Dock leveler with continuous position sensing
US8065770B2 · kind B2 · utility
27Cited by
39References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G69/003
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An example dock leveler for a loading dock includes a position sensor system that not only senses upper and lower travel limits of the dock leveler's deck and/or lip but can also sense a plurality of intermediate positions between the limits. In some examples, the system includes one or more cable-extension transducers that provide a feedback signal that varies as a function of the deck's position relative to a dock platform and/or varies as a function of the lip's position relative to the deck. Such a position sensor system makes it possible to operate the dock leveler automatically with little to no manual intervention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.