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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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 1-4, 6, 8-11 and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawatsu (US 2022/0353382 A1) in view of Ohmiya et al. (US 2021/0385384 A1).
With respect to Claim 1, Kawatsu’382 shows an image forming system (Figures 1 and 2, image reading apparatus 300 and image forming apparatus) comprising:
a sheet feeder that feeds a sheet (paragraphs [0023]-[0024] sheet feeder 100 performs a process of feeding the continuous print medium 11 to the image forming apparatus 200 at a predetermined speed);
a conveyor that conveys the sheet through a conveyance path (Paragraph [0024] conveyance path of the continuous print medium 11);
a reader including a reading sensor that optically reads the sheet conveyed through the conveyance path (paragraph [0042]-[0043] scanner unit 330 with sensor 338 for read );
an image former that forms an image on the conveyed sheet at a downstream side of the reader in the conveyance path (paragraph [0025] image forming unit 210 ); and
a hardware processor,
wherein the reader is able to execute a plurality of reading modes including at least a first reading mode and a second reading mode different from the first reading mode, and reads the sheet in any one of the reading modes selected according to a print setting (paragraph [0063] based on color and type of print medium setting the backing member 341 to black or white), and [ ] switching of the reading modes is performed (Figure 4 paragraphs [0065]-[0069] switching the backing part to black or white as needed) and forming an image on a sheet by the image former (Figure 4 after switching of backing on steps 14 and 12 execute printing in S15) [ ].
Kawatsu’382 does not specifically show the hardware processor varies an image formation timing of forming an image on the sheet by the image former between when switching of the reading modes is performed and when the switching of the reading modes is not performed.
Ohmiya’384 shows hardware processor varies an image formation timing of forming an image on the sheet by the image former between when switching of the reading modes is performed and when the switching of the reading modes is not performed (paragraphs [0094]-[0096] a timing chart in a comparative case where it is necessary to switch the background member 500 when different sheets P are continuously read and a timing for when no switching is needed in addition to requiring a waiting/delay time).
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 Kawatsu’382 to include varies an image formation timing of forming an image on the sheet by the image former between when switching of the reading modes is performed and when the switching of the reading modes is not performed method taught by Ohmiya’384. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able to reduce downtime and enhance productivity based on necessity of switch.
With respect to Claim 2, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the reader executes a reading mode corresponding to a color of the sheet to be read among the reading modes (in Kawatsu’382: paragraph [0063] based on color and type of print medium setting the backing member 341 to black or white).
With respect to Claim 3, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the reader includes a background section that is disposed to face the reading sensor across the conveyance path, the background section having a plurality of background surfaces different in color and serving as a background of the sheet when the sheet is read, and the switching of the reading modes is switching of the background surfaces (in Kawatsu’382: paragraph [0063] based on color and type of print medium setting the backing member 341 to black or white, figure 3 340 having 341B and 341W).
With respect to Claim 4, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 3, wherein the reader switches the background surfaces according to a color of the sheet to be read (in Kawatsu’382: paragraph [0063] based on color and type of print medium setting the backing member 341 to black or white).
With respect to Claim 6, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor delays the image formation timing of forming an image by the image former on the sheet to be read in the second mode on the basis of a switching time required for switching from the first reading mode to the second reading mode (in Ohmiya’384: paragraphs [0094]-[0096] a timing chart with necessary time to switch the background member 500 when different sheets P are continuously read and a timing for when no switching is needed).
With respect to Claim 8, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 6, wherein a sheet interval between a previous sheet and a next sheet in a plurality of sheets that is consecutively convened is set differently according to a sheet size, and the hardware processor compares a sheet interval time corresponding to the sheet interval with a switching time required for switching the reading modes, and does not delay the image formation timing of forming an image on the next sheet when the sheet interval time is longer than the switching time (in Ohmiya’384: paragraph [0096], figure 10 no switching (including the waiting/delay time of paragraph [0095]) when sheet conveyance interval T4 satisfying T3>T4).
With respect to Claim 9, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 6, wherein, when stabilization processing in the image former is executed between a previous sheet and a next sheet while a plurality of sheets is consecutively conveyed, the hardware processor does not execute processing of delaying the image formation timing of forming an image on the next sheet according to the switching of the reading modes, and switches the reading modes during a period in which the stabilization processing is executed (in Ohmiya’384: paragraphs [0094]-[0096] waiting period for stabilization).
With respect to Claim 10, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor selects a reading mode to be executed among the reading modes on the basis of a print setting of a print job (in Kawatsu’382: paragraph [0063] based on color and type of print medium setting the backing member 341 to black or white deciding the reading mode).
With respect to Claim 11, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, when a previous sheet is read in the first reading mode and a next sheet is readable in both the first reading mode and the second reading mode while a plurality of sheets is consecutively conveyed, the hardware processor executes reading of the next sheet in the first reading mode same as the reading mode for the previous sheet (in Kawatsu’382: S11 white and S13 only YMCK all are done in Switching backing to white S12).
With respect to Claim 14, rejection analogous to those presented for claim 1, are applicable.
With respect to Claim 15, rejection analogous to those presented for claim 2, are applicable.
Claims 5 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawatsu (US 2022/0353382 A1) in view of Ohmiya et al. (US 2021/0385384 A1) further in view of Nakamura (US 2021/0163244 A1).
With respect to Claim 5, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 does not specifically the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeder includes a plurality of sheet feed trays that stores sheets, and a different reading mode is selected among the reading modes according to switching to the sheet feed tray from which a sheet to be read is fed.
Nakamura’244 shows the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeder includes a plurality of sheet feed trays that stores sheets, and a different reading mode is selected among the reading modes according to switching to the sheet feed tray from which a sheet to be read is fed (paragraphs [0030] and [0032] switching between a reading mode based on there the paper is located, paper feeding unit 4 having plurality of paper cassettes 5).
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 Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 to include the sheet feeder includes a plurality of sheet feed trays that stores sheets, and a different reading mode is selected among the reading modes according to switching to the sheet feed tray from which a sheet to be read is fed method taught by Nakamura’244. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able to apply the availability of reding mode being selected based on where the sheet is fed from as known in the art (paragraphs [0030]-[0032]).
With respect to Claim 12, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 shows do not specifically show the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, when a previous sheet is not to be read while a plurality of sheets is consecutively conveyed, the hardware processor starts switching the reading modes for the next sheet while the previous sheet is being conveyed through a reading region of the reader.
Nakamura’244 the image forming system according to claim 1, wherein, when a previous sheet is not to be read while a plurality of sheets is consecutively conveyed, the hardware processor starts switching the reading modes for the next sheet while the previous sheet is being conveyed through a reading region of the reader (paragraphs [0030]-[0032] image reading device 2 is configured to be switchable between a fed document reading mode and a placed document reading mode).
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 Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 to include when a previous sheet is not to be read while a plurality of sheets is consecutively conveyed, the hardware processor starts switching the reading modes for the next sheet while the previous sheet is being conveyed through a reading region of the reader method taught by Nakamura’244. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able to apply the availability of reding mode being selected based on where the sheet is fed from as known in the art (paragraphs [0030]-[0032]).
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawatsu (US 2022/0353382 A1) in view of Ohmiya et al. (US 2021/0385384 A1) further in view of Yokoyama et al. (US 2024/0411257 A1).
With respect to Claim 13, the combination of Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 does not specifically shows the image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a correction value calculator that calculates a sheet position correction value on the basis of read data obtained by the reader reading the sheet; and a printing hardware processor that adjusts a formation position of an image on at least one of a first surface or a second surface of the read sheet on the basis of the sheet position correction value calculated by the correction value calculator.
Yokoyama’257 the image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising: a correction value calculator that calculates a sheet position correction value on the basis of read data obtained by the reader reading the sheet; and a printing hardware processor that adjusts a formation position of an image on at least one of a first surface or a second surface of the read sheet on the basis of the sheet position correction value calculated by the correction value calculator (paragraphs [0106]-[0109] and [0116] based on the reading result adjusting the printing position of an image with a correction).
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 Kawatsu’382 and Ohmiya’384 to include a correction value calculator that calculates a sheet position correction value on the basis of read data obtained by the reader reading the sheet; and a printing hardware processor that adjusts a formation position of an image on at least one of a first surface or a second surface of the read sheet on the basis of the sheet position correction value calculated by the correction value calculator method taught by Yokoyama’257. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able to improve quality of printing reduce reprinting and improve productivity (paragraph [0086]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 is 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Mikashima et al. (US 2022/0009228 A1): paragraphs [0197]-[0200] and figure 18, showing a relationship between timing of switching of reading modes and opening information and recording medium information acquired. Does not show specifically show switching of reading mode based on choosing a different sheet feed tray. In paragraphs [0170]-[0172] calculates a correction value of a test printing. Does not show this correction value from the read data.
Suzuki (US 2014/0042688 A1): paragraphs [0016] and [0038]-[0039] shows switching the sheet feeding cassette, sheet feeding time associated with the switch of the sheet feeding cassette can be shortened, and hence the time interval can be shortened and calculate delay time based on which tray is the paper being fed from. Does not show selecting different reading modes based on the tray being used.
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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