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 § 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 1-19 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 different pallet position areas” and “the movable gates” lack antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 3, “the movable gates” and “the different pallet position areas” lack antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 4, “the movable gates” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 5, “the movable gates” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claims 2 and 6-10, claims 2 and 6-10 are rejected because they depend from rejected claim 1.
Regarding claim 11, “the movable gates” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 13, “the movable gates” lacks antecedent basis.
Regarding claim 14, “the movable gates” and “the periphery” lack antecedent basis.
Regarding claims 12 and 15-19, claims 12 and 15-19 are rejected because they depend from rejected claim 11.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 1, the prior art of record fails to disclose, teach, or fairly suggest a pallet wrapping facility comprising: a wrapping lane having a plurality of pallet position areas, each of the pallet position areas being configured to have a pallet positioned therein; a portable wrapping machine that moves along the wrapping lane and being configured to stop at each of the pallet position areas to wrap a pallet full of goods in a particular one of the pallet position areas; and a track along the wrapping lane, the portable wrapping machine being configured to move along the track to the pallet position areas; the portable wrapping machine including a frame for moving along the track to the particular one of the pallet position areas with the pallet full of goods therein; the portable wrapping machine including a wrapping arm assembly for encircling the pallet full of goods to wrap the pallet full of goods with wrap film during a wrapping process; the portable wrapping machine including a fence system for surrounding an interior space of the portable wrapping machine from before initiation of the wrapping process until the wrapping process is complete, the fence system including a pair of fixed side fences and a pair of movable gates; each of the movable gates being configured to be moved to a movement position during movement of the portable wrapping machine along the track to and from the different pallet position areas to allow the portable wrapping machine to move to the different pallet position areas; and each of the movable gates also being configured, once the portable wrapping machine is in the particular one of the pallet position areas, to be moved from the movement position to a deployed position to thereby surround the interior space of the portable wrapping machine with the fence system while the wrapping arm assembly encircles the pallet full of goods to wrap the pallet full of goods in the wrap film.
The prior art of record that comes closest to teaching these limitations is Saylor (US 2018/0162660). Saylor teaches a pallet wrapping facility comprising: a wrapping lane having a plurality of pallet position areas, each of the pallet position areas being configured to have a pallet positioned therein; a portable wrapping machine that moves along the wrapping lane and being configured to stop at each of the pallet position areas to wrap a pallet full of goods in a particular one of the pallet position areas; and a track along the wrapping lane, the portable wrapping machine being configured to move along the track to the pallet position areas; the portable wrapping machine including a frame for moving along the track to the particular one of the pallet position areas with the pallet full of goods therein; the portable wrapping machine including a wrapping arm assembly for encircling the pallet full of goods to wrap the pallet full of goods with wrap film during a wrapping process. However, Saylor fails to teach the portable wrapping machine including a fence system for surrounding an interior space of the portable wrapping machine from before initiation of the wrapping process until the wrapping process is complete, the fence system including a pair of fixed side fences and a pair of movable gates; each of the movable gates being configured to be moved to a movement position during movement of the portable wrapping machine along the track to and from the different pallet position areas to allow the portable wrapping machine to move to the different pallet position areas; and each of the movable gates also being configured, once the portable wrapping machine is in the particular one of the pallet position areas, to be moved from the movement position to a deployed position to thereby surround the interior space of the portable wrapping machine with the fence system while the wrapping arm assembly encircles the pallet full of goods to wrap the pallet full of goods in the wrap film. Additionally, it would require an unreasonable combination of references that would not suffice for a realistic case of obviousness.
Regarding claims 2-10, claims 2-10 would be allowable because they contain the allowable subject matter of claim 1.
Regarding claim 11, the prior art of record fails to disclose, teach, or fairly suggest a portable wrapping machine comprising: a movable frame for moving the portable wrapping machine along a track of a facility, the movable frame defining an interior space within a periphery of the movable frame; a wrapping arm assembly connected to the movable frame for encircling a full pallet located within the interior space to wrap the full pallet with wrap film during a wrapping process; and a fence system connected to the movable frame for surrounding the interior space from before initiation of the wrapping process until the wrapping process is complete, the fence system including a pair of fixed side fences and a pair of movable gates; each of the movable gates being configured to be raised during movement of the portable wrapping machine; and each of the movable gates also being configured, once the portable wrapping machine is in a location to wrap the full pallet, to be lowered to thereby surround the interior space of the portable wrapping machine with the fence system while the wrapping arm assembly encircles the full pallet to wrap the full pallet in the wrap film.
The prior art of record that comes closest to teaching these limitations is Saylor (US 2018/0162660). Saylor teaches a portable wrapping machine comprising: a movable frame for moving the portable wrapping machine along a track of a facility, the movable frame defining an interior space within a periphery of the movable frame; a wrapping arm assembly connected to the movable frame for encircling a full pallet located within the interior space to wrap the full pallet with wrap film during a wrapping process. However, Saylor fails to teach a fence system connected to the movable frame for surrounding the interior space from before initiation of the wrapping process until the wrapping process is complete, the fence system including a pair of fixed side fences and a pair of movable gates; each of the movable gates being configured to be raised during movement of the portable wrapping machine; and each of the movable gates also being configured, once the portable wrapping machine is in a location to wrap the full pallet, to be lowered to thereby surround the interior space of the portable wrapping machine with the fence system while the wrapping arm assembly encircles the full pallet to wrap the full pallet in the wrap film. Additionally, it would require an unreasonable combination of references that would not suffice for a realistic case of obviousness.
Regarding claims 12-19, claims 12-19 would be allowable because they contain the allowable subject matter of claim 11.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VERONICA MARTIN whose telephone number is (571)272-3541. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8:00-6:00.
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/VERONICA MARTIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731