CTNF 19/082,892 CTNF 72641 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Priority 02-26 AIA Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/18/2025 was considered by the examiner. Drawings The drawings filed on 3/18/2025 are acceptable for examination by the examiner. Title 06-11 AIA 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-12-aia AIA (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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by TEJIMA et al. (US 2023/0305442 A1) . Regarding claim 1, TEJIMA et al. teaches an image forming apparatus (figure 2; [0032]) comprising: an image bearing member TK1 configured to bear a toner image; an intermediary transfer belt 60 onto which the toner image is primarily transferred from the image bearing member TK1; an inner roller 62 configured to form a secondary transfer portion 76, where the toner image is transferred from the intermediary transfer belt 60 onto a recording material, in contact with an inner surface of the intermediary transfer belt 60; a secondary transfer member 25 configured to form the secondary transfer portion 76 in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the intermediary transfer belt 60 and in cooperation with the inner roller 62; a first applying portion configured to apply, to the inner roller 82, a secondary transfer bias of the same polarity as a normal charge polarity of toner; a recording material charging member 120A provided upstream of the secondary transfer portion 76 with respect to a recording material conveying direction so as to contact a surface of the recording material on a side opposite from a surface of the recording material which is conveyed toward the secondary transfer portion 76 and onto which the toner image is transferred and configured to charge the recording material; and a second applying portion configured to apply, to the recording material charging member 121, a recording material charging bias of the same polarity as the polarity of the secondary transfer bias (figures 1-2; [0050-0053; 0067; 0099; 0153]). Regarding claim 2, an image forming apparatus (figure 2) further comprising: a secondary transfer belt stretched by a plurality of rollers including an secondary transfer roller 25 which is the secondary transfer member 25 and a recording material charging roller 121 which is the recording material charging member 121; and an opposite member 120 provided opposed to the recording material charging member 121 and configured to form a recording material charging portion in cooperation with the recording material charging member 121, wherein the secondary transfer roller 25 forms the secondary transfer portion in contact with the inner roller 62 through the secondary transfer belt 21 and the intermediary transfer belt 60, and the recording material charging roller 121 forms the recording material charging portion in contact with the opposite member 120 through the secondary transfer belt 60 [0153]. Regarding claim 3, the opposite member is an opposite roller contacting the recording material charging roller 121 through the secondary transfer belt 21. Regarding claim 4, the recording material charging member 121 is a recording material charging roller 121, and the opposite member 120 is an opposite roller contacting the recording material charging roller 121. Regarding claim 5, the secondary transfer member 25 forms the secondary transfer portion 76 in contact with the inner roller through the intermediary transfer belt 60. Regarding claim 6, an image forming apparatus (figure 2) further comprising a secondary transfer belt 21 stretched by a plurality of rollers including a secondary transfer roller 25 which is the secondary transfer member 25, wherein the secondary transfer roller 25 forms the secondary transfer portion 76 in contact with the inner roller 62 through the secondary transfer belt 21 and the intermediary transfer belt 21 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-20-02-aia AIA This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. 07-21-aia AIA Claim s 7-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over TEJIMA in view of TORIMARU (US 2012/0155902 A1) . TEJIMA teaches a charging member and a charging bias regarding claims 7-8 which recites an image forming apparatus (figure 2), wherein the recording material charging bias [is subjected to constant-current control] and an image forming apparatus (figure 2), wherein the secondary transfer bias [is subjected to constant-voltage control]. TEJIMA does not discuss constant voltage/current. TORIMARU teaches the use of a constant current and constant voltage source for use with an image forming apparatus regarding transfer and paper attraction during conveyance [0058, 0089]. TEJIMA and TORIMARU are concerned with image transferring within an image forming apparatus. The rationale for combining the teachings of TORIMARU with the teachings of TEJIMA relates to the rationale of using of known technique to improve similar devices (methods, or products) in the same way. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains to use the teaching of TORIMARU with the teaching of TEJIMA to ensure the desired voltage or current is provided. Prior Art 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. TANAKA et al. (EP 4 421 565 A1) teaches constant current/voltage control . 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. 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, 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. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /QUANA GRAINGER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852 QG Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 2 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 3 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 4 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 5 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 6 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 7 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 8 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/082,892 Page 9 Art Unit: 2852
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