DETAILED ACTION
Claim Objections
Claim 24 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim has two period punctuations at the end of the claim following “roll”. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 11-16,19 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Poloni (4,726,108). Regarding claims 11 and 12, Poloni discloses a roll-changing device (Fig. 3) including a roll changing carriage comprising a bridge crane (27) for moving working rolls (11) between a change stand (28) and for changing the working rolls (11) in and out of a rolling mill stand (25). Poloni discloses that the rolls are configured to be transported (col. 5, lines 24-27) by the roll changing carriage. Poloni discloses a cartridge (12,13,110), comprising a base body (12,13) including receiving spaces, arranged one above the other, comprising semi-circular edges on the base body (13) cooperating with the roll holder (12) for the working rolls (11), and a crane crossbeam (110), which is detachably connected (Figs. 1 and 2) to the base body (12,13). Poloni discloses that the cartridge (12,13,110) is detachably arranged in the roll-changing carriage (bridge crane, 27) and is connected and detached by a crane chain hook (24). The cartridge (12,13,110) is fitted with a load attachment (hook on vertical columns, 23; col. 4, lines 30-32) for engaging the crane chain hook (24). Poloni discloses (Figs. 11 and 12) axial shifting of work rolls (11) with a cartridge (10,33) including a base body (10) and a detachable crane cross beam (33) that is connected by a load attachment (34) to a crane hook (32) of a roll carriage. Regarding claim 13, the crane crossbeam (110) is fitted with the load attachment (hook on vertical columns, 23; col. 4, lines 30-32) for engaging the crane hook (24). Regarding claim 14, the crane crossbeam (110) surrounds the base body (12,13) on at least part of outer sides of the base body (12,13) wherein a crane crossbeam structure (16) extends downwardly (Fig. 1) and has a lower engagement profile (22) to cooperate with profile (21) on the base body (12,13; col. 4, lines 57-62) when the crane crossbeam (110) and the base body (12,13) are connected to one another (Fig. 2). Regarding claims 15 and 16, Poloni discloses that the crane crossbeam (110) has four vertically extending columns (23; Fig. 1). Regarding claim 19, Poloni discloses (Figs. 3 and 4) rolling stands (25,26) in a rolling mill shed comprising the roll-changing device (27). Regarding claim 20, Poloni discloses a system comprising an axial shifting guide (Fig. 5) is configured to axially pull/push the rolls (11) in connection with roll shafts (15).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Poloni (4,726,108). Poloni does not disclose six vertically extending columns. It would have been obvious to the skilled artisan prior to the effective filing date of the present invention to conduct routine experimentation with vertical column crane attachments to lift the roll cartridge. The skilled artisan would have been motivated to provide six vertically extending columns or as many columns as necessary to lift a heavy roll cartridge load with a crane device while providing enough attachment points to balance the heavy load.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 4-15-2026 have been fully considered. As discussed during the interview on 4-21-2026, the Examiner expressed his opinion that Poloni discloses the claim 11 amended subject matter (claim 11 amendment, 4-15-2026) as well as claim 20 subject matter.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 18 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The prior art of record does not disclose that the base body (7) has a longitudinal extension (L) that corresponds to an axis of the rolls (2), wherein at least one of the vertically extending columns (10, 12) is arranged in each axial end region (13, 14) of the base body (7) in relation to the longitudinal extension (L) when the base body (7) and the crane crossbeam (8) are connected to one another, including the limitations of base claim 11 and intervening claims 14 and 15.
Claim 21 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The prior art of record does not disclose that the crane crossbeam comprises a longitudinally extending upper beam arranged above the receiving spaces for the rolls in a coupled state of the crane crossbeam and the cartridge, and at least one vertical end column arranged at each axial end of the upper beam, including the limitations of base claim 11. Claims 22 and 23 would be allowable as they depend from allowable claim 21.
Claim 24 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The prior art of record does not disclose that the base body comprises a longitudinally elongated base plate, two side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the base plate, and pairs of longitudinal rails arranged on the side walls, each pair of longitudinal rails including two rails disposed on opposing side walls and facing one another to define a respective receiving space for a roll, including the limitations of base claim 11.
Conclusion
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 EDWARD THOMAS TOLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4525. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-5.
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, Chris Templeton can be reached at 571-270-1477. 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.
/EDWARD T TOLAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
Prosecution Insights