Abstract:
A automatic dice shaking apparatus that uses a mechanical arm to substitute for labor in performing dice cup and dice seat joining, dice shaking and dice cup opening actions automatically, improving game fairness and reducing the personnel cost.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to dice gambling and more particularly, to an automatic dice shaking apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Dice are small objects, usually cubic, used for generating random numbers for use in tabletop games. Many dice games are known. In one known dice game, players bet on the banker, and the banker puts the dice in a dice box and shakes the dice. After betting, the banker opens the dice cup and pay the dividens subject to the gambling result. 
   However, performing dice games may encounter some problems as follows: 
   1. Because all actions (such as dice shaking, dice cup opening, and etc.) during a dice game are done manually, a dealer may control the points of the dice by means of a manipulation skill or have the points expected by the banker to appear by means of the control of the muscular strength of the hand shaking the dice. Therefore, a conventional manual dice shaking operation cannot prevent cheating, lacking objective fairness. 
   2. There are automatic dice shakers for shaking dice automatically to ensure game fairness. However, these automatic dice shakers cannot perform a dice cup opening procedure automatically. Because the opening of the dice cup must be performed manually, cheating may exist. Playing a dice game in this manner still lacks fairness. 
   3. Because a person is hired to shake the dice and to open the dice cup during a dice game, the personnel cost is relatively increased. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to provide an automatic dice shaking apparatus that eliminates the aforesaid problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an automatic dice shaking apparatus, which automatically shakes the dice and opens the dice cup by means of a computer-controlled mechanical arm, improving the game fairness. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an automatic dice shaking apparatus, which utilizes a computer-controlled mechanical arm to automatically shake the dice and open the dice cup instead of human labor, thereby lowering the personnel cost. 
   To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the automatic dice shaking apparatus comprises: a positioning unit affixed to a plane, a dice seat for carrying a plurality of dice, the dice seat being detachably connectable to the positioning unit and prohibited from rotation relative to the positioning unit after connection, the dice seat being vertically movable relative to the positioning unit and separable from the positioning unit after connection between the dice seat and the positioning unit, a dice cup detachably connectable to the dice seat and defining with the dice seat an enclosed dice chamber, and a mechanical arm that has a mount affixed to the plane, the mechanical arm being operable to make lifting, rotation and swinging actions, the mechanical arm having a front end connectable to the dice cup for enabling the dice cup to be lifted, rotated and swung by the mechanical arm. The mechanical arm is operable to connect the dice cup and the dice seat together, and then to separate the dice seat with the dice cup from the positioning unit, and then to shake the dice seat and the dice cup, and then to couple the dice seat to the positioning unit, and then to separate the dice cup from the dice seat. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational assembly view of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side plain view of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a sectional status of the part taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a part of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the status of the automatic dice shaking apparatus before dice shaking operation. 
       FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the dice cup the automatic dice shaking apparatus positioned on the dice seat at the plane. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the dice cup the automatic dice shaking apparatus attached to the dice seat before engagement. 
       FIG. 9  corresponds to  FIG. 8 , showing the retaining devices of the dice cup forced into engagement with the retaining devices of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the relationship between the retaining device of the dice cup and the respective retaining device of the dice seat before engagement. 
       FIG. 11  corresponds to  FIG. 10 , showing the retaining device of the dice cup engaged with the respective retaining device of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 12  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the retaining devices of the dice cup engaged with the retaining devices of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic drawing of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the dice shaking operation of the automatic dice shaking apparatus. 
       FIG. 14  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the dice cup and the dice seat attached to the positioning unit at the plane after the dice shaking operation. 
       FIG. 15  is a schematic top plain view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the status of the dice cup and the dice seat before disengagement between the retaining devices of the dice cup and the retaining devices of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 16  corresponds to  FIG. 15 , showing the retaining devices of the dice cup disengaged from the retaining devices of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 17  is a schematic sectional view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the status of the dice cup and the dice seat before disengagement between one retaining device of the dice cup and the associating retaining device of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 18  corresponds to  FIG. 17 , showing the retaining device of the dice cup disengaged from the associating retaining device of the dice seat. 
       FIG. 19  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the retaining devices of the dice cup disengaged from the retaining devices of the dice seat before separation of the dice cup from the dice seat. 
       FIG. 20  corresponds to  FIG. 19 , showing the dice cup opened from the dice seat. 
       FIG. 21  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 22  is a side plain view, partially in section of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 23  is a schematic top plain view of a part of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the connection status between the first connection device and the connection hole of the dice cup. 
       FIG. 24  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 25  is a side plain view, partially in section of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 26  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 27  is a side plain view, partially in section of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 28  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 29  is a side plain view, partially in section of the automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 30  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 31  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention 
       FIG. 32  is an exploded view of an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1˜5 , an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising: a positioning unit  10 , a dice seat  20 , a dice cup  30 , and a mechanical arm  40 . 
   The positioning unit  10  is fixedly located on a plane  50 . According to this first embodiment, the positioning unit  10  comprises a flat circular base panel  11  affixed to the plane  50  with screws  112 , and three upright posts  111  perpendicularly upwardly extending from the top surface of the flat circular base panel  11  and equiangularly spaced around the border of the flat circular base panel  11 . 
   The dice seat  20  is adapted for carrying dice  60 . The dice seat  20  is detachably connectable to the flat circular base panel  11  and movable apart from the flat circular base panel  11  in the vertical direction only. According to this first embodiment, the dice seat  20  is a circular plate member having three positioning grooves  21  equiangularly spaced around the border. The positioning grooves  21  are formed in the periphery of the dice seat  20  and respectively vertically coupled to the upright posts  111  of the positioning unit  10  to prohibit rotation of the dice seat  20  relative to the flat circular base panel  11  and to constrain movement of the dice seat  20  relative to the flat circular base panel  11  to the vertical direction. The dice seat  20  further comprises three retaining devices  23  respectively protruded from the top wall  22  near the border area and respectively spaced between each two adjacent positioning grooves  21 . Each retaining devices  23  are L-shaped flanges, each comprising a vertical portion  24  perpendicularly extending from the top wall  22  of the dice seat  20  and a horizontal portion  25  perpendicularly extended from the top end of the vertical portion  24 . The horizontal portion  25  has a bottom wall  251 , and a groove  252  on the bottom wall  251 . Further, a retaining gap  26  is defined between the horizontal portion  25  of each retaining device  23  and the top wall  22  of the dice seat  20 . The dice seat  20  further comprises an annular protrusion  27  concentrically protruded from the top wall  22  and kept spaced from the retaining devices  23  and the positioning grooves  21  at a distance. 
   The dice cup  30  is detachably connectable to the dice seat  20 . When the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  are connected together, they form an enclosed dice box defining therein an enclosed dice chamber  70 . According to this first embodiment, the dice cup  30  comprises a locating hole  31  located on the center of the top side thereof, four through holes  32  equiangularly spaced around the locating hole  31 , and three retaining devices  33  equiangularly spaced around the periphery. Each retaining device  33  has a top protrusion  332  protruded from the top wall  331  thereof, and a rear protrusion  333  at the distal end. After connection of the dice cup  30  to the dice seat  20 , the inside wall  34  of the dice cup  30  faces the annular protrusion  27  of the dice seat  20 , the retaining devices  33  are respectively engaged into the retaining gaps  26  of the dice seat  20 , the top protrusions  332  are respectively engaged into the grooves  252  of the retaining devices  23 , and the rear protrusions  333  of the retaining devices  33  are respectively stopped against the horizontal portions  25  of the retaining devices  23 , prohibiting displacement of the retaining devices  33  in the respective retaining gaps  26 . 
   The mechanical arm  40  comprises a mount  41  affixed to the plane  50 , a pivot holder  42  rotatably mounted on the mount  41 , a first swing arm  43 , which has one end  431  pivotally connected to the pivot holder  42 , a second swing arm  44 , which has one end  441  pivotally connected to the other end  432  of the first swing arm  43 , and a swing head  45  pivotally connected to the other end  442  of the second swing arm  44 , and a rotation head  46  connected to the swing head  45  and rotatable relative to the wing head  45 . The rotation head  46  comprises a locating protrusion  461  inserted into the locating hole  31  of the dice cup  30 . Further, four screws  47  are respectively upwardly inserted through the through holes  32  and driven into the rotation head  46  to affix the dice cup  30  to the rotation head  46 . Each screw  47  comprises a head  471  that has an outer diameter greater than the through holes  32 , and a threaded shank  472  that has an outer diameter smaller than the through holes  32 . After the screws  47  have been inserted through the through holes  32  and driven into the rotation head  46 , the heads  471  of the screws  47  are respectively stopped at the inside wall  34  of the dice cup  30  against the rotation head  46 , securing the dice cup  30  to the rotation head  46  firmly. 
   By means of the aforesaid composition, the mechanical arm  40  is operable to connect the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  together, and then to separate the dice seat  20  with the dice cup  30  from the positioning unit  10 , and then to shake the dice seat  20  and the dice cup  30 , and then to couple the dice seat  20  to the positioning unit  10 , and then to separate the dice cup  30  from the dice seat  20 . 
   After understanding of the structure and configuration of the component parts of the automatic dice shaking apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the automatic dice shaking apparatus is described hereinafter: 
   1. With respect to the operation of the mechanical arm  40  in connecting the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  together, please refer to  FIGS. 6˜12 . The mechanical arm  40  is controlled to carry the dice cup  30  downwards to the position where the dice cup  30  touches the top wall  22  of the dice seat  20  and the retaining devices  33  are respectively disposed corresponding to the retaining devices  23 . Thereafter, the mechanical arm  40  is controlled to rotate the rotation head  46  in a clockwise direction, causing the dice cup  30  to be synchronously rotated with the rotation head  46  to force the retaining devices  33  into the retaining gaps  26  of the dice seat  20  respectively. At this time, the top protrusions  332  are respectively engaged into the grooves  252  of the horizontal portion  25  of the retaining devices  23 , and the rear protrusions  333  of the retaining devices  33  are respectively stopped against the horizontal portions  25  of the retaining devices  23 , preventing displacement of the retaining devices  33  in the respective retaining gaps  26 , and therefore the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  are firmly secured together for movement by the mechanical arm  40 . 
   2. With respect to the operation of the mechanical arm  40  in disconnecting the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  from the positioning unit  10  and shaking the dice, please refer to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . After connection between the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20 , the mechanical arm  40  is controlled to carry the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  vertically upwards to a certain distance such that shaking the dice does not strike the plane  50  and the positioning unit  20 . The dice shaking operation to shake the dice  60  in the enclosed dice chamber  70  is achieved by means of relative motion among the pivot holder  42 , the first swing arm  43 , the second swing arm  44 , the rotation head  46  and the swing head  45 . 
   3. With respect to the positioning of the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  after the dice  60  have been shaken, please refer to  FIG. 14 . After the dice  60  have been shaken, the mechanical arm  40  is controlled to carry the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  to the position where the positioning grooves  21  of the dice seat  20  are respectively coupled to the upright posts  111  of the positioning unit  10 , keeping the dice seat  20  secured to the positioning unit  20 , and thus the positioning of the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  is done. 
   4. With respect to the operation of disconnecting the dice cup  30  from the dice seat  20  after positioning of the dice seat  20  on the positioning unit  10 , please refer to  FIGS. 14˜20 . After the dice seat  20  has been connected to the positioning unit  10 , the mechanical arm  40  is controlled to rotate the rotation head  46  in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the dice cup  30  to be rotated with the rotation head  46  to disengage the retaining devices  33  of the dice cup  30  from the retaining gaps  26  of the retaining devices  23  respectively, and at the same time, the top protrusions  332  of the retaining devices  33  are respectively disengaged from the grooves  252  of the horizontal portions  25  of the retaining devices  23 , and therefore the dice cup  30  is disengaged from the dice seat  20 . Thereafter, the mechanical arm  40  is controlled to lift the dice cup  30  from the dice seat  20 , and therefore the dice cup opening operation is done. 
   Thus, subject to the structural design of the aforesaid automatic dice shaking apparatus, the invention achieves the following effects: 
   1. Because the automatic dice shaking apparatus enables all the game procedures (such as dice shaking, dice cup opening, and etc.) to be done through a computer-controlled mechanical arm without any labor, the invention prevents a dealer from controlling the points of the dice by means of a manipulation skill and avoids presence of the points expected by the banker by means of the control of the muscular strength of the hand shaking the dice. Therefore, the invention effectively eliminates cheating and improves game fairness. 
   2. Because all actions (such as dice shaking, dice cup opening, and etc.) during the dice game are done through a computer-controlled mechanical arm without any labor, it is not necessary to hire a person for the actions of shaking the dice and opening the dice cup. Therefore, the invention helps reduce the dice game personnel cost. 
     FIGS. 21˜23  show an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this second embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception stated hereinafter. The rotation head  46  of the mechanical arm  40  according to this second embodiment matches with a first connection device  81 . The first connection device  81  comprises a connection portion  811  that has a non-circular cross section, and a hexagonal head  812  that has a diameter greater than the connection portion  811 . The connection device  81  is matched with a locating member  83 . The locating member  83  is affixed to the rotation head  46  by four screws  84 , having a center through hole  831  and a center countersunk hole  832  coincided with the center through hole  831 . The center countersunk hole  832  has a diameter greater than the center through hole  831 . Further, the dice cup  30  has a connection hole  35  at the top. During installation, the connection portion  811  of the connection device  81  is inserted through the center through hole  831  of the locating member  83  and the connection hole  35  of the dice cup  30  and then fastened up with a fastening element  82 , and the hexagonal head  812  is fitted into the center countersunk hole  832 , and therefore the dice cup  30  is fastened to the rotation head  46 . During rotation of the rotation head  46 , the first connection device  81  and the dice cup  30  are synchronously rotated with the rotation head  46 . 
     FIGS. 24 and 25  show an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this third embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the rotation head  46  of the mechanical arm  40  according to this third embodiment matches with a second connection device  85 . The second connection device  85  is affixed to the rotation head  46  by four screws  86 . The second connection device  85  comprises three retaining hooks  851  equiangularly and downwardly extending from the bottom side and respectively terminating in an outwardly protruding hook portion  852 . Further, the dice cup  30  according to this third embodiment has three retaining holes  36  disposed at the top corresponding to the retaining hooks  851 . During installation, the retaining hooks  851  are respectively hooked in the retaining holes  36 , thereby securing the dice cup  30  to the rotation head  46 . 
     FIGS. 26 and 27  show an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this fourth embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the rotation head  46  of the mechanical arm  40  according to this fourth embodiment matches with a third connection device  87 . The third connection device  87  is affixed to the rotation head  46  by four screws  88 . The third connection device  87  comprises three retaining hooks  871  equiangularly and downwardly extending from the bottom side and respectively terminating in a respective inwardly protruding hook portion  872 . Further, the dice cup  30  according to this fourth embodiment comprises a top stub shank  37  and three retaining holes  371  equiangularly spaced around the top stub shank  37 . During installation, the inwardly protruding hook portions  872  of the retaining hooks  871  are respectively hooked in the retaining holes  371 , thereby securing the dice cup  30  to the rotation head  46 . 
     FIGS. 28 and 29  show an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this fifth embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the rotation head  46  of the mechanical arm  40  according to this fifth embodiment has a first magnetic member  91  fixedly fastened to the bottom side thereof by four screws  89 , and the dice cup  30  has a second magnetic member  92  embedded in the top thereof. By means of magnetic attraction between the first magnetic member  91  and the second magnetic member  92 , the dice cup  30  is secured to the rotation head  46  for synchronous motion. 
     FIG. 30  illustrates an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this sixth embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the cut seat  20  according to this sixth embodiment has an inner thread  28  disposed at the top wall  22 , and the dice cut  30  according to this sixth embodiment has an outer thread  38  extending around the periphery of the bottom side thereof. By means of controlling the mechanical arm to rotate the dice cup  30  clockwise or counter-clockwise, the outer thread  38  is forced into engagement with or disengaged from the inner thread  28 , and therefore the dice cup  30  and the dice seat  20  can be detachably fastened together. 
     FIG. 31  illustrates an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this seventh embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid sixth embodiment with the exception that the positioning unit  10  according to this seventh embodiment is a disc member  12  that has an upright peripheral flange  121  and two locating notches  122  located on the upright peripheral flange  12  at two opposing sides and extending upwards; the dice seat  20  according to this seventh embodiment has two locating blocks  29  symmetrically protruded from the periphery and respectively vertically insertable into the locating notches  122 . During installation, the locating blocks  29  are respectively engaged into the locating notches  122  to prohibit rotation of the dice seat  20  relative to the positioning unit  10 , however the dice seat  20  can be disconnected from the positioning unit  10  when moved vertically relative to the positioning unit  10 . 
     FIG. 32  illustrates an automatic dice shaking apparatus in accordance with a eighth embodiment of the present invention: The configuration and effects of this eighth embodiment are substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the positioning unit  10  according to this eighth embodiment is comprised of three upright posts  13  equiangularly arranged on the plane  50 . Each upright post  13  has a threaded portion  131  driven into the plane  50 . The dice seat  20  has three positioning grooves  21  equiangularly spaced around the border and respectively attached to the upright posts  13 . After engagement between the positioning grooves  21  and the upright posts  13 , the dice seat  20  is prohibited from rotation relative to the plane  50 , and can be moved vertically away from the positioning unit  10 . 
   Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.