Card recycling system and card recycling method
The card recycling system addresses security concerns by managing and reusing unused casino cards through identification, extraction, and shuffling processes, ensuring secure and efficient card reuse.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-17
AI Technical Summary
In casinos, unused playing cards from gaming tables pose a security risk due to potential theft or loss, necessitating a system to manage and reuse these cards while ensuring their integrity and preventing unauthorized access.
A card recycling system comprising card shooters with identification information, an extraction device, shuffling device, and management system to collect, shuffle, and generate new playing card sets, with verification processes to ensure card integrity and prevent shortages.
The system effectively manages and reuses playing cards by verifying their authenticity and quantity, reducing the risk of theft and loss, and ensuring secure reuse in gaming environments.
Smart Images

Figure 2026048993000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a card reuse system and a card reuse method used to collect unused playing cards in a plurality of gaming tables in a casino and generate a new set of playing cards consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards.
Background Art
[0002] In a casino, games using playing cards are played on gaming tables. A predetermined number of decks (for example, 8 decks) of playing cards are shuffled and packaged and provided to the gaming tables. At the gaming table, the dealer opens the package and loads the shuffled playing cards into the card shooter. The dealer draws out one playing card at a time from the card shooter to proceed with the game.
[0003] When a new shuffled playing card is loaded into the card shooter, a cut card is inserted at a position slightly before the end of the shuffled playing card. After multiple games are executed and the cut card is drawn out, the dealer replaces the shuffled playing cards in the card shooter while there are still unused playing cards in the card shooter. That is, the shuffled playing cards behind the cut card will be discarded unused (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-181948).
[0004] Therefore, it has been contemplated to reuse these unused playing cards. By collecting these unused playing cards from a plurality of gaming tables and creating a set of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards, a new set of shuffled playing cards can be generated.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in casinos, playing cards are security items and should be managed with strict care. If a player were to obtain a playing card illegally, they could use such a card to cheat in the game.
[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a system that can verify whether there are any shortages due to loss, theft, etc., when collecting and reusing playing cards that remain in the card shooter without being used at a game table from multiple game tables. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] One embodiment of a card recycling system is a card recycling system used in a casino where multiple gaming tables are installed, for collecting playing cards that have not been used at the multiple gaming tables into the back room, and generating a new playing card set consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards in the back room for reuse at the gaming tables, the system comprising: multiple card shooters used at each of the multiple gaming tables for drawing out one playing card at a time, where each of the multiple card shooters is assigned shooter identification information to identify the card shooter, and / or a playing card set loaded into the card shooter is assigned set identification information; an extraction device for extracting a predetermined number of multiple playing cards from the multiple unused playing cards collected from the multiple card shooters; a shuffling device for shuffling the predetermined number of multiple playing cards extracted by the extraction device; a set generation device for generating the new playing card set from the predetermined number of multiple playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device; and a card management system for managing the generation of the new playing card set. The card management system includes a recovered card information acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of playing cards recovered from each of the plurality of card shooters, as well as shooter identification information of the card shooter that recovered the plurality of playing cards and / or set identification information of the recovered plurality of playing cards, and a management device that assigns set identification information to identify the newly generated playing card set by the set generation device, wherein the set generation device loads the new playing card set into a cartridge or card package, and the new playing card set is used in the game table when the cartridge is attached to the card shooter or the playing card set in the card package is loaded into the card shooter.
[0008] In the above-described card recycling system, the management device may associate the set identification information of the new playing card set with the shooter identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the shooter identification information of the plurality of card shooters that recovered the plurality of playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, and / or the set identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the set identification information of the plurality of playing cards used to generate the new playing card set; or the set identification information of the new playing card set with the shooter identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the shooter identification information of the plurality of card shooters that recovered the plurality of playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set, and / or the set identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the set identification information of the plurality of playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set.
[0009] In the above-described card recycling system, the card management system may further include a collection inspection device that counts the number of playing cards actually collected from the plurality of card chutes into the backyard, and a non-extracted card information acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the plurality of playing cards collected from the plurality of card chutes. The management system may determine whether the number information acquired by the collection card information acquisition unit matches the number counted by the collection inspection device, and may also determine whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the number information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the number information acquired by the collection card information acquisition unit or the number counted by the collection inspection device.
[0010] In the above-described card recycling system, the recovered card information acquisition unit may further acquire rank and suit information of multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters, and the card management system may further include a recovery inspection device that reads the rank and suit of playing cards actually recovered from the multiple card shooters into the backyard, and a non-extracted card information acquisition unit that acquires rank and suit information of playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, and the management device may determine whether the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the rank and suit information read by the recovery inspection device, and may also determine whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the rank and suit information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the rank and suit information read by the recovery inspection device.
[0011] In the above-described card recycling system, the extraction device comprises an extraction reader that reads the rank and suit of multiple unused playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, and a sorting device that sorts, based on the reading results from the extraction reader, into playing cards that constitute a predetermined number of playing cards and playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0012] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction reader and the recovery inspection device may be the same device.
[0013] In the above-described card recycling system, the card shooter may be equipped with a card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the drawn playing card, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card inspection device.
[0014] In the above-described card recycling system, the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of the multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter at the game table.
[0015] In the card recycling system described above, the game table may be equipped with a discard card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards that have been used and are to be discarded, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the discard card inspection device.
[0016] In the above-described card reuse system, the game table may further include an identification number reading device for reading the set identification number, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire the set identification number of the playing card set read by the identification number reading device, along with the rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards to be recovered.
[0017] In the above-described card recycling system, the unused multiple playing cards provided to the extraction device to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards may include playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device as playing cards that do not constitute the previous predetermined number of playing cards.
[0018] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction device is composed of multiple stages, including a first stage and a second stage, and in the second stage, a predetermined number of playing cards may be extracted from playing cards that were not extracted in the first stage as playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0019] In the above-described card recycling system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire the rank and suit information of the non-extracted playing cards based on the rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
[0020] In the above-described card reuse system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of the non-extracted playing cards by reading the rank and suit of the playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device.
[0021] In the card reuse system described above, the rank and suit information may be encoded and represented on the playing card.
[0022] In the card reuse system described above, the rank and suit information may be indicated on the playing card using ink that is visible when exposed to ultraviolet light or infrared light.
[0023] In the card recycling system described above, the card shooter may be equipped with a card inspection device that counts the playing cards that are drawn out, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card inspection device.
[0024] In the above-described card recycling system, the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of recovered playing cards by counting the multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter at the game table.
[0025] In the above card reuse system, the gaming table may include a discarded card inspection device that counts the playing cards that are used and then discarded, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of a plurality of playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection result by the discarded card inspection device.
[0026] In the above card reuse system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of non-extracted playing cards based on information on the number of a plurality of playing cards recovered from each of the plurality of card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
[0027] In the above card reuse system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of non-extracted playing cards by counting the number of playing cards not extracted by the extraction device.
[0028] One embodiment of a card reuse method involves a casino equipped with multiple gaming tables, in which playing cards not used at the multiple gaming tables are collected in the back room, and in the back room, a new set of playing cards consisting of a predetermined number of decks is generated for reuse at the gaming tables. Here, each of the multiple card shooters is assigned shooter identification information to identify the card shooter, and / or the set of playing cards loaded into the card shooter is assigned set identification information. The card reuse method comprises a collection step of collecting multiple unused playing cards from multiple card shooters used in each of the multiple game tables for drawing out playing cards one by one; an extraction step of extracting a predetermined number of playing cards from the multiple unused playing cards collected in the collection step; a shuffling step of shuffling the predetermined number of playing cards extracted in the extraction step; a set generation step of generating a new playing card set from the predetermined number of playing cards shuffled in the shuffling step; and a card management step of managing the generation of the new playing card set. The card management step comprises a collected card information acquisition step of acquiring information on the number of playing cards collected from each of the multiple card shooters, as well as shooter identification information of the card shooter that collected the multiple playing cards and / or set identification information of the collected multiple playing cards; and a management step of assigning set identification information to identify the new playing card set newly generated by the set generation step. The set generation step involves loading the new playing card set into a cartridge or card package, and the cartridge being mounted into the card shooter, or the playing card set in the card package being loaded into the card shooter, thereby allowing the new playing card set to be used on the game table.
[0029] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the card reuse system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the card shooter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data file including non-extracted card information according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the shuffling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data file of the collected card information according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the card reuse method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are examples of implementing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to the specific configurations described below. In implementing the present invention, specific configurations according to the embodiments may be appropriately adopted.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the card reuse system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the thick arrows indicate the movement of the playing cards, and the thin arrows indicate the transmission of information. Note that the transmission of information may be either wired or wireless.
[0033] [[ID=4C]] As shown in Figure 1, the card recycling system 100 is installed in a casino having a game floor 1 and a backyard 2. In this embodiment, the backyard 2 can be any space with security measures in place, such as restricting player access, for generating new playing card packages, and is not limited to a typical backyard.
[0034] Game floor 1 has multiple game tables 11. Each game table 11 is equipped with multiple card shooters 12 for drawing out one shuffled playing card at a time during the game. Each card shooter 12 is connected to a code reader 13, which serves as an identification information reading device for reading the set identification information attached to the set of shuffled playing cards.
[0035] As described above, at each game table 11, when a cut card is drawn from the card shooter 12, a refresh process is performed in which any unused playing cards remaining in the card shooter 12 are replaced with new shuffled playing cards. At this time, the remaining playing cards are removed from the card shooter 12. In this way, the unused playing cards removed from the card shooter 12 are collected from the game table 11 and taken to the back yard 2.
[0036] The playing cards used in the game are placed in a discard card box (not shown in Figure 1) located on the game table 12 after each game ends. The used playing cards accumulated in the discard card box are collected in the backyard 2 at an appropriate time and disposed of via a predetermined route.
[0037] In backyard 2, unused playing cards collected from multiple game tables 11 are gathered, and a predetermined number of decks (8 decks in this embodiment) of playing cards are extracted, shuffled, and packaged. The packages of shuffled playing cards thus recycled are then transported back to the game tables 11 for reuse.
[0038] Backyard 2 is equipped with an extraction device 21 that extracts a predetermined number of playing cards from multiple unused playing cards collected from multiple card chutes 12 that were not used at the game table 11, a shuffling device 22 that shuffles the predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device 21, and a set generation device 23 that generates a new playing card set from the predetermined number of playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device 22, and generates a playing card package by packaging the generated playing card set.
[0039] The extraction device 21 includes a extracted card information acquisition unit 211 that acquires information on the rank and suit of multiple playing cards extracted from each of the multiple card shooters 12, as well as information on the number of such cards; a extracted inspection device 212 that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards actually extracted from the card shooter 12 into the back hard 2 and counts the number of such cards; and a non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 that acquires information on the rank and suit of playing cards that were not extracted from the multiple playing cards extracted from the multiple card shooters 12, as well as information on the number of such cards.
[0040] Furthermore, the backyard 2 is equipped with a management device 24 that manages the generation of playing card sets, and a storage device 25 that stores various data used by the management device 24. The management device 24, together with the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211, the retrieved inspection device 212, and the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213, constitutes a card management system. In this card management system, the management device 24 determines whether the rank and suit information and the number of cards acquired by the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211 match the rank and suit information and the number of cards inspected by the retrieved inspection device 212. The management device 24 also determines whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the rank and suit information and the number of cards acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 correspond to the rank and suit information and the number of cards acquired by the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211.
[0041] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a card shooter according to an embodiment of the present invention. The card shooter 12 is equipped with a storage section 121 for storing shuffled playing cards C. The shuffled playing cards C stored in the storage section 121 are pulled out one by one from the drawer opening 122 and used in the game. Inside the storage section 121 is a mouse 123 that functions as a weight to press the rear end of the playing card C toward the drawer opening 122, and the mouse 123 always presses the leading playing card C toward the drawer opening 122.
[0042] Near the drawer opening 122, a drawer card inspection device 124 is provided to read the rank and suit of the drawn-out playing cards C and count their number. The drawer card inspection device 124 is equipped with an ultraviolet lamp 1241 and a code detection sensor 1242. A binary code encoding the rank and suit is printed on the surface of the playing cards C (the side on which the rank and suit are indicated). This binary code is printed with ultraviolet-emitting ink that is invisible under natural light. The ultraviolet lamp 1241 irradiates the binary code of the drawn-out playing cards C with ultraviolet light, and the code detection sensor 1242 scans the binary code that has been illuminated by the ultraviolet light along the direction in which the playing cards C are drawn.
[0043] The card drawer inspection device 124 reads the rank and suit of each playing card drawn and sends the read information to the control device 125, which acts as a remaining card inspection device. The control device 125 obtains the rank and suit information of the playing cards read from the card drawer inspection device 124 and subtracts this information from the initial shuffled playing cards (8 decks) to determine the rank and suit of the playing cards C remaining in the card shooter 12, and further determines the number of remaining playing cards C.
[0044] Figure 2 further illustrates the package 50 of the shuffle playing cards. The package 50 has a barcode 51 printed on it that represents the identification information (package ID) of the package 50. A code reader 13 is connected to the card shooter 12 to read the barcode 51 on the package 50. The barcode 51 is read when a new shuffle playing card is loaded into the card shooter 12. This package ID, which is the identification information of the package, corresponds to the set identification information.
[0045] When the control device 125 removes an unused playing card C from the card shooter 12, it outputs information about the rank and suit of all remaining playing cards at that time, as well as the number of cards, along with the set identification information of the playing card.
[0046] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an extraction device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The extraction device 21 includes a stocker 214 for stocking playing cards C collected from a plurality of card shooters 12, a drawer roller 215 for drawing out playing cards C one by one from the stocker 214, an extraction reader 216 for reading the rank and suit binary codes of the playing cards C drawn out by the drawer roller 215, and a sorting device 217 that sorts the playing cards into playing cards that constitute a predetermined number of decks of playing cards C and playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of decks of playing cards C, based on the reading results from the extraction reader 216.
[0047] The extraction reader 216 has a configuration similar to the card inspection device 124 of the card shooter 12, and includes an ultraviolet lamp 2161 and a code detection sensor 2162. The ultraviolet lamp 2161 irradiates ultraviolet light onto the binary code on the surface of the playing card C being transported by the drawer roller 215, and the code detection sensor 2162 scans the binary code that has been illuminated by the ultraviolet lamp 2161 along the transport direction of the playing card C.
[0048] The sorting device 217 includes a rotating shaft 2171 and a guide vane 2172. The guide vane 2172 rotates on the rotating shaft 2171, causing it to move between an extraction position and a non-extraction position. When the guide vane 2172 is in the extraction position (in the example in Figure 3, the flipped-up position), the playing cards C transported by the transport roller 215 pass right by the guide vane 2172 and are sent to the extraction stocker 218, where they are stored to form a predetermined number of decks of playing cards C. When the guide vane 2172 is in the non-extraction position (in the example in Figure 3, the position where its tip touches the transported playing cards C), the playing cards C transported by the transport roller 215 are guided by the guide vane 2172 and sent to the non-extraction stocker 219 as playing cards C that are not used to form a predetermined number of decks of playing cards C.
[0049] The extraction device 21 further includes a control device 210 connected to an extraction reading device 216 and a sorting device 217. The control device 210 corresponds to the recovered card information acquisition unit 211, the extraction control unit (recovery inspection device) 212, and the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 shown in Figure 1. The extraction control unit 214 controls the sorting device 217 based on the reading results of the extraction reading device 216 to sort playing cards C to be extracted and playing cards C not to be extracted in order to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards in a deck.
[0050] Figure 4 shows an example of a data file containing non-extracted card information according to an embodiment of the present invention. The extraction control unit 214 updates the data file D41 based on the reading results of the extraction reader 216. Specifically, the extraction control device 212 controls the sorting device 217 to transport the playing cards C to the extraction stocker 218 if the number of extracted cards in the data file D41 has not reached a predetermined number of decks, which is 8, for the rank and suit of the playing cards C read by the extraction reader 216. At the same time, it increases the number of extracted playing cards C in the data file D41 by 1 and decreases the number of missing cards by 1.
[0051] The extraction control device 212 controls the sorting device 217 to transport the playing card C to the non-extracted stocker 219 if the number of extracted playing cards C in the data file D41 has reached a predetermined number of decks, which is 8, based on the rank and suit of the playing card C read by the extraction reader 216, and also increases the number of non-extracted playing cards in the data file D41 by 1.
[0052] The extraction control unit 212 determines whether the number of extracted cards of all ranks and suits is 8 each time it processes a playing card C, and outputs a completion report when the number of extracted cards of all ranks and suits reaches 8. At this time, the extraction stocker 218 will have 8 playing cards C of each rank and suit, for a total of 416 playing cards C. These 416 playing cards are then transported to the shuffling device 22. Playing cards C that are not extracted by the extraction device 21 are returned to the stocker 214 to form the next predetermined number of playing cards after the extraction stocker 218 has collected a predetermined number of playing cards C.
[0053] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a shuffling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The shuffling device 22 is equipped with multiple sorting devices 221a to 221c. In the example in Figure 5, the shuffling device 22 is shown to be equipped with three sorting devices 221a to 221c, but it may be four or more stages. Since the multiple sorting devices 221a to 221c each have the same configuration, sorting device 221a will be described below, and the descriptions of sorting devices 221b and 221c will be omitted.
[0054] The sorting device 221a includes a vertically erected rail 222a, a slider 223a that can move up and down along the rail 222a, a holder 224a fixed to the slider 223a and moving up and down together with the slider 223a, a sorting roller 225a for dispensing multiple playing cards C held in the holder 224a one by one, and a shelf 226a having multiple boxes for storing the playing cards C dispensed from the holder 224 by the sorting roller 225a. In the example in Figure 5, the shelf 226a has six boxes, but the number of boxes is not limited to this.
[0055] The sorting device 221a further includes a control device (not shown), and the slider 223a and sorting roller 225a are driven under the control of the control device. The control device is given a random number and determines which box on shelf 226a to place the items in according to the random number.
[0056] The set of playing cards C, consisting of a predetermined number of decks (8 decks), extracted by the extraction device 21, is first loaded into the holder 224a of the first-stage sorting device 221a. Once all the playing cards C are sorted into one of the boxes, the cards sorted into each box are stacked from top to bottom and loaded into the holder 224b of the second-stage sorting device 221b. By repeating this process, the set of playing cards C, consisting of a predetermined number of decks (8 decks), is shuffled.
[0057] The playing cards C, sorted into multiple boxes in the final stage of the shuffling device 22, are stacked from top to bottom and transported to the set generating device 23. The set generating device 23 also functions as a packaging device, loading the 416 shuffled playing cards C into boxes, sealing the boxes, and creating a package with shrink film. The package containing the thus regenerated shuffled playing card C sets is then transported back to the game table 11 for use in the game.
[0058] As described above, the set generation device 23 generates a new playing card set from a predetermined number of playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device 22. At this time, the management device 24 assigns set identification information to the new playing card set generated by the set generation device 23 to identify the playing card set. The set generation device 23 also functions as a packaging device that loads the new playing card set into a card package. Once the playing card set in the card package is loaded into the card shooter 12, the new playing card set is used on the game table 11.
[0059] When the set generation device 23 assigns set identification information to a new playing card set, the management device 24 associates this set identification information with the set identification information of the multiple playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, which was acquired by the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211, and stores it in the storage device 25. To this end, the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211 of the extraction device outputs the set identification information of a playing card to the management device 24 each time an unused playing card is supplied to the extraction device 21 from a card shoe 12. The management device 24 accumulates the set identification information output from the extraction device 21 in this manner until a new playing card set is completed. When a new playing card set is generated by the set generation device 23, the management device 24 refreshes the accumulated set identification information by associating all the set identification information of the unused playing cards used to generate the new playing card set with the set identification information of the new playing card set.
[0060] As described above, a new package of shuffled playing cards is generated using the playing cards C recovered from multiple card shooters 12. However, the card recycling system 100 of this embodiment has a function to check whether there are any shortages of playing cards C due to loss, theft, etc., between the recovery of the playing cards C and the generation of the new package. This check is performed by control of the management device 24.
[0061] First, the card recycling system 100 has a function to confirm that the playing cards C collected from the card chutes 12 of the multiple game tables 11 have been transported to the extraction device 21 in the backyard 2 without any shortages. For this purpose, as described above, the control device 125 of the card chutes 12 outputs information on the rank and suit of the remaining playing cards that are collected without being used, as well as information on the number of such cards, along with the set identification information of the playing cards, and the collected card information acquisition unit 211 of the extraction device 21 acquires this information.
[0062] Figure 6 shows an example of a data file for recovered card information according to an embodiment of the present invention. The data file D61 illustrated in Figure 6 is provided from the card shooter 12 to the extraction device 21, and the extraction device 21 acquires this data file D61. The recovered card information shown in data file D61 includes information on the rank of the recovered playing cards C, the number of cards of each suit, and the total number of cards. The extraction device 21 provides the acquired recovered card information to the management device 24, and the storage device 25 stores the recovered card information in association with its set identification information.
[0063] Furthermore, as described above, the extraction control unit 212 of the extraction device 21 acquires the rank and suit of each of the collected playing cards C in order to determine which playing cards to extract. The extraction control unit 212, acting as a collection inspection device, outputs the number of cards of each rank and suit, as well as the total number of cards, read by the extraction reading device 216, to the management device 24.
[0064] For this inspection, the stocker 214 of the extraction device 21 holds a playing card C for each card shooter 12 that has collected an unused playing card C, that is, for each set identification information of the collected playing cards. The management device 24 checks whether the collected card information corresponds to the rank and number of cards per suit and the total number of cards input from the collection inspection device 212 for each set identification information.
[0065] Furthermore, when a predetermined number of playing cards C are extracted by the extraction device 21, the management device 24 checks whether the number of playing cards C of each rank and suit that were not extracted is correct in light of the recovered card information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211. In other words, the management device 24 checks whether there is a shortage of playing cards C when the extraction device 21 extracts a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0066] For example, if a predetermined number of playing cards are extracted through 10 collections of playing cards, the management device 24 checks whether the number of cards per rank and suit obtained by subtracting the number of cards per rank and suit (8 cards) for a predetermined number of decks (8 decks) from the sum of the information of collected cards related to these 10 collections stored in the storage device 25 matches the number of cards per rank and suit of multiple playing cards C that the extraction control unit 212 determined not to have been extracted.
[0067] In other words, the management device 24 checks whether the total number of cards per rank and suit (8 cards each) of the extracted predetermined number of decks (8 decks) of playing cards C, plus the total number of cards per rank and suit of the multiple playing cards C that were determined not to have been extracted, matches the total of the collected card information related to multiple collections acquired by the collected card information acquisition unit 211.
[0068] This allows for checking whether there are any shortages when sorting the multiple playing cards C collected through multiple collections into those to be extracted / not extracted in order to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards C in a deck.
[0069] For this inspection, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 acquires information on the rank and number of cards of each suit of playing cards C that have been determined not to be extracted, based on the extraction decision made by the extraction control unit 212, as non-extracted card information, and outputs this to the management device 24.
[0070] When a predetermined number of playing cards C have been extracted, the management device 24 checks whether the extracted card information input from the extracted card information acquisition unit 211 corresponds to the non-extracted card information input from the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213.
[0071] Figure 7 is a flowchart of a card recycling method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the card recycling method, first, multiple unused playing cards are collected from the card shooter 12 into the backyard 2 (step S71). Then, the extraction device 21 extracts a predetermined number of playing cards from the collected multiple unused playing cards, and at that time outputs set identification information of the multiple unused playing cards to the management device 24 (step S72). Next, the shuffling device 22 shuffles the predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device 21 (step S73).
[0072] The set generation device 23 generates a new playing card set from a predetermined number of playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device 22, and assigns set identification information to the new playing card set (step S74). Then, the management device 24 associates the set identification information obtained from the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211 with the set identification information assigned to the new playing card set by the set generation device 23 and stores it in the storage device 25 (step S75).
[0073] In the above embodiment, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 acquired the rank and suit information of the playing card C that the extraction control device 212 determined not to be extracted as non-extracted card information. However, instead, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 may acquire non-extracted card information by reading the rank and suit of multiple playing cards C stocked in the non-extracted stocker 219.
[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the management device 24 checked whether the retrieved card information and the unextracted card information corresponded when a predetermined number of playing cards C were extracted. Alternatively, the management device 24 may check, for each retrieval (i.e., for each set identification information), whether the sum of the number of playing cards C by rank and suit extracted by the extraction device 21 and the number of playing cards C by rank and suit that were not extracted corresponds to the retrieved card information.
[0075] In the above embodiment, the management device 24 determined whether the information on the number of cards per rank and suit acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211 matched the number of cards per rank and suit inspected by the recovered inspection device 212, and also determined whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the number of cards per rank and suit acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 corresponded to the number of cards per rank and suit acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211. However, instead, the management device 24 may determine only whether the number of cards matches. That is, the management device 24 may determine whether the information on the number of cards acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211 matched the number of cards inspected by the recovered inspection device 212, and also determine whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the number of cards acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 corresponded to the number of cards acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211.
[0076] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the management device 24 checked whether there were any shortages between collection and recycling by inspecting the rank and suit of the playing cards C and their total number. However, the management device 24 may also check whether there are any shortages by inspecting the rank and suit of the playing cards C, or the management device 24 may check whether there are any shortages by inspecting only the number of playing cards C.
[0077] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the reading results of the cards drawn out one by one by the card shooter 12 were subtracted from the initial shuffled playing cards to obtain information on the suit, rank, and number of remaining (recovered) playing cards as recovered card information. However, instead, recovered card information may be obtained by a recovered card reader that reads the playing cards to be recovered, or by a discarded card reader that reads the discarded cards used in the game and discarded.
[0078] The retrieved card reader reads the rank and suit of the playing cards one by one as they are fed in, using the same configuration as the drawn card inspection device 124. Alternatively, the card shooter 12 may be used as the retrieved card reader. In this case, the card shooter 12 is set to retrieved card reading mode, and the rank and suit of the cards to be retrieved are drawn out one by one, allowing the drawn card inspection device 124 to read them.
[0079] When reading discarded cards, a discard slot is provided on the game table 11, and the rank and suit of the playing cards that have been inserted into the discard slot after being used in the game are read using the same configuration as the card drawer inspection device 124.
[0080] In the above embodiment, the rank and suit information was printed on the playing cards in binary code format using ultraviolet-emitting ink. However, instead of ultraviolet-emitting ink, the information may be printed using ultraviolet-absorbing ink that becomes visible when irradiated with infrared light. Alternatively, instead of printing with these invisible inks, the rank and suit marks printed on the playing cards may be photographed, and the rank and suit may be read by image analysis.
[0081] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the management device 24 determined whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the rank and suit information and number information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 corresponded to the rank and suit information and number information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211. Alternatively, the management device 24 may determine whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the rank and suit information and number information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 corresponded to the rank and suit information and number information inspected by the recovered inspection device 212.
[0082] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, multiple playing cards of a predetermined number of decks extracted by the extraction device 21 were shuffled by the shuffling device 22 and then packaged by the packaging device 23. However, this shuffling by the shuffling device may be omitted. That is, since the unused playing cards that are collected have already been shuffled, it is considered that the randomness of the order of these playing cards is not lost even when such unused playing cards are collected from multiple card shooters 12 and a new set of multiple playing cards of a predetermined number of decks is extracted. Therefore, the shuffling device 22 may be omitted.
[0083] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the card management system had a function to check whether any playing cards were lost before they were collected and reused. However, this specification also discloses card reuse systems that do not have such a function.
[0084] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the extraction device 21 was configured to read the rank and suit in order to extract a predetermined number of playing cards in order to check whether the rank, suit, and number of playing cards actually collected in the backyard matched the collected card information. However, instead, a collection inspection device may be provided in the backyard, separate from the extraction device 21, to check whether the rank, suit, and number of playing cards actually collected in the backyard matched the collected card information.
[0085] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the extraction device 21 was configured to extract only one set of multiple playing cards of a predetermined number of decks. However, instead, the extraction device 21 may be composed of multiple stages, including a first stage and a second stage. In this case, the second stage extracts multiple playing cards of a predetermined number of decks from playing cards that were not extracted in the first stage as playing cards that do not constitute multiple playing cards of a predetermined number of decks.
[0086] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the extraction device 21 performed the extraction process for each set of playing cards recovered from one card shooter 12. However, multiple playing cards recovered from multiple card shooters 12 may be placed into the stocker 214 simultaneously and the extraction process performed thereafter. Alternatively, multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooters 12 may be added to the stocker 214 while the extraction device 21 is performing the extraction process.
[0087] Furthermore, the extraction device 21 may have a function to inspect the quality of the playing cards one by one during the processing process, and may not extract playing cards that do not meet a predetermined quality standard. The quality of the playing cards inspected here may include, for example, the presence or absence of creases, scratches, oil stains (from fingers), etc.
[0088] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit 213 acquired information on the rank and suit and the number of non-extracted playing cards by calculating by subtracting the extracted rank and suit from the rank and suit of the collected playing cards. However, instead, information on the rank and suit and the number of non-extracted playing cards may be acquired by using a device that reads the rank and suit of the non-extracted playing cards.
[0089] In the above embodiment, a new playing card set is provided to the card shooter 12 in package form, and the package is opened and the playing card set is removed and loaded into the card shooter 12. Alternatively, the card shooter 12 may adopt a cartridge system. In this case, the storage section 121 of the card shooter 12 is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the card shooter 12, and the cartridge is replaced when refreshing. For this purpose, a new playing card set is provided to the game table 11 in a cartridge, and when refreshing, the cartridge containing the new playing card set is attached to the card shooter 12 in place of the cartridge that was previously attached to the card shooter 12.
[0090] The cartridge is equipped with a locking mechanism to prevent playing cards from being removed or added during transport. The lock mechanism is released when the cartridge is inserted into the card chute 12. When unused playing cards are transported to the extraction device 21 in the backyard 2, a cartridge is used, and in this case as well, the cartridge is locked by the locking mechanism during transport. The set generation device 23 loads newly generated playing card sets into cartridges instead of packaging them in packages, and locks the cartridge's locking mechanism.
[0091] Just as set identification information is printed on the package, this cartridge is also assigned set identification information. Furthermore, to allow for repeated use of the cartridge, the set identification information is assigned to the cartridge in a rewritable format. For example, a piece of paper with the set identification information printed on it is attached to the cartridge.
[0092] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when unused playing cards are recovered from the card shooter 12, set identification information of the unused playing cards is provided from the card shooter 12 to the extraction device 21. However, instead of this, or in addition to this, shooter identification information for identifying the card shooter 12 may be provided from the card shooter 12 to the extraction device 21.
[0093] In this case, the management device 24 stores in the storage device 25, in place of, or in addition to, the set identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211, which is the set identification information of the multiple card shooters that recovered the multiple playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, in association with the set identification information of the new playing card set.
[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the management device 24 associated the set identification information of the new playing card set with the set identification information of the multiple playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, which was acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211. Alternatively, the management device 24 may associate the set identification information of the new playing card set with the set identification information of the multiple playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set, which was acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit 211.
[0095] In other words, in the above embodiment, multiple unused playing cards recovered from a single card shoe 12 are supplied together to the extraction device 21. At that time, the extraction device 21 reports set identification information of the multiple unused playing cards to the management device 24. The management device 24 stores the set identification information of the unused playing cards used until a new playing card set is generated by the set generation device 23. When a new playing card set is generated by the set generation device 23, all the set identification information that has been stored up to that point is associated with the set identification information of the newly generated playing card set. Alternatively, a less stringent management system may be used.
[0096] In other words, without strictly managing the set identification information of unused playing cards supplied to the extraction device 21, the management device 24 may associate the set identification information of unused playing cards supplied to the extraction device 21 with the set identification information of new playing card sets generated by the set generation device 23 during a certain period (for example, one day). Alternatively, the management device 24 may associate the set identification information of unused playing cards collected in the backyard 2 during a certain period with the set identification information of new playing card sets generated by the set generation device 23 during a certain period. In other words, unused playing cards in the set identification information associated with the set identification information of new playing card sets generated by the set generation device 23 are not necessarily included in the new playing card set. Alternatively, a new playing card set having set identification information associated with the set identification information of unused playing cards is not necessarily included in the new playing card set.
[0097] Furthermore, the management device 24 may associate the set identification information of the new playing card set with the shooter identification information of the multiple card shooters 12 that retrieved multiple playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set, which was acquired by the retrieved card information acquisition unit 211.
[0098] (Note) The following inventions are also disclosed in this specification.
[0099] One embodiment of a card recycling system is a card recycling system used in a casino where multiple gaming tables are installed, for collecting playing cards that have not been used at the multiple gaming tables into the back room, and generating a new playing card package consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards for reuse at the gaming tables in the back room, and comprises: multiple card shooters used at each of the multiple gaming tables for drawing out one playing card at a time; an extraction device for extracting a predetermined number of multiple playing cards from the multiple unused playing cards collected from the multiple card shooters; a packaging device for generating the new playing card package using the predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device; and a card management system for managing the generation of the new playing card package. The card management system comprises: a recovered card information acquisition unit that acquires information on at least the rank and suit of multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters; a recovery inspection device that reads the rank and suit of playing cards actually recovered from the card shooters into the backyard; a non-extracted card information acquisition unit that acquires information on the rank and suit of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters; and a management device that determines whether the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the rank and suit information inspected by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of newly generated playing card packages and the rank and suit information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the rank and suit information inspected by the recovery inspection device.
[0100] The card recycling system described above may further include a shuffling device for shuffling a predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device, and the packaging device may generate the new playing card package using the predetermined number of playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device.
[0101] In the above-described card recycling system, the extraction device comprises an extraction reader that reads the rank and suit of multiple unused playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, and a sorting device that sorts, based on the reading results from the extraction reader, into playing cards that constitute a predetermined number of playing cards and playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0102] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction reader and the recovery inspection device may be the same device.
[0103] In the above-described card recycling system, the card shooter may be equipped with a card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the drawn playing card, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card inspection device.
[0104] In the above-described card recycling system, the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of the multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter at the game table.
[0105] In the card recycling system described above, the game table may be equipped with a discard card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards that have been used and are to be discarded, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the discard card inspection device.
[0106] In the card recycling system described above, the playing card package may have an identification number, and the game table may further include an identification number reader for reading the identification number, and the collected card information acquisition unit may acquire the identification number of the playing card package read by the identification number reader, along with the rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards to be collected.
[0107] In the above-described card recycling system, the unused multiple playing cards provided to the extraction device to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards may include playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device as playing cards that do not constitute the previous predetermined number of playing cards.
[0108] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction device is composed of multiple stages, including a first stage and a second stage, and in the second stage, a predetermined number of playing cards may be extracted from playing cards that were not extracted in the first stage as playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0109] In the above-described card recycling system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire the rank and suit information of the non-extracted playing cards based on the rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
[0110] In the above-described card reuse system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the rank and suit of the non-extracted playing cards by reading the rank and suit of the playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device.
[0111] In the card reuse system described above, the rank and suit information may be encoded and represented on the playing card.
[0112] In the card reuse system described above, the rank and suit information may be indicated on the playing card using ink that is visible when exposed to ultraviolet light or infrared light.
[0113] Another embodiment of a card recycling system is a card recycling system used in a casino where multiple gaming tables are installed, for collecting playing cards that have not been used at the multiple gaming tables into a backroom, and generating a new playing card package consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards for reuse at the gaming tables in the backroom, the system comprising: multiple card shooters used at each of the multiple gaming tables for drawing out one playing card at a time; an extraction device for extracting a predetermined number of multiple playing cards from the multiple unused playing cards collected from the multiple card shooters; a packaging device for generating the new playing card package using the predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device; and a card management system for managing the generation of the new playing card package. The card management system comprises: a recovered card information acquisition unit that acquires information on at least the number of playing cards recovered from each of the plurality of card shooters; a recovery inspection device that counts the number of playing cards actually recovered from the card shooters into the backyard; a non-extracted card information acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the plurality of playing cards recovered from the plurality of card shooters; and a management device that determines whether the number information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the number counted by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of newly generated playing card packages and the number information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the number information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the number information inspected by the recovery inspection device.
[0114] In the above-described card recycling system, the extraction device has a tall design and includes an extraction reader that reads the rank and suit of multiple unused playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, and a sorting device that sorts, based on the reading results from the extraction reader, into playing cards that constitute a predetermined number of playing cards and playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0115] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction reader and the recovery inspection device may be the same device.
[0116] In the card recycling system described above, the card shooter may be equipped with a card inspection device that counts the playing cards that are drawn out, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card inspection device.
[0117] In the above-described card recycling system, the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of recovered playing cards by counting the multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter at the game table.
[0118] In the card recycling system described above, the game table may be equipped with a discard card inspection device that counts the playing cards that have been used and discarded, and the recovered card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the discard card inspection device.
[0119] In the card recycling system described above, the playing card package may have an identification number, and the game table may further include an identification number reader for reading the identification number, and the collected card information acquisition unit may acquire the identification number of the playing card package read by the identification number reader, along with information on the number of playing cards to be collected.
[0120] In the above-described card recycling system, the unused multiple playing cards provided to the extraction device to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards may include playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device as playing cards that do not constitute the previous predetermined number of playing cards.
[0121] In the card recycling system described above, the extraction device is composed of multiple stages, including a first stage and a second stage, and in the second stage, a predetermined number of playing cards may be extracted from playing cards that were not extracted in the first stage as playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
[0122] In the above-described card recycling system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of non-extracted playing cards based on the information on the number of playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
[0123] In the above-described card reuse system, the non-extracted card information acquisition unit may acquire information on the number of non-extracted playing cards by counting the number of playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device.
[0124] One embodiment of a card management system is a card management system used in a casino where multiple gaming tables are installed, each equipped with a card shooter for drawing one playing card at a time, to collect playing cards that were not used at the multiple gaming tables into a backroom, and to generate a new playing card package consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards for reuse at the gaming tables in the backroom, comprising: a collected card information acquisition unit that acquires information on at least the rank and suit of multiple playing cards collected from each of the multiple card shooters; and a collected inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards actually collected from the card shooters into the backroom. The system includes: an unextracted card information acquisition unit that acquires rank and suit information of unextracted playing cards that remain unextracted from among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters and that are not extracted in order to generate the new playing card package; and a management device that determines whether the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the rank and suit information read by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of the new playing card packages generated and the rank and suit information acquired by the unextracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the rank and suit information inspected by the recovery inspection device.
[0125] Another embodiment of a card management system is a card management system used in a casino where multiple gaming tables are installed, each equipped with a card shooter for drawing one playing card at a time, to collect playing cards that have not been used at the multiple gaming tables into a backroom, and to generate a new playing card package consisting of a predetermined number of decks of playing cards for reuse at the gaming tables in the backroom, comprising: a collected card information acquisition unit that acquires information on at least the number of multiple playing cards collected from each of the multiple card shooters, and the number of playing cards actually collected from the card shooters into the backroom. The system comprises a counting recovery inspection device, a non-extracted card information acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted from among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters and that were not extracted in order to generate the new playing card package, and a management device that determines whether the number information acquired by the recovery card information acquisition unit matches the number counted by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of the generated new playing card packages and the number information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the number information acquired by the recovery card information acquisition unit or the number information inspected by the recovery inspection device. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0126] 1 Game Floor 2 Backyard 11 Gaming Tables 12 Card Shooter 13 Code Reader 21 Extraction device 22 Shuffling device 23 Set Generator 24 Management device 25 Storage device 50 packages 51 barcodes 100 Card Regeneration System 211. Recovery Card Information Acquisition Unit 212 Extraction control device (recovery and inspection device) 213 Non-extracted card information acquisition unit
Claims
1. A card recycling system used in a casino with multiple gaming tables, for collecting playing cards that were not used at the multiple gaming tables into the back room, and generating a new set of playing cards consisting of a predetermined number of decks for reuse at the gaming tables in the back room, Each of the aforementioned multiple game tables is used with a plurality of card shooters for drawing out one playing card at a time, and each of the plurality of card shooters is assigned shooter identification information to identify the card shooter, and / or the set of playing cards loaded into the card shooter is assigned set identification information. An extraction device for extracting a predetermined number of playing cards from multiple unused playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, A shuffling device that shuffles a predetermined number of playing cards extracted by the extraction device, A set generation device that generates a new set of playing cards using a predetermined number of playing cards shuffled by the shuffling device, A card management system for managing the generation of the aforementioned new playing card set, Equipped with, The aforementioned card management system is A recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of playing cards recovered from each of the plurality of card shooters, as well as the shooter identification information of the card shooter that recovered the plurality of playing cards and / or the set identification information of the recovered plurality of playing cards. A management device that assigns set identification information to identify a new playing card set to the new playing card set newly generated by the set generation device, Equipped with, The set generation device loads the new playing card set into a cartridge or card package, and the cartridge is mounted into the card shooter, or the playing card set in the card package is loaded into the card shooter, thereby enabling the new playing card set to be used on the game table, in a card reuse system.
2. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the management device associates the set identification information of the new playing card set with the shooter identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the shooter identification information of the plurality of card shooters that recovered the plurality of playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, and / or the set identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the set identification information of the plurality of playing cards used to generate the new playing card set, or associates the set identification information of the new playing card set with the shooter identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the shooter identification information of the plurality of card shooters that recovered the plurality of playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set, and / or the set identification information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit, which is the set identification information of the plurality of playing cards that could have been used to generate the new playing card set.
3. The aforementioned card management system further, A collection inspection device that counts the number of playing cards actually collected from the multiple card chutes into the backyard, A non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, Equipped with, The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the management device determines whether the information on the number of cards acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the number of cards counted by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the information on the number of cards acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the information on the number of cards acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the number of cards counted by the recovery inspection device.
4. The retrieved card information acquisition unit further acquires rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards retrieved from each of the multiple card shooters, The aforementioned card management system further, A collection inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards actually collected in the backyard from the multiple card chutes, A non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of non-extracted playing cards that remain unextracted by the extraction device among the multiple playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, Equipped with, The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the management device determines whether the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit matches the rank and suit read by the recovery inspection device, and determines whether the number of newly generated playing card sets and the rank and suit information acquired by the non-extracted card information acquisition unit correspond to the rank and suit information acquired by the recovered card information acquisition unit or the rank and suit read by the recovery inspection device.
5. The extraction device is An extraction reader that reads the rank and suit of multiple unused playing cards recovered from the multiple card shooters, A sorting device that sorts playing cards into playing cards that constitute a predetermined number of playing cards and playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards, based on the reading results from the extraction reading device, A card recycling system according to claim 1, comprising:
6. The card recycling system according to claim 5, wherein the extraction reading device and the recovery inspection device are the same device.
7. The card shooter is equipped with a card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing card being drawn. The card recycling system according to claim 4, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of a plurality of playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card drawer inspection device.
8. The card reuse system according to claim 1, wherein the retrieved card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of the multiple playing cards retrieved from the card shooter at the game table.
9. The aforementioned game table is equipped with a discard card inspection device that reads the rank and suit of the playing cards that have been used and are to be discarded. The card recycling system according to claim 4, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of a plurality of playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the discarded card inspection device.
10. The game table further includes an identification information reading device for reading the set identification information, The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires the rank and suit information of the multiple recovered playing cards, along with the set identification information of the playing card set read by the identification information reading device.
11. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the unused plurality of playing cards provided to the extraction device to constitute a predetermined number of playing cards includes playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device as playing cards that do not constitute the previous predetermined number of playing cards.
12. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the extraction device is composed of multiple stages including a first stage and a second stage, and in the second stage, a predetermined number of playing cards are extracted from playing cards that were not extracted in the first stage as playing cards that do not constitute a predetermined number of playing cards.
13. The card recycling system according to claim 4, wherein the non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of the non-extracted playing cards based on the rank and suit information of the multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
14. The card reuse system according to claim 4, wherein the non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the rank and suit of the playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device by reading the rank and suit of the playing cards.
15. The card reuse system according to claim 4, wherein the playing card has the rank and suit information encoded and represented on it.
16. The card recycling system according to claim 4, wherein the playing card has the rank and suit information indicated on it using ink that is visible when irradiated with ultraviolet light or ink that is visible when irradiated with infrared light.
17. The card shooter is equipped with a card inspection device that counts the playing cards that are drawn out. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the card drawer inspection device.
18. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of recovered playing cards by counting the recovered playing cards from the card shooter on the game table.
19. The aforementioned game table is equipped with a discard card inspection device that counts the playing cards that have been used and discarded. The card recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the recovered card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of multiple playing cards recovered from the card shooter based on the inspection results by the discarded card inspection device.
20. The card recycling system according to claim 3, wherein the non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards based on the information on the number of multiple playing cards recovered from each of the multiple card shooters and the number of cards extracted by the extraction device.
21. The card reuse system according to claim 3, wherein the non-extracted card information acquisition unit acquires information on the number of non-extracted playing cards by counting the number of playing cards that were not extracted by the extraction device.
22. A card recycling method in a casino with multiple gaming tables, comprising collecting playing cards that were not used at the multiple gaming tables into the back room, and generating a new set of playing cards consisting of a predetermined number of decks for reuse at the gaming tables in the back room, Here, each of the aforementioned card shooters is assigned shooter identification information to identify the card shooter, and / or the playing card set loaded into the card shooter is assigned set identification information. A collection step in which unused playing cards are collected from multiple card chutes used in each of the multiple game tables for drawing out playing cards one at a time, An extraction step in which a predetermined number of playing cards are extracted from the unused playing cards collected in the above collection step, A shuffling step in which a predetermined number of playing cards extracted in the extraction step are shuffled, A set generation step in which a new set of playing cards is generated using the predetermined number of playing cards shuffled in the shuffling step, A card management step for managing the generation of the aforementioned new playing card set, Equipped with, The aforementioned card management step is: A recovered card information acquisition step that acquires information on the number of playing cards recovered from each of the plurality of card shooters, as well as shooter identification information of the card shooter that recovered the plurality of playing cards and / or set identification information of the recovered plurality of playing cards, A management step involves assigning set identification information to the newly generated playing card set, which is created by the set generation step, in order to identify the playing card set. Equipped with, The card reuse method is characterized in that the set generation step involves loading the new playing card set into a cartridge or card package, the cartridge being mounted into the card shooter, or the playing card set in the card package being loaded into the card shooter, thereby allowing the new playing card set to be used on the game table.