CTNF 19/219,603 CTNF 72700 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. Specification 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. 06-31 AIA 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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 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. 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. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 1-2 and 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Kanazawa et al. (JP 2007-125819 A; cited in IDS filed 5/27/2025) Regarding claim 1, Kanazawa et al. discloses an image forming device 100 comprising: an image forming unit 10 configured to form an image on a sheet P (paragraphs [0032]-[0033] and Fig. 1); a fixing unit 30 or 60 configured to fix the image on the sheet P, the fixing unit 30 or 60 including: a heating rotation body 300 or 620; a heater 304 or 601 configured to heat the heating rotation body 300 or 620; and a pressure rotation body 310 or 610 configured to form a nip portion between the heating rotation body 300 or 620 and the pressure rotation body 310 or 610 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4); a discharge roller 530 disposed downstream of the fixing unit 60 in a conveying direction of the sheet P, and configured to discharge the sheet P (paragraph [0106] and Fig. 1); a main motor configured to transmit a drive force to at least one of the heating rotation body 300, 620 or the pressure rotation body 310, 610 (paragraph [0052]); a cutter 510, 520 disposed downstream of the fixing unit 60 in the conveying direction, and configured to cut the sheet P (paragraph [0057]; Figs. 1 and 10); and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: control the heater 304, 601 such that a temperature of the fixing unit 30, 60 becomes a first temperature for fixing the image on the sheet P (paragraphs [0045] and [0050]); control the main motor to rotate the heating rotation body 300, 620 or the pressure rotation body 310, 610 to convey the sheet P (paragraph [0052]); stop the discharge roller 530 in a case where a cutting 510, 520 position on the sheet P reaches a disposing position of the cutter 510, 520, and then control the cutter 510, 520 to cut the sheet P with the cutter 510, 520; and at a time point when cutting of the sheet P with the cutter 510, 520 starts: set a target value of the temperature of the fixing unit to a second temperature lower than the first temperature to control the heater; or control the main motor to drive the main motor to rotate the heating rotation body 300, 620 or the pressure rotation body 310, 610 (paragraphs [0048]-[0053], [0063]-[0066] and [0106]). Regarding claim 2, Kanazawa et al. further discloses: a discharge motor configured to transmit a drive force to the discharge roller 530, wherein the controller is configured to: control the discharge motor to rotate the discharge roller 530 to convey the sheet P having passed through the nip portion, and stop the discharge roller 530 in a case where the cutting position on the sheet P reaches the disposing position of the cutter 510, 520, and after stopping the discharge roller 530, start the cutting of the sheet P with the cutter 510, 520 in a state where the main motor is driven to rotate the heating rotation body 300, 620 or the pressure rotation body 310, 610 (paragraphs [0048]-[0053], [0063]-[0066] and [0106]). Regarding claim 4, Kanazawa et al. discloses wherein in a case where a predetermined time elapses from the start of driving of the discharge motor, the controller stops the discharge motor to stop the sheet P (paragraphs [0048]-[0053], [0063]-[0066] and [0106]) . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim s 3 and 5-20 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. Other Prior Art 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Shinoya et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. US 2025/0172900 A1) discloses an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit; a fixing unit including: a heat rotation body, a heater configured to heat the heating rotation body, and a pressure rotation body; a discharge roller; and a cutter disposed downstream of the fixing unit in a paper conveying direction. 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. 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. /SOPHIA S CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852 Ssc June 11, 2026 Application/Control Number: 19/219,603 Page 2 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/219,603 Page 3 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/219,603 Page 4 Art Unit: 2852 Application/Control Number: 19/219,603 Page 5 Art Unit: 2852
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