US1948260A

US1948260A - Key cutting machine

Info

Publication number: US1948260A
Application number: US656281A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick E Fowler
Original assignee: F W STEWART Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: F W STEWART MANUFACTURING Co
Priority date: 1933-02-11
Filing date: 1933-02-11
Publication date: 1934-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1951-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1934. F. E. FOWLER KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 YALE F. E. FOWLER KEY CUTTING MACHINE Feb. 20, 1934.

Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 I UNITED STATES ENT b FI B 1,948,260 KEY CUTTING MACHINE Frederick E. Fowler, Detroit, Mich., assignor to F. W. Stewart Manufacturing Company, a cor poration of Illinois Application February 11,1933. Serial No. 656,281 I 16 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in key wide range of use, particularly in the fieldof automobile ignition keys and door keys, being adapted to produce, without elaborate adjustment or skillful handling, practically any standard make of key for any automobile in'commercial use.

A more specific object'is to provide a machine wherein the spacing of the notches in the finished key is determined by a special notched bar or spacer clamped to the usual movable carriage forming a part of such machines, whereas the depth of said notches is determined by an adjustable depth plate mounted on the relatively fixed frame of the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character, wherein a plunger is located between the spacer on the carriage and the stationary but adjustable depth plate on the frame, whereby said carriage, when moved toward the cutting tool will have its movement limited by en gagement of the spacer with said plunger, the latter having a variable yielding movement, depending on the. adjustment of the depth plate behind it, thus providing for the cutting of notches of predetermined and different depths.

A further object is to provide one formof such a machine with a plurality ,of notched depth bars each of which determines the notch depths of all of the keys of this character manufac--" tured by one company.

An additional object is to provide another form of such a machine with a single dial or disc which may be adjustedto determine the-notch depths of all of the keys of all of the manufacturers, on the market, whereby any such. key

may be made by changing only the spacer, of I from a consideration of the more detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings I have illu'strated two commercial embodiments of the invention.

(Cl. SO -43.2)

Fig. 1 is a top plan mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4, l of Fig- 1;

.view of one form of" Fig. 5 is a plan view of a typical depth'slide plate mounted in the machine in Fig. 1.;v

of different configuration from the one 1 Fig. 6 is a typicalspacer key"of a different configuration from theoneshown mounted in said machine; I

Fig. '7 is a top plan mechanism; and

Fig. 8is an end elevation thereof with certain parts broken away. p

The machine comprises a suitable base 10,. preferably in the form of a casting having inview, of another form of tegral upright standards or posts 11 and 12kat the right hand end and 'nearnthe left hand end thereof respectively,- as viewed in Fig. 1. right hand post 11 has a rotatable shaft 13 journaled in its upper end with a grooved pulley or fly wheel 14 secured thereto whereby said pulley may be rotated by a cord in the groovethereof and driven by an electric motor or other me-' chanical means; or said wheel may be rotated by hand by means of the handle 15, thereby rotating the cutting or milling wheel 16 which is secured V to said shaft by the nut 1'7. Near the base of themachine is a fixed shaft 18 supported bya pair of lugs, 19 which ai c'preferably integral with said base and locatednear what may be considered the front thereof. A movable frame or carriage 20, in the form'of a casting, is supported at its lower end on said shaft 18 and may be slid back and forth on said shaft and also swung about the same as a pivot,

The

as indicated by the dotted line and full line po-f swung to the full line position, toward the cut-v ting tool, and in any intermediate position it may be slid back and forth on the supporting rod 18 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The key-blank 22, in which notches are to "be ground by the cuttingwheel or cutting" tool, is clamped in place on the right hand side'of said carriage 20, as shown in Fig. l. Said blank has notches are to be out and rests, in the position v in which the parts are shown in Fig. 1,. on a ledge or horizontalsurface 24 slightly below the top of the carriage or. casting, the latter having also an the usual shoulder 23,-onthe side in which the intermediate, vertical shoulder against which the ame after moving the depth plate 32 to said blank is positioned. Said blank is held in bring the appropriate no tch in register with the place between said horizontal surface 24 and a stop 34. In this way teeth may be ground corloose plate 26, by a wing nut 27 screwed down responding to any of the notches in said depth over a threaded shaft or bolt 28, thus forming a plate whereas thelateral spacing of said teeth small vise. The usual small stop 29 is pivoted is determined'by the notches in the space plate at 30 to the carriage andserves to limit the inor key 31. g sertion of the key blank in the vise, being engaged The mounting for the plunger 33 and the depth by the shoulder 23. After said blank is clamped plate 32 will now be described more in detail. 10 in place, the stop is swung down. On top of the post or pedestal 12 is mounted a 86 In cutting the notches, the operator grasps head 36 or small casting adapted to be slid back the handle and swings the carriage from inclined and forth from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1 position to substantially vertical position, pressand clamped in adjusted position. It is guided ing the key blank against the rotating cutting in this movement by a rib 3'7 on top of said 15 or milling wheel to cut one notch, then shifting post, received within a notch 38 in the bottom of the carriage laterally, cutting another notch, and said head and forming ways. Said head is held so on. The depth of the various cuts is limited in the desired position by a screw 39 and is adby a stop engaged by the carriage in its rearjusted so that the distance between the left hand ward swing, as hereinafter described and the lat-. side of each vise is the same as the distance 20 eral spacing of said notches is determined by between the vertical front edge of the plunger a spacer 31 which may, for convenience, have 33 and the center or edge of the cutting wheelv the general shape of a key having notches therel6. This adjustment is determined by loosening in at definite intervals. A number of such keys, the screw 39, and placing two identical keys in the 01' spacers, are available, each-lock manufacturer two Vises against the stops 29, 29', the notches 25 having a different spacing. Thus each machine in each key necessarily being the same distance is equipped with a spacer representing each diffrom the shoulder on said key. The pivoted ferent manufacturer. The appropriate spacer frame 20' is then swung toward the cutter (which is inserted in a second vise at the left hand side is not rotated at this time) after said frame is i of the frame or carriage 20, the individual clamp moved back and forth until said cutter can en- 7 30 parts being numbered 24 to 30 inclusive, to inc-ter one of the notches in said key, whereupon dicate parts corresponding to those described in the block or head 36 may be adjusted until the connection with the other vise. plunger 33 enters the corresponding notch in The depth of the various notches cut is dethe key in the left hand vise, after which the termined, in this particular machine, by a depth screw 39 may be tightened to clamp the head '5 slide plate 32, of which a considerable number in place. This adjustment need not be changed are available, representing the depth of the key for long intervals of time. notches employed by the diiferent'lo'ckmakers. The head 36 also has a notch 40 in the upper One of these slide plates is required for each surface thereof to receive the depth plate or make of key, but the notches inone plate provide bar 32, the latter being confined by a. bar 41 w all the various depths used by that one manuscrewed to said head, said depth plate being .Y-

' facturer. For example, the depth plate shown slidable freely back and forth in the groove proe in Fig. l, marked Basco has notches which vided, to bring any of. the notches therein in increase in depth from right to left and are registration with the stop 34 on the rear of numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, representing all the depths the plunger 33. In order to properly adjust 5 of the notches found in Briggs and Stratton the machine for the depth of cut, the stop 34, Companys automobile keys. The sixth notch, which is bifurcated at its forward end, maybe which is the deepest, is intended in this instance adjusted forward or backward on the plunger as a convenience in duplicating existing'keys. and then secured by means of a screw 42 and The Basco spacer shown also in Fig. 1 has five a washer 43 beneath the head of the screw, bear- V 59 notches. Other spacers may have a greater or ing on said bifurcated portion. Said plunger has less number of notches and at greater or less a flat portion '44 on top ofthe'same on which distances apart. said adjustable. stop rests. This depth adjust The appropriate depth plate, in conjunction ment is made also by placingblank keys in each with the plunger 33, furnishes the fixed stop vise, pressing the pivoted frame back tov the de-.

5 against which the frame 20 is swung repeatedly .sired position, and tightening the screw 42', the in grinding the several notches required. Said adjustment preferably being such that with the plunger 33 has a wedge shaped stop in the form plunger pressed back against'the appropriate of a small block 34, 'adjustably secured to it, duplicating notch in the slide plate, as for exwhich stop, during the grinding operation, is ample the left hand notch in slide plate 32, the

60 pushed back against the bottom of one of the. cutter, if rotated, will make only a light scratch recesses 'in the slide plate 32, against the action across the key. of the helical spring 35, when engaged by one Where the machine is to be used merely to of the notches in the spacer 31, as shown in Fig. duplicate an available key, the latter is clamped 1, whereupon the vertical front edge of said in the. left hand vise and the key blank in the 55 plunger constitutes the fixed stop. I right hand vise. The plunger 33 need not yield It will be understood that the notch insaid but may be clamped in the proper position (.despacer engages said plunger before the grinding termined by using the duplicating notch just rewheel begins to cut the notch in the key blank ferred to) by. means of a set screw having a 22 and as the pivoted frame 20 is pressed rearknurled head 45, whereupon y pressing the 0 wardly, the engagement of said plunger in said swinging frame toward the grinding wheel and notch prevents lateral movement of said frame intermittently giving said frame a step by step on the supporting bar 18. i movement from right to left, a duplicate key will To grind another notch the frame is swung be formed, as will be readily understood.

- away from the grinding wheel, moved laterally to The machine described is used primarily in th desired position and again pressed toward connection with a code Assuming, for example, that an ignition key has been lost, it is necessary first to remove the ignition lock and examinethe number thereon, which is normally concealed. These locks, as used commercially, are manufactured by a limited number of companies, each of which makes about two hundred fifty different keys. Assume, for example, a Briggs and Stratton look, there will be provided a single depth plate 32 and a single spacer 31, each marked Basco. After noting the number on the look, a code book, especially designed for this purpose, is consulted which gives a number, for example one having five digits. Assume, for example, a lock, No. A- -810 Basco. The index shows a corresponding combination number, 35153. Another part of the code shows the number of the blank key to be used, i. e. 173. The blank is inserted in the right hand vise with its shoulder against the stop. The "spacer marked Basco' is theninserted in the left hand vise against the corresponding stop and both stops then swung downwardly out of the way.

The Basco depth slide is then inserted in its slot with notch 3 in line with the plunger. The cutter is turned and the key is forced toward the same as far as it will go. This first cut is to be made next to the shoulder of the key. Since the combination number, 35153, begins and ends with the digit 3, the carriage is moved over to the last notch and anothercut made therein of the same depth as the first cut. The depth slide is then moved to bring digit 5 in line with the plunger and the second and fourth cuts made without changing the adjustment since the same digit appears twice in the second and fourth positions. The depth slide is then adjusted, with, the plunger opposite the digit 1, and the operation repeated. In this last instance'there is no number 1 notch, but the edge of the slide constitutes the abutment.

As illustrating a depth plate having notches different from the ones shown in Fig. 1, see Fig. 5 in which a Yale depth plate 46 is shown. Fig. 6' shows the corresponding spacer key 47. All of the various spacer keys have a shoulder corresponding to the, shoulder ,48 shown in this figure, which limits] the: depth of insertion of said spacer in the left hand vise just as the corresponding, key blank has a corresponding shoulder to limit theposition of the same with instance is a rectangular plate adjustable lengthwise, i. e. transversely with reference to the axis of the plunger, although it is obvious that various other forms of plate' may be adjustably mounted to the rear of said plunger to limit the inward movement thereof to various predetermined positions. The adjustable depth plate and the plunger are mounted'on' a stationary part of the machine and the carriage is swung toward the same as well as toward the'grinding wheel, the plunger being positioned between the spacer and the depth plate.

In Figs. '7 and'8 are shown a modification in which the adjustable depth plate instead of be- .ing adjustable back and forth in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel, is in the form of atdisc rotatable about a vertical axis, eccentric with respect to said disc,

vso that upon rotation of the latter the effective radius of 'the disc will be varied, without notching the'periphery, although notches maybe provided as a further alternative either with an eccentric scribedand corresponding reference numerals v The disc 50 is'ro tatable about a vertical pin 51 in the form of a have been applied thereto.

threaded shaft having a wing nut 52 thereon to clamp 'the 'disc to the head 36. The numbers applied to the graduations around most-of the circumference might be arranged-:as a continuous series, although to avoid bringing said numbers too close together and to render said graduations more readily distinguishable, said graduations are arranged in two groups on opposite sides of the disc, as shown, numbers 1 to 45 being grouped on one sideand numbers 46 to 90.being grouped on the other side. Between the two .isa

line marked Dup; i. e. duplication, indicating the effective radius to'be used in'limiting the rear ward movement of the plungerwhen an available key is1to be duplicated-j Theperiphery of the disc provides'sufficient ava'ilable'space to enable one disc to be used as the depth plate for practically all of the keys now'on themarket, of the tumbler type, as the eccentric throw is, suflicient to correspond to the maximum and minimum depthcuts and all intermediate requirements.

If a new make should be introduced involving deeper notches than ordinarily provided for by the disc plate shown;-a duplicate of said'disc could be provided ha'ving the eccentric opening in a different position to decrease the effective radius in certain positions, or a newdisc could be provided to meet the special case,'or'the stop member 34 could be adjusted on the plunger 33 to permit the latter to recede a greater amount than withthe adjustment shown. This latter arrangement is preferable as it provides for an almost unlimited capacity, in cutting keysby code.

While the form of machine just described has the advantage that onlyone depth plate is required, whereas with the first form of machine described it is necessary to provide half a dozen or more depth bars only oneof which can be used at a time, said depth bars have notches therein which do not require asaccurate adjustment as the graduated disc, as the notches when engaged by thev shaped end of the stop member make said depth bars self -aligning by the wedging action which takes place.

While the plunger in both cases is provided with a spring by means oflwhich it normally projects out enough to be engaged bythe spacer before the key blank engages the periphery of the cutter, it is evident that this preliminary engagement may be insured in other ways and Without necessarily using a spring. Various other changes may be made in the form and location of the elements described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Reference in the specification and claims to the location of the'position of various parts as horizontal, vertical and the-like, is not intended to limit the same but rather as a convenience in defining the relative position of such parts and.

to simplify the description.

Iclaim: i a 1. In a keycutting'machine, a base, a movable frame supported thereby and having a pair of vises thereon for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool mounted on said base toward which said frame'is moved to out said blank, a stop mounted on said base and with respect to which said frame is moved back and forth to determine the location only of the cuts lengthwise of said key blank and positioned to be engaged by said spacer during movement of said frame toward said cutting tool to limit the depth of the cut, at the desired point on said key blank,- and means for adjusting, the position of saidstop to provide for cuts of different depths in thesame key blank.

2. In a key cutting machine, a base, a cutting tool thereon, a frame on said base movable toward and away from said cutting tool and movable at right angles to said first movement, vises on said frame, one adapted to holda key blank and the other holding a spacer member having notches therein of uniform depth and spaced apart distances corresponding to the spacing of the notches to be cut in said key blank, a depth plate adjustably mounted on said base, a stop between said depth plate and spacer memberv to be en gaged by one of the notches in the latter when said frame is moved to out said key blank, said stop engaging said depth plate also whereby the latter, in various positions of adjustment, de ermines the limiting positions of said stop and hence determines the depth of the cuts in said key blank.

3. In a key cutting machine, a movable frame having a pair of vises thereon for holding a spacer and a key b1ank,,a cutting tool toward which said frame is movedv to cutsaid blank, a yielding stop to the rear of said spacer, located to be engaged thereby and to limit the depth (if the cut and an adjustable plate behind said s'topto posi tion the same.

4. In a key cutting machine, a movable frame having a pair of vises thereon for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool toward which saidframe is moved to out said blank, a yieldingly mounted plunger engaged by said spacer and an adjustable depth. controlling member to limit the yielding movement of said plunger and thus insure cuts in said key blank of various pre determined amounts. 7

5. A key cutting machine comprising a base, a rotatable cutting wheel thereon, a frame pivotally and slidably supported on said base whereby its upper endmay be swung toward and away from said wheel and moved in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, a pair of vises on said frame for holding a spacer and a key blank, a head also supported by said base, a plunger mounted in said head, a spring normally projecting said plunger toward said spacer and a plate adjustably supported by said head,

behind said plunger, topermit a variable inward movement of said plunger when engaged by said spacer. Y I

6 A key cutting machine comprising a base having a pair of standards thereon, acutting wheel supported by one of said standards, a head supported by the other of said standards in approximate alignmentwith the axis of rotation of said wheel, a frame pivotally. and slidably supported on said base, a pair ofvises on said frame, a plunger supported by said head, a spring permitting said plunger to yield inwardly and a notched depth plate adjustably supported by said head to the rear of said plunger to limit the inward movement thereof.

spaced vises on said "7. A key cutting machine comprising a base having a pair of standards thereon, a cutting wheel supported by one of said standards, a head adjustably supported on said other standard to vary its distance from said wheel, a plunger received in an opening in said head, a stop member adjustably secured to'said plunger and a depth plate slidably mounted on said head at right angles to the axis of said plunger to limit the inward movement of the same.

8. In a key cutting machine, a supporting member, a horizontal plunger supported thereby,- a

bifurcated stop member on said plunger, a screw for adjustably securing the same in position, a

notched depth bar transversely'adjustable with,

"from said wheel, a plunger received within an opening in said headand having a vertical edge on its protruding end, a spring behind said plunger normally causingit to protrude, a stop member adjustably mounted on said plunger and accessible through a slot in said head, a notched depth plate received'in a transverse slot to the rear of said plunger to be engaged bythe stop thereon when said plunger is pushed inwardly and means overlying said depth plate to confine'it in said slot.

10. In a key cutting machine, a base with a pair of vertical standards thereon, a cutting wheelrotatably supported by one standard, guideways on said second standard, a head adjustably mounted on said guideways to vary its distance from said wheel, a plunger received within an opening in said head and having a vertical edge on its protruding end, and a set, screw for holding said plunger in adjusted position.

11. In a key cutting machine, a base, a rotatable shaft supported thereon, a cutting wheel on said shaft, a head spaced from said wheel in substantial alignment with said shaft, 'a carriage slidable in a direction parallel tosaid shaft and pivoted to swing toward said wheel and head, carriage, a spacer clamped in one of said vises, the other being aligned with said wheel, a depth plate movably mounted on said head, a plunger mounted on said head betweensaid plate and said spacer to be engaged by the latter and moved until obstructed by the former and means for shifting said carriage when saidengaging parts are disengaged.

12. In a key cutting machine, a base, a rotatable shaft supported thereon, a cutting wheel on ,said shaft, a head spaced from said wheel in substantial alignment with said shaft, a carriage slidable in a direction parallel to said shaft and pivoted to swing toward said 'wheel and head, spaced vises on said carriage, a spacer'clamped in one of said vises, the other being aligned with sa d wheel,.a disc rotatably mounted on said head,

a plunger mounted on said head between said disc and said spacer to be engaged and moved by the latter into contact with said disc and means for holding said disc in various positions of adjustment with reference to its axis of rotation 13. In a key cuttingmachine, a movable frame having a pair of vises thereon for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool and an eccentrically mounted plate toward which said frame is moved in cutting said blank, said plate being rotatable to provide a variable stop to limit the movement of said frame and thus vary the depth of the cuts.

14. A machine as in claim 13 in which the periphery of each half of the plate is eccentric with reference to the axis of rotation thereof, the eccentricity of one half being greater than the other half.

15. In a key cutting machine, a base, a movable frame thereon having a pair of vises for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool toward which said frame is moved to out said blank, a longitudinally movable pin supported by said base to be engaged by said spacer, and an eccentrically mounted plate to the rear of said pin to limit the movement of the same and of said frame when the latter engages the former.

16. In a key cutting machine, a base, a movable frame thereon having a pair of vises for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool toward which said frame is moved to out said blank, a longitudinally movable pin supported by said base to be engaged by said spacer, and an eccentrically mounted plate to the rear of said pin to limit the movement of the same and of said frame when the latter engages the former, said pin being formed of a plurality of adjustable parts to vary its effective length.

FREDERICK E. FOWLER.