DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-3 (filed 07/07/2026) have been considered in this action. Claims 1-3 have been amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 4 paragraph 3, filed 07/07/2026, with respect to objection to the title have been fully considered and are persuasive. The objection of the title has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see page 4 paragraph 4, filed 07/07/2026, with respect to interpretation of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The interpretation under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) of claims 1-3 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see page 4 paragraph 5, filed 07/07/2026, with respect to rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 101 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 101 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see page 7 paragraph 1, filed 07/07/2026, with respect to rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see page 7 paragraph 3, filed 07/07/2026, with respect to rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) has been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments, see page 7 paragraph 5, filed 07/07/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant's arguments fail to comply with 37 CFR 1.111(b) because they amount to a general allegation that the claims define a patentable invention without specifically pointing out how the language of the claims patentably distinguishes them from the references.
Accordingly, the examiner maintains their previous rejection of claims 1-3 under 35 U.S.C. 102 in view of Allen (US 20020091460).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Allen (US 20020091460, hereinafter Allen).
In regards to Claim 1, Allen discloses “A numerical controller comprising: a processor configured to: read and analyze a machining program including a first command, a second command, and a third command in a single block” (Fig. 1 shows machine control 10 (cnc); Fig. 6 shows NC program file with block 1 with x and y departure numbers (first command) a programmed feedrate and feedrate override (second command) and the duration of move (third command) Fig. 9 shows HASP file with block 1 that has x and y departure (first command), federate (second command) and duration and time of move (third command) [0013] The subject invention optimizes by implementing any manually activated CNC function into the automated process at exactly the correct time not only within the program, but also, within the block. [0024] It is a unique feature of the present invention to simultaneously utilize two independently developed sources of stored function control data to control a CNC machine, the first being a N/C program which is programmed into a CNC memory and the second being an over-ride and function log or file, which is separately programmed responsive to manual function control adjustment during active machining and is separately stored in the memory of a LAN or local PC and is made active to the over-ride and function mapping executable program of the CNC memory. [0040] In preparation of optimized production with the present invention, the system must recall two separate data sources. The first data source is the N/C Program. This file is retrieved from a LAN or a local PC and is loaded into the CNC memory. [0042] The present invention, utilizes an "HASP mapping" software program to read the status of the CNC control during the machining process and send over-ride and function data to the PMC at the appropriate time. This phase requires accurate analysis of the specific block being processed and also the point in time that the block became active. Because the over-ride and function data file accurately captured the active block number, the number of milliseconds into the block that an over-ride or operator enacted function occurred and also the percentage of the over-ride, the present invention is capable of developing a plurality of feed-rate over-rides and a plurality of spindle speed over-rides and a plurality of operator initiated functions for any active block of data thereby duplicating the operators input during the data acquisition process) “the first command including a numerical value defining an axis operation, the second command including any of a preparation function command, a feedrate command, a spindle rotation command, a tool exchange command, and an auxiliary command, and the third command defining an execution timing of the second command;” (Fig. 6 shows block 1 with x and y coordinate (first command) a programmed feedrate (second command) and the duration time of execution (third command); [0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of establishing and re-playing on command, a plurality of feed-rates and spindle speeds within one block of information on a CNC machine tool. It is another object of the present invention to implement into production, any manually activated device or function monitored and detected by the PMC or PLC controller. These functions include but are not limited to feed-rate over-ride, spindle speed over-ride, coolant type selector, work light on/off, chip conveyor on/off, table rotation, door open/close, spin window on/off, jog select, manual positioning of the axis of the machine tool) “and generate command information for the second command based on the first command and the third command analyzed by the processor” ([0117] When machining the remaining parts, the CNC control will be controlled and influenced (as noted earlier) by two sources of permanently stored data. The main controlling source of information is the N/C program. This program contains the information normally found in a standard N/C program such as G-codes, M-codes, block numbers (if desired), and coordinates used to control the positioning along with the F-words and S-words (feed and speed commands). The secondary source of information is the human activity storage program (HASP) file. This file will contain data that reflects the actions taken by the skilled machinist when machining the initial part.[0118] To machine the production part, the operator selects the "Run" function on the P/C and the message "Press Cycle Start" is displayed. The operator presses cycle start and the CNC control 104 initializes and reads the first block of information. The P/C 103 queries the CNC control for the active block and if an over-ride array with a matching block number is contained within the over-ride and function file, that associated over-ride value is sent to the CNC control variable assigned to handle the appropriate over-ride function (feed or speed). Note that the over-ride data being sent is the percentage derived from the teaching process. It is sent at the relative point in time (within the block) that was established during the teaching process. Human activity storage program data will continually be sent by P/C 103 to the CNC unit 104 at the appropriate time throughout the machining of the part. [0122] As soon as a block becomes active, the internal timer 208 is set to 0.000 and a check is made to see if the current array contains the block number that is active 210. If the array contains the active block, the over-ride array containing the percent over-ride value will be sent to the CNC (at the time matching the array) to over-ride the programmed feed 211. It should be noted that the over-ride switches are not disabled during this process but they remain in effect and are simply multiplied by the value contained within the array. [0123] After the array has been sent, the next array is queued 212 and a check is made to determine if this array is also contained in the active block 213. If the array again matches the current block, then the next feed-rate over-ride value will be sent to the PMC at the matching time also contained within the array. The processes 211, 212, 213 will continue on being repeated until all over-ride data within the specific block has been sent. It is this routine that provides the ability to develop multiple feeds within a single block of information. [0127] The "Over-Ride Mapping" process shown in the chart of FIG. 9 indicates the results of the optimization process. It should be noted that if a series of over-rides or manually activated functions occurs in one block of information, an array of over-ride and/or function data would follow. Each array will be sent to the CNC at the time contained in the array and each successive array will be sent until all arrays for that block of information have been sent. Then the next active block number will be analyzed and if it also contains over-ride data, then the next appropriate array shall be sent to the CNC at the appropriate time. For the purpose of simplicity, the example shown in the chart of FIG. 9 demonstrates manual control intervention mapping for feed-rate over-rides only).
In regards to Claim 2, Allen further discloses “The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein the numerical value defining the axis operation includes any of a coordinate value, a motion amount, and an execution time” ([0117] The main controlling source of information is the N/C program. This program contains the information normally found in a standard N/C program such as G-codes, M-codes, block numbers (if desired), and coordinates used to control the positioning along with the F-words and S-words (feed and speed commands). The secondary source of information is the human activity storage program (HASP) file. This file will contain data that reflects the actions taken by the skilled machinist when machining the initial part).
In regards to Claim 3, Allen further discloses “The numerical controller according to claim 1, wherein the third command includes any of a numerical value indicating a position, a numerical value indicating an operation distance, a numerical value indicating an operation time, a numerical value indicating a ratio of operation distances, and a numerical value indicating a ratio of operation times in the axis operation” (Fig. 9 shows that the change in feedrate during block 1 includes a time in block that is an operation time at which point the feedrate change is executed during the execution of block 1 [0013] The subject invention optimizes by implementing any manually activated CNC function into the automated process at exactly the correct time not only within the program, but also, within the block. [0118] Note that the over-ride data being sent is the percentage derived from the teaching process. It is sent at the relative point in time (within the block) that was established during the teaching process. Human activity storage program data will continually be sent by P/C 103 to the CNC unit 104 at the appropriate time throughout the machining of the part).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JONATHAN M SKRZYCKI whose telephone number is (571)272-0933. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 7:30-3:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ken Lo can be reached at 571-272-9774. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JONATHAN MICHAEL SKRZYCKI/ Examiner, Art Unit 2116
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