A system for creating card sets

The card handling system uses air suction and air knives to transport and separate cards without mechanical contact, addressing damage and fraud risks while enabling card reuse and randomization, thus ensuring card integrity and reducing waste.

JP7894457B2Active Publication Date: 2026-07-23カルタムンディ サービシズ エンフェー
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
カルタムンディ サービシズ エンフェー
Filing Date
2022-12-05
Publication Date
2026-07-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing card handling systems risk damaging cards due to mechanical contact and handling, leading to potential fraud and waste, especially in high-stakes games where maintaining card integrity is crucial.

Method used

A card handling system using a conveyor belt with air suction and air knives to transport and separate cards without mechanical contact, combined with identification and defect detection to ensure cards are sorted and collected accurately, allowing for reuse and randomization.

Benefits of technology

The system minimizes card damage, reduces fraud risk, and extends card life by enabling reuse and randomization, ensuring integrity and reducing waste.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A system for making a deck of cards is provided, the system comprising: card supply means for providing a plurality of cards, a card moving system including a card transport means and at least one release means operable for separating a card from the card transport means, a plurality of card collecting means for collecting the deck of cards, each card collecting means of the plurality of card collecting means being disposed beneath the conveyor belt at a plurality of different positions along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, card identification means for identifying a card to be conveyed by the card moving system, and control means for assigning each identified card conveyed by the card moving system to a card collecting means, for each card collecting means the release means is disposed at the same position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, the control means being adapted to actuate the release means disposed at the position of that card collecting means when a card passes the card collecting means to which it has been assigned.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[01] The present invention relates to a system for creating a set of cards such as playing cards (trumps), collector cards, trading cards, etc., the system creating a set of cards arranged in a random order or a predetermined sequence.

Background Art

[0002]

[02] Nowadays, card games are well known. In many cases, the game is based on the fact that the order of the cards dealt or drawn from a deck or set of playing cards in a random order is unpredictable, where the set of playing cards contains more than one deck of playing cards in a random order at the set stage.

[0003]

[03] As an example, baccarat is played using a set of 8 decks of playing cards in a random order, thus a total of 416 randomly ordered cards. For some games, once a card is drawn from the set, that drawn card cannot be used thereafter because, apart from the drawn card, the order in which it was drawn or set can be monitored. The player can turn over the card himself after betting, and as a result the card deteriorates, gets damaged or broken. If used cards are reused, it may create an opportunity for the player to predict the sequence of future cards, i.e., to cheat.

[0004]

[04] When high stakes are involved, in fact, any source of unfair play or behavior should be avoided. In order to avoid the possibility of fraud on a large scale, the handling time between the creation of a set of playing cards and its use on the gaming table needs to be made as short as possible.

[0005]

[05] A system for creating sets of playing cards in a random order is described in WO2012 / 042823. The system includes a plurality of playing card collecting means for collecting playing cards, thereby providing sets of playing cards. Playing cards in a random order are supplied to the plurality of playing card collecting means via a path including a plurality of gates and mechanically moving elements.

[0006]

[06] With regard to other cards such as collector's cards and trading cards, any source of fraudulent activity should be avoided. To avoid the possibility of fraud on a large scale, the handling time between the creation of a deck of cards and any handling of those cards in public should be kept as short as possible. No defects should be found in such types of cards.

[0007]

[07] Generally, it is important to ensure that no marks or defects are made on new, unused cards, such as playing cards, or on cards that have been reused or returned during the manufacturing process. This is because any mark placed on a playing card can, for example, cause the card to be recognized, and thus could lead to cheating, gaining prior knowledge, or committing fraud. Reused or returned cards are, for example, cards that were part of a set or deck of cards used to play at least one card game on a card game table, such as in a casino. [Overview of the project]

[0008]

[08] The object of the present invention is to provide a system for creating sets of cards, which reduces the risk of damage or defects being made to the cards being moved.

[0009]

[09] A further object of the present invention is to provide a device and method capable of providing a set of cards in a random order. An advantage of the system according to the present invention is that it uses a small number of moving elements, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the collected cards. An advantage of some embodiments of the device and method is that the device and method can recover used or recovered cards and reintroduce them into a newly created set of cards, thereby reducing waste during the creation of the set of cards.

[0010]

[10] Another object of the present invention is to extend the life cycle of cards by providing the possibility of shuffling cards again from sets of cards that have been dealt or have not been dealt in previous card games. Thus, cards can be used more than once at a casino table.

[0011]

[11] In the configuration of the present invention, the card is not understood to be limited to a playing card having a front side that indicates rank and suit. The card can also be understood as, for example, a game card, a casino card, a collector's card, and a trading card, i.e., a card having one or more identifying elements on its front side that are different from rank and suit, and one or more identifying elements that give the card its own distinctiveness in the card deck to which it belongs.

[0012]

[12] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system for creating a set of cards is provided, the system is: - A card supply means that provides multiple cards, - A card transport system including a card transport means and at least one release means which is an operable release means for separating (releasing) the card from the card transport means, - A plurality of card collecting means for collecting sets of cards, wherein each of the plurality of card collecting means is positioned below the conveyor belt at a plurality of different positions along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, - Card identification means for identifying the card being transported by the card transfer system, - Control means for assigning each of the identified cards transported by the card movement system to a card collection means. The system is equipped with, with respect to each card collection means, a release means is positioned at the same location along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and the control means is adapted to activate the release means positioned at the location of the card collection means when a card passes through the card collection means to which the card is assigned.

[0013]

[13] An operable release means is one in which the release means is controlled and actuated.

[0014]

[14] Possibly, the card collection means includes a container from which cards are dropped when the release means is activated. Thus, cards from a set of cards provided by the card supply means can be divided into sets of a certain number of cards, without human or mechanical intervention with respect to the cards. This reduces, or even avoids, damage to the cards.

[0015]

[15] According to some embodiments, the system may include a defect detection unit for detecting defective cards. According to some embodiments, the system may further include a card extraction bin positioned below the conveyor belt at a given position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and a release means positioned at the same given position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. A control means is adapted to activate the release means positioned along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt when a defective card passes through the card extraction bin.

[0016]

[16] By guiding the cards to this card extraction bin, the cards are extracted from the card sequence. In the next stage, it can be decided what to do with the extracted cards, for example, whether to discard the cards or use them for another purpose.

[0017]

[17] A card extraction bin may be one of the card collection means. Preferably, a card extraction bin, or a card collection means that functions as a card extraction bin, is located upstream of another card collection means or is the first card collection means in a set of card collection means.

[0018]

[18] According to several embodiments, with respect to each release means, a first card detection means may be positioned upstream of the release means in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and a second card detection means may be positioned downstream of the release means. If the upstream card detection means detects the presence of a card and the downstream card detection means does not detect it at the corresponding time, this means that the card has been removed from the vacuum belt between the two card detection means.

[0019]

[19] Thus, the system for creating sets of cards cross-checks whether each card has been removed (released) from the conveyor belt at the correct position of the card collection means.

[0020]

[20] A card collection means is assigned to each card on the conveyor belt. The control means can check whether a card detection means upstream (before) the assigned card collection means has detected the card at a predetermined time. The control means can check whether a card detection means downstream (after) the assigned card collection means has failed to detect the card at a predetermined time. If so, the card has been sent to the correct assigned card collection means.

[0021]

[21] According to some embodiments, the card transfer system is - A card transport means, which is a transport belt adapted to transport one or more cards individually coupled to the underside of the transport belt, - At least one release means for separating a card from a conveyor belt, • A blocking mechanism to prevent cards from being attached to the underside of the conveyor belt, and / or • Gas blowing mechanism for blowing away cards attached to a conveyor belt. The release means and Includes.

[0022]

[22] The conveyor belt can be any belt on which cards can be suspended. It can be a conveyor belt with a non-permanent adhesive or other type of similar adhesive. Alternatively, the conveyor belt can be a vacuum belt through which air is drawn and the cards are drawn towards the underside of the belt. In the latter case, the blocking means can be means of locally blocking the vacuum directed towards the cards being conveyed.

[0023]

[23] A conveyor belt, which is a continuous belt or band for transporting material from one place to another, may be an endless belt or a continuous belt provided by a strip of belt, in which two ends of the strip are connected to each other, for example, by heat welding, stapling or other similar means, to form a continuous belt.

[0024]

[24] Such a card handling system ensures that no moving mechanical elements or parts come into contact with the cards while they are moving within the system. No mechanical elements or parts grip or manipulate the cards being transported. The cards are moved only by adhesion or by air suction and airflow, which is gentler on the card surfaces and prevents damage or marks on the card surfaces. The contact surface between the conveyor belt and the front or back of each card can be made relatively large, thereby reducing the adhesive force and pressure difference used to transport the cards.

[0025]

[25] According to some embodiments, the release means can be an operable release means. Some such release means can be attached along the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. Whether to operate the release means or not can be used to separate the conveyed card at the position where the card should be placed along the conveyor belt. It provides the possibility of delivering cards to a plurality of different positions along the conveyor belt.

[0026]

[26] According to some embodiments, the width of the conveyor belt can be shorter than the length of the card to be conveyed. The length of the card is the distance between the upper edge and the lower edge of the card. The width of the card is the distance between the left side and the right side of the card. The length and width are measured on the front side of the card and also on the back side.

[0027]

[27] When the width of the conveyor belt is shorter than the length of the card, the card can be conveyed by the conveyor belt in such a form that a part of the length of the card extends beyond the edge of the conveyor belt on one side or both sides of the conveyor belt. This extension of the card can be used to separate the card from the conveyor belt by the release means.

[0028]

[28] According to some embodiments, the card transfer system may include card dispensing means. This card dispensing means may include card printing means, such as digital printing means or offset printing means, which print cards in a predetermined sequence or in a random order. This card dispensing means may include card retrieval means, which provide cards that have already been used or that were part of a previous set of cards. This card dispensing means may include special card dispensing means, which provide cards with special features or imprints, such as cut cards, in the sequence of playing cards at regular or random times. This card dispensing means may include a combination of the above, i.e., one or more card printing means, one or more card retrieval means, and / or one or more special card dispensing means.

[0029]

[29] According to some embodiments, the card moving system may include a card dispensing means that dispenses a card such that the longitudinal side of the card is moved perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt.

[0030]

[30] If the width of the conveyor belt is shorter than the length of the card, the card may be conveyed by the conveyor belt in such a manner that the card extends beyond the edge of the belt on one or both sides of the belt. This extension of the card may be used to detach the card from the conveyor belt, for example, by directing a stream of air knife onto this extension of the card so that it is pushed away from the conveyor belt, and if the force of the air knife directed at the card is greater than the suction or adhesion force, the card will be pushed away and fall by the jet of air from the air knife.

[0031]

[31] According to some embodiments, the release means may be a gas blowing means. According to some embodiments, the gas blowing means may be an air blowing means including, for example, a first air knife. According to some embodiments, the gas blowing means may be an air blowing means including a first pair of air knives, the first air knife and the second air knife of this pair of air knives being positioned at the same location on opposing sides of the conveyor belt along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. According to some embodiments, the gas blowing means may be an air blowing means including a plurality of pairs of air knives, the first air knife and the second air knife of each pair of air knives being positioned at the same location on opposing sides of the conveyor belt along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. The advantage of air knives is that they can be activated and deactivated quickly and accurately. Therefore, high moving speeds can be applied to a series of cards, and the cards can be separated accurately. This is especially true when it is necessary to separate multiple different cards at multiple different locations along the longitudinal direction of a conveyor belt.

[0032]

[32] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing a randomly shuffled set of cards, the method being: - A step of providing a system for creating a set of cards according to a first aspect of the present invention, - A step of providing a series of cards in a random order to the system that creates a set of cards, - A step of identifying each card that has been sucked up by the conveyor belt, and assigning a card collection means to each identified card, - A step of moving the identified card along a conveyor belt to a plurality of card collection means, - For each identified card, the steps include: activating a release mechanism located at the same position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt as the card passes through the card collection mechanism to which the card is assigned; The control means includes a card collection means that assigns a card collection means to each card so that one or more card decks are created in each card collection means.

[0033]

[33] Preferably, the cards are transported on a conveyor belt with their backs facing the belt and their fronts open for visual inspection. Possibly, the rank and suit in the case of playing cards, or one or more identifying elements in the case of other cards, can be detected. Thus, the card being inspected can be identified.

[0034]

[34] Optionally, the front side of each card may display a unique card identifier, which may be provided (e.g., printed) on this front side of the card. This card identifier may be provided using visible ink, or using ink that is visible only under specific lighting conditions, such as UV light or IR light.

[0035]

[35] The card identification means identifies a card by its rank and suit, and / or by one or more identification elements and / or card identifier, and assigns this information to the sequence of cards passing through the card identification means, and thus to the position of the card in the flow of cards in the conveyor belt. Each card passing through the identification means generates a dataset containing the position of the card in the sequence of cards, the rank and suit of the card, and / or one or more identification elements and / or card identifier. The control means assigns a card collection means to which the card will be provided and adds it to the dataset. The control means activates a release means for each card passing through the assigned card collection means.

[0036]

[36] When identifying a card, the card identification means may detect defects in the card being detected. Defective cards cannot be part of any set of cards and must be removed from the system. All defective cards can be assigned to a card extraction means, and optionally to a specific card collection means that functions as a card extraction means.

[0037]

[37] Alternatively, a system for creating a set of cards may include a card defect identification means, preferably located upstream of the card identification means. The system may also include a card removal means for removing defective cards, preferably also located upstream of the card identification means.

[0038]

[38] Alternatively, the card identification means may obtain a signal from the card defect identification means regarding whether or not a defect exists for each card. The card identification means may assign all defective cards to a card extraction means, which is optionally a specific card collection means.

[0039]

[39] Cards that are identified and have a known position in the card sequence are taken to their assigned card collecting means. The control means know which identified cards at which positions in the card sequence are taken to which card collecting means, and can generate a rank and suit sequence, and / or one or more identification elements and / or card identifiers for each card collecting means. Thus, for each set of cards generated by the system, the card sequence in that set is known.

[0040]

[40] A control means can track a number of cards sent to each of the card collecting means, having a given rank and suit, and / or one or more identification elements. Thus, the control means can generate sets of cards, which may even consist of a given number of complete decks, which are randomly shuffled at the set stage.

[0041]

[41] One of the card collecting means may function as a card discharge bin. Since all card collecting means contain a threshold number of cards with the same card identification element, when the control means cannot assign a card collecting means to a card, the card is assigned to and directed to this card discharge bin. These discharged cards may later be reintroduced by one of the card supply means so that they become part of a set of cards. In addition, if a card cannot be identified, or if there is any error in the identification, recognition, or handling of the card, the card may be sent to an overflow card discharge bin.

[0042]

[42] A system for creating sets of cards may include a set removal means for removing cards from a complete set from a card collection means.

[0043]

[43] According to some embodiments, the card supply system can supply cards with the front side of the card facing away from the conveyor belt. In this way, the cards can be easily identified by their rank and suit, and / or by one or more identifying elements and / or card identifiers.

[0044]

[44] The card supply means may obtain the cards from a printing device such as a digital printing device or an offset printing device and / or may include a recycling means which includes a card used in another set of cards to be included in the card flow. The card supply means may produce a stream of cards which are handled individually (i.e., so as not to come into contact with other cards during transport).

[0045]

[45] According to some embodiments, at least some of the cards provided to a system for creating a set of cards may be recovered cards.

[0046]

[46] According to some embodiments, the cards provided to a system for creating a set of cards may be in a random order.

[0047]

[47] According to some embodiments, the control means can generate an array of card identifiers for each set of cards produced in each card collection means.

[0048]

[48] ​​The control means knows, with respect to each card, to which card collecting means the card is provided and has been provided. Thus, the control means can provide, with respect to each set of cards, the arrangement of cards present in that set.

[0049]

[49] The arrangement of cards in each deck can be used to verify that the arrangement of cards has not been tampered with during the transfer of the stock of cards. The arrangement of cards shown in the game can be compared to an arrangement known for that deck. A discrepancy in the arrangement indicates cheating. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0050] [Figure 1] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the system according to the present invention for creating sets of cards. [Figure 2] Figures 2 and 3 show details of the card movement system, which is part of the system for creating the set of cards shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figures 2 and 3 show details of the card movement system, which is part of the system for creating the set of cards shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0051]

[52] The same reference number refers to items with the same characteristics.

[0052] Detailed description of the embodiment

[0053]

[53] A system 100 for creating a set of cards is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The system 100 includes three card supply means 101, 102, and 103 to provide a plurality of cards 200. It is understood that the system may include only one card supply means, two card supply means, or more than three card supply means. The card supply means may include a system for recovering recovered cards, for example, cards from a cartridge containing playing cards used to play a card game on a card game machine. The card supply means may include a print unit for printing unused cards, for example, a digital print unit.

[0054]

[54] New or recovered cards can be supplied by three card supply means 101, 102, and 103. The card supply means 101, 102, and 103 constitute a number of cards with their front sides facing down as a row of cards on the conveyor belt 104. The conveyor belt 104 carries the row of cards to a vacuum conveyor belt 105, which is a card transport means. If the width of the belt 105 is shorter than the length of the cards, cards sucked up by the vacuum belt 105 may extend beyond the belt at both edges of the vacuum belt.

[0055]

[55] The system 100 includes a plurality of card collecting means for collecting sets of cards, and in this embodiment includes five card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. The card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 are located at a plurality of different positions below the conveyor belt 105 along the direction of movement of the vacuum conveyor belt 105. A number of other card collecting means may also be provided.

[0056]

[56] For each of the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 are positioned along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt and in the same positions as the associated card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. The release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 are operable release means, more specifically air knives, which blow a stream of compressed air downward onto the edges of cards that extend beyond the edge of the vacuum belt 105. The release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 are positioned at the front end of the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. Cards to be removed from the belt are blown off the vacuum belt 105 and fall. On the opposite edge of the vacuum belt, a pair of second release means are positioned at the same location in the direction of movement of the vacuum belt 105 with respect to each of the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 (not shown in Figures 1 and 2). The release means work synchronously in pairs, and the pair are release means at the same location in the direction of movement of the vacuum belt 105. Thus, both sides of the card suspended from the vacuum belt 105, i.e., the protruding portion of the card, are blown and dropped. Due to its speed in the direction of movement of the vacuum belt, the card falls diagonally downward into the card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110.

[0057]

[57] By providing the vacuum belt 105 and release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 in this manner, the cards are handled without any mechanical elements gripping or striking the surface or edges of the cards. Thus, the vacuum belt 105 and release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 handle the cards more gently and avoid damage to the cards being organized by the card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110.

[0058]

[58] The system 100 further includes card identification means 117 for identifying cards being transported by the vacuum belt 105. The card identification means 117 may include at least one, and optionally more than one, camera. Images of the front side taken by one or more cameras are converted and / or analyzed so that one or more card identification elements on the front side of the card are identified. The one or more card identification elements may be rank and suit in the case of playing cards. Optionally, the card identification means 117 may obtain a readable card identification code on the front side of the card. Optionally, the card identification means 117 may be able to read the card identification code only by UV light. The card identification means 117 may be a UV detection camera and may work in conjunction with a UV illumination device. The system 100 may also include defect detection means 118 for detecting defective cards, which may optionally be formed in conjunction with the card identification means 117. The defect detection means 118 can be adapted to detect defects on both the front and back sides of the card. The card identification means 117 and the defect detection means 108 can be integrated into a single means. The card identification means 117 and the defect detection means 108 can be one and the same camera. To inspect defects on the back side of the card, an additional camera (not shown in the figure) may be optionally provided above the conveyor belt 104, just before the point where the card is sent from the conveyor belt 104 to the vacuum belt 105. The system 100 further includes control means 120 adapted to assign each identified card carried by the card transfer system 105 to card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, and to activate release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 positioned at the card collection means when a card passes through the card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 to which it has been assigned.

[0059]

[59] One of the card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 may function as a card extraction bin (or discard bin or removal bin). Defective cards are assigned and guided to this card extraction bin by the control means 120. Defective cards are removed, discarded, or used for another purpose.

[0060]

[60] One of the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 can function as a card dispensing bin. With respect to cards that the control means 120 cannot assign to the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 to which the set of cards is grouped or collected, the control means 120 assigns and guides the card to this card dispensing bin. This may occur if all of the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 contain a threshold number of cards having the same card identification elements (such as rank and suit). These dispensed cards can later be reintroduced back into the card column to allow them to become part of a set of cards.

[0061]

[61] Optionally, in the direction of movement of the vacuum belt 105, a first card detection means is provided in front of each release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, and a second card detection means is provided after the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116. Thus, the control means 120 can check whether a card assigned to a given card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 has been placed in the assigned card collection means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. This can be checked by verifying whether the card detection means upstream of the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 detected a card, but the card detection means downstream of the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 did not detect a card.

[0062]

[62] The control means 120 can track the number of cards having a given card identification element (such as rank and suit) placed in each of the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. If a given threshold number of cards having a given card identification element have already been given to the given card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, then the next card having that card identification element will no longer be assigned to the card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110. For each card having a given card identification element, if a threshold number of such cards have been collected in the given card collecting means 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, then a set of cards containing a given (threshold) number of card decks is created. The cards in the set of cards are placed in a random order at the set stage. The control means can also create a dataset containing card identifiers in the order in which the cards exist within a set of cards.

[0063]

[63] Figures 2 and 3 show some details of the card collection means. The system includes a conveyor belt adapted to transport one or more cards individually coupled to the underside of the conveyor belt. This conveyor belt is a vacuum belt 105. The system includes a number of release means, which are the operable release means 205 in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a schematic side view of such a release means 205, and Figure 3 is a schematic top view of such a release means 205.

[0064]

[64] Each of the release means 112, 113, 114, 115, and 116 in Figure 1 is such an operable release means 205, more specifically an air knife 201. These air knives are gas blowing means for blowing linked cards away from a conveyor belt, which in this embodiment is a vacuum belt 105. Each air knife 201 blows a stream or pulse 206 of compressed air downward toward the edge 203 of the card 200 that extends beyond the edge 204 of the vacuum belt 105. The force applied by the air stream pulls the card 200 away from the vacuum belt 105 and falls into the corresponding card collecting means 202.

[0065]

[65] Although the present invention has been illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the above-described embodiments and that the invention can be carried out with a number of different modifications and alterations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments herein are intended to be purely illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and therefore all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included in the claims. In other words, this is intended to encompass any or all modifications, alterations, or equivalents that fall within the scope of the basic fundamental principles and whose essential characteristics are claimed in this application. Furthermore, readers of this application will understand that the terms “comprising” and “comprise” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” and “an” do not exclude plurals, and that one component, such as a computer system, processor, or other integrated device, may fulfill the functions of several means described in the claims. No reference numeral in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of any individual claim relating thereto. Where terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” “a,” “b,” and “c” are used in the description or claims, they are introduced to distinguish similar components or steps and do not necessarily indicate order or chronology. Similarly, terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “top,” and “bottom” are introduced for descriptive purposes and do not necessarily indicate relative position. Terms used in this manner are understood to be interchangeable where appropriate, and embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a different order or direction than those described or illustrated above.

Claims

1. A system for creating a set of cards which are playing cards, game cards, casino cards, collector's cards, or trading cards, A card supply means that provides multiple cards, including playing cards, game cards, casino cards, collector cards, or trading cards, Card transfer system and Equipped with, The card transfer system is A conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is adapted to convey one or more cards that are individually attached to the lower side of the conveyor belt, An operable release means for detaching the card from the conveyor belt, the release means having a blocking means for preventing the card from coupling to the underside of the conveyor belt, and / or a gas blowing means for blowing away the card coupled to the conveyor belt. Includes, The system further, A plurality of card collecting means for collecting sets of cards, wherein each of the plurality of card collecting means is positioned below the conveyor belt at a plurality of different positions along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, A card identification means for identifying the card being transported by the card transport system, comprising: a card identification means for identifying the card by its rank and suit, and / or by one or more identification elements, and / or by a card identifier; Control means for assigning each of the identified cards transported by the card movement system to a card collection means. Equipped with, The control means tracks the number of cards sent to each of the plurality of card collecting means to generate a set of cards that are randomly shuffled at the set stage and contain a given number of complete card decks, and that have a predetermined rank and suit, and / or one or more identification elements and / or card identifiers. With respect to each card collection means, a release means is positioned at the same location along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and the control means is adapted to activate the release means positioned at the location of the card collection means when a card passes through the card collection means to which the card is assigned.

2. A system for creating a set of cards as described in Claim 1, wherein the control means generates an array of card identifiers for each set of cards created in each card collection means.

3. A system for creating a set of cards as described in claim 1, comprising a defect detection unit for detecting defective cards.

4. A system for producing a set of cards according to claim 3, further comprising a card extraction bin positioned below the conveyor belt at a given position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, wherein a release means is positioned at the same given position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and the control means is adapted to activate the release means positioned along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt when a defective card passes through the card extraction bin.

5. A system for creating a set of cards as described in claim 1, wherein with respect to each release means, a first card detection means is positioned in front of the release means and a second card detection means is positioned behind the release means in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt.

6. A system for creating a set of cards as described in claim 1, wherein the width of the conveyor belt is shorter than the length of the cards being conveyed.

7. A system for creating a set of cards according to claim 6, wherein the card moving system includes a card providing means, and provides the cards such that the longitudinal side of the cards is moved perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt.

8. A system for creating a set of cards according to claim 7, wherein the release means is a gas blowing means.

9. A system for creating a set of cards according to claim 8, wherein the gas blowing means is an air blowing means including a first air knife.

10. A system for creating a set of cards according to claim 8, wherein the gas blowing means is an air blowing means including a first air knife pair, and the first air knife and the second air knife of the first air knife pair are arranged at the same position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt on opposing sides of the conveyor belt.

11. A system for creating a set of cards according to claim 10, wherein the gas blowing means is an air blowing means including a plurality of pairs of air knives, the first air knife and the second air knife of each pair of air knives are positioned at the same location along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt on opposing sides of the conveyor belt.

12. A method for providing a set of cards that are randomly shuffled, such as playing cards, game cards, casino cards, collector cards, or trading cards, - A step of providing a system for creating a set of cards which are playing cards, game cards, casino cards, collector's cards, or trading cards as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, - A step of providing a system for creating a set of cards with a random order of cards, which are playing cards, game cards, casino cards, collector's cards, or trading cards. - The steps of identifying each of the cards sucked up by the conveyor belt and assigning a card collection means to each of the identified cards, - A step of moving the identified card along the conveyor belt to a plurality of card collection means, - With respect to each identified card, the steps include activating the release means at the same position along the direction of movement of the conveyor belt as the card passes through the card collection means to which the card has been assigned, and Equipped with, The control means assigns a card collection means to each card so that one or more card decks are created in each card collection means. method.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the card supply means provides a card with the front side of the card facing away from the conveyor belt.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the cards provided to the system for creating a set of cards are recovered cards.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cards provided to the system for creating a set of cards are in a random order.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the control means generates an array of card identifiers for each set of cards produced in each card collection means.