Abstract: A signal and control system is provided in which signal lights are provided on the inside and outside of a dock facility to give dock personnel and truck drivers clearly visible indications of when it is safe or unsafe to load or unload a truck or to park to remove a truck, dependent upon the condition of switches on the inside which are accessible to dock personnel and to the condition of a locking device on the outside which is engageable with the safety bar of a truck. A slip clutch and a position sensor cooperate to control and avoid adverse effects of slippage in the locking device, a horn is energized to provide a loud audible warning of dangerous conditions, a key pad is used to enter a security code and other features are provide for increased safety and reliability.

Abstract: A roll-up strip curtain barrier apparatus is provided which provides a curtain member suspended from a support roller rotatably mounted about a door opening. The curtain member has plurality of flexible curtain-like strip panels which are adapted to span the door opening and provide an air-blocking seal. In one embodiment, the plurality of the strip panels are disposed in a plurality of rows, each row having a plurality of adjacent strip panels. The panels in one row are in abutting and overlapping relationship with the panels in the adjacent row. In one mode of operation, the flexible strip panels deflect in response to personnel and material passing through the door opening and then return to their original suspended position. In another mode of operation, the support roller may be rotated so as to wind and elevate the curtain member about the roller and create an unobstructed door opening. Reverse rotation of the support roller lowers the curtain member to the sealing position.

Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for use in a dock leveler used to span a gap between a loading dock and a bed of a vehicle in loading or unloading position in front of the dock. The loading dock has a pit defined by opposing pit walls, a rear wall and a floor. The dock leveler has a frame mounted in the pit, a deck having front and rear portions, with the rear portion pivotally connected to the frame so that the deck can pivot up and down about a horizontal axis between a horizontal position wherein the deck is substantially co-planar with a surface of the dock, a raised, upwardly inclined position, and a lowered, downwardly inclined position. The dock leveler also has opposing deck sides which are adjacent to and move vertically relative to the pit walls.

Abstract: A vehicle-activated support assembly control system is provided which comprises a sensor assembly which senses the position of the vehicle relative to the dock leveler and an actuation assembly which is operatively connected to the support assembly so as to actuate or maintain the support assembly in a retracted position in response to the position of the vehicle. The actuation assembly is adapted to automatically position the support assembly between (1) a retracted or non-supporting position when the vehicle is in close proximity to the loading dock and (2) an active supporting position when the vehicle is greater than a predetermined distance from the loading dock. The control assembly is adapted to activate the support assembly and move the support assembly to the active supporting position as the vehicle pulls away from the dock leveler but before the lip loses contact with the vehicle.

Abstract: A loading dock shelter having a resilient and flexible seal assembly is provided for forming a substantially air-tight seal between the dock opening and the truck. The seal assembly comprises a support or panel member which is adapted to attach to the loading dock frame and to support a seal member. The seal member has a substantially hook-shaped cross-section adapted to hookedly engage the incoming truck and is capable of resiliently flexing between a hook-shaped cross-section in the disengaged position and a substantially straight cross-section in the sealing position in response to the truck. The hook-shaped cross section permits the seal member to sealably engage the interior wall of the truck, and, in the alternative, will seal against the peripheral edge of the truck, or the exterior wall of the truck depending on the size and position of the truck.

Abstract: A door assembly is provided for use in proximity to door openings wherein there is a large amount of material handling vehicle traffic. The assembly includes a frame mounted within the door opening and having upright elongate side sections. Each section has an interior guideway with an elongate entry thereto. Within each section is a pair of guide members forming therebetween a gap aligned with the entry. A flexible door member is slidably mounted on the frame. Opposite marginal side segments of the door member extend through the entries and gaps into the section guideways. Each marginal segment is provided with a plurality of relatively spaced, vertically aligned follower elements normally impassable with respect to the gap.

Abstract: A method is provided for restraining a truck from movement during the loading and unloading thereof while the truck is parked in a driveway in a loading dock. The truck restraining device has a lock assembly comprising a base and a locking arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotating between retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the locking arm is substantially horizontal for permitting the truck to drive over the restraining device whereas, in the extended position, the locking arm extends upwardly for engaging the truck wheels for restraining movement of the truck.

Abstract: A roller door apparatus is provided that includes a roller means and a means journalling the roller means for reversible rotation about a central longitudinal roller axis. The roller door also includes end rail means for a reciprocal linear movement between a first position adjacent the roller means and a second position away from the roller means. Also included is a flexible curtain means with one end attached to the end rail means and the other end attached to the roller means, such that the curtain means closes a door opening with the end rail means in the second position. The curtain means winds onto the roller means when the end rail moves from the second position to the first position and vice versa.

Abstract: A frost control system is described for inhibiting and removing frost from the door of a storage locker. Relatively cool air is received by an inlet to the frost control system at an inlet placed above the door. The air is drawn into the system by a blower which forces the air through the ducts of the system. The air passes through strip heaters within the vertical ducts of the defrost system positioned on either side of the door. The warm air is discharged horizontally across the bottom portion of the door and simultaneously rises creating a blanket of relatively warm air in comparison to the ambient area. Discharge apertures are included in the ends of the vertical ducts which blow a portion of the warmed air to the base of the door to enhance coverage of the door by the warmed air.

Abstract: An improved lip extension and control assembly is provided for use in a dock leveler. The dock leveler has a ramp pivotally connected to a stationary frame in a conventional manner for pivoting between a pendant, stored position and an extended preparatory position. The lip is pivotally connected to the front edge of the ramp. The assembly has an extension assembly operatively connected to the lip for extending the lip in response to the rotation of the ramp to the extended position. A pivot controlling assembly operatively connected to the lip controls the rotation of the lip in a programmed manner such that upon walking the deck down, the descent of the lip progressively increases from the extended position to the pendant position.

Abstract: A dock leveler assembly for a loading dock is provided having an adjustable ramp, a pivotally mounted lip and a pivotally mounted barrier plate both disposed at front edge portion of the ramp. The pivotal movement of the lip and the barrier plate are coordinated so that, when the lip is in a depending stored position, the barrier plate may be selectively adjusted to assume either an operative upwardly projecting vehicle barrier mode or an inoperative non-projecting mode allowing material handling equipment to load or unload the rear end of a vehicle parked adjacent the loading dock. When the lip is in an operative cantilevered position bridging a gap formed between the ramp front edge portion and the bed of a parked vehicle the barrier plate assumes the inoperative mode allowing material handling equipment to pass over the ramp and the lip onto the bed of the parked vehicle during loading and unloading thereof.

Abstract: A safety gate assembly is provided for use at a loading dock to prevent accidental or inadvertent movement of a loading dock vehicle through an access passageway provided on the loading dock. The assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced, upright, stationary support members positioned on opposite sides of the passageway and a housing removably mounted on one support member. An elongate gate segment is hingedly connected to the housing for movement between operative passageway-blocking and inoperative passageway-unblocking modes. When in the operative mode, the gate segment spans the distance between the support members. Movement of the gate segment is effected by a motor driven element connected to the segment and disposed within the housing. A stop is mounted for engaging the gate segment only when the latter is in the operative mode.

Abstract: A device for releasably locking a parked vehicle at a loading dock during loading and unloading thereof. The device is provided with a carriage mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the front wall of the dock and adapted to be yieldably engaged by a depending safety bar of the parked vehicle. A hook-like member is mounted on the carriage for independent rectilinear movement between an operative mode wherein the vehicle safety bar is lockingly engaged thereby and an inoperative safety bar-release mode. A power-actuated unit is mounted on the carriage and is connected by a linkage assembly to the hook-like member and effects movement thereof between the operative and inoperative modes. The linkage assembly includes a pair of pivotally connected links one of which has an end portion pivotally connected to the hook-like member and the other has an end portion pivotally connected to a lower portion of the carriage.

Abstract: A panel for a multi-panel folding door includes a semi-rigid, transparent partition with insulating layers disposed on opposing sides thereof. A collapsible nose seal adjacent to a lateral edge of the panel and extending substantially the length thereof is adapted for engagement with another similar panel also having a collapsible nose seal to provide an interlocking, insulated seal between the panels when the door is closed while permitting the panels to be separated when the door is opened. A magnet in the collapsible nose seal of each panel is adapted for magnetic coupling to a metal plate in the other panel to provide a weather-tight, thermal insulating seal. Each of the insulating layers includes an aperture, with the apertures in mutual alignment to form a window in the panel.

Abstract: A safety barrier assembly is disclosed to provide a movable barrier for an access passageway or doorway. The assembly includes a pair of upright support members and vertically travelling barrier means with at least two horizontally disposed elongate segments being selectively moveable between an operative passage blocking mode and inoperative non-blocking mode. Drive means are provided for moving the segments and lost motion means allow for positioning the segments a predetermined first distance apart when in the operative mode while positioning the segments close together when in the inoperative mode. Stop means may be provided for engaging one of the elongate members when in the operative mode.

Abstract: A vehicle restraint is provided for securing a parked vehicle against a loading dock while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded. The restraint includes a housing for below-ground installation and in which a ram is stored. The ram is mounted in the housing for vertical movement through an opening in the top of the housing, allowing the ram to move between a stored position and a raised position. Doors are provided for closing the opening in the top of the housing when the ram is in the stored position. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for moving the ram. A hook assembly is attached to the top of the ram for releasably retaining the vehicle. The hook assembly includes a hook in a stepped configuration to enable engagement of ICC bars having various heights and positioned various distances away from the loading dock wall. A sensor is provided for detecting when the hook engages the ICC bar of the vehicle and to stop the vertical movement of the ram when such engagement has been made.

Abstract: A frost control system is described for inhibiting and removing frost from the door of a storage locker. Relatively cool air is received by an inlet to the frost control system at an inlet placed above the door. The air is drawn into the system by a blower which forces the air through the ducts of the system. The air passes through strip heaters within the vertical ducts of the defrost system positioned on either side of the door. The warm air is discharged horizontally across the bottom portion of the door and simultaneously rises creating a blanket of relatively warm air in comparison to the ambient area. Discharge apertures are included in the ends of the vertical ducts which blow a portion of the warmed air to the base of the door to enhance coverage of the door by the warmed air.

Abstract: A management system includes a daisy chain arrangement for serial transfer of dock status data from one module to another of a group of monitoring modules and to a master control box, each module being located at a dock of a multi-dock facility. The master control box periodically receives dock status data from one or more groups of modules, determines whether any change of status has occurred and transmits data to a central processing unit.

Abstract: A panel for a multi-panel folding door includes a semi-rigid, transparent partition with insulating layers disposed on opposing sides thereof. A collapsible nose seal adjacent to a lateral edge of the panel and extending substantially the length thereof is adapted for engagement with another similar panel also having a collapsible nose seal to provide an interlocking, insulated seal between the panels when the door is closed while permitting the panels to be separated when the door is opened. A magnet in the collapsible nose seal of each panel is adapted for magnetic coupling to a metal plate in the other panel to provide a weather-tight, thermal insulating seal. Each of the insulating layers includes an aperture, with the apertures in mutual alignment to form a window in the panel.

Abstract: A dock leveler lift assembly for facilitating loading and unloading operations from a loading dock is provided. The assembly includes a deck adjustable in a leveler mode between selected raised and lowered angular positions relative to the platform surface of the dock as well as adjustable in a lift mode between lift and descent positions while the deck is maintained in a horizontal position. The deck is releasably mounted on a first mechanism for raising and lowering the deck in a horizontal position. A second mechanism releasably retains a deck rear edge portion pivotally attached to an elevated portion of a frame. Pivotal attachment of the deck to the frame coupled with lowering of the first mechanism out of direct contact with the underside of the deck permits movement of the deck to a lowered angular position relative to the dock surface. A method for operating such an assembly is also provided.