| TOP TIER, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20110076126 | Device and Method for Palletizing Items - An improved apparatus and method for palletizing bagged and other items that are susceptible to being damaged or degraded by the sliding friction caused by apron removal includes a center-opening apron assembly having a left and right side apron consisting of a roller curtain floor and belt. Each roller curtain floor follows a generally L-shaped path by means of roller chains guided through a plurality of sprockets. A single apron motor simultaneously operates both the left side and right side roller curtain by means of a cross-linked synchronization chain. Each roller curtain includes a belt having opposed stationary ends whereby opening of the roller curtain floor results in opposite direction rotation of the belt. This enables bagged items to by palletized in a single layer without causing bunching or tearing of the bagged items as the roller curtain floor retracts. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20100254794 | Palletizer Puller Bar - In an item-handling device, a layer head includes an item layer building platform defining an item receiving plane, the layer building platform being vertically positionable. A puller bar mounts to the layer head and moves in relation thereto within a plane above the item-receiving plane. The puller bar is positionable between a retracted position above the layer building platform and an extended position offset from the layer building platform. | 10-07-2010 |