LOADING DOCK ALERT REPORT SYSTEM

• US 20130332217A1
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• 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 9,777,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.15
• 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 docking station peripheral monitoring apparatus for use in a distribution center having at least one docking station configured to receive a trailer comprising:

a plurality of peripherals associated with the at least one docking station and configured to facilitate material exchange between the trailer and the distribution center through the docking station; and

a computer system configured to;

monitor an operation of the plurality of peripherals; and

storing the operation of the plurality of peripherals in a storage medium associated with the computerized system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to track progress of an operator engaged in a workflow procedure utilizing the plurality of peripherals.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the computer system is further configured to generate a signal when the operator deviates from the workflow procedure, and store an indication of any deviations in the storage medium of the computer system.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the computer system is further configured to generate at least one of a warning and a report, and wherein the report includes at least one of a progress report showing progress of the operator and a condition report showing a condition of at least one peripheral.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the condition report includes at least one of a trailer presence status, a vehicle restraint status, a dumping of air-ride suspension status, a positioning of tandem/bogey wheel axel status, a restraint confirmation camera image status, a dock door status, and a dock leveler status.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer system is further configured to restrict the operation of the plurality of peripherals in accordance with a workflow procedure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the computer system generates a signal indicating a deviation in the an operation of the plurality of peripherals.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the signal generates a warning sent to at least one of the operator and a supervisor in the form of at least one of an audible warning and a visual warning.

9. A method of monitoring an operator engaged in a workflow protocol comprising:

automatically monitoring a plurality of docking station peripherals of a distribution center using a computerized system connected to a plurality of monitors, each monitor in functional association with a respective one of the plurality of docking station peripherals;

tracking and storing movements of an operator with the computerized system;

comparing the operator movements to a stored workflow protocol;

generating an alert when the operator movements deviate from the workflow protocol; and

storing any generated alerts for automated report generation.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising restricting operation of the plurality of docking station peripherals to comply with the workflow protocol.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising automatically generating a report demonstrating operator deviations from the workflow protocol.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising automatically generating a report of a condition of the docking station peripherals.

13. A distribution center alert/reporting system for use in a distribution center having at least one dock for exchanging material with a respective trailer comprising:

a tracking system configured to track a workflow through a docking operation procedure having a plurality of steps; and

an alert system configured to generate an alert when a workflow deviates from a docking operation procedure within a workflow protocol.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the alert system is configured to send the alert to at least one of an equipment operator, a supervisor, and a central processing system.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the alert is at least one of an audible alert and a visual alert.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the central processing system generates at least one report comprising one of an operation report and a status report.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the tracking system includes an electronic identification wearable by an operator to track operator location.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the tracking system uses the electronic identification to determine operator location with respect to at least one activation zone and at least one non-activation zone.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the report includes at least one of a workflow of a docking operation procedure and dock status during a docking operation procedure.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the dock status includes at least one of a trailer presence status, a vehicle restraint status, a air-ride suspension dumping status, a tandem/bogey wheel axel position status, a confirmation camera status, a dock door status, and a dock leveler status.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising an operator GUI having feedback showing operator efficiency within the workflow protocol.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the feedback is real-time feedback.

23. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a trailer presence sub-system;

a trailer restraint sub-system;

a visual confirmation sub-system;

a remote control door sub-system;

a leveler sub-system; and

wherein each sub-system communicates data with a data storage medium which is accessible by the alert system.