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 § 112
Claims 15,16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 16’s “are separate” removes the “the base plate comprises a driven pulley” (of claim 1). Claim 15’s “fabricated as unitary structure” removes the “the base plate comprises a driven pulley” (of claim 1). Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1,2,10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as anticipated by Li CN 111856050.
As to claim 1, Li teaches (Figures 3,6,19) a rotating platen assembly for use with a testing system during a specimen test, the rotating platen assembly comprising:
an electric motor 3.1 configured to output a rotational force via a driving pulley (Figure 3);
a specimen plate 2.1 comprising a plurality of stations slots 6.3, each of said plurality of stations being configured to receive a specimen (“reaction vessel 6 receives a sample liquid” (ABSTRACT)); and
a base plate 1.3 configured to support the specimen plate (per rollers 5.8, visible in Figure 6), wherein the base plate comprises a driven pulley that is drivingly coupled to the driving pulley
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(Figure 19).
, wherein the electric motor is configured to rotate the base plate about an axis of rotation.
As to claim 2, all is fixed by plate 1.2 (Figure 19).
As to claim 10, the belt is identified in Figure 19.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 3,8,11,12,16 is/are rejected, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Li CN 111856050.
The Reference employs rollers 5.8 between driven pully and mounting plate (Figure 6; not ball bearings.
As to claim 3, it would have been obvious to employ ball bearings because such are more effective than rollers in allowing for smooth rotation.
As to claim 8, slots are visible (Figure 3), while one of ordinary skill recognizes that twice that many will allow for additional testing.
As to claims 11,12, the device is fully automatic (title); as such the belt is either a timing pulley, or the automatic nature of the device suggests a requirement of synchronizing/coordinating all moving elements of the device.
As to claim 16, those elements are best shown in Figure 19. Either they are separate, or one of ordinary skill would recognize the advantage of obtaining individual elements for assembly.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 7,13,14,15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Li ‘050.
As to claim 7, either the motor is of the stepping variety, or it would have been obvious to employ such as stepper motors are readily accessible, and dependable motors.
As to claim 13, either the plate is metal, or one of ordinary skill would recognize that a rotating plate in an automatic immunoblotting device would require a material that lasts.
As to claim 14, the apparatus is limited to slots that are holes, and no more. The manner of construction is irrelevant.
As to claim 15, those elements are best shown in Figure 19. Either they are unitary as much as claimed, or one or ordinary skill would recognize the benefit of employing such as an advantage to assembly.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6,9 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.
Prior Art not Applied
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Yang et al CN 107828648 teach an electric motor 104 that turns a specimen plate 105 that has a plurality of stations that receive the specimens within tubes 106. However, the Reference does not teach either a supporting base plate and pullies between the plate 105 and motor 104, or suggest a need for such.
Conclusion
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/ROBERT R RAEVIS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855
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