USPTO Examiner ROMANO ASHLEY K - Art Unit 3652

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19070444TRANSPORT ROBOT, RACK AND WAREHOUSING SYSTEMMarch 2025October 2025Allow710NoNo
18856079LIFTING BASKET, LIFTING BASKET GUIDING MECHANISM AND LIFTING BASKET-TYPE SAMPLE CRYOGENIC STORAGE DEVICEOctober 2024March 2025Allow500NoNo
18743203STORAGE, RETRIEVAL AND ORDER SORTATION ARRANGED IN VERTICAL ORIENTATIONJune 2024May 2025Allow1110NoNo
18668324MOVABLE BASEPLATE COVER AND INBOARD BARRIER GATE OF A LIFT SYSTEM FOR A MOTORIZED VEHICLEMay 2024December 2024Allow700NoNo
18662441MULTI-TIERED PARCEL SORTATION SYSTEMMay 2024April 2025Allow1110NoNo
18643833SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING OBJECTS INCLUDING TRANSPORT VEHICLESApril 2024November 2024Allow700NoNo
18603798MOBILE MANIPULATION ROBOTIC SYSTEMMarch 2024July 2024Allow410YesNo
18589394STORAGE SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THE STORAGE SYSTEMFebruary 2024March 2025Allow1310NoNo
18422983CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLE WITH FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS AND ASSEMBLY OF MOTORS IN SECOND SECTION FOR DRIVING AT LEAST ONE WHEEL OF EACH OF THE SETS OF WHEELSJanuary 2024December 2024Allow1010NoNo
18415377BIASING CRADLE FOR REFUSE VEHICLEJanuary 2024October 2024Allow800NoNo
18401196APPARATUS FOR RETRIEVING UNITS FROM A STORAGE SYSTEMDecember 2023August 2024Allow800NoNo
18401140SCISSORS ACTUATOR CONFIGURED TO TRANSLATE A SUPPORT PLATFORM IN EITHER OF OPPOSED LATERAL DIRECTIONSDecember 2023February 2025Allow1410YesNo
18401088LOCKING MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING A RECEPTACLE CARRIER TO A CARRIER SUPPORTDecember 2023February 2025Allow1410YesNo
18400717OFFLOADING VACUUM TANKDecember 2023November 2024Allow1100NoNo
18389068Robotic Order Fulfilment SystemNovember 2023May 2025Allow1820NoNo
18488799CONTAINER ACCESSING STATION WITH LIFTING DEVICEOctober 2023May 2024Allow700NoNo
18378270Material Handling Apparatus having Separate Workstation and Method of UseOctober 2023May 2024Allow700NoNo
18482932Concrete ContainerOctober 2023March 2024Allow520NoNo
18377414SURFACE MANAGEMENT OF PILED GRANULAR MATERIALOctober 2023December 2024Allow1410NoNo
18377471INCITING SEDIMENT GRAVITY FLOW IN PILED GRAINOctober 2023December 2024Allow1410NoNo
18479491AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMOctober 2023August 2024Allow1010NoNo
18475587AUTOMATED SHUTTLE SYSTEMS FOR MULTI-DEPTH STORAGE RACKSSeptember 2023April 2024Allow700NoNo
18471409SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PICKING ITEMSSeptember 2023April 2024Allow700NoNo
18464857CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY USING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLESSeptember 2023March 2025Allow1820NoNo
18263615GRID SURVEY MODULEJuly 2023October 2025Allow2600NoNo
18227250INTEROPERABLE PREFABRICATED MOBILE STRUCTUREJuly 2023November 2024Allow1610YesNo
18262042STORAGE CONTAINER, A SYSTEM COMPRISING ONE OR MORE OF THE STORAGE CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING THE STORAGE CONTAINERSJuly 2023January 2026Allow3010NoNo
18270842MATRIX-PICKINGJuly 2023February 2026Allow3210NoNo
18340384AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMJune 2023March 2024Allow900NoNo
18339580VEHICLE FOR AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMJune 2023July 2024Allow1310NoNo
18333810CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLE WITH DIRECT DRIVE ON LIFTING AXLE(S), ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMJune 2023July 2024Allow1310NoNo
18326225SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING STORAGE CONTAINERSMay 2023February 2026Allow3320NoNo
18320616STORAGE GRID WITH CONTAINER ACCESSING STATION WITH LOCKING DEVICE TO LOCK REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLEMay 2023April 2024Allow1110NoNo
18317998GRAIN MANAGEMENT IN A BULK STOREMay 2023January 2026Allow3210YesNo
18317072GRAIN BIN MANAGEMENT DURING GRAIN STORAGEMay 2023October 2025Allow3010NoNo
18317074ROBOTIC GRAIN WALK DOWN IN A FLAT STORAGE BULK STOREMay 2023October 2025Allow3010NoNo
18316393GRAIN BIN MANAGEMENT DURING LOAD-INMay 2023October 2025Allow3010NoNo
18252639SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL IN AN AUTOMATED GRID BASED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMMay 2023June 2025Allow2500NoNo
18252461LOADING/UNLOADING DEVICE FOR A DELIVERY VEHICLEMay 2023February 2024Allow910NoNo
18144486SERVING ROBOT APPARATUSMay 2023October 2025Allow2910YesNo
18252087AN ACCESS STATION FOR AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM WITH CONTAINER TILT FUNCTIONALITY AND A METHOD FOR USING SAMEMay 2023June 2025Allow2500NoNo
18035372OVERHEAD TRANSPORT VEHICLEMay 2023August 2025Allow2800NoNo
18305833ROBOTIC SERVICE DEVICE AND HANDLING METHODApril 2023February 2024Allow910NoNo
18303520APPARATUS FOR RETRIEVING UNITS FROM A STORAGE SYSTEMApril 2023August 2023Allow400NoNo
18298279Moving System, Method Of Moving An Item And Related ComponentsApril 2023February 2024Allow1000NoNo
18189771APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED PICKING OF ITEMSMarch 2023August 2024Allow1700NoNo
18043963A Grid Framework StructureMarch 2023March 2026Allow3610NoNo
18042366CABLE-STAYED JACKING REVERSING TYPE SIXTEEN-WHEEL FOUR-WAY SHUTTLEFebruary 2023May 2025Allow2700NoNo
18107228Multi-Tiered Parcel Sortation SystemFebruary 2023February 2024Allow1210NoNo
18019741TRAY AND ROBOT HAVING SAMEFebruary 2023February 2026Allow3710NoNo
18163993CARGO UNLOADER FOR A VEHICLEFebruary 2023June 2025Allow2900NoNo
18095428Multi-Level Conveying Systems for Storage FacilitiesJanuary 2023July 2025Allow3010YesNo
18094888Solar Panel Dispensing System for Facilitating Installation of Solar PanelsJanuary 2023February 2026Allow3730NoNo
18003699WAREHOUSE SHUTTLEDecember 2022August 2025Allow3210NoNo
18145293SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING INSULATED METAL PANELSDecember 2022September 2025Allow3310NoNo
18069723AUTOMATED PACKAGE DELIVERY DEVICES, MACHINES, AND SYSTEMSDecember 2022February 2025Allow2600NoNo
18084779MOVEABLE BASEPLATE COVER AND INBOARD BARRIER GATE OF A LIFT SYSTEM FOR A MOTORIZED VEHICLEDecember 2022February 2024Allow1310NoNo
18001353SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMDecember 2022April 2025Allow2900NoNo
18063856STORAGE SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2022May 2024Allow1710NoNo
18078132LIFTING AND LOWERING CONTROL SYSTEMDecember 2022September 2025Abandon3310NoNo
18074796FOOTPRINT OPTIMIZED CONTAINERIZED STORAGE SOLUTIONDecember 2022March 2025Allow2700NoNo
18000217VEHICLE TO COLLECT AND TRANSPORT FLAT ARTICLES, SYSTEM AND METHOD TO HANDLE FLAT ARTICLESNovember 2022October 2025Abandon3510NoNo
18000015Multi-Function Inventory Handling Station AssemblyNovember 2022October 2025Allow3420NoNo
17992379Robot Delivery SystemNovember 2022March 2024Allow1610NoNo
18055385APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING GROUPS OF CONSUMABLES BETWEEN VERTICALLY SPACED HOLDING SHELVESNovember 2022July 2024Allow2010NoNo
17984337TRANSPORT ROBOTNovember 2022October 2025Allow3520YesNo
17982590SURFACE MANAGEMENT OF PILED GRAINNovember 2022August 2023Allow910YesNo
17921738Method And System For Assembling And Installing Arrays Of Photovoltaic Solar Panels In An Outdoor FieldOctober 2022March 2025Allow2910NoNo
17919019FREIGHT CARRIER INTENDED TO BE RECEIVED IN THE CARGO HOLD OF AN AIRCRAFT, AND SYSTEM COMPRISING FREIGHT CARRIERS AND A RECEIVING PLATFORMOctober 2022October 2025Allow3630NoNo
17964144HANDLING ROBOTOctober 2022February 2024Allow1620NoNo
17918215CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLE WITH CANTILEVER CONSTRUCTION AND AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF THE CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLESOctober 2022September 2025Allow3510NoNo
17960819Rear Axle Movement Device for Truck with Lowerable BedOctober 2022January 2026Abandon3910NoNo
17938512STORAGE SYSTEMOctober 2022July 2025Allow3320NoNo
17914958Apparatus for Retrieving Storage Containers from a Storage and Retrieval SystemSeptember 2022August 2025Allow3500NoNo
17950704SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING OBJECTS INCLUDING TRANSPORT VEHICLESSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17931340SERVICE VEHICLE FOR A STORAGE SYSTEMSeptember 2022March 2024Allow1810NoNo
17817513VEHICLE FOR AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMAugust 2022March 2023Allow710NoNo
17816544Biasing Cradle for Refuse VehicleAugust 2022October 2023Allow1410NoNo
17796637MOBILE ROBOT TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENT AND METHODJuly 2022April 2025Allow3210NoNo
17812637CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLE WITH FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS AND ASSEMBLY OF MOTORS IN SECOND SECTION FOR DRIVING AT LEAST ONE WHEEL OF EACH OF THE SETS OF WHEELSJuly 2022October 2023Allow1520NoNo
17860156VEHICLE FOR RECEIVING AND DELIVERING AGRICULTURAL SEEDS AND OTHER GRANULAR MATERIALJuly 2022March 2023Allow810NoNo
17810957CONTAINER HANDLING VEHICLE WITH DIRECT DRIVE ON LIFTING AXLE(S), ASSOCIATED METHODS AND SYSTEMJuly 2022March 2023Allow810NoNo
17857749PROCESSING SYSTEM HAVING A FRONT OPENING UNIFIED POD (FOUP) LOAD LOCKJuly 2022November 2023Allow1620NoNo
17854467Material Handling Apparatus having Separate Workstation and Method of UseJune 2022August 2023Allow1300NoNo
17786791Picking SystemJune 2022April 2025Allow3410NoNo
17806912DISPLACEMENT MECHANISM FOR A REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLEJune 2022October 2022Allow400NoNo
17782494STORAGE SYSTEMJune 2022May 2025Allow3610NoNo
17829607FRONT-DUCTED EQUIPMENT FRONT END MODULES, SIDE STORAGE PODS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAMEJune 2022June 2023Abandon1310NoNo
17829057LOADING DOCK AUTOMATED TRAILER DOOR SYSTEMSMay 2022October 2025Allow4110NoNo
17723187Travel Robot For Moving Substrate Transfer Robot In Vacuum ChamberApril 2022July 2025Allow3910NoNo
17715427METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING POSITION OF PALLET FOR TRUCK UNLOADINGApril 2022March 2025Allow3520NoNo
17715550TRANSPORTABLE REFRIGERATED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION OF PERISHABLE GOODSApril 2022February 2024Allow2230YesNo
17658093ACTUATOR FOR MACHINEApril 2022August 2025Allow4020NoNo
17711108Vehicle-Mounted Hoist Systems and MethodsApril 2022November 2022Allow710YesNo
17657705WAREHOUSING SYSTEM FOR STORING AND RETRIEVING GOODS IN CONTAINERSApril 2022August 2024Allow2800NoNo
17708223Robotic Order Fulfilment ShuttleMarch 2022August 2023Allow1640YesNo
17703482TRAY FLIPPERMarch 2022June 2024Allow2700NoNo
17754036GAS ISOLATED STORAGE SYSTEMMarch 2022March 2025Allow3610NoNo
17761724A TRACK ARRANGEMENT, AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND AN AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL METHODMarch 2022October 2025Allow4310NoNo
17655308AUTOMATED STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMMarch 2022October 2022Allow700NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner ROMANO, ASHLEY K.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
5
Examiner Affirmed
1
(20.0%)
Examiner Reversed
4
(80.0%)
Reversal Percentile
90.4%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 80.0% 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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
13
Allowed After Appeal Filing
9
(69.2%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(30.8%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
93.3%
Higher than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

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, 69.2% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

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 ROMANO, ASHLEY K - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner ROMANO, ASHLEY K works in Art Unit 3652 and has examined 442 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 76.5%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner ROMANO, ASHLEY K's allowance rate of 76.5% places them in the 43% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by ROMANO, ASHLEY K receive 1.71 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 36% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by ROMANO, ASHLEY K is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 57% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +10.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by ROMANO, ASHLEY K. This interview benefit is in the 43% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 32.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 69% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 39.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 61% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 57.1% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 49% 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.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 70.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 57% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 16.7% 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.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 64.1% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 69% 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 Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 36% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments less often than average. You may need to make most claim amendments yourself.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 1.2% of allowed cases (in the 63% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

    Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

    • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
    • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
    • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
    • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
    • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
    • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

    Important Disclaimer

    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.