Card handling device and associated components and methods

Abstract

A 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.

1 . A card handling device comprising:
 a temporary card collection area;   an elevator platform positioned within the temporary card collection area;   a wall defining a boundary of the temporary card collection area; and   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.   
     
     
         2 . The card handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the card gripper includes an arm coupled to a foot and a gripper motor configured to rotate the arm. 
     
     
         3 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , further comprising a pivot coupled to the arm between the gripper motor and the foot. 
     
     
         4 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the foot comprises a contact region configured to contact the one or more cards in the temporary card collection area. 
     
     
         5 . The card handling device of  claim 4 , wherein the contact region comprises a contact material different from a material of the foot. 
     
     
         6 . The card handling device of  claim 5 , wherein the contact material comprises a coating. 
     
     
         7 . The card handling device of  claim 5 , wherein the contact material is softer than the material of the foot. 
     
     
         8 . The card handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the gripper motor is coupled to the arm through a gripper drive post extending from the gripper motor and a complementary slot defined in the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The card handling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned in the elevator platform configured to detect a presence of a card on the elevator platform. 
     
     
         10 . The card handling device of  claim 9 , further comprising a cable chain coupled between the sensor and a processor in the card handling device. 
     
     
         11 . The card handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the card gripper is configured to secure the one or more cards in the temporary card collection area between the card gripper and the wall and the elevator platform is configured to move away from the card gripper when the one or more cards are secured between the card gripper and the wall. 
     
     
         12 . The card handling device of  claim 11 , wherein the card gripper is configured to release the one or more cards and the elevator platform is configured to move the one or more cards in the temporary card collection area relative to the card gripper. 
     
     
         13 . The card handling device of  claim 12 , wherein the card gripper is configured to secure a second set of one or more cards between the card gripper and the wall after the card gripper releases the one or more cards and the elevator platform is configured to move away from to the second set of one or more cards and the card gripper. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a card handling device, the method comprising:
 receiving playing cards;   transferring the playing cards to a temporary card collection area;   gripping at least one playing card of the playing cards between a card gripper and a wall in the temporary card collection area;   moving an elevator platform with ungripped playing cards of the playing cards away from the at least one playing card gripped between the card gripper and the wall to form a gap; and   inserting another playing card of the playing cards into the gap.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein transferring the playing cards to a temporary collection area comprises:
 removing the playing cards individually from a receiving area with one or more pick-off rollers; and   inserting the playing cards into the temporary card collection area with one or more speed-up rollers.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising detecting a presence of a playing card on the elevator platform in the temporary card collection area before gripping the at least one playing card. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising releasing the at least one playing card of the playing cards after inserting the another playing card of the playing cards into the gap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 moving the elevator platform relative to the card gripper after releasing the at least one playing card of the playing cards;   gripping a second group of at least one playing card of the playing cards between the card gripper and the wall in the temporary card collection area;   moving the elevator platform with the ungripped playing cards of the playing cards away from the second group of at least one playing card gripped between the card gripper and the wall to form a second gap; and   inserting a second playing card of the playing cards into the second gap.   
     
     
         19 . A card handling device comprising:
 a card insert system configured to receive cards;   a temporary card collection area configured to arrange the cards in a shuffled stack of cards; and   a face plate comprising:
 a card insertion area including a first opening positioned over the card insert system; 
 a card output area including a second opening positioned over the temporary card collection area; and 
 a modular face plate configured to be removed from the card handling device. 
   
     
     
         20 . The card handling device of  claim 19 , wherein the modular face plate comprises at least one device communicably coupled to the card handling device. 
     
     
         21 . The card handling device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one device is communicably coupled to the card handling device through one or more of a wired connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
         22 . The card handling device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one device comprises a display panel. 
     
     
         23 . The card handling device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one device comprises a printer. 
     
     
         24 . The card handling device of  claim 19 , wherein the face plate further comprises a shelf configured to interface with a complementary shelf of the modular face plate. 
     
     
         25 . The card handling device of  claim 19 , wherein the modular face plate is removably attached to the face plate through one or more hardware connections.