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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/29/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Ha does not disclose whether the temperatures are measured externally or internally of the mold and measuring the temperature of cooling water supplied to the mold or the temperature of the injection material externally of the mold. This argument is not persuasive. Examiner notes the claim requires measurement of a physical quantity of “an object that is withdrawn from an interior of the mold part to an exterior thereof or that is fed from the exterior of the mold part to the interior thereof.” The claim does not specify where the measurement should be taken. Ha specifies at [0018] “the coolant temperature supplied to the mold” meaning the cooling water was outside of the mold and is being supplied to the mold.
Applicant further argues that Ha does not disclose recording the numerical value in association with identification data of the shot. Examiner disagrees. Ha explains at [0018] that the temperature is associated with the product produced by the cycle. Ha [0020] explains that the management PC 125 stores model information about the product along with the temperature data for each product produced.
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)(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 effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-2, 5, 8-9, 12, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ha (KR20160107882A, see English translation provided.)
Regarding claim 1, Ha meets the claimed, A management device for an injection molding machine configured to repeatedly perform a shot that is a series of operations for producing a molded product in a mold part, the management device comprising: processing circuitry configured to obtain, each time one or more shots are performed, a numerical value of a physical quantity of at least an object that is withdrawn from an interior of the mold part to an exterior thereof or that is fed from the exterior of the mold part to the interior thereof, (Ha [0018] describes a control unit 105 which receives temperatures of various parts of the injection molding machine including cooling water temperature, etc. [0008] discloses the temperature is measured at each cycle) the numerical value of the physical quantity being measured externally of the mold part; (Ha [0018] describes temperatures of cooling water being supplied to the mold and injection material temperature which are outside of the mold) and record the numerical value obtained each time one or more shots are performed in association with identification data of the shot for which the numerical value is obtained (Ha [0020]-[0021] describes the PC 125 stores model information about the products with the temperature model for the temperatures that produced each product.)
Regarding claim 2, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the physical quantity of the object is a temperature of the molded product withdrawn from the interior of the mold part to the exterior thereof, a temperature of a temperature-adjusting medium discharged from the interior of the mold part to the exterior thereof, (Ha [0018] describes the temperature of the cooling water being supplied to the mold or injection material temperature) a flow rate of the temperature-adjusting medium discharged from the interior of the mold part to the exterior thereof, a flow rate of the temperature-adjusting medium fed from the exterior of the mold part to the interior thereof, or any combination thereof.
Regarding claim 5, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect abnormality of the mold part based on the numerical value (Ha [0021] and [0025] describe a good product production temperature is set based on the defect rate for each part of the facility and the control unit will generate an alarm if the current temperatures are outside of an error range of the good product temperatures.)
Regarding claim 8, Ha meets the claimed, An injection molding machine, comprising: the management device according to claim 1 (Ha [0003]-[0005] describe an injection machine which uses the temperature monitoring system described.)
Regarding claim 9, Ha meets the claimed, A management method for an injection molding machine configured to repeatedly perform a shot that is a series of operations for producing a molded product in a mold part, the management method comprising: obtaining, each time one or more shots are performed, a numerical value of a physical quantity (Ha [0018] describes a control unit 105 which receives temperatures of various parts of the injection molding machine including cooling water temperature, etc. [0008] discloses the temperature is measured at each cycle) of at least an object that is withdrawn from an interior of the mold part to an exterior thereof or that is fed from the exterior of the mold part to the interior thereof, (Ha [0018] describes a control unit 105 which receives temperatures of various parts of the injection molding machine including mold temperature, cooling water temperature, injection material temperature among others) the numerical value of the physical quantity being measured externally of the mold part; (Ha [0018] describes temperatures of cooling water being supplied to the mold and injection material temperature which are outside of the mold) and recording the numerical value obtained each time the one or more shots are performed in association with identification data of the shot for which the numerical value is obtained (Ha [0020]-[0021] describes the PC 125 stores model information about the products with the temperature model for the temperatures that produced each product.)
Regarding claim 12, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to detect abnormality of the mold part based on the numerical value (Ha [0021] and [0025] describe a good product production temperature is set based on the defect rate for each part of the facility and the control unit will generate an alarm if the current temperatures are outside of an error range of the good product temperatures.)
Regarding claim 15, Ha meets the claimed, An injection molding machine, comprising: the management device according to claim 2 (Ha [0003]-[0005] describe an injection machine which uses the temperature monitoring system described.)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 3-4 and 10-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ha modified by Okada (JP4865853B2, see English translation provided.)
Regarding claim 3, Ha only describes displaying real-time values and does not meet the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a history of the numerical value on a display.
Analogous in the field of injection molding management, Okada also describes an apparatus that monitors and manages temperatures within an injection molding machine and meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a history of the numerical value on a display (Okada [0055]-[0056] describes the display screen displays current temperature data, data from 10 minutes prior, and data from 20 minutes prior, [0026]-[0027] describe a control device controls the display.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the device of Ha which displays temperature data with the device of Okada which displays historical temperature data so that the temperature transition over time can be measured, see Okada [0056].
Regarding claim 4, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a statistical value of the numerical value on the display (Ha [0019] describes the current temperature is displayed, if the current temperature is always being displayed, the minimum or maximum temperatures will also necessarily be displayed at some point.)
Regarding claim 10, Ha only describes displaying real-time values and does not meet the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a history of the numerical value on a display.
Analogous in the field of injection molding management, Okada also describes an apparatus that monitors and manages temperatures within an injection molding machine and meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a history of the numerical value on a display. (Okada [0055]-[0056] describes the display screen displays current temperature data, data from 10 minutes prior, and data from 20 minutes prior, [0026]-[0027] describe a control device controls the display.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the device of Ha which displays temperature data with the device of Okada which displays historical temperature data so that the temperature transition over time can be measured, see Okada [0056].
Regarding claim 11, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display a statistical value of the numerical value on the display (Ha [0019] describes the current temperature is displayed, if the current temperature is always being displayed, the minimum or maximum temperatures will also necessarily be displayed at some point.)
Claims 6-7 and 13-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ha modified by Liu (CN114986827A, see English translation provided.)
Regarding claim 6, Ha describes using a preset temperature to avoid defects but not describe suspending the shot in response to detecting a temperature outside that range.
Analogous in the field of injection molding, Liu also describes a method of temperature control and monitoring and also describes a method of controlling a temperature within a desired range. Liu meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to suspend the shot in response to detecting the abnormality (Liu page 24 [0023] describes cutting off the power when the temperature exceeds the preset safe temperature.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the management device of Ha which is capable of detecting abnormalities due to temperatures being outside the desired range with the monitoring system of Liu which shuts the powder off to the system at an abnormal temperature in order to protect the equipment and prevent damage, see Liu [0023] on page 25.
Regarding claim 7, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide a user of the injection molding machine with a notification (Ha [0021] describes the control unit 105 displays an alarm on the display unit).
Ha does not describe for confirming whether the user permits suspension of the shot before suspending the shot after detecting the abnormality and suspend the shot in response to confirming that the user permits the suspension of the shot.
Liu further meets the claimed, for confirming whether the user permits suspension of the shot before suspending the shot after detecting the abnormality and suspend the shot in response to confirming that the user permits the suspension of the shot. (Liu [0023] beginning on page 25 describes the system can stop the process at if the operator presses a button.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the system of Ha which notifies the user when the temperature exceeds the preset value with the system of Liu in which the system shuts down when a user hits a shut down button in order to prevent damage, see Liu [0023].
Regarding claim 13, Ha describes using a preset temperature to avoid defects but not describe suspending the shot in response to detecting a temperature outside that range.
Analogous in the field of injection molding, Liu also describes a method of temperature control and monitoring and also describes a method of controlling a temperature within a desired range. Liu meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 12, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to suspend the shot in response to detecting the abnormality (Liu page 24 [0023] describes cutting off the power when the temperature exceeds the preset safe temperature.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the management device of Ha which is capable of detecting abnormalities due to temperatures being outside the desired range with the monitoring system of Liu which shuts the powder off to the system at an abnormal temperature in order to protect the equipment and prevent damage, see Liu [0023] on page 25.
Regarding claim 14, Ha meets the claimed, The management device for the injection molding machine according to claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to provide a user of the injection molding machine with a notification (Ha [0021] describes the control unit 105 displays an alarm on the display unit).
Ha does not describe for confirming whether the user permits suspension of the shot before suspending he shot after detecting the abnormality and suspend the shot in response to confirming that the user permits the suspension of the shot.
Liu further meets the claimed, for confirming whether the user permits suspension of the shot before suspending he shot after detecting the abnormality and suspend the shot in response to confirming that the user permits the suspension of the shot (Liu [0023] beginning on page 25 describes the system can stop the process at if the operator presses a button.)
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to combine the system of Ha which notifies the user when the temperature exceeds the preset value with the system of Liu in which the system shuts down when a user hits a shutdown button in order to prevent damage, see Liu [0023].
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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 VICTORIA BARTLETT whose telephone number is (571)272-4953. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm EST.
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/V.B./Examiner, Art Unit 1744
/EMMANUEL S LUK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
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