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 .
General Objections
The Title is objected to because of the following informalities: the word “SYSTEM8” appears to be a typographical error and should read “SYSTEMS”. 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 1-3 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 claims 1 and 3, the claim limitation “the air distribution duct displays a semi-tubular convex surface” renders the claim indefinite, as both the terms “displays” and the term “semi-tubular” lack any definition in either the claims or the specification, and are not used in a common sense manner. In the interest of compact prosecution, the Examiner will interpret this limitation as follows – the term “displays” has no effect on the claim, ant the limitation will be interpreted as “the air distribution duct has a semi-tubular convex surface”. The term “semi-tubular” will be interpreted as a duct that is not completely closed in cross section (such as a U-shaped duct).
Depending claims are rejected due to their dependency.
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.
(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.
Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shibuno, WO 2022176907.
Regarding claim 1, Shibuno discloses: A paperboard (Page 9 of attached translation indicates the container is made of paper, “paper dust is generated from the upper end surface of the container (C1) …“) container filling machine (Title, “Filling and Packaging Machine”) comprising an aseptic (Page 1, “The present invention relates to a filling and packaging machine, and more particularly to a filling and packaging machine used for filling and packaging contents such as beverages and foods into containers in an aseptic state.”) chamber (Fig. 1, chamber 2) the aseptic chamber comprising:
an upper air distribution chamber (see Fig. 9b)
a lower processing chamber (Fig. 1, filling section 8) housing processing equipment configured for interacting with paperboard containers passing through the processing chamber;
a throughflow plate (Fig. 8, UC1, UC2) separating the air distribution chamber and the processing chamber;
a paperboard container transport sub-system (Fig. 1, transfer conveyor 4) configured for transporting the paperboard containers through the processing chamber along a container transport path (Fig. 5, transport path “R”) from an inlet opening (Fig. 1, carton blank inlet 201) to an outlet opening (Fig. 1, filling container outlet 202) of the processing chamber; and
an elongated air distribution duct (Fig. 5 –8, the air flows in from outlets AB1 and AB2 and out through inlets first rectifying cover CC1) configured for receiving air from an air supply channel (Fig. 1, air supply line P1) and comprising a plurality of throughflow holes configured for distributing the air in the air distribution chamber (Page 8, “The two front and rear first clean air outlets (AB1) are each covered with a first rectifying cover (CC1). The first rectifying cover (CC1) is a box-shaped one with a U-shaped cross section and an upward opening attached to the lower surface of the top wall (21) of the chamber (2) so as to surround the first clean air outlet (AB1). For example, it is made of a perforated plate in which a large number of holes are made in a metal plate material such as stainless steel. Also, the first rectifying cover (CC1) may be made of a perforated plastic plate or a mesh material. Due to the rectifying (diffusing) action of these first rectifying covers (CC1), clean air flows into the space between the first clean air outlet (AB1) and the first upper rectifying member (UC1) in the chamber (2). Since the clean air is diffused and supplied evenly, the clean air can be stably distributed throughout the filling section (8) as a downward flow.”).
wherein the air distribution duct (Fig. 5 –8, the air flows in from outlets AB1 and AB2 and out through inlets first rectifying cover CC1) displays a semi- tubular convex surface facing the throughflow plate (Page 8, “The two front and rear first clean air outlets (AB1) are each covered with a first rectifying cover (CC1). The first rectifying cover (CC1) is a box-shaped one with a U-shaped cross section and an upward opening attached to the lower surface of the top wall (21) of the chamber (2) so as to surround the first clean air outlet (AB1). For example, it is made of a perforated plate in which a large number of holes are made in a metal plate material such as stainless steel. Also, the first rectifying cover (CC1) may be made of a perforated plastic plate or a mesh material. Due to the rectifying (diffusing) action of these first rectifying covers (CC1), clean air flows into the space between the first clean air outlet (AB1) and the first upper rectifying member (UC1) in the chamber (2). Since the clean air is diffused and supplied evenly, the clean air can be stably distributed throughout the filling section (8) as a downward flow.”)and comprising a rectilinear duct axis extending orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the container transport path (see Figs. 5-8).
Regarding claim 2, Shibuno further discloses: the throughflow holes (17) are circular (Page 8, “As shown in FIG. 8, the first upper rectifying member (UC1) is formed with large circular holes (UC10) at locations corresponding to the two left and right CIP units (83)”).
Regarding claim 3, Shibuno discloses: A method of establishing an airflow in an aseptic (Page 1, “The present invention relates to a filling and packaging machine, and more particularly to a filling and packaging machine used for filling and packaging contents such as beverages and foods into containers in an aseptic state.”) chamber (Fig. 1, chamber 2) of a paperboard container filling machine (Page 9), the aseptic chamber comprising:
an upper air distribution chamber (see Fig. 9b);
a lower processing chamber (Fig. 1, filling section 8) housing processing equipment configured for interacting with paperboard containers passing through the processing chamber;
a throughflow plate (Fig. 8, UC1, UC2) separating the air distribution chamber and the processing chamber; and
a paperboard container transport sub-system (Fig. 1, transfer conveyor 4) configured for transporting the paperboard containers through the processing chamber along a container transport path (Fig. 5, transport path “R”) from an inlet opening (Fig. 1, carton blank inlet 201) to an outlet opening (Fig. 1, filling container outlet 202) of the processing chamber;
the method comprising the step of distributing air in the air distribution chamber by bringing the air from an air supply channel to the air distribution chamber through an air distribution duct comprising a plurality of throughflow holes configured for distributing the air in the air distribution chamber , the air distribution duct displaying a semi-tubular convex surface facing the throughflow plate and comprising a rectilinear duct axis extending orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the container transport path (Page 8, “The two front and rear first clean air outlets (AB1) are each covered with a first rectifying cover (CC1). The first rectifying cover (CC1) is a box-shaped one with a U-shaped cross section and an upward opening attached to the lower surface of the top wall (21) of the chamber (2) so as to surround the first clean air outlet (AB1). For example, it is made of a perforated plate in which a large number of holes are made in a metal plate material such as stainless steel. Also, the first rectifying cover (CC1) may be made of a perforated plastic plate or a mesh material. Due to the rectifying (diffusing) action of these first rectifying covers (CC1), clean air flows into the space between the first clean air outlet (AB1) and the first upper rectifying member (UC1) in the chamber (2). Since the clean air is diffused and supplied evenly, the clean air can be stably distributed throughout the filling section (8) as a downward flow.”).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL JEREMY LEEDS whose telephone number is (571)272-2095. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs, 0730-1730.
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/DANIEL JEREMY LEEDS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731