Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 01/08/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 3-12, and 25-29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by JP 2018-127270, hereafter will be pointed out to as ‘270.
Regarding claim 1: ‘270 discloses a machine that forms a web into bags or pouches, the machine comprising:
a sealing section through which the web is conveyed in a machine direction, the sealing section forming a lap seal in the web (Figs. 3-4; via the shown conveyed film F & lap seal mechanism of the F) and the sealing section having:
an input end receiving the web, the web having a first web section and a second web section, the first web section includes opposing sides of the web that overlap each other (Figs. 3-4; via Fa & Fb overlapped ends of web F through sealing mechanism 50);
an ultrasonic sealer with a horn and an anvil defining a nip therebetween (Figs. 3-5; via 52 & 54) through which the first web section passes, wherein the ultrasonic sealer is to form the lap seal in the first web section, and wherein the anvil is positioned between the first web section and the second web section (via the shown sealed lap sections of web F by 52/54);
an output end to dispense the web with the lap seal formed therein (Fig. 1; via the shown output section of the web F after sealing of the overlapped edges);
a frame extending in cross directions transverse to the machine direction (Fig. 1; via the shown machine’s frame); and
an arm assembly that couples to the frame and holds the anvil, the arm assembly is to be movable in the cross directions along the frame to thereby reposition the anvil relative to the horn, see for example (Figs. 1-5; via the shown movement directions shown by the arrows of the sealing station 50 and capability of being moved in different directions; while inherently the sealing elements 52/54 are held somehow to the machine’s frame as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of sealing statin 50 held by different machine’s frame arms/parts).
Regarding claim 3: wherein the web is continuously conveyed through the sealing section and the ultrasonic sealer continuously forms the lap seal in the web (Figs. 3-4; via F being sealed while conveyed).
Regarding claim 4: wherein the web received via the input end has a tubular shape with an oblong cross section and a void defined between the first web section and the second web section, and wherein the anvil is in the void and each of the first web section and the second web section each pass along opposite sides of the anvil (Figs. 3-4; via 54/55 in the void of the overlapped edges and formed tube of F).
Regarding claim 5: wherein the web is conveyed in the machine direction through the machine, and the machine further comprises:
a folding station upstream from the sealing section, the folding station is configured to fold each side of the web in opposite cross directions such that the sides the web overlap each other (Fig. 3; via the shown folding station 30 upstream of the sealing station 50); and
wherein the first web section includes the overlapping sides of the web (Fig. 4; via the shown overlapped sides Fa/Fb).
Regarding claim 6: wherein the folding station is configured to fold the web into a tubular shape (via the shown formed tube of web F around 34).
Regarding claim 7: wherein the folding station is configured to fold the web such that a void is defined by the web, and wherein the anvil is positioned in the void, see for example (Figs. 3-4; via 55 positioned inside the formed void of formed tube).
Regarding claim 8: wherein the web defines a void between the first web section and the second web section, and wherein as the web is conveyed through the sealing section the anvil is in the void and each of the first web section and the second web section pass along opposite sides of the anvil, see for example (Figs. 3-4; via the shown conveyed web F while having the anvil 54/55 in the formed void between and the web F moving in the opposite sides in respect to the anvil 54/55).
Regarding claim 9: wherein the sealing section includes a frame that extends in a cross direction that is transverse to the machine direction, and wherein the frame cantilevers the anvil into the void, see for example (Fig. 1; via the shown machine’s frame mechanism holding the sealing station 50).
Regarding claim 10: further comprising a roller system configured to convey the web in the machine direction (Fig. 3; via conveying rollers 42).
Regarding claim 11: wherein the web is conveyed in the machine direction through the machine, and the sealing section further comprises an arm assembly configured to extend in the machine direction such that the arm assembly extends between the first web section and the second web section to thereby hold the anvil (Fig. 1; via the shown machine’s frame with its arms and surfaces holding the sealing station 50 with its all sealing elements 52 & 54).
Regarding claim 12: wherein the sealing section further comprises a frame extending in a cross direction and being spaced apart from the web, the frame supports the arm assembly relative to the web (Figs. 1 & 6; via the shown frame and its surface 58a, extending in the cross direction in respect to the sealing station 50).
Regarding claim 25: further comprising a fastener for removably coupling the arm assembly to the frame (Fig. 6; via fastening mechanism 58c and/or 58b and/or the shown different fastening mechanism around the sealing station 50).
Regarding claim 26: wherein the frame has a plurality of mounting holes each spaced apart from each other in the cross direction (Fig. 6; via the shown different spaced holes in the frame to accommodate the sealing station 50 along with its elements).
Regarding claim 27: further comprising a fastener removably received into one mounting hole in the plurality of mounting holes to thereby couple the arm assembly to the frame, see for example (Fig. 6; via the shown fasteners 58c and/or 58b mounting into one of the frame’s holes).
Regarding claim 28: wherein the anvil is rotatable about an axis (Figs. 4-5; via the rotating 54 around axis 55).
Regarding claim 29: wherein the arm assembly has a cutout in which the anvil is received and rotatable, see for example (Figs. 1 & 6; the shown cutouts among the machines frame to host the sealing station 50 and anvil 54).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 3-12, and 25-29 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
In light of the latest filed IDS on 01/08/2026, a new ground of rejection issued as set forth above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited other prior arts of record also suggest similar bag forming machine with the use of sealing mechanism held and adjusted by a movable frame.
Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on 01/08/2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMEH TAWFIK whose telephone number is (571)272-4470. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shelle Self can be reached at 571-272-4524. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SAMEH TAWFIK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731
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