Device and method for continuously shuffling and monitoring cards
View Patent ↗The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into a second group of cards, wherein the second group of cards is randomly arranged or shuffled. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack for moving cards one at a time into a selected one of the compartments, another card moving mechanism for moving cards from one of the compartments to a second card receiver and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanisms and the elevator. A count of cards within specified areas of the card handling system is maintained and card handling is halted and all cards counted by adding a count of all cards not within the specified areas to the total of cards counted within the specified areas.
1. An apparatus for continuously shuffling playing cards, said apparatus comprising:
a first card receiver for receiving a first group of cards;
a card-receiving area generally adjacent to the first card receiver, said card-receiving area being generally movable and containing four or more compartments, and means for moving the card receiving area;
a card-moving mechanism between the first card receiver and the card-receiving area;
a processing unit that controls the card-moving mechanism and the means for moving the card receiving area so that cards placed in the first card receiver are moved into a selected number of the four or more compartments; and
a second card receiver for receiving cards from the four or more compartments, the first card receiver for receiving and supporting the first group of cards supporting the cards so that gravity applies a force against the face of the cards and maintains an inter-operative position between the cards and the card moving mechanism.
2. An apparatus for continuously shuffling playing cards, said apparatus comprising:
a card receiver for receiving a first first group of cards;
card-receiving compartments, wherein the compartments comprise a stack of compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, said card-receiving compartments being generally movable in relationship to the card receiver, and means for relatively moving the compartments with respect to the card receiver;
a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the compartments;
a processing unit that controls the card-moving mechanism and the means for relatively moving the compartments so that cards placed in the card receiver are moved into a selected number of compartments; and
a second card receiver for receiving cards from the compartments the first card receiver for receiving and supporting the first group of cards so that gravity applies a force against the face of the cards and maintains an inter-operative position between the cards and the card moving mechanism.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the compartments comprise a carousel.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the carousel moves.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the stack of compartments moves.