CTNF 18/974,231 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 18/974,231 filed on December 09 th , 2024 in which claims 1-15 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 12/09/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings. Claim Objections 07-29-01 AIA 6. Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: On line 1 of the claim, it appears Applicant intended “wherein the grip is movable in along a length of the shaft” to read “wherein the grip is movable [[in]] along a length of the shaft” . Appropriate correction is required. 07-29-01 AIA 7. Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities: On lines 1-2 of the claim, it appears Applicant intended “wherein the press portion includes a sub-press portion restricts the position of the sheet in the width direction” to read “wherein the press portion includes a sub-press portion that restricts the position of the sheet in the width direction” . Appropriate correction is required. 07-29-01 AIA 8. Claim 15 is objected to because of the following informalities: On line 1 of the claim, it appears Applicant intended “wherein the grip is configured to move in along a length of the shaft” to read “wherein the grip is configured to move [[in]] along a length of the shaft” . Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 9. 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 10. 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 11. Claim s 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagano et al. (JP 2023-038044), in view of Yang et al. (CN 2609759) . 12. Regarding independent claim 1: Nagano et al. disclosed a rolled paper holder for holding and positioning a roll of paper including a rolled sheet of paper in a width direction, the rolled paper holder comprising: a container section configured to contain the roll of paper in a space surrounded by a peripheral surface portion ([0018], lines 1-2; also see Fig. 2, reference 31) and a pair of side walls (Fig. 2, the left and right side walls of the storage space 31); a shaft extending between the pair of side walls (see annotated Fig. 3 below for the shaft); a press portion moveable in a direction to be against an end part of the roll of paper ([0019], lines 1-4 and [0020], line 1; also see Fig. 3, the main body portion 51 of each of the support portions 41, 42 that press against an end part of the roll of paper P); a grip configured to grip the shaft pivotably along an outer circumferential surface of the shaft, the grip being moveable together with the press portion (see annotated Fig. 3 below for the grip). Nagano et al. are silent about one or more positioning projections positioned on an outer portion of the press portion, the positioning projections being configured to (a) fit into one or more openings formed in the peripheral surface portion and (b) position the press portion in a width direction corresponding to a width of the sheet of the roll of paper. Yang et al. disclosed a container section (Fig. 1, reference 1), configured to contain a roll of paper (Fig. 2, reference 10), a press portion configured to be against an end part of the roll of paper (Fig. 1, reference 2), and one or more positioning projections positioned on an outer portion of the press portion (see annotated Fig. 1 below for the one or more positioning projections), the positioning projections being configured to (a) fit into one or more openings formed in the peripheral surface portion (Fig. 1, references 6) and (b) position the press portion in a width direction corresponding to a width of the sheet of the roll of paper (Page 2, “specific execution examples”, lines 1-6). 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 Yang et al. with those of Nagano et al. by providing position projections on the press portions that fit into openings of the peripheral surface portion in order to stabilize the roll of paper and prevent the roll of paper from floating as disclosed by Yang et al. (Page 2, “specific execution examples”, lines 1-6). [AltContent: textbox (Grip)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Shaft)][AltContent: arrow] PNG media_image1.png 362 468 media_image1.png Greyscale [AltContent: textbox (Positioning projections)][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow] PNG media_image2.png 308 350 media_image2.png Greyscale 13. Regarding claim 2: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the grip is movable in along a length of the shaft (Nagano et al. [0019], lines 2-5; also see Fig. 3, support portions 41 and 42 are movable together with the grip in the directions A and B). 14. Regarding claim 3: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the grip includes a tubular portion that surrounds the shaft (Nagano et al., see Fig. 3, the portion of the grip holding the shaft is tubular), the tubular portion including an opening that interrupts continuity in a circumferential direction of the tubular portion (Nagano et al., see Fig. 3, the tubular portion includes an opening that interrupts continuity in a circumferential direction of the tubular portion as evidenced by the tubular portion sliding over a flat portion of the shaft). 15. Regarding claims 4: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 3, wherein the grip has an elasticity that allows the width of the opening to change when a twisting force is applied to the grip (Nagano et al. Fig. 3 shows that the press portions 41 and 42 are made of plastic, as commonly known in the art, and the grip portion is a push-on pull-off type piece as further evidenced by lines 1-3 of paragraph [0071]). 16. Regarding claim 5: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 4, wherein the width of the opening is configured to change to allow the shaft to pass through the opening, thereby detaching the shaft from the grip (Nagano et al. Fig. 3 shows that a width of the opening is configured to change to allow the shaft to pass through the opening, thereby detaching the shaft from the grip as further evidenced by lines 1-3 of paragraph [0071]). 17. Regarding claim 6: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings formed in the peripheral surface portion are concavo-convex in shape (Yang et al. Fig. 1, references 6). 18. Regarding claim 7: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings formed in the peripheral surface portion are holes extending through the peripheral surface portion (Yang et al. Fig. 1, references 6 are holes extending through the peripheral surface portion). 19. Regarding claim 8: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the press portion includes a sub-press portion located between a printing position of the sheet and the container section, the press portion configured to press an end part of the sheet pulled out from the roll of paper (Nagano et al. [0017], lines 3-6; also see Fig. 2, the nip formed by auxiliary roller 22 and feeding roller 61 constitutes a sub-press portion between a printing position (corresponding to the platen roller 62) and the container section 31). 20. Regarding claim 9: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 8. The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the claimed invention except the shaft being positioned on a side opposite to an end of the roll of paper from which the sheet is pulled. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to position the shaft on a side opposite to an end of the roll of paper from which the sheet is pulled, since it has been held that a mere rearrangement of element without modification of the operation of the device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse , 181 F.2d 1019, 86 USPQ 70 (CCPA 1950). One would have been motivated to rearrange the position of the shaft supporting the press portion to a side opposite to an end of the roll of paper from which the sheet is pulled, in order to facilitate access to the printing and feeding portions during maintenance. 21. Regarding claim 10: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the rolled paper holder of claim 1, wherein the positioning projections are attached to and detached from the openings formed in the peripheral surface portion by pivoting the press portion around the shaft (Yang et al. Fig. 1, the positioning projections of the press portion 2 are attached to and detached from the openings 6 formed in the peripheral surface portion by pivoting the press portion around a shaft (not shown)). 22. Regarding claim 11: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed a printer (Nagano et al. [0013], line 1; also see Fig. 2, reference 10) comprising: the rolled paper holder according to claim 1 (Nagano et al. Fig. 2, reference 31; also see the rejection of claim 1): a printing head configured to print on the sheet pulled from the roll of paper positioned within the rolled paper holder (Nagano et al. [0045], line 1; also see Fig .2, reference 101); and a platen roller configured to convey the sheet positioned between the printing head and the platen roller (Nagano et al. [0027], lines 8-10). 23. Regarding claim 12: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the printer of claim 11, wherein the press portion includes a sub-press portion that restricts the position of the sheet in the width direction anterior to the printing head and the platen roller (Nagano et al. [0017], lines 3-6; also see Fig. 2, the nip formed by auxiliary roller 22 and feeding roller 61 constitutes a sub-press portion that restricts the position of the sheet in the width direction anterior to the printing head 101 and the platen roller 62). 24. Regarding claim 13: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the printer of claim 11. The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the claimed invention except the shaft being positioned on an opposite side of the roll of paper relative to the printing head and the platen roller. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to position the shaft on an opposite side of the roll of paper relative to the printing head and the platen roller, since it has been held that a mere rearrangement of element without modification of the operation of the device involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse , 181 F.2d 1019, 86 USPQ 70 (CCPA 1950). One would have been motivated to rearrange the position of the shaft supporting the press portion to an opposite side of the roll of paper relative to the printing head and the platen roller, in order to facilitate access to the printing and feeding portions during maintenance. 25. Regarding claim 14: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the printer of claim 11, wherein the positioning projections of the rolled paper holder are configured to be attached to the openings formed in the peripheral surface portion according to the width of the roll of paper (Yang et al. Page 2, “specific execution examples”, lines 1-6). 26. Regarding claim 15: The combination of Nagano et al. and Yang et al. disclosed the printer of claim 14, wherein the grip is configured to move in along a length of the shaft of the rolled paper holder such that a position of the grip corresponds with the position of the positioning projections and the width of the roll of paper (Nagano et al. [0019], lines 2-7 and Yang et al. Page 2, “specific execution examples”, lines 1-6; also see the rejection of claim 1). Conclusion 27. 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. 28. 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. 29. 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. 30. 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: 18/974,231 Page 2 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 3 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 4 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 5 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 6 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 7 Art Unit: 2853 Application/Control Number: 18/974,231 Page 8 Art Unit: 2853
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