Key duplicating machine

Abstract

The invention is a key cutting machine, which has a housing (12), an electric drive motor (14), and first and second machining heads (16, 18) in driving connection with the drive motor (14). It is further provided with a key feed mechanism (24) which is capable of selectively orienting the key blank clamping unit (22) in such a way that the key blank (20) clamped therein can be brought into the prescribed relationship with the first and second machining heads (16, 18). The essence of the invention is that the first and second machining heads (16, 18) work together with a tilting mechanism (50) adjustable by the machine operator to selectively determine the depth of the key grooves to be formed on the key blank (20) clamped in the clamping unit (22). The tilting mechanism (50) includes adjacent discs (52) rotatably arranged about a common horizontal centerline (54), the relative angular position of each disc (52) defining a keyway depth. à

Description

The invention relates to a key copying machine. As is known, various key copying machines are widely used, with the help of which key profiles, such as grooves, can be formed on a key blank by cutting, milling or in any other way, according to the given key combination. Key copying machines are also known which are capable of copying any key shape onto the key blank, including keys used for telescopic pins. For example, a key copying machine is known from patent specification FR-1442659, which has a housing and an electric drive motor arranged therein. The drive motor is in driving connection with at least one machining head for forming a preselectable key profile to be copied on a key blank. Furthermore, it is provided with a key feed mechanism which orients the key blank clamping unit so that the clamped key blank can be brought into a predetermined relationship with the machining head. The present invention aims to provide an improved key copying machine that allows for a wide range of applications and can even be used to copy keys associated with telescopic pins. The key copying machine according to the invention has a housing and an electric drive motor arranged therein, which is in driving connection with first and second rotatable machining heads for forming prescribed key grooves on a key blank. It is further provided with a key feed mechanism, which is arranged to selectively orient the key blank clamping unit, namely in such a way that the key blank clamped therein can be brought into the prescribed relationship with the first or second machining head. The essence of the solution according to the invention is that the first and second rotatable machining heads are in operative connection with an adjustable tilting mechanism for selecting the depth of the key grooves to be formed on the key blank clamped in the clamping unit. Furthermore, this tilting mechanism includes adjacent discs, which are rotatably arranged about a common horizontal center line, where the relative angular position of each disc determines a different depth of a key groove or profile. In a preferred embodiment of the key copying machine according to the invention, the tilting mechanism, which can be controlled by the machine operator, has handles extending from the discs, which ensure the individual relative rotation of the discs around the horizontal center line. Preferably, the key feed mechanism has a guide wire arranged between the first and second machining heads, so that it is free from chips generated during the production of the keyways and is therefore arranged in an area that does not interfere with the movement of the clamping unit. Ideally, the key feed mechanism has both right-handed and left-handed layout options, so it can be used universally. The invention is described in more detail with reference to the attached drawing, which shows an exemplary embodiment of the solution according to the invention. In the drawing: Figures 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of the key copying machine according to the invention in perspective and side view; Figure 3 is a section taken along line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a detail of the device according to Figures 1-3 in section, on a relatively larger scale. As shown in Figures 1-3, the key copying machine 10 according to the invention has a housing 12, on which in this case an electric drive motor 14 is arranged (Figure 3). Furthermore, it has first and second rotatable machining heads 16 and 18, which are in driving connection with the drive motor 14. Their purpose is to produce the necessary copying machining, such as grooves, nests, recesses, on a blank key 20 (Figure 2). The key blank 20 is provided with a clamping unit 22, which securely fixes the key blank 20 in position while it is being machined with the machining head 16 or 18. Furthermore, the key copying machine 10 according to the invention has a key feed mechanism 24, which is capable of orienting the clamping unit 22 so that the key blank 20 clamped therein can be adjusted to the prescribed position relative to the machining head 16 or 18. The key feed mechanism 24 is preferably arranged displaceably on a guide rail 26, and in this case an additional guide wire 28 is also provided for its guidance. In this case, the guide wire 28 is arranged between the machining heads 16 and 18, thereby preventing the chips generated during key copying from accumulating thereon and interfering with the guidance of the clamping unit 22. The electric drive motor 14 is in driving connection with the machining heads 16 and 18, in this case via a belt drive 30 (Fig. 3), but any other driving connection can be used if necessary. Each of the machining heads 16 and 18 is equipped with a suitable cutting tool, for example a drill bit 32 (Fig. 2). In order to protect the machine operator from chips bouncing off the drill bits 32, a shield 36 has been used, which in this case is formed from a bent sheet metal. The clamping unit 22 of the key blank 20 is preferably provided with a clamping rod 38, which is connected to a hand knob 40. The key blank 20 is placed in a groove 42 formed in the clamping unit 22 (Fig. 4). By turning the hand knob 40, the clamping rod 38 locks the key blank 20 in the groove 42 of the clamping unit 22, thereby securing the key blank 20 in position for key copying. The key feed mechanism 24 has a mechanism 44 which is preselectably capable of moving the clamping unit 22 in the direction of arrow 46 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) so ​​as to advance the key blank 20 relative to the drill bit 32 clamped in the machining head 16 or 18. The drill bit 32 or other cutting tool is then used to form the key blank 20. HU 223 904 Β1 prescribed keyway or socket, or any other key profile. The mechanism 44 is in this case designed as a spring-loaded structure having a handle 48. This handle 48 can be repositioned as desired, depending on whether the operator is right-handed or left-handed. For example, in the arrangement of FIG. 2, the handle 48 is located on the right, i.e., it is adjusted for a right-handed operator. The handle 48 can easily be repositioned to the left if the operator is left-handed. In the key copying machine 10 according to the invention, a tilting mechanism 50, operating in conjunction with the machining heads 16 and 18, was used in the present case, the purpose of which is to selectively determine the depth of key grooves, holes or other profiles to be made on the blank key 20 fixed in the clamping unit 22, as already referred to above. The tilting mechanism 50 is controlled by the machine operator. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the operator-controlled tilting mechanism 50 has adjacent discs 52 which are rotatably arranged about a common centerline 54. The different angular positions of each of the discs 52 about the centerline 54 can define a predetermined profile depth. Preferably, a handle 56 operated by the operator extends radially from each disc 52, thereby enabling the operator to individually adjust the relative angular position of each disc 52 about the centerline 54, and thus the corresponding profile depth. As can be seen in more detail in Figure 4, the disc 52 is provided with recesses 58 along its circumference, and these are of different depths corresponding to the different depths of the prescribed key profiles (but are not necessarily of the same size). Referring to Figure 4, a pin 60 extends from the clamping unit 22. This is designed and arranged to contact one of the discs 52. The distance that the pin 60 can move in the direction of the arrow 46 before it hits the disc 52 is determined by the angular position of the disc 52 at any given time. Thus, if the operator rotates the disc 52 about the center line 54 to a position corresponding to the key profile to be copied, the pin 60 will move - essentially along a straight line - a certain selected distance before contacting the disc 52. The amount of movement in the direction of the arrow 46 is therefore equal to the depth of the key groove to be copied. The other 52 discs must also be turned to the angular position corresponding to the groove profile to be copied, and the desired key profile is then formed in the key blank 22. Finally, it is noted that it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but that the invention can be implemented in many other embodiments and combinations within the scope of the claimed protection.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A key copying machine having a housing and an electric drive motor arranged therein; the drive motor is in driving connection with at least one machining head suitable for forming a pre-selectable key profile to be copied on the key blank, and is further provided with a key feed mechanism, which is arranged to orient the key blank clamping unit in the sense of bringing the clamped key blank into a predetermined relationship with the selected machining head, characterized in that the first and second machining heads (16, 18) are connected to an adjustable tilting mechanism (50) for selecting the depth of the key profile to be formed on the key blank (20) clamped in the clamping unit (22), and further the tilting mechanism (50) includes discs (52) arranged adjacently, which are rotatably mounted relative to each other about a common center line (54), and further each of the discs (52) is designed to determine a different key profile depth in its different relative angular positions.

2. A key copying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each disc (52) in the operator-controllable tilting mechanism (50) is provided with a protruding handle (56) for individually relative rotation of the disc (52) about the center line (54).

3. A key copying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the key feed mechanism (24) has a guide wire (28) which is arranged between the machining heads (16, 18) in a chip-free area outside the path of movement of the clamping unit (52).

4. A key copying machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the key feed mechanism (24) is designed to be convertible for right-handed and left-handed operation.