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Definition: stacker


(1) (Stacker) An earlier real-time compression program from Stac Electronics, Carlsbad, CA. It doubled the disk capacity of a DOS, Windows, Mac or OS/2 computer.

(2) An output bin on a copy or fax machine or other paper feeding device. In the early days of data processing, stackers were found on every punch card machine. Contrast with hopper. See tabulator.




Punch Card Stackers (1960)
Ordering data into sequence required placing the punch cards in the input hopper of the sorter, running them through, removing them from the stackers (arrow) and putting them back in the hopper again. For example, sorting a ten-digit account number required 10 passes through the machine.