Automatic card shuffler
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
- selecting a random position, corresponding to a specific single card, from a stack of playing cards placed in a card input unit;
determining the positional height of the specific single card within the stack of playing cards;
selecting a solenoid and corresponding ejector blade;
aligning the single specific card and the selected solenoid; and
firing said selected solenoid causing the ejector blade to eject the specific single card from the stack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method of optimizing shuffling of cards with a shuffling machine relying on random ejection technology. Deterministic ejection of cards, verifying card stack position and number of cards remaining in a card stack, adjusting operational functions, including low-impact ejection and packer arm activation, and automatic analysis of card quality create an optimum system for shuffling cards using a shuffler which incorporates random ejection technology. A calibration procedure facilitates the optimization features. In another embodiment, multiple buttons or a single button provide means for an operator to navigate a list of menu items and select a desired menu item.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
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selecting a random position, corresponding to a specific single card, from a stack of playing cards placed in a card input unit; determining the positional height of the specific single card within the stack of playing cards; selecting a solenoid and corresponding ejector blade; aligning the single specific card and the selected solenoid; and firing said selected solenoid causing the ejector blade to eject the specific single card from the stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
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detecting that a number of cards in a card input unit is less than a theoretical number of cards which should be, based on ideal shuffler operation, in the card input unit; positioning the card input unit and a card stack below a selected solenoid and corresponding ejector blade; incrementally raising the card input unit in concert with firing the selected solenoid causing the ejector blade to attempt to at least partially eject a top card from the card stack until the top card is at least partially ejected; in response to the top card being at least partially ejected, recording the position of the card stack; and based on the card stack position, calculating the number of cards remaining in the card input unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
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randomly ejecting cards from a card stack by continuously activating one or more ejector blades; after each activation of the ejector blades, determining whether any cards are in an undesirable orientation in the stack; activating one or more packer arms to properly position any cards in an undesirable orientation; determining whether or not the activation of the packer arms has properly positioned the cards which were determined to be in an undesirable orientation; and automatically adjusting the operation of the packer arms in response to the determination of whether or not the activation of the packer arms has properly positioned the cards in an undesirable orientation. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
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randomly ejecting cards from a card stack by continuously activating one or more ejector blades; calculating a speed of one or more cards as they exit the card input unit; comparing the calculated speed with a minimum threshold speed stored in a shuffling machine memory device; and in response to the calculated speed being below the minimum threshold speed, notifying an operator that the playing cards need to be replaced. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification