Granted Patent B2

US 8,444,147 · App. 12/834,653 · Granted May 21, 2013

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. A device for verifying groups of cards and for forming a random set of playing cards, the device comprising:

a card receiving area sized and shaped to receive an initial set of playing cards;

a randomizing system comprising moving parts configured to randomize an order of the initial set of playing cards, wherein at least one of the moving parts of the randomizing system is deactivated when the device is used only for verification;

a card collection surface in a card collection area of the randomizing system sized and shaped to receive playing cards from the initial set one at a time and, when the device is being used only for verification, cards received on the card collection surface without randomizing the initial set of playing cards;

a processor programmed to control the randomizing system, to deactivate the at least one of the moving parts of the randomizing system when the device is used only for verification, and to activate the at least one of the moving parts of the randomizing system when the device is used for forming a random set of playing cards; and

an image capture device positioned to read rank and suit of each card before being received on the card collection surface.

2. A method of processing a group of cards, the method comprising:

placing a group of cards to be processed into a card in-feed tray of a multiple-mode card-handling device;

selecting a mode of operation of the multiple-mode card-handling device selected from the group consisting of card verification, randomization, and simultaneous card verification and randomization;

removing cards individually from the card in-feed tray and delivering the cards into a single card collection area, the card collection area having a single movable lower surface and a stationary opening for receiving cards from the in-feed tray;

imaging cards prior to the cards entering the card collection area during verification;

elevating the movable lower surface to a randomly determined height with an elevator during randomization;

grasping at least one edge of a group of cards with at least one gripper in the card collection area at a point just above the stationary opening during randomization;

lowering the movable lower surface to create an opening in a stack of cards formed on the movable lower surface, the opening located just beneath a lowermost point where the cards are grasped during randomization;

inserting a card removed from the in-feed tray into the opening;

disabling at least one of the grasping with the at least one gripper and the elevating the movable lower surface to a randomly determined height with the elevator during verification;

after processing the cards, elevating a collection of the cards; and

when the cards have been imaged, comparing read values of the cards with stored values to verify the cards.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein, during randomization, after a card has been inserted and when a presence of at least one additional card in the card in-feed tray is sensed, moving the movable lower surface to another randomly determined height to create another opening.

4. A device for forming a random set of playing cards or for verifying a set of playing cards, the device comprising:

a single card receiving area sized and shaped to receive an initial set of playing cards;

a randomizing system comprising moving parts configured to randomize an order of an initial set of playing cards during operation of the device in a randomization mode, wherein the randomizing system is configured to be disabled by not moving at least some of the moving parts during operation of the device in a playing card set verification mode, while allowing cards to be moved and verified by the device;

at least one processor programmed to control movement of the moving parts of the randomization system during operation of the device in the randomization mode and programmed to disable the randomizing system during operation of the device in the playing card set verification mode;

a single card collection surface in a card collection area of the randomizing system sized and shaped to receive playing cards one at a time from the initial set of playing cards and to form a single randomized set of playing cards during the randomization mode, the single card collection surface positioned to receive the playing cards from the initial set of playing cards below a top surface of the device;

an image capture device positioned to read rank and suit of each card of the initial set of playing cards after the card has begun leaving the single card receiving area and before being received on the single card collection surface; and

a card delivery area comprising at least two, three, or four walls extending above the top surface of the device and positioned such that the single randomized set of playing cards is to be supported by the at least two walls and to be removed from the card delivery area of the device as a complete set.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the playing card collection surface comprises a surface that is movable by an elevator.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the elevator is configured to raise the playing card collection surface after operation of the device in the randomization mode or in the verification mode so that, during removal from the card delivery area, at least some cards are elevated above the top surface of the device.

7. A multiple-mode card handling device for shuffling cards and verifying cards, the device comprising:

a card receiving area sized and shaped to receive an initial set of unshuffled cards;

a card randomizing system configured to randomize an order of the cards during use of the device in a shuffling mode;

a first sensor oriented to sense a position of cards between the card receiving area and the card randomizing system;

a second sensor oriented to sense rank and/or suit of each card; and

a microprocessor programmed to activate the second sensor upon receiving a card present signal from the first sensor and to deactivate the card randomization system during use of the device in card verification mode.

8. A device for handling playing cards having at least two modes of operation, the device comprising:

a card in-feed tray;

a card shuffling mechanism including moving components;

a first card transfer mechanism configured to move cards from the card in-feed tray to the card shuffling mechanism;

an imager positioned to read cards within the device;

a second card transfer mechanism configured to move cards out of the card shuffling mechanism; and

at least one processor programmed to operate the device in a shuffling mode during which moving components of the card shuffling mechanism are used and in a card verification mode during which movement of at least some of the moving parts of the card shuffling mechanism is disabled.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the imager comprises a camera.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the imager is positioned to enable imaging of cards between the card in-feed tray and the card shuffling mechanism.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is internal to the device and further comprising an external processor programmed to interpret card images from the imager.

12. The device of claim 8 , further comprising an external computer, wherein the external computer has memory and within the memory is stored information regarding a composition of at least one complete deck of cards.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is programmed to compare read-card information to stored information and to provide an output of one or more of at least a) cards present, b) cards missing, c) extra cards, and d) an indication that the group of cards is complete.

14. The device of claim 8 , further comprising a user interface.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the user interface is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard, a touch screen, a joystick, and a button panel.

Assignments (14)