Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/179,401

INJECTION MOLDING MACHINE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Apr 15, 2025
Priority
Oct 18, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0134374 +2 more
Examiner
ROY, DEBJANI
Art Unit
1741
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
LS Mtron Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 7m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
248 granted / 330 resolved
+10.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
370
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
64.5%
+24.5% vs TC avg
§102
17.2%
-22.8% vs TC avg
§112
14.9%
-25.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 330 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 103 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. 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claim(s) 1-4,6-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KR 20200058928 provided in IDS translation attached hereinafter KR’928 in view of JP 201417702 hereinafter JP’702 translation attached. Regarding Claim 1 KR’928 discloses an injection molding machine, comprising: a molding device configured to form a cavity by means of a mold so that a molded product can be produced in the cavity or to open the cavity so that the produced molded product can be taken out (Figure 1, showing injection device with, cavity-is between the molds); an injection device configured to inject molten resin into the cavity formed by the molding device (Figure 1,injection device injecting resin inside the cavity); and a general setting device configured to set a molding condition for at least one piece of auxiliary equipment that forms a molding environment required for production of a molded product while being auxiliary to the molding device and the injection device (Figure 2, auxillary equipment-11, [0059], [0069]); wherein the general setting device comprises: a communication means configured to communicate with a unit setting device in the auxiliary equipment to exchange a molding condition with the unit setting device (Figure-2, communication module-12, with unit setting device-14, [0071]); storage means configured to store a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment (storage unit-21); and wherein the control means comprises: a comparison part configured to compare a first molding condition for control of the auxiliary equipment in the general setting device with a second molding condition received from the unit setting device via the communication means (second molding condition from the transmission module-14; arithmetic/comparing units 22 compare stored data in the storage units 21 or data before being stored in the storage units 21 with a pre-stored reference value/first molding). KR’928 didn’t disclose explicitly an output means configured to output a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment; an input means configured to input a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment or input a command required by an administrator. JP’702 discloses an output means configured to output a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment ; an input means configured to input a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment or input a command required by an administrator/user ([0025], [0041], [0041], controller-40 includes a CPU- 41, a ROM- 42 for storing control programs, a readable / writable RAM -43 for storing calculation results, a storage unit -44 such as a hard disk, an input interface-45, an output interface-46. The controller -40 implements various functions by causing the CPU- 41 to execute programs stored in the ROM -42 or the storage unit- 44); and a control means configured to control the communication means, the storage means, and the output means in response to a manipulation of the input means (control unit-40); and a synchronization/organization part configured to change (hereinafter referred to as 'synchronize') the first molding condition so that the first molding condition becomes a same as a value of the second molding condition (controller-40 has a function as a setting support device/synchronization that supports the setting of the molding condition in which the pressure increase position is set; which is determined by as explained in para.([0036], [0040]) if the pressure increase position is adjusted by the parameters as in para. ([0036]) between the cycles then first and molding condition could be same). It would be obvious for one ordinary skilled in the art to combine KR’928 teaching with that of JP’’702 teaching for the purpose of synchronizing the molding conditions for stable product quality, reducing defects. Regarding Claim 2 JP’702 discloses wherein, when a synchronization command according to a manipulation of the input means is input, the control means performs control to operate the synchronization part to perform synchronization ([0036], [0040]) if the pressure increase position is adjusted by the parameters as in para. ([0036], [0042]) between the cycles then first and molding condition could be same). Regarding Claim 3 JP’702 discloses, wherein, when a storage command according to a manipulation of the input means is input, the control means performs control to operate the synchronization part to perform synchronization and then allow the synchronized first molding condition to be stored in the storage means ([0042], controller-40 stores the relationship between the pressure increase position S2 and a plurality of molding conditions that determine the pressure increase position S2 in the form of an equation, and performs calculation using the stored equation and stored in advance in a recording medium such as the storage unit-44). Regarding Claim 4 KR’928 discloses, wherein the control means further comprises a notification part configured to, when it is determined by the comparison part that the first molding condition and the second molding condition are different from each other (notification unit-23; and operation for transmitting the result value calculated by the operation unit (22) to a preset manager terminal), provide notification that the first molding condition and the second molding condition are different from each other via the output means (the manager terminal may be made of a desktop, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop; second molding from the transmission module-14; arithmetic/comparing units 22 compare stored data in the storage units 21 or data before being stored in the storage units 21 with a pre-stored reference value/first molding ). Regarding Claim 6 JP’702 discloses wherein the first molding condition of molding conditions output by the output means is any one of data loaded from the storage means, data input by the administrator via the input means, and data synchronized by the synchronization part ([0041]). Regarding Claim 7 JP’702 discloses a screen output via the output means has: an input window in which the first molding condition input by the administrator via the general setting device is displayed ([0025], [0041], CPU-41 is the output means where the molding conditions used for the calculation is prepared by the input operation of the input unit 45 by the user); and KR’928 discloses a setting window in which the second molding condition set in the unit setting device of the auxiliary equipment is displayed ([0099]); and the molding condition stored in the storage means is loaded by manipulation of the input means by the administrator (JP’702, [0041]). Further, combining KR’928 and JP’702 disclose the molding condition loaded from the storage means is automatically displayed in the input window and the setting window (JP’702, [0041], KR’928, [0099] ) . Regarding Claim 8 KR’928 discloses An injection molding machine, comprising: a molding device configured to form a cavity having a product shape so that molten resin injected into the cavity is solidified to produce an injection-molded product (Figure 1, showing injection device with, cavity-is between the molds); an injection device configured to inject molten resin into the cavity formed by the molding device (Figure 1); and a general setting device configured to set a molding condition for at least one piece of auxiliary equipment that forms a molding environment required for production of a molded product while being auxiliary to the molding device and the injection device Figure 2, auxillary equipment-11, [0059], [0069]); wherein the general setting device comprises: a communication means configured to communicate with a unit setting device in the auxiliary equipment to exchange a molding condition with the unit setting device (Figure-2, communication module-12, with unit setting device-14, [0071]); a storage means configured to store a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment (storage unit-21); wherein the control means comprises: a comparison part configured to compare a second molding condition received from the unit setting device via the communication means with a first molding condition provided in advance (second molding condition from the transmission module-14; arithmetic/comparing units 22 compare stored data in the storage units 21 or data before being stored in the storage units 21 with a pre-stored reference value/first molding); and a notification part configured (notification-23); when it is determined by the comparison part that the second molding condition and the first molding condition are different from each other, provide notification that the first molding condition and the second molding condition are different from each other via the output means (second molding from the transmission module-14; arithmetic/comparing units-22 compare stored data in the storage units- 21 or data before being stored in the storage units -21 with a pre-stored reference value/first molding). KR’928 didn’t disclose explicitly an output means configured to output a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment; an input means configured to input a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment or input a command required by an administrator. Further, JP’702 discloses an output means configured to output a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment; an input means configured to input a molding condition for the auxiliary equipment or input a command required by an administrator; and a control means configured to control the communication means, the storage means, and the output means in response to a manipulation of the input means (([0025], [0041], controller-40 includes a CPU- 41, a ROM- 42 for storing control programs, a readable / writable RAM -43 for storing calculation results, a storage unit -44 such as a hard disk, an input interface-45, an output interface-46. The controller -40 implements various functions by causing the CPU- 41 to execute programs stored in the ROM -42 or the storage unit- 44). It would be obvious for one ordinary skilled in the art to combine KR’928 teaching with that of JP’702 teaching of controlling the input and output means for the purpose of stable product quality, reducing defects Claim(s) 5, 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KR 20200058928 provided in IDS translation attached hereinafter KR’928 in view of JP 201417702 hereinafter JP’702 translation attached as applied in Claim 1 and 8 further in view of Horuichi (US 20170301315) . Regarding Claim 5 and 9 KR’028 discloses the control means comprises: a comparison part configured to compare a first molding condition for control of the auxiliary equipment in the general setting device with a second molding condition received from the unit setting device via the communication means (second molding from the transmission module-14; arithmetic/comparing units 22 compare stored data in the storage units 21 or data before being stored in the storage units 21 with a pre-stored reference value/first molding); however, it didn’t disclose that the first molding condition and the second molding condition onto a screen of the output means so that they can be visually distinguished from each other by a difference in color. In the related field of endeavor pertaining to the art, discloses that different molding condition displayed onto a screen of the output means so that they can be visually distinguished from each other by a difference in color ([007], [0016]). It would be obvious for one ordinary skilled in the art, KR’028 teaching with that of Horuichi’s teaching that different molding condition displayed onto a screen of the output means so that they can be visually distinguished from each other by a difference in color for the purpose of helping operator catch errors which reduce machine downtime. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEBJANI ROY whose telephone number is (571)272-8019. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30-5:30 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, Alison Hindenlang can be reached at 571-700-7001. 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. /DEBJANI ROY/Examiner, Art Unit 1741 /ALISON L HINDENLANG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1741
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 15, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
75%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+14.9%)
2y 11m (~1y 7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 330 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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