Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the wear of a cutter in a key-duplicating machine, the cutter being provided with cutting sections to obtain bitting cuts on a key and being put in rotation by an electric motor. The method includes measuring, during at least one cutting cycle carried out by means of the cutter, the values of current and/or voltage absorbed/required by the motor for rotation of cutter and/or motor torque values exerted by the motor. The values thus detected are used to determine if there is wear of the cutting portions of the cutter and/or to quantify the wear of the cutting portions of the cutter.

Abstract: A clamp for key cutting machine includes: a lower jaw placeable on a support of a key cutting machine, having a first central hole for crossing a pin fixed to said support and allowing rotation of the lower jaw around the pin, the lower jaw having a first lower external face; an upper jaw placed above the lower jaw and having a second central hole, aligned with the first central hole, for allowing the rotation of the upper jaw around said pin, the upper jaw having a first upper external face; a lower insert and an upper insert, the lower jaw having a lower seat on the first lower external face and houses the lower insert, the upper jaw is equipped with an upper seat on the upper external face and houses the upper insert configured to cooperate with the lower insert to clamp a key.

Abstract: Electronic key for a motor vehicle having a containment casing, which houses: at least one processing and/or control unit, at least one memory unit where at least one recognition data is stored to control at least one function and/or system of a motor vehicle, at least one transmitter and/or transceiver unit to communicate with at least one control unit which is mounted in/on said motor vehicle and which is configured to command, following the receipt of the recognition data, at least one functionality and/or system of the vehicle, at least one receiver/transceiver which is connected to the processing and/or control unit and is configured to receive at least one command signal directly from the outside.

Abstract: A key duplicating machine includes: a support structure, a front operational area which is accessible by the operator and which is removably covered and separated, at least partially, from the external environment by a covering and/or protection crankcase movable with respect to said structure of support. At least one key cutter and/or another cutting element, and at least one terminal (12) for locking a key, are housed in the front operational area, a rear containment area, covered and separated from the external environment by a casing mechanically fixed to the support structure, and a control and command unit having a mechanism for moving said crankcase for covering and/or protecting the front operational area, the crankcase being configured to be mounted on a fixed structure of the duplicating machine so as to be able to be moved with respect to the fixed structure.

Abstract: Device for detecting the coding profile of a key, of the type intended to be installed and/or provided inside a key cutting machine having an operating area provided of at least one milling and/or cutting unit and of at least one clamp for locking a key, and includes: an optical reader which is configured to be entirely housed inside the structure of the duplicating machine but outside the operating area of the machine, a drawer provided with clamping means to hold the key, whose coding profile is to be detected, in correspondence with its head and/or its stem and/or a connecting section between the head and the shaft of the key, the drawer being configured to be movable towards and away from the optical reader, the optical reader includes a telecentric optic interposed between the drawer and at least one optical sensor.

Abstract: A clamp for key duplicating machines includes a support, a pin emerging therefrom with a threaded upper end engagable by a knob, the support base having a pair of upper parallel projections on opposite sides of the pin, a lower jaw of square plan, positioned on the support and having a central hole rotatably engaged by the pin, with four grooves in its lower surface parallel to the jaw sides and engagable in pairs with the projections, an upper jaw of square plan, having a central hole rotatably engaged by the pin and cooperating with the lower jaw to clamp a key, wherein the pair of projections are shaped as parallel cylindrical pegs emerging from the upper surface of the support. When the clamp is active, its lower jaw rests only by two grooves on the two projections, otherwise the lower surface is spaced from the support upper surface.

Abstract: An electronic key duplicating machine includes a base, on which a first support is mounted for a clamp for, at separate moments, an original key and a blank key, an optical reader sensing the bitting of the original key, and a milling cutter reproducing the bitting on the blank key, which are mounted on a second support rigid with the machine base, the clamp being movable along the X axis and the Y axis relative to the second support, a unit memorizing the bitting of the original key sensed by the optical reader and controlling and commanding movement of the clamp and operability of optical reader and milling cutter, wherein the second support is of C-shape with its opening facing the clamp, and the optical reader is mounted on horizontal branches of the second C-shaped support, while the milling cutter is mounted in the cavity defined by the horizontal branches.

Abstract: A method for duplicating electronic keys with mutual authentication includes: applying temporarily, to an original electronic key, an inductive reader for signals exchanged between the key transponder and the vehicle immobilizer control unit; activating the vehicle instrument panel at least twice with the original key to cause the inductive reader to acquire the RDN1, RDN2, SIG1 and SIG2 codes transmitted by the control unit; connecting the inductive reader to a transponder reader/writer to transfer all acquired data; determining the non-readable SK code of the immobilizer control unit via the reader/writer by using a function inverse to that creating the SIG code from the ID, RND, SK codes and the acquired data; reading from the original key, via the reader/writer, using the non-readable SK code, any other data memorized therein, reading the ID code from the original key, via the reader/writer; and memorizing in a new key all the read data.

Abstract: A method for duplicating electronic keys with mutual authentication includes: applying temporarily, to an original electronic key, an inductive reader for signals exchanged between the key transponder and the vehicle immobilizer control unit; activating the vehicle instrument panel at least twice with the original key to cause the inductive reader to acquire the RDN1, RDN2, SIG1 and SIG2 codes transmitted by the control unit; connecting the inductive reader to a transponder reader/writer to transfer all acquired data; determining the non-readable SK code of the immobilizer control unit via the reader/writer by using a function inverse to that creating the SIG code from the ID, RND, SK codes and the acquired data; reading from the original key, via the reader/writer, using the non-readable SK code, any other data memorized therein, reading the ID code from the original key, via the reader/writer; and memorizing in a new key all the read data.

Abstract: A clamp for key cutting machines includes a pair of jaws mounted on a single pin fixed to the machine structure and associated with a knob screwable on a threaded portion of said pin and acting in the sense of causing the jaws to forcedly approach each other, against the elastic reaction of a spring tending to repel them, and to retain a key positioned between them. A clamp according to the invention further includes a friction type overload clutch interposed between the knob and the pin.

Abstract: A method to identify a key profile, comprising: illuminating with two laminar beams emitted by two laser light sources said two sides of said shank of a key driven to move axially relative to said beams, reading with two video cameras, fixed relative to said sources and having their optical axis inclined to said planes in which said light beams lie, said two light profiles formed by said laminar beams striking said two surfaces of said shank of said keys, digitizing said optical images read in this manner, to obtain two sequences of signals representative of said profiles of said two lateral surface portions of said key, as instantaneously illuminated by said laminar beams and read by said video cameras, reconstructing from said signals, by means of a processor unit, a signal representative of the entire key profile, and comparing said thus reconstructed signal with said signal representative of profiles stored in said processor unit to obtain data identifying said profile of said read key.

Abstract: An improved clamp for key duplicating machines, comprising a pair of jaws able to approach each other and define at least one seat for clamping a key, and a gauge associable with said seat to define a correct position of said key, wherein with said gauge there is slidingly associated a counteracting element which interferes with said seat when said gauge is in its operating condition and forms a support for a tip of said key housed in said seat.

Abstract: A key and cylinder lock unit, in which a key contains a shank provided with a pattern and with at least one movable member positioned at the front end thereof, the lock having a plug housed within a cylinder and provided with a plurality of substantially radial pins formed in two parts movable along corresponding radial channels provided partly in the plug and partly in the cylinder and, by way of springs, maintained with one end in the longitudinal seat provided in the plug for the insertion of the shank of the key. The plug contains along the seat a longitudinal groove closed at the key introduction end and housing the tapered end of all the pins, which completely traverse said seat.

Abstract: A key and holder combination includes a holder provided with an impression for housing a key and with an articulated joint element for connecting the holder to the key. The joint is formed in two parts to provide the connection both when the key is housed in the impression and when the key is completely spaced therefrom. The articulated joint connects a corner of the head of the key with a corner of the holder, which has a base and a cover. The hinged and the base are provided with a device which is mutually snap enageable and the thickness of the corner part of the base to which the articulated joint element is applied corresponds to the overall thickness of the base plus the cover, the corresponding corner part of the cover being lacking.

Abstract: A clamp for duplicating machines for lock keys comprising a pair of jaws (1,1',2,2') which are mounted on a threaded pin (4) rigid with a clamp support carriage (3), means for approaching said two jaws (1,1', 2,2') when clamping the key, and elastic means (8,6) interposed between said two jaws (1,1', 2,2') to keep them spaced apart. The clamp comprises, in a position misaligned with the line of action of the applied clamping force and at the opposite side with repect to the gripping faces of the jaws (1,1', 2,2'), a projecting portion causing, during the clamping stage, a moment opposite to the reaction moment caused by the clamped key.

Abstract: A covered-grip key includes a flat head wherefrom extends an elongated shaft. In the head there are formed a pair of spaced apart holes interconnecting the two faces of the head and therethrough the joining portions of the two layers covering the two faces of the flat head extend.