CTNF 18/769,050 CTNF 83751 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-6 and 8 in the reply filed on 3/11/26 is acknowledged. Claim 7 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim (s) 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by Fukatsu et al. US 2008/0191406 (“Fukatsu”) . Regarding claim 1, Fukatsu disclosed a sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed a sheet, the apparatus comprising: a sheet support portion (11, 12) located at a side surface of the sheet feeding apparatus and configured to support a plurality of sheets; a feeding portion (21) configured to feed the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion one by one; a sheet support detection portion (203, 204) configured to detect that sheets are supported on the sheet support portion; a separation portion (including 33) configured to separate the plurality of sheets supported on the sheet support portion by blowing air to the plurality of sheets; and a control portion (1A) configured to selectively execute a first mode (see 213) and a second mode (see 212), the first mode being a mode in which a sheet type setting operation for the sheets supported on the sheet support portion is executed in advance, the second mode being a mode in which the sheet type setting operation is executable upon detection that the sheets are supported on the support portion by the sheet support detection portion, wherein in a case where a first type is set as a sheet type of the sheets in a state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion (see Figure 16 and paragraphs 0062-0063), and wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion and the first type is set as the sheet type in a state where the second mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion (see Figures 16 and 18 and paragraphs 0062-0063). Regarding claim 2, Fukatsu disclosed in a case where the first type is set as the sheet type in the state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion after a lapse of a set period after detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion (see paragraph 0082). Regarding claim 4, Fukatsu disclosed the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion after completion of air blowing by the separation portion (paragraph 0064). Regarding claim 5, Fukatsu disclosed in a case where a second type different from the first type is set as the sheet type in the state where the first mode is selected, the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion (as before), and wherein in a case where the sheet type setting operation is executed upon detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection portion and the second type is set as the sheet type in the state where the second mode is selected (see 207-210), the control portion starts feeding of the sheets by the feeding portion (see at least Figures 16 and paragraph 0064). Regarding claim 8, Fukatsu disclosed an image forming apparatus comprising: the sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1 as listed above; and an image forming portion configured to form an image on a sheet fed by the sheet feeding apparatus (Figure 1) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim (s) 3 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fukatsu in view of Suzuki US 8,210,518 (“Suzuki”). Fukatsu disclosed the limitations of claims 1 and 2 as listed above but did not teach guiding blown air through the side regulating plate. Furthermore, while Fukatsu referenced that the control portion starts air blowing by the separation portion after a lapse of a set period after detection that the sheets are supported on the sheet support portion by the sheet support detection, Fukatsu did not detail the control portion configured to change the set period. Suzuki teaches a side edge regulating plate (4B) movable in a width direction orthogonal to a sheet feeding direction and configured to regulate a position in the width direction of sheets supported on a support portion, wherein the separation portion includes a fan (41) and a duct (42) configured to blow air to sides of the sheets by guiding air blown from the fan to pass through the side edge regulating plate (Figure 3). Suzuki further teaches a control portion configured to change a set period (as seen in at least Figure 6). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the teachings of Suzuki and Fukatsu to blow lateral edges of sheet for uniform floating while preparing sheets to be fed. This would allow various sized sheets to be fed while avoiding feeding malfunctions. Furthermore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to similarly have the control section adjust timing changes as necessary for feeding situations and the type of sheet to be fed . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOWARD J SANDERS whose telephone number is (571)270-3096. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00. 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, Michael McCullough can be reached at (571) 272-7805. 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. /HOWARD J SANDERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 2 Art Unit: 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 3 Art Unit: 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 4 Art Unit: 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 5 Art Unit: 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 6 Art Unit: 3653 Application/Control Number: 18/769,050 Page 7 Art Unit: 3653
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