Tubular key cutting machine

A machine for making tubular keys, comprising, a base, a key cutter mounted on said base for cutting a bite in a key, a carrier mounted on said base to slide in a generally radial direction relative to said cutter, a key-carrying chuck slidably mounted on said carrier for forward movement in a generally axial direction relative to said cutter, a first stop for locating said key axially in a preselected position relative to said cutter for cutting a bite of selected axial length in the key, a second stop for locating the key radially in a preselected position relative to said cutter for cutting a bite of selected radial depth in the key, a lever pivotally mounted on said base for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position, yieldable holding means connecting said lever with said chuck so that movement of the lever from the inoperative position toward the operative position moves said chuck normally first in a generally forward direction toward said first stop until the key engages said first stop and thereafter continued movement of said lever toward the operative position moves said carrier and said chuck together in said radial direction until said second stop is engaged so said cutter cuts a bite in said key to said preselected axial length and radial depth, and both said forward axial and radial movements occur sequentially as an incident to a single pivoting of said lever from its inoperative position into its operative position.

A machine for making tubular keys, conprising, in combination, a base, key cutter means mounted on said base for cutting a bite in a key, key-carrying chuck means mounted on said base for movement in axial and radial directions relative to said cutter for the latter to cut a bite in the key to a preselected axial length and radial depth, a first stop for locating the key axially relative to said cutter to determine said preselcted length of bite, a second stop for locating the key radially relative to said cutter to determine said preselected depth of bite, a lever pivotally mounted on said base for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position, means connecting said lever with one of said chuck means and said cutter means for moving said chuck means normally first in a forward direction generally toward said first stop and thereafter in a substantially radial direction relative to said cutter as said lever is pivoted from its inoperative position into its operative position, said connecting means comprising a follower connected between said lever and said one of said chuck means and said cutter means, a guide way formed on one of said lever and said one of said chuck and cutter means and receiving said follower, a spring acting between said lever and said one of said chuck and cutter means and yieldably holding the latter for bodily movement with said lever normally in said forward direction as said lever is pivoted toward its operative position, said spring yielding as said first stop blocks said one of said chuck and cutter means against further forward movement so that, with continued movement of said lever toward its operative position, said one of said chuck and cutter means moves only in said radial direction for said bite to be cut in said key.

A machine for making tubular keys, conprising, a base, a key cutter mounted on said base for cutting a bite in a key, a carrier mounted on said base to slide in a generally radial direction relative to said cutter, a key-carrying chuck slidably mounted on said carrier for movement in a generally axial direction relative to said cutter, a first stop for locating the key axially in a preselected position relative to said cutter for cutting a bite of selected axial length in the key, a second stop for locating the key radially in a preselected position relative to said cutter for cutting a bite of selected radial depth in the key, a lever pivotally mounted on said base for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position, a follower journaled on said lever, a slot formed in said carrier and extending diagonally relative to said radial and axial directions, said follower being telescoped into said slot, an arm pivotally mounted on said chuck and engaging said follower, and a spring connected between said arm and said chuck and urging said arm against said follower to hold said chuck normally against said arm follower to move therewith upon movement of said follower within said slot as said lever is pivoted on said base, said spring yielding as said first stop means blocks said chuck against further movement in said axial direction whereby continued movement of said lever toward its operative position moves said carrier and said chuck in said radial direction for said bite to be cut in said key.

A machine for making a duplicate tubular key from a sample including, a base, a cutter mounted on said base for cutting bites in a blank to form the duplicate key, a chuck for carrying the blank mounted on said base for movement in radial and axial directions relative to said cutter, means mounted on said base for measuring the axial length of a bite in the sample and being movable from a retracted position into an extended position corresponding to the axial length of the bite being measured, a disk supported on said base for movement between selected settings and having first and second halves shaped generally as inverted mirror images of each other, first and second cam surfaces defined by said first and second halves, respectively, a first adjustable stop engageable by the blank to locate the latter axially relative to said cutter, said first stop normally being urged into engagement with said first cam surface so as to be positioned thereby, said disk being rotatable on said base for moving said second cam surface into engagement with said measuring means so as to select the disk setting corresponding to the length of bite being measured on the sample, a second adjustable stop for locating said key radially relative to said cutter to determine a preselected radial depth of the bite to be cut in said blank, and a lever mechanism connected with one of said chuck and said cutter and being operable with a single stroke thereof to move said chuck relative to said cutter sequentially axial and radial directions so said blank is positioned by said first and second stops to engage with said cutter for said bite to be cut in said blank to said preselected axial length and radial depth.