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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being clearly anticipated by Yuyama (EP 2756834 A1).
Referring to claim 1. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
a tablet housing (2) that houses a tablet (T) and discharges the tablet through a tablet outlet (9);
a rotor (3) that is arranged inside the tablet housing (2) and comprises a tablet guide (88; Figure 5) that guides the tablet to the tablet outlet (9); and
a tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) that guides the tablet held at the tablet housing to the tablet guide (88; Figure 5).
Referring to claim 2. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein the tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) comprises a rod-shaped body (see shape of member 68; Figure 14a) that projects from a side surface of the tablet housing toward the rotor (see Figure 14a).
Referring to claim 3. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein the rod-shaped body (see shape of member 68; Figure 14a) has S-shape (see members 72 and 71; Figure 14b) as viewed from a side surface (see Figure b).
Referring to claim 4. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein a tip (72) of the tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) is positioned away from the tablet housing (2) by a distance less than a diameter of the tablet from an inner surface of the tablet housing in a plan view of the rotor (see Figure 18).
Referring to claim 5. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein the tip of the tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) is positioned radially outward of the rotor relative to a center of the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) in the plan view of the rotor (see Figure 18).
Referring to claim 6. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein the tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) comprises a plurality of rod-shaped bodies (68).
Referring to claim 7. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein an interval between the plurality of rod-shaped bodies (68) is equal to or more than a diameter of the tablet (see width of tablet T; in Figure 1 and 18).
Referring to claim 8. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein tips (72; Figure 14b) of the plurality of rod-shaped bodies (68) have different heights with respect to the rotor (se spacing by portion 67; Figure 14).
Referring to claim 9. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein one of the plurality of rod-shaped bodies (68) is inserted into an outer peripheral recess portion (40; Figure 1) arranged in a circumferential direction at a side surface of the rotor (3).
Referring to claims 10 and 14-18. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein the tablet introduction member (20; Figure 14a) that moves forward and backward from a tablet housing side (see flexing movement of member 20 and components 68; Figure 14a).
Referring to claim 11. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
a tablet housing (2) that houses a tablet (T) and discharges the tablet through a tablet outlet (9);
a rotor (3) that is arranged inside the tablet housing (2) and comprises a tablet guide (88; Figure 5) that guides the tablet to the tablet outlet (9);
a partition (20 bottom member 68; Figure 14) that partitions the tablet (T) in the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) such that one tablet (T) in the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) is located at a lower side of the tablet guide (88; Figure 5); and
a tablet introduction member (20 top member 68; Figure 14) that changes a posture of the tablet of the tablet guide above the partition (20 bottom member 68; Figure 14).
Referring to claim 12. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
wherein a tip (portion 72; Figure 14b) of the tablet introduction member (20 top member 68; Figure 14) is inserted into an outer peripheral recess portion arranged in a circumferential direction at a side surface of the rotor (see Figure 18).
Referring to claim 13. Yuyama discloses a tablet dispensing device (1: Figure 1) comprising:
a tablet housing (2) that houses a tablet (T) and discharges the tablet through a tablet outlet (9);
a rotor (3) that is arranged inside the tablet housing (2) and comprises a tablet guide (88; Figure 5) that guides the tablet (T) to the tablet outlet (9); and
a partition (20 bottom member 68; Figure 14) that partitions the tablet in the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) such that one tablet (T) is discharged through the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) to the tablet outlet (9),
wherein the rotor (3) comprises a circumferential groove (see member 72 inserted into wall 55; Figure 18) into which the partition (20 bottom member 68; Figure 14) is inserted, the circumferential groove (see member 72 inserted into wall 55; Figure 18) arranged at an outer peripheral surface of the rotor (3), and the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) comprises a chamfer (inclined tip of 3 leading into tablet guide 88) arranged at an upper end portion of the tablet guide (88; Figure 5) and below the circumferential groove (see Figure).
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 RAKESH KUMAR whose telephone number is (571)272-8314. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH from 8AM-6:30PM EST.
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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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/RAKESH KUMAR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3651
