Method and device for determining the identification of a key blank

The invention relates to a method for determining the identifier of a key blank DVD by which the surface profile of the clamped key on one or both sides, perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, as well as the tread profile of the tip of the key to be scanned by means of feeler members, and a device for implementation of this process.

From EP 0053730 A1 an apparatus is known in which the blank to determine the key the profile of the inserted key is projected by means of light waves on a surface so that the inserted key can be measured. In an area address storing the data obtained in this way with the stored data of the existing key blanks are compared and assigned to a particular matching the imported key blank.

For bent in the longitudinal axial direction key but this device is not usable because of the curved shape of the key significant measurement errors occur which cause a false not useful key blank is selected. And by the constant use of the keys they are bent in most cases due to the costs associated with the closing operation torque, the range of use of the known device is very limited.

Furthermore, significantly affected by the chromium-plated surface of the key, the precision of the projection, because the light beam through the chrome-plated surface is deflected due to scattering and so incurred the measured values ​​are also distorted. This also affected the selection of a proper key blank DVD considerably.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a method and a device by means of which it is possible to determine in the manufacturing of additional keys in a very short time and very reliable the identification of the respective required key the blank, so that it is ensured that a the predetermined key exactly corresponding duplicate may be prepared. The space required for the device construction costs to be kept low and should this be easy to use, so that to determine the identification of a key blank DVD required no specialized personnel is necessary, but the rejection rate can be kept very low. The creation of duplicate keys is therefore facilitated and the requisite cost will be reduced.

This object is solved with the features of claims 1 and 5. FIG.

The clamping device can be formed in a simple configuration of a fixedly arranged abutment plate and preferably in an end by a hinge pin pivotally mounted clamping plate between which the key is held by the clamping plate directly or indirectly acting pressure member in this case, the clamping plate in the the may be pivot pin opposite end portion provided with a preferably triangular shaped in cross-section projection which engages in the longitudinal groove of the clamped key, and one or more compression springs may be provided as a pressure member, which is supported on an articulated on the clamping plate adjusting pin or adjusting lever and on the bearing plate are.

It is also appropriate to provide the clamping device with a cooperating with the stop of the key adjustable counter-stop, which can be formed by a counter to the force of a restoring spring adjustable in the direction of the clamped key stop plate, which is performed on the system board and the stop of the key has assigned stop face.

The means for receiving one or both surface profiles of the clamped key may be formed in a simple configuration by one or more styli, for example, by the force of a spring can be applied held in a preferably parallel adjustable to the key guided carriage and to the surface of the key, wherein the tactile pins are each connected to a stepping motor or a potentiometer by the predetermined operating positions in the adjustment movements of the tracer fingers towards the key can be detected and the calculation unit can be fed.

In much the same way may be formed the means for measuring the length of the clamped key and / or for receiving the tread profile of the tip of the key by one or more probe pins that held in a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the key adjustable slide guided and for example by the force a spring at the top of the key can be applied, and the tactile pins are connected to a stepper motor or a potentiometer, by the operating positions specified in preferably the adjustment movements of the tracer fingers towards the tip of the key can be detected and the processing unit can be supplied.

To adjust the slide can each one against the force of a restoring spring are provided on these acting stepping motor, and the tactile pins and / or the carriage can be drive-connected by wires to the stepper motors and potentiometers.

Furthermore it is necessary, in each case assigned to an adjustable stop for Einjustierung its home position the carriage.

To exclude a faulty scan at the top of a sometimes angled trained key, which can be laid on top of the clamped key styli should a plan, for example, be provided by a formed at these molded collar bearing surface.

The computing unit should be provided with a display and / or a printing unit for displaying the determined identifier corresponding to the clamped key key blank DVD so that the identifier is accessible immediately.

By means of the method and the apparatus of the invention, it is possible in an extremely simple manner in a very short time to determine the identification of the blank reliably, which is necessary for the preparation of a skeleton key. Namely, a key clamped sampled in a corresponding manner, as can be readily detected by a comparison with stored data, the respective identification. Experiential knowledge and / or technical staff is not required, but only the key to which a duplicate shall be prepared, clamped into the device and it is put into operation. And when using the chuck key is kept oriented position without difficulty, measurement errors are virtually eliminated.

When making replacement keys, thus ensuring that this is each of the appropriate conclusions blank available and that the rejection rate can be kept extremely low. Furthermore, a cost not burdened by idle times Cut key together with a precise actuation of a lock cylinder are ensured by means of a suitable key. Furthermore, the device is easy to handle, the creation of duplicate keys is facilitated to a considerable extent.

are sampled accurately by means of probe pins also by the use in key longitudinally bent key.

The chrome-plated surface of the key does not affect the accurate operation of the tactile pins in the scanning also.

For these reasons, the mechanical scanning of keys does not provide inaccurate or even false Meßergebnissse so that it is ensured that for the imported key the corresponding thereto key blank can be reliably selected.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the device for determining the identifier of a key the blank is illustrated, which is illustrated in detail below. In the drawing:<dl id="dl0001" compact="compact"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>which consists of a clamping and interrogator and a computing unit device, in plan view,</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>the clamping and interrogator of Figure 1 in an enlarged view and in a different operating position,</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>the clamping and interrogator of Figure 1 in front view and in an enlarged view,</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>the clamping and interrogator of Figure 3 in a different type of operating position and</dd><dt>Figures 5 and 6</dt><dd> the clamping and interrogator of Figures 2 and 3, formed as a signal generator Tastgliedern.</dd></dl>

The illustrated in Figure 1 and designated by 1 device used to determine the identity of a being clamped in this key 2, in order to ensure that during the preparation of one or more duplicate each standing corresponding key blank 2 available the clamped key. The device 1 is essentially composed of a clamping and polling device A and a co-operating with this computing unit B, in which the ascertained in the clamping and interrogator A data with stored data of known key blanks are compared in this way the identification of the clamped key 2 to determine appropriate key blank.

The clamping and polling device A in this case consists of the actual Spanneinrishtung A 'for receiving of the key 2 and means A' 'for receiving the surface profile 7 in the region of the bit 4 of the key 2 and means A' '' to determine the length of the beard 4 and for receiving the tread design of the tip 8 of the key 2. the respective data are determined by means of stepping motors 33 and 45 and 35 and 47, a built-in processing unit B calculator 61 supplied via signal lines, which connected to a power source 62 and is provided with start buttons 63rd The determined by comparing the identifier belonging to the clamped key 2 key blank can be read on the display panel 64th

In the clamping device A 'is the key 2, the blank identifier is to determine position-oriented clamp. This is accomplished by means of a on a housing 11 fixedly mounted abutment plate 12 and a clamping plate 13 which is pivotally supported. The clamping plate 13 is to held pivotably at one end on a bolt 14, and equipped at the other end with a substantially triangular-shaped in cross-section projection 17 which can engage in a normally incorporated in the beard 4 of the key 2 the longitudinal groove 5, also acts on the chipboard the force of which is arranged on a hinged on this bolt 15 spring 16 a thirteenth

The key 2 is therefore using the molded handle piece 3 with open clamping device A 'such use between the bearing plate 12 and the clamping plate 13 that the projection 17 of the clamping plate 13 can snap into the longitudinal groove. 5 This is done in such a manner that the pin 15 a force is applied, so that the force of which is supported on the bearing plate 12 faders overcome 16 and the clamping plate 13 is pivoted about the pin 14th

To align the clamped key 2 exactly in its vertical position, the clamping device A 'is further equipped with an adjustable stop 18th The stop 18 here consists of a counter to the force of a guided on a pin 21 spring 20 in the direction of the key 2 movable stop plate 18 ', which has a the stop 6 of the key 2 assigned stop face 19th By means of engaging in an integrated attachment in the bearing plate 13 slot 23 screw 22 is 18 'slidably the stop plate.

If the stop plate in the direction of the key 2 18 and this will then pushed down, so at a facility of the stop 6 against the stop surface 19 of the key 2 is accurately aligned. Everyone in this manner in the clamping device A 'clamped key is thus held in position oriented.

With the help of the device A '' can now, as shown in Figure 2, the surface profile 7 of the key 2 are recorded in the area of ​​the beard 4th This is accomplished in such a way that by means of a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis S of the key 2 adjustable carriage 24, a stylus 31 applied in different operating positions of the surface profile 7 and the respective adjustment is determined by means of the stepping motor 33rd The slide in a guide 25 guided carriage 24 is connected for this purpose via a cable 27 with a stepper motor 26, through which the slide 24, as shown in Figure 2 strichpuntiert, is adjusted gradually. The stepping motor 26 is also connected via a control line 48 to the computer 61 of the computing unit B, so that there is the respective position of the stylus 31 is set and taken into account in the evaluation. A return spring 28 of the carriage 24 is moved back after recording the profile surface 7 in the initial position, against a clamped in a holder 29 stop 30. Since the designed as screw stop 30 is adjustable, thus the initial position of the carriage 24 can easily be adjusted.

The adjustment movements of the carriage 24 of the sensing finger 32 is retracted 31 against the force of a spring acting on these each in a defined starting position. This is accomplished with the help of the stepping motor 33, which is connected via a cable 34 with the sensing finger 31st In the individual phantom line operating positions of the carriage 24 of the sensing finger 31 is however applied by the force of the spring 32 at the surface profile 7 of the carriage 2 and thereby distance traveled is determined by means of the stepping motor 33 and inputted via signal line 35 to the computer 61 so that is to be incorporated depending on the number of points, sometimes a very precise course of the surface profile 7 of the clamped key. 2

In almost the same way, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, as measured by the device A '' 'the length of the beard 4 of the key 2 and included the tread pattern of the lace. 8 This also serves a slide 36 arranged in a sensor finger 43, which is connected via a cable 46 to the stepper motor 45th For the gradual adjustment of the sliding in a guide 37 slide 36, a stepping motor 38 is also provided, which is in drive connection via a cable 39 to the counter to the force of a spring 40 movable carriage 36 and connected via a control line 49 to the computer 61 of the computing unit B is. With the help of a stop used in a holder 41 42 and the initial position of the carriage 36 is einjustierbar.

The adjustment movements of the carriage 36 of the sensing finger 43 is withdrawn by the stepping motor 45 against the force of a spring 44 in a defined starting position and 36 applied at standstill of the carriage by the force of the spring 44 at the top. 8 In this way it is possible not only to measure the length of the beard 4 of the key 2, but it can also be the profile design of the top 8 are added. Thus while the sensing finger 43 not sometimes dips into the groove 5 of the key 2, the sensing finger 43 a by a collar 43 'created flat contact surface 43' 'on. Via the control line 47, the data determined in this way are the computer 61 of the processing unit B is supplied, so that in this, the length of the key 2 and the tread design of the tip 8 can be determined. Thus, by comparing the removed from the key 2 with data stored in the computer 61 data thus in the computing unit B without difficulty the identity of the corresponding key the 2 key blank can be determined and displayed.