Card Shoe Automated Feeder and Reader for Fraud Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional card disposal systems in table games face difficulties in accurately determining whether the correct number of cards is retained in the card shoe apparatus before and after use, making it challenging to detect fraudulent activities such as card extraction or loss.
Innovation Solution
A table game system that includes a card feeding apparatus with a card reading unit to automatically feed and read cards, allowing for the calculation and verification of the total number of cards against a predetermined number, eliminating the need for manual handling and reducing the risk of fraud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual handling of cards is used for verification, then the system is simple to operate, but fraud such as card extraction can occur and accuracy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical card handling with an automated card feeding mechanism that automatically feeds cards one by one from the card shoe apparatus. A card reading unit optically reads card information during feeding, and a control unit calculates total card counts by combining manually withdrawn card counts with automatically fed card counts, eliminating the need for manual card counting and verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification by automatically feeding remaining cards and reading their information through the card reading unit. The control unit automatically calculates whether the total number of cards (manually withdrawn + automatically fed) matches the expected total, enabling the system to self-verify card retention without requiring manual intervention for counting and verification.
2Reliability
If automated card feeding is implemented, then fraud detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components: the card feeding mechanism is integrated with the card shoe apparatus, the card reading unit is positioned to read cards during feeding, and the control unit combines data from both manual and automatic card counting processes. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining fraud detection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from the card reading unit about each card fed automatically, and also receives information about manually withdrawn cards. By combining these feedback streams and calculating the total, the system can verify whether the correct number of cards remain in the card shoe apparatus, enabling fraud detection through systematic feedback collection and analysis.
3Measurement precision
If all cards are read automatically, then verification accuracy is improved, but the time required for card processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary counting of manually withdrawn cards during the game before automatic feeding begins. This preliminary action allows the control unit to have advance knowledge of how many cards were removed, so when automatic feeding occurs, it only needs to count and verify the remaining cards, reducing the total verification time compared to counting all cards from scratch.
Data Source
AI summary
A card shoe accommodates card decks and includes an opening for manual card withdrawal and a reader. A feeder includes a mechanism, not operated for the manual withdrawal, that feeds the cards from the opening, with the reader reading the fed card's rank; and a controller operating the mechanism to automatically feed all cards in the shoe when use of the decks ends according to a game rule. A control unit calculates a number of cards for each of the ranks based on the read ranks, calculates a total number by adding a number of sheets for each rank of cards manually withdrawn before the end of the deck's use and a number of sheets for each rank of cards fed by the feeder after the end of the deck's use, and compares the total number with a number of cards for each rank that should be in the decks.