CARD HANDLING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to playing card handling devices that may be used in a casino environment, and particularly playing card handling devices that individually move cards in a stack from one area of the playing card handling device to another area of the playing card handling device.

BACKGROUND

Card feeding systems in a card handling device may include a support surface with pick off roller(s) that are located within the support surface to remove one card at a time from the bottom of a vertically oriented stack of cards. In this orientation, each card face is in a substantially horizontal plane with the face of a card contacting a back of an adjacent card. Such a gravity fed system moves individual cards from one stack into another stack of the card handling device to perform a shuffling operation. Cards may be inserted from the un-shuffled stack into the shuffled stack at a location that is determined by a random number generator (RNG), with the cards in the shuffled stack being gripped by a card gripper to create a gap at the desired location to insert the next card.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure include a card handling device. The card handling device includes a temporary card collection area. The card handling device further includes an elevator platform positioned within the temporary card collection area. The card handling device also includes a wall defining a boundary of the temporary card collection area. The card handling device further includes a card gripper positioned and configured to secure one or more cards in the temporary card collection area between the card gripper and the wall.

Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method of operating a card-handling device. The method includes receiving playing cards. The method further includes transferring the playing cards to a temporary card collection area. The method also includes gripping at least one playing card of the playing cards between a card gripper and a wall in the temporary card collection area. The method further includes moving an elevator platform with ungripped playing cards of the one or more playing cards away from the at least one playing card gripped between the card gripper and the wall to form a gap. The method also includes inserting another playing card of the playing cards into the gap.

Other embodiments of the disclosure include a card handling device. The card handling device includes a card insert system configured to receive cards. The card handling device further includes a temporary card collection area configured to arrange the cards in a shuffled stack of cards. The card handling device also includes a face plate. The face plate includes a card insertion area including a first opening positioned over the card insert system. The face plate further includes a card output area including a second opening positioned over the temporary card collection area. The face plate also includes a modular face plate configured to be removed from the card handling device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and

distinctly claiming embodiments of the present disclosure, the advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of embodiments of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a card handling device in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate side views of the card handling device of FIG. 1 with covers removed to illustrate internal components thereof;

FIG. 3 a schematic diagram of a control system of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate schematic diagrams of embodiments of a temporary card storage area of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B;

FIGS. 5A and 5B enlarged views of a portion of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a card gripper of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B and 4A-5B;

FIG. 7 illustrate an embodiment of a cable chain of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B and 4A-5B;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a face plate of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B and 4A-5B;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate embodiments of a modular face plate of the face plate of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the card handling device of FIGS. 1-2B and 4A-5B with the modular face plate removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description provides specific details, such as material compositions, shapes, and sizes, in order to provide a thorough description of embodiments of the disclosure. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing these specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with conventional techniques employed in the industry.

Drawings presented herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to be actual views of any particular material, component, structure, device, or system. Variations from the shapes depicted in the drawings as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein are not to be construed as being limited to the particular shapes or regions as illustrated, but include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as box-shaped may have rough and/or nonlinear features, and a region illustrated or described as round may include some rough and/or linear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded, and vice versa. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and do not limit the scope of the present claims. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

In the following description, elements, circuits, and functions may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Additionally, block definitions and partitioning of logic between various blocks is exemplary of a specific implementation. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced by numerous other partitioning solutions. Those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. Some drawings may illustrate signals as a single signal for clarity of presentation and description. It will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the signal may represent a bus of signals, wherein the bus may have a variety of bit widths and the present disclosure may be implemented on any number of data signals including a single data signal.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a special-purpose processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a controller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. All of which may be termed “control logic.”

A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the general-purpose processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine suitable for carrying out processes of the present disclosure. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

A general-purpose processor may be part of a general-purpose computer, which should be considered a special-purpose computer when configured to execute instructions (e.g., software code) for carrying out embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, when configured according to embodiments of the present disclosure, such a special-purpose computer improves the function of a general-purpose computer because, absent the present disclosure, the general-purpose computer would not be able to carry out the processes of the present disclosure. The present disclosure also provides meaningful limitations in one or more particular technical environments that go beyond an abstract idea. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure provide improvements in the technical field of card handling devices and, more particularly, to apparatuses and related methods for improving the accuracy of shuffling operations by controlling the movement of the elevator platform to a position that corrects for changing characteristics in the stack of cards being shuffled.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described in terms of a process that may be depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a process may describe operational acts as a sequential process, many of these acts can be performed in another sequence, in parallel, or substantially concurrently. In addition, the order of the acts may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. Furthermore, the methods disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, software, or both. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on computer readable media. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media, including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another.

It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not limit the quantity or order of those elements, unless such limitation is explicitly stated. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. In addition, unless stated otherwise, a set of elements may comprise one or more elements.

As used herein, the term “un-shuffled set of cards” refers to the cards that are on the input platform before a shuffle operation (i.e., when inserted into the card handling device) as well as the cards that may still remain on the input platform during a shuffle operation (i.e., when the shuffle is not yet completed). The un-shuffled set of cards may include any number of cards whether part of a full deck or not. In addition, the un-shuffled set of cards may include one or more decks of cards. Finally, the un-shuffled set of cards may not be required to be in any particular order prior to being shuffled. The un-shuffled set of cards may be in a predetermined order prior to being shuffled (e.g., a newly opened deck), or may be in some other order (e.g., a used deck that is being re-shuffled). In other words, the set of cards to be shuffled and as characterized herein as an “un-shuffled” set may be ordered, randomized, or partially randomized. At times, cards within the un-shuffled set of cards may be referred to as some variation of the term “card” that may or may not describe the card's status within the set.

As used herein, the term “shuffled set of cards” refers to the cards on the elevator platform after a shuffle operation to randomize the set (i.e., when all cards have been moved from the input platform to the elevator platform), as well as cards that have been moved to the elevator platform during a shuffle operation that is not yet completed. For example, after 10 card inserts of a shuffling operation of a full deck (52 cards), 10 cards may be in the shuffled set of cards on the elevator platform and 42 cards may remain in the un-shuffled set of cards. At times, cards within the shuffled set of cards may be referred to as gripped cards, platform cards, or some other variation of the term “card” that may or may not describe the card's status within the set.

As used herein, the terms “configured” and “configuration” refers to a size, a shape, a material composition, a material distribution, orientation, and arrangement of at least one feature (e.g. one or more of at least one structure, at least one material, at least one region, at least one device) facilitating use of the at least one feature in a pre-determined way.

As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0 percent met, at least 95.0 percent met, at least 99.0 percent met, at least 99.9 percent met, or even 100.0 percent met.

As used herein, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value for a particular parameter is inclusive of the numerical value and a degree of variance from the numerical value that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand is within acceptable tolerances for the particular parameter. For example, “about” or “approximately” in reference to a numerical value may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “bottom,” “above,” “top,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if materials in the figures are inverted, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” or “on bottom of” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” or “on top of” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below, depending on the context in which the term is used, which will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art. The materials may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees, inverted, flipped) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, the term “and/or” means and includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

As used herein, the terms “vertical,” “longitudinal,” “horizontal,” and “lateral” are in reference to a major plane of a structure and are not necessarily defined by earth's gravitational field. A “horizontal” or “lateral” direction is a direction that is substantially parallel to the major plane of the structure, while a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction is a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the structure. The major plane of the structure is defined by a surface of the structure having a relatively large area compared to other surfaces of the structure. With reference to the drawings, a “horizontal” or “lateral” direction may be perpendicular to an indicated “Z” axis, and may be parallel to an indicated “X” axis and/or parallel to an indicated “Y” axis; and a “vertical” or “longitudinal” direction may be parallel to an indicated “Z” axis, may be perpendicular to an indicated “X” axis, and may be perpendicular to an indicated “Y” axis.

FIG. 1 illustrates a card handling device 100. The card handling device 100 includes a housing 102 configured to encase the mechanical and electrical components of the card handling device 100. The housing 102 may also include a face plate 124 enclosing an end of the housing 102. The face plate 124 may include a card insertion area 112 and a card output area 114. The face plate 124 may further include user interface devices, such as a display panel 120 and a button 122.

The display panel 120 may be configured to provide information (e.g., graphically, alphanumerically, etc.) to a user (e.g., dealer, casino personnel, service technician, etc.). Such information might include the number of cards present in the card handling device 100, the status of any shuffling or dealing operations, hand information, security information, confirmation information, on/off status, self-check status, among other information that may be desirable regarding the play and/or the operation of the card handling device 100. The button 122 (or touchscreen controls on the display panel 120) may include on/off buttons, special function buttons (e.g., raise elevator to the card delivery position, operate jam sequence, reshuffle demand, security check, card count demand, calibrate, etc.), and the like. The display panel 120 may also be configured to receive inputs (e.g., as a touch screen display) to perform operations on the card handling device 100.

In operation, sets of cards (e.g., up to 8 decks) may be inserted into the card insertion area 112 to be shuffled. The card handling device 100 may include an input platform (not shown) that moves up (e.g., opens) for manual insertion of the un-shuffled set of cards to be shuffled. The input platform may move down (e.g., closes) to place the un-shuffled set of cards in a fixed position within the card insertion area 112. The card handling device 100 may also include an output platform (e.g., elevator platform 212 (FIG. 2A)) that may also move up (e.g., open) for manual removal of the shuffled set of cards from the card output area 114.

During shuffling, cards may be moved (e.g., fed) from the card insertion area 112 to a temporary card collection area 222 within the housing 102 to form a shuffled set of cards. The input platform may not move during the shuffle. Within the temporary card collection area 222, however, an elevator platform 212 (FIG. 2A) within the card output area 114 is controlled to move up or down during the shuffle to a desired position. If the elevator platform 212 is in the desired position, a card gripper 204 (FIG. 2A) is controlled to grip a desired number of cards after which the elevator platform 212 is lowered to create gap for a new card to be inserted between the gripped cards and the platform cards remaining on the elevator platform 212. The desired location to grip the cards to create the gap may be determined by a random number generator (RNG). The bottom card on the input platform may be moved from the stack of cards in the card insertion area 112 to the elevator platform 212 in the temporary card collection area 222 after the gap is made. As a result, the inserted card from the un-shuffled set of cards is placed in the stack, the stack positioned on top of the platform cards on the elevator platform 212. The next card on the bottom of the un-shuffled set of cards on the input platform may be inserted at the next desired location in a similar manner according to the RNG. The remaining cards from the un-shuffled set of cards may be similarly moved from the input platform to a space in the stack of cards on the elevator platform 212 until all the cards have been moved. As a result, controlling the operation of the card handling device 100 may transform the un-shuffled set of cards into the shuffled set of cards. Once shuffled, the elevator platform 212 may be moved to the top of the card handling device 100, and the shuffled set of cards may be removed to be dealt.

In addition to shuffling, the card handling device 100 may be configured to perform additional operations, such as counting cards, verifying cards, etc. The card handling device 100 may include mechanized card shoes, card set checking devices, automatic card shufflers, card sorting devices, card decommissioning devices, and the like. In some embodiments, multiple sets of cards may be processed simultaneously. For example, one set of cards may be shuffled while another set of cards may be dealt from a shoe.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are simplified side views of the card handling device 100 of FIG. 1, with the housing 102 removed to show internal components. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the card handling device 100 includes an elevator platform motor 210, a card gripper 204, a gripper card present sensor 206, a top platform card sensor 208, and a card insert system 202. The card insert system may include one or more pick-off rollers 216 and one or more sets of speed-up rollers 218. The elevator platform 212 may include a platform card present sensor 214 (e.g., optical sensor, pressure sensor, magnetic detector, sonar detector, etc.) that is configured to detect the presence of cards or other objects on the elevator platform 212.

The elevator platform motor 210 may be configured to drive the elevator platform 212 that in turn carries the shuffled set of cards to the card gripper 204 to be separated, creating a gap within the shuffled set of cards between the gripped cards and the cards remaining on the elevator platform 212. The card insert system 202 may insert a card from the card insertion area 112 into the gap created within the cards by the card gripper 204 and the elevator platform 212. The elevator platform motor 210 may be configured to be highly controlled in its degree of movement. For example, the elevator platform motor 210 may include a microstepped motor. Microstepping the elevator platform motor 210 may control the precise amount of movement for driving the position of the elevator platform 212. With microstepping, the movement of the elevator platform 212 may be controlled to less than a card thickness per microstep. The movements per microstep may be less than 90% of a card's thickness, less than 80% of a card's thickness, less than 50% of a card's thickness, less than 40% of a card's thickness, less than 30% of a card's thickness, less than 25% of a card's thickness, less than 20% of a card's thickness, and even less than 5% of a card's thickness. In an embodiment where a microstep may be 4% of a card's thickness, each card is approximately 25 microsteps thick. As a result, the smaller the microstep, the more accurate the positioning of the elevator platform 212 may be provided, which may contribute to the cards being more likely to be inserted at the desired location. The positions of the motor may simply be referred to herein as “steps,” which may include microsteps and other steps of various levels of accuracy.

The elevator platform motor 210 may also be configured to assist the card handling device 100 in internal checks for moving the elevator platform 212 to the correct position. For example, the elevator platform motor 210 may include an encoder (not shown) that is configured to determine the position of the elevator platform 212. The encoder may be configured to evaluate the position of the elevator platform 212 through analysis and evaluation of information regarding, for example, the number of pulses per revolution of the spindle on the elevator platform motor 210, which may be greater than 100 pulses per revolution, greater than 250 pulses per revolution, greater than 360 pulses per revolution, greater than 500 pulses per revolution or greater than 750 pulses per revolution, greater than 1000 pulses per revolution, greater than 1200 pulses per revolution, and equal to or greater than 1440 pulses per revolution. In operation, a processor 350 (FIG. 3) may control the movement of the elevator platform motor 210, the encoder counts the amount of movement driven by the motor, and then determines the actual position of the elevator platform 212 or a space (e.g., four cards higher) relative to the elevator platform 212.

The gripper card present sensor 206 may be positioned proximate the card gripper 204 and may be configured to detect when at least one card on the elevator platform 212 has been raised to a position that can be gripped by the card gripper 204. The gripper card present sensor 206 may alternatively be positioned in the card gripper 204. The gripper card present sensor 206 may include an optical proximity sensor (e.g., reflective sensor) or other sensor element.

The top platform card sensor 208 may be positioned within the temporary card collection area 222 below the card gripper 204 and may be configured to detect when the top card on the elevator platform 212 is aligned with the top platform card sensor 208. Alignment of the top card on the elevator platform 212 with the top platform card sensor 208 may be detected during calibration to generate reference data, as well as during a shuffle after the cards have been gripped to determine how many cards remain on the elevator platform 212 and verify the accuracy of the grip before inserting a card. As a result, the height of the stack of cards on the elevator platform 212 may be determined. The top platform card sensor 208 may include an optical proximity sensor (e.g., reflective sensor) or other sensor element. For example, the top platform card sensor 208 may be a diffuse sensor configured to detect objects in the range of 5 mm to 40 mm from the top platform card sensor 208. The top platform card sensor 208 may be configured to detect the edge of an object travelling perpendicular to the top platform card sensor 208 with a triangular beam pattern. The top platform card sensor 208 may be coupled to the elevator platform motor 210 as a limit switch to so that as the elevator platform 212 raises, the elevator platform motor 210 stops when the top platform card is detected by the top platform card sensor 208. The top platform card sensor 208 may be operably coupled to the processor 350 through a cable chain 220. The cable chain 220 is a flexible electrical connector configured to reduce fatigue wear of cable connections between moving parts. The processor 350 may then record the position of the elevator platform 212.

Although FIGS. 1 through 2B show substantially vertical card stacks with gravity feed systems, some embodiments may also include cards that are in horizontally aligned stacks, as well as in stacks that are positioned at an angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal directions. For example, some embodiments may provide a stack of cards that is rotated 5 degrees to 10 degrees with respect to the vertical direction, which may aid in maintaining alignment of the stack.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a shuffling control system 300 of the card handling device 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shuffling control system 300 may include a processor 350 that is operably coupled to the elevator platform 212, the card gripper 204, the platform card present sensor 214, the gripper card present sensor 206, the top platform card sensor 208, and the card insert system 202.

The processor 350 is configured to control and direct the operation of the card handling device 100 and its various components. In particular, the processor 350 may control the operation of the elevator platform 212 (e.g., what position should the elevator platform 212 be moved to), the card gripper 204 (e.g., when should the card gripper 204 grip and/or release the card), and the card insert system 202 (e.g., when to insert a card to the elevator platform 212). It is recognized that the processor 350 may be configured to send commands to motors that control the movement of the elevator platform 212, the card gripper 204, the card insert system 202, and other components. The processor 350 may also be configured to send commands to other components (e.g., card identification units) that may also contribute to the operation of the card handling device 100. These additional components are not shown so FIG. 3 may be simplified in showing the components that are discussed in detail herein.

The processor 350 may determine where the card from the un-shuffled set of cards should be inserted within the set of shuffled cards on the elevator platform 212. The insertion location may be determined by a random number generator (RNG). The processor 350 may include the RNG; however, in some embodiments, the RNG may be a separate component within the card handling device 100, or may be part of a component external to the card handling device 100.

Using the generated random numbers, the processor 350 may be configured to generate a virtual shuffled set of cards that may be used for physically shuffling a set of cards. The virtual shuffled set of cards may be generated in the form of a random number insertion table. The insertion table may be generated for a set of 52 cards (e.g., one deck of cards). The insertion table may be different sizes for sets of cards having more or fewer cards.

The insertion table may include the set of numbers used to determine the “insertion position” each time a card is moved from the input platform to the elevator platform 212. For example, each card in the un-shuffled set of cards may be provided with a specific number that is associated with that particular card, herein referred to as the original position number (OPN). Each OPN may be assigned according to positions within the un-shuffled set of cards. If cards are fed from the bottom of the stack onto the elevator platform 212, the cards may be assigned an OPN from the bottom to the top. For example, the bottommost card of the stack may be CARD 1, the next card being CARD 2, the next card being CARD 3, etc. If cards are fed from the top of the stack, the cards may be assigned an OPN from top to bottom. The RNG may assign a random position number (RPN) to each card within the un-shuffled set of cards. The RPN may be the randomly determined final position for each card in the final shuffled set of cards. Thus, the insertion table may represent the expected shuffle results after the card handling device 100 transforms the un-shuffled set of cards into a shuffled set of cards.

In operation, the processor 350 may identify each card by its OPN, and, using the RPN, control the elevator platform 212 to move into the desired position where the card may be properly inserted into the shuffled set of cards being formed as a stack on the elevator platform 212. For example, the first card from the input platform may be moved to the elevator platform 212. To determine where to put the second card, the processor 350 may consult the insert table, and either place the second card above or below the first card on the elevator platform 212. To place the second card below the first card, the processor 350 may control the card gripper 204 to grip the first card, control the elevator platform 212 to move lower, and control the card insert system 202 to insert the second card into the gap between the first card (gripped by the card gripper 204) and the elevator platform 212. Subsequent cards may be similarly inserted by the processor determining how many cards to grip in order to leave the correct number of cards on the elevator platform 212. The number of cards to be gripped and temporarily suspended may be referred to as the “grip number.” The elevator platform 212 may be moved to the “grip position” for the grip number of cards on the elevator platform 212 to be gripped. The elevator platform 212 may be lowered to the “insertion position,” creating a gap to insert the next card. The shuffle continues until all of the cards have been moved from the input platform to the elevator platform 212.

For the following FIGS. 4A through 10, reference is made to the components of the card handling device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 through 3. Thus, the reference numerals of the different components may remain in the description even though a figure is discussed that does not show that particular component of the card handling device 100.

FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic view of a stack of cards 400 within the temporary card collection area 222 on the elevator platform 212. The stack of cards 400 in FIG. 4A may represent cards during a shuffling operation when the cards are not gripped.

During a shuffling operation, a card may be inserted within the stack of cards 400 at a desired insertion location determined by the RNG, as discussed above. The processor 350 may determine an insertion location 402 according the desired number of cards that should remain on the elevator platform 212 in order to insert the card in the desired location. Thus, the elevator platform 212 may be moved so that the insertion location 402 aligns with the card gripper 204. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the insertion location 402 for the inserted card is between the 6th and 7th card presently in the stack of cards 400. The elevator platform 212 may be moved to the position that the insertion location 402 (e.g., the 6th card in this example) is approximately aligned with the card gripper 204, which can be approximated by the position that the insertion location 402 (e.g., 6th card) is approximately aligned with the top platform card sensor 208 plus the additional distance (d) between the top platform card sensor 208 and the card gripper 204.

The position of the elevator platform 212 for the cards to be gripped may be referred to as the grip position. In some embodiments, the grip position may be adjusted according to a correction table, which may store correction values for the grip position to account for variations in card locations depending on the size of the current stack of cards on the elevator platform 212.

FIG. 4B shows a schematic drawing of cards 404 being gripped by the card gripper 204 in order to create a gap 406 for the next card to be inserted. The elevator platform 212 is raised to the grip position to align the insertion location 402 with the card gripper 204, the card gripper 204 may then grip the cards 404. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the card gripper 204 grips the cards 404 by applying pressure to a first edge 412 of the cards 404 and causing a second edge 414 of the cards 404 to contact a wall 410 proximate the temporary card collection area 222 of the elevator platform 212. Thus, the card gripper 204 sandwiches the cards 404 between the card gripper 204 and the wall 410 maintain the cards 404 in position when the elevator platform 212 is lowered to create a gap 406. Two sub-stacks may be formed: the gripped cards 404 are suspended by the card gripper 204, and the platform cards 408 remain on the elevator platform 212. The speed-up rollers 218 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) may then insert a card into the gap 406 formed between the gripped cards 404 and the platform cards 408.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the card gripper 204 may contact more than one card of the cards 404. By sandwiching the cards 404 between the card gripper 204 and the wall 410 the card gripper 204 may cause the first edges 412 of the cards 404 to be substantially uniformly aligned. During a shuffling operation the card gripper 204 may contact the first edges 412 of a large number of the cards 404 in the stack of cards 400, such that the resulting stack of cards 400 is substantially uniform after the shuffling operation.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate enlarged views of a section of the card handling device 100 corresponding to the card gripper 204 with the housing 102 removed to illustrate the internal components of the card handling device 100.

As discussed above, the card gripper 204 is configured to secure one or more cards 404 between the card gripper 204 and the wall 410. Thus, the card gripper 204 is positioned on an opposite side of the cards 404 from the wall 410. A foot 502 of the card gripper 204 is configured to selectively contact the first edge 412 of the cards 404 pressing the second edge 414 of the cards 404 against the wall 410. The card gripper 204 further includes an arm 504 extending between a gripper motor 506 and the foot 502.

The arm 504 is coupled to a gripper pivot mount 508 that may be configured to create a pivot point or fulcrum between the gripper motor 506 and the foot 502 configured to increase a distance of movement of the foot 502 in relation to an input from the gripper motor 506. The gripper motor 506 includes a gripper drive post 510 configured to interface with a gripper drive slot 512 in the arm 504. The gripper drive post 510 may be offset from a center of the gripper motor 506, such that the gripper drive post 510 travels in a circular path. The circular path of the gripper drive post 510 may cause the foot 502 to move in an arc between a gripping position as illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B and an ungripped position where the foot 502 is not in contact with the first edge 412 of any of the cards 404. For example, if the gripper drive post 510 moves in a clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the interface between the gripper drive post 510 and the gripper drive slot 512 may cause a top portion of the arm 504 to move laterally, which may in-turn cause the arm 504 to pivot about the gripper pivot mount 508.

For clarity in describing the interactions between the gripper drive post 510 and the arm 504, the positions of the gripper drive post 510 about the motor are described herein as relative positions about an analog clock face. For example, a top-most position in the rotation is described as 12 o-clock, a right-most position is described as 3 o-clock, a bottom most position is described as 6 o-clock, and a left-most position is described as 9 o-clock. The positions are recited in the perspective of the gripper motor 506, the gripper drive post 510, and the arm 504 as illustrated in FIG. 5B.

As the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 12 o-clock position to the 3 o-clock position the interaction between the gripper drive post 510 and the gripper drive slot 512 causes the foot 502 to move away from the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222 above the elevator platform 212. When the gripper drive post 510 is in the 3 o-clock position the foot 502 may be in a boundary position where the foot 502 is the greatest distance from the wall 410 in the temporary card collection area 222 that the foot 502 will be in through the travel path of the foot 502.

As the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 3 o-clock position to the 6 o-clock position, the foot 502 will begin moving in a direction toward the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222. In some embodiments, when the gripper drive post 510 is in the 6 o-clock position, the foot 502 will be positioned a distance away from the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222. In other embodiments, when the gripper drive post 510 is in the 6 o-clock position, the foot 502 may be positioned in light contact with the cards 404 (e.g., in slidable contact) such that the stack of cards 400 (FIG. 4A) may move (e.g., slide) vertically relative to the foot 502 when the elevator platform 212 moves vertically relative to the foot 502.

As the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 6 o-clock position to the 9 o-clock position, the foot 502 will move in the direction toward the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222. When the gripper drive post 510 is in the 9 o-clock position, the foot 502 may be in a second boundary position where the foot 502 is the smallest distance from the wall 410 in the temporary card collection area 222 that the foot 502 will be in through the travel path of the foot 502. In this position the foot 502 may be in direct interference contact with one or more of the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222. The direct interference contact may compress the one or more cards 404 between the foot 502 and the wall 410 to secure the cards 404 in place, substantially arresting vertical movement of the cards 404. With the vertical movement of the cards 404 substantially arrested, the elevator platform 212 may move in a vertical direction away from the foot 502 and the arrested cards 404 to form a gap 406 between the cards 404 and any platform cards 408 remaining on the elevator platform 212.

As the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 9 o-clock position to the 12 o-clock position, the foot 502 will move in a direction away from the cards 404 in the temporary card collection area 222. The movement away from the cards 404 may release the cards 404 from the direct interference contact between the foot 502 and the wall 410 and allow the cards 404 to again move vertically relative to the foot 502 when the elevator platform 212 moves vertically relative to the foot 502.

In some embodiments, the gripper motor 506 may run in a reverse (counterclockwise direction), such that the operation at each point described above is substantially reversed. For example, when traveling from the 12 o-clock position to the 9 o-clock position the foot 502 may move towards the cards 404 into the direct interference contact. The direct interference contact may then be released by moving from the 9 o-clock position to the 6 o-clock position. The foot 502 may continue to move away from the wall 410 when the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 6 o-clock position to the 3 o-clock position where the foot 502 will then reverse course and being moving back toward the wall 410 as the gripper drive post 510 moves from the 3 o-clock position to the 12 o-clock position.

In other embodiments, the gripper motor 506 may not pass through a complete revolution. Instead the gripper motor 506 may move the gripper drive post 510 between the 3 o-clock position and the 9 o-clock position while only passing through one of the 12 o-clock position or the 6 o-clock position. The gripper motor 506 may accomplish this by reversing its rotation direction after reaching the 3 o-clock position or the 9 o-clock position, such that the gripper drive post 510 travels through a half circle or less (e.g., an arc of less than or equal to 180°, such as an arc in a range from about 90° to about 180°, or an arc from about 100° to about) 140°.

The speed-up rollers 218 are positioned proximate the card gripper 204 and vertically offset from the foot 502. At least one of the speed-up rollers 218 may be positioned substantially laterally aligned with the foot 502 of the card gripper 204, such that the speed-up rollers 218 are positioned proximate the temporary card collection area 222. The speed-up rollers 218 are configured to propel one or more cards into the gap 406 formed between the gripped cards 404 and the platform cards 408 when the foot 502 is in direct interference contact with the gripped cards 404. In some embodiments, the speed-up rollers 218 include rollers above and below a card path, such that the cards are sandwiched between two adjacent rollers, and they are propelled forward. In other embodiments, one or more of the speed-up rollers 218 may be positioned under the card path with no partner rollers positioned above the card path.

The pick-off rollers 216 are positioned beneath the card insertion area 112 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). The pick-off rollers 216 may be configured to contact a bottom card in a stack of cards in the card insertion area 112 and propel the bottom card to the speed-up rollers 218 for insertion into the gap 406 as described above.

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of the card gripper 204. As discussed above, the 204 includes an arm 504 extending between the gripper motor 506 and the foot 502. The arm 504 includes a gripper pivot mount 508 which is configured to create a fulcrum or pivot point. The gripper pivot mount 508 may be positioned a first distance from the gripper motor 506 along the arm 504 and a second distance from the foot 502 along the arm 504. The relationship between the first distance and the second distance at least partially defines a travel path of the foot 502 responsive input from the gripper motor 506. For example, if the first distance is less than the second distance the travel path of the foot 502 will be greater than a travel path of the gripper drive post 510 of the gripper motor 506. In another example, if the first distance is greater than the second distance the travel path of the foot 502 will be less than a travel path of the gripper drive post 510.

The second distance between the gripper pivot mount 508 and the foot 502 may be at least partially defined by an offset region 602. The offset region 602 may be a portion of the arm 504 that extends laterally away from the main portion of the arm 504. The foot 502 is coupled to the offset region 602 of the arm 504. The offset region 602 of the arm 504 may be configured to position the foot 502 proximate the stack of cards 400 (FIG. 4A) in the temporary card collection area 222 above the elevator platform 212.

The position of the foot 502 may be adjustable. In some embodiments, the foot 502 is coupled to the offset region 602 of the arm 504 through adjustment hardware 606, such as an adjustment screw, a threaded shaft, or other mechanism configured to laterally adjust a position of the foot 502 relative to the arm 504. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the foot 502 includes a slot 610 configured to receive the offset region 602 region of the arm 504. The slot 610 may be configured to limit movement of the foot 502 relative to the offset region 602 in at least a Z direction (e.g., along the Z-axis). The adjustment hardware 606 may be configured to limit movement of the foot 502 in a Y direction (e.g., along the Y axis) and in an X direction (e.g., along the X axis). The adjustment hardware 606 may further be configured to adjust a position of the foot 502 relative to the offset region 602 in the X direction.

The foot 502 also includes a contact region 604. The contact region 604 is positioned on a leading surface of the foot 502 and is configured to contact and secure the cards 404. In some embodiments, the contact region 604 is formed from the same material as the foot 502. For example, the contact region 604 may be unitarily formed with the foot 502. In other embodiments, the contact region 604 is formed from a material different from the material of the other portions of the foot 502. For example, the contact region 604 may include a coating formed over the foot 502, another material bonded to the foot 502, such as through an adhesive, or another material structure attached to the foot 502 through an interference connection, a hardware connection, or a welded connection (e.g., welding, soldering, cold welding). In some embodiments, the contact region 604 is formed from a material that is softer than the material of the foot 502, such as a rubber material, a polymer material, or an organic material.

The gripper drive post 510 may be coupled to the gripper motor 506 through a gripper drive cam 608. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the gripper drive cam 608 is configured to offset the gripper drive post 510 from a center of the gripper motor 506, such that the gripper drive post 510 travels in a substantially circular path. The gripper drive cam 608 may be configured to balance the output of the gripper motor 506 by evenly distributing weight across the gripper drive cam 608, such that the offset gripper drive post 510 does not create an uneven weight distribution and cause vibrations or other undesirable lateral forces.

Embodiments of the disclosure may reduce a cost and complexity of a card handling device. For example, a card gripper positioned on a first side of the card stack and configured to secure the cards against a wall may reduce a number of moving parts within the associated card handling device. Reducing moving parts may reduce the cost of producing the card handling device. Furthermore, reducing moving parts reduces potential points of failure, which in turn reduces maintenance costs. Securing the cards against a wall may further facilitate the formation of a uniform card stack, which may result in fewer stuck cards or jams during a shuffling operation.

FIG. 7 illustrates the cable chain 220 configured to couple the top platform card sensor 208 of the elevator platform 212 to the processor 350 (FIG. 3). The cable chain 220 includes a cable 702 that is connected through multiple interlocking cable chain links 704. The cable chain links 704 are connected to adjacent cable chain links 704 through pivots 706. The cable chain links 704 connected through the pivots 706 may be configured to form a flexible cable connection that may substantially prevent fatigue damage from repeated changes in position. Thus, the cable chain 220 may be configured to facilitate a robust communication link between the elevator platform 212, which is configured to move vertically multiple times during each shuffling process and a stationary processor 350 (FIG. 3).

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of the face plate 124 of the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1). As discussed above, the face plate 124 includes the card insertion area 112 and the card output area 114. The card insertion area 112 includes an opening in communication with the card insert system 202 (FIG. 2A) described above, such that the cards may be received into the card insert system 202 (FIG. 2A) through the opening in the card insertion area 112. The card output area 114 includes an opening in communication with the temporary card collection area 222 over the elevator platform 212 (FIG. 2A). The opening in the card output area 114 may be positioned such that the elevator platform 212 (FIG. 2A) may lift the stack of cards 400 (FIG. 4A) above the face plate 124 through the opening in the card output area 114 after completing the shuffling operation.

The face plate 124 may be split into at least two separate sections. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the face plate 124 is split into two separate sections, a modular face plate 804 and a fixed face plate 806. The fixed face plate 806 may include features that physically interact with other components of the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1), such as the card insertion area 112 and the card output area 114 that physically interact with the card insert system 202 (FIG. 2A) and the elevator platform 212 (FIG. 2A) by providing openings for cards to be inserted or removed from the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1). The modular face plate 804 may include elements that interact with the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1) electrically or through other forms of communication, such as wired communication (e.g., ethernet, fiber-optic, TCP/IP, I2C, SPI, RS-232, RS-485, LON, Modbus, UART, etc.) or wireless communication (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, NFC, etc.). The electrical or communication connection between the elements in the modular face plate 804 and the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1), may facilitate the removal and reconfiguration of the modular face plate 804. For example, multiple different modular face plates 804 may be designed to be interchangeable on the card handling device 100 (FIG. 1), to facilitate the addition or removal of different features and components.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the modular face plate 804 includes a display panel 120, a button 122, and a printer 802. In other embodiments, the modular face plate 804 may include additional auxiliary devices, such as additional control buttons, a lock, a chip collection chamber, a window, etc. In other embodiments, the modular face plate 804 may include different display configurations, such as a larger display or multiple displays.

The modular face plate 804 is configured to attach to the fixed face plate 806. For example, the modular face plate 804 may be configured to be attached to the fixed face plate 806 through interlocking features, such as interlocking shelves 808, 810. The modular face plate 804 may also be configured to attach to a top portion of the housing 102 (FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the modular face plate 804 is secured to the housing 102 (FIG. 1) and the fixed face plate 806 through hardware connections (e.g., screws, studs, nuts, bolts, etc.) or interference connections (e.g., latches, interlocking grooves, interlocking teeth, etc.).

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate different embodiments of the modular face plate 804. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9A, the modular face plate 804 includes a display panel 120 and a button 122 but does not include a printer 802 or other auxiliary device. The modular face plate 804 illustrated in FIG. 9B includes a display panel 120, a button 122, and a printer 802. The two different modular face plates 804 may be interchangeable on a same card handling device 100 (FIG. 1), such that features, or functionality may be added or removed from a card handling device 100 (FIG. 1), by changing the modular face plate 804 instead of adding or removing internal components or changing an entire face plate 124.

FIG. 10 illustrates a card handling device 100, with the modular face plate 804 removed. As discussed above, the modular face plate 804 may be removed to facilitate adding or removing features by changing the modular face plate 804. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the modular face plate 804 may extend beyond a footprint of the card handling device 100. Extending the modular face plate 804 beyond the footprint of the card handling device 100 may result in a majority of the modular face plate 804 being positioned outside the housing 102 (FIG. 1). Positioning a majority of the modular face plate 804 outside the housing 102 (FIG. 1) may facilitate removing the modular face plate 804 or changing the modular face plate 804 while the card handling device 100 remains in position, such as installed at a table.

As discussed above, the modular face plate 804 may be coupled to the fixed face plate 806 through hardware connections 1002. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the hardware connections 1002 are arranged in the shelf 810 of the fixed face plate 806. As discussed above, the modular face plate 804 includes a complementary shelf 808 configured to interface with the shelf 810. The hardware connections 1002 may be configured to pass through each of the shelf 808 and the shelf 810 to secure the modular face plate 804 to the fixed face plate 806. In other embodiments, the hardware connections 1002 may extend from one of the shelves 808, 810 and be configured to be received in a receiving aperture or receiving hardware connection of the other of the shelves 808, 810. The hardware connections 1002 may be configured to facilitate removal and installation of the modular face plate 804. In some embodiments, the hardware connections 1002 may include security hardware devices, such as hardware requiring specialized tooling or hardware positioned beneath or behind a locking panel to substantially prevent unauthorized tampering with the components of the card handling device 100.

Embodiments of the disclosure may reduce a cost and complexity of a card handling device. For example, a face plate including a modular section may facilitate quickly changing a functionality of the associated card handling device. In some cases, changing the modular section of the face plate may facilitate moving a card handling device from one location to another and changing features of the card handling device to meet the needs of the new location. A retailer may stock multiple card handling devices and change the modular section of the face plate to meet the needs of different customers. During operation the modular section of the face plate may be replaced in the event of a malfunction without removing the entire card handling device, such that maintenance costs and down time may both be reduced.

The embodiments of the disclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures do not limit the scope of the invention, since these embodiments are merely examples of embodiments of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the present disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternative useful combinations of the elements described, may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

CARD HANDLING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS AND METHODS

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