Key duplication system
A key-duplicating system comprises a network that includes a multiplicity of kiosks at a multiplicity of different locations, each of the kiosks having a customer interface and a processor coupled to the customer interface. A remote central server coupled to the kiosks is adapted to receive, from the kiosks, information identifying master keys to be duplicated. A key analysis module uses the information identifying master keys to be duplicated to derive information required to produce duplicates of the identified master keys, and a key duplicating module uses that information to produce duplicates of said identified master keys.
1. A system for duplicating keys, comprising:
one or more key duplicating machines, each of the one or more key duplicating machines comprising:
a kiosk housing having a customer interface comprising a touchscreen display;
a key insertion slot in said housing configured to receive only a portion of a master key to be duplicated;
a key analysis system within said housing configured to analyze grooves on each side of the blade of the master key inserted in the key insertion slot to determine whether the master key matches one of a group of preselected key types and, if so, which preselected key type is matched;
a key duplicating system within said housing configured to replicate a tooth pattern of the blade of the master key on the blade of a key blank of the preselected key type;
a vacuum system comprising a vacuum source and a vacuum shroud, wherein the vacuum shroud encloses at least a portion of the key duplicating system;
a payment device comprising a credit or debit card reader configured to receive payment from a customer for the duplicated key blank;
a communications interface; and
a key removal exit in said housing providing customer access to the duplicated key blank for removal from the kiosk; and a remote server, configured to:
receive information from the communications interfaces of the one or more key duplicating machines;
store the information received from the one or more key duplicating machines; and
transmit information to the communications interfaces of the one or more key duplicating machines.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the key analysis system of at least one of the one or more key duplicating machines is configured to determine a cross-sectional profile of the master key based on the analysis of the grooves on each side of the blade of the master key and to transmit the determined cross-sectional profile to the remote server for storage.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the remote server is further configured to receive a customer request to be sent a key by mail that is cut at a remote location based on the stored cross-sectional profile information.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more key duplicating machines is configured to:
conduct self-tests of components within the housing of that key duplicating machine; and
transmit results of the self-tests to the remote server.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the self-tests comprises an automatic cycling of moving parts within the kiosk housings of the one or more key duplicating machines.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the self-tests comprises reading information from one or more sensors located within the kiosk housings of the one or more key duplicating machines.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the remote server is further configured to compare the received information read from the one or more sensors to one or more predetermined stored values representing a normal operation state for the one or more sensors.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the remote server is further configured to determine that a component of one or more of the key duplicating machines is malfunctioning based on the comparison between the received information read from the one or more sensors and the one or more predetermined stored values.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more key duplicating machines is configured to transmit information to the remote server at a determined time interval, the information comprising one or more of:
information associated with sales transactions for that key duplicating machine;
information associated with errors generated by that key duplicating machine; or
information associated with rejections by that key duplicating machine of master keys for which the keyway could not be identified.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the remote server is further configured to determine the inventory level of the key blank magazine of each of the one or more key duplicating machines based on the received sales transaction information.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote server is further configured to receive information from a remote computer system associated with the rate of customer returns for key blanks duplicated by each of the one or more key duplicating machines.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote server is further configured to control the display of promotions or advertisements on the touchscreen display of each of the one or more key duplicating machines.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the received information from the communications interfaces of the one or more key duplicating machines is used to generate a report comprising one or more of:
a comparison of information collected from any of the one or more key duplicating machines with information collected from another of the one or more key duplicating machines in a similar market;
a comparison of information collected from any of the one or more key duplicating machines with information collected from another of the one or more key duplicating machines in a particular geographical region;
a comparison of information collected from any of the one or more key duplicating machines with information collected from all of the key duplicating machines in the system; or
a comparison of information collected from any of the one or more key duplicating machines with historical information collected previously from the same one or more key duplicating machines.