Dock door automation system and method
AssigneeNiagara Bottling, LLC
InventorRobert Paul Avalos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a docking bay;
- and
- an electronic controller including an electronic processor and a memory, the electronic controller configured to
- receive sensor information,
- detect, with the sensor information, a truck trailer backing into the docking bay,
- detect, with the sensor information, an angle between a centerline of the docking bay and a centerline of the truck trailer in response to detecting the truck trailer backing into the docking bay, and
- control a lighting system to provide feedback to a truck driver based on the angle that is detected.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to perform a set of operations comprising:
- receiving sensor information;
- detecting, with the sensor information, a truck trailer backing into a docking bay;
- responsive to detecting the truck trailer backing to into the docking bay, detecting, with the sensor information, an angle between a centerline of a docking bay and a centerline of the truck trailer;
- and
- controlling a lighting system to provide feedback to a truck driver based on the angle that is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.