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(11) | EP 2 644 057 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Display cabinet for key blanks |
| (57) A display cabinet for key blanks, characterised by comprising a container (2, 2')
of essentially vertical extension, provided with an access door (6, 6') to its interior,
where a rotary structure (10, 10') is provided having the shape of a polygonally based
right prism with its lateral surface comprising a plurality of elements (14) for supporting
said key blanks in the suspended state.
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[0002] Display cabinets for key blanks are known, used in key duplication centres in which the customer presents one or more bitted keys and requests one or more copies of each of them. The duplication centre generally possesses key blanks of the most varied types and, based on the customer's request, produces in the key blank, having its shaft identical to that of the key to be duplicated, a series of notches or incisions which overall define the key bit.
[0003] Given the very large number of key blanks which any duplication centre has to have available, these are generally stored in boxes stamped on the outside with the code of that particular key profile and possibly with an image of it. This means that the operator is obliged to search through the vast assortment for the appropriate key blank and often to consult the catalogues of key blank manufacturers, to identify the code for that particular key, which has a precise location in the operator's store.
[0004] To make the search for the particular key blank easier, display cabinets have already been proposed with one or more vertically extending drawers made such as to give lateral access to a vertical wall comprising a plurality of horizontal pegs, on which the different types of key blanks can be hung. This solution has proved valid in that it enables each operator of a key duplication centre to observe directly, following a simple operation of extracting the display cabinet drawer, a large number of key blanks through which he/she can seek and withdraw that required.
[0005] A drawback of this solution is that a display cabinet of this type is able to perform its function, and hence can present a large number of different types of key blanks to the operator, only if the extractable vertical drawer has a large display surface. However its large dimensions and the consequently large weight of the drawer plus the supported key blanks is such as to require an extremely complex, robust and costly construction. In particular the guide rails mounted on the cabinet and the slide trolleys mounted on the cabinet must be dimensioned adequately for the large stresses involved.
[0006] The invention proposes to eliminate these drawbacks with a display cabinet for key blanks, characterised by comprising a container of essentially vertical extension, provided with an access door to its interior, where a rotary structure is provided having the shape of a polygonally based right prism with its lateral surface comprising a plurality of elements for supporting said key blanks in the suspended state.
[0007] The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of an equipped wall of a key duplication centre, provided with two display cabinets according to the invention,
Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough on the line II-II of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a horizontal section therethrough on the line III-III of Figure 1.
[0008] As can be seen from the figures, the display cabinet according to the invention is shown within a composition for forming an equipped wall of a key duplication centre, with a pair of display cabinets 2, 2' positioned to the sides of an equipped work bench 4. In the equipped wall the display cabinet 2 on the left is shown with its front door 6 closed, while the display cabinet 2' on the right is shown with its front door 6' open to show the cabinet interior.
[0009] The invention relates to the individual cabinet 2, 2', whereas in practice it is preferably used in an equipped wall, for example of the type shown in the drawings, as it makes the key duplication work easier, both because it makes it possible to position the duplicating machines (not shown) on the bench 4, and to provide the operator with drawers 8 containing milling cutters and other different tools and accessories usable in duplicating machines.
[0010] Inside each cabinet 2, 2' there is a rotary structure 10, 10', extending through the entire height of the cabinet and supported by a pair of shafts 12, projecting from both its ends and secured respectively to the base and to the top of the cabinet.
[0011] Each rotary structure 10, 10' has the shape of a right prism with a convex or concave polygonal base having the required number of sides.
[0013] From each of the four walls of the rotary structure 10, 10' a plurality of pegs 14 extend perpendicular to the wall, they being disposed side by side in several rows and aligned in several columns, to suspendedly support key blanks of different types. More particularly, on each peg a "pack" of key blanks of the same type are mounted through the hole provided in the head of each blank, they being easily recognizable by sight by the operator, who is able to withdraw that key blank corresponding to the original key to be duplicated.
[0014] As the key blanks are withdrawn or when the key pack has been depleted or at periods set by the operation of the key duplicating centre, the used key blanks are replaced by others.
[0015] Depending on the use of the display cabinet according to the invention, it will be sometimes possible to define a part of the cabinet not occupied by the rotary structure 10, 10' and to provide it with shelves usable as a store for the stock of boxes of key blanks.
[0016] If the cabinet pertains to an equipped wall of this latter type, access to the rear part of the cabinet can be gained from the outer lateral wall, suitably provided with apertures for access to the shelves, or even from the top via the equipped bench, while in the case of single display cabinets or those positioned side by side in pairs, access to the rear part can take place only from the external lateral wall.
[0017] In any event, independently of the use or non-use of this rear space, the display cabinet according to the invention is more advantageous than traditional extractable draw-type display cabinets both for the greater display surface which it presents, especially if the base of the rotary structure is in the form of a concave polygon, and because of the lesser stresses which a rotary structure involves compared with an extractable structure.
1. A display cabinet for key blanks, characterised by comprising a container (2, 2') of essentially vertical extension, provided with an
access door (6, 6') to its interior, where a rotary structure (10, 10') is provided
having the shape of a polygonally based right prism with its lateral surface comprising
a plurality of elements (14) for supporting said key blanks in the suspended state.
2. A display cabinet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary structure (10, 10') has a concave polygonal base.
3. A display cabinet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said rotary structure (10, 10') is provided with a pair of shafts (12, 12') projecting
from both its ends and engaging in the base and in the top of the cabinet.
4. A display cabinet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by being provided, in the space not occupied by said rotary structure (10, 10'), with
a plurality of shelves accessible from at least one side of the cabinet.
5. A display cabinet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that said key blank support elements consist of pegs (14) projecting perpendicularly from
the lateral walls of said rotary structure (10, 10') and engaging in the hole provided
in the head of said key blanks.
6. A display cabinet as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised by pertaining to a combination of two cabinets (2, 2') positioned to the sides of a
work bench (4).