Card Shuffler Receiver Layout for Multi-Deck Hand Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card shuffling devices face various drawbacks, including inefficiencies in forming sets or hands of shuffled cards and difficulties in handling multiple decks.
Innovation Solution
A card shuffler with a housing containing a card receiving area, infeed mechanism, card receiver with movable dividers, and a card ejector, controlled by a controller to manage card movement and distribution into sets or hands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a mechanical card shuffling device is used, then card shuffling can be automated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card shuffling device is divided into distinct functional modules: a card receiving area for input, a card receiver with multiple pockets for sorting, a card ejector for output, and a movable wall for engagement. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the complex shuffling operation to be broken down into manageable segments that can be controlled independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The card receiver is designed with movable components, specifically a movable wall that can transition between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic element allows the device to adapt its configuration during operation, enabling card engagement and ejection while maintaining a compact structure when not in use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple decks of cards are handled, then the versatility of the shuffler increases, but the difficulty of operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card receiver incorporates multiple pockets that can accommodate cards from multiple decks simultaneously. The system is designed to handle various card configurations and deck combinations, making it universally applicable to different shuffling scenarios without requiring separate devices or complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall automatically engages with the cards when extended, and the card ejector autonomously dispenses shuffled cards into the dispensing area. The system performs card engagement, shuffling, and ejection operations without requiring manual manipulation, reducing the operational difficulty while maintaining versatility.
3Productivity
If cards are moved horizontally from receiving area to receiver, then the card infeed efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card receiver is positioned in a different vertical plane relative to the card receiving area, allowing cards to be transferred horizontally at one elevation while the receiver operates at another. This dimensional arrangement enables efficient card infeed without requiring complex mechanical linkages, as the horizontal movement naturally feeds cards into the receiver's pockets.
Data Source
AI summary
A card handling device is configured to arrange one or more cards into sets or hands. The card handling device may have a card receiving area, a card infeed mechanism for delivering cards from the receiving area to a receiver for forming the card sets or hands, and an ejector for ejecting cards to a card dispensing area. The receiving area may have a card engaging movable sidewall. The card receiver may be movable and have vertically spaced dividers which define card receiving pockets. A top of the card dispensing area is located above a top of the card receiving area.