Universal Game Device with Rapid Purge

Abstract

A card game device prepares shuffled and verified cards for a range of casino card games that utilize one or more decks, and also accommodates games that utilize pre-formed hands. The device has a first operating mode for automatically discharging play-ready hands used in poker games, and may be programmed to accommodate a number of game variations and number of players. Non-faulty decks are moved to a metering station where they are individually metered to a first discharge portal at high speed while forming the play-ready hands. In a second operating mode, the device discharges shuffled and verified decks to a second discharge portal. The device provides a universal shuffler that simplifies casino maintenance and eliminates downtime between card games. Decks having faulty cards are discharged to the first discharge portal after notification to the device operator. The embodiments also feature a rapid purging capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A card game device for delivering randomized playing cards to a discharge portal, the game device comprising:
 a housing;   a control panel for programming a game type and a number of players;   an input portal consisting of a card receiving cavity for receiving unshuffled cards;   a first card discharge portal consisting of a card discharge tray configured for receiving individual randomized cards;   a second discharge portal consisting of a cavity for receiving randomized card decks;   at least one microcontroller responsive to the control panel for controlling movement of the cards;   one slot-less elevator aligned with an axis of a randomizing chamber and movable along the axis within the randomizing chamber;   a first operating mode for forming substacks within the first discharge portal which constitute play-ready hands;   a metering station for discharging individual cards to the first discharge portal in the first operating mode;   whereupon one randomized deck may be queued at the metering station before the number of players or type of game is resolved while operating in the first operational mode;   the metering station having a displaceable portion moveable to a bypass position for allowing a stack of residual cards to be purged from the device in the first operating mode;   a second operating mode for discharging randomized stacks to the second discharge portal; and   the metering station displaceable portion being displaced to the bypass position in the second operating mode for allowing card stacks to move from the slot-less elevator directly to the first discharge portal.   
     
     
         2 ) The game device of  claim 1  having at least one verification sensor for detecting card deck integrity. 
     
     
         3 ) The game device of  claim 2  wherein the microcontroller designates a deck as faulty when discerning a fault condition with the verification sensor. 
     
     
         4 ) The game device of  claim 3  wherein the faulty deck is moved directly to the first discharge portal while operating in either of the first operating mode or the second operating mode. 
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 4  wherein movement of the faulty deck triggers the microcontroller to actuate feed rolls. 
     
     
         6 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon the metering station moves individual cards from a card deck to the first discharge portal automatically upon removal of a previously discharged play-ready hand. 
     
     
         7 ) The game device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one microcontroller automatically directs the metering station displaceable portion be moved to the bypass position when operating in the second operating mode. 
     
     
         8 ) The game device of  claim 1  wherein the device operator manually moves the metering station displaceable portion to the bypass position. 
     
     
         9 ) The device of  claim 8  wherein the manual movement triggers the microcontroller to actuate feed rolls. 
     
     
         10 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon the card decks are removed from the slot-less elevator by centrifugal force. 
     
     
         11 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon card decks are moved to the metering station by inertia. 
     
     
         12 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon card decks are moved to the metering station by a motorized belt. 
     
     
         13 ) The game device of  claim 1  further comprising a non-motorized transfer roll for removing card decks from the slot-less elevator. 
     
     
         14 ) The game device of  claim 1  further comprising a motorized transfer roll for removing card decks from the slot-less elevator. 
     
     
         15 ) The game device of  claim 1  further comprising a motorized belt for removing card decks from the slot-less elevator. 
     
     
         16 ) The game device of  claim 1  further comprising a mechanical arm for removing card decks from the slot-less elevator. 
     
     
         17 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon cards are metered by an electromagnetic clutch. 
     
     
         18 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon cards are metered by a motor. 
     
     
         19 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon one deck can be undergoing shuffling within the randomizing chamber simultaneously while a previously-randomized deck resides at the metering station. 
     
     
         20 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon one deck can be undergoing shuffling within the randomizing chamber simultaneously while hands from a previously-randomized deck are being discharged to the first discharge portal. 
     
     
         21 ) The game device of  claim 1  whereupon three decks can be queued within the device prior to commencing a game while operating in the first operating mode.