Reading apparatus

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.

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.