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
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 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.
Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yamamoto US 2009/0200735 A1 (hereinafter “Yamamoto”).
Regarding claim 1, Yamamoto discloses a medium conveyance device comprising:
a conveyance unit (6, 7, 8, 9) that includes a conveying belt (8) that is configured to convey a target recording medium at an opposing position facing a recording unit that is configured to perform recording; and
a collection unit (12, 14) that is disposed vertically below the conveying belt at the opposing position and is configured to collect foreign matter that has fallen off the conveying belt,
wherein the conveying belt is configured to be movable between the opposing position (position in FIGS. 2, 4A, and 5A) and a retracted position (position in FIGS. 4B or 6A) that is a position different from the opposing position, and
the collection unit moves in association with a movement of the conveying belt.
Regarding claim 2, further comprising a link mechanism (11) that is configured to couple the conveyance unit and the collection unit,
wherein the collection unit changes its posture due to the link mechanism when moving in association with the movement of the conveying belt.
Regarding claim 3, wherein the posture of the conveying belt at the opposing position is different from the posture of the conveying belt at the retracted position.
Regarding claim 4, further comprising a link mechanism (11) that is configured to couple the conveyance unit and the collection unit,
wherein the collection unit changes its posture due to the link mechanism when moving in association with the movement of the conveying belt.
Regarding claim 5, further comprising a cleaning unit (15) that is configured to come into contact with the conveying belt located at the opposing position to clean the conveying belt, wherein the collection unit is disposed vertically below the cleaning unit.
Regarding claim 6, wherein the cleaning unit moves in association with the movement of the conveying belt.
Regarding claim 7, wherein the collection unit is configured to be removable (capable of being detached).
Regarding claim 8, wherein the collection unit includes a storage chamber (12) that is configured to store the foreign matter, and includes a regulating wall (14) that regulates falling-off of the foreign matter in the storage chamber when the conveying belt is located at the retracted position.
Regarding claim 9, a recording device comprising: a recording unit (2, shown in FIG. 2) that is configured to perform recording on a target recording medium, and the medium conveyance device according to claim 1.
Regarding claim 10, a recording device comprising: a recording unit (2, shown in FIG. 2) that is configured to perform recording on a target recording medium, and the medium conveyance device according to claim 8.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Okamoto US 2006/0210306 A1 is another 102(a)(1) reference for claims 1-10 (refer to FIGS. 3-4, showing conveying belt-61, collection unit-67, link-64, a cleaning unit-65, and a recording unit-5).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUIS A GONZALEZ whose telephone number is (571)270-3094. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael McCullough can be reached at 571-272-7805. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LUIS A GONZALEZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653