Patent ID: 6781516
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B65G,Y10T

Abstract:
A unified controller for controlling a loading dock apparatus, comprising:(a) a control panel for providing a common area for operator controls and signals; (b) operator signal lights located on the control panel and operatively connected to the loading dock apparatus for signaling an operator that a loading dock is at least one of ready for loading, not ready for loading, and operator be cautioned; (c) a selector switch located on the control panel, and operatively connected to the loading dock apparatus to permit selective operation of a vehicle restraint, a dock door, and a leveler apparatus; (d) a first operation control attached to the control panel wherein the first operation control, when activated, engages the vehicle restraint when the selector switch is selected to operate the vehicle restraint, the first operation control, when activated, opens the dock door when the dock door is selected by the selector switch, and the first operation control, controls the raising and lowering of the dock leveler to an operative and a stored position, and extends and retracts a lip portion of the dock leveler when the dock leveler is selected by the selector switch; (e) a second operation control attached to the control panel, wherein the second operation control, when activated, extends a lip portion of the dock leveler when the dock leveler is selected by the selector switch, the second operation control, when activated, closes the dock door when the dock door is selected by the selector switch, and the second operation control, when activated, disengages the vehicle restraint when the selector switch is selected to operate the vehicle restraint; (f) a third operation control attached to the control panel, wherein the third operation control is an emergency stop control configured to stop operation of the loading dock apparatus; (g) operator indicator lights located on the control panel, wherein the indicator lights indicate which of the vehicle restraint, door, and dock lever the operation controls will activate; AND (h) a vehicle restraint bypass switch located on the controller, wherein the vehicle restraint bypass switch may selectively bypass the dock loading apparatus causing the first operation control to not engage the vehicle restraint, but activate the operator control signal light to indicate at least one of ready for loading, and operator be cautioned, and the second operation control to not disengage the dock loading apparatus.