Apparatus and method for automatically shuffling cards

Abstract

An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. One of the compartments may be operable, either manually or by motive means so as to project outside the envelope of the apparatus so as to accept or dispense a deck of cards.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-C is a conceptual diagram showing a cut or split operation on a deck of cards;

FIG. 2A-B is a conceptual diagram showing a riffle operation on a deck of cards;

FIG. 3A-C is a conceptual diagram showing a stripping operation on a deck of cards;

FIG. 4 is a (A) perspective view; and, (B) an exploded perspective view of an example of a card shuffling apparatus;

FIG. 5 shows the orientation of card compartments when performing (A) a riffle operation; and, (B) a cut, split, or stripping operation

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing the central card compartment and an associated elevator mechanism in (A) a lowered position; and, (B) a raised position;

FIG. 7 shows a detail view of part of the drive mechanism for a cam-type elevator mechanism;

FIG. 8 shows a detail view of the card transport mechanisms: (A) the left-hand, right-hand and central compartments disposed for riffling, and (B) the central compartment in a perspective view;

FIG. 9 shows (A) a top view of FIG. 8A; and, (B) a side view of FIG. 8A including the cam-type elevator;

FIG. 10 shows cross sectional views of the central compartment: (A) longitudinal view; (B) a transverse view at the kicker portion of the transport mechanism; (C) a transverse view at a section without transport mechanism components; and, (D) a transverse view at a side-roller-portion of the transport mechanism;

FIG. 11 is (A) an end view; (B) a side elevation view; and (C) a perspective view of a belt driven elevator mechanism;

FIG. 12 is (A) a lowered position and (B) is a raised position of the central compartment in a perspective view of a belt driven elevator mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a conceptual view of another example where the compartments have a fixed physical relationship;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the first example showing control functions; and

FIG. 15 shows three examples of a card access mechanism: (A) manual; (B) spring actuated; and, (C) rack and pinion.

Claims

1. A device for shuffling a deck of cards, comprising: a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment;wherein a transport mechanism of the first compartment is operable to dispense cards from the first compartment to at least one of the second or third compartments and a transport mechanism of at least one of the second or the third compartments is operable to dispense cards from at least one of the second and third compartments to the first compartment.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is disposed laterally between the second and the third compartments.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first compartment is movable vertically with respect to the second and third compartments.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second and third compartments are movable vertically with respect to the first compartment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the movement of at least one of the compartments is effected by an elevator mechanism.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the elevator mechanism is one of a cam and cam follower, a scissors jack, a belt drive, or a rack and pinion gear.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the first compartment is held against a cam by a spring when the first compartment has been displaced vertically with respect to the second and third compartments.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the elevator mechanism includes a belt drive engaging a pulley, and the first compartment, or the second and third compartments, are fixedly attached to the belt drive

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the belt drive has a toothed surface for engaging at least one pulley having a geared surface conforming to the toothed surface.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the transport mechanisms are controlled by a processor executing a stored computer program.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the computer program is stored in a machine readable medium.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third compartments has a slot in the lower portion thereof, the slot being sized, dimensioned, and located so that cards present in one of the compartments are dispensed towards another of the compartments.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein a protrusion is located at the top of a compartment so that cards dispensed into the compartment are deflected downward.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is resilient.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein each transport mechanism further comprises a roller projecting through a slot in a bottom surface of any one of the compartments, wherein the axis of the roller is orthogonal to the direction in which cards are dispensed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein each transport mechanism further includes a cylindrical device having a segment removed therefrom along a radial direction, having a axis parallel to the roller axis and displaced orthogonally therefrom, and the cylindrical device projects through the bottom surface of the compartment so that when the cylinder is rotated about the axis, a radially oriented surface lifts at least one of the cards in the compartment and urges the card towards an aperture of the compartment.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the roller and the cylindrical device are rotated by a motor operating through at least one of a gear drive or a belt drive.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the cards being dispensed are counted by an electro-optical or electromechanical counter.

19. The device of claim 1, where the presence of cards in a compartment is sensed by an electro-optical or electromechanical device.

20. The device of claim 1, where the transfer of cards between compartments is sensed by an electro-optical or electromechanical device.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the first, second or third compartments is operable to extend at least a portion thereof outside an enclosure surface so that a plurality of cards may be introduced into, or removed from, the extended compartment.

22. A method for shuffling a deck of cards, the method comprising: providing a card shuffling apparatus;placing a deck of cards into the shuffling device;transferring a portion of the cards of the deck of cards from a first compartment into a second and a third compartment;transferring the portions of the deck of cards from the second and third compartments to the first compartment, wherein the transferring of cards to the first compartment results in approximately interleaving of cards transferred from the second and third compartments.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring a portion of the cards from the first compartment comprises transferring approximately half of the cards to the second compartment and the remaining cards to the third compartment.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the transferring a portion of the cards from the first compartment comprises transferring less than half of the cards to the second compartment, and substantially the same number of cards to the third compartment, and repeating the step until all of the cards are transferred from the first compartment to the second and the third compartments.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the steps of transferring are repeated more than three times.

26. The method of claim 22, where the steps of transferring are repeated a number of times set by a user input parameter.