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 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 “intermediate moving element”, “a connection” of claim 10; “slide” of claim 11” 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.
Claim Objections
Claims 2-11, and 13-15 objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 2-11 recites “A linear”, in line-1 this limitation is already cited in claim-1, it should be “The linear”.
Claims 13-15 recites “A method”, in line-1 this limitation is already cited in claim-1, it should be “The method”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim 10 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.
Claim 10 recites the limitation “the support system” in line-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
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.
Claim(s) 1-9, and 12-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by ITO (JP 2018001223).
Regarding claim-1. ITO discloses a linear motor conveyor system (1, Fig.2,5) comprising:
a track (rail 11);
at least two moving elements (100 and 200, Fig.2) configured to move on the track, wherein the at least two moving elements comprise a primary moving element (100) and a secondary moving element (200);
a tooling plate (300) mounted on the at least two moving elements (100, 200), the tooling plate mounted to the at least two moving elements by a support apparatus (110, 120) comprising:
a first pivot assembly (100 including 110A-B) provided to the primary moving element (100); and
a second pivot assembly (120 including 120A-B) provided to the secondary moving element (200),
wherein the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly support the tooling plate (300) such that the tooling plate can move in relation to the at least two moving elements (100, 200) through at least two degrees of freedom (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-2. ITO discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-3. ITO discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise three degrees of freedom and the three degrees of freedom comprise pitch, yaw and roll (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-4. ITO discloses wherein the first pivot assembly (110A-B) and second pivot assembly (120A-B) have the same configuration (See Fig.3, 10).
Regarding claim-5. ITO discloses wherein the first pivot assembly (110A-B) is configured to provide rotation about each of a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element carrying the first pivot assembly (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-6. ITO discloses wherein the second pivot assembly (120A-B) is configured to provide rotation about each of a pitch, yaw and roll axis, relative to the moving element carrying the second pivot assembly (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-7. ITO discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly (110A-B) and the second pivot assembly (120A-B) comprise: a body (See Figures for 100 and 200);
a T-shaped member (See Figures for 100 and 200); and
ball bearings (Gears) supporting the T-shaped member relative to the body to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-8. ITO discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly (110) and the second pivot assembly (120) further comprise a flexure section (140) provided to the T-shaped member to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a roll axis, relative to the moving element (Fig.10).
Regarding claim-9. ITO discloses wherein the second pivot assembly (120A-B) is configured to rotate about a yaw axis, rotate about a pitch axis, perpendicular to the yaw axis and rotate, to at least a predetermined amount, about a roll axis, perpendicular to both the yaw and pitch axes (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-12: ITO discloses a method for carrying a heavy/large payload on a linear motor conveyor system (1, Fig.2, 5), the method comprising: configuring at least two moving elements (100, 200) to support a tooling plate (300) by providing each moving element with a pivot assembly (110, 120) supporting the tooling plate, wherein each of the pivot assemblies allow the tooling plate to move in relation to the moving element in at least two degrees of freedom.
Regarding claim-13. ITO discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-14. ITO discloses wherein the method further comprises configuring at least one pivot assembly to allow the tooling plate to move in a third degree of freedom (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-15. ITO discloses wherein the third degree of freedom is roll (See Figures 2, 4, 7, 9, 11 for Tilting, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kong (KR 102420754).
Regarding claim-1. Kong discloses a linear motor conveyor system (10, Fig.1) comprising:
a track (R, Fig.4); at least two moving elements (100, 200) configured to move on the track, wherein the at least two moving elements comprise a primary moving element (100) and a secondary moving element (200);
a tooling plate (400) mounted on the at least two moving elements, the tooling plate mounted to the at least two moving elements by a support apparatus (Fig.3-4) comprising:
a first pivot assembly (410) provided to the primary moving element (100); and a second pivot assembly (410) provided to the secondary moving element (200), wherein the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly support the tooling plate such that the tooling plate can move in relation to the at least two moving elements through at least two degrees of freedom (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-2. Kong discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-3. Kong discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise three degrees of freedom and the three degrees of freedom comprise pitch, yaw and roll (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-4. Kong discloses wherein the first pivot assembly and second pivot assembly have the same configuration (See Fig.4, 8).
Regarding claim-5. Kong discloses wherein the first pivot assembly is configured to provide rotation about each of a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element carrying the first pivot assembly (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-6. Kong discloses wherein the second pivot assembly is configured to provide rotation about each of a pitch, yaw and roll axis, relative to the moving element carrying the second pivot assembly (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-7. Kong discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly (100) and the second pivot assembly (200) comprise: a body; a T-shaped member (410) (See Fig.4); and ball bearings (rotating body or 712) supporting the T-shaped member relative to the body to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-8. Kong discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly further comprise a flexure section (410 in combination with 420) provided to the T-shaped member to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a roll axis, relative to the moving element (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-9. Kong discloses wherein the second pivot assembly (200) is configured to rotate about a yaw axis, rotate about a pitch axis, perpendicular to the yaw axis and rotate, to at least a predetermined amount, about a roll axis, perpendicular to both the yaw and pitch axes (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-10. Kong discloses further comprising at least one intermediate moving element (300) between the primary (100) and secondary moving elements (200), the support system further including a connection between the at least one intermediate moving element (300) and the tooling plate (400) (connection between 300 and 400 is via 100 and 200).
Regarding claim-11. Kong discloses wherein the connection between the at least one intermediate moving element and the tooling plate comprises a slide (110) that allows for movement of the tooling plate (400) in relation to the intermediate moving element (300) in at least one degree of freedom (See Fig.7).
Regarding claim-12: Kong discloses A method for carrying a heavy/large payload on a linear motor conveyor system (10, Fig.1), the method comprising: configuring at least two moving elements (100, 200) to support a tooling plate (400) by providing each moving element with a pivot assembly (410) supporting the tooling plate, wherein each of the pivot assemblies allow the tooling plate to move in relation to the moving element in at least two degrees of freedom (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-13. Kong discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-14. Kong discloses wherein the method further comprises configuring at least one pivot assembly to allow the tooling plate to move in a third degree of freedom (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-15. Kong discloses wherein the third degree of freedom is roll (See Fig.6-14 for Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Uwe (US 2017024720).
Regarding claim-1. Uwe discloses a linear motor conveyor system (Fig.1-7) comprising: a track (20);
at least two moving elements (35, 36) configured to move on the track, wherein the at least two moving elements comprise a primary moving element (35) and a secondary moving element (36);
a tooling plate (41) mounted on the at least two moving elements, the tooling plate mounted to the at least two moving elements by a support apparatus (Fig.3, 5, 7) comprising:
a first pivot assembly (44) provided to the primary moving element (35); and a second pivot assembly (45) provided to the secondary moving element (36), wherein the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly support the tooling plate such that the tooling plate can move in relation to the at least two moving elements through at least two degrees of freedom (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-2. Uwe discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-3. Uwe discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise three degrees of freedom and the three degrees of freedom comprise pitch, yaw and roll (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-4. Uwe discloses wherein the first pivot assembly (44) and second pivot assembly (45) have the same configuration (See Fig.3, 5, 7).
Regarding claim-5. Uwe discloses wherein the first pivot assembly is configured to provide rotation about each of a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element carrying the first pivot assembly (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-6. Uwe discloses wherein the second pivot assembly is configured to provide rotation about each of a pitch, yaw and roll axis, relative to the moving element carrying the second pivot assembly.
Regarding claim-7. Uwe discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly comprise: a body; a T-shaped member; and ball bearings (rotating body) supporting the T-shaped member relative to the body to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a yaw axis and a pitch axis, relative to the moving element (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-8. Uwe discloses wherein at least one of the first pivot assembly and the second pivot assembly further comprise a flexure section (44, and 45) provided to the T-shaped member to allow the T-shaped member to provide rotation about a roll axis, relative to the moving element (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-9. Uwe discloses wherein the second pivot assembly is configured to rotate about a yaw axis, rotate about a pitch axis, perpendicular to the yaw axis and rotate, to at least a predetermined amount, about a roll axis, perpendicular to both the yaw and pitch axes (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-10. Uwe discloses further comprising at least one intermediate moving element (46) between the primary (35) and secondary moving elements (36), the support system further including a connection between the at least one intermediate moving element and the tooling plate (See Fig.3, 5, 7).
Regarding claim-11. Uwe discloses wherein the connection between the at least one intermediate moving element (46) and the tooling plate (41) comprises a slide (46) that allows for movement of the tooling plate in relation to the intermediate moving element in at least one degree of freedom (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-12: Uwe discloses A method for carrying a heavy/large payload on a linear motor conveyor system (Fig.1), the method comprising: configuring at least two moving elements (35, 36) to support a tooling plate (41) by providing each moving element with a pivot assembly (44, 46) supporting the tooling plate, wherein each of the pivot assemblies allow the tooling plate to move in relation to the moving element in at least two degrees of freedom (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-13. Uwe discloses wherein the at least two degrees of freedom comprise pitch and yaw (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-14. Uwe discloses wherein the method further comprises configuring at least one pivot assembly to allow the tooling plate to move in a third degree of freedom (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Regarding claim-15. Uwe discloses wherein the third degree of freedom is roll (See Figures for Sliding, Tilting, Rotating, Pitching, Rolling and Yawing).
Conclusion
Note: Examiner strongly suggest applicant to take a look at PTO-892 as there are multiple references that can be sued to reject Independent as well as some dependent claims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMAD AWAIS whose telephone number is (571)272-4955. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7-4 pm (EST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Gene Crawford can be reached at (571)272-6911. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GENE O CRAWFORD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3651
/MA/Examiner, Art Unit 3651