U.S. patent application number 11/397502 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-11 for shuffling apparatus and method.
Invention is credited to Rodney G. Johnson.
Application Number | 20080217218 11/397502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25442351 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080217218 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson; Rodney G. |
September 11, 2008 |
Shuffling apparatus and method
Abstract
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.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Rodney G.;
(Mudgeeraba, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark A> Litman and Associates, P.A.;York Business Center
3209 w. 76th Street, Suite 205
Edina
MN
55435
US
|
Family ID: |
25442351 |
Appl. No.: |
11/397502 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10663436 |
Sep 15, 2003 |
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11397502 |
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09919596 |
Jul 31, 2001 |
6676127 |
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10663436 |
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09380943 |
Sep 13, 1999 |
6267248 |
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09919596 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
209/583 ;
700/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/06 20130101; A63F
1/12 20130101; A63F 2009/2458 20130101; B65H 2405/352 20130101;
A63F 1/14 20130101; B07C 5/34 20130101; A63F 2009/2419
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
209/583 ;
700/223 |
International
Class: |
B07C 5/00 20060101
B07C005/00; G06F 19/00 20060101 G06F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 1998 |
AU |
PCT/AU98/00157 |
Claims
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.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/919,596 filed Jul. 31, 2001 for COLLATING
AND SORTING APPARATUS; which in turn, is a continuation-in-part of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/380,943 filed Sep. 13, 1999,
now U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,248 for COLLATING AND SORTING APPARATUS,
which in turn is based on PCT Application Serial No. PCT/AU98/00157
filed Mar. 13, 1998 in Australia.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to collation and/or sorting of groups
of articles. In particular, this invention relates to shuffling and
sorting apparatus for providing randomly collated groups of
articles and/or collated groups of articles according to a
predetermined order.
[0004] This invention can be utilised to collate and sort groups of
articles which have distinguishing characteristics which can be
machine identified. However it has particular relevance to
shuffling and sorting playing cards and reference will be made
hereinafter to such application by way of illustration of the
invention.
[0005] 2. Background of the Invention
[0006] In the gaming industry many packs of cards are utilised and
it is necessary to shuffle one or more decks of cards for game use
and/or after each game to sort the cards into one or more packs for
re-use either in a specific order or at least into a pack of cards
which is complete. At present this is achieved manually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This invention aims to provide a collation and/or sorting
apparatus which will operate efficiently and accurately.
[0008] With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect
resides broadly in collation and/or sorting apparatus including:
sensor means to identify articles for collation and/or sorting;
feed means for feeding said articles sequentially past the sensor
means; storing means in which articles may be collated in groups in
a desired order; selectively programmable computer means coupled to
said sensor means and to said storing means to assemble in said
storing means groups of articles in a desired order; delivery means
for selectively delivering the individual articles into the storing
means, and collector means for collecting collated groups of
articles. The sensor means may include means to identify the
presence of an article. Suitably the sensor means includes means to
identify one or more physical attributes of an article. Preferably
the sensor means includes means to identify indicia on a surface of
an article.
[0009] The desired order may be a specific order of a set of
articles, such as a deck of cards to be sorted into its original
pack order, or it may be a random order into which a complete set
of articles is delivered from a plurality of sets of randomly
arranged articles For example, the desired order may be a complete
pack of playing cards sorted from holding means which holds a
plurality of randomly oriented cards forming a plurality of packs
of cards. This may be achieved by identifying the individual cards
by optical readers, scanners or any other means and then under
control of a computer means such as a micro-processor, placing an
identified card into a specific collector means to ensure delivery
of complete decks of cards in the desired order. A random number
generator is used to place individual cards into random positions
to ensure random delivery of one to eight or more decks of cards.
In one aspect the apparatus is adapted to provide one or more
shuffled packs of cards, such as eight packs for the game of
baccarat.
[0010] The storing means may have individual storing spaces for
each respective article to be provided as the collated and/or
sorted stack of articles. In such arrangement the delivery means
delivers identified articles to the respective storing spaces. This
may be achieved by arranging the delivery means with travel means
movable along a plurality of axes such as laterally to a column of
individual storing spaces and vertically along the column.
[0011] Preferably however, the storing means is arranged as one or
more rotatable storage magazines and the delivery means includes a
delivery carriage movable to a respective magazine and drive means
for rotating the magazine to operatively align a respective storing
space with the delivery carriage.
[0012] The collector means may be arranged to receive articles from
the storing means as a collated group of articles. For example, the
storing means may simultaneously release all the articles therein
into the collector means which may be a confining chute in which
the articles settle as a group. Preferably however, the collector
means operates after a complete set of articles has been collated
in the storing means and sequentially feeds the sorted articles
into one or more discrete groups.
[0013] The sensor means may be any suitable means for identifying a
physical characteristic of the articles to be sorted or it may
comprise sensor means for detecting and/or interpreting
electromagnetic signals reflected and/or transmitted by an
article.
[0014] One form of the invention is provided as a sorting apparatus
for providing a pack of playing cards arranged in original deck
order and includes: sensor means able to identify the suit and
value of individual cards; feed means for feeding the said cards
sequentially past the sensor means; storing means having individual
storing spaces for each respective card of a deck of cards;
selectively programmable computer means coupled to said sensor
means and said storing means to assemble in said storing means
individual cards comprising a complete deck or respective decks of
cards; delivery means for delivering the identified cards or
collated decks thereof to pre-selected individual storing spaces,
and collector means for collecting one or more decks of cards.
Another form of the invention comprises a card shuffling device to
randomly shuffle one or more decks of cards.
[0015] Preferably the storing means is arranged as one or more
rotatable magazines and the delivery means includes a delivery
carriage which receives identified cards from the feed means and is
movable along a horizontal drive path in front of a plurality of
magazines arranged co-axially and with their common axis parallel
to the drive path and which are rotatable together or independently
by the computer means to operatively align a respective storing
space with the delivery carriage.
[0016] The respective storing spaces may include retention means
adapted to captively hold a delivered card therein.
[0017] The retention means may comprise a vacuum clamping means but
preferably the magazine is formed as a quadrant having a lower
shroud which prevents dislodgement of the cards from the storing
spaces when in an inverted position.
[0018] After collation of one or more decks, the magazine or each
magazine may be rotated to sequentially engage retained cards with
conveying means which conveys collated decks of cards which
sequentially come into engagement therewith to a collector
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In order that this invention may be more readily understood
and put into practical effect, reference will be made to
accompanying drawings which illustrate schematically one embodiment
of playing card sorting and or shuffling apparatus, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, and
[0021] FIG. 2 is a typical sectional view of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The collating apparatus 10 for providing sorted and/or
shuffled decks of playing cards from a stack of cards 11 includes
holding means 12 for holding the cards in a vertical column 13
above card feed means 14 which feeds the lowermost card of the
stack past the sensor 15 which is coupled to a microprocessor 16 to
record either the presence of a card and/or the identity of a card
by its suit and value. Microprocessor 16 is also coupled to drive
motors 35, 36 of feed means 14, respective drive means (not shown)
for transverse movement of each carriage 18, card transport drives
37 associated with carriages 18, magazine drives 22 and drive 33
associated with unloading conveyors 31 for selective coordinated
operation to collate packs of shuffled or sorted cards.
[0023] The feeding means 14 delivers each card past the sensor 15
to a selected one of a pair of delivery carriages 18. Each delivery
carriage 18 is movable along a common horizontal track 19,
transverse to the direction of movement of the cards from the feed
means 14, and disposed in front of a plurality of card magazines 20
arranged co-axially and with their common axis 21 parallel to the
drive path 19. In this embodiment there are two banks of four
magazines 20 arranged in side by side relationship at opposite
sides of the feeding means 14.
[0024] Each bank of magazines 20 is driven by a motor 22 which is
suitably a reversible stepper motor or by a motor drive and brake
system to achieve selective incremental rotation of magazines 20 to
align openings 23 of card storing spaces 24 with delivery carriages
18 to permit a card to be inserted into a respective storing space
24.
[0025] A lower shroud 25 extends beneath the respective banks of
magazines 20 to maintain the cards in their respective individual
storing spaces 24 and an upper shroud 25a terminating in outlet
port 27 prevents interference with what otherwise would be exposed
storing spaces in the upper part of magazine 20. Shroud 25 extends
from the delivery carriages to an associated collecting tray 26
adapted to hold respective card packs.
[0026] As illustrated there are fifty-six individual storing spaces
24 arranged in an upper sector of the magazine and these radiate
outwardly from the axis 21 and fill the space between the outlet
port 27, adjacent an unloading conveyor 31, and the output of the
delivery carriages 18.
[0027] Thus the drive motor 22 may be actuated to position any one
of the fifty-six individual storing spaces 24 in operative
alignment with the output of delivery carriages 18 while
maintaining the rearmost storing space 24 clear of the unloading
conveyor 31.
[0028] Individual motors 35 and 36 control the feeding of the cards
from the column 13 and from the field of sensor 15 and further
motors 37 on respective delivery carriages 18 control movement of
the cards thereon into the storage spaces 24. A further motor, not
illustrated, controls the movement of each delivery carriage 18 and
may be a motor driving a transverse screw shaft coupled to the
carriages or a belt drive or other means of driving to control
their transverse travel.
[0029] In a sorting mode, microprocessor or like programmable
control means 16 operates to feed cards from the column 13
sequentially past the sensor 15 which identifies each individual
card and commits it to memory with an identification such as a
number which corresponds to the sequentially identified storage
spaces 24 of a particular magazine 20. More than one deck of cards
can be identified and the program will select between these when
sorting. Thus when the cards are next fed from the column 13 they
will be recognised and fed to a corresponding storage space 24 in a
respective magazine 20.
[0030] Once a storage space 24 is filled the next card so
identified will be fed to an allocated storage space 24 in the same
magazine unless a card of identical suit and value previously has
been identified in which case that card is allocated to a
respective storage space 24 in one of the other magazines 20. This
process is repeated until all cards have been sorted and
stored.
[0031] Thereafter, the magazines are rotated anticlockwise as shown
towards the unloading conveyors 31 driven in unison by motor 33
until respective conveyors 31 are contacted by the first card in
each magazine 20 which card thus will be discharged to the
collector tray 26. Unloading conveyors 31 are narrow belts aligned
with slotted apertures 32 extending radially of the respective
radial walls forming storing spaces 24. The further cards in each
magazine will then be sequentially discharged to the collector tray
26 to form packs of sorted cards.
[0032] If at the end of sorting any deck of cards is incomplete or
over supplied a warning signal will be actuated in association with
that deck to indicate the incomplete or oversupplied stack of
cards. By actuating an LCD or LED display 28 this will indicate
which card is missing or over supplied and will also then indicate
any other deck which is incomplete or over supplied. The LCD or LED
display 28 may, if required indicate the magazine location in which
a card is undersupplied or oversupplied to form a complete
deck.
[0033] It will be seen that the illustrated apparatus may have
eight or more or less magazines arranged in groups of four or more
or less with common actuation of the unloading conveyor and
separate operation of the motors which control their pivotal
position.
[0034] In a shuffling mode for a single pack of cards, sensor 15
may or may not be actuated to detect the suit and value of each
card. If it is not required to determine the integrity of a pack of
cards other than completeness by counting the number of cards,
sensor 15 may be actuable to detect only the presence of a card as
it passes from feeding means 14 to delivery carriage 18.
[0035] As each card is passed beneath sensor 15 its presence is
detected and microprocessor 16, using a random number generator,
randomly allocates that card to a predetermined one of the fifty
six storage spaces 24 of magazine 20. Microprocessor 16 then
controls drive motors 36, 37 and 22 to effect delivery of the card
into the randomly predetermined storage space 24.
[0036] When the magazine is full and up to fifty six cards have
been accounted for, magazine 20 is rotated anticlockwise to permit
conveyor 31 to discharge a pack of randomly ordered or "shuffled"
cards into collector tray 26.
[0037] On the other hand, if a multiplicity of decks is to be
shuffled for reuse in a game such as baccarat employing like decks
of shuffled cards, it may be important to produce eight
individually shuffled decks and/or to determine whether cards have
been removed or added to the eight deck stack of cards retrieved
from the playing table.
[0038] In this case sensor 15 would be operated to determine not
only the presence of a card on feed means 14 but also the suit and
value of each card to enable loading of the eight magazines each
with a randomly ordered or shuffled deck of cards which is
othervise complete.
[0039] It will of course be realised that while the above has been
given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such
and other modifications and variations hereto. As would be apparent
to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad
scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
[0040] For example a reject mechanism 8 may be associated with the
sensor 15 to cause duplicate or oversupplied cards to be rejected
before delivery by delivery means 18 to the magazine 20. The reject
mechanism 8 may comprise an electromechanical device or air blast
means coupled to a microprocessor 16.
[0041] The rotatable magazine 20 may be substituted by a vertically
displaceable magazine or any other storage device having a
plurality of storage spaces to receive individual cards. Similarly
for other applications the holding means 12 and feeding means 14
may be replaced by a rotary turntable having a selectively actuable
finger guide to remove articles from the turntable.
[0042] It readily will be apparent to a skilled addressee that the
apparatus according to the invention will have an application in
the collation and packaging of cards during their manufacture to
ensure the integrity of each set of cards produced.
[0043] Equally, it readily will be apparent to a skilled addressee
that the invention, with suitable modifications, will have wide
application in fields where sets of articles are to be collated and
bundled in a predetermined order or in a random order or othenvise
where the grouping or collation of articles by number and/or order
is essential.
[0044] Such applications may include collation of book pages in the
correct order with a mixture of black and white and coloured pages
from different printing presses; packaging of mixed sets of food
items i.e., breakfast cereal: dispensing and packaging of mixtures
of pills for patients on a daily or weekly basis; sorting and
packaging of eggs or fruit by size and/or colour; sorting and
collation of mail by zip code; sorting and collation of bank
cheques by payee, payer or bank; collation and sorting of bank
notes by denomination, condition or integrity or even sorting and
collation of doctors prescription forms to monitor information on
patients, drug prescribed, pharmacy or prescribing doctor.
[0045] The present invention is able to collate and/or sort
articles by physical attributes such as size, colour, shape, mass
(e.g., by load cell or the like) or surface indicia or any
combination thereof.
* * * * *