Printer RFID Tag Positioning for Compact High-Speed Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printers that print on elongate paper with RFID tags face reduced processing speed due to the mismatch between the wireless communication and printing positions, requiring the paper to be returned, which increases processing time and may enlarge the printer's size.
Innovation Solution
A printer configuration with a medium feeding device and a printing device that includes a wireless communication portion and a printing portion, where the distance between the communication and print start positions matches the standard distance between the paper end and the RFID tag center, allowing direct printing without reversing the paper, and a second medium feeding device with an RFID interrogator that maintains the communication and printing efficiency while minimizing the printer's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the wireless communication portion and printing portion are arranged with a large distance between them, then the processing speed is improved by eliminating paper reversal, but the printer size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medium feeding device is divided into multiple independent feeding units (first medium feeding device and second medium feeding device), each capable of feeding medium from different print mediums. This segmentation allows the wireless communication portion to be positioned closer to the printing portion while still maintaining the required distance between the paper end and RFID tag center, as different feeding paths can accommodate the spatial requirements without increasing overall printer footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the medium by providing multiple wireless communication elements at different positions along the medium's length. This allows the communication function to be distributed along the medium rather than requiring a single distant communication head, enabling closer positioning of the wireless communication portion to the printing portion while maintaining communication effectiveness.
2Area of stationary object
If the wireless communication portion is positioned close to the printing portion, then the printer size is reduced, but the processing speed decreases due to required paper reversal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions multiple wireless communication elements at predetermined intervals along the medium in advance during medium preparation. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the medium is fed through the printer, the RFID tag is already at the correct position relative to the printing portion, eliminating the need for paper reversal and maintaining high processing speed while allowing compact printer design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control unit that acts as an intermediary between the wireless communication elements and the printing portion. This control unit coordinates the operation of multiple communication elements at different positions, managing the communication process with RFID tags efficiently and enabling the system to achieve both compact size and high processing speed through intelligent control rather than physical distance alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances processing speed by eliminating the need to reverse the paper after communication, maintaining efficiency and reducing the printer's size, while allowing for easy expansion to include RFID functionality without increasing the printer's size.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless communication portion (31), which communicates with the RFID tags (4)
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes a medium feeding device that is one of different types of medium feeding devices including a first medium feeding device that feeds an elongate medium from a first print medium including the medium, and a second medium feeding device that feeds the medium from a second print medium including the medium and a plurality of wireless communication elements provided at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the medium, and a printing device including a printing portion that performs printing on the medium fed from one of the medium feeding devices. The printing device includes a connector portion that is selectively connectable to the common connection portion of each of the different types of medium feeding devices. The second medium feeding device includes a wireless communication portion that communicates with the wireless communication elements, and a terminal portion that connects the wireless communication portion to the printing device.