Loading dock monitoring device and method

• US 20080042865A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dock Watch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dock Watch, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Roger Frederick, Varnedoe, James LeVaughn, Wortsmith, Joe Wilson, Shephard, Jimmy Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/501,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2207/40 Safety features of loads, equipment or persons
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/006 Centring or aligning a vehicle at a loading station using means not being part of the vehicle

Abstract

A dock monitoring device that provides a warning to dock workers and a lift truck operator that a hazardous condition exists if the distance from a parked load transport vehicle to the rear of a loading dock increases outside a preset “safe zone” distance, which is the maximum distance, with allowance for a safety margin, that can be spanned by a dock plate or ramp or “dock leveler” to the bed floor of the load transport vehicle. The invention uses a non-contact distance measuring sensor such as an infrared optical triangulation measuring sensor. An alarm will sound if the distance becomes greater than a preset “safe zone” distance. Significant events are logged, and a picture of the load may be taken.

Claims

1. :

A loading dock monitoring device, said device comprising;

(a) non-contact distance measuring means for measuring a gap distance between a loading dock and a portion of a parked load transport vehicle;

(b) discriminator means for evaluating whether said measured gap distance is within a selected limit distance; and

(c) an alarm, operably connected to said discriminator means, for signaling that said measured gap distance is greater than said selected limit distance.

2. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 1, in which said distance measuring means optically measures said gap distance by optical triangulation.

3. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 1, in which said distance measuring means optically measures said gap distance.

4. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said distance measuring means outputs a signal, indicative of said measured gap distance, for evaluation by said discriminator means.

5. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises operator input means for inputting data relating to said load transport vehicle'"'"'s cargo.

6. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises logging means for logging events and data relating to said load transport vehicle'"'"'s cargo.

7. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises a camera for taking a picture of the parked load transport vehicle.

8. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises notification means for notifying the load transport vehicle'"'"'s driver.

9. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 8, in which said notification means is selected from the group consisting of vibrating annunciator means, a pager, a telephone call, and an email message.

10. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 3, in which said in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises vibrating annunciator means for notifying the load transport vehicle'"'"'s driver.

11. :

A loading dock monitoring device, said device comprising;

(a) non-contact distance measuring means for measuring a gap distance between a loading dock and a portion of a parked load transport vehicle using optical triangulation, said distance measuring means providing an output signal indicative of said measured gap distance;

(b) discriminator means for evaluating said output signal and determining whether said measured gap distance is within a selected limit distance;

(c) an alarm, operably connected to said discriminator means, for signaling that said measured gap distance is greater than said selected limit distance;

(d) operator input means for inputting data relating to said load transport vehicle'"'"'s cargo, said inputted data including a load ready indication; and

(e) logging means for logging events and data relating to said load transport vehicle'"'"'s cargo.

12. :

The loading dock monitoring means as recited in claim 11, further comprising means for reviewing at least some of said events and data.

13. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 12, further comprising database interface means for transmitting at least some of said significant events and data to a computer database.

14. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 12, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises a camera for taking a picture of the parked load transport vehicle.

15. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 12, in which said loading dock monitoring device further comprises notification means for notifying the load transport vehicle'"'"'s driver.

16. :

The loading dock monitoring device as recited in claim 15, in which said notification means is selected from the group consisting of vibrating annunciator means, a pager, a telephone call, and an email message.

17. :

A method of monitoring a gap distance between a loading dock and a portion of a parked load transport vehicle, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) measuring said gap distance using optical triangulation by an infrared beam;

(b) evaluating whether said measured gap distance is within a selected limit distance;

(c) signaling an alarm if said measured gap distance becomes greater than said selected limit distance; and

(d) notifying the load transport vehicle'"'"'s driver that said alarm condition has occurred.