Tape Printer Antenna Positioning for Wireless IC Tag Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tape printers face challenges in miniaturization due to the need to adhere IC tags directly onto printed tapes, which increases the size of the printer, and require mechanisms for transferring printed tapes for information writing, complicating the design and increasing size further.
Innovation Solution
A tape printer design with a removable tape cassette and a device-side antenna for wireless communication with IC circuit elements, allowing for miniaturization by positioning the antenna downstream of the tape discharging port and incorporating sensor marks for precise tape transfer and cutting, eliminating the need for additional transfer mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IC tags are adhered directly onto printed tapes, then information can be written on the tape, but the printer size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of adhering IC tags onto tapes with a wireless communication system. The printed tape includes a wireless information circuit element (IC tag) with antenna that communicates wirelessly with the printer's antenna, eliminating the need for mechanical tag adherence mechanisms and reducing printer size while maintaining information writing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the IC tag from the mechanical adherence process and integrates it directly into the printed tape structure. The wireless information circuit element is embedded within the tape itself, separating the information storage function from the mechanical handling mechanism, thereby reducing the printer's required size
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanisms for transferring printed tapes are added, then information can be written after cutting, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical transfer mechanisms with wireless communication. The wireless information circuit element on the tape communicates with the printer's antenna, enabling information writing without physical tape transfer mechanisms. This substitution eliminates the need for complex transfer devices while maintaining the ability to write information after cutting
3Volume of moving object
If the antenna is positioned downstream of the tape discharging port, then printer size is reduced, but wireless communication reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the antenna in the tape discharge direction (downstream of the discharge port) rather than in the tape transfer path. This spatial arrangement in another dimension allows compact printer design while maintaining wireless communication functionality through the discharged tape's wireless information circuit element
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 design enables miniaturization of the tape printer, improves work efficiency by allowing direct reading and writing of information on printed tapes without additional cutting mechanisms, and enhances data transmission reliability while reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a read/write means that reads or writes predetermined information from or into a wireless information circuit element adhered to a printed tape printed by the printing means via the device side antenna by wireless communication
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna 33 is located downstream of a tape transferring direction of a tape discharging port 27 through which a printed label tape 28 of a tape cassette 21 mounted to a cassette housing part 8 is discharged. A reflective sensor 35 that detects a sensor marks 65 provided on the back surface of the printed label tape 28 is arranged at the opposite side of the antenna 33 interposing the printed label tape 28. At the upstream of the antenna 33 and the reflective sensor 35 in the tape transferring direction, a cutter unit 30 for cutting the printed label tape 28 discharged through the tape discharging port 27 of the tape cassette 21 at a predetermined interval is arranged.