Assuming that the work of reclassification is undertaken by examiners who are already experienced in the subject-matter to be classified, procedure as follows is recommended:
(2) Utilizing your previously acquired knowledge of the patents in the class you are about to revise, subdivide the existing subclasses into bundles, so as to assemble in each bundle those patents deemed to have the closest resemblance to each other. For the purpose of this assemblage, consider each patent as an entirety and not with reference to various more or less important parts of that entirety.
Example: An apparatus comprising in alleged combination a means for decanting water, a means for electrolytically depositing impurities, and a means for filtering the water, should not be classified either as a decanter, an electrolytic apparatus, or a filter, but should be classified as a combination apparatus (taking it to the general art of liquid purification). So also the combination of a rotary printing-press with a folding mechanism, and a wrapping mechanism, should not be classified merely as a rotary printing-press, a folding machine, or a wrapping machine, but should be classified as a combination of the several mechanisms as an entirety whose functions carried out in proper order produce a printed and wrapped newspaper.
(3) Write an approximate or tentative definition of the matter thus assembled in each bundle and attach it to its appropriate bundle.
(4) Where it appears that the subject matter of any bundle formed from the patents of any subclass is analogous to matter in other subclasses of the same class or in other classes, a note should be added to that effect so that this matter may be given special consideration.
(5) When the same examiner or different examiners are working on different subclasses containing analogous matter, parallel lines of subdivision should be followed wherever possible, in order to effect an arrangement that will facilitate comparisons.
(6) When subdividing a group of more or less complex organized structures or mechanisms, note should be taken of subcombinations that form or it is thought should form the basis of other subclasses, either in the same or different classes, into which those details may be collected, either classified therein originally or by cross-reference.
Example: Assuming that the combination of press, folder, and wrapping mechanism, referred to in a preceding paragraph is to be classified in a class of Printing, on the entirety as a combination having the function of printing, plus other functions, and that folding and also wrapping are separately classified, then the particular type of press should be selected to be cross-referenced into a press-type subclass of the class of Printing, such as "Presses, rotary," while the folding mechanism and the wrapping mechanism would be noted for cross-reference to other appropriate classes. Also, any part of the printing press, such as the inking mechanism, specifically described, should be noted for cross-reference into a subclass of Printing designed to receive the inking mechanism as a part of the printing press.
(7) After a knowledge of the material of the class has been obtained by estimating the resemblances between the individual patents that[p. 39] have been assembled in the several groups, comparison of these groups, represented by the bundles of photolithographs, by the aid of the approximate definitions and notes attached can be made. It can then be decided whether all of these groups are to be retained in the proposed class, and the retained groups can be organized into a class with the subclasses arranged so as to bring those subclasses having the strongest resemblances in closest relation, and in such order as to comply with the conventions adopted in the official classification. It will probably be necessary to have one subclass or group as broad as the definition of the class, to take unclassifiable matter and to provide for possible future inventions.