Method and apparatus to shuffle and order playing cards

Abstract

A card shuffling and ordering system and method which operates with four card hoppers arranged into first and second pairs. In the operation of the system, a first pair of card hoppers holds at least approximately two halves of a deck of cards, which are then selectively interlaced or sorted to the other pair of hoppers. The cards are then selectively interlaced or sorted from the hoppers of the second pair of hoppers back to the hoppers of the first pair of hoppers, with the operation being repeated as needed.

1 . An automated shuffling apparatus configured to shuffle a plurality of playing cards, the apparatus comprising:
 an outer wall;   four card hoppers formed within the outer wall, configured to accommodate the playing cards laying flat, the card hoppers arranged with two adjacent card hoppers to form a rectangular formation, the card hoppers being subdivided by a divider;   means for moving a card from one of the four hoppers to an adjacent hopper;   a microprocessor configured to control the means for moving the card;   wherein the microprocessor is configured to run a shuffle simulation, the microprocessor simulates the shuffle using a random number generator to determine where the plurality of playing cards will be cut for interlacing, and how the cards are to be interlaced, and the microprocessor is configured to instruct the means for moving the cards to execute the shuffle generated by the shuffle simulation.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the card hoppers further comprises:
 an elevator platform positioned as a bottom of the hopper;   a drive mechanism configured to raise and lower the elevator platform;   wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the drive mechanism to raise and lower the elevator platform.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , including at least one sensor configured to monitor the presence or absence of cards in a card hopper, and the sensor is configured to report to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor to monitor the presence or absence of cards in a card hopper is an electronic eye. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine a number of playing cards. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , including at least one sensor to monitor the movement of the card, and the sensor reports the movement to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor to monitor the movement of the card is an electronic eye. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a top is coupled to the outer wall with a hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the top further comprises at least one deflector configured to deflect the topmost card into the adjacently located card hopper. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the top further comprises a means to engage a drive wheel to cause the movement of the topmost card in a hopper. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a drive roller to facilitate the movement of cards between adjacent hoppers. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor controls the speed and direction of the drive wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , including a user interface panel, wherein the user interface further comprises a display panel. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the display panel is configured to indicate progress of the shuffle of the playing cards. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface panel is further configured to accept instructions from the operator and communicate the instructions to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shuffle simulations include a standard traditional riffle, riffle, strip, riffle shuffle, seven riffles, and the ABC shuffle. 
     
     
         17 . A method for automatically shuffling at least one deck of playing cards including:
 providing a deck of cards;   providing first and second pairs of card hoppers;   providing a first mechanism and a second mechanism;   placing portions of the deck of cards in the hoppers of the first pair of hoppers;   operating the first mechanism, the first mechanism selectively removing the cards from either hopper of the first pair of hoppers and interlacing the cards into the second pair of hoppers;   operating the second mechanism, the second mechanism selectively removing the cards from either hopper of the second pair of hoppers and interlacing the cards into the first pair of hoppers; and   providing a control device coupled with the first and second mechanisms to effect the selective removal of the cards from the first and second pairs of hoppers and to effect alternating operations of the first and second mechanisms.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein movement and interlacing cards from the first pair of hoppers to the second pair of hoppers and back again is repeated a predetermined number of times. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  further including cutting cards for a next shuffle from one pair of hoppers to another simultaneously as cards are being interlaced from one pair of hoppers to another pair of hoppers. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17  further including cutting cards for a next shuffle from one pair of hoppers to another simultaneously as cards are being interlaced from one pair of hoppers to another pair of hoppers.