An apparatus for conveying delivered items into a building envelope translocates deliveries from a designated receiving area exterior to a building envelope via secure passage onto a deposit area locatable interior to the building envelope. Deposit of an item upon the receiving area signals presence of the delivery. The apparatus is operable automatically via command instantiated in circuit and/or over network in response to the signal.

An autonomous dock station system having an automated material lift truck (AMT), a pallet conveyor, and a facility guidance system can automatically load and/or unload a trailer at a dock station. The autonomous dock station system can coordinate these components according to a workflow procedure. In some embodiments, the workflow procedure can begin with the pallet conveyor supplying a loaded pallet to a specified position. The AMT, initially guided by fixed guidance elements of the facility guidance system, can lift the pallet off the conveyor and transport it to a trailer entrance where the AMT switches from the facility guidance system to a trailer guidance system. The AMT can then carry the pallet to an unloading position, move the pallet to one side of the trailer as needed, unload the pallet and return to the pallet conveyor. The workflow procedure can repeat until the trailer is full.

An autonomous dock station system having an automated material lift truck (AMT), a pallet conveyor, and a facility guidance system can automatically load and/or unload a trailer at a dock station. The autonomous dock station system can coordinate these components according to a workflow procedure. In some embodiments, the workflow procedure can begin with the pallet conveyor supplying a loaded pallet to a specified position. The AMT, initially guided by fixed guidance elements of the facility guidance system, can lift the pallet off the conveyor and transport it to a trailer entrance where the AMT switches from the facility guidance system to a trailer guidance system. The AMT can then carry the pallet to an unloading position, move the pallet to one side of the trailer as needed, unload the pallet and return to the pallet conveyor. The workflow procedure can repeat until the trailer is full.

A 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. A self-raising assembly is operative to rotate the support structure from the deployed position to the stowed position. The self-raising assembly includes at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected between the fixed platform and a distal end of the support structure. A raising actuator is usable by an operator to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the support structure toward the stowed position.

A 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. A self-raising assembly is operative to rotate the support structure from the deployed position to the stowed position. The self-raising assembly includes at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected between the fixed platform and a distal end of the support structure. A raising actuator is usable by an operator to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the support structure toward the stowed position.

A raising assembly for use with a gangway connected for rotation between a raised stowed position and a lowered deployed position. The raising assembly comprises at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected to the gangway. A raising actuator is operative to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the gangway toward the stowed position while the raising actuator is continuously activated by an operator. A lowering actuator is operative to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the gangway toward the deployed position due to gravitational forces while the lowering actuator is continuously activated by the operator. The raising assembly is configured to maintain the gangway at a current position between the stowed position and the deployed position if the operator does one of ceasing to activate the raising actuator while raising the gangway or ceasing to activate the lowering actuator while lowering the gangway.

A raising assembly for use with a gangway connected for rotation between a raised stowed position and a lowered deployed position. The raising assembly comprises at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected to the gangway. A raising actuator is operative to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the gangway toward the stowed position while the raising actuator is continuously activated by an operator. A lowering actuator is operative to cause operation of the cylinder in a manner that rotates the gangway toward the deployed position due to gravitational forces while the lowering actuator is continuously activated by the operator. The raising assembly is configured to maintain the gangway at a current position between the stowed position and the deployed position if the operator does one of ceasing to activate the raising actuator while raising the gangway or ceasing to activate the lowering actuator while lowering the gangway.

A loading-dock signaling system includes an internal signal light, an external signal light and a wheel chock having a base and a handle extending from the base. A chock signal light is positioned on the handle. The internal signal light, the external signal light and the chock signal light are in signal communication with one another to provide at least a plurality of illuminated indicia to an exterior dock area and an interior dock area. The exterior dock area and the interior dock area are separated by a dock door.

A three-dimensional conveying device and method for a plate glass production line relate to the technical field of glass production. The device includes: a plate receiving device, arranged at a tail end of an original plate production line; a vertical height-adjustable device, including a vertical height-adjustable rail and not fewer than two layers of vertical roller beds, each vertical roller bed may ascend or descend in a height direction of a vertical height-adjustable rail, the vertical roller bed is opposite to the plate receiving roller bed, and the plate glass is movable in a horizontal direction of the vertical roller bed; and a plate sending device, arranged at a head end of a deep processing line or a stacking machine roller bed. The three-dimensional conveying device and method for a plate glass production line can improve the utilization efficiency of workshop space, and improve the overall manufacturing efficiency.

The present invention provides an automatic container loading and unloading apparatus and method. The apparatus comprises: a data acquisition module, used for scanning a container truck panel to obtain laser point cloud data; a data preprocessing module, used for segmenting a laser point cloud on a surface of the container truck panel from the laser point cloud data; a key point extraction module, used for performing edge extraction on the laser point cloud on the surface of the container truck panel to obtain discrete points on edges of the keel of the container truck panel; and a straight line fitting module, used for performing random sample consensus straight line fitting on the discrete points on the edges of the keel of the container truck panel to obtain spatial straight lines of the edges of the keel of the truck panel. The automatic container loading and unloading apparatus and method provided by the present invention using spatial straight lines on the edges of the keel of the container truck panel for computing processing, thereby achieving stronger robustness and higher accuracy, so that a container is loaded onto the container truck panel with higher precision and lower calculation amount.