Systems and methods for automated loading and unloading at a dock station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12234111-B2
Application number	US-202117475039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2021
Priority date	Jan 28, 2019
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

An autonomous dock station system having an automated material lift truck (AMT), a pallet conveyor, and a facility guidance system can automatically load and/or unload a trailer at a dock station. The autonomous dock station system can coordinate these components according to a workflow procedure. In some embodiments, the workflow procedure can begin with the pallet conveyor supplying a loaded pallet to a specified position. The AMT, initially guided by fixed guidance elements of the facility guidance system, can lift the pallet off the conveyor and transport it to a trailer entrance where the AMT switches from the facility guidance system to a trailer guidance system. The AMT can then carry the pallet to an unloading position, move the pallet to one side of the trailer as needed, unload the pallet and return to the pallet conveyor. The workflow procedure can repeat until the trailer is full.

First claim

We claim:

1. A charging system for an automated material lift truck (AMT) at a loading dock station, the charging system comprising:
a charging connection mounted to the AMT and electrically connected to an onboard power supply of the AMT, wherein the charging connection comprises a connection plate and a guide plate positioned in opposing relation to the connection plate, the connection plate and the guide plate defining a space therebetween, and wherein the connection plate is resiliently movable relative to the guide plate;
a dock leveler configured to operably extend into a trailer positioned at the loading dock station, the dock leveler including—
a deck portion; and
at least one AMT charging rail extending from the deck portion and configured to contact the connection plate to electrically connect the power supply of the AMT to the AMT charging rail,

wherein the AMT is configured to automatically connect the charging connection to the AMT charging rail when the AMT moves across the dock leveler.

2. The charging system of claim 1 , wherein the AMT charging rail is configured to be operably received within the space and slidably contact the connection plate.

3. The charging system of claim 1 , wherein the guide plate further comprises a first angled portion at a first end portion thereof and a second angled portion at a second end portion thereof, wherein each of the first and second angled portions of the guide plate extend outwardly from the space.

4. A charging system for an automated material lift truck (AMT) at a loading dock station, the charging system comprising:
a charging connection mounted to the AMT and electrically connected to an onboard power supply of the AMT, wherein the charging connection comprises a connection plate and a biasing member resiliently coupling the connection plate to the AMT;
a dock leveler configured to operably extend into a trailer positioned at the loading dock station, the dock leveler including—
a deck portion; and
at least one AMT charging rail extending from the deck portion and configured to contact the connection plate to electrically connect the power supply of the AMT to the AMT charging rail,

wherein the biasing member is configured to bias the connection plate against the AMT charging rail as the AMT moves across the dock leveler to automatically connect the charging connection to the AMT charging rail.

5. The charging system of claim 4 , wherein the charging connection further comprises an arm member extending from the AMT, and wherein the connection plate is resiliently coupled to the arm member by the biasing member.

6. The charging system of claim 5 , wherein the arm member has a distal end portion, wherein the biasing member is operably coupled to the distal end portion and extends between the distal end portion and the connection plate.

7. The charging system of claim 6 , wherein the connection plate further comprises a first angled portion at a first end portion thereof and a second angled portion at a second end portion thereof, wherein each of the first and second angled portions of the connection plate extend outwardly relative to the first and second angled portions of the guide plate.

8. The charging system of claim 5 , wherein the charging connection is a first charging connection operably mounted to a first side portion of the AMT, the guide plate is a first guide plate, the connection plate is a first connection plate, and the at least one AMT charging rail is a first AMT charging rail, and wherein the charging system further comprises:
a second charging connection operably mounted to a second side portion of the AMT opposite the first side portion and electrically connected to the onboard power supply of the AMT, the second charging connection including—
a second guide plate; and
a second connection plate positioned in opposing relation to and resiliently coupled to the second guide plate, the second connection plate and the second guide plate defining a space therebetween; and

a second AMT charging rail extending from the deck portion and configured to be operably received within the space between the second connection plate and the second guide plate and contact the second connection plate to electrically connect the AMT power supply to the second AMT charging rail.

9. The charging system of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member and the arm member is a first arm member, and wherein the second charging connection further comprises:
a second arm member extending from the AMT, the second arm member having a distal end portion; and
a second biasing member operably coupled to the distal end portion of the second arm member, the second biasing member extending between the distal end portion of the second arm member and the second connection plate,
wherein the second biasing member is configured to bias the second connection plate toward the second guide plate and against the second AMT charging rail as the AMT moves across the dock leveler.

10. The charging system of claim 8 , wherein the first AMT charging rail provides a cathode connection for charging the power supply of the AMT, and wherein the second AMT charging rail provides an anode connection for charging the power supply of the AMT.

11. The charging system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second AMT charging rails are spaced apart on the deck portion at a distance greater than the distance between the first guide plate and the second guide plate.

12. The charging system of claim 4 , wherein the charging connection further comprises a guide plate fixedly mounted to the AMT and positioned in opposing relation to the connection plate, wherein the connection plate and the guide plate define a space therebetween, and wherein the biasing member resiliently couples the connection plate to the guide plate.

13. The charging system of claim 12 , wherein the AMT charging rail is configured to be operably received within the space and slidably contact the connection plate.

14. A charging system for an automated material lift truck (AMT) at a loading dock station, the charging system comprising:
a first charging connection operably mounted to a first side portion of the AMT and electrically connected to an onboard power supply of the AMT, the first charging connection having a first connection plate;
a second charging connection operably mounted to a second side portion of the AMT opposite the first side portion and electrically coupled to the power supply of the AMT, the second charging connection having a second connection plate; and
a dock leveler configured to operably extend into a trailer positioned at the loading dock station, the dock leveler including—
a deck portion;
a first AMT charging rail extending from the deck portion and configured to contact the first connection plate to electrically connect the power supply of the AMT to the first AMT charging rail; and
a second AMT charging rail extending from the deck portion and configured to contact the second connection plate to electrically connect the power supply of the AMT to the second AMT charging rail,

wherein the AMT is configured to automatically connect the first charging connection to the first AMT charging rail and/or second charging connection to the second AMT charging rail when the AMT moves across the dock leveler.

15. A charging system for an automated material lift truck (AMT) at a loading dock station, comprising:
a first charging connection electrically connected to a power supply of the AMT, the first charging connection including—
a first guide plate coupled to a first side of

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Entrance Systems Ab

Inventors

• Hoofard Richard K
• Day Daryl
• Whitley L Blake

Classifications

• G05D1/244

  using passive navigation aids external to the vehicle, e.g. markers, reflectors or magnetic means · CPC title

• G05D1/661

  Docking at a base station (delivering or retrieving payloads G05D1/667) · CPC title

• B65G69/24

  having platform level adjusting means · CPC title

• B65G67/24

  Unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• G05D1/0229

  in combination with fixed guiding means · CPC title