CARD HANDLING SYSTEMS, DEVICES FOR USE IN CARD HANDLING SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120091656A1
• Filed: 10/10/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated), Shuffle Master GMBH & Co KG (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Shuffle Master GMBH & Co KG (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Blaha, Ernst, Krenn, Peter, Grauzer, Attila, Haushalter, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,800,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/149.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers

Abstract

Card handling systems include shuffling devices, shoe devices, and a card transfer system for automatically transferring cards from the shuffling device into the shoe device. Shuffling devices may include a divider configured to contact at least one card positioned within a compartment of the shuffling device. Shoe devices may include a card loading system for loading cards into a card storage area through an opening in a base of the shoe device. Methods of providing cards during a casino table game play include identifying card information including a rank and a suit of each card in a shuffling device and a shoe device and transporting cards from the shuffling device to the shoe device.

Claims

1. A card handling system, comprising:

a shuffling device comprising a first card sensing device;

a shoe device comprising a second card sensing device;

a card transfer system for transferring cards directly from the shuffling device into the shoe device; and

a processor for controlling operation of the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the card transfer system is configured to automatically transfer cards from the shuffling device into a card storage area of the shoe device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a card infeed area in the shuffling device, the card infeed area configured to supply cards into the shuffling device through a card feed system including the second card sensing device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the card infeed area comprises at least one of a rotatable magazine and a magazine movable by an elevator system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shoe device is separable from the shuffling device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the shuffling device is configured to be interchangeably used with a plurality of shoe devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the card transfer system is positioned adjacent to a side portion of a gaming table.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the shoe device is configured to be disposed on a playing surface of a gaming table and wherein the shuffling device is configured to be disposed external to a playing surface of a gaming table.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a docking station forming at least a portion of the card transfer system and comprising at least one mounting device configured to receive the shoe device thereon.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the shoe device further comprises a card blocking feature for selectively blocking a card path at a discharge end of the shoe device.

11. A shuffling device, comprising;

a card infeed area;

a first card feed mechanism for transporting a plurality of cards from the card infeed area to a carousel comprising a plurality of compartments; and

a divider positioned proximate to the carousel and operable to contact at least one card of the plurality of cards positioned within at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments of the carousel.

12. The shuffling device of claim 11, further comprising a processor for controlling operation of the shuffling device, including translation of the divider relative to the carousel after the divider contacts the at least one card to create an opening between at least one of the at least one card and at least another card of the plurality of cards within the at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments and the at least one card and a surface of the carousel forming a portion of the at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments.

13. The shuffling device of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable to initiate a rotation of the carousel to create the opening.

14. The shuffling device of claim 12, wherein the divider is movable between a retracted position and an engaged position, the divider being separated from the at least one card in the retracted position and in contact with the at least one card in the engaged position.

15. The shuffling device of claim 11, wherein at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments comprises a surface oriented to create a lateral offset between at least two cards of the plurality of cards positioned within the at least one compartment.

16. A shoe device, comprising;

a card storage area; and

a card loading system for loading cards into the card storage area through an opening in a base of the shoe device.

17. The shoe device of claim 16, wherein the card loading system comprises at least one set of transport rollers.

18. The shoe device of claim 16, wherein the card loading system is positioned to receive cards through the base of the shoe device from a shuffling device.

19. The shoe device of claim 18, wherein the shoe device further comprises a card blocking feature for selectively blocking a card path at a discharge end of the shoe device, the card blocking feature comprising a barrier that is movable into a blocking position responsive to a processor and movable into a retracted position responsive to the processor.

20. The shoe device of claim 19, wherein the card blocking feature is movable into a blocking position by actuation of a solenoid and movable into a retracted position by at least one of actuation of a solenoid and a biasing element.

21. The shoe device of claim 19, wherein the shoe device further comprises a masking device for at least partially concealing an indication of movement of the card blocking feature between the blocking position and the retracted position.

22. A method of providing cards during casino table game play, the method comprising:

receiving cards into a shuffling device positioned at least partially below a playing surface of a gaming table;

obtaining card information including a rank and a suit of each card as the card moves through the shuffling device;

shuffling the loaded cards;

transporting the card from the shuffling device to a shoe device positioned over a playing surface of a gaming table;

obtaining card information including a rank and a suit of each card as the card moves through the shoe device; and

supplying the card through a card output area of the shoe device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising comparing the card information obtained in the shoe device with the card information obtained in the shuffling device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein shuffling the loaded cards comprises:

loading at least one card into at least one compartment of a carousel comprising a plurality of compartments;

creating an opening with a divider between at least one of the at least one card and at least another card within the at least one compartment and the at least one card and a surface of the carousel forming a portion of the at least one compartment; and

loading at least another card into the opening.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising removably positioning the shoe device over a portion of the shuffling device.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising aligning the shoe device with at least one mounting device provided over the shuffling device.