DETAILED ACTION
Allowable Subject Matter
The indicated allowability of claims 1-24 is withdrawn in view of the reference to LINDSAY et al. (US 2022/0299301 A1). Rejections based on the reference follow.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by LINDSAY et al. (US 2022/0299301 A1).
Regarding independent claim 1, Lindsay et al. disclose a progressive press 10, comprising: a tool head 18 adapted to receive dies for loading or reloading ammunition casings; means 24 for providing reciprocating upward and downward movement of the tool head; a rotatable shell plate 58 having a plurality of recesses around a peripheral edge thereof adapted to receive ammunition casings; a shell plate motor 28 for providing periodic rotational movement of the shell plate, wherein periodic rotational movement of the shell plate is indexed to upward and downward travel of the tool head; a control system 110 112 controlling the shell plate motor whereby the shell plate motor is activated to provide rotational movement of the shell plate after upward travel of the tool head has been initiated; and the shell plate motor is halted such that the shell plate is stationary when the downward travel of the tool head is at a lowest point of its downward travel.
Regarding independent claim 18, Lindsay et al. disclose progressive press 10, comprising: a base; a tool head 18 adapted to receive dies for loading or reloading ammunition casings; means 24 for providing reciprocating upward and downward movement of the tool head; a rotatable shell plate 58 having a plurality of recesses around a peripheral edge thereof adapted to receive ammunition casings; a shell plate servo motor 28 provided in the base which is mechanically coupled to the rotatable shell plate to provide periodic rotational movement of the shell plate, wherein rotational movement of the shell plate 58 is indexed to upward and downward travel of the tool head; a control system 110 112 controlling the shell plate motor 28 whereby the shell plate motor is activated such that the shell plate is rotated after upward travel of the tool head has been initiated; and the shell plate motor is halted such that the shell plate is stationary when the downward travel of the tool head is at a lowest point of its downward travel, and whereby positions of tool head dies for loading or reloading ammunition casings are aligned with positions of shell plate recesses when the shell plate is stationary.
Claims 2-17 and 19-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over LINDSAY et al. (US 2022/0299301 A1).
Lindsay et al. disclose a progressive press 10 as discussed above with regard to independent claims 1 and 18.
Regarding claims 2-17 and 19-24, Lindsay et al. anticipate the claim limitations therein.
In the alternative, to modify the Lindsay et al. progressive press with the features of claims 2-17 and 19-24 would have been an obvious design modification of Lindsay et al. for a POSITA before the effective filing date to the invention, the modifications requiring only routine skill and knowledge of said POSITA.
Response to Arguments
The terminal disclaimer filed 03/17/2025 has been approved.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See the attached PTO-FORM 892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES S BERGIN whose telephone number is (571)272-6872. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am - 5am.
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/JAMES S BERGIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641
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