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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP 2013-158461 (“JP ‘461”).
Regarding claim 1, JP ‘461 disclosed a drug supply apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of tablet cases (in 51) for discharging a drug, the plurality of tablet cases being lined up in a front-rear direction of the drug supply apparatus (see at least Figure 3); and
a chute (including 24, 401, 402, 501) disposed at a position lower than a position of the plurality of tablet cases, the chute including a path for conveying the drug, the chute conveying the drug while preventing the drug from spilling from a front side and a rear side of the chute, wherein
a width of the chute in the front-rear direction becomes smaller toward a downstream side in the chute (Figure 14), and the path includes a bent part having a shape such that the bent part is bent when viewed from the front side (Figure 14).
Regarding claim 2, JP ‘461 disclosed the chute includes an upstream chute disposed upstream of the bent part and a downstream chute disposed downstream of the bent part (see at least Figure 14).
Regarding claim 3, JP ‘461 disclosed the path has a shape such that the path is folded back at the bent part when viewed from the front side (see Figure 12 where travel would be to one side then switched to the other side forming the bent part).
Regarding claim 4, JP ‘461 disclosed the chute includes a bouncing wall that bounces, at the bent part, the drug toward the downstream chute, the drug having passed through the upstream chute (see at least Figure 14).
Regarding claim 5, JP ‘461 disclosed the bouncing wall is disposed so as to face diagonally downward (Figure 14).
Regarding claim 6, JP ‘461 disclosed a change rate of a width of the downstream chute in the front-rear direction (see for example a bottom of 402 in Figure 14) is smaller than a change rate of a width of the upstream chute in the front-rear direction (see for example a top of 401 in the same figure).
Regarding claim 7, JP ‘461 disclosed a delivery part (39) that is attached to the upstream chute and configured to send out the drug to the downstream side in the chute, wherein a change rate of a width of the upstream chute in the front-rear direction (for example at a bottom of 401 in Figure 14)is smaller than a change rate of a width of the downstream chute in the front-rear direction (for example, see 501 in Figures 18 and 21).
Regarding claim 8, JP ‘461 disclosed the chute includes a front wall for preventing the drug from spilling from the front side and a rear wall for preventing the drug from spilling from the rear side (see at least Figures 14 and 18).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CN 102596725 also anticipates all the claims (see Figures 1-5).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOWARD J SANDERS whose telephone number is (571)270-3096. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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/HOWARD J SANDERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653
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