Identification module for key making machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577830-B2
Application number	US-201916557145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2019
Priority date	Aug 16, 2013
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

An identification module is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The identification module may have a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key. The identification module may also have a tip guide, configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key. The tip guide may have a slot that exposes a tip end of the shank. The identification module may also have an imaging assembly configured to capture an image of the tip end through the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key making machine, comprising:
a housing;
an identification system, wherein the identification system includes:
a slot opening in the housing configured to receive the shank of an existing first key;
a transponder sensor configured to detect the presence of a transponder within an existing second key and to read a transponder code associated with the detected transponder; and
an imaging system comprising one or more light sources and one or more cameras, wherein the imaging system is configured to use a single camera to determine at least a channel profile of each side of the shank of the existing first key without withdrawing and reintroducing the existing first key in the slot;

a fabrication system, wherein the fabrication system is configured to:
receive a key blank that the identification system has determined to be associated with the existing first key based at least in part on the determined channel profile of each side of the existing first key; and
cut a bitting pattern into the received key blank that matches the bitting pattern of the existing first key;

a user interface associated with the housing,
wherein the user interface includes a touch screen, and
wherein the user interface is configured to provide status information to a user regarding a key duplication process involving the existing first key; and

a credit card reader.

2. The key making machine of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more light sources includes a back light;
wherein an image captured by the one or more cameras includes at least a backlight image; and
wherein the identification system is configured to determine whether the existing first key is an edge-cut key or a milled key based on the captured backlight image.

3. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein determining the channel profile of each side of the shank of the existing first key further comprises determining at least one characteristic selected from the group of characteristics consisting of the shape of a channel formed within the existing first key, the size of a channel formed within the existing first key, and the location of a channel formed within the existing first key.

4. The key making machine of claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing system having a plurality of chutes within the housing to hold a plurality of key blanks of different types.

5. The key making machine of claim 4 , wherein one or more of the chutes are configured to hold a particular type of key blank.

6. The key making machine of claim 4 , wherein each of the chutes dispenses a key blank from a lower most opening that is configured to allow only a single blank to be dispensed at a time.

7. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein upon detection of the presence of a transponder within the existing second key, the user interface is further configured to receive input from a user via the touchscreen comprising at least one input selected from the group of inputs consisting of a make of an automobile associated with the existing second key, a model of an automobile associated with the existing second key, and a year of an automobile associated with the existing second key.

8. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive input from a user via the touchscreen comprising a delivery address for a duplicated key that is to be fabricated at a location remote from the key making machine.

9. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the key making machine is configured to generate a queue of key duplication events and transmit information associated with the queue to the user interface for display.

10. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to ask the user if the user wishes to store data associated with the key duplication event for later use.

11. The key making machine of claim 10 , wherein the machine is configured to store the data.

12. The key making machine of claim 10 , wherein the machine is configured to communicate the data associated with the key duplication event to a remote location.

13. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the fabrication system is isolated from the identification system and the user interface such that debris generated by the fabrication system does not contaminate the identification system and the user interface.

14. The key making machine of claim 13 , further including a chip removal drawer.

15. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the user interface provides guidance to a user for key insertion through visual means.

16. The key making machine of claim 1 , wherein the imaging system is further configured to determine the thickness of the existing first key and the identification system uses the determined thickness in part to determine the key blank associated with the existing first key.

17. A system for duplicating a key, comprising:
an identification system, wherein the identification system includes:
a housing;
a slot opening in the housing configured to selectively receive the shank of an existing first key and the shank of an existing second key;
a transponder sensor configured to detect the presence of a transponder within an existing second key and to read a transponder code associated with the detected transponder;
an imaging system comprising one or more light sources and one or more cameras, wherein the imaging system is configured to determine at least a channel profile of each side of the shank of the existing first key and a bitting pattern of the first and second keys when the first and second keys are received in the slot;
wireless communication hardware; and
a user interface associated with the housing,
wherein the user interface includes a touch screen, and
wherein the user interface is configured to provide status information to a user regarding a key duplication process; and

a fabrication system located at a location remote from the identification system, wherein the fabrication system includes:
wireless communication hardware; and
at least one system for duplication of the existing first or second key selected from the group of systems consisting of a cutting system, a milling system, and a transponder cloning pocket;

wherein the wireless communication hardware of the identification system and the wireless communication hardware of the fabrication system are configured to exchange communications, and
wherein the identification system is configured to transmit information associated with the determined channel profiles of each side of the shank of the existing first key and the determined bitting pattern of the existing first key to the fabrication system via the wireless communication hardware.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein upon detection of the presence of a transponder within the existing second key, the user interface is further configured to receive input from a user via the touchscreen comprising at least one input selected from the group of inputs consisting of a make of an automobile associated with the existing second key, a model of an automobile associated with the existing second key, and a year of an automobile associated with the existing second key.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the identification system is configured to transmit information associated with one or both of the transponder code read from the transponder and the user input comprising at least one input selected from the group of inputs consisting of a make of an automobile associated with the existing second key, a

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

• Grice Byron Keith
• Gerlings Phillip
• Campbell John Clayton
• Schmidt Michael James

Classifications

• E05B19/14 Primary

  Double {or multiple} keys {, e.g. with two or more bows or bits (see also E05B35/14)} · CPC title

• B23P15/005 Primary

  keys (making keys without essentially removing material, e.g. by punching B21D53/42; milling grooves in keys B23C3/35) · CPC title

• G06Q20/14

  specially adapted for billing systems · CPC title

• Y10T409/300952

  to cut lock key · CPC title

• Y10T70/7842

  Single shank or stem · CPC title