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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see 7-10, filed 2/12/2026, with respect to the rejection of claims 1, 9, and 15 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 Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.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 US Patent Application Publication US-20160031233-A1 (hereinafter Ito).
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 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vegh in view of Ito. Regarding claim 1, Vegh discloses a tensioning device comprising a base (200A and 200B) with one or more slots (Fig, 2B, No. 210), a tensioning roller engaged to the base and contacting a timing belt (Fig. 2D, No. 204), with a tensioning roller disposed through at least one slot (Fig. 2A, 201), a weldment configured to be attached to a conveyor device (Fig. 2A, 212), where the weldment defines a point where one or more tension forces on the timing belt can be measured (Fig. 3A, No. 302). However, Vegh does not disclose a tensioning device comprising a roller configured to contact the outer surface of a timing belt. Ito discloses a tensioning roller (Fig. 4, No. 31) configured to contact the outside of the timing belt (Fig. 4, No. 23).
Regarding claim 9, Vegh discloses a system comprising: a conveyor device (Fig. 2A) comprising: a frame (Fig. 2A, 200A); a track fixedly attached to the frame (Fig. 2A,. 120); one or more rollers configured to drive the track relative to the frame (Fig. 2B, 202B); and a timing belt (Fig. 2B, 214) operably engaged with the one or more rollers (Fig. 2B, No. 202B); and a tensioning device comprising: a base (200A and 200B), wherein the base defines one or more slots (Fig. 2B, No. 210); a tensioning roller operably engaged to the base and configured to contact the timing belt (Fig. 2D, No. 204) (but not its outer surface), wherein the tensioning roller is disposed through one of the one or more slots (Fig. 2A, No. 201); and a weldment configured to be attached to the conveyor device (Fig. 2A, No. 212), wherein the weldment defines a pivot point about which one or more tension forces acting on the timing belt may be measured (Fig. 3A, No. 302); wherein the tensioning device is operably engaged with the conveyor device such that the tensioning roller is operably engaged with the one or more rollers via the timing belt (Fig. 2A, Nos. 214, 202, and 204). Ito discloses a tensioning roller (Fig. 4, No. 31) configured to contact the outside of the timing belt (Fig. 4, No. 23).
Regarding claim 15, Vegh discloses method for tensioning a timing belt, the method comprising: operably engaging a measurement device with a weldment of a base of a tensioning device (Fig. 3A, No. 302); measuring, by the measurement device, a torque of the timing belt of a conveyor device (¶0065); and adjusting the tension of the timing belt based on the measured torque (¶0065). However, Vegh does not disclose a method wherein the tensioning device comprises a tensioning roller configured to contact an outer surface of the timing belt. Ito discloses a tensioning roller (Fig. 4, No. 31) configured to contact the outside of the timing belt (Fig. 4, No. 23).
Regarding claim 8, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 1. Vegh further discloses wherein the tensioning roller comprises a tensioning shaft (Fig. 2B, No. 205), and wherein the conveyor device further comprises one or more rollers (Fig. 2B, No. 202B) and one or more motors configured to drive the one or more rollers (Fig. 2B, No. 202B and Fig. 2C No. 250), and wherein at least one of the one or more motors is configured to drive the tensioning shaft of the tensioning roller (Fig. 2C).
Regarding claim 16, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 1. Vegh further discloses wherein the weldment is configured to be inserted into a frame of the conveyor device to define the pivot point (Fig. 2B, No. 212).
Regarding claim 17, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 8. Further wherein the tensioning roller is configured to contact the outer surface of the timing belt, wherein the outer surface of the timing belt is a substantially flat surface and a toothed inner surface of the timing belt is coupled to the one or more rollers.
Regarding claim 18, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 9. Vegh further discloses wherein the weldment is configured to be inserted into a frame of the conveyor device to define the pivot point (Fig. 2B, No. 212).
Regarding claim 19, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 9. Vegh discloses further wherein the tensioning device is aligned with the frame of the conveyor device (Fig 2B).
Regarding claim 20, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 9. Vegh further discloses wherein the outer surface of the timing belt is a substantially flat surface and a toothed inner surface of the timing belt is coupled to the one or more rollers (Fig. 2B, Nos. 214A and 202).
Regarding claim 21, Vegh and Ito disclose the tensioning device of claim 14. wherein the tensioning roller comprises a tensioning shaft (Fig. 2B, No. 205), and wherein at least one of the one or more motors is configured to drive the tensioning shaft of the tensioning roller (Fig. 2C No. 250).
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 tensioner of Vegh with the tensioner roller configured like Ito. The motivation would be adaptability and expected outcome. It would give the user more options on how the tensioner could be implemented. Also, belts can be tensioned by tensioner rollers contacting either the inner or outer surfaces.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL.
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 AMARI JADAN MEDDLING whose telephone number is (571)272-8178. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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, Gene Crawford can be reached at 5712726911. 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.
/AMARI J MEDDLING/ Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/GENE O CRAWFORD/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651