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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/057,293
`
`11/20/2020
`
`YASUYUKI ISHITANI
`
`PIPMM-64343
`
`7448
`
`Manns
`
`OR
`PEA
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
`CLEVELAND,OH 44114-3108
`
`ABRAHAM,JOSE K
`
`3729
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`09/22/2023
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`Thetime 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.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-7 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`Cj} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)( 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)[VM. Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a) All
`1.{¥] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 11/20/2020.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) (J Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20230914
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`47/057 ,293
`ISHITANI, YASUYUKI
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`JOSE K ABRAHAM
`3729
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 20 November 2020.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)\0) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
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`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`2.
`
`The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 20 November 2020 was filed prior to
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`the mailing date of this office correspondence. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37
`
`CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or moreclaims particularly pointing out
`and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the
`invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph:
`The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), second paragraph, as
`
`being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the
`
`inventor ora joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant),
`
`regards as the invention.
`
`In claim 1, the limitation “a connector part” renders claim indefinite because the metes
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`and bound ofthe limitation is unknown. In other words, a person of ordinary skill in the art
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`could not interpret the metes and bounds of the “connector part” so as to understand how to
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 3
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`avoid infringement. The claimed “connector part” could be any connecting mechanisms such as
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`an electrical connector, or a mechanical connector and terminal or a magnetic connector.
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`Though, lines 8-9 recites “a data transmitter provided in the main body and transmitting data to
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`the feeder carriage through the connector when the connector is fitted with the connector
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`part.”, the claimed data transmission could be enabled by a mechanical or magnetic connector
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`having near field data transfer. For example, a magnetic connector comprising data transfer
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`cable (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagSafe). Further, specification fails to point out the
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`enabling mechanism of the “connector part”. See para. [0043] of PGPUB US 20210187677,
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`“[W]hen feeder carriage 10 is connected to base 11 and connector 25is fitted to connector 11K,
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`controller 10C provided in feeder carriage 10 and control device 11C of base 11 are electrically
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`connected to each other, and data can be transmitted between controller 10C and control
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`device 11C.” whichfails to specifically pointed out connector 25is electrically connected to
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`connector 11K. Therefore, claim 1 is indefinite.
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`5.
`
`Claims 2-7 dependon claim 1. Therefore, claims 1-7 are rejected.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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`6.
`
`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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
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`basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AlA) 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 the same
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`under either status.
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`7.
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`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:
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`Page 4
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`(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 effectivefiling date of the claimed invention.
`
`8.
`
`Claim(s) 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yamasaki (US
`
`20090065149).
`
`9.
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`Yamasaki reads on the claims as follows:
`
`FIG. 4
`
`segs. Connector of feeder carriage soossenneccccooooogs CONNECtor part in the main body
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`Modified Fig. 4 Yamasaki.
`
`1.
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`A work device (component mounting apparatus 1, Figs. 1 and 2) comprising:
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`a main body (base2,Fig. 1);
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 5
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`a connector part (mounting apparatus-side connector 15, see Fig. 4 above, para. [0039])
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`provided in the main body and configured to be fitted to a connector (carriage-side connector
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`30, Figs. 3 and 4) of a feeder carriage (tape feeder changing carriage 20, Fig. 2, para. [0039]);
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`a guide (fitting guide 15a, Fig. 3, supporting a fitting operation by receiving the carriage-
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`side connector 30, para. [0040]) provided in the main body and guiding the feeder carriage so
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`that the connector is fitted to the connector part when the feeder carriage is brought close to
`
`the main body while making the connector face the connector part (mounting apparatus-side
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`connector 15 is provided with a fitting guide 15a supporting a fitting operation by receiving the
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`carriage-side connector 30, para. [0040]); and
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`a data transmitter (control unit 48, Fig. 4) provided in the main body and transmitting
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`data to the feeder carriage through the connector when the connector is fitted with the
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`connector part (by fitting the carriage-side connector 30 and the mounting apparatus-side
`
`connector 15 with each other, the pneumatic generation unit 16 and the electric power unit 17
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`located on the component mounting apparatus 1 side can be utilized on the tape feeder
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`changing carriage 20 side, para. [0041]).
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`10.
`
`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.
`
`11.
`
`Claim(s) 1 is, alternatively rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takanami
`
`(US 20170245407)in view of Sumi (US 20160366797).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
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`12.
`
`Regardingclaim 1, Takanami teaches,
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`Page 6
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`REARSie
`Se
`
`FRONT SIDE
`ee
`
`FIG, 4A
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`FIG. 4B
`
`
`
`sess CONNector part main body
`
`Baasaaannaninannnannnnannnnanys« connector of feeder carriage
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`Modified Figs. 4A and 4B, Takanami.
`
`1.
`
`A work device (component mounting production line 1, Fig. 1) comprising:
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`a main body (tape feeder mounter 5, Figs. 4A and 4B);
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`a connector part (device-side connector 5a, see Fig. 4A above) provided in the main
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`body and configured to be fitted to a connector (carriage-side connector 27, Figs. 2 to 4A) of a
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`feeder carriage (feeder exchanging carriage 10, Fig. 2, para. [0038]);
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`a guide (carriage pulling mechanism 5b, Figs. 4A and 4B, para. [0040]) provided in the
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`main body and guiding the feeder carriage so that the connector is fitted to the connector part
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`when the feedercarriage is brought close to the main body while making the connector face the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
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`Page 7
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`connector part (device-side connector 5a whichis provided on tape feeder mounter 5 of
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`electronic component mounter 2. In a state in which feeder exchanging carriage 10 is mounted
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`to tape feeder mounter 5, device-side connector 5a is connected to carriage-side connector 27,
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`and the power and air which are supplied from electronic component mounter 2 are connected
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`to feeder exchanging carriage 10, para. [0038]); and
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`Takanami does not explicitly teach the controller 4a that enables data transmitter provided in the main
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`body and transmitting data to the feeder carriage through the connector when the connector is fitted
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`with the connector part. However, Sumi teaches a component mounting device including a feeder
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`carriage in which,
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`a data transmitter (controller 70, Fig. 7) provided in the main body and transmitting
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`data to the feeder carriage through the connector when the connector is fitted with the
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`connector part (by fixing carriage 12 to table 6, storage 15 which is provided on carriage 12,
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`feeder controller 23 which is provided on tape feeder 10, and controller 70 which is provided in
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`component mounter M2 areelectrically connected to each other, para. [0035]).
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`Therefore, in view of the teachings of Sumi, it would have been prima facie obvious to one of
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`ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the
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`component mounter as taught by Takanami and to replace the controller 4a with controller 70 that
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`enables data transfer to the feeder carriage through the connector when connector is fitted with the
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`connector part.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`13.
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`Claim 2 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if
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`rewritten in independent form includingall of the limitations of the base claim and anyintervening
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 8
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`claims and to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA), 2nd
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`paragraph,set forth in this Office action. Claims 3-7 are allowable by virtue of its dependency.
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`14,
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`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
`
`Claim 2 would be allowable for disclosing a work device wherein the workdevice is compatible
`
`with a wider carriage and a narrower carriage having a horizontal dimension smaller than a
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`horizontal dimension of the wider carriage as the feeder carriage, the guide includes: a pair of
`
`outer guides disposed on left and right sides of the main body, respectively, and configured to
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`guide the wider carriage when the wider carriage is brought close to the main body; and a pair
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`of inner guides disposed on the left and right sides of the main body, respectively, and between
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`the pair of outer guides, and configured to guide the narrower carriage when the narrower
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`carriage is brought close to the main body, and the pair of inner guides is pressed by the wider
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`carriage and stored in the main body when the wider carriage is guided by the pair of outer
`
`guidesto be brought close to the main body.
`
`15.
`
`Though, prior art of record Yamasaki teaches a feeder carriage 20 in Fig. 2 and a guide 15ain Fig.
`
`3, Yamasaki does not teach a work device compatible with a wider carriage and a narrower carriage
`
`having a horizontal dimension smaller than a horizontal dimension of the wider carriage as the feeder
`
`carriage.
`
`16.
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`Prior art of record Takanami or Sumi does not teach a work device compatible with a wider
`
`carriage and a narrower carriage.
`
`Therefore, claim 2 would be allowable. Claims 3-7 would be allowable byvirtue ofits
`
`dependency.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 9
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`Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment
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`of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompanythe issue fee. Such
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`submissions should beclearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
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`Conclusion
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`17.
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`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure.
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`18.
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`Prior art of record Koyanagi (US 9669980) teaches a tape feeder including a connector provided
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`to connecta signal line or a power supply line of the feeder body to a connector of a feeder set stand of
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`the component mounting apparatus.
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`19.
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`Prior art of record lisaka (US 10925200) teaches a component mounting system including feeder
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`control device that connects to a feeder via connectors.
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`20.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to JOSE K. ABRAHAM whosetelephone number is (571)270-1087. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 EST.
`
`Examiner interviewsare 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.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`PETER VO can bereached on (571) 272-4690. The fax phone numberfor the organization where this
`
`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
`
`Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/057,293
`Art Unit: 3729
`
`Page 10
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`file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center,visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit
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`571-272-1000.
`
`/JOSE K ABRAHAM/
`Examiner, Art Unit 3729
`
`/PETER DUNGBA VO/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner of Art Unit 3729
`
`