TWI632004B - A method and apparatus for forming a profile groove in a key blank - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for forming a contoured recess in an elongated key blank (1) having a key blade having opposite side surfaces (2, 3). The contoured groove is formed in the surface (2) of the key blank (1) by a punching tool (30) having at least one cutting tooth. The stamping tool is forced parallel to the key blank and longitudinally guided (40) to cut the material of the key blank into a desired contour shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the at least one cutting tooth. At the same time, the opposite side surface portions (2, 3) of the key blank are stably clamped or held between the opposite holding surfaces of the fixtures (10, 20) to be positioned adjacent to each other and to be formed along the same A stable abutment and holding action is achieved on the longitudinal side surface portion of the key blank of the contour groove (4). In this way, the key blank material adjacent to the contoured groove can be held in a fixed state without being deformed during the stamping operation.

Description

Method and apparatus for forming contoured grooves in a key blank

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a contoured recess in an elongated key blank having opposing side surfaces.

A method of forming a contoured groove in the side of a key blank made of a durable material such as brass, or so-called "nickel silver" or some other metal alloy, is to use a rotary cutter disc, which is attached to The side surfaces of the key blank are manipulated such that the material is cut as the axis of the cutter disc moves linearly along the key blank to form a groove.

However, the shape of the contoured grooves formed by such conventional methods will be limited. Even though the disc can be positioned at an angle relative to the surface of the key blank, and the shape of the peripheral active surface of the cutter disc can be modified to some extent, there are still many contour groove geometries that require additional or additional The forming method, in particular, the contoured grooves having slits of various geometric shapes.

The use of a stamping tool that is linearly guided and has one or more teeth, such as a broach having a plurality of teeth, to produce contoured grooves in the key blank is a technique known in the art. See, for example, the last paragraph of the second page of the published International Patent Application No. WO/2010/095997 (WINLOC AG). When forming a contour In the case of a groove, such as a grooved groove, the tool is linearly guided and stressed parallel to the key blank.

However, the possible geometry that can be made with this stamping tool has its limitations. Since the force of the stamping tool is very strong, there is a significant risk that the key sheet material adjacent to the groove to be formed in this way starts to float, especially between the inside of the groove and the outer surface of the key blank. The wall is in a relatively thin condition. Therefore, there is a great risk that the key blade will be deformed during this forming process, making the completed key unusable.

Purpose of the invention

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a linearly guided stamping tool when manufacturing a contoured recess in a key blank, without causing adjacent The key blank material formed by the contour grooves in the surface of the key blank is deformed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing a recess suitable for continuously mass producing a key at a relatively high speed.

Moreover, the method and apparatus are reasonably cost effective and easy to operate.

A method according to the invention overcomes the problems indicated above and comprises the steps of forming a contoured groove in a side or edge surface of a key blank by means of a stamping tool having at least one cutting tooth The tool is forced parallel to the elongate key blade and is longitudinally guided to cut the material of the key blank into a desired shape of the contoured groove corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the at least one cutting tooth And simultaneously holding the opposite side surfaces of the key blank between the opposing retaining surfaces of the fixture to be positioned adjacent to and along the same A stable abutting and holding action is formed on the longitudinal side surface portion of the key blank to be formed in the contour groove, whereby the key blank material adjacent to the contour groove is held in a fixed state without Deformed during the stamping operation.

Accordingly, a device in accordance with the present invention comprises: a longitudinally guided punching tool having at least one cutting tooth for being forced to move longitudinally along the key blank during the stamping operation and to cut in the key blank a contoured recess; a fixture having a guiding means for longitudinally guiding the stamping tool during the stamping procedure; and a retaining means in the fixture having two opposing retaining surfaces for Resisting the two opposite, longitudinal side surface portions of the key blank during the stamping operation to be positioned adjacent to and along the longitudinal side surface portion of the key blank of the contoured groove to be formed Abutment and holding action is achieved whereby the key blank material adjacent the contoured groove is held in a fixed state without being deformed during the stamping operation.

Preferably, the punching tool is fastened to the sliding member, which is forced to be linearly guided relative to the fixture. The sliding member can be guided in a longitudinal recess in the fixture, such as a pocket that communicates with the longitudinal passage, the longitudinal passage leading to a retaining surface of the fixture that bears against the side or edge surface of the key blank. The sliding member can have a neck portion that extends through the passage and carries a stamping tool.

The contoured grooves can be formed by a set of procedures, such as the initial formation using a rotating cutting disc and the final formation using a stamping tool. However, it is also possible to form the entire contour groove in one processing step using a stamping tool.

The stamping tool may also have only one cutting tooth or a broach having two or more cutting teeth.

The contoured grooves to be formed can be positioned in the side or edge surfaces of the key blank.

These and other features of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and appended claims.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c‧‧‧ key blanks

2, 3‧‧‧ side surface

4‧‧‧ contour groove

4a‧‧‧Slot groove part

4aa‧‧‧ another grooving section

5‧‧‧stop stepped surface

6, 6a‧‧‧ holding part

6b‧‧‧base part

6c‧‧‧Extension

7‧‧‧ longitudinal edge

8‧‧‧ ridge part

10‧‧‧Stable holding block

11‧‧‧Placement surface

12‧‧‧Upright side parts

13‧‧‧ side parts

14‧‧‧ chamber

15‧‧‧Vertical pocket

16‧‧‧Longitudinal channel

17‧‧‧ highlight

20‧‧‧Removable block

30‧‧‧Pressing tools

31, 32, 33, 34‧ ‧ teeth

40‧‧‧Sliding members

41‧‧‧ neck part

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments.

1 and 2 are perspective views of a method and apparatus according to the present invention having a key blank, a fixture or holding device, and a sliding member carrying a stamping tool; FIG. 3A shows the passage through Figures 1 and 2. a cross section of the device shown; Fig. 3B shows an enlarged portion of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention, wherein the key The blank is hidden in the fixture and is indicated by the dashed line; Figure 6 shows the device of Figure 5, wherein the upper clamping or holding member is raised to the upper position; the 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E are shown Corresponding views of the key blanks of the initial contour grooves formed by the cutter discs; Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D and 8E show corresponding views of the key blanks of Figs. 7A to 7E, wherein the contour grooves Has been extended to the grooving portion formed by the method according to the present invention; the 8A', 8B', 8C', 8D' and 8E' views show corresponding views of the key blanks of Figs. 8A to 8E, wherein the contour is concave The groove has been extended to another grooving section and the groove is also extended to the key blank A portion of the grip portion; Figures 8A", 8D" and 8E" show corresponding views of a key blank having a grooved profile groove to be formed, wherein the groove extends along the entire length of the key blank, including its grip portion; Figures 9A and 9B show side and perspective views of the key blank of Figures 8A" to 8E", respectively, with coded slits provided in the upper edge portion thereof; Figures 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D and 10E are shown Various views of the key blank before any grooves are formed therein; Figures 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E show the key blanks shown in Figures 10A to 10E in the stamping tool according to the present invention Corresponding views after forming the grooved grooves; FIGS. 11A', 11B', 11C', 11D' and 11E" are shown in the additional grooving portion of the key blank shown in FIGS. 11A to 11E in forming the contour groove Corresponding views; the 11A", 11D" and 11E" figures show a corresponding view of the key blank having a grooved groove formed along its entire length in one step; Figures 12 and 13 show the invention in accordance with the present invention. a perspective view of the device having a large fixed block of the fixture and With a relatively small movable block that acts as a clamping or holding member, the key blank is positioned to stand upright in a vertical plane during the forming process, and the resulting contoured groove is positioned below the key blank In the edge surface; Figures 14A, 14B and 14C show side views of three different key blanks before any contour grooves are formed therein; Figures 15A, 15B and 15C show the figures shown in Figures 14A, 14B and 14C a corresponding side view of the key blank after forming a grooved profile groove in the side surface of each key blank; Figures 16A, 16B and 16C show key blanks of Figures 14A, 14B and 14C with individual grip members attached to respective key pieces; Figure 17 shows similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 a sliding member, but having a stamping tool in the form of a broach having a plurality of teeth in a longitudinal configuration; Figures 18A, 18A', 18B and 18B' show various side and end views of the sliding member and as The attached broach shown in Fig. 17; and the 18C and 18C' views show the top view of the sliding member and the attached broach of Fig. 17.

The device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a solid fixture and two clamping or holding members, that is, a lower fixing member 10 and an upper holding member 20, the latter being movable up and down to make the key blank 1 Positioned above or on the seating surface 11 of the lower block 10, and then the upper block is lowered onto the key blank and held securely between the two blocks 10, 20. The lower block member 10 has two side portions 12, 13 extending upward from the seating surface 11, and a chamber 14 is formed therebetween, wherein the upper block member 20 is vertically movable with a slight clearance. Also shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 4.

As represented by Figures 1, 2 and 3B, the key blank 1 comprises a flat key blade having opposing side surfaces 2, 3 and a grip portion 6.

As shown in Figures 1, 3A, 3B and 4, in the lower position of the movable block member 20, the movable block member 20 is stably held to facilitate the clamping or holding force (Figs. 1, 3A and 4). The arrow A) abuts against the upper side surface 3 of the key blank 1. This clamping or holding force does not need to be very large, but it is necessary to maintain the movable block 20 in its lower position to resist the movement or deformation of the key blank during the forming process. What is the tendency. In this way, the two opposite side surfaces 2, 3 (Fig. 3B) of the key blank 1 are accurately maintained in their initial state or position without being moved or deformed. This is especially the case for the ridge portion 8 of the key blank between the side surface 2 and the grooved portion of the groove 4. To accomplish this, the upper block 20 can be coupled to a mechanism, such as an articulating mechanism, that is constructed such that the mechanism will be accurately maintained in its final operational position after being lowered to its lowermost position.

While being firmly held in position between the two blocks 10, 20, the key blank will be cut by a punching tool 30 that is fastened to the linearly guided sliding member 40. During the cutting process, the contour groove 4 is formed in the key blank and adjacent to its first or lower side surface 2. In this way, the pre-formed rectangular shaped groove 4 will extend laterally or downwardly (to the right of Figure 3B) into the slotted groove portion 4a (Fig. 8C). In this way, the preformed groove 4 is made by a conventional rotary cutting disc, and the grooved groove portion 4a is made by the linearly guided punching tool 30 according to the present invention. The rectangular outline groove 4 and its adjacent slit portion 4a are in FIGS. 7A to 7E (groove 4) and 8A to 8E (in this example, the slit portion 4a is erected at right angles with respect to the rectangular groove 4) The middle school is clearly visible. This is especially shown in Figures 8C and 8E. The slotted portion 4a, which is also rectangular in shape, abuts the recess 4 at a distance from the bottom of the relatively deep recess 4 and is relatively wide at the innermost portion of the slot.

The grooved portion 4a of the groove extends at most along the key blade to the stop stepped surface 5 of the grip portion 6, which is along the length L1. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the grooving portion 4a will terminate inside the contoured groove 4 at a different stepped surface, while the remaining contoured grooves will terminate at the curved portion, which corresponds to when the initial rectangular groove 4 is formed. The shape of the cutting disc used. The innermost grooved portion of the contour groove The sub-section 4a can be used to effect an axial stop to cooperate with a corresponding rib having a limited length in the associated key plug of the cylinder lock (not shown).

In this embodiment (Figs 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4), the punching tool 30 has only one cutting tooth on the end of the tool 30 (on the left side of Figures 1, 2 and 4).

When the force occurring when the key blade is cut by the punching tool 30 is very large, the key blank needs to be stably held between the blocks 10, 20, and the linear guide of the sliding member 40 must also be very precise. The precise guidance of the sliding member 40 is accomplished by machining or other means of forming the longitudinal pockets 15 in the lower block 10 (Fig. 3A), placing the latter between the upstanding side portions 12, 13 of the lower block 10 to After placement on the surface 11, the pocket extends parallel to the upper seating surface 11 of the block member 10 to the longitudinal axis of the key blank. Further, the cross section of the sliding member 40 accurately corresponds to the configuration of the pocket 15, and the sliding member 40 can be linearly and non-rotatably moved within the pocket 15 only by the slight clearance. In order to carry out the cutting process of the press tool 30, a drive mechanism (not shown) pushes the slide member longitudinally in the direction of the arrow B (first and second figures) with a large force. The drive mechanism can be constructed, for example, by a mechanical drive mechanism, a motor drive mechanism, a pneumatic drive mechanism, or a hydraulic drive mechanism, which can be selected by a person skilled in the art of general machinery.

The punching tool 30 must be stably fastened to the sliding member 40, and this is achieved by a longitudinally extending neck portion 41 adapted to connect the punching tool 30 with the sliding member 40, and which can be adapted to be in the lower block 10 The fine clearance in the longitudinal channel 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed by adjacent pockets 15. The pocket 15 has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration with rounded edges, and the channel 16 and corresponding neck portion 41 have an upwardly tapering cross-section that ensures a stamping tool 30 There is a strong and long lasting connection. Preferably, the sliding member 40 and the cutting tool are integrally formed, but they may also be welded or screwed together.

In Fig. 3B, it can be seen that the upper cutting portion of the punching tool 30 is formed with the same cross-sectional configuration as the desired cross section of the grooved portion 4a of the contoured groove.

In the case where the contoured recess 4 has another slotted portion, a modified punching tool can be used having at least one other toothed portion having a configuration corresponding to the desired shape of the other slotted portion 4aa, such as Figures 8A', 8B', 8C', 8D' and 8E' are shown. The other groove portion 4aa is adjacent to the groove portion 4a, which corresponds to the groove portion 4a in the previous embodiment.

In this case, the contour groove 4 extends along the entire length of the key blade and along the main portion of the grip portion 6, i.e., along the total length L2 of the opening in the grip portion.

Another key blank is shown in Figures 8A", 8D" and 8E". In this case, the contour groove 4 and its slotted portion 4a extend along the full length L3 of the key blank 1, including the key blank. The grip portion 6 of the sheet 1. Here, the cross-section of the contour groove along the key blank is the same, as seen in Figures 8A" and 8E".

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a modified embodiment of the groove forming device comprising an upper movable block member 20' and a lower fixed block member 10' configured to receive the key blank 1 in two comparisons. Between the shallow upright side portions 12', 13' (as directed in the first and second figures lying flat on the seating surface 11'), and having a protruding portion 17, which can be adapted to the key blank The opening 9 in the portion 6 is gripped.

The height of the upright side portions 12', 13' is substantially the same as (or slightly smaller than) the thickness of the key blank 1, such that the key piece 1 will be by the upper square when the upper block 20' is pressed down The piece 20' is stably held in position. Then, the flat lower surface (not shown in Figs. 5 and 6) is clamped to the key blank 1 and can also be clamped to the lower block 10' (arrow A in Fig. 6).

The structure and function of the punching tool 30 and the sliding member 40 in this embodiment are the same as in the previous embodiment. The only difference is the respective configurations of the two blocks 10, 20 and 10', 20'.

Of course, the key blank formed as described above is not a completed key. Rather, as is well known in the art, it should have some coding patterns to cooperate with the lock springs in associated cylinder locks (not shown). This code may for example be formed along the contoured groove to cooperate with the side lock springs in the lock and/or on the longitudinal edge 7, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B (where the edge cut will be in the lock) Regular lock spring cooperation).

As indicated above, the grooving profile grooves can be formed in one manufacturing step by a broach having a plurality of cutting teeth. The various key blanks formed are shown in Figures 11A through 11E, 11A' through 11E' and 11A", 11D" and 11E", and the contour grooves are shown in Figures 10A through 10E. The key blank 1' is formed in one step and has no initial contour groove at all. Therefore, the entire contour groove is formed in one step by a broach forcedly guided along the key piece 1'. .

Depending on the shape of the contoured groove, the broach 30' has a plurality of teeth 31', 32', 33', 34', etc. (see Figures 18A' and 18C'), wherein each of the continuous teeth is relative to the front One tooth is slightly displaced or extended. In this way, each tooth will cut off an extra amount of material in the key blank and can be compared For complex geometric configurations. The finished configuration or profile of the contoured grooves shown in the end view of Figure 18B' can also be compared.

An advantage of the embodiment shown in Figures 17, 18A, etc. is that the contour grooves can be made in one step, which makes production faster and less costly.

The invention can be implemented in various ways. Alternative groove making devices are shown in Figures 12 and 13. The main difference with respect to the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 is that the movable block 20" is moved laterally to (arrow C) against the upright portion 13 of the fixed piece 10"" And the center of the key blank is oriented vertically and oriented. Here, the contour groove is formed in the lower edge surface of the key blank 1. It is important that the key blank is adjacent to the opposite side of the lower edge thereof. The surface system is stably held in position along the edge surface, wherein the contour groove is cut in the edge surface by a punching tool.

In addition to this, the device and the sliding member 40 and the punching tool 30 are basically operated in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

Although not shown in the drawings, the recess 15 guiding the sliding member 40 may be formed as an open recess as in the lower block 10, and preferably has a vertical portion for holding the sliding member in position. The side portion of the groove is cut, or the pocket 15 may be a circumferential closed pocket. In the latter case, the key blank will have to be inserted into the pocket and can be inserted along with the key blank with an insert member that can be accurately inserted into the pocket. In this case, the fixture will not have any movable blocks other than the insertion members that are axially positioned into the pockets. However, having two blocks seems to be more practical, one of which can move vertically or laterally relative to the other.

It is also possible to use a fixture having only one piece with a recess at the top, and a seating surface for one (lower) side of the key blank, and a longitudinal gripping tooth or rib that engages the key The other (upper) side of the blank. The risk of material floating on the upper side can be reduced, so that the fixture also has utility, at least in the case where the contour groove in the one (lower) side of the key blank is relatively shallow. Medium, for example, less than one-half the thickness of the key blade.

The key blank 1 may have a grip portion 6a as shown in Fig. 14A (and in other figures of the above embodiment), or the key blank 1 may have a base portion 6b or an extension portion 6c of the key blade, It can be attached to individual grip members 6, as shown in Figures 16A, 16B and 16C. In either case, the key blanks 1a, 1b, 1c can be provided with contoured grooves 4 by means of the apparatus and method described above (before the attachment of the individual members is attached).

The exact shape of the contour groove can be selected as needed. There may be a small irregularity in the cross-sectional configuration, and may be in the grooved portion of the contoured groove, the inside of the ridge portion, and the outer side of the ridge portion (which may form the side of the key blank) A thinner wall is left between one part of the surface.

In particular, a contoured groove having any geometric shape can be formed as disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010/096009 (WINLOC AG).

Thus, the method and apparatus of the present invention can impart a greater degree of freedom when designing a new key for a cylinder lock having one or more contoured grooves (with or without a grooved groove portion).

Furthermore, by means of a broach with a plurality of teeth, the complex shape of the contour groove can be cut in a single manufacturing step, which results in at least a large number of key blanks being produced When the key blank is used, it can be produced quickly and is not expensive.

Claims (15)

A method of forming a contoured groove in a long key blank, the elongated key blank having a key blade having opposite side surfaces, the method comprising: by the broaching tool in the key blank Forming the contoured groove in the surface, the broaching tool having at least one cutting tooth, the broaching tool being forced parallel to the elongated key blank and being longitudinally guided to material the key blank Cutting into a desired contour shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the at least one cutting tooth portion, and simultaneously holding the opposite side surfaces of the key blank between the upper and lower holding surfaces of the fixing member to be positioned adjacent to each other And achieving a stable abutting and holding action along the longitudinal side surface portion of the key blade of the contour groove to be formed, whereby the key blank material adjacent to the contour groove is held in a fixed state Medium without deformation during broaching operations. The method of claim 1, wherein the broaching tool is fastened to the sliding member, the sliding member being forced to be linearly guided relative to the fixture. The method of claim 2, wherein the sliding member is guided in a longitudinal recess in the fixture. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixture comprises a fixed first retaining member having the lower retaining surface, and a movable second retaining member having the upper retaining surface, the second retaining member The broaching operation is pressed against the first holding member. The method of claim 1, wherein the contour groove has at least one slit portion defined by an inner bottom wall and an opposite wall portion positioned on an inner side of the ridge portion, the ridge portion being formed on the outer side By the fixing during the broaching operation A portion of the longitudinal side surface portion that is held. A broaching device for forming a contoured groove in an elongated key blank, comprising: a longitudinal guiding broaching tool having at least one cutting tooth for being forced along the key blank during the broaching operation Moving longitudinally and cutting the contoured groove in the key blank; the fixture having guiding means for longitudinally guiding the broaching tool during the broaching operation; and holding in the fixture a retaining device having upper and lower retaining surfaces for abutting against two opposing, longitudinal side surface portions of the key blank during the broaching operation to be positioned adjacent and to be formed along the desired An abutment and holding action is achieved on the longitudinal side surface portion of the contour groove, whereby the key blank material adjacent to the contour groove is held in a fixed state without being deformed during the broaching operation. The broaching device of claim 6, wherein the guiding device comprises a sliding member longitudinally guided in the fixture, the broaching tool being fastened to the sliding member. The broaching device of claim 7, wherein the broaching tool is integrated with the sliding member into a single piece. The broaching device of claim 7, wherein the sliding member is coupled to the broaching tool via a neck portion, the neck portion being interposed between the retaining device and the guiding recess in the fixture Move between the channels. The broaching device of claim 9, wherein the guiding recess is a longitudinal guiding pocket in the fixture, the recess being sized to receive the sliding member and having a slight clearance so that When the holder is held in the fixture In the case, the sliding member is caused to move linearly but non-rotatably parallel to the key blank. The broaching device of claim 6, wherein the broaching tool is forced to move along one of: a length of the key blank, at least a portion of the length of the key blank, reaching the key blank of the grip portion At least the full length, and the entire length of the key blank, including the grip portion. The broaching device of claim 6, wherein the holding device comprises two opposite holding members, the first holding member is fixed and has the lower holding surface, and the second holding member is movable and has The upper retaining surface to clamp and hold the key blank during the broaching operation. The broaching device of claim 12, wherein the movable second holding member is pressed against the fixed first holding member by one of the following driving mechanisms: a mechanical drive mechanism, a motor drive Mechanism, pneumatic drive mechanism and hydraulic drive mechanism. The broaching device of claim 6, wherein the broaching tool has only one cutting tooth. A broaching device according to claim 6, wherein the broaching tool is a broach having two or more cutting teeth.