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 § 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.
Claims 1-7, 9-14, 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ikeda et al. (US 2012/0147074 A1).
With respect to Claim 1, Ikeda’074 shows a printing system (FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a control system of the printer 1) comprising:
a print control device (FIG. 5 controller 22), configured to output a print data (paragraph [0088] controller 22 create printing control information (print data));
a printing device (printer 1), configured to execute a printing figures 3-4 medium 8) based on the print data (paragraph [0088] printing is performed on medium 8 by exerting control over components based on the printing control information (print data)); and
a jig (Figures 1, 3, and 4 jig 50) that is placed on a table (13) of the printing device (1) (paragraph [0052]), wherein a plurality of the jigs (Figure 7 jigs 50+50a) is provided (paragraphs [0070]-[0071]),
each of the jigs (jigs 50+50a) is attached with an identifier (barcodes 61+61a) for identifying the jig (paragraphs [0054]-[0055], [0071], [0077] describes 61+61a to be barcodes for respective jigs 50+50a as an identifier that represents information relating to the jig), wherein
the print control device (controller 22) comprises:
a jig (Figures 1, 3, and 4 jig 50) information acquisition unit (35), configured to acquire a jig information (paragraph [0055]) of the jig (50+50a) placed on the table (13) based on the identifier (61+61a) of the jig placed on the table (Figure 6 S102 paragraph [0059]); and
a print data generation unit (22), configured to generate the print data based on an image data for printing and the jig information (paragraph [0088] controller 22 create printing control information (print data) based on information relating to the jig, printing image information, and printing position information).
With respect to Claim 2, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the jig (50+50a) is provided with a support region (55) for a printing target object (8) (Figure 3-4 paragraph [0053] jig 50 comprising recesses 55 to stably hold medium 88), and the jig information includes at least an information of the support region (55) (paragraph [0055] barcode 61 contains information such as number of containing recesses 55).
With respect to Claim 3, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the print data generation unit (22) is configured to: generate the print data for printing the image data on the printing target object (8) supported by the support region (55) based on the information of the support region (paragraph [0055] and figure 6 S104 paragraph [0063]).
With respect to Claim 4, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 2, wherein the support region (55) is a portion configured to position the printing target object (8) at a predetermined position on the jig (50) (Figure 4 paragraph [0053] recesses 55 located at predetermined positions on jig 50 to stably hold medium 8), and the information of the support region includes at least an information that indicates: a total number of the support regions in the jig (paragraph [0055] barcode 61 includes information such as the number of recesses 55), and an arrangement of the support regions in the jig (paragraph [0054]-[0055] barcode 61 includes information such as number and positions of registration marks 62, paragraph [0061]-[0063] registrations marks 62 are used to define the positional relationship between the jig 50 and recesses 55 in view of the table 13).
With respect to Claim 5, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the print control device (1) comprises: a storage unit, configured to store the jig information (paragraph [0119]), wherein the storage unit is configured to store a correspondence relationship between the identifier and the jig information (paragraph [0119] to store rewritable information regarding the medium information, paragraph [0107] describes an alternative to storing jig information (describing that the original manner stored the jig information), [0115] RFID tag stored jig identification information, paragraph [0118] camera to detect jig identification information), and the jig information acquisition unit (34) is configured to acquire the jig information associated with the identifier from the storage unit (paragraph [0107] perform analysis on identification information acquired from stored in the barcode to determine jig, paragraph [0115] RFID exchange of stored jig identification information, paragraph [0118] camera to detect jig and OCR identification information).
With respect to Claim 6, Ikeda’074 shows a printing system (figure 5 paragraph [0041]) comprising:
a print control device, configured to outputs a print data (paragraph [0088] controller 22 create printing control information (print data));
a printing device (1), configured to execute a printing (figures 3-4 medium 8) based on the print data (paragraph [0088] printing is performed on medium 8 by exerting control over components based on the printing control information (print data));
a jig (Figures 1, 3, and 4 jig 50) that is placed on a table (13) of the printing device (1) (paragraph [0052]); and
a camera, configured to capture an image of the jig (50) placed on the table (13) (paragraphs [0114] and [0118] a camera can be used to capture both the registrations marks 62 and medium information of the jig by optical character recognition OCR),
wherein the print control device (1) comprises:
a jig information generation unit (22 by receiving information from 34+35 as performed by the camera), configured to generate a jig information of the jig (50) from a captured image of the jig (paragraph [0113]-[0114] and [0118] OCR to detect medium information of the jig, [0055] examples the jig information; figure 6 S102+S103 [0059]-[0064] examples acquiring the information from a reader (now performed by the camera)); and
a print data generation unit (22), configured to generate the print data based on an image data for printing and the jig information (paragraph [0088] controller 22 create printing control information (print data) based on information (acquired by the camera) relating to the jig, printing image information, and printing position information).
With respect to Claim 7, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 6, wherein a plurality of the jigs is provided (Figure 7 50+50a paragraph [0070]), each of the jigs (50+50a) is attached with an identifier (60+61a) for identifying the jig (paragraphs [0054]-[0055], [0071], [0077] describes 61+61a to be barcodes for respective jigs 50+50a as an identifier that represents information relating to the jig (performed by the camera paragraphs [0114]-[0115]+[0118]), wherein the print control device (1) comprises: a jig information acquisition unit (35), configured to acquire a jig information (paragraph [0055]) of the jig (50+50a) placed on the table (13) based on the identifier (61+61a) of the jig placed on the table (Figure 6 S102 paragraph [0059]); and a difference calculation unit, configured to calculate a difference between the jig information generated by the jig information generation unit and the jig information acquired by the jig information acquisition unit (paragraphs [0107]-[0108] comparative reference to jig information by barcode (camera)), wherein the print data generation unit (22) is configured to correct the print data based on the difference (paragraph [0092] correction of rotation and paragraph [0097] correction of inclination in view of registration marks (part of the jig information)).
With respect to Claim 9, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the print control device (1) comprises: a storage unit, configured to store the jig information (paragraph [0119]), wherein the storage unit is configured to store a correspondence relationship between the identifier and the jig information (paragraph [0119] to store rewritable information regarding the medium information, paragraph [0107] describes an alternative to storing jig information (describing that the original manner stored the jig information), paragraph [0115] RFID tag stored jig identification information, paragraph [0118] camera to detect jig identification information), and the jig information acquisition unit (34+35) is configured to acquire the jig information associated with the identifier from the storage unit (paragraph [0107] perform analysis on identification information acquired from stored in the barcode to determine jig, paragraph [0115] RFID exchange of stored jig identification information, paragraph [0118] camera to detect jig and OCR identification information).
With respect to Claim 10, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the print control device comprises: an update unit, configured to update the jig information stored in the storage unit to the jig information generated by the jig information generation unit (paragraphs [0115]-[0119] wherein the stored data can be rewritten).
With respect to Claim 11, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 10, wherein the jig information generation unit (22 by receiving information from 34+35 as performed by the camera) is configured to generate the jig information from a captured image (camera paragraph [0118]) of a new jig when the new jig is placed on the table (paragraph [0052] jigs can be removably placed on the table 13), and
the update unit is configured to register the jig information acquired of the new jig in the storage unit in association with a new identifier (paragraphs [0115]-[0119] wherein the stored data can be rewritten).
With respect to Claim 12, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the jig information acquisition unit (34+35) is configured to acquire an information of the identifier from a captured image of the jig (paragraphs [0113]-[0114] and [0118] OCR to detect medium information of the jig, paragraph [0055] examples the jig information; figure 6 S102+S103 paragraphs [0059]-[0064] examples acquiring the information from a reader (now performed by the camera)).
With respect to Claim 13, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the jig (50) is provided with a support region (55) for a printing target object (8) (Figure 3-4 paragraph [0053] jig 50 comprising recesses 55 to stably hold medium 88), and the jig information includes a shift amount (paragraph [0055] direction of registrations marks 62) of the support region (55) from a reference (table orientation).
With respect to Claim 14, Ikeda’074 shows the printing system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the print data generation unit is configured to:
generate the print data from the image data for printing (paragraph [0088] controller 22 create printing control information (print data) based on information relating to the jig, printing image information, and printing position information), and correct the print data with reference to the shift amount (paragraph [0092] correction of rotation and paragraph [0097] correction of inclination in view of registration marks (part of the jig information)).
With respect to Claims 16-18, rejection analogous to those presented for claim 5, are applicable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 8 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ikeda et al. (US 2012/0147074 A1) in view of Yoshimura et al. (US 6494197).
With respect to Claim 8, Ikeda’074 does not specifically show the printing system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: a determination unit, configured to determine whether or not to use the jig based on the difference between the jig information acquired by the jig information acquisition unit and the jig information generated by the jig information generation unit.
Yoshimura’197 shows the printing system , further comprising: a determination unit, configured to determine whether or not to use the jig based on the difference between the jig information acquired by the jig information acquisition unit and the jig information generated by the jig information generation unit (column 6 lines 6-18 confirming that jig holder information stored correspond to the jig on the table).
At the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claim invention to modify Ikeda’074 to include a determination unit, configured to determine whether or not to use the jig based on the difference between the jig information acquired by the jig information acquisition unit and the jig information generated by the jig information generation unit method taught by Yoshimura’197. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able confirm the jig is appropriate (column 6, lines 6-18).
With respect to Claim 15, Ikeda’074 does not specifically show the printing system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the print control device comprises: a notification unit, configured to notify a mismatch between identifiers in a case where an identifier of a jig designated as a jig to be used for printing and an identifier of a jig placed on the table do not match.
Yoshimura’197 shows wherein the print control device comprises: a notification unit, configured to notify a mismatch between identifiers in a case where an identifier of a jig designated as a jig to be used for printing and an identifier of a jig placed on the table do not match (column 6 lines 6-18 confirming that jig holder information stored correspond to the jig on the table and using the display 52 to confirm the jig (describing notifying)).
At the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claim invention to modify Ikeda’074 to include a notification unit, configured to notify a mismatch between identifiers in a case where an identifier of a jig designated as a jig to be used for printing and an identifier of a jig placed on the table do not match method taught by Yoshimura’197. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able confirm the jig is appropriate (column 6, lines 6-18).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wakabayashi (US 2020/0298589 A1): shows an inkjet printer that performs printing on a workpiece according to print data associated with a jig ID that indicates the type of jig, and a jig having a jig ID indicating its type that supports the workpiece and is set in the inkjet printer acquires the jig ID from the jig (S61), and notifies incompatibility between the print data and the jig when the jig ID associated with the print data, and the jig ID acquired from the jig in S61 do not match.
Okada et al. (US 2013/0158683 A1): paragraphs [0072], [0099] jig 20 attached with a barcode ID. Verifying the jig to be mounted match.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IRIANA CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)270-3246. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6.
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/IRIANA CRUZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2681
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