Key duplication machine
AssigneeLori Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Santii, Raymond Aldieri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for coding or duplicating a pattern of bits onto a key blank employs a locator block which forms reference slots for receiving a key to be duplicated. A template having a matrix of openings which correspond to possible pre-established bit locations is positioned in registration with the key receiving slots. A depth gauge is employed so that a guide selectively seated in a bit defining cut-out of the pattern key indicates the correct incremental depth of the bit to be duplicated. A cutter having a preestablished relationship to the depth gauge guide is employed to obtain the correct cutting depths for the key blank bits.
Claims23
Apparatus for the formation of keys from key blanks comprising:
- a movable table;
- receiver means mounted on said table for supporting a key to be duplicated, the key having a blade with a bit pattern defined by a plurality of regions from which material has been removed, said receiver means supporting the key in at least a first orientation;
- template means for defining the correct location of regions which may comprise the bit pattern of the key to be formed, said template means being mountable on said table in registration with said receiver means;
- vise means mounted on said table for receiving and supporting a key blank, the key blank including a blade portion having a size and shape commensurate with the size and shape of the blade of the key to be formed, the key blank being supported so as to be oriented parallelly with respect to a key supported by said receiver means;
- locator means, said locator means and said table being relatively movable to align said locator means with said template means, said locator means including a sensor member which is reciprocally movable with respect to said receiver means independently of said relative motion whereby contact may be established between said sensor member and a bit pattern defining region on the blade of a key supported by said receiver means, said sensor member being guided into contact with a supported key by said template means;
- indicator means coupled to said locator means for indicating the depth of pattern bit defining regions of the blade of a key supported by said receiver means which are contacted by said sensor member;
- cutter means for selectively removing material from a key blank supported in said vise means, said cutter means being reciprocally movable relative to said vise means and being coupled to said indicator means, said cutter means being registrable with said vise means, said cutter means and said locator means sensor member being initially positioned with different pre-established spacings from said table;
- and
- actuator means for imparting motion to said locator means sensor member and to said cutter means whereby material may be removed from the blade of a key blank supported in said vise means at locations determined by said template means and the amount of material removed at each location may be a function of the depth indication provided by said indicator means, said actuator means including lost motion means so that in a locator mode the locator means sensor member may be seated in a pattern defining region of a key supported by said receiver means and said cutter means will be out of engagement with the key blank, and in a cutting mode the locator means sensor member may be seated in a pattern bit defining region of the blade of a key supported by said receiver means and the cutting means will engage the key blank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.