AUTOMATIC CARD SHUFFLER

• US 20060220313A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Blad, Steven J., Hessing, Lynn, Price, Carl W., Price, Phil, Baker, Thompson
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,852 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. An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards comprising:

a device for moving cards; and

a card delivery unit for receipt of playing cards, said card delivery unit including upper powered rollers and lower powered belts for transporting cards through the card delivery unit and into a card collection unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper rollers and the lower belts are powered by separate motors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower belts are powered by a stepper motor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means to intermittently cease the lower belts so that only the upper rollers act upon a subject card in the card delivery unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising one or more sensors, wherein output from said one or more sensors dictates operation of the stepper motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device for moving cards is a random ejection device.

7. An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards comprising:

a card moving unit;

a card delivery unit for receipt of playing cards moved by said card moving unit, said card delivery unit including upper powered rollers and lower powered belts for transporting cards through the card delivery unit and into a card collection unit; and

one or more sensors operable to control the lower powered belts.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the upper rollers and the lower belts are powered by independent motors.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the lower belts are powered by a stepper motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the one or more sensors are operable to control power to the lower belts such that the belts may be intermittently ceased so that only the upper rollers act upon a subject card in the card delivery unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the card moving unit is a random ejection unit.

12. An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards comprising:

a device for moving cards;

a card delivery unit for receipt of playing cards from said device for moving cards whereby said card delivery unit includes upper powered rollers and lower powered belts for transporting cards through the card delivery unit and into a card collection unit;

a stepper motor for controlling said lower belts; and

one or more sensors operable to control operation of the stepper motor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the device for moving cards is a random ejection device.