Card shooter device and card storage method

1. A method for storing cards, the method using a packing box storing cards constituting a predetermined number of decks to store the cards in the packing box in a card shooter device for dealing the cards on a game table, wherein the packing box has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, includes a cut line parallel to a longitudinal direction of a rectangular parallelepiped, and is adapted to be able to expose respective side surfaces of the cards within the packing box by dividing the packing box along the cut line to remove a left or right side surface of the packing box, and the card shooter device comprises a main unit including a card storage section storing the cards constituting the predetermined number of decks, and a bottom face, inclined forward, for guiding the cards onto the game table from the card storage section, and a front cover provided in front of the main unit and removably mounted on the main unit in cooperation with an engagement member, the method comprising:

a step of removing a top face cover arranged on top of the card storage section in the card shooter device;

a step of removing the front cover from the main unit in the card shooter device;

a side surface exposure step of preparing the packing box storing the cards constituting the predetermined number of decks, and exposing the side surfaces of the cards in the packing box by dividing the packing box along the cut line in the packing box to remove the left or right side surface of the packing box;

a card cutting step of inserting a cut card among the cards in the packing box with the side surfaces exposed;

a card storage step of sliding and storing the cards in the card storage section while the cards, together with a part of the packing box, are guided by the bottom face from the front of the main unit from which the front cover is removed; and

a storage completion step of removing the packing box from the card storage section and leaving only the cards in the card storage section.

2. The method for storing cards according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage step of:

providing an extension member at a leading end of the front of the main unit, and forming a top face of the extension member to continue to the bottom face of the card storage section;

placing the cards in the packing box with the side surfaces exposed on the extension member, or placing the cards to extend over the extension member and the leading end of the main unit; and

then sliding and storing the cards in the card storage section.

3. The method for storing cards according to claim 2 , wherein a removable top face cover, arranged on top of the card storage section, for covering the card storage section is used as the extension member.

4. The method for storing cards according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of locking the extension member provided at the leading end of the main unit at the leading end of the main unit.

5. The method for storing cards according to claim 4 , wherein the locking step uses a protrusion and a locking member for locking the extension member with the protrusion.

6. The method for storing cards according to claim 5 , wherein a reading device cover, provided at the leading end of the main unit, for covering a reading device which reads the cards extracted one by one from the card storage section is used as the locking member.

7. A method for providing cards in a dispensing position, the method comprising:

removing a top cover arranged on top of a card storage section of a card dispenser;

removing a front cover of the card dispenser that covers a front entrance of the card dispenser;

cutting a packing box, in which cards are stored, along a cut line of the packing box, thereby removing at least a first side of the packing box, with the cards remaining packed within a remaining intact portion of the packing box such that respective first edges of all of the cards in the packing box are exposed;

subsequent to the cutting and the removing of the front cover, sliding the intact portion of the packing box, with the cards within the intact portion of the packing box, rearward into the card storage section via the front entrance of the card dispenser; and

subsequent to the sliding of the intact portion of the packing box, with the cards within the intact portion of the packing box, into the card storage section, removing at least a part of the remaining intact portion of the packing box without removal of any of the cards from the card storage section.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, when the front cover is fixed on the card dispenser so that it covers the front entrance of the card dispenser, the packing box, including the cards therein, is not slidable rearward into the card storage location via the front entrance of the card dispenser.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein, when the front cover is fixed on the card dispenser so that it covers the front entrance of the card dispenser, the cards, when positioned in the card storage location after the removal of the at least the part of the remaining intact, are dispensable, one at a time, through the front entrance.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the removing of the at least the part of the remaining intact portion of the packing box is through the top of the card dispenser at a region that had been covered by the top cover before the removal of the top cover.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the cutting of the packing box additionally exposes at least a portion of respective second edges of all of the cards in the packing box and at least a portion of respective third edges of all of the cards in the packing box.

12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:

providing a bottom extension leading forward from the front entrance of the card dispenser; and

placing the packing box on the bottom extension, wherein the sliding is from on top of the bottom extension directly into the card storage section, through the front entrance.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the providing of the bottom extension is performed by placing the removed top cover in front of the front entrance.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the providing further includes attaching a locking element formed in the bottom extension to a corresponding locking element formed at the front entrance of the card dispenser.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the bottom extension, when provided, forms a bridge between an upper surface of a game table and a floor of the card storage section.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the providing of the bottom extension is performed by placing the removed top cover as the bottom extension at the front entrance of the card dispenser.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the locking element of the bottom extension is on a side of the top cover that faces an interior of the card storage section when the top cover is positioned on top of the card storage section prior to the removal of the top cover from the on top of the card storage section.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the locking element of the bottom extension is a protrusion formed on the side of the top cover that faces the interior of the card storage section when the top cover is positioned on top of the card storage section prior to the removal of the top cover from the on top of the card storage section.

19. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, prior to the cutting:

the packing box is a rectangular parallelepiped; and

the cut line is impressed in each of at least one surface of the parallelepiped, extending in a longitudinal direction of the parallelepiped from a first outer edge of the respective surface to a second outer edge of the respective surface that is opposite the first outer edge.

20. The method according to claim 7 , wherein:

a floor of the card dispenser in the card storage section is inclined downwardly towards the front entrance; and

while the front cover is fixed on the on the card dispenser, the front cover restricts forward movement of the cards out of the card dispenser while the cards remain in line with each other and creates, in combination with a main body of the card dispenser, a slot via which the cards can be dispensed, one at a time by a sliding motion of each respective dispensed card, other than a last of the cards, along a surface of an immediately adjacent one of the cards that are still in the card dispenser.