DETAILED ACTION
1. The Amendment filed 05/04/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-15 & 17-18 in the application remain pending. Claims 1-4, 6, 9-15 & 17 were amended. Claim 16 was cancelled. Claims 10-11, 13-14 & 18 remain withdrawn from further consideration
2. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S.C. code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office Action.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
3. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Interpretation
4. Claim interpretation as being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) of claims 1-4, 9 & 13-17 in the 02/18/2026 Office Action are rendered moot per amendments.
Claim Rejections
5. The claim rejections under AIA 35 U.S.C. 112(b), of claims 6, 9 & 12 are withdrawn per amendments of claims 6 & 9.
6. The claim rejections under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by Hentschel (WO 2018118686 A1 of claim 16 are withdrawn per cancellation of claim 16.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
7. Claims 1-9, 12, 15 & 17 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hentschel (WO 2018118686 A1 – cited in 07/23/2024 IDS; translation provided by Applicant ) hereinafter Hentschel (the terminology of the claims in the application is used, but the references of Hentschel are included between parentheses).
As regards to claim 1, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), comprising:
a base member (2) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 8, ln 24; fig 1);
a valve device (4) mounted on the base member (2) and including a valve element (18) and a valve seat (10) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1); and
a valve driver (60) configured to move the valve element (18) forward to and backward from the valve seat (10) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1);
wherein the liquid material discharge device further comprises an adjuster (32+34+42) configured to adjust relative alignment of the valve element (18) with respect to the valve seat (10) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1), and
wherein the adjuster (32+34+42) includes a movable plate or block member (34) on which the valve driver (60) is disposed, and an inclination adjuster (32) configured to adjust and mechanically fix an inclination of the movable plate or block member (34) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1),
wherein the valve driving device (60) includes an actuator (30) that moves the valve element (18) forward and backward (abs; pg 7, In 30-pg 10, In 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 2, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the adjuster (32+34+42) includes an elastic portion (44) that couples the movable plate or block member (34) to the base member (2) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 3, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the inclination adjuster (32) includes a protruded portion (33+38) formed on the movable plate or block member (34), a contact member (40) that is in contact with the protruded portion (33+38), and a fixed angle adjuster (66) that fixes the contact member (40) to the protruded portion (33+38), wherein the fixed angle adjuster (66) is able to adjust an angle at which the contact member (40) is in contact with the protruded portion (33+38) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 4, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the fixed angle adjuster (66) includes a receiving member (68) disposed in contact with the protruded portion (33+38) and a pulling member (72) inserted through the contact member (40) and screwed into the receiving member (68) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 5, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the receiving member (68) is rotatably disposed in contact with the protruded portion (33+38) and includes a thread groove into which the pulling member (72) is screwed (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 6, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the contact member (40) is provided with a fitting hole (see fig 1, hole accommodating 72) having a stepped portion (see fig 1, step from top of 72 to top of 40), and the pulling member (72) includes a diameter-enlarged portion (see fig 1, portion extending beyond top of 40) that is in contact with the stepped portion (see fig 1, step from top of 72 to top of 40) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 7, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the protruded portion (33+38) has a surface (see fig 1, lined side of 38) that is in contact (see fig 1, lined side) with the contact member (40), the surface (see fig 1, lined side of 38) being rounded (see fig 1, top of 38), and the protruded portion (33+38) and the contact member (40) are in line contact (see fig 1, lined side of 38) with each other (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 8, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the contact member (40) has a surface (see fig 1, side surface of 40 in contact with lined side of 38) that is in contact with the protruded portion (33+38), the surface (see fig 1, side surface of 40 in contact with lined side of 38) being obliquely (angled/slanted) disposed (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 9, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the valve driver (60) is disposed between (see fig 1) the elastic portion (44) and the inclination adjuster (32) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 12, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the inclination adjuster (32) and the elastic portion (44) are provided on a bottom-face side (see fig 1, top face side of 34) of the movable plate or block member (34) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 15, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the base member (2), the movable plate or block member (34), and the elastic portion (44) are integrally (see fig 1) formed (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
As regards to claim 17, Hentschel discloses a liquid material discharge device (abs; fig 1-5), wherein the valve device (4) includes: a valve stem (see fig 1, stem of 18) provided with the valve element (18); a liquid chamber (6) in which the valve element (18) moves forward and backward; a liquid inlet (8) that communicates with the liquid chamber (6) and through which a liquid material is supplied; a nozzle (12) that communicates with the liquid chamber (6) and has a discharge port (9) through which the liquid material is ejected; the valve seat (10) having a through-hole (see fig 1) communicating with the discharge port (9) of the nozzle (12); and a spring (44) that biases the valve stem (see fig 1, stem of 18); wherein the valve driver (60) includes an arm (see fig 1, portion extending horizontally) that is coupled to the actuator (30) and is in separable contact with the valve stem (see fig 1, stem of 18) (pg 7, ln 30-pg 10, ln 3; fig 1).
Response to Arguments
8. Applicant's arguments filed 05/04/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s principal arguments are:
(a) Hentschel fails to disclose "wherein the valve driver includes an actuator that moves the valve element forward and backward" of the presently amended Claim 1.
(b) Examiner has found that the piezo actuator 32 and the piezoelectric drive assembly 30 - which are substantially the same element - correspond to both the claimed "inclination adjuster" and the "actuator." Such characterization of Hentschel gives rise to a clear contradiction. This contradiction is resolved if the piezoelectric drive assembly 30 of Hentschel is found to correspond to the "valve driving device" of amended Claim 1, and the piezo actuator 32 is found to correspond to the "actuator" of the presently amended Claim 1. That is, according to a reasonable characterization of Hentschel, Hentschel does not disclose the "inclination adjuster" of Claim 1.
In other words, Hentschel fails to disclose "an inclination adjuster configured to adjust and mechanically fix an inclination of the movable plate or block member" of the presently amended Claim 1.
(c) Accordingly, it is also respectfully submitted that the presently amended Claim 1 clearly and technically distinguishes over Hentschel.
9. In response to applicant’s arguments, please consider the following comments.
(a) Hentschel discloses “a piezoelectric drive assembly (30) configured to reciprocally move at least a portion of the valve element (18) relative to the valve seat (10)” (abs).
Examiner respectfully contends the disclosure satisfies the limitation.
As already discussed above in detail in regards to claim 1, Miu teaches…
(b) Hentschel discloses “a piezoelectric drive assembly (30)” and “a piezo actuator 32”, which are not disclosed as the same element or labeled the same element and Examiner respectfully contends equating them would be contrary to the disclosure. The piezoelectric drive assembly 30 comprises the piezo actuator 32, thus the piezo actuator 32 is one of a plurality of components making up the piezoelectric drive assembly 30.
Merriam-Webster defines mechanically as follows: in a mechanical manner.
Merriam-Webster defines mechanical as follows: done as if by machine : seemingly uninfluenced by the mind or emotions.
Examiner respectfully contends the inclination adjuster (piezo actuator 32) configured to adjust and mechanically fix an inclination of the movable plate or block member (actuation lever 34) would indeed qualify as being done as if by machine : seemingly uninfluenced by the mind or emotions.
(c) In view of the foregoing, Examiner respectfully contends the limitations of claim 1 are indeed satisfied. Claims 2-9, 12, 15 & 17 are rejected at least based on their dependency from claim 1, as well as for their own rejections on the merits, respectively.
Conclusion
10. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
11. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jethro M Pence whose telephone number is (571)270-7423. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 8:00 A.M. - 6:30 P.M..
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/Jethro M. Pence/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1717
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