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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 9, 18 and 21 are objected to because of the following informalities:
(claim 9, lines 1-2) “wherein a rotational axis of accelerator wheel” should be changed to “wherein a rotational axis of the accelerator wheel”.
(claim 18, lines 1-2) “wherein the rotational axis of the accelerator wheel” should be changed to “wherein a rotational axis of the accelerator wheel”.
(claim 21, line 2) “wherein a rotational axis of accelerator wheel” should be changed to “wherein a rotational axis of the accelerator wheel”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-3, 9-11, 13, 14, 21-23 and 26-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Horsch et al. (DE 102018112948).
As concerns claim 1, Horsch shows a seed delivery system (14) comprising: a seed meter (32) comprising a rotatable metering disc (48) configured to hold an array of singulated seeds (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1); a seed accelerator (56) comprising an accelerator wheel (58) configured to dislodge the singulated seeds from the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1), and a seed chute (38) configured to receive the seeds dislodged by the accelerator wheel (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1); wherein the accelerator wheel is rotatable to dislodge the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction and accelerate dispensing of the seed to the chute (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1).
As concerns claim 2, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel is rotatable about a rotational axis (72) which is spaced inwards from a circular peripheral edge of the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 3, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel rotates in the same rotational direction as the metering disc so that the acceleration imparted to the velocity of seeds by the accelerator wheel is additive to the rotational velocity of metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 9, Horsch shows wherein a rotational axis (72) of the accelerator wheel lies in a same horizontal reference plane as a rotational axis (70) of the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 10, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel comprises a plurality of radial fingers (claim 7) configured to engage the seeds on the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 11, Horsch shows wherein the fingers are arcuately curved (Fig. 4A & 4B) and formed of a resilient deformable material (claim 7).
As concerns claim 13, Horsch shows wherein the seed chute is vertically oriented (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 14, Horsch shows a method for dispensing seeds for planting, comprising: forming (via 26) a trench in soil with a row unit (12); rotating a metering disc (48) holding an array of singulated seeds (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1); rotating an accelerator wheel (56, 58); dislodging the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction with the accelerator wheel (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1); and delivering (via 38) the seeds to the trench (Fig. 2A & 4A; claim 1).
As concerns claim 21, Horsch shows wherein a rotational axis (72) of the accelerator wheel lies in a same horizontal reference plane as a rotational axis (70) of the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 22, Horsch shows wherein the rotational axis of the accelerator wheel lies inside a circumferential peripheral edge of the metering disc (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 23, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel and the metering disc rotate in the same direction (Fig. 4A & 4B).
As concerns claim 26, Horsch shows wherein the seeds are disposed in a circular array of seed holes in the metering disc which rotate in succession past the accelerator wheel (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1).
As concerns claim 27, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel comprises a plurality of arcuately curved fingers (claim 7) which intercept the seed holes at a side of the metering disc as the metering disc and accelerator wheel each rotate (Fig. 4A & 4B; claim 1).
As concerns claim 28, Horsch shows wherein the accelerator wheel rotates at a speed faster than the metering disc (claim 4).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-8, 12, 15-20, 24 and 25 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art of record does not appear to anticipate and/or render obvious:
a) a seed delivery system comprising: a seed meter comprising a rotatable metering disc configured to hold an array of singulated seeds; a seed accelerator comprising an accelerator wheel configured to dislodge the singulated seeds from the metering disc, and a seed chute configured to receive the seeds dislodged by the accelerator wheel; wherein the accelerator wheel is rotatable to dislodge the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction and accelerate dispensing of the seed to the seed chute, wherein: the seed chute comprises an arcuately curved guide wall disposed proximate to the accelerator wheel, the guide wall defining a guide surface facing inwards towards the accelerator wheel and leading into an entrance of the seed chute; and the accelerator wheel is operable to compress the seeds against the guide wall in a radial outward direction and accelerate the seeds along the guide wall into the seed chute.
b) a method for dispensing seeds for planting, comprising: forming a trench in soil with a row unit; rotating a metering disc holding an array of singulated seeds; rotating an accelerator wheel; dislodging the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction with the accelerator wheel; and delivering the seeds to the trench, wherein the dislodging step includes the accelerator wheel compressing the seeds against an arcuately curved guide wall disposed outboard of the accelerator wheel.
Horsch shows a seed delivery system comprising: a seed meter comprising a rotatable metering disc configured to hold an array of singulated seeds; a seed accelerator comprising an accelerator wheel configured to dislodge the singulated seeds from the metering disc, and a seed chute configured to receive the seeds dislodged by the accelerator wheel; wherein the accelerator wheel is rotatable to dislodge the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction and accelerate dispensing of the seed to the seed chute, wherein: the seed chute comprises a guide wall disposed proximate to the accelerator wheel, the guide wall defining a guide surface facing inwards towards the accelerator wheel and leading into an entrance of the seed chute. However, Horsch does not show wherein: the seed chute comprises an arcuately curved guide wall disposed proximate to the accelerator wheel, the guide wall defining a guide surface facing inwards towards the accelerator wheel and leading into an entrance of the seed chute; and the accelerator wheel is operable to compress the seeds against the guide wall in a radial outward direction and accelerate the seeds along the guide wall into the seed chute.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lenfeld et al. (WO 2019/052587) shows a seed delivery system comprising: a seed meter comprising a rotatable metering disc configured to hold an array of singulated seeds; a seed accelerator comprising an accelerator wheel configured to dislodge the singulated seeds from the metering disc, and a seed chute configured to receive the seeds dislodged by the accelerator wheel; wherein the accelerator wheel is rotatable to dislodge the seeds from the metering disc in a radial outward direction and accelerate dispensing of the seed to the seed chute.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW R BUCK whose telephone number is (571)270-3653. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:30-5.
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/MATTHEW R BUCK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3672
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