Master Data Layer Patterns

The ALC palletizing software calculates optimal stacking patterns of orders consisting of a set of articles. Every article is linked to one Package Type, which describes its physical parameters. For every Package Type and Pallet Type at least one layer pattern must be defined. In certain situations one Package Type may have more than one layer pattern.

The parameters of a "Layer Pattern" are:

• identifier (int): Unique identifier
• pattern_name (str): Unique name of layer pattern
• pallet_no (int): Unique id of pallet type
• enabled (bool): Indicator, whether the layer pattern can be used during the palletizing
• variant (int): Indicate the priority value in case of multiple layer patterns for this package type
• external_id (int): Unique number for external palletizing machine
• items (list["PatternItem"]): List of further values describing each element in a layer pattern

The parameters of a "Layer Pattern Item" are:

• identifier (int):
• sequence_no (int): Unique sequence number in which the layer must be build
• center_x (int): Center X-coordinate of a unit on the layer
• center_y (int): Center Y-coordinate of a unit on the layer
• rz (int): '0' = Item is parallel with the unit_length on the longer side of the pallet; '90' = Item is parallel with the unit_width on the longer side of the pallet
• package_id (int): Link to the Package Type of this item

All position values "center_x, center_y, rz" values are currently given in inches * 100 and degree * 100, respectively.

In the following table, different layer patterns are displayed.

Homogenous Layer Pattern

Hybrid Layer Pattern

Options

Field	Description
Pallet Type	Select the patterns for the available pallet types

Layer Patterns Selection

By clicking on any line of this table, the corresponding layer pattern will be shown on the right side.

Field	Description
ID	Unique identifier of layer pattern
Pattern name	Unique pallet name of layer pattern
Variant	Indicates the priority value in case of multiple layer patterns for this package type
External ID	Unique number for external palletizing machine
Enabled	Indicator, whether the layer pattern can be used during the palletizing
Show 10 entries	With changing this value you can display more or less records in the table
Search	You can search any element by typing any string into this field
Buttons 1,2, ... Next	You can scroll through the list of layer patterns

Context Sensitive Menu of Layer Pattern Selection Table

With a right-click on any line in the Layer Pattern Selection Table the following context sensitive menu will pop up:

Button	Description
Edit	By pressing the button "Edit" you can change the existing values for the selected Layer Pattern.
Delete	By pressing the button "Delete" you can delete the selected Layer Pattern.
Export	By pressing the button "Export", the layer pattern will be exported into an Excel file and provided as download

Edit Layer Pattern Dialog

Field	Description
Pattern ID	Unique identifier of layer pattern
Pattern name	Unique pallet name of layer pattern
Pallet No	Unique pallet no of Pallet Type
Variant	Indicates the priority value in case of multiple layer patterns for this package type
External ID	Unique number for external palletizing machine
Enabled	Indicator, whether the layer pattern can be used during the palletizing
Pattern Items	JSON String of pattern items. Difficult to change!

With the button "Save" you can save all changes. With the button "Cancel" you can abort all changes.

Actions

Button	Action
Select File	Select a file in a specified Excel Format to be imported
Import Layer Patterns	By pressing the button "Import Layer Patterns" you can import stored values from an Excel file. The import file must be first selected via the button "Select file".
Export Layer Patterns (All)	By pressing the button "Export Layer Patterns (All)" an Excel file is created and supplied to download. This file contains all stored values in the above summarized columns.