Loading Dock Traffic Automation and Inventory Control System
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This Beacon loading dock door automation and inventory control system, referred to here as the Loading Dock Traffic Automation includes a control panel for loading dock equipment including RFID at the dock door area. This dock automation system automates the loading dock area by controlling the traffic signal dock lights, a loading dock spotlight, a loading dock fan, and a dock leveler, all in conjunction with RFID (radio frequency identification), SAW (surface acoustic wave) interface, or barcode reader to provide real-time visibility inventory control. This Loading Dock Traffic Automation system comprises of a loading dock including an overhead door, a loading zone, at least one indicator means, and a sensing means. Furthermore Property Entrance and Exit Notification and Inventory Control System includes RFID, SAW, Electromagnetic Wave, Barcode and GPS zone indexing including readers and software that automates the entire zone area upon entrance into the zone.
The Loading Dock Traffic Automation system panel box includes heavy-duty relay contactors and selector switches mounted in a Nema 12 enclosure for a robust system designed for a long life.
The Loading Dock Traffic Automation system is available as either 120 volt, 1 phase, 480 volt, 3 phase, or 208 volt, 3 phase. Its low-voltage sensing means comprises either a limit switch, a photo eye, a magnetic switch, or a laser.
As described the Loading Dock Traffic Automation system includes at least one RFID and or one SAW device, and or a barcode reader for reading tags on the truck as well as scanning product inventory coming in and out of the building.
The Loading Dock Traffic Automation system allows for an automatic signal to be read from the sensor as soon as the dock door is opened or closed. Furthermore, the RFID or SAW sensor located on the building will read when a truck has backed up to the dock door, uploading the database.
The Loading Dock Traffic Automation system will immediately respond if the truck starts to prematurely pull away from the loading dock before loading or unloading is complete and the dock door is not closed. The dock automation system signals and alerts the truck driver and dock workers as an electronic signaling truck restraint warning system.
As the loading dock door is lowered, the dock automation system automatically switches to an alarm signal informing the driver that he or she may then depart. This is accomplished by a signal sent from the Loading Dock Traffic Automation system panel via a WiFi signal that notifies the driver when he or she is free to depart. The manually operated dock automation system control panel is energized or de-energized with full automation by the movement of the overhead dock door.
The dock door automation system panel selector switches for the dock leveler, loading dock fan, and loading dock spotlight are inoperable when the loading dock door is in the down and closed position, saving substantial energy costs by keeping the fans and loading dock spotlights deactivated. Also, the electric dock levelers are also inoperable to prevent damage to the dock levelers when the dock door is in the down position. As the loading dock door is raised, a sensing means is triggered and activated, therefore energizing the selector switches located in the control panel enclosure for the dock leveler, loading dock fan, and loading dock spotlight.
The dock door automation system automates the traffic signal dock lights as the overhead door is raised or lowered. When the overhead door is in its lowered position, the traffic signal dock light outside is green, signaling to the truck driver that the specific dock zone area is available for truck docking. Furthermore, at the same time when the dock door is in the lowered position, the inside traffic signal dock light is red, signaling to the dock worker to stay away from the dock door. However, when the overhead door is in its raised position, the traffic light outside is red, signaling to the truck driver not to depart because that specific dock zone area is being utilized for loading and unloading. Also, at the same time when the dock door is in the raised position, the inside traffic signal dock light is green, signaling to the dock worker that it is safe to enter the truck trailer from the dock door because the truck driver has a red light outside.
The dock door automation system senses via the RFID, SAW, or barcode sensing means when a truck has entered the sensing zone in front of the loading dock. The computer database network records the movement of any truck in front of a specific dock, including time of arrival, driver’s name and history, shipper’s name and history, inventory (including all manifest bill of lading detail), and departure time. The sensing means also activates an alarm via RFID or SAW if a truck prematurely pulls away from the dock when the dock door is not closed. All building traffic, truck traffic, history, and inventory count can be viewed anywhere in the world with real-time visibility via the Internet.
The limit switch, a photo eye, a magnetic switch, or a laser sensing means notifies a dock attendant outside the truck trailer of an authorized truck movement by means of a safety alarm outside the truck trailer. The sensing means also notifies a forklift driver of an unauthorized truck movement by means of a portable beacon alarm, a strobe on the forklift, an audio alarm on the forklift, and/or a phone, pager, radio, or other communication device. It also activates an alarm signal on the indicator means, notifying the truck driver in his cab by the portable alarm that he cannot depart when a loading door is raised. Therefore, the truck driver will be notified by a signal in his cab that he may depart when the loading door is lowered.
In conclusion, when the overhead door of a distribution center is raised, the security is breached and therefore can be controlled. Loss prevention is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry. The Beacon Loading Dock Traffic Automation system is designed to interact with antennas, readers and software for safety at the loading dock area while controlling the loading dock equipment, including the traffic signal dock lights, a loading dock spotlight, a loading dock fan, and a dock leveler while utilizing RFID, SAW, and or barcode inventory-control technology. Loading dock automation at the loading dock area, while controlling theft and monitoring inventory at the same time, can now be accomplished with the Beacon Loading Dock Traffic Automation and inventory control system.
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