CTNF 18/884,338 CTNF 83301 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Priority 02-26 AIA Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Claim Objections 07-29-01 AIA Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, “that that” should be - - such that - - or equivalent . Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1-4 and 6-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Strauss et al. (US 9981382) (“Strauss”) . Claim 1: a robot capable of holding a workpiece (column 27, lines 37-51, “robotic manipulator”; 208/etc.); a plurality of support portions capable of supporting the workpiece in respective orientations different from each other (Figure 9A); a controller configured to control the robot, wherein the controller is configured to be capable of executing: first processing of causing the robot to hold the workpiece; and second processing of causing the robot to change a holding manner of the workpiece by using at least one support portion among the plurality of support portions (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 2: wherein the controller is configured to, in the second processing, change an orientation of the workpiece with respect to the robot by causing the robot to change the holding manner of the workpiece by using the at least one support portion (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 3: wherein the controller is configured to, in a case of causing the robot to change the holding manner of the workpiece by using one support portion among the at least one support portion in the second processing, cause the robot to release the workpiece to cause the one support portion to support the workpiece, change a posture of the robot, and cause the robot to hold the workpiece supported by the one support portion again (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 4: wherein the plurality of support portions have shapes different from each other (Figures 9A/9B); Claim 6: a placement portion on which the workpiece is placed (“dishwasher rack,” for example; col. 20, lines 1-25); wherein the controller is configured to, in the first processing, cause the robot to hold the workpiece placed on the placement portion (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 7: a sensor used for obtaining information of a position and orientation of the workpiece placed on the placement portion, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the information of the position and orientation of the workpiece on a basis of a sensing result of the sensor (col. 11, lines 41-59; column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 8: wherein the sensor includes a camera, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the information of the position and orientation of the workpiece on a basis of a captured image obtained by the camera imaging the workpiece placed on the placement portion (col. 11, lines 41-59; column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 9: wherein the controller is configured to select the at least one support portion from the plurality of support portions on a basis of the position and orientation of the workpiece (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 10: wherein the controller is configured to plan an operation of the robot to temporarily place the workpiece on the at least one support portion, on the basis of the position and orientation of the workpiece (col. 11, lines 41-59; column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 11: wherein the at least one support portion is two or more support portions, and wherein the controller is configured to, in the second processing, cause the robot to change the holding manner of the workpiece by using each of the two or more support portions in a predetermined order (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 12: wherein the controller is configured to, in the second processing, cause the robot to change the holding manner of the workpiece such that an orientation of the workpiece with respect to the robot is changed to a predetermined orientation (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 13: wherein the controller is configured not to execute the second processing in a case where the orientation of the workpiece held by the robot in the first processing is the predetermined orientation (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 14: wherein one of the at least one support portion is configured to support the workpiece in such an orientation that the workpiece is capable of being held by the robot such that the orientation of the held workpiece with respect to the robot is the predetermined orientation (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 15: wherein the at least one support portion is two or more support portions, wherein one of the two or more support portions is a predetermined support portion configured to support the workpiece in such an orientation that the workpiece is capable of being held by the robot such that the orientation of the held workpiece with respect to the robot is the predetermined orientation, and wherein the controller is configured to, in the second processing, cause the robot to change the holding manner of the workpiece by using the predetermined support portion lastly among the two or more support portions (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 16: wherein the predetermined support portion is a flat surface (Figures 9A/9B show multiple flat surfaces); Claim 17: wherein the controller is configured to, in the second processing, cause the robot to move the workpiece after causing the robot to hold the workpiece in a state in which the orientation of the workpiece with respect to the robot is the predetermined orientation (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 18: wherein the controller is configured to cause the robot to move the workpiece to couple the workpiece to another workpiece (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B; coupling via 900); Claim 19: wherein the plurality of support portions are capable of supporting the workpiece in respective predetermined orientations different from each other (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 20: a plurality of support portions capable of supporting a workpiece in respective orientations different from each other (Figures 9A/9B); Claim 21: a robot capable of holding a workpiece (column 27, lines 37-51, “robotic manipulator”; 208/etc.); a plurality of support portions capable of supporting the workpiece in respective orientations different from each other (Figure 9A); a controller configured to control the robot, the control method comprising executing: first processing in which the controller causes the robot to hold the workpiece; and second processing in which the controller causes the robot to change a holding manner of the workpiece by using at least one support portion among the plurality of support portions (column 27, lines 37-51; alternative to 400; Figures 9A/9B); Claim 22: a product (end product shown in Figure 9B), the method comprising manufacturing the product by using the robot system according to claim 1; Claim 23. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 21 (col. 28, lines 37-56) . 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1 and 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Strauss . Claim 1: a robot capable of holding a workpiece (column 22, line 48 to column 24, line 28, “robotic manipulator”; 208/etc.); a plurality of support portions capable of supporting the workpiece in respective orientations different from each other (Figure 6, 604-627/etc.); a controller configured to control the robot, wherein the controller is configured to be capable of executing: first processing of causing the robot to hold the workpiece; and second processing of causing the robot to change a holding manner of the workpiece by using at least one support portion among the plurality of support portions (column 22, line 48 to column 24, line 28; alternative to 400; Figure 6); Claim 5: wherein the plurality of support portions each have such a shape that that an orientation of the workpiece is determined by a weight of the workpiece (column 22, line 48 to column 24, line 28; alternative to 400; Figure 6) . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 4402053 discloses support portions 100/110 . 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 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 2 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 3 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 4 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 5 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 6 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 7 Art Unit: 3652 Application/Control Number: 18/884,338 Page 8 Art Unit: 3652
Prosecution Insights