A method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine and the mahjong machine itself.

Abstract

This invention discloses a method for picking up mahjong tiles and a mahjong machine. The method includes: S1, picking up mahjong tiles one by one from the shuffling tray and moving them to the edge of the shuffling tray. This invention breaks through the bias of existing technology and fundamentally changes the direction of movement of mahjong tiles in the picking method. In the picking step, the picking direction (i.e., the direction of movement of mahjong tiles) is set at an angle to the edge of the shuffling tray. The mahjong tiles move from inside the edge of the shuffling tray to outside the edge, instead of moving along the edge of the shuffling tray with other mahjong tiles. This ensures that there is no squeezing or the squeezing force on the mahjong tiles is greatly reduced in the picking direction. This not only greatly reduces the probability of the suction wheel missing mahjong tiles and effectively improves the picking efficiency, but also greatly reduces the magnetic force requirements of the magnets on the suction wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of mahjong machine technology, specifically relating to a method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine and a mahjong machine. Background Technology

[0002] Existing mahjong machines are equipped with a card-collecting wheel with magnets embedded on its outer periphery and located above the shuffling tray. During the card arrangement process, the card-collecting wheel first picks up the mahjong tiles from the shuffling tray, and then transports the mahjong tiles to the position of the card stacking component through its own rotational motion to stack the mahjong tiles into a stack.

[0003] Since the shuffling disc is in circumferential motion during tile arrangement, and the mahjong tiles also rotate, it is generally understood in the art that the rotation direction of the suction wheel is set to be the same as the rotation direction of the shuffling disc (the axis of the suction wheel is the center of the mahjong machine), in the expectation that the suction wheel can quickly pick up the mahjong tiles that are rotating in the same direction. Most mahjong machines on the market (such as CN202554909U, CN213313301U, CN221130930U, CN208710994U, CN102133479A, CN204121724U, CN112190920A, CN219376041U, CN119868919A, etc.) use this type of suction wheel. During the process of picking up and transporting mahjong tiles, they are within the range limited by the outer edge of the shuffling tray and are far from the center of the mahjong machine. After being picked up, they need to be transported over a long distance before reaching the lifting plate.

[0004] However, in the early stages of shuffling, there are many mahjong tiles on the shuffling plate, and they are all crowded together. This squeezing and friction from the surrounding mahjong tiles makes it difficult for the tile-collecting wheel to pick up the tiles all at once, resulting in a high miss rate and low efficiency in shuffling. Current technology has not yet realized this. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine and a mahjong machine in general, which has higher tile-picking efficiency.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0007] This invention first provides a method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine, the method comprising:

[0008] S1. The step of picking up the mahjong tiles one by one from the shuffling plate and placing them outside the edge of the shuffling plate.

[0009] This invention breaks through existing technological biases and fundamentally changes the direction of mahjong tile movement in the tile-picking method. Specifically, in the tile-picking step, the tile-picking direction (i.e., the direction of mahjong tile movement) is set at an angle to the edge of the shuffling tray. The mahjong tile moves from inside the edge of the shuffling tray to outside the edge, instead of moving along the edge of the shuffling tray with other mahjong tiles. This ensures that there is no squeezing or the squeezing force on the front and back of the mahjong tile is greatly reduced in the tile-picking direction. This not only greatly reduces the probability of the suction wheel missing mahjong tiles and effectively improves the tile-picking efficiency, but also greatly reduces the magnetic force requirements of the magnets on the suction wheel.

[0010] This invention does not restrict the angle between the direction of picking up and discarding tiles in the tile-picking channel and the center or edge of the shuffling plate, as long as the mahjong tiles are taken away from the edge of the shuffling plate when picking up tiles and the tiles are closer to the center of the shuffling plate when discarding tiles than when picking up tiles.

[0011] However, it is obvious that the larger the angle between the direction of picking up the tiles and the edge of the shuffling plate, the better. Therefore, as a preferred option, in the tile picking step, the direction of picking up the tiles forms an angle of 45-135° with the tangent of the edge of the shuffling plate; more preferably, 60-120°; and most preferably, 90°, at which point the pressure exerted on the mahjong tiles by the surrounding mahjong tiles is basically zero or minimal.

[0012] As a further preferred option, the above-mentioned card-picking method also includes:

[0013] S2, the conveying step of conveying the mahjong tiles one by one to the stacking and pushing assembly near the center of the mahjong machine.

[0014] During the conveying process, the mahjong tiles are moved from the edge of the shuffling tray towards the center of the mahjong machine and stacked. The tile stack is positioned close to the center of the mahjong machine, which helps to reduce the overall size of the mahjong machine and make it more compact.

[0015] Preferably, in the card-picking method of the present invention, the card-picking path in step S1 and the conveying path in step S2 overlap or partially overlap in the vertical direction but are opposite in direction. Since the card-picking path (i.e., the card-picking direction) extends from inside the shuffling tray to outside the shuffling tray, setting the conveying path to be opposite to the card-picking path direction allows the mahjong tiles to be sent from outside the shuffling tray to inside the shuffling tray with the shortest conveying path, thereby conveying the mahjong tiles to a position close to the center of the mahjong machine while saving structure and volume.

[0016] However, the card-picking path and the conveying path can be completely overlapped in the vertical direction (i.e., the same length) or partially overlapped (i.e., different lengths), and the present invention has no special requirements in this regard. In order to make the end point of the conveying path closer to the center of the mahjong machine, preferably, the length of the conveying path in step S2 is greater than or equal to the length of the card-picking path in step S1.

[0017] The present invention also provides a mahjong machine that uses the above-mentioned method of picking up and arranging tiles.

[0018] Preferably, the mahjong machine includes a shuffling tray and card-collecting components located at the four sides of the shuffling tray. The card-collecting components include a suction wheel rotatably connected to a card-collecting bracket. A C-shaped card-collecting channel is formed between the suction wheel and the card-collecting bracket. The card-collecting channel extends from the card-inlet to the edge of the shuffling tray, then curves upward and extends towards the card-outlet near the center of the shuffling tray.

[0019] Preferably, the card picking assembly (2) includes a card picking bracket (21), which includes a bracket body (21a) extending along the edge of the shuffling tray (1) and a support arm (21b) set at an angle to the bracket body (21a). The support arm (21b) extends downward to a mounting support (21c), and the card suction wheel (22) is rotatably installed between the mounting support (21c) and the bracket body (21a) of the adjacent card picking bracket (21).

[0020] The card-picking channel (100) has the same card-dispensing direction as the extension direction of the support arm (21b), and the card-in direction (i.e. card-picking direction) of the card-picking channel (100) is opposite to the card-dispensing direction of the card-picking channel.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are reflected in:

[0022] 1. This invention breaks through the bias of existing technology and fundamentally changes the direction of movement of mahjong tiles in the tile picking method. In the tile picking step, the tile picking direction (i.e. the direction of movement of mahjong tiles) is set at an angle to the edge of the shuffling plate. The mahjong tiles move from inside the edge of the shuffling plate to outside the edge of the shuffling plate, instead of moving along the edge of the shuffling plate with other mahjong tiles. This ensures that there is no squeezing or the squeezing force on the front and back of the mahjong tiles is greatly reduced in the tile picking direction. This not only greatly reduces the probability of the suction wheel missing mahjong tiles and effectively improves the tile picking efficiency, but also greatly reduces the magnetic force requirements of the magnets on the suction wheel.

[0023] 2. In this invention, during the conveying step, the mahjong tiles move from the edge of the shuffling tray towards the center of the mahjong machine and are stacked, with the tile stack positioned close to the center of the mahjong machine. This helps to reduce the overall size of the mahjong machine, making it more compact.

[0024] 3. Since the card picking path (i.e. the card picking direction) extends from inside the shuffling tray to outside the shuffling tray, the present invention sets the conveying path to be opposite to the card picking path direction, so that the mahjong tiles can be sent from outside the shuffling tray to inside the shuffling tray in the shortest conveying path, thereby conveying the mahjong tiles to a position close to the center of the mahjong machine while saving structure and volume. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the mahjong machine of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the mahjong machine of the present invention from another perspective;

[0027] Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of the mahjong machine of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is another structural schematic diagram of the mahjong machine of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] This embodiment provides a method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine, the method comprising:

[0032] S1. The step of picking up the mahjong tiles one by one from the shuffling plate and placing them outside the edge of the shuffling plate.

[0033] In this card picking step, the card picking direction can form an angle of 45-135° with the tangent of the edge of the shuffling plate, preferably 60-120°, and most preferably 90°.

[0034] Example 2

[0035] This embodiment provides a method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine, which includes the following steps:

[0036] S1. The step of picking up the mahjong tiles one by one from the shuffling plate and placing them outside the edge of the shuffling plate;

[0037] In this card picking step, the card picking direction can form an angle of 45-135° with the tangent of the edge of the shuffling plate, preferably 60-120°, and most preferably 90°.

[0038] S2, the conveying step of conveying the mahjong tiles one by one to the stacking and pushing assembly near the center of the mahjong machine;

[0039] The card-picking path in step S1 and the conveying path in step S2 overlap or partially overlap in the vertical direction but are in opposite directions.

[0040] The length of the conveying path in step S2 is greater than or equal to the length of the card picking path in step S1.

[0041] Example 3

[0042] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in the figure, this embodiment of a mahjong machine includes a shuffling tray 1 and card-collecting components 2 disposed on the four sides of the shuffling tray 1. The card-collecting components 2 include a card-collecting bracket 21 and a card-suction wheel 22 rotatably connected to the card-collecting bracket 21. In this embodiment, the assembly direction of the card-suction wheel 22 is not the same as that of the card-collecting bracket 21; the two are set at an angle.

[0043] To achieve the dual function of the card picking bracket 11—which must both enclose the shuffling bucket with other card picking brackets and facilitate the assembly of the card suction wheel 22 at a special angle—the card picking bracket 21 in this embodiment includes a bracket body 21a extending along the edge of the shuffling tray 1, and a support arm 21b set at an angle to the bracket body 21a. An assembly support 21c extends downward from the support arm 21b. The card suction wheel 22 is installed between the assembly support 21c and the bracket body 21a of the adjacent card picking bracket 21. The card picking motor 23 connected to the card suction wheel 22 is fixedly installed at the joint of the two adjacent card picking brackets 21.

[0044] In this embodiment, the support body 21a still extends in a posture that adapts to the edge of the shuffling disk 1, but the support arm 21b is set at an angle to the support body 21a and extends toward the inside of the shuffling disk 1, so as to provide a structural basis for the change of the orientation of the card picking channel 100.

[0045] The assembly direction of the card-collecting wheel 22 is usually consistent with the extension direction of the support arm 21b, thus forming a C-shaped card-collecting channel 100 between the card-collecting wheel 22 and the support arm 21b. This invention does not restrict the angle between the card-entry and card-exit directions of the card-collecting channel 100 and the center or edge of the shuffling tray 1, as long as the mahjong tiles are moved away from the edge of the shuffling tray 1 during card collection and are closer to the center of the shuffling tray 1 during card dispensing than during card entry.

[0046] from Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, the card-collecting channel 100 has both its card-entry and card-dispensing openings facing the central area of ​​the mahjong machine. The extension direction of the card-collecting channel 100 is as follows: first, it extends from the card-entry opening to the edge of the shuffling plate 1 (this is the card-entry direction), then it turns upward in an arc, and finally extends towards the center of the shuffling plate 1 (this is the card-dispensing direction).

[0047] In this card-feeding direction, the mahjong tiles on the shuffling tray 1 are not squeezed or the squeezing force is greatly reduced. Therefore, the card-collecting wheel 22 can quickly pick up the mahjong tiles, thereby reducing the mahjong tile loss rate and improving the card-sorting efficiency. The magnetic force requirement of the card-collecting magnet on the card-collecting wheel 22 is also greatly reduced. This card-dispensing direction allows the card-dispensing port to be closer to the center of the mahjong machine, which helps to reduce the overall size of the mahjong machine and make it more compact.

[0048] In this embodiment, the "central area of ​​the mahjong machine", "center of the shuffling plate 1", and "center of the mahjong machine" are not a single point in the mahjong machine, but rather a relatively large area centered on the card return slot 52 on the panel 5.

[0049] If we only consider the distance between the card-picking channel 100 and the center of the mahjong machine, this embodiment does not restrict the angle between the card-picking channel 100's card-picking direction and the edge of the shuffling plate 1 (that is, the angle between the support arm 21b and the support body 21a). As long as the mahjong tiles are taken away from the edge of the shuffling plate 1 when picking up the tiles, and the tiles are closer to the center of the shuffling plate 1 when discarding than when picking up the tiles.

[0050] However, given the set lengths of the card-picking bracket 21 and the card-picking channel 100, the length of the card-storage platform 200 is related to the angle between the card-picking bracket 21 and the support arm 21b. The larger this angle (either a right angle or an obtuse angle), the longer the card-storage platform 200. To provide sufficient space for the card-storage platform 200 (to avoid interference between the card-storage platform 200 and the card-returning channel 300) and to minimize the size of the mahjong machine, in this embodiment, the angle between the card-picking bracket 21 and the support arm 21b is a right angle.

[0051] It should be noted that both the edge of the shuffling plate 1 and the support body 21a are curved. Therefore, the "angle between the support arm 21b and the support body 21a" referred to in this embodiment refers to the angle between the support arm 21b and the "tangent 21f of the support body 21a where the connection between the support arm 21b and the support body 21a is located" (e.g., ...). Figure 2 ).

[0052] In this invention, the card-dispensing opening of the card-collecting channel 100 can be formed immediately after the card-collecting channel 100 leaves the card-suction wheel 22, at which point the card-collecting channel 100 is at its shortest. Alternatively, one or more conveying rollers 24 can be arranged on the side of the card-suction wheel 22 to extend the card-collecting channel 100, further shortening the distance between the card-dispensing opening of the card-collecting channel 100 and the center of the mahjong machine. In some cases, the conveying rollers 24 are not used to extend the length of the card-collecting channel 100, but rather to fill in the gaps between the card-dispensing opening of the card-collecting channel 100 and the top surface of the card-suction wheel 22.

[0053] In this embodiment, the conveying roller 24 is linked to the card-collecting roller 22, thereby saving one motor. Figure 3 As can be seen from the above, in this embodiment, the linkage between the conveying roller 24 and the card suction roller 22 is as follows: the card suction roller 22 has a coaxial drive gear 25 integrally formed on it, while the conveying roller 24 has a coaxial transmission gear 26 integrally formed on it. The transmission gear 26 meshes with the drive gear 25 through the reversing gear 27.

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the card-picking bracket 21 has an arc-shaped inner wall 21d corresponding to the position of the card-picking channel 100, from... Figure 3 As can be seen, the bottom of the arc-shaped inner wall 21d smoothly connects with the outer edge of the shuffling plate 1; when the mahjong tiles accidentally detach from the suction wheel 22 during the arc-shaped upward movement, they can fall back onto the shuffling plate 1 along the arc-shaped inner wall 21d of the support arm 21b.

[0055] Meanwhile, an inverted wedge surface 21e is formed on the card-picking bracket 21, which is adjacent to the arc-shaped inner wall 21d. The inverted wedge surface 21e can be a plane or a curved surface. The arc-shaped inner wall 21d and the inverted wedge surface 21e are arranged sequentially along the rotation direction of the shuffling plate 1. Thus, the area where the inverted wedge surface 21e is located becomes the extension area of ​​the arc-shaped inner wall 21d and also the buffer area of ​​the shuffling plate 1. Even if the mahjong tiles are pushed onto the inverted wedge surface 21e when they move on the shuffling plate 1, they will eventually fall down to the bottom of the arc-shaped inner wall 21d, which makes it easy for the card-picking wheel 22 to pick them up quickly.

[0056] The working principle of the mahjong machine tile-picking component in this embodiment is as follows:

[0057] During the arrangement of the tiles, the shuffling plate 1 rotates, and the mahjong tiles are distributed around the edge of the shuffling plate 1. The suction wheel 22 picks up the mahjong tiles that are located around the edge of the shuffling plate 1. The mahjong tiles are first transported to the outer edge of the shuffling plate 1 along the pick-up channel 100, and then turned upwards through the arc bend, and then transported to the tile outlet near the center of the mahjong machine. The mahjong tiles that are squeezed onto the inverted wedge surface 21e by other mahjong tiles will quickly fall back to the bottom of the arc inner wall 21d and be picked up by the suction wheel 22.

Claims

1. A method for picking up tiles in a mahjong machine, characterized in that, include: S1. Picking up the mahjong tiles one by one from the shuffling plate (1) and placing them outside the edge of the shuffling plate (1).

2. The card-picking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the card picking step, the card picking direction forms an angle of 45-135° with the edge tangent of the shuffling plate (1).

3. The card-picking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the card picking step, the card picking direction forms an angle of 60-120° with the edge tangent of the shuffling plate (1).

4. The card-picking method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the card picking step, the card picking direction forms a 90° angle with the edge tangent of the shuffling plate (1).

5. The card-picking method as described in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Also includes: S2, the conveying step of conveying the mahjong tiles one by one to the stacking and pushing assembly near the center of the mahjong machine.

6. The card-picking method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The card-picking path in step S1 and the conveying path in step S2 overlap or partially overlap in the vertical direction but are in opposite directions.

7. The card-picking method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The length of the conveying path in step S2 is greater than or equal to the length of the card picking path in step S1.

8. A mahjong machine, characterized in that, Arrange the cards using the card-picking method described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. The mahjong machine as described in claim 8, characterized in that, It includes a shuffling tray (1) and card picking components (2) located on the four sides of the shuffling tray (1). The card picking components (2) include a card suction wheel (22) rotatably connected to a card picking bracket (21). A C-shaped card picking channel is formed between the card suction wheel (22) and the card picking bracket (21). The card picking channel extends from the card inlet to the edge of the shuffling tray (1), then curves upward and extends towards the card outlet near the center of the shuffling tray (1).

10. The mahjong machine as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The card picking assembly (2) includes a card picking bracket (21), which includes a bracket body (21a) extending along the edge of the shuffling tray (1) and a support arm (21b) set at an angle to the bracket body (21a). The support arm (21b) extends downward to a mounting support (21c). The card suction wheel (22) is rotatably installed between the mounting support (21c) and the bracket body (21a) of the adjacent card picking bracket (21). The card-picking channel (100) has the same card-dispensing direction as the extension direction of the support arm (21b), and the card-in direction of the card-picking channel (100) is opposite to the card-dispensing direction of the card-picking channel.

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