GB2040759A

GB2040759A - Key copying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2040759A
Application number: GB8002926A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-30
Filing date: 1980-01-29
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: DE2903424C3; DE2903424A1; DE2903424B2; GB2040759B

Abstract

Key copying apparatus comprises a frame (1) supporting two mutually perpendicular spindles (3, 6) each carrying a milling cutter (5, 9) for cutting lateral and longitudinal slots respectively in the bit of a key blank (25) mounted in a clamp (23) on key mounting means, in parallel with a template key (not shown) co-operable with sensors corresponding to the cutters. The key mounting means comprises a first mount (11), pivotable about and slidable along a rod (10), the first mount (11) pivotably supporting a second mount (17), which carries the clamps (23), and which is itself displaceable in directions perpendicular to the sliding direction of the first mount. The cutter (9) is spaced from the frame (1) a distance at least equal to the width of the template key's bit and spaced from the cutter (5) a distance less than the length of shank between the bow and bit of the template key. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Key copying apparatus The invention relates to key copying apparatus for keys which comprise a shank and a bit, the apparatus comprising a vertically adjustable compound rest having clamps for gripping a specimen key, to serve as a cutting template and a key blank, whereby, for application of the specimen key to a sensor mounted rigidly on the frame or for cutting into the key blank slots directed radially of the key shank, by means of a rotating cutter mounted rigidly on the frame, the compound rest has one slide displaceable parallel to the cutter spindle, the apparatus having a second rotating cutter and associated therewith a sensor against which the keys can optionally be applied.

Apparatus of this type is known from German Offenlegungsschrift No. 2447 263. In this prior art apparatus located on a common driving shaft are two peripherally milling cutters of different diameters of which the larger diameter cutter is intended for cutting slots extending radially of the key shank while the smaller cutter is intended for cutting slots extending parallel with the shank, in the sides of the bit. There are sensors mounted rigidly on the frame associated with both cutters.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus, whereby using simple means, it is possible to copy from a template key indentations extending radially of the key shank as well as those which extend parallel to the key shank and which end at the faces of the key without the template key or the key blank having to be reclamped or adjusted in their mounting.

For key copying apparatus of the type described at the outset, the solution of this problem is characterised by the following features; a) the spindle of the second cutter is mounted in pivot bearings rigid with the frame, in such a way that the spindle extends at a right-angle to the spindle of the first cutter; b) the second cantilever-mounted cutter projects beyond the frame and towards the compound rest by at least the width of the bit plus the length of the free shank end part of the cutting template which protrudes beyond the bit, and is spaced from the first cutter by a distance at least equal to the width of the bit, and c) the diameter of the second cutter is smaller than the distance of the bit from the handle of the cutting template.

In this way, it is now possible to reproduce keys to a hitherto unachieved high degree of accuracy, because the specimen, or template key and the key blank remain in their clamps while the cuts are being made both radially of the key shank and also parallel with the key shank, the clamps not having to be displaced in relation to the cutters, as in the case of the object of DOS 2447 263, so that the production tolerances hitherto occasioned by the necessary movement clearance no longer apply.

In order also to be able to carry out milling cuts which extend parallel with the key shank with key copying apparatus according to West German Auslegeschrift No. 27 00 114, which has a rest having clamps to grip the specimen key which serves as a cutting template, and for the key blank, the rest being articulated on the frame for limited pivoting about an axis extending parallel with the rotating cutter mounted rigid on the frame, the rest having a hand lever by which the keys can be applied against respectively the cutter and a sensor having a convex face, both being mounted rigid on the frame, the rest being adapted for manual pivoting and displacement also in the longitudinal direction of the pivoting axis whereby the radius of curvature of the sensor face is constructed to match the radius of curvature of the cutter, the sensor face being coaxial with the cutter axis and whereby furthermore the clamps which constitute a common rigid component are articulated so that they can be manually pivoted on the rest about an axis extending parallel with the pivoting axis of the rest, the jaws of both clamps being at the same radial distance from the axis, without having to forego the advantage of producing closing faces of curvatures diverging from the circularform, an embodiment which resolves the aforementioned problem likewise with the simplest of means is characterised by the following features:: a) a second rotating cutter and a sensor rigid with the frame and associated with this second cutter are provided and are constructed to be applied alternately to the keys; b) the spindle of the second cutter is mounted in pivot bearings rigid with the frame, in such a way that the spindle extends at a right-angle to the spindle of the first cutter; c) the second cantilever-mounter cutter projects beyond the frame and towards the compound rest by at least the width of the bit plus the length of the free shank end part of the cutting template which protrudes beyond the bit, and is spaced from the first cutter by a distance at least equal to the width of the bit; d) The diameter ofthe second cutter is smaller than the distance of the bit from the handle of the cutting template;; e) mounted on the rest which is displaceable parallel with the spindle of the first cutter is a second rest displaceable at a right-angle to the direction of displacement of the rest and in the direction of the cutters and sensors and on which the clamps are located, and f) the second rest is constructed to be lockable and to have such limited vertical adjustment that in one extreme position the clamped keys are at the same level as the second cutter and its sensor, the direction of displacement of the second rest being such that it extends parallel with the spindle of the second cutter.

To this end, a preferred and from the point of view of manufacture particularly favourable vertical adjustment means for the second rest is characterised in that there are disposed on the first rest lateral webs on which a guide is articulated for limited pivoting, the second rest being displaceably mounted on the said guide, and in that on the lateral webs there are fixing means adapted to engage the guide of the second rest.

An embodiment of the aforedescribed object which inter alia favours handling of the apparatus resides in that the spindles of the two cutters extend horizontally and in that the second rest is mounted for horizontal displacement into an extreme position, in particular into its upper extreme position.

For further simplification of the previously described object, it is additionally advantageous for the spindle of the second cutter to be disposed below the spindle of the first cutter.

A preferred embodiment of a fixing device which is both rugged and also favourable from the production point of view is characterised in Claims 6 to 8.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows key copying apparatus viewed from above, and Figure 2 shows the key copying apparatus, partly in section, viewed in the direction of the line ll-ll.

Rotatably mounted in a bearing block 2, which projects upwardly from a frame plate 1 forming part of a frame, is a spindle 3 to one end part of which is coupled to an electric motor 4 mounted rigidly with the frame and acting on the spindle 3 through a cranked drive. Detachably mounted on the other end part of the spindle 3 is a peripherally milling cutterS.

Further rotatably mounted in the bearing block 2, in fact below the spindle 3 and extending at a right-angle to the latter is a second spindle 6 which, is rotatable by being coupled at one of its ends through a clutch 7, to a further electric motor 8 mounted rigidly with the frame. On the other end of the spindle 6 which projects forwardly beyond the bearing block, there is a second peripherally milling cutter 9.

Below the cutter spindle 3 there is mounted on the frame plate 1 a guide rod 10 on which is pivoted a first mount 11 which in its extreme lowest position is supported on a rail 12 mounted rigidly with the frame. The first mount 11 has limited pivoting movement about the guide rod 10 and is pivotable by means of a handle 13. The first mount 11 can also, in known manner, via a rack transmission, not shown, be moved in the longitudinal direction of the guide rod 10.

Fixed to either side of the first mount 11 are two webs 14 which support a spindle 15 disposed to extend parallel with the guide rod 10.

Articulated for limited pivoting movement on this spindle 15 is a plate-shaped guide 16 on which is mounted a second mount 17 adapted to be translated at right-angles to the axis of spindle 15. The adjusting means for translating the second mount 17 is a likewise not shown rack and pinion drive, the pinion of which can be rotated by means of a knob 18. Furthermore, there is on the second mount 17 an adjusting screw 19 by means of which the second mount 17 can be releasably locked on the guide 16, in fact so that, when the second mount 17 is locked in place, the guide 16 will also be pivoted about the spindle 15 by means of the knob 18. Naturally, it is also possible to provide a knob which serves only pivoting of the guide 16.

Threadingly engaged with one of the webs 14 is a manually operable adjusting screw 20 having a conical shanktip. In the side of the guide 16which is adjacent this adjusting screw 20 there are, spaced from one another, and constructed to co-operate with the shank tip, two members which can be positioned alternately, relatively to the shank tip, so as to lock the guide 16 in one of the two positions illustrated, one of which is shown by chain-dotted lines.

Releasably mounted on the second mount 17 and combined to form one structural unit are two clamps 22 and 23 for holding a specimen or template, key 24 and a key blank 25 respectively, the keys each having a shank, a bit and a bow or grip.

Mounted on the frame are two sensors 26 and 27, of which the sensor 26 is intended to assist in milling the key blank by copying indentations disposed radially of the shank of the key 24 while the other sensor 27, which has oppositely directed lugs, is intended for milling cuts extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the key shank, particularly cuts which are open ended, in accordance with indentation in the specimen key 24.

The motors 4 and 8 can be switched on and off alternately by means of the switches 28 and 29.

In the position illustrated in full lines, the second mount 17 is disposed for translational displacement horizontally in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the spindle 6. Furthermore, the jaws of the clamps 22 and 23 and thus also the key 24 and the key blank 25 are hereby level with the central axis of the cutter 9 so that in this position cuts extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the key shank and corresponding to the indentations in the specimen key 24 can be milled into the key blank 25 by translation of the second mount 17 and by displacement of the first mount 11 in the longitudinal direction of its guide rod 10.

For milling cuts directed radially relative to the key shank, in accordance with indentations in the specimen key 24, the adjusting screw 20 is first slackened and the guide 16 carrying the second mount 17 is pivoted into its lowest possible position illustrated by chain-dotted lines, whereupon the aforesaid cuts can be made by the rotating cutter 5. To carry this out, the mount 11 is pivoted towards the cutter spindle 3, by means of the handle 13, and is also displaced in the longitudinal direction of the guide rod 10 until the sensor 26 is opposite and can engage a radial indentation in the specimen key 24. Thereby, the cutter 5 cuts into the key blank 25. Then, by pivoting the guide 16 about the spindle 15, so that the sensor 26 follows the radially innermost surface, or closure face, of the indentation in the specimen key 24, it is possible to mill into the key blank closure faces which diverge from the circular shape, being for example basket-handle-shaped, so long as, as is known from DAS 2700 114, in the end face of the sensor 26 has the same radius of curvature as the cutter 5 and is disposed coaxially with the cutter 5.

To facilitate operation, the sensors 26, 27 protrude beyond their correct position and can, when the specimen key 24 is put into contact with them, be pressed back with the key 24 into their positionally correct aforedescribed setting.

Claims

1. Key copying apparatus for keys of the kind comprising a shank and a bit, which apparatus comprises a frame, a first and a second spindle rotatably mounted on the frame with one of their ends projecting therefrom, the spindles being disposed to be mutually perpendicular, a first and a second cutting means secured to the projecting, free, end of the first and second spingle respectively, the first cutting means being adapted to cut in the bit of the key blank indentations which extend radially of the shank and the second cutting means being adapted to cut in the key blank bit indentations which extend longitudinally of the shank, vertically adjustable key mounting means comprising both clamps for gripping a template key and a key blank as well as two mutually perpendicularly displaceable mounts, one of which is displaceable in a direction parallel to the axis of the first spindle, the second spindle projecting towards the key mounting means so that the second cutting means is spaced from the frame a distance, measured along its spindle, of at least the width of the template key bit and shank, the width being measured perpendicularly to the axis of the shank, and is also spaced from the said first cutting means a distance of at least the length, measured parallel to the shank axis, of the template key bit, the diameter of said first cutting means being smaller than the distance of the bit from the bow of the template key, the key copying apparatus further comprising two sensing means supported by the frame and associated one with each cutting means.

2. Key copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said one mount is pivotably supported on the frame for limited pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the first spindle and the other of said mounts supports the clamps, which comprise jaws, is pivotably supported, via pivot means, on the said one mount and comprises a handle whereby the said other mount is pivotable about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the said one mount, the jaws of both clamps being equidistans from the pivotal axis of the other mount, and the pivotal movement being limited so that in one extreme pivoted position the clamped keys are at the level of the second cutting means and its associated sensing means, the said other mount being displaceable toward and away from the cutting means and their associated sensing means and lockable in any of its displacement positions, and, when it is in its said one extreme position, it is displaceable in a direction parallel to the axis of the second spindle, and the sensing means associated with the first cutting means having a face, for contact with the template key bit, which face is convex, has the same radius of curvature as that of the first cutting means, and is disposed coaxially therewith.

3. Key copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the pivot means comprises webs disposed laterally on the said one mount, and a guide pivoted from the lateral webs, the said other mount being displaceably supported on the guide, the apparatus further comprising releasable fastening means for releasably engaging the guide.

4. Key copying apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the two spindles extend horizontally and the other said mount is supported for horizontal displacement into an extreme position, in particular into its upper extreme position.

5. Key copying apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the second spindle is disposed below the first spindle.

6. Key copying apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5, in which the releasable fastening means comprise a bolt which is displaceable parallel to the pivoting axis of the guide.

7. Key copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the bolt is located in a web of the said one mount and comprises a shank, and the releasable fastening means further comprises members, provided in the guide, for engagement with the shank.

8. Key copying apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, in which the bolt shank has a centering tip and engagement members in the guide are adapted to co-operate with the centering tip.

9. Key copying apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.