Identification module for key making machine

1. An identification module for a key making system, comprising:

a key receiving assembly configured to receive only a shank of an existing key;

an imaging assembly configured to generate an image of the shank while the existing key is being manually held in the key receiving assembly;

a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly and the imaging assembly, the housing having a slot formed therein to receive the existing key;

a tip guide having a recess configured to receive a tip of the shank of the existing key as the tip is inserted through the slot, the tip guide being linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location adjacent the slot to a second location away from the slot; and

at least one sensor associated with the tip guide and configured to indicate motion of the tip guide away from the first location and cessation of the motion at the second location,

wherein:

the identification module is selectively activated based on the motion of the tip guide away from the first location; and

the imaging assembly is selectively triggered to capture the image of the shank of the existing key based on the cessation of motion.

2. The identification module of claim 1 , wherein:

the tip guide has a slot forming window that exposes a tip end of the shank; and

the imaging assembly is configured to capture an image of the tip end through the window within the recess.

3. The identification module of claim 2 , further including a head guide configured to move a head of the existing key into centered alignment with the tip guide.

4. The identification module of claim 1 , further including a backlight, wherein:

the image generated by the imaging assembly includes at least a backlight image; and

the identification module is configured to make a classification of the existing key as an edge-cut key or a side-milled key based on the backlight image.

5. The identification module of claim 4 , wherein the key identification module is further configured to selectively measure characteristics of the existing key based on the classification without removal of the existing key from the key receiving assembly.

6. The identification module of claim 4 , wherein the imaging assembly includes:

at least one side light configured to direct light toward a primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially oblique to the primary surface; and

a camera configured to generate the backlight image while the back light is turned on, and generate a sidelight image when the at least one side light is turned on.

7. The identification module of claim 6 , wherein the identification module is further configured to:

determine edge geometry of the existing key based on the backlight image; and

determine side mill geometry of the existing key based on the sidelight image.

8. The identification module of claim 7 , wherein the backlight image includes an image of a tip of the shank, edges of the shank, and shoulders located at a transition between the shank and a head portion of the existing key.

9. The identification module of claim 7 , wherein:

the at least one side light includes two side lights; and

the camera is configured to generate the sidelight image while the two side lights are separately turned on at different times.

10. The identification module of claim 9 , wherein:

the imaging assembly further includes a laser configured to generate laser stripes on the existing key;

the camera is configured to generate multiple laser stripe images while the laser is turned on; and

the identification module is further configured to create a composite laser stripe image of the existing key based on the multiple laser stripe images.

11. The identification module of claim 6 , further including a removable cover located between the back light and the existing key when the existing key is received within the key receiving assembly.

12. The identification module of claim 11 , wherein:

the removable cover is translucent; and

the removable cover is accessible from a side of the identification module also having the key receiving assembly.

13. An identification module for a key making system, comprising:

a housing having a slot formed therein to receive an existing key;

a key receiving assembly disposed within the housing and configured to receive only a shank of the existing key;

a back light;

at least one side light configured to direct light toward a primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially oblique to the primary surface; and

a camera configured to generate a silhouette image while the back light is turned on, and to generate a sidelight image when the at least one side light is turned on,

wherein:

the identification module is configured to determine a classification of the existing key based on the silhouette image; and

the identification module is configured to determine a bitting profile of the existing key based on the classification and the sidelight image.

14. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein the identification module is further configured to selectively determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the silhouette image based on the classification.

15. The identification module of claim 14 , wherein the identification module is configured to:

determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the silhouette image when the existing key is classified as an edge cut key; and

determine the bitting profile of the existing key from the sidelight image when the existing key is classified as a milled key.

16. The identification module of claim 15 , wherein the backlight image includes an image of a tip of the shank, edges of the shank, and shoulders located at a transition between the shank and a head portion of the existing key.

17. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein:

the at least one side light includes two side lights; and

the camera is configured to generate the sidelight image while the two side lights are separately turned on at different times.

18. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein:

the imaging assembly further includes a laser configured to generate laser stripes on the existing key;

the camera is configured to generate multiple laser stripe images while the laser is turned on; and

the identification module is further configured to create a composite laser stripe image of the existing key based on the multiple laser stripe images.

19. The identification module of claim 13 , further including a removable cover located between the back light and the existing key when the existing key is received within the key receiving assembly.

20. The identification module of claim 13 , wherein the camera is further configured to capture an image showing a thickness of the existing key.

21. A method of identifying an existing key, comprising:

receiving from a user only a shank of the existing key into a key receiving assembly through a slot formed within a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly;

guiding a tip end of the shank to a desired location with a tip guide that aligns the shank with a camera as the existing key is pushed by the user from a first location adjacent the slot to a second location away from the slot;

capturing a backlight image of the shank with the camera,

wherein the camera is selectively triggered to capture the backlight image based on a cessation of motion at the second location indicated by at least one sensor associated with the tip guide;

classifying the existing key as one of an edge cut key and a side milled key based on the backlight image;

selectively capturing a plurality of sidelight images when the existing key is classified as a side milled key; and

selectively capturing a plurality of laser stripe images when the existing key is an edge cut key.

22. A method of imaging an existing key, comprising:

receiving from a user only a shank of the existing key into a key receiving assembly through a slot formed within a housing configured to house the key receiving assembly;

guiding a tip end of the shank to a desired location with a tip guide, the tip guide being linearly movable by insertion of the existing key from a first location adjacent the slot to a second location away from the slot; and

capturing a backlight image of a tip of the shank with a camera through a window in the tip guide,

wherein the camera is selectively triggered to capture the backlight image based on a cessation of motion at the second location indicated by at least one sensor associated with the tip guide.

23. A key blank dispenser, comprising:

a plurality of chutes, each configured to hold a plurality of key blanks; and

a single actuator configured to selectively discharge a key blank from the plurality of different chutes,

wherein the single actuator is configured to selectively discharge the key blank onto a ramp that allows the key blank to slide under the force of gravity to a retrieval receptacle.

24. The key blank dispenser of claim 23 , wherein:

the key blank dispenser is part of a key making machine having an identification module configured to identify an existing key; and

the single actuator is configured to selectively discharge the key blank based on a signal from the identification module.

25. The key blank dispenser of claim 23 , wherein the single actuator is configured to discharge the key blank onto the ramp such that the key blank is presented head-first at the retrieval receptacle.

26. An identification module for a key making system, comprising:

a housing having a slot formed therein to receive an existing key;

a key receiving assembly disposed within the housing and configured to receive only a shank of the existing key; and

an imaging system configured to determine a thickness of the existing key after the existing key has been received by the key receiving assembly,

wherein the imaging system further includes a camera configured to generate a silhouette image of a cross-section of the existing key, the silhouette image being used to determine the thickness of the existing key.

27. The identification module of claim 26 , wherein:

the imaging system includes a laser configured to generate a first laser stripe image of the existing key and a second laser stripe image of a reference portion of the key receiving assembly; and

the thickness of the existing key is determined based on a comparison of the first and second laser stripe images.

28. The identification module of claim 26 , wherein:

the imaging system includes:

a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a cross-section of the existing key; and

a receiver configured to receive the laser beam from an opposing side of the existing key; and

the thickness of the existing key is determined based on an amount of the laser beam blocked by the cross-section of the existing key.

29. The identification module of claim 26 , further including a linear variable differential transformer associated with the key receiving assembly and configured to generate a signal indicative of the thickness of the existing.

30. The identification module of claim 26 , wherein:

the imaging system further includes:

a back light configured to direct light toward a primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially normal to the primary surface; and

at least one side light configured to direct light toward the primary surface of the existing key in a direction substantially oblique to the primary surface;

the camera configured to generate a silhouette image of the primary surface while the back light is turned on, and to generate a sidelight image when the at least one side light is turned on;

at least one of the silhouette image of the primary surface and the sidelight image is created simultaneously with the silhouette image of the cross-section of the existing key;

the silhouette image of the primary surface is used to determine a classification of the existing key; and

the sidelight image is selectively used to determine a bitting profile of the existing key based on the classification.