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US 2026/0176093 A1Published application
Control system and method for loading dock equipment
AssigneeOverhead Door Corporation
InventorP. Alan Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a loading dock includes: a controller operatively connected to control loading dock equipment; sensors operatively connected to the controller; output devices operatively connected to the controller and configured to provide a visual output; input devices operatively connected to the controller and configured allow a user to enter inputs into the controller; wherein the controller is configured to display data received from at least three of the sensors on at least one display screen and allow a user to control at least three of the pieces of loading dock equipment via at least two of the input devices. Some embodiments include a method of controlling loading dock equipment.
Claims20
A control system for a loading dock comprising:
- a controller operatively connected to control at least three of the following pieces of loading dock equipment;
- an operator for an upward acting door;
- a vehicle restraint;
- a dock leveler;
- an operator for a vehicle upward acting door;
- and
- a camera;
- at least three of the following sensors operatively connected to the controller;
- an upward acting door position sensor;
- a vehicle restraint position sensor;
- a dock leveler position sensor;
- a fork truck location sensor;
- a vehicle upward acting door location sensor;
- and
- a shelter seal sensor;
- at least two of the following output devices operatively connected to the controller and configured to provide a visual output;
- a user display screen located proximate to the controller;
- a user display screen located remote from the controller;
- a vehicle display screen located in a vehicle;
- a driver light system configured to activate a first light to instruct a driver to move a vehicle away from the loading dock and active a second light to instruct a driver to keep the vehicle at the loading dock;
- and
- a user display screen located on a fork truck;
- and
- at least two of the following input devices operatively connected to the controller and configured allow a user to enter inputs into the controller;
- a user input located proximate to the controller;
- a user input located remote from the controller;
- a vehicle user input located in a vehicle;
- and
- a user input located on a fork truck,
- wherein the controller is configured to display data received from at least three of the sensors on at least one display screen and allow a user to control at least three of the pieces of loading dock equipment via at least two of the input devices.
27 more elements
A control system for a loading dock comprising:
- a controller operatively connected to control at least three of the following pieces of loading dock equipment;
- an operator for an upward acting door;
- a vehicle restraint;
- a dock leveler;
- an operator for a vehicle upward acting door;
- and
- a camera;
- the controller configured to receive signals from at least three of the following sensors operatively connected to the controller;
- an upward acting door position sensor;
- a vehicle restraint position sensor;
- a dock leveler position sensor;
- a fork truck location sensor;
- a vehicle upward acting door location sensor;
- and
- a shelter seal sensor;
- the controller configured to communicate with at least two of the following output devices operatively connected to the controller and configured to provide a visual output;
- a user display screen located proximate to the controller;
- a user display screen located remote from the controller;
- a vehicle display screen located in a vehicle;
- a driver light system configured to activate a first light to instruct a driver to move a vehicle away from the loading dock and active a second light to instruct a driver to keep the vehicle at the loading dock;
- and
- a user display screen located on a fork truck;
- and
- the controller configured to communicate with at least two of the following input devices operatively connected to the controller and configured allow a user to enter inputs into the controller;
- a user input located proximate to the controller;
- a user input located remote from the controller;
- a vehicle user input located in a vehicle;
- and
- a user input located on a fork truck,
- wherein the controller is configured to display data received from at least three of the sensors on at least one display screen and allow a user to control at least three of the pieces of loading dock equipment via at least two of the input devices.
27 more elements
A method of controlling loading dock equipment comprising:
- engaging a vehicle with a vehicle restraint;
- detecting a status of the vehicle restraint with a vehicle restraint sensor;
- sending a signal to a controller that the vehicle restraint is engaged with the vehicle;
- opening a warehouse door;
- detecting with a sensor a status of the warehouse door;
- sending a signal to the controller that the warehouse door is open;
- deploying a dock leveler;
- detecting with a sensor if the dock leveler is deployed;
- sending a signal to the controller that the dock leveler is deployed;
- and
- sending a signal indicating that a vehicle is ready to be serviced when signals are sent to a controller indicating that the vehicle restraint is engaged with the vehicle, the warehouse door is in an open position and the dock leveler is deployed.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.