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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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, 5, 11-12, 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Izawa (EP 3067208) [Provided in IDS filed 6/21/2024]
Regarding claim 1, 12, a system for printing on a polymeric film web (Figure 1; Paragraph 0050), comprising:
At least one rail (5a; Figure 6; Paragraphs 0108-0110)
A linear actuator (41, 42; Figures 7-8, 12; Paragraphs 0112-0119; 0158-0160)
First (11) and second (21) adjacent print head holders slidably disposed on the at least one rail (Figures 2, 6; Paragraphs 0055-0058)
A projection (26a/b) extending from the first print head holder (11) toward the second print head holder (21) (Figures 3-4; Paragraphs 0078, 0103-0106)
Wherein operating the linear actuator causes the print head holders to move between a first position in which the projection contacts the second print head holder and a second position in which the projection is not in contact with the second print head holder and the first and second print head holders are separated by predetermined distances (Figures 4, 6-8,12; Paragraphs 0017, 0029-0037, 0065, 0082-0083, 0102, 0113-0118)
Regarding claim 5, an adjustment mechanism to adjust space between first and second print head holders when the projection is in contact with the second print head holder (Figures 3-4; Paragraphs 0078, 0103-0106)
Regarding claim 11, a print head disposed on the first plate (Figures 2, 6; Paragraphs 0055-0058)
Regarding claim 21, a system for printing on a clear polymeric film web at a particular resolution comprising: a web transport that transports the web along a process direction (Figure 1; Paragraph 0050)
A first print head (H on element 11) having a first nozzle plate (nozzle face; Paragraphs 0060, 0082) that faces the web, the first nozzle plate having a first nozzle and first side edge, wherein the first nozzle plate is free of nozzles between eh first nozzle and the first side edge (Figures 2, 6; Paragraphs 0055-0058)
A second print head (H on element 21) having a second nozzle plate (nozzle face; Paragraphs 0060, 0082) that faces the web, the second nozzle plate having a second side edge and a second nozzle, wherein the second nozzle plate is free of nozzles between the second nozzle and the second side edge and the second side edge is parallel and proximate the first side edge (Figures 2, 6; Paragraphs 0055-0058)
Wherein the first nozzle and the second nozzle are separated along a width direction perpendicular to the process direction by one nozzle pitch determined by the particular resolution, the first side edge and the second side edge are separated in the width direction by a distance greater one nozzle pitch (Figures 2, 6-8, 12; Paragraphs 0142, 0158-0160)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-4, 6-10, 13-19 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.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 2 is the inclusion of the limitation of a link slidably interconnects the first and second print head holders wherein the link has an elongate opening with a length dimension and the predetermined distance is determined by the length dimension of the link opening. It is this limitation found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 3-4 is the inclusion of the limitation of wherein the first print head holder includes a cavity defined by a first sidewall, the second print head holder includes an extension element disposed in the cavity, and the predetermined amount is determined by a distance between the first and second sidewalls when projection is in contact with the second print head holder. It is this limitation found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 6-8 is the inclusion of the limitation of wherein the linear actuator comprises a first linear actuator, further including a third print head holder disposed on the at least one rail and a second linear actuator, and operating the first and the second linear operators to move the first and second print heads from the first position to the second position, wherein the first linear actuator moves the first print head holders toward the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator moves the third print head toward the second linear actuator. It is this limitation found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 9-10 is the inclusion of the limitation of wherein the first print head holder comprises a first plate and a second plate coupled by one or both a compression spring and a leaf spring, further including an adjustment mechanism that determines the space between the first plate and the second plate. It is this limitation found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claim 13 is the inclusion of the method step of including slidably interconnecting the first and second print head holders with a link wherein the link has an elongate opening with a length dimension and the predetermined distance is determined by the length dimension of the link opening. It is this step found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 14-15 is the inclusion of the method step of including disposing an extension element of the second print head holder into a cavity of the first print head holder, wherein the cavity is defined by a first sidewall and the extension member has a second sidewall, and the predetermined amount is determined by a distance between the first and second sidewalls when projection is in contact with the second print holder. It is this step found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claims 16-18 is the inclusion of the method step of wherein the linear actuator comprises a first linear actuator, further including disposing a third print head holder, and operating the first linear actuator and a second linear operator to move the first and second print heads from the first position to the second position, wherein the first linear actuator moves the first print head holders toward the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator moves the third print head toward the second linear actuator. It is this step found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
The primary reason for the allowance of claim 19 is the inclusion of the method step of wherein the first print head holder comprises a first plate and a second plate, further including coupling the first plate and the second plate using one or both of compression spring and a leaf spring, further including operating an adjustment mechanism to adjust the space between the first plate and the second plate and/or rotating the first plate relative to the second plate. It is this step found in each of the claims, as it is claimed in the combination, that has not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
Conclusion
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 January 21, 2026