  In this paper we develop a procedure to compute the one-loop quantum
correction to the kink masses in generic (1+1)-dimensional one-component scalar
field theoretical models. The procedure uses the generalized zeta function
regularization method helped by the Gilkey-de Witt asymptotic expansion of the
heat function via Mellin's transform. We find a formula for the one-loop kink
mass shift that depends only on the part of the energy density with no field
derivatives, evaluated by means of a symbolic software algorithm that automates
the computation. The improved algorithm with respect to earlier work in this
subject has been tested in the sine-Gordon and $\lambda(\phi)_2^4$ models. The
quantum corrections of the sG-soliton and $\lambda(\phi^4)_2$-kink masses have
been estimated with a relative error of 0.00006% and 0.00007% respectively.
Thereafter, the algorithm is applied to other models. In particular, an
interesting one-parametric family of double sine-Gordon models interpolating
between the ordinary sine-Gordon and a re-scaled sine-Gordon model is
addressed. Another one-parametric family, in this case of $\phi^6$ models, is
analyzed. The main virtue of our procedure is its versatility: it can be
applied to practically any type of relativistic scalar field models supporting
kinks.
