DE102011114736A1 - Loading dock for docking transport vehicle to building, has metallic plate provided with radio frequency identification reception and/or transmission unit provided at signal pass band that transmits radio frequency identification signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The dock (11) has a metallic plate (30) through which goods of a transport vehicle are transported to a building (12) over the dock and/or vice versa. The metallic plate is provided with a radio frequency identification (RFID) reception and/or transmission unit (19). The RFID reception and/or transmission unit comprises an RFID antenna (20) attached with the metallic plate. The RFID reception and/or transmission unit is provided at a signal pass band (24) that transmits RFID signals. A RFID electronic unit and a control and/or monitoring unit are accommodated in a common controller housing.

Description

The invention relates to a loading dock for docking of transport vehicles to a building. Moreover, the invention relates to a loading bridge or a loading dock for such a loading dock.

Many retailers only accept deliveries of goods labeled with RFID chips. This allows you to completely automate the entire logistics chain. If the product label goes via barcodes, the goods must be discontinued and the barcode must be read. RFID chips can be read automatically.

For example, it is already known to use RFID chips for monitoring the cold chain. Nowadays, most deliveries of goods are still delivered via pallets. The RFID chips are on the pallet.

A comprehensive presentation of RFID applications in logistics and the techniques used for this can be found in Lenzbauer, S. - RFID Applications in Logistics, Diploma Thesis at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Series of the Institute for Transport Economics and Logistics, No. 2, (2007 LOG), published in 2007 online via ePub, http: //epub.wu-wien .ac.at attached here as part of the disclosure.

From the WO 03/026067 A1 In principle, it is known to mount RFID antennas in the ground or on the ground in the area of a loading dock. For this, the antennas must either be applied to the ground or embedded in the ground. The structure of the known dock with RFID antennas is therefore complicated.

From the WO 2007/038348 A1 another dock and a building with several docks is known, each dock is equipped with an RFID device. For this purpose, an antenna bridge with several RFID antennas is provided in the area of each dock. Such an antenna bridge obstructs the loading traffic and is particularly endangered in rough operation in the area of a dock; Damage to the antennas is common, so they need to be specially protected. A detection of RFID transponders, which are attached to pallets, are particularly difficult if metallic objects are transported on the pallet.

From the WO 2007/140800 a storage rack with metal plates is known on which goods marked with RFID transponders can be stacked. The metal plates are provided with RFID antennas, with the electromagnetic waves being passed through a slot.

A comparable storage rack with multiple slots is from the WO 2005/116945 A2 known.

From the WO 2009/012796 A1 is a slot antenna for use with RFID known wherein the antenna radiates through a plurality of slots in a metal plate.

Slot antennas are still out of the DE 299 20 240 U1 and the WO 01/37215 A1 known.

In the field of logistics and in conjunction with RFID is through the DE 10 2007 061 707 A1 a forklift, in particular a forklift, known, wherein a fork of the forklift is provided with an RFID antenna. For this purpose, a slot is provided in the metal of the fork, to which the electromagnetic waves are coupled and the RFID is to be used as a slot antenna.

From the DE 20 2007 019 033 U1 For example, another antenna device useful in conjunction with RFID is known wherein an antenna is disposed on a first level and a conductive structure is disposed on an adjacent second level, which conductive structure has a slot that is parasitically powered by the antenna. The antenna thus radiates on the slot and stimulates it to emit electromagnetic waves. The slot may for example be straight or meandering or have one or more curved sections.

The object of the invention is to provide a loading station such as loading dock and / or a loading bridge, with which improved merchandise monitoring is possible.

This object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims.

Advantageous embodiment of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a loading bridge is provided with an RFID antenna, so that the passage of an RFID chip through the dock leveler can be detected automatically. As a result, it can be detected at which loading bridge at which time which RFID chip was received or started. This can be used, for example, to identify the trucks and the delivery. You can also use this information to automatically post the goods receipt.

Problems arise when the RFID chips are mounted near metal. Also There are problems in that RFID antennas are mounted in the area of metals, so that the reception is disturbed.

Especially with dock levelers a use of metal is common, so that the attachment of antennas in the dock level is difficult and expensive.

However, this problem can be avoided by using basically already known antenna arrangements, in particular slot antennas.

The attachment of RFID devices in conjunction with dock levellers has very significant advantages over the previously known in the field of cargo dock RFID arrangements.

First, a detection from below is possible, on the one hand complicated antenna bridges and their montages are avoidable.

In addition, the structure of the RIFD device compared to known solutions is much easier. There is no need to place separate RFID antennas in the floor or on the floor. Compared to the mounting on the floor, the inventive construction has the advantage that the RFID antenna assembly can be integrated within the dock leveler and thus is very well protected by the metal of the dock leveler. Compared with the arrangement within or below a floor surface, the inventive construction has the advantage that no additional construction work is needed. The RFID antenna arrangement can already be taken into account and arranged during the production of the loading bridge.

Loading bridges are usually moved by a motor driven and then require a controller, which is usually combined with a controller for driving a corresponding loading dock door. Accordingly, there are already in the range of charging bridges electrical connections and matching control housings and controls for recording electronic circuits. In this respect, it is very easy to integrate corresponding RFID electrics and electronics into a loading bridge so that information can be exchanged simply by connecting the corresponding controller. A control of dock leveler and gate is usually connected to a building control system anyway, so as to be able to detect, for example, at a central location, whether a load dock is still occupied or open or the like. The corresponding information technology can also be used quite simply for the transmission of RFID information.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention relates to the attachment of an RFID communication component in the lower region of a loading station or loading bridge.

This makes it easier to grasp straight pallets, since the pallets carry the goods and thus pass the loading bridge near the ground.

By attaching an RFID transmitting and / or receiving device to the floor area of a loading bridge, it is thus possible to reliably identify RFID-marked pallets even if these pallets carry metal products.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the attachment of the RFID antennas to the metal areas of a dock leveler.

Preferably, the RFID antenna is mounted on the side facing away from the goods, ie at the rear area. As a result, the RFID antennas are very well protected against external influences and the harsh operating conditions at such loading bridges.

For example, the RFID antenna is located below the metal plate of a bridge element of the loading bridge, over which the goods are moved for loading and unloading.

Preferably, an antenna for communication in an automatic goods monitoring system is located on a plateau of a loading bridge or a loading dock of a loading dock.

The element carrying the RFID antenna preferably has continuous metal-free regions, for example recesses, windows or the like, which may be formed as holes or may be closed with non-conductive materials.

Preferably, passage areas are formed for passing the signals from and to the RFID antenna.

In one exemplary embodiment, a lattice-like recess or a slot recess, which can be passed through the signals between the RFID chip and the RFID antenna, is located in a loading bridge.

The invention relates in particular to the attachment of RFID antennas to loading bridges.

In a preferred embodiment, a Vorschubladebrücke or a Klappkeilladebrücke is provided with one or more antennas, which on the Bottom of Vorschubladebrücke or a Klappedgeillebrücke are attached.

As pass-through areas, preferably any individual slots and slot groups are provided in the plateau plate.

The individual slots or groups of slots may themselves, as explained in the aforementioned prior art, be formed as slot antennas. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one slot in the platform sheet is parasitically fed by another antenna, as shown in FIG DE 20 2007 019 033 U1 is basically known. Such further antennas are preferably located below the platform plate in the region of the individual slots or slot groups.

The slot groups are located selectively and in the transverse direction or selectively and in the longitudinal direction.

Shielding devices can be provided between individual loading points in order to avoid faulty detection of RFID-marked goods which are loaded via adjacent loading bridges.

These shielding devices can be provided as swing gates with shielding devices, for example plastic swing gates with wire inserts or plastic strip curtains with overlapping and with wire inserts.

Previous solutions provide separate RFID antennas in the vicinity of the gate of the loading point.

These solutions had the problem that no RFID signal could be received if the RFID chip was located to the bottom of the pallet.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the RFID signals can be received in this case by appropriate slots and arrangement of suitable antennas.

Advantages are in particular that few antennas are necessary and a simple assembly is possible.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

1 a schematic representation of a loading point on a building, for example, for docking trucks or other transport vehicles, with a dock leveler;

2 another example of a usable at such a loading dock loading bridge;

3 a schematic representation of the electrical and electronic connections with respect to RFID and loading bridge control;

4 a schematic representation of a loading bridge with examples of different RFID antenna assemblies that are integrated into the dock leveler.

In 1 is a loading point 10 for docking a transport vehicle, such as a truck, to a building 12 shown.

The loading point can be used as a dock 11 be educated. The dock 11 can be provided in the usual way with a dock leveler, with Torabdichtungen and with a gate system.

The loading point can be designed in particular like one of the loading points, as in the company brochure "Innovations 2011 Verladetechnik" of the Hermann KG sales company with the imprints "Status 12/2010 / Druck 12/2010 / HF 86211 DE / G.XX" among others in February 2011 has been distributed over the Internet. A copy of this booklet is attached to the registration and forms part of the local disclosure. Please refer to the attached brochure for more details on loading ramps and dock leveler loading points.

As can be seen from this brochure, the loading point can be provided, for example, with a forklift bridge or a folding crane bridge or a loading ramp.

Combinations are possible.

Such a loading station, as is known from the company brochure, is provided according to the invention with RFID technology, as described below with reference to the sketches in 1 and 2 is explained in more detail.

This in 1 illustrated embodiment of the loading point 10 is additionally provided with RFID technology for detecting goods marked with RFID chips or RFID labels or transport containers or transport devices.

This is at a lower area of the loading point 10 at least one RFID antenna 20 intended. Preferably, several antennas 20 intended.

In the example of 1 are three RFID antennas 20 below a sheet 22 a Vorschubladebrücke 14 intended.

The sheet 22 is in the range of the respective RFID antenna with a signal passage area 24 provided by which RFID signals can pass.

For example, the signal passing area 24 individual slots 26 and slot groups 28 on. Alternative, unspecified embodiments have non-metal areas, such as plastic or ceramic or the like. For example, the slots could 26 . 28 also be filled with a dielectric or be provided with a signal-transparent plastic cap.

Preferably, individual slots and slot groups 26 . 28 in a plateau area 30 the loading point 10 intended. This plateau area 30 can the Vorschubladebrücke 14 or the in 2 indicated flap-scroll bridge 18 and / or a (not shown) in particular metallic ramp - for example, fixed - include.

The plateau area 30 is in particular of metal, preferably is a signal passage region 24 for passing RFID signals to the side of the plateau remote from the goods 30 intended.

How out 1 can be seen, the loading point 10 also with a detection device 32 be provided for detecting a transport vehicle.

For example, the detection device 32 a presence detector.

The presence detector can be a radar movement detector 34 be or include such.

The detection device 32 is connected to a control device not shown. If a transport vehicle is reported, then the RFID antennas or other RFID receive transmission technology can be activated.

The actual RFID technology with antennas, chips, computers, software, etc. can be configured as described in the different examples at Lenzbauer, S. - RFID applications in logistics, see the attached diploma thesis. These statements form part of the local revelation.

In the embodiments of the dock according to the invention 11 or the loading point 10 can be a shielding device 36 be provided to the loading point 10 to shield against adjacent loading points (not shown), so as to avoid erroneous reception of RFID tags passing through adjacent loading points.

In a first embodiment, the shielding device 36 a plastic door 38 with wire inserts for shielding up.

In a second embodiment, the shielding device 36 a plastic strip curtain 40 with individual strips that overlap to some extent and that are provided with a wire insert for shielding.

Preferably, the shielding device 36 flexibly designed to avoid damage by and on the transport vehicle. It could also metal mesh or metal gates or other shields are made of conductive material.

By means of the shown arrangement of RFID antennas, the RFID signal can be located below a metallic plateau 30 the loading point 10 , for example below the plateau 30 a loading bridge 18 . 14 receive.

In this way, in particular RFID signals can be received, where the RFID chip is arranged on an underside of goods pallets.

3 shows an embodiment for connecting the RFID receiving / or transmitting unit 19 ,

These generally with 52 designated loading bridge has the plateau formed of thick metal sheet 30 and the RFID receiving / or transmitting units integrated therein 19 with slot arrangement and RFID antenna 20 on. The loading bridge 52 is motor-driven movable; These are two loading bridge drive units 54 . 56 represented the plateau 30 can move in a horizontal or vertical direction to compensate for differences in height to a loading or unloading vehicle. Next is the loading point 10 with a goal 58 lockable, which via a door drive device 60 can be opened and closed automatically.

The loading bridge drive units 54 . 56 and the door drive unit 60 are with a control device 50 connected, which is a movement of the loading bridge 52 and the gate 58 controls. The control device 50 can be designed as Torantriebs- and loading bridge control. The control device 50 is on a building control system 62 connected so that operation and / or condition of the gate or dock leveler 52 can also be monitored centrally in the building management system. For example can be determined via the building control system, whether the gate 58 at one of several loading points 10 still open or not. Such controls for controlling the dock leveler 52 and / or an associated gate 58 are already known in principle; at the in 3 illustrated embodiment of the control device 50 however, it is not just one or more drive units 54 . 56 for the loading bridge and / or one or more drive units 60 for the gate 58 connected; Rather, the control device 50 in the same housing or in an additional housing by an RFID electronics 62 extended. The control device 50 thus has control and / or monitoring means 64 for the gate 58 , Control and / or monitoring means 66 for the loading bridge 52 and an RFID electronics 62 on. Each of these units of the controller 50 can via the building control system 61 be controlled (for example, bus systems or a local area network, wired or wireless, for example, wireless). The control device 50 also has an RFID interface in a preferred embodiment 68 on which an RFID-based goods monitoring system 70 is connectable. The RFID electronics 62 may for example contain an RFID reader. Alternatively, the RFID reader can also be used in the goods monitoring system 70 be present, being in the RFID electronics 62 only antenna interfaces for connecting the RFID antennas 20 are provided.

They are different signal pass ranges 74 and different RFID antennas 20 possible. Possible different embodiments are shown schematically in FIG 4 shown in more detail, as a theoretical embodiment, a for forming the dock leveler 52 suitable sheet 22 and different embodiments of RFID antenna assemblies 72 . 74 . 76 . 78 . 80 . 82 having. In a preferred embodiment is in a loading bridge 52 only one of these different types of antenna arrangements selected and distributed over the loading bridge several times available.

• • Erste Antennenanordnung 72: Schlitzantenne mit Ankopplung, wie sie vom Aufbau und der Struktur her in der WO 01/37215 A1 am Beispiel für einen Transponder erläutert ist;
• • zweite Antennenaordnung 74: Schlitzantenne mit mehreren Einzelschlitzen, wie sie von der Struktur und der Verfahrensweise her in der WO 2009/012796 A1 beschrieben und erläutert ist;
• • dritte Antennenanordnung 76: RFID-Schlitzantenne, wie sie in der DE 10 2007 061 707 A1 in unterschiedlichen Ausgestaltungen am Beispiel einer Gabelstaplergabel erläutert ist;
• • vierte Antennenanordnung 78: Antennenanordnung, wie sie in der DE 20 2007 019 033 U1 sowie der WO 2008/122831 A1 am Beispiel eines Metallgehäuses mit darin befindlicher Antenne beschrieben und dargestellt worden ist;
• • fünfte Antennenanordnung 80: Schlitzantennenanordnung wie sie in der WO 2005/116945 A2 am Beispiel eines Regalbodens für Lager erläutert und gezeigt worden ist; und
• • sechste Antennenanordnung 82: Schlitzantenne, wie sie in der WO 2007/140800 A1 am Beispiel eines metallenen Lagerregals erläutert und gezeigt worden ist.

The antenna arrangement can be selected from the following group of possible antenna arrangements:

• • First antenna arrangement 72 : Slotted antenna with coupling, as it structurally and structurally in the WO 01/37215 A1 is explained using the example of a transponder;
• • second antenna arrangement 74 : Slotted antenna with a plurality of individual slots, as they are structurally and procedurally in the WO 2009/012796 A1 described and explained;
• • third antenna arrangement 76 : RFID slot antenna, as in the DE 10 2007 061 707 A1 is explained in different embodiments using the example of a forklift fork;
• Fourth antenna arrangement 78 : Antenna arrangement, as in the DE 20 2007 019 033 U1 as well as the WO 2008/122831 A1 has been described and illustrated using the example of a metal housing with antenna therein;
• Fifth antenna arrangement 80 : Slot antenna array as in the WO 2005/116945 A2 has been explained and shown using the example of a shelf for storage; and
• • sixth antenna arrangement 82 : Slot antenna, as in the WO 2007/140800 A1 has been explained and shown using the example of a metal storage rack.

It will give you more details about the individual antenna arrangements 72 to 82 specifically referred to the aforementioned references, which form part of the disclosure herein. The content of these references is hereby incorporated by reference.

A significant advantage of the integration of RFID into a dock leveler is that, in addition to the installation of the dock leveler in a building, which is necessary in any case, no further structural measures have to be carried out. The loading bridge can already be provided with the antenna arrangements in the factory; also the control device 50 can be prepared accordingly. In the following, the assembly of both the loading bridge and the antenna arrangements can then take place simultaneously by the same personnel on site. This makes it particularly easy to provide the RFID technology at the individual docks.

The integration of RIFD technology into control equipment for loading dock or gate reduces the amount of wiring required and enables easy integration into building management systems.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

loading dock

11

dock

12

building

14

Feed loading bridge

18

Hinged lip dock leveler

19

RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit

20

RFID antenna

22

sheet

24

Signal passband

26

individual slots

30

plateau

31a

surface

31b

bottom

32

detection device

34

radar motion

36

shielding

38

Kunststofftor

40

Plastic curtain

50

control device

52

leveler

54

Ladebrückantriebseneinheit

56

Leveler driven unit

58

gate

60

Torantriebseinheit

61

building control

62

RFID electronics

64

Control and / or monitoring means

66

Control and / or monitoring means

68

RFID interface

70

Article surveillance system

72

first antenna arrangement

74

second antenna arrangement

76

third antenna arrangement

78

fourth antenna arrangement

80

fifth antenna arrangement

82

sixth antenna arrangement

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 03/026067 Al [0005]
• WO 2007/038348 A1 [0006]
• WO 2007/140800 [0007]
• WO 2005/116945 A2 [0008, 0078]
• WO 2009/012796 A1 [0009, 0078]
• DE 29920240 U1 [0010]
• WO 01/37215 A1 [0010, 0078]
• DE 102007061707 A1 [0011, 0078]
• DE 202007019033 U1 [0012, 0037, 0078]
• WO 2008/122831 A1 [0078]
• WO 2007/140800 A1 [0078]

Cited non-patent literature

• Lenzbauer, S. - RFID Applications in Logistics, Diploma Thesis at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Series of the Institute for Transport Economics and Logistics, No. 2, (2007 LOG), published in 2007 online via ePub, http: //epub.wu-wien .ac.at [0004]
• "News 2011 Verladetechnik" of the Hermann KG sales company with the imprint "Status 12/2010 / Druck 12/2010 / HF 86211 DE / G.XX" among others in February 2011 [0052]

Claims (15)

Loading Dock ( 11 ) for docking a transport vehicle to a structure ( 12 ) with a metallic plateau ( 30 ), over which goods from the transport vehicle via the dock to the building ( 12 ) and / or vice versa of the building ( 12 ) are to be transported in the transport vehicle, characterized in that the plateau ( 30 ) with an RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit ( 19 ) is provided. Loading dock according to claim 1, characterized in that the plateau ( 30 ) a loading bridge ( 14 . 18 ) or loading dock, which loading bridge ( 14 . 18 ) or loading ramp are provided with the RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit. Loading dock according to claim 2, characterized in that the loading bridge ( 14 . 18 ) at least partially movable, in particular as Vorschubladebrücke ( 14 ) and / or as a folding wedges bridge ( 18 ) is executed. Loading dock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit ( 19 ) at least one attached to the plateau RFID antenna ( 20 ) having. Loading dock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit ( 19 ) below a surface of the plateau ( 30 ), over which surface ( 30 ) the goods are to be transported, is mounted, in particular on an underside of a plate or a sheet of Pateaus ( 30 ) is attached. Loading dock according to claim 5, characterized in that the RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit ( 19 ) at a signal passage area ( 24 ), which is permeable to RFID signals, is attached. Loading dock according to claim 6, characterized in that the signal passage area ( 24 ) at least one perturbation, an opening, a slot ( 26 ) or a slot arrangement ( 28 ) in the plateau ( 30 ) having. Loading dock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lateral shielding device ( 36 ) for shielding against signal transmissions from and to a neighboring loading point. Loading dock according to claim 8, characterized in that the screening device ( 36 ) a flexible curtain ( 38 . 40 ) made of or with a metal shield or a metal mesh, z. B. a Kunststoffbehang with a wire shield has. Loading bridge, in particular for a loading dock according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an RFID receiving and / or transmitting unit ( 19 ). Loading bridge according to claim 10 with a plateau ( 30 ) made of sheet metal, the plateau ( 30 ) a signal passing device ( 24 ) for transmitting RFID signals and wherein at least one RFID antenna ( 20 ) on a lower side ( 31b ) of the plateau ( 30 ) in the area of the signal transmission device ( 24 ) is provided. Loading bridge for a loading dock according to one of the preceding claims, having a metallic plateau and an RFID antenna arrangement integrated in the plateau ( 71 - 82 ). Loading bridge according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one drive unit ( 54 . 56 ) for motor-driven movement of the loading bridge and a control device ( 50 ) with control and / or monitoring means ( 66 ) for the drive unit ( 54 . 56 ), the control device ( 50 ) an RFID electronics ( 62 ) for connecting the RFID antenna arrangement ( 72 - 82 ) having. Loading bridge according to claim 13, characterized in that the RFID electronics ( 62 ) and the control and / or monitoring means ( 66 ) are housed in a common control housing. Loading bridge according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the RFID antenna arrangement comprises at least one actively fed or parasitically powered slot antenna.

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