Shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof

• US 8,919,777 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Angel Group Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Angel Playing Cards Co Ltd
• Inventors: Shigeta, Yasushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US13/936,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 273/293
• US Class Current: 273/293
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/10 Card holders
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C

Abstract

The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set.

Claims

1. A method of checking one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, wherein each of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards are shuffled at random, each of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is contained within a corresponding package having a sealing label, and a shuffled card ID associated with the shuffled deck of playing cards is attached to the package, the method comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting, using one or more processors, at least a rank of each card delivered by a card feeder from the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards;

inspecting, using the one or more processors, the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards after shuffling;

upon a condition that a shuffled deck of playing cards is determined to be defective based on the inspecting,

treating or handling the set of playing cards which is determined to be defective as a defective item.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inspecting comprises determining whether or not each card complies with predetermined standards.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID is associated with production information of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, and the production information is related to identification of a manufacturing line used to shuffle the one or more decks of shuffled playing cards.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID associated with the shuffled deck of playing cards is attached to the sealing label.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID is a bar code, RFID tag, RF tag or a two-dimensional matrix code.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shuffled card ID is further associated with product type of the shuffled deck of playing cards, shipment information or customer information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each shuffled card ID is registered in a database by associating the shuffled card ID with information related to a shuffling machine or a shuffling machine group used to shuffle the shuffled deck of playing cards to which the shuffled card ID is attached.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined number of shuffled decks of playing cards are individually packaged.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, controlling, based on the automatic detection, using the one or more processors, operation of a lock member to restrict movement of cards of the set of cards from the card housing.

10. A method of checking one or more shuffled decks of playing cards, wherein each of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards are shuffled at random, each of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is contained within a corresponding package having a sealing label, and a shuffled card ID associated with the shuffled deck of playing cards is attached to the package, the method comprising:

automatically detecting, using one or more processors, an improper set of cards from the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards comprising a predetermined number of cards delivered from a card housing, wherein a set of cards is detected to be improper upon detection of one or more of the following conditions;

1) a number of times at least one kind of card appears in the predetermined number of cards is more than a total number of the shuffled decks of playing cards; and

2) an improper shuffling of the predetermined number of cards; and

based on the automatic detection, generating, using one or more processors, an error signal indicating that an error has occurred.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein detection of improper shuffling of the predetermined number of cards comprises the step of determining, using one or more processors, relative arrangement of the predetermined number of cards.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining relative arrangement comprises determining at least one of rank or suit of each of the predetermined number of cards drawn in sequence from the card housing unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether the ranks of cards increase or decrease in order.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether each of the predetermined number of cards have the same rank.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether each of the predetermined number of cards are of the same suit.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether a repeating sequence of rank or suit is present within the predetermined number of cards.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether the determined relative arrangement matches a pre-stored relative arrangement.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether each of the predetermined number of cards have the same rank and are of the same suit as compared to a corresponding card in a preceding deck of cards in the set.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises determining whether each of the predetermined number of cards have the same rank and are of the same suit as compared to a corresponding card in a preceding set of cards checked in a previous detection.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises reading a code on each card that indicates at least one of a number or a suit of the card.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises comparing the code with a predetermined code stored in memory.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises reading an authenticity determination code on each card.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein detection of improper shuffling comprises comparing the authenticity determination code on each card with a predetermined authenticity determination code stored in memory.

24. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of, controlling, based on the automatic detection, using the one or more processors, operation of a lock member to restrict movement of cards of the set of cards from the card housing.