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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDSs) submitted on 2/10/2025 and 11/21/2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
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 18-22 and 26-28 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 7, 10-11, and 13 of U.S. Patent No. 12,251,903. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims USP 12,251,903 use slightly different terminology and are of slightly different form than the claims of the present Application. Nonetheless, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention that the claims of the present Application are fully covered by the claims of USP 12,251,903 as shown below.
Claims 29-33 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 14, 15, 17 and 23 of U.S. Patent No. 12,251,903. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims USP 12,251,903 use slightly different terminology and are of slightly different form than the claims of the present Application. Nonetheless, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention that the claims of the present Application are fully covered by the claims of USP 12,251,903 as shown below.
Claims 37-41 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 24-25, 28 and 30 of U.S. Patent No. 12,251,903. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims USP 12,251,903 use slightly different terminology and are of slightly different form than the claims of the present Application. Nonetheless, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention that the claims of the present Application are fully covered by the claims of USP 12,251,903 as shown below.
Instant Application 19/049,774
USP 12,251,903
18. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; a driving unit configured to rotate the roll in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a lower guide configured to guide the sheet of the roll from below; a detection unit configured to detect a sheet end of the roll; a sensor unit configured to detect setting of the holding unit; and a control unit configured to cause the driving unit to start rotating the roll in the second direction based on the setting detected by the sensor unit and cause the driving unit to rotate the roll in the first direction after the sheet end of the roll rotating in the second direction is detected by the detection unit.
19. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: a contact unit including a roller for contacting the roll and being supported by the lower guide.
20. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: a contact unit configured to contact the roll at a contact position above the lower guide, wherein after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the roll is being rotated in the second direction by the driving unit, the control unit causes the driving unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction.
21. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising: a rotation amount sensor configured to acquire a rotation amount of the roll, wherein the driving unit rotates the roll in the second direction based on the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount sensor so that the sheet end reaches the lower guide in a case that the sheet end is detected by the detection unit.
1. A sheet feeding apparatus, comprising: a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; a driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the holding unit in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a lower guide configured to support guide the sheet of the roll from below; a first contact unit supported by the lower guide and configured to contact the roll; a second contact unit configured to contact the roll at a contact position above the lower guide; a detection unit configured to detect a sheet end of the roll; a sensor configured to detect setting of the holding unit; and a control unit configured to, after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the driving unit is rotating, in the second direction, the roll which the first contact unit contacts, cause the driving unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction for feeding the sheet based on the detection result of the sheet end.
26. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the driving unit rotates the roll in the second direction by an amount exceeding one rotation before rotating the roll in the first direction.
7. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit rotates the roll in the second direction by an amount exceeding one rotation before rotating the roll in the first direction.
27. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising: an upper guide configured to guide the sheet from above and support the contact unit, wherein the contact unit moves according to an outer diameter of the roll.
10. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second contact unit includes a roller configured to contact the roll and an upper guide configured to guide the sheet from above, and wherein the second contact unit moves according to an outer diameter of the roll.
28. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the sheet is conveyed to a print head which ejects ink to the sheet after the driving unit rotates the roll in the first direction.
11. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is conveyed to a print head which ejects ink to the sheet after the driving unit rotates the roll in the first direction.
22. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit and configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; and a second driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first direction.
13. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit and configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; and a second driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first direction.
29. A printing apparatus, comprising: a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; a driving unit configured to rotate the roll in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a printing unit configured to print on the sheet fed by the driving unit; a lower guide configured to guide the sheet of the roll from below; a detection unit configured to detect a sheet end of the roll; a sensor unit configured to detect setting of the holding unit; and a control unit configured to cause the driving unit to start rotating the roll in the second direction based on the setting detected by the sensor unit and cause the driving unit to rotate the roll in the first direction after the sheet end of the roll rotating in the second direction is detected by the detection unit.
30. The printing apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: a contact unit including a roller for contacting the roll and being supported by the lower guide.
31. The printing apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: a contact unit configured to contact the roll at a contact position above the lower guide,
wherein after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the roll is being rotated in the second direction by the driving unit, the control unit causes the driving unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction.
14. A printing apparatus, comprising: a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; a driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the holding unit in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a printing unit configured to print on the sheet fed by the driving unit; a lower guide configured to guide the sheet of the roll from below; a first contact unit supported by the lower guide and configured to contact the roll; a second contact unit configured to contact the roll at a contact position above the lower guide; a detection unit configured to detect a sheet end of the roll; a sensor configured to detect setting of the holding unit; and a control unit configured to, after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the driving unit is rotating, in the second direction, the roll with the first contact unit contacting, cause the driving unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction for feeding the sheet based on the detection result of the sheet end.
15. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the sheet is fed from an area on an upstream side of the first contact unit and on a downstream side of the second contact unit with respect to the second direction of the roll.
32. The printing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising: a rotation amount sensor configured to acquire a rotation amount of the roll, wherein the driving unit rotates the roll in the second direction based on the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount sensor so that the sheet end reaches the lower guide in a case that the sheet end is detected by the detection unit.
17. The printing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:
a rotation amount sensor configured to detect a rotation amount of the roll,
wherein the sheet end is caused to reach the area based on a rotation angle of the roll detected by the rotation amount sensor after the sheet end is detected by the detection unit.
33. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising: a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit and configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; and a second driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first direction.
23. The printing apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit and configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; and a second driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first direction
37. A sheet feeding method using a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a holding unit, a driving unit, a lower guide, a detection unit, a sensor unit, and a control unit, the sheet feeding method comprising: rotatably holding with the holding unit a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; rotating the roll with the driving unit in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction; guiding the sheet of the roll from below with the lower guide; detecting a sheet end of the roll with the detection unit; detecting setting of the holding unit with the sensor unit; and operating the control unit to cause the driving unit to start rotating the roll in the second direction based on the setting detected by the sensor unit and cause the driving unit to rotate the roll in the first direction after the sheet end of the roll rotating in the second direction is detected by the detection unit.
38. The sheet feeding method according to claim 37, further comprising: using a contact unit including a roller for contacting the roll and being supported by the lower guide.
39. The sheet feeding method according to claim 37, further comprising: contacting the roll at a contact position above the lower guide by a contact unit, wherein after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the roll is being rotated in the second direction by the driving unit, operating the control unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction by the driving unit.
24. A sheet feeding method for use with a sheet feeding apparatus that includes a holding unit configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form, a driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the holding unit in a first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a lower guide configured to support guide the sheet of the roll from below, a first contact unit supported by the lower guide and configured to contact the roll, a second contact unit configured to contact the roll at a contact position above the lower guide, a detection unit configured to detect a sheet end of the roll, and a sensor configured to detect setting of the holding unit, the method comprising:
after the detection unit has detected the sheet end which has passed through the contact position while the driving unit is rotating, in the second direction, the roll which the first contact unit contacts, causing the driving unit to start rotation of the roll in the first direction for feeding the sheet based on the detection result of the sheet end.
25. The sheet feeding method according to claim 24, wherein the sheet is fed from an area on an upstream side of the first contact unit and on a downstream side of the second contact unit with respect to the second direction of the roll.
40. The sheet feeding method according to claim 38, further comprising: acquiring a rotation amount of the roll with a rotation amount sensor, wherein the driving unit rotates the roll in the second direction based on the rotation amount acquired by the rotation amount sensor so that the sheet end reaches the lower guide in a case that the sheet end is detected by the detection unit.
28. The sheet feeding method according to claim 25, wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further includes a rotation amount sensor configured to detect a rotation amount of the roll, and
wherein the sheet end is caused to reach the area based on a rotation angle of the roll detected by the rotation amount sensor after the sheet end is detected by the detection unit.
41. The sheet feeding method according to claim 37, further comprising: rotatably holding a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form with a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit; and
rotating the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first direction with a second driving unit.
30. The sheet feeding method according to claim 25, wherein the sheet feeding apparatus further includes:
a second holding unit arranged below the holding unit and configured to rotatably hold a roll with a continuous sheet wound in a roll form; and
a second driving unit configured to rotate the roll held by the second holding unit in the first direction for feeding a sheet from the roll and in the second direction opposite to the first
Claims 23, 34 and 42 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,251,930 in view of US Pub. 2023/0145298 to Akari et al. “Akari.”
With regard to claims 23, 34 and 42, USP 12,251,930 teaches the claimed invention except for further comprising: a panel configured to receive input regarding a type and a width of the sheet. However, Akari teaches a panel configured to receive input regarding a type and a width of the sheet [0048]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify USP 12, 251,930 with the teachings of Akari to permit customization of printing on various print mediums.
Claims 25, 36 and 44 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,251,930 in view of US Pub. 2018/0250962 to Oguchi et al. “Oguchi.”
With regard to claims 25, 36 and 44, USP 12,251,930 teaches the claimed invention except for further comprising: a spring configured to press the lower guide, wherein the lower guide moves according to an outer diameter of the roll rotating in the second direction.
However, Oguchi teaches a spring configured to press the lower guide, wherein the lower guide moves according to an outer diameter of the roll rotating in the second direction [0043]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify USP 12, 251,930 with the teachings of Oguchi to maintain the pressing force of the guide member [0051].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 24, 35, and 43 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: The primary reason for the allowance of Claims 24, 35 and 43 is the inclusion of the limitations a notifying unit configured to give a notification for urging a user to manually set the sheet end of the roll after the detection unit cannot detect the sheet end of the roll that is rotated in the second direction. It is these features found in the claim(s) which have not been found, taught or suggested by the prior art of record, which makes these claims allowable over the prior art.
Communications with the PTO
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHARON A POLK whose telephone number is (571)270-7910. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 7-3.
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 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.
SHARON A. POLK
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2853
/Sharon Polk/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2853
