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 7/24/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Konno does not disclose the reference value in the pressure ratio being the setting of the pressure in the k+1 stage. Examiner first notes that setting the ratio is the intended use of the ratio setting unit. If the ratio setting unit is a control device or is part of the control device, it should be claimed as being “configured” to set the ratio. Additionally, this portion of the claim is unclear, see 112(b) section below. As best interpreted by the Examiner, the ratio is calculated based on the set pressure in the k+1 stage subtracted from the actual pressure in the k stage compared to the set pressure in the k+1 stage subtracted from the set pressure in the k stage unless the stage k=n in which case the reference pressure is zero. Konno meets this claim because Konno does not use a reference pressure and therefore would teach the reference pressure being zero in the k=n stage. The ratio described in Konno [0047] is also equivalent to this ratio for the “actual performance before reduction” shown on Figure 9. For example, Konno’s ratio Pr = Pa/P which in the stage prior to T1 is P1/P1 = 1. The claimed ratio would be (P1-P2)/(P1-P2) = 1. Konno meets the claimed ratio in at least this instance as can best be interpreted by the Examiner.
Applicant also argues that Konno Figure 9 selects the smaller pressure value obtained from the pressure and time reduction ratios to produce the pressure setting pattern rather than setting a lower limit value or correcting a reduction rate. Applicant also argues that Konno does not disclose these steps are done based on the pressure ratio. Examiner notes that setting a lower limit value and correcting a reduction rate are two of three possible options in the claim. Konno is cited as teaching the performing option.
Applicant argues that Konno does not describe the performing pressure holding control option as recited in claims 1 and 7. Applicant argues that Konno does not disclose reaching a predetermined lower limit value before the end of the k stage and maintaining that pressure constant until the end of the k stage. This is not found to be persuasive. Immediately prior to T1 in Figure 9, the predetermined lower limit value (P2) is reached and is not changed thereafter.
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 1-3 and 5-7 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.
Regarding claims 1 and 7, the claims recite calculating a ratio of a difference in pressures and then further claim setting a low limit such that “the actual value of pressure at the end of the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k+1).” It is not clear how the actual value of the pressure at the end of the k-th stage is used to calculate the ratio and then also used to set the lower limit to control the actual value of the pressure at the end of the k-th stage. The same is true of the correcting step such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value of P(k+1). The claim seems to use circular logic and it is not clear which actual pressure value is used to calculate the pressure ratio if the actual pressure value is also changed based on the ratio. Claims 2-3 and 5-6 are also rejected as being dependent from claim 1. The actual value of the pressure is interpreted to refer to any actual pressure value at any point in the process.
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 1-3 and 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being Anticipated by Konno (US 2006/0017416, made of record on the IDS dated 10/8/2023.)
Regarding claim 1, Konno meets the claimed, A control device of an injection molding machine including an injection member that presses a molding material and an injection drive source that moves the injection member, (Konno [0036]-[0040] describe an injection molding machine, a screw 20, motor 24, and a controller 26) the control device comprising: an injection control unit configured to control, in a pressure holding process of controlling a pressure acting on the molding material from the injection member, the injection drive source based on a set value of the pressure and on an actual value of the pressure, (Konno [0046] and [0050] describes pressure holding and controlling the output of the motor based on a ratio Pr of the setting pressure P and the pressure at completion Pa) wherein the injection control unit is configured to control the pressure holding process to have n stages (n is an integer of 1 or more) of combinations of set values of the pressure and holding times for holding the set values, (Konno Figure 9 shows the pressure holding process has four stages) the injection control unit is configured to perform pressure reduction control to reduce the actual value of the pressure with respect to the set value of the pressure from a middle of a k-th stage (k is an integer of 1 or more and n or less), (Konno Figure 9 and [0056] show how the pressure is reduced with respect to the setting line in each stage) the control device further comprises a ratio setting unit that sets a time ratio Tr(k) in the k-th stage and a pressure ratio ΔPr(k) in the k-th stage based on a set value P(k) of the pressure in the k-th stage, on a set value T(k) of the holding time in the k-th stage, and on information stored in advance, (Konno [0050] describes the pressure and time ratios) where Tr(k) is a ratio of a start time Ta(k) at which the pressure reduction control starts in the k-th stage to the set value T(k) of the holding time in the k-th stage, (Konno [0048] describes the time ratio as being the ratio of the start time and the setting value) and where ΔPr(k) is a ratio of a difference ΔPa(k) between the actual value of the pressure at an end of the k-th stage and a reference value to a difference ΔP(k) between the set value P(k) of the pressure in the k-th stage and the reference value the reference value is a set value of P(k + 1) of the pressure in a (k+1)-th stage in a case where k is (n-1)or less and is zero in a case where k is n (Konno [0047] describes the pressure ratio, the reference value being 0 which meets the claims where k is n and the Pr of Konno’s ratio being equal to 1 for the “actual performance before reduction” in the stage prior to T1 and the claimed ratio also being equal to 1 in the same stage) and in a case where k is (n - 1) or less and a set value P(k + 1) of the pressure in a (k + 1)-th stage is lower than the set value P(k) of the pressure in the k-th stage, the injection control unit performs at least one of: setting, based on the pressure ratio ΔPr(k) that is greater than zero, a lower limit value for the pressure reduced by the pressure reduction control such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1), performing, when the actual value of the pressure has reached a predetermined lower limit value before the end of the k-th stage by the pressure reduction control, pressure holding control to keep the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage constant at the predetermined lower limit value from a time at which the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage reaches the predetermined lower limit value to the end of the k-th stage, such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1) (Konno Figure 9 shows the setting pressure between T1 and T2 is lower than the setting pressure prior to T1. The actual performance of the pressure prior to T1 shows the pressure is reduced until just prior to T1 until the set pressure for T1/T2 and then does not further decrease, i.e., is held.) or correcting based on the pressure ratio ΔPr(k) that is greater than zero, a reduction rate of the pressure in the k-th stage according to the set value P(k) and the set value P(k + 1) such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1).
Regarding claim 2, Konno meets the claimed, The control device of an injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the ratio setting unit is configured to use the same value as the time ratio Tr(k) in the k-th stage as a time ratio Tr(m) in an m-th stage (m is an integer of 1 or more and n or less and is different from k), (Konno Figure 9 shows the pressure reducing ends at each time T1, T2, etc., after each stage making the ratio of Tr the same in each stage, see also [0056] describing that the ratios may be the same) and to use the same value as the pressure ratio ΔPr(k) in the k-th stage as a pressure ratio ΔPr(m) in the m-th stage (Konno Figure 9 show the pressure in stages T1 and T2 is the same, making the ratio the same as well, see also [0056] describing that the ratios may be the same.)
Regarding claim 3, Konno meets the claimed, The control device of an injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the ratio setting unit is configured to set a time ratio Tr(m) in an m-th stage (m is an integer of 1 or more and n or less and is different from k) and a pressure ratio ΔPr(m) in the m-th stage based on a set value P(m) of the pressure in the m-th stage, on a set value T(m) of the holding time in the m-th stage, and on information stored in advance (Konno [0050] describes setting the pressure and time ratios.)
Regarding claim 5, Konno meets the claimed, The control device of an injection molding machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a display control unit that is configured to display, on a display device, a start button for the injection control unit to perform the pressure reduction control according to setting of the ratio setting unit (Konno [0058] describes both a display and input device 35 for inputting values to the controller.)
Regarding claim 6, Konno meets the claimed, An injection molding machine comprising: the control device according to claim 1; the injection member; and the injection drive source (Konno [0036]-[0040] describe an injection molding machine, a screw 20, motor 24, and a controller 26)
Regarding claim 7, Konno meets the claimed, A method of controlling an injection molding machine including an injection member that presses a molding material and an injection drive source that moves the injection member, (Konno [0036]-[0040] describe an injection molding machine, a screw 20, motor 24, and a controller 26, [0045] onward describes the method) the method comprising: an injection control process of, in a pressure holding process of controlling a pressure acting on the molding material from the injection member, controlling the injection drive source based on a set value of the pressure and on an actual value of the pressure, (Konno [0046] and [0050] describes pressure holding and controlling the output of the motor based on a ratio Pr of the setting pressure P and the pressure at completion Pa) wherein the pressure holding process has n stages (n is an integer of 1 or more) of combinations of set values of the pressure and holding times for holding the set values, (Konno Figure 9 shows the pressure holding process has four stages) the injection control process has a pressure reduction control process of reducing the actual value of the pressure with respect to the set value of the pressure from a middle of a k-th stage (k is an integer of 1 or more and n or less), (Konno Figure 9 and [0056] show how the pressure is reduced with respect to the setting line in each stage) the control method further comprises a ratio setting process of setting a time ratio Tr(k) in the k-th stage and a pressure ratio ΔPr(k) in the k-th stage based on a set value P(k) of the pressure in the k-th stage, on a set value T(k) of the holding time in the k-th stage, and on information stored in advance, (Konno [0050] describes the pressure and time ratios) where Tr(k) is a ratio of a start time Ta(k) at which the pressure reduction control process starts in the k-th stage to the set value T(k) of the holding time in the k-th stage, (Konno [0048] describes the time ratio as being the ratio of the start time and the setting value) and where ΔPr(k) is a ratio of a difference ΔPa(k) between the actual value of the pressure at an end of the k-th stage and a reference value to a difference ΔP(k) between the set value P(k) of the pressure in the k-th stage and the reference value the reference value is a set value P(k + 1) of the pressure in a (k + 1)-th stage in a case where k is (n - 1) or less, and is zero in a case where k is n, (Konno [0047] describes the pressure ratio, the reference value being 0 which meets the claims where k is n and the Pr of Konno’s ratio being equal to 1 for the “actual performance before reduction” in the stage prior to T1 and the claimed ratio also being equal to 1 in the same stage) in a case where k is (n - 1) or less and the set value P(k + 1) of the pressure in a (k + 1)-th stage is lower than the set value P(k) of the pressure in a k-th stage, the injection control process includes performing at least one of: setting based on the pressure ratio ΔPr(k) that is greater than zero, a lower limit value for the pressure reduced by the pressure reduction control process such that the actual value of the pressure at the end of the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1), performing, when the actual value of the pressure has reached a predetermined lower limit value before the end of the k-th stage by the pressure reduction control process, pressure holding control to keep the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage constant at the predetermined lower limit value from a time at which the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage reaches the predetermined lower limit value to the end of the k-th stage, such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1) (Konno Figure 9 shows the setting pressure between T1 and T2 is lower than the setting pressure prior to T1. The actual performance of the pressure prior to T1 shows the pressure is reduced until just prior to T1 until the set pressure for T1/T2 and then does not further decrease, i.e., is held.) or correcting, based on the pressure ratio ΔPr(k) that is greater than zero a reduction rate of the pressure in the k-th stage according to the set value P(k) and the set value P(k + 1) such that the actual value of the pressure in the k-th stage does not become lower than the set value P(k + 1).
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.
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/V.B./ Examiner, Art Unit 1744
/John J DeRusso/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
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