Device for providing sets of cards

Abstract

A device for providing sets of cards, includes a card supply means to supply a series of randomly ordered cards, a plurality of card storage means, in which the cards of the series of randomly ordered cards are to be stored, and a control means to randomly assign each card to one of the plurality of card storage means, preferably until a complete set of cards is generated in at least two of the plurality of card storage means. The device may provide sets of cards, such as sets of playing cards, for which the sequence of cards in the generated sets of cards have a higher guarantee of unpredictability, and wherein both reclaimed and virgin cards can be used.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A device for providing sets of cards, comprising:
 a card supply means to supply a series of randomly ordered cards,   a plurality of card storage means, in which the cards of said series of randomly ordered cards are to be stored;   a control means adapted to randomly assign each card to one of the plurality of card storage means until a complete set of cards is generated in at least two of the plurality of card storage means.   
     
     
         18 . The device for providing sets of cards according to  claim 17 , wherein the control means is adapted to randomly assign each card to one of the plurality of card storage means until a complete set of cards is generated in at least two of the plurality of card storage means. 
     
     
         19 . The device for providing sets of cards according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a card identifying means adapted to read the identification element of each card in said series of randomly ordered cards;   a card sorting means, adapted to direct each of the identified cards to the assigned card storage means;   wherein the control means being adapted to assign each of the identified cards to one of the card storage means; and wherein   said plurality of card storage means comprises N groups of M card storage means, N being an integer equal or more than 1, M being an integer equal or more than 2, each of said N times M card storage means is uniquely identified by a group identifier being a sign n selected from a first group of N signs and an intra-group identifier being a sign m selected from a second group of M signs;   said control means is adapted to:   memorize the number of cards with given identification element being provided to each of said N times M card storage means, and   randomly generate, for each card to be directed to said plurality of card storage means,   a sign Ω chosen from the second group of M signs and/or   a sign π chosen from the first group of N signs; and   assign each identified card to a card storage means for which   the intra-group identifier m equals said sign Ω and/or the group identifier n equals said sign π; and   the number of cards with identification element being equal to the identified identification element of said identified card has not reached a threshold value T.   
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein N is larger than 2. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein M is 2 or 3. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the card supply means comprises at least one card printing unit. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the card supply means comprises at least one card recuperation unit to provide reclaimed cards to said series of randomly ordered cards. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 17 , wherein the device comprises a card inspection means to recognize defective cards in said series of randomly ordered cards. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of card storage means further comprises a card removal means, said control means being adapted to assign defective card to said card removal means. 
     
     
         26 . A method for providing sets of cards, comprising:
 providing a device for providing sets of cards according to  claim 17 ;   generating a series of randomly ordered cards;   randomly assign each card to one of the plurality of card storage means.   
     
     
         27 . The method to provide sets of cards according to  claim 26 , wherein the step of randomly assigning each card to one of the plurality of card storage means comprises randomly assigning each card to one of the plurality of card storage means until a complete set of cards is generated in at least two of the plurality of card storage means. 
     
     
         28 . The method to provide sets of cards according to  claim 26 , wherein the provided device is a device randomly assigning each card to one of the plurality of card storage means comprises the steps:
 a) read the identification element of a card from the series of randomly ordered cards by the card identifying means, thereby providing an identified card;   b) generate by the control means a randomly generated sign Ω chosen from the group of M signs and/or generate by the control means a randomly generated sign  71  chosen from the group of N signs; and   c) assign to said identified card a card storage means for which
 the card storage means has an intra-group identifier being said sign Ω and/or the card storage means has a group identifier being said sign  71 ; and 
 the number of cards with identification element being equal to the identified identification element of said identified card, has not reached a threshold value T, and; 
   d) direct the card to the selected card storage means by said card sorting means;   e) repeat steps a) to e).   
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the device is a device comprising a card inspection means to recognize defective cards in said series of randomly ordered cards, and wherein between step a) and b) an inspection means is used to recognize defective cards in the series of randomly ordered cards, in step c) the card removal means is assigned to said defective card. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein complete sets of cards are removed from the card storage means and wherein for the card storage means from which the set of cards is removed, for each card with a given identification element, the control means resets the number of cards with said identification element to 0. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the generated series of randomly ordered cards comprises at least reclaimed cards. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the generated series of randomly ordered cards comprises at least virgin printed cards, provided by an inkjet printing device.