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 .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 04/30/2026 has been entered. Claims 1, 11, 13, 14, and 16-19 have been amended. Claims 20-23 have been added. Claims 1-4, 6-7, and 10-23 remains pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicants’ arguments with respect to claim(s) have been considered but are moot because new limitations have been added to independent claims as well as new claims 20-23 have been added therefore a new interpretation has been used, and the arguments are moot.
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) 1-4, 6-7, and 10-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Peter (US 20160075523) in view of Dirk (US 20200079594).
Applicant is reminded a recitation of the intended use of the claimed invention must result in a structural difference between the claimed invention and the prior art in order to patentably distinguish the claimed invention from the prior art. If the prior art structure is capable of performing the intended use, then it meets the claim (MPEP 07-37-09). The reference in the preamble to “a processing machine having a processing unit for processing a workpiece (2) and a conveyor device for transporting the workpiece” amounts to an intended use recitation of the conveyor claimed and the prior art disclosed below includes all the claimed conveyor structure as outlined below.
Regarding claim-1, Peter discloses a processing machine (Fig.1) having a processing unit for processing a workpiece (panel shaped work pieces) and a conveyor device (1, Fig.1) for transporting workpiece (Abstract; Fig.1) comprising:
a revolving conveyor element (1, Fig.5) which is guided by one or more rollers (23, 24, Fig.2) and
a top pressure (70, Fig.5) which comprises a belt revolving around a drive roller, and a deflection roller (Fig.5).
But Peter does not disclose a sensor device for monitoring the operation of the conveyor element, the sensor device comprises at least one of a microphone.
Dirk also discloses a overhead conveying system and, teaches a sensor device (19, [0008], Fig.1) for monitoring the operation of the conveyor element ([0008], [0003], [0005], [0038], [0073]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to the skilled person in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to provide Peter conveying device with sensor as taught by Dirk for purpose of detecting any wear and tear in conveying components i.e., rollers so components can be replaced when needed on timely manner ([0006], [0008] Dirk).
Regarding claim-2, Peter as modified discloses wherein the sensor device (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk) is configured to detect measurement values for evaluating a condition of the one or more rollers (Abstract, [0005], [0008], [0010], [0012], [0052] as taught Dirk)
Regarding claim-3, Peter as modified discloses wherein the sensor device (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk) is arranged in a deflection area of the conveyor device (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk).
Regarding claim-6, Peter as modified discloses wherein the conveyor element (1) is a conveyor chain which comprises a plurality of chain links (Alternative Option/Design well known in the art for conveyor element [0003]).
Regarding claim-10, Peter as modified discloses further comprising a control device (controller as taught by Dirk) which is configured to monitor an operation (wear V) of the conveyor element based on measurement values (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk) detected by the sensor device (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk)
Regarding claim-11, Peter as modified discloses wherein the control device is configured to monitor a wear condition (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk) of the one or more rollers (23, 24).
Regarding claim-12, Peter as modified discloses wherein the control device is configured to monitor an operation of the conveyor element for adjusting a position of the one or more rollers for removal to facilitate maintenance of the one or more rollers (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk).
Regarding claim-13, Peter as modified discloses further comprising a central memory device for storing or evaluating the measurement values detected by the sensor device (wear and tear value are evaluated by sensor unit 19 and control/evaluation unit 20 system as taught by Dirk).
Regarding claim-14, Peter as modified discloses a method for operating a processing machine (1, Fig.1) having a processing unit for processing a workpiece (panel shape workpieces) and a conveyor device (1) wherein the conveyor device comprises a revolving conveyor element (1) guided by one or more rollers (23, 24) and a sensor device (as taught by Dirk), the method comprising detecting measurement values (wear and tear value as taught by Dirk) for monitoring an operation of the conveyor element, wherein the sensor device comprises of a microphone (as taught by Dirk).
Regarding claim-15, Peter as modified discloses wherein the step of detecting measurement values further comprises evaluating the wear condition of the one or more rollers (23, 24) (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk).
Regarding claim-16, Peter as modified discloses wherein one or more of the rollers comprise running rollers (23).
Regarding claim-17, Peter as modified discloses wherein one or more of the rollers comprise guide rollers (24).
Regarding claim-19, Peter as modified discloses wherein the control device is configured to perform frequency analysis to monitor the wear condition of the one or more rollers (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk, [0052]).
Regarding claim 4, 7, 18, Peter as modified does not teach wherein the sensor device (wear and tear value of components as taught by Dirk) is formed on or attached to a deflection plate, wherein the chain links comprise a ferromagnetic material, wherein the deflection plate is supported by an actuator. However, it is just a mere design and constructional detail of an apparatus in which skilled person in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to place the sensor at desired location of an apparatus according to desired specification. Also, chain links structure and material are well known in art and can be made of any required material i.e., iron, nickel, cobalt or alloys.
Regarding claim-20. Peter as modified discloses wherein the sensor device further comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, an acceleration sensor, a torque sensor, or an optical sensor (as taught by Dirk, [0008]).
Regarding claim-21. Peter as modified discloses wherein the control device is configured to perform frequency analysis of measurement values detected by the microphone to determine a defective roller of the one or more rollers (via 19, and 20 as taught by Dirk, [0005], [0008], [0052]).
Regarding claim-22. Peter as modified discloses wherein the sensor device further comprises a temperature sensor (as taught by Dirk, [0008]), and wherein the control device (as taught by Dirk, [0005]) is configured to evaluate measurement values detected by the microphone by means of temperature values determined by the temperature sensor (as taught by Dirk, [0005], [0008], [0052]).
Regarding claim-23. Peter as modified discloses further comprising performing frequency analysis of the measurement values detected by the microphone to determine the condition of the one or more rollers (via 19, and 20 as taught by Dirk, [0005], [0008], [0052]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD AWAIS whose telephone number is (571)272-4955. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7-4 pm (EST).
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/MA/Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651
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