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 without traverse of Group II, claims 14-20 in the reply filed on 9 February 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 1-13 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 9 February 2026.
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 20 is 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 20, line 5, it is unclear if “the detection” refers back to “measuring a vertical moving distance” in line 2 or if is there a detection step that is missing? For the purposes of examination, the Examiner will be interpreting “the detection” as referring back to “measuring a vertical moving distance.”
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.
Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Miyata et al. (US 2022/0384839; hereinafter “Miyata”), in view of Hildebrand, JR (US 2004/0187445; hereinafter “Hildebrand”).
Regarding claim 14, Miyata teaches a method of assembling a battery, the method comprising:
gripping a cell block (stacked body of battery cells 4 with spacers 5 and end plates 6, see Fig. 3; [0023]) by a first gripper (see Fig. 3 – left restraining jig 10; [0023]) and a second gripper (see Fig. 3 – right restraining jig 10; see [0023]) of a battery assembly machine (see Figs. 3-7);
transporting the cell block to a case (case 2, see Fig. 4; [0023]);
inserting the cell block into the case a first predetermined distance (see [0024] and Fig. 5 – insertion results in variations in height among the plurality of battery cells 4), and releasing a grip of the first gripper (Miyata is silent to releasing the left restraining jig 10 but it would have been obvious to do so to release the stack of cells into the case);
after releasing the grip of the first gripper, inserting the cell block into the case by a second predetermined distance (see [0025]-[0033]); and
providing pressing force to the cell block through a pusher of the battery assembly machine (pusher equated to moving member 31 of the pressurizing jig 30, see [0025]-[0033]).
Miyata is silent to after releasing the grip of the first gripper, releasing a grip of the second gripper.
Hildebrand teaches that gripping arms may be released in sequence, instead of substantially at the same time. For example, two of the gripping arms can release to first impart rotation upon the outer container, before the remaining gripping arms release the inner container. In other embodiments, rotation and translation of the inner container is achieved by sequential release of gripping arms from the corner regions of the container. Indeed, the release of the gripping arms can be coordinated such that any number of different rotational and translational movements can be exhibited by the selectively released container (see [0050]).
In view of Hildebrand’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of Miyata to include after releasing the grip of the first gripper, releasing a grip of the second gripper, as taught by Hildebrand, because sequential release of arms can be used to induce rotation and translation.
Claim(s) 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand as applied to claim 14 above, and further in view of Sabatino et al. (US 4,509,252; hereinafter “Sabatino”; listed in the IDS filed 16 May 2023).
Regarding claim 15, the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand is silent to wherein the cell block is supplied from a cell block conveyor and the case is supplied from a case conveyor disposed adjacent to the cell block conveyor.
Sabatino teaches a method and apparatus for assembling battery components including a battery case 10 wherein a plurality of battery cell elements 34-39 are inserted into the spaces 26-31 (see abstract). Sabatino teaches an empty case 10 is brought on a conveyor 11 to a first insert station, and an element engagement, pickup, alignment and insert apparatus, generally designated 14, is provided at first insert station 12 for engaging and picking up intermediate cell elements from a conveyor, generally designated 19, and inserting them into the cells of the battery case. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery case, with the inserted intermediate cell elements, is then transferred by the conveyor 11 as a partial assembly 15 to a second insert station, generally designated 16, where the partially assembled battery case 15 is retained by means of a stop 17 for receiving a pair of terminal, or end, cell elements transferred thereto by a second engaging and pickup, alignment and insert apparatus, generally designated 18, receiving the end cell elements on a second feed conveyor, generally designated 20 (see 4:55-5:12).
In view of Sabatino’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand to include wherein the cell block is supplied from a cell block conveyor and the case is supplied from a case conveyor disposed adjacent to the cell block conveyor, as taught by Sabatino, because it is a known means for supplying an empty case and battery cells elements to be inserted into said case.
Claim(s) 16 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand as applied to claim 14 above, and further in view of Turner (US 2020/0091542).
Regarding claim 16, the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand is silent to the method further comprising:
obtaining, by a controller, detection information detected by a plurality of sensors provided in the battery assembly machine; and
controlling a location of the battery assembly machine based on the detection information.
Turner teaches obtaining, by a controller, detection information detected by a sensor (camera 57, see [0077]) provided in the battery assembly machine (apparatus 30, see [0064]) of a stack of battery plates 12, and controlling a location of the battery assembly machine based on the detection information (see [0025] and [0077] – based on the camera detection, the controller can automatically send a signal to a pivotable arm, which instructs the pivotable arm to move the work surface between a first substantially horizontal orientation and a second substantially vertical orientation).
In view of Turner’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of the combination of Miyata and Hildebrand to include obtaining, by a controller, detection information detected by a sensor provided in the battery assembly machine, and controlling a location of the battery assembly machine based on the detection information, as taught by Turner, because it allows for automatic positioning of the battery assembly machine relative to the battery stack depending on the orientation of the battery stack to be worked upon.
Though the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner teaches a single sensor (Turner: camera 57, see [0077]) and is silent to a plurality of sensors, the use of a plurality of a cameras is merely a duplication of the single sensor, and mere duplication of parts has no patentable significance unless a new and unexpected result is produced. See MPEP §2144.04(VI)(B). One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the use of a plurality of cameras would increase the data points captured to increase the accuracy of the system.
Regarding claim 20, the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner is silent to the method further comprising:
after applying the pressing force by the pusher, measuring a vertical moving distance of the cell block by a vertical direction sensor among the plurality of sensors; and
determining, by the controller, whether the cell block is inserted into the case based on the detection of the vertical direction sensor.
However, the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner teaches that before the pressing force by the pusher (Miyata: see [0025]-0033]), measuring a vertical moving distance of the cell block by a vertical direction sensor (distance measuring device 20, see [0025] and Fig. 5) among the plurality of sensors (Miyata: distance measuring device 20; Turner: plurality of cameras, see rejection for claim 16), and determining, by the controller, whether the cell block is inserted into the case based on the detection of the vertical direction sensor (Miyata: see [0025]-[0036]). One of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed would have found it obvious to also perform this measuring a vertical moving distance of the cell block after applying the pressing force by the pusher in order to verify that all cells of the cell block were fully inserted to be in contact with the bottom surface of the case.
Claim(s) 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner as applied to claim 16 above, and further in view of Baba et al. (JP 2020135954 A; hereinafter “Baba”; listed in the IDS filed 16 May 2023, and using the attached English machine translation for citations).
Regarding claim 17, the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner teaches:
after conveying the cell block to the case, lowering the cell block towards the case by the battery assembly machine (Miyata: see Figs. 3-4 and [0023]) and a plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above).
The combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner is silent to wherein the method further comprises:
detecting a position between the cell block and the case by a vision sensor among the plurality of sensors; and
determining, by the controller, alignment between the case and the cell block being gripped based on the detection of the vision sensor.
Baba teaches detecting a position between the cell block and the case (bottom of plate 3, which is between the battery cell stack 2 and case 5, see Figs. 1-5) by a vision sensor (position measurement sensor 13, see [0029]-[0031]); and
determining, by the controller, alignment between the case and the cell block being gripped based on the detection of the vision sensor (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0045]). This allows for the case shift mechanism 12 to move the case 5 to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment prior to insertion of the battery cell stack 2 into case 5 (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0045]).
In view of Baba’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner to include detecting a position between the cell block and the case by a vision sensor among the plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above), and determining, by the controller, alignment between the case and the cell block being gripped based on the detection of the vision sensor, as taught by Baba, because it allows for moving the case to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment prior to insertion of the battery cell stack into the case (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0045]).
Regarding claim 18, the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner teaches a plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above) but is silent to its method further comprising:
measuring a horizontal length of the cell block by a horizontal dimension sensor among the plurality of sensors; and
determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in the horizontal direction based on the measured horizontal length.
Baba teaches measuring a horizontal length of the cell block (displacement amount σy-, see Fig. 3; [0032]-[0048]) by a horizontal dimension sensor (position measurement sensor 13, see [0029]-[0031]); and
determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in the horizontal direction based on the measured horizontal length (see [0032]-[0048]). This allows for the case shift mechanism 12 to move the case 5 to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment in a horizontal y direction prior to insertion of the battery cell stack 2 into case 5 (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0048]).
In view of Baba’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner to include measuring a horizontal length of the cell block by a horizontal dimension sensor among the plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above), and determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in the horizontal direction based on the measured horizontal length, as taught by Baba, because it allows for moving the case to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment in a horizontal direction prior to insertion of the battery cell stack into the case (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0048]).
Regarding claim 19, the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner teaches a plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above) but is silent to the method further comprising:
measuring a longitudinal length of the cell block by a longitudinal dimension sensor among the plurality of sensors; and
determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in a longitudinal direction based on the measured longitudinal length.
Baba teaches measuring a longitudinal length of the cell block (displacement amount σz, see Fig. 3; [0032]-[0048]) by a longitudinal dimension sensor (position measurement sensor 13, see [0029]-[0031]); and
determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in the longitudinal direction based on the measured longitudinal length (see [0032]-[0045]). This allows for the case shift mechanism 12 to move the case 5 to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment in the longitudinal z direction prior to insertion of the battery cell stack 2 into case 5 (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0048]).
In view of Baba’s teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the method of the combination of Miyata, Hildebrand, and Turner to include measuring a longitudinal length of the cell block by a longitudinal dimension sensor among the plurality of sensors (see rejection for claim 16 above), and determining, by the controller, whether cells in the cell block are aligned in the longitudinal direction based on the measured longitudinal length, as taught by Baba, because it allows for moving the case to a position corresponding to the shifted position of the battery cell stack if there is a misalignment in the longitudinal direction prior to insertion of the battery cell stack into the case (see [0029]-[0036] and [0038]-[0048]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN HA whose telephone number is (571)270-5934. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00 EST.
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/S.S.H/Examiner, Art Unit 1735 3 April 2026
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