Card shuffler with adjacent card infeed and card output compartments

• US 20080006997A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Swanson, Ronald R., Bourbour, Feraidoon, Grauzer, Attila, Nelson, Troy D., Scheper, Paul K., Yoseloff, Mark L., Kelly, James V., Stasson, James B., Lopez, David B., Dunn, Russell Brooke
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/241 Touch screen

Abstract

A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.

Claims

1. A playing card handling device having a first side and a second opposite side, comprising:

a card infeed tray,

a card output tray;

a card handling zone, wherein the card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and wherein an upper edge of the card infeed tray and an upper edge of the card output tray are in the same plane.

2. The playing card handling device of claim 1, wherein the card handling zone comprises a card shuffling zone.

3. The playing card handling device of claim 2, wherein the card shuffling zone comprises a carousel with compartments for receiving playing cards.

4. The playing card handling device of claim 2, wherein the card shuffling zone comprises a rack with compartments for receiving playing cards.

5. The playing card handling device of claim 2, wherein the card shuffling zone comprises a fan with compartments for playing cards.

6. The playing card handling device of claim 2, wherein the card shuffling zone comprises a random ejection system for playing cards.

7. The playing card handling device of claim 1, wherein the card infeed tray comprises a movable gate, the gate capable of providing a physical separation of cards being fed and cards being returned to the playing card input compartment after play.

8. The playing card handling device of claim 1, wherein the upper surfaces of the card input tray and the card output tray are surface mounted on a gaming table surface.

9. The playing card handling device of claim 1, wherein there is a transportation path for movement of playing cards from the infeed tray to the playing card handling zone, and wherein the path passes underneath the output tray.

10. The playing card handling device of claim 9, wherein the transportation path is substantially linear.

11. The playing card handling device of claim 1, and further comprising a display with touch screen controls, the display displaying information and the touch screen controls for inputting information.

12. The playing card handling device of claim 11, wherein the touch screen controls are used to program the card handling system.

13. The playing card handling device of claim 12, wherein the commands comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

a number of table positions, a number of cards per hand, a number of dealer cards, a number of common cards, a number of bonus cards, a number of cards per deck and a game name.

29. The card handling device of claim 1, wherein the card handling zone comprises a card shuffling mechanism;

and further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to perform a diagnostic routine in response to the insertion of at least one card.

30. The card handling device of claim 29, wherein the diagnostic routine is performed in response to the insertion of a first card into the card infeed area.

31. The card handling device of claim 1, wherein the card handling zone is a carousel and further comprises a carousel cover.

32. The card handling device of claim 31, wherein the cover is removable.

33. The card handling device of claim 32, wherein the cover comprises a lock.

34. The card handling device of claim 33, wherein the lock is a mechanical lock.

14. A playing card shuffling device for use in a casino or card room comprising:

a playing card shuffler having a processor, a graphic display with touch screen controls integrated therein,

the graphic display automatically displaying information from the shuffler and the touch screen controls capable of sending user inputted data to the processor to affect performance or activity of the shuffler.

15. The playing card shuffling device of claim 14, wherein the touch screen controls are used to program the shuffler and wherein at least one of the following types of information is enterable by means of the touch screen controls:

a number of table positions, a number of cards per hand, a number of dealer cards, a number of common cards, a number of bonus cards, a number of cards per deck and a game name.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein information automatically displayed includes at least one of the following:

a product name, a casino name, a table identification, a game name, a number of shuffles, a number of hands dealt, an error message, a warning message, an indication of use, a card jam, a need for service, and programming prompts.

26. The playing card shuffling device of claim 14, wherein the shuffling device is mounted such that the graphic display screen is located below a gaming table surface.

17. A casino table card gaming system comprising:

a playing card handling device, wherein the playing card handling device is capable of;

forming a group of cards for delivery to a live card game,

reading rank and suit; and

transmitting data representing at least card group composition to at least one of an external computer and a database via a network connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the card groups are selected from the group consisting of:

a player hand, a dealer hand, a partial player hand, a partial dealer hand, a bonus hand, and a group of community cards.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the shuffler also transmits to at least one of the external computer and the database data relating to events occurring in the shuffler selected from the group consisting of:

start of card feeding, start deal, start shuffle, end shuffle, end dealing, shuffling complete, compartment full, compartment empty, shuffler unloaded, dealer activated signal, and shuffler loaded.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data is transmitted by a wireless network.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the data is an internal shuffler command relating to starting or completing dealing of a round of play in a card game.

22. A card infeed module for a card shuffler, the infeed module comprising:

a card infeed tray having a lower surface and at least two substantially upright walls for supporting cards; and

a card gate pivotally mounted above the lower surface capable of applying a downward force in a lower position and capable of separating cards being fed into a shuffler from cards being returned to the infeed tray after use.

23. The card infeed module of claim 22, further comprising a feed roller having a contact surface that extends through the lower surface to move a lowermost card out of the card infeed tray.

24. The card infeed module of claim 22, wherein the card gate is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis.

25. The card infeed module of claim 22, wherein after card feeding is complete, the card gate automatically pivots upwardly to lower separated cards onto the lower surface.

27. A bonusing system for live card games, comprising:

multiple shufflers capable of dispensing bonus cards in response to a signal from a central computer; and

a central computer for controlling the dispensation of bonus cards, wherein each shuffler is capable of at least one of receiving a command from the central computer to dispense a bonus card and sending a command to the central computer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the shufflers are installed on at least two different types of card game tables.