US 9,688,489 B1Granted

Modular dock for facilities integration

AssigneeX Development LLC

InventorsJohn Zevenbergen, Stefan Nusser, Troy Straszheim

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Abstract

An example apparatus includes an enclosed rectangular container, including an openable first end and an openable second end. The apparatus further includes at least one first supporting base positioned proximate to the first end of the container that has an adjustable height in order to align a floor of the container with a trailer. The apparatus also includes at least one second supporting base positioned proximate to the second end of the container that has an adjustable height in order to align the floor of the container with a loading dock. The apparatus additionally includes a robotic manipulator connected to the floor of the container that is configured to move one or more objects between the trailer and the loading dock by moving the one or more objects through the container when the first end and the second end of the container are opened.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

an enclosed rectangular container, comprising an openable first end and an openable second end opposite the first end;
at least one first supporting base positioned proximate to the first end of the container that has an adjustable height from the container;
at least one second supporting base positioned proximate to the second end of the container that has an adjustable height from the container;
a robotic manipulator connected to a floor of the container;
and
a control system configured to:
adjust the adjustable height of the at least one first supporting base to align the floor of the container with a trailer when the trailer is located at the first end of the container;
adjust the adjustable height of the at least one second supporting base to align the floor of the container with a loading dock when the loading dock is located at the second end of the container;
provide instructions to cause the robotic manipulator to move an object between the trailer and the loading dock by moving the object through the container;
and
adjust the adjustable height of a supporting base of the at least one first supporting base and the at least one second supporting base to stabilize the container in response to movement of the object by the robotic manipulator.

8 more elements

A method, comprising:

adjusting, by at least one rear actuator, an adjustable height of at least one rear supporting base of a rectangular container in order to align a floor of the rectangular container with a loading dock that is located at an open rear end of the rectangular container, wherein the at least one rear supporting base is positioned proximate to the open rear end of the rectangular container;
adjusting, by at least one front actuator, an adjustable height of at least one front supporting base of the rectangular container in order to align the floor of the rectangular container with a trailer that is located at an open front end of the rectangular container, wherein the at least one front supporting base is positioned proximate to the open front end of the rectangular container;
moving, by a robotic manipulator connected to the floor of the rectangular container, an object between the trailer and the loading dock by moving the object through the rectangular container;
and
adjusting the adjustable height of a supporting base of the at least one front supporting base and the at least one rear supporting base to stabilize the rectangular container in response to movement of the object by the robotic manipulator.

2 more elements

A control system for a robotic manipulator configured to:

adjust an adjustable height of at least one rear supporting base of a rectangular container in order to align a floor of the rectangular container with a loading dock when the loading dock is located at an open rear end of the rectangular container, wherein the robotic manipulator is connected to the floor of the rectangular container;
adjust an adjustable height of at least one front supporting base of the rectangular container in order to align the floor of the rectangular container with a trailer when the trailer is located at an open front end of the rectangular container;
control the robotic manipulator to move an object between the trailer and the loading dock by moving the object through the rectangular container;
and
adjust the adjustable height of a supporting base of the at least one front supporting base and the at least one rear supporting base to stabilize the rectangular container in response to movement of the object by the robotic manipulator.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.