Network of fully automatic self-service key duplicating kiosks

摘要

A network of self-service, fully-automatic kiosks for duplicating keys includes a multiplicity of kiosks at different locations. Each kiosk includes a customer interface, a key-receiving entry, a key analysis system, and a key duplicating system. An original key is analyzed and duplicated to form a first key copy by analyzing a tooth pattern on a blade of the original key and replicating the tooth pattern on a blade of a first key blank. The network also includes a remote central server that is coupled to the kiosks for receiving information from the kiosks and for sending information to the kiosks. The remote central server maintains recorded information for replicating the tooth pattern of the blade of the original key on a blade of a second key blank to form a second key copy.

主权项

1. A network of self-service kiosks for duplicating keys, comprising:
a plurality of kiosks at different locations; and a remote central server coupled to the plurality of kiosks and configured to receive information from and send information to the plurality of kiosks; each of the plurality of kiosks comprising:
a customer interface configured to receive payment from a customer for the purchase of a duplicate of a customer's key,a key-receiving entry in a kiosk housing, the key-receiving entry configured to receive at least a portion of the customer's key to be duplicated,a key analysis system configured to analyze a blade of a key inserted in the key-receiving entry to determine whether the inserted key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched,a key blank magazine configured to store key blanks for each of the preselected key types,a key blank extraction system configured to extract from the key blank magazine a key blank for the preselected key type matched by the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry;a key duplicating system configured to replicate a tooth pattern of the blade of the key inserted in the key-receiving entry on a blade of an extracted key blank,a processor coupled to the customer interface, the key analysis system and the key blank extraction system, anda communications port coupled to the processor and configured to enable communications with the remote central server, the communications including,
(a) information regarding purchases made and attempted at the kiosk,(b) information regarding key blanks contained in the key blank magazine, and(c) alert signals generated in response to operations conducted by the kiosk; wherein the information received from each kiosk includes a parameter relating to operation of the kiosk; wherein the remote central server is configured to compare the parameter for each respective kiosk to the same parameter from other kiosks of the plurality of kiosks; and wherein the parameter is rate of rejection of customers based on the insertion of keys having unsupported keyways.