Method and apparatus for automatically cutting and shuffling playing cards
DC
First Claim
1. An apparatus for shuffling playing cards comprising:
- a card-moving mechanism;
a processing unit that controls the card-moving mechanism so that cards are moved in a shuffling cycle to and from groups of cards including one or more groups of cut cards and a group of shuffled cards;
a data storage medium accessible by the processing unit, wherein the data storage medium has a program stored on it, and wherein the program is configured to cause the processing unit to cause the card-moving mechanism to randomly move cards into the group of shuffled cards; and
a counter for registering the use of the apparatus.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a machine for shuffling multiple decks of playing cards including a first vertically extending magazine for holding a stack of unshuffled playing cards, and second and third vertically extending magazines each for holding a stack of cards, the second and third magazines being horizontally spaced from and adjacent to the first magazine. A first card mover is at the top of the first magazine for moving cards from the top of the stack of cards in the first magazine to the second and third magazines to cut the stack of unshuffled playing cards into two unshuffled stacks. Second and third card movers are at the top of the second and third magazines, respectively, for randomly moving cards from the top of the stack of cards in the second and third magazines, respectively, back to the first magazine, thereby interleaving the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffled cards in the first magazine. The machine further includes a counter display which displays or registers the "in use" time of the machine by counting the number of shuffling cycles the machine has performed, thereby facilitating the determination of a lease rate or sales price based on accurate quantification of use of the machine.
313 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for shuffling playing cards comprising:
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a card-moving mechanism; a processing unit that controls the card-moving mechanism so that cards are moved in a shuffling cycle to and from groups of cards including one or more groups of cut cards and a group of shuffled cards; a data storage medium accessible by the processing unit, wherein the data storage medium has a program stored on it, and wherein the program is configured to cause the processing unit to cause the card-moving mechanism to randomly move cards into the group of shuffled cards; and a counter for registering the use of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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5. An apparatus for shuffling playing cards which comprises:
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a. a first vertically extending magazine for holding a vertically registered stack of unshuffled playing cards, b. second and third vertically extending magazines for holding a vertically registered stack of cards, each horizontally spaced from and adjoining the first magazine, c. first card-engaging means disposed at the top of the first magazine for individually moving cards from the top of the stack of cards in the first magazine horizontally to the second and third magazine to thereby cut the stack of unshuffled playing cards into two stacks, d. second and third card-engaging means disposed at the top of the second and third magazines, respectively, for simultaneously and randomly moving individual cards from the top of the stack of cards in the second and third magazines, respectively, to the first magazine, to thereby interleave the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffled cards in the first magazine, and e. a counter for registering the amount of use of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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6. A method for shuffling playing cards using a shuffling apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least two groups of cards, said at least two groups of cards cut from a first group of cards; randomly moving cards from the at least two groups of cards to a group of shuffled cards; repeating said providing and randomly moving a selected number of times thereby defining one shuffling cycle; and counting the number of shuffling cycles for registering the use of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for shuffling playing cards comprising:
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a card-moving mechanism; and a counter for registering use of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for shuffling playing cards, said method comprising the steps of:
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loading cards into a shuffling apparatus; actuating the apparatus to form a group of shuffled cards; and registering the use of the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeSg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
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Original AssigneeSHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
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InventorsNelson, Troy D., Kukuzka, Nick W., Grauzer, Attila, Scheper, Paul K., Stasson, James Bernard, Breeding, John G.
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Primary Examiner(s)LAYNO, BENJAMIN
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Application NumberUS08/932,852Time in Patent Office985 DaysField of Search273/149 R, 273/292, 463/12, 463/25, 463/29US Class Current273/149.00RCPC Class CodesA63F 1/12 Card shufflersA63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games hor...
