Key cutting machine with key tracing and electronic code cutting duplication modes
US5676504A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T409/301064
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A key cutting machine includes a cutter wheel, a key follower and a key positioning fixture for retaining a master key and a key blank in defined positions. Longitudinal and lateral displacement elements displace the cutter wheel and the key blank relative to each other. First and second electronic position sensors generate cutter wheel longitudinal and lateral position signals which electrically define the position of the cutter wheel relative to the key blank blade. A mode control system selectively operates the key cutting machine in either an analog mode where the bit notch pattern of a master key is mechanically traced and duplicated in the key blade blank or in a digital mode in which an electronically defined bit notch pattern is electrically duplicated in the key blank blade without reference to or tracing the master key bit notch pattern.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.