Automatic mahjong machine capable of feeding mahjong tiles obliquely

Abstract

The utility model discloses an automatic mahjong machine capable of feeding mahjong tiles in an inclined mode, and solves the problem that in the prior art, the automatic mahjong machine capable of feeding mahjong tiles in an inclined mode is prone to falling of the mahjong tiles in the tile lifting process. The automatic mahjong machine comprises a table top and a mahjong lifting plate, the table top is provided with a mahjong lifting opening, the mahjong lifting plate swings and ascends and descends between a standby position where the mahjong lifting opening is closed and a mahjong lifting position where the mahjong lifting opening is opened relative to the table top, and the mahjong lifting plate comprises a mahjong inlet end and a mahjong outlet end. Mahjong tiles are pushed and lifted to the table top from the tile inlet end to the tile outlet end along the tile lifting plate at the tile lifting position, the tile lifting plate comprises a tile pushing guide face and a boss, the tile pushing guide face straightly extends from the tile inlet end to the tile outlet end, the boss is arranged close to the tile outlet end and protrudes out of the tile pushing guide face, and the mahjong tiles climb over the boss and are pushed and lifted to the table top in the tile lifting process. The boss is provided with a slow descending slope surface, the tile lifting plate is provided with a tile lifting highest point in the thickness direction, the tile lifting highest point is located on the slow descending slope surface, and the slope of the slow descending slope surface is gradually reduced in the tile pushing direction.

Description

Automatic mahjong machine with tilting mechanism Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automatic mahjong machines, and in particular to an automatic mahjong machine with tilted tile loading. Background Technology

[0002] An automatic mahjong machine with tilting tile loading includes a table and a lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism includes a lifting bracket, a tile-pushing slot, a tile-pushing component, and a tile-lifting plate. The tile-lifting plate is rotatably connected to the lifting bracket and swings up and down. The table has a tile-lifting opening that matches the tile-lifting plate. The shuffled mahjong tile stacks are arranged in the tile-pushing slot. The tile-lifting plate swings down and connects with the tile-pushing slot. The tile-pushing component pushes the mahjong tile stacks in the tile-pushing slot to the tile-lifting plate. The tile-lifting plate swings up and lifts the mahjong tile stacks onto the table.

[0003] The mahjong tiles in front are pushed down from the lifting plate onto the table by the tiles behind. During this fall, the tiles rotate around the highest point of the lifting plate. Due to the tilted design of the lifting plate, there is a certain angle α between the tiles and the table. This angle α increases the potential energy generated by the falling tiles, making it easier for the tiles on the upper part of the tile pile to fall. See Figure 13 for details, and Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. CN205145580U, entitled "Fully Automatic Mahjong Machine".

[0004] In the prior art, to avoid dropping the tiles, the above technical solution has been improved. For details, please refer to the Chinese invention patent application with publication number CN109011552A entitled "A Fully Automatic Mahjong Machine". By setting a guide surface with rounded or beveled corners at the rear end of the tile lifting plate, the transition of the mahjong tiles from the tile lifting plate to the table surface is more stable.

[0005] This improvement reduces the speed at which the mahjong tiles rotate and fall onto the table from the rear end of the lifting plate, thus reducing the probability of tiles from the top of the tile pile falling off the lifting plate. However, due to the rounded or angled transition of the guide surface at the rear end of the lifting plate, the height of the highest point of the rear end of the lifting plate during the lifting process is reduced, increasing the height difference between the rear end of the lifting plate and the upper edge of the table during the lifting process. This increases the angle β when the mahjong tiles are supported by both the edge of the lifting opening and the lifting plate. The increased angle β increases the potential energy of the mahjong tiles, making it easier for tiles from the top of the tile pile to fall off when they detach from the lifting plate and land on the table. See Figure 14 for details. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention proposes an automatic mahjong machine with tilted tile loading to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, thereby solving the problem that tiles are easily dropped during the tile loading process in existing automatic mahjong machines with tilted tile loading.

[0007] To achieve the above technical objectives, this utility model proposes an automatic mahjong machine with tilting tile lifting mechanism, comprising a table and a tile lifting plate. The table has a tile lifting opening, and the tile lifting plate swings and rises relative to the table between a standby position with the tile lifting opening closed and a tile lifting position with the tile lifting opening open. The tile lifting plate includes a tile-feeding end and a tile-discharging end. Mahjong tiles are pushed up onto the table from the tile-feeding end to the tile-discharging end along the tile lifting plate in the tile lifting position. The tile lifting plate includes a tile-pushing guide surface and a protrusion. The tile-pushing guide surface is flat from the tile-feeding end to the tile-discharging end. The protrusion extends straight out from the plane of the card-pushing guide surface, and is located near the card-dispensing end. During the card-raising process, the mahjong tile pushed along the card-pushing guide surface flips over the protrusion and is pushed onto the table surface. The protrusion has a gently sloping surface, and the card-raising plate has a highest point in the thickness direction. The highest point of the card-raising is located on the gently sloping surface. The slope of the gently sloping surface gradually decreases along the card-pushing direction, so that the contact part between the bottom surface of the mahjong tile and the gently sloping surface continuously moves forward along the card-pushing direction during the process of the mahjong tile flipping over the protrusion.

[0008] The automatic mahjong machine of this invention features a gently descent ramp that continuously moves forward to support the mahjong tiles as they rotate. As the mahjong tiles are pushed forward, the ramp provides continuous or multiple supports, thus slowing down the rotation of the tiles (i.e., during the process of the mahjong tiles rotating and falling from the lifting plate to the table, the tiles undergo multiple "contact-disengagement" processes with the ramp, causing the falling kinetic energy of the tiles to be consumed in stages). This reduces the speed of the tiles as they fall, resulting in a lower speed when the tiles contact the table and a smaller reaction force from the table. Consequently, it reduces the probability of the top tiles in the first stack of tiles falling during the lifting process.

[0009] The mahjong tile flips over the protrusion and is pushed onto the table surface. When the mahjong tile is supported by both the tile-lifting opening and the tile-lifting plate, the back of the mahjong tile is raised, which reduces the angle between the mahjong tile and the table surface. This reduces the potential energy of the mahjong tile when it is pushed off the tile-lifting plate and lands on the table surface, and lowers the speed when the mahjong tile makes full contact with the table surface.

[0010] Finally, because the mahjong tiles fall onto the table at a low speed, on the one hand, the risk of the tiles sliding on the table scratching the fabric layer is reduced, and on the other hand, the friction between the fabric layer and the mahjong tiles allows the first pile of tiles to stop quickly. There is no need to install magnets in the table to stop the tiles, thus reducing costs.

[0011] Preferably, the side of the protrusion facing the push-tile guide surface forms a tile-welcoming side, and the tile-welcoming side is provided with an ascending slope connecting the push-tile guide surface and the descending slope surface, and the mahjong tile is pushed up along the ascending slope surface to the descending slope surface.

[0012] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution and setting up an upward slope, the support position of the upper mahjong tile in the next stack of mahjong tiles on the previous stack is slightly further back than the support position of the lower mahjong tile on the previous stack. The upper mahjong tile in the previous stack is supported by the upper mahjong tile in the next stack of mahjong tiles, which allows the upper mahjong tile about to be pushed off the lifting plate to be offset further back relative to the lower mahjong tile in the pushing direction. It is this offset distance that increases the distance that the upper mahjong tile needs to slide forward and fall off the lower mahjong tile, thereby increasing the difficulty of the upper mahjong tile in the first stack of mahjong tiles falling off the lower mahjong tile, and thus reducing the probability of tiles falling during the automatic mahjong tile lifting process.

[0013] Preferably, the position where the rising slope connects to the card-pushing guide surface constitutes the rising starting point, and the straight-line distance between the rising starting point and the highest point of the card-pushing is less than the width of a mahjong tile.

[0014] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, when the previous stack of mahjong tiles is about to be pushed off the lifting plate, the next stack of mahjong tiles can support the previous stack of mahjong tiles more at an angle on the rising slope, further increasing the distance between the upper and lower mahjong tiles in the previous stack.

[0015] Preferably, the width of a mahjong tile is W, the angle between the mahjong tile supported on the table and the tile-raising plate and the table is β, the straight-line distance between the highest point of the tile-raising plate and the tile-pushing guide surface in the thickness direction of the tile-raising plate is H, and tanβ>H / W.

[0016] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, it is ensured that the corner of the previous stack of mahjong tiles is supported on the side of the next stack of mahjong tiles, thereby ensuring that the mahjong tiles that are about to be pushed off the tile-raising board are offset further back relative to the mahjong tiles that are below them in the direction of pushing.

[0017] Preferably, the side of the protrusion facing away from the card-pushing guide surface forms a back card side, and the back card side is provided with a descending slope. The descending slope is formed by one end of the gently descending slope extending along the card-pushing direction, and one end of the descending slope is connected to the card-dispensing end.

[0018] During the tile raising process, there is a gap between the descending slope and the mahjong tiles supported on the table and the tile raising plate, and the maximum value of the gap in the vertical direction is less than 3mm.

[0019] Using the aforementioned technical solution, the back side of the raised platform is connected and transitioned by a descending slope. When the lifting plate is in the standby position, the mahjong tiles on the lifting plate near the lifting opening will be arranged according to the shape of the descending slope. The descending slope can make the arrangement of mahjong tiles more neat. At the same time, by limiting the gap between the descending slope of the lifting plate and the mahjong tiles during the lifting process, the drop difference between the descending slope and the lifting opening of the lifting plate in the standby position can be reduced, thereby making the mahjong tiles on the table more neat.

[0020] Preferably, during the tile raising process, the mahjong tiles are pushed away from the tile raising plate under the support of the table surface and the gentle descent slope. The mahjong tile support position on the gentle descent slope forms a tile pushing support part. The starting point of the gentle descent slope along the tile pushing direction is the gentle descent starting point, and the tile pushing support part is higher than the gentle descent starting point in the vertical direction.

[0021] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, it is ensured that the descent ramp provides sufficient descent for the mahjong tiles, reducing the speed at which the tiles rotate and fall onto the table, and decreasing the probability of the tiles falling off.

[0022] Preferably, during the card-raising process, the card-pushing support is not higher than the upper surface of the table in the vertical direction.

[0023] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the mahjong tiles supported by the table surface and the push-tile support will not tilt to one side of the table surface. This avoids the tendency of the mahjong tiles to slide forward when they rotate and fall to the point where they are simultaneously supported by the table surface and the push-tile support, thereby reducing the probability of the mahjong tiles falling during this stage.

[0024] Preferably, the descent slope is provided with a descent surface and a support plane along the pushing direction. The slope of the descent surface gradually decreases along the pushing direction, and the support plane extends from one end of the descent surface along the pushing direction. The mahjong tiles are pushed away from the lifting plate under the support of the table surface and the support plane. The pushing support part is the support plane.

[0025] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the tilt angle of the supporting plane is the same as the tilt angle when the mahjong tile is pushed away from the lifting plate. When the mahjong tile rotates and falls onto the table, one end of the mahjong tile is supported on the table and the other end is supported on the supporting plane. The supporting plane increases the area of ​​the lifting plate that absorbs the impact force of the mahjong tile rotating and falling. On the one hand, it reduces the impact force on the table and the reaction force of the table on the mahjong tile. On the other hand, it also disperses the reaction force of the supporting plane on the mahjong tile, reducing the jumping caused by the reaction force, thereby greatly reducing the probability of the mahjong tile falling.

[0026] Preferably, the gently sloping surface is a convex arc surface, and the slope of the tangent direction of the convex arc surface gradually decreases along the pushing direction; or,

[0027] The descent slope is composed of at least two planes, the slope of which gradually decreases along the direction of pushing the card; or, the descent slope is composed of at least one plane and at least one outwardly convex arc surface, the slope of which gradually decreases along the direction of pushing the card.

[0028] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the descent slope can provide continuous or multiple descent support for the mahjong tiles at the end of the lifting plate during the rotation and fall process, thereby reducing the speed of the mahjong tiles due to rotation and fall, and thus reducing the reaction force of the table surface on the mahjong tiles, reducing the probability of the mahjong tiles at the top of the first pile of mahjong tiles falling during the lifting process.

[0029] Preferably, the descent slope extends along the width direction of the lifting plate.

[0030] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the descent slope extends along the width of the tile-lifting plate, increasing the support area of ​​the descent slope on the mahjong tiles, improving the stability of the mahjong tiles moving on the descent slope, and also helping to enhance the descent effect of the descent slope on the mahjong tiles.

[0031] Preferably, the rising slope extends along the width direction of the lifting plate.

[0032] By adopting the aforementioned technical solution, the rising slope extends along the width of the tile-lifting plate, increasing the supporting area of ​​the rising slope on the mahjong tiles and improving the stability of the mahjong tiles moving on the rising slope.

[0033] These features and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed in detail in the following specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the table and lifting mechanism of the automatic mahjong machine in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0035] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of point A in Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the card-raising plate in the card-raising state in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0037] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of point B in Figure 3;

[0038] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the mahjong tiles about to be pushed away from the lifting plate, the lifting plate, and the table surface in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0039] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the mahjong tiles that will be rotated and dropped from the tile-lifting plate, the tile-lifting plate, and the table surface in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0040] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the mahjong tiles supported by the tile-lifting plate and the table surface in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0041] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the mahjong tiles in an intermediate state between Figure 6 and Figure 7;

[0042] Figure 9 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a portion of the card-raising board;

[0043] Figure 10 is another schematic diagram of the mahjong tiles about to be pushed away from the tile-lifting plate, the tile-lifting plate, and the table surface in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0044] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the card-raising board in Figure 10;

[0045] Figure 12 shows another schematic diagram of the card-raising plate in the standby position;

[0046] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a tile-raising board and a mahjong tile stack in a prior art tile-pushing state.

[0047] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the tile-raising board and the mahjong tile stack in another prior art state.

[0048] Figure label:

[0049] 100. Tabletop; 110. Card-raising opening;

[0050] 200, Lifting mechanism; 210, Lifting bracket; 220, Card pusher slot;

[0051] 300. Lifting plate; 301. Rotating connection point; 302. Card entry end; 303. Card exit end; 304. Card pushing guide surface; 305. Highest point of lifting plate; 310. Plug; 311. Card facing side; 312. Card back side; 313. Rising slope; 3131. Rising starting point; 314. Gradual descent slope; 3141. Gradual descent starting point; 3142. Gradual descent surface; 3143. Support plane; 3144. Card pushing support part; 3145. Top surface; 315. Falling slope.

[0052] 400. Mahjong tiles. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present utility model and not all of them. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in the implementation methods without creative effort are all within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0054] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0055] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" or "several" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly defined.

[0056] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0057] Referring to Figure 13, in the prior art, due to the inclined setting of the lifting plate 300, there is a certain inclination angle β between the mahjong tile stack 400 and the table surface 100. When the mahjong tile stack 400 falls from the lifting plate 300, it has a large potential energy, which makes the mahjong tiles on the top of the tile stack easy to fall off.

[0058] Referring to Figure 14, in another prior art, the lifting plate 300 is also tilted. Since the rear end of the lifting plate 300 has rounded corners or chamfers, the height difference between the rear end of the lifting plate 300 and the upper edge of the table 100 is increased. This results in a larger tilt angle α of the mahjong tile pile 400, which is supported by the edge of the lifting opening 110 and the rear end of the lifting plate 300. The larger tilt angle α increases the potential energy of the mahjong tile pile 400, causing the mahjong tiles on the top of the pile to easily fall off when the mahjong tile pile 400 detaches from the lifting plate 300 and falls onto the table 100.

[0059] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, the automatic mahjong machine with tilting tile loading proposed in this embodiment of the present invention includes a table 100 and a tile lifting plate 300. The table 100 has a tile lifting opening 110. The tile lifting plate 300 swings up and down relative to the table 100 between a standby position with the tile lifting opening 110 closed and a tile lifting position with the tile lifting opening 110 open. The tile lifting plate 300 includes a tile feeding end 302 and a tile dispensing end 303. The mahjong tiles 400 are pushed up to the table 100 from the tile feeding end 302 to the tile dispensing end 303 along the tile lifting plate 300 in the tile lifting position.

[0060] Specifically, the automatic mahjong machine also includes a lifting mechanism 200, which includes a lifting bracket 210 and a tile-pushing slot 220. The tile-pushing slot 220 is used to store the shuffled mahjong tiles 400. The tile-lifting plate 300 is rotatably connected to the lifting bracket 210 and swings up and down around the rotation connection point 301. When the tile-lifting plate 300 swings up, it closes the tile-lifting opening 110. When the tile-lifting plate 300 is in the tile-lifting position, one end of it is connected to the tile-pushing slot 220. The mahjong tiles 400 are pushed out of the tile-lifting opening 110 by the tile-lifting plate 300 and pushed onto the table surface 100.

[0061] The lifting mechanism 200 in this embodiment can be referenced in Chinese invention patent application CN115721922A, entitled "Drive Device for Mahjong Machine Lifting Mechanism 200," which describes the mahjong machine lifting mechanism 200 and the mahjong machine. In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism 200 is provided in four groups, and the four groups of lifting mechanisms 200 are independent of each other and do not overlap.

[0062] The card-pushing slot 220 in this embodiment includes a card-inlet and a card-outlet, and forms an arc-shaped curved structure with a bending angle greater than 180° from the card-inlet to the card-outlet. In this embodiment, there are four card-pushing slots 220, which are located at the four corners of the mahjong machine. The four card-pushing slots 220 are independent of each other and do not overlap. For details, please refer to the Chinese invention patent application with publication number CN109011550A, entitled "Rapid Card Lifting Mahjong Machine Card-Pushing Device and Mahjong Machine".

[0063] In some other embodiments, the card pusher slot 220 may also be configured as having a card inlet and a card outlet, and the card pusher slot to the card outlet is curved at an angle of less than or equal to 180°. There are four card pusher slots 220 arranged in a windmill shape, as detailed in Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. CN205340092U, entitled "Fully Automatic Mahjong Machine".

[0064] Two mahjong tiles 400 are stacked one on top of the other in the pusher slot 220 to form a tile stack. The stack of mahjong tiles 400 is then pushed up to the table surface 100 by the lifting plate 300 through the lifting opening 110.

[0065] In this embodiment, the tile-lifting plate 300 includes a tile-pushing guide surface 304 and a boss 310 protruding from the tile-pushing guide surface 304. During the tile-lifting process, the mahjong tile 400, pushed along the tile-pushing guide surface 304, flips over the boss 310 and is pushed onto the table surface 100. The boss 310 has a gently sloping surface 314. The tile-lifting plate 300 has a highest tile-lifting point 305 in the thickness direction. The highest tile-lifting point 305 is located on the gently sloping surface 314. The slope of the gently sloping surface 314 gradually decreases along the tile-pushing direction, so that during the process of the mahjong tile 400 flipping over the boss 310, the contact part between the bottom surface 401 of the mahjong tile and the gently sloping surface 314 continuously moves forward along the tile-pushing direction.

[0066] The phrase "the contact area between the bottom surface 401 of the mahjong tile and the gently sloping surface 314 continuously moves forward along the direction of pushing the tile" means that the gently sloping surface 314 can continuously move forward as the mahjong tile 400 rotates, thus moving its supporting position on the mahjong tile 400.

[0067] In the prior art, when the mahjong tile 400 is pushed up until its center of gravity is about to pass the highest point of the lifting plate 300, there is an angle α between the mahjong tile 400 and the table surface 100. The mahjong tile 400 rotates and falls from the lifting plate 300 until one end of the mahjong tile 400 lands on the table surface 100 and the other end is supported on the lifting plate 300. At this point, there is an angle β between the mahjong tile 400 and the table surface 100. During the rotational fall of the mahjong tile 400 from the lifting plate 300, the angle between the mahjong tile 400 and the table surface 100 gradually decreases from α to β, causing the rotational speed of the mahjong tile 400 to gradually increase and reach its maximum when one end of the mahjong tile 400 contacts the table surface 100. The high speed of the mahjong tiles 400 causes a significant reaction force from the table surface 100. Since the mahjong tiles 400 are stacked vertically to form a tile pile, this reaction force makes it easy for the uppermost mahjong tile in the first pile to fall off. For details, please refer to Chinese Utility Model Patent Publication No. CN205145580U, entitled "Fully Automatic Mahjong Machine," and Figure 13.

[0068] In subsequent improvements, a guide surface with rounded or beveled corners was added to the rear end of the tile-lifting plate to make the transition of the mahjong tiles from the lifting plate to the table surface smoother. However, the rounded or beveled corners of the guide surface at the rear end of the lifting plate reduce the height of the highest point of the rear end of the lifting plate during the tile-lifting process, increasing the height difference between the rear end of the lifting plate and the upper edge of the table surface during the tile-lifting process, and increasing the included angle β when the mahjong tiles are supported by the edge of the lifting opening and the lifting plate simultaneously. For details, please refer to Chinese invention patent application CN109011552A, entitled "A Fully Automatic Mahjong Machine," and Figure 14.

[0069] In this embodiment of the automatic mahjong machine, referring to Figures 6 to 9, during the process of the mahjong tile 400 rotating and falling from the lifting plate 300, that is, during the process of the mahjong tile 400 and the table surface 100 changing from α to β, the mahjong tile 400 is supported by the descending slope 314 and slowly descends to the table surface 100. Furthermore, since the mahjong tile 400 is pushed up to the table surface 100 by flipping over the protrusion 310, the vertical height of the mahjong tile 400 is increased. When the mahjong tile 400 is supported by the table surface 100 and the lifting plate 300 at the same time, the rear part of the mahjong tile 400 is raised, so that the included angle β can be reduced.

[0070] This utility model discloses an automatic mahjong machine with tilting tile loading. During the rotation and descent of the mahjong tiles 400 on the tile lifting plate 300, the tilt angle of the mahjong tiles 400 gradually decreases, causing the center of gravity of the mahjong tiles 400 to shift forward. The gradual decrease in the slope of the descending ramp 314 in the pushing direction allows the ramp 314 to continuously move forward to support the mahjong tiles 400 as they rotate. As the mahjong tiles 400 are pushed forward, the descending ramp 314 can continuously or repeatedly support the mahjong tiles 400, thus supporting their rotation. The slow-descent effect (i.e., during the process of the mahjong tile 400 rotating and falling from the lifting plate 300 to the table surface 100, the mahjong tile 400 undergoes multiple "contact-disengagement" processes with the slow-descent slope 314, so that the falling kinetic energy of the mahjong tile 400 is consumed in stages) reduces the speed of the mahjong tile 400 due to its rotational fall, resulting in a smaller speed when the mahjong tile 400 contacts the table surface 100, and a smaller reaction force from the table surface 100 on the mahjong tile 400, thereby reducing the probability of the mahjong tile 400 at the top of the first pile of mahjong tiles 400 falling during the lifting process.

[0071] At the same time, the mahjong tile 400 flips over the protrusion 310 and is pushed onto the table surface. When the mahjong tile 400 is supported by the tile lifting opening 110 and the tile lifting plate 300, the rear part of the mahjong tile 400 is raised, which reduces the angle (i.e., angle β) between the mahjong tile 400 and the table surface 100. This reduces the potential energy of the mahjong tile 400 when it is pushed away from the tile lifting plate 300 and falls onto the table surface 100, and reduces the speed of the mahjong tile 400 when it fully contacts the table surface 100.

[0072] Finally, since the mahjong tiles 400 fall onto the tabletop 100 at a low speed, on the one hand, the risk of the mahjong tiles 400 sliding on the tabletop 100 scratching the cloth layer of the tabletop 100 is reduced; on the other hand, the friction between the cloth layer of the tabletop 100 and the mahjong tiles 400 can make the first pile of mahjong tiles 400 stop quickly, and there is no need to install magnets in the tabletop 100 to stop the mahjong tiles 400, thereby reducing costs.

[0073] In this embodiment, both the tabletop 100 and the card-raising plate 300 are provided with a card-supporting layer. The card-supporting layer is usually made of a flexible material, such as a velvet layer.

[0074] Based on the foregoing embodiments, in one embodiment, the specific structure of the descent slope 314 is described. In this embodiment, the descent slope 314 is an outwardly convex arc surface, and the slope of the tangent direction of the outwardly convex arc surface gradually decreases.

[0075] In this way, the descent ramp 314 can continuously provide descent support for the mahjong tiles 400 at the end of the lifting plate 300 during the rotation and falling process, thereby reducing the speed of the mahjong tiles 400 due to rotation and falling, and thus reducing the reaction force of the table surface 100 on the mahjong tiles 400, reducing the probability of the mahjong tiles 400 at the top of the first pile of mahjong tiles 400 falling during the lifting process.

[0076] In another embodiment, regarding the specific structure of the descent slope 314, based on the foregoing embodiments, in this embodiment, the descent slope 314 is composed of at least two planes, and the slope of the at least two planes gradually decreases along the pushing direction.

[0077] In some other embodiments, the descent slope 314 is composed of at least one plane and at least one convex arc surface, the slope of which gradually decreases in the direction of pushing the card.

[0078] In this way, the descent ramp 314 can provide multiple descent supports for the mahjong tiles 400 at the end of the lifting plate 300 during the rotation and fall process, thereby reducing the speed of the mahjong tiles 400 due to rotation and fall, and thus reducing the reaction force of the table surface 100 on the mahjong tiles 400, and reducing the probability of the mahjong tiles 400 at the top of the first pile of mahjong tiles 400 falling during the lifting process.

[0079] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 to 9, in one embodiment, the side of the boss 310 facing the push-tile guide surface 304 forms a tile-welcoming side 311. The tile-welcoming side 311 is provided with an ascending slope 313 connecting the push-tile guide surface 304 and the descending slope 314. The mahjong tile 400 is pushed up along the ascending slope 313 to the descending slope 314.

[0080] During the lifting process, the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 pushes against the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 to cross the gently descending slope 314. When the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is about to be pushed off the lifting plate 300, because the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 moves towards the direction of crossing the protrusion 310, the position of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 is lower than that of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400, and the corner of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is supported on the side of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400. Since the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 has a certain tilt angle relative to the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400, the distance between the upper and lower parts of the mahjong tiles 400 in the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 in the height direction of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is the cosine of the tilt angle between the two stacks of mahjong tiles multiplied by the height of a mahjong tile 400. Therefore, the support position of the upper part of the mahjong tile 400 in the previous stack on the upper part of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 is higher than the support position of the lower part of the mahjong tile 400 in the previous stack on the lower part of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400. The two support positions have a difference in the height direction of the mahjong tiles 400. Furthermore, since the rear stack of mahjong tiles 400 is tilted, and the corner of the front stack of mahjong tiles 400 is supported on the side of the rear stack of mahjong tiles 400, the difference between the two support positions in the height direction of the mahjong tiles 400 results in different support positions for the upper and lower mahjong tiles 400. This allows the upper mahjong tiles 400 of the front stack to be further offset from the lower mahjong tiles 400 of the front stack by a small distance.

[0081] The formula for calculating the further offset distance between the upper and lower mahjong tiles is: tanθ*Hm*(1-cosθ). Where Hm is the height of a mahjong tile, and θ is the angle between the previous stack of mahjong tiles (40°) and the next stack of mahjong tiles (40°).

[0082] By setting an upward slope, the support position of the upper mahjong tile 400 in the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 on the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is slightly further back than the support position of the lower mahjong tile 400 on the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400. The upper mahjong tile 400 in the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is supported by the upper mahjong tile 400 in the next stack of mahjong tiles 400. This allows the upper mahjong tile 400 in the mahjong tiles 400 that is about to be pushed off the tile-raising plate 300 to be offset further back relative to the lower mahjong tile 400 in the pushing direction. It is this offset distance that increases the distance that the upper mahjong tile 400 needs to slide forward and fall off the lower mahjong tile 400. This increases the difficulty of the upper mahjong tile 400 in the first stack of mahjong tiles 400 falling off the lower mahjong tile 400, thereby reducing the probability of tiles falling during the automatic mahjong tile raising process.

[0083] In this embodiment, the descent slope 314 includes a top surface 3145 located at the highest position of the lifting plate 300 in a direction perpendicular to the pushing guide surface 304. The top surface 3145 is planar and has the same slope as the pushing guide surface 304. The rising slope 313 connects to the top surface 3145, and any point on the top surface 3145 is the highest point of the lifting plate 300. The slope of the descent slope 314 gradually decreases along the pushing direction starting from the end point of the top surface 3145.

[0084] In some other embodiments, the descending slope 314 may be directly connected to the ascending slope 313, and the connection point of the two constitutes the highest point 305 of the lifting plate 300 in the direction perpendicular to the pushing guide surface 304.

[0085] To ensure that the corners of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 are supported on the sides of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400, based on the aforementioned embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, in one embodiment, the angle between the mahjong tiles 400 on the rising slope 313 and the push-tile guide surface 304 is smaller than the angle between the mahjong tiles 400 supported on the table surface 100 and the lifting plate 300 and the table surface 100, thereby ensuring that the corners of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 are supported on the sides of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400. Specifically, the width of a mahjong tile is W, the angle between the mahjong tiles 400 supported on the table surface 100 and the lifting plate 300 and the table surface 100 is β, and the straight-line distance between the highest point 305 of the lifting plate 300 in the thickness direction and the push-tile guide surface 304 is H, where tanβ > H / W.

[0086] Taking an angle of β of 3° and a mahjong tile width of 40mm as an example, H is calculated to be less than 2.09mm.

[0087] This arrangement ensures that the corner of the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is supported by the side of the next stack of mahjong tiles 400, thereby ensuring that the upper mahjong tiles 400 of the mahjong tiles 400 that are about to be pushed away from the lifting plate 300 are offset further back relative to the lower mahjong tiles 400 in the pushing direction.

[0088] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 to 9, in one embodiment, the rising slope 313 smoothly connects to the push card guide surface 304, and the rising slope 313 extends smoothly along the push card direction.

[0089] In this embodiment, the rising slope 313 includes a plane connected to the push card plane 304, and the two are connected by a rounded transition at the connection position.

[0090] In some other embodiments, the rising slope 313 may also include an arc surface connected to the push card plane 304, with the two transitioning at the connection point in an arc, and the slope of the arc surface does not change abruptly along the push card direction.

[0091] In some other embodiments, the rising slope 313 may also be composed of multiple smooth surfaces connected in sequence. The smooth surfaces may be planes or curved surfaces.

[0092] With the above settings, the smooth extension of the rising slope 313 means that there are no corners on the rising slope 313, and the rising slope 313 and the pushing plate 304 transition smoothly, so that the mahjong tile 400 can maintain smooth movement when it is pushed onto the rising plate 300 and moves on the rising plate 300, improving the smoothness and stability of the mahjong tile 400 during movement, reducing sudden acceleration during the movement of the mahjong tile 400, and helping to reduce the probability of dropping the tile.

[0093] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, in one embodiment, the position where the rising slope 313 connects to the card-pushing guide surface 304 constitutes the rising starting point, and the straight-line distance between the rising starting point 3131 and the highest point of the card-pushing 305 is less than the width of a mahjong tile 400.

[0094] This design allows the next stack of mahjong tiles 400 to support the previous stack more at an angle on the rising slope 313 when the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400 is about to be pushed away from the lifting plate 300, further increasing the staggered distance between the upper and lower mahjong tiles in the previous stack of mahjong tiles 400.

[0095] Based on the aforementioned embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 to 11, in one embodiment, during the tile raising process, the mahjong tile 400 is pushed away from the tile raising plate 300 under the support of the table surface 100 and the gentle slope surface 314. The mahjong tile support position on the gentle slope surface 314 forms a tile pushing support part 3144. The starting point of the gentle slope surface 314 along the tile pushing direction is the gentle descent starting point 3141, and the tile pushing support part 3144 is higher than the gentle descent starting point 3141 in the vertical direction.

[0096] The table surface 100 supporting the mahjong tiles 400 is located at the upper edge of the tile-raising opening 110 near the tile-playing end 303 of the tile-raising plate 300.

[0097] The push-tile support part 3144 is higher than the descent starting point 3141 in the vertical direction, which means that the mahjong tile 400 can be affected by the descent effect of the descent slope 314 at the position between the descent starting point 3141 and the push-tile support part 3144 on the descent slope 314.

[0098] The above settings ensure that the descent ramp 314 provides sufficient descent for the mahjong tiles 400, reducing the speed at which the mahjong tiles 400 rotate and fall onto the table 100, and decreasing the probability of the mahjong tiles 400 falling.

[0099] Based on the foregoing embodiments, in one embodiment, during the card-raising process, the card-pushing support 3144 is not higher than the upper surface of the table 100 in the vertical direction.

[0100] This design ensures that the mahjong tiles 400, supported by the tabletop 100 and the push-tile support 3144, will not tilt towards the tabletop 100. This prevents the mahjong tiles 400 from sliding forward when they rotate and fall to the point where they are simultaneously supported by the tabletop 100 and the push-tile support 3144, thus reducing the probability of the mahjong tiles 400 falling during this stage.

[0101] Understandably, the push-tile support 3144 provides support for the mahjong tile 400 throughout the process from its contact with the table surface 100 until it is pushed away from the tile-lifting plate 300. The push-tile support 3144 can be located on the support line of the descent slope 314, or it can be a support surface.

[0102] When the push-tile support 3144 is a support line, it can be located at the end point of the descending slope 314 or at the middle of the descending slope 314. When the descending slope 314 is an arc surface, since the tilt angle of the mahjong tile 400 supported by the table surface 100 and the push-tile support 3144 is fixed, the direction of the slope of the descending slope 314 at the support line position is consistent with the direction of the tilt angle of the mahjong tile 400 relative to the horizontal plane. When the descending slope 314 is composed of multiple segments connected sequentially, the support line can be at the corner of two adjacent segments, with the slope of the descending slope 314 on one side of the corner greater than the tilt angle of the mahjong tile 400, and the slope on the other side less than the tilt angle of the mahjong tile.

[0103] It should be noted that when the support line is located in the middle of the descent slope 314, the descent slope 314 located beyond the support line along the pushing direction does not actually play a descent role.

[0104] In this preferred embodiment, during the card-raising process, the card-pushing support part 3144 is lower than the upper surface of the table surface 100 in the vertical direction.

[0105] This design ensures that when the mahjong tiles 400 are supported by both the table surface 100 and the tile-pushing support 3144, the mahjong tiles 400 tend to slide towards the lifting plate 300. This sliding tendency makes it difficult for the mahjong tiles 400 at the top of the stack to move forward and fall even if they have a certain inertia due to rotation, thus further reducing the probability of falling.

[0106] In one embodiment, based on the foregoing embodiments, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, the side of the boss 310 facing away from the push-tile guide surface 304 forms a back tile side 312. A descending slope 315 is provided on the back tile side 312. The descending slope 315 is formed by one end of a gently sloping slope 314 extending along the push-tile direction. One end of the descending slope 315 is connected to the end face of the lifting plate 300 near the rotation connection point 301. During the tile lifting process, there is a gap between the descending slope 315 and the mahjong tiles 400 supported on the table surface 100 and the lifting plate 300, and the maximum value of the gap in the vertical direction is less than 3 mm.

[0107] During the tile raising process, the descending slope 315 does not come into contact with the mahjong tiles 400. The descending slope 315 only needs to be no higher than the upper end of the ascending slope 313. However, when the tile raising plate 300 is horizontal and fills the tile raising opening 110, the mahjong tiles 400 will also be arranged on the descending slope 315, and there is a certain drop between the descending slope 315 and the upper edge of the tile raising opening 110. This drop may cause one end of the mahjong tile 400 to fall between the tile raising opening 110 and the descending slope 315, causing the mahjong tile 400 to tilt.

[0108] With the above configuration, the back side 312 of the protrusion 310 is connected and transitioned by the descending slope 315. When the lifting plate 300 is in the standby position, the mahjong tiles 400 on the lifting plate 300 near the lifting opening 110 will be arranged according to the shape of the descending slope 315. The descending slope 315 can make the arrangement of the mahjong tiles 400 more neat. At the same time, by limiting the gap between the descending slope 315 of the lifting plate 300 and the mahjong tiles 400 during the lifting process, the drop difference between the descending slope 315 and the lifting opening 110 of the lifting plate 300 in the standby position can be reduced, thereby making the mahjong tiles 400 on the table 100 more neatly arranged.

[0109] In one embodiment, based on the aforementioned embodiment, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the descent slope 314 is provided with a descent surface 3142 and a support plane 3143 along the pushing direction. The slope of the descent surface 3142 gradually decreases along the pushing direction, and the support plane 3143 extends from one end of the descent surface 3142 along the pushing direction. During the lifting process, the tilt angle of the support plane 3143 is consistent with the tilt angle when the mahjong tile 400 is pushed away from the lifting plate. The pushing support part 3144 is the support plane 3143.

[0110] The descent surface 3142 can be a convex arc surface; or it can be composed of multiple smooth surfaces connected in sequence. The smooth surface can be a plane or a convex arc surface. The slope of the descent slope 314 gradually decreases along the pushing direction on the descent surface 3142, and the slope of the supporting plane 3143 is not greater than the slope of the descent surface 3142 at the connection point between the two.

[0111] With the above settings, the tilt angle of the support plane 3143 is the same as the tilt angle of the mahjong tile 400 when it is pushed away from the lifting plate 300. When the mahjong tile 400 rotates and falls onto the table surface 100 (i.e., when the tilt angle of the mahjong tile 400 changes from α to β), one end of the mahjong tile 400 is supported on the table surface 100, and the other end is supported on the support plane 3143. The support plane 3143 increases the absorption area of ​​the lifting plate 300 for the impact force of the mahjong tile 400 rotating and falling. On the one hand, it reduces the impact force on the table surface 100 and the reaction force of the table surface 100 on the mahjong tile 400. On the other hand, it also disperses the reaction force of the support plane 3143 on the mahjong tile 400, reducing the jumping caused by the reaction force on the mahjong tile 400, thereby greatly reducing the probability of the mahjong tile 400 falling.

[0112] It should be noted that the support plane 3143 can extend to the edge of the lifting plate 300 near the rotation connection point 301, thereby replacing the descending slope 315. The two can be connected at an angle, or they can be connected by rounded corners or chamfers. The support plane 3143 can also extend to a certain length, and the descending slope 315 extends from one end of the support plane 3143 along the pushing direction and connects to the edge of the lifting plate 300 near the rotation connection point 301.

[0113] Understandably, due to factors such as processing precision, assembly errors, thermal expansion and contraction of materials, and unevenness of the mahjong tile surface, the supporting plane 3143 cannot actually fit entirely against the lower end of the mahjong tile 400. At least part of the supporting plane 3143 can fit against the mahjong tile 400 and support it, but the implementation of the technical solution can still be guaranteed.

[0114] Among them, the support plane 3143 can extend to the end face of the lifting plate 300 near the rotation connection point 301, which helps to reduce the height difference between the lifting plate 300 and the lifting opening 110 when the lifting plate 300 is in a horizontal state.

[0115] In one embodiment, based on the foregoing embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 12, the rising slope 313 extends along the width direction of the lifting plate 300.

[0116] As shown in Figure 2, the rising slope 313 can be an extension from one end of the lifting plate 300 along the width direction of the lifting plate 300 to the other end.

[0117] As shown in Figure 12, the rising slope 313 can also be provided in multiple ways along the width of the lifting plate 300 and spaced apart.

[0118] The rising slope 313 extends along the width of the tile-lifting plate 300, increasing the support area of ​​the rising slope 313 on the mahjong tile 400 and improving the stability of the mahjong tile 400 moving on the rising slope 313.

[0119] In one embodiment, based on the foregoing embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 12, the descent slope 314 extends along the width direction of the lifting plate 300.

[0120] As shown in Figure 2, the gentle slope 314 can be an extension from one end of the lifting plate 300 along the width direction of the lifting plate 300 to the other end.

[0121] As shown in Figure 12, the descent slope 314 can also be provided in multiple spaced intervals along the width of the lifting plate 300.

[0122] The descent ramp 314 extends along the width of the tile-lifting plate 300, increasing the support area of ​​the descent ramp 314 on the mahjong tile 400, improving the stability of the mahjong tile 400 moving on the descent ramp 314, and also helping to improve the descent effect of the descent ramp 314 on the mahjong tile 400.

[0123] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model includes, but is not limited to, the content described in the accompanying drawings and the specific embodiments above. Any modifications that do not depart from the functional and structural principles of this utility model will be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic mahjong machine with tilting tile lifting mechanism, comprising a table and a tile lifting plate, wherein the table has a tile lifting opening, and the tile lifting plate swings and rises relative to the table between a standby position with the tile lifting opening closed and a tile lifting position with the tile lifting opening open. The tile lifting plate includes a tile-feeding end and a tile-discharging end, and mahjong tiles are pushed up onto the table from the tile-feeding end to the tile-discharging end along the tile lifting plate in the tile lifting position, characterized in that: The tile-lifting plate includes a tile-pushing guide surface and a protrusion. The tile-pushing guide surface extends straight from the tile-in end to the tile-out end. The protrusion is located near the tile-out end and protrudes from the plane of the tile-pushing guide surface. During the tile-lifting process, the mahjong tile pushed along the tile-pushing guide surface flips over the protrusion and is pushed onto the table surface. The protrusion has a gently sloping surface. The tile-lifting plate has a highest point in the thickness direction. The highest point of the tile-lifting is located on the gently sloping surface. The slope of the gently sloping surface gradually decreases along the tile-pushing direction, so that the contact part between the bottom surface of the mahjong tile and the gently sloping surface continuously moves forward along the tile-pushing direction during the process of the mahjong tile flipping over the protrusion.

2. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the protrusion facing the push-tile guide surface forms the tile-welcoming side. The tile-welcoming side is provided with an ascending slope that connects the push-tile guide surface and the descending slope. The mahjong tile is pushed up along the ascending slope to the descending slope.

3. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The position where the rising slope connects to the card-pushing guide surface constitutes the starting point of the rise, and the straight-line distance between the starting point of the rise and the highest point of the rise is less than the width of a mahjong tile.

4. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The width of a mahjong tile is W, the angle between the mahjong tile supported on the table and the tile-raising plate and the table is β, the straight-line distance between the highest point of the tile-raising plate and the tile-pushing guide surface in the thickness direction of the tile-raising plate is H, and tanβ>H / w.

5. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The side of the protrusion facing away from the push-tile guide surface forms a back tile side. The back tile side is provided with a descending slope. The descending slope is formed by one end of the gently descending slope extending along the push-tile direction. One end of the descending slope is connected to the tile-dispensing end. During the tile-raising process, there is a gap between the descending slope and the mahjong tiles supported on the table and the tile-raising plate, and the maximum value of the gap in the vertical direction is less than 3mm.

6. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, During the tile raising process, the mahjong tiles are pushed away from the tile raising plate under the support of the table surface and the gentle slope. The mahjong tile support position on the gentle slope forms a tile pushing support part. The starting point of the gentle slope along the tile pushing direction is the gentle descent starting point, and the tile pushing support part is higher than the gentle descent starting point in the vertical direction.

7. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 6, characterized in that, During the card-raising process, the card-pushing support part shall not be higher than the upper surface of the table in the vertical direction.

8. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The descent slope is provided with a descent surface and a support plane along the pushing direction. The slope of the descent surface gradually decreases along the pushing direction. The support plane extends from one end of the descent surface along the pushing direction. The mahjong tiles are pushed away from the lifting plate under the support of the table surface and the support plane. The pushing support part is the support plane.

9. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The descent slope is a convex arc surface, and the slope of the tangent direction of the convex arc surface gradually decreases along the pushing direction; or, the descent slope is composed of at least two planes, and the slope of the at least two planes gradually decreases along the pushing direction; or, the descent slope is composed of at least one plane and at least one convex arc surface, and the slope of the at least one plane and the at least one convex arc surface gradually decreases along the pushing direction.

10. The automatic mahjong machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The gentle slope extends along the width of the lifting plate.

11. The automatic mahjong machine as described in claim 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that, The rising slope extends along the width of the lifting plate.

Images