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 .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis 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.
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.
Claims 1-4 and 7-10 are rejected under § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Pub. No. 2019/0202642 to Schroader (Schroader). In regards to claim 1, Schroader discloses a conveyor subsystem for a parcel transfer system including one or more robots for transferring parcels, the conveyor subsystem comprising:
a feed conveyor (22 & 12) configured to convey a flow of parcels toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system, and to selectively direct select parcels from the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor (see ¶ [0099], [0118] for providing a feed conveyor configured to carry articles to a pop-up conveyor which in turn is configured to transfer select articles onto a diverting conveyor); and
a rejection conveyor (26) positioned to receive the select parcels directed off of the feed conveyor, and configured to direct the select parcels off of the rejection conveyor (see ¶ [0099] & [0119] for providing a diverting conveyor configured to receive select articles from the pop-up conveyor).
In regards to claim 2, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see Fig. 1 & ¶¶ [0118-0119]), and
a second conveyor (12) positioned downstream of the first conveyor and configured to convey the flow of parcels in the first direction along the longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor and convey the select parcels in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor to direct the select parcels off of the feed conveyor (see Fig. 1 & ¶¶ [0118-0119]).
In regards to claim 3, Schroader further discloses that the rejection conveyor (26) is positioned beside the feed conveyor, such that the longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor and a longitudinal axis of the rejection conveyor are parallel to each other. See Fig. 1 (depicting a parallel arrangement between the feed conveyor and diverting conveyor).
In regards to claim 4, Schroader further discloses that the second conveyor of the feed conveyor is an activated roller belt. See ¶ [0118] (providing that the pop-up conveyor comprises a plurality of parallel conveyor belts).
In regards to claim 7, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes:
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]); and
a second conveyor (12) positioned to receive the flow of parcels from the first conveyor, the second conveyor including a repositionable surface configured to selectively transition between a first configuration and a second configuration to direct parcels off of the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ [0118-0119] for providing a pop-up conveyor downstream from the feed conveyor, the pop-up conveyor being configured to move vertically between a rest position to an active position).
In regards to claim 8, Schroader further discloses that the repositionable surface of the second conveyor of the feed conveyor is, when in the second configuration, raised relative to when the repositionable surface is in the first configuration; and wherein the rejection conveyor is positioned relative to the feed conveyor, such that, the repositionable surface of the feed conveyor can selectively be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration to direct the select parcels from the flow of parcels onto the rejection conveyor. See ¶ [0118] (providing that pop-up conveyor can be raised and lowered above or below the feed conveyor surface).
In regards to claim 9, Schroader further discloses that the repositionable surface of the second conveyor is, when in the second configuration, lowered relative to when the repositionable surface is in the first configuration; and wherein the rejection conveyor is positioned relative to the feed conveyor, such that, the repositionable surface of the feed conveyor can selectively be transitioned from the first configuration to the second configuration to drop the select parcels from the flow of parcels onto the rejection conveyor. See ¶ [0118] (providing that pop-up conveyor can be raised and lowered above or below the feed conveyor surface).
In regards to claim 10, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes:
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]);
a second conveyor (26) positioned downstream of the first conveyor and configured to receive parcels from the flow of parcels (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]); and
a third conveyor (12) positioned between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, such that (i) a portion of the third conveyor is positioned below a distal end of the first conveyor, and (ii) a distal end of the third conveyor is positioned relative to the second conveyor, such that parcels directed off the distal end of the third conveyor are received by the second conveyor (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]);
wherein the third conveyor is configured to selectively convey parcels from the flow of parcels toward the second conveyor or the rejection conveyor (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]).
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 of this title, 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 11-14 are rejected under § 103 as being obvious over Schroader, supra, in view of US Pub. No. 2021/02006582 to Fleming et al. (Fleming). In regards to claim 11, Schroader discloses a conveyor subsystem for a parcel transfer system including one or more robots for transferring parcels, the conveyor subsystem comprising a feed conveyor (22 & 12) configured to convey a flow of parcels toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system, and to selectively direct select parcels from the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor. See ¶¶ [0118-0119].
Although Schroader does not explicitly disclose the claimed self-driving vehicle, such features are found in the prior art. In fact, Fleming teaches a parcel transfer system comprising a self-driving vehicle (30) positioned to receive the select parcels directed off of the feed conveyor. See ¶ [0026] (providing a self-driving vehicle configured to travel alongside a feed conveyor and receive parcels as they are offloaded from the conveyor).
Thus, it would have been obvious to modify parcel loading system of Schroader with self-driving vehicles of Fleming in order to transport diverted parcels to other locations for further processing while freeing up space at the diverting conveyor to receive additional parcels).
In regards to claim 12, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes:
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]; and
a second conveyor (12) positioned downstream of the first conveyor and configured to convey the flow of parcels in the first direction along the longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor and convey the select parcels in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor to direct the select parcels off of the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ [0118-0119] for providing a pop-up conveyor downstream from the feed conveyor, the pop-up conveyor being configured to move vertically between a rest position to an active position).
In regards to claim 13, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes:
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]; and
a second conveyor (12) positioned to receive the flow of parcels from the first conveyor, the second conveyor including a repositionable surface configured to selectively transition between a first configuration and a second configuration to direct the select parcels onto the self-driving vehicle (see ¶¶ [0118-0119] for providing a pop-up conveyor downstream from the feed conveyor, the pop-up conveyor being configured to move vertically between a rest position to an active position).
In regards to claim 14, Schroader further discloses that the feed conveyor includes:
a first conveyor (22) configured to convey the flow of parcels in at least a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the feed conveyor toward the one or more robots of the parcel transfer system (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]);
a second conveyor (26) positioned downstream of the first conveyor and configured to receive parcels from the flow of parcels (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]); and
a third conveyor (12) positioned between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, such that (i) a portion of the third conveyor is positioned below a distal end of the first conveyor, and (ii) a distal end of the third conveyor is positioned relative to the second conveyor, such that parcels directed off of the distal end of the third conveyor are received by the second conveyor; wherein the third conveyor is configured to selectively convey parcels from the flow of parcels toward the second conveyor or the self-driving vehicle (see ¶¶ [0118-0119]).
Claims 15-20 are rejected under § 103 as being obvious over US Pub. No. 2023/0150137 to Sun in view of Schroader, supra. In regards to claim 15, Sun discloses a parcel transfer system for loading parcels into a cargo area of a transport vehicle, comprising:
one or more robots (610 & 612) configured to transfer parcels from the parcel transfer system to the cargo area of the transport vehicle (602) (see ¶ [0019] & [0052] for loading a tractor-trailer via first and second robots and a feeding conveyor); and
a conveyor subsystem (620).
Although Sun does not explicitly disclose the claimed feed conveyor, rejection conveyor, and control system, such features are found in the prior art. In fact, Schroader teaches a parcel loading system comprising
a conveyor subsystem including
a feed conveyor (22 & 12) configured to convey a flow of parcels toward the one or more robots, and to selectively direct select parcels from the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor, and
a rejection conveyor (26) positioned to receive the select parcels directed off of the feed conveyor, and configured to direct the select parcels off of the rejection conveyor; and
a control subsystem (not shown) operably connected to the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ 0107-0110] for providing a control means for controlling the conveying system based on information received from one or more sensors configured to capture the size and other physical characteristics of parcels being transported along the conveyors), the control subsystem including
one or more sensors (7) for acquiring data corresponding to one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ [0096] & [0115]), and
a controller (not shown) operably connected to the one or more sensors, the controller including a processor for executing instructions stored in a memory component to (i) receive and process the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor, and (ii) selectively communicate instructions to the feed conveyor which cause the feed conveyor to direct the select parcels from the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor based on the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ [0109], [0115], & [0133]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to modify the conveying system of Sun with the conveying system of Schroader in order to offload irregular, bulky, or other select parcels from the feed conveyor before reaching the transfer robots in the cargo area of the tractor-trailer.
In regards to claim 16, Sun further discloses that the control subsystem (112) is operably connected to the one or more robots; and wherein the memory component includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to selectively communicate instructions which cause the one or more robots to engage and transfer parcels from the conveyor subsystem to the cargo area of the transport vehicle based on the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor. See ¶ [0030] (providing a control computer for controlling robotic arm operations).
In regards to claim 17, Schroader further discloses that the control subsystem is operably connected to the rejection conveyor; and wherein the memory component includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to communicate instructions which causes the rejection conveyor to convey the select parcels to the feed conveyor or out of the conveyor subsystem. See ¶¶ [0107-0110] (providing a control means for controlling the conveying system to route parcels either to a receiving conveyor in-line with the feeding conveyor or to a diverting conveyor based on physical characteristics of the parcels captured by the one or more sensors).
In regards to claim 18, Schroader further discloses that the one or more sensors of the control subsystem includes a camera (7) for acquiring one or more images of at least a portion of the feed conveyor and any parcels located thereon. See ¶ [0109] (providing one or more cameras for capturing images of the conveyors).
In regards to claim 19, Schroader further discloses that the control subsystem further includes one or more sensors (7) for acquiring data corresponding to one or more characteristics of the select parcels on the rejection conveyor (see ¶¶ [0101-0104]); wherein the control subsystem is operably connected to the rejection conveyor (see ¶¶ [0107-0110]); and wherein the memory component includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the controller of the control subsystem to (iii) receive and process the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels on the rejection conveyor, and (iv) selectively communicate instructions to the rejection conveyor which cause the rejection conveyor to direct the select parcels off of the rejection conveyor based on the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels on the rejection conveyor (see ¶¶ [0109] & [0113-0115].
In regards to claim 20, Schroader further discloses that the one or more sensors for acquiring data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels on the rejection conveyor includes a camera (7) for acquiring one or more images of at least a portion of the rejection conveyor and any parcels located thereon. See ¶¶ [0096].
Claims 21-25 are rejected under § 103 as being obvious over Sun in view of Schroader, and further in view of Fleming, supra. In regards to claim 21, Sun discloses a parcel transfer system for loading parcels into a cargo area of a transport vehicle, comprising:
one or more robots (610 & 612) configured to transfer parcels from the parcel transfer system to the cargo area of the transport vehicle (602); and
a conveyor subsystem (620).
Although Sun does not explicitly disclose the claimed feed conveyor and control subsystem, such features are found in the prior art. In fact, Shroader teaches a parcel transfer system comprising a conveyor subsystem including
a feed conveyor (22) configured to convey a flow of parcels toward the one or more robots and to selectively direct select parcels from the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor (see ¶ [0119]), and
a control subsystem (not shown) operably connected to the feed conveyor (see ¶ [0116] for providing a control means for controlling the conveying system), the control subsystem including
one or more sensors (7) for acquiring data corresponding to one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor (see ¶ [0115]), and
a controller (not shown) operably connected to the one or more sensors, the controller including a processor (not shown) for executing instructions stored in a memory (not shown) component to (i) receive and process the data corresponding to one or more characteristics of the parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor, and (ii) selectively communicate instructions to the feed conveyor which cause the feed conveyor to direct the select parcels of the flow of parcels off of the feed conveyor based on the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of parcels in the flow of parcels on the feed conveyor (see ¶¶ [0133] & [0136] for describing a control means for controlling the conveying system with PLC configured to execute routines within non-volatile memory).
Thus, it would have been obvious at the time of filing to modify the feeding conveyor of Sun with the conveying system of Shroader in order to route parcels along the feeding conveyor to the transfer robots located in the cargo area of the tractor-trailer while rerouting oversized, irregular or otherwise undesirable parcels onto the diverting conveyor.
Furthermore, although Sun in view of Shroader does not explicitly disclose the claimed self-driving vehicle, such a feature is found in the prior art. In fact, Fleming teaches a parcel transfer system comprising a self-driving vehicle (30) positioned to receive the select parcels from the flow of parcels directed off of the feed conveyor. See ¶ [0026].
Thus, it would have been obvious to modify Sun in view of Schroader with the self-driving vehicles of Fleming in order to transport diverted parcels to other locations for further processing while freeing up space at the diverting conveyor to receive additional parcels.
In regards to claim 22, Fleming further discloses that the control subsystem is operably connected to the self-driving vehicle; and wherein the memory component includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to communicate instructions which cause the self-driving vehicle to transport the select parcels. See ¶¶ [0026], [0033], and [0042] (controlling the self-driving vehicles to transport parcels to target destinations).
In regards to claim 23, Schroader further discloses that the one or more sensors of the control subsystem includes a camera (7) for acquiring one or more images of at least a portion of the feed conveyor and any parcels located thereon. See ¶ [0096].
In regards to claim 24, Schroader further discloses that the control subsystem further includes one or more sensors (7) for acquiring data corresponding to one or more characteristics of the select parcels received by the self-driving vehicle (see ¶¶ [0096] & [0115] whereas Fleming further discloses that the control subsystem is operably connected to the self-driving vehicle and the memory component includes instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the controller of the control subsystem to (iii) receive and process the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels received by the self-driving vehicle, and (iv) selectively communicate instructions which causes the self-driving vehicle to transport the select parcels to an intended destination based on the data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels received by the self-driving vehicle from the feed conveyor. See ¶¶ [0026], [0033] & [0042].
In regards to claim 25, Fleming further discloses that the one or more sensors for acquiring data corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the select parcels received by the self-driving vehicle from the feed conveyor includes a camera (50) for acquiring one or more images of at least a portion of the self-driving vehicle and any parcels located thereon. See ¶ [0050] (providing a camera configured to acquire 2D and 3D images of the conveyor and surrounding area including the self-driving vehicles.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5 and 6 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KYLE LOGAN whose telephone number is (571) 270-7769. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9-5 PM.
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/KYLE O LOGAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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