DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Moteki et al. (US Pub No. 2008/0036137 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Moteki et al. discloses
a first roller (33a) to convey a medium;
a solenoid or a motor (MS, [0046]), to move the first roller between a first position (i.e. solid line in Fig. 3A) in contact with the medium and a second position (i.e. dashed line in Fig. 3A) spaced apart from the medium;
a second roller (31/32) located on a downstream side of the first roller in a medium conveying direction (B, Fig. 2) to convey the medium;
a medium sensor (S1 or S2) located in a central portion (i.e. a region encompassing S1, S2 and the area between them in the widthwise direction, symmetric about the centerline of the sheet path, since a “portion” can be interpreted as any chosen section or region that satisfies the claim) in a direction intersecting with the medium conveying direction (Fig. 2);
a processor (300) to
determine whether a skew of the conveyed medium has occurred ([0049], S12, Fig. 5), and
control the solenoid or the motor to move the first roller to the second position (S13), and return the first roller to the first position (S16) when the medium sensor detects passage of a front end of the conveyed medium (i.e. the first roller moves to the second position when the sensor detects passage of a front end of the sheet per [0059] and subsequently the first roller is returned to the first position. It is noted that the claim does not associate the front end detection with the return to the first position only, rather it may be interpreted that the front end detection triggers the sequence of moving the first roller to the second position then to the first position) when it is determined that the skew of the conveyed medium has occurred ([0060]), and
execute a correction of the skew of the conveyed medium, using the second roller (S14).
Regarding Claim 3 and 11, Moteki et al. discloses
the second roller is a plurality of feed rollers (31, 32) located apart from each other in the direction intersecting with the medium conveying direction (Fig. 2) to feed the medium by rotating independently ([0045]), respectively, and wherein
the processor corrects the skew of the medium by making circumferential speeds of the feed rollers vary from each other ([0049]).
Regarding Claims 5 and 13, Moteki et al. discloses
a third roller (44) located on a downstream side of the second roller in the medium conveying direction (Fig. 1), wherein
the medium sensor is located between the second roller and the third roller in the medium conveying direction (i.e. as in Fig. 2, S1 or S2 is located downstream of 31/32 and in 30, which is upstream of 44).
Regarding Claim 9, Moteki et al. discloses
conveying the medium, by a first roller (33a);
moving the first roller between a first position (i.e. solid line in Fig. 3A) in contact with the medium and a second position (i.e. dashed line in Fig. 3A) spaced apart from the medium, by a solenoid or a motor (MS, [0046]);
conveying the medium, by a second roller (31/32) located on a downstream side of the first roller in a medium conveying direction (B, Fig. 2);
detecting the skew of the conveyed medium ([0049], S12, Fig. 5);
controlling the solenoid or the motor to move the first roller to the second position (S13), and return the first roller to the first position (S16) when a medium sensor (S1 or S2) located in a central portion (i.e. a region encompassing S1, S2 and the area between them in the widthwise direction, symmetric about the centerline of the sheet path, since a “portion” can be interpreted as any chosen section or region that satisfies the claim) in a direction intersecting with the medium conveying direction detects passage of a front end of the conveyed medium (i.e. the first roller moves to the second position when the sensor detects passage of a front end of the sheet per [0059] and subsequently the first roller is returned to the first position. It is noted that the claim does not associate the front end detection with the return to the first position only, rather it may be interpreted that the front end detection triggers the sequence of moving the first roller to the second position then to the first position) when the skew of the conveyed medium is detected ([0060]); and
executing a correction of the skew of the conveyed medium, using the second roller (S14).
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.
Claim(s) 2 and 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Moteki et al. (US Pub No. 2008/0036137 A1) in view of Marshall et al. (US Patent No. 6,089,561).
Regarding Claims 2 and 10, Moteki et al. does not disclose a medium tray and pick roller.
Marshall et al. discloses a medium tray (18), wherein the first roller is a pick roller (32a) to convey the medium placed on the medium tray, for the purpose of deskewing and preventing double feed at a supply source.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to apply the invention of Moteki et al. to the device having a medium tray and pick roller, as disclosed by Marshall et al., for the purpose of deskewing and preventing double feed at a supply source. It is noted that Marshall et al. also discloses deskewing a medium by differential drive and a pivotable picker arm 42a.
Claim(s) 15, 17 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Moteki et al. (US Pub No. 2008/0036137 A1) in view of Hasegawa (US Pub No. 2018/0273319 A1).
Regarding Claim 15, Moteki et al. discloses
a medium conveying apparatus including a first roller (33a) to convey a medium, a solenoid or a motor (MS, [0046]) to move the first roller between a first position (i.e. solid line in Fig. 3A) in contact with the medium and a second position (i.e. dashed line in Fig. 3A) spaced apart from the medium, a second roller (31/32) located on a downstream side of the first roller in a medium conveying direction (B, Fig. 2) to convey the medium, and a medium sensor (S1 or S2) located in a central portion (i.e. a region encompassing S1, S2 and the area between them in the widthwise direction, symmetric about the centerline of the sheet path, since a “portion” can be interpreted as any chosen section or region that satisfies the claim) in a direction intersecting with the medium conveying direction (Fig. 2), to execute a process, the process comprising:
detecting the skew of the conveyed medium ([0049], S12, Fig. 5);
controlling the solenoid or the motor to move the first roller to the second position (S13), and return the first roller to the first position (S16) when the medium sensor detects passage of a front end of the conveyed medium (i.e. the first roller moves to the second position when the sensor detects passage of a front end of the sheet per [0059] and subsequently the first roller is returned to the first position. It is noted that the claim does not associate the front end detection with the return to the first position only, rather it may be interpreted that the front end detection triggers the sequence of moving the first roller to the second position then to the first position) when the skew of the conveyed medium is detected ([0060]); and
executing a correction of the skew of the conveyed medium, using the second roller (S14).
Moteki et al. does not explicitly disclose a non-transitory medium.
Hasegawa discloses a computer-readable, non-transitory medium (151) storing a computer program ([0061]), for the purpose of executing a control process.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date to modify the invention of Moteki et al. by including a non-transitory medium as disclosed by Hasegawa, for the purpose of executing a control process.
Regarding Claim 17, Moteki et al. discloses
the second roller is a plurality of feed rollers (31, 32) located apart from each other in the direction intersecting with the medium conveying direction (Fig. 2) to feed the medium by rotating independently ([0045]), respectively, and wherein
the processor corrects the skew of the medium by making circumferential speeds of the feed rollers vary from each other ([0049]).
Regarding Claims 19, Moteki et al. discloses
a third roller (44) located on a downstream side of the second roller in the medium conveying direction (Fig. 1), wherein
the medium sensor is located between the second roller and the third roller in the medium conveying direction (i.e. as in Fig. 2, S1 or S2 is located downstream of 31/32 and in 30, which is upstream of 44).
Claim(s) 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Moteki et al. (US Pub No. 2008/0036137 A1) in view of Hasegawa (US Pub No. 2018/0273319 A1) in view of Marshall et al. (US Patent No. 6,089,561).
Regarding Claim 16, Moteki et al. does not disclose a medium tray and pick roller.
Marshall et al. discloses a medium tray (18), wherein the first roller is a pick roller (32a) to convey the medium placed on the medium tray, for the purpose of deskewing and preventing double feed at a supply source.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to apply the invention of Moteki et al. and Hasegawa to the device having a medium tray and pick roller, as disclosed by Marshall et al., for the purpose of deskewing and preventing double feed at a supply source. It is noted that Marshall et al. also discloses deskewing a medium by differential drive and a pivotable picker arm 42a.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4, 6-8, 12, 14, 18 and 20 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art of record shows a plurality of second medium sensors as claimed (Claims 4, 6, 7, 12 and 18) or moving the first roller to the second position based on the third medium sensor as claimed (Claims 8, 14 and 20), in combination with the remaining elements.
Response to Arguments
In response to Applicant’s argument that “In Moteki, when the sheet trailing edge detection sensor 34 detects a trailing edge of the skew-corrected sheet, the driven roller 33a and the drive roller 33b contact with each other by driving the motor MS. In Moteki, it is not described that when the sheet trailing edge detection sensor 34 detects a front end of the skew-corrected sheet, the driven roller 33a and the drive roller 33b contact with each other by driving the motor MS.“, it is noted that in the present rejection, sensor S1 or S2 is construed as the medium sensor, wherein upon its detection of the front end of the medium, a sequence of processes is carried out including moving the first roller to the second position and returning it to the first position. Also see the Claims 1, 9 and 15 rejections above.
Applicant's arguments filed 2/18/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PRASAD GOKHALE whose telephone number is (571)270-3543. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am - 5:30pm.
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, Michael McCullough can be reached at (571) 272-7805. 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.
/PRASAD V GOKHALE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653 March 24, 2026