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
Status of the Claims
Claims 1-33 are pending. Claims 1-9 and 19-27 are the subject of this NON-FINAL Office Action. This is the first action on the merits.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-9 and 19-27) in the reply filed on 04/28/2026 is acknowledged. The species election is withdrawn.
Claims 10-18 and 28-33 are withdrawn as drawn to unelected inventions and species.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112- Indefiniteness
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.
Claims 1-9 and 19-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The support required by the claims are too ambiguous to apply prior art without conjecture as to their scope. When the claims become so ambiguous that one of ordinary skill in the art cannot determine their scope absent speculation, such claims are invalid for indefiniteness. see In re Steele, 305 F.2d 859, 862 (CCPA 1962). Claim 1 is representative and recites:
1. A support system for moving a build surface for an additive manufacturing system, the support system comprising:
a build table having the build surf ace;
at least two actuators coupled to the build table and configured to move the build table in a Z direction; and
a coupling between each actuator and the build table, each coupling configured to provide pivotal movement about at least two orthogonal axes in a plane of the build table and to provide linear movement along only one direction parallel to the build surface.
In the bold portion above, there is a mutually exclusive condition. First, the only build table configuration in the specification described as achieving this is shown in Figures 1-4. Figures 1-4 require an actuator 7 and coupling 6 under the build table 11:
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Next, “each coupling configured to provide pivotal movement about at least two orthogonal axes in a plane of the build table and to provide linear movement along only one direction parallel to the build surface” is unclear because the claim does not specify what is pivoted and moved linear.
Assuming the movement is of the build table as described in the specification, then this is where the mutually exclusive conditions arise. If the build table “pivot[s] [] about at least two orthogonal axes in a plane of the build table” then it cannot also yield “linear movement along only one direction parallel to the build surface.” To pivot the build table about at least two orthogonal axes in a plane of the build table means in the x and y directions because these are the only two orthogonal directions in the plane of the build table. Yet, x and y are two directions parallel to the build table, and cannot yield “movement along only one direction parallel to the build surface.”
Finally, more confusion is introduced by “the build surface” which lacks antecedent basis. It is possible Applicants intend the “build surface” to be different from the “build table,” which would render the claimed movements different from the interpretation above. This could yield a different invention. Thus, this antecedent basis issue must be clarified.
In claims 2, 4 and 6, Applicants utilize the “word” transverse in a way contrary to common understanding, yet never clearly redefined in their specification. Transverse means movement that is at a right angle (90°) to the main axis of motion. In claims 2 and 4, if each of three couplings provided linear movement of the build table at 90° to each other, then no linear movement could occur. This is because two movements at 90° to each other would prevent the other from moving in its direction. A third at 90° to one of the other would only prevent more movement. Finally, in claim 6, 60° is contrary to 90° (transverse). The same rationale applies to claims 20, 22, and 24.
Prior Art
The following prior art may be pertinent: CN114454055A; CN 114453599 A; WO 2022186704 A1.
Allowable Subject Matter
The configuration of Figures 8b and 9b in which a 60 degree trilateral sphere-based coupling system allows movement of the build plate in single direction, along with rotation of the build plate is allowable. The Examiner cannot find this configuration in the prior art. The sphere-based coupling system is essential to allow the build plate to achieve the claimed orthogonal movements in its plane while also only moving linearly parallel in one direction at a time.
Conclusion
No claims are allowed.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MELODY TSUI whose telephone number is (571)272-1846. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
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/YUNG-SHENG M TSUI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1684
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