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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of claims 1-5 in the reply filed on 3/25/2025 is acknowledged. Upon reviewing applicant’s amendment to claims 6-8 and the traversal arguments, the restriction requirement is withdrawn and claims 1-8 will be examined.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: a1, b, process flow A, and a2. 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. 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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: On page 26, line 12, “12” is objected to because it is the incorrect reference numeral, therefore it is suggested to change “12” to - -9- -. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 7, line 57, “a” is objected to because “a first material” has already been introduced, therefore it is suggested to change “a” to - -the- -, line 59, “a” is objected to because “a fifth telescopic mechanism” has already been introduced, therefore it is suggested to change “a” to - -the- -. 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.
Claims 1-8 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. In claim 3, lines 2-3, “the automatic multi-process surface overturning mechanism comprises a third telescopic mechanism” and in line 16, “the automatic multi-process surface overturning mechanism comprises a third telescopic mechanism,” therefore it is unclear as to the relationship between the third telescopic mechanism in lines 2-3 and 6. Claim 5 is an apparatus claim and depends from method claim 6, however, the scope of the claim 5 is not ascertainable and indefinite. In claim 7, line 16, “a gripper gripping mechanism” is introduced, and it is unclear if the gripper gripping mechanism is the same as the gripper gripping mechanism in lines 7-8 of the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the gripper gripping mechanism" in lines 4-5 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the third gripper gripping mechanism" in line 5 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites the limitation "the fourth gripper gripping mechanism" in lines 5-6 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the second fixing support" in line 11 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the sixth rotating mechanism" in lines 19-23 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the second fixing support" in line 7 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the second fixing member" in lines 24 and 42 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the sixth rotating mechanism" in lines 33-37 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the specified position" in lines 67 and 75. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the transfer platform" in line 13 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references listed on the attached PTO-892 are cited to show multiple gripper robotic arms for material handling.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JERMIE E COZART whose telephone number is (571)272-4528. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30am - 7:00pm.
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, Sunil Singh can be reached at 571-272-3460. 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.
/JERMIE E COZART/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3799
August 26, 2026