Shuffler and method of shuffling cards

• US 10,022,617 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Stasson, James B., Swanson, Ronald R., Scheper, Paul K., Nelson, Troy D., Bourbour, Feraidoon, Grauzer, Attila
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Kang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weatherford, Syvila
• Application Number:
  US13/758,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/58 Antifraud or preventing misuse
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.

Claims

1. An automatic card shuffler, comprising:

a top surface;

a card receiving area accessible by a user through an opening in the top surface for receiving a set of cards to be shuffled;

a card randomizing system comprising a plurality of card moving elements configured to change an order of the set of cards;

a card collection surface for receiving randomized cards from the card randomizing system;

a card delivery area accessible by a user from the top surface; and

an elevator for raising the randomized cards on the card collection surface to the card delivery area,

wherein the card receiving area and the card delivery area are in proximity to the top surface such that the shuffler is mountable to a table with the top surface substantially flush with the surface of the table.

2. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the shuffler is mounted into an opening in a surface of a table and is supported such that the top surface is flush with the surface of the table.

3. The shuffler of claim 2, further comprising a flange around an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the flange is supported by edges of an opening in the surface of the table.

4. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a flange around an outer edge of the top surface, wherein the shuffler is supported by the flange.

5. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a lower surface and a mounting bracket for supporting the shuffler from the lower surface.

6. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a processor for controlling operation of the automatic card shuffler.

7. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a card moving mechanism for moving the cards from the card receiving area into the card randomizing system.

8. The shuffler of claim 7, wherein the card moving mechanism is configured to lower the cards into the card randomizing system.

9. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a hinged lid for covering at least one of the card receiving area and the card delivery area during a shuffling operation.

10. The shuffler of claim 9, wherein the hinged lid is configured to cover the card delivery area during a shuffling operation.

11. The shuffler of claim 9, further comprising a user input device, wherein the lid is configured to automatically open in response to a signal received from the user input device.

12. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the card receiving area is configured to receive at least one deck of cards with each card face lying in a plane that is at an angle with respect to the top surface.

13. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein one or more of the card receiving area and the card delivery area is at least partially beneath the top surface of the shuffler.

14. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein one or more of the card receiving area and card delivery area is at least partially at the top surface of the shuffler.

15. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein one or more card of the receiving area and card delivery area is at least partially above the top surface of the shuffler.

16. A method of randomizing cards using a shuffler that is mountable to a table such that a top surface of the shuffler is substantially flush with a top surface of the table, the method comprising:

supporting a stack of cards in proximity to the top surface of the shuffler in a card receiving area of the shuffler such that the card receiving area is accessible by a user through an opening of the top surface of the shuffler and cards may be inserted from the top surface;

lowering and shuffling the cards;

collecting the shuffled cards onto a card receiving surface; and

raising a group of shuffled cards into a card delivery area in proximity to the top surface of the shuffler such that the shuffled cards are accessible from the top surface of the shuffler by a user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein cards are supported in the card receiving area in a manner such that each card is face down on a declining angled surface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein lowering and shuffling comprises inserting a card into a gap formed in a stack of cards positioned on the card receiving surface and then lowering the cards on the card receiving surface.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein lowering the cards comprises allowing cards to drop by means of gravity to the card receiving surface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of the card receiving area and the card delivery area is at least partially beneath the top surface of the shuffler.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of the card receiving area and the card delivery area is at least partially at the top surface of the shuffler.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein one or more of the card receiving area and the card delivery area is at least partially above the top surface of the shuffler.

23. A device for shuffling cards comprising:

a top surface flush with a gaming table surface, the top surface comprising a flip-up cover rotatable about an edge and overlaying an elevator platform and a card insertion area configured to receive cards from the top surface;

an operation button and an information display mounted on the top surface, the operation button and the information display connected to a processor for controlling operations of the device;

a card randomizing system positioned below the top surface, the card randomizing system comprising a plurality of card moving elements configured to change an order of a set of cards; and

an elevator configured to raise and lower the elevator platform;

wherein the elevator platform is configured to carry the set of cards to the top surface of the device at the conclusion of a shuffling of the set of cards, and wherein the flip-up cover is configured to rotate about an edge to deliver and allow access to the shuffled cards through an opening in the top surface.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

a sensor mounted in the card insertion area for detecting the presence of a set of cards to be shuffled.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the information display is configured to indicate an operational mode of the device.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the card insertion area is at least partially beneath the top surface of the shuffler.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the card insertion area is at least partially at the top surface of the shuffler.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the card insertion area is at least partially above the top surface of the shuffler.