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 Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“first conveyance unit” in claim 1;
“second conveyance unit” in claim 1;
“movement unit” in claim 1;
“guide unit” in claim 1;
“first movement member” in claim 5;
“second movement member” in claim 5;
“second movement unit” in claim 6;
“second guide unit” in claim 6;
“third conveyance unit” in claim 8;
“coupling unit” in claim 10;
“plurality of conveyance units” in claim 14;
“movement unit” in claim 14; and
“image forming unit” in claims 8 and 15.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 1-5, 7, 10, 11, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Aoji (US 2014/0217669).
Regarding claim 1, Aoji discloses a sheet conveyance apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body 101; a conveyance unit 32 including a first conveyance unit 32a configured to convey a sheet in a first conveyance path, and a second conveyance unit 32b configured to convey a sheet in a second conveyance path and engaged with the first conveyance unit; and a movement mechanism including a movement unit 30 configured to support the conveyance unit, the movement unit being configured to move between a stored position (Fig. 2) where the conveyance unit is stored in the apparatus main body and an extracted position (Fig. 6) where the conveyance unit is extracted out of the apparatus main body, wherein the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit are extracted out of the apparatus main body in a state engaged with each other when the conveyance unit moves from the stored position to the extracted position, and wherein the first conveyance unit and the second conveyance unit are dismountable from the movement unit separately from each other when the conveyance unit is extracted out to the extracted position (see par. 86-87).
Regarding claim 2, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance unit 32 is extracted out of the apparatus main body 101 in a first direction when the conveyance unit moves from the stored position to the extracted position, and wherein the second conveyance unit 32b is separable and dismountable from the first conveyance unit in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and the first conveyance unit 32a is dismountable from the movement unit in the second direction, when the conveyance unit is extracted out to the extracted position. See Fig. below.
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Regarding claim 3, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second conveyance unit is disposed above the first conveyance unit (this occurs as the second conveyance unit is taken out by a user, as described in par. 87), wherein the first direction is a horizontal direction, and wherein the second direction is an upward direction. See Fig. above.
Regarding claim 4, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the movement mechanism includes a guide unit 50 configured to support and guide the movement unit relative to the apparatus main body, and wherein the movement unit supports the first conveyance unit, and is provided to be movable between the stored position and the extracted position.
Regarding claim 5, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the movement unit includes a first movement member 52a and a second movement member 52b disposed in parallel with each other and provided to be movable between the stored position and the extracted position while each is configured to support the first conveyance unit 32a.
Regarding claim 7, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a first supply unit 32c including a first storage unit configured to store the sheet, and a first sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet from the first storage unit (see Fig. 2); and a second supply unit 32d including a second storage unit configured to store the sheet, and a second sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet from the second storage unit (see Fig. 2), wherein the first conveyance unit 32a receives and conveys the sheet supplied from the first supply unit 32c, and wherein the second conveyance unit 32b receives and conveys the sheet supplied from the second supply unit 32d. The device is capable of feeding sheets among the units 32a-e. See par. 78.
Regarding claim 10, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the conveyance unit includes a coupling unit 31 configured to couple the first conveyance unit 32a and the second conveyance unit 32b, and wherein the coupling unit is configured to restrict the second conveyance unit from moving relative to the first conveyance unit in the first direction and allow the second conveyance unit to be decoupled from the first conveyance unit in the second direction, when the second conveyance unit is coupled with the first conveyance unit. See Fig. 6.
Regarding claim 11, Aoji discloses the sheet conveyance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second conveyance path is continuously connected to the first conveyance path when the second conveyance unit 32b is coupled with the first conveyance unit 32a, and wherein the coupling unit 31 positions the second conveyance unit relative to the first conveyance unit in the first direction in such a manner that the second conveyance path is continuously connected to the first conveyance path. See Fig. 2.
Regarding claim 14, Aoji discloses a sheet conveyance apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body 101; a conveyance unit 32 including a plurality of conveyance units 32a,32b configured to convey a sheet; and a movement unit 30 configured to support the conveyance unit, the movement unit being configured to be movable between a stored position (Fig. 2) where the conveyance unit is stored in the apparatus main body and an extracted position (Fig. 6) where the conveyance unit is extracted out of the apparatus main body, wherein the plurality of conveyance units is extracted out of the apparatus main body in a state coupled with each other when the movement unit moves from the stored position to the extracted position, and wherein the plurality of conveyance units is dismountable from the movement unit in a state separated from each other when the movement unit is located at the extracted position (see par. 86-87).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 15 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the nearest prior art does not teach or suggest the claimed subject matter. For example, Aoji does not disclose everything claimed, including the second movement unit and second guide unit as claimed, in combination with the rest of the claimed elements.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Miyazaki (US 7,500,667) discloses a sheet feeding device having extractable sheet paths.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jeremy R. Severson, whose telephone number is (571)272-2209. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Curtis Mayes, can be reached at (571) 272-1234. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEREMY R SEVERSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
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