Identification module for key making machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9797163-B2
Application number	US-201414263595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2014
Priority date	Aug 16, 2013
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

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, and an imaging assembly configured to generate an image of the shank while the existing key is being manually held in the key receiving assembly. The identification module may also have a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly and the imaging assembly. The housing may have a slot formed therein to receive the existing key. The identification module further may have a tip guide configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key as the tip is inserted through the slot. The tip guide may be linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location at the slot to a second location away from the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An identification module for a key making system, comprising:
a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key;
an imaging assembly configured to generate an image of the shank while the existing key is being manually held in the key receiving assembly;
a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly and the imaging assembly, the housing having a slot formed therein to receive the existing key;
a tip guide having a recess configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key as the tip is inserted through the slot, the tip guide being linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location adjacent the slot to a second location away from the slot; and
at least one sensor associated with the tip guide and configured to indicate motion of the tip guide away from the first location and cessation of the motion at the second location,
wherein:
the identification module is selectively activated based on the motion of the tip guide away from the first location; and
the imaging assembly is selectively triggered to capture the image of the shank of the existing key based on the cessation of motion.

2. The identification module of claim 1 , wherein:
the tip guide has a slot forming window that exposes a tip end of the shank; and
the imaging assembly is configured to capture an image of the tip end through the window within the recess.

3. The identification module of claim 2 , further including a head guide configured to move a head of the existing key into centered alignment with the tip guide.

4. The identification module of claim 1 , further including a backlight, wherein:
the image generated by the imaging assembly includes at least a backlight image; and
the identification module is configured to make a classification of the existing key as an edge-cut key or a side-milled key based on the backlight image.

5. The identification module of claim 4 , wherein the key identification module is further configured to selectively measure characteristics of the existing key based on the classification without removal of the existing key from the key receiving assembly.

6. The identification module of claim 4 , wherein the imaging assembly includes:
at least one side light configured to direct light toward a primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially oblique to the primary surface; and
a camera configured to generate the backlight image while the back light is turned on, and generate a sidelight image when the at least one side light is turned on.

7. The identification module of claim 6 , wherein the identification module is further configured to:
determine edge geometry of the existing key based on the backlight image; and
determine side mill geometry of the existing key based on the sidelight image.

8. The identification module of claim 7 , wherein the backlight image includes an image of a tip of the shank, edges of the shank, and shoulders located at a transition between the shank and a head portion of the existing key.

9. The identification module of claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one side light includes two side lights; and
the camera is configured to generate the sidelight image while the two side lights are separately turned on at different times.

10. The identification module of claim 9 , wherein:
the imaging assembly further includes a laser configured to generate laser stripes on the existing key;
the camera is configured to generate multiple laser stripe images while the laser is turned on; and
the identification module is further configured to create a composite laser stripe image of the existing key based on the multiple laser stripe images.

11. The identification module of claim 6 , further including a removable cover located between the back light and the existing key when the existing key is received within the key receiving assembly.

12. The identification module of claim 11 , wherein:
the removable cover is translucent; and
the removable cover is accessible from a side of the identification module also having the key receiving assembly.

13. An identification module for a key making system, comprising:
a housing having a slot formed therein to receive an existing key;
a key receiving assembly disposed within the housing and configured to receive only a shank of the existing key;
a back light;
at least one side light configured to direct light toward a primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially oblique to the primary surface; and
a camera configured to generate a silhouette image while the back light is turned on, and to generate a sidelight image when the at least one side light is turned on,
wherein:
the identification module is configured to determine a classification of the existing key based on the silhouette image; and
the identification module is configured to determine a bitting profile of the existing key based on the classification and the sidelight image.

14. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein the identification module is further configured to selectively determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the silhouette image based on the classification.

15. The identification module of claim 14 , wherein the identification module is configured to:
determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the silhouette image when the existing key is classified as an edge cut key; and
determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the sidelight image when the existing key is classified as a milled key.

16. The identification module of claim 15 , wherein the backlight image includes an image of a tip of the shank, edges of the shank, and shoulders located at a transition between the shank and a head portion of the existing key.

17. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein:
the at least one side light includes two side lights; and
the camera is configured to generate the sidelight image while the two side lights are separately turned on at different times.

18. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein:
the imaging assembly further includes a laser configured to generate laser stripes on the existing key;
the camera is configured to generate multiple laser stripe images while the laser is turned on; and
the identification module is further configured to create a composite laser stripe image of the existing key based on the multiple laser stripe images.

19. The identification module of claim 13 , further including a removable cover located between the back light and the existing key when the existing key is received within the key receiving assembly.

20. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein the camera is further configured to capture an image showing a thickness of the existing key.

21. A method of identifying an existing key, comprising:
receiving from a user only a shank of the existing key into a key receiving assembly through a slot formed within a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly;
guiding a tip end of the shank to a desired location with a tip guide that aligns the shank with a camera as the existing key is pushed by the user from a first location adjacent the slot to a second location away from the slot;
capturing a backlight image of the shank with the camera,
wherein the camera is selectively triggered to capture the backlight image based on a cessation of motion at the second location indicated by at least one sensor as

Assignees

• Hillman Group Inc
• 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

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title

• E05B19/0058

  with key bits on at least one wide side surface of the key · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title