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 .
Claim Interpretation
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: conveyance means and heating means in claim 1.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2 and 7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ciaschi et al. (U.S. 20140150284 A1).
Ciaschi et al. discloses, with regards to claim:
A drying device (figs. 1, 10A, 10B) for drying a sheet (15) on which an image is formed by discharged ink (from printheads 11), the drying device comprising:
a conveyance means (12) configured to convey the sheet (15);
a blowing fan (fig. 6, element 52A);
a duct (fig. 10A) configured to guide an air blown from the blowing fan to the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means; and
a heating means configured to heat the air in the duct ( [0036], “Air, which may be heated, is supplied to the pneumatic acoustic generator module 29 via supply air duct”), wherein the duct includes:
a plurality of nozzles (fig. 10B, element 51) configured to blow the air in the duct to the sheet conveyed by the conveyance means;
a first surface (94) provided with the plurality of nozzles;
a second surface opposing the first surface (surface where media is supported, see fig. 1); and
at least one recess portion (33) formed along a conveyance direction (process direction) of the sheet,
wherein in a widthwise direction (cross-track dimension) perpendicular to the conveyance direction, the recess portion is provided between a first nozzle and a second nozzle, of the plurality of nozzles (51), the second nozzle being disposed side by side with the first nozzle (figs. 10).
2. A drying device according to Claim 1, wherein the at least one recess portion is a plurality of recess portions, the plurality of recess portions are provided in the widthwise direction (fig. 10A).
7. A drying device according to Claim 1, wherein the at least one recess portion is not formed in a center of the duct (98) in the conveyance direction (at least one of the recess portions is not formed in a center of the duct).
8. A drying device according to Claim 7, the at least one recess portion is provided upstream and downstream, respectively, with respect to the center of the duct in the conveyance direction (the recesses extend downstream and upstream relative to the center, fig. 10A).
9. A drying device according to Claim 8, wherein the at least one recess portion includes an upstream recess portion provided upstream with respect to the center of the duct in the conveyance direction (portions of the recesses extend in an upstream direction), the upstream recess portion being continuously provided up to an upstream end of the duct in the conveyance direction, and a downstream recess portion provided downstream with respect to the center of the duct in the conveyance direction (portions of the duct extend in a downstream direction), the downstream recess portion being continuously provided up to a downstream end of the duct in the conveyance direction (fig. 10A).
10. A drying device according to Claim 1, wherein the duct is provided above the conveyance means in a vertical direction, and wherein the air discharged from the nozzles and passing through the at least one recess portion upward from below in the vertical direction is blown to inside the duct again by the blowing fan (air is capable of being discharged from the nozzles, passing through the intake with recess 33, to be blown inside the duct again by the blowing fan).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-6 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.
U.S. 20190210358 A1 to Winters et al. discloses ribs 295 between nozzles 271 (fig. 4A, [0046] ). Winters et al. discloses that the ribs facilitate direction of heated airflow and facilitate advancement of media. It would not have been obvious to incorporate ribs into Ciaschi et al. since the media in Ciaschi et al. is not supported by the surface containing the nozzles where ribs might be provided, and the ribs would disrupt the acoustic energy benefits.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Julian D Huffman whose telephone number is (571)272-2147. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 9am-6pm.
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/JULIAN D HUFFMAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2859
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