Patent Application
20200047261
The present invention falls within the field of machines and/or equipment for duplicating keys. In particular, the present invention relates to a key duplicating machine comprising an assembly for reading the cuts of a flat key.
Flat keys, usually employed for locks and cylinders, typically comprise a head portion and a barrel portion. The latter has grooves which substantially define a profile compatible with the lock/cylinder associated with the key. Along at least one of the sides thereof, the barrel portion comprises instead a series of notches/engravings passing through the entire thickness of the key. The shape of such notches/engravings defines the “cuts” or “code” of the key.
As known, the duplication of a key is carried out by means of duplicating machines which reproduce the cuts on a blank key. More precisely, mechanical key duplicating machines and electronic key duplicating machines are known.
In a mechanical key duplicating machine, a pair of clamps is provided for, to secure respectively an original key to be duplicated and a blank key to be shaped according to the original key to obtain a copy key. A mechanical duplicating machine further comprises a fixed mechanical feeler, to detect the cuts of the key to be duplicated, and a cutting tool, to replicate the cuts on the blank key. The two clamps are typically installed on a common base, movable along two orthogonal directions, which is moved directly by an operator, typically by means of a lever. The duplication on the blank key occurs upon a movement of the base which exactly replicates the cuts of the key to be duplicated. More precisely, the operator acts on the base so as to maintain the key to be duplicated in contact with the feeler element and so that the contact point moves along the cuts in their entirety. During this “tracing” action, the movement of the base is transferred to the blank key which is thus machined by the cutting tool in a manner corresponding to the cuts. The latter maintains a fixed position with respect to the base.
In electronic key duplicating machines, a software is further provided for, which manages the duplication operations upon the reading of the cuts typically carried out by means of an optical reading system. An example of an electronic machine is described in patent application WO 2015/010936. Such an electronic machine comprises a structure bearing a first support, movable along two orthogonal directions, on which a clamp is mounted, adapted to block, at separate times, the key to be duplicated and the blank key. The machine further comprises an optical reader to detect the cuts of the key to be duplicated and a cutting tool for reproducing the cuts on the blank key. The optical reader and the cutting tool are mounted on a second support which is fastened to the structure of the machine. The machine described in WO 2015/010936 further comprises an electronic control unit which controls the movement of the first support, the rotation of the cutting tool and the operation of the optical reader. The key to be duplicated is initially blocked in the clamp installed on the first support. The latter is subsequently moved so that the optical reader can detect the cuts of the key. The signals generated by the optical sensor are transmitted to the control unit to be stored and processed by means of a software which stores the cuts. At the end of the reading, the key to be duplicated is replaced with the blank one. Following an activation command, the control unit actuates the cutter and moves the first support so that the cutter carries out the previously stored cuts on the blank key.
In general, with respect to mechanical duplicating machines, the electronic machine described in WO 2015/010936 provides for a same clamp for reading the key to be duplicated and for the subsequent machining of the blank key. This solution makes the machine more compact or, in the same space, it allows the installation of a further operating assembly for duplicating keys of a different type, for example, of the laser type.
The electronic machine described in WO 2015/010936, although showing advantages with respect to a mechanical one, has some limitations related to the employment of the optical sensor. First of all, it has been proven that such a sensor is a critical aspect in terms of final realization costs. Furthermore, the reading of the cuts is strongly affected by the possible presence of dirt, surface residues or grease thereat. In fact, the presence of surface residues, such as, for example, shavings, filings or metal powder, locally alters the profile of the cuts. In the subsequent duplication step, the control unit moves the blank key with respect to the cutting tool on the basis of “altered” cuts, detected by the optical sensor, which do not correspond to the real ones of the original key. This obviously leads to a duplicated key functionally not compatible with the original one. Therefore, in this type of machines, a continuous and meticulous control of the cuts surface conditions is necessary, so as to ensure an accurate reading and limit waste. This aspect negatively affects the operating times and, in general, the productivity of the duplicating machine.
Therefore, the need arises to provide a technical solution allowing to overcome the limits set out above which distinguish the machine described in WO 2015/010936 and more generally the key duplicating machines which employ an optical system for reading the cuts of the original key.
In view of such a need, the main aim of the present invention is to provide an electronic machine for duplicating keys capable of overcoming the drawbacks described above. Within this aim, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a key duplicating machine which allows an accurate and reliable reading of the cuts of the key to be copied. Another aim, linked to the previous one, is to provide a key duplicating machine in which the reading of the cuts of the key is not affected by the possible presence of dirt, grease and/or debris at the cuts themselves. It is another object of the present invention to provide a key duplicating machine which allows a high productivity and therefore reduced dead times. It is another, not least important, object of the present invention to provide an assembly for reading the cuts of a key which is reliable and easy to manufacture at competitive costs.
The technical aim specified is substantially achieved by a key duplicating machine comprising a clamp configured to block at least one original key to be copied, a reading assembly for reading the cuts of said original key and a cutting tool for reproducing said cuts on a blank key. The duplicating machine in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the reading assembly comprises a support bearing a feeler element which is movable, with respect to the support, along a first reference direction; such a feeler element comprises a reading end contacting the original key at the cuts.
The reading assembly further comprises:
According to the invention, one of said support and said clamp is movable along at least a second reference direction, orthogonal to the first reference direction.
The machine according to the invention allows a greater accuracy in copying the key, precisely by virtue of the structure of the reading assembly based on the employment of a mechanical feeler element directly contacting the cuts of the key due to the thrust exerted by elastic means. The latter ensure a stable contact of the reading end of the feeler element against the cuts of the key. In particular, for the relative motion (along the second reference direction) which extends between the clamp and the support, the reading end runs along the cuts determining a corresponding movement of the feeler element along the first reference direction. Such a movement is detected by the position sensor. Advantageously, the electrical signal provided by the sensor to the control unit is in no way affected by the surface conditions of the cuts. Furthermore, the running of the reading end along the cuts results in a scraping action which eliminates any possible dirt or debris present at the cuts themselves.
Further features and the advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of possible embodiments of an assembly for reading the cuts of a key in accordance with the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the aforementioned Figures, the same reference numbers and the same reference letters identify the same elements or components.
With reference to the accompanying Figures, an electronic machine for duplicating keys in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 3. Such a machine 3 is preferably employed for duplicating flat keys. For the objects of the present invention, “flat key” means a generic key of the type shown in
The machine 3 comprises at least one clamp 11 configured to block an original key 5 to be copied, i.e., for which the cuts are meant to be read. The clamp 11 defines a resting plane 200 for the key 5 and preferably an alignment direction 101 for the barrel portion of the key 5D. Such an alignment direction 101 is parallel to said resting plane 200 (see
The machine 3 according to the invention comprises a reading assembly 1 for reading the cuts of said key 5 and a prismatic cutting tool 7 having a shape per se known. Without going into particular detail, according to a known solution, the cutter 7 has a cutting edge 7B of a circular shape with a predetermined radius R1. Such a cutting edge 7B has a tapered/pointed shape, where such a shape is considered on a substantially radial section plane containing the rotation axis 103 of the cutting tool 7.
According to another aspect, the reading assembly 1 comprises a support 20 bearing a feeler element 21 (movable with respect to the support 20) to read the cuts of the original key. Such a feeler element 21 takes at least one reading position in which it is oriented towards the barrel portion 5D defining the cuts of the key 5. In such a condition, the feeler element 21 is movable with respect to the support 20, along a first reference direction Y (or axis Y), preferably orthogonal to the alignment direction 101 of the key 5 and preferably parallel to the resting plane 200 of the key 5.
The feeler element 21 comprises a reading end 23 configured to contact the key 5 at the cuts. Preferably, the reading end 23 is tapered along the direction Y, in the direction of the cuts 6 of the key 5. The reading end 23 identifies a reading edge 23A in a cutting blade shape, which profile extends transversely with respect to the resting plane 200 of the key 5 and which is oriented towards the cuts 6 of the key 5 once this is blocked in the clamp 11. The expression “blade shape” means a shape such that the profile of said reading edge 23A is tapered/pointed in the direction of the cuts 6 of the key 5. Instead, the term “transversely” means a condition whereby the edge 23A extends on a plane which transversely (preferably orthogonally) affects the resting plane 200.
In particular, the extension of the edge profile 23A is greater than the thickness of the cuts, a thickness considered as the distance between the two faces 5A, 5B of the key 5.
In accordance with the invention, between the support 20 and the feeler element 21 elastic means 25 are interposed, which push the feeler element 21 away from the support 20 along the axis Y. Such elastic means 25 preferably comprise a plurality of helicoidal springs having a first end acting on a surface of the support 20 and a second end acting on the feeler element 21.
According to the present invention, the reading assembly 1 further comprises a position sensor 8 configured to continuously detect the position, or the change of position, of the feeler element 21 with respect to the support 20. The position sensor 8 is electrically connected to a control unit CPU of the machine 3, outlined with a dashed line in
According to the present invention, one of said clamp 11 and said support 20, preferably said clamp 11, is movable along at least a second reference direction X (or axis X) orthogonal to the first reference direction Y. Preferably, such a second direction X is parallel to the resting plane 200 of the key 5 and parallel to the alignment direction 101 of the barrel portion 5D indicated above. The displacement along the second direction X of the clamp 11, or, alternatively, of the support 20, is controlled by said control unit (hereinafter CPU). As better highlighted below, during the movement of the component (clamp 11 or support 20) along the axis X, the elastic means 25 push the reading end 23 in contact with the cuts 6 of the key 5 so that the same is affected by the shape of the cuts themselves. Upon the continuous contact with the cuts of the key 5, the reading end 23 undergoes displacements along the axis Y, where such displacements are determined precisely by the shape of the cuts. Furthermore, during the movement of the component (clamp 11 or support 20) along the axis X, the position sensor 8 continuously detects the displacements of the reading end 23 along the axis Y. The expression “continuously” means an operating mode by which the position sensor 8 is active during the entire reading step in which the reading end 23 is in contact with the cuts 6 of the key 5. Therefore, the sensor 8 detects any possible displacement along the axis Y for each point of the cuts 6.
The operating principle of the duplicating machine 3 according to the invention is described below in detail, with particular reference to the function of the reading assembly 1, in the hypothesis that during the reading of the cuts, the clamp 11 is movable along said second reference direction X, while the support 20 maintains a fixed position. The key 5 to be copied is fastened on the clamp 11. In the reading position, the elastic means 25 of the assembly 1 exert a constant thrust on the feeler 21 along the axis Y so that the edge profile 23A of the reading end 23 is in contact with the barrel portion 5D defining the cuts of the key 5. The CPU moves the clamp 11 along the axis X. During such a movement of the clamp 11, the position of the feeler element 21 remains fixed along the axis X itself. Due to the movement of the clamp 11, the key 5 to be copied moves with respect to the feeler element 21. At the same time, due to the elastic means 25, the edge profile 23A of the reading end 23 remains constantly in contact with the cuts of the key 5 during the movement along X of the key 5. Due to the very slim shape thereof, such an edge profile 23A runs along the cuts, and the feeler element 21 moves along the axis Y in a manner corresponding to the cuts of the key 5 itself. The displacements along the axis Y are continuously detected by the position sensor 8 and subsequently sent to the CPU. The latter reconstructs and stores the cuts of the original key 5. At the end of the reading step, the original key 5 is removed from the clamp 11.
At a subsequent step, the cuts of the original key 5 are replicated on a blank key. Preferably, the blank key is blocked in the same clamp 11 previously used for blocking the original key. Alternatively, the blank key may also be blocked on a clamp different from that employed for reading the original key. In any case, when the blank key is blocked, the machining thereof may be activated. The CPU moves the clamp blocking the blank key along the axes X and Y defined above and in accordance with the cuts of the original key. More precisely, the CPU moves the blocking clamp, with respect to the cutting tool 7 which is simultaneously actuated. The movement in X and Y of the blocking clamp and the simultaneous action of the cutting tool 7 leads to the reproduction of the cuts on the barrel portion of the blank key on which the cutting tool 7 acts. The rotation axis of the cutting tool 7 is substantially parallel to the axis X.
In accordance with what has just been indicated above, during the reading step, the thrust provided by the elastic means 25 on the feeler 21 advantageously allows the edge profile 23A of the reading end 23 to remain constantly in contact with the surface of the key 5 defining the cuts. Due to the relative movement of the key 5 with respect to the feeler 21, the edge profile 23A runs on the surface of the cuts so that the reading end 23 follows the profile of the surface itself, undergoing corresponding displacements along the first direction Y.
With reference to the reading end 23, according to another aspect, the profile of the reading edge 23A is substantially corresponding, in terms of radius of curvature and shape, to the profile of the cutting tool 7. In other words, the profile of the reading edge 23A has a curvilinear pattern with a radius of curvature R2 substantially corresponding to the radius R1 of the cutting tool 7. Furthermore, the profile of the edge 23A (considered on a radial plane passing through the center of curvature of the profile itself) has a tapered/pointed shape corresponding to that provided for in the cutting edge 7B of the cutting tool 7.
The shape correspondence between the profile of the reading edge 23A and the cutting edge 7B makes the key duplication particularly accurate and allows to make a precise copy of the key. In fact, the reading of the cuts 6 occurs by means of an instrument (reading edge 23A) which has the same geometrical features as the one subsequently used for cutting (cutting edge 7B). Therefore, also the processing of the signals (sent by the position sensor 8) by the CPU is advantageously limited. Furthermore, said shape correspondence facilitates and makes more accurate the reading of the cuts 6 of the key 5 without requiring any compensation movement and/or any feedback system to move the reading end 23 according to the direction of the thickness of the key.
Advantageously, the edge 23A also exerts a scraping action on the surface defining the cuts. Therefore, any dirt or possible debris are eliminated and will not affect the reading of the cuts in any way. This advantageous aspect adds to the one determined by the employment of a position sensor which does not directly read the key cuts, but rather detects the displacement of the feeler element 21 with respect to the support 20. Therefore, the reading of the position sensor is not affected by the surface conditions of the cuts. In this regard, also the shape of the reading end 23 advantageously contributes in terms of reading accuracy.
According to a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, shown in
With reference to the solution in the Figures, the feeler element 21 comprises a body 210, of a substantially prismatic shape, bearing the reading end 23, configured, in fact, to contact the original key 5 at the cuts. Preferably, the reading end 23 and the edge profile 23A are made in a one piece with the body 210. The reading end 23 and the edge profile 23A are placed in a preferably central position of the body 210, a position considered along a development direction substantially orthogonal to the resting plane 200.
Preferably, the support 20 of the assembly 1 comprises a first body 201 defining a first surface 221 facing a first surface 211 of the body 210 of the feeler element 21 (see
Preferably, the position sensor 8 is integral with the support 20 and operatively arranged so as to detect the position, or the change of position, of a guide pin 51 inside the longitudinal cavity 52 in which it is slidingly inserted. In other words, according to this solution, the displacement of the feeler element 21 derives from the displacement of one of the pins 51 integral with the feeler element 21 itself. The position sensor 8 may be a potentiometer sensor. Alternatively, the position sensor 8 may also be of the optical type. It is furthermore pointed out that, according to the invention, the sensor 8 detects the displacement of the feeler element 21 which is not affected by the cleanness conditions of the surface of the key defining the cuts. The position sensor 8 is preferably of the analog type, precisely to continuously detect the change of position along the axis Y of the reading end 23 in response to the shape of the key 5 during the relative movement of the latter along the axis X with respect to the reading end itself.
According to another aspect, the reading assembly 1 comprises end-of-stroke means, which establish a maximum travel for displacing the feeler element 21 with respect to the support 20. In other words, the end-of-stroke means constrain the movement of the feeler element 21 along the guiding direction configured by the guiding means (51, 52 in the example shown in the Figures).
A possible, but not exclusive, embodiment of the end-of-stroke means (shown in the Figures) is described below. A first body 201 of the support 20 defines at least two first cavities 57, preferably blind. The body 210 of the feeler element 21 defines two second through cavities 58, each of which is axially aligned to one of said first cavities 57. Each of the first cavities 57 comprises at least one threaded segment. The end-of-stroke means also comprise a plurality of large head screws 61, each of which passes through one of said second cavities 58 and is screwed on the threaded segment of the corresponding first cavity 57. For each of the screws 61, the large head 610 remains in a position facing a second surface 212 of the body 210 opposite to the first surface 211 facing the support 20. Thereby, the feeler element 21 still occupies a position which is between the position of the first body 201 of the support 20 and the position occupied by the large head 610 of the screws 61. Overall, the position of said large heads 610 establishes the end-of-stroke position for the movement of the feeler element 21.
According to another preferred, but not exclusive, technical solution, the first cavities 57 defined in the first body 201 of the support 20 comprise a first outermost segment and a second innermost segment. The first outermost segment has a greater diameter than the innermost segment. The latter is threaded due for screwing one of the screws 61 of the end-of-stroke means.
The elastic means 25 comprise a plurality of springs each of which is inserted into the outermost segment of one of said first cavities 57. For each spring, a first end thereof acts against a surface of the first body 201 of the support 20, while a second end, opposite to the first one, emerges outwardly from said first body 201 and acts against a surface of the feeler element 21, in particular against the surface 211 defined above. During the reading of the cuts, the first body 201 of the support 20 maintains a constant position along the axis Y. As a result, the displacement along the axis Y itself of the feeler element 21 (movement imposed by the cuts of the key 5) occurs in opposition to the elastic force generated by the springs.
According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the Figures, the springs may be placed in cavities defined in the first body 201 of the support 20, distinct from the cavities in which the screws 61 of the end-of-stroke means are screwed. According to a further variant, the springs may be accommodated in cavities defined in the feeler element 21 so that an end thereof emerges outwardly, in abutment against a surface of the support 20, in particular against the surface 221 of the first body 201. In the solution shown in the Figures, two first dead cavities 57 and two second through cavities 58 are provided for. The two first cavities 57, as well as the two second cavities 58, are defined in a position opposite with respect to the reading end 23 of the feeler element 21. This solution allows a greater stability and a more uniform movement of the feeler element 21.
According to another aspect visible in the Figures, the support 20 comprises a first body 201 and a second body 202 bearing the first body 201 and the feeler element 21 operatively connected thereto. For description purposes only, the set formed by the first body 201 and by the feeler element 21 will also be indicated by the expression “operating unit 201-21” (shown in
Preferably, the operating unit 201-21 is rotatable with respect to said second body 202 about a rotation axis 501 which is preferably orthogonal to the axis Y and also to the axis X. More precisely, the first body 201 is hinged to the second body 202. Therefore, the first body 201, rotating about the axis 501, puts in rotation also the feeler element 21. In particular, in accordance with this solution, the operating unit 201-21 may rotate from a first position and a second predetermined position. In the first position, also referred to as the reading position, the displacement direction of the feeler element 21, configured by the guiding means 51, 52, coincides with the axis Y defined above, for the purpose of reading the cuts of the key 5. Instead, in the second predetermined position, or resting position, the displacement direction configured by the guiding means 51, 52 is preferably parallel to the axis X defined above. In any case, in the second predetermined position, the displacement direction of the feeler element 21 is not parallel to the axis Y.
The rotation of the operating unit 201-21 between the two predetermined positions is particularly advantageous when the support 20 is installed at the cutting tool 7, as in the machine 3 shown in
As shown, for the second body 202, a front face 91, a rear face 92 counterposed to said front face 91, a first side face 93 and a second side face 94 opposite to each other are identified. For the second body 202, a lower face 95 and an upper face 96 are also identified. The terms “front”, “rear”, “lower” and “upper” identify the relative faces of the second body 202 with respect to the possible installation mode of the support 20 in the machine 3 for duplicating keys in
The first body 201 of the support 20 is connected to the second body 202 at the first side face 93. In particular, such a first side face 93 has a substantially C-shape defined by two counterposed sides 931, 932 facing each other (see
Furthermore, the support 20 preferably comprises further elastic safety means interposed between the first body 201 and the second body 202 so as to maintain the operating unit 201-21 in the corresponding (reading or resting) position reached upon the rotation about the rotation axis 501. In accordance with a possible embodiment shown in the Figures, the elastic safety means comprise at least one spring 251 having a first end connected to a first pin 73 emerging from the lower face 95 of the second body 202 and a second end connected to a second pin 75 emerging from a surface 224 of the first body 201. In essence, such a surface 224 defines a lower face of the first body 201 and is substantially opposite to the third surface 223 from which the two rods 71 usable for rotating the operating unit 201-21 emerge. The lower face 95 from which the first pin 73 emerges, is, therefore, in a position close to the surface 224 from which said second pin 75 emerges. The first pin 73 maintains a fixed position, while the second pin 75 rotates integral with the operating unit 201-21, varying the direction of the elastic force with respect to the rotation axis 501. In particular, when the operating unit 201-21 reaches one of the two predetermined (resting or reading) positions, the second pin 75 occupies a position so that the elastic force tends to maintain the operating unit 201-21 itself in the position reached.
Preferably, the assembly 1 comprises a second sensor 9 installed on the second body 202 to detect the correct reaching of the resting position by said operating unit 201-21. Such a second sensor 9 may also be connected to a control unit to send a signal corresponding to the operating condition taken by the operating unit 201-21. According to another aspect, the second body 202 defines a seat 80 for positioning the position sensor 8. Preferably, such a seat 80 extends between the front face 91 and the rear face 92. The second body 202 further defines a through hole 86 between the seat 80 and the first side face 93 at which the rotation axis 501 of the operating unit 201-21 is defined. The through hole 86 is defined so as to be aligned with a longitudinal cavity 52 passing through the first body 201, in which cavity a guide pin 51 is slidingly inserted, in accordance with a solution already described above. In particular, such an alignment condition is reached when the operating unit 201-21 takes the reading position (see, for example,
Preferably, the position sensor 8 is of the linear potentiometer type and comprises a sensor body 81, accommodated inside the seat 80, and a movable rod 82 slidingly inserted into the through hole 86. When the operating unit 201-21 takes the reading position (
As an alternative to the potentiometer sensor, an optical sensor (not shown) accommodated inside the seat 80 may be employed. In this case, the through hole 86 may be used for the transmission of the light beam intended to intercept the end 511 of the guide pin 51. The change of position of the pin 51 determines a change in the conditions of the light beam and therefore the generation, by the optical sensor, of a corresponding electrical signal sent to the CPU. The optical sensor continuously detects the change in the condition of the light beam, i.e., it provides a continuous signal characteristic of the change of position along Y of the reading end 23.
According to a preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, the two portions 201, 202 of the support 20 are configured to define a passageway 40 for the rotation shaft (parallel to the axis X) of the cutting tool 7. Thereby, the support 20 may advantageously be installed at the cutting tool 7. This solution, clearly visible in
The passageway 40 extends between the front face 91 and the rear face 92 of the second body 202, also partially passing through the shoulder 933. Preferably, such a passageway is partially defined between the two bodies 201, 202 of the support 20 and more precisely between the first side face 93 of the second body 202 and the face 222 of the first body 201 facing thereto. These two faces 93, 222 each define a corresponding concave recess 41, 42. When the operating unit 201-21 occupies the reading position (see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102017000044302 | Apr 2017 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2018/052803 | 4/23/2018 | WO | 00 |
