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 final rejection. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 26 June 2026 has been entered.
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.
Claim(s) 1-10 and 12-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Iuchi et al (20210301424).
In regards to Claim 1, Iuchi teaches a method of processing fibrous solids in liquid comprising the steps of:
adding liquid (Paragraph 30) to a processing tank (Detail 120);
optionally adding one or more reagents to the processing tank (Paragraph 54: Na2CO3);
providing at least one screened cage (Detail 150) containing fibrous solids (Abstract: silk cocoons), wherein the screened cage is closed with a lid (Paragraph 45);
adding the at least one screened cage to the processing tank, wherein the liquid freely flows through the at least one screened cage (Figure 4);
agitating the liquid in the processing tank such that the liquid uniformly flows through the at least one screened cage; wherein the fibrous solids rotate freely within the at least one screened cage (Paragraph 35).
In regards to Claim 2, Iuchi teaches the fibrous solids are dissolved to release one or more components of the fibrous solids (Abstract: fibroin).
In regards to Claim 3, Iuchi teaches the one or more components are retained within the screened cage (Paragraph 35).
In regards to Claim 4, Iuchi teaches the one or more retained components are subjected to an agitation flow path that prevents packing of the one or more retained components within the screened cage (Paragraph 35).
In regards to Claim 5, Iuchi teaches the at least one screened cage comprises mesh having an opening sufficient to allow for fluid agitation flow within the at least one screened cage, wherein the opening is sized to contain the retained components, and prevent the fibrous materials from clogging or wrapping around the mesh (taught as being porous, no clogging is taught as occurring).
In regards to Claim 6, Iuchi teaches adding the at least one screened cage to the processing tank manually or automatically positions the screened cage to a desired position in a repeatable manner (Detail 160).
In regards to Claim 7, Iuchi teaches adding the at least one screened cage to the processing tank in a desired position additionally comprises securing the at least one screened cage such that rotation and/or deflection of the at least one screened cage from the desired position is prevented (Figure 4).
In regards to Claim 8, Iuchi teaches the one or more reagents comprises a solvent or a salt (Paragraph 54: Na2CO3).
In regards to Claim 9, Iuchi teaches the steps of:
removing the one or more screened cages from the tank; and
drying the retained components and/or fibrous materials (Paragraph 59).
In regards to Claim 10, Iuchi teaches the step of removing the one or more screened cages from the tank results in the draining of liquid from the one or more screened cages (Paragraph 22: drain).
In regards to Claim 12, Iuchi teaches performing additional processing on the retained material with the at least one screened cage (Paragraph 57: rinse).
In regards to Claim 13, Iuchi teaches the additional processing comprises one or more of dissolving or a chemical reaction (Paragraph 57: rinse would dissolve residual Na2CO3).
In regards to Claim 14, Iuchi teaches the fibrous solids are selected from the group consisting of silk cocoons, cellulose, and animal fibers (Abstract: silk cocoons).
In regards to Claim 15, Iuchi teaches the salt is sodium carbonate (Paragraph 54: Na2CO3).
In regards to Claim 16, Iuchi teaches the retained component is fibroin (Abstract).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 11 is allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 26 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the prior art of record fails to teach “wherein the screened cage is closed with a lid”. Examiner respectfully disagrees as detailed above. Paragraph 45 of Iuchi states:
“…the robotic arm 160 moves the rinse bowl 150 toward the first boiling take cover 124 to engage and/or retain a seal between the rinse bowl 150 and the protrusion 133 of the boiling tank cover 124”.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Shaun R Hurley whose telephone number is (571)272-4986. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Clinton T Ostrup can be reached at (571) 272-5559. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAUN R HURLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
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