Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment
AssigneeAssa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
InventorsBrett A. Walford, Eric Breen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.
Claims27
An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, the loading dock station including a vehicle restraint system, a loading dock door opening system, and/or a dock leveler, the automated docking system comprising:
- a sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door;
- and
- a control unit communicatively coupled with the sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
- automatically request a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present in an interior area proximate the loading dock door when the control unit receives a first signal from the sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area;
- and
- automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station when, in response to requesting the readiness status, the control unit receives a second signal indicating that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes—
- automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint;
- automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system;
- and/or
- automatically enabling operation of the dock leveler.
An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, comprising:
- a first sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door;
- a second sensor system configured to detect obstructions in an interior area proximate the loading dock door, wherein at least a portion of the second sensor system is operably coupled to an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV);
- and
- a control unit communicatively coupled with the first sensor system and the second sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
- automatically request a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present the interior area when the control unit receives a first signal from the first sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area;
- and
- automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station when, in response to requesting the readiness status, the control unit receives a second signal from the second sensor system indicating that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein the second sensor system transmits the second signal via the AGV to the control unit.
An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, the loading dock station including a vehicle restraint system, a loading dock door opening system, and/or a dock leveler, the automated docking system comprising:
- a sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door;
- and
- a control unit communicatively coupled with the sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
- receive a first signal from the sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area;
- automatically transmit a second signal to a warehouse management system requesting a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present in an interior area proximate the loading dock door;
- receive a third signal from the warehouse management system with information related to the readiness status;
- and
- automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station if the third signal indicates that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes—
- automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint system;
- automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system;
- and/or
- automatically enabling operation of the dock leveler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.