Card shuffling apparatus with automatic card size calibration during shuffling
First Claim
1. A device for card handling comprising:
- a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of cards;
a card stacking area for receiving cards from the card receiving area;
a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area;
an elevator in the card stacking area with a moving platform for moving a stack of cards;
a collection surface on the moving platform in the elevator;
a processor associated with the device, the processor being programmed with software;
a motor to move the platform within the elevator;
at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform, and the software programmed in the processor being accessible to direct the device to automatically calibrate the device to enable the device to accurately handle cards during card shuffling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for automatically calibrating for card size during card handling is disclosed. The device includes a card receiving area, a card stacking area and a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area. An elevator located in the card stacking area has a movable platform for moving a stack of cards, and has a collection surface on the platform. A motor moves the platform within the elevator. At least one sensor senses at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling is also disclosed. The method is practiced by providing a device having a card receiving area and a card stacking area comprising an elevator with a card support platform and grippers. The method includes feeding at least two initial cards into a card stacking area, automatically identifying a target elevator height that corresponds to a height at which at least a single card on the card support platform is gripped and one card remains on the platform, and randomly feeding remaining cards into the card stacking area.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device for card handling comprising:
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a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of cards;
a card stacking area for receiving cards from the card receiving area;
a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area;
an elevator in the card stacking area with a moving platform for moving a stack of cards;
a collection surface on the moving platform in the elevator;
a processor associated with the device, the processor being programmed with software;
a motor to move the platform within the elevator;
at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform, and the software programmed in the processor being accessible to direct the device to automatically calibrate the device to enable the device to accurately handle cards during card shuffling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device;
a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards;
a processor communicatively associated with the device;
a randomizing system for randomizing the initial set of playing cards;
a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the top surface of the device;
an elevator for raising the collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated at least to the top surface of the device;
at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform, and the processor having software that can be accessed to direct the device to automatically calibrate the device during shuffling to enable the device to accurately handle cards. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device;
a processor communicatively associated with the device;
a receiving area for an initial set of playing cards;
a randomizing system for the initial set of playing cards;
a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving playing cards that are being randomized;
an elevator for raising the collection surface within the card collection area;
at least one card supporting element within the card collection area that will support a predetermined number of cards within the card collection area;
an insertion point to the card collection area positioned below said at least one card supporting element;
at least one sensor for sensing at least one of a) position of the platform, b) height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) height of a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in the elevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f) presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence of card(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform, and the processor having software that can be accessed to direct the device to automatically calibrate the device to enable the device to accurately handle cards during shuffling.
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16. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling utilizing a device having a card receiving area and a card stacking area comprising an elevator with a card support platform and grippers, the method comprising:
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feeding at least two initial cards from the card receiving area into the card stacking area;
automatically identifying a target elevator height that corresponds to a height at which a single card on the card support platform is gripped, and at least one card remains on the platform; and
randomly feeding cards into the card stacking area. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification