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.
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species I, Sub-species C, Sub-sub-species b in the reply filed on 1/5/26 is acknowledged.
Claim 7 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 1/5/26.
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) 1-2, 4-6 and 8-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim (US 2012/0237277).
With respect to claim 1, Kim discloses an image forming apparatus (fig. 1) for forming an image on a recording medium (P), the apparatus comprising: a photoconductor (110); a charger (e.g. “charging member 120”) to charge a surface of the photoconductor (110); a light source (e.g., item 160) to emit charge eliminating light that discharges the surface of the photoconductor (110); and a reflector (e.g., item(s) 173 and/or 173b) to reflect the charge eliminating light to apply reflected light to the surface of the photoconductor (110, as shown at least by fig. 4).
With respect to claim 2, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) has a metal portion (as discussed at least in paragraph 80).
With respect to claim 4, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) has a plated portion (as discussed at least in paragraph 80).
With respect to claim 5, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) is a reflective coating applied to a supporting member (173 and/or 173b) that supports the cleaning blade (172, as shown at least by fig. 4 and/or as discussed at least in paragraphs 80-89).
With respect to claim 6, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) is a supporting member (171, 173 and/or 173b) that supports the cleaning blade (172).
With respect to claim 8, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) has a reflectance of 70% or more (as shown at least by fig. 4 and/or as discussed at least in paragraphs 80-89).
With respect to claim 9, Kim further discloses wherein the reflector (173 and/or 173b) has a reflectance that varies depending on a portion of the reflector (as shown at least by fig. 4).
With respect to claim 10, Kim further discloses wherein the charge eliminating light reflected by the reflector (173 and/or 173b) hits a portion of the surface of the photoconductor (110) that the charger overlaps when viewed from a direction orthogonal to a circumferential surface of the photoconductor (as shown at least by fig. 4).
Claim(s) 1 and 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Kusunose (US 2001/0024580)
With respect to claims 1 and 3, Kusunose discloses an image forming apparatus (fig. 1) for forming an image on a recording medium (32), the apparatus comprising: a photoconductor (10); a charger (e.g., charging roller 12) to charge a surface of the photoconductor (10); a light source (as discussed at least in paragraphs 31-32 by a “laser writing device”) to emit charge eliminating light that discharges the surface of the photoconductor (10); and a mirror reflector (14) to reflect the charge eliminating light to apply reflected light to the surface of the photoconductor (10) as shown at least by fig. 1).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH S WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-8457. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (9-5).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Walter L Lindsay Jr. can be reached at (571) 272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSEPH S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
JSW