Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT DOCUMENTS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/277,581, filed Nov. 25, 2008. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,182 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/409,803 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The field to tag making and stacking systems and method, tag stackers, and stack trays. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     The following U.S. patent documents are made of record: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,092,697; 7,125,182; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/409,803; and Printer Systems Revised Slitter Operation Instructions Manual, Cover page and pages ii and 1:1 through 1:6. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment relates to an improved stacking system for a printer and to trays for stacks of tags. As the printer operates, tags can accumulate in a removable tray in the stacker. When the desired number of tags has accumulated in the tray, the printer can be stopped or interrupted and the tray can be removed. An empty tray can be inserted into the stacker and the printer can resume printing. In the meantime, the tray containing the accumulated stack of tags can be taken to a location where the tags are to be used, and so on. It is clear that by use of one or more trays the overall output of the printer can be increased. 
     An embodiment of a method of handling tags, comprises providing at least first and second removable trays insertable and positionable in a tag stacker, inserting the first tray in the tag stacker, feeding tags into the first tray in the tag stacker, interrupting the feeding of tags, removing the first tray from the tag stacker, inserting and positioning the second tray in the tag stacker, and feeding tags into the second tray in the tag stacker. The method can start out by providing a roll of a printable web, printing on the web on one or both sides of the web, and severing the web into separate tags. Alternatively, printed tags can be provided in the form of a roll of a tag web and the tags can be severed from the tag web. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure includes a stacking system comprising a stacker having a platform, a 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, the bottom panel being capable of accumulating a stack of tags, wherein the tray can include a side panel toward which the tags can be fed, wherein the side panel is spaced from a side wall of the stacker, wherein the side panel can be adjustably positionable and attached to the rear panel, and the side panel is manually movable toward and away from the side wall, and wherein the side panel can be magnetically attached to the rear panel. A tag hold-down device can be repositionably attached to one or both of the side and rear panels. The tag hold-down device is preferably magnetically attached to one or both of the side and rear panels. 
     The embodiment of the stacking system comprises a stacker having a side panel toward which tags can be fed, the side panel being magnetically attached and repositionable to accommodate tags of different lengths. 
     The embodiment of a stack tray comprises a rear panel, a bottom panel connected to the rear panel, the bottom panel being capable for supporting a stack of tags, a side panel selectively repositionable with respect to the rear panel, wherein the rear panel is comprised of magnetically responsive material, and a magnet on the side panel enabling the side panel to be magnetically attached to the rear panel at a selected position. A hold-down device can be magnetically attached to one or both of the side and rear panels to retain the stack of tags between the bottom panel and the hold-down device. 
     The disclosure includes a system and method for creating a plurality of stacks of tags. Starting from a web roll of a wide tag stock web which may be pre-printed with certain fixed information such as a logo, the wide web can be printed on one or both sides with variable information. The printing can be repetitive across the width of the wide web at two or more locations. Thereafter, the wide web can be slit between the locations to provide side-by-side narrow tag webs. The narrow tag webs can be cut laterally to provide side-by-side tags. The tags can be separated laterally and allowed to descend gravitationally to form two separate upstanding tag stacks. The stacks are supported so that the tags in each stock are inclined or lean away from each other. 
     According to an embodiment, there is disclosed a combination system and a method which includes printing on an uncut double-wide web, slitting the double-wide web into single-wide or narrow webs, cutting tags successively from the narrow webs and stacking the tags in separate stacks. This increases the through-put of the system while conveniently stacking the tags for ease of further handling. The tags stack are preferably spaced from each other. To achieve the spacing, a tag separator is used. The tag stacks accumulate on a support structure that inclines the tags away from each other. The inclined tags of each stack are confined by side guides or stops. All the functions of printing, slitting, cutting, feeding and stacking are disclosed as being accomplished in-line, that is, in a single apparatus. 
     According to an embodiment, a tag making and stacking system can include at least one print head capable of printing repetitively across at least one face of a wide tag web, a slitter disposed downstream of the print head(s) and capable of slitting the wide tag web into two separate side-by-side narrow tag webs, a first feed roll disposed downstream of the slitter, a cutter disposed downstream of the first feed roll to sever side-by-side tags from the narrow webs, a stacker, and a second feed roll disposed downstream of the cutter to feed the severed tags into side-by-side stacks in the stacker. The system can further include any one or more or all of: a motor-driven unwind for a supply roll of the wide tag web disposed upstream of the print head(s) to maintain web tension, a motor-driven platen roll cooperable with each print head, a tray removable supported on the stacker to accumulate and maintain the tag stacks until after the tray is removed, wherein the stacker is capable of accumulating stacks of tags having various widths, a platform capable of being lowered and raised, repositionable front and rear walls extending upwardly from the platform and capable of straddling stacks of different width tags, a separator capable of separating the tags into two spaced apart stacks as the tags enter the stacker, the separator including a separator bar which causes the side-by-side tags to be cammed apart as they advance into the stacker, where the separator bar can be generally aligned with the slitter to separate the tags as they enter the stacker and descend onto the tags of their respective stacks to provide separated stacks, and/or a bottom support for each stack that inclines the tags in each stack away from the tags of the adjacent stack. 
     An embodiment of a tag making and stacking system can include at least one print head capable of printing repetitively across at least one face of a wide tag web, a slitter disposed downstream of the print head(s) and capable of slitting the wide web into a pair of separate side-by-side narrow tag webs, a cutter disposed downstream of the slitter to sever side-by-side tags from the narrow webs, a stacker to receive the tags, and a separator to facilitate separation of the side-by-side tags into spaced stacks as they accumulate in the stacker. 
     An embodiment of a tag making and stacking system can include at least one print head capable of printing repetitively across at least one face of a wide tag web, a slitter disposed downstream of the print head(s) and capable of slitting the wide web into a pair of separate side-by-side narrow tag webs, a cutter disposed downstream of the slitter to sever side-by-side tags from the narrow webs, a stacker to receive the tags, and a bottom support for each stack that inclines the tags in each stack away from the tags of the adjacent stack. The system can also include a separator to facilitate separation of the side-by-side tags as they enter the stacker. 
     An embodiment can also include a print head capable of printing the same information laterally across a longitudinally extending wide web of tag stock on both sides of a longitudinal centerline of the wide tag web, a slitter capable of slitting the wide tag web along the centerline into a pair of completely severed narrow tag webs, a cutter capable of cutting the narrow tag webs laterally into side-by-side tags, and a separator to separate the side-by-side tags laterally while allowing the separated tags to descend gravitationally to form two spaced apart tag stacks and a support for each stack of tags, the supports being effective to cause the tags of both stacks to be inclined away from each other. The system can further include spaced walls providing a tag stack accumulating space, a support for each stack of tags, and the supports being oppositely inclined so that the stacks of tags are inclined away from each other and each stack is confined by one of the walls. 
     According to an embodiment, a stacker system can include a stacker having a platform including magnetizable material, a repositionable upstanding wall adjacent a tag stack accumulating space, the wall having a flange, and at least one magnet on the flange, wherein the magnet can be magnetically attracted to the platform to hold the upstanding wall in a desired position on the platform. 
     According to an embodiment, a stack tray for use in a tag stacker can include an upstanding rear panel, a bottom panel connected to the rear panel, and a repositionable upstanding front panel magnetically attached to the bottom panel, wherein the stacked tags are positionable between the front and rear panels. 
     According to an embodiment of a method can include printing the same information laterally across a longitudinally extending wide tag web of tag stock on both sides of a longitudinal centerline of the wide tag web, slitting the wide tag web along the centerline into a pair of completely severed narrow tag webs, cutting the narrow tag webs laterally into side-by-side tags, and separating the side-by-side tags laterally and allowing the separated tags to descend gravitationally to form two spaced apart tag stacks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMMATIC DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a printer and a stacking system including a stacker with a stack tray; 
         FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of a fragmentary portion of the printer and the tag stacker with the stack tray; 
         FIG. 3  is a pictorial view showing a platform of the stacker supporting the stack tray; 
         FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of the stack tray and a hold-down device also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  for example; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded pictorial view of a panel which can form part of the stack tray; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded pictorial view of a hold-down device or member which can be positioned to bear against the top of the tag stack; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view showing a stack of tags on a bottom panel, when the tag stack is held or clamped between the bottom panel and the hold-down device; 
         FIG. 9  is a sequential view of a pre-printed wide tag web formed into narrow tag webs, cut into tags and separated and stacked into two spaced apart tag stacks; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of a fragment of the disclosed apparatus showing a printing zone, a slitting zone, a cutting zone, web and tag feeding zones and a stacking zone; 
         FIG. 11  is a pictorial view of a fragment of the disclosed apparatus showing the zones depicted in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken generally along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 , but showing two separated tag stacks supported by supports that support the tag stacks inclined away from each other; 
         FIG. 13  is a pictorial view of a fragment of the disclosed apparatus showing portions of the stacker tray cutaway; 
         FIG. 14  is a right side elevational view of the apparatus showing tags in separated tag stacks; 
         FIG. 15  is a pictorial view of a slitter which can be disposed at the slitting zone; 
         FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the slitter also shown for example in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a pictorial view of the drive mechanism for the feed mechanism and the slitter; 
         FIG. 18  is a pictorial view depicting an alternative arrangement for supporting tag stacks in the stacker; 
         FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 ; and 
         FIG. 20  is a pictorial view of the embodiment of  FIGS. 18 through 20  with additional details of the printing, slitting, feeding, cutting and tag advancing mechanisms. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a printer generally indicated at  50  for printing on a printable web W and a stacker generally indicated at  51 . The printer  50  and the stacker  51  are disclosed in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,182. Where possible the same reference characters are used herein as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,182. Alternatively, the printer  50  can have components arranged differently as for example in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/409,803 wherein the path of travel of the web W is somewhat different. The web W is in the form of a roll R can pass beneath a guide mechanism  57 . Then the web W can pass between a platen roll  54  and a print head  53 ′ of a print head assembly  53  where the underside of the web W can be printed. From there the web can pass between a platen roll  56  and a print head  55 ′ of a print head assembly  55  where the top side of the web W can be printed. The platen roll  56  may be a driven roll. From there the fully printed web W can pass to a feed mechanism  58  which can feed the web W to a cutter mechanism  59  which cuts the web W into predetermined length sheets, in particular tags T. The expression “tags”as used herein is intended to apply to paper and plastic tags, paper and fabric labels and other types of record members because all of such tags and labels can be handled by the printer  50  and the stacking system  51 ′. The tags T are fed to a feed mechanism  60  which feeds the tags T onto a platform  61  of the stacker  51 . The feed mechanism  60  is close to the cutter mechanism  59  so that control of the cut-off tag T is maintained. The feed mechanism  60  can be considered to be part of the printer  50 , because the feed mechanism  60  feeds the tags T out of the printer  50 , or to be part of the stacker  51  because the feed mechanism  60  feeds the tag T onto the platform  61 . 
     The printer  50  can be of the thermal transfer type wherein ink ribbon I can be advanced from a supply roll SR to a take-up roll TR for both print heads  53 ′ and  55 ′. 
     The stacker  51  is mounted to a frame plate  70 . Shafts  151  and  152  are cantilevered to the frame plate  70  and pass through a bracket  153  attached to a wall  154  which may be referred to as a side wall. By loosening a thumb screw  155 , the stacker  51  can be adjusted laterally or transversely of the printer  50  toward and away from the plane of the frame plate  70 . 
     The stacker  51  is illustrated as including the platform  61  which has a depending mounting member  176  secured to a slide (not shown) by screws  176 ′ passing through a slot  175  in a rear wall  156 . The platform  61  can be raised and lowered by a motor-driven pulley system (not shown). As the motor-driven feed roll  95  of the feed mechanism  60  feeds tags T into space within the stacker above the platform  61 , the platform  61  is lowered. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the stack tray generally indicated a  200  is shown to have an upstanding rear panel or wall  201  which is preferably formed integrally with a bottom panel or base panel  202 . The rear and bottom panels  201  and  202  are preferably made by bending a piece of sheet metal at a bend line  203 . The rear panel  201  preferably has a flange  204  made by bending the sheet metal along a bend line  205 . The bottom panel preferably has a flange  206  made by bending the sheet metal along a bend line  207 . The angle between the rear panel  201  and the bottom panel  202  is preferably a right angle. The rear panel  201  and the bottom panel are in an L-shaped configuration. Likewise, the angle of the flange  204  to the rear panel  201  is preferable a right angle, and the angle of the flange  206  to the bottom panel  202  is preferably a right angle. The flange  204  adds stiffness to the rear panel  201  and the flange  206  adds stiffness to the bottom panel  202 . 
     The stacker  51  and the tray  200  form part of a stacker system  51 ′. 
     An upstanding side panel or wall  208  preferably extends perpendicularly to the rear panel  201  and to the bottom panel  202 . The side panel  208  has a flange  209  extending preferably at a right angle to the panel  208  from a bend line  209 ′. The side panel  208  is preferably perpendicular to the bottom panel  202 . As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a magnetic strip  210  is secured to the flange  209  preferably by an aggressive permanent adhesive  211 . Even though the side panel  208  is preferably perpendicular to the bottom panel  202  and the rear panel  201 , the side panel  208  can be magnetically attached to the rear panel at any selected angular orientation. 
     With reference to, for example,  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 , there is shown a hold-down device or member generally indicated at  212 . The device  212  is shown to have a side panel  213  and a back panel  214  connected to a bottom panel  215  at respective fold lines  216  and  217 . The side and rear panels  213  and  214  are preferably disposed at right angles to each other and to the bottom panel  202 . The panels  213 ,  214  and  215  are preferably formed from one piece of sheet metal by bending up panels  213  and  214  with respect to the bottom panel  215 . A magnet  218  preferably in the form of a magnetic strip is adhered to the outside of the side panel  213  by an aggressive permanent adhesive  219 , and a magnet  220  preferably in the form of a magnetic strip is adhered to the outside of the rear panel  214  by an aggressive permanent adhesive  221 . Instead of one magnet  218  for the side panel  213  and one magnet  220  for the rear panel  214 , multiple spaced magnets or magnetic strips can be provided. The magnets  218  and  220  can, of course, be adhered to their respective panels by any other suitable means, such as by fasteners. 
     In use, the stack tray  200  can be simply seated or rested on the platform  61 . Tags T can be dispensed toward the side panel  208  and accumulate on the bottom panel  202 . As the tags T accumulate, the platform  61  can be lowered so that the tags T continue to be able to be deposited on the top of the stack S. It should be noted that it is not necessary that some or all of the tags T reach the side wall  208 . When the desired number of tags has accumulated in a stack S which rests on the bottom panel  202 , the stack tray  200  is ready to be removed. The user may lift the tray  200  out of the stacker  51  and tilt the tray  200  so that the tags T gravitate against the side panel  208 . The user can actually assist by tamping on the trailing ends TE of the tags T to push the leading ends LE of the tags T against the side panel  208  to form a neater stack S. With the tags T vertically aligned, the user can manually slide the hold-down device  212  downwardly from the upper, normally out-of-use position shown in  FIG. 1 . In that the magnets  218  and  220  hold securely to the panels  213  and  214 , the hold-down device  212  can be slid along the rear and side panels  201  and  208  without dislodging the magnets  218  and  220  from the remainder of the hold-down device  212 . Accordingly, the hold-down device  212  can be slid down into contact with the top most tag T in the stack S. Preferably the hold-down device  212  is pressed against the stack S to slightly compress or clamp the stack S so that while the tray  200  and the stack S are transferred to the place where the tags T are to be used, the stack S is held firmly as a stack to eliminate the possibility of the stack S being dislodged or falling out of the tray  200 . 
       FIG. 3  shows slightly different version of the platform than the platform  61  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and accordingly it is indicated at  61 ′. The angle of the platform  61 ′ is adjustable about a post or pivot  222 . The pivot is secured in a plate  176 ′ like the plate  176 . A spring-urged plunger  225  can be pulled outwardly and positioned in one of several holes  226 , (only one of which is shown) to adjust the angle of inclination of the platform  61 ′. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the bottom panel  202  of the stack tray  200  has two spaced apart bent-down tabs  228  at the front adjacent the flange  206 , and one bent-down tab  229  adjacent an end  202 ′ of the bottom panel  202 . The tabs  228  and  229 , referred to generally as “locators”, assist in locating the bottom panel  202  and hence the tray  200  on and with respect to the platform  61  or  61 ′. When thus located, the side edge  202 ″ terminates short of the side wall  154  so as not to rub on the side wall  154  as the platform  61  or  61 ′ moves up or down. Likewise, the rear panel  201  terminates short of the rear wall  156  of the stacker  51  so that the rear panel  201  cannot rub on any part of the rear wall  156 . 
     While a magnet  218  is shown attached to the front panel  213  and a magnet  220  is attached to the rear panel  214  as is preferred, only the side  213  panel or only the rear panel  214  needs to be equipped with a magnet to hold the stack tray  212  in the selected position. It is apparent that the magnets  210  and  220  require that the rear panel or at least a part thereof be comprised of magnetizable or magnetically responsive material, such as steel. Likewise, it is apparent that the magnet  218  requires that the front panel or at least a part thereof be comprised of magnetizable or magnetically responsive material, such as steel. 
     While the platforms  61  and  61 ′ are disclosed as being movable, the stack tray  200  is also useful with a stacker having a fixed platform. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a longitudinally extending wide tag web  300  which is wide enough to form a plurality of tags across the width of the wide tag web  300 . The wide tag web can be comprised of a variety of different materials as described above. In the illustrated embodiments, the wide tag web is preferably just wide enough to form two series of side-by-side tags T 1  and T 2 . The wide tag web  300  can be separated into tags T 1  and T 2  by completely severing or cutting along preferably equally spaced severing lines SL. It is thus, apparent that the tags T are of equal length. The wide tag web  300  may carry pre-printing with fixed information such as a logo registration marks (not shown) repetitively laterally across the wide tag web  300 . The wide tag web  300  can also carry registration marks (not shown). 
     The print head  53 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) can be used to print information (not visible in  FIG. 9 ) repetitively across the wide tag web  300  on one face, namely, the underside, of the wide web  300  at zone designated SIDE ONE PRINT ZONE ( FIG. 9 ). In particular, preferably the same information can be printed on both sides of the centerline CL on the underside of the web  300 . Likewise, the print head  55 ′ can be used preferably to print the same information  302  on both sides of the centerline CL at zone designated SIDE TWO PRINT ZONE. If the tags T 1  and T 2  are garment tags, they can bear the usual information such as size, style, color, care instructions, warranty statements, graphics, bar codes and the like. 
     Next the wide tag web  300  can be slit longitudinally along the centerline CL at a SLITTING ZONE starting at  303  to provide narrow tag webs N 1  and N 2 . The narrow tag webs N 1  and N 2  can be cut simultaneously by a suitable wide cutter  59  (for example  FIGS. 10 and 20 ) along severing line SL at a zone designated CUTTING ZONE to provide side-by-side tags T 1  and T 2 . As the tags T 1  and T 2  are dispensed, the tags T 1  and T 2  are separated and descend gravitationally into two separate stacks S 1  and S 2  in the stacker  51  as depicted for example in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the print head assembly  55  is upstream of a slitter  305 . The slitter  305  is disposed adjacent and between the print head assembly  55  and the feed mechanism  58 . As in the other embodiment, the cutter or cutter mechanism  59  is downstream of the feed mechanism  58 , and the feed mechanism  60  is downstream of the cutter  59 . A separator  306  is preferably adjustably cantilever-mounted to the cutter mechanism  59 . The wide tag web  300  passes from printing contact with the print head  55 ′ to the slitter  305  where the wide web  300  is slit into the narrow tag webs N 1  and N 2  at  303 . From there the feed mechanism  58  advances the narrow tag webs N 1  and N 2  to the cutter  59 . The tags T 1  and T 2  which have been cut off by the cutter  59  are fed by the feed mechanism  60  over the separator  306  and are cammed apart to positions best shown in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . The separator  306  can simply comprise a cantilevered separator rod or separator bar  307  which projects into the stacker  51 . The separator bar  307  can have a slotted mounting bracket (not shown) retained by a thumb screw (not shown) so that the separator bar  307  can be slightly adjusted to match the centerline CL. Thus, the centerline of the separator bar  307  is aligned with the centerline CL. The separator  306  and, indeed, the separator rod  307  extend along the centerline of the printer  50 , that is, the separator  306  is in center-justified alignment with the centerline of the roll R, the print heads  53 ′ and  55 ′ and the slitter  305 . As the narrow tag webs N 1  and N 2  are advanced into the stacker  51 , respective margins at inner edges E 1  and E 2  extend along the centerline of the separator  306 . The remainders of the tags T 1  and T 2  are unsupported and immediately descend gravitationally and settle onto the top of the respective tag stacks S 1  and S 2 . As the tags T 1  and T 2  descend, the tag T 1  and T 2  are cammed outwardly by the separator  306 , for example, against respective front wall  308  and rear wall  201 . While the separator  306  helps to separate the tags T 1  and T 2  as they enter the stacker  51 , the tags T 1  and T 2  are supported in such a way as to cause the tags T 1  and T 2  to accumulate in the stacker  304  in spaced apart tag stacks S 1  and S 2 . Thus, the inclinations of the topmost tag in each stack S 1  and S 2  helps to cam incoming tags into position against respective front wall  308  and rear wall  201 . As best shown in  FIG. 12 , the tag stacks S 1  and S 2  are supported on a base or support structure  309  which can simply be comprised essentially of one bent piece of sheet metal, as shown. The support structure  309  includes two downwardly and outwardly incline supports  310  and  311  which meet at an apex  312 . As the tags T 1  and T 2  enter the stacker  304  and fall gravitationally onto the tops of their respective stacks S 1  and S 2 , there is a tendency for the tags T 1  and T 2  to slid down the immediately respective underlying tags T 1  and T 2  until their respective outer edges E 3  and E 4  contact the respective walls  308  and  201 . The stacks S 1  and S 2  are stably supported against supports  310  and  311  and the walls  308  and  201  contribute to maintenance of the stacks in their upright positions. It is the tags T 1  and T 2  within the stacks S 1  and S 2  that are inclined while the stacks S 1  and S 2  remain upright as depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . 
     It should be noted that the separator  306  is located in a fixed position. The stacker  51  has its own rear wall  156  which can move laterally by sliding the stacker  51  on shafts  151  and  152 . Yet the stacker can accommodate tags T 1  and T 2  of different widths. The wall  201  of the tray  200  can be against the rear wall  156 . This represents essentially the maximum width of the tags T 2  that can accumulate. However, the wall  201  of the tray can be positioned forwardly of the wall  156  (as shown in  FIG. 12 ) to accommodate tags T 2  of narrower widths. As also shown, the tags T 1  and T 2  can overhang their respective supports  310  and  311  to a small extent as shown or to a larger extent for wider tags. The support structure  309  is repositionable laterally of the stacker  51  to accommodate tags T 1  and T 2  of different widths. There are two magnetic strips  313  and  314  which extend lengthwise of the support structure  309  to hold the support structure  309  repositionably to the bottom panel  202  of the magnetizable holder  200 . As shown in  FIGS. 11 through 14 , the wall  308  includes a flange  315  which gives stability to the wall  308 . The flange  315  preferably has a magnetic strip  316  attached to its underside to hold the wall  308  repositionably to the bottom panel  202  of the holder  200 . The front wall  308  has a forwardly flared flange  317  which strengthens the wall  308  and aids in guiding the tags T 1  into the stacker  51 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 14 , the line of complete severing S lines up with the top-center of the separator bar  307  as the tags T 1  and T 2  enter the zone of the stacker  51 . The separator bar  307  is shown to be round but it can have other shapes and/or profiles. Also, the separator bar  307  is shown to be inclined upwardly and forwardly to facilitate tag separation. As the tags T 1  and T 2  slid along and are supported at margins of their adjacent edges E 1  and E 2  by the separator bar  307 , the remainder of the tags T 1  and T 2  pivot downwardly about the separator bar  307  and fall gravitationally onto either of supports  310  or  311  if there is no tag in the stacker  51  or onto the tops of the existing tag stacks S 1  and S 2 . It is to be understood when the stacker  51  is empty, the stacker platform  61  is in its raised position so the tags T 1  and T 2  do not descend very far until they are supported by the supports  310  and  311 . As the stacks S 1  and S 2  build, the platform  61  and hence the tray  200  are gradually lowered to maintain the tops of the stacks  51  and  52  at a relatively constant distance, as when the stacker is empty. It is also seen that the separator bar  307  causes the tags T 1  and T 2  to separate as depicted in  FIGS. 12 and 14 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show the slitter  305  in greater detail than in  FIG. 10 . The slitter  305  is shown to comprise a frame generally indicated at  318  with end plates  319  and  320  joined by lateral supports  321  and  322 . The slitter frame  318  can be bolted to the printer frame  70 . The frame plates  319  and  320  rotatably mount slitter shafts  323  and  324  to which meshing gears  325  and  326  are secured. The gear  326  is driven by a gear  327  which meshes with an idler gear  328 . The shafts  323  and  324  have annular slitter blades  329  and  330  secured thereto. As best shown in  FIG. 16 , the slitter blade  329  is sharpened to a continuous annular edge  331  and the slitter blade  330  is sharpened to a continuous annular edge  332 . The edges  331  and  332  are preferably in edge-to-edge contact to cause the wide web  300  to be slit as indicated at S ( FIG. 9 ). As best shown in  FIG. 16 , the end plates  319  and  320  rotatably mount a threaded shaft  333  having oppositely threaded portions  334  and  335 . The threaded portion  334  can, for example, be a left-hand threaded portion  334  and the threaded portion  335  can be a right-hand threaded portion. The portion  334  threadably mounts a non-rotatable guide  336  and the portion  335  threadably mounts a non-rotatable guide  337 . A knob  338  on the shaft  333  can be used to adjust for wide webs  300  of different widths. 
       FIG. 17  shows the gear  328  as meshing with a gear  339  which is secured on a common shaft  340  for rotation as a unit with a gear  341 . The gear  341  is driven by a gear  342  which in turn is driven by a motor  343 . 
       FIGS. 18 through 20  show the stacker  51  with a different arrangement of supporting and side guiding than in  FIGS. 10 through 14 . The stacker  51  includes the support structure  309  magnetically adhered directly to the platform  61  which is comprised of magnetizable material. A wall  308 ′ is like the wall  308  and a base  315 ′ is like the base  315 . A magnetic strip  316  is adhered to the underside of the base  315 ′. The base  315 ′ extends forwardly and terminates at a downwardly extending flange or handle  344 . The arrangement shown in  FIG. 18  is intended to accumulate tags as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 10 through 17 , except the user can reach in and lift the stacks S 1  and S 2  out of the stacker  51 . As shown, the wall  156  of the stacker  51  provides a side edge guide or stop for tags T 2  as the tags T 2  accumulate in the stack S 2 , and thereafter. 
       FIG. 20  omits the wall  308 ′ for clarity.  FIG. 20 , however, shows the slitter  305 , the feed mechanism  58 , the cutter  59  and the feed rolls  195  in greater detail. 
     While the various panels  201 ,  202 ,  208 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215 ,  308 ,  308 ′,  315  and  315 ′ are illustrated as being generally rectangular, they can have other shapes. 
     Other embodiments and modifications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: b