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.
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.
Claim 2-6 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 2, line 2, the opening/closing member provided in the main assembly “by one” and is engaged with the link “in one” is not understood.
In claim 3, last three lines, the applicant recites a “side” of the opening/closing member and a “back side” of the fixing device which are indefinite. As seen in applicant’s Fig.1, when viewing the image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drums 61 (that is from a “side”), the opening/closing member 20 has a projecting portion 21 but it is not seen how this is a “back side” of the fixing device 80.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hyun et al. (U.S. 2007/0024929).
Hyun et al. teach an image forming apparatus 10 (see Fig.2) to form an image onto a recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a scanner unit 500 having a frame casing 510 and to emit laser light L depending on an image signal, a photosensitive member 210 in which a latent image is formed by the laser light, a laser shutter 550 which blocks or unblocks the laser light (see Fig.s 6-7); the laser shutter being rotatable and unified with the operation part 580; the operation part 580 having a first engaging portion (no reference numeral) which engages with an actuating member 630; an openable/closable member 610 which opens or closes the interior of the image forming apparatus; the actuating member 630 and operation part 580 operate in interrelation with the opening/closing member 610; an interlock switch 560 including a second engaging portion 582 which turns On and Off power to the scanner unit; the operation part 580 and the actuating member 630 are considered applicant’s link;
the link includes a third engaging portion (no reference numeral but is the tip end of the link 630) which engages with the first engaging portion, the link further having fourth engaging portion (no reference numeral) which engages with the second engaging portion 582; the first engaging portion of the laser shutter is disposed on the side surface of the scanner unit casing 510 via a hinge 512 (par.45) and as seen in Fig.s 6-7, the second engaging portion 582 of the interlock switch 560 is disposed so as to oppose (that is opposite to) the side surface of the casing 510 of the scanner unit 500. See par. 61-66.
Regarding claim 2, the opening/closing member 610 is provided as part of the image forming apparatus main assembly.
Regarding claim 3, the image forming apparatus includes a developing member 220 to develop the latent images with toner material, a transfer member 230 to transfer the developed image to a recording sheet, a fixing device 300 for fixing the toner image to the recording sheet, the open close member 610 includes a projecting portion 630 engaged with the operation member 580 (part of the link mechanism); the projecting portion 630 and open/close member 610 considered to be on a “back side” relative to the fixing device (“back side” could be interpreted as any side since it has not been defined concretely in the claims – see 112 rejection above).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 is 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.
Regarding claim 7, the third engaging portion and the fourth engaging portion being formed as one component is not taught, suggested or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Claims 4-6 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.
Regarding claims 4-6, the link having slidable movement between an operation position when the open/close member is in the closed position and a standby position when the open/close member is in the open position; the moving direction of the slidable movement is parallel to the moving direction of the open/close member when the projecting portion and link are engaged is not taught, suggested or rendered obvious by the prior art of record.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Shim, Lee, and Tamura et al. (JP) all teach image forming apparatus having a laser shutter which is actuated by and open/close member and an interlock switch to shut off power when the open/close member is in the open position and a link assembly to connect the shutter, open/close member and interlock switch.
Konno et al., Araishi, Kaneko et al. (JP’310), Oyama (JP) and JP’581 all teach image forming apparatus having a laser shutter which is actuated by and open/close member and a link assembly to connect the shutter and open/close member.
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.
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).
/ROBERT B BEATTY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2852
Prosecution Insights