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 .
Priority
Foreign priority papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or 35 U.S.C. § 365(a)-(c) are acknowledged.
Information Disclosure Statement
The Information Disclosure Statement(s) submitted by applicant on 11/21/2024 and 06/20/2025 has/have been considered. The submission(s) is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR § 1.97.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the "right to exclude" granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR § 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR § 3.73(b).
Claim(s) 1-13, 15-18, and 21-23 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over the claim(s) of patent no. 12187048 in view of the claims as set forth in the table below.
18954539 (instant application)
patent no. 12187048
1. (Currently Amended) A device comprising:
a flow path member including a flow path configured to direct flow of a pseudoplastic liquid through the flow path member, wherein the flow path includes a supply reservoir, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, and a plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to-one manner to a plurality of supply flow paths, an actuator configured to apply pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; a pump configured to cause the liquid to flow sequentially through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, and the plurality of pressure chambers; and a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the liquid to a prescribed target flow rate;
wherein the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the supply reservoir when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
2. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply flow paths is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds when the flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
3. (Currently Amended) A device comprising: a flow path member including a flow path configured to direct flow of a pseudoplastic liquid through the flow path member, wherein the flow path includes a supply reservoir, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, Anda plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to-one manner to a plurality of supply flow paths, a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; and an actuator configured to apply pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; a pump configured to sequentially circulate the liquid through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the plurality of collection flow paths; and a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the liquid to a prescribed target flow rate; the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, and the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the descenders is greater than or equal to 1.5 times an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of collection flow paths when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
4. (Original) The device according to claim 3, wherein S4 is larger than S3, where S3 is defined as a first cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel, and S4 is defined as a second cross-sectional area of an outflow surface of the descender just above the nozzle, the second cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid.
5. (Original) The device according to claim 3, wherein S3 is larger than Si, where S1 is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle, and S3 is defined as a cross-sectional area of the inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel.
6. (Original) The device according to claim 3, wherein S3 is larger than S2, where S2 is defined as a cross-sectional area of a discharge surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle, and S3 is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel.
7. (Currently Amended) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; Anda pump configured to sequentially circulate the liquid through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, the plurality of pressure chambers, and the plurality of collection flow paths; the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, the descenders each include: a first portion, and a second portion located nearer the pressure chamber body than the first portion, and the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the second portion is higher than an average viscosity of the liquid in the first portion when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
8. (Original) The device according to claim 1, wherein where Rr is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply reservoir, Rm is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply manifolds, m is number of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, n is number of nozzles for each supply manifold, U is a flow rate of the liquid flowing into the supply reservoir, a' is a surface tension of the liquid, and r is a radius of the nozzles, a sum of (1/2) xRrx U(1 + 1/m) and (1/2) xR~x (U/m) x (1 + 1/n) is smaller than 2a/r, and Rr < 1/10XRmX(1/m).
9. (Original) The device according to claim 8, wherein where Rn is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the nozzles, R~ < 1/10xRnx (1/n).
10. (Original) A method using the device according to claim 1, comprising: circulating a pseudoplastic fluid whose viscosity at a shear rate of 1000 s-1 is from 0.02 Pa-s to 0.4 Pa- s and whose viscosity at a shear rate of 0.01 s-1 is from 0.5 Pa- s to 50 Pa-s through the flow path.
11. (Original) The device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a vacuum pump.
12. (Original) The device according to claim 1, wherein the target flow rate is greater than or equal to 50 mL/min and less than or equal to 300 mL/min.
13. (Original) The device according to claim 1, wherein S1 is larger than S2, where S1 is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle, and S2 is defined as a cross-sectional area of a discharge surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle.
15. (Currently Amended) A method comprising: circulating a pseudoplastic liquid through a flow path member, the flow path member including a supply reservoir, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, a plurality of supply flow paths, two or more of which are connected to each of the plurality of supply manifolds, a plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to- one manner to the plurality of supply flow paths, a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of collection manifolds each connected to two or more of the plurality of collection flow paths, and a collection reservoir that is connected to the plurality of collection manifolds applying pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; adjusting a circulation flow rate of the liquid to a target flow rate at which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the supply reservoir.
16. (Original) The method of claim 15, further comprising: moving at least one of the flow path member or an object surface such that droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles move toward the object surface.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply flow paths is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds.
18. (Original) The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pressure chambers each include :a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, and an average viscosity of the liquid in the descenders is greater than or equal to 1.5 times an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of collection flow paths at the target flow rate.
21. (New) The device according to claim 15, wherein where Rn is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the nozzles, Rm is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply manifolds, and n is number of nozzles for each supply manifold, Rm < 1/10 x Rn x (1/n).
22. (New) The method according to claim 15, wherein the pseudoplastic fluid has a viscosity from 0.02 Pa- s to 0.4 Pa- s at a shear rate of 1000 s1 and a viscosity from 0.5 Pa- s to 50 Pa- s at a shear rate of 0.01 s1.
23. (New) The method according to claim 15, wherein the target flow rate is greater than or equal to 50 mL/min and less than or equal to 300 mL/min.
1. A device comprising:
a flow path member including a flow path configured to direct flow of a pseudoplastic liquid through the flow path member, wherein the flow path includes a supply reservoir, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, and a plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to-one manner to a plurality of supply flow paths, an actuator configured to apply pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; a pump configured to cause the liquid to flow sequentially through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, and the plurality of pressure chambers; and a controller configured to adjust a flow rate of the liquid to a prescribed target flow rate; wherein the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply flow paths is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds when the flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the supply reservoir when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a pump configured to sequentially circulate the liquid through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, the plurality of pressure chambers, the plurality of collection flow paths, the plurality of collection manifolds, and the collection reservoir; the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, and the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the descenders is greater than or equal to 1.5 times an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of collection flow paths when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein S4 is larger than S3, where S3 is defined as a first cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel, and S4 is defined as a second cross-sectional area of an outflow surface of the descender just above the nozzle, the second cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein S3 is larger than Si, where Si is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle, and S3 is defined as a cross-sectional area of the inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel.
6. The device according to claim 3, wherein S3 is larger than S2, where S2 is defined as a cross-sectional area of a discharge surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle, and S3 is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid in a supply channel or a recovery channel.
7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; and a pump configured to sequentially circulate the liquid through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, the plurality of pressure chambers, the plurality of collection flow paths, the plurality of collection manifolds, and the collection reservoir; the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, the descenders each include: a first portion, and a second portion located nearer the pressure chamber body than the first portion, and the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the second portion is higher than an average viscosity of the liquid in the first portion when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein where R, is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply reservoir, R,, is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply manifolds, m is number of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, n is number of nozzles for each supply manifold, U is a flow rate of the liquid flowing into the supply reservoir.6 is a surface tension of the liquid, and r is a radius of the nozzles, a sum of (1/2) x Rr x U(1 + 1/m) and (1/2) x R. x (U/m) x (1 + 1/n) is smaller than 26/r, and Rr < 1/10 x Rm x (1/m)
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein where Rn is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the nozzles, R,, < 1/10 x Rn x (1/n).
10. A method using the device according to claim 1, comprising: circulating a pseudoplastic fluid whose viscosity at a shear rate of 1000 s-1 is from 0.02 Pa-s to 0.4 Pa-s and whose viscosity at a shear rate of 0.01 s-1 is from 0.5 Pa-s to 50 Pa-s through the flow path.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a vacuum pump.
12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the target flow rate is greater than or equal to 50 mL/min and less than or equal to 300 mL/min.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein S I is larger than S2, where SI is defined as a cross-sectional area of an inflow surface perpendicular to a flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle. and S2 is defined as a cross-sectional area of a discharge surface perpendicular to the flow direction of the liquid in the nozzle.
14. A device comprising: a flow path member including a flow path configured to direct flow of a pseudoplastic liquid through the flow path member, wherein the flow path includes a supply reservoir from which the liquid is supplied, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir and to which the liquid is supplied from the supply reservoir, a plurality of supply flow paths, two or more of which are provided for each of the plurality of supply manifolds, each supply flow path among the plurality of supply flow paths being connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of supply manifolds, and the liquid being supplied to the plurality of supply flow paths from the supply manifolds connected thereto, a plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of supply flow paths, supplied with the liquid from the plurality of supply flow paths, a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers and configured to collect the liquid from the plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of collection manifolds each connected to two or more of the plurality of collection flow paths and configured to collect the liquid from the plurality of collection flow paths, and a collection reservoir that is connected to the plurality of collection manifolds and is configured to collect the liquid from the plurality of collection manifolds; an actuator configured to apply pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers; a tank configured to store a portion of the liquid, the tank connected to the supply reservoir and separately connected to the collection reservoir; a pump configured to sequentially circulate the liquid through the supply reservoir, the plurality of supply manifolds, the plurality of supply flow paths, the plurality of pressure chambers, the plurality of collection flow paths, the plurality of collection manifolds, and the collection reservoir; and a controller configured to adjust a circulation flow rate of the liquid to a prescribed target flow rate; a moving unit configured to relatively move at least one of the flow path member or an object surface such that droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles move toward the object surface. wherein the flow path has a flow path shape in which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply flow paths is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds when the circulation flow rate is equal to the target flow rate.
15. A method comprising: circulating a pseudoplastic liquid through a flow path member, the flow path member including a supply reservoir, a plurality of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, a plurality of supply flow paths, two or more of which are connected to each of the plurality of supply manifolds, a plurality of pressure chambers connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of supply flow paths, a plurality of collection flow paths connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of collection manifolds each connected to two or more of the plurality of collection flow paths, and a collection reservoir that is connected to the plurality of collection manifolds applying pressure to the liquid in the plurality of pressure chambers to cause droplets to be ejected from a plurality of nozzles connected in a one-to-one manner to the plurality of pressure chambers: adjusting a circulation flow rate of the liquid to a target flow rate at which an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply flow paths is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: moving at least one of the flow path member or an object surface such that droplets ejected from the plurality of nozzles move toward the object surface.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of supply manifolds is less than or equal to half an average viscosity of the liquid in the supply reservoir at the target flow rate.
18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, and an average viscosity of the liquid in the descenders is greater than or equal to 1.5 times an average viscosity of the liquid in the plurality of collection flow paths at the target flow rate.
19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of pressure chambers each include: a pressure chamber body to which pressure is applied by the actuator, and a descender that connects the pressure chamber body to the corresponding nozzle, the plurality of collection flow paths are connected to the descenders, the descenders each include: a first portion, and a second portion located nearer the pressure chamber body than the first portion, and an average viscosity of the liquid in the second portion is higher than an average viscosity of the liquid in the first portion at the target flow rate.
20. The method according to claim 15, wherein where Rr is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply reservoir, Rm is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the supply manifolds, m is number of supply manifolds connected to the supply reservoir, n is number of nozzles for each supply manifold, U is a flow rate of the liquid flowing into the supply reservoir, 6 is a surface tension of the liquid, and r is a radius of the nozzles, and
21. The device according to claim 20, wherein where R, is a fluid resistance of the liquid in the nozzles, Rm < 1/10 x R, x (1/n).
22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pseudoplastic fluid has a viscosity from 0.02 Pa s to 0.4 Pa s at a shear rate of 1000 s-1 and a viscosity from 0.5 Pa s to 50 Pa s at a shear rate of 0.01 s-1.
23. The method according to claim 15, wherein the target flow rate is greater than or equal to 50 mL/min and less than or equal to 300 mL/min.
Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because patent no. 12187048 claims a similar method/apparatus. The instant claims are similar in scope to the claims of patent no. 12187048 and therefore would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Bradley W Thies whose telephone number is (571)270-5667. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9:30 am -6:00 pm.
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/BRADLEY W THIES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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