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 31, 2022, February 28, 2024, and July 16, 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 (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 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.
Claims 1 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hanaduka et al (US 6,217,094).
As to claim 1, Hanaduka et al discloses a gripper, as illustrated in Figures 1-6, comprising a case (see annotated Figure 2 below), a plurality of gripping assemblies (see Figures 3-4 and 6) respectively assembled to the case, wherein each of the plurality of gripping assemblies (see Figure 1) is provided with a fingertip (10-1,10-2) at an end portion, and fingertips (10-1,10-2) of the plurality of gripping assemblies are configured to cooperate with each other for grasping (object 13) wherein each of the plurality of gripping assemblies further comprises a gear set comprising a fixed gear (3), an intermediate gear (4-1) and a fingertip gear (4-2) engaged in sequence, wherein the fixed gear is fixedly connected to the case, and the fingertip gear is fixedly connected to the fingertip; a gear carrier (5-1,5-2) rotatably connected to the case, wherein the intermediate gear and the fingertip gear are mounted to the gear carrier, and the intermediate gear and the fingertip gear are respectively rotatably connected to the gear carrier; and a driving assembly (2) configured to rotate the gear carrier (driving device 2 is actuated, the first and second driven gears 5-1 and 5-2 are rotated in the opposite directions to each other – see col. 2, lines 57-60), so as to move the plurality of gripping assemblies.
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As to claim 10, Hanaduka et al discloses a robot (game machine – see col. 1, lines 5-8), as illustrated in Figures 1-6, comprising a gripper wherein the gripper comprises a case (see annotated Figure 2 above), plurality of gripping assemblies (see Figures 3-4 and 6) respectively assembled to the case, wherein each of the plurality of gripping assemblies is provided with a fingertip (10-1,10-2) at an end portion, and fingertips (10-1,10-2) of the plurality of gripping assemblies are configured to cooperate with each other for grasping (object 13), wherein each of the plurality of gripping assemblies further comprises a gear set comprising a fixed gear (3), an intermediate gear (4-1) and a fingertip (4-2) gear engaged in sequence, wherein the fixed gear is fixedly connected to the case, and the fingertip gear is fixedly connected to the fingertip, a gear carrier (5-1,5-2) rotatably connected to the case, wherein the intermediate gear and the fingertip gear are mounted to the gear carrier, and the intermediate gear and the fingertip gear are respectively rotatably connected to the gear carrier; and a driving assembly (2) configured to rotate the gear carrier(driving device 2 is actuated, the first and second driven gears 5-1 and 5-2 are rotated in the opposite directions to each other – see col. 2, lines 57-60), so as to move the plurality of gripping assemblies.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-9 and 11-18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wilkinson, Lee, Hill, Greene, and Huang are cited as being relevant art, because each prior art discloses a gripper comprising a fingertip and a gear set.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN VU whose telephone number is (571)272-1961. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford can be reached at (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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STEPHEN VU
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3651
/STEPHEN A VU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651