Shuffling machine with a detaching assembly for card input and output

• US 20090302537A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Fulgent Enterprise Co Limited (Taiwan Fulgent Enterprise)
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Fulgent Enterprise Co Limited (Taiwan Fulgent Enterprise)
• Inventors: Ho, Cai-Shiang
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers

Abstract

A shuffling machine has a shuffler, a card input, a card output, an input detaching assembly and an output detaching assembly. The input detaching assembly is mounted between the shuffler and the card input to connect the card input detachably to the shuffler. The output detaching assembly is mounted between the shuffler and the card output to connect the card output detachably to the shuffler. Therefore, the shuffler, the card input and the card output may be manufactured and sold separately to simplify manufacturing processes and reduce buying cost.

Claims

1. A shuffling machine comprising:

a shuffler having an input end and an output end;

a card input being connected detachably to the input end of the shuffler;

a card output being connected detachably to the output end of the shuffler;

an input detaching assembly being mounted between input end of the shuffler and the card input to connect the card input detachably to the shuffler and having

a holding bracket having

a distal edge; and

at least one locking recess being formed in the distal edge of the holding bracket; and

at least one holder, each one of the at least one holder being selectively held in a corresponding locking recess of the holding bracket; and

an output detaching assembly being mounted between the output end of the shuffler and the card output to detachably connect the card output to the shuffler and having

a holding frame having

a distal edge; and

at least one locking hole being formed in the distal edge of the holding frame; and

at least one holder, each one of the at least one holder being selectively held in a corresponding locking hole of the holding frame.

2. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each one of the at least one locking recess of the holding bracket has

an opening;

and

a limit being formed on the distal edge of the holding bracket and being adjacent to the opening of the locking recess; and

each one of the at least one holder of the input detaching assembly being selectively held by the limit of the corresponding locking recess.

3. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each one of the at least one holder of the input detaching assembly has

an outer wall;

and

an annular groove being formed around the outer wall of the holder, selectively engaging the corresponding locking recess of the holding bracket and selectively abutting the limit of the corresponding locking recess of the holding bracket.

4. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of the at least one locking hole of the holding frame has a lateral hole and an upright hole, and the lateral hole is wider than the upright hole.

5. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein each one of the at least one locking hole of the holding frame has a lateral hole and an upright hole, and the lateral hole is wider than the upright hole.

6. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein each one of the at least one holder of the output detaching assembly has

an outer wall;

and

an annular groove being formed around the outer wall of the holder of the output detaching assembly and selectively engaging the upright hole of the corresponding locking hole of the holding frame.

7. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein each one of the at least one holder of the output detaching assembly has

an outer wall;

and

an annular groove being formed around the outer wall of the holder of the output detaching assembly and selectively engaging the upright hole of the corresponding locking hole of the holding frame.

8. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the holding bracket is U-shaped and has

two wings being mounted respectively on two sides of the shuffler, and each wing has an upper ear and a lower ear;

and

four locking recesses, each locking recess being formed in a distal edge of a corresponding ear, and each limit being formed on the distal edge of the corresponding ear;

the input detaching assembly has four holders being formed respectively on and protruding out from four corners of a connecting end of the card input.

9. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the holding bracket is U-shaped and has

two wings being mounted respectively on two sides of the shuffler, and each wing has an upper ear and a lower ear;

and

four locking recesses, each locking recess being formed in a distal edge of a corresponding ear, and each limit being formed on the distal edge of the corresponding ear;

the input detaching assembly has four holders being formed respectively on and protruding out from four corners of a connecting end of the card input.

10. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the holding frame of the output detaching assembly has two locking holes and is attached securely to a bottom of the shuffler;

and

the output detaching assembly has two holders being formed on and protruding out from a connecting end of the card output near a bottom of the card output.

11. The shuffling machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the holding frame of the output detaching assembly has two locking holes and is attached securely to a bottom of the shuffler;

and

the output detaching assembly has two holders being formed on and protruding out from a connecting end of the card output near a bottom of the card output.