Methods for shuffling cards and rack assemblies for use in automatic card shufflers
First Claim
1. A method for shuffling cards with a card shuffling apparatus having a first card receiver, a plurality of card receiving compartments movable relative to the first card receiver, and a second card receiver, the method comprising:
- randomly selecting a card receiving compartment of the plurality of card receiving compartments;
moving at least one card from the first card receiver to the selected compartment, wherein at least one card is movable into an empty compartment and when there is already a card in the selected compartment;
maintaining a rolling count of a number of cards in each card receiving compartment of the plurality of card receiving compartments; and
authorizing an unloading of the selected compartment to the second card receiver only if the selected compartment has received at least a predetermined minimum number of a plurality of cards.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Card-handling devices include a card-holding area and a card output shoe. The card output shoe includes a card-way for passage of cards from the card-holding area into a dealing-ready area. A movable gate is positioned between the card-way and the dealing-ready area to prevent cards in the dealing-ready area from re-entering the card-way. Card shufflers include a gate mounted to allow movement of randomized groups of cards from card-receiving compartments to proximate a terminal end plate of a card output shoe and to block movement of cards in an opposite direction. In related methods of moving cards, card movement through the card-way to the dealing-ready position is allowed by a movable gate and card movement from the dealing-ready position into the card-way is prevented by the movable gate.
863 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for shuffling cards with a card shuffling apparatus having a first card receiver, a plurality of card receiving compartments movable relative to the first card receiver, and a second card receiver, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting a card receiving compartment of the plurality of card receiving compartments; moving at least one card from the first card receiver to the selected compartment, wherein at least one card is movable into an empty compartment and when there is already a card in the selected compartment; maintaining a rolling count of a number of cards in each card receiving compartment of the plurality of card receiving compartments; and authorizing an unloading of the selected compartment to the second card receiver only if the selected compartment has received at least a predetermined minimum number of a plurality of cards. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A rack assembly for use in an automatic card shuffler, the rack assembly comprising:
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card receiving compartments configured to receive cards one by one from a group of cards, wherein each of the card receiving compartments is sized to receive more than one card; wherein each of the card receiving compartments comprises a plate member including a beveled surface oriented and positioned to be hit by a leading edge of a card upon receipt of the card into the card receiving compartment from the group of cards, wherein a microprocessor is configured to select the position of the rack assembly relative to the cards being received in the card receiving compartments, and wherein the beveled surface is located on a same side of the plate member in each of the card receiving compartments. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for shuffling cards with a card shuffling apparatus having a first card receiver, a plurality of card receiving compartments, and a second card receiver, the method comprising:
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selecting a card receiving compartment to receive at least one card from the first card receiver; moving the at least one card from the first card receiver to the selected compartment by hitting a beveled surface of a plate member defining the selected compartment with a leading edge of the at least one card; and authorizing an unloading of the selected compartment to the second card receiver only if the selected compartment has received at least a predetermined minimum number of a plurality of cards. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A rack assembly for use in an automatic card shuffler, the rack assembly comprising:
card receiving compartments, wherein each compartment of the card receiving compartments is sized and configured to receive more than one card, and wherein each of the card receiving compartments comprises a plate member that includes a beveled surface, wherein a microprocessor is configured to select the position of the rack assembly relative to the cards being received in the card receiving compartments, and wherein the beveled surface is located on a same side of the plate member in each of the card receiving compartments. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for shuffling cards with a card shuffling apparatus having a first card receiver, a plurality of card receiving compartments movable relative to the first card receiver, and a second card receiver, the method comprising:
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randomly selecting a card receiving compartment of the plurality of card receiving compartments; moving at least one card from the first card receiver to the selected compartment, wherein at least one card is movable into an empty compartment and is movable when there is already a card in the selected compartment; and unloading the selected compartment to the second card receiver when the selected compartment has received at least a predetermined minimum number of cards by pushing cards within the selected compartment with a card-unloading pusher comprising a flexible pusher arm and an enlarged head end portion.
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Specification