Reading apparatus

Abstract

A reading apparatus includes a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side, an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag, and a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. The controller reads data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit. The tray includes at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reading apparatus, comprising:
 a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side;   an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag; and   a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag, the controller being configured to read data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit, wherein   the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an antenna moving mechanism attached to the first surface side of the tray and configured to support the antenna unit and move the antenna unit along a direction that is parallel to the first surface side.   
     
     
         3 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the antenna moving mechanism includes a rail attached to the first surface side of the tray and the antenna moving mechanism is configured to move the antenna unit along the rail when the antenna unit is transmitting the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag. 
     
     
         4 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a metal. 
     
     
         5 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a sheet of metal. 
     
     
         6 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a resin sheet and a metal foil covering a surface of the resin sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless tag is an RFID tag. 
     
     
         8 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing into which the tray, the antenna unit, and the controller are installed as an integrated unit; and   a countertop above the housing, wherein a portion of the countertop directly above the integrated unit is substantially transparent to the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag.   
     
     
         9 . A reading apparatus, comprising:
 a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side;   an antenna moving mechanism attached to the tray on the first surface side;   an antenna supported by the antenna moving mechanism on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit and receive radio waves for reading information from a wireless tag; and   a control board disposed on the second surface side of the tray and including a processor for controlling the antenna moving mechanism and the antenna in a tag reading process for reading information from the wireless tag, wherein   the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna and the control board so as to block the radio waves transmitted by the antenna during the tag reading process from reaching the processor.   
     
     
         10 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the tray comprises a flat plate portion and a rib on an outer perimeter of the flat plate portion, the rib projecting from the flat plate towards the first surface side,   the flat plate portion is between the antenna and the control board, and   the flat plate portion is a sheet of metal.   
     
     
         11 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the antenna moving mechanism includes a rail attached to the first surface side of the tray and the antenna moving mechanism is configured to move the antenna along the rail during the tag reading process. 
     
     
         12 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tray comprises a metal. 
     
     
         13 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tray comprises a sheet of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the tray comprises a resin sheet and a metal foil covering a surface of the resin sheet. 
     
     
         15 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the wireless tag is an RFID tag. 
     
     
         16 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the antenna moving mechanism comprises:
 a rail that is attached to the tray, the rail including a case and a shaft housed in the case;   a motor connected to the shaft; and   a slider attached to the antenna and connected to the shaft, and the slider being configured to move along the rail when the shaft rotates.   
     
     
         17 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a housing into which the tray, the antenna, and the control board are installed as an integrated unit; and   a countertop above the housing, wherein a portion of the countertop directly above the integrated unit is substantially transparent to the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag.   
     
     
         18 . A sales checkout station, comprising:
 a countertop having a portion that is substantially transparent to a radio wave signal for reading a wireless tag associated with an item of merchandise;   a housing below the portion of the countertop; and   an integrated reading apparatus disposed in the housing and comprising:
 a tray having a first surface side and a second surface side opposite the first surface side; 
 an antenna unit disposed on the first surface side of the tray and configured to transmit a radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag and to receive a radio wave signal from the wireless tag; and 
 a controller attached to the tray on the second surface side and configured to control the antenna unit to transmit the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag, the controller being configured to read data in the radio wave signal from the wireless tag received by the antenna unit, wherein 
 the tray comprises at least one of an electromagnetic wave reflecting material or an electromagnetic wave absorbing material disposed between the antenna unit and the controller so as to block the radio wave signal for reading the wireless tag from reaching the controller. 
   
     
     
         19 . The sales checkout station according to  claim 18 , wherein the integrated reading apparatus further comprises:
 an antenna moving mechanism attached to the first surface side of the tray and configured to support the antenna unit and move the antenna unit along a direction that is parallel to the first surface side.   
     
     
         20 . The sales checkout station according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a point-of-sale terminal connected to the integrated reading apparatus to receive tag information from the integrated reading apparatus corresponding to items of merchandise on the portion of the countertop during a tag reading process.