June 30, 1964
`
`w. R. G. HAGGSTROM
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
`
`3,138,999
`
`Filed March 27, 1962
`
`5 Sheets—Sheet l
`
`
`
`INVENTOR
`
`MltngfiZ/j/Eyzsémm
`
`A454, ATTORNEY
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 1
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 1
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`

`

`June 30: 1964
`
`w. R. G. HAGGSTROM
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
`
`3,138,999
`
`Filed March 27, 1962
`
`5 Sheets—Sheet 2
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`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 2
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 2
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`

`

`June 30, 1964-.
`
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`W. R. G. HAGGSTROM
`
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
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`3,138,999
`
`
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`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 3
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`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 3
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`

`

`June 30, 1964
`
`w. R‘ G. HAGGSTROM
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
`
`3,138,999
`
`Filed March 27, 1962
`
`'
`
`5 Sheets—Sheet 4
`
`
`
`
`
`INVENTOR
`
`
`Wzlz‘ei' figs; H yszfrom/
`BYW/gitooéw
`
`A84“ ATTORNEY
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 4
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 4
`
`

`

`June 30, 1964
`
`Filed March 27, 1962
`
`w. R. G. HAGGSTROM
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
`
`3,138,999
`
`5 Sheets—Sheet 5
`
`
`
` 305
`
`I
`I N V E N TO R
`Mléegfi 9. Hayjsfrom/
`7%kmfi'ffiauuuyam/
`Aw ATTORNEY
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 5
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 5
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`

`

`United States. Patent Office
`
`3,l38,999
`_
`atented June 39, Igfill-
`
`P
`
`1
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`2
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`3,138,999
`AUTOMATIC KEY CUTTER
`Walter R. G. Haggstrcm, Westminster, Mass, assignor
`to independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass, a
`corporation of Massachusetts
`Filed Mar. 2’7, 1962, Ser. No. 182,854
`6 Claims.
`(Cl. 90—13.tl5)
`
`This invention relates to a key duplicating device, and
`more particularly to a copying device for cutting or hit-
`ting the blade portion of a key blank to form thereon
`the tumbler operating combination corresponding to the
`combination of a selected key. More particularly, this
`invention relates to a key cutting device wherein a
`tumbler operating pattern formedron the blade portion
`of a selected key may be duplicated or reproduced on
`a selected key blank. This invention is a continuation
`in part of my pending application Serial No. 133,957 and
`filed August 25, 1961.
`»
`'
`As in the case of the aforementioned copending ap-
`plication, this invention relates to a key dupliCator which
`is substantially automatic and fool-proof in operation
`whereby the same may be successfully operated by a
`person having no prior experience in the handling of key
`cutters. Moreover,
`the simplicity of the operation of
`the machine is such as to. render possible its use in a
`key vending device or as an element in the merchandising
`of key blanks whereby selection of, or delivery of a
`blank to be cut, as from or by a key blank vending ma» '
`chine or the like and the .introduction of said blank
`manually or automatically into the key. cutting machine
`clamp, together 'with the key to be duplicated, will auto—
`matically result in cutting a perfect copy.
`In its more specific phases,
`this invention relates to
`an automatic key cutter having a novel operating as-
`sembly whereby the steps heretofore necessarily manually'
`effected are effected automatically.
`More specifically, this invention relates in one aspect
`to novel key blank and pattern key clamp means'for re~
`ceiving and maintaining the key and key blank during the
`cutting operation.
`-
`, Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro-
`vide a key cutting machine which is largely automatic
`in its operation. A further object of this invention is to-
`provide a novel key cutting device powered. by a motor
`mounted in such manner that the weight thereof aug-
`ments the key milling action of the cutter element, and
`which motor is additionally utilized to drive at slow speeds
`a shaft journalled on the frame of the cutterdevice, to
`‘ which shaft is secured plural operating means for auto-
`matically and in timed sequence carrying out the func-
`tions hereinafter described.
`,
`Still a further object of this invention is the provision
`of a key cutting device having clamp means which include
`key seating elements and key gripping elements, the first
`mentioned elements being effective to secure accurate
`initial positioning of the key and key blank, and the sec-
`ond mentioned elements being effective to supplant the
`holding influence of the first mentioned elements during
`the actual cutting of the key.
`‘
`A further object of this invention is to provide a clamp
`mechanism for a key cutter wherein a key blank and a
`patterned key will be securely held during the cutting op-
`eration, notwithstanding the key and key blank are of
`varying thickness.
`Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a
`key cutting device clamp means for the key blank and pat-
`tern key Which assure that the pattern key and key blank
`are accurately aligned in the clamps before initiation of
`the cutting cycle.
`‘
`A further and principal object of this invention is the
`provision of a key cutter which may be used in con—
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`junction with or as part of a key cutting device by per-
`sons unskilled in the art of locksmithing and unaccus-
`tomed to the operation of a key cutting machine and the
`requirements for accurate reproduction of cut keys.
`To attain these objects and such further objects as may
`appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is
`made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part
`hereof,-in which—
`FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a key cutting device
`in accordance with the invention with portions thereof
`spaced from their normal operative positions for clarity of
`illustration.
`.
`' FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional View of the key
`cutter.
`'
`FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3—3
`of FIGURE 2.
`.
`FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line
`4—4 of FIGURE 2 with the key cutter in the initial or
`loading position thereof.
`FIGURE 5 is a section in accordance with FIGURE 4
`taken at an advanced stage of operation of the cutter
`device.
`FIGURE 6 is a magnified perspective View of the key
`blank clamp member and associated mechanism;
`FIGURE 7 is a vertical section-taken on the line 7—7
`of FIGURE 6.
`.
`.
`'
`FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan View of an embodi-
`ment of the invention;
`FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of hold
`down operating mechanism in accordance with an embodi-
`ment of the invention;
`FIGURE 10 is a front elevational View of the embodi-
`ment of FIGURE 9;
`FIGURE 11 is a magnified section taken on line 11—11
`of FIGURE 9.
`.
`An understanding of the invention herein is facilitated
`. by a brief description of the general construction and
`operation of the cutter device. The device generally
`includes a base or frame having track Or guide portions
`thereon and having parallel abreast clamping receptacles
`for a key and key blank. A carriage is shiftably mounted
`on the track or guide portions of the frame to permit
`linear'movement of the carriage toward and away from
`the key seats or receptacles. A key duplicator head hav-
`ing the usual tracer and cutter elements is mounted to the
`carriage for pivotal movement on an axis normal to the
`direction of movement of the carriage. The key cutter
`is driven by a motor suitably mounted on the duplicator
`head in such position that the weight of said motor aids
`in the key cutting operation by urging the cutter against
`the key blank. The motor drive shaft is linked by ex-
`tensible and flexible shaft elements to a speed reducer
`member fixed to the frame and driving a cross shaft hav—
`ing its axis of rotation aligned normal to the direction
`of the track or guide means of the frame.
`The cross shaft which rotates at a very slow speed dur-
`ing the operating cycle of the key cutter, carries a plural-
`ity of cam members. The carriage includes a follower
`portion, the entire carriage being spring biased whereby
`said follower portion is engaged against one such cam
`member, the coaction of such cam and follower serving to
`shift the carriage toward and away from the key and key
`blank receptacles. The key receptacles are each provided
`with a clamp jaw and a hold-down lever serving respec-
`tively to apply lateral and downward pressure to the key
`. shank portions.‘ Initially, the key and key blank when in-
`serted into receptacles, are urged into proper position
`therein by the yielding pressure of the hold-down and
`clamp jaw elements. The hold-down_and clamp jaw ele-
`ments in addition are provided with follower portions
`which coact with other cams carried by the cross shaft so
`‘that'on initiation of a cutting cycle the hold—down levers
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 6
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`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 6
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`U!
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`10
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`are pivoted clear of the key shank portion to permit cut-
`ting and tracing of the pattern on such portion, the clamp
`jaw members being simultaneously locked into gripping
`position of the key whereby the yieldable pressure on the
`shank by the jaw is supplanted by a considerable locking
`pressure to maintain the key in position during the cutting
`cycle. At the completion of the cutting cycle the hold-
`down and clamp jaw members are released by their respec-
`tive follower means to their initial position whereat they
`are yieldably biased against the shank portions of the key
`and key blank. Optionally, but preferred, the key cutter
`device is provided with electrical cycle initiating means, as
`described and claimed in my copending application afore-
`said whereby the cutting cycle is begun automatically re-
`sponsive to proper insertion of the key and key blank into
`the appropriate receptacles.
`In accordance with the invention, I provide a frame
`member 10 including a base portion 11 to which are fixed-
`ly mounted the seats or receptacles 12, 13 for the key
`blank and pattern key respectively. The frame 10 may be
`secured to the top of a work bench, or the like. However,
`where the cutting device is not to be used in a locksmith
`establishment, or where the cutter is to be used as or in
`conjunction with a vending device, the frame may be en-
`closed within an appropriate container or cabinet having
`formed therein access slots registering with the key slots
`14 and 15 of the key blank and pattern key seats 12 and
`13, respectively.
`A pair of track or guide elements 17, 18 are fixed to
`base 11 to lie parallel with each other, with the base, and
`with keyway slots 14 and 15.
`In the illustrated embodi-
`ment of this invention, the guide element 17 comprises a
`flat upwardly directed wall and the element 18 comprises a
`rod-like generally cylindrical member,
`it being under-
`stood, however, that various other forms of track or guide
`means may be employed without departing from the spirit
`of the invention .
`A carriage member 30 is linearly slidably mounted
`on the guides 17 and 18, the said carriage comprising a
`generally 'U-shaped assembly including parallel opposed
`side walls 31 and 32; Depending from the underside car-
`riage 30 are yoke members 33 recessed at the underside
`thereof to provide a complemental sliding fit on the guide
`rod 18. The carriage 30 is provided in addition with de-
`pending foot portions 35 in laterally spaced relation to
`the yokes 33 the portions 35 registering with and riding
`on the guide elements 17. From the foregoing it will be
`seen that the carriage 30 is permitted a range of sliding
`movement forwardly and rearwardly along the guide
`means 17 and 18, a recessed portion 34 of the yokes 33
`acting then to prevent lateral movement of the carriage 30
`with respect to the guide members aforesaid. The side
`walls 31, 32 of the carriage 30 are provided in addition
`with opposed trunnion portions 37, 38 respectively, which
`portions extend toward each other and are coaxially
`aligned. Fixed to the carriage 30 and extending rear-
`wardly therefrom is a carriage follower bar 39 having
`fixed to the rearmost end thereof a carriage follower shoe
`40 for purposes hereinafter described.
`A duplicator head 50 is pivotally mounted to the car-
`riage 30 on trunnions 37, 38 fixed to the walls 31, 32 of
`said carriage. Head 50 comprises a rigid support shell 51
`of a generally box-like conformation, the bottom of said
`shell 51 being open. The side walls 52, 53 of the shell
`51 are provided with bearing notches 54 and 55 respective-
`ly which, in the assembled position of the head 50, rest
`respectively on trunnions 37 and 38 to provide a pivotal
`connection between the head 50 and the carriage 30 previ-
`ously described. The motor M is bolted or otherwise
`secured to the underside of the shell 51, the drive shaft D
`of said motor extending through the rear wall 56 of the
`shell 51. The motor M is mounted in such a manner as
`to align the center of gravity thereof forwardly of the
`notches 54, 55 whereby, when the notches 54, 55 are
`seated on trunnions 37, 38 the weight of the motor will
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`3,138,999
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`tend to pivot the head 50 forwardly so that the forward
`wall 57 thereof is urged downwardly under the influence
`of said motor. The cutter drive shaft 58 is journalled in
`the forward and rearward walls 57, 56 of the shell 51, a
`cutting or milling wheel 59 being mounted on the por-
`tion of shaft 58 extending forwardly on the wall 57. A
`pully 66 is fixed to the shaft 58 at a point rearwardly of
`the rear wall 56 of the shell 51, said pulley 60 being linked
`to a pulley 61 fixed to drive shaft D of the motor M by
`a belt 62. A pattern tracer stylus 63 is adjustably secured
`to the front wall 57 of the shell 51 by adjustable clamp
`member 64 permitting a vertical adjustment of the stylus
`63 with respect to said clamp. Also, in the normal opera‘
`tion the clamp 64 is adjusted so that the apex 65 extends
`beneath the carriage 50 exactly the same distance as the
`lowermost point of the periphery 66 of the wheel 59 ex-
`tends below said carriage. Optionally, but preferably, a
`pair of tension springs 68, 69 are secured to the side walls
`52, 53 of the head 50 at their upper ends and that their
`lower ends are fixed to the frame base 11 through eyes
`11’, 11’ whereby the downward pivoting force exerted on
`the forward end 57 of the head 50 by the weight of motor
`M is implemented. Downward pivotal movement of the
`head 50 toward the carriage 30 is limited by the provision
`of a depending leg member 67 having fixed thereto a roller
`wheel 67a engaging against
`the horizontally disposed
`body portion of said carriage in the inoperative position
`of the device (FIG. 2).
`Fixed to the base 11 of frame It} is a speed reducer
`gear assembly 70 having an in-put drive element 71
`which when rotated, rotates in turn a square cross shaft
`member 72 having bearing portions journalled in the
`speed reducer assembly 70. The shaft 72 lics parallel to
`the base 11 and normal to the guide track members 17
`and 18. The speed reducer mechanism 78 is of conven-
`tional design and need not be described further except to
`indicate that the gear ratio of the illustrated embodiment
`is calculated to produce one revolution of the shaft 72 for
`each 5800 revolutions of the in—put member 71. The
`5800 to 1 ratio of the gear assembly aforesaid is op-
`tional and it will be understood by those skilled in
`the art that such ratio should be varied dependent upon
`the horsepower rating and speed of revolution of the
`motor M selected for use in the cutter device.
`It will be understood that in the course of normal op-
`eration, the head 50 carrying motor M will move both
`linearly and pivotally with respect to the speed reducer
`member 70. Accordingly, in order to drive the in-put
`71 of said speed reducer a driving connection must be
`made between the shaft D of the motor M and the in-put
`71 of the speed reducer, which connection is both flex-
`ible and extensible.
`In the illustrated embodiment the
`speed reducerd in-put 71 is provided with an axially ex-
`tending channel 74 having eccentric drive recesses ’73,
`73. Fastened to the drive shaft D of motor M behind
`pulley 61 is a flexible drive shaft element 75 which com-
`prises a coil spring 76 having fixed to the rearward end
`thereof a spline shaft 77 with laterally extending eccen-
`tric lobes 78, 78. The spline shaft 77 is slidable within
`the channel 74 of the speed reducer input 71, the lobes
`78, 78 of said spline shaft forming a driving connection
`with the eccentric recess portions 73, 73 of channel 74.
`It will thus be appreciated that as the head 50 moves away
`from the speed reducer 70 the shaft 77 will slide within
`the channel 74 accommodating such linear movement,
`pivotal movement of the head 50 with respect to said
`speed reducer being accommodated by the coil spring 76.
`It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art
`that other forms of flexible connectors such as rubber-
`ized or composition elements may be substituted for the
`coil spring 75 and that universal couplings are equally
`adaptable for this purpose.
`Likewise, other arrange-
`ments slidably linking the speed reducer in-put with the
`out-put of the universal coupling may be usefully em-
`ployed.
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 7
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`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 7
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`3,138,999
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`The keys Vises or receptacles 12 and 13 are provided.
`with a shiftable apparatus for seating the key blank and
`pattern key in the slots 14 and 15 respectively for accu-
`rate initial positioning, and locking clamp jaw portions '
`effective during the cutting cycle for securely clamping
`said key blank and pattern key in said properly seated
`position.
`Since the clamping and operating apparatus
`associated with the vise or receptacle 12 is identical with
`that associated with the pattern key receptacle 13 only
`the former said apparatus will be described, it being un-
`derstood that the apparatus associated with the vise 13
`operates simultaneously and in the same manner as the
`apparatus for the former said vise. The vise 12 includes
`as a portion of the key way Slot 14 a lower or horizontally
`disposed wall 81} and a fixedside wall portion 81 normal
`to the wall as. A clamp jaw member 82 is pivotally
`mounted on shaft 83 to be shiftable toward and away from
`the wall 31 a compression coil spring 84 being interposed
`between the leg portion 85 of the jaw 82 and a portion of
`the vise 12 to urge clamping face 86 of said jaw resiliently
`against the wall 81 when no key is positioned in the clamp.
`The leg portion 85 of the clamp jaw 82 is provided with a
`later-ally extending hardened steel ball 87 fixed within a
`recess 88 formed in said leg. The upright portion 89 of
`the Vise 12 is likewise provided with a hardened ball 9%
`in opposed relation to the ball 87 and similarly seated
`within a recess 91 formed in the leg 89.
`A hold—down lever 100 is provided for seating the
`base of an inserted'key blank against the lower wall
`portion 811 of the key way slot 14. The lever 11% fixed
`to a shaft 1111 is horizontally disposed and rotatably
`journalled in the bearing aperture 192 of the vise 12,
`said shaft at its rearward end being journalled in a vertical
`bracket 1113 fixed to the base 11 of the frame. A
`torsion spring 194 is secured at one end 105 to the
`bracket 103 the other end 106 of said spring being fixed
`to a boss 1117 non-rotatably mounted to the shaft 1131.
`The spring 1134 is mounted under tension and thus normal-
`ly serves to urge the shaft 101 counter-clockwise (as. best
`seen in FIGS.
`1 and 7) thereby resiliently urging the
`hold—down portion 108 of the lever 10% downwardly and in
`registry with key slot 14. As best seen in FIG. 6, the
`clamp face 86 andthe side wall portion 81 are recessed
`or hollowed at 86a and 81:: respectively to provide a
`better gripping action particularly where a slightly bent
`or nickel key or key blank is encountered. The jaw
`86, side wall portion 81 and bottom wall portion 80 are
`provided with chamfered or beveled leading portions
`89b, 81b, 86b to facilitate insertion of the key and key
`blank into the key way slot 14. As previously noted the
`jaw 32 is yieldably urged by spring 84 against the side-
`wall . 81 of
`the key blank slot
`14».
`The pressure
`exerted by the spring 34 is necessarily relatively light
`in order to permit ready insertion of a key blank into
`the slot 14 and accordingly such pressure will not be
`sufficient to maintain the key blank against movement
`withinthe slot during the cutting operation.
`In order
`to lock the clamp jaw 86 against the key blank thereby
`fixedly securing the latter between the jaw 36 and the wall
`81, there is provided a locking wedge 116' interposed be-
`tween bracket 89 of the key receptacle 12 and the leg 85
`of clamp jaw member 82. The wedge 110 is disposed be-
`tween the ball members 913 and 87 so that when said wedge
`is shifted rearwardly in a manner hereinafter described,
`the jaw 86 is forced toward the wall 81 tightly clamping
`the key within the key way slot 14. Locking wedge 11%)
`is secured at its rearward end to a clamp follower rod 111
`horizontally slidably supported by brackets 112 and 113
`extending upwardly from base 11. A relatively heavy
`compression spring 114 is interposed between the rear
`face of bracket 112 and a collar 115 fixed to the rod 111.
`A clamp follower shoe 116 is secured to the rearward
`end of the rod 111.
`It will be understood from the de-
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`. scription of the above that the compression spring 114.!»
`acting between the fixed bracket 112 and the collar 115
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`tend to shift the rod 111 and its associated lock-
`will
`ing wedge 1-113 rearwardly or to the jaw—locking position
`thereof.
`The wedge 110 is normally maintained in a forward
`or clamp jaw releasing position by the engagement of a
`follower shoe 116 with the periphery of clamp jaw oper-
`ating cam 117 which is fixed to the cross shaft 72 to‘ ro-
`tate therewith. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and, 7, the cam
`117 has a peripheral portion eccentric with respect to the
`axis of rotation of shaft ‘72 and including a gradually
`increasing rise portion extending throughout substantially
`the entire periphery of said cam and terminating at a
`sector 118 which comprises a peripheral portion of said
`cam spaced furthest from the axis of rotation of shaft ’72.
`The cam 117 is aligned with the axis of shaft 111 and
`when the high sector 118 of the cam is aligned with the
`follower shoe 116 the rod 111 and its associated wedge
`11%? will have been shifted to the forwardmost or clamp
`jaw releasing position thereof. The cam 117 is provided
`in trailing position of sector 118 with a sharp drop or
`ledge portion 119. From the above it will be readily
`recognized as the shaft 72 rotates, the sector 118 will be
`shifted from registering position with the shoe 116 and
`the shoe will be entirely released from the periphery of
`said cam when the ledge or cut-out sector 119 is in reg-
`istry with said shoe 116. When this release occurs the
`compressed spring 114 acting against collar 115 will snap
`or project the entire rod 111 rearwardly driving the wedge
`119 sharply between the ball members 87 and 90 and
`thus locking the jaw 82 in clamping position against the
`key inserted between said jaw and the wall 81 under the
`maintaining pressure of spring 114.
`It will be under-‘
`stood that upon further rotation of shaft 72 the gradually
`inclined periphery of the cam 117 will again be brought
`into contact with the shoe 116 again shifting the follower
`rod 111 and its associated wedge 110 forwardly and re-
`leasing the jaw 82 from the locking engagement of the
`wedge. By reason of the shallow incline of the faces of
`the wedge 11d and the sudden releasing action of the cam
`117 on follower shoe 116 a very considerable clamping
`force is developed to provide a positive locking action
`against the key.
`It will be readily understood from the positioning of
`the duplicator head previously described that
`the key
`blank and key must be inserted in the slots 14 and 15
`respectively with the bitted tumbler operating edges of
`the key blade disposed upwardly.
`In order for the tracer
`and the cutter elements of the duplicator head to engage
`said upper elements of the key and key blank, it is neces-
`sary to shift the hold-down portions 108 of hold-down
`levers 1% clear of the slots 114, 115 to expose the upper
`blade portions to the operative elements of duplicator
`head. For this purpose there is fixed to the rear end of
`shaft 101 a disc member 120 having mounted thereon a
`follower pin 121 eccentricaliy with respect to the axis
`rotation of the shaft 101. A drum cam 122 is fixed to
`the cross shaft 72 to rotate therewith, cam 122 being pro-
`vided with lateral cam surfaces adapted to engage the
`pin 121 and by the angular camming movement imparted
`by the cam to the pin to rotate shaft 101 against the ac-
`tion spring 1194 thereby causing the hold—down lever to be
`cleared from above the key retaining slots and permitting
`operative engagement with the key and key blank of the
`cutter and duplicating tracer. A gradual rise surface 123
`is formed on the cam 122 and as the shaft 72 rotates
`counter-clockwise, as seen in FIG. 1,
`the surface 123
`engages behind pin 121 shifting the latter against the
`pressure of spring 164 until said pin lies against the
`generally flat inner peripheral portion 124 of the cam
`122. When the pin 121 lies against the surface 124 the
`hold-down lever will remain in the key way slot clearing
`position by the engagement of the pin with said peripheral
`surface. When the cam 122 is rotated nearly a‘full revo-
`lution a gradual decline portion 125 is brought into reg-
`istry with the pin 121, torsion spring 194- being then per-
`
`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 8
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`KEYME EX. 1007, PAGE 8
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`3,138,999
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`mitted to rotate the shaft 101 causing the hold-down lever
`to be returned to its initial doanard position.
`It should
`be understood that the operation of the cams 117 and
`122 are coordinated whereby preferably the locking
`wedge 110 is released by the cam 117 to jaw locking
`position just prior to the lifting of hold-down lever 100
`by the coaction of cam 122 and follower pin 121.
`The carriage 30 is urged rearwardly or toward its start-
`ing position by tension springs 130, 130’, one end of each
`of such springs being secured to said carriage, the other
`end of the springs being fixed to the base 11. An ec-
`centric drive cam 131 is fixed to the cross shaft 72 in
`registry with the follower shoe 40 of the carriage operat-
`ing bar 39. Springs 130, 130’ are effective to draw the
`carriage rearwardly so that
`the shoe 40 is constantly
`engaged with the periphery of the eccentric cam 131.
`Cam 131 includes a sector 133 which is disposed a radial
`distance from the axis shaft 72 considerably less than the
`radial spacing of the sector 134 of said cam from said
`shaft. From the above description it will be obvious
`that when the sector 133 is rotated into registry with the
`follower shoe 40 the carriage will occupy its rearward-
`most position and as the shaft 72 rotates the carriage will
`be gradually urged forward until the carriage will have
`reached its forwardmost position Whereat the sector 134
`is in registry with the shoe 40. Upon continued rota-
`tion of shaft 72 the carriage gradually moves rearwardly
`until
`the carriage again reaches its rearwardmost posi-
`tion,
`i.e., where the sector 133 registers with the shoe
`40.
`It should be understood that the cam 131 is co-
`ordinated with cams 117 and 122 whereby when the
`carriage is in the rearwardmost position as determined by
`cam 131 the wedge members 110 are in their forward or
`clamp jaw releasing position and the hold-down levers
`are released to the key slot covering position. Promptly
`after the carriage begins its forward movement the wedge
`members 110 are shifted rearwardly to jaw locking posi-
`tion and hold—down levers are pivoted clear of the slots.
`In using the key cutter device, the operator inserts the
`blade or shank portion of the pattern or cut key into the
`key way slot 15 in the clamp member 13 with the cut
`or bitted portion upwardly directed. Similarly the key
`blank is inserted into the key way slot 14 with a corre-
`sponding portion of the shank upwardly directed.
`In
`each instance, the shoulder portion of the key and blank
`adjacent the blade is thrust inwardly until said shoulder
`portions lie against the forwardmost portions of hold-
`down levers 100.
`Insertion of the key and blank into the
`key ways is facilitated by the bevel portions 30b, 81b,
`86b which guide the keys to the desired seated position in
`the clamps.
`In my aforesaid copending application, there are de-
`scribed several forms of switching means for initiating
`the operating cycle of the key cutter therein described
`responsive to proper positioning of the key and key blank
`and particularly the shoulder portion thereof, in the key
`cutter clamps. The cycle initiating means therein de-
`scribed is equally adapted for use in conjunction with
`the cutter herein described and the use of said initiating
`means in conjunction with the present cutter is preferred
`but not essential. The initiation of an operating cycle
`in the herein described device may be effected by power-
`izing the motor M by any known switching means. When
`the motor M is actuated the milling or cutting wheel 59 is
`rapidly rotated, the shaft 72 forming the output of speed
`reducer 70 being thereby rotated at slow speeds. As
`shaft 72 rotates the carriage is urged forwardly or toward
`the key receptacles 12 and 13, the clamp jaws 82 being
`shifted to clamping position of the key and key blank
`and the hold-down levers being pivoted clear of any
`overlying relation to the key and key blank in the man-
`ner previously described. As the carriage continues to
`shift forward, the apex 65 of stylus 63 is brought into
`engagement with the patterned upper portion of the cut
`key secured in key way slot 15. As thestylus 63 scans
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`40
`
`5O
`
`60
`
`70
`
`75
`
`8
`the bitted portion of the cut key the duplicator head
`50 is raised and lowered against the weight of motor M
`and the tension of springs 68, 69, the miller or cutter
`59 during this movement etching or filing into the key
`blank maintained in clamp 14 a hitting or pattern which
`thus corresponds with the pattern or bitting of the cut
`key. After completing its forward stroke the carriage is
`gradually retracted by action of springs 130 the duplicator
`head 50 in the course of such retractive movement again
`rising and falling in accordance with the pattern formed
`on the cut key held within slot 15.
`It will thus be ap-
`preciated that in the event there are deep cuts formed
`in the pattern key which were not correspondingly deeply
`etched into the blank on the forward stroke of the cutter,
`such cuts will be deepened and completed on the rear-
`ward or retractive stroke of the cutter. Optionally, but
`preferably, power to the motor M is shut off by a limit
`switch positioned to be engaged by the carriage 30 as
`the latter reaches its fully retracted position. The limit
`switch will thus automatically stop the motor M to pre-
`vent recycling of the key cutter. The positions of the
`various followers and cams at the forwardmost and the
`rearwardmost positions of the carriage 30 may be best
`understood by comparison of FIGURES 4 and 5,
`the
`former showing the part in the rearwardmost position and
`the latter in the forwardmost position of said carriage.
`In FIGURE 8 there is shown an embodiment of the
`invention having novel cycle initiating mechanism.
`In
`this embodiment, like parts have been given like reference
`numerals.
`As shown in FIGURE 8, the key hold down lever 100
`normally extends forwardly of the key and blank supports
`12 and 13 in the path of the shoulder KS of the key and
`key blank. The shaft 101 which carries the lever 100 is
`permitted clearance for axial as well as rotary movement.
`Spring 104, in addition to the torsional force previously
`described for maintaining follower pin 121 against cam
`122, is compressed between collar 107 and bracket 103,
`thereby normally urging the shaft and lever to the for-
`ward limiting position thereof. A micro-switch MS is
`disposed closely adjacent the rearmost face of follower
`disk 120 carried by shaft 101.
`When a key or key blank is inserted into the keyway,
`the shoulder KS engages the forward face of the down-
`wardly positioned hold down lever 100 and urges the
`latter axially inwardly or rearwardly, thus to carry the
`shaft 101 and disk 120 rearwardly and trip the micro-
`switch MS.
`Thus, it is assured that the device cannot be activated
`until
`the key has been fully inserted to urge the disk
`against the micro-switch.
`Optionally, but preferably in the use of the embodi-
`ment of FIGURE 8, the micro-switches of the key and
`key blank are wired in series to assure that the cycle
`cannot be started unless both the micro—switches are
`closed, signifying proper insertion of both the key and
`key blank. Where a cycle starting device of the type
`illustrated in FIGURE 8 is employed, it will be neces-
`sary to utilize the circuit through the micro-switches to
`activate a hold circuit, which circuit will be effec