The invention relates to a loading-ramp safety device (10) for a loading ramp (14) to be laid onto a truck (12), comprising a signal device (20) associated with the loading ramp and a blocking device (22) associated with the truck. According to the invention, the signal device is designed to send a signal (24) regarding the loading situation at the loading ramp, and the blocking device is arranged on board the truck and furthermore is designed to receive the signal and to prevent the truck from moving away from the loading ramp in accordance with the signal.

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 system and method for remotely controlling loading dock components is disclosed that includes a distribution center having at least one dock station for exchanging materials and a dock component configured to in at least two operational states. An actuator is included that is configured to change the operational state of the dock component in response to an activation signal. A mobile remote control is configured to generate the activation signal to cause the actuator to change the operational state of the dock component and at least one predefined non-activation zone is included such that changing of operational state of the dock component is inhibited when the mobile remote control is located within the at least one predefined non-activation zone.

Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.

A system and method for remotely controlling loading dock components is disclosed that includes a distribution center having at least one dock station for exchanging materials and a dock component configured to in at least two operational states. An actuator is included that is configured to change the operational state of the dock component in response to an activation signal. A mobile remote control is configured to generate the activation signal to cause the actuator to change the operational state of the dock component and at least one predefined non-activation zone is included such that changing of operational state of the dock component is inhibited when the mobile remote control is located within the at least one predefined non-activation zone.

An example system includes pedestrian sensors to monitor a first pedestrian zone and a second pedestrian zone in front of a dock face of a loading dock. A first vehicle detector is to detect a vehicle near the first pedestrian zone and a second vehicle detector is to detect the vehicle near the second pedestrian zone. A sensor manager is to disable the first pedestrian zone when the first vehicle detector detects the vehicle approaching the first pedestrian zone and the at least one pedestrian sensors does not detect the pedestrian in the first pedestrian zone. The sensor manager is to disable the second pedestrian zone when the second vehicle detector detects the vehicle approaching the second pedestrian zone and at least one of the at least pedestrian sensors does not detect the pedestrian in the second pedestrian zone.

A method of loading and/or unloading a loading space is provided having a loading vehicle that drives into the loading space at least once to place down and/or to collect at least one load object, wherein an access zone of the loading space is safeguarded by at least one first sensor and the loading vehicle is safeguarded by at least one second sensor, In this respect, on driving into the loading space, the loading vehicle first drives to a first position that is so close to the safeguarded access zone that no person fits between the loading vehicle and the safeguarded access zone and the safeguarding of the access zone is then adapted by the first sensor such that a drive-through corridor for the loading vehicle is created.

Pedestrian-Vehicle safety systems for loading docks are disclosed herein. An example safety system includes a first sensor to monitor a first area adjacent a dock, a bi-directional sensor to signal both incoming movement and outgoing movement of a vehicle relative to the dock, and an incoming sensor to signal only incoming movement of the vehicle relative to the dock. A signaling device is responsive to outputs of at least one of the first sensor, the bi-directional sensor, and the incoming sensor.

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing viewing element on a front end of a distal section of the endoscope assembly, at least one side-looking viewing element on at least one side wall of the distal section of the endoscope assembly, a working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool towards the distal section, and a system for regulating the direction of exit of medical device wherein said system enables the medical device to exit at multiple angles to the long dimension of the endoscope device either from the front end or through side walls of the distal section of the device.

Example dock leveler safety systems for vertically storing dock levelers are disclosed herein. An example dock leveler safety system disclosed herein may be used at a dock platform in a pit having a pit floor, where the pit floor is at a lower elevation than the dock platform and the dock platform and the pit floor define the pit. The dock leveler safety system comprises a deck to pivot relative to the dock platform between an upright position and a lowered position such that the deck extends farther over the pit floor when the deck is in the lowered position than when the deck is in the stored upright position. A sensor monitors a sensed region within the pit when the deck is in the upright position and the sensor provides a reaction signal in response to a body being detected within the sensed region. The deck enters a state of restricted movement in response to the reaction signal.