GB2040758A

GB2040758A - Adjusting device and key clamping device on a key copying machine

Info

Publication number: GB2040758A
Application number: GB8002212A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-24
Filing date: 1980-01-23
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: NL8000365A; DE2902539B1; DE2902539C2; IT1126591B; IT7928180A0; GB2040758B

Abstract

An adjusting device (10) for engagement with the grip (9) of a key or key blank (4), is arranged on a common frame plate (1) with a key clamping device 2 having jaws engageable with the cylindrical shank of the key (4). The adjusting device (10) comprises two clamping discs clampable by a bolt on one disc threadingly engaged in a bore in the other disc, which is formed with a stud slidable in a guide slot (12) in the frame plate (1) both longitudinally of the slot (12) and axially of itself. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjusting device and key clamping device on a key copying machine The invention relates to an adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device for holding a key of the kind comprising a grip and a cylindrical shank and for use in a key copying machine.

West German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2 349 353 discloses an adjusting device by means of which prior to copying a key by machining, particularly milling, the pattern or master key and the key blank are positionally aligned relative both to each other and to the cutting tool. In this case, a support, adjustable in a direction at right-angles to the milling cutter spindle, is provided, the support carrying a slide adjustable in a direction at right-angles to the support and parallel with the cutter spindle. On the slide two pairs of clamping members are mounted.

These latter are articulated on pivoting studs extending upwardly from the slide and at a right-angle to the direction of slide adjustment. Furthermore, for each pair of clamping members a spring element is provided which urges the clamping members constantlytowards each other.

A disadvantage of this known adjusting device, however, is that during cutting, mainly upon spontaneous application of the cutter to the key blank, there is a danger that the cylindrical key shank which is held only frictionally in the key clamping device may rotate about its longitudinal axis, without the rotation being detected, whereupon exact reproduction of the specimen key is no longer ensured.

It is an object of the present invention to minimise or prevent such an aforedescribed variation in the position of the keys by simple means.

According to the invention there is provided an adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device for holding a key of the kind comprising a grip and a cylindrical shank, and for use in a key copying machine, the adjusting device and the key clamping device being disposed on a common frame, the key clamping device comprising clamping jaws adapted to be engageable with the key shank which jaws are moveable in a clamping direction and in an opening direction; and the adjusting device being guided for displacement on the frame both transversely of and parallelywith the clamping and opening direction of the clamping jaws and comprising two clamping means adapted for engagement with the key grip which clamping means are openable and closeable by means of a positively acting displacement means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the positively acting displacement means may comprise screw thread means, so that the clamping means are thereby openable and closeable relative to each other.

This has the advantage that the key is not only disposed in the right position by the adjusting device prior to clamping but is also held positively and positionally correctly throughout the entire machining process without having to forgo the advantage of the adjusting device being able to adapt to different shapes and sizes of key handles or to different lengths of the key shank.

In a particularly simple, as well as rugged and conveniently produced embodiment of the invention each clamping means comprises a clamping face and disposed on one clamping means and extending at a right-angle from the clamping face thereof there is provided a threaded bolt, and on the second clamping means there is provided, opening out onto its clamping face and extending at a right-angle therefrom, a threaded bore dimensioned to correspond to the threaded bolt which is threadingly engageable with the threaded bore, the second clamping means being provided, on the side remote from its clamping face and extending in the same direction as the threaded bore, with a polygonally cross-sectioned guide element engageable with a guide, in the form of a slot, in such a way as to be freely displaceable both in the axial direction of the guide element as well as in the longitudinal direction of the guide.

Each clamping means may suitably comprise a substantially circular disc. Advantageously, the second clamping means may be integral with the guide element projecting therefrom. Preferably, a rotary handle may be disposed on the first clamping means. The circumferential surface of the first disc-shaped clamping means suitably serves as this handle, and may be knurled or milled.

In an alternative embodiment, the positively acting displacement means may comprise cam action means, by which means the clamping means are openable and closeable relative to each other.

Embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows adjusting and clamping devices for a specimen key and for a key blank having cylindrical shanks, viewed from above; Figure 2 shows the same as Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the line ll-ll; Figure 3 shows the same as above, viewed in the direction of the arrow Ill, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail.

Disposed on a frame plate 1 and at a distance from each other are two clamping devices 2 and 3 having jaws, one of which clamping devices serves to hold a specimen key 4 while the other serves to hold a key blank 5. The latter is positioned opposite a rotatable disc cutter 6 on a shaft while the specimen key 4 is disposed in front of a sensor 7 of the otherwise not shown key copying machine.

Provided in each jaw of the clamping devices 2 and 3 is a prismatic seating 8 for fully centering the cylindrical shanks of the specimen key 4 and key blank 5. The seatings 8 in the jaws of the clamping device 2 are coaxial with those of clamping device 3 and are disposed axially parallel with the shaft of the disc cutter 6.

Associated with each clamping device 2 and 3 and engaging the annular grip or handle 9 of the specimen key 4 and/or key blank 5 are adjusting devices 10, 11. These latter are arranged to be freely displaceable along a guide 12 disposed in the frame plate 1,the guide being constructed as a slot and extending parallel with the shaft of the cutter 6.

Each adjusting device 10, 11 consists of two clamping elements 13 and 14 of substantially discshaped design. The two elements 13, 14 of each adjusting device are disposed coaxially, adjacent faces being clamping faces. Integral with and axially extending from the clamping face of the clamping element 14 is a threaded bolt 15. Provided in the clamping element 13 and corresponding to the threaded bolt 15 is a threaded bore 16 into which the threaded bolt 15 is screwed. Mounted on that face of the clamping element 14 remote from its clamping face and from the threaded bolt 15 is a knob 17.

A polygonally cross-sectioned stud 18 (Figure 4) is integrally moulded with the clamping element 13 and extends from that face of element 13 which is remote from the clamping face of element 13. This stud 18 has two mutually parallel faces 19, the distance between which corresponds to the inside clearance of the slot forming the guide 12. This stud 18 is insertable into the slot from above to act as a guide element for the respective adjusting device.

The stud is held in the guide 12 in such a way that it cannot rotate but is freely movable both in its axial direction and also, by transverse displacement, in the longitudinal direction ofthe guide 12.

The clamping jaws of the clamping devices 2 and 3 can be clamped closed or opened in an axial direction of each clamping device by adjusting screws 20 which are provided with handles.

Also provided in the frame plate 1 are fixing holes 21 for the separable location, on a key copying machine, of the entire apparatus, including two clamping devices and two adjusting devices on the frame plate.

In certain cases, it would be possible to provide on the clamping elements 13, instead of the stud 18 and slot 12, a bifurcated guide element engaging around a guide rod.

Claims

1. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device for holding a key of the kind comprising a grip and a cylindrical shank, and for use in a key copying machine, the adjusting device and the key clamping device being disposed on a common frame, the key clamping device comprising clamping jaws adapted to be engageable with the key shank which jaws are moveable in a clamping direction and in an opening direction; and the adjusting device being guided for displacement on the frame both transversely of and parallely with the clamping and opening direction of the clamping jaws and comprising two clamping means adapted for engagement with the key grip which clamping means are openable and closeable by means of a positively acting displacement means.

2. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the positively acting displacement means comprises screw thread means, so that the clamping means are thereby openable and closeable relative to each other.

3. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 2, in which each clamping means comprises a clamping face and disposed on one clamping means and extending at a right-angle from the clamping face thereof there is provided a threaded bolt, and on the second clamping means there is provided, opening out onto its clamping face and extending at a right-angle therefrom, a threaded bore dimensioned to correspond to the threaded bolt which is threadingly engageable with the threaded bore, the second clamping means being provided, on the side remote from its clamping face and extending in the same direction as the threaded bore, with a polygonally cross-sectioned guide element engageable with a guide, in the form of a slot, in such a way as to be freely displaceable both in the axial direction of the guide element as well as in the longitudinal direction of the guide.

4. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 3 in which each clamping means comprises a substantially circular disc.

5. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the second clamping means is integral with the guide element projecting therefrom.

6. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, in which a rotary handle is disposed on the first clamping means.

7. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 6, in which the circumferential surface of the first disc-shaped clamping means forms the handle.

8. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 7, in which the circumferential surface of the first clamping means is knurled or milled.

9. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the positively acting displacement means comprises cam action means, by which the clamping means are openable and closeable relative to each other.

10. An adjusting device in combination with a key clamping device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.