Manual clamp for key making machine
AssigneeThe Hillman Group, Inc.
InventorsJames F. Huss, Robert J. Musil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The clamp may have a stationary head guide with a slot configured to receive a key, and a pressure pad configured to engage the head guide and sandwich the key therebetween. The clamp may also have at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide, a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad, and a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad. The clamp may further have a release lever manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and to compress the second spring.
Claims20
A clamp for a key making machine, comprising:
- a stationary head guide having a slot configured to receive a key;
- a pressure pad configured to engage the stationary head guide and sandwich the key therebetween;
- at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide;
- a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad;
- a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad;
- and
- a release lever that is manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and compress the second spring.
A key making machine, comprising:
- a housing having an opening configured to receive a key;
- an imaging system located within the housing and configured to capture an edge profile of the key;
- and
- a clamp configured to secure the key during an imaging process, the clamp including:
- a stationary head guide located adjacent the opening in the housing and having a slot configured to receive the key;
- a pressure pad configured to engage the stationary head guide and sandwich the key therebetween;
- at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide;
- a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad;
- a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad;
- and
- a release lever manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and to compress the second spring.
A method of clamping a key within a machine, comprising:
- pressing a lever to reduce a spring bias urging a pressure pad toward a head guide;
- inserting a key between the pressure pad and the head guide, causing the pressure pad to move away from the head guide against a spring bias;
- and
- releasing the lever to increase the spring bias clamping the key between the pressure pad and the head guide during at least one of an imaging process and a cutting process performed on the key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.