There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing viewing element on a front end of a distal section of the endoscope assembly, at least one side-looking viewing element on at least one side wall of the distal section of the endoscope assembly, a working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool towards the distal section, and a system for regulating the direction of exit of medical device wherein said system enables the medical device to exit at multiple angles to the long dimension of the endoscope device either from the front end or through side walls of the distal section of the device.

The present invention is a pivoting pit seal assembly that forms a continuous seal with the rear bumper of a trailer parked in the bay of a loading dock, and which combines with the side and top seals of the loading dock to provide a 360 degree seal around a trailer. The pit seal assembly has a compression pad mounted to a rigid base. The pad has a resilient, compressible core material wrapped by a durable cover. One side of the base is pivotally held by brackets and corresponding releasable latches anchored to the front wall adjacent the pit floor or directly to the pit floor. During use, the pit seal is held in an upwardly angled position to compressingly engage the rear bumper of the trailer and form a continuous seal with the bumper. Each side end of the pit seal sealingly engages the vertical side seals located along the sides of the door opening to form a continuous seal between the pit seal and the side seals. To clean or access the pit, the releasable fastener is unfastened and the pit seal is rotated to a reclined position.

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

Vehicle restraints for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a vehicle restraint can include a frame mountable relative to a loading dock face, a restraining structure configured to engage, for example, a Rear Impact Guard (RIG) of a shipping vehicle, and a linkage operably coupling the restraining structure to the frame. The linkage can include a collapsible strut operably coupled between the frame and the restraining structure. In operation, the linkage can be raised to engage the restraining structure with the RIG and prevent the vehicle from moving away from the dock face. Additionally, the restraining structure can be disengaged from the RIG by collapsing the strut, even if the RIG is imparting a significant load on the restraining structure that might otherwise bind the restraining structure in the engaged position.

A locking apparatus for locking to a movable frame includes a base, a latching hook which is pivotable relative to the base about a pivot pin extending in a transverse direction between a locking position and an unlocking position, and a latching apparatus for blocking the latching hook on the base in the locking position. The latching hook has a latching portion and a control portion, and the latching portion has a capturing contour for receiving a profile of a frame in the locking position. The latching hook is arranged such that, when a locking force is applied to the control portion, the latching hook is pivoted from the unlocking position into the locking position, and the latching apparatus is configured and arranged such that the latching hook is blocked automatically by the latching apparatus when the locking position is reached, in which the latching apparatus comes into a blocking position. A driverless transport vehicle includes a drive device, an electrical energy store for supplying power to the drive device, and a control unit for controlling the drive device, at least one locking apparatus.

Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.

A system for allowing a chassis for an intermodal shipping container having fittings and a floor to be secured to a loading dock is provided. The system is capable of being slowed away into the chassis when not in use, and moveable to a locking position for interfacing with the dock's restraining system when the chassis is to be secured to the loading dock.

A trailer restraining device comprising a portable frame having mounted thereto a tail hook and a king pin receiver that includes at least one of a receiver hydraulic cylinder, a receiver pneumatic cylinder, a receiver electric actuator, and a receiver winch.

A vehicle restraint for a loading dock includes a barricade member that is rotationally operable between a stored position, a blocking position and a verification position. The barricade member in the blocking position is adapted to laterally secure a vehicle relative to the loading dock. An operable latch is coupled proximate an outer end in the barricade member. The operable latch is selectively operable between retracted and extended positions. When the barricade member is in the blocking position and the operable latch is in the extended position, the operable latch vertically secures the vehicle relative to the barricade member.

A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.