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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
2. Claims 1-4, 11,14-15 and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent No. 6,341,698 (Wursthorn) (hereinafter “Wursthorn”) in view of Japanese Publication No. 61-90962 (hereinafter “JP’962”).
Regarding claim 1, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 1) comprising:
a stacking portion (182) on which a sheet is stacked;
a conveyance member (22 and 22) configured to convey the sheet toward the stacking portion (192);
a belt member (132) having elasticity, disposed above the stacking portion (182) so as to overlap the stacking portion (182) when viewed in a direction of gravity, and configured to come in contact with the sheet conveyed onto the stacking portion (182) and move the sheet in the sheet conveyance direction;
a nipping portion (including 110) configured to nip the belt member (132);
a lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) configured to lift and lower the nipping portion (including 110) between a first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) and a second position (Fig. 4A), the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) being a position for causing the belt member (132) to contact the sheet stacked on the stacking portion (182), the second position (Fig. 4D) being a position above the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L); and
a controller (Fig. 7) configured to control the lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) such that, in a case where the belt member (132) moves a current sheet and then moves a next sheet to be stacked on the stacking portion (182) after the current sheet is stacked, (i) the nipping portion (including 110) is positioned at the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) after the belt member (132) contacts the current sheet and before the leading edge of the current sheet is in the stacking portion, and (ii) the nipping portion (including 110) is positioned at the second position (Fig. 4D) after the leading edge of the current sheet is in the stacking portion and before the belt member (132) contacts the next sheet. Wursthorn teaches most of the limitations of this claim, but does not show an abutment portion, as claimed.
JP’962 shows that it is well-known in the art to provide a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 3) with an abutment portion (16) against which a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted, for the purpose of stopping and aligning the leading edge of each sheet stacked on a stacking portion (3). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide the Wursthorn apparatus with an abutment portion for the purpose of stopping and aligning the leading edge of each sheet stacked on the stacking portion (182) of Wursthorn, as taught by JP’962. Providing the stacking portion (182) of the Wursthorn apparatus with an abutment portion, in a manner as taught by JP’962, results in the belt member (132) being configured to come in contact with the sheet conveyed onto the stacking portion (182) and move the sheet toward the abutment portion in the sheet conveyance direction, as claimed. Also, providing the abutment portion on the stacking portion (182) in the manner as taught by JP’962, results in the controller (Fig. 7) being configured to control the lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) such that, in a case where the belt member (132) moves the current sheet and then moves the next sheet to be stacked on the stacking portion (182) after the current sheet is stacked, (i) the nipping portion (including 92, 96 and 98) is positioned at the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) after the belt member (132) contacts the current sheet and before the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion, and (ii) the nipping portion (including 92, 96 and 98) is positioned at the second position (Fig. 4D) after the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion and before the belt member (132) contacts the next sheet, as claimed.
Regarding claim 2, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a sheet detection portion (116) configured to detect a sheet,
wherein the controller (Fig. 7) is configured to lift the nipping portion (including 110) from the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) to the second position (Fig. 4D) when the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion taught by JP962, on a basis of a detection result of the sheet detection portion (116).
Regarding claim 3, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a second belt member (lower lefthand belt in Fig. 6) disposed above the stacking portion (182); and
a gripper (unnumbered rollers in Fig. 6) attached to the second belt member (lower lefthand belt in Fig. 6) and configured to move in the sheet conveyance direction while holding the leading edge of the sheet conveyed from the conveyance member (22 and 22) in the sheet conveyance direction.
Regarding claim 4, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a sheet detection portion (unnumbered sensor directly below reference numeral 10’ in Fig. 6) configured to detect a sheet; and
an abutment surface (unnumbered curved guide for rollers on lower lefthand belt in Fig. 6) configured to be abutted by the leading edge of the sheet to release the leading edge of the sheet from the gripper (unnumbered rollers in Fig. 6),
wherein the controller (Fig. 7) is configured to lower the nipping portion (including 110) from the second position (Fig. 4D) to the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) when the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment surface (taught by JP’962), on a basis of a detection result of the sheet detection portion (unnumbered sensor directly below reference numeral 10’ in Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 11, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show that in a case where the nipping portion (including 110) is positioned at the second position (Fig. 4D), the belt member (132) is separated upward from the sheet stacked on the stacking portion (182).
Regarding claim 14, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show that the nipping portion (including 110) is a roller pair (rollers 72 and 136) having a first roller (136) arranged to contact an inner surface of the belt member (132) and a second roller (72) arranged to contact an outer surface of the belt member (132), wherein the roller pair (rollers 72 and 136) is configured to rotate with the belt member (132) nipped between the first roller (136) and the second roller (72).
Regarding claim 15, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a driving source (144) configured to drive and rotate the belt member (132), wherein the controller (Fig. 7) is configured to control the driving source (144) such that the belt member (132) rotates at a first speed after the belt member (132) contacts the current sheet and before the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion (taught by JP’962), and that a rotational speed of the belt member (132) is set at a second speed slower (stopped) than the first speed in at least a part of a period of time after the leading edge of the current sheet abuts against the abutment portion (taught by JP’962) and before the belt member (132) contacts the next sheet.
Regarding claim 17, Figs. 1-7 of Wursthorn show a sheet stacking apparatus comprising:
a stacking portion (182) on which a sheet is stacked;
a conveyance member (22 and 22) configured to convey the sheet toward the stacking portion (182);
a belt member (132) having elasticity, disposed above the stacking portion (182) so as to overlap the stacking portion (182) when viewed in a direction of gravity, and configured to move the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member (22 and 22);
a nipping portion (including 110) configured to nip the belt member (132);
a lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) configured to lift and lower the nipping portion (including 110) between a first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) and a second position (Fig. 4D), the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) being a position for causing the belt member (132) to contact the sheet stacked on the stacking portion (182), the second position (Fig. 4D) being a position above the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L); and
a controller (Fig. 7) configured to control the lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) such that, in a case where the belt member (132) moves a current sheet and then moves a next sheet to be stacked on the stacking portion (182) after the current sheet is stacked, (i) the belt member (132) conveys the current sheet in a state in which the nipping portion (including 110) is positioned at the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L), and (ii) the nipping portion (including 110) is moved from the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) to the second position (Fig. 4D) before the belt member (132) contacts the next sheet. Wursthorn teaches most of the limitations of this claim, but does not show an abutment portion, as claimed.
JP’962 shows that it is well-known in the art to provide a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 3) with an abutment portion (16) against which a leading edge of a sheet in a sheet conveyance direction is abutted, for the purpose of stopping and aligning the leading edge of each sheet stacked on a stacking portion (3). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide the Wursthorn apparatus with an abutment portion for the purpose of stopping and aligning the leading edge of each sheet stacked on the stacking portion (182) of Wursthorn, as taught by JP’962. Providing the stacking portion (182) of the Wursthorn apparatus with an abutment portion, in a manner as taught by JP’962, results in the belt member (132) being configured to move the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member (22 and 22) such that the leading edge of the sheet is abutted against the abutment portion, as claimed. Also, providing the abutment portion on the stacking portion (182) in the manner as taught by JP’962, results in the controller (Fig. 7) being configured to control the lifting/lowering unit (including 92, 96 and 98) such that, in a case where the belt member (132) moves the current sheet and then moves the next sheet to be stacked on the stacking portion (182) after the current sheet is stacked, (i) the belt member (132) conveys the current sheet toward the abutment portion (taught by JP’962) in a state in which the nipping portion (including 110) is position at the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L), and (ii) the nipping portion (including 92, 96 and 98) is moved from the first position (position between Figs. 4K and 4L) to the second position (Fig. 4D) before the belt member (132) contacts the next sheet, as claimed.
Regarding claim 18, Figs. 1-3 of JP’962 show that it is well-known in the art to provide a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 1) with a sheet detection portion (19) configured to detect a sheet, and the English abstract teaches that the apparatus of JP’962 lifts a nipping portion (including 5) from a first position (Fig. 3) to a second position (Fig. 1) when a leading edge of a current sheet abuts against an abutment portion (16), on a basis of a detection result of the sheet detection portion (19). The abstract explains that this arrangement facilitates automatic stacking in high precision. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to operate the controller (Fig. 7) of the Wursthorn apparatus such that the nipping portion (including 110) moves up and down based upon detection of a sheet hitting the abutment portion, for the purpose of facilitating automatic stacking in high precision, as taught by JP’962.
3. Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wursthorn in view of JP’962 as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0129189 (Ward et al.) (hereinafter “Ward”). Wursthorn in view of JP’962 teaches most of the limitations of this claim, but does not show an image forming apparatus and does not show that the sheet stacking apparatus receives a sheet with an image, as claimed.
Ward shows that it is common in the art to utilize a sheet stacking apparatus (200) on an image forming apparatus (Fig. 1) comprising: an image forming apparatus body (including 154) including an image forming portion (50) configured to form an image on a sheet. The Ward image forming device has a similar type of sheet cutting device (59) and stacking apparatus (200) to that of Wursthorn. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to utilize the stacking apparatus of Wursthorn in view of JP962 in an image forming apparatus, because Ward shows that it is common in the art to utilize a stacking apparatus, similar to that of Wursthorn, in an image forming apparatus. Providing the stacking apparatus of Wursthorn in view of JP’962 in an image forming apparatus, according to the teachings Ward, results in the sheet stacking apparatus being configured to receive a sheet on which an image is formed from the image forming apparatus body and stack the sheet, as claimed.
Response to Arguments
4. Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-8 of the response, filed 1/7/2026, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-3, 11 and 14-15 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and claim 16 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, several new ground(s) of rejection is made.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 5-10, 12-13 and 19 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
6. 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.
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS A MORRISON whose telephone number is (571)272-7221. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am - 5pm.
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/THOMAS A MORRISON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653