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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group II (claims 14-18) in the reply filed on 03/24/2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claim Objections
Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities:
the limitation “and a beam energy source operably configured to direct a beam energy towards the powder bed to fuse the quantity of powder into a layer of additive material on the component a controller configured to control a translation of the first wiper segment and the second wiper segment so that each of the wiper segments follows the different contour of the protruding portion, respectively” in claim 14 should read
“a beam energy source operably configured to direct a beam energy towards the powder bed to fuse the quantity of powder into a layer of additive material on the component; and
a controller configured to control a translation of the first wiper segment and the second wiper segment so that each of the wiper segments follows the different contour of the protruding portion, respectively”
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“the first wiper segment and the second wiper segment each configured to follow a different contour of the protruding portion at the surface of the powder bed” in claim 14
“a cantilevered support structure supporting the wiper blade to maintain a position at the surface” in claim 16;
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation:
The para.[0025], [0026], and [0034] of the specification disclose “the first wiper segment 312 and the second wiper segment 310 each include a wiper blade having an end surface 314 and a side surface 316 such that the end surface 314 cooperates with the side surface 316 to define an acute angle (θ) therebetween. The acute angle (θ) may be varied to best suit different component geometries. For example, the angle (θ) of the wiper blade may be configured to accommodate the angle of a final edge 702 from a pocket 304 that requires repair (see FIG. 10 ). The wiper blade is configured to advance and level a quantity of powder in the powder bed 20.” “the first wiper segment 312 and/or the second wiper segment 310 includes a rigid cantilevered support structure 402 and a wiper blade 404 that extends along the axis of the wiper segment 312 to keep the wiper blade 404 level with the intended plane of processing in the powder bed 204. In an embodiment, shown in a cross-sectional view on the left side of FIG. 7 , cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 , the support structure 402 includes a C-channel shape providing adequate stiffening in the X-Y plane (plane of powder). In a side view in FIG. 7 , shown on the right side of FIG. 7 , the C-channel support structure 402 includes braces between the top and bottom of the inside edges of the C-channel support structure 402 to assist in keeping the wiper blade 404 level over the cantilevered length.” “the first wiper segment 312 includes an auger 812. The auger 812 may be generally cylindrical having spiral convolutions on its surface, (e.g., a screw). Challenges of advancing powder into the pocket 304 solely with a wiper blade would be delivering powder to remote areas of the pocket as well as delivering powder evenly across the pocket 304. Thus, a mechanism to achieve such delivery may be an auger. In contrast to a wiper blade, an auger can deliver powder into the pocket 304 along its length so that powder is generally evenly distributed throughout the pocket 304. Rotation of the auger partially submerged in the powder bed 204 may deliver powder toward the end of the auger and into difficult to reach portions of the pocket 304. Alternately, the wiper blade may include serrations along its length to enhance powder transport perpendicular to the direction of translation. A circular sweep of the wiper blade would further enhance this action.”
The para.[0026] of the specification disclose “the support structure 402 includes a C-channel shape providing adequate stiffening in the X-Y plane (plane of powder). In a side view in FIG. 7 , shown on the right side of FIG. 7 , the C-channel support structure 402 includes braces between the top and bottom of the inside edges of the C-channel support structure 402 to assist in keeping the wiper blade 404 level over the cantilevered length.”
The terms “the first wiper segment”, “the second wiper segment”, and “cantilevered support structure” is be interpreted to in light of the specification as shown above.
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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.
Claim 15 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.
Regarding claim 15, the limitation “a wiper blade with an end surface that cooperates with a side surface to define an acute angle therebetween” is indefinite. 1) The definition or meaning of “cooperates with a side surface” is unclear. 2) It is unclear what structure define the acute angle.
For the purpose of examination, the limitation “a wiper blade with an end surface that cooperates with a side surface to define an acute angle therebetween” is interpretated to be a wiper blade comprising a side surface and an end surface that cooperates with the side surface to define an acute angle therebetween.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 14 is 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Reference Shi (US 2018/0194074) is the closest prior art. Shi teaches a system (additive manufacturing system 100) for repairing a component utilizing a powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process, comprising:
a vessel (build platform 102) containing a powder bed (powder bed 104) having the component (component 114), with a portion to be repaired submerged to a position where the portion is at a surface of the powder bed defined by a pocket in the component and with a protruding portion of the component that protrudes above the powder bed [Examiner’s note: the component appears to be the workpiece or the product that processing by the claimed system. Therefore, the structure of the component does not further limit the claimed system.”];
a split wiper (recoating device 116) comprising a first wiper segment (first stage of recoater blades 200) and a second wiper segment (second stage of recoater blades 206), the first wiper segment (first stage of recoater blades 200) and the second wiper segment (second stage of recoater blades 206) each configured to follow a different contour of the protruding portion at the surface of the powder bed (See figures 1-3), wherein the first wiper segment advances a quantity of powder into the pocket in the component (See para.[0032] “ recoating device 116 is configured to displace particulates 128 when particulates 128 are on powder bed 104. “); and
a beam energy source (beam energy source in housing 117) operably configured to direct a beam energy towards the powder bed to fuse the quantity of powder into a layer of additive material on the component (See paras.[0025] and [0044] “The focused energy source directs energy to a layer of particulate build material that covers the component being constructed on a build platform. After the build layer is melted by the energy source and allowed to cool, the recoating device spreads particulate material across the component to form the next build layer.” “optical elements 130 facilitate focusing beam 164 on powder bed 104.”)
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However, Shi does not teach the limitation “a controller configured to control a translation of the first wiper segment and the second wiper segment so that each of the wiper segments follows the different contour of the protruding portion, respectively.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRIS Q LIU whose telephone number is (571)272-8241. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-6:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ibrahime Abraham can be reached at (571) 270-5569. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRIS Q LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
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