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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Salamon (2019/0250111) in view of Bavendick (2003/0039332).
Regarding claim 1, Salamon teaches a multi-rotational fixture for a radiography system, the fixture comprising: a plurality of fixture assemblies, each of the fixture assemblies configured to hold an object for inspection in a radiography system; a driving rotation stage; one or more driven rotation stages coupled to the driving rotation stage, such that rotation of the driving rotation stage causes the driven rotation stages to rotate simultaneously, wherein the driving rotation stage and the one or more driven rotation stages supports and simultaneously rotates a corresponding one of the fixture assemblies. (Salamon, Figs. 1a, 1b)
Salamon does not disclose each of the fixture assemblies is configured to hold a plurality of objects for inspection and a plurality of follower assemblies configured to support the plurality of fixture assemblies on an opposite end of the fixture assemblies from the driving rotation stage and the driven rotation stages.
Bavendick teaches each of the fixture assemblies is configured to hold a plurality of objects for inspection and a plurality of follower assemblies configured to support the plurality of fixture assemblies on an opposite end of the fixture assemblies from the driving rotation stage and the driven rotation stages. (Bavendick, Fig. 2)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to hold more than one object for inspection as taught by Bavendick in the fixture of Salamon in order to improve throughput.
Regarding claim 2, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches each of the plurality of fixture assemblies is configured to make a toolless connection to a corresponding one of the follower assemblies and a corresponding one of the rotation stages. (Bavendick, Fig. 2, no tool use described)
Regarding claim 3, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches the driving rotation stage is coupled to a driving shaft configured to receive motive power from an external actuator. (Salamon, [0033])
Regarding claim 4, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches each of the follower assemblies comprises a bearing and a seat coupled to the bearing, wherein each of the fixture assemblies is configured to couple to the seat for support by the bearing. (Bavendick Fig. 2)
Regarding claim 5, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick lacks explicit teaching of each of the fixture assemblies comprises a tapered connector configured to sit within the seat for support by the ball bearing, however tapered roller bearings are a well-known mechanical part, and their use for their ordinary purpose of facilitating rotary motion would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention.
Regarding claim 6, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches a stage frame, the follower assemblies and the rotation stages coupled to the stage frame. (Bavendick, item 16)
Regarding claim 7, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches each of the fixture assemblies comprises: a fixture frame configured to be removably coupled to one of the follower assemblies and one of the rotation stages (Bavendick, item 15); and a plurality of supports coupled to the fixture frame and configured to securely hold corresponding ones of the objects under inspection. (Bavendick, item 36)
Regarding claim 8, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches a capacity of the fixture is a product of the number of rotation stages and a number of the plurality of supports on each of the fixture assemblies. (This is true if Bavendick item 36 is considered collective on a per item basis)
Regarding claim 9, the combination of Salamon and Bavendick further teaches each of the follower assemblies has an axis of rotation that aligns with an axis of rotation of a corresponding one of the rotation stages. (Bavendick, Fig. 2)
Regarding claims 10-19, claims 10-19 are rejected on the same grounds as claims 1-9, as they have the same substantive limitations, aside from claim 11 which is found in Salamon at [0046]-[0047].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDWIN C GUNBERG whose telephone number is (571)270-3107. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:00PM.
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/EDWIN C GUNBERG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884
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