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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/16/2025 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim 7 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.
Regarding claim 7, examiner is unsure how the “control unit” would know or determine that “ink separation region” and the “other regions in the feedback pipe” are communicating or not. Is there a sensor? Is it by the “control unit” controlling the valves acknowledged in claim 2? However claim 7 is dependent to claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being obvious over Yamada (US 20090174735 A1) in view of Suzuki et al. (US 20250100291 A1).
The applied reference has a common applicant and joint inventor with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effectively filed date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2).
This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a) that the subject matter disclosed in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor of this application and is thus not prior art in accordance with 35 U.S.C.102(b)(2)(A); (2) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b) of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B); or (3) a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) establishing that, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, the subject matter disclosed and the claimed invention were either owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement. See generally MPEP § 717.02.
Yamada discloses the following limitations:
Regarding claim 1, an inkjet printing apparatus (Paragraph [0035] describes an “inkjet printer (image forming apparatus)”. ) that discharges ink onto a printing medium to perform printing (Paragraph [0035] describes how the inkjet printer includes a “recording medium ejection mechanism” which would allow the printer to eject ink onto a medium.), comprising:
an ink circulation path (“ink supply flow path 20”, figure 1) including a discharge head (“recording heads 25”, Figure 1) configured to discharge ink (Paragraph [0046] describes how the “recording head 25” ejects ink from the “plurality of nozzles 25d”.),
a supply tank (“upstream side tank 3”, Figure 1) in which ink supplied to the discharge head is stored (Paragraph [0036] describes how the “upstream side tank 3”, that stores ink, supplies the ink to the “recording head 25”.),
an internal collecting tank (“downstream side tank 2”, Figure 1) in which ink collected from the discharge head is stored (Paragraph [0037] describes how the “downstream side tank 2” collects the returned ink from the “recording head 25”.), and
a feedback pipe (“moving flow path 24”, Figure 1) connecting the internal collecting tank and the supply tank (Paragraph [0037] describes how the “downstream side tank 2” is connected to the “upstream side tank 3” by the “moving flow path 24”.);
an external collecting tank (Paragraph [0038] describes a “waste liquid tank”.) in which ink drained to outside of the circulation path is collected (Paragraph [0038] describes how “spilled out” ink is collected by the “waste liquid tank” of the “overflow path unit 11” through the “opening paths 19 and 22”.);
a circulation pump (“pump 4”, Figure 1) that is interposed in the feedback pipe (“moving flow path 24”, Figure 1) and is configured to deliver ink from the internal collecting tank (“downstream side tank 2”, Figure 1) to the supply tank (“upstream side tank 3”, Figure 1) via the feedback pipe (Paragraph [0036] describes how the “pump 4” moves the ink from the “downstream side tank 2” to the “upstream side tank 3”.);
a heater (“heat exchanger 5”, Figure 1) that is interposed between the circulation pump (“pump 4”, Figure 1) and the supply tank (“upstream side tank 3”, Figure 1) in the feedback pipe (“moving flow path 24”, Figure 1) and is configured to heat ink flowing from the internal collecting tank to the supply tank (Paragraph [0037] and [0041] describe how the “heat exchanger 5” applies heat to the ink when flowing through the “moving flowing path 24”.);
a control unit (“control unit 18”, Figure 1) configured to control the discharge head (Paragraph [0036] describes how the “control unit 18” controls and drives the “recording head 25”.) and
an ink separation region in which ink in the circulation path (“ink supply flow path 20”, Figure 1) is separated from ink in the other regions in the feedback pipe (“moving flow path 24”, Figure 1) when the ink circulation in the circulation path stops (Figure 1, as shown below in the first figure, displays how the ink in the region of the “moving flow path 24” is separated from the ink in the region of the “ink supply flow path 20”.),
the ink separation region being set in a partial region including the heater in the feedback pipe (Figure 1, as shown below in the first figure, displays how the region acknowledged as an ink separation region is set in a region that includes the “heat exchanger 5” in the “moving flow path 24”),
Yamada fails to disclose the following limitations:
Regarding claim 1, a control unit configured to control the discharge head, the circulation pump, and the heater, and detect presence or absence of ink circulation in the circulation path; wherein, the control unit selectively performs a normal resumption mode in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other immediately, and a post-drainage resumption mode in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other after at least a part of ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank, in accordance with a temperature of the ink in the ink separation region, before resuming the ink circulation in the circulation path.
Regarding claim 2, further comprising: an on-off valve that is interposed between the circulation pump and the heater in the feedback pipe and is configured to allow or interrupt ink flow from the internal collecting tank to the supply tank; and a switch valve that is interposed between the heater and the supply tank in the feedback pipe and is configured to perform switching between a state in which the heater and the supply tank communicate with each other and a state in which the heater and the supply tank are blocked from communicating with each other, and in the latter state, an inner space of the circulation path and the external collecting tank communicate with each other, wherein the on-off valve and the switch valve are provided in the ink separation region, the control unit is configured to further control the on-off valve and the switch valve, and under the control of the control unit, the on-off valve is closed, and the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve, so that the ink in the ink separation region is separated from the ink in the other regions in the feedback pipe.
Regarding claim 3. the inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the post-drainage resumption mode, under the control of the control unit, the on-off valve is opened, and the circulation pump is driven while the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve, so that at least the part of the ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank.
Regarding claim 7, the inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in performing the post-drainage resumption mode, the control unit stops driving the heater at least until the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe communicate with each other.
Suzuki teaches the following limitations:
Regarding claim 1, a control unit (“control unit 9”, Figure 3) configured to control the discharge head (“discharge head 35”, Figure 3), the circulation pump (“circulation pump 71”, Figure 3), and the heater (Paragraph [0063] and Figure 3 describes how the control unit is configured to control the discharge head, circulation pump, external pump, and heater.), and detect presence or absence of ink circulation in the circulation path (Paragraph [0097] describes how the “control unit 9” determines the total amount of ink present in the circulation path.); and wherein, the control unit selectively performs a normal resumption mode (Paragraph [0009] describes how the control unit performs a “replenishment mode”) in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other immediately (Paragraph [0076] describes how the rest of the “feedback pipe 65” is open during the “replenishment mode” to allow ink to flow.), and a post-drainage resumption mode (Paragraph [0009] describes how the “replenishment mode” is performed after the “backflow mode”.) in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe (“Feedback pipe 65”, Figure 2) are caused to communicate with each other after at least a part of ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank (Paragraph [0009] describes a “backflow mode” in which the ink in the circulation path is delivered to the external tank that is performed and then performs the “replenishment mode”. Paragraph [0076] further describes how the rest of the “feedback pipe 65” is open during the “replenishment mode” to allow ink towards the “supply tank 51”.), in accordance with a temperature of the ink in the ink separation region, before resuming the ink circulation in the circulation path (Paragraph [0009] describes how the “control unit” uses the results of the “temperature sensor” to perform the “backflow mode” and the “replenishment mode” after the “backflow mode”.).
Therefore, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply a control unit configured to control the discharge head, the circulation pump, and the heater, and detect presence or absence of ink circulation in the circulation path taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of allowing the printer to control these components.
It would also be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply wherein, the control unit selectively performs a normal resumption mode in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other immediately and a post-drainage resumption mode in which the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other after at least a part of ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank, in accordance with a temperature of the ink in the ink separation region, before resuming the ink circulation in the circulation path taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of selecting a mode to perform based on if the temperature of the ink is out of a predetermined range or not (Suzuki, paragraphs [0009]).
Regarding claim 2. The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
an on-off valve that is interposed between the circulation pump and the heater in the feedback pipe (“feedback-side on-off valve 75”, Figure 2) and is configured to allow or interrupt ink flow from the internal collecting tank to the supply tank (Paragraph [0049] describes how the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” determines if the “collecting tank 52” can communicate with the “supply tank 51” located on the other side of the “branch point 655”.); and
a switch valve that is interposed between the heater and the supply tank in the feedback pipe (“first switch valve 77”, Figure 2) and is configured to perform switching between a state in which the heater and the supply tank communicate with each other and a state in which the heater and the supply tank are blocked from communicating with each other (Paragraph [0052] describes how the “first switch valve 77” is a “three-way valve” determines if the “supply tank 51” can communicate with the “heater 76”.), and in the latter state, an inner space of the circulation path and the external collecting tank communicate with each other (Figure 2 displays how the “first switch valve 77” can switch the ink circulation path to the “ink disposal path 774” that connects to a waste),
wherein the on-off valve and the switch valve are provided in the ink separation region (Figure 2 displays the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” and “first switch valve 77” within the region, as shown below in the second figure.),
the control unit is configured to further control the on-off valve and the switch valve (Figure 3 displays how the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” and the “first switch valve 77” are under the control of the “control unit 9”), and
under the control of the control unit (“control unit 9”, Figure 3), the on-off valve is closed, and the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve, so that the ink in the ink separation region is separated from the ink in the other regions in the feedback pipe (Paragraph [0049] describes how the “control unit 9” controls the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” to be closed to prevent the ink from flowing from the “collecting tank 52” to the “supply tank 51”. This causes the ink flow to stop flowing into the rest of the “feedback pipe 65” as shown in Figure 2.).
Therefore, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply an on-off valve that is interposed between the circulation pump and the heater in the feedback pipe and is configured to allow or interrupt ink flow from the internal collecting tank to the supply tank taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of controlling the ink flow in the feedback pipe by the feedback-side on-off valve (Suzuki, paragraph [0049]).
Secondly, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply a switch valve that is interposed between the heater and the supply tank in the feedback pipe and is configured to perform switching between a state in which the heater and the supply tank communicate with each other and a state in which the heater and the supply tank are blocked from communicating with each other, and in the latter state, an inner space of the circulation path and the external collecting tank communicate with each other taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of controlling the ink flow between the supply tank, that is downstream of the first filter and deaeration unit, and the heater (Suzuki, paragraph [0051] and Figure 2).
Third, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply wherein the on-off valve and the switch valve are provided in the ink separation region, the control unit is configured to further control the on-off valve and the switch valve taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of controlling the ink flow and communication between components of the region.
Lastly, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply under the control of the control unit, the on-off valve is closed, and the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve, so that the ink in the ink separation region is separated from the ink in the other regions in the feedback pipe taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of controlling the ink flow in the feedback pipe by the feedback-side on-off valve (Suzuki, paragraph [0049]).
Regarding claim 3. the inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the post-drainage resumption mode, under the control of the control unit (Paragraph [0009] a “replenishment mode” that is performed after the “backflow mode” from the control of the “control unit 9”.), the on-off valve is opened (Paragraph [0076] describes how the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” is opened in the preferred embodiment.), and the circulation pump is driven (Paragraph [0076] describes how the “circulation pump 71” is driven) while the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve (Figure 2, as shown below, displays how the “first switch valve 77” leads the ink flow to both the “collecting tank 52” on the “feedback pipe 65” and the “external tank 53” on the “branch pipe 66”.), so that at least the part of the ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank (Paragraph [0085] describes how the “control unit” is capable of opening the “flow outlet 782” of the “switch valve 78” that allows ink to flow to the “external tank 53” in the “first control method”, that is described in paragraph [0092] is the same manner as the “replenishment mode”.).
Therefore, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply wherein, in the post-drainage resumption mode, under the control of the control unit, the on-off valve is opened, and the circulation pump is driven while the ink separation region and the external collecting tank communicate with each other at the switch valve, so that at least the part of the ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of allowing the control unit to determine if ink in the circulation path can communicate with the external tank (Suzuki, paragraph [0009]).
Regarding claim 7, as best understood, the inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in performing the post-drainage resumption mode, the control unit stops driving the heater at least until the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe communicate with each other (Paragraph [0084] how the “control unit 9” stops driving the “heater 76” under conditions when performing the “backflow mode”. Paragraph [0089] further describes how the “control unit 9” closes the “feedback-side on-off valve 75” and therefore closes off the rest of the “feedback pipe 65” from the ink separation region.).
Therefore, it would be obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the inkjet printing apparatus taught by Yamada to also apply wherein, in performing the post-drainage resumption mode, the control unit stops driving the heater at least until the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe communicate with each other taught by Suzuki. This would have been done for the purpose of controlling the temperature of the ink during the backflow mode (Suzuki, paragraph [0084]).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-6 and 8 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:
Regarding claim 4, the primary reason for allowance of claim 4 is the inclusion of “wherein the control unit determines whether the temperature of the ink in the ink separation region is lower than a predetermined threshold value, or is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value, performs the normal resumption mode when it is determined that the temperature of the ink in the ink separation region is lower than the predetermined threshold value, and performs the post-drainage resumption mode when it is determined that the temperature of the ink in the ink separation region is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value.”
Regarding claim 5, the primary reason for allowance of claim 5 is dependency on claim 4 and the inclusion of “wherein the control unit determines whether the temperature of the ink in the ink separation region is lower than, or equal to or higher than, the predetermined threshold value on the basis of a duty value of the heater for a first predetermined time period before it is detected that the ink circulation in the circulation path has stopped.”
Regarding claim 6, the primary reason for allowance of claim 6 is dependency on claim 4 and the inclusion of “further comprising a temperature sensor that is interposed between the heater and the switch valve in the feedback pipe and is configured to detect a temperature of ink in the feedback pipe, wherein the control unit determines whether the temperature of the ink in the ink separation region is lower than, or equal to or higher than, the predetermined threshold value on the basis of a result of detection provided from the temperature sensor.”
Regarding claim 8, the primary reason for allowance of claim 8 is the inclusion of “further comprising a first heater and a second heater that are interposed in the feedback pipe while being arranged adjacently to each other along the circulation path, as the heater, wherein the second heater is positioned on a downstream side of the first heater in the circulation path and has a duty value greater than a duty value of the first heater, before resuming the ink circulation in the circulation path, the control unit determines whether a temperature of ink in the first heater is lower than, or equal to or higher than, a first predetermined threshold value, and whether a temperature of ink in the second heater is lower than, or equal to or higher than, a second predetermined threshold value, when it is determined that the temperature of the ink in the first heater is lower than the first predetermined threshold value and the temperature of the ink in the second heater is equal to or higher than the second predetermined threshold value, the control unit performs the post-drainage resumption mode in which the inner space of the circulation path and the external collecting tank are caused to communicate with each other at the switch vale, the circulation pump is driven for a specific time period, the ink in the ink separation region is drained to the external collecting tank, and then, the ink separation region and the other regions in the feedback pipe are caused to communicate with each other at the switch valve, and the specific time period is obtained by division of a specific capacity calculated from an ink-passable capacity of the second heater, by a pumping amount of the circulation pump per unit time period.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATASHA DEPHENIA QUINN whose telephone number is (571)272-6375. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 6:30 - 4:00 CT.
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/N.D.Q./Examiner, Art Unit 2853
/RICARDO I MAGALLANES/Supervisor Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2853
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