Mahjong machine ultrasonic cleaning device and control method

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of ultrasonic cleaning, and discloses a mahjong machine ultrasonic cleaning device and a control method. The device is composed of a cleaning water tank, a storage groove, a water inlet, a water outlet, a water valve, an ultrasonic sound generating device, a liquid level meter, a transmission device and a control system. The high-frequency energy of the ultrasonic wave causes cavitation of the liquid, generates a large number of tiny bubbles in a short time, and generates a large amount of energy and heat when the bubbles burst, which has an excellent cleaning effect on the surface of the solid and can kill microorganisms to a certain extent. The cleaning consumption of the present application is only the cleaning solvent, and no other pollutants are generated. Compared with the traditional cleaning method, the present application is fully automatic and convenient, reduces the complicated process and saves a large amount of cleaning water, can kill bacteria contaminated for a long time, solves the problems of inefficient cleaning and small cleaning force caused by the need to rehandle and flush the mahjong, and has the advantages of sustainability, environmental protection, high efficiency, disinfection, self-cleaning, self-drying, full automation and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of ultrasonic cleaning technology, and particularly relates to an ultrasonic cleaning device and control method for mahjong machines. Background Technology

[0002] Mahjong enjoys a wide market as a recreational activity in China. However, due to frequent use by a large number of people, the mahjong tiles themselves become filthy, and contact with different people's fingers can introduce various bacteria and microorganisms, leading to contact-related infections. The usual method of cleaning mahjong involves removing all the tiles and immersing them in a cleaning solution, making the process cumbersome and requiring multiple rinsing and wiping steps. The large number of tiles also results in inconsistent cleaning quality and ineffective disinfection. These problems inconvenience recreational activities and, due to poor disinfection, allow harmful microorganisms to proliferate, causing cross-infection of viruses.

[0003] In recent years, some mahjong machines with self-cleaning functions have emerged. These machines mostly use spray cleaning agents, followed by wiping and drying to clean the mahjong tiles. However, in actual operation, bacteria can easily grow due to the working environment, and frequent changes of cleaning agents cause considerable inconvenience. Each cleaning cycle requires a large amount of cleaning solvent, and using a spray gun to apply the solvent to the mahjong tiles is not only ineffective at cleaning details and stubborn stains, but also wastes resources.

[0004] Based on the above analysis, the problems and shortcomings of the existing technology are as follows:

[0005] (1) The usual method of cleaning mahjong tiles is to take them all out and pour them into a solvent containing cleaning solution. This method has problems such as complicated cleaning procedures, inconsistent quality, and poor disinfection effect.

[0006] (2) Most mahjong machines with self-cleaning effect use spray cleaning agent to wipe and dry the mahjong tiles. This results in problems such as frequent replacement of cleaning agent, poor cleaning effect on mahjong tiles and stubborn stains, and waste of resources. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an ultrasonic cleaning device and control method for mahjong machines.

[0008] This invention is implemented as follows: an ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines, comprising a cleaning water tank, a storage tank, a water inlet, a water outlet, a water valve, an ultrasonic sound-generating device, a level gauge, a transmission device, and a control system.

[0009] The cleaning tank contains ultrasonic cleaning solvent for cleaning, and the tank is large enough to hold the mahjong tile storage box, but its volume is larger than the storage box.

[0010] The mahjong storage trough is a container for arranging and lifting mahjong tiles. In addition to lifting the tiles to place them on the table, the structure can also place the storage trough into a cleaning water tank via a transmission device.

[0011] The transmission device is a motor-driven guide rail, and the guide rail is connected to the storage slot through a slider;

[0012] An ultrasonic sound-generating device is placed on the wall of the cleaning tank and is intelligently controlled by a single-chip microcomputer module. It uses the principle of generating a large number of tiny bubbles by ultrasonic cavitation solution to clean the items in the tank.

[0013] A level gauge is installed on the side of the cleaning tank to detect the liquid level in the tank;

[0014] The cleaning tank has one inlet and one outlet, and valves are installed on the inlet and outlet to seal the solution.

[0015] There is a drying device above the washing tank for hot drying after washing.

[0016] The control system has core control functions such as transmission control, data feedback, and clock control.

[0017] Furthermore, the storage tank is made of a mesh porous structure, which allows the solution to enter freely in the cleaning tank, and the opening size is large enough not to affect the propagation of ultrasonic waves. At the same time, the opening size is not larger than the mahjong tile itself, which allows the mahjong tile to be placed stably in the storage tank.

[0018] Furthermore, the bottom plate of the storage trough can be expanded by a mechanical structure, changing the original double-layer stacked mahjong tiles into two rows side by side. The expansion method is a structural interlayer folded on the side of the storage trough and connected by a movable pull rod, so that the expansion plate can be freely stretched and contracted by a hinge. At the same time, the hinge's range of motion is no more than 180°. The bottom of the storage trough has a magnetizable structure, which is used for sorting and transporting the items to be washed. At the same time, when the bottom plate of the storage trough expands and deforms, it can fix the stack of mahjong tiles located in the storage trough.

[0019] Furthermore, the storage slot is equipped with a push plate. The horizontal movement of the push plate is controlled by an electric push rod, which pushes the second layer of mahjong tiles, changing the original double-layered mahjong tiles into a single-layered, side-by-side structure. In conjunction with the storage slot expansion structure, the second layer of mahjong tiles is placed in the expansion slot.

[0020] Furthermore, the upper part of the outer side panel of the storage slot is connected to the slide groove via pulleys, and the lower part of the side panel is connected to the folding base plate via hinges, with the hinge angle not exceeding 90°. The connecting pulleys are connected to the motor rotor via tracks and are controlled by the motor. The motor controls the side panel to be pulled outward horizontally, causing the folding base plate to unfold and fold up naturally.

[0021] Furthermore, the guide rail in the transmission device is driven by a high-precision stepper motor, which transmits power to the storage slot via a slider. There are two sets of guide rails, located at both ends of the storage slot. The stepper motors control the step frequency to be consistent. The guide rail slider is firmly connected to the storage slot with bolts to keep the storage slot horizontal. The slider has a clamping structure with respect to the guide rail. Inside the slider, there is a small pulley connected to the motor. The motor drives the pulley to rotate, causing it to slide inside the guide rail groove, allowing the storage slot to move vertically on the guide rail. The groove can reach as high as the bottom of the tabletop cover and as low as a designated position inside the cleaning water tank. The groove has a groove at the designated position for locking the slider in place.

[0022] Furthermore, the ultrasonic sound-generating device is located on the side of the cleaning water tank, and the transducers are arranged on two adjacent sides of the cleaning water tank, parallel to the height of a single mahjong tile stack when the storage tank is located in the cleaning water tank. The solvent in the cleaning water tank should be higher than the position of the ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic device is processed uniformly and in parallel by the control unit. The liquid level gauge is located on one side of the water tank, and its feedback information is read by a microcontroller. When the solution is injected into the water inlet, the liquid level gauge is triggered to provide feedback when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height.

[0023] Furthermore, the control center is a microprocessor, and the system clock is uniformly controlled by an external crystal oscillator clock. The microprocessor controls the transmission of the guide rail slider, reads the feedback information from the liquid level gauge, controls the ultrasonic generator to work normally, modulates the ultrasonic frequency, limits the cleaning time, and starts the drying mode, etc.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method for an ultrasonic cleaning device for a mahjong machine, the control method comprising:

[0025] (1) Replace the cleaning solvent in the cleaning tank as needed. Usually, clean water is sufficient. Open the water valve at the outlet and wait until all the solution in the cleaning tank has flowed out before closing the water valve. Then, inject clean water into the inlet until the level gauge indicates that the water level has reached the working level, and then stop injecting water.

[0026] (2) Release the slider and slowly lower the storage tray after the arrangement of the cards along the guide rail to a position about 1.5cm from the bottom of the cleaning tank. After reaching the target position, lock the slider again and seal the top cover of the cleaning tank.

[0027] (3) After the storage tank is in place, turn on the three sets of ultrasonic sound generating devices at the same time to start the ultrasonic cleaning function. The whole process lasts for about 10 minutes. During this period, the ultrasonic sound generating devices operate simultaneously in three directions with the same working frequency and the same working time.

[0028] (4) After the first cleaning step is completed, the push plate on one side of the storage compartment starts working under the control of the push rod drive motor. At the same time, the horizontal slide rail shaft drives the movable side plate to slide outward along the horizontal slide rail, which will stretch the bottom folding plate to be parallel to the bottom plate. At this time, the mahjong tiles, which were originally stacked vertically in a double-layer structure, move to the gradually unfolding folding bottom plate under the action of the push plate. During this period, the magnetic suction device on the bottom plate is opened to prevent the mahjong tiles in the first layer from moving. When the folding bottom plate is fully unfolded, the magnetic suction device on the folding bottom plate is opened to fix the mahjong tiles pushed down in the second layer. When the push plate is extended to the farthest point, the mahjong tiles in the second layer are pushed to the top of the folding plate, and the mahjong tiles are placed side by side in two rows. The push plate is then retracted, and the cleaning step is restarted again, which takes about 10 minutes.

[0029] (5) After cleaning, close the magnetic suction device on the folding base plate, release the mahjong tiles on it, control the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to retract the shaft along the horizontal slide rail, and drive the folding plate to fold up. At this time, the mahjong tiles that were originally on the folding base plate are brought back to the second layer of mahjong tiles on the fixed base plate.

[0030] (6) After the collection is completed, open the cover of the washing water tank, loosen the locking buckle on the slider, and the storage tank will slowly slide upward along the slide through the pulley controlled by the slider. Move to the drying area and fix the slider again. Turn on the heating wire and turn on the heating fan at the same time to send heat to the inside of the storage tank to dry all the moisture on the surface of the mahjong after washing for about 5 minutes.

[0031] (7) After drying, release the slider again and move the storage tray along the guide rail to the bottom of the mahjong machine table, to the original position where the tile sorting ended. At this time, it is the same as a normal automatic tile sorting machine. Meanwhile, the cleaning solvent in the cleaning tank can be replaced or reused multiple times depending on the cleaning situation.

[0032] Based on the above technical solutions and the technical problems solved, the advantages and positive effects of the technical solution to be protected by this invention are as follows:

[0033] First, this invention utilizes ultrasonic cleaning to remove stains from the surface of mahjong tiles. It avoids unnecessary chemical reactions, making the cleaning process safe, stable, and environmentally friendly, while reducing water waste. Simultaneously, ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency vibrations to create cavitation in the solution, generating tens of thousands of tiny bubbles in a short time. These bubbles can cover almost every corner of the object being cleaned, effectively removing even stubborn stains that have been attached to the mahjong tiles for years, making cleaning more efficient. It solves the problem of the cumbersome process of traditional mahjong cleaning, which requires removing all the tiles and using large amounts of foam cleaning agents in multiple steps. It also incorporates a microbial-killing function, which is almost nonexistent in traditional cleaning tools, offering advantages such as cleanliness, environmental friendliness, recyclability, high efficiency, convenience, and low cost.

[0034] Secondly, the technical effects of the solution protected by this invention are mainly reflected in the following aspects: Using ultrasound to clean mahjong tiles results in a thorough cleaning effect without producing any chemical side effects. Simultaneously, the killing of harmful microorganisms on the mahjong tiles by ultrasound contributes positively to protecting the health of mahjong enthusiasts. This fully automatic ultrasonic cleaning and drying function of the mahjong machine transforms mahjong cleaning into a routine process that can be performed whenever needed. For mahjong entertainment operators, this not only significantly reduces their workload but also provides a valuable new service to their customers, achieving two goals at once. Mahjong players can also call upon the ultrasonic cleaning function of the mahjong machine at any time, unlike traditional mahjong cleaning methods which are often only performed once a day after players leave. Furthermore, mahjong players often cannot obtain timely cleaning services even if they find their mahjong tiles dirty during gameplay. This invention effectively solves this problem. Therefore, it is evident that this invention has significant advantages compared to traditional mahjong cleaning methods.

[0035] Third, the expected benefits and commercial value of the technical solution of this invention after transformation are as follows:

[0036] The implementation of this solution will solve the problems of current mahjong machines lacking cleaning functions or having poor cleaning capabilities. Users will be able to clean the entire set of mahjong tiles using low-cost cleaning solvents, freeing up their hands and saving significant time. The ultrasonic cleaning device is reusable, requiring only periodic solvent replacement, greatly reducing cleaning costs and making it suitable for long-term use and maintenance in shops. Simultaneously, ultrasonic cleaning kills microorganisms to a certain extent, preventing the spread of pathogens through contact and creating good hygiene conditions for recreational activities. The device automatically dries the tiles to prevent repeated bacterial growth. Whether the mahjong tiles have accumulated dirt due to repeated use or multiple users, or have accumulated bacteria due to long-term disuse, this device can automatically and efficiently clean them. It is foreseeable that this invention has enormous potential market and commercial value, whether for home applications or large-scale integrated applications.

[0037] The technical solution of this invention solves a long-standing technical problem that people have long desired to solve but have been unable to achieve: the ingenuity of this invention lies in the use of ultrasonic cleaning, which saves more water resources than traditional cleaning methods. Ultrasonic cleaning is also environmentally friendly, provides excellent cleaning results, and allows for reusability. It automatically controls the ultrasonic frequency and cleaning time, and in particular, utilizes ultrasonic water flow subjected to strong ultrasonic waves at a fixed frequency for a certain period to kill most pathogens on objects. Furthermore, the use of mechanical transmission for automated processing reduces the cumbersome process of manually picking up objects and placing them in a container for cleaning. On the other hand, the guide rail's transmission does not affect the mahjong machine's tile-sorting function; only a small increase in machine space is needed to complete this assembly line operation.

[0038] Fourth, the significant technological advancements brought about by the ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines of the present invention include:

[0039] 1) High-efficiency cleaning performance: Through ultrasonic cleaning technology, it can penetrate deep into the tiny crevices and surface of the mahjong tiles to effectively remove dirt and bacteria, ensuring the hygiene and cleanliness of the mahjong tiles.

[0040] 2) Automated cleaning process: Equipped with an automatic transmission device and control system, the mahjong cleaning process is automated, reducing manual intervention and improving cleaning efficiency.

[0041] 3) Multifunctional design: The cleaning device is not limited to cleaning mahjong tiles; its design is also suitable for cleaning other small items, increasing the device's flexibility of use.

[0042] 4) Resource conservation: It uses recyclable cleaning solvents and energy-saving ultrasonic technology, which is more environmentally friendly and energy-saving than traditional cleaning methods.

[0043] 5) Structural innovation: The unique storage slot design, including an expandable base plate and push plate structure, makes the placement of mahjong tiles more reasonable and improves the cleaning effect.

[0044] 6) Safe and reliable: The device adopts a precise control system and is made of high-quality materials, which ensures the safety of the cleaning process and the durability of the device.

[0045] 7) Easy maintenance: The design features easy-to-operate inlet and outlet ports, facilitating the replacement of cleaning solvents and routine maintenance of the device.

[0046] 8) Drying function: The device's drying function ensures that the mahjong tiles can be dried quickly after cleaning, avoiding damage or mold caused by moisture.

[0047] In summary, this invention provides a highly efficient, automated, multifunctional, and environmentally friendly ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines, which greatly improves cleaning efficiency and quality and meets the hygiene requirements of modern entertainment facilities. Attached Figure Description

[0048] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the overall structure of the ultrasonic cleaning device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the storage trough structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the control method for the ultrasonic cleaning device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] In the diagram: 1. Mahjong machine tabletop; 2. Cleaning water tank; 3. Storage tank; 301. Push rod control motor; 302. Push plate; 303. Electromagnetic structure embedded in the base plate; 304. Folding base plate; 305. Folding hinge; 306. Movable side plate; 307. Horizontal slide rail; 308. Slide rail pivot; 4. Ultrasonic transducer array; 5. Water outlet; 6. Water outlet valve; 7. Level gauge; 8. Water inlet; 9. Vertical guide rail; 901. Guide rail shaft; 902. Guide rail groove; 903. Guide rail slider; 10. Drying fan; 11. Heating wire. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0053] This invention provides an ultrasonic cleaning device for a mahjong machine, which mainly includes the mahjong machine body and its tabletop 1, a cleaning water tank 2, a mahjong tile storage tank 3, and an ultrasonic sound-generating device 4. Specifically, as follows... Figure 1 As shown in the diagram, the internal structure is slightly enlarged compared to the mahjong tabletop, and only the cleaning structure on one side of the tile arrangement cover is shown. In reality, there is a cleaning device under each of the four tile arrangement covers, and there should be a movable baffle above the cleaning tank. The cleaning solution is placed inside the cleaning tank 2, and the liquid level should be higher than the top of the items being cleaned, as detected by the level gauge 7. The level gauge is slightly higher than the working height of the storage tank, about 7cm from the bottom of the cleaning tank. The ultrasonic sound generating device 4 should be located on both sides and the bottom of the cleaning tank 2. The ultrasonic sound generating device 4 needs to emit ultrasonic waves from three vertical directions onto the items being cleaned in the mahjong storage tank 3, and the coverage area of ​​the ultrasonic waves should be greater than that of the storage tank 2. The ultrasonic sound generation frequency is between 40kHz and 100kHz. The ultrasonic sound generating device 4 is composed of an ultrasonic unit array, with the array elements arranged at equal intervals. At the same time, the ultrasonic sound generating device 4 is tightly fitted into the cleaning tank 1 to prevent solution leakage and to avoid generating additional vibrations.

[0054] The cleaning tank 2 provided in this embodiment of the invention has a water outlet 5 at the bottom. The lower edge of the water outlet 5 is close to the bottom of the cleaning tank 2, and the inclination angle is lower than the horizontal angle, so that the solution can flow down naturally. There is a water valve 6 in the water outlet 5. When there is solution in the cleaning tank 1, the flow and shut-off of the solution can be controlled by the water valve 6. At the same time, there is a water inlet 8 in the middle and upper part of the cleaning tank 1. The water inlet end of the water inlet 8 can be connected to the outside of the table. The height of the water outlet end is generally higher than the height of the storage tank, and the water pipe of the water inlet section extends downward.

[0055] The bottom of the storage trough 2 is about 1.5cm higher than the bottom of the cleaning water tank 1. The height of the storage trough 3 is about 6cm greater than the thickness of two mahjong tiles. The side of the storage trough 3 is connected to the guide rail 9. The slider on the guide rail can drive the storage trough to move between the bottom edge of the mahjong machine table, the drying area, and the cleaning water tank, so as to realize automated object transfer.

[0056] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 The storage slot 3 has a variable lever structure on the left side. The axis of the horizontal slide rail 308 is fixedly connected to the side plate 306. The motor drives the pulley 308 to slide to the left side on the horizontal guide rail 307, while simultaneously driving the side plate 306 to slide horizontally to the left, causing the folding bottom plate 304 to slowly unfold horizontally. The hinge structure 305 has a maximum opening angle of 180°. When the side plate 306 moves to the leftmost position, the folding plate 304 opens to a horizontal position with the same height as the bottom plate. Meanwhile, a push rod 302 is located on the right side plate of the storage slot 3, approximately 3cm above the bottom surface of the storage slot 3. The push rod 302 is controlled by an electric push rod motor 301. When the motor receives a command, it pushes the push rod 302 horizontally outward, pushing the second layer of the mahjong tiles outward. Simultaneously, in conjunction with the folding base plate 304 and the horizontal rotating shaft 308, the mahjong tiles located on the second layer of the stack are pushed onto the extension base plate, transforming it into a side-by-side structure of two single rows of mahjong tiles. On the other hand, an electromagnetic structure 303 is embedded in the base plate, which fixes the mahjong tile stack in a designated position to prevent instability. Slider blocks 903 are connected to the upper and lower sides of the outer side of the storage slot 3. The left side of the slider is fixedly connected to the storage slot 3 with bolts. The slider is attached to the guide post 901 in an inclusive posture. Inside the slider is a motor-driven pulley, which allows the pulley to move smoothly on the slide groove 902. The guide post 901 has a locking hole at the washing position, drying position, and tray sorting position. When the slider 903 moves to the corresponding position, it can push the internal lock into the locking hole, so that the storage tray 3 is fixed in the corresponding position.

[0057] The drying area is located between the cleaning water tank 2 and the mahjong machine tabletop 1. It includes a hot air fan 10 and an electric heating wire 11. The electric heating wire 11 has a power of 400W and is more than 4cm away from the guide rail. It is not easy to damage the cleaned items during operation. There is a fan 10 behind the electric heating wire 11. The fan 10 is controlled to rotate at high speed, and the heat generated by the electric heating wire is transferred to the cleaned items for drying through convection. The rotation speed is generally 16,000 rpm.

[0058] The implementation process of the ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines provided in this embodiment of the invention specifically includes the following steps:

[0059] Combination Figure 3 The flowchart describes how, as needed, the cleaning solvent in cleaning tank 2 should be replaced, usually with clean water. Open the water outlet valve 6 and wait until all the solution in cleaning tank 2 has flowed out, then close the valve. Next, inject clean water into the water inlet 8 until the level gauge 7 indicates the water level has reached the working level, then stop injecting water.

[0060] Then, release the slider 903 and slowly lower the storage tray 3 (after the arrangement is completed) along the guide rail 9 and the slide 902 to a position about 1.5cm from the bottom of the cleaning water tank 2. After reaching the target position, relock the slider 903 and seal the top cover of the cleaning water tank.

[0061] After the storage tank 3 is in place, turn on the three sets of ultrasonic sound generating devices 4 at the same time to start the ultrasonic cleaning function. The whole process lasts for about 10 minutes. During this period, the ultrasonic sound generating devices 4 operate simultaneously in three directions with the same working frequency and the same working time.

[0062] After the first cleaning step is completed, the push plate 302 on one side of the storage compartment starts working under the control of the push rod drive motor 301. At the same time, the horizontal slide rail shaft 308 drives the movable side plate 306 to slide outward along the horizontal slide rail 307, which stretches the bottom folding plate 304 to be parallel to the bottom plate. At this time, the mahjong tiles, which were originally stacked vertically in a double-layer structure, move the second layer of mahjong tiles onto the gradually unfolding folding bottom plate under the action of the push plate 302. During this process, the magnetic suction device 303 on the bottom plate is opened to prevent the first layer of mahjong tiles from moving. When the folding bottom plate is fully unfolded, the magnetic suction device on the folding bottom plate is opened to fix the second layer of mahjong tiles that have been pushed down. When the push plate 302 extends to its farthest point, the second layer of mahjong tiles is pushed above the folding plate 304, and the mahjong tiles are arranged in two rows side by side. The push plate 302 is then retracted, and the cleaning step is restarted for about 10 minutes.

[0063] After cleaning, close the magnetic device on the folding base plate 304 to release the mahjong tiles from its fixation. Control the motor to rotate in the reverse direction, retracting the rotating shaft 308 along the horizontal slide rail 307, thus retracting the folding plate 304. At this point, the mahjong tiles that were originally on the folding base plate 304 are brought back to the second layer of mahjong tiles on the fixed base plate.

[0064] After the items are collected, open the washing tank cover, loosen the locking buckle on slider 903, and the storage tray 3 will slowly slide upward along the slide groove 902 via the pulley controlled by slider 903, moving to the drying area and fixing slider 903 again. The heating wire is energized, and the heating fan is turned on at the same time to send heat into the storage tray 3, drying all the moisture on the surface of the mahjong tiles after washing, for about 5 minutes.

[0065] After drying is complete, release slider 903 again and move the storage tray 3 along guide rail 9 back to the position below the mahjong machine tabletop 1, where the tile arrangement was originally finished. This is the same as a normal automatic tile arrangement machine. Meanwhile, the cleaning solvent in the cleaning water tank 2 can be replaced or reused multiple times depending on the cleaning situation.

[0066] It should be noted that embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. The hardware portion can be implemented using dedicated logic; the software portion can be stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system, such as a microprocessor or dedicated-design hardware. Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described devices and methods can be implemented using computer-executable instructions and / or included in processor control code, for example, such code provided on a carrier medium such as a disk, CD, or DVD-ROM, a programmable memory such as read-only memory (firmware), or a data carrier such as an optical or electronic signal carrier. The devices and modules of the present invention can be implemented by hardware circuitry such as very large-scale integrated circuits or gate arrays, semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or programmable hardware devices such as field-programmable gate arrays, programmable logic devices, etc., or by software executed by various types of processors, or by a combination of the above-described hardware circuitry and software, such as firmware.

[0067] Compared with existing technologies, the present invention has significant advantages, as shown in Table 1.

[0068] Table 1. Advantages of this invention compared to traditional mahjong cleaning technology

[0069]

[0070]

[0071] As shown in Table 1, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: better cleaning and sterilization effect of mahjong tiles, extremely low labor intensity required for use, and extremely convenient use. It saves operators a lot of time and cost for cleaning mahjong tiles, and at the same time, it can provide customers with a fully automatic mahjong cleaning service with a great experience. It also provides mahjong players with a practical function of cleaning mahjong tiles all-round and automatically with just one click at any time.

[0072] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines, characterized in that, The ultrasonic cleaning device for the mahjong machine includes a cleaning tank, a storage tank, a water inlet, a water outlet, a water valve, an ultrasonic sound-generating device, a level gauge, a transmission device, and a control system. The cleaning tank contains ultrasonic cleaning solvent for cleaning, and the tank is large enough to fit the storage tank but has a larger volume than the storage tank. The storage trough is a container for arranging and raising mahjong tiles. The storage trough can be raised to place the tiles off the table, and it can also be placed in a cleaning water tank through a transmission device. The transmission device is a motor-driven guide rail, and the guide rail is connected to the storage slot through a slider; An ultrasonic sound-generating device is placed on the wall of the cleaning tank and is intelligently controlled by a single-chip microcomputer module. It uses the principle of generating a large number of tiny bubbles by ultrasonic cavitation solution to clean the items in the tank. A level gauge is installed on the side of the cleaning tank to detect the liquid level in the tank; The cleaning tank has one inlet and one outlet, and valves are installed on the inlet and outlet to seal the solution. There is a drying device above the washing tank for hot drying after washing. The control system has core control functions including transmission control, data feedback, and clock control. The storage tank is made of a mesh porous structure, which allows the solution to enter freely when the water is in the cleaning tank. At the same time, the opening size is not larger than the mahjong tile itself, which allows the mahjong tile to be placed stably in the storage tank. The bottom plate of the storage trough is expanded by a mechanical structure, changing the original double-layer stacked mahjong tiles into two rows side by side. The expansion method is a structural interlayer folded on the side of the storage trough and connected by a movable pull rod, allowing the expansion plate to be freely stretched and contracted by a hinge. At the same time, the range of the hinge's movement angle is no more than 180°. The bottom plate of the storage trough has a magnetizable structure, which is used for the sorting and transportation of the items to be washed. At the same time, when the bottom plate of the storage trough expands and deforms, it fixes the stack of mahjong tiles located in the storage trough.

2. The ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The storage slot has a push plate. The horizontal movement of the push plate is controlled by an electric push rod, which pushes the second layer of mahjong tiles, changing the original double-layered mahjong tiles into a single-layered two-column structure. In conjunction with the storage slot expansion structure, the second layer of mahjong tiles is placed in the expansion slot.

3. The ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side plate of the storage compartment is connected to the guide rail via pulleys at the top, and to the bottom plate of the storage compartment via hinges at the bottom, with the hinge angle not exceeding 90°. The pulleys are connected to the motor rotor via tracks and are controlled by the motor. The side plate is pulled outward horizontally by the motor, causing the bottom plate of the storage compartment to unfold and retract naturally.

4. The ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission device uses a high-precision stepper motor to drive the guide rails, which in turn drive the storage tray via a slider. There are two sets of guide rails, located at opposite ends of the storage tray. The stepper motors are controlled to maintain a consistent step frequency. The sliders are securely connected to the storage trays with bolts to keep the storage trays horizontal. The sliders have a clamping structure with respect to the guide rails. Inside each slider is a small pulley connected to a motor. The motor drives the pulleys to rotate, causing them to slide inside the guide rails, allowing the storage trays to move vertically along the guide rails. The guide rails can reach as high as the bottom of the tabletop cover and as low as a designated position inside the cleaning tank. At the designated position, the guide rails have grooves for locking the sliders in place.

5. The ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ultrasonic sound-generating device is located on the side of the cleaning water tank, and the transducers are arranged on two adjacent sides of the cleaning water tank, parallel to the height of a single mahjong tile stack when the storage tank is located in the cleaning water tank. The solvent in the cleaning water tank should be higher than the position of the ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasonic sound-generating device is processed in parallel by the control system. The liquid level gauge is located on one side of the water tank, and its feedback information is read by a microcontroller. When the solution is injected into the water inlet, the liquid level gauge is triggered to provide feedback when the liquid level reaches a predetermined height.

6. The ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system is a microprocessor, and the system clock is controlled by an external crystal oscillator. The microprocessor controls the transmission of the guide rail slider, reads the feedback information from the liquid level gauge, controls the ultrasonic sound-generating device to work normally, modulates the ultrasonic frequency, limits the cleaning time, and starts the drying mode to control the mixing process.

7. A control method for an ultrasonic cleaning device for a mahjong machine, characterized in that, The control method of the ultrasonic cleaning device for mahjong machines as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 includes: (1) Replace the cleaning solvent in the cleaning tank as needed, open the water valve at the outlet, and close the water valve after all the solution in the cleaning tank has flowed out. Then inject clean water into the water inlet until the level gauge indicates that the water level has reached the working level, and then stop injecting water. (2) Release the slider and slowly lower the storage tray after the arrangement of the cards along the guide rail to a position 1.5cm from the bottom of the cleaning tank. After reaching the target position, lock the slider again and seal the top cover of the cleaning tank. (3) After the storage tank is in place, turn on the three sets of ultrasonic sound generating devices at the same time to start the ultrasonic cleaning function. The whole process lasts for 10 minutes. During this period, the ultrasonic sound generating devices operate simultaneously in three directions with the same working frequency and the same working time. (4) After the first cleaning step is completed, the push plate on one side of the storage tank starts to work under the control of the push rod drive motor. At the same time, the horizontal slide rail shaft drives the side plate of the storage tank to slide outward along the horizontal slide rail, which will stretch the bottom folding plate to be parallel to the bottom plate. At this time, the mahjong tiles were originally a vertically stacked double-layer structure. Under the action of the push plate, the second layer of mahjong tiles moved to the bottom plate of the gradually unfolding storage tank. During this period, the magnetic suction device on the bottom plate was opened to prevent the first layer of mahjong tiles from moving. When the bottom plate of the storage tank is fully unfolded, the magnetic suction device on the bottom plate of the storage tank is opened to fix the second layer of mahjong tiles pushed down. When the push plate extends to the farthest point, the second layer of mahjong tiles is pushed to the top of the folding plate, and two rows of mahjong tiles are placed side by side. The push plate is then retracted, and the cleaning step is started again for 10 minutes. (5) After cleaning, close the magnetic suction device on the bottom plate of the storage tank, release the mahjong tiles on it, control the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to retract the shaft along the horizontal slide rail, and drive the folding plate to fold up. At this time, the mahjong tiles that were originally located on the bottom plate of the storage tank are brought back to the second layer of mahjong tiles on the fixed bottom plate. (6) After the collection is completed, open the cover of the washing water tank, loosen the locking buckle on the slider, and the storage tank will slowly slide upward along the guide rail through the pulley controlled by the slider. Move to the drying area and fix the slider again. Turn on the heating wire and turn on the heating fan at the same time to send heat to the inside of the storage tank to dry all the moisture on the surface of the mahjong after washing for 5 minutes. (7) After drying, release the slider again and move the storage tray along the guide rail to the bottom of the mahjong machine table, where the tiles were originally arranged.

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