Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/619,401

Ink Jet Recording Apparatus And Recording Method

Final Rejection §101
Filed
Mar 28, 2024
Priority
Mar 29, 2023 — JP 2023-053260
Examiner
UHLENHAKE, JASON S
Art Unit
2853
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
3 (Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1046 granted / 1198 resolved
+19.3% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-2.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1214
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
54.9%
+14.9% vs TC avg
§102
33.4%
-6.6% vs TC avg
§112
6.7%
-33.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1198 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-2, 4-6, 8-9 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Double Patenting A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. Claims 1, 5-6, 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1, 6-7, 10 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,570,090. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. Instant Application 18/619,401 Patent 12,570,090 Claim 1: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: An ink accommodating container having an ink pouring port; An ink composition; and an ink jet head that discharges the ink composition supplied from the ink accommodating container, where The ink accommodating container includes a first ink accommodating container and a second ink accommodating container having a lower height from a bottom of the accommodating container to the ink pouring port than the first ink accommodating container, The ink composition includes a first ink composition accommodated in the first ink accommodating container and a second ink composition accommodated in the second ink accommodating container, The first ink composition has a higher defoaming property than the second ink composition, [same scope as having a lower foaming property] The first ink accommodating container and the second ink accommodating container have the same height of the ink pouring port in the ink jet recording apparatus, and The first ink accommodating container and the second ink accommodating container have overlapping portions when viewed from a vertical direction Claim 1: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: An ink accommodating container having an ink pouring port; An ink composition; and an ink jet head that discharges the ink composition supplied from the ink accommodating container, where The ink accommodating container includes a first ink accommodating container and a second ink accommodating container having a lower height from a bottom of the accommodating container to the ink pouring port than the first ink accommodating container, The ink composition includes a first ink composition accommodated in the first ink accommodating container and a second ink composition accommodated in the second ink accommodating container, The first ink composition has a lower foaming property than the second ink composition, [same scope as having a higher defoaming property] The first ink accommodating container and the second ink accommodating container have the same height of the ink pouring port in the ink jet recording apparatus, and The first ink accommodating container and the second ink accommodating container have overlapping portions when viewed from a vertical direction Claim 5: wherein the first ink accommodating container has a larger volume than the second ink accommodating container Claim 6: wherein the first ink accommodating container has a larger volume than the second ink accommodating container Claim 6: wherein the first ink composition and the second ink composition are each independently any one of a black ink, a cyan ink, a yellow ink, or a magenta ink Claim 7: wherein the first ink composition and the second ink composition are each independently any one of a black ink, a cyan ink, a yellow ink, or a magenta ink Claim 8: the method comprising: supplying the first ink composition accommodated in the first ink accommodating container and the second ink composition accommodated in the second ink accommodating container to the ink jet head; and discharging the first ink composition and the second ink composition from the ink jet head and adhering the first ink composition and the second ink composition to a recording medium Claim 9: the method comprising: supplying the first ink composition accommodated in the first ink accommodating container and the second ink composition accommodated in the second ink accommodating container to the ink jet head; and discharging the first ink composition and the second ink composition from the ink jet head and adhering the first ink composition and the second ink composition to a recording medium Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2, 4, 9 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON S UHLENHAKE whose telephone number is (571)272-5916. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Douglas X. Rodriguez can be reached at (571) 431-0716. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /JASON S UHLENHAKE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853 September 1, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 28, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 13, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101
Feb 03, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101
Jul 06, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 04, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12746752
LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD, LIQUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS, AND BONDED UNIT
2y 5m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12746756
APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING INK, AND INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME
2y 4m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12734805
PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR PRINTING APPARATUS
2y 7m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12734806
MAINTENANCE DEVICE AND INKJET RECORDING APPARATUS
1y 8m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12728650
PRINTING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD OF PRINTING DEVICE
2y 1m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (-2.3%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1198 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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