Reading apparatus

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a reading apparatus includes a shielding body, an antenna, and a reader and writer. The shielding body is formed in a box shape with an upper opening, to place an accommodating body and to shield radio waves. The antenna is provided in the shielding body to receive information from an RFID tag attached to a product that is passing through the opening. The reader and writer is connected to the antenna to read information of the product from the information received by the antenna.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reading apparatus, comprising:
 a shielding body configured to shield radio waves formed in a box shape with an upper opening through which to place an accommodating body;   an antenna provided in the upper opening at an upper end of the shielding body to receive information from an RFID tag attached to a product that is passing through the upper opening; and   a reader and writer connected to the antenna to read information of the RFID tag from the information received by the antenna.   
     
     
         2 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a front wall of the shielding body is open such that the accommodating body is capable of passing through the front wall.   
     
     
         3 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the accommodating body is a bag that accommodates the product, and   the accommodating body includes a bag hanger that is disposed in the shielding body to hang the bag.   
     
     
         4 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the accommodating body is an accommodating case that accommodates the product.   
     
     
         5 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer material on a bottom surface of the shielding body. 
     
     
         6 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the shielding body has four side walls and a bottom wall.   
     
     
         7 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the four side walls are made of a transparent material.   
     
     
         8 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the four side walls are made of a radio wave shielding material.   
     
     
         9 . The reading apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the box shape is a rectangular box shape.   
     
     
         10 . A method for processing an RFID tag, comprising:
 radiating the RFID tag attached to a product passing through an upper opening in an upper portion of a shielding body configured to shield radio waves formed in a box shape; and   receiving information from the RFID tag.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 reading product information from the RFID tag.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 writing registration completion information to the RFID tag.   
     
     
         13 . A self-checkout POS apparatus, comprising:
 a shielding body configured to shield radio waves formed in a box shape with an upper opening through which to place an accommodating body;   an antenna provided in the upper opening at an upper end of the shielding body to receive information from an RFID tag attached to a product that is passing through the upper opening;   a reader and writer connected to the antenna to read information of the RFID tag from the information received by the antenna; and   a printer for providing a receipt.   
     
     
         14 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 a front wall of the shielding body is open such that the accommodating body is capable of passing through the front wall.   
     
     
         15 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the accommodating body is a bag that accommodates the product, and   the accommodating body includes a bag hanger that is disposed in the shielding body to hang the bag.   
     
     
         16 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the accommodating body is an accommodating case that accommodates the product.   
     
     
         17 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a buffer material on a bottom surface of the shielding body. 
     
     
         18 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the shielding body has four side walls and a bottom wall.   
     
     
         19 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the four side walls are made of a transparent material.   
     
     
         20 . The self-checkout POS apparatus according to  claim 13 , further comprising a display to show transactions and a card reader to facilitate processing payment.