JPS58165880A - Automatic mah-jongg apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic mahjong device that can automatically stir the tiles, turn them in a predetermined direction, align them, set them at a predetermined location on a table, etc.

In general, an automatic mahjong machine mainly consists of a tile dropping opening provided on a tabletop, a platform that stirs the tiles dropped from the opening,
Pick up a tile facing the specified direction from the board.

It consists of a tile transfer means for transferring the tiles to the tile alignment table, a means for transferring the completed tile castle wall on the tile alignment table to a predetermined location on the table, and the like.

In particular, the automatic mahjong device of the present invention is characterized in that the magnetic tiles stirred by the base are sorted into those oriented in a predetermined direction and those not oriented, and only the tiles oriented in a predetermined direction are placed above the base. Conveying means (magnetic) that automatically conveys to the alignment area e
We are prepared.

As an automatic mahjong machine equipped with such a conveyance means, there has been a conventional machine as shown in Figs. , an inclined rotary disk 1 having the function of stirring the tiles dropped from the tile drop opening on the table and directing them in a predetermined direction; and a correspondingly horizontally arranged inclined rotating disk 1 above the inclined rotating disk 1. The tile 3, which has been stirred and directed in a predetermined direction and approaches the suction area A of the inclined rotary inner plate 1, is picked up by the magnet 4 of the suction ring 2 (Fig. 3). (see), and is conveyed to a chute (not shown). However, this method has the following inconveniences or drawbacks such as loincloths.

(1) The point where the tile 3 is attracted to the suction ring 2 is, for example, t'
:i'', because it is limited to the narrow area of adsorption area A in Figure 2, the so-called pick-up and transportation of tiles is slow. (2) The tiles 3 are attracted to the suction ring 2 with their longitudinal direction perpendicular or diagonal to the suction ring 2. When picked up, the tile 3 falls during transportation due to its own weight resisting the weak suction force, but this fallen tile 3 is placed on top of other tiles 3 or piled up. It may collide with the member 5 etc. that breaks the tiles 3 that are on it, and may injure itself, damage the opponent's tiles 3, land on the member 5, or cross over the side wall 6 of the tilted rotating disk 1 and onto the board 7. This may cause inconveniences such as falling.

(3) It is necessary to make the rotational speeds of the inclined rotary disk 1 and the suction ring 2 approximately the same and appropriate, but this is difficult in practice. It is desirable to rotate the tiles as quickly as possible because it is necessary to pick them up, pick them up, and transport them as quickly as possible. This is because the tiles 3 adsorbed by the ring 2 are shaken down onto the base 7, so the rotation speed must be set taking this into account (4) The structure of the tilted rotating disk 1 is complex and delicate. be.

For this reason, it is not easy to set the suction area A or to make the inclined rotary disk 1 relate to the suction ring 2.

(5) As shown in Figure 3, magnets of different polarity are arranged alternately in the attraction ring 2, so the tiles 3 are only those with long magnets embedded in the vertical direction as shown in the figure. For example, tiles in which long magnets are embedded in the width direction or thickness direction are disadvantageous in relation to the attraction force. Therefore, the types of tiles are actually limited.
1(6) Since the tiles 3 are not directly conveyed to the tile alignment area by the suction ring 2, but are conveyed via a chute and a conveyor, the conveyance time becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic mahjong machine that does not have any of the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages or drawbacks and is equipped with means that can reliably transport tiles to a tile alignment area in a short time.

Therefore, the automatic mahjong apparatus of the present invention includes a platform that stirs the pI that is magnetic or has a built-in magnetic substance, pushes it in a predetermined direction, and one or more devices provided above the platform. a plurality of tile alignment areas, one or more inclined conveyance means with enhanced magnetism that attracts and conveys tiles oriented in a predetermined direction on the base plate to the tile alignment areas; and the inclined conveyance means. The present invention is characterized by a guide means for returning tiles that have fallen from the means and are not oriented in a predetermined direction to the base plate.

4 to 7 are explanatory views showing essential parts of an automatic mahjong machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This automatic mahjong machine mainly consists of a base plate 12 that stirs the highly magnetic tiles 11 and orients them in a predetermined direction, a tile alignment area 13 provided at four locations diagonally above the base plate 12, and the base plate. The tiles on the top 12 of the 11th group are facing the specified direction (the display surface is facing downwards)
The tiles are attracted and transported to the tile arrangement area 134A11, and tiles that are not oriented in a predetermined direction are repelled at the entrance B or during transport and dropped to the base plate 12 side, the inclined transport means 14 has a magnetic property. a guide means 15 for returning tiles 11 that have fallen from a wall and are not oriented in a predetermined direction to the base plate 12; Means 16
etc.

In this case, the tile 11 has a magnet 17a embedded near the display surface side, as shown in FIG.
I am using the one that I made. The base plate 12 is mainly configured by a fixed disk 12a1 that receives tiles 11 that have fallen from a tile drop opening on a table (not shown), a rotating shaft 12b1 provided at a substantially central portion of the fixed disk 12a, and a core rotating shaft 12b. Fixed disk 12a
It consists of four stirring arms 12C1 that barely rotate to stir the tiles 11, a wall 12d, etc. It is desirable that the surface of the fixed disk 12a be covered with an elastic member to suppress impact noise so that the tiles 11 are not damaged when they are impacted by a fall. However, avoid those that cause too much surface friction. This is to prevent the tiles 11 from becoming difficult to move. The rotating shaft 12b is rotated by a motor (not shown) or the like, and the rotational speed can be adjusted as appropriate. The stirring arm 12c is
The length is set to just touch the wall 12d, and the wall 12d
The nearby tile 11 can also be moved forward.

As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), a magnet 17b is embedded in the wall 12d so that the wall side is 1 positive.

Therefore, for example, when the tile 11 is placed with its longitudinal side facing down and the display surface facing the wall 12d# as shown in FIG. Rotate so that the display side is facing up. Furthermore, the fixed disk 12a near the wall 12d has a "negative" surface side.
17 ci of magnets are buried so that Therefore, for example, when the tile 11 is placed with its longitudinal side facing down and its back side facing the wall 12d, as shown in Figure 7 (b), a suction force is generated and the tile 11 moves in the direction of the arrow. The screen will now be facing downwards. Also, as shown in Figure 7(C),
A protruding guide 12e is provided on the wall 12d near the entrance B of the inclined conveying means 13, which will be described later. As a result, for example, as shown in the figure, the tile 1 is pushed forward by the stirring arm 12C and approaches the entrance part B with its width direction as the traveling direction.
1 is rotated around the tip of the protruding guide 12e, its longitudinal direction is changed to the direction of movement, and the guide 12 is caused to reach the entrance part B. Furthermore, Fig. 7 (as shown in the mountain, protruding guy) 12
The tile return member 12f' is provided above the tip of the tile e.

Therefore, the tiles 11 reaching the entrance part B of the inclined conveying means 13
, the longitudinal direction of the sheep is the traveling direction, and the display surface is only facing downward or upward.

As shown in Fig. 4, the tile alignment area 13 has a width approximately equal to the vertical length of the tiles, and a length approximately equal to the length of 17 tiles that would allow a normal tile castle wall to be completed. )I have to.

The surface is made smooth 9 so that the tiles 11 pushed out by the pushing means 16 move smoothly. Further, its height position can be moved up and down by the thickness of the tile 11 by a lifting drive device (not shown). This will be useful when forming the second stage of the wall. In this example, the inclined conveying means 14 is as shown in FIG.
It is of a so-called belt conveyor system, and includes an upper belt pulley 14a, 14b, a lower belt pulley 14c, and a bell hung on these belt pulleys 14a, 14b, 14c)1.
Consists of 4d etc. The belt 14d has a width almost equal to the width of the tile 11, and a magnet 17d is arranged on the canvas layer C so that the expanded soft side is negative, as shown in FIG. There is. As a result, only the tiles 11 with the display surface facing downward are attracted, and those with the display surface facing downward are repelled. Upper belt wheel 1
A stopper 18' is provided almost directly above 4a to prevent the transported tiles 11 from falling to the left in Figure 5. The lower belt pulley 14c has its upper portion almost fixed to the disk 1.
2a, and the bell I-14d at the entrance B.
The swelling and soft surface of the fixed disk 12a is made to be substantially continuous with the surface of the fixed disk 12a. Then, as shown in FIG.
a.

The axles of 14b and 14C are slightly tilted toward the base plate 12f [Il. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6, the belt 14d is also inclined at an angle α to the base plate 12@, and the tiles with the display surface facing upward are securely moved from the guide means 15 by the repulsive action of the magnets 17a and 17d. Alternatively, it falls onto the fixed disk 12a near the entrance portion B.

In this example, the guiding means 15 is a smooth inclined surface, and smoothly returns the above-mentioned tiles that have fallen halfway along the bell 14d of the inclined conveying means 14 to the fixed disk 12a (see FIG. 6). The extrusion means 16 operates in response to a signal from a sensor 19 provided in the stop horn groove 18 shown in FIG. That is,
The tile 11 with the display surface facing downward is conveyed by the inclined conveyance means 14, and when it reaches above the belt wheels 14a, 14b, the stopper 18 stops the tile.At the same time, the sensor 19 sends a signal to the extrusion means 16, and the extrusion means 18 In response to this, the tiles stopped at the stopper slot 17 are pushed out to the tile alignment area 13.

The operation of the automatic mahjong machine of this embodiment equipped with the device or means described above will now be described.

First, the tiles 11 are pushed one after another into a tile drop opening on a table (not shown) and dropped onto the base plate 12. Next, a motor (not shown) is operated to rotate the rotary shaft 12b and stirring arm 12c, and the group of tiles is stirred and pushed toward the entrance B of the inclined conveying means 140. At the same time, Figures 7(a) to (
By each means shown in d), the tiles are oriented in a predetermined direction, with the longitudinal direction being the traveling direction and the display surface facing upward or downward, and are made to reach the entrance part B of the inclined conveying means 13.

At the same time, the inclined conveying means 14 is operated to adsorb the tiles 11'i with the display surfaces facing downward and convey them to the upper corner 189111. The tiles 11 with the display surface facing upward either fall onto the fixed disk 12a immediately after being placed on the entrance part B due to the repulsive action of the magnets 17a and 17b, or they are transported halfway due to friction etc. and are moved by their own weight and the repulsive action. It may fall into the guide means 15, but
In any case, the inclination of Bell) 14 (I works to return the tiles to the base plate 129111 (Fig. 6). In this way, only the tiles in the correct state with the display surface facing downward are successively placed in the direction of the tile alignment area 13. The tile is then transported.Then, the tile is
The sensor 1 as described above is stopped one by one with a stopper 18.
9 and the extrusion means 16, the tiles are pushed out one after another into the tile alignment area 13, and when a predetermined number (usually 17 tiles) of the first row of tiles are aligned, the tiles are pushed out into the tile alignment area 13. The portion 13 is lowered by the thickness of the tile using a lifting device (not shown). Thereafter, by the same action again, the second row of tiles are arranged one after another on top of the first row of tiles to complete the tile castle wall. The tile castle wall thus formed is transferred from the tile alignment area 13 to the elevator 25 by an unillustrated extrusion device. The elevator 25 then ascends and floats the # castle wall through a long hole at a predetermined game position provided on the tabletop. In this way, the remaining three sets of tiles are completed one after another or simultaneously and come out of the other long holes on the table, completing preparations for the start of the game.

As explained in the above embodiments, according to the automatic mahjong apparatus of the present invention, the structure includes a platform 12 that stirs magnetic tiles 11 and pushes them in a predetermined direction; A tile alignment area 13 provided above the tile alignment area 12;
a magnetic inclined conveying means 14 that attracts and conveys the tiles 11 oriented in a predetermined direction on the base plate 12;
Since the present invention is equipped with a guide means 15 for returning tiles 11 that are not oriented in a predetermined direction and has fallen from the conveyance means 14 to the base plate 12, it has various effects compared to conventional ones, as follows. It is.

(1) Stirring the tiles, transporting them, forming the shrine wall, and placing them on the table.
Since the time required for 1 is extremely short and the game can be completed smoothly and reliably, the game progresses smoothly.

It will come in handy. That is, the 4ffi wall can be completed almost simultaneously. (2) Even if a tile falls in the middle of the inclined conveyance means, the guide means gently returns it to the base plate, so the tile is not damaged and impact noise is suppressed. (3) Since the inclined conveyance means and the tile alignment area are substantially continuous, the conveyance time is extremely short. (4) When there is no hurry to start the game, for example, only one inclined conveyance means can be operated;
It can contribute to so-called energy saving. (5) Since the structure is relatively simple, it can be easily set up, leading to low cost.

In addition to the effects of the present invention as described above, the automatic mahjong apparatus of the embodiment described above also has the following effects.

Since the rotational speed of the agitation arm 12c of the base plate 12 can be changed, the degree of agitation of the tiles or pushing of the tiles toward the inclined conveyance means can be changed as necessary. wall 12d
Magnet 17b1 protruding guide 12e% tile return member 1 provided in
2f1 and the magnet 17c provided on the fixed disk 12a are extremely simple means, but they ensure that the tiles are oriented in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, the tile alignment area section 13 has an extremely simple structure and can smoothly form a tile castle wall. In this case, the inclined conveyance means 14 is of a simple structure of a belt conveyor type, and has a reed and a belt wheel 14 a t 1.
Since the axles of 4b and 14c are tilted toward the base plate 12, the bell) 14d is also tilted in the same direction, and as a result, the pI with the display surface facing upward is surely pushed toward the base plate 12 by its own weight and repulsion. drop down. In this case, the guide means 15 is a smooth inclined surface, and has a simple structure with a dog effect. Extrusion means 16, stock horn 918. The sensors 19 are in a very close relationship and press the tiles against the tile alignment area to smoothly align them.

Note that various other structures of the above-described embodiments can be considered.

For example, the base plate 12 may be configured such that the fixed disc 12a is rotated and the rotating shaft 12b and the stirring arm 12c are fixed, or it may be configured such that the base plate 12 is rotated in opposite directions. is quickly pushed toward the inclined conveyance means by the action of centrifugal force. Also,
By making the length of the stirring arm 12C a little longer, as shown in Fig. 8 (
a) Form 12dK grooves on the wall as shown in (b),
A notch Bf may be formed in the lower part of the protruding guide and the id 12e so that the long agitating arm 12c can rotate, and in this way, the tiles can be moved more quickly and reliably to the artificial part BK of the inclined conveying means 14. will be advanced. Furthermore, the tile return member 12f
d can also be provided. Inclination fP# conveyance means 14il
-1, 2 sets of the same bald structure are placed side by side, or 2 sets above and below
It is also possible to form the first and second stages of the shrine wall using each conveying means, and to stack them using a batch extrusion means (not shown) to complete the shrine wall. The shrine wall can be completed almost twice as fast.

Further, as the inclined conveyance means, various methods other than the belt conveyor type can be considered, such as a nokket conveyor, an escalator, an apron conveyor, a chain conveyor, etc.

Another structure of the inclined conveying means is shown in Fig. 8 (C
) may also be considered. This is fixed disk 1
A long plate 23 with a smooth magnetically permeable surface is hung from a part of the top of the tile alignment area 13, and a belt 24a with a magnet 17d arranged under the long plate 23 is placed in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. In this case, the tiles with the display surface facing downward are not directly attracted to the bell 24a, but are attracted to the long plate 23 and moved to the tile alignment area 13 side. being transported. Then, the width direction of the long plate 23 is aligned with the base plate 12.
By tilting the tiles to the side, the tiles with the display surface facing upward will surely fall onto the base plate 12 at the entrance or during transportation.

As the tile alignment area, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(d), a belt wheel 14a91jl (belt wheel 1
4b is excluded. ), and the other end may be slightly lowered and gently sloped.A stopper 21 that can be opened and closed may be provided on the other end, and the objects may be transported one after another with this stopper 21 closed. Slide the coming tiles, and when the first row of tiles is aligned, release the stopper 21 and guide it to the alignment stand (not shown), then slide the stopper 2
1 again to form the second row of tiles.

This method eliminates the need for the stopper 18, the detection means 19, the extrusion means 16, etc., and the structure becomes much simpler. In addition to the tiles shown in Figure 9(a), tiles can also be used.Tile 31 has the long magnet 17a of tile 11 vertically embedded, and tile 41 has the long magnet 17a of tile 11 embedded vertically. The same long magnets are arranged in parallel above the magnet 17a to increase the magnetic force.Also, it is also possible to make the display surface side of the tile 11 "negative", but in this case, the expansion of the inclined conveying means is Soft surface side is “positive”
Furthermore, the wall 12d or the fixed disk 1
The 2 a l/C magnets 17b and 17c are also provided with their magnetic relationships reversed.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the present invention. tFf in this case
The feature is that all the tiles are oriented in a predetermined direction by the base plate 12, and the tiles are sorted into those with the display surface facing downward and those facing upward only at the entrance part B', and only the tiles with the display surface facing downward are picked up and placed in the tile alignment area. It is equipped with an inclined conveying means for conveying the material to the section. For this reason, during the transportation of the tiles, there are no tiles that fall into the slots on the base board, and the guiding means is unstable. As for the structure, the belt pulley 14 a + of the inclined conveying means 14
The axle of 14 b + 14 c is made horizontal, and an intermediate belt sheave 14 e, which also has a horizontal axle, is added. Since the wheel 14e is provided, the tiles with the display surface facing upward are located at the entrance B as shown in the figure.
', it is reversed by the repulsive action of the magnet, or the table lm121411K is overturned. In this case, of course, the tiles with their display surfaces facing downward are attracted and conveyed to the tile alignment area. Note that if the inclination angle of the guide wheels 14b and 14c is increased, the intermediate guide 14e is not necessary, and in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

FIG. 11 shows another modification of the invention. Also in this case, the belt pulleys 14a and 14b of the inclined conveyance means 14 of the embodiment
, 14c are horizontal, so the bell) 14d is not inclined to the base plate 129111. For this reason, tiles with the display surface facing upward may resist the repulsion of the magnet (due to their own weight and friction) and be transported as they are and ascend.
In this case, all the attraction members 22 with "negative" magnetism on the lower side are provided directly above the tiles stopped by the stopper 18.
Then, use this to adsorb it as shown. This adsorption member 2
2 is then reversed and moved to which side of the tile alignment area 13. Then, the inverted display surface is pushed out to the #gold tile alignment area 13 facing downward by a pressing means (not shown). Also in this modification, the guide means 15 is not necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a conventional tile stirring and sailing means;
The figure is a top view showing the tilted rotary disk, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the tile suction state by the suction ring. Fig. 4 is a front explanatory view showing the main parts of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the inclined conveyance means, and Fig. 6 is Fig. 5
7(a) to 7(d), which are partially omitted line cross-sectional views, are explanatory diagrams showing means provided on the base plate to orient the tiles in a predetermined direction,
(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the magnet 17b provided on the wall 12d, (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the magnet 17c provided on the fixed disc 12a, and (C) is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the protruding guide 12e. FIG. 3(d) is an explanatory view showing the action of the tile return member 12f. FIG. 8 (ω to (d) shows another structural example of one embodiment of the present invention, and (a) and (b) show the stirring arm 12c.
'? An explanatory diagram showing the case where the length is longer than r, (C) is the slope #f
FIG. 9(d) is a vertical sectional view showing another structural example of the fi feeding means, FIG.
, (b) shows tiles with other structures that can be used in the present invention 1
This is an i52 clear diagram. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another modified example of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Tile, 12... Base board, 13... Tile alignment area part, 14... Inclined conveyance means, 15... Guide means, 1
6... Extrusion means. Patent Applicant Takamitsu Kakinuma Agent Patent Attorney Masu 1) 9 Sticky Notes 20 v30 ゝ\, (L). 1)) (0″(d) 13 12d ,'<]To the mouth 1,3 CC1 (-d-n'!q Figure (1) can)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A platform for agitating tiles that are magnetic or containing a magnetic substance and pushing them in a predetermined direction, one or more tile alignment areas provided above the platform, and the tile alignment section. One or more magnetic inclined conveying means for attracting and conveying tiles oriented in a predetermined direction on the platform in the area; An automatic mahjong machine characterized by comprising a guide means for returning the machine to the board.