Loading dock traffic automation
First Claim
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1. A loading dock traffic automation and inventory control system comprising:
- A truck control notification automation system;
At least one outside traffic signal dock light mounted outside of the loading dock doors At least one inside traffic signal dock light mounted inside of the loading dock door;
At least one dock leveler and an overhead door;
Sensing means for sensing the movement of said overhead door; and
Said electrical control system, which includes selector switches for manually operating at least one of said dock leveler, to be electrically fed by at least one power source and is coupled to said at least one inside and outside traffic signal dock light said dock leveler, said sensing means and said truck control notification automation system;
Wherein said selector switches are energized with full automation and are now operable when said overhead door is raised and sensed by said sensing means and are de-energized and are inoperable when said overhead door is lowered or in closed position;
When said selector switches are energized while the overhead door is raised, at least one outside traffic signal dock light automatically changes color; and
said at least one outside traffic signal dock light automatically changes color and both changed color of said outside and inside dock lights are always different color from each other, and said selector switches are deeneregized when the overhead door is lowered.
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Abstract
The loading dock traffic automation and inventory control system of the present invention automates the loading dock area by controlling a truck control notification automation system, traffic signal dock lights, loading dock spot light, loading dock fan and dock leveler. The manually operated control panel is energized or de-energized with full automation by the movement of the overhead dock door. The device includes a control panel enclosure mounted on the interior wall of the building next to the loading dock door. One control panel enclosure can service one or two loading dock doors.
127 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A loading dock traffic automation and inventory control system comprising:
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A truck control notification automation system;
At least one outside traffic signal dock light mounted outside of the loading dock doors At least one inside traffic signal dock light mounted inside of the loading dock door;
At least one dock leveler and an overhead door;
Sensing means for sensing the movement of said overhead door; and
Said electrical control system, which includes selector switches for manually operating at least one of said dock leveler, to be electrically fed by at least one power source and is coupled to said at least one inside and outside traffic signal dock light said dock leveler, said sensing means and said truck control notification automation system;
Wherein said selector switches are energized with full automation and are now operable when said overhead door is raised and sensed by said sensing means and are de-energized and are inoperable when said overhead door is lowered or in closed position;
When said selector switches are energized while the overhead door is raised, at least one outside traffic signal dock light automatically changes color; and
said at least one outside traffic signal dock light automatically changes color and both changed color of said outside and inside dock lights are always different color from each other, and said selector switches are deeneregized when the overhead door is lowered.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A loading dock traffic notification and inventory control system comprising:
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A loading dock including an overhead door, a loading zone, at least one indicator means, a sensing means and a truck control notification automation system;
wherein said truck control notification automation system includes a computer database network;
wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing if a truck has entered the loading zone in front of the loading dock, and the movement/position status of said overhead door;
wherein said notification system includes a notification means for notifying dock attendants inside the building when a truck has backed up to the dock and is sensed by said sensing means;
wherein said computer database network records the movement of any truck in front of a specific dock;
wherein said notification system includes at least one of radio frequency identification (RFID);
surface acoustic wave device (SAW);
a barcode reader means for reading barcodes on the truck;
whereby as the loading dock door is raised and lowered as sensed by the sensing means, the truck control notification automation system automatically updates the computer traffic database in order to record the data of the traffic, delivery time, and inventory by activating at least one of said RFID, SAW and barcode reader means to obtain said data; and
to activate an alarm signal on said indicator means to notify the truck driver that he cannot depart, when the locking door is raised and to activate an free signal on said indicator means to notifying the truck driver that he may depart now when the locking door is lowered.- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeThomas A. Ancel
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Original AssigneeThomas A. Ancel
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InventorsAncel, Thomas A.
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Primary Examiner(s)TONG, NINA C
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Application NumberUS10/023,030Time in Patent Office987 DaysField of Search340/686.1, 340/687, 340/540, 340/545.1, 340/547, 340/545.2, 340/545.3, 340/500, 340/521, 340/507, 340/572.1, 414/401, 414/396, 414/584, 410/7, 410/18US Class Current340/686.1CPC Class CodesB65G 69/2882 operated by detectors or se...
