The Hillman Group, Inc.

Other

Tagworks, LLC

Micro Robotics Systems, Inc.

Carl T Ito

Kenneth C Booth

George Lynn Hagen

Ryan Hamblin

Scott Basham

Michael A Mueller

Mark Leslie Tarter

Mike Mueller

Nilendu Srivastava

Cyriac Devasia

A key identification system that includes a key identification system housing, a key clamp, a key ring support tray, and two digital identifiers is disclosed. The key identification system housing may include a key receiving aperture extending through housing and sized to receive at least some of a key blade of a key. The key clamp is positioned adjacent to the key receiving aperture and allows the system to maintain the key blade in a fixed position within the key identification system housing when the key is inserted into the key receiving aperture. The key ring support tray is typically coupled to the key identification system housing below the key receiving aperture. The two digital identifiers are positioned within the key identification system housing and designed to capture key blade information.

Key identification system

An automated key duplication system that includes a system housing, a key identification system, a key cutting system, a key blank storage system, a key blank transfer assembly, and a duplicated key retrieval opening is disclosed. The key identification system may be housed at least partially within the system housing and is configured to identify a master key. The key blank storage system comprises a plurality of rods configured to removably couple to a plurality of key carriers. The key blank transfer assembly is housed within the housing is configured to remove one key carrier of the plurality of key carriers from the key blank storage system with the key retrieving apparatus and transport the one key carrier and the key blank coupled thereto from the key blank storage to the key cutting system. The duplicated key retrieval opening is positioned on the housing to receive the one key blank after the one key blank has been cut.

Automated key duplication system and method

Implementations of key blank carriers or key blanks with a standard reference features may include alignment features on a key blank head, key blank tip, a key blank carrier coupled to a key blank sleeve and/or a key blank sleeve, and any feature directly attached to any portion of the key that may be used for referencing in the key duplication system, or any combination of these. The standard reference features may allow any key blank brand model to interface with the machine so as to consistently align each key, regardless of its make and model, for cutting in a universally configured key blank clamp that is clamped to reduce the movement of the key blank during duplication cutting.

Key blank and carrier adapted for positioning a key blank in a cutter during bit cutting

A key duplication system may include a housing, a key blank receiving aperture, a cutter and a clamp adjacent to the receiving aperture, wherein the key blank is guided to a predetermined position in relation to the cutter through engagement of a carrier with the housing. A method of aligning a key blank blade with a key blank carrier in relation to a cutter may include guiding a key blade into a cutting position through contact with a key blade receiving aperture, securing at least a portion of the carrier with a clamp, cutting a key bit pattern into the key blank blade and releasing the key blank.

Interaction between a key duplication housing and a key blank carrier

A key duplication system comprising a key duplication housing wherein at least one key receiving aperture on a first side of the housing sized to receive a key blade and at least one key clamp adjacent to the at least one key receiving aperture, the clamp comprising a first clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a first key blade surface topography and a second clamp arm with a surface topography corresponding to a second key blade different from the first key blade.

Multi-key duplication, identification and cutting machine with clamp

Implementations of a public use tag marking kiosk. Aspects associated with particular implementations of a tag marking kiosk comprise, among others, automatically marking two sides of a tag within the kiosk, receiving the tag to be marked from the customer, engaging and aligning the tag to be marked, providing a closeable door between the marking implement and the customer while the tag is being marked, ejecting the tag from a tag holder after the tag is marked, and aligning the tag so that a desired tag side is required to be initially facing up on the tag holder. Housing for the kiosk may surround all of the system parts or may be split into a housing shell and a marking unit that fits inside the shell. Marking implements may be laser, mechanical stylus, paint, or others. Tags may be suspended in a cantilevered manner during marking.

Public use pet tag marking kiosk

A solder ball dispenser ( ) has feeder unit, head unit chambers ( ) and a pneumatic singulator ( ). Solder balls ( ) are mobilized in the chambers by moving air. The solder ball dispenser receives a continuous supply of unorganized solder balls and arranges them in a single stack ( ). The singulator ejects the balls one at a time to a target device such as a Ball Grid Array. The dispenser has a plurality of conduits ( ) for applying one of air pressure and vacuum to various points of the chambers and the channel. Solder balls are transported through the dispenser and ejected from the dispenser by the programmed application of air pressure and vacuum. The trajectory of each solder ball is stopped before moving to a next position in the pneumatic singulator. No solid object causes solder balls to move within the dispenser or to be ejected from the dispenser.

Solder ball dispenser

A dispensing pump includes first and second sleeve assemblies. Each sleeve assembly includes a rotary valve having an input and output position and a longitudinally displaceable piston that moves between a first position abutting the valve and a second position displaced from the valve. The sleeve connects to a manifold with input and output passages that align with input and output apertures in the sleeve. Withdrawing the piston with the input port of the valve aligned with the input aperture draws material into the sleeve. Moving the piston toward the valve in the output position with the output port aligned with the output passage displaces material from the manifold.

Dispensing apparatus

A solder ball placement system incorporating a placement head moveable vertically toward and away from a solder ball shuttle having a plurality of solder balls positioned thereon. A corresponding plurality of pickup tubes extend from the placement head and are connected to a vacuum source for attracting and holding a corresponding solder ball. The pickup tubes are mounted for limited vertical movement with respect to the placement head to allow the individual pickup tubes to extend into the placement head varying distances to accommodate for uneven placement of solder balls such as warpage of a workpiece or shuttle. The respective pickup tubes each incorporate a collar abutting against a vibrator plate that is actuated by an ejector solenoid when the vacuum is released and the solder balls are to be placed on a workpiece. A ball sensing system incorporates a diode array having temperature sensitive PN junctions which are subjected to a heat source on one side and the cooling effect of ambient air traveling through pickup tubes on the other side. Sampling of the voltage drop across the respective diodes presents an indication of the presence or absence of solder balls on the respective pickup tubes.

Growing community of inventors

Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Carl T Ito