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 .
The amendment filed 22 June 2026 has been entered.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 22 June 2026. These drawings are acceptable.
Claim Objections
Claims 22, 26-27 and 29 are objected to because they do not conform with 37 CFR 1.75 (i). Where a claim sets forth a plurality of elements or steps, each element or step of the claim should be separated by a line indentation.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1-13 and 15-29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mukasa (US 6305729).
Claim 1: nozzle (31) for picking up and dispensing an object, the nozzle comprising:
a body (41) defining a central bore and terminating in an aperture (42) configured to receive the object; and
a collar (40/44/46) substantially surrounding the body, wherein the body is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to at least a portion of the collar;
wherein, in the retracted position (FIG. 3), the collar extends beyond the aperture by a first distance in a direction of a main longitudinal axis of the body;
in the extended position (FIG. 8), the collar extends beyond the aperture by a second distance in the direction of the main longitudinal axis of the body;
the first distance is greater than the second distance (FIG. 3/8);
wherein the object is a cut gemstone (intended use; MPEP 2115);
Claim 2: wherein the body is telescopically connected to the collar (FIG. 2);
Claim 3: wherein the nozzle is configured to pick up and dispense the object, the object having a maximum dimension of 1 mm (intended use; MPEP 2115);
Claim 4: wherein the central bore is configured to be connected to a pressure source (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 5: wherein the pressure source is configured to apply a negative pressure or a positive pressure to the aperture (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 6: wherein the nozzle is biased into the retracted position by a biasing element, and the biasing element comprises a spring, a coil spring, or a resiliently deformable material (FIG. 2);
Claim 7: wherein the body and the collar are substantially annular (FIG. 2);
Claim 8: wherein the collar comprises an upper collar portion and a lower collar portion (FIG. 2);
Claim 9: wherein the upper collar portion and the lower collar portion are longitudinally separated by a coil spring (FIG. 2);
Claim 10: wherein the upper collar portion is configured to move together with the nozzle body, and the lower collar portion is configured to be moveable with respect to the nozzle body (FIG. 2);
Claim 11: wherein the lower collar portion terminates in a tapered end (FIG. 3);
Claim 12: wherein the lower collar portion terminates in a substantially flat end wall (FIG. 2);
Claim 13: wherein the aperture defines a surface facing outward or a set of surfaces adapted to receive the object (FIG. 2; intended use; MPEP 2115);
Claim 15: wherein the surface defined by the aperture has a substantially v-shaped cross section, or an angle of the v-shaped cross section matches an angle between outer surfaces of the cut gemstone (FIG. 3);
Claim 16: a nozzle (31);
an automated arm (FIG. 1) to which the nozzle is attached;
a controller (FIG. 13 and disclosed “automatic(ally)” imply this) configured to actuate the automated arm and/or the nozzle; and
a pressure source (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50) of a negative pressure and/or a positive pressure, wherein:
the nozzle comprises:
a body (41) defining a central bore and terminating in an aperture (42) configured to receive an object; and
a collar (40/44/46) substantially surrounding the body, wherein the body is moveable between a retracted position (FIG. 3) and an extended position (FIG. 8) with respect to at least a portion of the collar;
wherein the object is a cut gemstone (intended use; MPEP 2115; it is noted that glass of Mukasa may hold an electrostatic charge similar to the cut gemstone and/or is capable of being cut/sized in a similar way to the cut gemstone; glass in an insulator that can hold electrostatic charge; The original or final shape of the glass may be dispensed in a similar way as the cut gemstone.);
wherein,
in the retracted position, the collar extends beyond the aperture by a first distance in a direction of a main longitudinal axis of the body (FIG. 3/8-9);
in the extended position, the collar extends beyond the aperture by a second distance in the direction of the main longitudinal axis of the body (FIG. 3/8-9); and
the first distance is greater than the second distance (FIG. 3/8-9);
Claim 17: a dispensing surface (FIG. 1) configured to receive one or more objects dispensed by the nozzle (intended use; MPEP 2115);
Claim 18: a collection area (FIG. 1) configured to hold one or more objects to be picked up by the nozzle (intended use; MPEP 2115);
Claim 19: method of dispensing objects (col. 9, lines 34-50; FIG. 1-10), the method comprising:
providing a nozzle (31) comprising a body, the body (41) defining a central bore and terminating in an aperture (42), the body substantially surrounded by a collar (40/44/46) and moveable between a retracted position (FIG. 3) and an extended position (FIG. 8) with respect to at least a portion of the collar (FIG. 3/8);
wherein: in the retracted position, the collar extends beyond the aperture by a first distance; in the extended position, the collar extends beyond the aperture by a second distance;
the first distance is greater than the second distance; and
the aperture is surrounded by the collar in the retracted position and the extended position;
receiving an object to be dispensed on the aperture (FIG. 5);
wherein the object is a cut gemstone (intended use; MPEP 2115; it is noted that glass of Mukasa may hold an electrostatic charge similar to the cut gemstone and/or is capable of being cut/sized in a similar way to the cut gemstone; glass in an insulator that can hold electrostatic charge; The original or final shape of the glass may be dispensed in a similar way as the cut gemstone.);
applying a negative pressure to the central bore to hold the object on the aperture;
with the nozzle in the retracted position, bringing the collar into contact with a surface of the aperture onto which the object is to be dispensed (FIG. 6-8);
actuating the nozzle into the extended position (FIG. 8);
applying a positive pressure to the aperture to dispense the object onto the surface (column 9, lines 34-50); and
actuating the nozzle into the retracted position (FIG. 3/8-9);
Claim 20: connecting the central bore to a pressure source to apply the negative pressure or the positive pressure to the aperture (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 21: biasing the nozzle into the retracted position (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 22: moving an upper collar portion of the collar together with the body, and moving a lower collar portion of the collar with respect to the body (FIG. 2; col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 23: controlling a final location of the object upon the surface according to an internal diameter of a tapered end of the collar (FIG. 9);
Claim 24: wherein bringing the collar into contact with a surface of the aperture onto which the object is to be dispensed with the nozzle in the retracted position, and actuating the nozzle into the extended position, comprises maintaining a vertical gap between the object and the surface (at least FIG. 4; col. 9, lines 34-50; electrostatic forces may also come into play; actuating the nozzle occurs at least at an instant in time therein);
Claim 25: wherein applying the positive pressure to the aperture to dispense the object onto the surface comprises stopping applying the positive pressure prior to actuating the nozzle into the retracted position (col. 9, lines 31-50; stopping applying the positive pressure occurs at least at an instant in time therein; electrostatic forces may also come into play);
Claim 26: orienting the object prior to receiving the object on the aperture; and maintaining the object in the same orientation while dispensing the object onto the surface (FIG. 3-9);
Claim 27: attaching the nozzle to an actuating mechanism; and controlling the actuating mechanism to move the nozzle from a collection location at which the object is received to a dispensing location at which the object is dispensed onto the surface (FIG. 1);
wherein the actuating mechanism comprises an automated arm or a robotic arm (33/etc.);
Claim 28: surrounding the object with the collar while applying the positive pressure (col. 9, lines 34-50);
Claim 29: wherein the collar comprises an upper collar portion and a lower collar portion (FIG. 2), the lower collar portion terminating in a tapered end (FIG. 3) having a substantially flat end wall (FIG. 2), wherein, in the extended position, the flat end wall is configured to contact a dispensing surface (FIG. 1) while a vertical gap is maintained between the cut gemstone held on the aperture and the dispensing surface (at least FIG. 4; col. 9, lines 34-50; electrostatic forces may also come into play; actuating the nozzle occurs at least at an instant in time therein), such that the cut gemstone is spaced from the dispensing surface until released by application of a positive pressure through the central bore (FIG. 3-9).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 22 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive except for the objections and claim interpretation which have been withdrawn.
Re. the cut gemstone, the dispensed glass of Mukasa may hold an electrostatic charge similar to a cut gemstone and/or is capable of being cut/sized in a similar way to the cut gemstone; glass in an insulator that can hold electrostatic charge. The original or final shape of the glass may be dispensed in a similar way as the cut gemstone. It is noted that Mukasa is used in the 102 rejections that do not take judicial exceptions into account.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 Gerald McClain whose telephone number is (571)272-7803. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at gerald.mcclain@uspto.gov (see MPEP 502.03 (II)).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Saul Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 272-7097. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Gerald McClain/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3652
Prosecution Insights