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 .
Claim Objections
1. Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: in claim 1, “means ofusing the cutting device” should be –means of using the cutting device--. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
2. 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.
3. Claims 1-16 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.
Regarding claim 1, “the entrance of the main conveyor” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 5, “the position of the box” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 4, “the dimensions of the box” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 7, “the wear or breakage of the blade” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 8, “the worn or broken blade” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 9, “the thickness of the upper wall” and “the cutting depth” lack antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 10, “a cutting robot,” “a cutting device,” “a blade,” “a discharge station,” “a gripping robot,” and “a griping device” are unclear because it is not clear whether these elements correspond to the respective elements recited in claim 1 or constitute separate elements.
Regarding claim 11, “the dimensions of the box” lacks antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
4. Claims 1-16 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.
Regarding claim 1, Doke et al. (US 7,720,567 B2), hereinafter Doke, discloses a method for opening a box using an installation (10) having a conveyor system (20) extending in a longitudinal direction and having a direction of travel, the installation including a cutting station having a programmable motion device/robot (80) provided with a cutting head (100, 110) having a blade (120), and a downstream conveyor zone (33) for removing the processed box. Doke discloses placing a box (B1) at an entrance of the apparatus, bringing the box into the cutting position by the conveyor system (20), and performing a programmed cut in the box using the cutting head (100) along a programmed cutting path. Doke further discloses a cut pattern (252) extending around the box (250) and expressly teaches that the cutting element may intentionally leave one or more corner edges uncut or leave one or more tabs interconnecting the top portion with the remainder of the box, thereby maintaining the top portion attached to the box; the user may subsequently remove the top portion after the box exits the apparatus. Doke also discloses moving the processed box from the intermediate conveyor zone (32) onto the third conveyor zone (33).
Hörl et al. (DE 102011053862 A1), hereinafter Hörl, teaches a device and method for applying a cutting path to an outer packaging and therefore further teaches controlled application of a cutting path to packaging. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the cutting-path teachings of Hörl with the automated box-opening and conveyor arrangement of Doke to provide a controlled cutting operation in which a portion of the box wall remains attached after cutting, thereby facilitating subsequent removal of the cut portion.
However, the combination of Doke and Hörl does not teach or suggest the steps of bringing the cut box into the discharge station by using the main conveyor; then seizing the cut wall part using the gripping device and moving the gripping device in order to detach the cut wall part from the body of the box by breaking the first connection portion; and then discharging the cut wall part by using the gripping device. In particular, the combination does not teach or suggest the claimed downstream discharge station including a gripping robot provided with a gripping device, nor the claimed sequence in which the gripping device seizes the cut wall part, moves to detach the cut wall part by breaking the first connection portion, and then discharges the cut wall part using the gripping device. Doke instead contemplates that a user manually removes the cut top portion after the box exits the apparatus.
Conclusion
5. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
applicant’s disclosure.
Ponti (10,857,752 B2), Porter et al. (7,174,695 B2) Ghestem (2022/0161951 A1), Nakamoto (2015/0217889 A1) and Hoffman (11,772,838 B1) teach a method of opening a box.
6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GHASSEM ALIE whose telephone number is (571) 272-4501. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:30 am-5:00 pm 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, Boyer Ashley can be reached on (571) 272-4502. 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.
/GHASSEM ALIE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3724
August 26, 2026
Prosecution Insights