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 .
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 embodiment of claim 3 in which the transport path between the start region and the target region is formed by multiple ones of the transport belts arranged one behind the other, the two drive motors of claim 9, and the embodiment of claim 13 in which the transport belts have different diameters 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 Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: the “drive device” is designed to drive the transport belts at different speeds so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts and the “filling device” that deposits the components in random orientations onto the transport belts in the start region in claim 1, and the “transfer device” transfer device the transports workpiece carriers with the components into the transfer region and which is designed to grip the components lying on one of the workpiece carriers and to pass them on in a predeterminable orientation in claim 18.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 1-3, 6, 11-12, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Bahr (US 7,311,191).
In regard to claim 1, Bahr shows 1. an apparatus for transporting cylindrical components 14 from a start region SR to a target region TR (see the annotated figure below). The apparatus includes a first transport device formed by a plurality of transport units 20. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 24 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 32 is coupled to the transport belts and is designed to drive the transport belts at different speeds so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts (see column 3, lines 15-25) in the target region TR and the start region SR. A filling device 12 deposits the components in random orientations onto the transport belts 24 in the start region SR.
In regard to claim 2, the transport belts 24 extend from the start region SR to the target region TR.
In regard to claim 3, the transport path between the start region and the target region is formed by multiple ones of the transport belts 24 arranged one behind the other.
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In regard to claim 6, adjacent ones of the transport belts 24 in the upstream and downstream direction are arranged at different heights, at least in some portions.
In regard to claims 11-12, the transport belts 24 have different surface properties, in particular different friction values (see column 3, lines 40-45).
In regard to claim 14, the filling device 12 has a hopper (see the bin discussed in column 2, lines 45-50) for receiving many components and has a conveyor belt B. The conveyor belt ends in the start region SR in order to deposit components onto the transport belts.
In regard to claim 19, the apparatus for transporting cylindrical components 14 from a start region ST to a target region TR includes a first transport device formed by conveyor assemblies 20. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 24 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 32 is coupled to the transport belts 24 and is designed to drive the transport belts so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts, at least in the target region. A filling device 12 deposits the components 14 in random orientations onto the transport belts 24 in the start region SR.
In regard to claim, in operation, the above described apparatus aligns the cylindrical components 14 by depositing the components 14 in a start region SR of a transport device that has a plurality of transport belts 24 arranged at a distance from one another. The components are then transported to a target region TR using the transport device 20. While being transported, the components are rotated on the transport belts, so that each component 14 lies completely between two adjacent ones of the transport belts 24, by driving adjacent ones of the transport belts 24 at different speeds.
Claims 1-2, 4-8, 11-14, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Manzi et al. (US 5,871,080).
In regard to claim 1, Manzi shows 1. an apparatus for transporting cylindrical components 12 from a start region SR to a target region TR (see the annotated figure below). The apparatus includes a first transport device 20. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 144/148 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 158/162/160/164/170/166 is coupled to the transport belts and is designed to drive the transport belts at different speeds so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts (see column 5, lines 50-65) in the target region TR and the start region SR. A filling device 90 deposits the components in random orientations onto the transport belts 144/148 in the start region SR.
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In regard to claim 2, the transport belts 144/148 extend from the start region SR to the target region TR.
In regard to claim 4, the transport belts 148 have a round cross section (see figures 4-5).
In regard to claim 5, the transport belts 148 lie in one transport plane (see figures 4-5).
In regard to claim 6, adjacent ones of the transport belts 144/148 in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance are arranged at different heights, at least in some portions.
In regard to claim 7, the transport belts 144/148 lie in two transport planes. The transport belts 144/148 lie in one or the other of the two transport planes alternately in pairs.
In regard to claim 8, the drive device 158/162/160/164/170/166 has at least one gear unit 162/164/170 that is designed to drive a first subgroup of the transport belts 148 at a first speed and a second subgroup of the transport belts 144 at a second speed. The transport belts 148 of the first subgroup and the transport belts 148 of the second subgroup alternate.
In regard to claims 11-12, the transport belts 144/148 have different surface properties as the transport belts 148 are round and the transport belts 144 are flat and have a V-shaped profile. This would inherently result in belts 144/148 having different friction values.
In regard to claim 13, the transport belts 148 have different diameters than the transport belts 144.
In regard to claim 14, the filling device 90 has a hopper 92 for receiving many components and has a conveyor belt 94-112 (see figure 2 and column 4, lines 35-40). The conveyor belt 94/112 ends in the start region SR in order to deposit components onto the transport belts 144/148.
In regard to claim 19, the apparatus for transporting cylindrical components 12 from a start region ST to a target region TR includes a first transport device 20. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 144/148 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 158/162/160/164/170/166 is coupled to the transport belts 144/148 and is designed to drive the transport belts so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts, at least in the target region. A filling device 90 deposits the components 12 in random orientations onto the transport belts 144/148 in the start region SR.
In regard to claim, in operation, the above described apparatus aligns the cylindrical components 12 by depositing the components 12 in a start region SR of a transport device that has a plurality of transport belts 144/148 arranged at a distance from one another. The components are then transported to a target region TR using the transport device 20. While being transported, the components are rotated on the transport belts 144/148, so that each component 12 lies completely between two adjacent ones of the transport belts 148, by driving adjacent ones of the transport belts 148 at different speeds.
Claims 1-2, 4-7, 11-13, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Shindo et al. (JP 2009-23806).
In regard to claim 1, Shindo shows an apparatus that could be used for transporting cylindrical components P from a start region SR to a target region TR (see the annotated figure below). The apparatus includes a first transport device 10. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 13/20/21 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 22/23 is coupled to the transport belts and is designed to drive the transport belts at different speeds so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts (see abstract) in the target region TR and the start region SR. A filling device 2/3/5 deposits the components in random orientations onto the transport belts 13/20/21 in the start region SR.
In regard to claim 2, the transport belts 13/20/21 extend from the start region SR to the target region TR.
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In regard to claim 4, the transport belts 20/21 have a round cross section (see figures 4-6).
In regard to claim 5, the transport belts 20/21 lie in one transport plane (see figures 4-6).
In regard to claim 6, adjacent ones of the transport belts 13 and 20/21 in a direction transverse to the direction of conveyance are arranged at different heights, at least in some portions.
In regard to claim 7, the transport belts 13 and 20/21 lie in two transport planes. The transport belts 13/20/21 lie in one or the other of the two transport planes alternately in pairs.
In regard to claim 9, the drive device has two drive motors 22/23. One drive motor 22 drives a first subgroup of the transport belts 20 at a first speed, and the other drive motor 23 drives a second subgroup of the transport belts 21 at a second speed. The transport belts 20 of the first subgroup and the transport belts 21 of the second subgroup alternate.
In regard to claims 11-12, the transport belts 13/20/21 have different surface properties as the transport belts 20/21 are round and the transport belts 13 are flat and have a surface 15 with grooves 15a. This would inherently result in belts 13/20/21 having different friction values.
In regard to claim 13, the transport belts 148 have different diameters than the transport belts 144.
In regard to claim 19, the apparatus for transporting cylindrical components P from a start region ST to a target region TR includes a first transport device 10. The first transport device includes a plurality of transport belts 13/20/21 that are arranged at a distance from one another and form a transport path from the start region SR to the target region TR. A drive device 22/23 is coupled to the transport belts 13/20/21 and is designed to drive the transport belts so that the components each lie between two adjacent ones of the transport belts, at least in the target region. A filling device 1/3/5 deposits the components P in random orientations onto the transport belts 13/20/21 in the start region SR.
In regard to claim, in operation, the above described apparatus aligns the cylindrical components P by depositing the components in a start region SR of a transport device that has a plurality of transport belts 13/20/21 arranged at a distance from one another. The components are then transported to a target region TR using the transport device 10. While being transported, the components are rotated on the transport belts 13/20/21, so that each component P lies completely between two adjacent ones of the transport belts 20/21, by driving adjacent ones of the transport belts 13/20/21 at different speeds.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10 and 15-18 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARK A DEUBLE whose telephone number is (571)272-6912. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday flex schedule.
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, 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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/MARK A DEUBLE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651
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