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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
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`14/798,839
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`07/14/2015
`
`Masayuki MANTANI
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`PIPMM-54772
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`5338
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`759°
`52°“
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
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`10’01’2018
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`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
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`CLEVELAND, OH 44114-3108
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`CAZAN LIVIUS RADU
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`3729
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`PAPER NUMBER
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`NOTIFICATION DATE
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`DELIVERY MODE
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`10/01/2018
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`ELECTRONIC
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`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
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`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
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`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`patdoeket@pearne.eom
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`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
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`

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`Off/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`14/798,839
`Examiner
`LIVIUS R CAZAN
`
`Applicant(s)
`MANTANI et al.
`Art Unit
`AIA Status
`3729
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
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`Status
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`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 9/17/2018.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
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`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
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`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
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`4)[:] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
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`Disposition of Claims*
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`5)
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`Claim(s) a is/are pending in the application.
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`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
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`Claim(s) a is/are rejected.
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`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
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`) ) ) )
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`6 7
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`8
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`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabte. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
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`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
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`11)[:] The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are: a)D accepted or b)l:] objected to by the Examiner.
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`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
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`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
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`a)D All
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`b)I:J Some”
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`c)C] None of the:
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`1.[:]
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`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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`2.[:]
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`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
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`3.[:] Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
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`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
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`Attachment(s)
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`1)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`2) E] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
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`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
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`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
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`Office Action Summary
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`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20180925
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 2
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`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013,
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`is being examined under the first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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`2.
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`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR
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`1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued
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`examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality
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`of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed
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`on 8/1/2018 has been entered.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`3.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections
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`set forth in this Office action:
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`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.
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`4.
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`Claims 2 and 3 are re‘ected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as bein un atentable over APA admitted rior
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`artl in view of Ishitani lWO/2013/080408; refer to U52014/0298649 as an English-language eguivalentlI
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`Salansky lUSS490493lI Matrone lUS4850104lI and Bickford lU56398588l.
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`5.
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`The concept of disposing two component mounting apparatuses back-to-back is known:
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`APA teaches that it is known to provide two component mounting apparatuses disposed back-to-
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`back, each having its own controller, wherein it is possible to perform mounting operations for
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`two substrates simultaneously (see para. [0002]-[0008] of the present application). Note that the
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`application does not explicitly mention, for the present invention, the back side of the first
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`component mounting or printing apparatus being disposed in contact with the back side of the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 3
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`second component mounting or printing apparatus. Rather, the term ”back-to-back” is used.
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`Therefore, based on the present amendment, it is understood that Applicant interprets ”back-to-
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`back” as meaning the back side of the first component mounting or printing apparatus is disposed
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`in contact with the back side of the second component mounting or printing apparatus. Therefore,
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`APA also discloses the back side of a first component mounting or printing apparatus being
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`disposed in contact with the back side of a second component mounting or printing apparatus,
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`because the prior art apparatuses are disclosed as being ”back-to-back” (see para. [0004]).
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`However, the examiner respectfully suggests that Applicant reviews this limitation, because even
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`if the claims were patentable as claimed, one could implement the system in an identical manner
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`as Applicant, except for the apparatuses being slightly spaced from each other. Such a system
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`would not infringe on the claimed invention, because the apparatuses would not be disposed such
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`that the back of one contacts the back of the other.
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`The concept of two component mounting apparatuses being controlled by a single controller is
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`known:
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`|shitani discloses (refer to Fig. 1 and para. [0019]) two component mounting apparatuses (11 and
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`13) controlled by a common controller (4). |shitani shows that it is known to use a single controller
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`to control two component mounting apparatuses.
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`7.
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`The concept of connecting multiple apparatuses, such that a first apparatus controls the
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`operation of the connected apparatuses is known:
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`Salansky, for example, discloses a plurality of machines (41, 41’ and 41”) for delivering balls,
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`wherein the machines are connected by means of signal transmission cables (39, 39’) attached to
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`connectors (42, 34’, 42’, 34”). Each machine has a controller (30, 30’, 30”) connected to the
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`connectors via a transmission line (32, 32’). The machines can be operated independently, or the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 4
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`controller of the first machine, 41, can control the operation of the other two machines, 41’ and
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`41”, the control signals being routed through the connectors, cables, and signal lines.
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`Matrone teaches a system for configuring, automating and controlling operations performed on
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`PCBs and other products. The example system disclosed by Matrone includes multiple conveyor
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`units (13 and 12), wherein only a master conveyor unit (13) includes a controller. Slave conveyor
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`units (2), do not include a controller, thereby avoiding the need for redundant microprocessors
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`within each slave conveyor unit. The slave conveyor units are plugged into the master conveyor
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`controller. See col. 9, In. 66 to col. 10, In. 14. The controller for each conveyor unit 13 is housed
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`in the base of the unit and controls the conveyor unit 13 and slave conveyor units 12 on direction
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`from the master control unit 17 (see col. 21, In. 62-65). Although not explicitly mentioned by
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`Matrone, it is readily apparent that the conveyor unit 13 includes a connector by means of which
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`the slave conveyor units 12 are ”plugged into” (see col. 10, In. 5). Moreover, since the control unit
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`of the master conveyor unit is housed within the base of the unit, there must be a transmission
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`line for transmitting a signal from the control unit to the connector into which the slave conveyor
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`units are plugged, and there must also be a transmission line within each slave conveyor unit 12,
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`such that the control signals sent by the master conveyor unit 13 control the operation of the
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`slave conveyor units 12. Also, the control unit also transmits signals for controlling the master
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`conveyor unit 13. Matrone, therefore, teaches the concept of providing multiple devices, which
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`perform identical functions, but providing only one of them as a master device, with a controller
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`disposed therein, such that the other, slave devices, lack a controller, and plug into the master
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`device and receive control signals therefrom.
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`The concept of disposing a connector in an opening of the chassislhousing of an apparatus is
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`known:
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 5
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`Bickford shows that it is known to form an opening in a chassis of an apparatus (see connector
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`aperture 130) so that a connector (120) can be disposed in the opening so as to be accessible from
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`outside the chassis.
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`9.
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`Taking into consideration the teachings of all of these references, one of ordinary skill in the art
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`before the effective filing date of the application would have found it obvious to modify the apparatuses
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`of APA so as to be controlled by a single controller, since the apparatuses are used together to perform
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`mounting operations on two substrates in parallel, and |shitani shows that a single controller can control
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`two mounting apparatuses.
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`10.
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`Further, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement such a system
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`such that the controller is located in one of the apparatuses, with a connector provided in each apparatus,
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`and corresponding signal lines disposed within each apparatus between its connector and pertinent
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`circuitry. Salansky and Matrone both show that it is known to connect apparatuses together such that
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`the controller located in a first apparatus can control the operation of the other apparatuses connected
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`thereto, and Matrone shows that it is known to omit the controller from the other apparatuses, to reduce
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`cost. Although Salansky and Matrone are not component mounting apparatuses, they are deemed related
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`prior art because the claimed invention, although implement by Applicant in component mounting and
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`printing apparatuses, is a general concept applicable to any environment in which multiple controller-
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`operated apparatuses perform the same task. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill in the art to locate the controller in only one of the two apparatuses, yet controlling the operation of
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`both, in order to reduce cost of the apparatus not including a controller.
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`11.
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`Regarding the location of the connectors within respective openings on the back side of the first
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`and second apparatus, this limitation is deemed obvious because the location of the connector can be
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`changed without affecting the operation of the apparatuses. Since the apparatuses of APA are disposed
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 6
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`back-to-back, it makes sense to place the first transmission connector on the back of the first component
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`mounting apparatus, and the second transmission connector on the back side of the second component
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`mounting apparatus, so as to provide a short connection distance between the two connectors. Further,
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`Bickford shows that it is known to form an opening in the chassis of an apparatus, so that a connector of
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`the apparatus can be located within the opening. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
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`skill
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`in the art to provide a corresponding opening,
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`in the back of each apparatus, so that the
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`corresponding connector is located within the opening and accessible to the outside of the apparatus. As
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`to the location of the first opening in registry with the second opening, it is deemed it would have been
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`obvious to dispose the openings as such, to minimize the distance between the connectors when the
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`apparatuses are disposed back-to-back.
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`12.
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`Claims 2 and 3 are reiected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over APA in view of |shitani,
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`Salansky, Matrone, and Bickford, further in view of Cheng lUS7125184l.
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`13.
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`APA,
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`|shitani, Salansky, Matrone and Bickford, together render obvious the claimed invention.
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`However,
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`if Applicant
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`interprets claims 2 as requiring a direct connector-to-connector connection
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`between the two apparatuses, as opposed to using a cable therebetween, it should be noted that such a
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`concept is not new.
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`14.
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`Cheng, for example, shows a printer 2 to which an expansion device 3 can be attached, wherein
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`a signal can be transmitted between the printer and the expansion device by means of a connector 24 on
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`the bottom of the printer and a connector 34 on the top surface of the expansion device, wherein the two
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`connectors are directly connected (see Figs. 3 and 4).
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`15.
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`In view of the teachings of Cheng, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art,
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`before the effective filing date of the application, to configure the two component mounting apparatuses
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`of APA such that the first and second connectors can be directly connected when the apparatuses are
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`disposed back-to-back.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 14/798,839
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 7
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`Response to Arguments
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`16.
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`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 2-3 have been considered but are moot because the
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`arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection.
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`Conclusion
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`17.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
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`be directed to LIVIUS R CAZAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8032. The examiner can normally
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`be reached on Monday - Friday noon-8:30pm.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO
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`supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the
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`USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Peter
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`Vo can be reached on 571-272-4690. The fax phone number for the organization where this application
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`or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application
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`Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from
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`either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through
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`9/26/2018
`
`/LIVIUS RADU CAZAN/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3729
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`