Key duplication apparatus and method
AssigneeMachine Magic, LLC
InventorsJohn S. Titus, William Laughlin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method and apparatus for duplicating an original key, the keyway and keycode of the original key are measured and duplicated in a preform. The preform used in the duplication process need not include any keyway or keycode prior to the duplication process and, therefore, a single type of preform may be used in generating duplicates of many different types of keys. The apparatus may be automated to take the measurements of the original key and to cut the duplicate key, thus reducing the possibility of producing a nonfunctional duplicate.
Claims39
A method of duplicating a first key in a key preform, comprising:
- measuring a first keycode of the first key to produce a first keycode measurement;
- measuring a first keyway of the first key to produce a first keyway measurement;
- forming a second keyway in the key preform with a keyway forming tool selected using the first keyway measurement;
- and
- forming a second keycode in the key preform with a keycode forming tool different from the keyway forming tool using the first keycode measurement to produce a duplicate of the first key in the key preform.
A system for duplicating a first key in a key preform, comprising:
- a key holder to hold the first key and the key preform;
- a measuring device to measure a first keycode and a first keyway of the first key;
- a controller to store key measurement data received from the measuring device and to generate shaping instructions using the measurement data;
- and
- a shaping device to shape a second keycode and a second keyway in the key preform according to the shaping instructions.
Apparatus for measuring a key using light, comprising:
- a light source to produce light to illuminate the key;
- a detector to detect one of light reflected by the key and light transmitted past the key to generate light detection data;
- a mechanism to move one of the light source and the key, so as to produce relative motion between the light source and the key;
- a rotating mechanism to rotate a key holder around an axis essentially parallel to a key shank axis so as to permit measurement of opposing surfaces of the key;
- and
- a controller to control the moving mechanism in response to the light detection data.
A method of measuring a key with light, comprising:
- illuminating the key with light from a light source;
- moving one of the key and the light source to produce relative motion between the key and the light source;
- rotating the key around an axis essentially parallel to a key shank axis using a rotating mechanism to rotate a key holder, so as to present opposing surfaces of the key to the light source;
- and
- detecting variations in an optical interaction between the key and the light.
A method of processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- measuring a first keyway of tile first key to produce keyway data;
- and
- forming a second keyway in the key preform using control signals based on the keyway data.
A system for processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- a key holder to hold the first key and the key preform;
- a measuring device to measure a first keyway in the first key and to produce keyway measurement data;
- a controller coupled to the measuring device to receive the keyway measurement data and to produce control signals in response to the keyway measurement data;
- and
- a shaping device coupled to the controller to receive the control signals;
- wherein the shaping device forms a second keyway in the key preform in response to the control signals.
An apparatus for duplicating a first key in a key preform, comprising:
- a holder to hold the first key and the key preform;
- a measuring unit to measure the first key;
- a controller, coupled to the measuring unit, to receive measurement data of the first key from the measuring unit;
- a cutting unit, coupled to the controller to receive cutting commands, including keyway edge cutters and a keycode cutter;
- and
- a motion unit, coupled to the controller to receive motion commands, to provide relative motion between the holder and the measuring unit, and between the holder and the cutting unit.
A method of processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- measuring a first keyway of the first key;
- and
- forming a second keyway in the key preform using a tool selected in response to the measurement of the first keyway.
A system for processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- a measuring device to measure a first keyway in the first key and to produce keyway measurement data;
- a controller coupled to the measuring device to receive the keyway measurement data and to select a cutting tool in response to the keyway measurement data;
- and
- a shaping device having at least two cutting tools selectable by the controller to cut a keyway in the preform.
A method of processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- measuring a first keyway of the first key to produce measurement signals;
- converting the measurement signals produced in a first form to control signals in a second form;
- and
- forming a second keyway in the key preform using the control signals.
A method of processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- sequentially measuring a first keyway of the first key;
- and
- then forming a second keyway in the key preform using a measurement of the first keyway.
A system for processing a key preform, using a first key as a reference, comprising:
- a measuring device to measure a first keyway in the first key and to produce keyway measurement data;
- a controller coupled to the measuring device to receive and store the keyway measurement data and to produce control signals derived from the keyway measurement data;
- and
- a keyway shaping device coupled to the controller to receive the control signals;
- wherein the keyway shaping device forms a second keyway in the key preform in response to the control signals after the measuring device has measured the first key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.