Stacker for die-cut products

Abstract

A stacker for stacking labels die-cut from a continuous web by a die cutter into vertical stacks. The stacker is of the kind that includes at least one stacking chute having an upper opening and a number of mainly vertically arranged walls, at least one overlying belt conveyor having a conveyor belt designed with a number of suction holes distributed along the belt and having a lower run with a direction of conveyance running from the die cutter to the stacking chute, and a suction box located above the lower run and connected to a vacuum source communicating with the suction holes of the lower run via the suction box in an area around the die cutter but not in an area around the stacking chute. A channel for receiving the lower run of the conveyor belt or a lower part of this run is designed in at least a front wall of the walls of the stacking chute, seen in the direction of conveyance, said channel is extending in this direction. The stacker has a simple structure and is able to stack products at the same rate as a rotary die cutter can die-cut the products. Thereby, it is possible to utilize the capacity of the rotary die cutter completely.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.