Apparatus for card handling device calibration

Abstract

A device for automatically calibrating for card size and thickness during card handling is disclosed. The device includes a card receiving area, a card stacking area and a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area. An elevator located in the card stacking area has a movable platform for moving a stack of cards. At least one sensor senses at least one of position of the platform, height of the platform, position of a card in the elevator, height of a card or cards in the elevator, pressure applied to a card in the elevator, presence of the platform at a predetermined height, presence of the platform at a predetermined position, presence of card(s) on the platform, and absence of card(s) on the platform. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling is also disclosed.

1 . An automatic playing card shuffler, comprising:
 a housing mounted to a gaming table surface such that a playing card receiver for accepting a group of conventional playing cards to be shuffled has a support surface recessed beneath the top of the gaming table surface when the group of playing cards is inserted from above the gaming table surface and placed onto the support surface in the card receiver below the gaming table surface;   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of an initial set of playing cards;   a collection surface for receiving randomized playing cards;   an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation that enables a dealer to manually remove all randomized playing cards at one time from proximate the gaming table surface; and   a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the playing card shuffler.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic card shuffler of  claim 1 , further comprising a movable cover configured to be closed at least part of the time over at least one of the playing card receiver and the collection surface, wherein the movable cover is hinged to allow movement. 
     
     
         3 . An automatic playing card shuffler, comprising:
 a housing mounted to a gaming table surface such that a playing card support surface in a playing card receiver for accepting a group of conventional playing cards to be shuffled can be recessed at a level beneath the top surface of the gaming table to which the housing is mounted during a shuffling event;   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of an initial set of playing cards beneath the top surface of the gaming table during the shuffling event;   a collection surface for receiving randomized playing cards;   an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation wherein all randomized playing cards may be removed manually by a dealer at one time from the collection surface proximate the gaming table surface;   a moveable cover over the collection surface and hinged to the housing allowing and preventing manual access to the collection surface when the moveable cover is opened and closed, respectively; and   a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the automatic playing card shuffler.   
     
     
         4 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises a flip-up cover. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is configured to be mechanically lifted by the automatic card shuffler. 
     
     
         6 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 3 , wherein the cover is configured to rotate about a hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 2 , wherein the movable cover comprises a flip-up cover. 
     
     
         8 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 2 , wherein the movable cover is configured to be mechanically lifted by the automatic card shuffler. 
     
     
         9 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 2 , wherein the movable cover is configured to rotate about a hinge. 
     
     
         10 . An automatic playing card shuffler, comprising:
 a housing;   a playing card receiver disposed within the housing and having a support surface for accepting a group of conventional playing cards to be shuffled;   a randomizing system for randomizing an order of the group of conventional playing cards disposed within the housing;   a collection surface for receiving randomized playing cards disposed within the housing;   an elevator disposed within the housing; and   a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the playing card shuffler disposed within the housing;   wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to a gaming table such that the support surface is recessed beneath a top surface of the gaming table when the group of playing cards is inserted from above the top surface of the gaming table and placed onto the support surface; and   wherein the elevator is configured to raise the collection surface to an elevation that enables a dealer to manually remove all randomized playing cards at one time from proximate the top surface of the gaming table.   
     
     
         11 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a movable cover over at least one of the playing card receiver and the collection surface. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 11 , wherein the movable cover is hinged to allow movement. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 11 , wherein the cover comprises a flip-up cover. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 11 , further comprising an arm extension configured to mechanically lift the movable cover. 
     
     
         15 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 14 , wherein the arm extension is further configured to limit movement of the playing cards as the elevator raises the collection surface. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 11 , wherein the arm extension comprises a roller configured to contact the movable cover. 
     
     
         17 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 11 , wherein the cover comprises a sliding cover. 
     
     
         18 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 10 , wherein the playing card receiver comprises upwardly extending side walls. 
     
     
         19 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises an outer flange extending around an upper edge of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The automatic playing card shuffler of  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the presence of playing cards on the elevator.