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
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.
Claim(s) 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Carter et al. US 7,431,293 (“Carter”).
Regarding claim 1, Carter disclosed a sheet conveyance apparatus comprising:
a first conveyance path (41) through which a sheet is conveyed;
reversing rollers (including 20, 22, 23, 81) configured to convey a sheet in at least one of a forward direction and a direction opposite to the forward direction;
a reversing conveyance path (through 27) through which the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path is conveyed, wherein the reversing rollers are provided along the reversing conveyance path;
a second conveyance path (42) through which the sheet conveyed from the reversing conveyance path is conveyed;
a reversing switching unit (30) configured to be switched to a first position (Figure 5) to guide a leading edge of the sheet from the first conveyance path to the reversing conveyance path, and a second position (Figure 7) to guide the leading edge of the sheet from the reversing conveyance path to the second conveyance path; and
a driving unit (including 33) configured to switch the reversing switching unit between the first position and the second position, wherein the driving unit switches from the first position to the second position (see Figure 7) after a trailing edge of a first sheet conveyed from the first conveyance path to the reversing conveyance path (see Figure 6) passes the reversing switching unit, and
wherein the driving unit switches from the second position to the first position after a leading edge of the first sheet conveyed from the reversing conveyance path passes a tip of the reversing switching unit and before the trailing edge of the first sheet passes the tip of the reversing switching unit (see Figures 7 and 8).
Regarding claim 2, Carter disclosed the reversing switching unit is further configured to guide a second sheet conveyed after the first sheet from the first conveyance path to the reversing conveyance path while remaining at the first position (during subsequent feeding).
Regarding claim 3, Carter disclosed the second conveyance path has a curvature smaller than a curvature of the first conveyance path (see the top of 42 where it is flat).
Regarding claim 4, Carter disclosed the second conveyance path is a substantially horizontal (see the top of 42 where it is flat).
Regarding claim 5, Carter disclosed the driving unit includes a motor (24).
Regarding claim 6, Carter disclosed conveyance rollers disposed along the second conveyance path and configured to convey the sheet (see Figure 4).
Regarding claim 7, the driving unit is configured to switch the position of the reversing switching unit from the second position to the first position including at a point in time after the first sheet is nipped by the conveyance rollers (during regular operation).
Regarding claim 8, the reversing rollers are further configured to convey the sheet in the opposite direction after the reversing switching unit is switched from the first position to the second position (during regular operation).
Regarding claim 9, Carter disclosed a control unit configured to control rotation of the reversing rollers; and a sensor disposed along the reversing conveyance path and configured to detect the sheet, wherein the control unit controls rotation of the reversing rollers based on a sheet detection result from the sensor.
Regarding claim 10, Carter disclosed a control unit configured to control rotation of the reversing rollers; and a sensor disposed along the first conveyance path and configured to detect the sheet, wherein the control unit controls rotation of the reversing rollers based on a sheet detection result from the sensor (see col. 4, lines 50-57).
Regarding claim 11, Carter disclosed a first guide facing the reversing switching unit and configured to form a part of the first conveyance path together with the reversing switching unit; and a second guide facing the reversing switching unit and configured to form a part of the second conveyance path together with the reversing switching unit (Figures 1-8), wherein, in a case where the reversing switching unit is at the second position, the reversing switching unit overlaps with the first guide, viewed from a sheet width direction (see from the view of Figure 3B, for example), and wherein, in a case where the reversing switching unit is at the first position, the reversing switching unit does not overlap with the first guide and does not overlap with the second guide, viewed from the sheet width direction (seen in Figure 5).
Regarding claim 12, Carter disclosed an image forming apparatus, comprising: the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 as listed above; and an image forming unit configured to form an image on at least one sheet (Figure 4).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOWARD J SANDERS whose telephone number is (571)270-3096. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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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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/HOWARD J SANDERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3653
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