Playing card shuffling machines and methods

• US 5,584,483 A
• Filed: 04/18/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Casinovations Incorporated (Melco International Development Limited)
• Inventors: Kelln, Norman G., Sines, Randy D., Forte, Steven L., Hale, Leonard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/423,408
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 273/149 R
• US Class Current: 273/149.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers

Abstract

Playing card shufflers having unshuffled stack holders which hold infeed arrays of playing cards. Ejectors are mounted adjacent an unshuffled stack holder, which can be stationary or movable. Cards are ejected and discharged from the infeed array at various random positions. The ejectors can be mounted on a movable carriage. Extractors are advantageously used to assist in removing playing cards from the infeed array. Removal resistors are used to provide counteracting forces resisting displacement of cards, to thereby provide more selective ejection of cards from the infeed array. One embodiment mounts over the edge of a card table.

Claims

1. An automated playing card shuffler, comprising:

an infeed array holder for holding an infeed array of unshuffled playing cards;

a shuffled array receiver for holding a shuffled array containing shuffled playing cards;

a plurality of ejectors mounted adjacent the infeed array holder for ejecting playing cards from the infeed array holder at various card discharge positions, the playing cards ejected by the plurality of ejectors being received in the shuffled array receiver.

2. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of ejectors are mounted upon at least one ejector carriage which is movable relative to a frame.

3. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 wherein said infeed array holder is movable relative to a frame.

4. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of ejectors and said unshuffled array holder are mounted so as to provide relative linear motion therebetween.

5. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one extractor which engages playing cards which are displaced by said plurality of ejectors.

6. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards.

7. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one controllably activated removal resistor which provides controlled intermittent counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards.

8. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one extractor which assists in discharging cards which have been displaced by said plurality of ejectors;

said at least one extractor including at least a pair of rollers which engage edges of discharging cards.

9. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which engage cards displaced from the unshuffled stack.

10. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which are mounted for movement.

11. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which rotate.

12. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one straightener for straightening cards in the infeed stack.

13. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled array receiver.

14. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled array receiver;

said at least one discharge guide including at least one rotatable guide.

15. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled array receiver;

said at least one discharge guide including a plurality of guide channels.

16. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one infeed stack card detector for sensing the approximate number of cards contained in the infeed stack holder.

17. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising a receiver panel drive for moving a panel of the shuffled array receiver to accommodate additional cards being discharged into the shuffled array receiver.

18. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one position indicator for indicating the relative position between the unshuffled array holder and the plurality of ejectors.

19. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors.

20. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors;

said controller including a random number generator for generating randomly ordered numbers used in selecting which cards will be ejected from the infeed array holder.

21. A playing card shuffler according to claim 1 and further comprising:

at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors;

at least one position indicator for indicating the relative position between the unshuffled stack holder and the at least one ejector carriage.

22. An automated playing card shuffler, comprising:

an infeed stack holder for holding an infeed stack of unshuffled playing cards arranged with adjacent cards in contacting relationship;

a shuffled stack receiver for holding a shuffled array containing shuffled playing cards;

at least one ejector mounted adjacent the infeed stack holder for ejecting playing cards from the infeed stack holder at various positions from the infeed stack, the playing cards ejected by the at least one ejector being received in the shuffled stack receiver;

an ejection movement for providing relative movement between the at least one ejector and said infeed stack holder to thereby allow said at least one ejector to eject cards from various card discharge positions of the infeed stack.

23. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 wherein there are a plurality of ejectors;

said ejectors being mounted upon said ejection movement which includes at least one ejector carriage which is movable relative to a frame.

24. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 wherein said infeed stack holder is movable relative to a frame.

25. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 wherein said at least one ejector and said unshuffled stack holder are mounted so as to provide relative linear motion therebetween.

26. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one extractor which engages playing cards which are displaced by said at least one ejector.

27. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards.

28. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one controllably activated removal resistor which provides controlled intermittent counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards.

29. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one extractor which assists in discharging cards which have been displaced by said at least one ejector;

said at least one extractor including at least a pair of rollers which engage edges of discharging cards.

30. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which engage cards displaced from the unshuffled stack.

31. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which are mounted for movement.

32. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one removal resistor which provides counteractive force opposing displacement of playing cards;

said at least one removal resistor including resilient members which rotate.

33. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one straightener for straightening cards in the infeed stack.

34. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled stack receiver.

35. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled stack receiver;

said at least one discharge guide including at least one rotatable guide.

36. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one discharge guide for guiding cards discharged from the infeed stack as the cards move toward the shuffled stack receiver;

said at least one discharge guide including a plurality of guide channels.

37. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one infeed stack card detector for sensing the approximate number of cards contained in the infeed stack holder.

38. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising a receiver panel drive for moving a panel of the shuffled stack receiver to accommodate additional cards being discharged into the shuffled stack receiver.

39. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one position indicator for indicating the relative position between the unshuffled stack holder and the plurality of ejectors.

40. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors.

41. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors;

said controller including a random number generator for generating randomly ordered numbers used in selecting which cards will be ejected from the infeed array holder.

42. A playing card shuffler according to claim 22 and further comprising:

at least one controller for controlling operation of the plurality of ejectors;

at least one position indicator for indicating the relative position between the unshuffled stack holder and the at least one ejector carriage.

43. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

wherein said selectively discharging includes extracting playing cards from the unshuffled stack array.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein said selectively discharging includes partially displacing cards from the unshuffled stack;

and said extracting is performed on partially displaced cards.

45. A method according to claim 43 wherein said extracting playing cards from the unshuffled stack includes engaging edges of the playing cards with rollers and rolling the playing cards.

46. A method according to claim 43 and further comprising moving to provide relative motion between said plurality of ejectors and the unshuffled stack holder, to position the plurality of ejectors in various discharge positions along the unshuffled stack.

47. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

resisting discharge of playing cards by providing counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled stack.

48. A method according to claim 47 and wherein said resisting discharge of playing cards is by providing controlled intermittent counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled stack.

49. A method according to claim 47 and wherein said resisting discharge of playing cards is by providing passive frictional counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled stack.

50. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

moving to provide relative motion between at least one ejector and the unshuffled stack holder, to position the at least one ejector in various discharge positions along the unshuffled stack.

51. A method according to claim 50 and further comprising dropping the discharged cards into the shuffled array.

52. A method according to claim 50 and wherein said moving provides relative linear motion between at least one ejector and the unshuffled stack holder, to position the at least one ejector in various discharge positions along the unshuffled stack.

53. A method according to claim 50 and further comprising guiding cards discharged from the unshuffled stack array.

54. A method according to claim 50 and further comprising straightening playing cards held in the unshuffled stack array.

55. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

detecting the approximate number of cards held in the unshuffled stack.

56. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

wherein said selectively discharging step is effected using a plurality of ejectors.

57. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

resisting discharge of playing cards by engaging the cards with at least one resilient member.

58. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

resisting discharge of playing cards by engaging the cards with at least one rotating member.

59. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

forming an unshuffled stack of playing cards which are to be shuffled;

said playing cards being in stacked array formation with contact between adjacent cards of the unshuffled stack;

holding the unshuffled stack in an unshuffled stack holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled stack at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled stack;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array;

moving a supporting panel of the shuffled card receiver to better accommodate playing cards being received therein.

60. A method for automated shuffling of playing cards, comprising:

holding an unshuffled array of playing cards in an unshuffled array holder;

selectively discharging playing cards from the unshuffled array holder at various card discharge positions of the unshuffled array;

said selectively discharging step being effected using a plurality of ejectors;

moving to provide relative motion between said plurality of ejectors and the unshuffled array holder, to position the plurality of ejectors in various discharge positions along the unshuffled array;

receiving playing cards discharged in said discharging step into a shuffled card receiver wherein the discharged playing cards are formed into a shuffled card array.

61. A method according to claim 60 wherein said selectively discharging includes partially displacing cards from the unshuffled array.

62. A method according to claim 60 wherein said selectively discharging includes:

partially displacing cards from the unshuffled array;

extracting partially displaced cards.

63. A method according to claim 60 wherein said selectively discharging includes extracting playing cards from the unshuffled array.

64. A method according to claim 60 wherein said selectively discharging includes extracting playing cards from the unshuffled array;

said extracting including engaging edges of the playing cards with rollers and rolling the playing cards.

65. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising resisting discharge of playing cards by providing counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled array.

66. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising resisting discharge of playing cards by providing controlled intermittent counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled array.

67. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising resisting discharge of playing cards by providing passive frictional counteractive force opposing discharge of playing cards from the unshuffled array.

68. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising dropping the discharged cards into the shuffled array.

69. A method according to claim 60 wherein said moving provides relative linear motion.

70. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising detecting the approximate number of cards held in the unshuffled array.

71. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising guiding cards discharged from the unshuffled array.

72. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising resisting discharge of playing cards by engaging the cards with at least one resilient member.

73. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising resisting discharge of playing cards by engaging the cards with at least one rotating member.

74. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising straightening playing cards held in the unshuffled array.

75. A method according to claim 60 and further comprising moving a supporting panel of the shuffled card receiver to better accommodate playing cards being received therein.