Patent · US Active

Fully automatic self-service key duplicating kiosk

US8634951B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
96References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 8, 2011
Grant dateJan 21, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 16, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T409/301624
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A self-service, fully-automatic kiosk for duplicating keys includes a kiosk housing having a customer interface for receiving payment from a customer for the purchase of at least one duplicate of the customer's key. A key analysis system within the housing analyzes the blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched. A key blank extraction system extracts from a magazine within the kiosk a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry. Then a key duplicating system within the kiosk replicates the tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry, on the blade of the extracted key blank. The kiosk includes a processor coupled to sensors and controllable devices within the kiosk and to a communications port for communicating with a remote central server. The processor displays multiple available manual commands in response to an input signal requesting such a display, and, in response to manual selection of the commands, produces signals that energize and de-energ…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.