Abstract: A key cutting apparatus having an arrangement for assuring substantially complete removal of cutting chips. A rotary cutting blade which engages a clamp held key is housed within an outer housing which is connected to a vacuum tube to draw off chips. In the front, in the vicinity where the cutting blade engages the key, a pair of sliding doors are provided, one on each side of the housing. These doors are spring biased forwardly into mating engagement with the front jaw surfaces of the clamp to seal off the two sides while permitting continued forward movement of the cutting blade, under the action of the spring, to effect cutting of the key. A flap may be provided to close off the top of the space between the two doors.

Abstract: A key reading apparatus having a slot for receiving a key and at least one reading pin sensing depressions or raised projections on a key. The pin has a magnetic portion movable to two different positions, each of which positions place a Hall transistor at a different energy level. The key may have at least two rows of reading points. A clock line device distinguishes successive reading positions.

Abstract: A door control unit for electronically locking and unlocking one or more doors. The door control unit includes door locking means having a rotatable lock cylinder for locking and unlocking a door, means engaging the lock cylinder for normally locking the door, and means responsive to a control signal for unlocking the door. A key is included having a first and second series of light-refractive discrete encoded clocking and data bars formed thereon. The lock cylinder includes photodiode means for reflectively decoding the encoded data on the key upon insertion of the key into the lock cylinder, thereby generating a first identification code. The first code is compared with at least one other predetermined identification code by processor means and if the two signals correspond, the control signal is generated thereby unlocking the door.