Mechanical dock levelers are stored in the closed, lowered position through the use of a hold down locking device.
To cycle a mechanical dock leveler the dock attendant first pulls the deck installed release chain.
Pulling the release chain disengages the hold down locking device and the spring loaded, upward biased dock leveler deck assembly rises. As the deck assembly rises the hinged lip assembly extends and is locked in position when the deck is fully raised.
The deck assembly is hinged at the back and remains level with the finished floor; the front of the deck assembly is angled upward and is approximately 36” above the finished floor level when the dock leveler is fully open.
This angled deck creates a pie/wedge shaped opening between the bottom of the raised deck and finished floor level on both sides of the deck. A pie/wedge shaped opening that could allow a dock attendants toe or debris to enter the pit from either side when the dock leveler is in the fully opened position.
Optional full range toe guard protection consists of a hinged, sliding metal guard that is installed on either side of the dock leveler deck that is designed to effectively close off this pie/wedge shaped opening to prevent a dock attendants toe or debris from entering the pit.
This link is to a photograph of a mechanical dock leveler equipped with optional full range toe guard protection installed. https://www.pentalift.com/solutions/full-range-toe-guards/
Mechanical dock levelers are not provided with full range toe guards as standard. The reason for this is that a mechanical dock leveler is spring biased upward. The Mechanical dock leveler is lowered by the dock attendant walking onto dock leveler platform and using their physical weight to cause the dock leveler to lower. Based on this operation the amount of force on the edges of the toe guards as it lowers is significantly lower than a hydraulic to air powered dock leveler.
For additional information on any Pentalift product please contact the Pentalift Sales Department.