The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 09, 2000
Ricky Lee King, Richmond, VA (US);
Robert F. Robinson, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
A-1 Security Manufacturing Corp., Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the installation of interchangeable core lock caps that replace the prior art individual cap installation techniques with one that, with in a single highly repeatable operation, punches the caps for a plurality of pin chambers from a strip of appropriate metal and frictionally fits them into the plurality of pin chambers. The method and apparatus of the present invention reduce the possibility of misalignment of the caps with the pin chambers to virtually zero and eliminate entirely the need to handle the small caps. These advantages are achieved by: 1) placing a lock core having pin chambers in a fixture below a slanted die having apertures registered with the pin chambers; 2) placing a strip of metal in a fixed position over the die; and 3) through a mechanical plunger linked to a plurality of punches, driving the plurality of punches sequentially through the metal strip to form punched metal caps. The punched metal caps are then driven into frictional engagement with the registered pin chambers of the lock core through continued action of the plunger and punches.