SECTION 12
The Tertiary Module
(Covers: Introduction to Tertiary mode, Tertiary operation, Tertiary solutions)
This module allows you to investigate situations in which a two stage collation is required.
Before describing the operation of the module in detail it may be useful to once again recall the definitions given earlier for certain terms as used throughout this manual.
The term case is used to denote the final units which is arranged on the pallet. This might be a cardboard case or a shrink-wrapped unit. In Palletise mode the size of the case is specified by the user, in Collation mode the case size is calculated by PALLETMANAGER after considering the primary size, the number of primaries to be collated together, and the type of pack being utilised. Thus the term primary is used to denote the units collated together to form a case.
A further term, sub-primary will now be used to denote a unit which is collated together to form a primary unit, which itself is later collated to form a case.
This terminology has been adopted so as to avoid confusion which might result if terms such as sales unit, distribution unit etc were used.
This mode of operation is selected from the main PALLETMANAGER operating mode menu (Screen 1).
The first data entry screen is very similar to that used in other operating modes (Screen 2t1). Details of the dimensions of the sub-primary, the weight of each sub-primary, and the number to be collated together. You also have the opportunity to select on this screen, if appropriate, that this sub-primary is cylindrical. (If you select the cylindrical tick box and the item does not have at least 2 equal dimensions then the tick box will be ignored)
The sub-primary units defined here will be collated together to form a primary unit using, by default, a Style 28 pack type (set up in the database as a shrink wrap pack). This is similar to the operation in Collation mode where a Style 1 pack type is used by default.
You may accept the default style 28 details, or by selecting the Style Database you may change these default values or define another style to be used.
In collating the sub-primaries to form a primary unit the style constraints relating to stability, maximum size, conveyor etc will be applied in the usual manner and primary units which fail to meet these constraints will be eliminated from further consideration.
Once data entry is complete and Continue is selected, collations of the defined sub-primary are formed and those which meet the constraints defined within the selected style are saved as acceptable primary sizes to disk.
Having completed this operation the second data entry screen (Screen 2t2) requests details regarding the number of primaries per case, and the annual case volume.
Most of the other information on this screen cannot be edited and relates to the data entered on the sub-primary screen.
Also on this screen you may select whether the primary unit must be placed upright in the case. An orientation constraint may or may not have been specified for the sub-primary when collated. Irrespective of this an orientation constraint may be specified for the primary units. By default the vertical orientation of the primary is retained.
Having selected Continue the third data entry screen (Screen 3 - identical to that faced in Collation mode) presents you with details of the default pallet details and the Style to be used in collating primaries to form a 'case'.
As in Collation Mode you may then select the Style Database or Pallet Database to change these, or can edit the load area details temporarily of Screen 3. You may also select Advanced Options and specify alternate collation quantities (as with Collation), and also select Top Layer mode.
The Results Summary Screen (Screen 5) displayed will look similar to that normally displayed in Collation mode. Where nested cylinder solutions are used for the sub-primary collation lower case x, y, or z codes indicate the type nesting used (see Section 10).
Selection of a particular result (by highlighting it using the left mouse button as in other operating modes) will enable you to select Collation and examine the collation, not only of primaries to form the case, but also of sub-primaries to form the primary unit.
You should note that all displays and reports refer to the height of an item (primary / case), the dimension which forms the height is as per the Style definition. This may not be the height in the case or on the pallet.
Having selected a reference number then select Layout to determine possible pallet arrangements.
Once again the screen display is similar to that used in other modes and pallet arrangements can be generated in the usual manner.
When Print is selected, the reports produced not only detail the collation of the primaries to form the case, and the palletisation of the same, but also detail the arrangement of sub-primaries within the primary.