SHUFFLER AND METHOD OF SHUFFLING CARDS

• US 20130147116A1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stasson, James B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/309
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/58 Antifraud or preventing misuse
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.

Claims

1. An automatic card shuffler, comprising:

a top surface;

a card receiving area accessible by a user from the top surface for receiving a set of cards to be shuffled;

a card randomizing system for changing an order of the set of cards;

a card collection surface that receives randomized cards;

a card delivery area accessible by a user from the top surface; and

an elevator for raising the randomized cards into the card delivery area.

2. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the shuffler is mounted into an opening in a surface of a table and is supported such that the top surface is flush with the surface of the table.

3. The shuffler of claim 2, wherein a flange is provided around an outer edge of the top surface, and wherein the flange is supported by edges of an opening in the surface of the table.

4. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein a flange is provided around an outer edge of the top surface, and wherein the shuffler is supported by the flange.

5. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a lower surface and a separate mounting bracket for supporting the shuffler from the lower surface.

6. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a processor that controls operation of the automatic card shuffler.

7. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a card moving mechanism for moving the cards from the card receiving area into the card randomizing system.

8. The shuffler of claim 7, wherein the card moving mechanism lowers the cards into the card randomizing system.

9. The shuffler of claim 1, further comprising a hinged lid that covers at least one of the card receiving area and the card delivery area during a shuffling operation.

10. The shuffler of claim 9, wherein the hinged lid covers the shuffled card delivery area during a shuffling operation.

11. The shuffler of claim 9, further comprising a user input device, wherein the lid automatically opens in response to a signal received from the user input device.

12. The shuffler of claim 1, wherein the card receiving area is configured to receive at least one deck of cards with each card face lying in a plane that is at an angle with respect to the top surface.

13. A method of randomizing cards using a shuffler, comprising:

supporting a stack of cards in a card receiving area of a shuffler, the card receiving area accessible by a user from a top surface of the shuffler;

lowering and shuffling the cards;

collecting the shuffled cards onto a card receiving surface; and

raising the shuffled cards into a card receiving area accessible from the top surface of the shuffler by a user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein cards are supported in the card receiving area in a manner such that each card is face down on a declining angled surface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein lowering and shuffling comprises inserting a card into a gap formed in a stack of cards positioned on the card receiving surface and then lowering the cards on the card receiving surface.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein lowering the cards comprises allowing cards to drop by means of gravity to the card receiving surface.

17. A device for shuffling cards comprising:

a top surface flush with a gaming table surface, the top surface comprising a flip-up cover rotatable about an edge and overlaying an elevator platform and a card insertion area;

an operation button and an information display mounted on the top surface, connected to a processor controlling operations of the device; and

a card randomizing system positioned below the top surface;

wherein at the conclusion of a shuffling of cards, the elevator platform lifts a deck of cards to the top surface of the device and the flip-up cover rotates about an edge to deliver and allow access to cards.

18. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a sensor mounted in the card insertion area for detecting the presence of a set of cards to be shuffled.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the information display indicates an operational mode of the device.