public class XXX
{
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        JComponent comp = new JTable(); // some panel or table
        comp.getInputMap().put(KeyStroke.getKeyStroke("F4"), "xxxaction");
        comp..getActionMap().put("xxxaction", new XXXAction());
    }

    public class XXXAction extends AbstractAction
    {
        @Override
        public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
        {
             // Something;
        }
    }
}

Action action = component.getActionMap().get("...");

if (action != null)
{
    ActionEvent ae = new ActionEvent(component, ActionEvent.ACTION_PERFORMED, "");
    action.actionPerformed( ae );
}