AUTOMATIC CARD SHUFFLER

• US 20060220312A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Blad, Steven J., Hessing, Lynn, Price, Carl W., Price, Phil, Baker, Thompson
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers

Abstract

An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Adjustment means permit the shuffler to accommodate different sized cards. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. By utilizing separate motors to drive the belts and rollers it is possible to cease the movement of the belts so that the rollers independently act upon the cards. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously. The shuffler is controlled by a processing unit in communication with multiple internal sensors. An audio system communicates voice outputs regarding shuffler malfunctions and instructions to an operator.

Claims

1. A method of shuffling cards comprising:

delivering randomly organized cards to a card transport section, said card transport section including an upper set of powered rollers and one or more lower powered belts wherein said rollers and belts simultaneously act on the cards to transport the cards through said card transport section; and

wherein upon receiving data indicating a card is within the card transport section, ceasing power to the lower belts thereby permitting the upper rollers to act on the card independently.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising powering the lower belts with a stepper motor.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing sensors to detect cards exiting the card transport section, said detection causing said power to said lower belts to be restored.

4. A method of shuffling cards comprising:

moving randomly organized cards to a card transport section, said card transport section comprising upper powered rollers and lower powered belts which act in tandem to move cards through the card transport section;

in response to sensing that a card has moved into said card transport section, cutting power to the lower powered belts;

in response to sensing that the card has moved substantially through said card transport section, restoring power to the lower powered belts; and

repeating cutting and restoring power to the lower powered belts until at least a portion of the randomly organized cards are moved through said card transport section.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising utilizing a stepper motor to power said lower powered belts.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising utilizing a separate motor to power said upper powered rollers.

7. A method of shuffling cards comprising:

moving randomly organized cards to a card transport section, said card transport section comprising upper powered rollers and lower powered belts which act on a card face and back to move cards through the card transport section;

in response to sensing that at least one card has moved into said card transport section, cutting power to the lower powered belts so that only the upper powered rollers act on the at least one card or an uppermost card in a pair or more of overlapping cards thereby separating the uppermost card from the pair of more of overlapping cards that may have unintentionally been moved into the card transport section simultaneously;

in response to sensing that the card has moved substantially through said card transport section, restoring power to the lower powered belts; and

repeating cutting and restoring power to the lower powered belts until at least a portion of the randomly organized cards are moved through said card transport section.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising utilizing a stepper motor to power said lower powered belts.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising utilizing a separate motor to power said upper powered rollers.