Card shuffling devices and related methods

Abstract

A card shuffler is disclosed having a card output portion that is easily connectable to either a first output card receiver or a second output card receiver. The first output card receiver enables the dealer to remove cards one at a time from the shuffler. The second output card receiver enables the dealer to remove a group of cards at a time from the shuffler.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A playing card shuffling device comprising:
 a card input portion for receiving cards to be shuffled;   a card shuffling portion for receiving cards from the card input portion and outputting shuffled cards to a card outlet portion; and   the card outlet portion being adapted for coupling to a first output card receiver when it is desired to remove shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device, and the card outlet portion being adapted for coupling to a second output card receiver when it is desired to remove a group of shuffled cards at a time from the shuffling device.   
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card outlet portion comprises first alignment features for aligning with corresponding second alignment features on the first output card receiver and the second output card receiver. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the first alignment features on the card outlet portion comprise alignment pins. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  further comprising the second output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion, the second output card receiver comprising a U-shaped table for receiving shuffled cards from the card outlet portion to facilitate grasping of a group of cards on the U-shaped table. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  further comprising the first output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion, the first output card receiver having an output gap for exposing a portion of a single card for removal of cards one at a time from the output gap. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card outlet portion comprises grip rollers for forwarding one or more cards from the card shuffling portion to the first output card receiver or the second output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card shuffling portion comprises movable card compartments, each compartment having an open end, the card shuffling portion further comprising a drivable lever for ejecting one or more cards from a compartment for being forwarded to the first output card receiver or the second output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card shuffling portion comprises a a rotatable drum having radially arranged compartments. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8  wherein the drum is provided with gear teeth around its periphery engaged with the drivable pinion for rotating the drum. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 8  wherein each compartment comprises a spring with a bend at a free end of the spring to help retain cards within a compartment. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8  wherein each compartment comprises opposing walls and an open end, each compartment comprising a retainer spring that is pre-tensioned against one of the walls of the compartments to retain cards within the compartment. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor for recognizing identities of cards. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card output portion includes clip connectors for connecting the first output card receiver or the second output card receiver to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card outlet portion includes a recess for the first output card receiver or the second output card receiver. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card outlet portion includes one of alignment pins and holes, and the first output card receiver and second card receiver includes one of alignment pins and holes for coupling to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1  wherein the card outlet portion is secured to the first output card receiver or the second output card receiver by means of a screw. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1  further comprising the first output card receiver, the first output card receiver comprising a spring loaded plate urging cards against a wall, the first card receiver further comprising an output gap for removal of one card at a time from the output gap. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1  further comprising the first output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1  further comprising the second output card receiver coupled to the card outlet portion. 
     
     
       20. A method performed on a shuffling device, comprising the steps of: providing a shuffling device comprising a card input portion for receiving cards to be shuffled; providing a card shuffling portion for receiving cards from the card input portion and outputting shuffled cards to a card outlet portion; providing a first output card receiver wherein the card outlet portion is adapted for coupling to the first output card receiver when it is desired to remove shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device and providing a second output card receive wherein the card outlet portion is adapted for coupling to the second output card receiver it is desired to remove a group of shuffled cards at a time from the shuffling device; and
 coupling either the first output card receiver or the second card output receiver to a coupling mechanism on the card outlet portion depending on whether it is desired to remove shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device or remove a group of shuffled cards at a time from the shuffling device.    
     
     
       21. A card-shuffling device, comprising:
 a base comprising an attachment feature;   a card input configured to receive cards and input the cards into the card-shuffling device, the card input being supported by the base;   a card-shuffling mechanism configured to receive cards from the card input and randomize the cards, the card-shuffling mechanism being supported by the base; and   a card output receiver module configured to receive cards from the card-shuffling mechanism and to position the cards for manual removal, the card output receiver module comprising an attachment feature, the attachment feature of the card output receiver module being configured to secure the card output receiver module to the base by mating with the attachment feature of the base.   
     
     
       22. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the attachment feature of the base and the attachment feature of the card output receiver module jointly form a quick-release attachment mechanism. 
     
     
       23. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the attachment features of the base and the card output receiver module comprise at least one of a receiving ledge and a latch, clip connectors, a receiving bore and a spring-loaded pin, and a snap-in connection. 
     
     
       24. The card-shuffling device of claim 23, wherein the attachment features of the base and the card output receiver comprise a receiving ledge and a latch. 
     
     
       25. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, further comprising an alignment feature on the base and an alignment feature on the card output receiver module, the alignment feature of the card output receiver module being configured to mate with the alignment feature of the base to orient the card output receiver module for attachment to the base. 
     
     
       26. The card-shuffling device of claim 25, wherein the alignment features of the base and the card output receiver module comprise at least one of a bore and a pin and a snap-in connection. 
     
     
       27. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, further comprising another card output receiver module configured to be interchanged with the card output receiver module, the other card output receiver module being configured to receive cards from the card-shuffling mechanism and to position the cards for manual removal, the other card output receiver module comprising another attachment feature, the other attachment feature being configured to secure the other card output receiver module to the base by mating with the attachment feature of the base. 
     
     
       28. The card-shuffling device of claim 27, wherein one of the card output receiver module and the other card output receiver module is configured to present a stack of cards for withdrawal and the other of the card output receiver module and the other card output receiver module is configured to present one card at a time for withdrawal. 
     
     
       29. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the card-shuffling mechanism comprises:
 compartments, at least one of the compartments being sized and configured to receive at least one card at least partially into the at least one of the compartments; and   a spring configured and positioned to prevent the at least one card from exiting the at least one of the compartments during movement of the card-shuffling mechanism.   
     
     
       30. The card-shuffling device of claim 29, wherein the spring comprises a bent distal end at least partially covering an opening of the at least one compartment. 
     
     
       31. The card-shuffling device of claim 29, wherein the spring comprises a leaf spring pressing against a wall of the at least one of the compartments to clamp the at least one card between the leaf spring and the wall. 
     
     
       32. The card-shuffling device of claim 21, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of each card, the sensor being located between the card input and the card-shuffling mechanism. 
     
     
       33. A method of configuring a card-shuffling device, comprising:
 providing a base comprising an attachment feature;   supporting a card input utilizing the base, the card input being configured to receive cards and input the cards into a card-shuffling mechanism;   supporting the card-shuffling mechanism utilizing the base, the card-shuffling mechanism being configured to receive cards from the card input and randomize the cards; and   securing a card output receiver module to the base by mutually engaging an attachment feature of the card output receiver module with the attachment feature of the base, the card output receiver module being configured to receive cards from the card-shuffling mechanism and to position the cards for manual removal.   
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33, wherein securing the card output receiver module to the base comprises at least one of engaging a latch with a receiving ledge, clipping together clip connectors, positioning a spring-loaded pin to extend into a receiving bore, and snapping together a snap-in connection. 
     
     
       35. The method of claim 33, further comprising orienting the card output receiver module with respect to the base before securing the card output receiver module to the base by mating an alignment feature on the base with an alignment feature on the card output receiver module. 
     
     
       36. The method of claim 35, wherein orienting the card output receiver module with respect to the base comprises at least one of inserting a pin into a bore and snapping together a snap-in connection. 
     
     
       37. The method of claim 33, further comprising detaching the card output receiver module from the base and securing another card output receiver module to the base by mating another attachment feature of the other card output receiver module with the attachment feature of the base, the other card output receiver module being configured to receive cards from the card-shuffling mechanism and to position the cards for manual removal. 
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting one of the card output receiver module and the other card output receiver module to present a stack of cards for withdrawal and selecting the other of the card output receiver module and the other card output receiver module to present one card at a time for withdrawal. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 33, wherein supporting the card-shuffling mechanism utilizing the base comprises supporting a card-shuffling mechanism comprising compartments, at least one of the compartments being sized and configured to receive at least one card at least partially into the at least one of the compartments; and a spring configured and positioned to prevent the at least one card from exiting the at least one of the compartments during movement of the card-shuffling mechanism utilizing the base. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 33, further comprising supporting a sensor configured to detect a presence of each card utilizing the base, the sensor being positioned between the card input and the card-shuffling mechanism.