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 .
2. This office action is responsive to the application Nº 18/906,343 filed on October 04th, 2024 in which claims 1-17 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
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 10/04/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings.
Claim Objections
6. Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities: On lines 1-2 of the claim, it appears Applicant intended “The method for controlling an arrangement according to claim 8” to read “A method for controlling an arrangement according to claim 8”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
7. 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.
8. Claim 10 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.
9. Claim 10 is recites the limitation “The method for controlling an arrangement according to claim 8” in lines 1-2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim because no control method was disclosed in independent claim 1 or in intermediate claim 8 on which claim 10 depends.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Claims 1, 2, 4 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Kawase et al. (JP 2003-211687).
13. Regarding independent claim 1: Kawase et al. disclosed an arrangement to supply a print head cleaning unit ([0056], line 3) of an inkjet printing device ([0033], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1, reference 3) with a cleaning fluid ([0066], lines 5-6; also see Fig. 13, reference 88 is a cleaning liquid tank), the arrangement comprising:
a supply line connected at least with the print head cleaning unit and via which a cleaning fluid is fed to the print head cleaning unit (Fig. 13, the combination of paths 86 and 85 for supplying the cleaning liquid in tank 88 to inkjet head 22);
a means for transporting the cleaning fluid at least through the supply line ([0072], line 2; also see Fig. 13, reference 87 is a pump), wherein the cleaning fluid is fed to the transport means via an infeed line (Fig. 13, reference 86); and
a means for determining the conductivity of the cleaning fluid in the infeed line ([0070], lines 1-2 and 8-10; also see Fig. 13, reference 98 is a conductivity meter for detecting the conductivity of fluid infeed paths 86 and 85).
14. Regarding claim 2: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the conductivity is arranged at a measurement point along the infeed line, and the infeed line forms a first segment of the infeed line between the measurement point and the transport means (Fig. 13, the means for determining the conductivity 98 is arranged along the infeed paths 86 and 85).
15. Regarding claim 4: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning fluid reservoir, and the infeed line is connected with the cleaning fluid reservoir ([0072], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 13, reference 88).
16. Regarding claim 9: Kawase et al. disclosed a method for controlling an arrangement according to claim 1 ([0008], lines 1-2), the method comprising: transporting the cleaning fluid at least through the infeed line with the aid of the transport means ([0072], lines 3-5); determining the conductivity of the cleaning fluid in the infeed line with the aid of a means for determining the conductivity of the cleaning fluid ([0070], lines 1 and 8-10; also see Fig. 13, reference 98 is a conductivity meter for detecting the conductivity of fluid in supply paths 86 and 85); and deactivating the means for transporting the cleaning fluid if the determined conductivity of the cleaning fluid deviates from a preset conductivity value ([0070], lines 1-2 and [0030], lines 5-7; after the measured conductivity reaches a range that is outside a range corresponding to a contaminated supply path, pump P1 is deactivated and the ink tank 11 is connected to the supply path 85 via pump P2).
17. Claims 11, 12, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by Kawase et al. (JP 2003-211687).
18. Regarding independent claim 11: Kawase et al. disclosed a system for supplying a print head cleaning unit ([0056], line 3) of an inkjet printing device ([0033], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 1, reference 3) with a cleaning fluid ([0066], lines 5-6; also see Fig. 13, reference 88 is a cleaning liquid tank), the system comprising:
a supply line connected at least with the print head cleaning unit and via which a cleaning fluid is fed to the print head cleaning unit (Fig. 13, the combination of paths 86 and 85 for supplying the cleaning liquid in tank 88 to inkjet head 22);
a cleaning fluid pump configured to transport the cleaning fluid at least through the supply line ([0072], line 2; also see Fig. 13, reference 87 is a pump), wherein the cleaning fluid is fed to the cleaning fluid pump via an infeed line (Fig. 13, reference 86);
a sensor positioned at a measurement point along the infeed line (Fig. 13, reference 86) and configured to determine a conductivity of the cleaning fluid in the infeed line ([0072], line 2; also see Fig. 13, reference 87 is a pump); and
a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the cleaning fluid pump ([0058], lines 10-12) and configured to:
receive a signal from the sensor indicative of a measured conductivity value of the cleaning fluid in the infeed line ([0070], lines 1-2 and 8-10; the measured conductivity is input to the controller (not illustrated));
determine a deviation of the measured conductivity value of the cleaning fluid from a preset conductivity value; and deactivating the pump if the measured conductivity value of the cleaning fluid deviates from the preset conductivity value ([0070], lines 1-2 and [0030], lines 5-7; after the measured conductivity reaches a range that is outside a range corresponding to a contaminated supply path, pump P1 is deactivated and the ink tank 11 is connected to the supply path 85 via pump P2).
19. Regarding claim 12: Kawase et al. disclosed the system according to claim 11, wherein the infeed line forms a first segment of the infeed line between the measurement point and the pump (see Fig. 13).
20. Regarding claim 14: Kawase et al. disclosed the system according to claim 11, further comprising a cleaning fluid reservoir, wherein the infeed line is connected with the cleaning fluid reservoir ([0072], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 13, reference 88).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Claims 5-8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawase et al. (JP 2003-211687).
24. Regarding claim 5: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 4.
In the embodiment of Fig. 13, Kawase et al. are silent about further comprising a return line, and at least the return line, the cleaning fluid reservoir, the means for transporting the cleaning fluid, and the infeed line with the means for determining the conductivity form a cleaning fluid circuit.
In the embodiment of Fig. 7, Kawase et al. disclosed further comprising a return line, and at least the return line, the cleaning fluid reservoir, the means for transporting the cleaning fluid, and the infeed line with the means for determining the conductivity form a cleaning fluid circuit (Fig. 7, reference 89 and the portion connecting line 89 back to the cleaning liquid tank 88).
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 the embodiment of Fig. 7 with the embodiment of Fig. 13, by providing a return line for the cleaning liquid, in order to recycle/reuse the cleaning liquid as disclosed by Kawase et al. in paragraph [0044].
25. Regarding claim 6: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 5, in which, in a measurement operating mode, a control unit of the arrangement drives the means for transporting the cleaning fluid to transport said cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid circuit ([0008], lines 1-10; also see Fig. 7, the operating mode when switching means 91, 90 and 96 are set so as to circulate the cleaning liquid in the direction of the arrow).
26. Regarding claim 7: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 6, in which, in a cleaning operating mode, the control unit of the arrangement drives at least the means for transporting the cleaning fluid in order to transport said cleaning fluid to the print head cleaning unit ([0008], lines 1-8 and [0023], lines 1-6).
27. Regarding claim 8: Kawase et al. disclosed the arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising a valve that, in a first valve position, connects the means for transporting the cleaning fluid and the return line so that the cleaning fluid is transported through the cleaning fluid circuit, and, in a second valve position, connects the means for transporting the cleaning fluid with the supply line so that the cleaning fluid is fed to said supply line ([0044], lines 1-11; also see Fig. 7, the switching device 90).
28. Regarding claim 10: Kawase et al. disclosed the method for controlling an arrangement according to claim 8 ([0008], lines 1-2), transporting the cleaning fluid through a cleaning fluid circuit with the aid of the transport means ([0072], lines 3-5), determining the conductivity of the cleaning fluid in the infeed line with the aid of a means for determining the conductivity of the cleaning fluid ([0070], lines 1 and 8-10; also see Fig. 13, reference 98 is a conductivity meter for detecting the conductivity of fluid in supply paths 86 and 85), and switching a valve into a second valve position in which the means for transporting the cleaning fluid is connected to the supply line if the determined conductivity of the cleaning fluid is at the preset conductivity value ([0044], lines 1-11; also see Fig. 7, the switching device 90 is switched in the second state to connect the cleaning mechanism when the measured conductivity is within a range that indicates a contamination of the supply path).
29. Claims 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawase et al. (JP 2003-211687).
30. Regarding claim 15: Kawase et al. disclosed the system according to claim 14.
In the embodiment of Fig. 13, Kawase et al. are silent about further comprising a return line, and at least the return line, the cleaning fluid reservoir, the pump, and the infeed line with the sensor for determining the conductivity form a cleaning fluid circuit.
In the embodiment of Fig. 7, Kawase et al. disclosed further comprising a return line, and at least the return line, the cleaning fluid reservoir, the pump, and the infeed line with the sensor for determining the conductivity form a cleaning fluid circuit (Fig. 7, reference 89 and the portion connecting line 89 back to the cleaning liquid tank 88).
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 the embodiment of Fig. 7 with the embodiment of Fig. 13, by providing a return line for the cleaning liquid, in order to recycle/reuse the cleaning liquid as disclosed by Kawase et al. in paragraph [0044].
31. Regarding claim 16: Kawase et al. disclosed the system according to claim 15, further comprising a valve that, in a first valve position, connects the pump and the return line so that the cleaning fluid is transported through the cleaning fluid circuit, and, in a second valve position, connects the pump with the supply line so that the cleaning fluid is fed to the supply line ([0044], lines 1-11; also see Fig. 7, the switching device 90).
32. Regarding claim 17: Kawase et al. disclosed the system of claim 16, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the valve and further configured to: switch the valve into the second valve position in which the pump is connected to the supply line if the measured conductivity of the cleaning fluid is at the preset conductivity value ([0044], lines 1-11; also see Fig. 7, the switching device 90 is switched in the second state to connect the cleaning mechanism when the measured conductivity is within a range that indicates a contamination of the supply path).
Allowable Subject Matter
33. Claims 3 and 13 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.
Conclusion
34. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
35. U.S. Patent application, publication number 2006/0092212 to Kawamoto et al. disclosed a similar invention in Fig. 1 and in the abstract.
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.
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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.
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/YAOVI M AMEH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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