Multiple pass shuffler/sorter and method of operation thereof

Abstract

A card shuffler and a method of operating a card shuffler is provided. The method includes the step of establishing a virtual deck structure defines a virtual card assignment, defined by a matrix, for a plurality of cards. Each card is associated with one of the cells of the matrix. The method includes a first pass including the steps of placing a set of cards into the card receiving area of the shuffling device and delivering the cards, using the shuffling device, into the associated first assigned card receiving pockets of a card receiver forming a partially shuffled set of card. A second pass includes the steps of placing the partially shuffled set of cards into the card receiving area of the shuffling device and delivering the cards, using the shuffling device, into the associated second assigned card receiving pockets of the card receiver forming a shuffled set of cards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shuffling device, comprising:
 a frame;   a first card receiving area for receiving a set of cards;   a card receiver movably coupled to the frame and having a plurality of card receiving pockets;   a shuffling mechanism coupled to the frame and being associated with the first card receiving area, the shuffling mechanism configured to receive cards from the cards receiving area and to controllably place the cards into respective card receiving pockets;   a card reader coupled to the frame and being associated with the shuffling mechanism, the card reader configured to read card information from the cards as the cards pass through the shuffling mechanism;   a controller connected to the card reader and the shuffling mechanism, the controller configured to perform the steps of:   establishing a virtual deck structure, the virtual deck structure defining a virtual card assignment for a plurality of cards, the virtual deck structure being a matrix having a plurality of cells organized in a predetermined number of rows and a predetermined number of columns, each card of the plurality of cards being associated with one of plurality of cells within the matrix, the number of card receiving card receiving pockets being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of rows and columns in the matrix;   performing a first pass including the steps of:
 using the shuffling mechanism, feeding cards one at a time from the set of cards in the first card receiving area of the shuffling device into the shuffling mechanism; 
 using the card reader, reading card information from each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a first assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area based on the associated card information and the virtual deck structure; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, delivering the cards, into the associated first assigned card receiving pockets forming a partially shuffled set of cards; and 
   performing a second pass including the steps of:
 using the shuffling mechanism, placing the partially shuffled set of cards into the first card receiving area of the shuffling device; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, feeding cards one at a time from the partially shuffled set of cards in the first card receiving area into the shuffling device; 
 using the card reader, establishing card information for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a second assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area based on the associated card information; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, delivering the cards, into the associated second assigned card receiving pockets forming a shuffled set of cards. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an infeed elevator defining the first card receiving area, the first infeed elevator being connected to the controller, the controller being configured to controllably raise and lower the infeed elevator relative to a top of the shuffling device. 
     
     
         3 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 1 , the shuffling mechanism including a transport mechanism for controllably moving cards from the first card receiving area into the shuffling mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 3 , the transport mechanism including a first set of rollers configured to transport cards from the first card receiving area to an intermediate position, the card reader being positioned adjacent the intermediate position. 
     
     
         5 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 4 , the transport mechanism including a second set of rollers configured to transport cards from the intermediate position into the card receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second set of rollers are controllably driven by respective motors controlled by the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the first set of rollers are driven at a first speed and the second set of rollers are driven at a second speed, the second speed being greater than the first speed. 
     
     
         8 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 1 , including a pusher mechanism configured to push cards from each of the pockets of the card receiver into a second card receiving area at the end of the first pass. 
     
     
         9 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 8 , including a card stack moving mechanism configured to move the cards in the second card receiving area to the first card receiving area after the pusher mechanism pushes the cards from the card receiver into the second card receiving area. 
     
     
         10 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the card stack moving mechanism includes a card retention structure configured to surround a stack of cards around three sides. 
     
     
         11 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the card retention structure includes three plates and a bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the card stack moving mechanism further includes a stepper motor and a belt, the belt being connected between the bracket and the motor, the card stacking moving mechanism configured to move the stack of cards a predetermined stroke distance between the outfeed elevator to the infeed elevator. 
     
     
         13 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 9 , including an outfeed elevator defining the second card receiving area, the outfeed elevator being connected to the controller, the controller being configured to controllably raise and lower the outfeed elevator relative to a top of the shuffling device. 
     
     
         14 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 1 , including a card receiver lifting mechanism coupled to the card receiver and configured to controllably raise and lower the card receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 14 , the card receiver lifting mechanism including:
 a lifting mechanism frame having an upper end and a lower end;   an upper roller coupled to the upper end of the lifting mechanism frame;   a lower roller coupled to the lower end of the lifting mechanism frame;   a belt suspended between the upper and lower rollers;   a motor coupled to one of the upper and lower rollers configured to controllably rotate the one of the upper and lower rollers, wherein the card receiver is coupled to one side of the belt; and,   a counterweight coupled to another side of the belt.   
     
     
         16 . A shuffling device, comprising:
 a frame;   a first card receiving area for receiving a set of cards;   a card receiver movably coupled to the frame and having a plurality of card receiving pockets;   a shuffling mechanism coupled to the frame and being associated with the first card receiving area, the shuffling mechanism configured to receive cards from the cards receiving area and to controllably place the cards into respective card receiving pockets;   a card reader coupled to the frame and being associated with the shuffling mechanism, the card reader configured to read card information from the cards as the cards pass through the shuffling mechanism;   a controller connected to the card reader and the shuffling mechanism, the controller configured to perform first and second passes on the set of cards;   an infeed elevator defining the first card receiving area, the first infeed elevator being connected to the controller, the controller being configured to controllably raise and lower the infeed elevator relative to a top of the shuffling device;   a transport mechanism for controllably moving cards from the first card receiving area into the shuffling mechanism, the transport mechanism including a first set of rollers and a second set of rollers, the first set of rollers configured to transport cards from the first card receiving area to an intermediate position, the card reader being positioned adjacent the intermediate position, the second set of rollers configured to transport cards from the intermediate position into the card receiver, the first and second set of rollers are controllably driven by respective motors controlled by the controller, wherein the first set of rollers are driven at a first speed and the second set of rollers are driven at a second speed, the second speed being greater than the first speed;   a pusher mechanism configured to push cards from each of the pockets of the card receiver into a second card receiving area at the end of the first pass; and   a card stack moving mechanism configured to move the cards in the second card receiving area to the first card receiving area after the pusher mechanism pushes the cards from the card receiver into the second card receiving area, the controller configured to perform the steps of:   establishing a virtual deck structure, the virtual deck structure defining a virtual card assignment for a plurality of cards, the virtual deck structure being a matrix having a plurality of cells organized in a predetermined number of rows and a predetermined number of columns, each card of the plurality of cards being associated with one of plurality of cells within the matrix, the number of card receiving card receiving pockets being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of rows and columns in the matrix;   performing the first pass including the steps of:
 using the shuffling mechanism, feeding cards one at a time from the set of cards in the first card receiving area of the shuffling device into the shuffling mechanism; 
 using the card reader, reading card information from each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a first assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area based on the associated card information and the virtual deck structure; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, delivering the cards, into the associated first assigned card receiving pockets forming a partially shuffled set of cards; and 
 performing the second pass including the steps of: 
 using the shuffling mechanism, placing the partially shuffled set of cards into the first card receiving area of the shuffling device; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, feeding cards one at a time from the partially shuffled set of cards in the first card receiving area into the shuffling device; 
 using the card reader, establishing card information for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a second assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the first card receiving area based on the associated card information; 
 using the shuffling mechanism, delivering the cards, into the associated second assigned card receiving pockets forming a shuffled set of cards. 
   
     
     
         17 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the card stack moving mechanism includes a card retention structure configured to surround a stack of cards around three sides. 
     
     
         18 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the card retention structure includes three plates and a bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the card stack moving mechanism further includes a stepper motor and a belt, the belt being connected between the bracket and the motor, the card stacking moving mechanism configured to move the stack of cards a predetermined stroke distance between the outfeed elevator to the infeed elevator. 
     
     
         20 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 16 , including an outfeed elevator defining the second card receiving area, the outfeed elevator being connected to the controller, the controller being configured to controllably raise and lower the outfeed elevator relative to a top of the shuffling device. 
     
     
         21 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 16 , including a card receiver lifting mechanism coupled to the card receiver and configured to controllably raise and lower the card receiver. 
     
     
         22 . The shuffling device, as set forth in  claim 21 , the card receiver lifting mechanism including:
 a lifting mechanism frame having an upper end and a lower end;   an upper roller coupled to the upper end of the lifting mechanism frame;   a lower roller coupled to the lower end of the lifting mechanism frame;   a belt suspended between the upper and lower rollers;   a motor coupled to one of the upper and lower rollers configured to controllably rotate the one of the upper and lower rollers, wherein the card receiver is coupled to one side of the belt; and,   a counterweight coupled to another side of the belt.   
     
     
         23 . A method of shuffling cards using a shuffling device, the shuffling device including a card receiving area, a shuffling mechanism, and a card receiver having a plurality of card receiving pockets, comprising:
 establishing a virtual deck structure, the virtual deck structure defining a virtual card assignment for a plurality of cards, the virtual deck structure being a matrix having a plurality of cells organized in a predetermined number of rows and a predetermined number of columns, each card of the plurality of cards being associated with one of plurality of cells within the matrix, the number of card receiving card receiving pockets being equal to or greater than the predetermined number of rows and columns in the matrix;   performing a first pass including the steps of:
 placing a set of cards into the card receiving area of the shuffling device; 
 feeding cards one at a time from the card receiving area of the shuffling device into the shuffling mechanism; 
 reading card information from each of the cards fed from the card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a first assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the card receiving area based on the associated card information and the virtual deck structure; 
 delivering the cards, using the shuffling device, into the associated first assigned card receiving pockets forming a partially shuffled set of cards; and 
   performing a second pass including the steps of:
 placing the partially shuffled set of cards into the card receiving area of the shuffling device; 
 feeding cards one at a time from partially shuffled set of cards in the card receiving area of the shuffling device; 
 reading card information from each of the cards fed from the card receiving area; 
 generating information regarding a second assigned card receiving pocket for each of the cards fed from the card receiving area based on the associated card information; 
 delivering the cards, using the shuffling device, into the associated second assigned card receiving pockets forming a shuffled set of cards.