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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claim(s) 1, and 5-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Christoph (WO 2023001702).
Regarding claim-1. Christoph discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor (24-1 to 24-3) configured to convey an object (Fig.1, 3), the object orientation adjusting device comprising:
a first roller group (28) comprising a plurality of rollers (34) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction (Fig.3);
a second roller group (28) comprising a plurality of rollers (34) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (Fig.3);
a lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) configured to simultaneously lift the first roller group and the second roller group ([0073]); and
a sensor (30, 38, 40) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane ([0027], [0031], [0069-0070]).
Regarding claim-5. Christoph discloses further comprising a plurality of conveyor rollers (24) configured to convey the object in the conveying direction (HF),
wherein the first roller group (28) and the second roller group (28) align in the conveying direction (Fig.3), and when a center of gravity of the object being conveyed in the conveying direction by the plurality of conveyor rollers is positioned between the first roller group and the second roller group in the conveying direction, the lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) is configured to lift the first roller group and the second roller group to a position higher than a height of the plurality of conveying rollers ([0073], Fig.3).
Regarding claim-6. Christoph discloses further comprising a sensor group (30, 38, 40) configured to detect that the center of gravity of the object is positioned between the first roller group and the second roller group in the conveying direction ([0027], [0031], [0069-0070], Fig.3).
Regarding claim-7. Christoph discloses wherein the first roller group (24) and the second roller group (24) are configured to rotate in directions opposite to each other after being lifted to the position higher than the height of the plurality of conveying rollers (one roller group can rotated to deliver object based on conveying direction HF’s 24-1, 24-3 which can be opposite to on another see Fig.1, and 3).
Claim(s) 1, 4-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Filippo (US 20170029219).
Regarding claim-1. Filippo discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor (MRT configured to convey an object (Fig.8-9, 10A-D), the object orientation adjusting device comprising:
a first roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction (Fig.9);
a second roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (Fig.9);
a lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) configured to simultaneously lift the first roller group and the second roller group (([0067], [0146], [0148], Fig.9); and
a sensor (SR) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane ([0002], [0012], [0126]).
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Regarding claim-4. Filippo discloses further comprising a stopper (Annotated Fig.9) oriented in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and disposed on one side of a conveying path (Fig.8-9).
Regarding claim-5. Filippo discloses further comprising a plurality of conveyor rollers (MRT) configured to convey the object in the conveying direction (Fig.8-9),
wherein the first roller group (MW) and the second roller group (MW) align in the conveying direction (Fig.9), and when a center of gravity of the object being conveyed in the conveying direction by the plurality of conveyor rollers is positioned between the first roller group and the second roller group in the conveying direction, the lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) is configured to lift the first roller group and the second roller group to a position higher than a height of the plurality of conveying rollers ([0067], [0146], [0148], Fig.9).
Regarding claim-6. Filippo discloses further comprising a sensor group (SR, SRP) configured to detect that the center of gravity of the object is positioned between the first roller group and the second roller group in the conveying direction ([0108-0109], [0126] Fig.9).
Regarding claim-7. Filippo discloses wherein the first roller group (MW) and the second roller group (MW) are configured to rotate in directions opposite to each other after being lifted to the position higher than the height of the plurality of conveying rollers (one roller group can rotated to adjust the orientation as can be seen in Fig.10A-D).
Regarding claim-8. Filippo further comprising a stopper (Annotated Fig.9) oriented in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction and disposed on one side of a conveying path (Fig.8-9), wherein the first roller group (MW and the second roller group (MW) are configured to rotate in a same direction as each other to move the object toward the stopper after the orientation of the object is adjusted (See Fig.8-9, 10A-D).
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lan (CN 1135260996).
Regarding claim-3. An object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor configured to convey an object (Fig.1-3, Abstract), the object orientation adjusting device comprising:
a first belt part (72) comprising: a plurality of pulleys (73) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; and a belt (Fig.2-4);
a second belt part (72) comprising: a plurality of pulleys (73) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a belt (Fig.2-4);
a lifting apparatus (8) configured to simultaneously lift the first belt part and the second belt part (Fig.2-3); and
a sensor (14) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane (abstract).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Filippo (US 20170029219) in view of Donald (US 9365361).
Regarding claim-2. Filippo discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor configured to convey an object (Fig.8-9, 10A-D), the object orientation adjusting device comprising:
But doesn’t teaches a first roller chain part comprising: a plurality of sprockets configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; and a roller chain; a second roller chain part comprising: a plurality of sprockets configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a roller chain; a lifting apparatus configured to simultaneously lift the first roller chain part and the second roller chain part; and a sensor configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane. Instead teaches a first roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction (Fig.9); a second roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (Fig.9); a lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) configured to simultaneously lift the first roller group and the second roller group (([0067], [0146], [0148], Fig.9); and a sensor (SR) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane ([0002], [0012], [0126]). It is obvious and just a mere of design selection in which person skilled in the art can easily modify/replace rollers with chain/sprocket design based on required specification without involving any inventive step.
Donald discloses a transfer conveying system and also discloses plurality of roller chains (44 having projecting teethes 94) with sprockets/gears configured to be raised and lowered via lifting mechanism (38) (Fig.1-2, 3A-B).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to the skilled person in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to modify or alternatively provide Filippo’s system with roller chain and sprockets as taught by Donald for purpose of diverting or adjusting the orientation position of objects.
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Filippo (US 20170029219) in view of Lan (CN 1135260996).
Filippo discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor configured to convey an object (Fig.8-9, 10A-D), the object orientation adjusting device comprising: But doesn’t teaches a first belt part comprising: a plurality of pulleys configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; and a belt; a second belt part comprising: a plurality of pulleys configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a belt; a lifting apparatus configured to simultaneously lift the first belt part and the second belt part; and a sensor configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane. Instead teaches a first roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction (Fig.9); a second roller group (MW) comprising a plurality of rollers (Fig.9) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (Fig.9); a lifting apparatus (raised and lowered) configured to simultaneously lift the first roller group and the second roller group (([0067], [0146], [0148], Fig.9); and a sensor (SR) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane ([0002], [0012], [0126]). It is obvious and just a mere of design selection in which person skilled in the art can easily modify/replace rollers with belt/pulley design based on required specification without involving any inventive step.
Lan discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor configured to convey an object (Fig.1-3, Abstract) and also, discloses plurality of belt (72) and pulleys (73) configured to be raised and lowered via lifting mechanism (8) (Fig.2-4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to the skilled person in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to modify or alternatively provide Filippo’s system with belt and pulley as taught by Lan for purpose of diverting or adjusting the orientation position of objects.
Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lan (CN 1135260996) in view of Donald (US 9365361).
Regarding claim-2. Lan discloses an object orientation adjusting device for a roller conveyor configured to convey an object (Fig.1-3, Abstract), the object orientation adjusting device comprising:
But doesn’t teaches a first roller chain part comprising: a plurality of sprockets configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; and a roller chain; a second roller chain part comprising: a plurality of sprockets configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a roller chain; a lifting apparatus configured to simultaneously lift the first roller chain part and the second roller chain part; and a sensor configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane. Instead teaches a first belt part (72) comprising: a plurality of pulleys (73) configured to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction; and a belt (Fig.2-4); a second belt part (72) comprising: a plurality of pulleys (73) configured to rotate in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; and a belt (Fig.2-4); a lifting apparatus (8) configured to simultaneously lift the first belt part and the second belt part (Fig.2-3); and a sensor (14) configured to detect an orientation of the object on a plane. It is obvious and just a mere of design selection in which person skilled in the art can easily modify/replace belt/pulley with chain/sprocket design based on required specification without involving any inventive step.
Donald discloses a transfer conveying system and also discloses plurality of roller chains (44 having projecting teethes 94) with sprockets/gears configured to be raised and lowered via lifting mechanism (38) (Fig.1-2, 3A-B).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to the skilled person in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to modify or alternatively provide Lan’s system with roller chain and sprockets as taught by Donald for purpose of diverting or adjusting the orientation position of objects.
Conclusion
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/MA/Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651