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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Claim Objections
Claims 6-9 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 6, line 3, “the last” should be “a last”.
Claim 8, line 3, “the last” should be “a last”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 6-9 are 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.
Claim 6 is considered to be indefinite because it discloses a second setting value without disclosing a first setting value. It is unclear what the first setting value is.
Claim 8 is considered to be indefinite because it discloses a second setting value without disclosing a first setting value. It is unclear what the first setting value is.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5 and 10 are allowed.
Claims 6-9 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Independent claim 1 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “the adjustment processing portion allows execution of the condition adjustment process to be restricted in a case where the line speed mode is identical before and after a change of the printing type and a restriction condition set in advance is satisfied” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Independent claim 10 is allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record does not teach or suggest: “the adjustment step allows execution of the condition adjustment process to be restricted in a case where the line speed mode is identical before and after a change of the printing type and a restriction condition set in advance is satisfied” as set forth in the claimed combination.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Isobe et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2009/0257778 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising: a print process portion configured to control an image forming portion including image forming units corresponding to a plurality of colors, and execute monochrome printing of forming a monochrome image on a sheet on basis of input image data or color printing of forming a color image on the sheet on the basis of the input image data; and an adjustment processing portion. Isobe et al. does not disclose: the adjustment processing portion allows execution of the condition adjustment process to be restricted in a case where the line speed mode is identical before and after a change of the printing type and a restriction condition set in advance is satisfied.
Watanabe (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2011/0182598 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising: a print process portion configured to control an image forming portion including image forming units corresponding to a plurality of colors, and execute monochrome printing of forming a monochrome image on a sheet on basis of input image data or color printing of forming a color image on the sheet on the basis of the input image data; a color-monochrome correction; and a monochrome correction.
Son et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2013/0089353 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising: a print process portion configured to control an image forming portion including image forming units corresponding to a plurality of colors, and execute monochrome printing of forming a monochrome image on a sheet on basis of input image data or color printing of forming a color image on the sheet on the basis of the input image data; an adjustment processing portion to print by switching printing speed to mono printing speed or at color printing speed based on the number of print sheets for mono printing > K (or color printing time > mono printing time). Son et al. does not disclose: the adjustment processing portion allows execution of the condition adjustment process to be restricted in a case where the line speed mode is identical before and after a change of the printing type and a restriction condition set in advance is satisfied.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SOPHIA S CHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2133. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am - 5 pm.
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, Stephanie Bloss can be reached at 571-272-3555. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SOPHIA S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
Ssc
March 2, 2026
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