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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`14/828,840
`
`08/18/2015
`
`Hideki UCHIDA
`
`PIPMM—54923
`
`5069
`
`02/21/2018 —PEARNE&GORDON LLP m
`7590
`52054
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
`S UITE 1 200
`CLEVELAND, OH 441 14-3 108
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`2854
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/21/2018
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
`
`patdocket @ pearne.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`
` 14/828,840 UCHIDA ET AL.
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`MARISSA FERGUSON-
`2854
`itatus
`SAMRETH
`es
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with 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).
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If 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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`
`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 9/19/17.
`|:I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)lX| This action is non-final.
`2a)I:| This action is FINAL.
`3)|:l An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:I 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 EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)|:l Claim(s
`)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`htt
`:l/wwwus tooow’ atents/init events/
`
`
`
`
`h/Endex.'s or send an inquiry to PPeredback@ usgtogov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|:| The drawing(s) filed on _ is/are: a)|:l accepted or b)|:l objected to by the Examiner.
`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).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)I:I Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some” c)I:I None of the:
`a)I:I All
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.I:I 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)).
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attach ment(s)
`
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`.
`.
`2) X Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date 10/25/17.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`3) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`4) D Other: —-
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20171215
`
`5)IXI Claim(s) L6is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6 III Claim s) _ is/are allowed.
`s L6 is/are rejected.
`
`is/are objected to.
`
`) )
`
`_
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2854
`
`1.
`
`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 § 103
`
`2.
`
`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
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`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
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`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
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`the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`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.
`
`Claims 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sato
`
`(US Publication 2014/0117067) in view of James (EP 0768176), Naito et al. (JP 05-
`
`200975) and Abe (WO2011083765).
`
`With respect to claim 1, Sato teaches a screen printing apparatus comprising:
`
`a mask plate (300, Figures 1 and 2) having a pattern hole (Paragraph 0052)
`
`formed according to an arrangement of an electrode of a board (200);
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`a squeegee base (31) that moves along a first horizontal direction above the
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`mask plate (53, 54);
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2854
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`a squeegee (32) that is held by the squeegee base (31, Figures 1 and 2), and
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`prints paste through the pattern hole onto the board abutting on a lower surface of the
`
`mask plate by moving together with the squeegee base and sliding on the mask plate in
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`a squeegeeing direction along the first horizontal direction (Paragraph 0053); and
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`a paste supplying portion (4) that moves together with the squeegee base and
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`supplies the paste to the mask plate (Paragraph 0057, Figures 1 and 2 ),
`
`wherein the paste supplying portion has an ejection port (43, 50b) that ejects the
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`paste ahead of the squeegee in the squeegeeing direction (Paragraph 0057).
`
`However, Sato is silent with respect to whether the paste supplying portion
`
`supplies the paste to the mask plate while the squeegee is sliding on the mask plate, a
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`sensor that detects a remaining amount of the paste supplied to the mask plate,
`
`wherein the paste supplying portion supplies the paste based on the result detected by
`
`the sensor and wherein the paste supplying portion supplies the paste at a slant with
`
`respect to the sliding direction on the mask plate.
`
`James teaches a screen printing system (50) that provides a paste supplying
`
`portion (82) that supplies the paste (94) to the mask plate while the squeegee (76) is
`
`sliding on a surface (62, Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`supply paste while the squeegee is sliding as taught by James for the purpose of
`
`maintaining minimal paste volume that reaches the screen during printing without
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`stoppage of the paste thus while improving uniformity of thickness of the final product
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2854
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`while reducing the need to wipe the screen thereby saving time and manufacturing
`
`resources (Abstract).
`
`James does not explicitly disclose a sensor that detects a remaining amount of
`
`the paste supplied to the mask plate and wherein the paste supplying portion supplies
`
`the paste based on the result detected by the sensor.
`
`Naito et al. teaches a sensor (24a, 24b) that detects a remaining amount of the
`
`paste supplied to the mask plate and wherein the paste supplying portion supplies the
`
`paste based on the result detected by the sensor (Constitution).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`provide a sensor that detects remaining paste as taught by Naito et al. for the purpose
`
`measuring the paste quantity at all times thereby eliminating the need of the operator
`
`constantly watching the printing paste and effectively improve printing efficiency.
`
`Naito et al. does not teach the paste supplying portion supplies the paste at a
`
`slant with respect to the sliding direction on the mask plate. Abe teaches a paste
`
`supplying portion (14) that supplies the paste at a slant with respect to the sliding
`
`direction on the mask plate (Figures 3, 5 and 6).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`provide a paste supplying portion that applies paste at a slant as taught by Abe for the
`
`purpose of directly ensuring the paste is provided on the pattern area of the mask.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2854
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`With respect to claim 2, Sato teaches wherein the paste supplying portion (4) is
`
`attached to the squeegee base (31) so as to be reciprocatable along a second
`
`horizontal direction (X) orthogonal to the first horizontal direction within a horizontal
`
`plane (Paragraph 0057).
`
`Sato is silent with respect to whether while the squeegee is sliding on the mask
`
`plate, the paste supplying portion supplies the paste to the mask plate while moving
`
`along the second horizontal direction. James teaches a screen printing system (50) that
`
`provides a paste supplying portion (82) that supplies the paste (94) to the mask plate
`
`while the squeegee (76) is sliding on a surface (62, Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`supply paste while along a second horizontal direction as taught by James for the
`
`purpose of maintaining minimal paste volume that reaches the screen during printing
`
`without stoppage of the paste thus while improving uniformity of thickness of the final
`
`product while reducing the need to wipe the screen thereby saving time and
`
`manufacturing resources (Abstract).
`
`With respect to claim 3, James teaches the paste supplying portion (82) has an
`
`ejection port that ejects the paste (94) ahead of the squeegee (76) in the squeegeeing
`
`direction (Figure 3), and wherein the paste (94) supplied to the surface through the
`
`ejection port is scraped (76) by the squeegee which is sliding on the mask plate
`
`(surface 62 and Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2854
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`With respect to claim 4, Sato teaches a screen printing method for printing paste
`
`onto a board (300) by a squeegee (32) held by a squeegee base (31) that moves along
`
`a first horizontal direction (Y) above a mask plate (300) having a pattern hole
`
`(Paragraph 0053) formed according to an arrangement of an electrode of the board, the
`
`method comprising:
`
`causing the board to abut on a lower surface of the mask plate (Paragraph
`
`0048); and
`
`printing the paste through the pattern hole onto the board abutting on the lower
`
`surface of the mask plate by the squeegee (32) which is moving together with the
`
`squeegee base (31) and sliding on the mask plate (300) in a squeegeeing direction
`
`along the first horizontal direction (Y and Paragraph 0053),
`
`wherein the paste supplying portion has an ejection port that ejects the paste
`
`ahead of the squeegee in the squeegeeing direction (Paragraph 0057).
`
`However, Sato is silent with respect to while the squeegee is sliding on the mask
`
`plate, the paste is supplied to the mask plate from a paste supplying portion which is
`
`moving together with the squeegee base, measuring a size of the paste on the mask
`
`plate at a predetermined timing while the squeegee is sliding, wherein the paste is
`
`supplied to the mask based on a result of the measuring and wherein the paste
`
`supplying portion supplies the paste at a slant with respect to the sliding direction on the
`
`mask plate.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2854
`
`James teaches a screen printing system (50) that provides a paste supplying
`
`portion (82) that supplies the paste (94) to the mask plate while the squeegee (76) is
`
`sliding on a surface (62, Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`supply paste while along a second horizontal direction as taught by James for the
`
`purpose of maintaining minimal paste volume that reaches the screen during printing
`
`without stoppage of the paste thus while improving uniformity of thickness of the final
`
`product while reducing the need to wipe the screen thereby saving time and
`
`manufacturing resources (Abstract).
`
`James does not explicitly disclose measuring a size of the paste on the mask
`
`plate at a predetermined timing while the squeegee is sliding and wherein the paste is
`
`supplied to the mask based on a result of the measuring.
`
`Naito et al. teaches a measuring a size of the paste on the mask plate at a
`
`predetermined timing while the squeegee is sliding and wherein the paste is supplied to
`
`the mask based on a result of the measuring (Constitution).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`provide a sensor that detects remaining paste as taught by Naito et al. for the purpose
`
`measuring the paste quantity at all times thereby eliminating the need of the operator
`
`constantly watching the printing paste and effectively improve printing efficiency.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2854
`
`Naito et al. does not teach the paste supplying portion supplies the paste at a
`
`slant with respect to the sliding direction on the mask plate. Abe teaches a paste
`
`supplying portion (14) that supplies the paste at a slant with respect to the sliding
`
`direction on the mask plate (Figures 3, 5 and 6).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`provide a paste supplying portion that applies paste at a slant as taught by Abe for the
`
`purpose of directly ensuring the paste is provided on the pattern area of the mask.
`
`With respect to claim 5, Sato teaches the paste supplying portion (4) is attached
`
`to the squeegee base (31) so as to be reciprocatable along a second horizontal
`
`direction (X) orthogonal to the first horizontal direction within a horizontal plane
`
`(Paragraph 0057). However, is silent with respect to wherein in the printing step, while
`
`the squeegee is sliding on the mask plate, the paste supplying portion supplies the
`
`paste to the mask plate while moving along the second horizontal direction.
`
`James teaches a screen printing system (50) that provides a paste supplying
`
`portion (82) that supplies the paste (94) to the mask plate while the squeegee (76) is
`
`sliding on a surface (62, Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of
`
`filing of the present application to modify the paste supplying portion taught by Sato to
`
`supply paste while along a second horizontal direction as taught by James for the
`
`purpose of maintaining minimal paste volume that reaches the screen during printing
`
`without stoppage of the paste thus while improving uniformity of thickness of the final
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2854
`
`product while reducing the need to wipe the screen thereby saving time and
`
`manufacturing resources (Abstract).
`
`With respect to claim 6, James teaches the paste supplying portion (82) has an
`
`ejection port that ejects the paste (94) ahead of the squeegee (76) in the squeegeeing
`
`direction (Figure 3), and wherein the paste (94) supplied to the surface through the
`
`ejection port is scraped (76) by the squeegee which is sliding on the mask plate
`
`(surface 62 and Abstract and Page 3, Lines 52-56).
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`2.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-6 filed on 9/19/17 have been
`
`considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of the current rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to MARISSA FERGUSON-SAMRETH whose telephone
`
`number is (571 )272-2163. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00am-6:00pm.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
`
`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/828,840
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2854
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Judy Nguyen can be reached on 571-272—2258. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272—1000.
`
`/MARISSA FERGUSON-SAMRETH/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2854
`
`/Jill Culler/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2854
`
`