Loading dock signal and control system

A loading dock signalling and control system for a dock facility which includes a loading dock, an electrically controllable locking device operative to receive and retain a parked vehicle and condition sensing means associated with said locking device, said system comprising:

• green and red outside light means for positioning on the outside of the facility, green and red inside light means, inside manually operable lock and unlock switch means accessible to dock personnel, a control unit having input and output terminals, connection wire means on the outside of said facility for connecting said control unit and said locking device, said terminals including first input terminals coupled through said connection wire means to said condition sensing means, second input terminals coupled to said switch means, first output terminals coupled to said locking device and second output terminals coupled to said inside and outside signal light means, said control unit being programmed to periodically check the conditions of said input terminals and to effect programmed operations which include control of said first output terminals in accordance with the status of said first and second input terminals for operating said device in accordance with the condition thereof and in accordance with the signals from said lock and unlock switch means and which include control of said second output terminals in accordance with the status of said first input terminals to operate said inside and outside light means as a function of the condition of said locking device, said programmed operations including a check for an open circuit condition of said connection wire means between said control unit and said locking device and said programmed operations further including the sending of security alarm signals to a remote location in response to said open circuit condition of said connection wire means between said control unit and said locking device.

A loading dock signalling and control system for a dock facility which includes a loading dock, an electrically controllable locking device operative to receive and retain a parked vehicle and condition sensing means associated with said locking device, said system comprising:

• green and red outside light means for positioning on the outside of the facility, green and red inside light means, inside manually operable lock and unlock switch means accessible to dock personel, a control unit having input and output terminals, said terminals including first input terminals coupled to said condition sensing means, second input terminals coupled to said switch means, first output terminals coupled to said locking device and second output terminals coupled to said inside and outside signal light means, said control unit being programmed to periodically check the conditions of said input terminals and to effect programmed operations which include control of said first output terminals in accordance with the status of said first and second input terminals for operating said device in accordance with the condition thereof and in accordance with signals from said lock and unlock switch means and which include control of said second output terminals in accordance with the status of said first input terminals to operate said inside and outside light means as a function of the condition of said locking device, and diagnostic means associated with said control unit for signalling proper and improper functioning thereof, said diagnostic means including self-ckeck operations which are repeatedly and continually performed as part of said programmed operations to develop periodic signals during said programmed operations, and alarm means for developing an alarm signal when said periodic signals are not developed to thereby indicate that said programmed operations are not being performed.

A loading dock signalling and control system for a dock facility which includes a loading dock, an electrically controllable locking device operative to receive and retain a parked vehicle and condition sensing means associated with said locking device, said system comprising:

• green and red outside light means for positioning on the outside of the facility, green and red inside light means, inside manually operable lock and unlock switch means accessible to dock personnel, a control unit having input and output terminals, said terminals including first input terminals coupled to said condition sensing means, second input terminals coupled to said switch means, first output terminals coupled to said locking device and second output terminals coupled to said inside and outside signal light means, said control unit being programmed to periodically check the conditions of said input terminals and to effect programmed operations which include control of said first output terminals in accordance with the status of said first and second input terminals for operating said device in accordance with the condition thereof and in accordance with signals from said lock and unlock switch means and which include control of said second output terminals in accordance with the status of said first input terminals to operate said inside and outside light means as a function of the condition of said locking device, and diagnostic means associated with said control unit for signalling proper and improper functioning thereof, said diagnostic means including diagnostic switch means for selecting a diagnostic mode of operation, and said programmed operations including diagnostic control operations which are performed in response to operation of said diagnostic switch means, said diagnostic control operations being arranged to develop a predetermined indication in response to each of a series of physical tests performed on components of said system by an operator thereof.