Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
2. A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/20/2026 has been entered.
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.
3. Claims 1, 9, 16 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0094783 (Goto et al.) (hereinafter “Goto”).
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Regarding claim 1, Figs. 1, 13A and 13B show a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 1) comprising:
a plurality of storages (21 and 22) configured to store sheets;
a plurality of feeding portions (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A above),
which are provided above (vertically above) the sheets stored in the plurality of storages (21 and 22), respectively, and are configured to convey the sheets in a conveyance direction (left and up in Fig. 13A); and
a main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3 above) including a plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3 above), the main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3) being configured to hold the plurality of storages (21 and 22) so that each of the plurality of storages (21 and 22) is movable through a corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) between a closed position in which the sheets are allowed to be conveyed and a pullout position in which the sheets are allowed to be stacked,
wherein the plurality of storages (21 and 22) include a plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B above), respectively, each of the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) being larger than a corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) so as to cover the corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3),
wherein the plurality of storages (21 and 22) are arranged so that the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) are aligned in a vertical direction, and
wherein among the plurality of feeding portions (21 and 22), a feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13B), which conveys the sheets stored in a lower storage (22), among the plurality of storages (21 and 22), overlaps an upper exterior cover (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B), among the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B), of a storage (21), among the plurality of storages (21 and 22), one above the lower storage (22) in the vertical direction as viewed in a horizontal direction so that a horizontal plane (“Plane passing through lowest end of upper exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) extending from a lowest end of the upper exterior cover extends through the feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13B) of the lower storage (22). The same “Plane passing through lowest end of upper exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B is projected at the same height onto annotated Fig. 13A and shown passing through the feeding portion of the lower storage (22) as “Plane extending through feeding portion of lower storage” in annotated Fig. 13A. The examiner determined the vertical position of the plane in annotated Fig. 13B and projected the plane at that vertical position in annotated Fig. 13A. At this vertical position, the plane passes through the feeding portion of the lower storage 22, as claimed.
Regarding claim 9, Figs. 1, 2, 13A and 13B show a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 1) comprising:
a first feeding tray (22) configured to store sheets;
a first feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A) configured to convey the sheets stored in the first feeding tray (22);
a second feeding tray (21), disposed above the first feeding tray (22), configured to store sheets above the sheets stored in the first feeding tray (22);
a second feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A) configured to convey the sheets stored in the second feeding tray (21); and
a main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3) including a first opening portion and a second opening portion (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3), the main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3) being configured to hold:
the first feeding tray (22) so that the first feeding tray (22) is movable through the first opening portion (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) between a closed position in which the sheets are allowed to be conveyed and a pullout position in which the sheets are allowed to be stacked; and
the second feeding tray (21) so that the second feeding tray (21) is movable through the second opening portion (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) between a closed position in which the sheets are allowed to be conveyed and a pullout position in which the sheets are allowed to be stacked,
wherein the second feeding tray (21) includes an exterior cover (“Exterior cover” in annotated Figs. 13A and 13B) that is larger than the second opening portion (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) so as to cover the second opening portion (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) in a state where the second feeding tray (21) is located in the closed position,
wherein the first feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A) includes a rotary member (unnumbered roller in Fig. 13A) configured to rotate and contact the sheet stored in the first feeding tray (22) to feed the sheet, and
wherein the rotary member (unnumbered roller in Fig. 13A) overlaps the exterior cover (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) of the second feeding tray (21) in a vertical direction as viewed in a horizontal direction so that a horizontal plane extending from a lowest end of the exterior cover (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) of the second feeding tray (21) extends through the first feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A). The same “Plane passing through lowest end of upper exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B is projected at the same height onto annotated Fig. 13A and shown passing through the feeding portion of the lower storage (22) as “Plane extending through feeding portion of lower storage” in annotated Fig. 13A. The examiner determined the vertical position of the plane in annotated Fig. 13B and projected the plane at that vertical position in annotated Fig. 13A. At this vertical position, the plane passes through the feeding portion of the lower storage 22, as claimed.
Regarding claim 16, Figs. 1, 3, 13A and 13B show that the second feeding tray (21) includes a lower plate (unnumbered lower horizontal cross-hatched plate in Fig. 13A) including a protruded portion (unnumbered vertical cross-hatched plate on left side in Fig. 13A) projecting upward.
Regarding claim 17, Figs. 1, 3, 13A and 13B show an image forming apparatus (Fig. 1) comprising:
a sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 2A); and
an image forming portion (10) configured to form an image on a sheet stacked in the sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 2A),
wherein the sheet stacking apparatus (Fig. 2A) comprises:
a plurality of storages (21 and 22) configured to store sheets;
a plurality of feeding portions (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A), which are provided above (vertically above) the sheets stored in the plurality of storages (21 and 22), respectively, and are configured to convey the sheets in a conveyance direction (up and left in Fig. 1); and
a main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3) including a plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3), the main body frame (“Main body frame” in annotated Fig. 3) being configured to hold the plurality of storages (21 and 22) so that each of the plurality of storages (21 and 22) is movable through a corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) between a closed position in which the sheets are allowed to be conveyed and a pullout position in which the sheets are allowed to be stacked,
wherein the plurality of storages (21 and 22) include a plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B), respectively, each of the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) being larger than a corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3) so as to cover the corresponding one of the plurality of opening portions (“Opening portions” in annotated Fig. 3),
wherein the plurality of storages (21 and 22) are arranged so that the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) are aligned in a vertical direction, and
wherein among the plurality of feeding portions (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A), a feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A), which conveys the sheets stored in a lower storage (22), among the plurality of storages (21 and 22), overlaps an upper exterior cover (upper “Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B), among the plurality of exterior covers (“Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B), of a storage (21), among the plurality of storages (21 and 22), one above the lower storage (22) in the vertical direction as viewed in a horizontal direction so that a horizontal plane extending from a lowest end of the upper exterior cover (upper “Exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B) extends through the feeding portion (“Feeding portions” in annotated Fig. 13A) of the lower storage (22). The same “Plane passing through lowest end of upper exterior cover” in annotated Fig. 13B is projected at the same height onto annotated Fig. 13A and shown passing through the feeding portion of the lower storage (22) as “Plane extending through feeding portion of lower storage” in annotated Fig. 13A. The examiner determined the vertical position of the plane in annotated Fig. 13B and projected the plane at that vertical position in annotated Fig. 13A. At this vertical position, the plane passes through the feeding portion of the lower storage 22, as claimed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
4. Claims 2-3, 6, 10-12, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Goto as applied to claims 1 and 9 above, and further in view of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0081139 (Yaginuma et al.) (hereinafter “Yaginuma”) (a reference of record). With regard to claims 2 and 10, Figs. 1, 3 and 13A-13B of Goto teaches all of the limitations of this claim, except for each storage of the plurality of storages or each of the first and second feeding trays including a second positioning member configured to be engaged with a first positioning member, which is provided to the main body frame, so as to position the storage or a corresponding one of the first or second feeding trays with respect to the main body frame, as claimed.
Yaginuma shows that it is well-known in the art to provide each storage (210) of a plurality of storages (210 and 210) or each of first and second feeding trays (210 and 210) with a second positioning member (including 110 and 113) configured to be engaged with a first positioning member (including 101), which is provided to a main body frame (including 1), so as to position the storage (210) or a corresponding one of the first or second feeding trays (210 and 210) with respect to the main body frame (including 1), for the purpose of locking the storages (210 and 210) or first and second feeding trays (210 and 210). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide each storage of the Goto apparatus with first and second positioning members, for the purpose of locking each storage or feeding tray, as taught by Yaginuma. See, e.g., numbered paragraph [0065] of Yaginuma.
With regard to claim 3, Goto teaches all of the limitations of this claim, except for the main body frame including a plurality of first sealing surfaces, the plurality of storages include a plurality of second sealing surfaces arranged so as to be opposed to the plurality of first sealing surfaces, respectively, and the sheet stacking apparatus includes a plurality of seal members arranged between the plurality of first sealing surfaces and the plurality of second sealing surfaces, respectively.
Yaginuma shows that it is well-known in the art to provide a main body frame (including 1) with a plurality of first sealing surfaces (surfaces of elements 101a and 101a), in which a plurality of storages (210 and 210) include a plurality of second sealing surfaces (back surfaces of element 213 and 213) arranged so as to be opposed to the plurality of first sealing surfaces (surfaces of elements 101a and 101a), respectively, and a sheet stacking apparatus includes a plurality of seal members (113 and 113) arranged between the plurality of first sealing surfaces (surfaces of elements 101a and 101a) and the plurality of second sealing surfaces (back surfaces of elements 213 and 213), respectively, for the purpose of properly spacing installed storages from the main body frame, as shown in Fig. 6B of Yaginuma. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide the Goto apparatus with first and second sealing surfaces, for the purpose of properly spacing installed storages from the main body frame, as taught by Yaginuma.
Regarding claim 6, Figs. 1-6B of Yaginuma show that the plurality of seal members (113 and 113) have elasticity. Absent any guidance as to any degree of elasticity, the examiner takes the position that all materials including the material of elements 113 and 113 have a certain amount of elasticity.
With regard to claim 11, Goto teaches all of the limitations of this claim, except for the main body frame includes a first sealing surface, the second feeding tray includes a second sealing surface arranged so as to be opposed to the first sealing surface, and the sheet stacking apparatus includes a seal member arranged between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface.
Yaginuma shows that it is well-known in the art to provide a main body frame (including 1) with a first sealing surface (surface of element 101a),
a second feeding tray (210) includes a second sealing surface (back surface of element 213) arranged so as to be opposed to the first sealing surface (surface of elements 101a), and
a sheet stacking apparatus includes a seal member (113) arranged between the first sealing surface (surface of element 101a) and the second sealing surface (back surface of element 213), for the purpose of properly spacing installed feeding trays from the main body frame, as shown in Fig. 6B of Yaginuma. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide the Goto apparatus with first and second sealing surfaces, for the purpose of properly spacing installed feeding trays from the main body frame, as taught by Yaginuma.
Regarding claim 12, Figs. 1-6B of Yaginuma show that the seal member (113) is attached to one of the first sealing surface (surface of element 101a) or the second sealing surface (back surface of element 213), and
in the state where the second feeding tray (element 210) is located in a closed position (Fig. 2A), the seal member (113) is in contact with the other of the first sealing surface (surface of element 101a) or the second sealing surface (back surface of 213).
Regarding claim 14, Figs. 1-6B of Yaginuma show that the seal member (113) has elasticity. Absent any guidance as to any degree of elasticity, the examiner takes the position that all materials including the material of element 113 have a certain amount of elasticity.
Response to Arguments
5. Applicant’s arguments, see pages 8-10 in the response, filed 7/20/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims 1-3, 6-12 and 14-17 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, several new grounds of rejection are made above.
Allowable Subject Matter
6. Claims 4-5, 7-8, 13, and 15 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.
Conclusion
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THOMAS A MORRISON whose telephone number is (571)272-7221. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am - 5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mike 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.
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/THOMAS A MORRISON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653
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