Key cutting machine and method

A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank, comprising:

• a front end configured to longitudinally receive the key blank inserted therethrough;
• a housing including a top frame and a base;
• and
• a pair of cutting heads suspended below the top frame of the housing without being supported on the base of the housing and movable longitudinally in unison relative to the top frame and base, in a longitudinal direction parallel to the direction of key blank insertion, each cutting head including a device connected thereto for actively moving each cutting head exclusively in lateral directions, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of key blank insertion, and a cutting wheel rotatable to cut the notch pattern on the key blank.

A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank, comprising:

• a housing including a top frame;
• a pair of cutting heads positioned within the housing, each cutting head including a cutting wheel rotatable to cut the notch pattern on the key blank;
• a clamp mechanism positioned between the cutting heads, the clamp mechanism including a lower clamp and an upper clamp, the upper clamp being suspended from the top frame of the housing and vertically movable relative to the lower clamp to hold the key blank stationary;
• and
• a block positioned above the top frame of the housing and a clamp screw extending through the top frame of the housing and connected to the block and the upper clamp.

A key cutting machine for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank, comprising:

• a front end configured to longitudinally receive the key blank inserted therethrough;
• a housing including a top frame;
• a clamp mechanism configured to hold the key blank stationary;
• and
• a pair of cutting heads connected to a suspension bracket suspended below the top frame, the cutting heads being movable relative to the clamp mechanism, the suspension bracket and cutting heads being movable longitudinally in unison relative to the top frame, in a longitudinal direction parallel to the direction of key blank insertion, each cutting head including a device connected thereto for actively moving each cutting head exclusively in lateral directions, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of key blank insertion, and a cutting wheel rotatable to cut the notch pattern on the key blank.

A method for cutting a notch pattern on a key blank using a key cutting machine, the key cutting machine including a clamp mechanism, a tip stop, and a pair of cutting heads, each cutting head including a cutting wheel and a paddle mounted behind the cutting wheel, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the cutting heads laterally to position the paddles at lateral positions spaced apart from each other by a width of the key blank;
• inserting the key blank into the clamp mechanism;
• positioning the key blank laterally by engaging the key blank with the paddles;
• engaging a tip of the key blank with the tip stop;
• positioning the key blank at a correct longitudinal position by moving the tip stop longitudinally;
• clamping the key blank stationary using the clamp mechanism;
• and
• moving at least one of the cutting heads relative to the clamp mechanism to cut the notch pattern on the key blank.

A key cutting machine, comprising:

• a pair of cutting heads, each cutting head including a cutting wheel having an edge;
• an alignment structure associated with each cutting wheel, each alignment structure having a key guide portion aligned tangent to the edge of a corresponding cutting wheel to engage and position a key blank laterally;
• a clamp mechanism positioned between the cutting heads and configured to hold the key blank stationary;
• and
• wherein the key guide portion of each alignment structure pivots toward the rotational axis of a corresponding cutting wheel upon a predetermined lateral movement of the cutting wheel toward the key blank.