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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/07/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/07/2026 with respect to the prior art of YU (CN107597292A) have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The Applicant argued that the prior art of YU (CN107597292A) does not disclose the limitations of the amended claims 1, 4, 7-8 and 20-21; further the Applicant argued that “without knowledge of Applicant's teaching and recognition of the benefits that could be achieved by the claimed invention, one of ordinary skill in the art would not be motivated to modify the stator and fixing mechanism of Yu to have limiting grooves and limiting protrusions, respectively, with one-to-one correspondence, as recited in claim 1”.
In response to this argument, these limitations of claims 1, 4, 7-8 and 20-21 are just to assemble the elements of the pulverizer; the limiting protrusions and limiting grooves are just a fixing mechanism for fixing the rotor; and
The prior art of YU (CN107597292A) discloses the first box (4) including a housing, a fixing mechanism to assemble the first box (fig.1: (4)) to the second box (fig.1: (3)); wherein the fixing mechanism having a fixing ring and a hole to receive a screw (see fig.1 below);
Further; the prior art of YU discloses that the stator (5) is fixed to the first box (4) (paragraphs 0007 and 0029),
So, the prior art of YU (CN107597292A) must have a fixing mechanism for fixing the stator (5) to the first box (4); and
It appears both of the configuration of the fixing mechanism of the Applicant’s disclosure and the prior art of YU lead to the same result of assembling the elements of the pulverizer;
Furthermore, having a configuration of a fixing mechanism would have resulted from routine engineering practices and it therefore not patentable and would be obvious because there is no unexpected result;
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to select the configuration of the fixing mechanism as desired, as a matter of routine engineering design choice; in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer;
Or, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to substitute the fixing mechanism of YU by any equivalent fixing mechanism in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer. (MPEP 2143).
Accordingly, this argument is not persuasive.
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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.
Claims 1-2, 4 and 7-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YU (CN107597292A attached NPL, English Machine translation).
Regarding claims 1, 4, 6-8, YU discloses a pulverizer (paragraphs 0001-0004 and 0029-0038), comprising:
a support frame (fig.1: (1));
a stator (fig.1: (5)) connected to the support frame, the stator having a stator pulverizing surface (fig.3: (51)); and
a rotor (fig.1: (6)) connected to the support frame, the rotor being rotatable, and the rotor having a rotor pulverizing surface (fig.1: (61)); wherein: the stator pulverizing surface is opposite to the rotor pulverizing surface,
a pulverizing chamber is formed between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface (fig.2: the chamber between elements (5) and (6)), and
a distance between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface is adjustable (paragraphs 0033-0034 and 0038).
a first box (fig.1: (4)) connected to the stator (fig.1: (5)),
a second box (fig.1: (3)) arranged opposite the first box, the first box being connected to the second box (fig.2), and
a distance between the first box and the second box being adjustable in an arrangement direction of the first box and the second box (paragraphs 0033-0034 and 0038),
Regarding claims 1, 4 and 7-8 does not disclose a fixing ring located between the stator and the second box, the fixing ring being fixedly connected to a surface of the first box facing the second box and the surface of the first box facing the second box is provided with a fixing groove, the fixing ring is located in the fixing groove, and in an arrangement direction of the first box and the second box, a lower surface of the fixing ring is above a lowermost surface of the first box facing the second box; wherein the first box further comprises: a housing, the mounting groove being located in the housing, and the mounting groove running through an end surface of the housing away from the second box; and an end cover for covering the end surface of the housing away from the second box, the end cover being detachably connected to the housing; and wherein: the plurality of limiting protrusions are a plurality of first limiting protrusions, the plurality of limiting grooves are a plurality of first limiting grooves; the end surface of the housing away from the second box is provided with an annular boss, and a projection of an inner ring of the annular boss on the first plane is located within a projection of an inner ring of the mounting groove on the first plane; and an end surface of the stator facing the annular boss is provided with a second limiting protrusion, an end surface of the annular boss facing the stator is provided with a second limiting groove, and the second limiting protrusion is located in the second limiting groove.
However; these limitations of claims 1, 4 and 7-8 are just to assemble the elements of the pulverizer; the limiting protrusions and limiting grooves are just a fixing mechanism for fixing the rotor; and
YU discloses the first box (4) including a housing, a fixing mechanism to assemble the first box (fig.1: (4)) to the second box (fig.1: (3)); wherein the fixing mechanism having a fixing ring and a hole to receive a screw (see fig.1 above);
Further; the prior art of YU discloses that the stator (5) is fixed to the first box (4) (paragraphs 0007 and 0029),
So, the prior art of YU must have a fixing mechanism for fixing the stator (5) to the first box (4); and
It appears both of the configuration of the fixing mechanism of the Applicant’s disclosure and the prior art of YU lead to the same result of assembling the elements of the pulverizer;
Furthermore, having a configuration of a fixing mechanism would have resulted from routine engineering practices and it therefore not patentable and would be obvious because there is no unexpected result;
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to select the configuration of the fixing mechanism as desired, as a matter of routine engineering design choice; in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer;
Or, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to substitute the fixing mechanism of YU by any equivalent fixing mechanism in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer. (MPEP 2143).
Regarding claim 2, Wang discloses wherein a distance between the stator and the support frame is adjustable (paragraphs 00017).
Regarding claim 10, YU discloses wherein the side of the first box (fig.1: (4)) away from the second box (fig.1: (3)) is provided with a feed opening (fig.1: (7)), a discharge opening (fig.1: (14)) is formed between the first box and the second box, and the feed opening and the discharge opening are both in communication with the pulverizing chamber.
Regarding claim 11, YU discloses wherein the rotor (fig.1: (6)) is of a truncated conical structure, the rotor pulverizing surface is an outside surface of the rotor,
the stator (fig.1: (5)) is internally provided with a truncated conical groove matching the shape of the rotor (fig.1: see the internal groove of the stator (5)), an inside surface of the stator is the stator pulverizing surface, and the rotor is located in the truncated conical groove (fig.1: see the internal truncated conical groove of the stator (5) that received the truncated conical rotor (6)) (paragraphs 0030-0032).
Regarding claim 12, YU does not disclose wherein the pulverizer satisfies at least one of following conditions: a first included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the rotor is greater than or equal to 65° and less than or equal to 80°; and a second included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the truncated conical groove is greater than or equal to 65° and less than or equal to 80°;
However, YU concerns about the forming angles of the stator and the rotor for the purpose achieving gradually fine grinding of the material (paragraph 0030);
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of YU by making a first included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the rotor is greater than or equal to 65° and less than or equal to 80°; and a second included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the truncated conical groove is greater than or equal to 65° and less than or equal to 80° for the purpose achieving gradually fine grinding of the material (YU: paragraph 0030), since it has been held that “where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, it is not inventive to discover the optimum or workable ranges by routine experimentation." In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955).
Regarding claim 13, YU discloses wherein the second included angle is less than or equal to the first included angle (paragraph 0030).
Regarding claim 14, YU discloses wherein the rotor is provided with a plurality of rotor blades, and the rotor blades form the rotor pulverizing surface (paragraph 0031).
Regarding claims 15-17, YU does not disclose wherein the plurality of rotor blades comprise a first blade set and a second blade set, wherein a number of blades of the first blade set is less than a number of blades of the second blade set; wherein a distance between the first blade set and the support frame is greater than a distance between the second blade set and the support frame; wherein the stator is provided with a plurality of stator blades, the plurality of stator blades form the stator pulverizing surface, and the stator blade has a thickness greater than that of the rotor blade.
However, choosing the configuration of the shape, numbers and the arrangement of the blades of the stator and the rotor is very known in art and a matter of routine engineering design choice that depends on the general design of the pulverizer and specific requirements of the pulverizing process as desired;
Therefore; it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to have wherein the plurality of rotor blades comprise a first blade set and a second blade set, wherein a number of blades of the first blade set is less than a number of blades of the second blade set; wherein a distance between the first blade set and the support frame is greater than a distance between the second blade set and the support frame; wherein the stator is provided with a plurality of stator blades, the plurality of stator blades form the stator pulverizing surface, and the stator blade has a thickness greater than that of the rotor blade in order to meet a specific requirement of the general design of the pulverizer and specific requirements of the pulverizing process as desired as desired.
Regarding claim 18, YU does not disclose wherein at least one of the rotor blade and the stator blade is a ceramic blade.
However, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to YU to have wherein at least one of the rotor blade and the stator blade is a ceramic blade, since it has been held that the selection of a known material based on its properties for its intended use supported a prima facie obviousness determination. In Sinclair & Carroll Co. v. Interchemical Corp., 325 U.S. 327, 65 USPQ 297 (1945).
Regarding claim 19, YU discloses a driving mechanism (fig.1: (2)) connected to the support frame, an output shaft (fig.1: (80)) of the driving mechanism being connected to the rotor.
Regarding claim 20, YU discloses a pulverizer (paragraphs 0001-0004 and 0029-0038), comprising:
a support frame (fig.1: (1));
a stator (fig.1: (5)) connected to the support frame, the stator having a stator pulverizing surface (fig.3: (51)); and
a rotor (fig.1: (6)) connected to the support frame, the rotor being rotatable, and the rotor having a rotor pulverizing surface (fig.1: (61)); wherein the stator pulverizing surface is opposite to the rotor pulverizing surface,
a pulverizing chamber is formed between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface (fig.2: the chamber between elements (5) and (6)), and
a distance between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface is adjustable (paragraphs 0033-0034 and 0038);
the rotor (fig.1: (6)) is of a truncated conical structure, the stator (fig.1: (5)) is internally provided with a truncated conical groove matching the shape of the rotor (fig.1: see the internal groove of the stator (5)), and the rotor is located in the truncated conical groove (fig.1: see the internal truncated conical groove of the stator (5) that received the truncated conical rotor (6)) (paragraphs 0030-0032);
YU does not disclose and a second included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the truncated conical groove is equal to a first included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the rotor;
However, YU concerns about the forming angles of the stator and the rotor for the purpose achieving gradually fine grinding of the material (paragraph 0030);
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of YU by making a second included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the truncated conical groove is equal to a first included angle between a generatrix and a bottom surface of the rotor for the purpose achieving gradually fine grinding of the material (YU: paragraph 0030), since it has been held that “where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, it is not inventive to discover the optimum or workable ranges by routine experimentation." In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955).
YU does not disclose an end surface of the stator facing the fixing ring is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions evenly arranged along a circumference of the stator, an end surface of the fixing ring facing the stator is provided with a plurality of limiting grooves evenly arranged along a circumference of the fixing ring, and each of the plurality of first limiting protrusions is located in a corresponding one of the plurality of first limiting grooves;
However; these limitations are just to assemble the elements of the pulverizer; the limiting protrusions and limiting grooves are just a fixing mechanism for fixing the rotor; and
YU discloses the first box (4) including a housing, a fixing mechanism to assemble the first box (fig.1: (4)) to the second box (fig.1: (3)); wherein the fixing mechanism having a fixing ring and a hole to receive a screw (see fig.1 above);
Further; the prior art of YU discloses that the stator (5) is fixed to the first box (4) (paragraphs 0007 and 0029),
So, the prior art of YU must have a fixing mechanism for fixing the stator (5) to the first box (4); and
It appears both of the configuration of the fixing mechanism of the Applicant’s disclosure and the prior art of YU lead to the same result of assembling the elements of the pulverizer;
Furthermore, having a configuration of a fixing mechanism would have resulted from routine engineering practices and it therefore not patentable and would be obvious because there is no unexpected result;
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to select the configuration of the fixing mechanism as desired, as a matter of routine engineering design choice; in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer;
Or, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to substitute the fixing mechanism of YU by any equivalent fixing mechanism in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer. (MPEP 2143).
Regarding claim 21, YU discloses a pulverizer (paragraphs 0001-0004 and 0029-0038), comprising:
a support frame (fig.1: (1));
a stator (fig.1: (5)) connected to the support frame, the stator having a stator pulverizing surface (fig.3: (51)); and
a rotor (fig.1: (6)) connected to the support frame, the rotor being rotatable, and the rotor having a rotor pulverizing surface (fig.1: (61)); wherein the stator pulverizing surface is opposite to the rotor pulverizing surface,
a pulverizing chamber is formed between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface (fig.2: the chamber between elements (5) and (6)), and
a distance between the stator pulverizing surface and the rotor pulverizing surface is adjustable (paragraphs 0033-0034 and 0038);
and the rotor (fig.1: (6)) is provided with a plurality of rotor blades (fig.1: (61)),
the plurality of rotor blades comprise a first blade set and a second blade set, and form the rotor pulverizing surface, the second blade set is located below the first blade set, and a number of blades of the first blade set is less than a number of blades of the second blade set.
YU does not disclose the plurality of rotor blades comprise a first blade set and a second blade set, and form the rotor pulverizing surface, the second blade set is located below the first blade set, and a number of blades of the first blade set is less than a number of blades of the second blade set.
However, choosing the configuration of the shape, numbers and the arrangement of the blades of the stator and the rotor is very known in art and a matter of routine engineering design choice that depends on the general design of the pulverizer and specific requirements of the pulverizing process as desired;
Therefore; it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to have the plurality of rotor blades comprise a first blade set and a second blade set, and form the rotor pulverizing surface, the second blade set is located below the first blade set, and a number of blades of the first blade set is less than a number of blades of the second blade set in order to meet a specific requirement of the general design of the pulverizer and specific requirements of the pulverizing process as desired as desired.
YU does not disclose an end surface of the stator facing the fixing ring is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions evenly arranged along a circumference of the stator, an end surface of the fixing ring facing the stator is provided with a plurality of limiting grooves evenly arranged along a circumference of the fixing ring, and each of the plurality of first limiting protrusions is located in a corresponding one of the plurality of first limiting grooves;
However; these limitations are just to assemble the elements of the pulverizer; the limiting protrusions and limiting grooves are just a fixing mechanism for fixing the rotor; and
YU discloses the first box (4) including a housing, a fixing mechanism to assemble the first box (fig.1: (4)) to the second box (fig.1: (3)); wherein the fixing mechanism having a fixing ring and a hole to receive a screw (see fig.1 above);
Further; the prior art of YU discloses that the stator (5) is fixed to the first box (4) (paragraphs 0007 and 0029),
So, the prior art of YU must have a fixing mechanism for fixing the stator (5) to the first box (4); and
It appears both of the configuration of the fixing mechanism of the Applicant’s disclosure and the prior art of YU lead to the same result of assembling the elements of the pulverizer;
Furthermore, having a configuration of a fixing mechanism would have resulted from routine engineering practices and it therefore not patentable and would be obvious because there is no unexpected result;
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to select the configuration of the fixing mechanism as desired, as a matter of routine engineering design choice; in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer;
Or, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to substitute the fixing mechanism of YU by any equivalent fixing mechanism in order to assemble the elements of the pulverizer. (MPEP 2143).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED S ALAWADI whose telephone number is (571)272-2224. The examiner can normally be reached 08:00 am- 05:00 pm.
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/MOHAMMED S. ALAWADI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
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