DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/3/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding the 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection, Applicant argues that Zenitani does not increase the effects of Anno, and as such there is no motivation to combine. However, the references do not have to have the same purpose in order for the combination to be obvious. Zenitani teaches that it is beneficial to have the silica particles contain a quaternary ammonium salt in order to prevent triboelectric charging of the silica ([0029-30]). A toner using these silica particles as the external additive may prevent some of the toner from the scattering that is caused by bad charge distribution, as addressed by Anno ([0023]), by lessening the mutual charging between toner particles. Therefore, a person of ordinary skill in the art may choose to use these solutions together to further prevent the image density unevenness.
Regarding the obviousness-type double patenting rejection, claim 1 of copending application 18/309,291 contains all of the limitations of claim 1 of the instant application. Therefore, claim 1 of the instant application is not patentably distinct from the developer recited in ‘291.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/J.K./Examiner, Art Unit 1734
/PETER L VAJDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737 03/19/2026