Ribbon Roll Shaft Antenna Layout for Reliable Wireless Tag Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal printers face difficulties in reliably scanning data from wireless tags in ribbon rolls due to positional relationships between the wireless tag and its antenna, leading to inconsistent data communication.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an antenna element group covering the circumferential direction of a shaft, which supports a tubular material containing a wireless tag, ensuring uniform magnetic field distribution for reliable data communication regardless of the tag's angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single antenna is used for data communication with the wireless tag, then the device complexity is reduced, but the data scanning reliability deteriorates due to positional relationship issues between the antenna and the wireless tag
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple antenna elements arranged in the circumferential direction. Each antenna element can independently communicate with the wireless tag, increasing the probability of successful data scanning regardless of the tag's angular position on the ribbon roll.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple antenna elements are combined into a single antenna structure that covers the circumferential direction. This merging of multiple communication paths into one integrated structure improves reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the antenna element group covers the circumferential direction of the shaft, then the data communication reliability improves at various angles, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna elements are arranged in the circumferential direction (adding a dimensional aspect) rather than only in a linear fashion. This dimensional arrangement enables communication with tags at various angular positions while using standard manufacturing techniques for each individual element.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it can communicate with wireless tags regardless of their angular position, and the modular element design allows for standardized manufacturing processes that can be replicated across different production batches.
3Productivity
If conventional single-point antenna scanning is used, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the productivity deteriorates due to failed data scanning requiring repositioning or manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple antenna elements provide continuous coverage around the shaft, ensuring that at least one element is always in a suitable position to communicate with the wireless tag regardless of its rotational position. This eliminates gaps in data scanning capability and improves overall productivity.
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
Ensures successful data scanning and communication with the wireless tag at various angles, enhancing the reliability and consistency of printing control settings.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna has an antenna element group including a plurality of antenna elements and performs data communication with the wireless tag
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a shaft and an antenna. The shaft is arranged to be inserted into a tubular material including a wireless tag and rotatably supports the tubular material. The antenna performs data communication with the wireless tag. The antenna has an antenna element group and the antenna element group is arranged to cover an area in a circumferential direction of the shaft.