination as claimed for patentability, and (2) that the subcombination has utility by itself or in other combinations (MPEP § 806.05(c)). In the instant case, the combination as claimed does not require the particulars of the subcombination as claimed because Group I (a robotic cell as recited) does not require Group II (a coupling assembly connectable to a robot. The sub-combination has separate utility such as Gripping Fingers with tool exchangers.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 11-18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on Dec 18, 2025.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/30/2022 was filed and the submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714).
Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) discloses a robotic cell (See Figs. 1-27) comprising: a workstation (see Fig. 1) (see Exhibit A) adapted to receive at least one workpiece; a tool support (6, 20, 16, 16) (see Fig. 1) comprising at least one tool (18, 84); and a robot (24) comprising: a robot base (28) positioned proximate the workstation; a robot arm (14, 24) operatively coupled to the robot base and being displaceable in a 3D environment of the workstation (see para [0044] [0045]), the robot arm having a free end; and a robot end effector (26) operatively coupled to the free end and comprising a gripper (48, 50) adapted to selectively seize and release the at least one tool from the tool support and the at least one workpiece; the tool support being within reach of the gripper, the robot being operable to manipulate and position the workpiece within the workstation using the gripper and perform a predetermined operation on or around the workpiece using the tool held by the gripper.
Exhibit A
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 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 2-10, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) in view of the German Publication (DE 29922476).
Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714), as presented above, does not specifically show a gripper assembly comprising gripping jaws having protrusions and a stabilizer assembly having gripper interface and complimentary portions having protrusions. However, Fig. 1 of the German Publication (DE 29922476) shows a gripper assembly (See Exhibit B) comprising gripping jaws having protrusions and a stabilizer assembly having gripper interface and complimentary portions having protrusions. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the mechanical engineering art before the effective filing date of the invention to provide a gripper assembly comprising gripping jaws having protrusions and a stabilizer assembly on the Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) as taught by the German Publication (DE 29922476) to firmly grasp the tool.
RE claims 9 and 10, the German Publication (DE 29922476) shows the tool support comprises a tool holster, and wherein the gripper coupling comprises a holster interface adapted to engage the tool holster to position the tool in a predetermined holstered position on the tool holster wherein the tool holster comprises a holster plate and holster studs extending outwardly from the holster plate, and wherein the holster interface comprises holster apertures shaped and adapted to receive the holster studs therein
Exhibit B
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Claims 2-10, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) in view of Clark (4,545,723).
Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714), as presented above, does not specifically show a gripper assembly comprising gripping jaws having protrusions and a stabilizer assembly having gripper interface and complimentary portions having protrusions. However, Figs. 1-4 of Clark (4,545,723) shows a gripper assembly (see Fig. 3) comprising gripping jaws (10) having protrusions (20, 26) and a stabilizer assembly (see Figs. 2 and 3) having gripper interface (60, 46) and complimentary portions having protrusions (46, 60). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the mechanical engineering art before the effective filing date of the invention to provide a gripper assembly comprising gripping jaws having protrusions and a stabilizer assembly on the Declerck et al. (US 2020/0276714) as taught by Clark (4,545,723) to firmly grasp the tool.
RE claims 9 and 01, Clark (4,545,723) shows the tool support comprises a tool holster, and wherein the gripper coupling comprises a holster interface adapted to engage the tool holster to position the tool in a predetermined holstered position on the tool holster wherein the tool holster comprises a holster plate (42) and holster studs (A, C) extending outwardly from the holster plate, and wherein the holster interface comprises holster apertures (any holes) shaped and adapted to receive the holster studs therein.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL T CHIN whose telephone number is (571)272-6922. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00-4:30 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford can be reached on (571) 272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PAUL T CHIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651