Prosecution Insights
Last updated: September 25, 2026
Application No. 18/877,575

Vending Machine

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 20, 2024
Priority
Jun 24, 2022 — CN 202210730280.6 +1 more
Examiner
OJOFEITIMI, AYODEJI HARRY
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Shandong New Beiyang Information Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
172 granted / 193 resolved
+29.1% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
219
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
§103
51.3%
+11.3% vs TC avg
§102
22.7%
-17.3% vs TC avg
§112
12.9%
-27.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 193 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim 1 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jiang et al. (CN 111833520). Claim 1, Jiang discloses a vending machine, comprising: a cabinet (100), wherein a storage region (fig.2) for storing goods is provided in the cabinet (100), and a pickup port (port closed by 530) is defined on a surface of the cabinet (100); a gate mechanism (520,530) comprising a gate (520,530) slidably mating with the cabinet (100) and configured to open or close the pickup port (port closed by 530); a goods bucket (300) comprising a housing (housing of 300) and a delivery door (310), wherein the housing (housing of 300) has a delivery opening (delivery opening when 310 is in receiving position), the delivery door (310) slidably mates with the housing (housing of 300) to open or close the delivery opening (delivery opening when 310 is in receiving position), and when the delivery door (310) closes the delivery opening (delivery opening when 310 is in receiving position), the delivery door (310) and the housing (housing of 300) form a receiving cavity (see fig.4) for receiving goods; the goods bucket (300) is movably disposed in the cabinet (100) and has a receiving position and a delivery position; the goods bucket (300) is configured to receive goods from the storage region when the goods bucket (300) is at the receiving position; and when the goods bucket (300) is at the delivery position, the gate (520,530) opens the pickup port (port closed by 530), and the delivery door (310) opens the delivery opening (delivery opening when 310 is in receiving position), the delivery opening is opposite to and in communication with the pickup port (figs.4-5); and a linkage mechanism (510) capable of linking the delivery door (310) to the gate (520,530) when the goods bucket (300) moves toward the delivery position along a preset direction, such that the delivery door opens the delivery opening and the gate opens the pickup port (figs.4-7). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-20 are 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AYODEJI H OJOFEITIMI whose telephone number is (571)272-6557. The examiner can normally be reached 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, GENE CRAWFORD can be reached at (571) 272-6911. 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. /AYODEJI H OJOFEITIMI/ Examiner, Art Unit 3651
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 20, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12734111
Method for step dispensing discrete medicaments from a dispensing system, and method for controlling operation of a system
2y 7m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12729903
AUTOMATED FROZEN GOODS DISPENSER
3y 8m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12722827
DISPENSING DEVICE FOR TRAYS IN HOT FOOD VENDING MACHINES
1y 9m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12714267
SHEET PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH PRESSURE PLATE LOADING CONTROL
3y 0m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12714268
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2y 5m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+3.7%)
2y 0m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 193 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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