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, 5-9, 11-14, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Harney et al. US 2010/0213666 (“Harney”).
Regarding claim 1, Harney disclosed a system comprising:
a vacuum chamber (360) operably coupled to one or more vacuum pumps (368);
a vacuum platen (352) operably coupled to the vacuum chamber, the vacuum platen comprising a plurality of apertures (351) formed therethrough, wherein the vacuum platen is configured to:
receive suction from the one or more vacuum pumps to secure one or more substrates to the vacuum platen; and draw air through the plurality of apertures to pull the one or more substrates against the vacuum platen (Figures 3 and 4); and
a controller configured to: adjust an area of the suction on the vacuum platen using a plurality of actuators; and synchronize, using a sensor, movement of the plurality of actuators with a leading edge of the one or more substrates (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 5, Harney disclosed the controller comprises a feedback mechanism that receives position data from the sensor, and wherein the controller actuates the plurality of actuators in synchronization with the leading edge and a trailing edge of the one or more substrates to reduce leakage of the suction (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 6, Harney disclosed the plurality of actuators is arranged in multiple rows across a width of the vacuum platen, and wherein each actuator in a respective row is configured to control the suction along a corresponding row of perforations in a conveyor belt (see paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 7, Harney disclosed the controller is configured to: detect a loading or unloading condition of the one or more substrates; and expand the plurality of actuators to provide the suction only in a region covered by the one or more substrates (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 8, Harney disclosed the controller is implemented using a computer system comprising one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the computer system to synchronize the movement of the plurality of actuators with motion of the one or more substrates (see paragraphs 0039 and 0043).
Regarding claim 9, Harney disclosed a method for operating a vacuum conveyor system for inkjet printing, the method comprising:
generating, using one or more vacuum pumps (368), suction within a vacuum chamber (360) coupled to a heatable vacuum platen (352) comprising a plurality of apertures (351) formed therethrough;
conveying, using a substrate transportation system (Figure 3), a substrate across the vacuum platen;
detecting, using at least one sensor, a position of a leading edge of the substrate (paragraph 0039);
expanding or retracting, using a controller, a plurality of actuators positioned between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum platen in a sequence according to the leading edge of the substrate to adjust an area of suction on the vacuum platen (paragraph 0039),
wherein the suction is maintained only within a region of the vacuum platen covered by the substrate to reduce air leakage (paragraph 0039); and
controlling, using the controller, the vacuum platen which would dry ink on the substrate in coordination with movement of the plurality of actuators (see paragraphs 0025 and 0034).
Regarding claim 11, Harney disclosed said detecting comprises: sensing the leading edge and a trailing edge of the substrate; and synchronizing expansion and retraction of the plurality of actuators to follow the sensed edges (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 12, Harney disclosed determining, using the controller, a loading or unloading condition of the substrate; and expanding the plurality of actuators to maintain the suction only within the region of the vacuum platen covered by the substrate during the loading or unloading condition (see at least paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 13, Harney disclosed the plurality of actuators is arranged in multiple rows across a width of the vacuum platen, and wherein the method comprises: controlling actuators in each row to adjust the suction along a corresponding row of apertures on the vacuum platen (see paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 14, Harney disclosed a method comprising: generating, using one or more vacuum pumps (368), suction within a vacuum chamber; receiving, using a vacuum platen operably coupled to the vacuum chamber, the suction from the one or more vacuum pumps, the vacuum platen comprising a plurality of apertures (351) formed therethrough; drawing, using the vacuum platen, air through the plurality of apertures to pull the one or more substrates against the vacuum platen; adjusting, using a controller, an area of suction on the vacuum platen by expanding or retracting a plurality of actuators positioned between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum platen; and synchronizing, by the controller using a sensor, movement of the plurality of actuators with a leading edge of the one or more substrates (see paragraph 0039 and Figures 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 18, Harney disclosed actuating the plurality of actuators in synchronization with the leading edge and a trailing edge of the one or more substrates to reduce leakage of the suction (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 19, Harney disclosed controlling multiple rows of actuators arranged across a width of the vacuum platen, each row corresponding to a row of perforations in a belt of a vacuum conveyor system (paragraph 0039).
Regarding claim 20, Harney disclosed detecting, using the controller, a loading or unloading condition of the one or more substrates; and expanding the plurality of actuators to maintain the suction only in a region of the vacuum platen covered by the one or more substrates (see at least paragraph 0039).
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.
Claim(s) 2, 4, 10, 15, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Harney in view of Baker et al. US 2022/0314649 (“Baker”).
Harney disclosed the limitations of claims 1, 9, and 14 as listed above but did not specify using pneumatic actuators. Baker teaches actuators (159) that comprises at least one pneumatic actuator configured to: expand and retract using pressurized fluid (paragraphs 0027 and 0029). Baker further teaches selectively activating, using the controller, one or more solenoid valves coupled to at least one actuator to direct fluid to the at least one actuator (see at least Figure 2). The adjusting comprises expanding and retracting at least one of the plurality of actuators using pressurized fluid (paragraph 0029). The one or more valves coupled to at least one of the plurality of actuators to direct fluid to the at least one of the plurality of actuators (paragraph 0029). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the teachings of Baker to provide any of the well known ways actuators including solenoid valves in order to precisely control airflow and vacuum at desired timings and conditions so as to efficiently provide vacuum control.
Claim(s) 3 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Harney in view of Musgrove US 4,070,001 (“Musgrove”).
Harney disclosed the limitations of claims 1 and 14 as listed above but did not teach using an eversible bladder. Musgrove teaches an actuator (Figures 1 and 2) that comprises at least one eversible bladder (26). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the teachings of Musgrove as an alternate way to control the air flow to efficiently provide vacuum control using a well-known, low cost, and reliable way to control the actuators.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOWARD J SANDERS whose telephone number is (571)270-3096. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael McCullough can be reached at (571) 272-7805. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HOWARD J SANDERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653
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