Automatic card shuffler

• US 6,959,925 B1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VendingData Corporation (Melco International Development Limited)
• Inventors: Blad, Steven J., Hessing, Lynn, Price, Carl W., Price, Phil, Baker, Thompson
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US10/757,785
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 273/149.R, 273/292, 463/12, 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 273/149.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers

Abstract

An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously. The shuffler is controlled by a processing unit in communication with multiple internal sensors. An audio system communicates voice outputs regarding shuffler malfunctions and instructions to an operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards comprising:

a random card ejection unit for randomly ejecting cards from a first stack of playing cards;

a card separation unit;

a stop arm positioned rear of said card separation unit for causing said ejected cards to form a second stack in an off-set arrangement rear of said card separation unit;

a card delivery unit for receipt of playing cards separated from said second stack of cards; and

a card collection unit for receipt of cards from said delivery unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable limiting means for controlling a number of ejected playing cards having concurrent access to said card separation unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said adjustable limiting means is a floating member positioned forward of said stop arm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said floating member prevents more than three playing cards from having concurrent access to said separation unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an audio unit, including a speaker, for generating voice outputs related to apparatus status.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus status includes at least one voice output from the group consisting of a card jam indication, ready to shuffle indication, complete hand in the collection unit indication, remove cards in the collection unit indication and input cards indication.

7. An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards comprising:

a random card ejection unit for randomly ejecting cards from a plurality of playing cards;

a card separation unit;

an adjustable limiting means for controlling a number of ejected playing cards having simultaneous access to said card separation unit;

a card delivery unit for receipt of playing cards separated from a stack of cards rear of the card separation unit; and

a card collection unit for receipt of cards from said delivery unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a stop arm rear of said card separation unit for causing said ejected cards to stack in a staggered arrangement rear of said card separation unit and said adjustable limiting means.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said stop arm is systematically raised thereby allowing one or more playing cards in the stack access to said separation unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an audio unit for generating voice outputs related to apparatus status.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the apparatus status includes at least one voice output from the group consisting of a card jam indication, ready to shuffle indication, complete hand in the collection unit indication, remove cards in the collection unit indication and input cards indication.

12. An apparatus for randomly arranging playing cards comprising:

a card ejection unit; and

an audio system for generating voice outputs related to a status of the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the status of the apparatus includes at least one voice output from the group consisting of a card jam indication, ready to shuffle indication, complete hand in the collection unit indication, remove cards in the collection unit indication and input cards indication.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the audio system generates voice outputs in the form of instructions related to operation of the apparatus.