Automatic card shuffler
First Claim
1. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
- placing a stack of playing cards in a card input unit;
selecting a random position, corresponding to a single card, from the stack of playing cards;
determining the positional height of the single card within the stack of playing cards;
selecting a solenoid and corresponding ejector blade;
aligning the single card and the solenoid; and
firing said solenoid causing the ejector blade to eject the 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
25 Claims
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1. A method of shuffling cards comprising:
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placing a stack of playing cards in a card input unit;
selecting a random position, corresponding to a single card, from the stack of playing cards;
determining the positional height of the single card within the stack of playing cards;
selecting a solenoid and corresponding ejector blade;
aligning the single card and the solenoid; and
firing said solenoid causing the ejector blade to eject the 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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placing a stack of playing cards in a card input unit;
detecting a number of cards in a card input unit does not correspond to a shuffler perceived number representing the number of cards in the card input unit;
positioning the card input unit below a selected solenoid and corresponding ejector blade;
incrementally raising the card input unit in concert with firing the solenoid causing the ejector blade to attempt to at least partially eject a card from a card stack until a card is at least partially ejected;
in response to the at least partial card ejection, 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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placing a stack of playing cards in a card input unit;
randomly ejecting cards from said 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 properly positioned the cards 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 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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placing a stack of playing cards in a card input unit;
randomly ejecting cards from said 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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21. An automatic card shuffling machine comprising:
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a card displacement device; and
a display device, said display device providing an operator a hierarchical menu for navigating and selecting menu items related to the shuffling machine. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification