Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/561,019

MECHANICAL HANDLING APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 15, 2023
Priority
May 17, 2021 — EU 21386029.9 +2 more
Examiner
SNELTING, JONATHAN D
Art Unit
3652
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Ocado Innovation Limited
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allowance Rate
604 granted / 879 resolved
+16.7% vs TC avg
Strong +32% interview lift
Without
With
+31.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
896
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
38.8%
-1.2% vs TC avg
§102
25.8%
-14.2% vs TC avg
§112
31.1%
-8.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 879 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 . 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 7/17/2026 has been entered. 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 1-15 and 17-21 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 “that one of the second group of predetermined locations” and “that delivery loading frame” in the last three lines of the claim, which lack proper antecedent basis in the claims. It is not clear to which location and to which deliver loading frame the Applicant is referring. Claim 4 recites “a first and/or a second direction” in lines 3-4. It is not clear whether this limitation requires both a first direction and a second direction or this limitation requires only one of a first direction and a second direction. Claim 9 recites “the same inclination” in line 6, which lacks proper antecedent basis in the claims. Claim 15 recites “that one of the second group of predetermined locations” and “that delivery loading frame” in the last two lines of the claim, which lack proper antecedent basis in the claims. It is not clear to which location and to which deliver loading frame the Applicant is referring. Claim 18 recites “a first and/or a second direction” in lines 3-4. It is not clear whether this limitation requires both a first direction and a second direction or this limitation requires only one of a first direction and a second direction. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-15 and 17-21 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JONATHAN D SNELTING whose telephone number is (571)270-7015. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:30 EST. 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, Saul Rodriguez can be reached at (571)272-7097. 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. /JONATHAN SNELTING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3652
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 15, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 12, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 17, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 21, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12765317
SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD
3y 0m to grant Granted Oct 13, 2026
Patent 12759790
CEILING CARRIER
2y 5m to grant Granted Oct 13, 2026
Patent 12753008
RACK STORAGE SYSTEM COMPRISING AN IMPROVED LOAD MANIPULATION UNIT
2y 0m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Patent 12747116
apparatus for tipping boxes
3y 2m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12747103
AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLE AND RACK SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR SUCH VEHICLE
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
69%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+31.6%)
2y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 879 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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