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 § 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) 1-2, 5, and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by IMANAKA (CN 116018562A).
IMANAKA teaches regarding claim 1, a developing device comprising (figure 2): a developer container 3a that stores developer containing toner to be supplied to an image carrying member 1a ; a conveying member that is rotatably supported on the developer container, the conveying member conveying the developer while stirring the developer; a developer carrying member 31 that is rotatably supported on the developer container 3a so as to face the image carrying member 1a, the developer carrying member 31 supplying the toner in the developer container 3a to the image carrying member 1a and a toner concentration sensor 51 that is disposed in a wall portion of the developer container along a longitudinal direction thereof, opposite the conveying member, the toner concentration sensor 51 sensing a concentration of the toner in the developer, wherein the conveying member (figure 12-13) has: a rotation shaft 52 that extends along a longitudinal direction of the developer container (figure 2); a conveying blade 52 that is helically formed on an outer circumferential part of the rotation shaft 25a; a cut portion (25b, figures 8-9) that is formed in a region opposite the toner concentration sensor 51 and in which the conveying blade 25 is partly cut off along the longitudinal direction; and a dispersing portion having a dispersing surface formed on an outer circumferential part of the rotation shaft 25a, so as to face the cut portion 25b, and extending along a radial direction of the rotation shaft 25a, the dispersing surface (61-63) having an area larger than a sectional area of the conveying blade; a scraper 52 that is fixed to the rotation shaft in the cut portion, the scraper 52 moving the developer opposite the toner concentration sensor; and a holding portion 61-62 that is formed on the rotation shaft 25a in the cut portion, the holding portion holding the scraper 52, the holding portion 61-62 serves as the dispersing portion, extends along the radial direction of the rotation shaft 25a on each end part of the rotation shaft in a circumferential direction thereof, and has the dispersing surface 52 disposed at an edge facing the cut portion, and the dispersing surface 52 is formed parallel to an axial direction of the rotation shaft 25a (abstract; figures 1-2, 8-11; text associated with these figures).
Regarding claim 2, the area of the dispersing surface is 1.4 to 9 times the sectional area of the conveying blade (dispersing surface is 61-63; shown in figures 8-11).
Regarding claim 5, the dispersing surface 61-63 is formed at one or two places on the rotation shaft 25a with respect to an axial direction thereof (shown in figures 8-11).
Regarding claim 7, an image forming apparatus comprising the developing device (figure 1).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-2, 5, and 7 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.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to QUANA GRAINGER whose telephone number is (571)272-2135. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday, 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Walter Lindsay can be reached on 571-272-1674. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/QUANA GRAINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
QG
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