Tag stacking system and stack tray and method of making and handling tags
There is disclosed a printer and a stacking system to receive and stack tags. The stacking system includes a tag stacker and a removable tag-receiving tray to facilitate transferring a stack of tags from the tag stacker to the place where the tags are to be used. A method of handling tags involves the provision of at least first and second removable trays wherein a first tray with a stack of tags can be replaced by an empty second tray so that the stacking of additional tags can recommence without waiting for the first tray to be emptied.
1. A stacking system, comprising:
a stacker having a movable platform for supporting a stack, a depending mounting member that can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction to thereby raise and lower the platform, wherein the stacker receives tags including magnetizable material; and
a stack tray removably supported on the stacker, the tray including an upstanding rear panel and a bottom panel connected to the rear panel, the bottom panel being capable of being supported on the platform, and the bottom panel being capable of accumulating a stack of tags, the stack tray further comprising a repositionable side wall perpendicular to the bottom panel having a flange with a magnet such that the side wall is magnetically attached to the rear panel to hold the side wall in a desired position on the bottom panel supported on the platform.
2. The stacking system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a positionable side panel toward which the tags can be fed, and wherein the side panel is magnetically attached to the rear panel.
3. The stacking system as defined in claim 2 , including a tag hold-down device repositionably attached to one or both of the side and rear panels.
4. The stacking system as defined in claim 1 , including a tag hold-down device repositionably attached to the tray.
5. The stacking system as defined in claim 1 , including a side panel toward which the tags can be fed, and a tag hold-down device magnetically attached to one or both of the side and rear panels.
6. The stacking system as defined in claim 1 , including a side panel repositionable at a selected position with respect to the rear panel.
7. The stacking system as defined in claim 1 , including one or more locators on the tray to locate the tray on the platform.