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 17 and 19 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.
Relative to claim(s) 17 and 19, it is not clear as to whether the claim is intended to independent or dependent. It appears that the claim(s) is/are intended to be independent claim(s) that incorporates the limitations of claim 1.
Since the claim(s) does/do not appear to further limit independent claim(s) 1, claim(s) 17 and 19 has/have been interpreted as independent. If Applicant intends the claim(s) to be an independent claim, Applicant should revise each claim to replace “according to claim 1” with the limitations of claim 1 listed out. For instance, Applicant may recite:
Claim 17) “An automated storage and retrieval system comprising:
a storage container handling system, comprising:
a base,
a remotely operated vehicle comprising rollers …”
Appropriate clarification is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Relative to claims 1, 17, and 19, the closest available prior art does not disclose:
A storage container handling system, automated storage and retrieval system, and method of transferring a storage container, comprising:
a remotely operated vehicle with rollers for operating the vehicle;
a storage station for storing a storage container to be picked up by or dropped off by the remotely operated vehicle, the storage station comprising:
an elevating system for lifting and lowering the container support vertically between a transfer position and a storage position, and
the elevating system is powered by mechanical power transmitted from the rollers of the remotely operated vehicle, as claimed.
Related Art:
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Coady et al (US PG. Pub. 2019/0245366): Discloses an opportunistic battery charging system for mobile robots within an order fulfillment system. System includes a container handling system (Fig. 1), remotely operated vehicle (150)(Fig. 1), workstations for transferring totes, the totes are to be picked and dropped off by the vehicles (150)(Para. 0019); container supports and delivery position for the vehicle picking up or dropping off the container are inherent (Para. 0019); the remotely operated vehicle receives power from the charge rail 130 which runs along a vertical direction (Para. 0026)(Fig. 2). System does not include an elevating system for lifting and lowering the container support vertically between a transfer position and storage position, the elevating system is not powered by mechanical power transmitted from the rollers of the remotely operated vehicle, as claimed.
Vain et al (US PG. Pub. 2019/0168392): includes a storage system (100) is adapted to store a plurality of items and to load a remotely operated vehicle (delivery robot 2) with a container (120) of items at a storage level (Fig. 1); storage station (see intersection of vehicle 2, and robot 130 where containers are transferred between the vehicle and robot at a level of the storage system (100)(Fig. 3, 8, 12) having: a container support 140 for supporting storage containers; delivery position (see where vehicle meets the robot 130 for transferring the container (Fig. 1); vertical elevating system (130) for lifting and lowering the container support (140)(Fig. 2-3); vertical elevating system (130) lifts and lowers between a transfer position and storage position (Fig. 8-9, 12). Does not disclose the elevating system is powered by mechanical power transmitted from the rollers of the remotely operated vehicle, as claimed.
Warhurst (US PG. Pub. 2019/0062051): includes an order fulfillment system is disclosed including a storage structure having multiple levels, and mobile robots capable of moving vertically and horizontally within the storage structure to transfer product totes to and from storage locations within the storage structure. System includes a base, remotely operated mobile robots 150 for carrying containers (not shown); and elevating system (140, 142, 164)(Fig. 6) for lifting and lowering a robot 150 containing the container support (Para. 0050); the elevating system receives power from the control motors 210 which drives both the wheels 162 of the robot 150 and drives the climbing links 164 to allow the robot 150 to climb vertically to another level (Para. 0057)(Fig. 2). Does not disclose a storage station having the elevating system for lifting a lowering a container support vertically between a transfer position and the storage position, the elevating system is powered by mechanical power transmitted from the rollers of the robot 150, as claimed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YOLANDA RENEE CUMBESS whose telephone number is (571)270-5527. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10-6.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford can be reached at 571-272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/YOLANDA R CUMBESS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651
Prosecution Insights