CTNF 18/895,531 CTNF 89575 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. 2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/895,531 filed on September 25 th , 2024 in which claims 1-21 are pending and ready for examination. Information Disclosure Statement 3. Acknowledgment is made of Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) form PTO-1449. These IDS have been considered. Priority 02-26 AIA 4. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Drawings 5. The examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 09/25/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 6. 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 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 7. 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA 8. Claim s 1-4, 6-17 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 ( a) (1 ) as being anticipated by Sagara (JP 2006-256771) . 9. Regarding independent claim 1: Sagara disclosed a printing apparatus ([0007], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1) comprising: a plurality of sheet housing units ([0012], line 5; also see Fig. 1, references 3); and a notification unit ([0009], lines 5-6; also see Fig. 1, reference 1) configured to, in a case where, in printing, a sheet is supplied from a first sheet housing unit included in the plurality of sheet housing units, make a notification of a message prompting that a user operation not be performed on a second sheet housing unit different from the first sheet housing unit ([0007], lines 9-14), wherein in a case where the second sheet housing unit is operated by a user, a path that the second sheet housing unit passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the first sheet housing unit ([0011], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1, when a higher or downstream sheet housing units 3 is pulled out, a path that the sheet housing unit 3 passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the lowest or most upstream sheet housing unit 3). 10. Regarding claim 2: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the first sheet housing unit is a predetermined sheet housing unit among the plurality of sheet housing units, wherein in a case where it is determined by the determination unit that the first sheet housing unit is not the predetermined sheet housing unit, the notification unit makes a notification of the message ([0007], lines 15-21; the notification is displayed whenever the sheet housing unit from which recording sheet is being supplied is not located downstream of the sheet housing unit that is pulled out). 11. Regarding claim 3: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein in a case where it is determined by the determination unit that the first sheet housing unit is the predetermined sheet housing unit, notification by the notification unit is not performed ([0007], lines 15-21; the notification is not displayed whenever no sheet is pulled out downstream of the sheet housing unit from which recording sheet is being supplied). 12. Regarding claim 4: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of sheet housing units are in a vertical positional relationship with each other (see Fig. 1), and the predetermined sheet housing unit includes a sheet housing unit positioned uppermost among the plurality of sheet housing units (see Fig. 1, the uppermost sheet housing unit is the only one whose path cannot be changed by a user operating (pulling out) another sheet housing unit). 13. Regarding claim 6: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a printing unit which is arranged above the plurality of sheet housing units configured to perform printing on a sheet conveyed from the conveyance path (Fig. 1 shows a printing unit arranged above the plurality of sheet housing units 3). 14. Regarding claim 7: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second sheet housing unit is above the first sheet housing unit (see Fig. 1, any of the middle or top sheet housing units as the second sheet housing unit disposed above the bottom sheet housing unit as the first sheet housing unit). 15. Regarding claim 8: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in a case where there are a plurality of second sheet housing units, the notification unit makes a notification of a message prompting that the user operation not be performed on the plurality of second sheet housing units ([0007], lines 9-14). 16. Regarding claim 9: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user operation is an operation for pulling out a sheet housing unit from a housing of the printing apparatus ([0007], lines 9-14). 17. Regarding claim 10: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveyance path is a space provided near an inner wall of the sheet housing unit (see Fig. 1). 18. Regarding claim 11: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit displays a screen indicating the message on a display unit ([0007], lines 9-14; also see Fig. 1, reference 1). 19. Regarding claim 12: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notification unit displays the screen while printing is being executed ([0007], lines 9-14). 20. Regarding claim 13: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the notification unit ends display of the screen after a predetermined time has elapsed ([0007], lines 9-14; the notification ends after the sheet housing unit is inserted or after the user acknowledges the notification as commonly known in the art). 21. Regarding claim 14: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when an instruction from a user is accepted, the notification unit ends display of the screen ([0007], lines 9-14; the notification ends after the sheet housing unit is inserted or after the user acknowledges the notification as commonly known in the art). 22. Regarding claim 15: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit makes a notification of a message indicating that an event that hinders an operation of the printing will be caused by the user operation being performed ([0007], lines 9-14). 23. Regarding claim 16: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the event is a jam ([0006], lines 1-2). 24. Regarding claim 17: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus does not include a locking mechanism for prohibiting the user operation ([0007], lines 15-21; the controller stops power supply to the electronic components in the sheet housing unit, but does not include a locking mechanism for prohibiting the user from pulling out the sheet housing unit). 25. Regarding claim 19: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second sheet housing unit is a sheet housing unit that forms the conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the first sheet housing unit, together with the first sheet housing unit (see Fig. 1, the middle and/or upper sheet housing units form the conveyance path 4 of the sheet supplied from the bottom sheet housing unit, together with the bottom sheet housing unit) . 07-15 AIA 26. Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 ( a) (1 ) as being anticipated by Sagara (JP 2006-256771) . 27. Regarding independent claim 20: Sagara disclosed a method to be executed ([0014], line 1) in a printing apparatus ([0007], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1) including a plurality of sheet housing units ([0012], line 5; also see Fig. 1, references 3), the method comprising: in a case where, in printing, a sheet is supplied from a first sheet housing unit included in the plurality of sheet housing units, making notification of a message prompting that a user operation not be performed on a second sheet housing unit different from the first sheet housing unit ([0007], lines 9-14), wherein in a case where the second sheet housing unit is operated by a user, a path that the second sheet housing unit passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the first sheet housing unit ([0011], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1, when a higher or downstream sheet housing units 3 is pulled out, a path that the sheet housing unit 3 passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the lowest or most upstream sheet housing unit 3) . 07-15 AIA 28. Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 ( a) (1 ) as being anticipated by Sagara (JP 2006-256771) . 29. Regarding independent claim 21: Sagara disclosed a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more programs including instructions (Fig. 1, the storage holding instructions executed by processor 14 (not shown)), which when executed by one or more processors ([0014], line 1) of an information processing apparatus ([0007], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1), cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising: in a case where, in printing, a sheet is supplied from a first sheet housing unit included in a plurality of sheet housing units, making notification of a message prompting that a user operation not be performed on a second sheet housing unit different from the first sheet housing unit ([0007], lines 9-14), wherein in a case where the second sheet housing unit is operated by a user, a path that the second sheet housing unit passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the first sheet housing unit ([0011], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1, when a higher or downstream sheet housing units 3 is pulled out, a path that the sheet housing unit 3 passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the lowest or most upstream sheet housing unit 3) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 30. 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 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. 07-20-aia AIA 31. 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 of this title, 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. 07-21-aia AIA 32. Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sagara (JP 2006-256771), in view of Nagaki (JP 2000-062985) . 33. Regarding claim 5: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 4. Sagara is silent about wherein the predetermined sheet housing unit includes a manual feeding tray. Nagaki disclosed a printing apparatus ([0020], line 1; also see Fig. 2, reference 17), comprising a plurality of sheet housing units ([0034], lines 1-4; also see Fig. 2, references 37, 55 and 57), wherein in a case where the second sheet housing unit is operated by a user, a path that the second sheet housing unit passes overlaps with at least a portion of a conveyance path of the sheet supplied from the first sheet housing unit (see Fig. 2), wherein the predetermined sheet housing unit includes a manual feeding tray ([0030], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 2, reference 51). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Nagaki with those of Sagara by providing a manual feeding tray in the plurality of sheet housing units in order to support manual feeding of the printing sheets as disclosed by Nagaki in Fig. 2 . 07-21-aia AIA 34. Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sagara (JP 2006-256771), in view of Sasamoto et al. (U.S. Pub. N ˚ 2007/0280805) . 35. Regarding claim 18: Sagara disclosed the printing apparatus according to claim 1. Sagara is silent about wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs printing using an inkjet printing method. Sasamoto et al. disclosed a printing apparatus (Fig. 1, reference A), comprising a plurality of sheet housing units disposed in a vertical configuration (Fig. 1, reference 2), and a printing unit disposed above the plurality of sheet housing units and configured to perform printing on sheet (Fig. 1, reference 4) conveyed through a media path (Fig. 1, reference 3), wherein the printing method is either an electrostatic printing method or an inkjet printing method ([0032], lines 3-8). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Sasamoto et al. with those of Sagara by using an inkjet printing unit in the printing apparatus of Sagara in order to support inkjet printing method as disclosed by Sasamoto et al. in paragraph [0032]. Conclusion 36. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YAOVI M. AMEH whose telephone number is (571)272-4578. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. 37. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. 38. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, RICARDO MAGALLANES can be reached at (571)272-5960. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 39. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 2 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 3 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 4 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 5 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 6 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 7 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 8 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 9 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 10 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/895,531 Page 11 Art Unit: 2853
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