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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/19/25 is being considered by the examiner.
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 13 and 17-20 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.
CLAIM 13
Claim 13 recites the limitation “the at least some of the ties” in the phrase “to move the at least some of the ties that are not arranged in a common plane to the common plane for arranging the ties in the common plane.”
There is insufficient antecedent basis for “the at least some of the ties.” Claim 13 depends from claim 12, which recites “the ties” and “a planarizing mechanism,” but neither claim 13 nor its parent claims first introduces “at least some of the ties.” As a result, it is unclear whether the claim requires the horizontal bar to move all of the ties, only those ties that are not arranged in a common plane, or an unidentified subset of such ties. The scope of the moving step therefore is not reasonably ascertainable.
Suggested correction: Applicant may wish to amend claim 13 to recite, for example, “to move at least some of the ties that are not arranged in a common plane to the common plane” or “to move ties that are not arranged in a common plane to the common plane,” as appropriate.
CLAIM 17
Claim 17 recites the limitation “to move the groups of the ties away from the collection assembly” in the second conveyor assembly limitation.
There is insufficient antecedent basis for “the groups of the ties.” Claim 17 first recites that the collection assembly receives ties and that the first conveyor assembly moves the ties beneath a planarizing body into a common plane. The claim then recites that the second conveyor assembly receives “the ties in the common plane” from the collection assembly, but changes to “the groups of the ties” before any groups have been introduced or formed in the claim. The later-recited accumulator assembly is the component that is configured to arrange the ties “in groups.” Therefore, it is unclear whether the second conveyor assembly is required to move individual ties away from the collection assembly or instead to move already-formed groups of ties away from the collection assembly.
The ambiguity affects the metes and bounds of the second conveyor assembly and its cooperative relationship with the downstream accumulator assembly. Accordingly, claim 17 is indefinite.
Suggested correction: Applicant may wish to amend the second conveyor limitation to recite “to move the ties away from the collection assembly,” if the second conveyor assembly is intended to convey individual planarized ties to the accumulator assembly. Alternatively, if applicant intends the second conveyor assembly to move preformed groups, applicant should amend the claim to introduce the groups before this limitation and clarify how the groups are formed before reaching the accumulator assembly.
REFERENCES USED
Reference 1: Salciccia, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0385934 A1, railway wagon for handling sleepers and railway vehicle including the wagon.
Reference 2: Piper, U.S. Patent No. 8,876,457 B1, apparatus and method for stacking railroad ties.
Reference 3: Boyle et al., U.S. Patent No. 3,894,625, lumber sorting system with overhead infeed.
Reference 4: Davenport et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,417,265, infeed method and apparatus for a machining device.
Reference 5: Hoefels et al., DE 2,529,975 A1, mobile railway sleeper raising and laying machine.
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.
CLAIM REJECTIONS - AIA 35 U.S.C. 103
Claims 1-20 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the applied combinations identified below.
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Claim 1
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
A tie-arrangement system, comprising:
a conveyor assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the conveyor assembly configured to receive the ties in a common plane relative to each other;
an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly; and
a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation, the delivery assembly configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.
Analysis
Reference 1 discloses a tie-handling railway system for sleepers T, which are railroad ties. Reference 1’s railway wagon 1 includes a platform 3 supported by carriage 4 for movement along rails R. Reference 1 further discloses first conveyor 5 and second conveyor 6 carried by platform 3. First conveyor 5 moves sleepers T along advancement direction A, and second conveyor 6 includes portion 6a for exchanging sleepers with first conveyor 5 and portion 6b extending outside the lateral envelope of platform 3 to move sleepers externally from the platform. These structures teach a conveyor assembly configured to receive and move ties for placement in a railway track.
Reference 1 further discloses that collection station 20 includes auxiliary platform 21 and collection conveyor 22 having movement device 24. Collection conveyor 22 receives, supports, and moves sleepers T, and auxiliary conveyor 15 transfers sleepers T from collection station 20 toward first conveyor 5. Reference 1’s support surfaces of collection conveyor 22, auxiliary conveyor 15, first conveyor 5, and related transfer portions teach receiving sleepers T on conveyor support surfaces in a common support plane, or at least render such receipt obvious because the sleepers are conveyed as elongated rigid members supported by generally planar conveyor surfaces.
Reference 1 further discloses unloading device 40 having first and second gripping members 41a and 41b. Gripping members 41a and 41b define a support surface for sleepers T, receive a predetermined number of sleepers arriving from first conveyor 5 and second conveyor 6, and move vertically to deposit one or more sleepers T on the railway bed. Unloading device 40 therefore teaches a delivery assembly configured to place ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement in a track for rail vehicles.
Reference 1 does not expressly disclose the claimed accumulator assembly arranging the ties in the same orientation in groups and moving the groups out of the accumulator assembly. Reference 2 cures this deficiency. Reference 2 discloses railroad tie stacker 32 and railroad tie stacker 124. In the tram-stack embodiment, stacker 124 includes tie accumulation chain deck 126, staging station 128, layer accumulation station 130, stack layer lift 132, and stack accumulation lift 134. Reference 2 teaches forming layers of railroad ties 118, including full layers 116 and shorter layers 120 and 122, where the ties within a layer are parallel and commonly oriented. Tie accumulation deck 126 and layer accumulation station 130 therefore arrange railroad ties into groups having the same orientation. Stack layer lift 132 moves each group or layer toward stack accumulation lift 134, and stack accumulation lift 134 receives the groups and lowers as successive layers are deposited.
It would have been obvious to incorporate the tie grouping and accumulating structure of Reference 2 into the railway wagon system of Reference 1 between first conveyor 5/second conveyor 6 and unloading device 40. The resulting system would include Reference 1’s railway tie conveyor and delivery environment, with Reference 2’s known railroad-tie accumulator arranged to form same-orientation groups before the groups are delivered to unloading device 40 for placement on the railway bed.
Thus, Reference 1 teaches the claimed conveyor assembly and delivery assembly, and Reference 2 teaches the claimed accumulator assembly that receives ties from a conveyor, arranges ties in same-orientation groups, and moves the groups out of the accumulator assembly.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to modify Reference 1’s railway wagon 1 to include Reference 2’s railroad-tie stacker/accumulator because Reference 1 already handles railroad sleepers T on a moving railway vehicle and deposits a predetermined number of sleepers on the railway bed, while Reference 2 teaches a known way to organize railroad ties into orderly, same-orientation layers before downstream handling. The combination would have predictably improved Reference 1 by allowing sleepers to be batched, aligned, and accumulated before delivery, thereby reducing misalignment at unloading device 40, improving throughput, and enabling controlled placement of groups of sleepers rather than irregular individual sleepers. The modification is a predictable use of known railroad-tie stacking and conveying elements for their established purpose.
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Claim 2
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, further comprising a collection assembly configured to receive the ties in skew or different orientations and to move the ties into the common plane, the collection assembly configured to deliver the ties in the common plane to the conveyor assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
For the additional collection assembly, Reference 1 discloses collection station 20, auxiliary platform 21, collection conveyor 22, movement device 24, and auxiliary conveyor 15. Collection conveyor 22 receives, supports, and moves a predetermined number of sleepers T. Collection station 20 and collection conveyor 22 deliver sleepers T through auxiliary conveyor 15 toward first conveyor 5. Thus, Reference 1 teaches a collection assembly configured to receive ties and deliver them to the conveyor assembly.
Reference 1 does not expressly state that the collection station receives ties in skew or different orientations and moves them into a common plane. Reference 3 teaches this feature in the analogous field of conveying elongated wooden members. Reference 3 discloses boards moving along sorter conveyor chains 18 with hooks 28. Reference 3 explains that boards may be supplied standing on edge or leaning against a hook, and provides skid plates 140 having raised upper surfaces that jolt such on-edge or leaning boards into a desired flat position as the boards move along the conveyor. A board standing on edge or leaning corresponds to an elongated wooden member in a different plane or skew orientation relative to the intended flat support plane. Skid plates 140 move those boards into the desired flat common plane.
It would have been obvious to provide Reference 1’s collection station 20 or auxiliary conveyor 15 with a planarizing structure such as Reference 3’s skid plates 140 so that railroad ties T received at collection station 20 in skewed, edgewise, or different orientations are moved into a common support plane before being delivered to first conveyor 5 and the Reference 2 accumulator.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to apply Reference 3’s flatting/planarizing structure to Reference 1’s collection station because railroad ties and lumber boards are elongated wooden members that can jam, misfeed, or misalign if conveyed while standing on edge, leaning, or skewed. Reference 1 seeks to move sleepers efficiently along conveyors 22, 15, 5, and 6, while Reference 2’s accumulator requires orderly tie presentation to form same-orientation groups. Adding Reference 3’s skid plates 140 would predictably ensure that incoming ties lie flat in a common plane before accumulation, improving reliability without changing the basic operation of Reference 1’s railway wagon.
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Claim 3
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The tie-arrangement system of claim 2, wherein the conveyor assembly is a first conveyor assembly, and the collection assembly includes a second conveyor assembly configured to move the ties received in the skew or different orientations relative to the common plane, the collection assembly including a planarizing body configured to move at least some of the ties from the different orientations and into the common plane.
Analysis
The limitations of claims 1 and 2 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches the claimed first conveyor assembly by first conveyor 5 and second conveyor 6, which move sleepers T along platform 3 and between railway wagons of vehicle 100. Reference 1 teaches the claimed second conveyor assembly of the collection assembly by collection conveyor 22, movement device 24, and auxiliary conveyor 15. Collection conveyor 22 receives sleepers T and moves them toward auxiliary conveyor 15, which then transfers the sleepers toward first conveyor 5.
Reference 3 teaches the planarizing body. Skid plates 140 are positioned along sorter conveyor chains 18 and have raised upper surfaces that define bumps in the conveyor path. When an elongated wooden board is on edge or leaning against hooks 28, the raised skid plates 140 contact and jolt the board into a flat position. This corresponds to a planarizing body configured to move at least some ties from different orientations into a common plane.
Applying Reference 3’s skid plates 140 to Reference 1’s collection conveyor 22 or auxiliary conveyor 15 would result in the claimed collection assembly having a second conveyor assembly that moves ties received in skew or different orientations relative to the common plane, and a planarizing body that moves at least some of those ties into the common plane.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Reference 3’s skid plates 140 with Reference 1’s collection conveyor 22 because Reference 1’s downstream conveyors and Reference 2’s accumulator operate more reliably when sleepers T are flat and uniformly supported. The use of raised skid plates or equivalent guide bodies to flatten elongated wooden members was a known, predictable technique. Incorporating that technique into the collection conveyor of a railway tie-handling vehicle would have reduced jams and ensured that the sleepers entering first conveyor 5 and the accumulator are presented in a stable common plane.
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Claim 4
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The tie-arrangement system of claim 3, wherein the planarizing body includes a mechanism that is configured to move the at least some of the ties that are skew or otherwise not arranged in a common plane to arrange the ties in the common plane.
Analysis
The limitations of claims 1-3 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 3’s planarizing structure includes a mechanical structure, namely skid plates 140 arranged along the conveyor path. The raised surfaces of skid plates 140 physically engage on-edge or leaning boards and jolt or guide them into the desired flat position. The skid plates 140 therefore constitute a mechanism configured to move elongated wooden members that are skewed, on-edge, leaning, or otherwise not arranged in the desired common plane into that common plane.
In the modified Reference 1 system, the mechanism would be positioned at collection station 20, collection conveyor 22, or auxiliary conveyor 15 so that ties T received in skewed or non-planar orientations are mechanically contacted and moved into a flat common plane before delivery to first conveyor 5 and the Reference 2 accumulator.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to include Reference 3’s mechanical planarizing feature in Reference 1 because a passive mechanical body such as skid plates 140 provides a simple, robust, low-maintenance way to correct tie orientation during conveyor movement. Such a modification would have predictably improved the railway tie-handling system by ensuring that sleepers enter the accumulator in a uniform plane, which is beneficial for forming the same-orientation groups taught by Reference 2.
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Claim 5
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 4
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor assembly includes one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties to the accumulator assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches conveyor movement of sleepers T by collection conveyor 22, auxiliary conveyor 15, first conveyor 5, and second conveyor 6. Reference 2 teaches downstream accumulation of railroad ties into layers/groups by tie accumulation chain deck 126, layer accumulation station 130, stack layer lift 132, and stack accumulation lift 134. The combined system therefore moves ties along a conveyor toward an accumulator assembly.
Reference 4 teaches the claimed limiting bodies. Reference 4 discloses hold-down means 46 positioned over bridge belt conveyor 42. Hold-down means 46 includes frame 48 having lower face 48a with rollers 50. Frame 48 overlies and contacts the upper surface of lumber pieces moving under it to prevent bouncing or other disturbances to alignment. Frame 48 and rollers 50 are limiting bodies because they are positioned above the conveyed elongated wood pieces and constrain vertical movement, thereby maintaining the pieces in an intended plane and alignment during movement.
It would have been obvious to include Reference 4’s hold-down means 46, frame 48, and rollers 50 above Reference 1’s first conveyor 5 or auxiliary conveyor 15 upstream of the Reference 2 accumulator. The resulting conveyor assembly would include one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain ties T in the common plane during movement to the accumulator assembly.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to add Reference 4’s hold-down means 46 to the conveyors of Reference 1 because railroad ties are heavy elongated members that can bounce, lift, shift, or tilt during conveyor transfer, especially on a mobile railway vehicle. Reference 4 teaches that an overlying frame with rollers maintains alignment of lumber on a conveyor. Applying that known structure to Reference 1’s conveyor path would predictably maintain sleepers T in the common plane before they enter the Reference 2 accumulator, improving feed reliability and group formation.
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Claim 6
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator assembly includes an elevator assembly configured to vertically move relative to the common plane of the ties, the elevator assembly configured to vertically move after each of the groups is loaded into the accumulator assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 2 expressly teaches the claimed elevator assembly. In the tram-stack embodiment, stack accumulation lift 134 receives successive layers/groups of railroad ties from layer accumulation station 130 and stack layer lift 132. Stack accumulation lift 134 lowers as successive layers are deposited. In the other embodiment, stack accumulation lift 40 similarly receives assembly layers from stack layer lift 52 and lowers as additional layers are added. The stack accumulation lift 40 or 134 is an elevator assembly because it vertically moves relative to the common plane in which ties are supplied and grouped. It vertically moves after each group or layer is loaded to prepare for receiving the next group or layer.
In the modified Reference 1 system, Reference 2’s stack accumulation lift 40 or 134 would serve as the elevator portion of the accumulator assembly positioned between first conveyor 5/second conveyor 6 and unloading device 40.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to use Reference 2’s stack accumulation lift 40 or 134 in Reference 1 because Reference 1 already handles predetermined numbers of sleepers T, and Reference 2 teaches a proven elevator arrangement for accumulating railroad ties in ordered layers. Vertical movement after each layer is loaded allows a compact accumulator to receive additional groups without requiring an excessively long conveyor footprint, which is especially beneficial on a railway wagon where platform space is limited.
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Claim 7
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, wherein the delivery assembly is configured to receive several of the groups of the ties from the accumulator assembly at a common time.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 2 teaches accumulating several groups/layers of ties on stack accumulation lift 134. The tram-stack embodiment includes multiple full layers 116 and additional shorter layers 120 and 122. Each layer is a group of parallel, same-orientation ties. Stack accumulation lift 134 is configured to hold several such groups as a stack. Reference 1’s unloading device 40 is configured to receive a predetermined number of sleepers T from first conveyor 5 and second conveyor 6 and unload them onto the railway bed. In the combined system, it would have been obvious to configure unloading device 40 to receive multiple accumulated groups from Reference 2’s stack accumulation lift 134 at a common transfer time so that unloading device 40 can deliver a batch of ties rather than only a single group.
The claimed “several of the groups” is therefore taught or rendered obvious by Reference 2’s multi-layer accumulation on stack accumulation lift 134 and Reference 1’s unloading device 40 configured to receive a predetermined number of sleepers for placement on the railway bed.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to configure Reference 1’s unloading device 40 to receive several accumulated groups from Reference 2’s stack accumulation lift 134 because batch transfer reduces the number of transfer cycles, improves throughput during track renewal, and allows the railway wagon to place ties in coordinated sets. The modification uses Reference 2’s stacked layers for their known purpose and pairs them with Reference 1’s unloading device 40, which already handles predetermined numbers of sleepers.
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Claim 8
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 5
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, wherein the delivery assembly is configured to tilt to move the groups of the ties off the delivery assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches unloading device 40 configured to deposit sleepers T onto the railway bed using gripping members 41a and 41b. Reference 1 does not expressly require unloading device 40 to tilt. Reference 5 teaches a railway sleeper handling and laying machine having longitudinal conveyor 7, conveyor part 8, protruding end 23, cable arrangement 13, drive 14, chain hooks 25, chains 29, and laying beam 38. Reference 5 teaches adjusting the height and inclination of longitudinal conveyor part 8 and moving sleeper groups by the longitudinal conveyor. Reference 5 further teaches that the end 27 of longitudinal conveyor 7 is arranged at an inclined angle such that sleepers carried by chains 29 and chain hooks 25 are released and moved off the conveyor path. Reference 5 also teaches moving a group of sleepers attached to laying beam 38 and lowering the group onto ballast.
It would have been obvious to modify Reference 1’s unloading device 40 so that the support surface defined by gripping members 41a and 41b, or an associated delivery frame receiving groups from the Reference 2 accumulator, tilts or inclines in the manner taught by Reference 5’s adjustable/inclinable conveyor part 8. Such tilting would move the accumulated groups of ties off the delivery assembly and onto the railway bed or ballast surface.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to incorporate Reference 5’s tilting or inclinable delivery feature into Reference 1’s unloading device 40 because gravity-assisted discharge and angular adjustment are known ways to release heavy railway sleepers from a delivery support with less mechanical complexity. Reference 1 already deposits sleepers on a railway bed, and Reference 5 teaches adjustable inclination of sleeper-handling structure for picking, moving, and laying sleepers. Adding tilt to the delivery assembly would predictably facilitate discharge of the groups formed by Reference 2 while reducing the need for additional pushing or gripping mechanisms.
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Claim 9
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
The tie-arrangement system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly, and the delivery assembly are configured to be coupled with each other and configured to be positioned on a rail car configured to move along the track.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 1 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 1 expressly teaches railway wagon 1 having platform 3, carriage 4, first conveyor 5, second conveyor 6, collection station 20, auxiliary conveyor 15, stacking device 30, unloading device 40, and railway vehicle 100. Carriage 4 supports platform 3 and permits movement of wagon 1 along rails R. Reference 1 also teaches railway vehicle 100 having multiple wagons coupled together, including wagons carrying first conveyor 5, second conveyor 6, collection station 20, auxiliary conveyor 15, and unloading device 40.
In the combined system, Reference 2’s accumulator assembly, including tie accumulation chain deck 126, layer accumulation station 130, stack layer lift 132, and stack accumulation lift 134, would be coupled between Reference 1’s conveyor assembly and unloading device 40 on railway wagon 1 or railway vehicle 100. Thus, the conveyor assembly, accumulator assembly, and delivery assembly are configured to be coupled with each other and positioned on a rail car configured to move along the track.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to position the Reference 2 accumulator on Reference 1’s railway wagon because Reference 1 already provides the mobile rail-car platform, conveyors, and unloading device needed for track-side tie placement. Incorporating the accumulator onto the same rail vehicle would keep the tie-handling process continuous and onboard, avoiding separate ground equipment and enabling the vehicle 100 to move along the track while preparing and delivering grouped ties.
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Claim 10
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
A method, comprising:
receiving ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the ties received in a common plane relative to each other;
dividing the ties received in the common plane into one or more groups in which the ties of each group have a same orientation; and
placing the one or more groups of ties onto a surface for placement of the ties adjacent to the track for the rail vehicles.
Analysis
Reference 1 teaches receiving ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles. Sleepers T are loaded at collection station 20, moved by collection conveyor 22, auxiliary conveyor 15, first conveyor 5, and second conveyor 6, and deposited by unloading device 40 onto the railway bed. Reference 1’s support surfaces, including collection conveyor 22, auxiliary conveyor 15, first conveyor 5, and gripping members 41a and 41b, teach receiving and supporting sleepers T in a common plane relative to each other.
Reference 2 teaches dividing or arranging railroad ties into groups having the same orientation. In the tram-stack embodiment, tie accumulation chain deck 126, staging station 128, layer accumulation station 130, stack layer lift 132, and stack accumulation lift 134 form layers/groups of ties 118, including full layers 116 and shorter layers 120 and 122. The ties in each layer are parallel and commonly oriented.
Reference 1 teaches placing the ties onto a surface adjacent to the track. Unloading device 40 deposits sleepers T onto the railway bed, and railway vehicle 100 is used for railway line renewal or construction. In the modified method, the groups formed by Reference 2 are delivered to Reference 1’s unloading device 40 and placed onto the railway bed adjacent to or in the track region.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to use Reference 2’s grouping method in Reference 1’s railway tie placement process because grouped, same-orientation ties are easier to handle, transfer, and place accurately than randomly oriented ties. The combination would have predictably improved the railway maintenance method by allowing the vehicle 100 to receive ties, organize them into orderly groups, and place those groups on the railway bed in a controlled manner.
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Claim 11
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The method of claim 10, further comprising:
previously receiving the ties in different orientations; and
individually moving the ties into the common plane.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 10 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches previously receiving sleepers T at collection station 20 and collection conveyor 22 before the sleepers are moved through auxiliary conveyor 15 toward first conveyor 5. Reference 3 teaches receiving elongated wooden boards in problematic orientations, including on-edge or leaning orientations, while moving on conveyor chains 18 with hooks 28. Reference 3 further teaches moving such boards into a desired flat position using skid plates 140.
Applying Reference 3 to Reference 1’s collection station 20 results in previously receiving ties T in different orientations and individually moving those ties into the common plane as they pass over or against the planarizing bodies. Because Reference 3’s skid plates 140 act on boards as they travel along the conveyor path, the correction occurs on individual elongated members during movement.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to individually flatten or planarize ties before accumulation because Reference 2’s layer-forming process depends on orderly individual tie presentation. Providing Reference 3’s skid plates 140 at Reference 1’s collection conveyor 22 or auxiliary conveyor 15 would predictably correct misoriented ties before they reach the accumulator, reducing jams and improving the accuracy of same-orientation grouping.
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Claim 12
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The method of claim 11, wherein individually moving the ties into the common plane includes moving the ties beneath a planarizing mechanism.
Analysis
The limitations of claims 10 and 11 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 3 teaches a planarizing mechanism by skid plates 140 positioned along the conveyor path. As boards move along sorter conveyor chains 18, skid plates 140 physically engage boards that stand on edge or lean and jolt them to a flat position. In the modified Reference 1 system, ties T would be moved along collection conveyor 22 or auxiliary conveyor 15 past the planarizing mechanism so that the ties are forced into the common plane before reaching first conveyor 5 and the Reference 2 accumulator.
Although Reference 3’s skid plates 140 are described as raised surfaces in the conveyor path, using a planarizing mechanism located above, beside, or in the path of the ties to constrain the ties into a flat common plane would be an obvious implementation of the same planarizing principle.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to move ties beneath or through a planarizing mechanism in Reference 1 because an overlying or path-defining mechanism provides continuous orientation correction during conveyor movement. This would ensure that sleepers entering Reference 2’s layer accumulation station 130 are flat, aligned, and suitable for grouping in the same orientation.
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Claim 13
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2, Reference 3, and Reference 4
The method of claim 12, wherein the ties are moved beneath a horizontal bar of the planarizing mechanism to move the at least some of the ties that are not arranged in a common plane to the common plane for arranging the ties in the common plane.
Analysis
The limitations of claims 10-12 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 3 teaches the general function of planarizing elongated wooden members by using skid plates 140 to move on-edge or leaning boards into a flat position. Reference 4 teaches an overlying hold-down structure for elongated wooden members on a conveyor. In particular, Reference 4’s hold-down means 46 includes frame 48 with lower face 48a and rollers 50 positioned over bridge belt conveyor 42. Frame 48 overlies and contacts the upper surface of lumber pieces passing beneath it to maintain alignment and prevent bouncing or other disturbances.
It would have been obvious to implement the planarizing mechanism of the modified Reference 1 system as, or with, a horizontal bar or horizontal overhead member. Reference 4’s frame 48 and lower face 48a provide the teaching of an overlying horizontal limiting member above a conveyor. A horizontal bar is a simple structural equivalent of such an overlying frame portion for heavy railroad ties. In the modified system, ties T not arranged in the common plane would move beneath the horizontal bar, and the bar would limit upward or tilted movement so that the ties are moved into the common plane before being arranged into groups by Reference 2’s accumulator.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to implement Reference 3’s planarizing function with an overhead horizontal bar as taught or suggested by Reference 4’s overlying frame 48 because a bar provides a durable, simple, low-cost contact surface for forcing heavy elongated members to remain flat. The modification would predictably convert misoriented ties into a common-plane orientation before grouping, while avoiding more complex actuated correction devices. This is especially suitable for railroad ties because their size and weight favor robust passive guide structures.
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Claim 14
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 4
The method of claim 10, further comprising maintaining the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties by moving the ties beneath one or more limiting bodies during the movement of the ties.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 10 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 4 teaches maintaining elongated wooden pieces in alignment during conveyor movement by moving them beneath hold-down means 46. Hold-down means 46 includes frame 48, lower face 48a, and rollers 50 positioned above bridge belt conveyor 42. Frame 48 overlies and contacts the upper surface of lumber pieces to prevent bouncing or other disturbances to alignment.
Applying Reference 4 to Reference 1’s conveyor path results in moving sleepers T beneath one or more limiting bodies during movement of the ties. The limiting bodies maintain the ties in the common plane as the ties travel from collection conveyor 22 or auxiliary conveyor 15 to first conveyor 5 and onward to the Reference 2 accumulator.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to use Reference 4’s hold-down means 46 with Reference 1’s railway tie conveyors because maintaining heavy sleepers in a common plane during conveyor movement improves safety, prevents misfeeds, and ensures that Reference 2’s layer accumulation station 130 receives ties in predictable alignment. The modification is a direct use of a known conveyor hold-down structure to stabilize elongated wooden members during transfer.
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Claim 15
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2
The method of claim 10, further comprising moving each group of ties while maintaining the ties in the group in a common plane that is defined by the orientation of the ties.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 10 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 2 teaches moving each group of ties while maintaining the group in a common plane. In the tram-stack embodiment, tie accumulation chain deck 126 and layer accumulation station 130 accumulate ties 118 into layers/groups in which the ties are parallel and commonly oriented. Stack layer lift 132 moves each layer from layer accumulation station 130 to stack accumulation lift 134. In the German-stack embodiment, stack layer lift 52 moves an assembly layer from layer accumulation station 68 to stack accumulation lift 40. In either case, the group or layer is moved while the ties remain supported in the plane defined by their orientation and relative arrangement.
In the modified Reference 1 system, groups formed by Reference 2 would be moved toward Reference 1’s unloading device 40 while maintaining the ties in a common plane so that the groups can be placed on the railway bed in an orderly manner.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to maintain each group of ties in its common plane during movement because disrupting the group plane would defeat the purpose of Reference 2’s layer accumulation and would complicate unloading by Reference 1’s unloading device 40. Maintaining group orientation during movement predictably preserves alignment, reduces handling errors, and facilitates accurate placement onto the railway bed.
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Claim 16
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 5
The method of claim 10, wherein placing the groups of the ties includes tilting the groups of the ties.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 10 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches placing sleepers T on the railway bed using unloading device 40. Reference 2 teaches forming same-orientation groups/layers of railroad ties. Reference 5 teaches adjustable inclination of sleeper-handling structure, including longitudinal conveyor 7, conveyor part 8, protruding end 23, cable arrangement 13, drive 14, and end 27, and further teaches group laying using laying beam 38. The inclination of conveyor part 8 and the inclined discharge at end 27 teach tilting or inclining the sleeper-supporting structure to move sleepers off the delivery assembly.
In the modified Reference 1 method, groups formed by Reference 2 would be received by Reference 1’s delivery structure and tilted in the manner suggested by Reference 5 so that the groups move off the delivery assembly and onto the railway bed.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to include tilting during placement because tilting is a predictable way to use gravity to assist discharge of heavy sleeper groups. Reference 1 already deposits sleepers onto a railway bed, and Reference 5 teaches adjustable inclination of railway sleeper handling structure for laying sleepers. Tilting the grouped ties formed by Reference 2 would simplify unloading and reduce the force required from separate pushers or grippers.
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Claim 17
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
A tie-arrangement system configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle, the tie-arrangement system comprising:
a collection assembly configured to receive ties for placement in a track for rail vehicles, the collection assembly configured to receive the ties in different planes, the collection assembly including a first conveyor assembly configured to move the ties in the different planes beneath a planarizing body that moves the ties into a common plane;
a second conveyor assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the collection assembly and to move the groups of the ties away from the collection assembly;
an accumulator assembly configured to receive the ties in the common plane from the second conveyor assembly, the accumulator assembly configured to arrange the ties in a same orientation in groups and to move the groups of the ties out of the accumulator assembly; and
a delivery assembly configured to receive the groups of the ties arranged by the accumulator assembly into the same orientation, the delivery assembly configured to place the groups of the ties onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement of the ties in the track for the rail vehicles.
Analysis
Reference 1 teaches a tie-arrangement system disposed onboard a vehicle. Railway wagon 1 includes platform 3 supported by carriage 4 for movement along rails R, and railway vehicle 100 includes multiple wagons carrying conveyors and unloading equipment for handling sleepers T.
Reference 1 teaches a collection assembly by collection station 20, auxiliary platform 21, collection conveyor 22, movement device 24, and auxiliary conveyor 15. Collection conveyor 22 receives, supports, and moves sleepers T. Reference 3 teaches receiving elongated wooden members in different planes or improper orientations, such as on-edge or leaning positions, and moving them into a flat desired plane using skid plates 140. Thus, it would have been obvious for Reference 1’s collection assembly to receive ties in different planes and move them beneath or through a planarizing body based on Reference 3’s skid plates 140 so the ties enter a common plane.
Reference 1 teaches a second conveyor assembly receiving ties from the collection assembly by auxiliary conveyor 15 and first conveyor 5. Collection conveyor 22 delivers sleepers through auxiliary conveyor 15 toward first conveyor 5 along advancement direction A. To the extent the phrase “the groups of the ties away from the collection assembly” is interpreted to require movement of individual ties before grouping, Reference 1 teaches this by movement from collection station 20 to first conveyor 5. To the extent the phrase is interpreted to require movement of grouped ties, Reference 2 teaches grouped layers of railroad ties moved from layer accumulation station 130 by stack layer lift 132 and accumulated on stack accumulation lift 134. Under either construction, the applied references teach or render obvious the movement away from the collection assembly toward the accumulator/delivery path.
Reference 2 teaches the accumulator assembly. Tie accumulation chain deck 126, layer accumulation station 130, stack layer lift 132, and stack accumulation lift 134 receive railroad ties in a common support orientation, arrange the ties into same-orientation groups/layers, and move the groups out of the accumulation area.
Reference 1 teaches the delivery assembly. Unloading device 40 includes gripping members 41a and 41b that receive sleepers from first conveyor 5 and second conveyor 6 and deposit them on the railway bed. In the modified system, unloading device 40 receives the groups arranged by Reference 2’s accumulator and places them onto a surface off the tie-arrangement system for placement in a rail track.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Reference 1’s onboard railway vehicle and delivery system with Reference 2’s railroad-tie accumulator and Reference 3’s planarizing body because the references address complementary aspects of the same material-handling problem: receiving elongated ties, orienting them, grouping them, and delivering them for railway use. Reference 1 supplies the mobile railway platform and track-side delivery. Reference 2 supplies efficient same-orientation tie grouping. Reference 3 supplies correction of non-planar or skewed elongated wooden members before downstream handling. Combining these features would have predictably produced an onboard system that receives misoriented ties, planarizes them, groups them, and delivers them to the railway bed with improved reliability and throughput.
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Claim 18
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2, Reference 3, and Reference 4
The tie-arrangement system of claim 17, wherein the second conveyor assembly includes one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain the ties in the common plane during movement of the ties to the accumulator assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 17 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 4 teaches one or more limiting bodies positioned to maintain elongated wooden members in a common plane during conveyor movement. Hold-down means 46 includes frame 48, lower face 48a, and rollers 50 over bridge belt conveyor 42. Frame 48 overlies and contacts the lumber pieces to prevent bouncing and alignment disturbances.
It would have been obvious to position Reference 4’s hold-down means 46 over Reference 1’s auxiliary conveyor 15 or first conveyor 5, which serve as the second conveyor assembly receiving ties from collection station 20 and moving them toward the Reference 2 accumulator. The resulting second conveyor assembly includes limiting bodies positioned to maintain ties T in the common plane during movement to tie accumulation chain deck 126 or layer accumulation station 130.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to add Reference 4’s limiting bodies to the second conveyor assembly because the downstream accumulator of Reference 2 benefits from stable, flat, aligned ties. The known hold-down structure of Reference 4 would predictably prevent ties from lifting or tilting during movement on Reference 1’s conveyors, thereby preserving the common plane established by the planarizing body of Reference 3.
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Claim 19
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2 and Reference 3
The tie-arrangement system of claim 17, wherein the accumulator assembly includes an elevator assembly configured to vertically move relative to the common plane of the ties, the elevator assembly configured to vertically move after each of the groups is loaded into the accumulator assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 17 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 2 teaches the claimed elevator assembly. Stack accumulation lift 134 receives successive tie layers/groups from layer accumulation station 130 and stack layer lift 132. Stack accumulation lift 134 lowers as successive layers are deposited so that additional layers can be received. Stack accumulation lift 40 in the other embodiment performs the same elevator function for assembly layers moved by stack layer lift 52.
Accordingly, in the modified onboard railway system, the accumulator assembly includes stack accumulation lift 134 or 40, which vertically moves relative to the common plane of the ties and vertically moves after each group is loaded into the accumulator assembly.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to include Reference 2’s vertically movable stack accumulation lift in Reference 1’s onboard system because it provides compact vertical accumulation of multiple tie groups on a rail vehicle. This allows repeated group formation without requiring a long horizontal storage conveyor and predictably improves the ability of the delivery assembly to receive organized groups for placement on the railway bed.
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Claim 20
Prior Art Applied: Reference 1 in view of Reference 2, Reference 3, and Reference 5
The tie-arrangement system of claim 17, wherein the delivery assembly is configured to tilt to move the groups of the ties off the delivery assembly.
Analysis
The limitations of claim 17 are taught or rendered obvious by Reference 1 in view of References 2 and 3 as set forth above.
Reference 1 teaches unloading device 40 with gripping members 41a and 41b configured to receive sleepers T and deposit them on the railway bed. Reference 5 teaches railway sleeper handling with longitudinal conveyor 7, conveyor part 8, protruding end 23, cable arrangement 13, drive 14, chain hooks 25, chains 29, and laying beam 38. Reference 5 teaches adjustment of height and inclination of the longitudinal conveyor and sleeper release at an inclined end region. Reference 5 also teaches carrying sleeper groups with laying beam 38 and lowering them onto ballast.
It would have been obvious to modify Reference 1’s unloading device 40, as used in the combined system of claim 17, so that the support surface or delivery frame is tiltable in the manner taught by Reference 5. The resulting delivery assembly would tilt to move groups of ties formed by Reference 2’s accumulator off the delivery assembly and onto the railway bed.
Motivation to Combine
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to add tilting to Reference 1’s delivery assembly because tilting is a predictable railway-sleeper discharge technique that uses gravity and controlled inclination to move heavy ties from a support surface. Reference 5 provides a railway-specific teaching of adjustable inclination for sleeper handling, and applying that feature to Reference 1’s unloading device 40 would facilitate discharge of the same-orientation groups formed by Reference 2.
CONCLUSION
CN112482104A was reviewed but not used in the rejection. That reference is relevant to railway sleeper recovery because it discloses a rail vehicle with a picking device and stacking equipment for recovering old sleepers. However, it is less direct than Reference 1 for the claimed conveyor-to-delivery railway wagon arrangement and less direct than Reference 2 for the claimed accumulator assembly that forms same-orientation railroad-tie groups using a layer accumulation station and stack accumulation lift. It also does not provide as clear a teaching as Reference 3 for moving skewed or differently oriented elongated members into a common plane, or as clear a teaching as Reference 4 for limiting bodies maintaining a common plane during conveyor movement. Accordingly, CN112482104A would be cumulative and would unnecessarily complicate the rejection.
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/Jason C Smith/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3615
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