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 playing card shuffling device, comprising:
 a card input portion for receiving cards;   a card shuffling portion for receiving cards from the card input portion, the card shuffling portion comprising:
 a plurality of compartments, at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments sized and configured to receive at least one card at least partially into the at least one compartment; and 
 at least one spring configured and positioned to prevent at least one card disposed in the at least one compartment from exiting the at least one compartment during movement of the card shuffling portion; and 
   a card outlet portion for receiving shuffled cards from the card shuffling portion.    
     
     
       22. The playing card shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the card outlet portion is adapted for interchangeably coupling to a first output card receiver for removal of shuffled cards one at a time from the playing card shuffling device, and to a second output card receiver for removal of a group of shuffled cards from the playing card shuffling device.  
     
     
       23. The playing card shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the at least one spring is configured and positioned to clamp the at least one card within the at least one compartment during the movement of the card shuffling portion.  
     
     
       24. The playing card shuffling device of claim 23, wherein the card shuffling portion comprises a card carousel, the plurality of compartments extend radially outward from a central hub of the card carousel and openings of the plurality of compartments are located at a radially outermost extent of each compartment of the plurality.  
     
     
       25. The playing card shuffling device of claim 24, wherein the at least one spring is configured and positioned to prevent the at least one card from ejecting outwardly by centrifugal force during rotation of the card carousel.  
     
     
       26. The playing card shuffling device of claim 24, wherein the at least one spring comprises a bent distal end at least partially covering a radially outer opening of the at least one compartment.  
     
     
       27. The playing card shuffling device of claim 23, wherein the at least one spring comprises a leaf spring pressing against a wall of the at least one compartment to clamp the at least one card between the leaf spring and the wall.  
     
     
       28. The playing card shuffling device of claim 23, wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring comprising a bent distal end at least partially covering an opening of the at least one compartment and a second spring comprising a leaf spring pressing against a wall of the at least one compartment to clamp the at least one card between the leaf spring and the wall.  
     
     
       29. The playing card shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments is sized to receive a plurality of playing cards in the at least one compartment and the at least one spring is configured and positioned to prevent each card of the plurality of playing cards from exiting the at least one compartment during movement of the card shuffling portion.  
     
     
       30. The playing card shuffling device of claim 21, wherein the card shuffling portion is cooperatively configured for removal from the playing card shuffling device while the at least one card remains in the at least one compartment.  
     
     
       31. A playing card shuffling device, comprising:
 a card input portion for receiving cards;   a card shuffling portion for receiving cards from the card input portion, the card shuffling portion comprising:
 a plurality of compartments sized and configured to receive at least one card at least partially into each compartment of the plurality of compartments; and 
 at least one spring configured to clamp the at least one card within at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments during movement of the card shuffling portion; and 
   a card outlet portion for receiving shuffled cards from the card shuffling portion.    
     
     
       32. The playing card shuffling device of claim 31, wherein the card outlet portion is adapted for interchangeably coupling to a first output card receiver for removal of shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device, and to a second output card receiver for removal of a group of shuffled cards from the shuffling device.  
     
     
       33. The playing card shuffling device of claim 31, wherein the at least one spring is configured and positioned to prevent the at least one card disposed in the at least one compartment from exiting the at least one compartment during movement of the card shuffling portion.  
     
     
       34. The playing card shuffling device of claim 33, wherein the card shuffling portion comprises a card carousel, the plurality of compartments extend radially outward from a central hub of the card carousel and openings of the plurality of compartments are located at a radially outermost extent of each compartment of the plurality of compartments.  
     
     
       35. The playing card shuffling device of claim 34, wherein the at least one spring is configured and positioned to prevent the at least one card from ejecting outwardly during rotation of the card carousel.  
     
     
       36. The playing card shuffling device of claim 34, wherein the at least one spring comprises a bent distal end at least partially covering a radially outer opening of the at least one compartment.  
     
     
       37. The playing card shuffling device of claim 34, wherein the central hub of the card carousel is rotatably supported by and detachably engaged with legs extending from a base plate to enable removal of the card carousel from the card shuffler.  
     
     
       38. The playing card shuffling device of claim 34, further comprising levers operably coupled to rails to, when the at least one compartment is operably aligned with the rails, cause the rails to push the at least one playing card disposed in the at least one compartment, elastically deform the at least one spring, and eject the at least one playing card from the at least one compartment.  
     
     
       39. The playing card shuffling device of claim 33, wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring comprising a bent distal end at least partially covering an opening of the at least one compartment and a second spring comprising a leaf spring pressing against a wall of the at least one compartment to clamp the at least one card between the leaf spring and the wall.  
     
     
       40. The playing card shuffling device of claim 33, wherein the at least one spring comprises a leaf spring pressing against a wall of the at least one compartment to clamp the at least one card between the leaf spring and the wall.  
     
     
       41. A method of making a card shuffling device, comprising the acts of:
 providing a shuffling device comprising a card input portion for receiving cards;   positioning a card shuffling portion to receive cards from the card input portion;   positioning at least one spring to clamp at least one card within at least one compartment of a plurality of compartments of the card shuffling portion during movement of the card shuffling portion;   positioning a card outlet portion to receive shuffled cards from the card shuffling portion.    
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:
 providing a first output card receiver adapted for coupling to a coupling mechanism of the card outlet portion configured for removal of shuffled cards one at a time from the shuffling device;   providing a second output card receiver adapted for coupling to the coupling mechanism of the card outlet portion configured for removal of a group of shuffled cards from the shuffling device; and   coupling either the first output card receiver or the second card output receiver to the coupling mechanism.