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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5 are 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "each of side edges of the sheet". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The claim 1 recitations of “one of the pair of side edge alignment plates” are unclear. Does Applicant actually intend to recite “one of the side edge alignment plates”? Exactly what structure/configuration is sought? Please review/revise/clarify.
The claim 1 recitation of “the one of side edge alignment plate” is unclear. Does Applicant actually intend to recite “the one side edge alignment plate”? Exactly what structure/configuration is sought? Please review/revise/clarify.
The claim 1 recitation of “the side edge of the sheet” is unclear, as it is unknown which of the previously recited “side edges of the sheet” is being invoked. Exactly what structure/configuration is sought? Please review/revise/clarify.
Claims 2-5 are rejected as depending (directly or indirectly) from rejected independent claim 1.
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 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0376121 to Komiyama et al. (“Komiyama”).
Regarding claim 1, Komiyama anticipates a sheet processing apparatus (e.g. sheet bunch processing apparatus B, as shown in figs. 1-2 and discussed at para. 36) comprising: i) a conveyance path (e.g. sheet carry-in path P1, as shown in figs. 2-3 and discussed at para. 45) on which a sheet (e.g. sheet discussed at para. 45) is conveyed from (para. 45) a path inlet (e.g. carry-in entrance 23, as shown in figs. 2-3 and discussed at para. 45) to (para. 45) a path outlet (e.g. sheet discharge outlet 24, as shown in figs. 2-3 and discussed at para. 45); ii) a shift unit (e.g. swing shift mechanism 32, as shown in figs. 3 and 7, and discussed at para. 49 and 52) configured to shift (para. 49 and 52) the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) on the conveyance path (P1) in a width direction (e.g. direction perpendicular to the carrying-out direction, as discussed at para. 51-52) of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45); iii) a tray (e.g. processing tray 29, as shown in figs. 1-5 and discussed at para. 45) configured to accept (figs. 1-3 and para. 45), from above (figs. 1-3), the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) conveyed on (figs. 1-3) the conveyance path (P1); iv) a binding unit (e.g. needleless binding apparatus 39, as shown in figs. 1-4 and 6A) configured to perform a binding process (e.g. press binding processing discussed at para. 60) on the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) placed on (fig. 3) the tray (29); v) a pair of side edge alignment plates (e.g. alignment members 40a and 40b, as shown in fig. 4 and discussed at para. 61) provided on (fig. 4 and para. 61) the tray (29) and configured to align (para. 14 and 61-62) each of side edges (para. 7) of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) in the width direction (para. 7) before (para. 7; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the binding process (aforementioned press binding processing) by the binding unit (39); and vi) a control unit (e.g. post-processing control section 52, as shown in fig. 9 and discussed at para. 70) configured to control (para. 80; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) at least one (e.g. 40a, as shown in fig. 4) of the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) such that the one (40a) of the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) is positioned at a position (fig. 4) where the one (40a) of side edge alignment plate (40a and 40b) can contact (fig. 4) a portion (e.g. upper surface of processing tray 29, as shown in fig. 4) excluding the side edge of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) shifted by (para. 49 and 52) the shift unit (32).
Regarding claim 2, Komiyama anticipates the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (52) controls (para. 80; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) such that the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) is positioned at a position (fig. 4) where the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) can contact (fig. 4) a portion (e.g. upper surface of processing tray 29, as shown in fig. 4) excluding both side edges of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) shifted by (para. 49 and 52) the shift unit (32).
Regarding claim 3, Komiyama anticipates the apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit (52) moves (para. 80; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) such that the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) is moved in synchronization (para. 87) with the shifting (para. 49 and 52) of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) by the shift unit (32), and controls (para. 80; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) so that the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) is positioned at a position (fig. 4) where the pair of side edge alignment plates (40a and 40b) can contact (fig. 4) a portion (e.g. upper surface of processing tray 29, as shown in fig. 4) excluding both side edges of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) shifted by (para. 49 and 52) the shift unit (32).
Regarding claim 4, Komiyama anticipates the apparatus according to claim 3, wherein i) the shift unit (32) includes (fig. 7) a shift roller (e.g. forward/backward rotation roller 31, as shown in fig. 7 and discussed at para. 51-52) capable of conveying the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) in a conveyance direction (para. 51-54; also note the name “forward/backward” rotation roller) of the conveyance path (P1) during (para. 52; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the shift (para. 49 and 52) of the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) by the shift unit (32), and ii) the control unit (52) controls (para. 79; note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) the shift roller (31) to convey the sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45) in the conveyance direction of the conveyance path (P1) during the shift operation (note that the instant claim is drawn to a sheet processing apparatus- not a method of operation thereof) by the shift unit (32).
Regarding claim 5, Komiyama anticipates an image forming system (e.g. image formation apparatus A and sheet bunch processing apparatus B, together, as shown in fig. 1 and discussed at para. 36) comprising: i) an image forming apparatus (A) configured to form an image (para. 38) on a sheet (aforementioned sheet discussed at para. 45); and ii) a sheet processing apparatus (B) defined in claim 1.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUSTIN V LEWIS whose telephone number is (571)270-5052. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30AM-5:00PM.
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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Daniel J. Troy can be reached at (571) 270-3742. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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.
/JUSTIN V LEWIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3637
Prosecution Insights