Example implementations relate to print media stacks. In some examples, a device may include a sheet channel to guide a sheet of print media within the sheet channel above and separated in a vertical direction from a stack of printed media when the sheet of print media exits a print path of a printer. The device may include a plurality of clamps to control alignment of the sheet of print media on the stack of printed media when the sheet channel moves outboard from the sheet of print media to allow the sheet of print media to fall onto the stack of printed media, wherein the plurality of clamps sequentially pin the sheet of print media to the stack of printed media from a middle portion of the sheet of print media outward.

A stacker device includes: a discharger that discharges sheets in response to a print job; a first tray on which the discharged sheets are stacked; a second tray that serves as a delivery destination of the sheets stacked on the first tray; a shutter that covers an opening on a front side of a housing; a driver that moves the first tray in an up-down direction; and a hardware processor that shuts off power to the driver based on a height position of the shutter and a position of the second tray in a front-rear direction.

A stacker device includes: a discharger that discharges sheets in response to a print job; a first tray on which the discharged sheets are stacked; a second tray that serves as a delivery destination of the sheets stacked on the first tray; a shutter that covers an opening on a front side of a housing; a driver that moves the first tray in an up-down direction; and a hardware processor that shuts off power to the driver based on a height position of the shutter and a position of the second tray in a front-rear direction.

A processing device includes a medium supporting portion having a support surface for supporting at least a front end portion of a transported medium, an aligning portion for aligning the medium supported by the medium supporting portion, a stacking portion provided below the medium supporting portion in a vertical direction, having a stacking surface on which the medium dropped from the medium supporting portion is stacked, and configured to move up and down, and a pressing portion having a pressing surface facing the support surface, the pressing surface being configured to move between a first position and a second position closer to the support surface than the first position, in which the pressing portion is disposed at the first position when the medium is transported to the medium supporting portion, and is disposed at the second position after the aligning portion aligns the medium on the medium supporting portion.

A processing device includes a medium supporting portion having a support surface for supporting at least a front end portion of a transported medium, an aligning portion for aligning the medium supported by the medium supporting portion, a stacking portion provided below the medium supporting portion in a vertical direction, having a stacking surface on which the medium dropped from the medium supporting portion is stacked, and configured to move up and down, and a pressing portion having a pressing surface facing the support surface, the pressing surface being configured to move between a first position and a second position closer to the support surface than the first position, in which the pressing portion is disposed at the first position when the medium is transported to the medium supporting portion, and is disposed at the second position after the aligning portion aligns the medium on the medium supporting portion.

An automated method and system for stacking and loading wrapped or unwrapped facemasks into a carton in a facemask production line includes conveying individual wrapped facemasks in a continuous stream to a stacking location. At the stacking location, the facemasks are deposited into a vertical accumulator such that the facemasks are stacked in the accumulator. Upon reaching a predetermined fill level of facemasks in the accumulator, a bottom retainer in the accumulator is opened such that the stacked facemasks drop into a carton placed below the accumulator. Upon opening the bottom retainer, a mid-level retainer is actuated in the accumulator that captures facemasks that continue to be deposited into the accumulator at an intermediate height above the bottom retainer. The bottom retainer is closed after the stacked facemasks drop into the carton, and the mid-level retainer is then opened such that the facemasks captured by the mid-level retainer drop onto the bottom retainer.

An automated method and system for stacking and loading wrapped or unwrapped facemasks into a carton in a facemask production line includes conveying individual wrapped facemasks in a continuous stream to a stacking location. At the stacking location, the facemasks are deposited into a vertical accumulator such that the facemasks are stacked in the accumulator. Upon reaching a predetermined fill level of facemasks in the accumulator, a bottom retainer in the accumulator is opened such that the stacked facemasks drop into a carton placed below the accumulator. Upon opening the bottom retainer, a mid-level retainer is actuated in the accumulator that captures facemasks that continue to be deposited into the accumulator at an intermediate height above the bottom retainer. The bottom retainer is closed after the stacked facemasks drop into the carton, and the mid-level retainer is then opened such that the facemasks captured by the mid-level retainer drop onto the bottom retainer.

The invention provides a fiber product folding and stacking system comprising at least one folding wheel, a plurality of suction channels, a plurality of valves and a plurality of passages. The folding wheel includes a plurality of protruding wheels and a plurality of recessing wheels. The protruding wheels and the recessing wheels are adjacent to each other, and suction channels are arranged within the protruding wheels. The passages are disposed in the folding wheel and are fluidly connected to the suction channel. The valves are disposed within the recessing wheels of the folding wheel, and include a connecting opening, a valve channel and a valve opening. When the folding wheel rotates, portion of the suction channels will be fluidly connected to the valve channel through the passage and the valve opening to generate a negative pressure thereon for absorbing the fiber product.

The invention provides a fiber product folding and stacking system comprising at least one folding wheel, a plurality of suction channels, a plurality of valves and a plurality of passages. The folding wheel includes a plurality of protruding wheels and a plurality of recessing wheels. The protruding wheels and the recessing wheels are adjacent to each other, and suction channels are arranged within the protruding wheels. The passages are disposed in the folding wheel and are fluidly connected to the suction channel. The valves are disposed within the recessing wheels of the folding wheel, and include a connecting opening, a valve channel and a valve opening. When the folding wheel rotates, portion of the suction channels will be fluidly connected to the valve channel through the passage and the valve opening to generate a negative pressure thereon for absorbing the fiber product.

Example implementations relate to print media stacks. In some examples, a device may include a sheet channel to guide a sheet of print media within the sheet channel above and separated in a vertical direction from a stack of printed media when the sheet of print media exits a print path of a printer. The device may include a plurality of clamps to control alignment of the sheet of print media on the stack of printed media when the sheet channel moves outboard from the sheet of print media to allow the sheet of print media to fall onto the stack of printed media, wherein the plurality of clamps sequentially pin the sheet of print media to the stack of printed media from a middle portion of the sheet of print media outward.