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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to the Applicant’s communication filed on 30 July 2024. In virtue of this communication, claims 1-13 are currently presented in the instant application. In a preliminary amendment on 30 July 2024, presently, claims 1-13 have been amended.
Information Disclosure Statement(s)
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 7/30/2024 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 8-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
With respect to claims 8 and 11-13, there is reference to an inspection device, which seems to be the inspection mechanism of claim 1. As the two claims are linked, if these are meant to be the same element, as it appears to be by the drawings and specification, they should use the same language.
Claim 9 recites the limitation "third sensor" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 recites the limitation "second sensor" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "first sensor" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 12 recites the limitation “third state", “fourth state”, and “lifting device” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 13 recites the limitation “pushing device” and “first driving device” in line 2, “second inspection” in line 3, and “first state” and “second state” in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
It is noted that all of the claims should be reviewed carefully for antecedent basis in light of the multiple dependency of claim 8 becoming singly dependent on claim 1, and otherwise.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art fails to disclose or properly suggest:
An inspection system, comprising:
a positioning mechanism, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises a positioning portion, and the positioning portion is movable in the conveying direction of the conveying mechanism, so as to define the first positioning plane and the second positioning plane, and the object to be inspected abuts against the positioning portion on the first positioning plane and the second positioning plane (in combination with the remaining limitations of claim 1, claims 2-7 are allowable as being dependent on claim 1).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Richards et al. (Publication No.: US 2023/0166921 A1)
Scardino (Publication No.: US 2022/0073403 A1)
Lv et al. (Publication No.: CN 207985382 U)
Inquiry
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIANA HANCOCK whose telephone number is (571)270-7547. The examiner can normally be reached on 10AM-6PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Stephanie Bloss can be reached on (571) 272-3555. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/D.H/Examiner, Art Unit 2852
6/22/2026
/STEPHANIE E BLOSS/Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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