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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 7/1/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Paragraphs [0026] and [0028] respectively, read as follows: “The registration sensor 61 makes detection at a detecting position” and “The registration sensor 62 makes detection at a detecting position.” It is not understood what is meant by “makes detection.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 5, reads as follows, “wherein the cover makes does not cover.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claim 4 is 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.
With regard to claim 4, it recites “wherein the suction air passage enters.” However, it depends from claim one, which recites ”a plurality of suction air passages.” Therefore, it is unclear, which suction air passage, or if each of the plurality of suction air passages enters.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 5-6 are allowed.
Claim 4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The primary reason for the allowance of Claims 1-6 is the inclusion of the limitations a merging chamber and a cover located in the reservoir region and having lower gas permeability than the absorbing member, and the cover covers the merging chamber from a direction perpendicular to the certain direction. It is these features found in the claim(s) which have not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record, which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20240424796 A1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a waste ink container, and a suction mechanism. The waste ink container has a plurality of receiving ports to receive ink, a suction port, and a plurality of suction air passages configured to communicate between a destination receiving port and the suction port. The suction air passages include a plurality of first air passages connected to one first receiving port, and a plurality of second air passages respectively connected to a plurality of second receiving ports, so as to extend to the suction port. The plurality of first air passages respectively join the second air passages different to each other, so as to communicate between the first receiving port and the suction port.
JP 5271837 B2 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of recording heads, a cap unit, waste ink container and communicating member. Each recording head includes a nozzle face with inkjet nozzles. The cap unit includes a plurality of first ink receiving members and a second ink receiving member. Each first ink receiving member is disposed below and corresponding to each recording head and has a first receiving portion receiving ink discharged from the inkjet nozzles and a first discharging hole discharging the received ink. The second ink receiving member is disposed below and corresponding to the first ink receiving members and has a second receiving portion that collectively receives the ink discharged through a plurality of first discharging holes and a second discharging hole. The communicating member connects the second discharging hole with an ink storage chamber of the waste ink container.
JP 7380054 B2 The present invention relates to a waste liquid collection device that collects waste liquid containing waste ink discharged by cleaning an ink head, and an inkjet recording apparatus equipped with the same.
US 20240408872 A1 discloses an ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head; a waste-ink container; and a suction mechanism, the waste-ink container including a plurality of catching ports that are configured to catch ink, a suction port that is connected to the suction mechanism, and a plurality of suction airflow paths that are connected respectively to the plurality of catching ports, and that are configured to allow suction airflow to pass through the plurality of suction airflow paths by communicating the plurality of catching ports being connection destinations and the suction port with each other, the suction airflow being generated by driving of the suction mechanism, an at least one suction-airflow path among the plurality of suction airflow paths including a bent portion that is bent from a first direction into a second direction at a point between a corresponding one of the plurality of catching ports and the suction port.
US 20240131847 A1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance belt, a control portion, an ink collector, and a suction portion. The ink collector includes a plurality of ink receivers that receives ink that has passed through openings of the conveyance belt during execution of flushing, a waste ink tank disposed below the ink receivers, a suction path that is formed in the waste ink tank and leads from each of the ink receivers to the suction portion, and an ink absorber that is filled in the waste ink tank and absorbs the ink sucked from the ink receivers. The suction path is formed by void spaces surrounded by the ink absorber.
US 20240131845 A1 discloses an inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance belt, a control portion, an ink collector, and a suction portion. The ink collector includes a plurality of ink receivers that receives ink that has passed through openings of the conveyance belt during execution of flushing and a suction path leading from each of the ink receivers to the suction portion. The suction path includes a plurality of first flow paths each connected to each of the plurality of ink receivers, a merging chamber in which the plurality of first flow paths merges together and that is linked to the suction portion, and ink separation walls that are provided in the merging chamber and are impinged on by airflows that have passed through the first flow paths so that the ink contained in the airflows is separated from the airflows.
Communication with the PTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHARON A POLK whose telephone number is (571)270-7910. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 7-3.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Douglas 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.
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SHARON A. POLK
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2853
/Sharon Polk/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853