Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 21, 2026
Application No. 17/951,105

SOLDER CUTTING DEVICE, SOLDER CUTTING UNIT, PART MOUNTING DEVICE, AND PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 23, 2022
Examiner
GAMINO, CARLOS J
Art Unit
1735
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Hirata Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
35%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 35% of cases
35%
Career Allowance Rate
257 granted / 729 resolved
-29.7% vs TC avg
Strong +46% interview lift
Without
With
+46.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
42 currently pending
Career history
771
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
48.4%
+8.4% vs TC avg
§102
18.8%
-21.2% vs TC avg
§112
30.1%
-9.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 729 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Drawings The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “rotating body” in claim 1 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. 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 1-12 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 1 recites “a second drive part, actuating at least one of the first cutting member and the second cutting member in a second direction perpendicular to a plane part of the tape-like solder material”. It is unclear as to how the second drive part can actuate both cutting members simultaneously or actuate both in the second direction simultaneously. Perhaps the applicant means “actuating either”. Claim 1 recites “a transmission mechanism converting the linear motion of the moving body into a linear motion in the second direction and transmitting the same to at least one of the first cutting member and the second cutting member”. It is unclear as to how the transmission mechanism can transmit linear motion to both cutting members simultaneously or transmit both in the second direction simultaneously. Perhaps the applicant means “transmitting the same to either”. Claim 2 recites “a connection member… connected to at least one of the first cutting member and the second cutting member”. It is unclear as to how the connecting member can connected to both cutting members simultaneously. Perhaps the applicant means “connected to either”. Claim 3 recites “a first holding drive part, actuating at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member in the second direction”. It is unclear as to how the first holding drive part can actuate both holding members simultaneously or actuate both in the second direction simultaneously. Perhaps the applicant means “actuating either” Claim 3 recites “a transmission mechanism converting the linear motion of the holding moving body into a linear motion in the second direction and transmitting the same to at least one of the first holding member and the second holding member”. It is unclear as to how the transmission mechanism can transmit linear motion to both holding members simultaneously or transmit to both in the second direction simultaneously. Perhaps the applicant means “transmitting the same to either”. Claim 3 recites “a transmission mechanism”. It is unclear if this is the same as that recited in claim 1 or not. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure; see PTO 892. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CARLOS J GAMINO whose telephone number is (571)270-5826. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6. 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. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Keith Walker can be reached on 5712723458. The fax phone number for 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 file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /CARLOS J GAMINO/Examiner, Art Unit 1735 /KEITH WALKER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1735
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 23, 2022
Application Filed
Apr 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
May 09, 2025
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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1y 6m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
35%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+46.0%)
2y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 729 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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