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 .
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.
Claims 4-10 are 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.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the process fumes". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the process fumes" and “the process assistance gases”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the system for the aspiration of fumes and the introduction of the support gases”; “the support gases”; and “the work plan”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 7 recites the limitation "the system for the aspiration of fumes and the introduction of the support gases”; “in the X direction”; “from the work”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the system for the aspiration of fumes and the introduction of the support gases”; “in the X direction”; “from the work”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "the system for the aspiration of fumes and the introduction of the support gases”; “extract the process fumes”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 is rejected from its dependency on claim 8.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-5, and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Brown (US20180326485A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Brown teaches a multi-laser system for additive manufacturing comprising:
a matrix of independent optical systems (105) designed to convey the electromagnetic radiation beams in a predetermined area of a work surface [0048], the matrix is capable of superimposing at 100% the electromagnetic radiation beams electromagnetic radiation beams in the predetermined area of a work surface [0070], the matrix of independent optical systems being operatively connected to the upper surface of a machine tool (top of 111); and a work surface 102, designed to house a powder bed 104, operatively connected to a piston 102.
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Regarding Claims 2-4, the optical array comprises multiple optical modules of lasers and an exemplary 4 lasers (Fig 12b) [0077] (and is considered scalable and modular) (the modules being capable of overlapping with 100% are also considered capable of overlapping of 50% as required by claim 4;
Regarding Claims 5 and 9, the system comprises a unit for introducing inert gas and an outlet, a pump and filter for recirculating the flowing gas in the chamber which removes fumes, condensate and other particles from the flow over the work surface [0049]
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/RICARDO D MORALES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1738