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 .
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 1-4 and 6-18 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation:
wherein the at least one gripping element comprises a recess arranged in an external surface, wherein the recess is configured to engage a matching flange on an exchange station, wherein each arm comprises one mounting position for the at least one gripping element arranged in the top side, wherein the at least one gripping element is releasably connected to that arm via a quick-release coupling, wherein the at least one gripping element comprises a recess arranged in an external surface, wherein the recess is configured to engage a matching flange with complementary features on an exchange station.
it is unclear whether the first mentioned recess and the second mentioned recess in the gripping element are the same recess or different recesses.
it is unclear whether the first mentioned external surface and the second mentioned external surface of the gripping element are the same surface or different surfaces.
it is unclear whether the first mentioned matching flange and the second mentioned matching flange are the same recess or different recesses.
it is unclear whether the first mentioned exchange station and the second mentioned exchange station are the same exchange station or different exchange stations.
Regarding Claims 2-4 and 6-18:
the claims are rejected for depending from a rejected claim
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Patent publications US 4604787 A, US 4636135 A, US 4685850 A, US 4706372 A, US 4852242 A, US 4913617 A, and US 4979284 A have been cited by the examiner as pertinent to the applicant’s disclosure because they teach: robotic arms with exchangeable grippers having a rack for storing the unused grippers.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRENDAN P TIGHE whose telephone number is 571-272-4872. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday, 7:00-5:30 EST
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, SAUL RODRIGUEZ can be reached on 571-272-7097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRENDAN P TIGHE/Examiner, Art Unit 3652
/SAUL RODRIGUEZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3652