Card shuffler with card rank and value reading capability
First Claim
1. A device that forms a random set of playing cards comprising:
- a top surface and a bottom surface of said device;
a single card receiving area that receives an initial set of playing cards;
a randomizing system that randomizes the order of an initial set of playing cards;
the randomizing system comprising a randomized card collection surface in a card collection area that receives randomized playing cards originally in the single card receiving area one at a time into the card collection area, the randomized card collection surface receiving all cards moved from the single card receiving area;
an image capture device that reads rank and suit of each card before being received on the randomized card collection surface;
an elevator that raises the randomized card collection surface so that all randomized cards are elevated at least to where all randomized cards are exposed for manual removal from the top surface of the device through a opening,the device forming the random set of playing cards from the initial set of playing cards by steps comprising moving individual playing cards one at a time directly to the card collection area and raising the randomized card collection surface to a level that exceeds normal shuffling elevation of the elevator; and
a moveable cover over the elevator that when moved, exposes said opening for manual removal of the randomized playing cards.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A card shuffling device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards, a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, and an elevator for raising the collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. An automatic card shuffler includes a microprocessor with memory. An automated calibration system is provided that calibrates the precise position of the card supporting platform on the elevator so that precise insertion of cards can be performed during card handling procedures.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A device that forms a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device; a single card receiving area that receives an initial set of playing cards; a randomizing system that randomizes the order of an initial set of playing cards; the randomizing system comprising a randomized card collection surface in a card collection area that receives randomized playing cards originally in the single card receiving area one at a time into the card collection area, the randomized card collection surface receiving all cards moved from the single card receiving area; an image capture device that reads rank and suit of each card before being received on the randomized card collection surface; an elevator that raises the randomized card collection surface so that all randomized cards are elevated at least to where all randomized cards are exposed for manual removal from the top surface of the device through a opening, the device forming the random set of playing cards from the initial set of playing cards by steps comprising moving individual playing cards one at a time directly to the card collection area and raising the randomized card collection surface to a level that exceeds normal shuffling elevation of the elevator; and a moveable cover over the elevator that when moved, exposes said opening for manual removal of the randomized playing cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A device that forms a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device; a receiving area for an initial set of playing cards; a randomizing system that randomizes an initial set of playing cards by moving random ones of the playing cards one-at-a-time from the receiving area onto a single randomized card collection surface; the single randomized collection surface is in a card collection area that receives randomized playing cards; an elevator that raises the single collection surface within the card collection area to make all randomized playing cards available for manual removal through an opening in the top surface of the device; and an image capture system that reads at least a rank of each at least one card before the at least one card is inserted onto the single randomized card collection surface into a single set of cards on the single randomized card collection surface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device; a single card receiving area that receives an initial set of playing cards; a randomizing system that randomizes an order of an initial set of playing cards; a collection surface in a card collection area that receives randomized playing cards one at a time into the card collection area, the randomized card collection surface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the top surface of the device; an image capture device that reads rank and suit of each card after the card has begun leaving the single card receiving area and before being received on the randomized card collection surface; an elevator that raises the randomized card collection surface so that at least two randomized cards are elevated at least to the top surface of the device to an opening through which all randomized playing cards may be manually removed; and a moveable hinged cover, elevating cover or sliding cover is over the elevator to expose said opening.
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32. An automatic card shuffling device comprising:
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a microprocessor with memory that controls the operation of the device; an in-feed compartment that receives playing cards to be randomized; a playing card moving mechanism that moves playing cards individually from the in-feed compartment into a playing card mixing compartment, an image capture system that identifies at least a rank of each playing card as the card is moved towards, into or through the playing card mixing compartment, and before playing card removal from the device; a card mixing compartment that identifies a position for each playing card in each set of playing cards formed in the playing card mixing compartment, a memory that records at least the rank of each playing card in each set of playing cards formed in the playing card mixing compartment, wherein the playing card mixing compartment comprises a plurality of substantially vertical supports, an opening for the passage of playing cards from the in-feed compartment, a moveable lower support surface, at least one stationary gripping element, a lower edge proximate the opening, and a gripping arm suspending playing cards above the opening; and an elevator that raises and lowers the moveable support surface towards an opening at a top most surface of the playing card shuffling device. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of randomizing a group of playing cards, comprising the steps of:
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placing a group of cards to be randomized into a playing card in-feed tray; removing playing cards individually from the playing card in-feed tray and delivering the playing cards into a randomized playing card collection area, the randomized playing card collection area having a moveable lower surface, and a stationary opening that receives playing cards from the in-feed tray; elevating the moveable lower surface to a randomly determined height; grasping at least one edge of a group of playing cards in the playing card collection area at a point immediately above the stationary opening; lowering the moveable lower surface to create an opening in a stack of playing cards formed on the lower surface, the opening located immediately beneath a lowermost point where the playing cards are grasped; inserting a playing card removed from the in-feed tray into the opening; after randomizing all playing cards, elevating a collection of randomized playing cards towards a top most surface of the device so that all randomized playing cards may be manually removed as a single stack of randomized playing cards; and reading at least a rank of each playing card after the card is individually removed from the playing card in-feed tray and before the card has been inserted into the opening in the stack of playing cards. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. An automatic playing card shuffler comprising:
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a housing mounted into a gaming table surface; a card receiver that accepts a group of cards to be shuffled; a randomizing system that randomizes an order of an initial set of playing cards, wherein an image capture device identifies at least a rank of each playing card in the initial set of playing cards before each card is positioned on a collection surface that receives randomized cards; the collection surface that receives randomized playing cards; an elevator that raises the collection surface to an elevation proximate the gaming table surface to which the housing is mounted so that all randomized cards on the collection surface are exposed for manual removal; and a microprocessor that controls the operation of the playing card shuffler. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprising:
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a top surface and a bottom surface of said device; a single card receiving area that receives an initial set of playing cards; a randomizing system that randomizes an order of an initial set of playing cards; a single card collection surface in a playing card collection area that receives randomized playing cards one at a time into the playing card collection area to form a single randomized set of playing cards, the single card collection surface receiving playing cards so that all playing cards from the initial set of playing cards are received below the top surface of the device; an image capture device that reads a rank and suit of each card after the card has begun leaving the single card receiving area and before being received on the single card collection surface; and and access enabling manual removal of the single randomized set of playing cards as a complete set, the access comprising an opening covered by a moveable cover. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification