Combination discard rack and multi-deck card loader for use with an automatic card shuffling machine

Abstract

A card loader and discard rack is disclosed. The card loader and discard rack includes a top member with a handle, a bottom member, a central receptacle having a rear wall and two side walls, a pair of spaced gripper members attached to, and extending from, the top member to removably attach to the bottom member, the pair of spaced gripper members able to separate and contract, the pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards, and the pair of spaced gripper members defining a card-holding space. A card-stack rear support may be attached to, and extend from the top member such that the pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support define a card-holding space.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A card loading apparatus comprising:
 a top member with a handle;   a pair of spaced gripper members attached to, and extending from, said top member, said gripper members able to separate and contract, said pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards; and   wherein said pair of spaced gripper members define a card-holding space.   
     
     
         2 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said top member includes a lever configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         3 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising cushions on inner surfaces of said spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         4 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising ramp mechanisms on said spaced gripper members, said ramp mechanisms configured to interact with structures in an automatic card shuffling machine to separate said pair of spaced gripper members and release cards held thereby. 
     
     
         5 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said handle is configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         6 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a card-stack rear support attached to, and extending from, said top member. 
     
     
         7 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support define a card-holding space. 
     
     
         8 . A card loading apparatus comprising:
 a top member with a handle;   a pair of spaced gripper members attached to, and extending from, said top member, said gripper members able to separate and contract, said pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards; and   a card-stack rear support attached to, and extending from said top member, said pair of spaced gripper members and card-stack rear support defining a card-holding space.   
     
     
         9 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said top member includes a lever configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         10 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising cushions on inner surfaces of said spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         11 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said handle is configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         12 . The card loading apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising ramp mechanisms on said spaced gripper members, said ramp mechanisms configured to interact with structures in an automatic card shuffling machine to separate said pair of spaced gripper members and release cards held thereby. 
     
     
         13 . A card discard rack comprising:
 a top member with a handle;   a bottom member;   a central receptacle comprising a rear wall and two side walls;   a pair of spaced gripper members attached to, and extending from, said top member to removable attachment with said bottom member, said gripper members able to separate and contract, said pair of spaced gripper members each having a ledge near a bottom thereof for supporting a stack of cards; and   wherein said pair of spaced gripper members define a card-holding space.   
     
     
         14 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  wherein said pair of spaced gripper members extend from said top member to said bottom member through said central receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  further comprising a pair of angled supports on a rear side of said central receptacle. 
     
     
         16 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  wherein said top member includes a lever configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         17 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  further comprising cushions on inner surfaces of said spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         18 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  further comprising ramp mechanisms on said spaced gripper members, said ramp mechanisms configured to interact with structures in an automatic card shuffling machine to separate said pair of spaced gripper members and release cards held thereby. 
     
     
         19 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  wherein said handle is configured to control movement of said pair of spaced gripper members. 
     
     
         20 . The card discard rack of  claim 13  further comprising a base to receive said bottom member. 
     
     
         21 . The card discard rack of  claim 20  wherein said base and said bottom member are removably attached using magnets.