Manual clamp for key making machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017136557-A1
Application number	US-201615284239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 3, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	May 18, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A clamp is disclosed for use in a key making machine. The clamp may have a stationary head guide with a slot configured to receive a key, and a pressure pad configured to engage the head guide and sandwich the key therebetween. The clamp may also have at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide, a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad, and a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad. The clamp may further have a release lever manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and to compress the second spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A clamp for a key making machine, comprising:
a stationary head guide having a slot configured to receive a key; a pressure pad configured to engage the stationary head guide and sandwich the key therebetween; at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide; a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad; a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad; and a release lever that is manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and compress the second spring.

2 . The clamp of claim 1 , further including:
a first pivot pin configured to connect the release lever to a housing of the key making machine; and a second pivot pin connecting the release lever to the plunger.

3 . The clamp of claim 1 , further including at least one motion limiter configured limit a distance that the pressure pad moves away from the stationary head guide.

4 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the at least a first spring includes two springs located at opposing ends of the pressure pad.

5 . The clamp of claim 4 , further including:
guide rails extending from the stationary head guide through the pressure pad; and clips configured to retain the two springs on the guide rails.

6 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the stationary head guide includes surfaces at the slot that bevel inward toward the slot.

7 . The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the second spring is configured to exert about four times as much force on the pressure pad than the at least a first spring.

8 . The clamp of claim 1 , further including a motion limiter configured limit a distance that the plunger moves away from the pressure pad.

9 . The clamp of claim 1 , further including a micro-switch configured to generate a signal indicative of movement of the plunger.

10 . The clamp of claim 9 , further including an adjustment mechanism disposed on an end of the plunger adjacent the micro-switch, the adjustment mechanism configured to adjust engagement of the plunger with the micro-switch.

11 . A key making machine, comprising:
a housing having an opening configured to receive a key; an imaging system located within the housing and configured to capture an edge profile of the key; and a clamp configured to secure the key during an imaging process, the clamp including:
a stationary head guide located adjacent the opening in the housing and having a slot configured to receive the key;
a pressure pad configured to engage the stationary head guide and sandwich the key therebetween;
at least a first spring configured to continuously generate a force biasing the pressure pad toward the stationary head guide;
a plunger configured to selectively engage the pressure pad;
a second spring configured to bias the plunger toward the pressure pad; and
a release lever manually operable to urge the plunger away from the pressure pad and to compress the second spring.

12 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including:
a first pivot pin configured to connect the release lever to a housing of the key making machine; and a second pivot pin connecting the release lever to the plunger.

13 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including at least one motion limiter configured limit a distance that the pressure pad moves away from the stationary head guide.

14 . The key making machine of claim 11 , wherein the stationary head guide includes surfaces at the slot that bevel inward toward the slot.

15 . The key making machine of claim 11 , wherein the second spring is configured to exert about four times as much force on the pressure pad than the at least a first spring.

16 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including a motion limiter configured limit a distance that the plunger moves away from the pressure pad.

17 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including a micro-switch configured to generate a signal indicative of movement of the plunger.

18 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including:
a tip guide configured to receive a shank tip of the key when the key is inserted through the slot of the stationary head guide; a spring configured to bias the tip guide toward the stationary head guide; and a sensor configured to detect motion of the tip guide.

19 . The key making machine of claim 11 , further including:
a tip guide configured to receive a shank tip of the key when the key is inserted through the slot of the stationary head guide; a spring configured to bias the tip guide toward the stationary head guide; and a dashpot configured to dampen motion of the tip guide.

20 . A method of clamping a key within a machine, comprising:
pressing a lever to reduce a spring bias urging a pressure pad toward a head guide; inserting a key between the pressure pad and the head guide, causing the pressure pad to move away from the head guide against a spring bias; and releasing the lever to increase the spring bias clamping the key between the pressure pad and the head guide during at least one of an imaging process and a cutting process performed on the key.

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc

Inventors

• Huss James F
• Musil Robert J

Classifications

• Y10T409/300952

  to cut lock key · CPC title

• B23C2260/76

  Sensors · CPC title

• B23C2270/08

  Clamping mechanisms or provision for clamping (B23C2210/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23C2235/41

  Scanning systems · CPC title

• B23C3/355 Primary

  Holders for the template keys · CPC title