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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-4) in the reply filed on 06/17/2026 is acknowledged.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 1, lines 4-5; referring to “a first track and a second track arranged vertically in a same horizontal plane”, which not properly nor sufficiently supported by the filed specification in a way to be understood!
It is noted thought that the filed specification citing the exact claimed limitations in paragraphs 0006 & 0037 “a first track and a second track arrange vertically in the same horizontal plane”, but providing no further clear understanding to such arrangements! It is not clear how both tracks are arranged “vertically”, yet still being in “a same horizontal plane”.
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 1-4 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.
Claim 1, lines 4-5; “a first track and a second track arranged vertically in a same horizontal plane” is vague and indefinite as it is not clear how applicant will arrange the first and second tracks “vertically” yet in “a same horizontal plane”?
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 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.
Regarding claim 1: the prior art of record fails to disclose the claimed combination of a double-track rotary manipulator cigarette pack mixing device as suggested and supported by the filed specification and drawings filed on 01/03/2026.
In particular, the prior art of record fails to disclose the combination and arrangements of the structures of the claimed mixing device to have a conveying module with first and second tracks; a rotating transmission module inserted perpendicular to the tracks and comprising a cylindrical fixed table, polyhedral rotating chassis, and a rectangular manipulator module frame; a fixed table; having the rotating chassis and a manipulator module frame to be connected by a coupling and a rotating shaft; having the rotating chassis and the manipulator module frame to be symmetrically oriented, with a first and second link brackets to fixedly connect opposite ends of the rotating chassis and the manipulator module frame; having the fixed table to be fixed on a stabilizer, while the stabilizer is fixed on a base; a motor to be fixed in a middle of an upper surface of the manipulator module frame, while the pair of manipulator modules are on opposite sides of the rotating transmission module, see for example (filed drawings; Figs. 1, 3, and 4; filed specification; paragraphs 0037-0039).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. It is noted that, U.S. Pub. No. 2020/0207549, Figs. 2-7 showing some similar features of the claimed manipulator module, but the device in whole not in the same arrangement nor structure as claimed by the filed application.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMEH TAWFIK whose telephone number is (571)272-4470. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shelle Self can be reached at 571-272-4524. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SAMEH TAWFIK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731
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