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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-11, in the reply filed on 17 November 2025 is acknowledged.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claims 1-11 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.
In claim 1, line 1, the preamble states “A method of recycling a developing cartridge including: a housing configured…”. It is unclear whether the phrase is intending to state that the method includes the structure or the developing cartridge includes the structure.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 3 does not appear to add any claim limitations that further limit the subject matter already set forth in claim 1; or if it does, the distinction is not clear. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Claims 4-6 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.
Claim 1, in line 2, introduces “a gear cover positioned at one end of the housing in a first direction”. In claim 1, the first direction is defined relative to the relationship and mounting between the gear cover and a relative orientation of the cartridge housing.
Claims 4-6 all recite “the first direction” in relation to the jig. Presumably, since the jig is not used in conjunction with the housing and is not disclosed in a specific orientation to the housing, this ‘first direction’ recited in claims 4-6 is improperly tied to and referring back to the “first direction” in claim 1. It is unclear what exactly is meant by the first direction in claims 4-6. As a result, for examination on the merits, the language will be treated as ‘a specified direction’ relative to and based on structure of the jig disclosed in each of the claims.
Claim 5 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.
Claim 5 recites “an outer peripheral surface of the gear cover”. The term ‘outer peripheral’ is a relative term that must be used in conjunction with the definition of what constitutes the periphery to have a defined meaning. Since this definition is not supplied or implied, the Office is unable to ascertain the metes and bounds of this claim language.
Claims 7-9 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.
Claim 7 discusses “the storage medium holder”, parts related thereto, then “the first holder … holding the storage medium”, and a discussion of “in a state where the holder assembly is mounted in the jig”. Based on the language of claim 1, “a holder assembly”, “a storage medium” and “a storage medium holder” are associated with the original cartridge and not with placement in the jig. The “another holder assembly” and “another storage medium holder” are the only ones associated with use of the jig (see claim 1). As such, the subject matter of claims 7-9 appears to contradict that of claim 1, upon which claims 7-9 depend.
Claim 7 also recites “in a state where the holder assembly is mounted on the jig”. At no point in the previous claim language is the holder assembly disclosed as mounted on the jig.
Claims 7-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 7 discusses “the storage medium holder”, parts related thereto, then “the first holder … holding the storage medium”, and a discussion of “in a state where the holder assembly is mounted in the jig”. Based on the language of claim 1, “a holder assembly”, “a storage medium” and “a storage medium holder” are associated with the original cartridge and not with placement in the jig. The “another holder assembly” and “another storage medium holder” are the only ones associated with use of the jig (see claim 1). Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Claim 9 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.
Claim 9 states “in a state where the holder assembly is mounted on the jig in the screw moving step”. However, claim 1 recites “a screw removing step of removing, after the gear cover removing step, the first screw from the gear cover” and then subsequently recites “a first gear cover mounting step of mounting, after the holder assembly removing step, the gear cover on a jig on which another holder assembly different from the removed holder assembly is mounted, the another holder assembly including another storage medium holder and another holder cover”. The “in a state where” clause of claim 9 does not appear to be supported by the language of claim 1 and it is unclear how this can work with that which was disclosed in claim 1.
It is unclear what the metes and bounds are of the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Though no art rejection was presented, due to the outstanding rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, the examiner is unable to cite exact wording that would be allowable. The overarching concept of removing a screw from the holder after removal of a gear cover and then placing the cover on a jig pre-loaded with a new holder and replacing the screw appears to be novel in light of prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Wen et al. (CN 119644692 A) disclose a chip holder for a developing cartridge that is affixed to an end cover of the developing cartridge from the inside using screws.
Burchette et al. (US Pub.2007/0086806) teach the desirability of recycling a cartridge and replacing a cartridge chip during the process.
Tosuki et al. (US Pub.2022/0082991) teach using a jig when changing a cartridge memory chip.
Itabashi et al. (EP 3287854) disclose a developing cartridge with a chip holder that is secured to a gear cover from an inside of the gear cover.
Takahashi et al. (US Pub.2012/0200871) disclose a means for attaching a holder to a developer cartridge end cover wherein the holder can be attached to the end cover via press-fitting or the use of a screw.
Tosuji et al. (US Pub.2022/0082992) disclose a method of swapping a chip holder out of the end face of a developing cartridge wherein placement on a jig is involved, but the method does not involve having a replacement chip holder mounted on the jig.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LAURA K ROTH whose telephone number is (571)272-2154. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-3:30 PM.
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/LKR/
1/16/2026 /STEPHANIE E BLOSS/ Supervisory Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852