KEY DUPLICATING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A method and apparatus for duplicating a key of the kind having an elongate blade (2) and at least two indexing surfaces (3), each having a different angular disposition (6 and 6a) relative to a reference plane (6b) containing the longitudinal axis of the blade (2). The method and the apparatus involves mounting the key (10) and the key blank (12) for rotation about the longitudinal axis of their respective blades (11 and 13). Coacting means (17) interacts with the key blade (11) while there is relative movement between the coacting means (17) and the blade (11) in the longitudinal direction of the blade (11), and the blade (11) is caused to rotate due to that interaction. Synchronising means connects the key (10) to the key blank (12) so that the key (10) and the key blank (12) rotate in unison as a consequence of the aforementioned interaction. The synchronising means also connects to coacting means (17) with forming means (22) so that relative movement of the coacting means (17) and the key (10) in the longitudinal direction of the key blade (11), causes corresponding relative movement of the forming means (22) and the key blank (12) in the longitudinal direction of the blank blade (13). The forming means (22) is operative to form duplicates of the aforementioned indexing surfaces (3) on the blade (13) of the key blank (12).