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 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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6, and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schmidt (WO 2011057958).
Schmidt discloses an oscillating unit rotation control apparatus that controls a rotation angle of an oscillating unit for supporting a table to which a workpiece is attached, about a first rotation axis, the apparatus comprising: a rotating shaft (35) extending along the first rotation axis (9) and having an attachment end (bottom of 41, see Fig 2) to which the oscillating unit is attached (see Fig 1); a rotary motor including: a rotor (21) fixed to a side surface portion of the rotating shaft (35); and a stator (20) disposed outward of the rotor (21) and coaxial with the rotor (21); and a first brake mechanism (52) located on the attachment end side relative to the rotating shaft (35) and configured to act on the attachment end side of the rotating shaft (35).
Re claim 2, at least a part of the first brake mechanism (52) is located closer to the attachment end (bottom of 41, see Fig 2) than the stator (20).
Re claim 3, the first brake mechanism (52) is configured to act with the oscillating unit indexed to a predetermined angle (see Fig 2).
Re claim 6, wherein, of the side surface portion of the rotating shaft (35), a portion facing the first brake mechanism (52) has an external dimension larger than a portion to which the rotor (21) is fixed.
Re claim 7, a first bearing (22) located on the attachment end (bottom of 41, see Fig 2) side relative to the rotating shaft (35) and rotatably supporting the rotating shaft (35), wherein the first brake mechanism (52) is located inward of the first bearing (22) as viewed along the first rotation axis (9).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4, 5, and 8-15 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 VICKY A JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7106. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John R Olszewski can be reached at 571-272-2706. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617
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