Introduction
For this project, we were tasked with identifying and solving a problem best solved with a robot or system of mechanisms. As a group, we did a deep dive into past projects and ideas we were interested in pursuing. After group deliberation and conversation with TAs, we decided to go with the Card Dealer idea. Our Card Dealer mechanism will rotate and dispense cards with accuracy to 6 different players. The motivation behind this choice was our shared interest and excitement of board games. A common issue that comes up during this time is who will deal the cards out. Furthermore, not everyone can hand cards out with ease. With the creation of our mechanism, one won’t have to debate or have talent to hand out cards, but instead can hand it over to a robot. Not only will this solve a problem that we each universally face, but it also will be interesting to see just if we can create a mechanism that not only deals cards but flicks them as well.
Proposed Mechanism
The proposed mechanism focuses on mimicking a human wrist with a flicking motion. To accomplish this we intend to use a 4-bar linkage and adjust the link length to obtain a unique velocity profile that follows our intended flicking motion. The design of the mechanism will have to take into consideration how we want to mount the card/item and the specifics of the flick we intend to pursue.
Additionally, complex motion profiles could be achieved with the inclusion of two four-bar mechanisms to better suit our design. Other alternatives we have reviewed such as the scotch and yoke, quick return, and cylindrical cam mechanisms could provide us with a similar velocity profile to the desired flicking motion.
Later on, we will also look into using a Geneva mechanism to introduce rotational motion into our project while also allowing us to set desired points where we want the cards/items to be dealt.
Scope of Work
For this project, we have four goals: we want the machine to rotate and stop at 4 different spots, dispense cards at least 6 inches from the machine, and flick one card at a time. We aim to complete all three goals and if time allows, further increase the distance the cards are dispensed. We would need to perform the Grashof condition, mobility, position, kinetic, and velocity analysis. Other additional steps we would need to consider is calculating gear ratios for the rotation of the machine and timing of the forces with the necessary velocities. We do not have affiliations to extend the work