Safety device for a vertically stored dock leveler
First Claim
1. A vertically storing dock leveler comprising;
- a deck, a pivot to allow deck to rotate from a stored vertical position to an operative horizontal position, a source of power to rotate said deck, and a sensor mounted to the underside of the deck delivering an output that ceases downward movement of said deck when a foreign object is sensed under said deck.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vertically storing dock leveler comprises a deck, a pivot coupling the leveler to the mounting pit to allow the deck the rotate from a stored vertical position to an operative horizontal position and a source of power to rotate the deck. A sensor is mounted to the underside of the deck for delivering an output that ceases downward movement of said deck when a foreign object such as a human is sensed under said deck. The sensor comprises a wire mounted to span said deck at a position below it and a switch responsive to movement of said wire. The switch may be a mechanical, proximity or photoelectric type. The wire is fixed at one side of said deck and coupled to a pivoting member at the other side with the pivoting member normally positioned in proximity to said switch. A spring is employed to bias the pivoting member to a centered position relative to the switch in opposition to tension of the wire.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vertically storing dock leveler comprising;
- a deck, a pivot to allow deck to rotate from a stored vertical position to an operative horizontal position, a source of power to rotate said deck, and a sensor mounted to the underside of the deck delivering an output that ceases downward movement of said deck when a foreign object is sensed under said deck.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- 7. A vertically storing dock leveler comprising, a movable deck, a power source to move the deck up into a vertical stored position and to lower said deck into a generally horizontal operative position, and a sensor positioned under the deck and movable therewith to stop downward deck movement when said sensor is tripped.
Specification