Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19026675 | FRUIT POST-HARVEST DISINFECTION AND CONVEYING PRODUCTION LINE | January 2025 | June 2025 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18874611 | CONVEYANCE SYSTEM | December 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18867462 | LINEAR CONVEYANCE DEVICE | November 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18925152 | FEEDING DEVICE FOR SUBWAY GRILLE MAIN REINFORCEMENT CONVEYING | October 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18849850 | BELT CONVEYOR INCLUDING FREEWHEELING SUPPORT ROLLERS AND DRIVING PORTIONS | September 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18723486 | TRANSPORT SYSTEM, AND TRANSPORT MODULE | June 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 4 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18752162 | MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT WITH DEDICATED ACCESS ASSEMBLY | June 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18678909 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ARRANGING CARRY-ON LUGGAGE IN OVERHEAD COMAPARTMENTS OF PASSENGER VEHICLES | May 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18711924 | PACKAGING BOX HOISTING DEVICE | May 2024 | December 2024 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18641505 | TAPER CONVERTIBLE MOTORIZED CONVEYOR ROLLERS | April 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18637720 | COMPONENT MOUNTING SYSTEM AND TAPE SCRAPS COLLECTING DEVICE | April 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18594441 | GRAIN BIN UNLOAD TROUGH CONVEYOR AUGER HANGER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD | March 2024 | December 2024 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18433048 | MODULAR CONVEYOR BELT WITH ROD RETAINERS | February 2024 | September 2024 | Abandon | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18406888 | FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY FOR EASY REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF FUEL CELL SYSTEMS | January 2024 | August 2024 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18402830 | ORGANIC MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM | January 2024 | October 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18565262 | TRANSPORT BAG FOR SUSPENDED TRANSPORT OF MATERIAL TO BE CONVEYED, AND LOADING STATION AND CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR THESE TRANSPORT BAGS | November 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18563008 | TWO-MASS VIBRATING CONVEYOR DEVICE AND VIBRATION DAMPER KIT FOR A TWO-MASS VIBRATING CONVEYOR DEVICE | November 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18505479 | HYGIENIC HOLLOW FRAME ASSEMBLY | November 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18386810 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MEASURING DUSTINESS OF A PRODUCT | November 2023 | October 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18385215 | PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR PHARMACEUTICAL DISPENSER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD | October 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18496578 | PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION UNIT AND AUTOMATED PRODUCT RECOGNITION SYSTEM | October 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18493513 | MULTI-ROLLER GUIDE | October 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 6 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18287268 | ALIGNMENT CONVEYOR | October 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18286765 | Conveyor Device | October 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18282797 | INSPECTION ROBOT SYSTEM | September 2023 | July 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18465326 | Grain Bin Unload Conveyor having Removable Components for Maintenance Access | September 2023 | October 2024 | Abandon | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18463943 | AUGER DIP APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ANTIMICROBIAL SOLUTION | September 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18460973 | VEHICLE TILTING DEVICE, AN ACCESS STATION, A DELIVERY SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF ACCESSING A STORAGE CONTAINER | September 2023 | July 2024 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18234422 | Method and Production Line for Separating Conjoined Products | August 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18339403 | COMPONENT MOUNTING SYSTEM AND TAPE SCRAPS COLLECTING DEVICE | June 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18337406 | AVOIDANCE CONVEYING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR GLASS PRODUCTION LINE | June 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 9 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18266078 | Plane Storage Facility | June 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18325368 | SOUND ATTENUATED CONVEYOR ROLLER ASSEMBLY | May 2023 | October 2023 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18035379 | DEVICE FOR TURNING PANELS | May 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18138448 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR LOCATING, ENGAGING, AND SHIFTING OBJECTS IN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED FASHION | April 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18137516 | CONVEYOR ELEMENT AND CONVEYOR DEVICE | April 2023 | May 2025 | Abandon | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18133753 | FOLDED PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMATION | April 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18031105 | MACHINE FOR ORIENTING AND ALIGNING ARTICLES SUPPLIED IN BULK | April 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18129974 | Method and Device for Collecting Litter or Scrapings | April 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18194834 | LINEAR MOTOR CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR CLEAN/ASEPTIC ENVIRONMENTS | April 2023 | February 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18247546 | PALLET CONVEYING DEVICE AND PALLET CONVEYING METHOD | March 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18188239 | BALL RETAINER | March 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18026919 | DRIVE DEVICE FOR VERTICAL ELONGATE UNITS SUSPENDED FROM A GUIDE RAIL, SUCH AS GROWING UNITS FOR PLANTS | March 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18184378 | APPARATUS FOR MOVING OBJECTS AND RELATIVE MOVEMENT METHOD | March 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18183058 | PAYLOAD TRANSPORT CARRIER | March 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18181555 | ARTICLE ACCUMULATING APPARATUS AND PACKING APPARATUS | March 2023 | April 2025 | Abandon | 26 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18044211 | SORTING MODULE FOR BAG CHECKING MACHINES | March 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18043970 | SPIRAL CONVEYOR AND FILTER UNIT | March 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18116456 | CONVEYING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONVEYING TAMPON APPLICATORS | March 2023 | October 2023 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18115637 | ASSEMBLING EQUIPMENT | February 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18115631 | ASSEMBLING EQUIPMENT | February 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18023197 | Tray and Transport Facility | February 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18172064 | CASE REORIENTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD | February 2023 | June 2023 | Allow | 4 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18112274 | ORIENTATION MODULE | February 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18169977 | PROFILE CONNECTOR FOR A HANGING CONVEYOR SYSTEM | February 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18110812 | DIFFUSER SPOUT FOR LOAD OUT SILO | February 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18170169 | PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR PHARMACEUTICAL DISPENSER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD | February 2023 | July 2023 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18020491 | TEMPORARY STORE | February 2023 | January 2025 | Abandon | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18018845 | FEEDING GROUP AND METHOD FOR FEEDING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES IN DISCRETE ROWS | January 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18159765 | MAGNETIC COVER APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS | January 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18101446 | LOADING TURNTABLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS | January 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 14 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18101465 | LANED CONTAINER FLOW EQUALIZER | January 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18095301 | OBJECT COLLECTING HEADS FOR OBJECT COLLECTING SYSTEMS | January 2023 | July 2023 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18150874 | COMPONENT MOUNTING SYSTEM AND TAPE SCRAPS COLLECTING DEVICE | January 2023 | April 2023 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18013728 | CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY DIVERTING OBJECTS | December 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18089960 | FEEDER ASSEMBLY FOR DELIVERING MATERIAL TO A MAIN BOOM ASSEMBLY | December 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18088235 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING AND IN PARTICULAR STERILISING CONTAINERS | December 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18084246 | CURVILINEAR CONVEYOR CHAIN SUITABLE FOR RUNNING ALONG A GUIDE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CURVED SECTION | December 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18010918 | SEPARATION DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING AND SEPARATING WORKPIECES AND LOADING SYSTEM WITH A SEPARATION DEVICE AND A SUPPLY DEVICE | December 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18065793 | SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PERIPHERAL CONVEYORS OF SORTER SYSTEMS | December 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 21 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18079259 | ADJUSTABLE CONVEYOR BELT GUIDERAIL AND RELATED METHODS | December 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18063924 | CONVEYOR SCRAPER SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS | December 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18077792 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR MEASURING DUSTINESS OF A PRODUCT | December 2022 | October 2023 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18009226 | EMBEDDED TYPE UPDATING ESCALATOR | December 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18073124 | METHOD, A REMOTE MONITORING UNIT, AND A REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY RECOVERING AT LEAST ONE PERIPHERAL DEVICE OF A PEOPLE CONVEYOR SYSTEM | December 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 21 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18070861 | HEATING CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ESCALATOR SYSTEM OR MOVING SIDEWALK SYSTEM | November 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 19 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18059049 | RAPID BRAKING OF SHUTTLES POWERED BY ELECTROMAGNETS | November 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17998659 | BOLT FEEDER | November 2022 | May 2025 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17998583 | DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES TO BE PACKAGED | November 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18052651 | TRANSPORTER SYSTEM | November 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17965023 | CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR WHEELED STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS THERETO | October 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17963761 | MODULAR STACK MOVER | October 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17960748 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SORTING AND CONVEYING PRODUCE | October 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17959393 | DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING ITEMS TO BE CONVEYED BETWEEN TWO CONVEYOR DEVICES AND A CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND A TRANSFER METHOD | October 2022 | November 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17936651 | CYLINDRICAL BODY AND APPARATUS | September 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17953429 | PROPPANTS PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD | September 2022 | October 2023 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17913533 | CONVEYOR DISCHARGE CHUTE WITH DIVERTING PADDLES | September 2022 | August 2024 | Abandon | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17949288 | FOLDED PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMATION | September 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17932236 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PRODUCT STREAM WITH MUTUALLY ALIGNED FOOD PRODUCTS ON PRODUCT SUBSTRATES | September 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17932067 | VEHICLE TILTING DEVICE, AN ACCESS STATION, A DELIVERY SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF ACCESSING A STORAGE, etc. | September 2022 | May 2023 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17910157 | FLOW CONTROL OF PRODUCT TRANSPORT | September 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17940588 | Stair Roller Device and System for Moving Large Items on a Stairway | September 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17903808 | AUTOMATED REPITCH SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS | September 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17902481 | Article Transport Vehicle | September 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17909335 | CONVEYING CARRIAGE FOR A DISTRIBUTING CONVEYOR AND CONNECTING ARRANGEMENT FOR FASTENING A CONVEYING CARRIAGE TO A DRIVE MEANS OF A DISTRIBUTING CONVEYOR | September 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17899472 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERS WITH ROLLER-SUPPORTED ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR GRIPPING CLAMPS | August 2022 | March 2025 | Abandon | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17896555 | Apparatus and Method for Sequencing Loading Units in a Predetermined Order | August 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17895213 | VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION COMBINE FEEDER SLAT | August 2022 | April 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17885253 | SINGLE DRIVE DUAL HOPPER CONVEYOR SYSTEM | August 2022 | May 2023 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17797108 | HANDLING DEVICE | August 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HESS, DOUGLAS A.
With a 62.5% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.
Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.
In this dataset, 43.3% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.
✓ Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.
✓ Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
Examiner HESS, DOUGLAS A works in Art Unit 3651 and has examined 2,053 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 90.7%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 18 months.
Examiner HESS, DOUGLAS A's allowance rate of 90.7% places them in the 73% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by HESS, DOUGLAS A receive 0.98 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 12% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by HESS, DOUGLAS A is 18 months. This places the examiner in the 96% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +4.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HESS, DOUGLAS A. This interview benefit is in the 28% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 36.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 81% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 73.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 92% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 60.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 48% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 74.2% of appeals filed. This is in the 59% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 30.4% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 45.9% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 52% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 11.3% of allowed cases (in the 97% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 1.2% of allowed cases (in the 58% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.
No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.
Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.
Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.