Dock door automation system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12595141-B2
Application number	US-202418742829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2024
Priority date	Sep 17, 2014
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a docking bay; and an electronic controller including an electronic processor and a memory, the electronic controller configured to
receive sensor information,
detect, with the sensor information, a truck trailer backing into the docking bay,
detect, with the sensor information, an angle between a centerline of the docking bay and a centerline of the truck trailer in response to detecting the truck trailer backing into the docking bay, and
control a lighting system to provide feedback to a truck driver based on the angle that is detected.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine whether the angle is equal to or less than one degree, and control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the angle is equal to or less than one degree.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the angle is greater than one degree.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
detect, with the sensor information, an offset between the centerline of the docking bay and the centerline of the truck trailer in response to detecting the truck trailer backing into the docking bay, and control the lighting system to provide feedback to the truck driver based on the offset that is detected.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine whether the offset is equal to or less than six inches, and control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the offset is equal to or less than six inches.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the offset is greater than six inches.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
detect, with the sensor information, one or more trailer features in response to detecting the truck trailer backing into the docking bay, and control the lighting system to provide feedback to the truck driver based on the one or more trailer features that are detected.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more trailer features includes a height of the truck trailer, a length of the truck trailer, and a slope between the truck trailer and the docking bay.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine whether a height difference between a height of the docking bay and the height of the truck trailer is equal or less than four inches, and control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is acceptable for docking in response to determining that the height difference between the height of the docking bay and the height of the truck trailer is equal to or less than four inches.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not acceptable for docking in response to determining that the height difference between the height of the docking bay and the height of the truck trailer is greater than four inches.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine whether the length of the truck trailer is equal to or less than 52.7 feet, and control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is acceptable for docking in response to determining that the length of the truck trailer is equal to or less than 52.7 feet.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not acceptable for docking in response to determining that the length of the truck trailer is greater than 52.7 feet.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not acceptable for docking in response to determining that the slope between the truck trailer and the docking bay is greater than one degree.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to:
determine whether the slope between the truck trailer and the docking bay is equal to or less than one degree, and control the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is acceptable for docking in response to determining that the slope between the truck trailer and the docking bay is equal to or less than one degree.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by an electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to perform a set of operations comprising:
receiving sensor information; detecting, with the sensor information, a truck trailer backing into a docking bay; responsive to detecting the truck trailer backing to into the docking bay, detecting, with the sensor information, an angle between a centerline of a docking bay and a centerline of the truck trailer; and controlling a lighting system to provide feedback to a truck driver based on the angle that is detected.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining whether the angle is equal to or less than one degree; and controlling the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the angle is equal to or less than one degree.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the angle is greater than one degree.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:
responsive to detecting the truck trailer backing into the docking bay, detecting, with the sensor information, an offset between the centerline of the docking bay and the centerline of the truck trailer; and controlling the lighting system to provide feedback to the truck driver based on the offset that is detected.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining whether the offset is equal to or less than six inches; and controlling the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the offset is equal to or less than six inches.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising:
controlling the lighting system to indicate the truck trailer is not properly aligned with the docking bay in response to determining that the offset is greater than six inches.

Assignees

• Niagara Bottling Llc

Inventors

• Avalos Robert Paul

Classifications

• B65G2207/40

  Safety features of loads, equipment or persons · CPC title

• B65G69/006

  Centring or aligning a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle · CPC title

• G05B2219/2638

  Airconditioning · CPC title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B65G69/2882

  operated by detectors or sensors · CPC title