Radio tag issuing apparatus and tag issuing method

• US RE44,631 E1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Murofushi, Nobuo, Sano, Kouichi, Matsumoto, Yasuo, Kiji, Yasuhito
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/905,277
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340 101- 1051, 340/572.4, 235/375, 235/436, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/38 Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A mount sheet having a plurality of radio tags attached at an interval to it is run over a radio communicating section. The radio communicating section has a metal member providing a conveying surface with a slit formed therein. A dielectric member is arranged on a lower surface of the metal member with a projecting section inserted into the slit and, by doing so, the top surface of the projecting section is set flush with the top surface of the metal member. An antenna of the radio communicating section is located beneath the projecting section of the dielectric member and this antenna is held within the metal case. When any radio tag being an object of a radio communication is located over the slit, the radio communicating section positively makes radio communication with the radio tag through the antenna.

Claims

1. A radio tag issuing apparatus comprising:

conveying means configured to convey a mount sheet having a plurality of radio tags attached at an interval thereto to allow information to be read from, and written into, the plurality of radio tags non-contactingly, the plurality of radio tags each having an electronic circuit with an antenna and a storage section set thereon;

radio communicating means configured to have an antenna and make radio communication through the antenna of the radio communicating means to allow the information to be read from, and written into, the storage section of each of the plurality of radio tags;

a first dielectric member configured to be located at a position where the radio communicating means makes the radio communication with at least a first radio tag of the plurality of radio tags;

and

a first metal member which has an upper surface facing a conveying path of the mount sheet and is located between the radio communicating means and a second radio tag of the plurality of radio tags that is adjacent to the first radio tag, when the radio communicating means makes the radio communication with the first radio tag;

a second metal member lying above the radio communicating means;

a second dielectric member arranged between the first dielectric member and the second metal member; and

a dielectric material that is provided within the first metal member between the first dielectric member and the radio communicating means,

wherein an upper surface of the first dielectric member is flush with an the upper surface of the first metal member for providing a conveying surface of the mount sheet, and

wherein the first metal member encloses the first radio tag and has an opening in a direction of the antenna of the radio communicating means.

2. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna of the radio communicating means is located at an opposite side of the first dielectric member to the first radio tag.

3. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein directivity of the antenna of the radio communicating means is reinforced in a direction of the first dielectric member.

4. A The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first metal member encloses the antenna of the radio communicating means and has an opening in a direction toward the first radio tag.

5. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first metal member encloses the first radio tag and has an opening in a direction of the antenna of the radio communicating means.

6. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second dielectric material that is provided within the first metal member.

7. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the first dielectric member is in close contact with a lower surface of the first metal member.

8. The radio tag issuing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a length of the upper surface of the metal member along a direction of the conveying path is greater than a length of the second radio tag along the direction of the conveying path.