Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-09-26)
Rejection types: 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
Amendments To The Claims:

The listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Original) An airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device, comprising an unwinding mechanism, a spreading mechanism, a winding mechanism which are sequentially arranged along a feeding direction, wherein the unwinding mechanism comprises an unwinding module; the unwinding module comprises at least one unwinding assembly, a carbon fiber roll (2) is placed on the unwinding assembly, and an unwinding tension control module is arranged at the discharge end of the unwinding assembly;
the spreading mechanism comprises an airflow disturbance spreading module, the airflow disturbance spreading module is located at the discharge end of the unwinding tension control module; the winding mechanism comprises a winding module, a winding tension stabilization module and a deviation correction module are provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module, and the airflow disturbance spreading module and the deviation correction module are respectively located at the feed end and the discharge end of the winding tension stabilization module;
and the winding module is located at the discharge end of the deviation correction module;the airflow disturbance spreading module comprises two airflow disturbance spreading assemblies, each airflow disturbance spreading assembly includes a centrifugal fan, the centrifugal fan communicates with the bottom of an airflow duct, and three spreading guide shafts are arranged side by side on the top of the airflow duct; a tension adjusting assembly is provided between the two airflow disturbance spreading assemblies; the spreading guide shaft and the tension adjusting assembly are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6), a seventh spreading guide shaft (13) is located at the upper port of an air duct I (25) and is connected to a slider module II (34).

2\. (Original) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 1, wherein the unwinding assembly comprises an unwinding air shaft (3), the carbon fiber roll (2) is placed on the unwinding air shaft (3), the tail part of the unwinding air shaft (3) is connected to a magnetic powder brake, the unwinding air shaft (3) is mounted on a mounting seat, and the mounting seat is arranged on a sliding module I (1);
a first guide shaft I (4) is arranged at the discharge end of the unwinding air shaft (3), and carbon fiber (6) released from the carbon fiber roll (2) is introduced into the unwinding tension control module through the first guide shaft (4).

3\. (Original) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 2, wherein a position sensor (5) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the discharge end of the first guide shaft (4), and the position sensor (5) is connected to the sliding module I (1).

4\. (Currently Amended) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 2\[\[ or 3\]\], wherein the unwinding tension control module comprises a tension detection roller I (9), and the tension detection roller I (9) is connected to the magnetic powder brake; one side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a second guide shaft (7) and a third guide shaft (8), and the other side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a fourth guide shaft (10) and a fifth guide shaft (11); the second guide shaft (7), the third guide shaft (8), the tension detection roller I (9), the fourth guide shaft (10) and the fifth guide shaft (11) are arranged in a M-shaped structure in a feeding direction and are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6).

5\. (Currently Amended) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 1, wherein the winding tension stabilization module comprises a floating roller module (21), and the floating roller module (21) is arranged on a linear slide rail (28); both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in

fit with the carbon fiber (6), and the carbon fiber (6) is introduced into the deviation correction module through the thirteenth guide shaft (29).

6\. (Original) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 5, wherein the deviation correction module comprises a frame type deviation correcting machine (22), a fourteenth guide shaft (30) is arranged at the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine (22), and the carbon fiber (6) passes through the frame type deviation correcting machine (22) and is introduced into the winding module through the fourteen guide shaft (30).

7\. (Currently Amended) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim l , wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

8\. (Original) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 7, wherein a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding reel (33), and the tension detection roller 11 (31) is electrically connected to the winding servo motor.

9\. (New) The airflow disturbance type of carbon fiber spread device according to claim 3, wherein the unwinding tension control module comprises a tension detection roller I (9), and the tension detection roller I (9) is connected to the magnetic powder brake; one side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a second guide shaft (7) and a third guide shaft (8), and the other side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a fourth guide shaft (10) and a fifth guide shaft (11); the second guide shaft (7), the third guide shaft (8), the tension detection roller I (9), the fourth guide shaft (10) and the fifth guide shaft (11) are arranged in a M-shaped structure in a feeding direction and are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6).

10\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 2, wherein the winding tension stabilization module comprises a floating roller module (21), and the floating roller module (21) is arranged on a linear slide rail (28);
both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in fit with the carbon fiber (6), and the carbon fiber (6) is introduced into the deviation correction module through the thirteenth guide shaft (29).

11\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 3, wherein the winding tension stabilization module comprises a floating roller module (21), and the floating roller module (21) is arranged on a linear slide rail (28);
both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in fit with the carbon fiber (6), and the carbon fiber (6) is introduced into the deviation correction module through the thirteenth guide shaft (29).

12\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 10, wherein the deviation correction module comprises a frame type deviation correcting machine (22), a fourteenth guide shaft (30) is arranged at the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine (22), and the carbon fiber (6) passes through the frame type deviation correcting machine (22) and is introduced into the winding module through the fourteen guide shaft (30).

13\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 11, wherein the deviation correction module comprises a frame type deviation correcting machine (22), a fourteenth guide shaft (30) is arranged at the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine (22), and the carbon fiber (6) passes through the frame type deviation correcting machine (22) and is introduced into the winding module through the fourteen guide shaft (30).

14\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 2, wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

15\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 3, wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

16\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 6, wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

17\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 12, wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

18\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 13, wherein the winding module comprises a winding reel (33), the winding reel (33) is mounted on a winding air shaft (32), and the winding air shaft (32) is connected to a winding servo motor by a coupling.

19\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 14, wherein a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding reel (33), and the tension detection roller 11 (31) is electrically connected to the winding servo motor.

20\. (New) The airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device according to claim 15, wherein a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding reel (33), and the tension detection roller 11 (31) is electrically connected to the winding servo motor.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
The previous office action mailed August 28, 2024 is vacated and replaced by the present. The present office action is served as the office action responsive to communication filed on June 29, 2023. A shortened statutory period for reply is set to expire 3 month from the mailing data of this office action. Claims 1-20 are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims 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-AIA ), 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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA  the applicant regards as the invention.
Claims 1-20 each recite “airflow disturbance type carbon fiber spread device” in the preamble, which is indefinite since it is unclear what the recitation “type” is intended to convey. See MPEP 2173.05(b)(lll)(E).
Claim 1 recites “the discharge end of the unwinding assembly”, in line 5-6, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the discharge end of the unwinding tension control module”, in line 8-9, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the winding mechanism comprises a winding module, a winding tension stabilization module and a deviation correction module are provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module”, in lines 9-11, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what structures are claimed as being “provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module”, here, the limitation appears to read that the winding module, winding tension stabilization module and deviation correction module are all provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module. If this is the case the limitation is further unclear since the winding module appears to be claimed as being between itself and the airflow disturbance spreading module. If applicant means that the deviation correction module is the only structure provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module, examiner suggests amending the claim to read as such.
Claim 1 recites “the feed end and the discharge end of the winding tension stabilization module”, in line 12-13, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the discharge end of the deviation correction module”, in line 13-14, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the bottom of an airflow duct”, in line 17, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the top of the airflow duct”, in line 18, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “the spreading guide shaft and the tension adjusting assembly are all in fit with the carbon fiber”, in lines 19-20, which is indefinite, since it is unclear as to what the limitation “are all in fit with the carbon fiber” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 1 recites “the spreading guide shaft”, which is indefinite since it is unclear if the spreading guide shaft recited in line 19 is part of or in addition to the three spreading guide shafts previously recited in line 17.
Claim 1 recites “the carbon fiber”, in line 20, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “a seventh spreading guide shaft”, in line 20, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, however, a fourth, fifth and sixth spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 1 recites “at the upper port of an air duct I”, in line 21, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “an air duct I”, in line 21, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “air duct l” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the air duct is a first air duct? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 1 recites “a slider module II”, in line 21-22, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “slider module II” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the slider module is a second slider module? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Further, it the “a slider module II”, is meant to be a second slider module, Examiner notes that a first slider module has not been previously introduced in the claim.
Claim 2 recites “the tail part of the unwinding air shaft”, in line 3, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites “a sliding module I”, in line 5, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “sliding module I” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the sliding module is a first sliding module? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 2 recites “a first guide shaft I”, in line 5, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “first guide shaft I” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the there are more than one first guide shafts, with a first guide shaft l being introduced in the claims? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 2 recites “the discharge end of the unwinding air shaft”, in line 5-6, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 2 recites “a first guide shaft”, in line 7, which is indefinite since it is unclear if the first guide shaft is the same or in addition to the “first guide shaft I” previously recited in line 5. For purposes of examination, examiner is interpreting the first guide shaft as being the same structure as the first guide shaft l.
Claim 3 recites “wherein a position sensor (5) in fit with the carbon fiber”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “in fit with the carbon fiber” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 3 recites “the discharge end of the first guide shaft”, in line 5-6, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites “a tension detection roller I”, in line 2, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “tension detection roller I” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the tension detection roller is a first tension detection roller? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 4 recites “second guide shaft (7) and a third guide shaft (8), and the other side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a fourth guide shaft (10) and a fifth guide shaft (11)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of guide shafts that are included in the claimed invention. Here, claim 1 recites “three spreading guide shafts are arranged side by side on the top of the airflow duct”, in line 17-18 in which are the second, third, fourth and/or fifth guide shafts recited in claim 4 part of or in addition to the three spreading guide shafts previously recited? Claim 1 also recites a spreading guide shaft in line 19, in which are the second, third, fourth and/or fifth guide shafts recited in claim 4 part of or in addition to the spreading guide shaft recited in line 19. Clarification is needed.
Claim 4 recites “and are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6)” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 5 recites “both sides of the floating roller module”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 5 recites “a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft”, in line 4-5, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 5 recites “both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in fit with the carbon fiber (6)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “in fit with the carbon fiber (6)” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 6 recites “a frame type deviation correcting machine”, which is indefinite, which is indefinite since it is unclear what the recitation “type” is intended to convey. See MPEP 2173.05(b)(lll)(E).
Claim 6 recites “a fourteenth guide shaft”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 8 recites “a detection sensor II”, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “detection sensor II” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the detection sensor is a second detection sensor? Further, examiner notes, that a first detection sensor has not been introduced in the claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 8 recites “the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 8 recites “a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding 12 reel”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 9 recites “a tension detection roller I”, in line 2, which is indefinite since it is unclear what “tension detection roller I” is referring to in the claims. Does applicant mean that the tension detection roller is a first tension detection roller? Examiner suggests using language that clearly defines structure in the claim.
Claim 9 recites “second guide shaft (7) and a third guide shaft (8), and the other side of the tension detection roller I (9) is provided with a fourth guide shaft (10) and a fifth guide shaft (11)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of guide shafts that are included in the claimed invention. Here, claim 1 recites “three spreading guide shafts are arranged side by side on the top of the airflow duct”, in line 17-18 in which are the second, third, fourth and/or fifth guide shafts recited in claim 4 part of or in addition to the three spreading guide shafts previously recited? Claim 1 also recites a spreading guide shaft in line 19, in which are the second, third, fourth and/or fifth guide shafts recited in claim 4 part of or in addition to the spreading guide shaft recited in line 19. Clarification is needed.
Claim 9 recites “and are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “are all in fit with the carbon fiber (6)” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 10 recites “both sides of the floating roller module”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 10 recites “a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft”, in line 4-5, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 10 recites “both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in fit with the carbon fiber (6)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “in fit with the carbon fiber (6)” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 11 recites “both sides of the floating roller module”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites “a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft”, in line 4-5, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 11 recites “both sides of the floating roller module (21) are respectively provided with a twelfth guide shaft (20) and a thirteenth guide shaft (29) in fit with the carbon fiber (6)”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation “in fit with the carbon fiber (6)” is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 12 recites “a frame type deviation correcting machine”, which is indefinite, which is indefinite since it is unclear what the recitation “type” is intended to convey. See MPEP 2173.05(b)(lll)(E).
Claim 12 recites “a fourteenth guide shaft”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 13 recites “a frame type deviation correcting machine”, which is indefinite, which is indefinite since it is unclear what the recitation “type” is intended to convey. See MPEP 2173.05(b)(lll)(E).
Claim 13 recites “a fourteenth guide shaft”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to the number of spreading guide shafts that are included in the claim. The claim previously recites “three spreading guide shafts” in line 17-18, and a spreading guide shaft in line 19, and a seventh guide shaft in line 20, however, a fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth through eleventh spreading guide shafts have not been introduced in the claim. Clarification is needed.
Claim 19 recites “the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 19 recites “a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding 12 reel”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
Claim 20 recites “the discharge end of the frame type deviation correcting machine”, in line 3-4, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 20 recites “a detection sensor II (31) in fit with the carbon fiber (6) is arranged at the feed end of the winding 12 reel”, which is indefinite since it is unclear as to what the limitation is intended to claim. Examiner suggests using language that clearly recites how each structure relates to another.
All dependent claims are rejected for depending from a rejected base claim.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
1. 10,570,536 by Faulkner discloses an apparatus for separating carbon filament with an unwinding mechanism, a spreading mechanism, a winding mechanism, an airflow spreading module, a tension control module, and a deviation correction device.


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Independent claim 1 is considered allowable. Independent claim 1 is allowable because the prior art does not disclose the structure regarding the claimed combination of the carbon fiber spread device, comprising an unwinding mechanism, a spreading mechanism, a winding mechanism which are sequentially arranged along a feeding direction, the spreading mechanism comprises an airflow disturbance spreading module, the airflow disturbance spreading module is located at a discharge end of the unwinding tension control module; the winding mechanism comprises a winding module; both a winding tension stabilization module and a deviation correction module are provided between the winding module and the airflow disturbance spreading module; and the airflow disturbance spreading module and the deviation correction module are respectively located at a feed end and a discharge end of the winding tension stabilization module; and the winding module is located at a discharge end of the deviation correction module; the airflow disturbance spreading module comprises two airflow disturbance spreading assemblies, each airflow disturbance spreading assembly includes a centrifugal fan, the centrifugal fan communicates with a bottom of an airflow duct, and three spreading guide shafts are arranged side by side on a top of the airflow duct; a tension adjusting assembly is provided between the two airflow disturbance spreading assemblies; carbon fiber is transmitted and guided by the three spreading guide shafts to achieve a uniform dispersion, and the tension adjusting assembly are configured to adjust tensile force of the carbon fiber (6); and one of the three spreading guide shafts is located at an upper port of the airflow duct and is connected to a slider module.
Claims 2-20 are allowable for the same reasons as claim 1.
The prior art does not disclose or teach these structures. The closest prior art appears to be Patent No. 10,570,536 by Faulkner and does not disclose or teach these elements.
Applicant’s remarks and amendments to the claims filed on December 20, 2024, have overcome the prior art of record.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US3960645A: Claims:
A tow opening mechanism comprising differential gripping means for gripping selected portions only of the width of a band of tow material composed of a plurality of longitudinally-extending crimped fibres to achieve relative longitudinal shifting of adjacent fibres of the tow under the application of tension to the tow band upstream of said differential gripping means, drag means located upstream of said differential gripping means and arranged to apply tension to the tow between said drag means and said differential gripping means, said drag means comprising a first pair of upper and lower rollers mounted for free-wheeling rotation and arranged to grip tow passing through the nip between the rollers, brake means operatively associated with at least one of said upper and lower rollers for applying a variable braking force to said at least one roller, brake actuation means operatively connected to said brake means for actuation of said brake means, means for controlling the pressure of one of said pair of rollers on the other to control the force applied to the tow passing through the nip between the rollers, means establishing a flow path of said band of tow between said drag means and said differential gripping means including a generally U-shaped portion when viewed in side elevation, said brake means controlling the rate of flow of tow from said drag means into said flow path in accordance with the speed of rotation of said upper and lower rollers, an elongate substantially inertialess cylindrical member having its axis extending generally horizontally with said cylindrical member engaging the upper surface of the tow band in the trough of said generally U-shaped portion of said flow path whereby the axis of said cylindrical member extends laterally of said tow band, said cylindrical member forming part of said means establishing a flow path, substantially inertialess lever arm means including a pair of arm members of substantially equal length passing one each side of the lateral edges of said tow band in said U-shaped portion, means mounting said cylindrical member to said pair of lever arm members adjacent one end of said lever arm means, pivot means located to the underside of one of the arms of the U-shaped tow band portion when viewed in side elevation and pivotally mounting said pair of lever arm members at a location remote from said one end thereof for arcuate movement of said pair of lever arm members about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical member, force-producing means connected to said lever arm means at a position closer to said pivot means than said cylindrical member on the side of said pivot opposite said cylinder member for providing constant downward force on said tow band in said generally U-shaped portion through said cylindrical member, and arcuate position sensing means including means engaging said lever arm means to detect the arcuate position of said lever arm means and thereby arranged to sense arcuate movement of said lever arm means, variable output means actuated by said engagement means for producing an output signal corresponding in strength to the positions of said engagement means and hence corresponding to the arcuate position of said lever arm means, said variable output means being inactive for predetermined positions of said engagement means corresponding to small angular displacements of said lever arm means and active for positions of said engagement means other than said predetermined positions corresponding to larger angular displacements of said lever arm means, and means operatively connecting said variable output means to said brake actuation means for activation of said brake means to apply said braking force to said at least one roller corresponding to the strength of said output signal and achieve said control of said rate of flow of tow from said drag means into said flow path.
differential gripping means for gripping selected portions only of the width of a band of tow material composed of a plurality of longitudinally-extending crimped fibres to achieve relative longitudinal shifting of adjacent fibres of the tow under the application of tension to the tow band upstream of said differential gripping means,
drag means located upstream of said differential gripping means and arranged to apply tension to the tow between said drag means and said differential gripping means,
said drag means comprising a first pair of upper and lower rollers mounted for free-wheeling rotation and arranged to grip tow passing through the nip between the rollers,
brake means operatively associated with at least one of said upper and lower rollers for applying a variable braking force to said at least one roller,
brake actuation means operatively connected to said brake means for actuation of said brake means,
means for controlling the pressure of one of said pair of rollers on the other to control the force applied to the tow passing through the nip between the rollers,
means establishing a flow path of said band of tow between said drag means and said differential gripping means including a generally U-shaped portion when viewed in side elevation,
said brake means controlling the rate of flow of tow from said drag means into said flow path in accordance with the speed of rotation of said upper and lower rollers,
an elongate substantially inertialess cylindrical member having its axis extending generally horizontally with said cylindrical member engaging the upper surface of the tow band in the trough of said generally U-shaped portion of said flow path whereby the axis of said cylindrical member extends laterally of said tow band, said cylindrical member forming part of said means establishing a flow path,
substantially inertialess lever arm means including a pair of arm members of substantially equal length passing one each side of the lateral edges of said tow band in said U-shaped portion,
means mounting said cylindrical member to said pair of lever arm members adjacent one end of said lever arm means,
pivot means located to the underside of one of the arms of the U-shaped tow band portion when viewed in side elevation and pivotally mounting said pair of lever arm members at a location remote from said one end thereof for arcuate movement of said pair of lever arm members about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said cylindrical member,
force-producing means connected to said lever arm means at a position closer to said pivot means than said cylindrical member on the side of said pivot opposite said cylinder member for providing constant downward force on said tow band in said generally U-shaped portion through said cylindrical member, and
arcuate position sensing means including means engaging said lever arm means to detect the arcuate position of said lever arm means and thereby arranged to sense arcuate movement of said lever arm means,
variable output means actuated by said engagement means for producing an output signal corresponding in strength to the positions of said engagement means and hence corresponding to the arcuate position of said lever arm means,
said variable output means being inactive for predetermined positions of said engagement means corresponding to small angular displacements of said lever arm means and active for positions of said engagement means other than said predetermined positions corresponding to larger angular displacements of said lever arm means, and
means operatively connecting said variable output means to said brake actuation means for activation of said brake means to apply said braking force to said at least one roller corresponding to the strength of said output signal and achieve said control of said rate of flow of tow from said drag means into said flow path.
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said variable output means includes an air pressure valve and said output signal is provided by air pressure passing through said air pressure valve.
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said variable output means produces an output signal which increases in value in a direction of movement of said lever arm and said inertialess cylindrical member downwardly from the predetermined positions corresponding to said predetermined positions of said engagement means to increase progressively said braking force on said first pair of rollers and said output signal decreases in value in a direction of movement of said lever arm and said inertialess cylindrical member upwardly from said predetermined positions thereof to decrease progressively said braking force on said first pair of rollers.
The mechanism of claim 1 including emergency brake means connected to said lever arm means to arrest undue arcuate movement of said lever arm means.
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said lever arm means extends beyond said pivot means in a direction generally linearly opposite to the direction of extension of said arm members and for a short distance as compared to the distance of extension of said arm members, said force-producing means being mounted substantially at the outer extremity of said extension.
The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said force-producing means includes a piston, an air cylinder in which said piston is mounted for reciprocation, means producing air pressure against said piston in said air cylinder, and an air reservoir in fluid flow communication with said air cylinder for absorbing shocks arising from sudden movement of said piston, said air pressure acting on said piston for application of a substantially constant force at said outer extremity of said extension, thereby to provide said substantially constant downward force on said tow band in said trough through said cylindrical member.
The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said differential gripping means comprises a second pair of upper and lower rollers arranged to grip the band of tow passing through the nip between the rollers.
The mechanism of claim 2 including a third pair of upper and lower rollers downstream from said second pair of upper and lower rollers arranged to grip tow passing through the nip between the rollers and to receive opened tow from said second pair of rollers and first blooming jet means located between said second and third pairs of rollers and arranged to stretch the fibres of said tow laterally, and plasticized adhesive supplying means located between said second and third pair of rollers and downstream of said first blooming jet means and arranged to apply plasticized adhesive to said tow, each member of said second and third pairs of rollers being mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, the horizontal axes of rotation of the members of each pair being parallel and lying in a substantially vertical plane.
The mechanism of claim 8 including an idler roller located out of the direct path from the second pair of rollers to the third pair of rollers and about which said tow passes to establish a flow path length of said tow between said second and third pairs of rollers which is longer than said direct path.
The mechanism of claim 8, wherein each member of said first pair of rollers is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis which lies in the common vertical plane of the horizontal axes of said second and third pairs of rollers.
The mechanism of claim 10 wherein said flow path establishing means includes an idler roller mounted downstream of said generally U-shaped section and adjacent said second pair of rollers for rotation about a horizontal axis lying in said common vertical plane and arranged to guide said tow band into the nip between said second pair of rollers substantially tangentially to both members of said second of rollers.
Ref US10570536B1: Claims:
A method for separating a carbon filament tow into reduced filament count bundles comprising: feeding a tow of carbon filaments with a first filament count into a guide array using a set of rollers to maintain tension on the tow; mechanically splitting the tow within the guide array into a plurality of filament bundles with a reduced filament count; feeding the filament bundles into a guide pin assembly to separate the filament bundles with a reduced filament count from one another; applying a false twist to the filament bundles to loosen individual filaments in the filament bundles; recombining the individual filaments of each filament bundle into a re-bundled ribbon; winding each re-bundled ribbon onto a take-up, wherein the re-bundled ribbons have a reduced filament count that is lower than the first filament count.
feeding a tow of carbon filaments with a first filament count into a guide array using a set of rollers to maintain tension on the tow;
mechanically splitting the tow within the guide array into a plurality of filament bundles with a reduced filament count;
feeding the filament bundles into a guide pin assembly to separate the filament bundles with a reduced filament count from one another;
applying a false twist to the filament bundles to loosen individual filaments in the filament bundles;
recombining the individual filaments of each filament bundle into a re-bundled ribbon;
winding each re-bundled ribbon onto a take-up,
wherein the re-bundled ribbons have a reduced filament count that is lower than the first filament count.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first filament count is 12K.
The method of claim 2 , wherein the reduced filament count is 3K.
The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a number of individual filaments in each re-bundled ribbon using a fiber sensor.
A method for separating a carbon filament tow into reduced filament count bundles comprising: feeding a tow of carbon filaments with a first filament count into a guide array using a set of rollers to maintain tension on the tow; mechanically splitting the tow within the guide array into a plurality of filament bundles with a reduced filament count; feeding the filament bundles into a guide pin assembly to separate the filament bundles with a reduced filament count from one another; applying a false twist to the filament bundles to loosen individual filaments in the filament bundles; recombining the individual filaments of each filament bundle into a re-bundled ribbon; winding each re-bundled ribbon onto a take-up, wherein the re-bundled ribbons have a reduced filament count that is lower than the first filament count, further comprising determining a number of individual filaments in each re-bundled ribbon using a fiber sensor and when the fiber sensor determines that the reduced filament counts in the re-bundled ribbons do not equal the desired filament count, transferring one or more individual filaments from a re-bundled ribbon having a filament count higher than a desired filament count to another re-bundled ribbon having a filament count lower than the desired filament count.
wherein the re-bundled ribbons have a reduced filament count that is lower than the first filament count,
further comprising determining a number of individual filaments in each re-bundled ribbon using a fiber sensor and
when the fiber sensor determines that the reduced filament counts in the re-bundled ribbons do not equal the desired filament count, transferring one or more individual filaments from a re-bundled ribbon having a filament count higher than a desired filament count to another re-bundled ribbon having a filament count lower than the desired filament count.
The method of claim 4 , wherein the fiber sensor determines the number of filaments in each re-bundled ribbon by measuring the electrical resistance of the re-bundled ribbon.
The method of claim 4 , wherein the fiber sensor determines the number of individual filaments in each filament bundle by measuring an optical characteristic of the filament bundle.
The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the false twist to the filament bundles comprises using a pneumatic false twist nozzle array adapted to produce false twists at a frequency up to 100 Hz.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least partially removing a coating from the filament bundles to facilitate dissociation.
The method of claim 9 , wherein removing the coating is performed by applying processing aids.
The method of claim 10 , wherein removing the coating comprises removing thermoset polyurethane from the filament bundles.
The method of claim 11 , wherein removing the coating is performed using ultrasonic low sonication.
The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a second coating to each re-bundled ribbon to maintain bundle cohesion.
The method of claim 13 , wherein applying the second coating to each re-bundled ribbon comprises applying thermoset polyurethane to the re-bundled ribbons.
The method of claim 1 further comprising curing the second coating by feeding the re-bundled ribbons through an infrared heating oven.
The method of claim 1 further comprising defining a helix angle formed between an advancing re-bundled ribbon and a plurality of ribbons wound on the take-up as the re-bundled ribbon is wound onto the take-up.
The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a winding tension before winding the re-bundled ribbon onto the take-up.
The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining tension control of the re-bundled ribbons using tension control rollers.
The method of claim 1 , wherein recombining the individual filaments of each filament bundle into a re-bundled ribbon includes utilizing linear inter-filament friction of the individual filaments.
Ref US4435239A: Claims:
A process for treatment of tow in preparation for forming tobacco smoke cigarette filter rods comprising the steps of withdrawing a continuous multifilament crimped tow from a supply source; banding the crimped tow to a predetermined width wider than the tow at the supply source by removing false twist from the tow, spreading the tow and partially breaking up bundles of crimped filaments; feeding said banded tow to a first zone and applying tension axially to the filaments across the width of said banded crimped tow to extend the crimp in and to partially deregister the crimped filaments within said tow and to partially bloom the tow; feeding the partially bloomed banded crimped tow to an enclosed second zone and further spreading the width of the tow within said second zone into a wide flat bundle of filaments by impelling a flat gaseous compressed stream in impingement against opposite sides of and across the width of said bundle of filaments at an angle less than 90Â° to the longitudinal axis of said bundle sufficient to penetrate the bundle, to encompass the filaments with said gaseous compressed stream and to propel the bundle toward and through a tapering exit of said second zone; feeding said bundle of filaments into a partially enclosed, wide rectangular third zone and therein momentarily confining and rapidly decelerating the linear speed of said bundle, applying compression against the mass of said bundle and allowing said bundle to be momentarily stored under conditions of low longitudinal tension, simultaneously allowing the compressed gaseous streams to expand and escape from said third zone at a location prior to the exit for said bundle from said wide rectangular third zone and thereby separate and bloom said filaments and cause said filaments to fill said wide rectangular third zone and to relax and recover a portion of their crimp, thereby forming a flat wide low density bloomed tow; feeding the bloomed filaments of the wide flat low density tow to a fourth zone and uniformly applying plasticizer at a consistent rate to both sides of and through said tow across the width thereof; feeding said tow to a fifth zone through and between two rolls to squeeze and to spread the plasticizer more uniformly on said filaments, and then feeding said tow onward for subsequent processing into filter rods.
withdrawing a continu
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