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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Group I (claims 1-11), drawn to a “tool holder interface”, and species (ii), a second species, shown in Figures 7-8, with claims 1-7 being readable on the elected species, in the reply filed on July 24, 2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that “the subject matter of all claims and species is sufficiently related that a thorough search for the subject matter of any one Group of claims and species would encompass a search for the subject matter of the remaining claims and species” and “[T]hus, it is respectfully submitted that the search and examination of the entire application could be made without serious burden”. This is not found persuasive.
In particular, it is noted that the present application was filed under 35 USC 371, and that a Notice of Acceptance of Application Under 35 USC 371 and 37 CFR 1.495 (Form 903) was mailed on June 14, 2024. That being said, it is noted that lack of unity practice applies, rather than U.S. restriction practice re cases filed under 35 USC 111 (see at least MPEP section 1896, for example). That being said, it is noted that unity of invention practice is discussed in MPEP section 1850, and attention is particularly directed to PCT Rule 13.2:
13.2 Circumstances in Which the Requirement of Unity of Invention Is to Be Considered Fulfilled
Where a group of inventions is claimed in one and the same international application, the requirement of unity of invention referred to in Rule 13.1 shall be fulfilled only when there is a technical relationship among those inventions involving one or more of the same or corresponding special technical features. The expression "special technical features" shall mean those technical features that define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions, considered as a whole, makes over the prior art.
It is noted that there is no separate “burden” requirement, i.e., it is not necessary to show that it would be burdensome for the Examiner to search and examine multiple inventions in order to demonstrate lack of unity, nor is a lack of burden on Applicant (or the public) required to be demonstrated, and thus, Applicant’s traversal arguments are unpersuasive.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 8-15 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention and/or species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on July 24, 2026.
Specification
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required: the specification does not provide antecedent basis for the following claim terms:
“interface body” in claim 1, line 4; and
“connecting slot” (of an “interface body”, which connecting slot is “for replaceably mounting a tool holder to the tool holder interface of the machine tool”, and at which connecting slot, a “transmission shaft” is arranged, which transmission shaft is configured to transmit a drive torque to the mounted tool holder) in claim 1, lines 4-8.
Drawings
37 CFR 1.84(p)(1) states the following:
(p) Numbers, letters, and reference characters.
(1) Reference characters (numerals are preferred), sheet numbers, and view numbers must be plain and legible, and must not be used in association with brackets or inverted commas, or enclosed within outlines, e.g., encircled. They must be oriented in the same direction as the view so as to avoid having to rotate the sheet. Reference characters should be arranged to follow the profile of the object depicted.
Thus, Figures 1-19 are objected to under 37 CFR 1.84(p)(1), noting that the text of the view number (i.e., “FIG. 1”) is not oriented in the same direction as the view and as the rest of the text in the figure (i.e., the text of the reference characters).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the following must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s)
the arrangement in which the claimed “mating surface” (recited in claim 1 as being provided “at the connecting-side section of the transmission shaft”) is a side surface of a “front tooth on an end surface of the transmission shaft”, and in which the “front tooth” (on an end surface of the transmission shaft) is “arranged to extend at the circumference of the transmission shaft to an outer surface of the transmission shaft, as encompassed by claim 5 (noting that as shown, the transmission shaft S has a slot S11 provided “at” the connecting-side section S3, which slot S11 has the mating surface M1; see Figures 7-8 and 11, for example).
No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-7 are objected to because of the following informalities:
it is noted that throughout the elected claims 1-7, there are a number of instances in which the claim(s) is/are missing one or more commas, resulting in some “run-on” limitations. Non-limiting examples of such include (but are not necessarily limited to; Applicant is required to review the claims for further occurrences):
in claim 1, line 12, it appears that a comma should be inserted between “the connecting-side section” and “a first gearing”;
in claim 1, line 15, it appears that a comma should be inserted between “torque receiving-side section” and “a contacting part”;
in claim 1, line 17, it appears that a comma should be inserted between “transmission shaft” and “at”;
in claim 3, line 3, it appears that a comma should be inserted between “connecting-side section” and “the transmission shaft”; and
in claim 7, last line, it appears that “and on the inner surface the first gearing is provided” should be changed to –and, on the inner surface, the first gearing is provided”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-7 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.
In claim 1, lines 1-3, the claim sets forth “[T]ool holder interface of a machine tool, the tool holder interface configured to mount a tool holder with a tool for machining operations”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth as being “with a tool for machining operations”, i.e., “a tool holder”, “configured to mount” (as in configured to mount both a tool holder and a tool for machining operations), etc.
In claim 1, lines 4-5, the claim sets forth “an interface body having at least one connecting slot for replaceably mounting a tool holder to the tool holder interface of the machine tool”. However, noting that “a tool holder” was already previously mentioned in line 2 of the claim, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “a tool holder” in lines 4-5 of claim 1 is intended to be the same tool holder previously mentioned in line 2, vs. whether “a tool holder” in lines 4-5 of claim 1 is instead intended to be additional to the tool holder previously mentioned in line 2. In the event that lines 4-5 intends to reference the same tool holder as that mentioned in line 2, Applicant may wish to consider language such as –the tool holder—or –said tool holder—in line 5, in place of –a tool holder--.
There are several positively recited limitations that lack sufficient antecedent bases in the claims. Examples of this are:
“the connecting slot” in claim 1, line 6 (noting that the claim previously recited “at least one connecting slot”, thus rendering it unclear which specific connecting slot of the range “at least one connecting slot” is intended to be referenced);
“the mounted tool holder” in claim 1, lines 7-8; claim 1, lines 10-11; claim 1, lines 13-14; claim 1, line 19; claim 1¸ last line (noting that it is unclear as claimed whether such is intended to reference the tool holder that is configured to be mounted to the tool holder interface, as mentioned in line 2 of claim 1, or whether such is instead intended to reference the tool holder mentioned in lines 4-5 of claim 1);
“the tool holder” in claim 1, line 20, claim 3, lines 4 and 7; and claim 6 (plural occurrences in line 7) (noting that it is unclear as claimed whether such is intended to reference the tool holder that is configured to be mounted to the tool holder interface, as mentioned in line 2 of claim 1, or whether such is instead intended to reference the tool holder mentioned in lines 4-5 of claim 1, for example);
“the mating surface” in at least claim 1, line 18; in claim 3; in claim 4 (three occurrences in claim 4); and in claim 5 (noting claim 1, lines 17-18, previously recited “at least one mating surface”, thus rendering it unclear which specific connecting mating surface of the range “at least one mating surface” is intended to be referenced);
“the drive torque of a drive unit” in claim 1, line 16 (no drive torque that is, specifically, “of a drive unit” was previously recited, nor is such inherent);
“the slot” in claim 5, line 5 (noting that it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether such is intended to refer to one slot of the previously-recited “at least one connecting slot” set forth in claim 1, and if so, it is unclear which specific slot of the range “at least one” is intended; alternatively, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “the slot” is instead intended to refer to the slot set forth in claim 5, line 3);
“the tool holder shaft” in claim 6, line 4;
“the receiving side section” in claim 6, line 5 (noting that no such “receiving side section”, per se, was previously recited, and noting that it is unclear as claimed whether such is or is not intended to refer to the previously-recited “torque receiving-side section”, noting the lack of the dash, and noting the lack of the modifier “torque”);
“the connecting side section” in claim 6, last three lines (noting the lack of dash);
“the opening” in claim 7, line 4; and
“the tool holder shaft” in claim 7, line 4.
This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of such occurrences. Applicant is required to review the claims and correct any other such occurrences of limitations lacking sufficient antecedent basis.
In claim 1, lines 9-11, the claim sets forth “wherein the transmission shaft has a torque receiving-side section for receiving the drive torque and a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim with what “and a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder” is intended to go, i.e., “wherein the transmission shaft has…”, or “for receiving”. For example, it is unclear as claimed whether the claim intends to recite “wherein the transmission shaft has a torque receiving-side section for receiving the drive torque and” (the transmission shaft has) “a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder”, vs. whether the claim intends to recite “wherein the transmission shaft has a torque receiving-side section for receiving the drive torque and” (the torque receiving-side section also configured for receiving) “a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder”
In claim 1, lines 9-11, the claim sets forth “wherein the transmission shaft has a torque receiving-side section for receiving the drive torque and a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what effect the “-“ in the limitation “torque receiving-side section” is intended to have on the scope of the claim. It is unclear as claimed whether “torque receiving-side section” is intended to be a section of a receiving “side” (which side is a side of something unspecified in the claim; possibly a, broadly, “side” of the transmission shaft), which is, in some manner, a “torque” section (noting that it would appear that the dash would mean that the term receiving is to be a descriptor of the “side”). Alternatively, it is unclear as claimed whether “torque receiving-side section” is instead intended to refer to a side section of something unspecified in the claim, which side section is configured to receive torque (though the presence of the dash appears to indicate that receiving is to be grouped with “side”, rather than causing the term “receiving” to be grouped with torque). In any event, the intended scope of what is intended to be included by vs. excluded by the limitation “torque receiving-side section” is unclear as claimed.
In claim 1, lines 17-21, the claim recites “wherein at the connecting-side section of the transmission shaft at least one mating surface is provided and the mating surface is arranged to contact to a corresponding outer contact surface of the mounted tool holder for interacting with the tool holder to remove a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing of the mounted tool holder”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth as “for interacting with the tool holder to remove a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing of the mounted tool holder”, i.e., arrangement of “the” mating surface so as to contact “to” a corresponding outer contact surface of the mounted tool holder; the mating surface itself, the “corresponding” outer contact surface itself, etc.
In claim 2, the claim sets forth “wherein the tool holder interface is integrated as a tool turret of the machine tool”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim how or in what regard the claimed tool holder interface, per se, is to be considered to be integrated “as” a tool turret of the machine tool, as set forth in claim 2, as opposed to be tool holder interface being integrated in a tool turret. Note that the tool holder interface is but one part of a turret, but would not, in and of itself, constitute an entire tool turret.
In claim 3, the claim sets forth the limitation “axially inclined”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what configuration(s) are intended to be encompassed vs excluded via such language. For example, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether such intends to indicate that some axis of the mating surface is inclined, whether such instead intends to indicate that the mating surface is inclined relative to some (unspecified in the claim) axis (such as, specifically, the axis re the “axial direction” set forth in lines 4-5 of claim 3, though such does not appear to be required by the present claim language), or something else entirely.
In claim 3, the claim sets forth “wherein the mating surface is axially inclined to contact to the corresponding outer contact surface of the tool holder for rotating the tool holder to remove a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing when inserting the tool holder shaft along the axial direction”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth as “for rotating the tool holder to remove a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing when inserting the tool holder shaft along the axial direction”, i.e., the tool holder, the corresponding outer contact surface, the contacting of the mating surface to the corresponding outer contact surface, the axial inclination of the mating surface, etc.
In claim 3, lines 7-9, the claim recites “for rotating the tool holder to remove a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing when inserting the tool holder shaft along the axial direction”. However, noting that “a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing” was already previously set forth in claim 1, lines 20-21, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing” in claim 3 is intended to be the same as the “gap” previously set forth in claim 1, lines 20-21, or whether “a gap between the first gearing and the corresponding tool holder gearing” in claim 3 is instead intended to be additional to the “gap” previously set forth in claim 1, lines 20-21.
In claim 4, the claim sets forth “wherein the mating surface is inclined along an axial direction of the transmission shaft such that an angle between the mating surface and the longitudinal axis of the transmission shaft is between 0 and 90 degrees and wherein the angle is the inside angle between the mating surface and the axial direction of the transmission shaft”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “the axial direction of the transmission shaft” is intended to be the same direction as a direction of the recited “longitudinal axis of the transmission shaft”, or whether “the axial direction of the transmission shaft” is instead a different direction that in the direction of the recited longitudinal axis of the transmission shaft, i.e., it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether or not the recited “axial direction of the transmission shaft” is intended to be required to be a direction of the recited longitudinal axis of the transmission shaft.
In claim 4, the claim recites the range “between 0 and 90 degrees”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether or not this range is intended to include the end points of the range, i.e., it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether or not the angles of 0 and 90 degrees are included in the range.
In claim 5, the claim sets forth “wherein the mating surface is a side surface of a slot or front tooth on an end surface of the transmission shaft”. However, firstly, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “side surface of” is intended to only go with “slot”, or whether “side surface” is also intended to go with “front tooth”. Additionally, it is unclear as set forth in the claim whether “on an end surface of the transmission shaft” is intended to only go with “front tooth”, or whether “on an end surface of the transmission shaft” is also intended to go with “slot” (or “side surface of a slot”). Appropriate correction is required.
In claim 5, the claim recites “wherein the slot or front tooth is arranged to extend at the circumference of the transmission shaft to an outer surface of the transmission shaft”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim from where the claimed slot or front tooth is configured to extend, i.e., arranged to extend (“at the circumference of the transmission shaft”) from where/what element/what surface/what axis/what other frame of reference “to” an “outer surface of the transmission shaft”?
In claim 7, the claim sets forth “wherein the connecting-side section is a hollow protrusion of the transmission shaft having the opening for connecting to the tool holder shaft”. However, it is unclear as set forth in the claim what is being set forth as “having the opening”, i.e., the transmission shaft, the hollow protrusion, or the connecting-side section.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
In claim 1, the claim recites “wherein the transmission shaft is configured to transmit a drive torque to the mounted tool holder, wherein the transmission shaft has a torque receiving-side section for receiving the drive torque and a connecting-side section for connecting to the mounted tool holder, wherein at the connecting-side section a first gearing for transmitting the drive torque to a corresponding tool holder gearing of the mounted tool holder is provided and wherein at the torque receiving-side section a contacting part is provided for receiving the drive torque of a drive unit of the machine tool”. However, it appears that as disclosed, a torque-receiving gearing S21 is provided on the “torque receiving side section” S2, which torque-receiving gearing S21 receives the driving torque from a tool motor/live tool holder drive. (See Figure 1 and page 16, last paragraph.) Torque is transmitted from the transmission shaft S to the mounted tool holder TM (via, for example, first gearing S4 and tool holder gearing TM3; see at least Figure 3a and at least page 16, lines 9-25, for example). That said, the specification does not appear to teach (in a manner so as to demonstrate possession thereof) that the drive torque that is transmitted from the transmission shaft S to the mounted tool holder TM (as set forth in claim 1, lines 6-8 and 12-14) is “received” by the torque receiving-side section S2 of the transmission shaft S, as set forth in lines 9-11 and 15-16 of claim 1. In other words, the torque (force) that is transmitted from S to TM is not the same/identical torque that is received by S2, which is what is claimed in lines 6-15 of claim 1.
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.
Claims 1-7, as best understood in view of the above rejections based on 35 USC 112, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 10 2018 007 084 A1 (hereinafter, “DE ‘084”).
It is noted that DE ‘084 is not in the English language. However, DE ‘084 is in the same patent family as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0323077 A1 to Kotzur et al. That said, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0323077 A1 (“U.S. ‘077”) is being relied upon herein as an English language equivalent to DE ‘084, and attention is directed to U.S. ‘077 regarding any references herein to paragraph numbers, page numbers, line numbers or the like re DE ‘084.
Note that DE ‘084 teaches a tool holder interface (2) of a machine tool (Figures 1-4, paragraph 0020, for example), the tool holder interface (2) configured to mount a tool holder (4) with a tool (such as a not-shown milling or drilling tool, described in paragraph 0020) for machining operations, the tool holder interface (2) including,
an interface body having at least one connecting slot for replaceably mounting a tool holder (4) to the tool holder interface (2) of the machine tool (see Figures 1-4, for example, as well as at least paragraphs 0020-0028, noting that the tool holder interface 2 has a “body” that has a “slot” for replaceably receiving/mounting the tool holder 4 to the tool holder interface 2),
a transmission shaft (30, which includes at least 32+36) arranged “at” the connecting slot, wherein the transmission shaft (30) is configured to transmit (via 56, 124; see Figures 1-4 and, for example, paragraph 0028 and claim 10 of DE ‘084, for example) a drive torque to the mounted tool holder (4) (see Figures 1-4 and paragraphs 0020-0025, 0028, and claim 10 of DE ‘084, for example),
wherein the transmission shaft (30) has a “torque receiving-side section” (such as, for example, 36; see paragraph 0020 and Figure 3, for example) for receiving the drive torque (paragraph 0020) and a “connecting-side section” for connecting to the mounted tool holder (4) (Figures 1-4),
wherein at the connecting-side section a first gearing (56) for transmitting the drive torque (as described previously) to a corresponding tool holder gearing (124) of the mounted tool holder (4) is provided (Figures 1-3, paragraphs 0020-0025, 0028, and claim 10 of DE ‘084) and
wherein at the torque receiving-side section (36) a contacting part is provided for receiving the drive torque of a drive unit of the machine tool (see paragraph 0020, Figure 3),
wherein at the connecting-side section of the transmission shaft (30) at least one mating surface (such as, for example, a surface of 92; see Figures 1-3 and paragraphs 0025, 0027-0028) is provided and the (aforedescribed) mating surface is arranged to contact to a corresponding “outer contact surface” (surface of 118 that contacts a surface of 92) of the mounted tool holder (4) (see Figures 1-3, paragraphs 0027-0028, for example) for interacting with the tool holder (4) to remove a gap between the first gearing (56) and the corresponding tool holder gearing (124) of the mounted tool holder (4) (see Figures 1-4 and at least paragraphs 0027-0028).
Regarding claim 2, the tool holder interface (2) is integrated “as” (insofar as such is the case in the present application) a tool turret of the machine tool. See, for example, paragraph 0020, as well as paragraphs 0002-0003, and 0013, for example.
Regarding claim 3, at the “connecting-side section” (i.e., the portion/section of the transmission shaft 30 that “connects to” the mounted tool holder 4) the transmission shaft (30) has a “front” opening (the opening in the upper end of 30 in which tool holder 4 is received) “for” inserting (i.e., in which opening such is capable of being inserted) a tool holder shaft (such as the shaft labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 1 below as “THS”) of the tool holder (4) “in an axial direction” (such as, for example, in the direction of a vertical axis re Figures 1-3; see Figures 1-3; see also paragraph 0024),
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and wherein the (aforedescribed) mating surface (a surface of 92 that is arranged to contact a surface of 118 as described in paragraphs 0027-0028) is “axially inclined” (see Figure 1, noting that 92 is a female thread, and thus, the helical shape along which the thread follows is inclined relative to the aforedescribed vertical axis; additionally/alternatively, note that the peaks and valleys of the female thread also have cross-section surfaces/surface portions that are inclined relative to the aforedescribed vertical axis; see Fig. 1, for example) to contact to the corresponding outer (aforedescribed) contact surface (surface of 118 that contacts a surface of 92) of the tool holder (4) for rotating the tool holder (4) to remove a gap between the first gearing (56) and the corresponding tool holder gearing (124) when inserting the tool holder shaft (THS) along the axial direction (vertical axis re Figures 1-3 as described above). See at least paragraphs 0025 and 0027-0028.
Regarding claim 4, the (aforedescribed) mating surface (a surface of 92 that contacts a corresponding contact surface of 118) is inclined along an axial direction (such as the longitudinal axis of 30, which axis is vertical re Figures 1-3) of the transmission shaft (30) such that an angle between the (aforedescribed) mating surface and the (aforedescribed, vertical re Figures 1-3) longitudinal axis of the transmission shaft (30) is between 0 and 90 degrees (as can be seen in Figure 1, for example) and wherein the angle is the inside angle between the (aforedescribed) mating surface and the axial direction (such as the longitudinal axis direction of the transmission shaft 30, which is vertical re Figures 1-3) of the transmission shaft (30). See Figure 1, noting that 92 is a female thread, and thus, the helical shape along which the thread follows is inclined at such an angle (within the claimed range) relative to the aforedescribed vertical axis, such that the mating surface is provided at such an angle in that sense. Additionally/alternatively, note that the peaks and valleys of the female thread of 92 also have cross-section surfaces/surface portions that are inclined relative to the aforedescribed vertical axis at such an angle that is within the claimed range; see Fig. 1, for example.
Regarding claim 5, the (aforedescribed) mating surface (a surface of 92 that is arranged to contact a corresponding contact surface 118) is a “side” surface (as broadly claimed) of a slot (one of the valleys of the thread of 92) or “front” (as broadly claimed) tooth (one of the peaks of thread 92) “on” (as broadly claimed) an end surface (such as, for example, 84 and/or 86 and/or 88; see Figure 1 and paragraph 0025) of the transmission shaft (30) and wherein the (aforedescribed) slot or (aforedescribed) front tooth is arranged to extend “at” “the” circumference (such as, at a circumference at/formed by 84) of the transmission shaft (30) “to” an outer surface of the transmission shaft (30). For example, see Figure 1, noting that the aforedescribed slot or aforedescribed front tooth is arranged to extend (“at” the aforedescribed circumference at/formed by 84) in the vertical direction to an outer surface (such as 86) of the transmission shaft 30.
Regarding claim 6, the connecting-side section (i.e., the section of the transmission shaft 30 that connects to the mounted holder 4) of the transmission shaft (30) has an opening (i.e., the opening in the upper end of 30 in which THS, labeled above, is received; see Figures 1-3) on an (as broadly claimed) “outer” end surface for receiving the tool holder shaft (THS) (see Figures 1-3 and also paragraph 0024) and wherein “the” receiving side section (such as, for example, 36, configured to receive drive torque, as described above and as disclosed in paragraph 0020, for example) is spaced apart from the connecting side section. (See Figures 1-3, noting that the upper and lower end sides/end portions of the transmission shaft are spaced apart in the vertical direction re Figures 1-3.)
Regarding claim 7, the connecting-side “section” (as broadly claimed) “is” a hollow protrusion (such as, for example, the section/portion labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 3 as “HP”, which section “protrudes” upwards from the bottom portion of the transmission shaft 30, for example) of the transmission shaft (30) having “the” opening (i.e., the opening in the upper portion of 30 in which shaft THS is received as shown in Figures 1-3; see also paragraph 0024) for connecting to the tool holder shaft (THS, labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 1 above; see also paragraph 0024), and wherein the hollow protrusion (HP) includes a “front” surface (such as the ledge surface labeled in the annotated reproduction of Figure 1 above as “FS”) and an “inner” surface (the upper surface of 30 on which 56 are formed, which surface is an “inner” surface in that it is within the outer circumference of portion 64 of 30, for example; alternatively, the inner face “IF” labeled above that is a radially inner surface of HP) and on the inner surface the first gearing (56) is provided (see Figures 1-3).
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0255670 teaches a live tooling drive arrangement for a tool turret, and teaches an arrangement for providing a backlash-free connection (see paragraphs 0074-0075).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERICA E CADUGAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4474. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
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/ERICA E CADUGAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3722
eec
August 5, 2026
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