An apparatus for selectively providing access to a storage container having a door spaced above a floor of the container to provide access to an interior thereof comprises a shaft securable to said storage container at a position below said door and rotatable relative thereto and at least one lever arm extending from said shaft. The apparatus further includes at least one ramp extending between first and second ends, wherein said first end is supported on a surface proximate to said container. The at least one ramp is pivotally supported by distal ends of said at least one lever arms so as to be movable from a first position wherein said second end of said at least one ramp is positioned in front of said container to a second position wherein said second end of said at least one ramp is supported on said container as said shaft is rotated.

A sealing assembly for a dock leveler comprises two side restraints mounted on a loading dock along respective left and right sides of the vertical face of the dock leveler. A bottom restraint is mounted on the loading dock below the vertical face of the dock leveler. A mat is removably insertable between the side restraints. The mat is sized to allow left and right edges of the mat to engage the side restraints when inserted therebetween. The mat is foldable to define a vertical portion that covers the vertical face of the dock leveler and a horizontal portion that covers at least part of the horizontal face of the dock leveler. The mat substantially restricts airflow into and out of the loading dock through the gaps when the vertical portion of the mat is inserted between the side restraints such that a bottom edge of the vertical portion of the mat engages the bottom restraint, and the loading dock door closes atop of the horizontal portion of the mat.

A dock leveler includes a frame configured to support the dock leveler that includes at least one leg. The at least one support leg having a first tube operatively coupled to the frame. A second tube is slidably disposed within the first tube such that the second tube is operable between a first position and a second position. The second tube includes a locking portion. A foot is positioned on an end of the second tube and a shipping pin is configured to engage the locking portion of the second tube such that the second tube is selectively held in one of the first or second positions.

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 facility including a loading dock having a plurality of dock doors to accommodate vehicles or trailers for loading pallets, a staging area located proximate to the loading dock, and a plurality of loading zones. The staging area includes a plurality of staging lanes of finished products. Each staging lane is stocked with the finished products from the facility. Each of the plurality of loading zones includes a subset of the plurality of dock doors and a corresponding subset of staging lanes located proximate to the subset of the plurality of dock doors for supplying pallets for loading into vehicles docked at the subset of the plurality of dock doors.

Example weather barrier apparatus are disclosed herein. An example weather barrier apparatus includes a curtain having a plurality of compressible tubes positioned between a first end of the curtain and a second end of the curtain. The compressible tubes move between a collapsed position when the curtain is in a relaxed condition and an expanded position when the curtain is a taut condition.

Example weather barrier apparatus are disclosed herein. An example weather barrier apparatus disclosed herein include rear edge seals to sealingly engage a rearward facing edge of a vehicle parked at a loading dock. In some examples, the rear edge seal is part of a pivotal upper or side seal member that also includes a surface seal. The surface seal is spaced apart from the edge seal and is to sealingly engage a side or upper surface of the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle's side surface is the outward facing surface of the vehicle's swung-open door. In some examples, the vehicle backing against the edge seal is what deploys the side seal. Some example weather barrier apparatus disclosed herein include an upper seal member and two side seal members, where vehicle-activated movement of the upper seal and side seal members are coordinated to seek and seal against rear corners of a cargo opening of the vehicle. In some examples, one or more seal members lengthen in response to the size and position of the vehicle.

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.

A dock leveler with a lip hinge. The dock leveler may include a lip that may be disposed at a front portion of a deck. The deck and the lip may be connected via a joint to allow the lip to pivot relative to the deck. The joint may comprise a C-shaped shaft coupled to one of the lip and the deck. The C-shaped shaft may have a hollow interior and a radial opening to the hollow interior, the opening being less than 180 degrees. The joint may further comprise a pivot bar coupled to either the deck or the lip. The pivot bar may be pivotably disposed in the hollow interior of the C-shaped shaft in a manner allowing the lip to pivot relative to the deck between a down position and an up position.

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.