Contents
1 Introduction
Purpose and Scope1-1
Design Philosophy1-1
Track Record 1-2
Patents1-2
2 Safety
Fully Enclosed Palletizer Frames 2-1
Light Curtain Protection 2-1
Redundant Fail Safe Hoist Protection2-2
Touch-Safe Panel Design 2-2
3 Controls
Control Components 3-1
Color Touch Screen 3-1
On-Screen Pattern Load Programming 3-1
Compact Flash Backup 3-3
4 Models
Low Infeed 4-1
High Infeed 4-2
Oversized Loads 4-3
Pallet Jack Pallet Handling Models 4-4
Custom Solutions4-4
5 Loads
Product Requirements5-1
Loads Built on a Pallet 5-3
Loads Built on a Slip Sheet 5-3
Load Build Pallet-less 5-3
Layer Load Weights 5-3
Load Heights 5-3
Restrictions 5-4
6 Throughput Rates
7 Product Infeed Conveyor
Customer Upstream Conveyor 7-1
Product Metering 7-1
Product Turning7-2
8 Row Build Conveyor
Electronic Gapping8-1
Blade Stop Gapping 8-1
9 Row Transfer Pushers and Pullers
VFD Controlled Row Pusher and Puller 9-1
High-Speed Continuous Row Pusher9-1
Electric Row Pusher 9-2
10 Layer Head
Layer Head Frame Construction 10-1
Layer Head Operations10-1
Layer Head Capabilities 10-1
Roller Floor Construction 10-3
11 Palletizer Frame
12 Concurrent Stretch Wrapping
13 Tie Sheet Dispenser
Standard Tie Sheet Dispenser 13-1
Exterior Tie Sheet or Separator Dispenser 13-1
14 Slip Sheet or Pallet Liner Dispenser
Swing Arm Dispenser 14-1
Shuttle Dispenser 14-1
Modified Tie Sheet Dispenser14-1
15Palletized Load Conveyor Systems
Strand Chain Conveyor15-1
Powered Roller Conveyor 15-1
Conveyor for Pallet-less Loads 15-2
16Pallet Dispensers
Fixed Size Dispenser for Side Pocket Pallets 16-1
Sliding Arm Pallet Dispenser for Wing Pallets 16-1
Forklift Style Pallet Dispenser 16-2
17Layout Options
Low Infeed Standard Palletizer17-2
High Infeed Standard and Internal Build17-2
Low & High Infeed with External Build 17-2
Accessory Footprints17-3
19Freight, Installation & Support
Freight 19-1
Installation 19-1
Post Sales Support19-2
18Multi-Line Solutions
Legacy Multi-Line Solutions 18-1
TopTier Multi-Line Solutions 18-2
A1Summary of Requirements
A2 Performance Guarantee
A3 Warranty
A4 Contact
Introduction
Innovation from TopTier has achieved levels of performance never before available at an affordable cost
TopTier palletizers offer function, value, and durability superior to any other palletizing solution TopTier sets a new standard in palletizing automation
Easy to program and operate Create any pattern Palletize any product Speeds up to 3 layers per minute
Introduction
Purpose and Scope
Design Philosophy
Track Record
This Product Guide describes the advantages that separate TopTier palletizers from legacy, robotic, and gantry palletizer systems Improved palletizers were developed by TopTier to address shortcomings in the options available for the automation of pallet loading Legacy palletizers had been characteristically bulky and expensive machines that were difficult to program and inflexible to the changing requirements of product and layer patterns Robotic solutions continued to prove expensive, with program adjustments typically performed by outside vendors
The members of the TopTier engineering team bring an extensive portfolio of successful machine design for the material handling industry Based on the principal that simple solutions always work best, our palletizers were developed using evolutionary patented improvements in technology
TopTier palletizers are designed to meet the following functional requirements: n Capable of handing virtually any load requirement, including cases, bundles and bags n Compact to accommodate restricted production areas n Flexible modular design to accommodate multiple layout requirements n Easy to use, without need for outside support and maintenance n Reliable performance under continuous operations in harsh environments n A full compliment of pallet loading accessories, including stretch wrap and tie sheets n Affordable entry cost with short-term cost justification and low maintenance overhead
TopTier palletizers were introduced to the marketplace in 1998, and have been field proven by leading Fortune 500 companies Applications range from low-speed substitution of manual operations to high-speed production, and include a wide array of products in the food and beverage, health care, commodities, and general manufacturing industries After five years of field success, TopTier has evolved into a leading supplier of palletizers and accessories A current list of TopTier customers and product testimonials is available upon request
Safety
Safety is an overriding focus of TopTier engineering The following features are standard on all TopTier models
Fully Enclosed All palletizers are fully enclosed in a Category Three safety cage (seePalletizer Frames
Figure 2A) Large doors on all sides allow easy access should a jam occur or if maintenance access is required Each door is protected by a redundant contact that is continually monitored by a safety relay
Light Curtain Protection
FIGURE 2A
FIGURE 2B
Fully Enclosed Light Curtain Protection
Redundant contact sensors have two circuits A safety relay constantly monitors each sensor to confirm the functional status of the sensor In the condition of either sensor failure or a breach of the enclosure, the safety relay cuts power to all drives Pneumatic devices that retain hazardous energy are purged when the safety circuit is engaged
Pallet exit openings are protected by a muting light curtain (see
Figure 2B) Should an operator break the curtain from the outside, the palletizer will come to a complete stop to preclude injury Even in the event that an operator should trip and breach the light curtain at full speed, the system will react before the falling operator encounters a moving device
During normal operations, the light curtain functionality is muted and allows a load to exit from inside the palletizer without shutting down operations and negatively impacting rates Muting is a sequenced event where the load exiting must travel through sensors in a sequential manner before the light curtain is disabled for load exit The curtain is re-initialized under PLC control and safety relay control when the load clears the curtain
Safety
Redundant Fail Safe Hoist Protection
Should the sequential events occur outside parameters or the load not clear the exit within a preset time, the system will issue an alarm and shut down the palletizer
Palletizers are equipped with four-corner lift hoists to raise and lower the layer head without introducing cantilevered loading (see
Figure 2C) Some models raise and lower the row build conveyor or layer pre-build table in the same manner Each corner of the device being lifted is connected to a lift chain with a length adjustor to compensate for differential chain stretch All chains are driven by separate sprockets, and the chains are held against their sprocket by clamps to assure a chain cannot detach from the drive sprocket The sprockets are driven by a common drive shaft connected to a drive that includes a fail-safe spring-applied brake that engages when power to the motor is absent
In addition to the fail-safe brake hoist safety system, spring-applied latches (see
Figure 2D) are engaged whenever power to the drive removed The latches engage a serrated vertical guide used for each lift device
FIGURE 2C
Redundant Safety Hoist
Touch-Safe Panel Design
FIGURE 2D
FIGURE 2E
Redundant Safety Latches Touch-Safe Panel
TopTier provides an electrical panel utilizing touch-safe components (see
Figure 2E) Touch-safe components significantly decrease the potential for electrical shock should maintenance personnel need to access the panel with electrical power connected All control elements are 24 volt DC
Controls
Control Components
Color Touch Screen
Standard TopTier controls provide functionality and ease of use far superior to any other palletizer solution The summary below provides an introduction of the standard control capabilities built into every TopTier palletizer Consult the TopTier Operations Guide for a complete description of palletizer programming and controls
Allen Bradley control elements are used throughout TopTier palletizers The standard PLC is Allen Bradley CompactLogix, with optional alternatives available EuroDrive VFDs are used exclusively for hoisting applications and standard for all other applications TopTier uses VFDs on many drives to allow controlled acceleration and deceleration to achieve increased machine longevity, accurate positioning control and gentle product handling
All TopTier palletizers are equipped with a color touch screen control interface Interface screens provide dozens of functions including manual control of all devices, simple case count adjustment, alarm messages with corrective actions, timer adjustments, system purge and all other functions required to configure or adjust palletizer operations Access to functional operations through the screen interface is comprehensive, with no requirement to access the underlying PLC code
On-Screen Pattern Layer patterns are created using the touch screen interface Any pattern
Load Programming can be added in a few minutes using exclusive EasyStack layer
programming software EasyStack includes sophisticated functions such
Controls
Fifty Load Patterns Standard
On-Screen Adjustments and Alarms
as labels-out, tie sheet insertion levels, special pallet stretch wrap sequence, and pattern build gap requirements Each pattern menu instruction is unique to up to 50 patterns A global pattern menu is not required
Palletizer controllers store up to fifty separate patterns Each pattern can be named with a customer selected alphanumeric name consisting of up to 16 symbols Standard SKU numbers or other pattern names are used to simplify operator selection of new patterns Programmed patterns are easily selected from a scroll down list for instantaneous load pattern change
Each load pattern menu offers 1 to 40 cases per layer standard, with additional case capability optionally available Standard programming features include: number of layers per load, load interlocking, column stacking and combination column/interlocking loads
The copy and paste pattern menu feature allows easy creation of new patterns by using another menu as a template New menus that are closely similar to an existing pattern menu can be added quickly without inputting redundant data
The most common operational fault encountered with any palletizer operation involves cases entering the system out of sequence In such an event, an alarm message will occur with the interface screen displaying possible corrective actions The operator simply adjusts case count at the touch screen and automatic operations are resumed Generally, case jams or miscounts are remedied in seconds Noncritical alarms such as "PALLET DISPENSER LOW" will display while automatic operations continue Alarms that require immediate attention will stop the palletizer for operator intervention
VFD parameters and related timers and counters are adjustable using the touchscreen and without opening the cabinet The VFD adjustment screen includes a full factory description of VFD attributes The control system allows for two speed groups to accommodate different load requirements
Controls
Compact Flash All machine settings, VFD parameters, and pattern builds are Backup automatically backed-up on compact flash disks (see
Figure 3A) Data may be transferred to any computer, and critical backups stored off-site Control system updates and revisions are downloaded from TopTier and transferred to the palletizer on the compact flash disk
FIGURE 3A
Compact Flash Card
Models
Low-Infeed
TT-L10/TT-L20/TT-L25
Standard Low-Infeed
FIGURE 4A
TT-L10/L20/L25
Low-Infeed palletizers accommodate existing low level conveyor and are typically used for replacement of manual palletizing operations Low-Infeed palletizers build rows at the infeed elevation and transports each row to the layer deposit level
n Infeed from 12" to 72"
n 115" x 80" footprint
n Multiple infeed and pallet exit options
n Finished pallet to 80" tall; optional to 108"
Layers are built on the layer head and then delivered to the pallet (see
Figure 4A)
FIGURE 4B
TT-L50
Concurrently built layers on a pre-build table are transported to the level of the layer head and swept onto the layer head (see
Figure 4B)
TT-L50
Low-Infeed with Layer Pre-build Table
Models
High-Infeed TT-H10/TT-H20
Standard High-Infeed
FIGURE 4C
TT-H10/H20
High-Infeed palletizers are used when the case infeed level is above the tallest finished load TopTier High-Infeed palletizers lower layers to the load so the pallet remains stationary during load build
n Infeed from 72" to 144" standard for short pallets; infeed
can be 6" above finished pallet height
n Multiple infeed and pallet exit options
n Finished pallet to 108" tall
Layers are built on the layer head and then delivered to the pallet (see
Figure 4C)
TT-H50e
High-Infeed with External Layer Pre-Build Table
FIGURE 4D
TT-H50e
The external pre-build table allows concurrent layer build operations and layer conditioning and deposit operations for higher throughput rates (see
Figure 4D)
n High-speed operation
n 80" x 120" footprint
Models
TT-H50i
High-Infeed with Internal Layer Pre-Build
Oversized Loads
FIGURE 4E
TT-H50i
A layer is constructed on the internal pre-build table and transferred to a standard layer head nested below the pre-build table While the layer head transports and conditions the layer for deposit, layer construction continues on the internal pre-build table (see
Figure 4E)
n High speed operation
n 80" x 80" footprint
Options are available to handle higher loads and wider layers All models are capable of handling loads up to 110" in height and layer widths of up to 60" x 60" (see
Figure 4F)
FIGURE 4F
Oversized Loads
Models
Pallet Jack Pallet Low and High-Infeed models operating at lower throughput rates are Handling Models available with pallet jack pallet handling (see
Figure 4G) Empty pallets are positioned by the operator, and the operator removes full pallets with a pallet jack Due to increased pallet change out time, rates of less than a layer every 90 seconds apply
FIGURE 4G
Pallet Jack Pallet Handling
Custom Solutions Special requirements are accommodated by making modifications to standard components Modular design allows cost-effective customization with no sacrifice to performance and reliability (see
Figures 4H & 4I)
All TopTier palletizers are available in stainless steel Suitable for non-caustic wash down or other special environments
FIGURE 4H
Stainless
Loads
FIGURE 5A
Cases
Product Requirements TopTier palletizers are capable of building nearly any load on pallets, pallet-less or other industry requirement
Cases Corrugated cases and trays with and without overwrap are the most common application (see
Figure 5A)
Standard Requirements
Width and Depth Minimum: 6" x 6" Maximum:
Case Turning: 27" Diagonal No Case Turning: 28" x 50"
Height Standard Minimum: 2" Standard Maximum: 18"
Weight Standard Minimum: 3 lbs Standard Maximum: 50 lbs
Layer Load Standard: 300 lbs Maximum: 1000 lbs
Layer Dimensions Standard Maximum: 50" x 50"
Special Conditions
n Product heights of less than 2" or greater than 18" require engineering review n Product weights of less than 3 lbs or greater than 50 pounds require engineering review
Oversized Loads
n Oversized layer loads of up to 60" x 60" require
engineering review n Diagonal limitation for product is 37" for turned cases n Maximum non-turned case dimension is 38" x 60" n Maximum layer weight is 600 pounds for machines designed to
handle oversized loads
Loads
Overwrapped Bundles must be tight to the product and without film tails (seeBundles
Figure 5B)
Bags
Buckets,
Pails, and
Nested Containers
Freezer Loads
FIGURE 5C
FIGURE 5B
Overwrapped Bundles Buckets
Palletizers have limited bag handling capabilities Bags that are firm with limited product flow inside the bag can be handled effectively Generally infeed conveyor, turning, and row pusher devices must be configured for a specific bag Engineering review of actual product is required prior to quoting
Due to the consistency of layer set down accuracy, palletizers effectively handle totes, trays and buckets that nest when stacking (see
Figures 5C & 5D) Engineering review of actual product is required prior to quoting
FIGURE 5D
FIGURE 5E
Nested Tablock Containers Freezer Loads
Electronic gapping achieves ideal separation for freezer loads (see
Figure 5E)
Loads
Loads Built on a Pallet
Loads Built on a Slip Sheet
Loads Built Pallet-less
Layer Load Weights
Load Heights
Loads can be built on pallets of various sizes including CHEP or GMA Wing pallets or pallets without bottom runners may require special pallet conveyor
Loads can be built on slip sheets with or without pallets Pallet-less loads require close-centered pallet roller conveyor, mesh conveyor or belt conveyor
Loads built without a pallet or slip sheet can be built on a turntable and concurrently stretch wrapped, with exit on standard conveyor Loads built without a pallet that are not concurrently stretch wrapped must be built on a moving floor conveyor such as slat or wire mesh conveyor
The palletizers build layers on a layer head, with the load deposited at a stationary load build position Consequently, total load weight generally does not impact palletizer performance
n Layer weights of 300 pounds are standard n Layer weights from 300 pounds to 500 pounds require increased hoist drive sizing
n Layers weights from 500 pounds to 1000 pounds require increased hoist drive sizing and close centered rollers on the layer head n Machines designed to handle oversized layers are generally limited
to 600 pound layer weights
The palletizers are designed to build loads to any customer requirement Low-Infeed machines require frame extensions to accommodate loads taller than standard The cost of modification is modest and the finished machine ships as upper and lower sections inside a standard dry van
Maximum Standard Height n Low or High-Infeed palletizers with pallet jack pallet handling, including the pallet: 84" n Low or High-Infeed palletizer equipped with a stretch wrapper or pallet conveyor, including the pallet: 72" Maximum Special Height n Both Low or High-Infeed palletizers can be equipped with a frame extension and build loads to 110" (see
Figure 5E)
Loads
Restrictions
FIGURE 5E
Overheight Load (110")
The palletizers are designed to offer the flexibility of handling a wide variety products Product consistency is critical to the successful operation of the palletizer Deficiencies that will impact operation include:
n Cases erected improperly to create parallelograms can impact case turning and finished layer quality
n Improper taping resulting in two cases joined or attached
entering together, or a tape tail that can become stuck on
rollers will often cause miss-counts or jams
n Case bottoms that are not flat are difficult to rotate at a case turner due to inconsistent contact with the conveyor roller surface
n The palletizer can accommodate case tops with a slight bulge Open flaps or excessive bulging can create problems when the next layer is deposited
TopTier requires representative product to be delivered to our plant for pre-shipment testing for most orders placed The resolution of product handling characteristics is critical in achieving successful installations Should pre-order discussions indicate potential product handling issues, TopTier may request samples prior to quoting
Throughput Rates
Palletizer throughput rates are subject to several considerations The pattern of each layer is the primary factor in determining ultimate throughput rates The total numbers of layers per load and the row push direction also influence rates TopTier engineering performs an analysis each layer pattern in order to generate the highest possible throughput rates Efficient layer patterns begin with the construction of efficient rows Rates are often significantly impacted by the row push direction Some patterns are efficiently built pushing 40" rows and others benefit from pushing 48" rows for a typical 40" x 48" pallet pattern Final determination of anticipated throughput rates can are confirmed after engineering review of layout and pallet patterns
Following are general guidelines of palletizer throughput rates Rates are not impacted by the number of cases per row
TT-L10 Standard Low-Infeed Model
Generally 2 to 5 rows per minute are achieved (1-15 CPM)
TT-L20 Low-Infeed Model with High-Speed Lifts
Generally 4 to 6 rows per minute are achieved (10 to 20 CPM)
TT-L25 Low-Infeed Model with External Row Build
A row is constructed external to the palletizer requiring additional floor space Because row build is concurrent with row transport and push, throughput is increased Generally 5 to 8 rows per minute are achieved (10 to 25 CPM) Total throughput is usually less than two layers per minute
TT-L50 Low-Infeed Model with Layer Pre-Build
Layer pre-build palletizers build a full layer concurrent with layer
conditioning and layer deposit High-speed row pushers reduce the
impact of the number of rows per layer Generally rates are 2 to 4
layers per minute (20 to 50 CPM)
Throughput Rates
TT-H10 Standard High-Infeed Model
Because vertical row transport is not required when building layers, rates are higher than Low-Infeed palletizers Rates are generally 8 pushes (2 layers) per minute
TT-H50e High-Infeed Model with External Layer Pre-Build
Rates are generally 2 to 4 layers per minute
TT-H50i High-Infeed Model with Internal Layer Pre-Build
Rates are generally 2 to 4 layers per minute
Product Infeed Conveyor
Customer Upstream Conveyor
Product Infeed Location
Product Metering
Due to the variety of products handled, TopTier offers several standard product infeed systems Two subsystems make up the palletizer infeed: product metering and product turning Upstream customer conveyor must be considered in many applications
Palletizers are often located immediately downstream of a taper or product sealer Due to the inherent surging of palletizer operations caused by the stop and start motions of the meter system feeding the product turner, some gravity conveyor between the product metering system and customer equipment is recommended when rates exceed 8 CPM Faster systems equipped with a pre-build table require at least 5 feet of gravity conveyor upstream of the metering conveyor
To avoid overrunning the metering system, TopTier recommends that customer powered conveyor located immediately upstream of the palletizer be automatically stopped should product begin to accumulate, and automatically restarted once the accumulation is relieved TopTier provides engineering recommendations for customer supplied downstream conveyor on faster systems
Products entering the meter belt that are turned by a product bump turner must enter registered against the guardrail side of the infeed system that the product turner is on If products are not positioned against the turner side, the product can miss the bump turner and enter the palletizer without turning which will cause a jam or incorrect layer pattern
Products entering the meter belt that are turned by a lift and rotate device or differential drive system need to enter on the centerline of the infeed conveyor system Product must be prevented from entering the system two abreast or turned 90 degrees from normal
The standard metering system is a dual meter belt (see
Figure 7A) The rough top belt section runs slower than the second conveyor The high friction surface of the first belt restrains products accumulated upstream
The second belt runs at product turning speed and pulls a gap through the differential speed of the two belts for product counting Standard speed on the product turning section is 180 FPM
Product Infeed Conveyor
Product Turning Bump Turner
Bump Turn and Assist
FIGURE 7A
Dual Metering Belt
Layer building requires product turning Due to the variety of products handled, several turners are available
The vast majority of products are turned by a bump turner Products that travel straight do not hit the turn blade Those that require turning hit the turner face and a combination of inertia and conveyor drive causes the product to rotate 90 degrees around the turner blade The turner blade has cushioning either through an air cylinder or springs Products inappropriate for the bump turning method include:
n Long narrow products
n Products with a diagonal dimension in excess of 24"
n Very small or very heavy products
Some long products require an assist to turn around a bump turner (see
Figure 7B) An assist cylinder extends when the product hits the turn blade and helps start the turn process by pushing the rear of the product Conveyor drive and inertia completes the product turn cycle
FIGURE 7B
Bump Turn & Assist
Product Infeed Conveyor
Lift and Rotate A lift and rotate device raises the product off the conveyor, rotates the product 90 degrees and lowers the product down to the conveyor (see
Figure 7C) The device is generally used for products with a diagonal dimension above 24" Lift and rotate devices are also used for soft bottom products where roller drive does not provide reliable turning Rates are less than 15 CPM
FIGURE 7C
Lift & Rotate
Lift and Rotate Lift and rotate devices can be equipped with enhanced controls to rotate with Labels Out products 90 degrees right, left or 180 degrees to achieve programmed labels-out finished pallets (see
Figure 7D) Labels-out programming is a standard feature of TopTier's EasyStack software provided with each palletizer Rates are less than 15 CPM
FIGURE 7D
Lift & Rotate Labels Out
Differential Differential drive consists of two belts that run under product in a product
Drive turning section of the infeed conveyor If the product requires turning, one belt slows down which causes the faster belt to swing one side of the product and causes the product to turn 90 degrees The motion is similar to the turning method of a tracked vehicle such as a tank
The system is appropriate for larger flat-bottomed products running at high rates Because motion is continuous, more product can be inducted through the product turner than a lift and rotate or bump turner Differential drive speeds are unique for each pattern menu allowing instant product changes without manually adjusting speeds after initial setup
Product Infeed Conveyor
Right Angle Right angle infeeds are used only when dictated by layout constraints Product Turning
Figure7E) When a product enters the palletizer in the same
Infeed (see orientation as it enters the meter belt, product rotates around a turning post If change of orientation is required, product feeds onto a right angle transfer
FIGURE 7E
Right Angle Product Turning Infeed
Layout constraints sometimes require special equipment to achieve an effective palletizing solution Pullers are sometimes used to pull a product onto the palletizer infeed when space is not available for a curve This method is suitable only for low throughput rates
Sequenced multiple bump turners are used to achieve labels-out if rates exceed the capability of a lift and rotate device Infeed length must be increased a minimum of 10' and the system is unsuitable for some products
Special Infeed Systems
FIGURE 7F
FIGURE 7G
Case Puller High-speed Labels-out Case Rotator
Row Build Conveyor
Electronic Gapping
Standard palletizers construct rows for transfer to the layer head or layer pre-build table on the row build conveyor 19" roller conveyor with centers of 3" are typical 2" centers are used with case dimensions less than 9" For case dimensions less than 6", 1 3/8" rollers are provided on 1 1/2" centers Bags or products not suited for roller conveyor applications require plastic chain or slick top fabric belt conveyors
Electronic gapping capability is standard on all palletizers (see
Figure 8A) Gap distance configuration is a standard feature of EasyStack software, and allows each pattern to have separate row build gapping instructions Gapping is achieved with precise VFD control of the row build conveyor speed VFD control contributes less wear to the equipment because rollers do not continue to drive under a stopped product and because product does not collide abruptly against a row stop
Electronically Gapped Product on a Layer Head
FIGURE 8A
Product Gapping
Blade Stop Gapping Traditional blade row stops are available as a special requirement Due to the increased abuse of the row build conveyor and abruptness of product stops, blade stops are seldom employed Special requirements include inconsistencies in the bottom surface of the product that prevent accurate electronic gapping
Row Transfer Pushers and Pullers
VFD Controlled Row Pusher and Puller
Methods of transferring constructed rows to the layer head are based on the product handled and rates required TopTier has several technologies available
The standard row transfer device from TopTier is a reciprocating row pusher or puller (see
Figure 9A) Row pushers are used on all palletizers except Low-Infeed palletizers without a pre-build table (TT-L10/TT-L20) Models TT-L10/TT-L20 transfer rows with a puller Row pullers are used on all models Palletizers with external pre-build tables utilize both a row pusher, and a layer puller
FIGURE 9A
Row Pusher & Puller
All pushers and pullers have wide flat-faced surface that contacts the product to distribute the contact surface load and minimize potential damage Movement is by controlled acceleration and deceleration VFD, and achieves gentle product handling
Due to the ability to control the motion precisely, the reciprocating motion of the device is nearly as fast as a continuous pusher Rates are generally not impacted by use of the standard design
Extremely fast applications sometimes require use of a continuous row pusher (see
Figure 9B) The device mounts over the row build conveyor in a separate safety enclosure Two chain loops support a continuous motion pusher bar that pushes the row and returns over the top allowing continual case infeed By eliminating the retracting stroke characteristic of the standard pusher, continuous pushers are faster in some applications
High-Speed Continuous Row Pusher
Row Transfer Pushers and Pullers
FIGURE 9B
Continuous Row Pusher
Continuous pusher devices are disadvantaged by the smaller contact surface of the pusher bar The combination of small contact surface and rapid motion increases the potential for damage to the product Continuous pushers are not employed on delicate product or product on which case marking is unacceptable
High-Speed Special handling requirements can be accommodated by a electrically Row Pusher operated pusher (see
Figure 9C)
FIGURE 9C
Electric Row Pusher
Layer Head
Layer Head Frame Construction
TopTier uses a layer head to build, condition and transport layers for deposit onto an empty pallet or previously deposited layer Our universal layer head is used for all models including High-Infeed palletizers TopTier High-Infeed machines build the layer at the infeed level and lower the layer on the layer head for deposit on the pallet The following features and benefits demonstrate the innovations of TopTier's layer head design
The layer head frame is a precision laser cut and formed weldment that is designed to support a 1,000 pound layer standard (see
Figure 10A) Each corner is supported by a hoist chain that is attached with an adjustable connector to compensate for chain stretch The resulting noncantilevered system is guided by oil impregnated nylon vertical travel guides
Layer Head
Operations
Layer Head Capabilities
Layer Size
FIGURE 10B
FIGURE 10A
Layer head Frame Weldment Layer Head Conditioning Load
The simplicity of the layer head operation is apparent upon viewing one layer deposit cycle After a layer is constructed of rows, the layer is conditioned on four sides and the roller floor retracts into the vertical "L" of the layer head The conditioned layer is then deposited through the open layer head floor (see
Figures 10B-10D) Palletizer operations are available for viewing on video by accessing the TopTier web site through the navigation tab on the left side of this page
Despite the simplicity of the layer head system, just about any palletizing application can be handled effectively
The layer head allows finished loads to 50" square Machines designed to handle oversized loads are available with an opening of 60" square
Layer Head
Layer Build Direction
Layer Build with Gap Patterns
Layer Conditioning
A standard layer head can receive 40" or 48" rows for a standard GMA pallet load in standard configuration The ability to build a load with either row length increases layout flexibility and allows layers to be built at higher speeds
Layer heads are equipped with 'wings' on both sides of the roller floor that creates a 63" wide row length limit Thus, gap patterns can be spread out over the available 63" space if required The wings allow a large layer build area and minimizes the support roller floor tube length for increased strength to the net size of the floor opening
All layer heads are equipped with four-sided layer conditioning (see Figure 10E) Two sides are compressed by centering clamps that always center the load over the floor opening down to 32" Center clamping is pneumatic allowing air pressure adjustment to control clamping force
FIGURE 10C
Layer Head
One side of the layer is compressed against the layer head backstop by the retracting of the roller floor in combination with layer back-clamp compression
The layer head back-clamp function is achieved with the row puller on slower speed Low-Infeed machines The VFD that controls the puller transitions into Torque Control Mode when clamping, allowing menubased clamp force adjustment High-Infeed or Low-Infeed high-speed palletizer layer heads are equipped with a pneumatic-actuated submerged roller that rotates up and compresses the layer on the fourth side
Layer Head
Load Positioning Relative to the Pallet
Layer Pattern Flexibility
Roller Floor Construction
Both back clamp systems can travel to within 32" of the layer head backstop When combined with 32" side clamping capability of the centering clamps, the clamp systems provides four-side layer conditioning for any load down to 32" square
The layer head backstop is registered to one edge of the pallet If several loads sizes are handled, an adjustable backstop is available to position the load inside the pallet dimensions on all sides, equally overhanging the pallet dimensions or any combination required
Essentially any pattern can be built provided the finished layer size is less than the opening of the layer head Maintaining cases at each corner of a layer and spreading gapped cases along any side of the finished layer is a standard capability
The design of the roller floor provides several advantages compared to legacy solutions (see
Figure 10F) Roller support tubes have the ability to rotate, providing less resistance to pushed rows The advantages of a roller surface are most significant when the last row is pushed During advancement of the final row, all previously assembled rows are pushed as well On a static platform, the significantly larger force required increases the likelihood of product damage TopTier's roller floor innovation prevents such potential damage
FIGURE 10D
Roller Floor Construction
Layer Head
Other features and benefits include:
n Rollers are strong 1" diameter 120" wall tubes supported at each end by extended chain pins
n The hardened chain pins have ½" diameter axles pressed onto them Pin length and roller tube bushings are over 1" long Each tube is amply supported and the tubes rotate on lubricated bushings
n The parallel chain loops are driven by large sprockets with 180 degree chain wrap n Idlers guide the chain loop in an 'L' shape and one idler on each side provides chain take-up n Sensors at each end of travel in conjunction with tooth counters allow the PLC to accurately register the floor position
n The motor is VFD controlled for fluid acceleration and deceleration VFD control also allows manipulation of roller floor pullout speed and centering clamp sequences for special layer patterns
Standard roller floor centers are 2 1/2", handling product with a minimum dimension greater than 9" Standard floors handle layer weights up to 500 pounds
Lighter layers with very small products or non-uniform bottom products such as bags require close centered roller floors Close centered floors are equipped with a roller floor on 1 1/4" centers The close centers allow layer weights to 1000 pounds
The versatility of the layer head allows stacking techniques generally not available from legacy palletizers Due to the precise control of roller floor motions through VFD drive and tooth counter combined with manipulation of center clamping motions, layer gaps can be retained on any side of the layer
Layer Head
Special Roller TopTier palletizers also have the ability to stack freezer loads with uniform
Floor Capabilities gaps around all products where air circulation is required Agriculture or industrial plastic containers with mating interlocking tops and bottoms can also be stacked due to precise repeatability of the layer conditioning and layer deposit technology (see
Figures 10G-10I)
Fold Flat Agriculture Trays proper air circulation
FIGURE 10H
FIGURE 10I
Product Gapping Freezer Load
Palletizer Frame
TopTier palletizers are designed in 3D CAD Solids and manufactured using the latest laser cut and CNC forming technologies All frame members are a minimum of ¼" formed mild steel with 8" x 8" corner members (see
Figures 11A-11B)
Strong moment connection due to flush mount All corners are smooth radiuses
FIGURE 11A
FIGURE 11B
Frame Construction Frame Corners
Models share common components allowing increased economies to be passed on to end users By constructing the palletizers from formed steel, conversion to stainless steel is straightforward and cost-efficient
The all welded powder coated box frame is rigid, square and extremely strong Base frame assemblies include forklift pockets to allow easy transport and positioning on the production floor during installation (see
Figure 11C)
Base frame with fork pockets bolted and welded to palletizer sides
FIGURE 11C
Forklift Pockets
Internal Concurrent Stretch Wrapping
All TopTier palletizers are available with concurrent stretch wrapping (see
Figures 12A-12B), with the exception of models with external prebuild tables Because the palletizer continues to build layers on the layer head during the wrap process, rates are not impacted by stretch wrapper operations The load is progressively wrapped as the load is built
Stretch Wrapper Features Turntable Construction
FIGURE 12A
FIGURE 12B
Stretch Wrapping Internal Concurrent Stretch Wrapper
After the final layer of the load is deposited only this top layer requires wrapping Film is cut at the top of the load, so pallet change out is nearly as fast as non-wrapped loads
Turntables are mounted on heavy duty ring bearings integrated into a standard frame base (see
Figure 12C) Electrical & pneumatic rotary unions provide utility connection to the turntable deck Roller conveyor is provided as standard turntable deck Special decks for pallet-less loads are also available Rotation is controlled by a VFD drive with tooth counter positioning Standard load capacity is 2,500 pounds with heavier weights optional
FIGURE 12C
Turntable Frame
Internal Concurrent Stretch Wrapping
Stretch Wrapper Construction
The stretch wrap head is mounted on a vertical guidepost that is mounted in an enclosure connected to one side of the palletizer The stretch wrapper enclosure becomes an integrated part of the palletizer enclosure and maintains Category Three safety protection (see
Figure 12D) The wrap head is raised and lowered by a VFD controlled drive with position counter
Stretch Wrapper Controls
Film Specifications
FIGURE 12D
Stretch Wrapper Construction
The integration of stretch wrapping and palletizing controls is comprehensive All film handling, cutting and end treatment functions are automatic, and are controlled from the interface screen Wrapping sequence can be part of the layer pattern menu allowing separate wrap sequences for each load Other features include:
n variable number of base and top wraps
n variable wrap density and over wrap
n fixed or variable film tension
n components manually cycled from the control interface
n film brake and other alarms with diagnostics standard
Film heads are set for 250% pre-stretch Good quality film of 80ml thickness is required If other film pre-stretch is required or thinner film is used in existing operations, a sample roll must be provided for testing 20" film rolls are standard
Tie Sheet Dispenser
Standard Tie Sheet Dispenser
The standard tie sheet dispenser uses a telescoping arm to pick and place a sheet onto the load Each load build menu can have distinct sheet insertion instructions Both vertical and horizontal motions of the dispenser are electric with VFD control Sheets are picked with vacuum cups All devices can be manually cycled from the touch screen interface If sheet sizes change with loads, the dispenser magazine can be set with adjustable guides (see
Figure 13A)
External Tie Sheet or
Separator Dispenser
FIGURE 13B
Tie Sheet Dispenser
In the case that 'egg crate' style separators are required for air circulation, an external dispenser is installed on one side of the palletizer (see Figure 13B) The system allows a gripper system to be used suitable for the difficult-to-handle separator sheets The same device can be used for standard tie sheets if the palletizer builds both load styles
If a separator sheet is required, the load under construction shuttles to the dispenser location while the next layer is constructed on the layer head Due to the need to shuttle the load between two positions, layer construction time cannot be less than approximately 45 seconds Concurrent stretch wrapping is not available due to the shuttle time requirements
FIGURE 13B
External Tie Sheet Dispenser
Slip Sheet or Pallet Liner Dispenser
Swing Arm
Dispenser
Slip sheets can be used as pallet liners that are smaller than the pallet or as slip sheets that overhang the pallet When the same material is used for both pallet liners and tie or layer sheets, a tie sheet dispenser can handle both requirements Otherwise, three tie sheet dispenser options are available
Swing arm dispensers are positioned between a pallet dispenser and the palletizer (see
Figure 14A) Swing arm dispensers require an extended infeed conveyor The device is simple and inexpensive
Shuttle Dispenser
Modified Tie Sheet Dispenser
FIGURE 14B
FIGURE 14A
Swing Arm Dispenser Shuttle Dispenser
Shuttle dispensers place a sheet on the pallet after the pallet is positioned for loading (see
Figure 14B) The same design is often used for palletless loads The sheet pick head shuttles between the pick position and set-down position inside the palletizer The device requires little space outside the basic palletizer footprint
If layout requirements do not allow use of the shuttle dispenser or swing arm dispenser, our standard tie sheet dispenser can be used To achieve cost savings, the vertical motion of the dispenser is operated by pneumatic lift rather than VFD electric system
Palletized Load Conveyor Systems
Strand Chain Conveyor
The diversity of load support systems handled requires several conveyor options The bottom board configuration of a pallet or the lack of pallet must be considered when specifying exit conveyors
Chain conveyor features #50 chain supported by key stock contacting the chain roller to provide roller support of the load (see
Figures 15A
-15C) Center drives have 90 degree wrap and include ample chain takeup Frames are heavy ¼" material Optional VFD drives are available for gentle load handling Pallet jack accessible low profile conveyor with access ramps is available Standard design accommodates 2,500 pound total load weights Additional load weight capabilities are available
FIGURE 15C
FIGURE 15A
FIGURE 15B
Pallet Jack Accessable Pallet Conveyor Two-strand Chain Conveyor Three-strand Chain Conveyor
Powered Roller Powered roller conveyor has the same frame and capacity as chain Conveyor conveyor (see
Figures 15D & 15E) Powered roller conveyors are equipped with 2 7/8" diameter rollers with 90 wall Through shafts are supported by sealed bearings at each end The chain-to-chain drive is #40 and the chain guard is mounted flush with top of roller for access from either side Conveyor is available with rollers installed at either 3" or 6" on center
FIGURE 15D
FIGURE 15E
Powered Roller Conveyor 3" Centers Powered Roller Conveyor 6" Centers
Palletized Load Conveyor Systems
Conveyor for Pallet-less Loads
Roller conveyor, wire mesh conveyor and belt conveyor are available for pallet-less loads (see
Figures 15F & 15G) Roller conveyor is equipped with 3" roller centers Turntables are available for right angle transfer requirements
Concurrent stretch wrapping is available Wrapped loads without a slip sheet or pallet are effectively handled when concurrently wrapped
FIGURE 15F
FIGURE 15G
Wire Mesh Conveyor Slip Sheet on Belt Conveyor
Pallet Dispensers
Fixed Size Dispenser for Side Pocket Pallets
Three models are available to provide pallet dispensing solutions for any pallet design All dispensers are rated for 600 pound pallet stacks TopTier pallet dispensers lift and separate pallets; drag-from-the-bottom designs are characteristic of poor reliability and are not offered Heavier stack weight capacities are available
The standard dispenser is used for 40" x 48" pallets (see
Figure 16A) Pallets can be loaded with the forklift accessing either the 40" or 48" side, allowing empty pallets to be loaded in either orientation Loaded pallets exit the palletizer from all directions except from the pallet load side
The dispenser is a lift and separate design where the entire stack is raised above the bottom pallet allowing the empty pallet to discharge on conveyor Lift is pneumatic with a torque tube connecting the two sides for synchronized lift Pallet engagement fingers have low force toggle engagement that lock in place when engaged, yet will not jam if misalignment occurs
Sliding Arm Pallet Dispenser for Side Pocket of Wing Pallets
FIGURE 16A
FIGURE 16B
Standard Pallet Dispenser Sliding Arm Pallet Dispenser
The sliding arm dispenser is suitable for systems that require different size pallets or systems where queued stacks of pallets are fed into the dispenser on conveyor (see
Figure 16B)
The system has cantilevered arms that slide horizontally to engage and disengage from the pallet stack The arms slide on 3" diameter shafts with bushed bearings The cantilevered arm carriage is supported by cam followers and raised or lowered by an electric brake motor
Pallet Dispensers
Forklift Style Pallet Dispenser
Capacity is 600 pounds of pallet stacks Due to limited pallet stack conditioning capability of the design, loaded pallet stacks from a forklift or queue conveyor must be uniformly vertical Loaded pallets exit the palletizer from all directions except from the pallet load side
For winged pallets or other style pallets without side pockets, a fork-style dispenser is appropriate (see
Figure 16C) Forks slide horizontally to engage and disengage the stack The fork assembly also raises and lowers Capacity is a 600 pound pallet stack Loaded pallets exit the palletizer in two possible directions
FIGURE 16C
Forklift Style Pallet Dispenser
Layout Options
All palletizers and accessories are modular in design, providing complete flexibility in the configuration of components and accessories (see Figure 17A) Layout flexibility in combination with the compact nature of the base palletizer overcomes nearly any floor space constraint
FIGURE 17A
Layout Flexibility
Palletizer frames are four-sided Generally any accessory can be installed on any side of the frame The plan view drawings shown in
Figures 17B - 17D provide a guide to the flexibility of layout options Each letter code references the corresponding component or accessory that may be installed at that position All configurations shown can be mirrored for layout purposes For additional information, a configuration CAD drawing is available as well as a configuration utility located on the TopTier web site
Layout Options
Low Infeed Standard Palletizer
A FB EC
D
FIGURE 17B
Low Infeed Standard Palletizer
High Infeed Standard and Internal Pre-Build High-Speed Palletizers
A DB C
FIGURE 17C
High Infeed Palletizer
Low and High Infeed Palletizers With External Layer Pre-build
A FB
EC D
FIGURE 17D
External Pre-build Palletizers
n Palletizer Footprint: 80" x 115"
n Infeed positions: B & F
n Pallet Dispenser, Empty Pallet Infeed
Conveyor, Pallet Jack Access or Load Exit Conveyor positions: A, C, D & E n Stretch Wrap or Tie Sheet Dispenser positions: C, D & E
n Palletizer Footprint: 80" x 80" n Infeed positions: A, B, C & D n Pallet Dispenser, Empty Pallet Infeed
Conveyor, Pallet Jack Access or Load Exit Conveyor positions: A, B, C & D n Stretch Wrap or Tie Sheet Dispenser positions: A, B, C & D
n Palletizer Footprint: 80" x 144" n Infeed Position: A, B & F as shown; C, D & E mirrored
n Pallet Dispenser, Empty Pallet Infeed Conveyor, Pallet Jack Access or Load Exit Conveyor positions: All sides
n Non Concurrent Stretch Wrap: A, B & F as shown; C, D & E mirrored n Tie Sheet Dispenser: C, D & E as shown; A, B & E mirrored
Layout Options
Accessory Footprints
Product Infeed Standard dimensions of the infeed conveyor Conveyor
are 30" x 84" (see
Figure 17E) Alternative lengths and configurations are available as required for special applications
FIGURE 17E
Product Infeed Conveyor
Pallet Dimensions of the standard pallet dispenser is 60" x 63" for delivery of pallets in the narrow (40") orientation (see
Figure 17F)
FIGURE 17F
Pallet Dispenser
Dimensions of the standard tie sheet dispenser is 73" x 73" (see
Figure 17G)
FIGURE 17G
Tie Sheet Dispenser
Stretch Wrap Tower External
To Palletizer The dimensions of the stretch wrap tower
that extends beyond the footprint of the base palletizer is 40" x 70" (see
Figure 17H)
FIGURE 17H
Stretch Wrap Tower
Multi-Line Solutions
Legacy Multi-Line Solutions
High-Speed Palletizer Fed from Conveyor-Accumulated Pallet Loads
Multi-Line Robotic Palletizers
Multi-Line Gantry Palletizer Systems
TopTier offers the superior palletizer solution for multiple production lines TopTier palletizers replace existing hand palletizing operations and are installed on new or upgraded multiple production line operations Legacy palletizing technology offered solutions that are expensive and susceptible to a single point of failure TopTier solutions offer significant improvements and economic advantage over legacy solutions
The dominant legacy technology required product from multiple production lines to be accumulated on central overhead conveyor and delivered to a single high-speed palletizer Such systems require extensive space for conveyor that is expensive to purchase and maintain The high-speed palletizer becomes a single point of failure that potentially impacts all production The potential for failure is increased because the single palletizer must run at very high speeds to handle all product
Robots can be used to palletize more than one line concurrently The lines must feed a centralized pickup point and the product must be suitable for top picking Robots are characterized by high initial purchase cost as well as continuing high cost of support Either plant personnel must be proficient in the management of complex robotic systems or product changes must be supported by expensive third party technicians Robots are characteristically less tolerant of inconsistently formed product than are TopTier palletizers
Gantry systems have many of the same deficiencies as robot systems The capability of gantry systems to pick preconstructed full layers can be effective, but similar issues arise as those of legacy high-speed palletizer systems due to the need to accumulate loads on conveyor and exposure to single point of failure
Multi-Line Solutions
TopTier Multi-Line Solutions
TopTier multi-line solutions have higher throughput potential, alleviate single point of failure, require less space and are less expensive to purchase and maintain than legacy solutions TopTier solutions consist of dedicated palletizers for each line Typical systems employ High-Infeed palletizers configured in a variety of orientations (see
Figure 18A)
TopTier multi-line systems retain all the flexibility and ease of use characteristic of TopTier palletizers TopTier systems offer lower purchase cost, higher rates and better reliability than legacy solutions Future product changeovers are significantly easier than for legacy solutions due to the flexibility of TopTier capabilities
Systems from TopTier offer lower maintenance cost and are operated and maintained without special training TopTier multi-line solutions often include full and empty load pallet handling and stretch wrapping Shuttle carts are available for pallet handling when appropriate Tie sheet systems, slip sheet and multiple pallet style handling are available
FIGURE 18A
Dual Palletizers with Common External Stretch Wrap
Freight, Installation and Post Sales Support
Freight Palletizers are shipped in a standard high cube dry van (see
Figure 19A) Freight cost is lower than flat bed trailers and the equipment is protected from the elements until arrival for installation The integrated fork pockets built into all palletizer frames allows easy unloading and equipment placement in the production room
The customer dock must be suitable for high cube vans with a 110" tall by 100" wide door Most customer forklifts can unload the equipment, but the center distance of the load usually requires dragging the palletizer from the van Once removed from the van, one end of the palletizer is placed on carts and the forklift guides the palletizer into place A forklift easily handles all accessories
Installation
FIGURE 19A
Standard High Cube Dry Van
TopTier palletizers are designed for installation by customer personnel, with no specialized training required Palletizers are fully assembled and pretested prior to shipment Palletizer accessories are reattached to the frame onsite All accessories attach to the frame in a straightforward manner Interconnect wiring must be re-terminated in the panel or multistrand connectors reattached All connections are labeled Machines designed for palletizing oversized tall loads require on-site placement of the upper assembly on top the base frame; use of two forklifts or a single heavy duty forklift is required
Technicians from TopTier are available to perform the installation onsite upon request It is recommended that TopTier technicians provide onsite startup support for high-speed palletizers and for palletizers equipped with stretch wrapping
Freight, Installation and Post Sales Support
Post Sales Support
TopTier palletizers are designed to be operated and supported by inhouse personnel with no specialized training or experience Onsite assistance is available upon request for all palletizers at a negotiated rate TopTier technicians are in the field at all times, and TopTier strives to minimize any potential interruption to operations by providing prompt onsite support Telephone support is provided at no cost during the first year of operation
Schematic drawings, a spare parts list and an operator's manual are included with delivery of all palletizers Training of operators or maintenance personnel is available at no cost during pre-shipment approval at our facility in Portland OR, or for additional cost at any time at the customer's site
Requirements
The following summary of requirements applies to typical applications
Utilities Power: Three-phase, 30 amp Compressed Air: 90 PSI, 5 SCFM
Facilities Minimum Palletizer Footprint: 80" x 80" Minimum Clearance Height: 110" Dock Door: 110" tall by 100" wide
Product Maximum Layer Weight: 1000 lbs Maximum Product Length and Width: 38" x 60" Maximum Load Height: 110"
Pallets Minimum: 24" x 24" Maximum: 60" x 60"
Installation Forklift: Minimum 4000 pound capacity
Operation & Programming: No PLC proficiency Maintenance Mechanical: Minimal mechanical skills
Performance Guarantee
EQUIPMENT CAPABILITY
TopTier equipment will palletize and handle materials at the rates outlined in our quote during the warranty period New products introduced into production will also be covered by this performance guarantee with written approval of TopTier, Inc
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEE
All TopTier equipment will perform as stated in our quote assuming cases are square and properly sealed Performance testing will be performed prior to shipment with customer-supplied product and customer will confirm acceptable equipment performance prior to shipment based on supplied video or acceptance test at our facility
Should performance problems arise after installation the customer must be aware quality of palletized loads is a function of the customer case quality Customer cases that are poorly sealed top or bottom, bulge beyond the cube of the case, are sealed as a parallelogram, have loose or improperly sealed over wrap can affect palletizer performance and or stack quality Also, broken, damaged or defectively nailed pallets can affect pallet-handling functionality
Prior to making a service call, the customer agrees to provide any requested pictures, video or other descriptive tools to help diagnose any claim of performance problems TopTier personnel will promptly provide all possible assistance without charge to overcome performance problems regardless of the source of the problem If performance problems cannot be overcome for any reason after attempting to correct problems with customer assistance and the equipment does not perform to these standards, TopTier will make all necessary changes at no charge to the customer
However, if it is found that the nonperformance of the TopTier equipment is due to the operational techniques of the customer's operator(s) or defective product or pallets, then the customer will be charged in full for the service call
The customer is responsible for training and familiarizing all operators with proper TopTier equipment operations and troubleshooting techniques
Warranty
TopTier, Inc warrants its manufactured products for a period of one (1) year from date of installation or 400 days from shipment date, whichever occurs first to be free from manufacturing defects if installed, maintained, and used in accordance with factory specifications TopTier, Inc will, at its option, repair or replace any defective parts returned freight prepaid, subject to factory inspection and right to determine cause of failure Damage caused by inadequate supply voltage, normal wear, misuse or neglect, is not covered by this warranty Damage in transport is the responsibility of the carrier and is not covered under our warranty All damages upon receipt of equipment should be reported immediately to the carrier and TopTier, Inc should be notified
TopTier, Inc shall under no circumstances be liable for any consequential damages, losses or expense arising in connection with the use of, or inability to use, our product for any purpose whatsoever Except as stated herein, TopTier, Inc makes no other warranty, expressed or implied, neither does it assume nor authorize anyone else to assume for it, any other obligation relating to TopTier, Inc machinery or equipment This warranty does not apply to equipment which, in the judgment of TopTier, Inc, has been subject to misuse, neglect or has been repaired or altered by unauthorized personnel Defective parts must be returned to TopTier, Inc within thirty days (30) of shipment of a replacement and must be returned prepaid in their original state Failure to do so will void the warranty Defective parts that have been disassembled, damaged during removal or otherwise tampered with, will not be covered under warranty, unless otherwise stated in writing by TopTier, Inc TopTier, Inc makes no warranty as to fitness of equipment for particular purposes Products serviced and/or parts replaced during warranty period carry the unexpired portion of the original warranty only TopTier, Inc's sole obligation under this warranty will be to provide repairs to components or replacement parts
Contact TopTier
TopTier, Inc
5675 SE International Way
Portland, OR 97222-4608
Phone: (503) 353-7388
Fax: (503) 353-7399
salesteam@toptiercom supportteam@toptiercom wwwtoptiercom