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.
Claims 44, 55 and 59 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 44, line 3, the expression (said display location” does not have clear and proper antecedent basis in the claims.
In claim 55, line 2, the expression “the garment” does not have clear and proper antecedent basis in the claims.
In claim 59, line 2, the expression “said frame” does not have clear and proper antecedent basis in the claims.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 43-49 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yamashita et al (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0292546 A1).
Regarding claim 43, Yamashita et al (see the entire document, in particular, paragraphs [0002], [0044]-[0046], [0048], [0049], [0060], [0076], [0093] and [0095]; Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 7) teaches a process (see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0002] (printing methods) and [0045] (printer 100 performs printing on print medium 1 (e.g., a woven fabric such as a T-shirt)) of Yamashita et al), including (a) operating an imaging system to generate an image of the fabric, the image being registered with respect to a lateral system-of-coordinates of a printing system (see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraph [0076] (projector 120 projects an image onto the upper surface of set tray 31 (the upper surface of print medium 1 when print medium 1 is set; image may cover up to the entire upper surface of the print medium 1 set on set tray 31) of Yamashita et al); (b) displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) showing the image (see Figures 1, 2A and 2B; paragraph [0060] (display unit 113 (i.e., GUI) is an information display unit serving as a human interface; display unit 113 can display information via input unit 112, an image to be printed by printer 100, and the like) of Yamashita et al); and (c) overlaying the image with a graphical representation of the object at a GUI location described by the lateral system-of-coordinates (see Figure 7, paragraph [0093] (a user makes an adjustment in the first image via input unit 112 while viewing the first image displayed on display unit 113 and projected onto print medium 1) of Yamashita et al).
Regarding claim 44, see Figure 1, paragraph [0095] (PC 110 (printer driver 115) transmits data to printer 100 for printing) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 45, see paragraph [0093] (a user makes an adjustment in the first image via input unit 112 while viewing the first image displayed on display unit 113 and projected onto print medium 1) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 46, see Figure 2A, paragraph [0049] (frame 31a) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 47, see Figures 1, 2A and 2B; paragraph [0044] (printing device 1000 may be configured by connecting a plurality of independent devices (e.g., printer 100 (including ejection head 13), projector 120) or may be configured as a device in which a plurality of elements (e.g., printer 100 (including ejection head 13), projector 120) are integrated) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 48, see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraph [0048] (set unit 30 (including set tray 31) is moved to ejection area P of printing unit 10 by transport mechanism 21) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 49, see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraph [0076] (projector 120 projects an image onto the upper surface of set tray 31 (the upper surface of print medium 1 when print medium 1 is set; image may cover up to the entire upper surface of the print medium 1 set on set tray 31) of Yamashita et al.
Claim(s) 56-60 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yamashita et al (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0292546 A1).
Regarding claim 56, Yamashita et al (see the entire document, in particular, paragraphs [0002], [0045], [0046], [0051], [0060], [0076], [0093], [0095] and [0101]; Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 7) teaches an apparatus (see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0002] (printing devices) and [0045] (printer 100 performs printing on print medium 1 (e.g., a woven fabric such as a T-shirt)) of Yamashita et al), including (a) a printing system having a work tray for supporting a fabric thereon, and a dispensing head for dispensing a building material on the fabric (see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0045] (printer 100), [0046] (ejection head 13) and [0101] (print medium 1 is set on set tray 31) of Yamashita et al); (b) an imaging system configured to generate an image on the fabric, the image being registered with respect to a lateral system-of-coordinates of the printing system (see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraph [0076] (projector 120 projects an image onto the upper surface of set tray 31 (the upper surface of print medium 1 when print medium 1 is set; image may cover up to the entire upper surface of the print medium 1 set on set tray 31) of Yamashita et al); (c) a display for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) showing the image and a graphical representation of the object, the GUI includes GUI controls for allowing a user to manipulate the graphical representation across the image to align the graphical representation of the image at a GUI location described by the lateral system-of-coordinates (see Figures 1, 2A, 2B and 7; paragraphs [0060] (display unit 113 (i.e., GUI) is an information display unit serving as a human interface; display unit 113 can display information via input unit 112, an image to be printed by printer 100, and the like) and [0093] (a user makes an adjustment in the first image via input unit 112 while viewing the first image displayed on display unit 113 and projected onto print medium 1) of Yamashita et al); and (d) a computerized controller configured for controlling the dispensing head to dispense the building material so as to print the object on the fabric at a physical location corresponding to the GUI location (see Figures 1, 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0046] (carriage 12 carries and reciprocates ejection head 13 by driving carriage motor 34 based on control of print control unit 40) and [0095] (PC (printer driver 115) transmits data to printer 100 for printing) of Yamashita et al).
Regarding claim 57, see paragraph [0093] (a user makes an adjustment in the first image via input unit 112 while viewing the first image displayed on display unit 113 and projected onto print medium 1) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 58, see Figure 1, paragraph [0049] (frame 31a) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 59, see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0046] (ejection head 13 held by carriage 12 (which is interpreted to be a “tray”; the term “tray” in claim 59 is not limited to a work tray)) and [0044] (projector 120 is connected to, or integrated with, printing device 1000) of Yamashita et al.
Regarding claim 60, see Figures 2A and 2B; paragraphs [0048] (set unit 30 (including set tray 31) is movable between the set area and the ejection area P of printing unit 10 by transport mechanism 21) and [0051] (set tray 31 is replaceable) of Yamashita et al.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 50-54, 61 and 62 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.
Claim 55 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEO B. TENTONI whose telephone number is (571)272-1209. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:00 ET M-F.
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LEO B. TENTONI
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1742
/LEO B TENTONI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1742
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