Shuffling apparatus and method
A card shuffling device reads suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card shuffler. Reading of the cards is effected after cards have been received into a card holding area and before cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the device for use.
1 - 33 . (canceled)
34 . A card shuffler having a card holding area and a card collecting area,
the card shuffler being capable of moving cards between the card holding area and the card collecting area to form a shuffled set of cards in the card collecting area,
a sensor between the card holding area and the card collecting area,
the sensor reading suit and rank of each card individually and directly from symbols of suits and rank while moving between the card holding area and the card collecting area.
35 . The card shuffler of claim 34 wherein cards are shuffled by insertion of cards into a carousel having multiple storage spaces.
36 . The card shuffler of claim 35 wherein each card is read before being inserted into one of the storage spaces.
37 . The card shuffler of claim 34 wherein each read card is moved into a storage space after reading.
38 . The card shuffler of claim 35 wherein cards inserted into the carousel are discharged into the card collecting area to form a pack of shuffled cards.
39 . The card shuffler of claim 36 wherein cards inserted into the carousel are discharged into the card collecting area to form a pack of shuffled cards.
40 . The card shuffler of claim 37 wherein cards inserted into the carousel are discharged into the card collecting area to form a pack of shuffled cards.
41 . The card shuffler of claim 34 wherein the card holding area comprises a vertical stack of cards.
42 . The card shuffler of claim 38 wherein the card holding area comprises a vertical stack of cards.
43 . The card shuffler of claim 39 wherein the card holding area comprises a vertical stack of cards.
44 . The card shuffler of claim 40 wherein the card holding area comprises a vertical stack of cards.
45 . The card shuffler of claim 41 wherein the card holding area comprises a vertical stack of cards.
46 . The card shuffler of claim 35 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
47 . The card shuffler of claim 38 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
48 . The card shuffler of claim 39 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
49 . The card shuffler of claim 40 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
50 . The card shuffler of claim 41 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
51 . The card shuffler of claim 45 wherein a microprocessor using a random number generator allocates a read card to one of the storage spaces.
46 . The card shuffler of claim 34 having a microprocessor connected thereto which records identity of cards by suit and value.
47 . A method of shuffling cards comprising receiving cards in a card holding area, shuffling the cards by moving randomized cards into a card collecting area, and reading the suit and value of each card individually after it is removed from the card holding area and before it is moved into the card collecting area.
48 . The method of claim 47 wherein shuffling the cards is performed by moving individual cards into one of a number of multiple storage spaces and discharging the cards from the storage spaces into the card collection area.
49 . The method of claim 47 wherein the card collecting area comprises at least a portion of a card randomizing area.
50 . A card shuffler having a card holding area and a card collecting area,
the card shuffler directly moving cards between the card holding area and the card collecting area to form a shuffled set of cards in the card collecting area,
a sensor between the card holding area and the card collecting area,
the sensor reading suit and rank of each card individually and directly from symbols of suits and rank while the individual cards are moving between the card holding area and the card collecting area.
51 . A card shuffler having a single card holding area and a card collecting area,
the card shuffler moving cards between the card holding area and the card collecting area to form a shuffled set of cards in the card collecting area,
a sensor between the card holding area and the card collecting area,
the sensor reading suit and rank of each card individually and directly from symbols of suits and rank while the individual cards are moving between the card holding area and the card collecting area.