Fully automatic self-service key duplicating kiosk
US8979446B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2011 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T409/300952
- 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-receiving entry in the housing receives at least a portion of the customer's key to be duplicated, and 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 magazine within the housing stores key blanks for each of the preselected key types. A key blank extraction system extracts from the magazine 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.