Fabrication system for key making machine
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorPhillip Gerlings
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fabrication system is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The fabrication system may have a housing with a slot configured to receive a key blank, and a receiving unit configured to accept a shank of the key blank at the slot. The receiving unit may be configured to mechanically align the shank as it is inserted by a user. The fabrication system may also have a clamp movable between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to move the receiving unit and the key blank to the clamp, and to move the receiving unit away from the key blank after the clamp has moved to the closed position.
Claims9
A fabrication system for a key making machine, comprising:
- a housing having a slot configured to receive a key blank;
- a receiving unit configured to accept a shank of the key blank at the slot;
- a fabrication device located within the housing and configured to make a pattern of notches in the shank of the key blank;
- and
- an identity confirmation unit configured to:
- scan an index associated with the key blank at a location outside of the housing, the index including a bar code used for a sales transaction of the key blank;
- and
- confirm identity of the key blank and selectively adjust at least one operational parameter of the fabrication device based on the identity the at least one operational parameter representing at least one of a clamping force, a cutting speed, or a feed rate associated with the fabrication device.
A fabrication system for a key making machine, comprising:
- a housing having a slot configured to receive a key blank;
- a receiving unit configured to accept a shank of the key blank at the slot;
- a fabrication device located within the housing and configured to make a pattern of notches in the shank of the key blank;
- and
- a confirmation unit configured to:
- scan an index associated with the key blank at a location outside of the housing, the index including a bar code used for a sales transaction of the key blank;
- and
- determine whether the key blank has been inserted in an upside down orientation as the key blank passes through the slot based on detecting a presence or an absence of the index on a head of the key blank.
A machine for making notches in a key blank, comprising:
- a fabrication module configured to make a pattern of notches in a shank of the key blank based on an image of an existing key;
- and
- a confirmation unit configured to:
- scan an index associated with the key blank at a location outside of the housing, the index including a bar code used for a sales transaction of the key blank;
- determine whether the key blank has been inserted in an upside down orientation based on detecting a presence or an absence of the index on a head of the key blank;
- and
- selectively reject the key blank as the key blank is inserted into the fabrication module based on the determination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.