Loading dock detection system
AssigneeToyota Material Handling, Inc.
InventorAnthony Brian Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A loading dock safety detection system and method is provided. The detection system includes a plurality of components that are coupled to the material handling vehicle. The system includes one or more sensors, and a feedback device. The sensor is coupled to the mast and positioned to sense the environment in front of the material handling vehicle and to view the status of the loading dock. The detection system includes a processing device that is coupled to the body and determines, based on data from the sensors, the status of the loading dock and the corresponding loading dock components. The processing device determines if the status is in an acceptable or unacceptable condition and notifies the operator via a feedback device accordingly.
Claims19
A method for determining a loading dock status, comprising:
- scanning, with a sensor mounted onboard a material handling vehicle, a loading dock for one or more loading dock components;
- determining, with a processor mounted onboard the material handling vehicle, a presence status for each of the one or more loading dock components based on data from the sensor and preprogrammed reference conditions pertaining to each of the one or more loading dock components;
- notifying a vehicle operator via a sensory feedback device if one or more of the loading dock components is in an unacceptable absent condition or an unacceptable present condition;
- determining a functional status, based on data from the sensor and the preprogrammed reference conditions, of each of the one or more loading dock components determined to be in an acceptable present condition;
- and
- notifying the vehicle operator via the sensory feedback device if at least one of the one or more loading dock components is in an unacceptable functional condition.
A dock door safety detection system for a material handling vehicle comprising:
- a vision system that includes:
- one or more sensors mounted onboard the material handling vehicle and configured to detect one or more loading dock components, and
- a processor configured to determine
- a status of the one or more loading dock components, and
- a drive direction of the material handling vehicle, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors;
- and
- a feedback device configured to provide a notification in response to the processor determining that the one or more loading dock components is in one or more of an unacceptable absent condition, an unacceptable present condition, and an unacceptable functional condition, the notification being one or more of visual, auditory, or tactile,
- wherein the processor is configured to disregard the determination of the one or more loading dock components being in the unacceptable absent condition, the unacceptable present condition, or the unacceptable functional condition if the material handling vehicle is traveling away from the loading dock.
A material handling vehicle comprising:
- a processor communicatively coupled to a sensor and configured to determine a readiness status of a loading dock based on data from the sensor, the readiness status including
- a presence verification of a loading dock component, and
- a functional status of the loading dock component;
- and
- a feedback device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to provide a notification, the notification being one or more of visual, auditory, or tactile based on the readiness status of the loading dock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.