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 § 112
2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
3. Claims 1, 2, 5 & 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, examiner is unsure as to how a supply unit controls or provides a process that if the second estimation unit configured estimates that a liquid level in the first buffer tank has reached a lower limit position, an amount of ink to make the liquid level in the first buffer tank reach an upper limit position is supplied from the first ink tank to the first buffer tank. A supply unit only supplies ink to other ink tanks or devices. A supply unit cannot determine if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied
Regarding claim 2, examiner is unsure as to how a supply unit controls or provides a process that if the ink amount in the second ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount and the liquid level in the second buffer tank is not beyond the upper limit position, the supply unit is configured to supply the remaining ink in the second ink tank up to a liquid level beyond the upper limit position in the second buffer tank. A supply unit only supplies ink to other ink tanks or devices. A supply unit cannot determine if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied
Regarding claim 5, examiner is unsure as to how a supply unit controls or provides a process in which all the ink in the third ink tank is supplied to the third buffer tank, and wherein, in a case where the second estimation unit estimates that a liquid level of the third buffer tank has fallen below a lower limit position, the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the third ink tank. A supply unit only supplies ink to other ink tanks or devices. A supply unit cannot determine if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied
* Regarding claim 6, examiner is unsure as to how a supply unit controls or provides a process in which the remaining ink in the second ink tank is supplied up to a liquid level beyond the upper limit position in the second buffer tank, and wherein the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the second ink tank and the third ink tank after the supply unit executes the fourth supply process. A supply unit only supplies ink to other ink tanks or devices. A supply unit cannot determine, receiver or send signals pertaining to if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied
Examiner is unsure or understand how a supply unit executes first, second, third and , fourth processes when a supply unit only stores ink. It cannot determine if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied. A supply unit cannot determine, receiver or send signals pertaining to if and when a device needs to be replenished with ink nor can it determine which device needs ink. It only stores ink to be supplied, There are no devices claimed to provide or support such features to the supply unit.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Claim(s) 1-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yuriko Harai (US 2020/0047510).
Harai disclose the following claimed limitations:
* Re clms 1 & 11, a printing apparatus & a control method of a printing apparatus (Abst., para 0001, figs 1-5);
* a first printing head/nine print heads all denoted 30, for clarity, 30-1/ and a second printing head/30-2/ configured to eject ink (paras 0025, 0028, fig 1);
* a first buffer tank/TK, 440a/ installed corresponding to the first printing head/30-1/ and configured to store ink to be supplied to the first printing head/30-1/ (paras 0020, 0054, fig 1, 4);
* a second buffer tank/TK, 440b/ installed corresponding to the second printing head/30-2/ and configured to store ink to be supplied to the second printing head/30-2/ (paras 0020, 0054, figs 1, 4);
* a first ink tank/exchange ink tank 430a/ installed corresponding to the first buffer tank/440a/ and configured to store ink to be supplied to the first buffer tank/440a/, the first ink tank/exchange ink tank 430a / being removable to the printing apparatus/1A/ (paras 0020, 0054, figs 1, 4);
a second ink tank/exchange in tank 430b// installed corresponding to the second buffer tank/440b/ and configured to store ink to be supplied to the second buffer tank/440b/, the second ink tank/exchange in tank 430b/ being removable to the printing apparatus/1A/ (paras 0020, 0054, figs 1, 4);
* a first estimation unit/main controller 13A/ configured to estimate ink amounts/determine if empty/ in the first ink tank and the second ink tank, respectively (Abst, 8, 0020, 0070, 0078, figs 1-5);
* a second estimation unit/float sensors 410, clarity 410a/ configured to estimate ink amounts in the first buffer tank/440a/ and the second buffer tank/440b/, respectively (paras 0076-0077, figs 1-5);
* a supply unit/6/ configured to execute a first supply process in which, if the second estimation unit/float sensors 410, clarity 410a/ configured estimates that a liquid level in the first buffer tank/440a/ has reached a lower limit position, an amount of ink to make the liquid level in the first buffer tank/440a/ reach an upper limit position is supplied from the first ink tank to the first buffer tank (paras 0054, 0076, clm 8, figs 1-5)
* a second supply process in which, if the first estimation unit/main controller 13A/ estimates that the first ink tank/exchange ink tank 430a/ is empty of ink, a remaining ink in the second ink tank is supplied up to a liquid level beyond an upper limit position in the second buffer tank, depending on the ink amount in the second ink tank and the ink amount in the second buffer tank (para 0083, figs 1-5);
* a notification unit/display unit 139/ configured to provide a notification of replacement of the first ink tank and the second ink tank after the second supply process is executed (paras 0076, 0078, 0083, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 2, wherein, in the second supply process, in a case where the ink amount in the second ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount and the liquid level in the second buffer tank is not beyond the upper limit position, the supply unit is configured to supply the remaining ink in the second ink tank up to a liquid level beyond the upper limit position/fill up/ in the second buffer tank (paras Abst., 0054, 0076-0078, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 3, wherein the predetermined amount is an amount determined based on an ink amount between the upper limit position in the second buffer tank and a leakage prevention position which is beyond the upper limit position/timeout time has elapsed during the filly filled of the buffer tank/ (paras 0076-0078, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 4, wherein, in a case where the first estimation unit/main controller 13A/ estimates that the first ink tank is empty of ink, if the remaining ink in the second ink tank is not supplied, the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the first ink tank (paras 0076-0078, figs 1-5)
* Re clm 5, a third printing head/30-3/ configured to eject ink including a precipitation component/ink pigments/ (para 0028);
* a third buffer tank/TK, 440c/ configured to store ink to be supplied to the third printing head/30-3/;
* a third ink tank/430c/ configured to store ink to be supplied to the third buffer tank/440c/, the third ink tank/430c/ being removable to the printing apparatus, wherein the second estimation unit/float sensors 410/ is configured to further estimate an ink amount in the third buffer tank/440c/, (paras 0076-0077, figs 1-5);
* wherein the supply unit/6/ is configured to execute a third supply process in which all the ink in the third ink tank is supplied to the third buffer tank, and wherein, in a case where the second estimation unit estimates that a liquid level of the third buffer tank has fallen below a lower limit position (paras Abst., 0054, 0076-0078, figs 1-5);
* the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the third ink tank/ink tank emptiness displayed/ (paras 0076-0078, 0083, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 6, wherein, in a case where the second estimation unit/float sensors 410/ estimates that the liquid level of the third buffer tank/440c/ has fallen below the lower limit position, the supply unit is configured to execute a fourth supply process in which the remaining ink in the second ink tank is supplied up to a liquid level beyond the upper limit position in the second buffer tank,
* and wherein the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the second ink tank and the third ink tank after the supply unit executes the fourth supply process (paras 0054, 0076-0078, 0083, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 7, wherein, in a case where the first estimation unit/main controller 13A/ estimates that the first ink tank/430a/ is empty of ink, if the ink amount in the third buffer tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount and is an amount at a position beyond the lower limit position, the notification unit is configured to provide a notification of replacement of the first ink tank and the third ink tank/all buffer tanks are levels are detected and are refilled when that a below a low level/ (paras 0054, 0076-0078, 0083, figs 1-5).
* Re clm 8, wherein a capacity of the third ink tank is less than an amount obtained by subtracting an ink amount corresponding to the lower limit position in the third buffer tank from an ink amount corresponding to a leakage prevention position in the third buffer tank (para 0076-0077, figs 4)
* Re clm 9, wherein the third printing head/30-3/ is a printing head configured to eject white ink/and the like or inks that does not include a coloring material/ (para 0028, figs 1-2).
* Re clm 10, wherein the first printing head/30-1/ and the second printing head/30-2/ are printing heads configured to eject color inks (para 0028, figs 1-2).
Conclusion
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRISTAL FEGGINS whose telephone number is (571)272-2254. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 930-530pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ricardo Magallanes can be reached at 571-272-5960. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KRISTAL FEGGINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853