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 .
Drawings
The drawing was received on 2/6/2025. The drawing is acceptable.
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 “one or more internal rollers are configured to create tension in the conveyor and the timing belt” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). 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.
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s arguments, see page 7-10, filed 2/6/2026, with respect to the rejection of claim 1 under USC 102(a)(2) have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Chinese patent application CN 210854067 U.
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.
Claims 1, 6-8, 11 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Erceg in view of Chinese patent application CN 210854067 U (hereinafter Yang).
Regarding Claim 1, as explained in the first office action:
“Erceg teaches a drive system composing a frame (Fig. 2B, Nos. 436, 424, and 434), a conveyor belt that rotates relative to the frame (Fig. 2B, No. 412), a timing belt for supporting the conveyor (Fig 2B, No. 415), a motor beneath the frame (Fig. 2B, No. 426), the timing belt engages with the motor (Fig. 2A), and the motor driving one or more rollers and timing belt, wherein the angular velocity of the timing belt equals the angular velocity of the conveyor (Fig. 2A). Additionally, the angular velocity of the timing belt would equal the angular velocity of the conveyor in the claimed scenario regardless, assuming there is no slipping.” However, Erceg does not disclose that one or more internal rollers disposed beneath the frame, wherein the one or more internal rollers are configured to create tension in the conveyor or the timing belt. Erceg discloses the frame further that comprises one or more panels, but the panels are not configured to cover the one or more internal rollers.
Yang discloses one or more internal rollers disposed beneath the frame (Fig. 1, Nos. 17 and 18), wherein the one or more internal rollers are configured to create tension in the conveyor or the timing belt (Fig. 1, No. 17).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the conveyor of Erceg with the one or more internal rollers of Yang. The motivation would be to prevent sagging or drooping in the belt, and provide a stable support for the conveyed items.
Regarding claim 6, Erceg and Yang disclose the drive system of claim 1. Erceg and Yang disclose active rollers configured to drive the conveyor around the frame (Fig. 2A, No. 414 & Fig. 1 No. 17, respectively).
Regarding claim 7, Erceg and Yang disclose the drive system of claim 1. Erceg and Yang disclose passive rollers (Fig. 2A, No. 420 & Fig. 1 No. 18, respectively).
Regarding claim 8, Erceg and Yang disclose the drive system of claim 1. Yang discloses one or more internal rollers housed within the drive system (Fig. 1 No. 18).
Regarding claim 11, Erceg and Yang disclose the drive system of claim 1. Erceg also discloses that the conveyor is positioned over the one or more panels (Fig. 2B, Nos. 422 and 412).
Regarding claim 12, Erceg and Yang disclose the drive system of claim 1. Erceg also discloses that the frame comprises sidewalls, wherein the frame is substantially triangular in shape (Fig. 2B, No. 436).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AMARI JADAN MEDDLING whose telephone number is (571)272-8178. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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/AMARI J MEDDLING/ Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651