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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to the amendments filed on 02/03/2026.
Claims 1, 3 and 19 have been amended.
Claim 2 has been cancelled.
Claim 20 has been newly added.
The IDS received on 02/03/2026 has been considered by the examiner. Claims 1-20 are presented for examination.
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.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Perry-Eaton et al. “US 2020/0361723 A1” (Perry) in view of Bacon-Maldonado, III et al. “US 2020/0140198 A1” (Bacon).
Regarding Claims 1 and 19: A shelf, comprising a support frame, a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged on the support frame, wherein the first conveyor and the second conveyor form a goods conveying layer for conveying goods (at least see Perry abstract; Figs. 1-3; [0007], [0010] and [0044]); and
a first end of the goods conveying layer is arranged obliquely downward, the first conveyor is hinged with the support frame, --- when the first conveyor is at the first limit position, a second end of the first conveyor protrudes from an upper surface of the second conveyor, and an end surface of the second end of the first conveyor is configured to block goods on the second conveyor, and when the first conveyor is at the second limit position, the first conveyor and the second conveyor form an inclined plane to release the goods on the second conveyor, and the goods on the second conveyor are conveyed to the first conveyor by the second conveyor (at least see Perry abstract; Figs. 1-4 and 19; [0051], [0060] and [0077]; “[0077] FIG. 11 depicts an initial state of the tray content transfer process. In the initial state, a source tray 1080 contains items 1005. The items can be, for example, letters, flats, etc. In the initial state of FIG. 11, the source tray 1080 has been placed onto the source tray sub-frame 1016 in a position below the paddle assembly 1050. An empty output tray 1090 has been placed in the output tray sub-frame 1018 spaced from and lower than the source tray 1080 to receive the items 1005 through the tray content transfer process. As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the source tray 1080 and the output tray 1090 may have been placed in their respective locations manually or automatically, for example, being placed into the tray content transfer system 1000 by one or more conveyors, rollers, ramps, robotic arms, paddles, pushers, or other automated tray placement mechanism (e.g., by source tray conveyors 1017 and/or output tray conveyors 1019). One or more alignment features may facilitate correct positioning of the source tray 1080 and the output tray 1090 within the tray content transfer system 1000. Alignment features may include, for example, one or more mechanical stops located on or adjacent to the source tray sub-frame 1016 and/or the output tray sub-frame 1018, and/or may include source tray conveyors 1017 and/or output tray conveyors 1019 moving automatically to correctly position the source tray 1080 and the output tray 1090. The paddle assembly 1050 is located above the source tray 1080 with the paddles 1052a, 1052b in an open configuration. The item support platform 1030 is in a disengaged position away from the source tray sub-frame 1016 so as not to impede placement of the source tray 1080 and the output tray 1090.”).
wherein a first reset mechanism is arranged on the support frame, the first reset mechanism is connected to the second end of the first conveyor, and when goods leave the first conveyor, the first reset mechanism drives the first conveyor to reset from the first limit position to the second limit position (at least see Perry abstract; Figs. 1-3; [0007], [0010] and [0044; [0054] The item support platform 230 is configured to move horizontally along a track 232 disposed above the source tray sub-frame 216 and the output tray sub-frame 218. The track 232 may be mounted at an appropriate height such that the item support platform 230 can slide along the length of the track 232 unobstructed while a source tray 280 and an output tray 290 are located within the tray content transfer system 200. For example, in some embodiments the item support platform 230 is disposed at a predetermined height such that the item support platform 230 is slightly above the tips 223 of the fingers 222 (e.g., between ⅛ inch and 1 inch, such as ¼ inch, ½ inch, etc., above the tips 223) when the lifting assembly 200 is in its highest position. The track 232 may provide a sufficient range of motion for the item support platform 230 such that the item support platform 230 can slide between a first extreme position (e.g., the disengaged position as shown in FIG. 2A in which the item support platform 230 is not above either the source tray sub-frame 216 or the output tray sub-frame 218), and a second extreme position (e.g., the position as shown in FIG. 6 in which the item support platform 230 is above the source tray sub-frame 216). In an intermediate position between the first and second extreme positions (e.g., the intermediate position shown in FIG. 7), the item support platform 230 is disposed above the output tray sub-frame 218. In some embodiments, the item support platform 230 may comprise two or more pieces that are movable relative to each other. For example, the item support platform 230 may comprise two halves divided along a dimension of the item support platform 230 such that the item support platform 230 can open by rotating in a “bomb bay doors” configuration or by sliding outwardly.”).
Perry disclose the claimed invention but fails to explicitly disclose the first conveyor is rotatably switched to a first limit position or a second limit position. However Bacon discloses this (at least see Bacon Abstract; [0198] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a vertical conveyor 800 comprising a control switch 802 to turn the conveyor 800 on and off, a belt 806, and a cleat or supporting element 808. One embodiment of a tire rack 804 for holding tires 120 is also shown in FIG. 8. The vertical conveyor 800 conveys tires 120 or other articles upward to high levels or high shelves of the rack 804 and conveys tires 120 downward from high levels or shelves of the rack 804 to the ground for use or transport. The conveyor 800 conveys items in a substantially vertical direction.”
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made (Pre-AIA ) or before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA FITF) to use Bacon’s teachings in Perry’s enabled, for the advantage of various stages of transport to power-driven conveyors and make easier to transport.
Regarding Claim 3: The shelf according to claim 1, wherein a downward component force generated by goods on the first conveyor in a conveying direction is greater than a reset force of the first reset mechanism (at least see Perry abstract; Figs. 1-3; [0007], [0010] and [0044]).
Regarding Claim 4: The shelf according to claim 3, wherein the first reset mechanism is a first elastic member, one end of the first elastic member is connected to the support frame, and the other end of the first elastic member is connected to the second end of the first conveyor (at least see Perry Abstract; [0051]).
Regarding Claim 5: The shelf according to claim 1, wherein a hinge bracket is further arranged on the support frame, the first conveyor is connected to the hinge bracket, the hinge bracket is hinged with the support frame, a projection of a hinge point between the support frame and the hinge bracket on the first conveyor is located between the first end and the second end of the first conveyor, and a distance between the first end of the first conveyor and the hinge point is greater than a distance between the second end of the first conveyor and the hinge point in the conveying direction of the goods (at least see Perry Abstract; [0009]]).
Regarding Claim 6: The shelf according to claim 5, wherein a first limiting member and a second limiting member are respectively arranged at positions on the support frame corresponding to the two ends of the first conveyor, and the first limiting member and the second limiting member are respectively configured to limit the two ends of the first conveyor, so that the first conveyor swings between the first limit position and the second limit position (at least see Perry [0005]).
Regarding Claim 7: The shelf according to claim 6, wherein the first limiting member and the second limiting member are limiting rods spaced apart on the support frame in the conveying direction of the goods (at least see Perry [0005]).
Regarding Claim 8: The shelf according to claim 1, wherein a goods blocking mechanism is further arranged on the first end of the goods conveying layer, the goods blocking mechanism is switchably at a first position or a second position, when the goods blocking mechanism is at the first position, the goods blocking mechanism is configured to block goods on the first conveyor, and when the goods blocking mechanism is at the second position, the goods blocking mechanism is configured to release the goods on the first conveyor (at least see Perry [0009]).
Regarding Claim 9: The shelf according to claim 8, wherein the goods blocking mechanism is hinged with the support frame, and the goods blocking mechanism is rotatable about the support frame to switch between the first position and the second position (at least see Perry [0054]).
Regarding Claim 10: The shelf according to claim 9, wherein a second reset mechanism is arranged on the support frame, the goods blocking mechanism is connected to the second reset mechanism, and the second reset mechanism is configured to drive the goods blocking mechanism to reset from the second position to the first position (at least see Perry abstract; [0071]).
Regarding Claim 11: The shelf according to claim 10, wherein the goods blocking mechanism comprises a blocking portion and a connection portion, one end of the blocking portion is connected to and forms a preset included angle with one end of the connection portion, an other end of the connection portion is connected to the second reset mechanism, and when the goods leave the first conveyor, the second reset mechanism drives, through the connection portion, the blocking portion to reset from the second position to the first position, so that the blocking portion is configured to block the goods conveyed from the second conveyor to the first conveyor (at least see Perry [0060]).
Regarding Claim 12: The shelf according to claim 11, wherein a length of the blocking portion is equal to a length of the connection portion, and when the goods blocking mechanism is at the second position, a height of the blocking portion and a height of a top of the connection portion are less than or equal to a height of a first end of the first conveyor (at least see Perry [0089]).
Regarding Claim 13: The shelf according to claim 11, wherein the preset included angle between the blocking portion and the connection portion ranges from 60° to 90° (at least see Perry [0051]).
Regarding Claim 14: The shelf according to claim 13, wherein the blocking portion and the connection portion form an L-shaped reversible stopper (at least see Perry [0010]).
Regarding Claim 15: The shelf according to claim 11, wherein the second reset mechanism is a second elastic member, one end of the second elastic member is connected to the support frame, and the other end of the second elastic member is connected to the blocking portion (at least see Perry [0051]).
Regarding Claim 16: The shelf according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the goods conveying layer is greater than or equal to 3° and less than or equal to 9° (at least see Perry [0053]).
Regarding Claim 17: The shelf according to claim 1, wherein at least two first conveyors and at least two second conveyors are arranged, and the at least two first conveyors and the at least two second conveyors are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the goods (at least see Perry [0005]).
Regarding Claim 18: The shelf according to claim 17, wherein the first conveyor and/or the second conveyor comprises a plurality of rolling members arranged in sequence in the conveying direction of the goods, each of the rolling members has an outer contour surface configured for rolling contact with the goods, and the rolling member is configured to rotate in the conveying direction of the goods about an axis of rotation thereof to convey the goods in the conveying direction (at least see Perry [0044]).
Regarding Claim 19: The shelf according to claim 8, wherein the goods blocking mechanism is configured to rotate through pushing of the goods, to switch the goods blocking mechanism from the first position to the second position, when the goods blocking mechanism is at the second position, an upper end surface of the goods blocking mechanism is flush with an upper surface of the first conveyor or lower than the upper surface of the first conveyor, to release the goods box on the first conveyor (at least see Perry [0069] The frame 1010 is generally configured to provide a stable support for the sliding platform 1030 and the paddle assembly 1050. The frame 1010 includes various structural members 1012 arranged to form a substantially rigid frame structure, upper frame members 1014, a source tray sub-frame 1016, an output tray sub-frame 1018, and one or more rails 1011 positioned to laterally confine items being transferred. In the example tray content transfer system 1010, the output tray sub-frame 1018 is disposed at a lower height relative to the source tray sub-frame 1016, such that the top of an output tray 1090 resting on the output tray sub-frame 1018 is at or below the level of the floor of a source tray 1080 resting on the source tray sub-frame 1016. In some embodiments, the source tray sub-frame 1016 includes one or more source tray conveyors 1017 configured to slide a source tray 1080 when the source tray 1080 is at least partially on the source tray conveyors 1017. The output tray sub-frame 1018 may similarly include one or more output tray conveyors 1019 configured to slide an output tray 1090 when the output tray 1090 is at least partially on the output tray conveyors 1019. The source tray conveyors 1017 and the output tray conveyors 1019 may be reversible, for example, so that they can travel in a first direction before a transfer to pull a source tray 1080 and/or an output tray 1090 from an external conveyor system (e.g., an automated tray transport system or the like) into a suitable position within the tray content transfer system 1000, and can travel in a second direction after completing a transfer to push the source tray 1080 and/or the output tray 1090 back out to the external conveyor system. In various embodiments, the frame 1010 can be any size, shape, or configuration suitable to support the various components of the tray content transfer system 1000. For example, the frame 1010 can be built into a wall, a shelf, a floor, or the like, and need not be a free-standing rectangular frame as shown in the figures.”)
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FATEH M OBAID whose telephone number is (571)270-7121. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M to 4:30 P.M.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ryan Zeender can be reached at (571) 272-6790. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FATEH M OBAID/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627