DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Status
Claims 1-15 are currently being examined.
Specification
The Specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification. MPEP § 608.01
Nonstatutory Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over Claims 6-10 and 15-18 of U.S. Patent No. 12,162,704. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the '704 patent discloses the following with respect to the Applicant’s claims:
1. A method comprising:
receiving an at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assemblies into an automated pallet load stabilization system, (See Claim 7)
wherein the at least one pallet sleeve assembly includes a pallet and at least one pallet sleeve on the pallet, (See Claim 6)
the at least one pallet sleeve comprising four structural walls; (See Claim 6)
the automated pallet load stabilization system including: (See Claim 7)
a rotary pallet wrapping mechanism, comprising: (See Claim 7)
a support structure; (See Claim 7)
a rotating base for receiving a pallet or an at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly; (See Claim 7)
an actuator system with at least two degrees of freedom, configured to traverse vertically along the support structure; and (See Claim 7)
a wrapping material spool pin attached to the actuator system, (See Claim 7)
wherein the wrapping material spool pin is configured to hold a spool of wrapping material and dispense wrapping material from the spool of wrapping material; (See Claim 7)
a pallet sleeve lifter configured to lift at least one pallet sleeve from the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly; and (See Claim 7)
logic comprising: (See Claim 7)
locate the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly on the rotating base in a position appropriate for interfacing with the actuator system and the pallet sleeve lifter; (See Claim 7)
actuate the pallet sleeve lifter to interface with the at least one pallet sleeve on the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly and lift the pallet sleeve incrementally upward, (See Claim 7)
thereby incrementally exposing materials to be handled (MTBH) units for stretch-wrapping by the rotary pallet wrapping mechanism; and (See Claim 7)
operate the actuator system with the wrapping material spool pin dispensing wrapping material in a spiral motion around the incrementally exposed MTBH units as the pallet sleeve lifter lifts the pallet sleeve, (See Claim 7)
resulting in a wrapped palletized unit load and a fully elevated pallet sleeve; and (See Claim 7)
operating the automated pallet load stabilization system to create the wrapped palletized unit load and the fully elevated pallet sleeve. (See Claim 7)
2. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the wrapping material around the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly is performed according to number of wraps around the exposed MTBH units. (See Claim 9)
3. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the wrapping material around the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly is performed according to percent elongation over length of the wrapping material. (See Claim 9)
4. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the wrapping material around the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly is performed according to offset between layers of wrapping material. (See Claim 9)
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transporting the at least one partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly using an autonomous mobile robot (AMR). (See Claim 10)
6. An automated pallet load stabilization system including: (See Claim 8)
a rotary pallet wrapping mechanism, comprising: (See Claim 8)
a support structure; (See Claim 8)
a rotating base for receiving a pallet, (See Claim 8)
at least one pallet sleeve assembly, or (See Claim 6)
an at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly, (See Claim 6)
wherein the at least one pallet sleeve assembly includes the pallet and at least one pallet sleeve on the pallet, (See Claim 6)
the at least one pallet sleeve comprising four structural walls; (See Claim 6)
an actuator system with at least two-degrees of freedom, configured to traverse vertically along the support structure inside a rotary ring; and (See Claim 8)
a wrapping material spool pin attached to the actuator system, (See Claim 8)
wherein the wrapping material spool pin is configured to hold a spool of wrapping material and (See Claim 8)
dispense wrapping material from the spool of wrapping material; (See Claim 8)
a pallet sleeve lifter configured to lift at least one pallet sleeve from the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly; and (See Claim 8)
logic comprising: (See Claim 8)
locate the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly on the rotating base in a position appropriate for interfacing with the actuator system and the pallet sleeve lifter; (See Claim 8)
actuate the pallet sleeve lifter to interface with the at least one pallet sleeve on the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly and lift the at least one pallet sleeve incrementally upward, (See Claim 8)
thereby incrementally exposing materials to be handled (MTBH) units for stretch-wrapping by the rotary pallet wrapping mechanism; (See Claim 8)
operate the actuator system with the wrapping material spool pin to dispense wrapping material in a spiral motion around the incrementally exposed MTBH units as the pallet sleeve lifter lifts the pallet sleeve, (See Claim 8)
resulting in a wrapped palletized unit load and a fully elevated pallet sleeve. (See Claim 8)
7. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 6, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to number of wraps around the exposed MTBH units. (See Claim 9)
8. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 6, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to percent elongation over length of the wrapping material. (See Claim 9)
9. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 6, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to offset between layers of wrapping material. (See Claim 9)
10. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 6, further comprising: (See Claim 10)
an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) configured to transport the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly. (See Claim 10)
11. An automated pallet load stabilization system including: (See Claim 16)
a rotary pallet wrapping mechanism, comprising: (See Claim 16)
a support structure; (See Claim 16)
a rotary ring larger in diameter than an at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly, (See Claim 16)
the rotary ring providing clearance for an actuator system around the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly; (See Claim 16)
the actuator system with at least two-degrees of freedom, configured to traverse vertically inside the rotary ring; and (See Claim 16)
a wrapping material spool pin attached to the actuator system, (See Claim 16)
wherein the wrapping material spool pin is configured to hold a spool of wrapping material and dispense wrapping material from the spool of wrapping material; (See Claim 16)
a pallet sleeve lifter configured to lift at least one pallet sleeve from the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly; (See Claim 16)
wherein the at least one pallet sleeve assembly includes a pallet and at least one pallet sleeve on the pallet, (See Claim 15)
the at least one pallet sleeve comprising four structural walls; and (See Claim 15)
logic comprising: (See Claim 16)
locate the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly in a position appropriate for interfacing with the rotary ring; (See Claim 16)
actuate the pallet sleeve lifter to interface with the at least one pallet sleeve on the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly and (See Claim 16)
lift the at least one pallet sleeve incrementally upward, (See Claim 16)
thereby incrementally exposing materials to be handled (MTBH) units for stretch-wrapping by the rotary pallet wrapping mechanism; (See Claim 16)
operate the actuator system with the wrapping material spool pin to travel in a spiral motion around the incrementally exposed MTBH units as the pallet sleeve lifter lifts the pallet sleeve, (See Claim 16)
resulting in a wrapped palletized unit load and a fully elevated pallet sleeve. (See Claim 16)
12. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 11, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to number of wraps around the exposed MTBH units. (See Claim 18)
13. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 11, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to percent elongation over length of the wrapping material. (See Claim 18)
14. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 11, the logic further comprising: dispense the wrapping material according to offset between layers of wrapping material. (See Claim 18)
15. The automated pallet load stabilization system of claim 11, further comprising: an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) configured to transport the at least partially stacked pallet sleeve assembly. (See Claim 19)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure because the prior art references contain subject matter that relates to one or more of Applicant’s claim limitations. Any hypothetical prior art rejection based on these references would require impermissible hindsight reasoning.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS RANDAZZO whose telephone number is (313)446-4903. The examiner can normally be reached between 9:00am and 4:00pm ET Monday through Thursday and between 9:00am and 11:00am ET on Friday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Jacob Scott, can be reached on 571-270-3415. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THOMAS RANDAZZO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655 August 20, 2026
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