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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on October 19th 2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore:
Figs 1 and 2 should be labeled as “prior art”.
In claim 2, the limitation “…vacuum sector…”
In claim 3, the limitation “…a plurality of vacuum holes…” and “…a plurality of vacuum suction holes…”.
In claim 7, the limitation “…a plurality of vacuum holes…” and “…a plurality of vacuum suction holes…”.
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to because:
Fig 8-10 are in grey colored drawing; the drawing should be only in black and white.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-7 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.
In claim 1:
The limitation “a conveyor” is recited twice in the claim, line 1 and line 3, it is unclear how many conveyors is being recited or if they are the same. Clarification is required. For examination purposes, it is assumed that they are the same.
The limitation “…scrap…” is recited twice in the claim, in line 1 and line 5, it is unclear how many different scrap is being recited or if they are the same. Clarification is required. For examination purposes, it is assumed that they are the same.
In claim 6, the limitation “a conveyor” is recited twice in the claim, line 1 and line 5, it is unclear how many conveyors is being recited or they are the same. Clarification is required. For examination purposes, examiner assumed that they are the same.
Claims 2-5 and 7 are dependent claims of 1 and 6, and are rejected based on the inherited deficiencies of the corresponding independent claims.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4.Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN208644406U herein set forth as CN44406U, in view of KR101958881B1 herein set forth as KR58881B1.
Regarding claim 1, CN44406U discloses a conveyor for discharging scrap of a laser notching machine (refer to fig.1), the conveyor comprising:
a conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1);
a suction part (#4-5 and #14-16, fig.1) connected to the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1) and configured to suck scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) from an electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut on track #6 in fig.1) passing through the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1); and
a scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection opening between #14 and #16 in fig.1) configured to suck and discharge the scrap (#4-5 and #14-16, fig.1 operating on what is referred as “smoke and dust”) from the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1).
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CN44406U does not explicitly discloses resulting from forming a tab (2C).
In the similar field of laser cutting, KR58881B1 discloses resulting from forming a tab (refer to KR5881B1 figure).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified CN44406U’s invention with resulting from forming a tab, as taught by KR58881B1, in order to provide different utilities of the invention such as when the laser cutter forms different shapes with resultant varied discharge materials, and doing so would also increase the marketability of the invention.
Regarding claim 2, the modification of CN44406U and KR58881B1 discloses substantially all features set forth in claim 1, CN44406U further discloses a conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1); and
a conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) configured to move along a continuous track (refer to the continuous track of #6 in fig.1) so as to pass over upper and lower surfaces (hood #17, fig.1) of the conveyor body (track #6, fig.1), and
a vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #4 and #5, fig.1) is provided in a transfer path (refer as the path that material travel on track #6 in fig.1) through which the electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) passes,
wherein the vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #4 and #5, fig.1) is provided with a vacuum hole (refer to the connection hole of #15 to cutting platform #1 in fig.1) communicating from an inner space of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) to the lower surface of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1),
the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection between #14 and #16 in fig.1) is disposed under the conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1), and the suction part (#4-5 and #14-16, fig.1) comprises a suction duct (ventilation pipe #15, fig.1) communicating with the inner space of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1).
Regarding claim 3, the modification of CN44406U and KR58881B1 discloses substantially all features set forth in claim 2, the limitation “…resulting from forming the tab (2C) …” already disclosed in the claim 1 rejection above, CN44406U further discloses wherein the vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #5, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) is provided with a plurality of vacuum holes (refer to the opening of each suction box #5 connecting to the hood #17 in fig.1) communicating from the inner space to the lower surface (hood #17, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1), and the conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) is provided with a plurality of vacuum suction holes (refer to the gap of rod #4, fig.1) communicating with the vacuum holes (refer to the opening of each suction box #5 connecting to the hood #17 in fig.1), so that the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) from the electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) is sucked in the vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #5, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) so as to be adsorbed to the conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) passing over the lower surface (hood #17, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) by vacuum pressure, and the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) is sucked into and discharged through the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection opening between #14 and #16 in fig.1) as the vacuum pressure is automatically released at a position (refer to the position of the suction box #5 in fig.1) where the electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) and the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) have passed the vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #5, fig.1).
Regarding claim 4, the modification of CN44406U and KR58881B1 discloses substantially all features set forth in claim 3, CN44406U further discloses wherein a scarp discharge duct (refer to the pipe portion between #16 and #14 in fig.1) is provided below the position where the scrap (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) has passed through the vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #5, fig.1), and the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection opening between #14 and #16 in fig.1) is provided inside the scrap discharge duct (refer to the pipe portion between #16 and #14 in fig.1).
Regarding claim 5, the modification of CN44406U and KR58881B1 discloses substantially all features set forth in claim 1, the limitation “…resulting from forming the tab (2C) …” already disclosed in the claim 1 rejection above, CN44406U further discloses a guide shield (hood #17, fig.1) provided above the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection opening between #14 and #16 in fig.1) and the electrode plate (refer to the “material”#23 to be cut) passes above the guide shield (hood #17, fig.1).
Regarding claim 6, CN44406U discloses a scrap discharge method of a conveyor for a laser notching machine (refer to fig.1-2 and 8), the method comprising: a scrap suction step of sucking scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”), an electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) passing through a conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1), in a vacuum sector (negative pressure suction box #4 and #5, fig.1) of the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1) by vacuum pressure so as to be adsorbed to a lower portion of the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1); a scrap transfer step of transferring the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) to a vacuum release sector (negative pressure suction box #4 and #5, fig.1) of the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1); and a scrap discharge step of sucking the scrap (#4-5 and #14-16, fig.1 operating on what is referred as “smoke and dust”) into the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection between #14 and #16 in fig.1) under the vacuum release sector (negative pressure suction box #4 and #5, fig.1) and discharging the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”).
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CN44406U does not explicitly discloses resulting from forming a tab (2C).
In the similar field of laser cutting, KR58881B1 discloses resulting from forming a tab (refer to KR5881B1 figure).
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It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified CN44406U’s invention with resulting from forming a tab, as taught by KR58881B1, in order to provide different utilities of the invention such as when the laser cutter forms different shapes with resultant varied discharge materials, and doing so would also increase the marketability of the invention too.
Regarding claim 7, the modification of CN44406U and KR58881B1 discloses substantially all features set forth in claim 1, the limitation “…resulting from forming the tab (2C) …” already disclosed in the claim 6 rejection above, CN44406U further discloses wherein the conveyor (#1-3, #6 and #10, fig.1) comprises a conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) configured to move along a continuous track (refer to the continuous track of #6 in fig.1) so as to pass over upper and lower surfaces (hood #17, fig.1) of a conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1), the vacuum sector (negative pressure #5, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) is provided with a plurality of vacuum holes communicating from an inner space of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) to the lower surface of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1), and the conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) is provided with a plurality of vacuum suction holes communicating with the vacuum holes, so that the scrap (refer as “smoke and dust”) from the electrode plate (refer as “material”#23 to be cut) is sucked in the vacuum sector (negative pressure #5, fig.1) of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) so as to be adsorbed to the conveyor belt (track #6 and rod #4, fig.1) passing over the lower surface of the conveyor body (cutting platform #1, fig 1) by vacuum pressure, and the scrap (#4-5 and #14-16, fig.1 operating on what is referred as “smoke and dust”) is sucked into and discharged through the scrap discharge hole (refer to the connection opening between #14 and #16 in fig.1) as the vacuum pressure is released in the vacuum release sector (collection box #14, fig.1).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YEONG JUEN THONG whose telephone number is (571)272-6930. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday.
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/YEONG JUEN THONG/Examiner, Art Unit 3761 January 29th 2026
/STEVEN W CRABB/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3761