Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controls its own optical systems
Patent
1990-06-01
1992-07-07
Nelms, David C.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controls its own optical systems
409 81, 409 83, 2502011, G05B 100, B23C 116
Patent
active
051285312
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an optical profile reader, particularly for a key duplicating machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known optical readers are used for example in robotics for controlling the shape and dimensions of workpieces. These are devices of undoubted reliability but they are also very complicated and can find practical use only in highly sophisticated equipment, their cost being so high that they could not be conveniently used in other sectors such as in key duplicating machines. In this latter sector the profile of a key is in fact generally read mechanically by sliding along the profile of the original key to be duplicated a feeler mechanically connected to a cutter which duplicates this profile on a blank key to be cut.
One drawback of this known reading system is that the movement of the feeler in contact with the key profile results in mutual wear.
The wear undergone by the feeler results in a loss of reproductive accuracy, while the wear undergone by the original key can mean that with the passing of time it is no longer possible to use it to cut further keys able to operate the respective lock, and that finally the key itself is of no further use.
A further drawback of a mechanical key reader is that the data which is read must be used directly and immediately, and cannot be memorized. It is therefore not possible to delay the use of the data, and in particular where a certain number of copies are to be obtained from a given original it is necessary to repeat the reading this number of times, with all the aforesaid drawbacks which arise which each reading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an optical reader for profiles in general, and particularly for key duplicating machines, which is of reliable operation, is of low cost and can be constructed using components easily available commercially.
A further object of the invention is to provide an optical reader which allows the read information to be preserved for subsequent and repeated use.
These and further objects which will be apparent from the description given hereinafter are attained according to the invention by an optical profile reader, particularly for key duplicating machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 a plan schematic view of a key duplicating machine provided with the optical reader according to the invention.
FIG. 2 shows in side detailed view the duplicating machine according to the invention.
FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of the optical reader, and
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the principle on which the operation of said reader is based.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The optical reader according to the invention is applied to a key duplicating machine comprising a base 1 on which there is disposed a conventional cross table 2, ie a longitudinal slide 3 (with reference to the longitudinal axis of the keys) mobile along a dovetail 4 provided in said base 1 and driven by an electrical stepping motor 5.
The longitudinal slide 3 is also provided with a dovetail guide along which an overlying transverse slide 7 runs, driven by another electrical stepping motor 8.
Two clamps 9 and 10 of conventional type are applied to the slide 7 for clamping an original key 11 to be duplicated and a blank key 12 to be cut.
The optical reader according to the invention, indicated overall by 13, and a cutter 14 rotated by an electric motor 15 are fixed to the base 1 spaced apart by the distance between the reference planes of the two clamps 9 and 10 respectively, and facing these latter.
The optical reader 13 comprises:
a photoemitter 16 consisting for example of a LED and disposed above the plane in which the original key 11 is clamped in the clamp 9,
a first lens 17 also disposed above said clamping plane for the purpose of collimating the luminous rays originating from the LED 16,
a second lens 18 disposed b
REFERENCES:
patent: 2430924 (1947-11-01), Fowle et al.
patent: 2622485 (1952-12-01), Martellotti
patent: 3259022 (1966-07-01), Vietorisz
patent: 3429207 (1969-02-01), John
patent: 3945298 (1976-03-01), Cockroft
patent: 4300170 (1981-11-01), Sakamoto
patent: 4652765 (1987-03-01), Nishihara
patent: 4657448 (1987-04-01), Alexander
Messinger Michael
Nelms David C.
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