An automatic dock servicing system can monitor status of dock stations and/or dock station components, analyze the status to determine whether it satisfies a service condition for one or more service actions and, when service conditions are satisfied, cause the corresponding service actions to be performed. In some embodiments, a control panel can track a number of trailer loading/unloading cycles at the dock station. When the number of cycles reaches a threshold for performing a service on the dock station, the control panel can automatically initiate the service action. Some service actions that can be initiated by placing a maintenance or part request, sending control signals to a control panel or to dock station components, and/or sending messages or providing remote controls to other personnel.

A seal for a dock levelling system including a movable ramp arranged within a recess. The seal is for sealing a gap between a side of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, and including a flexible strip formed of a flexible material, and on each longitudinal edge of the flexible strip, an attachment strip for attaching the flexible strip to the side of the movable ramp. The seal is arranged so that when the attachment strips are attached adjacently to each other to the side of the movable ramp, the material of the flexible strip between the attachment strips forms a closed loop extending out from the side of the movable ramp to the wall of the recess, to seal the gap between the side of the movable ramp and the wall of the recess.

A boarding bridge walking mechanism with a safety protection apparatus, the safety protection apparatus includes an inner retainer mechanism, an outer retainer mechanism, a connecting mechanism and an induction and control mechanism. The inner retainer mechanism includes an inner bracket and a first universal wheel. The outer retainer mechanism includes an outer bracket. The outer bracket is disposed on the outer circumference of the inner bracket, and a lower end of the outer bracket is lower than a lower end of the inner bracket. The connecting mechanism includes a first connecting component. The first connecting component is connected between the inner bracket and the outer bracket, such that the inner bracket is hinged with the outer bracket. The induction and control mechanism includes an induction unit.

In one aspect, a method is provided for controlling access to a facility including a movable barrier and a plurality of loading docks. The method includes receiving, from a user device associated with a vehicle, a check-in communication that includes a check-in identifier. The method includes receiving a verification communication that verifies a presence of the vehicle relative to a sensor associated with the movable barrier. The method further includes causing a movable barrier operator associated with the movable barrier to move the movable barrier between closed and open positions in response to the check-in identifier indicating authorization to access the facility and in response to receiving the verification communication. Further, the method includes selecting a particular loading dock from the plurality of loading docks and communicating a loading dock identification representative of the particular loading dock to the user device to direct the vehicle to the particular loading dock.

Systems and methods for monitoring components of a loading dock station that implement a remote monitoring and authorization system are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide information regarding the status of various components of the loading dock station to a remote monitoring and authorization control unit, where a supervisor or the like is capable of reviewing real time information regarding the status of the components and progress through and adherence to a workflow protocol. The systems and methods can also provide for authorization requests to be sent to the remote monitoring and authorization control unit, such as requests to override certain components of the docking station. The user at the remote monitoring and authorization control unit can then grant or deny requests based on status information and other data provided at the remote monitoring and authorization control unit.

A boarding system for passage from one vessel to an adjacent vessel comprises a platform, a plurality of support columns secured to the platform, a stairway attached to the platform, and a gangway pivotally connected to the platform and configured to pivot between a storage position and a deployed position. When the gangway is in the storage position, the gangway is in an upward position and when the gangway is in the deployed position, a distal portion of the gangway engages with the adjacent vessel at an angle corresponding to a condition of the adjacent vessel.

A dockboard featuring a hinged dock plate with a simplified design resembling a draw bridge, with one portion being a stationary dock plate bolted flat on a dock top in an unobstructing disposition, and a second portion being a movable dock plate, fixably connected to the first portion with hinges, which may be raised or lowered to extend or retract a continuous load-supporting floor plane enabling horizontal access from the dock top to the receiving or discharging vehicle. When in an inoperative, retracted position, the second, movable dock plate is circumferentially rotated by means of the hinge connection to rest at a resting position angle of between 60 and 80 degrees from the first, stationary dock plate. When in an operative, extended position, the movable dock plate is circumferentially rotated by means of the hinge connection to rest at a resting position of 180 degrees from the stationary dock plate, forming a continuous plane with stationaly dock plate. The movable dock plate is sloped outward from its connection to the stationary plate, at the hinge, approximately ten degrees over its span, in order to create an easily traversable slope for users. The lip of the movable plate is tapered, in order that it also slope outward at approximately ten degrees over its span, to create an easily traversable slope to the receiving or discharging vehicle.

Loading dock signal light change indicator apparatuses and systems including light sensors that detect a change from illumination of a red signal light to illumination of a green signal light from a loading dock signal light assembly, and that generate one or more detection signals in response to that detected change. The apparatuses and systems may additionally include one or more transmitters that transmits one or more wireless signals in response to the one or more light sensor signals, and a receiver that receives the one or more wireless signals from the transmitter(s). The receiver may be a mobile device, such as a smart phone. The receiver may then emit an audio, visual, an/or tactile signal in response to receiving the one or more wireless signals.

An example method includes: during a container load process, controlling a sensor assembly to capture sensor data depicting a container interior; detecting, from the sensor data, items in the container interior; determining, based on the detected items, first and second load process metrics associated with first and second targets; generating first and second normalized metrics based on the first and second load process metrics, and the first and second targets; obtaining a first weighting factor associated with the first load process metric, and a second weighting factor associated with the second load process metric; combining the first normalized metric and the first weighting factor, with the second normalized metric and the second weighting factor, to generate an aggregated load process metric; and transmitting a control command according to the aggregated load process metric; and rendering, at an indicator device, a load process state indicator according to the control command.

A seal for a dock levelling system including a movable hinged ramp arranged within a recess. The seal is for sealing a horizontal gap between the hinged end of the movable ramp and a wall of the recess, and includes a rod and a tube of flexible material surrounding the rod.