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 .
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.
1. Claims 1-7 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.
In claim 1, lines 7-9, the applicant describes the exposure portion being movable between an exposure position where the photoconductor is exposed and a retracted position “where the photoconductor is retracted from the exposure position” which is unclear. The photoconductor does not move and cannot be retracted according to applicant’s specification. It is believed applicant meant to describes the retracted position is where the photoconductor is not exposed when the exposure portion is retracted.
In claim 1, lines 16-21, the applicant describes a “charging support portion that supports the charging portion” and a space formed between the duct and the “charging support portion” is sealed by a sealing member which is unclear. Referring to
Fig.22, the space between an elevating duct 69 and the developing support member 301 (301a) is sealed by a seal 72 and a space between the elevating duct 69 and the drum support member 302 (302a) is sealed by a seal 71 (see par.196). There is no structure associated with just the charging roller 3 that would be considered a “charge support portion” between it and the duct. The drum support member would support the charging roller but the space is formed between the drum support member and the duct and it would be inconsistent and indefinite with the specification to construe the drum support member with a “charging support portion”.
In claim 2-4, the applicant claims first, second, third and fourth openings on either side of the photoconductor in the rotational axis direction (believed to be openings 201,202,41A,42A respectively as best seen in Fig.s 34-35) however, the claimed sealing member in claim 1 cannot be the same sealing member for the third and fourth openings as claimed.
In claims 5-6, “the exposure cooling unit” lacks proper antecedent basis and it is unclear what would constitute the “exposure cooling unit”. Additionally, the sealing member from claim 1 is not the same sealing member as claimed in claim 5.
2. Claims 1-7 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The applicant claims an image forming apparatus including a photoconductor, a charging portion, an exposure portion wherein the exposure portion has a substrate with a plurality of chips including light emitting portions to emit light for exposing the photoconductor, a support portion for supporting the substrate, the exposure portion being movable between an exposure position and a retracted position, a developing portion, a fan to generate airflow for cooling the exposure portion, a duct portion communicating with the fan and support portion for guiding air to the substrate, a part of the duct being formed by a photoconductor (drum) support portion, a developing support portion and the duct portion and a space formed between the duct portion and drum support portion and a space formed between the duct portion and the developing support portion being sealed by a sealing member is not taught or rendered obvious by the prior art of record (patentable feature is in italics).
3. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kawasumi et al. ‘869 and Kawashumi et al. ‘136 are the patented parent applications. Applicant is reminded to provide a clear demarcation between the present claims and the two patented parent cases.
Alejandre et al. (WO) and Miyasaka teach a seal to prevent airflow from reaching a portion of a printhead. Adachi et al. (EP) teach a cooling arrangement for cooling a scanning unit of a printer and a seal member preventing scattered toner. Suyama et al. teach a protection sealing sheet on either side of a movable exposure device between a developing device and charging device. Narita et al. teach a movable exposure device having an associated seal. Deocon Mir et al. teach an exposure device having an associated cooling structure and seal. Miwa et al. teach a movable exposure unit with an associated cooling structure and seal. Kawasumi et al. is a related application.
4. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT B BEATTY whose telephone number is (571) 272-2130. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F from 7 to 3.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Stephanie Bloss, can be reached on (571) 272-3555. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-2130.
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/ROBERT B BEATTY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
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