Spindle supported near field communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10114983-B2
Application number	US-201715462393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. An example spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device includes a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation; a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle; a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal; a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device comprising:
a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation;
a beam shaping NFC device including:
a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle;
a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal;
a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and
a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis, wherein the core portion and the coil disposed around the core portion are positioned between the first ferromagnetic flange portion and the second ferromagnetic flange portion.

2. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1 , wherein the core portion defines a cavity to receive a rod of the spindle, and the rod of the spindle defines the axis of rotation.

3. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1 , further comprising a ribbon supply spool defining a cavity to receive the beam shaping NFC device, the ribbon supply spool to carry the ribbon supply roll and to rotate about the axis of the spindle.

4. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 3 , wherein the ribbon supply spool includes a portion capable of sliding toward the beam shaping NFC device.

5. A spindle supported NFC device of claim 1 , wherein the near field interrogation signal is to maintain communication with a radio frequency tag while the radio frequency tag revolves about the axis of rotation, the radio frequency tag affixed to a ribbon supply roll mounted to the spindle supported NFC device.

6. A media processing device comprising:
a housing;
a spindle to receive a ribbon supply roll having a radio frequency tag, wherein the radio frequency tag is to revolve about an axis of the spindle; and
a beam shaping near field communication (NFC) device including:
a ferromagnetic core portion;
wire disposed around the core portion to generate a near field interrogation signal; and
first and second ferromagnetic flange portions, wherein core portion and the wire disposed around the core portion are positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic flange portions, the first and second ferromagnetic flange portions configured to:
direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially away from the axis of the spindle; and
restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle.

7. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the spindle is mounted to an interior surface of the media processing device, and the first flange portion is configured to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle toward the interior surface of the printer.

8. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second flange portion is configured to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending axially along the spindle away from the interior surface of the printer.

9. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the core portion defines a cavity to receive a rod of the spindle, and the rod of the spindle defines the axis of the spindle.

10. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , further comprising a ribbon supply spool defining a cavity to receive the beam shaping NFC device, the ribbon supply spool to carry the ribbon supply roll and to rotate about the axis of the spindle.

11. A media processing device as defined in claim 10 , wherein the ribbon supply spool includes a portion capable of sliding toward the beam shaping NFC device.

12. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the near field interrogation signal is to maintain communication with the radio frequency tag while the radio frequency tag revolves about the axis of the spindle.

13. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the core portion defines a core cavity, and further comprising a bushing disposed between the core cavity and a rod portion of the spindle.

14. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , further comprising a printhead.

15. A media processing device as defined in claim 6 , further comprising a transceiver in communication with the wire.

Assignees

• Zih Corp

Inventors

• Ehrhardt Robert
• Gawelczyk Robert S
• Hampson Derek J
• Monnier Dan
• Rehberger James M
• Urban Mark B

Classifications

• B41J35/36

  Alarms, indicators, or feed disabling devices responsive to ink ribbon breakage or exhaustion · CPC title

• B41J15/02

  Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles · CPC title

• G06F3/1215

  achieving increased printing speed, i.e. reducing the time between printing start and printing end · CPC title

• B41J3/44 Primary

  Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions · CPC title

• G06F3/1211

  Improving printing performance · CPC title