Card handling devices and related methods

Abstract

A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A card handling device, comprising:
 a housing configured to be utilized at a gaming table, the housing comprising a playing card support surface in a playing card receiver for accepting a group of playing cards to be shuffled from a location proximate a top surface of the gaming table;   a shuffler support plate supporting the housing, wherein the shuffler support plate is configured to position the housing adjacent the gaming table;   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of the group of playing cards to provide randomized playing cards;   a collection surface for supporting the randomized playing cards; and   an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation to enable a dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at one time from the location proximate the top surface of the gaming table.   
     
     
         3 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the playing card receiver is configured to receive a group of playing cards from above the shuffler support plate. 
     
     
         4 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , further comprising an image capture device configured to read at least one indicia of the group of playing cards. 
     
     
         5 . The card handling device of  claim 4 , wherein the card handling device is configured to operate in either a card verification mode in which the card handling device verifies the group of playing cards using the image capture device and moves the group of playing cards from the playing card receiver to the collection surface without randomization or a card shuffling mode in which the card handling device randomizes the group of playing cards. 
     
     
         6 . The card handling device of  claim 5 , wherein, in the card verification mode, the card handling device is configured to provide the group of playing cards at the collection surface in the same order in which the group of playing cards were received in the playing card receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The card handling device of  claim 5 , wherein the card handling device, when operating in the card shuffling mode, randomizes and verifies the group of playing cards. 
     
     
         8 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , further comprising a retractable carry handle for vertically lifting the card handling device, the retractable carry handle coupled to the card handling device and configured to extend away from the card handling device. 
     
     
         9 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the playing card shuffler is configured to transport the group of playing cards from the location proximate a top surface of the gaming table to a location within the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The card handling device of  claim 9 , wherein the playing card shuffler is configured to shuffle the group of playing cards at the location within the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises an upper, substantially flat top surface, the upper, substantially flat top surface configured to be positioned substantially at an elevation with the top surface of the gaming table. 
     
     
         12 . The card handling device of  claim 11 , wherein the collection surface is configured to be positioned at an elevational level at least at the upper, substantially flat top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , further comprising a movable cover over the collection surface, the movable cover allowing manual access to the collection surface when the movable cover is opened and preventing manual access to the collection surface when the movable cover is closed. 
     
     
         14 . The card handling device of  claim 13 , wherein the movable cover is configured to be elevated over the housing in an open position. 
     
     
         15 . A playing card shuffler, comprising:
 a housing comprising a playing card support surface in a playing card receiver for accepting a group of playing cards to be shuffled;   a randomizing system for randomizing the order of the group of playing cards resulting in randomized playing cards;   a collection surface for supporting the randomized playing cards; and   an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevation to enable a dealer to manually remove all of the randomized playing cards at one time from a location proximate a playing surface of a gaming device.   
     
     
         16 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 15 , further comprising a shuffler support plate supporting the housing, wherein the shuffler support plate is configured to position the housing immediately proximate the playing surface of the gaming device, the shuffler support plate configured to position an upper portion of the housing at an elevational level substantially the same as the playing surface of the gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 16 , wherein the shuffler support plate is configured to position the housing adjacent the gaming table. 
     
     
         18 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 15 , further comprising a movable cover configured to be elevated over the housing in an open position to enable the dealer to unload the randomized playing cards from the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 15 , wherein the playing card support surface is configured to be positioned at an elevational level proximate an upper portion of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The playing card shuffler of  claim 15 , wherein the collection surface is configured to be raised to an elevational level at least at an upper surface of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . A method of using a playing card shuffler, the method comprising:
 positioning a shuffler support plate adjacent a gaming table; and   supporting a housing of the playing card shuffler with the shuffler support plate, the housing configured to accept a group of playing cards to be shuffled from a location proximate a playing surface of the gaming table and through an upper portion of the housing, to randomize the group of playing cards, and to provide the randomized group of playing cards back through the upper portion of the housing back to the location proximate the playing surface of the gaming table.