Card drawing method and table game system

Abstract

To provide a card shooter apparatus capable of preventing a fraudulent act.SOLUTION: A card shooter apparatus 4 includes: a card guide unit 7 for guiding a card 1 drawn one by one from a card storage unit 5 toward a game table 6; a code reading unit 8 for reading a code indicating the number (number, rank) of the card 1 from the card 1 when the card 1 is drawn from the card storage unit 5; an authenticity determination unit for determining authenticity of the card from information on the authenticity of the card; a win / lose determination unit 10 for determining winning or lose of the card game on the basis of the number of the card 1 which is sequentially read by the code reading unit 8; and an output unit 11 for outputting a determination result of the win / lost determination unit 10. The card guide unit 7 is provided with card access restricting units 30, 40 for restricting the access of the card 1 from the card storage unit 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a card shooter device and method having a cheating prevention function for card games such as baccarat that use playing cards (hereinafter simply referred to as cards). [Background technology]

[0002] Card shooter devices suitable for use in card games at casinos and the like have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a card shooter device. In this device, a CCD image sensor and related optical components are built into the card shooter. A card reading window is provided at the exit of the card shooter. When a card passes through the shooter exit, the suit (type) and rank (number) of the card are read through the reading window. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] Patent Document 1: JP-T-10-508236 (page 12, Figure 1) DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, such devices cannot prevent fraudulent acts such as inserting a counterfeit card through the exit of the card shooter.

[0005] The present invention has been made in light of the above background, and its purpose is to provide a card shooter device and method that can prevent the insertion or distribution of illegal cards into a card shooter used in a card game, and can prevent cards that should not be distributed from being distributed to the game table. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the card shooter device of the present invention includes a card storage section that stores a plurality of cards, an opening for manually removing cards one by one from the card storage section, a card reading section that reads information about a card that is manually drawn from the card storage section onto a game table from the card, a control section that stores the rules of the card game and determines the outcome of the card game in accordance with the rules based on the information about the card read by the card reading section, a display section that outputs the outcome determined by the control section, and a card entry / exit restrictor that is provided at the opening and restricts the entry and exit of cards from the card storage section, wherein the card storage section, the card reading section, the control section, the display section, and the card entry / exit restrictor are integrated, and the card entry / exit restrictor has the following functions: 1) to prevent the insertion of a card that is inserted in the opposite direction toward the card storage section from the outside through the opening, and 2) to prevent further cards from being drawn from the card storage section when they should not be drawn, based on the information about the card read by the card reading section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a card shooter device and method that can immediately prevent fraudulent acts such as the fraudulent insertion of cards into the card shooter device and the distribution of fraudulent or inappropriate cards. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the entire card shooter device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of cards according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 2 is a plan view of a main part of a card guide of the card shooter device according to the embodiment of the present invention, with a part cut away; FIG. [Figure 4](a) A side cross-sectional view of a key part showing a card entry / exit restriction section that restricts the entry and exit of cards from the card storage section of a card shooter device according to an embodiment of the present invention; (b) A side cross-sectional view of a key part showing a modified example of a card entry / exit restriction section that restricts the entry and exit of cards from the card storage section of a card shooter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the relationship between output waveforms of sensors and marks in the card shooter device according to the embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the table game system of the present invention will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the entire card shooter device used in the table game system of this embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a card 1 used in the table game system of this embodiment. Cards 1 used in table games such as baccarat have codes 2 consisting of normally invisible marks M, which are provided point-symmetrically on the top and bottom edges of the card 1. The numbers (number, rank) of the card 1 are coded by these codes 2. Additionally, the card 1 has an authenticity determination code 3 which encodes information indicating the authenticity of the card and is arranged by printing or the like in a normally invisible state (for example, with ultraviolet-sensitive ink).

[0010] 1, the card shooter device 4 includes a card guide unit 7 that guides cards 1, which are manually drawn one by one from a card storage unit 5, onto a game table 6, a code reading unit 8 that reads a code 2 representing the number (number, rank) of the card 1 from the card 1 when the card 1 is manually drawn from the card storage unit 5 by a casino dealer or the like, a win / loss determination unit 10 that determines the outcome of the card game based on the number of cards 1 sequentially read by the code reading unit 8, and an output unit 11 that outputs the determination result of the win / loss determination unit 10. The card guide unit 7 is provided with card entry / exit restriction units 30, 40 (described later) that restrict the entry and exit of cards 1 from the card storage unit 5.

[0011] Next, details of the code reading unit 8, which reads the code 2 representing the number (number, rank) of the card 1 from the card 1 when the card 1 is manually drawn from the card storage unit 5, will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main components of the card shooter device 4. In the figure, the code reading unit 8 is provided in the card guide unit 7, which guides the cards 1, which are manually drawn one by one through the front opening 13 of the card storage unit 5, onto the game table 6. The card guide unit 7 has an inclined surface, and card guides 14, which also serve as sensor covers, are attached to both edges. Each of the two card guides 14 is detachable with screws or the like (not shown). Removing the card guides 14 exposes the sensor group 15 of the code reading unit 8. The sensor group 15 consists of four sensors: two ultraviolet ray reaction sensors (UV sensors) 20 and 21, and object detection sensors 22 and 23.

[0012] The object detection sensors 22 and 23 are optical fiber type sensors that detect the presence or absence of the card 1 and can detect the movement of the card 1. The object detection sensor 22 is located upstream of the card guide unit 7 in the flow direction of the card 1, and the other object detection sensor 23 is located downstream. As shown in the figure, the object detection sensors 22 and 23 are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the UV sensors 20 and 21. The UV sensors 20 and 21 are equipped with an LED that emits ultraviolet light (ultraviolet LED) and a detector. On the card 1, a mark M of the code 2 is printed using ultraviolet luminescent ink that changes color when exposed to ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light (black light) is irradiated onto the card 1, and the reflected light of the mark M of the code 2 on the card 1 is detected by the detector. The UV sensors 20 and 21 are connected to the control device 12 of the code reading unit 8 via cables. In the code reading unit 8, the combination of the marks M is determined from the output signals of the detectors of the UV sensors 20 and 21, and the number (rank) corresponding to each code 2 is determined.

[0013] In the code reading unit 8, the start and end of reading by the UV sensors 20 and 21 are controlled by the control device 12 based on the detection signals of the object detection sensors 22 and 23. The control device 12 also determines whether the card 1 has passed through the card guide unit 7 properly based on the detection signals of the object detection sensors 22 and 23. As shown in FIG. 2, square marks M representing the rank (number) and suit (e.g., heart, spade) of the card are arranged in two columns and four rows on the edge of the card 1. When the UV sensors 20 and 21 detect the marks M, they output an ON signal. The code reading unit 8 determines the relative relationship between the signals input from the two UV sensors 20 and 21. As a result, the code reading unit 8 identifies the code based on the relative difference between the two marks M detected by the two UV sensors 20 and 21, and determines the number (rank) and type (suit) of the corresponding card 1.

[0014] Figure 5 shows the relationship between the code 2 and the ON signal output of the two UV sensors 20 and 21. A specific combination of marks M can be identified based on the comparison results of the relative changes in the ON signal output of the UV sensors 20 and 21. As a result, if four combinations of marks M are printed in two upper and lower columns, and four columns are printed, 256 codes can be configured (the fourth power of four). Each of the 52 types of playing cards is assigned to one of the 256 codes, which are stored in memory or a program as a lookup table. The code reader 8 identifies each code 2 and determines the number (rank) and type (suit) of card 1 from a predetermined lookup table (not shown). Furthermore, the 256 codes can be freely associated with the 52 types of cards and stored in the lookup table, allowing for complex combinations and the ability to change the combination of the 256 codes and 52 types of cards depending on the time and location. The codes are printed with paint that becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, and are preferably printed in a position that does not overlap with the card type markings or index 102.

[0015] Next, the configuration of the control device 12 will be described. The control device 12, the code reading unit 8, the win / loss determination unit 10, etc. are computer devices. For example, the processing function (win / loss determination unit 10) for automatically determining the win / loss of a game is realized by incorporating a win / loss determination program into the computer, and this program is executed by the computer's processor. The code reading unit 8 uses UV sensors 20 and 21 to obtain the number of cards sequentially dispensed onto the game table 6, and the obtained number of cards is sequentially stored in memory. At this time, information on which player each card 1 was dealt to is also stored. The number of cards is stored in association with the player to whom it was dealt. In a baccarat game, there are a player and a banker. The ranks (numbers) of cards dealt to each player are stored in memory, the ranks (numbers) of cards dealt to both players are added up, and the winner is determined according to the programmed rules. A draw is also determined.

[0016] Next, the card entry / exit restricting unit 30 that restricts the entry / exit of the card 1 from the card storage unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4(a), the card entry / exit restricting unit 30 is provided in the card guide 14 of the card guide unit 7 that guides the cards 1, which are taken out one by one from the front opening 13 of the card storage unit 5, onto the game table 6. The card entry / exit restricting unit 30 has a structure in which, when the card 1 passes through the slot 33 between the card guide unit 7 and the guide cover of the card guide 14, a locking member 34 presses the card 1 to prevent the card 1 from entering or leaving the slot 33. The locking member 34 is moved by a driving unit 35 such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a piezoelectric element as indicated by an arrow M to take two positions: a position where the locking member 34 presses the card 1 (restricted position) and a passable position where the card 1 can pass. The driving unit 35 is controlled by the control unit 12 to move the locking member 34 between the position where the locking member 34 presses the card 1 and the passable position where the card 1 can pass. The control unit 12 includes a controller for controlling the operation of the baccarat game. The rules are pre-programmed and stored.

[0017] Next, a modified example of the card insertion / removal restrictor 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 4(b). The modified card insertion / removal restrictor 40 has a structure in which, when the card 1 passes through the slot 33 between the card guide 7 and the guide cover of the card guide 14, a locking member 36 protrudes into the slot 33 to prevent the card 1 from moving. The locking member 36 is moved by a driving unit 37, such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a piezoelectric element, as indicated by arrow M, to take two states: a position where the card 1 is prevented from moving (a restricting position), and a passable position where the card 1 can pass. The driving unit 37 is controlled by the control device 12 to move the locking member 36 between the position where the card 1 is pressed against the card 1 and the passable position where the card 1 can pass.

[0018] The program of the control device 12 controls the drive units 35, 37 to prevent unauthorized entry and exit of the card 1, thereby causing the card entry and exit restriction unit 30 (40) to function. The card entry and exit restriction unit 30 (40) is provided with object detection sensors 22, 23 as sensors that detect the movement of the card 1, and has the function of detecting the movement of the card 1 using these sensors and restricting the movement of the card 1. The contents to be controlled as unauthorized entry and exit of the card 1 (programmed contents) include at least the following 1) and 2).

[0019] 1) A function of preventing the insertion of a card 1 from being inserted from the outside through the opening 13 toward the card storage section 5 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow S. In this case, when card 1 is inserted for fraudulent purposes, card 1 passes through slot 33 between card guide section 7 and card guide 14, but based on the detection signals from object detection sensors 22 and 23, movement of card 1 in the opposite direction to normal (the opposite direction of arrow S in Figure 3) is detected, and drive sections 35 and 37 move locking members 34 and 36 to positions where they press or block card 1 according to the program of control device 12.

[0020] 2) A function that prevents card 1 from being drawn from the card storage section 5 when it should not be drawn, based on the suit and rank information of card 1 read by the card reading section (meaning the code reading section 8 that reads the code 2 representing the number (number, rank) of card 1 from card 1 when card 1 is drawn from the card storage section 5). In this case, the rules of the baccarat game are pre-programmed into the control device 12 as described above. In a baccarat game, whether the banker and the player should each draw two or more cards 1 is uniquely determined by the sum of the ranks (numbers) of the two cards already dealt to the banker and the player. Therefore, if the dealer at each table attempts to deal card 1 when a third card should not be drawn, this violates the rules and the movement of card 1 is restricted. If card 1 is attempted to be drawn at a time or under circumstances when it should not be drawn, the movement of card 1 is detected based on the detection signal of card 1 from the object detection sensor 22, and the program of the control device 12 causes the drive units 35 and 37 to move the locking members 34 and 36 to positions where they press or block card 1. As a result, the locking members 34 and 36 move to positions where they press or block card 1, preventing further dealing of card 1 (positions shown in FIG. 4). In this way, the dealer's withdrawal action of card 1, which is a violation of the rules, is detected and the withdrawal of card 1 is prevented, so there is less wear and tear on the device that restricts card withdrawal and entry compared to locking the cards at the end of each game.

[0021] An error signal output unit 50 is provided to notify the outside (by lighting a lamp and emitting an alarm) when the card entrance / exit restriction unit 30 (40) is activated, and its operation is controlled by the control device 12. [Industrial Applicability]

[0022] As described above, the card shooter device according to the present invention is a device for inserting a card into the card shooter device. This has the effect of immediately preventing fraudulent acts such as the illegal insertion of cards or the distribution of illegal or inappropriate cards, and is useful for use in card games in casinos and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 1 card 2 Code 3. Authentication Code 4 Card shooter device 5 Card storage section 6 Game Tables 7 Card guide 8 Code reader 10 Win / Loss Judgment Department 11 Output section 12 Control device 13 Aperture 14 Card Guide 15 Sensors 20 Ultraviolet reaction sensor (UV sensor) 21 Ultraviolet reaction sensor (UV sensor) 22 Object detection sensor 23 Object detection sensor 30 Card access control section 33 slots 34 Locking member 35 Drive unit 36 Locking member 37 Drive unit 40 Card access control section 50 Error signal output section 102 Index

Claims

1. A method for withdrawing a card from a card storage portion in a card game, comprising: The card storage section a card guide section in which the card is manually drawn out; an opening through which the cards are manually drawn one by one; Equipped with The method comprises: automatically detecting an attempt to manually withdraw a card from said opening when the card should not be withdrawn; outputting a signal to restrict improper movement of the card or improper distribution of the card when an attempt to manually withdraw a card from the opening when it should not be drawn is detected; Including, A method of drawing a card from a card storage section, wherein the time when the card should not be drawn is when drawing an additional card would be a violation of the rules.

2. automatically detecting when a card is inserted through the opening; restricting improper movement of the card based on automatic detection of insertion of the card; The method of claim 1 further comprising:

3. obtaining card information associated with each card manually withdrawn from the opening; restricting inappropriate distribution of said cards based on the obtained information; 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the card information includes a code indicating at least one of the rank and suit of the card.

5. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of comparing the code obtained in the step of obtaining the card information with a predetermined code stored in memory.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the card information includes an authentication code for each individual card.

7. A method for withdrawing a card from a card storage section in a card game, The card storage section is a card guide section in which the card is manually moved; an opening through which the cards are manually drawn one by one; Equipped with The method comprises: a step of determining whether or not it is inappropriate based on the suit and rank information of the card read by the card reading unit; automatically detecting an inappropriate attempt to manually withdraw a card from an opening in a card game; outputting a signal to restrict inappropriate distribution of said cards upon detecting an attempt to manually withdraw said cards at an inappropriate time; A method for withdrawing a card, including:

8. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the inappropriate time is when drawing an additional card would be a violation of the rules.

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