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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description:
In figure 1, reference characters “190” and “107B” are not in the specification.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
In ¶ [0018], “a mixing element (see, e.g., element 414 in FIG. 3A)”, reference character 414 is not in figure 3A. It is understood by the examiner that “element 414” should be “element 314”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 21-23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34-39 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 2, 4, 5-7, 10, and 12-16 of U.S. Patent No. 12,220,926 in view of Yokota et al. (US 20100085396 A1). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 21-23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34-39 in the application merely define an obvious variation of an ink jet printing device disclosed and claimed in the patent. Further, a second valve is not mentioned in the claims of the patent, however Yokota et al. demonstrates (Fig. 7) an inkjet printing system wherein a second valve (156) is disposed after a second pump (156) that pumps print material from the drain reservoir (130) toward the supply reservoir (120). It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include a second valve for the purpose of controlling flow based on the valve being opened or closed depending on the state of the system (such as opened when in ejection state or at start-up or closed when replenishing ink; ¶ [0114], [0127], [0128]).
Claims 21, 23, 32, 38, and 39 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 16-19 of U.S. Patent No. 11,865,848. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 21, 23, 32, and 38 in the application merely define an obvious variation of an ink jet printing device disclosed and claimed in the patent. As mentioned, the inclusion of additional valves would be obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention over at least Yokota et al. for the purpose of using the valves to control the [direction of] flow in the overall system depending on the state of the system (¶ [0114], [0127], [0128]). Further, Yokota et al. teaches the use of sensors (190, 192) for each of the supply and drain reservoirs. While they may be pressure sensors for the gas in each reservoir, the pressure control system works with a volume calculation unit to determine ink consumption and to control overall volume and pressure in each reservoir (¶ [0147], [0148]). It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include a sensors for the purpose of controlling volume and/or pressure in the reservoirs based on print material consumption (¶ [0147], [0148]).
Claims 32, 38, and 39 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 11,338,588. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 32 and 38 in the application merely define an obvious variation of an ink jet printing device disclosed and claimed in the patent by inclusion of valves. As mentioned, the inclusion of additional valves and/or sensors would be obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention over at least Yokota et al. for the purpose of using the valves to control the [direction of] flow in the overall system depending on the state of the system (¶ [0114], [0127], [0128]) and using the sensors for controlling volume and/or pressure in the reservoirs based on print material consumption (¶ [0147], [0148]).
Claims 24, 26, 29, 31, 33, and 40 are objected to for their dependency on rejected claims.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 21-25, 27, and 28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yokota et al. (US 20100085396 A1), hereinafter referred to as Yokota.
Yokota discloses the following claimed subject matter:
Re-claim 21, an inkjet printing system (Fig. 6, 7), comprising:
a print assembly (50);
a local circulation circuit (Fig. 7 annotated below) having a supply reservoir (120) to supply print material to the print assembly, a drain reservoir (130) to receive print material from the print assembly, and a negative pressure gas flow unit to control pressure in the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir (72a, 190, 192; ¶ [0086]);
a bulk circulation circuit (Fig. 7 annotated below) having a first pump (142) to pump print material continuously around the bulk circulation circuit and to transfer print material to the local circulation circuit;
a first valve (146) to control flow of print material from the bulk circulation circuit to the local circulation circuit;
a second pump (152) to receive print material from the drain reservoir and to pump the print material through a second valve (165) to the supply reservoir; and
a controller (72, 72a) configured to control the negative pressure gas flow unit to maintain flow of print material through the print assembly from the supply reservoir to the drain reservoir.
PNG
media_image1.png
572
725
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Re-claim 22, further comprising a bi-directional line fluidly coupled between the bulk circulation circuit and the first valve (pump 142 of flow channel 140 may reverse direction of flow; ¶ [0105]).
Re-claim 23, further comprising a bypass line (180) connecting the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir.
Re-claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to control the second pump to maintain a volume of the print material in the supply reservoir (pump 152 can be controlled to be halted for during ink replenishing; ¶ [0127]).
Re-claim 25, further comprising a bypass line (180) connecting the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir, the bypass line having a bypass valve (182), wherein the controller is further configured to control the bypass valve to maintain a volume of the print material in the drain reservoir (¶ [0112], [0127], [0130]; controller 72 controls flow of ink in the system; ¶ [0086]).
Re-claim 27, further comprising a phase purification module (144) disposed in the flow path (150, 150b to 140) between the second pump and the supply reservoir.
Re-claim 28, wherein the phase purification module is disposed in the flow path (150b to 140) between the second valve and the supply reservoir.
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) 26 and 29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yokota as applied to claims 21 and 25 above, and further in view of Katada et al. (US 20090102879 A1), hereinafter referred to as Katada.
Re-claim 26, Yokota teaches the inkjet printing system of claim 25, however Yokota does not teach the inkjet printing system as further comprising a third valve to control flow of the print material from the drain reservoir to the second pump.
Katada teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 13) comprising a third valve (V7) to control flow of the print material from the drain reservoir to the second pump (“a second bypass flow channel 182 which connects the ports for ink-input/output on both sides of the second sub pump P2 with each other”; ¶ [0156]; valve V7 is provided for bypass flow channel 182; ¶ [0157]; pump P2 is reversible; ¶ [0110]- [0112])).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Yokota with the teaching of Katada for the purpose of at least allowing the flow channel to remain open even when the power supply is turned off and providing a flow channel connection between the inlet and outlet of the pump as taught by Katada (¶ [0156], [0157]).
Re-claim 29, Yokota teaches the inkjet printing system of claim 21, however Yokota does not teach the inkjet printing system as further comprising a recycle line to route print material from the second valve back to the second pump.
Katada teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 13) comprising a recycle line (160B) to route print material from the second valve back to the second pump (ink flowing from check valve 162 can flow back to second sub pump P2 via flow channel 160B; ¶ [0109]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Yokota with the teaching of Katada for the purpose of allowing print material uni-directionally flow toward the drain reservoir via the second pump after filtering as taught by Katada (¶ [0109]).
Claim(s) 30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yokota as applied to claim 21 above, and further in view of Kinase et al. (US 20080239027 A1), hereinafter referred to as Kinase.
Re-claim 30, Yokota teaches the inkjet printing system of claim 21, wherein the bulk circulation circuit comprises a print material reservoir (102), however Yokota does not teach the print material reservoir as having a mixing element.
Claim(s) 31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yokota as modified by Kinase as applied to claim 30 above, and further in view of Katada.
Re-claim 31, Yokota as modified by Kinase teaches the inkjet printing system of claim 30, however neither teach the system as further comprising a check valve disposed in the flow path between the second pump and the second valve.
Katada teaches inkjet printing system (Fig. 13) wherein the second valve is a check valve (162). To use both a second valve separate from a check valve rather than a check valve alone is considered obvious (MPEP 2144.04 V C). As understood, the purpose of a check valve between the second pump and the second valve is to function as a valve that will permit uni-directional flow, and therefore having a check valve as the second valve has and equivalent function as having a check valve before a second valve.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Yokota as modified by Kinase with the teaching of Katada for the purpose of controlling the direction of flow to be away from the drain reservoir as taught by Katada (¶ [0109]).
Claim(s) 32-40 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Katada in view of Shimizu (US 20190299626 A1).
Re-claim 32, Katada teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 13), comprising:
a print assembly (63);
a local circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated below) having a supply reservoir (120) to supply print material to the print assembly, a drain reservoir (130) to receive print material from the print assembly, and a negative pressure gas flow unit to control pressure in the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir (72a, S1, S2; ¶ [0088]);
a bulk circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated below) having a first pump (102) to pump print material continuously around the bulk circulation circuit (pump P0 adjusts ink amount in buffer tank 110; ¶ [0158]; from Fig. 13, valve V0 is a two-way valve);
a middle circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated below) fluidly coupled with the bulk circulation circuit and the local circulation circuit, the middle circulation circuit having a recycle valve (164);
a first valve (V3) to control flow of print material from the bulk circulation circuit to the local circulation circuit;
a second pump (P2) to receive print material from the drain reservoir and to pump the print material through a second valve (162) to the supply reservoir; and
a controller (72) configured to control the negative pressure gas flow unit (72a) to maintain flow of print material through the print assembly from the supply reservoir to the drain reservoir and to control the recycle valve to flow print material from the middle circulation circuit to the local circulation circuit or to circulate the print material around the middle circulation circuit (valves can be controlled to be opened and/or closed).
PNG
media_image2.png
655
551
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Katada does not teach wherein the first pump is used to transfer print material to the local circulation circuit.
Shimizu teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 2) wherein a bulk circulation unit places the first pump such that it both circulates print material in the bulk circulation circuit and sends print material downstream (¶ [0039]) and ultimately through a local circulation circuit.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Katada with the teaching of Shimuzu for the purpose of providing the pump that will suck up print material from the bulk circulation circuit and send it through a phase purification module before going toward other circuits as taught by Shimuzu (¶ [0039]; Fig. 2).
Katada further teaches
Re-claim 33, wherein the controller is further configured to control the second pump to maintain a volume of the print material in the supply reservoir (pump P2 can be controlled to send ink toward the supply reservoir after passing through filter 142; ¶ [0112]).
Re-claim 34, further comprising a bypass line (172) connecting the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir, the bypass line having a bypass valve (V4), wherein the controller is further configured to control the bypass valve to maintain a volume of the print material in the drain reservoir (¶ [0145]; controller 72 controls flow of ink in the system; ¶ [0088]).
Re-claim 35, wherein the bypass is a first bypass, and further comprising a second bypass (174) fluidly connecting the bulk circulation circuit with the local circulation circuit.
Re-claim 37, further comprising a level sensor (S1, S2) coupled to each of the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir, wherein the controller (72, 72a) is operatively coupled to the level sensors and further configured to adjust a pressure difference between the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir based on signals from the level sensors (¶ [0100], [0116]; Fig. 6).
Re-claim 38, wherein the controller is further configured to control the negative pressure gas flow unit to maintain a higher pressure at an outlet of the supply reservoir than at an inlet of the drain reservoir (pressure is set higher for the supply side than the recovery side; ¶ [0116])
Re-claim 36, Katada as modified by Shimizu teaches the inkjet printing system of claim 32, and Katada further teaches wherein the bulk circulation circuit comprises a print material reservoir (110) and the middle circulation circuit comprises a phase purification module (170), however Katada does not teach the print material reservoir as having a mixing element.
Shimizu further teaches (Fig. 2) wherein the bulk circulation circuit comprises a print material reservoir (30) having a mixing element (46).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to further modify the teaching of Katada with the teaching of Shimuzu for the purpose of resolving sedimentation to have the print material in a uniform state in preparation for printing as taught by Shimuzu (¶ [0059]).
Re-claim 39, Katada teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 13), comprising:
a print assembly (63);
a local circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated above for claim 32) having a supply reservoir (120) to supply print material to the print assembly, a drain reservoir (130) to receive print material from the print assembly, one or more level sensors (S1, S2) coupled to the supply reservoir, the drain reservoir, or both, and a negative pressure gas flow unit to control pressure in the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir (72a, S1, S2; ¶ [0088]);
a bulk circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated above for claim 32) having a first pump (102) to pump print material continuously around the bulk circulation circuit (pump P0 adjusts ink amount in buffer tank 110; ¶ [0158]; from Fig. 13, valve V0 is a two-way valve);
a middle circulation circuit (Fig. 13 annotated above for claim 32) fluidly coupled with the bulk circulation circuit and the local circulation circuit, the middle circulation circuit having a recycle valve (164);
a first valve (V3) to control flow of print material from the bulk circulation circuit to the local circulation circuit;
a second pump (P2) to receive print material from the drain reservoir and to pump the print material through a second valve (162) to the supply reservoir; and
a controller (72) configured to control the negative pressure gas flow unit (72a) to maintain flow of print material through the print assembly from the supply reservoir to the drain reservoir and to control the recycle valve to flow print material from the middle circulation circuit to the local circulation circuit or to circulate the print material around the middle circulation circuit (valves can be controlled to be opened and/or closed).
Katada does not teach wherein the first pump is used to transfer print material to the local circulation circuit.
Shimizu teaches an inkjet printing system (Fig. 2) wherein a bulk circulation unit places the first pump such that it both circulates print material in the bulk circulation circuit and sends print material downstream (¶ [0039]) and ultimately through a local circulation circuit.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Katada with the teaching of Shimuzu for the purpose of providing the pump that will suck up print material from the bulk circulation circuit and send it through a phase purification module before going toward other circuits as taught by Shimuzu (¶ [0039]; Fig. 2).
Katada further teaches
Re-claim 40, further comprising a bypass line (172) connecting the supply reservoir and the drain reservoir, the bypass line having a bypass valve (V4), wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the one or more level sensors (¶ [0100]; Fig. 6) and is further configured to control the bypass valve to maintain a volume of the print material in the drain reservoir ((¶ [0145]; controller 72 controls flow of ink in the system; ¶ [0088]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Preckel (US 20110285768 A1, from IDS) demonstrates (Fig. 7) an inkjet printing system (5a) with a print assembly (3) and at least a bulk circulation circuit (8) and a local circulation circuit (10a).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KYRA M VAN KREUNINGEN whose telephone number is (571)272-9423. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thur 9:00am-6:00pm and Fri 9:00am-1:00pm.
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, DOUGLAS X RODRIGUEZ can be reached at (571) 431-0716. 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.
02 July 2026
/KYRA MELOR VAN KREUNINGEN/ Examiner, Art Unit 2853
/SHELBY L FIDLER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
Prosecution Insights