GB1262406A - Automatic key copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,262,406. Grinding keys. EATON YALE S.p.A. 28 July, 1970 [19 Aug., 1969], No. 36523/70. Heading B3D. An automatic key copying device comprises a double vice 24, 26, 27 mounted on a base 2 to clamp a key blank and an original key, a retractable abutment 31 on the vice to register the axial position of both keys, a carriage 3 movable on the base in the direction of the key lengths when mounted in the vice, a casing 7 hinged to the carriage by means of a cam-shaft 6 extending transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage, a motor in the casing for rotating the cam-shaft and a grinding wheel 10, the cams 11 on the shaft rotating between pairs of followers 12 on the base to impart movement to the carriage, and a follower 14 mounted on the casing to co-operate with the original key profile and control the movement of the grinding wheel during the movement of the carriage. The carriage is guided for movement on the base by pairs of rollers 4 and has a pair of uprights 5 which rotatably support the cam-shaft 6. The cams 11 are of constant width and engage the pairs of followers 12 which are carried by uprights 13 on the base 2. The cam-shaft is driven by reduction gearing 16 ... 20 from a motor shaft 9 on which the grinding wheel 10 is mounted adjacent the follower 14. The double vice has a fixed centre jaw 24 and a pair of movable jaws 26, 27 for holding the key blank and original key which are aligned in the vice by a strip 30 mounted in a guide block 31. After the key blank and original key are clamped in the vice, the retraction of the strip operates a switch to actuate the motor and rotate the grinding wheel and the cams, the latter rotating 180 degrees to move the carriage from one end to the other of its movement until a switch stops the motor, the follower 14 engaging the original key to cause the casing to rock about shaft 6 during the movement so that the wheel 10 grinds the key blank. At least one of the followers 12 of each pair may be adjustable and resiliently mounted. In another embodiment, the carriage is movable along guide rods on the base.