Key duplication machine having pivoting clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11697165-B2
Application number	US-202016855275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2020
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A clamp is disclosed for a key making machine. The clamp may have an anvil, and a door movable toward the anvil to sandwich a key blank therebetween. The clamp may also have a gate pivotally connected to the door and configured to engage the key blank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for a key making machine, comprising:
an anvil;
a door movable toward the anvil, the door extending from an upper end to a lower end;
at least one spring-biased lever arm pivotally connected with the door at the upper end opposite the anvil;
a mounting shelf extending perpendicularly from the door and located between the upper end and the lower end of the door; and
a gate pivotally connected to the mounting shelf and configured to pivotally move toward or away from the door,
wherein the anvil and the gate are configured to sandwich a key blank therebetween.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the door includes a T-shaped recess formed adjacent to the lower end of the door; and
the gate has a T-shaped frame supported within the T-shaped recess.

3. The clamp of claim 2 , wherein the gate further includes a piston extending perpendicular to the T-shaped frame and configured to engage the key blank, the piston having a lower surface inclined relative to the door and the key blank.

4. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the gate is configured to pivot about a pivoting axis and the gate includes motion limiters extending from opposing ends of the gate in a direction parallel to the pivoting axis, the motion limiters being configured to engage the door and limit pivoting of the gate.

5. The clamp of claim 1 , further including:
a clevis connected to the mounting shelf; and
a pin passing through the gate and the clevis.

6. The clamp of claim 5 , wherein the clevis includes:
a mounting plate connected to the mounting shelf; and
spaced-apart tabs configured to receive a corresponding portion of the gate therebetween.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein:
the door includes an opening formed adjacent to the upper end of the door; and
the clamp further includes a motor having a lobed cam configured to engage the upper end of the door.

8. The clamp of claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one spring-biased lever arm is configured to urge the door toward an open position; and
the motor is configured to move the door to a closed position.

9. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the anvil is generally T-shaped.

10. The clamp of claim 9 , wherein:
the anvil has a shorter leg and a longer leg extending from a center of the shorter leg;
an upper surface of the longer leg is configured to engage the key blank; and
the upper surface is beveled away from the door at a center of the upper surface.

11. The clamp of claim 10 , wherein:
the upper surface is divided into a first flat portion adjacent the shorter leg, and a second flat portion away from the shorter leg; and
an interior angle between a vertical dividing line of the first and second flat portions and the first flat portion is greater than an interior angle between the vertical dividing line and the second flat portion.

12. The clamp of claim 10 , wherein an outer edge of the shorter leg is chamfered.

13. The clamp of claim 10 , wherein the longer leg has a base that flares transversely outward to provide support for a gantry lead screw.

14. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the door includes:
opposing sides defining a width of the door; and
guide channels formed in the opposing sides, the guide channels configured to engage a housing of the key making machine.

15. A key making machine, comprising:
a housing having a first opening configured to receive an existing key, and at least a second opening configured to receive at least one key blank;
an imaging system located within the housing and configured to capture an edge profile of the existing key;
at least one fabrication module configured to cut the edge profile into the at least one key blank; and
a clamp located within the at least one fabrication module and being configured to secure the at least one key blank during cutting of the edge profile, the clamp including:
an anvil;
a door movable toward the anvil, the door extending from an upper end to a lower end;
at least one spring-biased lever arm pivotally connected with the door at the upper end opposite the anvil;
a mounting shelf extending perpendicularly from the door and located between the upper end and the lower end of the door; and
a gate pivotally connected to the mounting shelf and configured to pivotally move toward or away from the door,
wherein the anvil and the gate are configured to sandwich the key blank therebetween.

16. The key making machine of claim 15 , wherein
the door includes a T-shaped recess formed adjacent to the lower end of the door; and
the gate has a T-shaped frame supported within the T-shaped recess.

17. The clamp of claim 15 , wherein:
the anvil is generally T-shaped, having a shorter leg and a longer leg extending from a center of the shorter leg;
an upper surface of the longer leg is configured to engage the key blank; and
the upper surface is beveled away from the door at a center of the upper surface.

18. The key making machine of claim 17 , wherein the gate further includes a piston extending perpendicular to a frame of the gate and configured to sandwich the key blank between a lower surface of the piston and the upper surface of the longer leg of the anvil.

19. A clamp for a key making machine, comprising:
an anvil;
a door movable toward the anvil, the door extending from an upper end to a lower end;
a mounting shelf extending perpendicularly from the door and located between the upper end and the lower end of the door;
a gate pivotally connected to the mounting shelf, the anvil and the gate being configured to sandwich a key blank therebetween;
a clevis connected to the mounting shelf; and
a pin passing through the gate and the clevis.

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

• Gerlings Phillip
• Schmidt Michael
• Perea Lawrence

Classifications

• Y10T409/300952

  to cut lock key · CPC title

• B23C2235/12

  Using a database to store details of the key, the information in the database being used for the generation of the profile of the key · CPC title

• B23C3/355 Primary

  Holders for the template keys · CPC title

• B23C2235/41

  Scanning systems · CPC title

• B23C2235/32

  Measurement systems · CPC title