External Trailer Door Drive for Automated Loading Docks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer door systems at vehicle loading docks require manual operation, which is inefficient and poses safety risks, especially for roll-up type doors, and swing-type doors necessitate manual opening by dock personnel, lacking automation for seamless loading and unloading processes.
Innovation Solution
An externally driven automated trailer door system that uses an external drive component to interact with the trailer door, providing automated opening and closing through mechanisms like door winders, rollers, pushers, and pullers, integrated with a control system for alignment and engagement, reducing manual intervention and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation of trailer doors is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer door system performs self-service through automated operation. The door winder, rollers, pushers, or pullers automatically open and close the trailer door without requiring manual intervention from dock personnel, thereby improving productivity while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with automated mechanical systems. External drive components (door winders, rollers, pushers, pullers) are used to automate the door opening and closing process, substituting human labor with mechanical automation to enhance efficiency
2Loss of time
If manual opening of swing-type doors is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically opening the trailer door before the loading or unloading process begins. The external drive components activate to open the door in advance, eliminating the time delay that would occur if manual opening were required, while the automation handles the operational complexity
3Productivity
If automated door systems are implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the door operation function from the main loading dock system by using external drive components (door winders, rollers, pushers, pullers) that are positioned outside the trailer. This separation allows automated door operation to improve productivity while keeping the core loading dock system relatively simple and modular
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed generally to automated trailer door systems for use at vehicle loading docks. At least a portion of the trailer door system can be externally driven for opening and closing trailer doors at the loading dock. The automated trailer door system can include a counterbalance shaft that moves the trailer door between a closed position and an open position; and a drive unit having a torsion member operably coupled to the counterbalance shaft; and a drive member rotatably engaged with the torsion member, the drive member having an engagement portion accessible external to the trailer door. Rotation of the drive member via the engagement portion can rotate the torsion member to move the trailer door between the closed and open positions. A door winder can be coupled to a centering body and have a motor to rotate the drive member via the engagement portion.