Technology areas: Chemistry & Materials • Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
61 pending office actions • 32 art units • 52 examiners • 0 of 61 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 56 patents granted in the last 365 days
Krones AG has 63 pending office actions in Chemistry & Materials. The portfolio spans 54 distinct examiners and 32 distinct art units, demonstrating broad distribution across examination personnel and groups. This pattern calls for coordinated prosecution management across multiple technical and procedural settings.
LIANG, SHIBIN is the busiest identified examiner, with 4 pending matters. The identified concentration is limited relative to the wider examiner coverage, so a single-examiner strategy would not address the portfolio as a whole. Counsel may combine centralized docket controls with art-unit-specific review of claim language, technical evidence, and recurring office-action issues.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 20 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.
Every pending office action with a known statutory deadline, placed on a days-until-due axis. Dots left of Today are overdue; the further right, the more runway. Cases that share a deadline window stack vertically. 20 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.
Difficulty is derived from the rejection statutes on the most recent pending office action. §101-driven and multi-statute cases are graded Hard; §112-only and obviousness-type double-patenting cases are graded Easy; everything else is Medium. "Unknown" means we have not yet parsed a statute for that office action.
| Bucket | Cases |
|---|---|
| §101 + other | 2 (3%) |
| §103 only | 23 (38%) |
| §102 only | 2 (3%) |
| §112 only | 2 (3%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 1 (2%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 31 (51%) |
How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.
Manual office-action response work runs about 10 hours per case. The time-saved bands below show what IP Author's prosecution pipeline typically delivers — a conservative 20% on the low end, 35% in the middle, 50% on the high end.
| Examiner | Apps on this docket | Allow rate | Interview lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAWFIK, SAMEH | 3 | 63.1% | +31.5% |
| LIANG, SHIBIN | 3 | 63.0% | +17.1% |
| SINGH, KAVEL | 2 | 83.7% | +14.0% |
| LUK, EMMANUEL S | 2 | 71.5% | +26.3% |
| DANIELS, MATTHEW J | 2 | 69.7% | +25.3% |
| WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL | 2 | 62.1% | +29.6% |
| SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 2 | 67.3% | +29.7% |
| SEIF, DARIUSH | 1 | 70.7% | +6.1% |
| FRY, PATRICK B | 1 | 54.1% | +8.2% |
| MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | 1 | 64.1% | +26.1% |
Multi-statute / §101-driven matters, or cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate under 30%. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19236470 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CONTAINERS | FRY, PATRICK B | 2d overdue |
| 18715454 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING AND APPORTIONING | DEUBLE, MARK A | 14d |
| 18606756 | Method and inspection apparatus for inspecting containers provided with closures, and method and closure apparatus for closing containers | SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 23d |
| 18732507 | Method and apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers with four pressure levels and bottom cooling | THROWER, LARRY W | 27d |
| 18777238 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING A PREFORM | WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL | 28d |
| 18256415 | Method and device for printing onto containers made of glass | FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA | 39d |
| 19400887 | Container Treatment System With Component Receptacle | SEIF, DARIUSH | — |
| 19183627 | SORTING DEVICE AND FEED RAIL FOR PLASTIC PREFORMS | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | — |
Cases in front of an examiner whose interview lift is 10 percentage points or more — i.e. interviewed cases historically resolve more favorably than non-interviewed ones. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18925584 | SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS FROM PREFORMS | LUK, EMMANUEL S | 10d overdue |
| 18461353 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS | LIANG, SHIBIN | 9d |
| 18606725 | Method and inspection apparatus for inspecting containers provided with closures, and method and closure apparatus for closing containers | SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 23d |
| 18606756 | Method and inspection apparatus for inspecting containers provided with closures, and method and closure apparatus for closing containers | SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 23d |
| 18777238 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING A PREFORM | WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL | 28d |
| 18941703 | METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PROCESSING CANS | TAWFIK, SAMEH | 46d |
| 18222922 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING PLASTIC PREFORMS INTO PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH CHANGEOVER ROBOT | LIANG, SHIBIN | 61d |
| 19183627 | SORTING DEVICE AND FEED RAIL FOR PLASTIC PREFORMS | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3731 | 9 |
| 3651 | 5 |
| 1742 | 5 |
| 1741 | 4 |
| 1744 | 4 |
| 2853 | 2 |
| 1746 | 2 |
| 1745 | 2 |
| 3736 | 2 |
| 2671 | 2 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19400887 | Container Treatment System With Component Receptacle | SEIF, DARIUSH | 3731 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 25, 2025 |
| 19236470 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CONTAINERS | FRY, PATRICK B | 3731 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 2d overdue | Pending | Jun 12, 2025 |
| 19183627 | SORTING DEVICE AND FEED RAIL FOR PLASTIC PREFORMS | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | 3991 | §103§112Other | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 18, 2025 |
| 19092585 | APPARATUS FOR CLOSING CONTAINERS AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING METHOD | SHUTTY, DAVID G | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 27, 2025 |
| 19072863 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR BUFFERING CONTAINERS IN A CONTAINER TREATMENT PLANT | JORGENSEN, ABBY A | 3651 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 06, 2025 |
| 19108698 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING AT LEAST TWO DRIVABLE BELTS IN A SYSTEM | SINGH, KAVEL | 3651 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 04, 2025 |
| 19064562 | Protective Device for a Machine | YABUT, DANIEL D | 3617 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 26, 2025 |
| 19105250 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING CONSUMPTION DATA OF MEDIA IN A FILLING LINE AND APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | BURSUM, KIMBERLY SUZANNE | 3627 | §101§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 20, 2025 |
| 19022013 | Apparatus and method for producing plastics material containers with inspection of plastics material preforms | ROY, DEBJANI | 1741 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 15, 2025 |
| 19021994 | Apparatus and method for producing plastic preforms with infrared image recording device | KRASNOW, NICHOLAS R | 1744 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 15, 2025 |
| 18994834 | GRIPPING DEVICE FOR COMBINED CONTAINER ALIGNMENT AND TRANSPORT DEVICE | MCCLAIN, GERALD | 3652 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 15, 2025 |
| 18881225 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING A CONTAINER TRANSPORT APPARATUS HAVING ONE OR MORE TRANSPORT BELTS FOR ADAPTING A CONTAINER DENSITY, AND CONTAINER TRANSPORT APPARATUS | NICHOLSON III, LESLIE AUGUST | 3653 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 03, 2025 |
| 19008430 | FILLING PLANT HAVING A CENTRAL CONTROL DEVICE | HIBBERT, MARY C | 3731 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 02, 2025 |
| 19002434 | OPERATION ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR A USER OF A CONTAINER TREATMENT PLANT | DIVELBISS, MATTHEW H | 3624 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 26, 2024 |
| 18983675 | DAMPING ELEMENT | CAMPBELL, KEITH | 3651 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 17, 2024 |
| 18874899 | ROLLER SORTER DIRECTLINK | LUK, EMMANUEL S | 1744 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18981126 | PLANT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS | LIU, XUE H | 1742 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18970331 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS | BARTLETT, VICTORIA | 1744 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 05, 2024 |
| 18871348 | MODULAR CONTAINER-PROCESSING INSTALLATION | SINGH, KAVEL | 3651 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 03, 2024 |
| 18868559 | METHOD AND FILLING INSTALLATION FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH A BEVERAGE | TAWFIK, SAMEH | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 22, 2024 |
| 18949384 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND DEVICE COMPRISING A CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND A CONTROL DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | DANIELS, MATTHEW J | 1742 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 15, 2024 |
| 18941703 | METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR PROCESSING CANS | TAWFIK, SAMEH | 3731 | §102 | Final Rejection | 46d | Pending | Nov 08, 2024 |
| 18938936 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND COATING A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERS | WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL | 1742 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 06, 2024 |
| 18926204 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CONTAINER COOLING | DANIELS, MATTHEW J | 1742 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 24, 2024 |
| 18925584 | SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS FROM PREFORMS | LUK, EMMANUEL S | 1744 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 10d overdue | Pending | Oct 24, 2024 |
| 18855936 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM | GERTH, KATIE L | 3731 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 10, 2024 |
| 18910866 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING OPERATING DATA OF A TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN A MACHINE LINE | BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 09, 2024 |
| 18852812 | METHOD FOR PRINTING A CONTAINER, AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING A CONTAINER | THOMPSON, LESLIE J. | 2853 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 30, 2024 |
| 18895978 | APPARATUS FOR LABELING CONTAINERS | GOFF II, JOHN L | 1746 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 25, 2024 |
| 18850549 | PRESSING ELEMENT FOR PRESSING LABELS ONTO BOTTLES, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAID PRESSING ELEMENT | DODDS, SCOTT | 1746 | §103 | Final Rejection | 76d | Pending | Sep 24, 2024 |
| 18888410 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED PERSONAL PROTECTION | KOTIS, JOSHUA G | 3731 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 18, 2024 |
| 18797417 | STEAM GENERATION IN A SYSTEM FOR TREATING CONTAINERS | PILSBURY, BRADY CHARLES | 1799 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 07, 2024 |
| 18777238 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING A PREFORM | WOLLSCHLAGER, JEFFREY MICHAEL | 1742 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 28d | Pending | Jul 18, 2024 |
| 18773227 | COUPLING OF PRODUCTION MACHINE AND STRETCH BLOW MOLDING MACHINE VIA AIR TRANSPORT | TSUI, YUNG-SHENG M | 1743 | §103Other | Final Rejection | 76d | Pending | Jul 15, 2024 |
| 18760917 | Apparatus and method for side-wall inspection of pulp containers | ISLAM, MEHRAZUL NMN | 2662 | §101§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 01, 2024 |
| 18736333 | METHOD FOR REGULATING A TRANSPORT VELOCITY IN A PASTEURIZER AND A DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | SARANTAKOS, KAYLA ROSE | 1792 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 06, 2024 |
| 18734435 | DEVICE FOR MARKING CONTAINERS AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING METHOD | SENGUPTA, SONYA MAZUMDAR | 1745 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 70d | Pending | Jun 05, 2024 |
| 18732507 | Method and apparatus for forming plastic preforms into plastic containers with four pressure levels and bottom cooling | THROWER, LARRY W | 1754 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 27d | Pending | Jun 03, 2024 |
| 18715454 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING AND APPORTIONING | DEUBLE, MARK A | 3651 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | May 31, 2024 |
| 18704857 | CONTAINER TREATMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CONTAINER TREATMENT MACHINE FOR TREATING CONTAINERS AND A CENTRAL RIGHTS ASSIGNMENT SYSTEM | SCHMIDT, KARI L | 2439 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 25, 2024 |
| 18611558 | CROWN CAP FOR ATTACHMENT TO A MOUTH OPENING OF A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERS AND FOR CLOSING THE MOUTH OPENING BY MEANS OF THE CROWN CAP, CONTAINER WITH A CONTAINER BODY COMPRISING FIBERS AND WITH A CROWN CAP, CONTAINER BODY COMPRISING FIBERS, METHOD FOR ARRANGING THE CROWN CAP ON THE CONTAINER BODY COMPRISING FIBERS, AND DEVICE FOR ARRANGING THE CROWN CAP ON THE CONTAINER BODY COMPRISING FIBERS | HICKS, ROBERT J | 3736 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 20, 2024 |
| 18606725 | Method and inspection apparatus for inspecting containers provided with closures, and method and closure apparatus for closing containers | SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 2671 | §103Other | Final Rejection | 23d | Pending | Mar 15, 2024 |
| 18606756 | Method and inspection apparatus for inspecting containers provided with closures, and method and closure apparatus for closing containers | SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M | 2671 | §103§112Other | Final Rejection | 23d | Pending | Mar 15, 2024 |
| 18593506 | CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERS, COMPRISING A CONTAINER BODY COMPRISING FIBERS AND A HINGED CLOSURE COMPRISING FIBERS ARRANGED ON THE CONTAINER BODY, AND A HINGED CLOSURE COMPRISING FIBERS | GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO | 3735 | §103 | Final Rejection | 28d | Pending | Mar 01, 2024 |
| 18416051 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RINSING THE INTERIOR OF A CONTAINER | TATE-SIMS, CRISTI J | 1700 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 18, 2024 |
| 18562254 | FILM STORE AND METHOD FOR STORING A STRIP-LIKE CONTINUOUS FILM | BURRELL, KATELYNNE RUTH | 3654 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 17, 2023 |
| 18243949 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING PLASTIC PREFORMS INTO PLASTIC CONTAINERS | CASTRIOTTA, JENNIFER | 3733 | §112Other | Final Rejection | 33d | Pending | Sep 08, 2023 |
| 18243964 | Method and apparatus for treating containers with identification of rejected containers | TAN, ALVIN H | 2118 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 08, 2023 |
| 18461353 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONTAINERS | LIANG, SHIBIN | 1741 | §102 | Non-Final OA | 9d | Pending | Sep 05, 2023 |
| 18457648 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION MONITORING OF A LABELING MACHINE AND LABELING MACHINE FOR LABELING CONTAINERS | KOCH, GEORGE R | 1745 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 29, 2023 |
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Start Free TrialKrones AG has 61 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 32 art units and 52 examiners.
Sameh Tawfik has the most, with 3 of Krones AG's pending office actions.
Mostly Chemistry & Materials (USPTO Tech Center 1700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
