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.
Claims 28-33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nittani et al. (U.S. 2011/0311272).
Regarding claim 28, Nittani et al. teach a process cartridge 50 including a photosensitive drum 30, a first frame 31 supporting the photosensitive drum, a developing roller 42, a second frame 41 for supporting the developing roller; a force receiving protrusion 70 configured to receive a force from a force imparting member 60 to move the second frame between a first and second position; the second frame 41 being pivotable about an axis 55 between the first position (Fig.7) in which the developing roller contacts the photosensitive drum and the second position (Fig.1A) in which the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum. As seen in Fig.7, when the process cartridge is in the first position, the photosensitive drum 30 and protrusion 70 are positioned at the bottom side of the process cartridge and (i) the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum is lower than the rotational axis of the developing roller.
As best seen in Fig.s 4 and 5, a coupling 67b is exposed outside the process cartridge driving end side wall 36 so as to receive a drive force to rotate the developing roller (par.51). As best seen in Fig.s 1(B) and Fig.3, an urging spring 95 urges the second frame 41 toward the first position (par. 54) at an opposite non-driving end side wall 37 of the cartridge. Although the force receiving protrusion 70 and force imparting member 60 are shown as disposed on the non-driving end of the cartridge (same side as spring); par. 97 discloses that is can be located at the opposite driving end of the cartridge (same side as coupling).
Regarding claim 29, as seen in Fig.7, the pivot axis of the second frame 41, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are disposed in this order in the horizontal direction and an imaginary line extending along the right side or left side of the protrusion will extend between the pivot axis of the second frame and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum.
Regarding claim 30 as seen in Fig.7, the pivot axis of the second frame 41, the rotational axis of the developing roller, and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum are disposed in this order in the horizontal direction and an imaginary line extending along the left side of the protrusion through the top of the process cartridge will extend between the pivot axis of the second frame (other side of imaginary line) and the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum and rotational axis of the developing roller (one side of imaginary line).
Regarding claim 31 as seen in Fig.7, the protrusion 70 is guided by guide 46a on the second frame and thus is can be said to be fixed (at least horizontally) relative to the second frame.
Regarding claim 32, a spring 95 urges the second frame toward the first frame and is disposed above the pivot axis of the second frame.
Regarding claim 33, a main assembly coupling is disposed outside the process cartridge to transmit driving force to a developing roller coupling; the coupling is suggested to be coaxial of the pivot axis (rotational center) of the developing frame (see par. 96).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 34-37 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.
Regarding claim 34, the coupling being positioned outward of the protrusion is a direction of the pivot axis is not taught, suggested or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Regarding claims 35-36, the protrusion having a recess which receives a force to move the second frame from the first position to the second position, the recess being recessed away from the photosensitive drum is not taught, suggested or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Regarding claim 37, the surface of the protrusion extending in a direction that is perpendicular to a part of the surface of the first frame which is at the bottom side of the process cartridge and that extends away from the photosensitive drum and away from the protrusion is not taught, suggested or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Conclusion
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 28-37 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Applicant cancelled claim 1 and added claims 28-37 which necessitated a new grounds of rejection.
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 extension fee 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 ROBERT B BEATTY whose telephone number is (571) 272-2130. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F from 7 to 3.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Stephanie Bloss, can be reached on (571) 272-3555. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-2130.
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/ROBERT B BEATTY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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