SE2130326A1

SE2130326A1 - Loading dock automated trailer door systems

Info

Publication number: SE2130326A1
Application number: SE2130326A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Daryl Day; Elijah Holzapfel; L Blake Whitley; Richard Hoofard; Stephen Kosek
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems Ab
Priority date: 2021-06-02
Filing date: 2021-11-23
Publication date: 2022-12-03
Also published as: SE2130327A1; SE2130323A1; SE2130324A1; SE2130325A1

Abstract

4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc., an ASS A ABLOY Company, has developed An automated trailer door operating system (300), the system comprising: a puller interface member (302) having an engagement portion (304) and being operably coupled to the trailer door (TD), the puller interface member (302) extending through an aperture in an external surface of the trailer such that the engagement portion (304) is accessible external to the trailer; and a door puller operably mounted to the loading dock and having a coupling configured to releasably engage the engagement portion (304) of the puller interface member (302), wherein, when the door puller coupling is engaged with the engagement portion (304) of the puller interface member (302), translation of the door puller coupling away from the trailer moves the trailer door (TD) from a closed position toward an open position.

Description

LOADING DOCK AUTOMATED TRAILER DOOR SYSTEMS TECHNICAL FIELD [(3001 ] The present disclosure is directed generally to automated trailer door systems at a vehicle loading dock and, more particularly, to extemally driven systems for opening and closing trailer doors at the loading dock.

BACKGROUND id="p-2" id="p-2"

[0002] Vehicle docking facilities, such as warehouses, typically include multiple vehicle docking stations that facilitate the movement of goods between the facility and a vehicle parked at the docking station. Each vehicle docking station can include docking equipment used to improve the safety and efficiency of moving goods between the facility and the vehicle. A vehicle docking station can include, for example, a vehicle restraint used to ensure that the vehicle does not move away from the docking station during loading and unloading, a dock door used to control access into and out of the warehouse, a dock leveler used to provide a bridge or ramp between the vehicle and the facility, a barrier gate to prevent cargo or personnel from falling out of the docking station when the dock door is open, and/or an inﬂatable shelter to provide cover between the vehicle and the facility during loading and unloading. Once the vehicle is restrained and the dock door is opened, the trailer door must be manually opened to access the cargo within the trailer. Trailer doors are typically roll- up type doors or swing-type doors that require dock personnel to open the door prior to loading and/or unloading the trailer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS id="p-3" id="p-3"

[0003] Figures l-9C illustrate various components and features of an automated trailer door system having a door winder configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology for use with a loading dock. id="p-4" id="p-4"

[0004] Figure 10 illustrates various components and features of an automated trailer door system having a pusher conﬁgured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. _1 _ 152568904.1 id="p-5" id="p-5"

[0005] Figure 11 is an isometric view of a portion of an automated trailer door system having a puller configured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology. id="p-6" id="p-6"

[0006] Figures 12-15 illustrate various components and features of an automated trailer door system having a door roller configured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology. id="p-7" id="p-7"

[0007] Figure 16 is a rear isometric view of trailer illustrating a portion of an automated trailer door system configured in accordance With further embodiments of the present technology. id="p-8" id="p-8"

[0008] Figure 17 is a rear isometric view illustrating a portion of an automated trailer door system configured in accordance With other embodiments of the present technology. id="p-9" id="p-9"

[0009] Figure 18 includes tWo rear isometric views illustrating operation of a monolithic trailer door system configured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology. id="p-10" id="p-10"

[0010] Figure 19 is a rear isometric view of a trailer illustrating a portion of an automated trailer door system configured in accordance With further embodiments of the present technology. id="p-11" id="p-11"

[0011] Figure 20 is a rear isometric view of trailer having a vehicle identiﬁcation system conñgured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology. id="p-12" id="p-12"

[0012] Figures 21-25 are ﬂowcharts of loading dock operational steps configured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION id="p-13" id="p-13"

[0013] The following disclosure describes various embodiments of systems for automated opening and/or closing of trailer doors at, e.g., a loading dock. The automated trailer door systems described herein may include systems positioned extemal to the trailer and suitable for transferring energy (e.g., kinetic energy via rotational movement, translational movement, etc.) to the trailer to open and/or close the trailer door. Systems of the present technology may include an extemal drive component that interfaces With a corresponding component on the trailer to move the trailer door, may directly or indirectly interface With the door, and/or may have other suitable interfacing configurations. Accordingly, although the following description is generally directed to embodiments of extemally interfacing automated trailer door systems for movement of the trailer door, embodiments of the present technology are not limited to such conﬁgurations and the systems _2_ 152568904.1 described herein are suitable for use with other types of automated loading dock and/or trailer door systems. id="p-9014" id="p-9014"

[9014] Certain details are set forth in the following description and in Figures 1-25 to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present technology. In other instances, well- known structures, systems, materials and/or operations often associated with loading docks, trailer door systems and associated components are not shown or described in detail in the following disclosure to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the various embodiments of the technology. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, however, that the present technology can be practiced without one or more of the details set forth herein, or with other structures, methods, components, and so forth. The terminology used below is to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain examples of embodiments of the technology. Indeed, certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any ternninology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and speciﬁcally defined as such in this Detailed Description section. id="p-8015" id="p-8015"

[8015] The accompanying Figures depict embodiments of the present technology and are not intended to be limiting of its scope. The sizes of various depicted elements are not necessarily drawn to scale, and these various elements may be arbitrarily enlarged to improve legibility. Component details may be abstracted in the Figures to exclude details such as position of components and certain precise connections between such components when such details are unnecessary for a complete understanding of how to make and use the invention. Additionally, many of the details, dimensions, angles and other features shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particular embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments can have other details, dimensions, angles and features without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that further embodiments of the invention can be practiced without several of the details described below. In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify identical, or at least generally similar, elements. id="p-16" id="p-16"

[0016] Figures l-9C illustrate an automated trailer door system 100 (“system l00”) configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology for use at a loading dock. In this embodiment, the system 100 includes components associated with a trailer T (e. g., Figures l-5) that _3_ 152568904.1 can interface With one or more components associated With a loading dock (e.g., Figures 6-9C) to open and/or close the trailer door TD. The trailer T includes a drive unit 102 With an interface 104 external to the trailer T. The drive unit 102 can be located on the trailer T in a position such that a door Winder subsystem 110 (Figure 6) associated With the loading dock can engage the drive unit 102 via the external interface 104. In one embodiment, the drive unit 102 is located above the trailer door TD (see Figure 1), and can be positioned near the lateral centerline of the trailer T or offset to either side of the centerline. For trailers With roll-up type doors having a counterbalance 120 (see Figure 2), a centered position of the drive unit 102 can provide a balanced input to the counterbalance 120. id="p-17" id="p-17"

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive unit 102 has a suitable engagement feature 106 (e.g., a hexagonal, square, multipoint, etc. shaped engagement feature) for positive engagement with the door Winder subsystem 110 at the loading dock, such that When the door Winder subsystem 110 rotates the drive unit 102 the trailer door TD is opened and/or closed. The engagement feature 106 on the trailer T can be a male engagement feature, such that the door Winder subsystem 110 of the loading dock would include a corresponding female engagement feature 122 (e.g., a socket, see Figures 6 and 7); or a female engagement feature, such that the door Winder subsystem 110 of the loading dock Would include a corresponding male engagement feature (not shown). In some embodiments, the door Winder subsystem 110 at the loading dock provides a rotational input to the drive unit 102, Which translates to movement of the trailer door TD. For example, clockwise rotation of the drive unit 102 can open or close the trailer door TD, While counterclockWise rotation of the drive unit 102 moves the trailer door TD in the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the engagement feature 106 of the drive unit 102 is tapered to assist in centering the engagement feature 122 of the door Winder subsystem 110 during engagement and prior to operating the drive unit 102 to move the trailer door TD. id="p-18" id="p-18"

[0018] In embodiments With a roll-up type trailer door TD, the bias of the counterbalance 120 (Figure 2) of the trailer door TD can be adjusted for use With the system 100. The counterbalance 120 of a conventional roll-up type trailer door TD exerts an opening force on the trailer door TD to assist the manual lifting of the door during opening, keep the door in the open position, and reduce the tendency of the door to impact the floor of the trailer T during closing. In some embodiments of the present technology, automated operation of the trailer door TD by the system 100 perrnits a _4_ 152568904.1 reduced bias of opening force on the trailer door TD (i.e., the counterbalance 120 provides less assistance while opening the door), which can improve operation by maintaining a consistent positive load on the door winder subsystem 110 for smooth operation, and can inhibit unauthorized human manipulation of the trailer door TD (e.g., discouraging theft, circumvention of sequential dock procedures, etc.). id="p-19" id="p-19"

[0019] As shown in Figures 3-5, the drive unit 102 can be rotationally engaged with the counterbalance 120 by corresponding gears on each component so that the drive unit 102 drives a counterbalance shaft 126 to open and/or close the trailer door TD. In some embodiments, the drive unit 102 and counterbalance 120 can include a right angle/worrn drive configuration. For example, the drive unit 102 has a worrn screw portion and the counterbalance 120 has a worrn wheel/gear, a bevel gear, etc. that engages the worrn screw portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterbalance 120 has a worrn wheel/gear 124 coupled to the counterbalance shaft 126 and conﬁgured to rotate the counterbalance shaft 126 to open/ close the trailer door TD, and the drive unit 102 includes a shaft 103 having a wonn screw portion 108 that interfaces with the worrn wheel/ gear 124 of the counterbalance shaft 126. An example of a worrn wheel/gear and worm screw configuration is a bevel gear drive model M2, Style A or B from HUB CITY, a brand of Regal Beloit Corporation, located at 200 State Street, Beloit, WI 53511, among other suitable commercially available examples. Such conﬁgurations typically provide long life and high efficiency, While the positive engagement of the gear system limits the tendency of the door to backdrive (close once open) in the absence of a high opening force bias on the counterbalance. The worm wheel/gear and worrn screw conﬁgurations can provide single stage drive ratios or other suitable drive ratios. In these embodiments, the system 100 may include one or more sensors (not shown) configured to detect the position of the trailer door TD (e.g., open, closed, transitioning, etc.) to provide door positioning information to the systems of the loading dock. id="p-20" id="p-20"

[0020] As shown in Figures 6-9C, the door winder subsystem 110 of the loading dock can be used in conjunction with the trailer T and engage the drive unit 102 to open and/or close the trailer door TD. The door winder subsystem 110 generally includes a door winder unit 140 having a drive shaft 142 with the engagement feature 122 on a distal end portion thereof for engaging the corresponding engagement feature 106 of the drive unit 102. The drive shaft 142 of the door winder _5_ 152568904.1 unit 140 can be rotated directly by a suitable in-line motor 144 or indirectly by a suitable driven gear train, chain, drivebelt, or other system. In some embodiments, engagement of the door winder unit 140 with the drive unit 102 of the trailer T unlocks the trailer door TD for manual opening (e.g., disables a locking mechanism of the trailer T integrated with the drive unit 102). During engagement, the drive shaft 142 can extend and retract to engage or disengage with the drive unit 102, respectively. For example, in the illustrated embodiments of Figures 6 and 7B, the door winder unit 140 is mounted to a winder shuttle 146 that can translate the door winder unit 140 back and forth in the general direction of a shaft 148. The shuttle 148 can be motorized with a shuttle motor 147 to rotate the shaft 148 with a feature (e. g., a ball screw portion 149) to translate the door winder unit 140 and engage the drive unit 102 of the trailer T with the drive shaft 142 of the door winder unit 140. In other embodiments, any suitable mechanical movement of the shuttle 146 is within the scope of the present technology, such as hydraulic translation, belt-driven, etc., or can be integrated with the door winder unit 140 and omit the shuttle 146. id="p-21" id="p-21"

[0021] The door winder subsystem 110 can include a trailer centering subsystem 150 to assist in alignment of the drive shaft 142 with the drive unit 102 of the trailer T. The trailer centering subsystem 150 can have arms 152 that project laterally and are configured with alignment members 154 to interface with the sides of the trailer T. As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9A-9C, the arms 152 can be actuated by a centering device 160, such as a centering device having a rack and pinion drive system or other suitable configuration. The equal retraction of the arms 152 by the centering device 160 translates the alignment members 154 positioned at the distal ends of the arms 152 toward the centerline of the trailer T to thereby position the drive shaft 142 in lateral alignment with the drive unit 102 of the trailer T (see Figure 7A). The retraction/ extension of the arms 152 can be motorized, hydraulic, etc. id="p-22" id="p-22"

[0022] In operation, the door winder subsystem 110 is lowered onto the roof R of the trailer T (Figure 4A) at a preset distance away from a loading dock bumper face, and the arms 152 are initially positioned with both of the alignment members 154 laterally outward from the sides S of the trailer T. From this initial configuration, the arms 152 are retracted by the centering device 160 such that each of the alignment members 154 moves laterally inward toward the centerline of the trailer T. If the trailer T is offset to either side of the centerline of the loading dock, one of the alignment members _5_ 152568904.1 154 of the arms 152 Will contact the respective side S of the trailer T before the other alignment member 154 contacts the other side S of the trailer T, and the continued retraction of the arms 152 Will laterally move the door Winder subsystem 1 10 toward the centerline of the trailer T until the other alignment member 154 contacts the opposite side S of the trailer T, thereby centering the door Winder subsystem 1 10 With the Winder 122 in coaxial alignment With the engagement feature 106. The trailer centering subsystem 150 may include a Wheel 156 or other friction reducing component that contacts the roof R of the trailer T to assist the centering of the door Winder subsystem 110 as the arms 152 retract (see Figures 6, 7A, 8, 9A, and 9B). id="p-23" id="p-23"

[0023] Trailers that are skeWed/not parallel With the loading dock centerline on approach can also be engaged With the door Winder subsystem 110 by use of the trailer centering subsystem 150. In these embodiments, the alignment members 154 of the arms 152 can have flat contacts 155 (see Figure 8) that perrnit longitudinal sliding of the alignment member 154 along the side S of the trailer T, thereby rotating the door Winder subsystem 1 10 so that the arms 152 are substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the trailer T. The ﬂat contacts 155 of the alignment members 154 can have a friction reducing surface that contacts the sides S of the trailer T to assist With the longitudinal sliding of the alignment member 154. Once the door Winder subsystem l 10 is centered and aligned, the drive shaft 142 of the door Winder unit 140 can engage With the drive unit 102 of the trailer T to open/close the trailer door TD. id="p-24" id="p-24"

[0024] Figure 10 illustrates an automated trailer door system 200 (“system 200”) having a pusher interface, and Figure 1 1 illustrates an automated trailer door system 300 (“system 300”) having a puller interface, configured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology for use at a loading dock. The system 200 includes components associated With the trailer T that can interface with one or more door pusher subsystems 210 associated With the loading dock to open and/or close the trailer door TD. For example, the trailer T can include a pusher interface 202 (e.g., an aperture 204) on an exterior surface of the trailer T,. The pusher interface 202 can be located on the trailer T in a position Where the intemal components of the trailer door TD can be manipulated by the door pusher subsystem 210. For example, in one embodiment, the pusher interface 202 is located on the door frame above the trailer door TD, lateral from the centerline of the trailer T, and can be generally aligned With the ceiling portion of one of the door tracks 212 intemal to the trailer T (Figure 10). The _7_ 152568904.1 pusher interface 202 can be configured for axial engagement by a door pusher rod 206 of the loading dock that is extended (pushed) outwardly from the dock face to open the trailer door TD and retracted to close the trailer door TD. The pusher interface 202 can be tapered to assist in centering the door pusher rod 206 with the aperture 204. In these embodiments, the trailer door TD can be biased by a counterbalance (not shown) toward the closed position such that removal of the door pusher rod 206 closes the door without needing to engage with and pull a component of the system 200 to close the trailer door TD. The reduced biasing of the counterbalance 220 allows the door pusher rod 206 to remain in positive contact with the pusher interface 202 and may discourage unauthorized users from manually opening the trailer door TD. A bracket 207 (see Figure 10) can be used to interface with the door pusher rod 206 through the pusher interface 202 so that translation of the door pusher rod 206 moves the trailer door TD. The system 200 can include a trailer centering subsystem 250, similar to the trailer centering subsystem 150 described above, to assist in alignment of the door pusher rod 206 with the pusher interface 202 of the trailer door TD. The loading dock can include a control system to manipulate the door pusher rod 206 based on a sensed position of the trailer door TD. id="p-25" id="p-25"

[0025] As shown in Figure 11, the system 300 includes components associated with the trailer T that can interfaced with one or more door puller subsystems 310 associated with the loading dock to open and/or close the trailer door TD. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the trailer T includes a puller interface portion 302 having an interface feature 304 on an exterior portion of the trailer T, above the trailer door TD. The interface feature 304 can be a puller device (e.g., a handle, a plug, a knob, a coupling, etc.) conﬁgured for engagement by a component of the loading dock (e.g., a corresponding hook). The interface feature 304 can be aligned with the centerline of the trailer T or laterally offset to either side, and can be configured for pulling by an engagement component of the loading dock (e. g., a hook, a fork, a clamp, etc.) to open the trailer door TD. In these embodiments, the trailer door TD can be biased by a counterbalance 320 toward the closed position such that removing the pulling force on the interface feature 304 perrnits closing the trailer door TD without needing to push a component of the system 300. Reduced bias of the counterbalance 320 also may discourage unauthorized users from manually opening the trailer door TD. A cable 306 wrapped around a drum 308 associated with the counterbalance 320 can be used to couple the puller interface portion 302 to the trailer door TD such that pulling on the puller interface portion 302 rotates the _8_ 152568904.1 counterbalance shaﬁ 326 and opens the trailer door TD. The loading dock can include a control system to manipulate the interface feature/member based on a sensed position of the trailer door TD. id="p-26" id="p-26"

[0026] Figures 12-15 illustrate an automated trailer door system 400 (“system 400”) having a door roller conﬁgured in accordance With embodiments of the present technology for use at a loading dock. The system 400 includes components associated With the trailer T that can interface With one or more door roller subsystems 410 associated With the loading dock to open and/or close the trailer door TD. In some embodiments, the trailer T includes a contact surface or pad 402 on an exterior portion of the trailer door TD. The contact patch 402 can be a portion of the surface of the trailer door TD, a separate high friction, toothed, and/or grooved surface applied to the door, or a component attached to the door. In some embodiments, the contact patch 402 is a ribbed surface that is conﬁgured to interface With a toothed roller 412 (see Figures 13 and 14). In other embodiments, the contact patch 402 can extend below the bottom of the trailer door TD so the roller 412 can engage the contact patch 402 When the trailer door TD is fully open (occluding the contact patch), or a separate tab can be attached to the bottom of the trailer door TD for engagement of the door roller subsystem 410 With the trailer door TD When the trailer door TD is fully open. id="p-27" id="p-27"

[0027] As shown in Figures 13-15, the door roller subsystem 410 of the loading dock can be used in conjunction With the trailer T and engage the contact patch 402 to open and/or close the trailer door TD. The door roller subsystem 410 generally includes the roller 412 having features for engaging the contact patch 402 of the trailer door TD (e.g., gear teeth, rubber, knurling, grit, and/or other high friction surface treatment, etc.). The roller 412 can be rotated directly by a suitable motor 414 or indirectly by a suitable gear train, chain, drivebelt 416, etc. (see Figure 15), or other suitable system. The door roller subsystem 410 can extend (see Figure 13) or pivot (see Figure 15) to engage With or disengage from the contact patch 402 and can include a slot 418 in the carrying brackets 419 that alloW for the roller 412 to skeW relative to the brackets 419 as necessary so that the roller is square (parallel) to the surface of the contact patch 402 on the trailer door TD (e.g., When the trailer T is not aligned with the loading dock). The door roller subsystem 410 can include a trailer centering subsystem 450, similar to the trailer centering subsystem 150 described above, to assist in alignment of the roller 412 With the contact patch 402 of the trailer door TD. 152568904.1 id="p-28" id="p-28"

[0028] Figure 16 illustrates an automated trailer door system 500 (“system 500”) having one or more fork pockets 502 (e.g. two fork pockets 502), and Figure 17 illustrates an automated trailer door system 600 (“system 600”) having one or more magnetic contact pads 602 (e.g., two magnetic pads 602) conﬁgured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure for use with a loading dock. The system 500 includes two fork pockets 502 in the trailer door TD for receiving the distal end portions forklift tines (not shown) therein to open and/or close the trailer door TD by upward or downward movement, respectively, of the tines. The system 600 includes two magnetic contact pads 602 (e. g. ferrous pads) on the trailer door TD for magnetically engaging with magnetic features (e.g., magnets) on a forklift or other vehicle/system to open and/or close the trailer door TD by raising or lowering, respectively, the magnetic features. In other embodiments, the magnet features can be positioned on the trailer door and the magnetic contact pads can be positioned on the forklift. Accordingly, in some embodiments an automated guided vehicle (AGV; e.g., an autonomous forklift) can be used to raise and lower the door by engaging the fork pockets and/or the magnetic pads of the trailer door TD as described above. In other embodiments, tines or similar features for engaging the fork pockets 502 and/or magnetic features for engaging the magnetic contact pads 602 can be operably mounted to a suitable upward/downward drive system positioned at or near the loading dock face to open and close the trailer door as described above. id="p-29" id="p-29"

[0029] Figure 18 illustrates an automated trailer door system 700 (“system 700”) having a monolithic door 702, and Figure 19 illustrates an automated trailer door system 800 (“system 800”) having an extemal drive gear 802, conﬁgured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure for use with a loading dock. The system 700 includes a monolithic door 702 extending through the trailer T roof R or sides S that is moved by a component of the loading dock (e. g., a hook, an arm, an actuator, a clamp, etc.) to open and close the trailer door TD. The system 800 includes an extemal gear 802 rotatably coupled to the counterbalance of the trailer door TD for a corresponding drive system of the loading dock (e.g., a driven gear) to open and/or close the trailer door TD. id="p-30" id="p-30"

[0030] Figure 20 shows an embodiment of a vehicle identification system 900 suitable for use with any of the systems 100 through 800 described above. The vehicle identification system 900 can include an information display screen 902 positioned on the trailer door TD. In other embodiments, the information screen can be placed on the sides, roof, or any other suitable (extemally visible) _10- 152568904.1 surface of the trailer T. The screen can be contained within an enclosure 904 and can include short range communication (e. g., BLUETOOTH® or near field communications (NFC), etc.) to enable the loading facility (e.g., a loading dock at a facility that loads goods on the trailer T) to transmit and display information (e.g., QR codes, payload, etc.) on the information screen 902 and for the unloading facility (e.g., a loading dock at a facility that unloads goods off the trailer T) to clear information or change information on the information screen 902 for reloading with new information. At the unloading facility, a camera or reader can scan a unique code, e.g., a QR code, on the information screen 902 and determine whether the load is valid for that particular loading dock. Some embodiments of the information screen 902 can use, e.g., an E-Ink type screen available at https://wvvw.eink.com/. Such screens use power only when transitioning the display of the screen. The system 900 can include batteries or capacitors for powering the system 900. One or more solar panels 906 or regenerative energy devices can be used to charge the system 900, or the system 900 can be connected to the power system of the trailer T. In some embodiments, if the trailer T is in transit or empty, the information screen 902 can display advertising or other information. id="p-31" id="p-31"

[0031] Figures 21-25 show representative loading dock operational ﬂowcharts for use with the systems 100-900 described above. Figure 21 shows a loading dock operation flowchart including operations of the automated trailer door systems 100 and 400 described herein, including activating the trailer door opener subsystem (e.g., subsystems 110 or 410), lowering the subsystem to contact the trailer, retracting the arms of the subsystem (e.g., arms 152) to orient the subsystem, engaging the trailer with the door opener (e.g., the door winder unit 140, the roller 412, etc.), activating the door opener to open the door, optionally disengaging the subsystem from the trailer (or staying attached during processing/unloading), closing the door with the door opener, disengaging the door opener from the trailer, disengaging the subsystem from the trailer, and moving the subsystem to a stored position. Figure 22 shows a loading dock operation ﬂowchart including operations of the automated trailer door systems 100-900 described herein, including sensing the presence of the truck, restraining the truck, signaling to open the trailer door, communicating door status, verifying the trailer door is open, automated dock process, signaling to close the trailer door, verifying the trailer door is closed, and departure of the trailer. Figure 23 shows a loading dock operation ﬂowchart including operations of the automated trailer door system, such as operations for use with systems 500 and 600. Figure 24 _11_ 152568904.1 shows a loading dock operation ﬂowchart including operations of the automated trailer door systems 100-900 described herein, where the system 900 can be used to verify the contents of the trailer and provide a rej ect, reroute, or accept signal to loading dock control system. Figure 25 shows a loading dock operation ﬂowchart including operations of the automated trailer door systems 100-900 described herein, where the loading dock checks for an expected load and can rej ect the trailer if the load is not expected. id="p-32" id="p-32"

[0032] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, 77 CC the words “comprise, comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms "connected," "coupled," or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, for ﬂuid (e. g., air) transfer, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” "below," and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context perrnits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word "or,“ in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. id="p-33" id="p-33"

[0033] The above Detailed Description of examples and embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modiﬁcations are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the invention. Some altemative implementations of the invention may include not only additional elements to those implementations noted above, but also may include fewer elements. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. _12- 152568904.1 id="p-34" id="p-34"

[0034] While the above description describes various embodiments of the invention and the best mode contemplated, regardless how detailed the above text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the present disclosure. As noted above, particular terrninology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific Characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terrninology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. From the fore going, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims. id="p-35" id="p-35"

[0035] Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application. _13- 152568904.1

Claims

1. l. An automated trailer door operating systern (300), the system comprising: a puller interface member (3 02) having an engagement portion (3 04) and being operably coupled to the trailer door (TD), the puller interface member (302) extending through an aperture in an extemal surface of the trailer such that the engagement portion (304) is accessible extemal to the trailer; and a door puller operably mounted to the loading dock and having a coupling configured to releasably engage the engagement portion (304) of the puller interface member (302), wherein, when the door puller coupling is engaged with the engagement portion (304) of the puller interface member (302), translation of the door puller coupling away from the trailer moves the trailer door (TD) from a closed position toward an open position.

2. The automated door operating system according to claim l, wherein the engagement portion (304) of the puller interface (302) member is a plug, a knob, or a coupling, and wherein the engagement portion (3 04) is configured to be couplable to the interface portion of the door puller.

3. The automated door operating system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a counterbalance (320) operably coupled to a trailer door (TD) and conf1gured to bias the trailer door (TD) toward the closed position such that translation of the door puller toward the trailer moves the trailer door (TD) toward the closed position.

4. The automated door operating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture extends through a header of the trailer.