A ramp kerb, for supporting a transverse edge of a ramp surface and a ramp lip extension having an attachment portion, comprises a first longitudinally extending channel open at an inner transverse edge of the ramp kerb for receiving a transverse edge of the ramp surface and a second longitudinally extending channel open at the inner transverse edge of the ramp kerb for receiving an attachment portion of the ramp lip extension. The first and second longitudinally extending channels are vertically spaced.

A ramp assembly comprises a support defining a vertical and horizontal pivot axes and a ramp with a first ramp portion coupled at one side thereof to the support, a second ramp portion, and a hinge connecting the second ramp portion to the first ramp portion. The second ramp section is manually movable between a generally folded stowed position being disposed in a surface-to-surface facing arrangement with the first ramp section and an unfolded deployed position being disposed in an end-to-end facing arrangement with the first ramp section. The ramp is manually pivotable on the support, about the vertical and horizontal pivot axes, between a folded stowed position, an unfolded deployed position defining an inclined ramp surface, and a folded intermediate position. The ramp can be installed on a vehicle for use by non-ambulatory passengers and be disposed in a position allowing unhindered use of the vehicle by ambulatory passengers.

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.

When it is confirmed that a user exists based on an image of the situation outside a vehicle which is captured using a camera and a proximity sensor detects a fact that the user is approaching based on, for example, a putting of a hand of the user over the proximity sensor, a control device causes a ramp to be extended. As such, a user sitting in a wheelchair can cause the ramp to be extended by approaching the proximity sensor, such as the putting of the user's hand over the proximity sensor such that the user sitting in the wheelchair does not have to press an extension/storage button provided on the vehicle to cause the ramp to be extended.

Example dock leveler apparatuses are disclosed. 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 having a longer length 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 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.

A gangway for use with a container to be accessed is provided. The gangway comprises a fixed platform and a support structure connected to the fixed platform in a manner that allows the support structure to rotate with respect to the fixed platform between a raised stowed position and a lowered deployed position. An end platform is pivotally connected at the distal end of the support structure, the end platform defining an upper walking surface and a bottom surface that engages the top of the container, the height between the bottom surface and the walking surface being no greater than one inch.

A vehicle leveler which includes a first portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The leveler also includes a second portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The vehicle leveler has a door interlock system with at least one pair of photoelectric sensors with a sensor path. When a vehicle is being loaded or unloaded on the vehicle leveler, and at least one of the vehicle doors is opened, the door blocks the sensor path of the photoelectric sensors and prevents the vehicle leveler from lowering or raising.

An accident prevention system for a doorway of a loading dock is provided. The system includes a first sensor configured to detect an object in a first predetermined location and having a height that is greater than a predetermined height. A second sensor is configured to activate responsive to detection by the first sensor of an object having a height that is greater than the predetermined height. The second sensor is also configured to detect an object in a second predetermined location after activation of the second sensor. An alert system is configured to generate a humanly-perceivable alert responsive to detection of the object in the second predetermined location after the activation of the second sensor.

A control panel is configured to operate one or more dock devices in a loading dock environment. The control panel can be supported at least in part by a bollard disposed in the loading dock environment. In one form, the bollard is configured to contain portions of the control panel and dock devices including sensors, lights, and the like. In one form, the control panel and one or more dock devices are mounted to a preexisting bollard to add functionality to the loading dock environment.

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.