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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-9, 11-15, and 18-21) in the reply filed on 7/31/2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Objections
Claims 14 and 21 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 14 recites “two recesses”, for clarity, claim may be re-written as --at least two recesses of the plurality of recesses--
Claim 21, recites “4 to 9 recesses”, which may also be re-written as --four to nine recesses of the plurality of recesses--. Appropriate correction is required.
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 3 and 8 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 3, recites “the recesses” in line 2. Claim as written is vague and indefinite as it is unclear whether for each instance “the recesses” it is unclear whether for each instance of “the recesses” whether applicant is referring to all of the “plurality of recesses” or some of the “plurality of recesses”. Applicant is urged to clarify this in the next action.
Claim 8, recites “the recesses” in line 2. Claim as written is vague and indefinite as it is unclear whether for each instance “the recesses” it is unclear whether for each instance of “the recesses” whether applicant is referring to all of the “plurality of recesses” or some of the “plurality of recesses”. Applicant is urged to clarify this in the next action.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2, 4-5,7,11-13,15,18-20 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the Applicant argued that the closest prior art as applied, fails to teach a 3D printing device for additive manufacturing of a component with granular processing material, the 3D printing device comprising: at least one extruder screw; and a charging system for feeding the granular processing material to the at least one extruder screw, the charging system including: hopper adapted to guide the granular processing material along a feed direction to the at least one extruder screw and extending along a hopper axis, which extends parallel to a vertically extending longitudinal axis of the extruder screw, wherein the hopper includes a hopper wall extending around the hopper axis, and a plurality of recesses on the hopper wall, wherein each recess of the plurality of recesses extends axially with respect to the hopper axis and at least one recess of the plurality of recesses tapers at least radially or axially.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claims 3, 8, 14, and 21 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant amended the claims and filed arguments on 3/27/2026, which have been fully considered and are persuasive. The Non-Final rejection mailed on 10/29/2025 has been withdrawn.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
US 2002/0179640 A1 – vessel or hopper for supplying bulk material.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 NAHIDA SULTANA whose telephone number is (571)270-1925. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Friday (8:30 AM -5:00 PM).
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, Galen Hauth can be reached at 571-270-5516. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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NAHIDA SULTANA
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1743
/NAHIDA SULTANA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1743
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