Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-09-16)
Rejection types: 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1\. A process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing comprising the steps of: A) opening and treating cotton bales in a fulling mill for cleaning, a fiber goes through an opening machine and enters a tank where it is mixed with a cationic solution, then the fiber impregnated with the cationic solution enters a material holder, which together with a press, expels the surplus of the cationic solution, the material holder is placed in an autoclave together with soft water, the soft water is heated and the steam generated heats the fiber for chemical fixation, the cationized fiber is rinsed and neutralized and dried, it continues with a carding thread in which the cationized fiber passes through a roller, a licker-in roll, a larger roll, flats or in-line rolls with a clothing and a draw frame; and B) dyeing process is carried out after the cationization process with a pretreatment or sub-process of bleaching and semi-whitening of the cationized fiber, continues with a sub-dyeing process with an organic phosphonium acid salt sequestrant, a humectant composed of a mixture of nonionic polyglycol ether alcohol surfactants, a nonionic fatty acid amide lubricant, a dispersant derived from naphthenic acid strongly anionic, caustic soda, acetic acid and reactive dyes of the vinylsulfonic and monochlorotriazine type.
2\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the cationization process the opening of fibers is performed in an opening machine with two material opening cylinders with approximately 50 tines of 18 mm approximately.
3\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the cationization process for each kilogram of cotton, approximately 2.5 L of the cationization solution is retained.
4\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the cationization process the cationization solution is preferably composed by 138 g/L of CHPTAC, 29 g/L of NaOH, and 5 g/L of wetting agent.
5\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein a ratio of 1kg of cotton per liter of soft water is used in the cationization process in the autoclave.
6\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the autoclave the soft water it is heated from 30 °C to 78 °C at a rate of 1 °C/min and remains at that temperature from 210 to 240 minutes, preferably 228 min.
7\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the cationization process the rinsing of the fiber is carried out with water at approximately 70 °C for 10 minutes.
8\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the autoclave the control of the volume of the cationic solution retained in the cotton fiber is carried out with a material holder and a press until approximately 1 kg of cotton and approximately 1 L of soft water is obtained.
9\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the cationization process the fiber is removed from the autoclaved and dried at approximately 100°C at a relative humidity of approximately 8%.
10\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the spinning process the fiber begins the carding process by entering a roller or licker-in a cylinder that rotates at a speed of approximately 1100 RPM.
11\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the spinning process the fiber enters in a cylinder and reaches a ribbon, the clothing preferably has 965 spikes and the belt moves at 172 mm/min.
12\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the spinning process the grouping of the ribbons leave the carding process in groups of 6 to 8 slivers on a draw frame, the draw frame preferably having short 83° hardness rollers, followed by the formation of a web, or groups of 20 to 24 tapes in a gathering machine.
13\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the spinning process the nappa is thinned by its combed with a comb with a density of 26 teeth/cm to form a lock.
14\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the spinning process the torsion of the roving is made in rotafiles with 24 grooves to form the thread used later to form a fabric.
15\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein the scouring and semi-white process is performed in the dyeing process of cationized cotton preferably in a bath of 1 kg of cotton per 6 liters and mixed with an organic phosphonium acid salt sequestrant 1 g/L, a moisturizing detergent made up of a mixture of non-ionic surfactant polyglycol ether alcohols and 1 g/L of alkylphosphonate stabilizer , 1 g/L of emulsifier, caustic soda to reach a pH of 11.2 and 3 g/L of hydrogen peroxide 50%, the mixture is carried out at room temperature, then it is brought to 98ºC, heated at a rate of 3ºC per minute for 30 minutes.
16\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the dyeing step the neutralization process is carried out preferably at 50°C with 0.7 g/L of a solution of acetic acid for 15 minutes.
17\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the dyeing step the peroxide removal process is carried out at 55°C for 15 minutes with a peroxide remover based on an enzyme or 0.15 g/L of uncharged catalase.
18\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the dyeing step the cationized fabric is bleached and neutralized in a bath of 1 kg of cotton per 7 liters of water at 30°C, mix for 6 minutes the organic phosphonium acid salt sequestrant 2 g/L, the humectant composed of a mixture of alcohol surfactants of nonionic polyglycol ether 1.5 g/L, the amide lubricant of 1.5 g/L of a nonionic fatty acid and the dispersant derived from naphthenic acid.
19\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the fabric dyeing step the dosage of the dye is carried out at 40°C for 30 minutes followed by slow heating to 60°C at a rate of 3.5°C/min, it remains at that temperature for 20 minutes and 1.5 g/L of caustic soda 50% is added until reaching a pH of 10.8, to remain at said conditions for an additional 20 minutes and the bathroom is removed.
20\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein in the dyeing step the neutralization of the stain dyed with 1 g/L of acetic acid before being soaped, soaping is done at 70°C with 1 g/L of sequestrant for 10 minutes.
21\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein the autoclave comprises a heating coil located in a lower area and a material holder, wherein the cotton fiber is located above said coil.
22\. The process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing set forth in claim 1, wherein the material holder has holes in its lower part.

OFFICE ACTION:
Claims 1-22 are pending in this application.
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
1	The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
2	Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed on 01/11/2023. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the 000050-2023 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Objections
3	Claim 4 objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 4, recites the term “CHPTAC”. This term should be recited as “3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC)”.  Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
4	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 2-4 and 6-17 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.
Claims 2-3 and 7-10 recite the term “approximately”. The term “approximately” is a relative term which renders the claims indefinite.  The term “approximately” is not defined by the claim and the specification does not provide any guidance.
Claims 4, 6, 11-12 and 15-16 recite the phrase “preferably”. The phrase “preferably” renders the claims indefinite because it is unclear whether the limitations following the phrase are part of the claimed invention. See MPEP 2173.05(d).
Claims 10-14 recite the limitation “spinning process”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. Claim 1 does not recite “spinning process”. Correction is required.
Claim 17 recites the limitation “peroxide removal process”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 does not recite “peroxide removal process”. Correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
5	Claims 1, 5 and 18-22 are allowed. Claims 2-4 and 6-17 also would be allowed if the claims overcome the rejection under 112, second paragraph. The closest prior art of record (US 9,091,021 B2) teaches a method for dyeing cellulosic substrate, consisting of (a) cationizing a cellulose substrate (cotton) by applying a liquid composition comprising 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylannonium chloride and applying a foam composition comprising dyes include fiber-reactive dyes, direct dyes or combination thereof (see claim 1). However, the closest prior art of record (US’ 021 B2) does not teach or disclose a process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing comprising vinylsulfonic and monochlorotriazine type as claimed.
Conclusion


NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
1	This action is responsive to the amendment filed on November 01, 2024.
2	Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
3	Claim objection and the rejection under 112, second paragraph are withdrawn because of the applicant’s amendment.
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
4	An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
The application has been amended as follows:
In the claims:
In claim 6, in the last line, delete “ , 228 min”.
5	Claims 1-22 are allowed.
STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
6	The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The closest prior art of record (US 9,091,021 B2) teaches a method for dyeing cellulosic substrate, consisting of (a) cationizing a cellulose substrate (cotton) by applying a liquid composition comprising 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylannonium chloride and applying a foam composition comprising dyes include fiber-reactive dyes, direct dyes or combination thereof (see claim 1). However, the closest prior art of record (US’ 021 B2) does not teach or disclose a process for cotton fiber cationization and cationic yarn dyeing comprising vinylsulfonic and monochlorotriazine type as claimed. Accordingly, the claimed subject as a whole would not have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art of cotton and yarn dyeing formulation.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US9091021B2: Claims:
A method for dyeing a continuously traveling cellulosic substrate, consisting of: (a) cationizing a cellulosic substrate, wherein the cellulosic substrate comprises cotton, rayon, linen, or combinations thereof and includes a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the cellulosic substrate is cationized by applying a liquid composition comprising 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride; (b) collecting the cellulosic substrate by a wrapping-and-rolling step performed by wrapping the substrate onto an uptake roll and rotating the substrate on the uptake roll from about 1 to 12 hours; (c) applying a foam composition comprising a dye amount of one or more dyes comprised of fiber-reactive dyes, direct dyes, or combinations thereof, wherein the foam composition is applied in the absence of added sodium chloride or sodium sulfate salts via at least one applicator head in which each applicator head has a parabolic distribution chamber and a head slot that is disposed transversely with the continuously traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the traveling substrate through the applicator head, to provide a dyed substrate having between about 95 to 100% of the dye amount from the foam composition bound to the cellulosic substrate; and (d) optionally: (i) generating the foam composition including one or more dyes, (ii) washing the cellulosic substrate, (iii) steaming the cellulosic substrate, (iv) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate, (v) collecting the dyed substrate, (vi) steaming the dyed substrate, (vii) washing the dyed substrate, (viii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate, or combinations thereof.
(a) cationizing a cellulosic substrate, wherein the cellulosic substrate comprises cotton, rayon, linen, or combinations thereof and includes a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein the cellulosic substrate is cationized by applying a liquid composition comprising 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride;
(b) collecting the cellulosic substrate by a wrapping-and-rolling step performed by wrapping the substrate onto an uptake roll and rotating the substrate on the uptake roll from about 1 to 12 hours;
(c) applying a foam composition comprising a dye amount of one or more dyes comprised of fiber-reactive dyes, direct dyes, or combinations thereof, wherein the foam composition is applied in the absence of added sodium chloride or sodium sulfate salts via at least one applicator head in which each applicator head has a parabolic distribution chamber and a head slot that is disposed transversely with the continuously traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the traveling substrate through the applicator head, to provide a dyed substrate having between about 95 to 100% of the dye amount from the foam composition bound to the cellulosic substrate; and
(d) optionally: (i) generating the foam composition including one or more dyes, (ii) washing the cellulosic substrate, (iii) steaming the cellulosic substrate, (iv) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate, (v) collecting the dyed substrate, (vi) steaming the dyed substrate, (vii) washing the dyed substrate, (viii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate, or combinations thereof.
(i) generating the foam composition including one or more dyes,
(ii) washing the cellulosic substrate,
(iii) steaming the cellulosic substrate,
(iv) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate,
(v) collecting the dyed substrate,
(vi) steaming the dyed substrate,
(vii) washing the dyed substrate,
(viii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate,
or combinations thereof.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the foam composition is generated prior to applying the foam composition to at least one surface of the substrate.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the head slot comprises a generally rectangular opening.
The method of claim 1 , wherein a first applicator head is positioned underneath the traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the bottom surface of the substrate.
The method of claim 4 , wherein a second applicator head is positioned above the traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the top surface of the substrate.
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first applicator head is located upstream from the second applicator head.
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first applicator head is located downstream from the second applicator head.
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first and second applicator heads are positioned directly opposite one another.
The method of claim 1 , wherein 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride is formed by mixing 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride with a base.
The method of claim 1 , wherein cationizing the cellulosic substrate is performed by saturating the cellulosic substrate with the liquid composition including 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride.
The method of claim 1 , wherein removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate is performed by squeezing at least a portion of the liquid composition out of the substrate.
The method of claim 1 , wherein removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate is performed by drying liquid from the substrate prior to dyeing.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic substrate is provided in the form of a yarn.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the dyed substrate is subjected to a steaming step after the application of the foam composition.
The method of claim 14 , wherein the dyed substrate is subjected to a steaming step from about 1 minute to about 5 minutes.
The method of claim 1 , wherein steaming the dyed substrate is performed by subjecting the substrate to about 1.3 pounds of steam per yard of a 16 ounce/linear yard fabric or less.
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic substrate is washed after the wrapping-and-rolling step and prior to step (c).
The method of claim 17 , wherein removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate is performed by drying after the washing step and prior to step (c).
The method of claim 1 , wherein washing the dyed substrate is performed by washing the dyed substrate in a reduced manner to limit electricity usage and water usage.
A method for dyeing a continuously traveling cellulosic substrate, consisting of: (a) a pre-treatment step performed by cationizing a cellulosic substrate with a liquid composition, wherein the cellulosic substrate comprises cotton, rayon, linen, or combinations thereof and includes a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) generating a foam composition including one or more dyes; (c) collecting the cellulosic substrate by a wrapping-and-rolling step, the wrapping and rolling step performed by wrapping the substrate onto an uptake roll and rotating the substrate on the uptake roll from about 1 to 12 hours; (d) a dyeing step performed by applying the foam composition to at least one surface of the continuously traveling substrate, the foam composition being applied to the at least one surface of the continuously traveling substrate via at least one applicator head comprising a parabolic distribution chamber and a head slot that is disposed transversely with the continuously traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the traveling substrate through the applicator head to provide a dyed substrate having between about 95 to 100% of the dye amount from the foam composition bound to the cellulosic substrate; and (d) optionally: (i) washing the cellulosic substrate, (ii) steaming the cellulosic substrate, (iii) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate, (iv) collecting the dyed substrate, (v) steaming the dyed substrate, (vi) washing the dyed substrate, (vii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate, or combinations thereof.
(a) a pre-treatment step performed by cationizing a cellulosic substrate with a liquid composition, wherein the cellulosic substrate comprises cotton, rayon, linen, or combinations thereof and includes a top surface and a bottom surface;
(b) generating a foam composition including one or more dyes;
(c) collecting the cellulosic substrate by a wrapping-and-rolling step, the wrapping and rolling step performed by wrapping the substrate onto an uptake roll and rotating the substrate on the uptake roll from about 1 to 12 hours;
(d) a dyeing step performed by applying the foam composition to at least one surface of the continuously traveling substrate, the foam composition being applied to the at least one surface of the continuously traveling substrate via at least one applicator head comprising a parabolic distribution chamber and a head slot that is disposed transversely with the continuously traveling substrate such that the foam composition is continuously applied to the traveling substrate through the applicator head to provide a dyed substrate having between about 95 to 100% of the dye amount from the foam composition bound to the cellulosic substrate; and
(d) optionally: (i) washing the cellulosic substrate, (ii) steaming the cellulosic substrate, (iii) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate, (iv) collecting the dyed substrate, (v) steaming the dyed substrate, (vi) washing the dyed substrate, (vii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate, or combinations thereof.
(i) washing the cellulosic substrate,
(ii) steaming the cellulosic substrate,
(iii) removing liquid from the cellulosic substrate,
(iv) collecting the dyed substrate,
(v) steaming the dyed substrate,
(vi) washing the dyed substrate,
(vii) removing liquid from the dyed substrate, or combinations thereof.
The method of claim 20 , wherein washing the dyed substrate is performed by washing the dyed substrate in a reduced manner to limit electricity usage and water usage.
Ref CN110004742A: Claims:
a salt-free dyeing method of cationic modified cotton fabric, comprising: (1) dipping the cellulose fiber fabric into the modification treatment solution, baking, washing, and drying, wherein the bath ratio is 1:5 to 1:30, and the modifier in the modification treatment solution is N-methylol acrylamide One of NMA, N-dimethylazetidine chloride DMAC, polyaminocarboxylic acid PACA; (2) dyeing the above-mentioned modified cellulose fiber fabric, processing, adding a polyamine color-fixing agent, color-fixing, washing with water, soaping, washing with water, and drying, wherein the dyeing adopts acid reactive dyes, and the bath ratio is 1:8～1:15.
a salt-free dyeing method of cationic modified cotton fabric, comprising:
(1) dipping the cellulose fiber fabric into the modification treatment solution, baking, washing, and drying, wherein the bath ratio is 1:5 to 1:30, and the modifier in the modification treatment solution is N-methylol acrylamide One of NMA, N-dimethylazetidine chloride DMAC, polyaminocarboxylic acid PACA;
(2) dyeing the above-mentioned modified cellulose fiber fabric, processing, adding a polyamine color-fixing agent, color-fixing, washing with water, soaping, washing with water, and drying, wherein the dyeing adopts acid reactive dyes, and the bath ratio is 1:8～1:15.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (1), the pH value of the modified treatment solution is 3-8; the dosage of the modifier is 0.05-20 g/L. 3 .
The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (1), the immersion temperature is 25-65° C., and the immersion time is 25-60 min. 4 .
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the baking temperature in the step (1) is 90-160° C., and the baking time is 2-5 min. 5 .
method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, in described step (2), polyamine type color-fixing agent is one in color-fixing agent G701, color-fixing agent WS, and color-fixing agent DK.
method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, in described step (2), acid reactive dyestuff is: red RC-3B, red RC-7B, yellow RC-3R, bright yellow RC-G, blue RC-R , one or more of Sapphire Blue RC-3R and Black RC-M.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the acid reactive dye concentration in the step (2) is 0.5-4.5% OWF. 8 .
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dyeing temperature in the step (2) is room temperature; the treatment is as follows: the temperature is raised to 90 to 100° C. at a rate of 0.5 to 1° C./min, and the temperature is maintained for 30 to 60 minutes. 9 .
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, adding a polyamine color-fixing agent in the step (2) is carried out at a temperature of 65-70°C; the consumption of the polyamine-based color-fixing agent is 1 to 5 %OWF.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (2), the color-fixing temperature is 65-70° C., and the color-fixing time is 15-40 min. 11 .