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
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.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the plate member." There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
As best understood, claim(s) 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gerlier et al. US 7,959,146 (“Gerlier”).
Regarding claim 1, Gerlier disclosed a paper sheet storage device comprising:
a holding member (including 26, see Figure 1) that includes a loading region into which a paper sheet is loaded;
a storing member (16) that is disposed adjacent to the holding member and that is used to store the paper sheet;
a carrier unit (Figures 4A-4E) that, in a state in which at least a single pair of carrier belts (121, 76) is abutting against both sides of the paper sheet, carries the paper sheet into the loading region; and
a pressing mechanism (including 100) that presses the paper sheet, which has been carried into the loading region, inside the storing member (Figure 4E), wherein
at the time of pressing of the paper sheet by the pressing mechanism, the carrier unit releases abutment of one of the carrier belts with respect to the paper sheet (see at least Figure 4E).
Regarding claim 2, Gerlier disclosed the carrier unit carries the paper sheet in a state in which two pairs of the carrier belts (76, 78, 121, 123), which are arranged in parallel and with a distance maintained therebetween, remain abutted against two ends of the paper sheet (Figure 4B), and the pressing mechanism presses the paper sheet through a gap between the two pairs of the carrier belts (see at least Figures 2 and 7B).
Regarding claim 3, Gerlier disclosed an inter-dependent mechanical system to ensure that pressing of the paper sheet is performed in tandem with releasing abutment of one of the carrier belts with respect to the paper sheet (see at least Figures 3 and 4B-4E).
Regarding claim 4, Gerlier disclosed the carrier unit includes a plate material (168) on which an opening (162) is formed for allowing passage of the paper sheet, and in tandem with releasing abutment of one of the carrier belts with respect to the paper sheet, the inter-dependent mechanical system moves a plate member (167) in such a way that the opening is positioned away from carrying route (for example of a sheet on the bottom of the stack 164) of the paper sheet (as the stack becomes full and the plate moves downward).
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.
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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.
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/HOWARD J SANDERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653