Abstract: A stacking device for stacking card-shaped products in vertically upright positions. The stacking device has a brake stop that is flexible in the moving direction of the card-shaped products and mounted on a rocker-type drivable component. The rocker presses against the stack end in the stacking direction to advance the stack to receive additional products. The stacking device further includes a stack receiver defining the front end of the stack and including a holding bracket with a bearing surface. The stack receiver preferably is adjustable to accommodate varying widths of products to be stacked.

Abstract: A thermal printer is equipped with apparatus for allowing the thermal printer to be quickly and easily adapted to the type of paper currently being used without the need for testing and adjusting to obtain an essentially optimum print quality. The printer can also be equipped with a temperature sensor, attached to the thermal print head and connected to the computer control to essentially also produce printed images of uniformly high quality regardless of temperature fluctuations of the thermal print head. The necessary information for providing the adjustment values for producing the high quality print can be stored in a read/write memory connected to the processor.

Abstract: A portable printer is disclosed in which the printer comprises a housing; a printing unit; means for supplying to said printing unit a substrate onto which indicia are to be printed; and means for inputting data to control the nature of the indicia printed at said printing unit, characterized in that said housing includes a main frame which serves to support the functional components of the printer; and a protective housing which fits over said frame.