A tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210) including a body (11, 111, 211) and two spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) and a tape drive apparatus which is operable to transfer tape between spools (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220) supported on the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), characterised in that a position of at least one of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) relative to the body (11, 111, 211) is adjustable; and a method of operating such a tape transfer apparatus (10, 110, 210), including controlling the rotation of each of the spool supports (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216) to enable tape to be transferred from one spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on a respective spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), to another spool (18, 20, 118, 120, 218, 220), mounted on the other spool support (14, 16, 114, 116, 214, 216), and controlling a drive mechanism that is operable to adjust the position of at least one of the spool supports relative to the body.

In accordance with an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a shaft and an antenna. The shaft is arranged to be inserted into a tubular material including a wireless tag and rotatably supports the tubular material. The antenna performs data communication with the wireless tag. The antenna has an antenna element group and the antenna element group is arranged to cover an area in a circumferential direction of the shaft.

In accordance with an embodiment, a printing apparatus includes a shaft and an antenna. The shaft is arranged to be inserted into a tubular material including a wireless tag and rotatably supports the tubular material. The antenna performs data communication with the wireless tag. The antenna has an antenna element group and the antenna element group is arranged to cover an area in a circumferential direction of the shaft.