Patent ID: 8733034
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
1. A loading bay comprising: a fold-away ramp designed to connect a shed and a truck box body of a truck, a shelter with at least two fold-away sides and a roof for closing off a space between the shed and the truck box body at a side and at a top during loading or unloading operations, along with light-signaling devices to emit different light signals as the truck maneuvers to approach the loading bay, a fold-away platform, located on a lower level relative to the fold-away ramp, that can support a person to open doors of the truck once the truck is in place for loading and unloading, actuating means for the fold-away platform from an inoperative vertical position, inward-facing, in relation to the at least two fold-away sides of the shelter, and an operative, horizontal position that protrudes in relation to an opening of the loading bay, front stops disposed on a front edge of the fold-away platform, wherein the front stops are configured to move longitudinally in a direction away from and towards the front edge of the fold-away platform, the front stops being configured to contact a trailer or the truck box body during an approach to the loading bay, means to detect the position of the front stops relative to the loading bay, which activate the light-signaling devices and cause the emission of the different light signals depending on a degree of rearward displacement of the front stops by the truck box body or trailer during the approach to the loading bay, and longitudinal displacement means for the front stops to distance the front stops from the truck box body or trailer once the truck is in a stationary position in the loading bay so that during loading and unloading operations, the front stops are free of contact with the truck box body or trailer.