SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DOCKING STATION

• US 20170044817A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
• Inventors: McNeill, Matthew C., Nelson, Kyle E., Horton, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,113,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 9/02 for only lifting or supporting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/005 the means engaging at least one wheel of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/2882 operated by detectors or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group

Abstract

A system and method for remotely controlling loading dock components is disclosed that includes a distribution center having at least one dock station for exchanging materials and a dock component configured to in at least two operational states. An actuator is included that is configured to change the operational state of the dock component in response to an activation signal. A mobile remote control is configured to generate the activation signal to cause the actuator to change the operational state of the dock component and at least one predefined non-activation zone is included such that changing of operational state of the dock component is inhibited when the mobile remote control is located within the at least one predefined non-activation zone.

Claims

1. A dock control system comprising:

a camera for mounting on a docking station, the camera configured to obtain at least one image of a vehicle restraint system of the docking station;

a graphical user interface configured to display the at least one image of the vehicle restraint system to an operator of the docking station to verify if a vehicle has been restrained; and

a controller configured to;

receive the at least one image of the vehicle restraint system from the camera; and

transmit the at least one image of the vehicle restraint system to the graphical user interface.

2. The dock control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one image of the vehicle restrain system comprises at least one of a video and a still image.

3. The dock control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to automatically activate the camera once the vehicle restraint system is engaged with a vehicle.

4. The dock control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to receive verification that a vehicle has been restrained from an operator of the docking station via the graphical user interface.

5. The dock control system of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to save the at least one image of the vehicle restraint system and identification information of the operator that sent the verification to a workflow compliance database upon receiving verification that a vehicle has been restrained.

6. The dock control system of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to enable actuation of a door of the docking station upon receiving verification that a vehicle has been restrained.

7. The dock control system of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to enable a leveler of the docking station once actuation of the door of the docking station is complete.

8. A method of operating a docking station of a distribution center, the method comprising:

engaging a docking restraint system to restrain a vehicle at the docking station;

activating a camera to obtain at least one image of the vehicle;

displaying the at least one image on a graphical user interface;

verifying if the vehicle has been restrained based on the at least one image of the vehicle; and

selectively enabling control of a door of the docking station based on whether restraint of the vehicle has been verified.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising restricting control of the door of the docking station if restraint of the vehicle has not been verified.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising enabling control of the door of the docking station upon verification that the vehicle has been restrained.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

actuating the door of the docking station upon verification that the vehicle has been restrained;

enabling a leveler of the docking station upon complete actuation of the door of the docking station; and

operatively engaging the vehicle with the dock leveler.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying on the graphical user interface a request for verification that the vehicle has been restrained if a predetermined amount of time has passed since displaying the at least one image on the graphical user interface without verification that the vehicle has been restrained.

13. A method of operating a docking station of a distribution center comprising the steps of:

receiving a trailer at a docking station of a distribution center;

engaging a trailer restraint system to secure the trailer against removal from the docking station;

upon trailer restraint system engagement, automatically activating a restraint verification system configured to require a restraint verification indication prior to permitting access to the trailer; and

upon receiving the restraint verification indication, activating an automated trailer access system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying an image of a trailer restraint from the trailer restraint system for user review and sending the restraint verification indication upon user approval of the image of the trailer restraint.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing the user approved image of the trailer restraint to a workflow compliance database along with user identifying data.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the automated trailer access system is configured to activate a remote control door system upon receiving the restraint verification indication.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising automatically actuating the remote control door system in response to a remote activation signal to provide access to the trailer from the distribution center.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising detecting actuation of the remote control door system and remotely activating a dock leveler system in response thereto.

19. A distribution center workflow verification system comprising:

a distribution center having at least one dock for exchanging materials with a mobile carrier engaged with the at least one dock;

at least one mobile carrier restraint configured to secure the mobile carrier against removal from the at least one dock;

a visual confirmation system including at least one camera configured to gather at least one of video and still images of the at least one carrier restraint and a display configured to display the at least one of video and still images to at least one of a dock operator and a dock manager for confirmation of automatic engagement of the at least one carrier restraint;

a computer system configured to;

receive the at least one of video and still images of the at least one mobile carrier restraint from the camera to determine engagement of the mobile carrier with the at least one dock and an operational state of the at least one mobile carrier restraint;

automatically engage the at least one carrier restraint upon detecting an engagement of the mobile carrier with the at least one dock; and

restrict access to the mobile carrier until a signal indicative of visual verification of carrier restraint is received.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed within the distribution center and configured to provide operational feedback from the at least one mobile carrier restraint;

and

wherein the computer system is configured to receive the operational feedback from the plurality of sensors to determine engagement of the mobile carrier with the at least one dock and an operational state of the at least one mobile carrier restraint.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the computer system is further configured to store the at least one of video and images as a record of visual verification in response to the signal indicative of visual verification.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the computer system is further configured to associate a user identifier with the stored record of visual verification for later verification.