Patent Description:
Rummikub game, also called Israeli mahjong, is a kind of board game involving number arrangement and combination that can stimulate players' thinking. As a widely known game, the Rummikub game generally consists of <NUM> plastic tiles, <NUM> of which are printed with numbers ranging from <NUM> to <NUM> and are colored with black, red, blue and orange. There are two tiles of each number corresponding to each of the colors. The rest two tiles are jokers and are printed with a smiling face. Traditionally, when playing the Rummikub game, players need to manually shuffle and stack the tiles, which is laborious. Therefore, in view of this problem, there appear some tile shuffling machines for the Rummikub game currently, which, however, cannot be applicable to the shuffling of five tiles and seven tiles at the same time. Since the five-tile play method and the seven-tile play method are both extremely common play methods, the current Rummikub game machines have a narrow applicability and are inconvenient to use.

<CIT> discloses a mahjong tile stacking device. The mahjong tile stacking device comprises a main frame body, a linking rod, a side frame body and a lifting base, wherein the main frame body is provided with a rotating wheel provided with a guide groove, and the guide groove is provided with an annular concave section. The linking rod is provided with a fixed shaft part, a linking shaft part and a guide wheel shaft part for pivoting a first guide wheel, and the first guide wheel is assembled into the guide groove. The side frame body is provided with two sliding rails, and a sliding base connected with a push plate is arranged on the sliding rails. The sliding base is provided with a sliding chute, and the rotating wheel can drive the sliding base to move. For the lifting base, a sliding plate is arranged below a platform, and the linking shaft part is pivoted to the lower end of the sliding plate.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a tile stacking device, a Rummikub game machine and a control method thereof, so as to solve the technical problems in the prior art that current Rummikub game machines have a narrow applicability and are inconvenient to use. The present disclosure provides many technical solutions among which the preferred technical solutions can generate many technical effects that are detailed in the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides the following technical solution.

The present disclosure provides a tile stacking device as recited in claim <NUM>.

Preferably, the drive wheel is provided with a first end face, on which a first curved groove is arranged; and the first transmission mechanism includes a cam connecting rod, the cam connecting rod is provided fixedly with a first slide block, the first slide block is arranged inside the first curved groove in a sliding manner, a first connecting end of the cam connecting rod is rotatably connected to the support mechanism, and a second connecting end of the cam connecting rod is rotatably connected to the lift platform mechanism.

Preferably, the drive wheel is provided with a second end face, which is arranged opposite to the first end face; the second transmission mechanism includes an eccentric wheel, which is arranged on the second end face; the push mechanism is provided with a second curved groove, and the eccentric wheel is arranged inside the second curved groove in a sliding manner.

Preferably, the lift platform mechanism includes a vertical support plate, and the vertical support plate has a top side provided with a platform main body used for supporting the Rummikub tiles; the platform main body has a bottom side provided with a vertical guide column, the support mechanism is provided with a vertical guide slot, the vertical guide column passes through the vertical guide slot and matches with the vertical guide slot in a sliding manner.

Preferably, the push mechanism includes a push head, a push head connecting piece and a horizontal guide component, and the horizontal guide component includes a horizontal guide column and a guide base, wherein the push head is connected to the guide base through the push head connecting piece; the horizontal guide column is horizontally arranged on the support mechanism, the guide base is arranged on the horizontal guide column in a sliding manner, and the second curved groove is arranged on the guide base.

The present disclosure provides a Rummikub game machine, including a tile attracting and conveying device and any one of the tile stacking devices described above, wherein a tile outlet of the tile attracting and conveying device is communicated with and arranged on an upper side of the lift platform mechanism.

The present disclosure provides a control method of the Rummikub game machine, including the following steps: when the detection mechanism detects there is a preset number of stacked Rummikub tiles on the lift platform mechanism, the tile attracting and conveying device conducts reverse conveyance.

The tile stacking device, the Rummikub game machine and the control method thereof according to the present disclosure have at least the following beneficial effects.

The tile stacking device includes a lift platform mechanism, a push mechanism, a drive mechanism and a detection mechanism. The cooperation between the lift platform mechanism and the push mechanism achieves the stacking and conveyance of a preset number of Rummikub tiles.

The lift platform mechanism is connected to the drive mechanism in a transmission manner and is capable of rising and lowering under the driving of the drive mechanism; the push mechanism is connected to the drive mechanism and is capable of reciprocating under the driving of the drive mechanism; and the drive mechanism provides lifting power and conveying power for the lift platform mechanism and the push mechanism.

The detection mechanism is arranged on one side of the lift platform mechanism and is capable of effectively detecting a relative position of a corresponding number of Rummikub tiles stacked on the lift platform mechanism, achieving the shuffling of a specified number of Rummikub tiles.

The Rummikub game machine includes a tile attracting and conveying device and the tile stacking device, the tile attracting and conveying device can convey the shuffled Rummikub tiles to the tile stacking device, and the tile stacking device can effectively achieve the stacking of the Rummikub tiles; therefore, the Rummikub game machine having the tile stacking device can achieve the stacking and conveyance of a specified number of Rummikub tiles, with high efficiency.

The control method of the Rummikub game machine includes: when the detection mechanism detects there is a preset number of stacked Rummikub tiles on the lift platform mechanism, the tile attracting and conveying device conducts reverse conveyance. Through the reverse rotation, the number of Rummikub tiles stacked each time can be effectively ensured, with significant effect.

According to the present disclosure, during the course of shuffling of tiles, the detection mechanism detects in real time a relative position of the Rummikub tile, the lift platform mechanism controls the number of stacked Rummikub tiles through a rising and lowering action, and the push mechanism conveys out the stacked Rummikub tiles through a moving action, which effectively achieves the stacking and conveyance of a specified number of Rummikub tiles such as five tiles or seven tiles, and enables significant effect, high efficiency, convenient usage and wide applicability.

In order to describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, drawings required to be used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Apparently, the drawings in the description below are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure. Those ordinarily skilled in the art also can obtain other drawings according to these provided drawings without creative work.

<NUM>, a tile stacking device; <NUM>, a lift platform mechanism; <NUM>, a vertical support plate; <NUM>, a long circular slot; <NUM>, a platform main body; <NUM>, a vertical guide column; <NUM>, a push mechanism; <NUM>, a push head; <NUM>, a receding groove; <NUM>, a push head connecting piece; <NUM>, a guide base; <NUM>, a second curved groove; <NUM>, a horizontal guide column; <NUM>, a drive mechanism; <NUM>, a drive motor; <NUM>, a drive wheel; <NUM>, a first curved groove; <NUM>, an eccentric wheel; <NUM>, a sensing part; <NUM>, a cam connecting rod; <NUM>, a first slide block; <NUM>, a second slide block; <NUM>, a detection mechanism; <NUM>, a first position sensor; <NUM>, a second position sensor; <NUM>, a support mechanism; <NUM>, a support shell; <NUM>, a vertical guide slot; <NUM>, a platform cover plate; <NUM>, a tile attracting and conveying device; <NUM>, a tile inlet; <NUM>, a tile outlet; <NUM>, a tile shuffling device; <NUM>, a tile push device; <NUM>, a tile lift device; and <NUM>, a support device.

The purpose, the technical solution and the advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent and understandable from a detailed description below of the technical solution of the present disclosure. Obviously, those embodiments described hereinafter are simply part embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present disclosure without creative work are intended to be included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides a tile stacking device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, including a lift platform mechanism <NUM>, a push mechanism <NUM>, a drive mechanism <NUM> and a detection mechanism <NUM>.

The lift platform mechanism <NUM> is connected to the drive mechanism <NUM> and is capable of rising and lowering under the driving of the drive mechanism <NUM>; the push mechanism <NUM> is connected to the drive mechanism <NUM> and is capable of reciprocating under the driving of the drive mechanism <NUM>; and the detection mechanism <NUM> is arranged on one side of the lift platform mechanism <NUM> to detect a relative position of a Rummikub tile.

During stacking of tiles, the drive motor <NUM> drives the lift platform mechanism <NUM> to move, then the lift platform mechanism <NUM> moves to a corresponding height, and the Rummikub tiles are conveyed onto the lift platform mechanism <NUM> under the driving of a tile attracting and conveying device <NUM>; when the number of Rummikub tiles on the lift platform mechanism <NUM> reaches that of a corresponding height, the detection mechanism <NUM> detects a relative position of the Rummikub tiles, then the push mechanism <NUM> pushes out the Rummikub tiles on the lift platform mechanism <NUM> under the driving of the drive mechanism <NUM>, achieving the stacking and conveyance of a preset number of Rummikub tiles.

During the above process, a user may set a relative height of the lift platform mechanism <NUM> according to an actual play method, which is applicable to both five-tile play method and seven-tile play method and enables significant effect in stacking and conveyance of Rummikub tiles, high efficiency, convenient usage and wide applicability.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the drive mechanism <NUM> includes a drive motor <NUM>, a first transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism.

The drive motor <NUM> has an output end provided with a drive wheel <NUM>, the drive wheel <NUM> is connected to the lift platform mechanism <NUM> through the first transmission mechanism, and the drive wheel <NUM> is connected to the push mechanism <NUM> through the second transmission mechanism.

By means of the first transmission mechanism and the second transmission mechanism, only one drive motor <NUM> is needed to achieve the rising and lowering of the lift platform mechanism <NUM> and the reciprocation of the push mechanism <NUM>.

The employment of only one power mechanism enables a simple and compact structure while ensuring the tile stacking and conveyance effect.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the tile stacking device <NUM> includes a support mechanism <NUM>, the detection mechanism <NUM> includes a first position sensor <NUM>, the first position sensor <NUM> employs a photosensor, the support mechanism <NUM> is arranged on one side of the lift platform mechanism <NUM>, the first position sensor <NUM> is arranged on the support mechanism <NUM> to detect a relative position of a Rummikub tile.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, an outer wall of the drive wheel <NUM> is provided with a sensing part <NUM>, the sensing part <NUM> employs an induced magnet adapted to a second position sensor <NUM>, the detection mechanism <NUM> includes the second position sensor <NUM>, and the second position sensor <NUM> is arranged on the support mechanism <NUM>.

During the actual application, when the second position sensor <NUM> detects a relative position of the sensing part <NUM>, the lift platform mechanism <NUM> moves to a corresponding position height. The cooperation between the sensing part <NUM> and the second position sensor <NUM> achieves an accurate positioning of a relative height of the lift platform mechanism <NUM>.

The sensing part <NUM> includes a single-tile sensing part, a five-tile sensing part and a seven-tile sensing part. The single-tile sensing part, the five-tile sensing part and the seven-tile sensing part are arranged in turn, by which arrangement the lift platform mechanism <NUM> can be accurately positioned to the height of five tiles or the height of seven tiles, applicable to the five-tile play method and the seven-tile play method.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the drive wheel <NUM> is provided with a first end face, on which a first curved groove <NUM> is arranged.

The first transmission mechanism includes a cam connecting rod <NUM>, the cam connecting rod <NUM> is provided fixedly with a first slide block <NUM>, the first slide block <NUM> is arranged inside the first curved groove <NUM> in a sliding manner, a first connecting end of the cam connecting rod <NUM> is rotatably connected to the support mechanism <NUM>, and a second connecting end of the cam connecting rod <NUM> is rotatably connected to the lift platform mechanism <NUM>.

The lift platform mechanism <NUM> is provided with a long circular slot <NUM>, the position on the second connecting end is provided fixedly with a second slide block <NUM>, the second slide block <NUM> is arranged inside the long circular slot <NUM> in a sliding manner and is capable of rotating inside the long circular slot <NUM>.

Both the first slide block <NUM> and the second slide block <NUM> are arranged as a cylindrical slide block.

The drive wheel <NUM> and the first transmission mechanism form a cam connecting rod mechanism, which can effectively transform the rotation of the drive wheel <NUM> into an up-and-down reciprocation movement of the lift platform mechanism <NUM>.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the lift platform mechanism <NUM> includes a vertical support plate <NUM>, the long circular slot <NUM> is arranged on the vertical support plate <NUM>, and the vertical support plate <NUM> has a top side provided with a platform main body <NUM> used for supporting the Rummikub tiles.

The platform main body <NUM> has a bottom side provided with a vertical guide column <NUM>, the support mechanism <NUM> is provided with a vertical guide slot <NUM>, the vertical guide column <NUM> passes through the vertical guide slot <NUM> and matches with the vertical guide slot <NUM> in a sliding manner.

In this way, the cooperation between the vertical guide column <NUM> and the vertical guide slot <NUM> can effectively limit the movement track of the lift platform mechanism <NUM>.

The support mechanism <NUM> is provided with a platform cover plate <NUM>, and the platform cover plate <NUM> is located above the platform main body <NUM>.

In an optional embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the drive wheel <NUM> is provided with a second end face, which is arranged opposite to the first end face; the second transmission mechanism includes an eccentric wheel <NUM>, which is arranged on the second end face; the push mechanism <NUM> is provided with a second curved groove <NUM>, and the eccentric wheel <NUM> is arranged inside the second curved groove <NUM> in a sliding manner.

The push mechanism <NUM> includes a push head <NUM>, a push head connecting piece <NUM> and a horizontal guide component, the horizontal guide component includes a horizontal guide column <NUM> and a guide base <NUM>, the push head <NUM> is connected to the guide base <NUM> through the push head connecting piece <NUM>, the horizontal guide column <NUM> is horizontally arranged on the support mechanism <NUM>, the guide base <NUM> is arranged on the horizontal guide column <NUM> in a sliding manner, and the second curved groove <NUM> is arranged on the guide base <NUM>.

The drive wheel <NUM>, the second transmission mechanism and the guide base <NUM> form a cam slide block mechanism, which can effectively transform the rotation of the drive wheel <NUM> into a horizontal reciprocation movement of the push mechanism <NUM>.

The present disclosure provides a Rummikub game machine, including a tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> and a tile stacking device <NUM>, wherein a tile outlet <NUM> of the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> is communicated with and arranged on an upper side of the lift platform mechanism <NUM>, by which arrangement the Rummikub tiles conveyed out from the tile outlet <NUM> can effectively fall onto the lift platform mechanism <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the Rummikub game machine further includes a support device <NUM>, a tile shuffling device <NUM>, a tile push device <NUM> and a tile lift device <NUM>. The tile stacking device <NUM>, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM>, the tile shuffling device <NUM>, the tile push device <NUM> and the tile lift device <NUM> are all arranged on the support device <NUM>.

The tile shuffling device <NUM> includes a tile shuffling plate and a tile shuffling motor connected to the tile shuffling plate in a transmission manner, the tile shuffling motor is located below the tile shuffling plate, the rotation of the tile shuffling plate can effectively achieve the shuffling of the Rummikub tiles, and the tile shuffling plate has a bottom side connected to a lift device through which the tile shuffling plate can rise and lower.

The tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> is set to four in quantity, which are evenly distributed in circumferential direction relative to the tile shuffling plate. The tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> includes a magnetic wheel and a conveying belt device, the magnetic wheel can effectively attract the Rummikub tiles on the tile shuffling plate to the position of the tile inlet <NUM>, and then the conveying belt device conveys the Rummikub tiles from the tile inlet <NUM> to the tile outlet <NUM>.

The support device <NUM> includes four recesses arranged in circumferential direction, which correspond to the four tile attracting and conveying devices <NUM> respectively in position; the tile stacking device <NUM>, the tile push device <NUM> and the tile lift device <NUM> are each set to four in quantity, evenly distributed in circumferential direction, corresponding to the tile attracting and conveying devices <NUM> respectively in position. The tile stacking device <NUM> is arranged at an end part of a corresponding recess, the tile push device <NUM> and the tile lift device <NUM> are arranged inside a corresponding recess.

The tile push device <NUM> includes a tile push motor, the tile push motor drives a pushing block to move through a rack and pinion transmission mechanism, thereby conveying stacked Rummikub tiles from the tile stacking device <NUM> to the tile lift device <NUM>.

The push head <NUM> is provided with a receding groove <NUM>, and the pushing block can move into the receding groove <NUM>, preventing the push head <NUM> interfering in the movement of the pushing block and ensuring the effect of conveyance.

The tile lift device <NUM> includes a tile lift motor, and the tile lift motor drives a lift platform to rise and lower through a crank mechanism, thereby raising the shuffled and stacked Rummikub tiles.

The present disclosure provides a control method of a Rummikub game machine, including the following steps: when the detection mechanism <NUM> detects there is a preset number of stacked Rummikub tiles on the lift platform mechanism <NUM>, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> conducts reverse conveyance, thereby effectively ensuring the number of the Rummikub tiles stacked each time.

As shown in <FIG>, which is a flowchart of a control method of a five-layer-tile play method according to the present disclosure, the control method includes the following specific steps.

At the start, the tile stacking device <NUM> operates, and the lift platform mechanism <NUM> rises to a height corresponding to one singe tile.

The tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> rotates forward.

If the first position sensor <NUM> detects no Rummikub tile, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> continues rotating forward.

If the first position sensor <NUM> detects a Rummikub tile, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> rotates reversely for n seconds.

Then, the tile stacking device <NUM> continues operating, and the lift platform mechanism <NUM> lowers to a height corresponding to five tiles.

If the first position sensor <NUM> detects no Rummikub tile located on the top layer, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> continues rotating forward.

If the first position sensor <NUM> detects a Rummikub tile located on the top layer, the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM> rotates reversely for n seconds.

Next, the tile stacking device <NUM> operates, and the tile push device <NUM> operates to push out the Rummikub tiles stacked on the tile stacking device <NUM>.

By this time, one cycle of stacking action is completed.

As shown in <FIG>, which is a flowchart of a control method of a seven-layer-tile play method according to the present disclosure, the control method has similar steps to the control method of the five-layer-tile play method.

In the drawings, the machine head <NUM> refers to the tile stacking device <NUM>, the forward conveyance or reverse conveyance refers to the forward rotation or reverse rotation of the tile attracting and conveying device <NUM>, and light control refer to the first position sensor <NUM>.

The control method of the present disclosure can achieve an effective stacking of a preset number of Rummikub tiles, with significant effect.

In the description of the present application, it is to be understood that the orientation or position relations indicated by such terms as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top" and "bottom" are based on the orientation or position relations shown in the drawings, and are merely for conveniently describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element must have the specific orientation and be constructed and operated according to the specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as a limitation on the present application.

In addition, terms "first", "second" are merely for the purpose of description, but should not be understood as the indication or implication of relative importance or as the implicit indication of the quantity of the designated technical features. Therefore, features defined by "first" and "second" may specifically or implicitly include one or more such features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" and "several" mean at least two, for example, two or three, etc..

In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specifically stated and defined, terms such as "mounting", "interconnection", "connection", "fixing", etc. should be interpreted broadly. For example, they may be fixed connection, also may be detachable connection, or integration; may be direct connection, also may be indirect connection through an intermediate, and may be internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements. The ordinary skill in this field can understand the specific implication of the above terms in the present application in accordance with specific conditions.

Claim 1:
A tile stacking device (<NUM>), comprising a lift platform mechanism (<NUM>), a push mechanism (<NUM>), a drive mechanism (<NUM>) and a detection mechanism (<NUM>),
wherein the lift platform mechanism (<NUM>) is connected to the drive mechanism (<NUM>) and is capable of rising and lowering under the driving of the drive mechanism (<NUM>); the push mechanism (<NUM>) is connected to the drive mechanism (<NUM>) and is capable of reciprocating under the driving of the drive mechanism (<NUM>); and the detection mechanism (<NUM>) is arranged on one side of the lift platform mechanism (<NUM>) and is capable of detecting a relative position of a Rummikub tile,
wherein the drive mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a drive motor (<NUM>), a first transmission mechanism and a second transmission mechanism,
wherein the drive motor (<NUM>) has an output end provided with a drive wheel (<NUM>), the drive wheel (<NUM>) is connected to the lift platform mechanism (<NUM>) through the first transmission mechanism, and the drive wheel (<NUM>) is connected to the push mechanism (<NUM>) through the second transmission mechanism,
wherein the tile stacking device (<NUM>) comprises a support mechanism (<NUM>), and the detection mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a first position sensor (<NUM>),
wherein the support mechanism (<NUM>) is arranged on one side of the lift platform mechanism (<NUM>); and
the first position sensor (<NUM>) is arranged on the support mechanism (<NUM>) to detect the relative position of the Rummikub tile,
characterized in that a circumferential wall of the drive wheel (<NUM>) is provided in turn with a single-tile sensing part, a five-tile sensing part and a seven-tile sensing part, and the detection mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a second position sensor (<NUM>),
wherein the second position sensor (<NUM>) is arranged on the support mechanism (<NUM>); and
the second position sensor (<NUM>) is capable of detecting a relative position of the single-tile sensing part, the five-tile sensing part and the seven-tile sensing part.