Loading dock monitoring system and apparatus

• US 20050261786A1
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: United Dominion Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Eager, Leslie, Goolsby, Thomas Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,119,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user

Abstract

A system and apparatus for monitoring the status of loading dock equipment includes a control panel operatively connected to an input/output device which is operatively connected to a display device for displaying the status of at least some of the dock loading equipment. A method for monitoring the status of dock loading equipment is also provided. The method includes displaying the status of various dock loading equipment.

Claims

1. A loading dock equipment monitoring system comprising:

a loading dock equipment control panel;

a first input output device operatively connected to the control panel and configured to be inputted with loading dock equipment status information; and

a second input output device located remotely from the control panel and first input output device, the second input out put device display operatively connected to the first input output device via a network and configured to communicate to a system user at least some of the loading dock equipment status information.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of loading dock equipment control panels operatively connected the first input output device and configured communicate to a system user at least some of the loading dock equipment status information associated with at least some of the plurality of loading dock equipment control panels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the loading dock equipment status information associated with a specific loading dock panel is communicated to a system user.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database operatively connected to the system and configured to store loading dock equipment status information.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the database is operatively connected to the first input output device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading dock equipment status information includes at least one of:

a dock leveler ramp status, a dock leveler lip status, a door status, a vehicle restraint status, and a door lock status.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading dock equipment status information includes at least one of:

a fault condition, alarm status, and an emergency condition.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the network is at least one of an internet, an intranet, a WAN system, and LAN system, and a telephone system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second input output device is at least one of PDA, a personal computer, telephone, and a pager.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second input output device is configured to emit an alarm signal when the control panel indicates at least one of a fault condition and an emergency condition.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of control panels and a plurality of first input output devices operatively connected to at least one second input output device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second input output devices is configured to receive input from the system user and send a control signal to the control panel to operate a piece of equipment controlled by the control panel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control signal causes a dock door to at least one of shut, remain shut, and lock in the shut position.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second input output devices is configured to emit an alarm signal when the control panel indicates at least one of a fault condition and an emergency condition.

15. A loading dock equipment monitoring system comprising:

means for controlling loading dock equipment;

means for inputting and outputting loading dock equipment status information operatively connected to the controlling means and to a network; and

means for accessing at least some of the loading dock equipment status information via the network.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for storing at least some of the loading dock equipment status information operatively connected to the system.

17. A method of monitoring loading dock equipment status comprising:

operablely connecting a loading dock equipment control panel to a first input output device;

configuring the control panel to input loading dock status information into the first input output device;

operablely connecting a second input output device via a network to the first input output device; and

configuring the second input output device to communicate loading dock equipment status information to a system user.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising operatively connecting a data storage device to the system and configuring the data storage device to store loading dock equipment status information.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising operatively connecting the second input output device to the data storage device and permitting a system user to access current and stored loading dock equipment status information with second input output device via the network.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising configuring the system to send an alarm signal to the second input output device via the network when the loading dock status information is in a predetermined condition of alarm.