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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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 1-8 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.
In claim 1, line 1, the scope of the claimed invention is rendered indefinite by the limitation “cavity-type seed-metering device” because it is unclear what structure is encompassed by the term “cavity-type.” For the purpose of prosecution on the merits, the examiner has interpreted the limitation to mean a seed-metering device having a cavity.
Claims 2-8 are rejected for recitation of the limitation and treated similarly for the purpose of prosecution on the merits.
In claim 1, line 5, the scope of the claimed invention is rendered indefinite by the limitation “ring-like array” because it is unclear what structure is encompassed by the term “ring-like.” For the purpose of prosecution on the merits, the examiner has interpreted the limitation to mean the plurality of cavities is formed in the seeding plate in a ring array.
Claims 2-8 are rejected for recitation of the limitation and treated similarly for the purpose of prosecution on the merits.
Claim 2 is further similarly rejection for recitation of the limitation “ring-like groove.”
Claim 3 is rejected because it depends from claim 2.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The salient feature of the claimed invention is the magnetic hinge, which is rotatably connected with a corresponding seeding outlet, whereby the magnetic hinge functions to close the corresponding outlet under the magnetic force of a notched magnetic ring and functions to open the corresponding outlet under the magnetic force of a magnetic block.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Rans et al. (US 2014/0312055 A1) discloses a seed meter (24) comprising a magnetic drive ring (136) and a singulating disc (66). See Fig. 5.
Li et al. (CN 105766157 A) discloses a seed metering device comprising the use of first and second magnets (3, 4) for controlling the release of singulated seeds. See, for example, description of Embodiment A.
Liu et al. (CN 209358983 U) discloses a seed metering device comprising the use of a magnetic clamp for controlling the flow rate and release of seeds.
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/TARA MAYO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3671
/tm/
27 December 2025