Patent ID: 8991810
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A stacker for forming a stack of flat items, said stacker comprising: a stack forming area arranged downstream of a transport direction and receiving flat items that move along the transport direction from an upstream position; a removal device structured and arranged to remove a finished stack from the stack forming area; the removal device being movable along a direction away from the stack fixating area; a support device structured and arranged to support a lower side of a stack of flat items in the stack forming area and comprising a plurality of discrete support elements arranged at least one behind another when viewed in the transport direction; and the plurality of discrete support elements configured to be moved by a lifting unit and being movable between a lower position and an upper position at an angle to the transport direction and being movable downward as a thickness of the stack increases, wherein, during removal of the finished stack, at least some of the plural discrete support elements are structured and arranged to move to the upper position to fill a gap formed during removal of the finished stack.