Example vehicle restraints with a barrier having rotational and translational motion are described. An example vehicle restraint includes a carriage frame movable vertically relative to the dock. A drive shaft is supported by the carriage frame. A drive unit is to rotate the drive shaft about a shaft axis and relative to the carriage frame. A hub is connected to rotate with the drive shaft about the shaft axis, the hub having an outer diameter surface that is radially off center relative to the shaft axis. A barrier defines a bore that encircles the outer diameter surface of the hub. The barrier is movable selectively to an extended position and a retracted position. The barrier being connected to move selectively to the extended position and the retracted position in response to relative rotation between the outer diameter surface of the hub and the bore of the barrier.

Example safety systems for use at a loading dock are disclosed. An example safety system includes a first sensor installed at the loading dock to sense the vehicle approaching the loading dock, where the first sensor is to provide a feedback signal in response to sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. An alarm device mounted at a lower elevation than a lowermost edge defining an opening that of the doorway. The alarm device being between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the opening defining the doorway. The alarm device to provide an alarm signal to warn to a pedestrian in a path of the approaching vehicle in response to the feedback signal sensing the vehicle approaching the loading dock. The alarm signal being at least one of a visual warning or an audible warning.

The present invention is a loading dock rail shelter with an inflatable canopy and a dual stabilizing and passive retraction support assembly. The canopy has an outer end that moves between inflated and retracted positions. The support assembly includes a rigid frame secured around the perimeter of the canopy, and a pivoting support mechanism that allows the frame to ride with the canopy while supporting and guiding the canopy. The shelter has a lower panel assembly that close the bottom of the canopy. The lower panel has lateral support rods and a front panel support assembly secured to the frame. The support assembly supports the canopy and its lower panel so they do not drag along the ground. The rigid frame stabilizes and guides the inflating canopy to seal around a railcar doorway. The support assembly and frame swing back to passively retract and hold the canopy against the building.

An improvement in a portable building (B) comprising a door ramp (10) installed in an opening (O) formed in a sidewall (S) of the building. A ramp door (12) fits in the opening and is hingedly attached to the building. A handle (16) is attached to an exterior surface (12o) of the door allows a user to lower and raise the door with a mechanism (18) facilitating lowering and raising the door in a controlled manner. A panel (32) mounted to the interior top portion of the door extends outwardly as the door is fully lowered to rest on the ground and complete formation of a ramp by items can be brought into or removed from the building.

A dock leveler apparatus includes a curtain assembly that includes an upper curtain section and a lower curtain section. The curtain assembly is movable between a folded configuration and a pendant configuration. The curtain assembly extends a greater distance in the pendant configuration than in the folded configuration. A connector couples to the upper curtain section to a deck pivotally coupled to a base frame of a dock leveler. A releasable coupling is provided between the upper curtain section and the lower curtain section. The releasable coupling is to removably couple the lower curtain section and the upper curtain section.

Unloading conveyor systems are provided. Some unloading conveyor system embodiments have a transport configuration and an operating configuration. In some embodiments, the unloading conveyor system comprises a ramp assembly a side conveyor system, and an unloading conveyor system. In some embodiments, each side conveyor optionally includes an extension wing and a backboard.

An automated biological or chemical sample processing system includes a dock frame and at least one dock frame module. The dock frame includes at least one docking interface that operably couples and interfaces the dock frame with laboratory equipment. The dock frame defines a spine structure of the system alongside which a variable number of laboratory equipment are arrayed. The dock frame extends longitudinally and has a variable elongated configuration and longitudinal length. The at least one dock frame module includes the docking interface, where each module is interchangeable with another module, and has control features with a predetermined relationship to a reference datum of the dock frame module and with a reference datum of the dock frame so that the at least one dock frame module is interchangeably coupled in linear configuration with at least the other dock frame module to select the variable elongated configuration and longitudinal length.

A lip hingedly connectable to a deck of a dock leveler, the lip comprising an elongated body having opposite top and bottom surfaces. The elongated body comprising a hinged edge removably and pivotally connectable to the deck; and a distal edge opposite the hinged edge. The lip further comprises a cover lining adapted to at least partially enclose the top and bottom surfaces of the elongated body so as to mitigate impacts thereon.

Provided is a loading ramp having two or more ramp portions having progressively decreasing widths and each defining a recessed spaced. The loading ramp has an extended position where the two or more ramp portions are parallel to one another or angled relative to one another, and a folded position where one or more ramp portions are nested within another of the ramp portions such that the one or more ramp portions are disposed in the recessed spaced of the another ramp portion.

A novel method of repairing and modifying a heavy-duty industrial rack includes: a) providing an enclosed trailer having: 1) a forklift compartment; 2) a ramp for the loading and unloading a forklift and its payload to and from the trailer; 3) a forklift for moving a rack to and from the trailer; 4) a rack repair compartment; 5) rack repair raw materials; 6) at least one rack component bonding apparatus for bonding components of the rack; 7) at least one rack component bending apparatus; 8) at least one rack machining apparatus; and 9) a hitch for coupling the trailer to a truck for moving the trailer to a new location when desired; and b) moving the trailer to an onsite location having a rack targeted for repair or modification. The method also at least includes: c) unloading the forklift from the trailer via the ramp; d) driving to the forklift to the targeted rack; e) lifting the targeted rack and transporting it to the trailer; f) loading the targeted rack onto the trailer via the ramp; g) locating the targeted industrial rack in the rack repair compartment; h) performing repairs or modifications on the rack; i) after repairs or modifications, lifting and removing the rack from the trailer via the forklift and the ramp; j) driving the repaired or modified rack to an onsite location; and k) unloading the repaired or modified rack from the forklift. A novel trailer apparatus is separately disclosed.