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
The action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on 10/25/2023.
Claims 1-19 are pending, where claims 1, 8, 10 and 19 are independent.
This application claims the priority benefit of the provisional application no. 63/419,827 filed on 10/27/2022 incorporated herein.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 10/26/2023 has been filed after the filing date of the application. The submission is in-compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification Objection
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
a) The full form of the terms (acronyms) “SLS” is not disclosed in the specification in para [0031]. Full form is required for at least one time (better in the beginning or first use). Appropriate correction is required.
b) The reference character "1806" disclosed in the specification in para [0031] is missing in Fig.1. Appropriate correction is required.
c) The reference characters 128 and 1816 in Fig. 1A are not disclosed in the specification. Appropriate explanation/correction is required.
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.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 19 recites the limitation “substantially parallel”. The term “substantially” renders the claim indefinite to the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. Because the phrase/term is a broad term rendering the scope of the claim(s) unascertainable. See MPEP § 2173.05(b).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), fourth paragraph:
Subject to the [fifth paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA )], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 5 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
The limitations of claim 5 is duplicate of the claim 2. Similarly, the limitations of claim 14 is duplicate of the claim 11. The duplicate claims are improper.
However, applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. See MPEP 706.03(k)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 of this title, 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 factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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 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.
Claims 1-19 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mark, USPGPub No. 20140361460 A1.
As to claims 1, 8, 10 and 19, Mark discloses An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory, wherein the at least one memory stores computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “controller monitors the temperature of the heater, of the filament, and/or and energy consumed by the heater via sensors”, [abstract] , [0187-197] see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, reinforced filaments obviously includes processor, memory and instructions for execution), cause the processor to:
control a 3D printer to perform a first 3D print operation to print one or more first layers of a part to form a partial part, the partial part being oriented at a first orientation;
determine whether the partial part has been reoriented to a second orientation different from the first orientation; and after determining that the partial part has been reoriented to the second orientation, control the 3D printer to perform a second 3D print operation to print one or more second layers of the part on the partial part oriented at the second orientation (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] “linear and rotational actuators of the print head and/or build platen, and/or one or more linear feed mechanisms controlled by a controller monitoring - reshaping and/or ironing lip, tip, or plate to generate a different balance of forces within the printer, filament, and part in different printing phases” [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms obviously provides control a 3D printer to perform a first 3D print operation to print one or more first layers of a part to form a partial part, the partial part being oriented at a first orientation; determine whether the partial part has been reoriented to a second orientation different from the first orientation; and after determining that the partial part has been reoriented to the second orientation, control the 3D printer to perform a second 3D print operation to print one or more second layers of the part on the partial part oriented at the second orientation).
It would be therefore obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention that three-dimensional printer, controller, reinforced filaments are assumed as apparatus, processor and memory, stores instructions.
As to claims 2 and 11, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more second layers includes a reinforcement layer (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms obviously provides reinforcement layer).
As to claim 3, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement layer is made of one or more of continuous carbon fiber, glass fiber, Kevlar fiber, and basalt fiber (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms obviously provides reinforcement layer).
As to claims 4 and 13, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more second layers includes a planarizing layer (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms obviously provides reinforcement layer).
Claim 5 is duplicate of claim 2.
As to claims 6, 12 and 15, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reinforcement layer is made of continuous fiber (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms obviously provides reinforcement layer a continuous fiber).
As to claims 7 and 16, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the partial part has been reoriented to the second orientation includes: receiving measurement data based on a measurement performed on the partial part by a measurement component; and determining, based on the measurement data, whether the partial part has been reoriented to the second orientation (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] “linear and rotational actuators of the print head and/or build platen, and/or one or more linear feed mechanisms controlled by a controller monitoring - reshaping and/or ironing lip, tip, or plate to generate a different balance of forces within the printer, filament, and part in different printing phases” [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, plurality of sensors, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms, reshaping to generate different balance obviously provides receiving measurement data based on a measurement performed on the partial part by a measurement component; and determining, based on the measurement data, whether the partial part has been reoriented to the second orientation).
As to claim 9, Mark further discloses The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controlling the re-orientation of the partial part includes instructing a user to re-orient the partial part using the alignment component (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] “linear and rotational actuators of the print head and/or build platen, and/or one or more linear feed mechanisms controlled by a controller monitoring - reshaping and/or ironing lip, tip, or plate to generate a different balance of forces within the printer, filament, and part in different printing phases” [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, plurality of sensors, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms, reshaping to generate different balance obviously provides controlling the re-orientation of the partial part includes instructing a user to re-orient the partial part using the alignment component).
Claim 14 is duplicate of claim 11.
As to claim 17, Mark further discloses The method of claim 10, further comprising securing the partial part, reoriented to a second orientation, to a build platen (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] “linear and rotational actuators of the print head and/or build platen, and/or one or more linear feed mechanisms controlled by a controller monitoring - reshaping and/or ironing lip, tip, or plate to generate a different balance of forces within the printer, filament, and part in different printing phases” [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, plurality of sensors, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms, reshaping to generate different balance, adhesion sufficient to maintain position obviously provides securing the partial part, reoriented to a second orientation, to a build platen).
As to claims 18, Mark further discloses The method of claim 17, wherein the securing includes applying an adhesive (Mark [0094-157] “matrix material or polymer 4 melted, the continuous core reinforced filament 2 applied onto a build platen 16 to build successive layers 14 to form a three dimensional structure. One or both of (i) the position and orientation of the build platen 16 or (ii) the position and orientation of the nozzlet 10 controlled by a controller 20 to deposit the continuous core reinforced filament 2 in the desired location and direction - position and orientation control mechanisms include gantry systems, robotic arms, and/or H frames, any of these equipped with position and/or displacement sensors to the controller 10 to monitor the relative position or velocity of nozzlet 10 relative to the build platen 16 and/or the layers 14 of the part being constructed - sensed X, Y, and/or Z positions and/or displacement or velocity vectors to control subsequent movements of the nozzlet 10 or platen 16 - rangefinder 15 to measure distance to the platen 16, a displacement transducers in any of three translation and/or three rotation axes, distance integrators, and/or accelerometers detecting a position or movement of the nozzlet 10 to the build platen 16 - laser range sensor 15 scan the section ahead of the nozzlet 10 in order to correct the Z height of the nozzlet 10, or the fill volume required, to match a desired deposition profile - measure the part after the filament applied to confirm the depth and position of the deposited bonded ranks” [0003-30] “fiber composite filament supply (e.g., a spool of filament, or a magazine of discrete filament segments) of unmelted void free fiber reinforced composite filament including one or more axial fiber strands - one or more filament guides, a cold feed zone and/or cooler, and/or a reshaping lip, pressing tip, ironing tip, and/or ironing plate, and/or linear and/or rotational actuators to move the print head in any of X, Y, Z, directions and/or additionally in one to three rotational degrees of freedom - melt the matrix material around a single fiber, or in the case of multiple strands, interstitially among the strands within the filament” [0003-30] “linear and rotational actuators of the print head and/or build platen, and/or one or more linear feed mechanisms controlled by a controller monitoring - reshaping and/or ironing lip, tip, or plate to generate a different balance of forces within the printer, filament, and part in different printing phases” [abstract] , see Fig. 1-35, three dimensional printer, controller, plurality of sensors, matrix material or polymer, fiber, continuous core reinforced filament, build platen, successive layers, plurality of layers, plurality of orientations, desired location and direction, position, orientation control mechanisms, adhesion sufficient to maintain position obviously provides securing includes applying adhesive).
Examiner’s note: Each application is restricted to only one invention. See MPEP 802. There are four independent claims, where claims 1 and 8 are apparatus claims and claims 10 and 19 are method claims. Plurality of “independent and distinct” method claims or plurality of “independent and distinct” system claims make the application with more than one invention. The independent apparatus/method claims may be amended into independent claims (a method, a system, a device/apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium) should be mirror to each other to avoid the restriction requirement.
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2141.02 VI. PRIOR ART MUST BE CONSIDERED IN ITS ENTIRETY, i.e., as a whole and 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art made of record:
Korshikov, et al. USPGPub No. 2022/0266516 A1 discloses a 3D printing apparatus includes a base composite material channel, a fiber strand channel and a fiber feeding component to feed fiber strand through the fiber channel.
Mark, USPGPub No. 20190009472 A1 discloses a 3D printer slicing three-dimensional model defining printing material shells for deposition by 3D printer.
Tobia, et al. USPGPub No. 20210078259 A1 discloses a method for forming an object using additive manufacturing predicting shrinking characteristic or receiving predicted shrinking characteristic of the object occur during thermal processing of the object.
Mark, et al. USPGPub No. 2016/0107379 A1 discloses an additive manufacturing method for a multi-strand core reinforced filament including a flowable matrix material and continuous reinforcing strands extending in a direction parallel to a length of the filament supplied.
Sweeney, USPGPub No. 2023/0391003 A1 discloses a three-dimensional printer for contouring a three-dimensional printed part depositing filament in primary print path with a three-dimensional print head.
Celik, USPGPub No. 2022/0332038 A1 discloses a method for additive manufacturing to enhancing the strength in additively manufactured fiber-reinforced composites.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Md Azad whose telephone @(571)272-0553 or email: md.azad@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on (571)272-4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Md Azad/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119.