Card Shuffler with Rotating Wheel and Imaging System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing card shufflers fail to truly randomize card orders due to limitations in their mechanisms, and there is a need for devices that can quickly shuffle and sort cards to increase operational efficiency in the gaming industry.

Innovation Solution

A card shuffler with a movable wheel and control system that includes a card input mechanism, storage device, and output mechanism, capable of rotating cards at a downward angle, along with a touch screen control panel and a card reading system for accurate card identification and sorting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a batch-type card shuffler with vertically moving rack is used, then cards can be shuffled, but the card order is not truly randomized and sorting accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandomization qualityVSAvoidsorting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The card storage device is divided into multiple independently controllable compartments arranged in a circular pattern around a central axis. Each compartment can hold a specific number of cards and be controlled separately, allowing precise control over card distribution and randomization quality while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The card storage compartments are made movable relative to each other along the circular path, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of card positions. This dynamic capability enables true randomization by varying the spatial arrangement of cards across different compartments while maintaining accurate sorting through controlled movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If more cards are delivered to each compartment, then shuffling capacity increases, but randomization quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshuffling capacityVSAvoidrandomization quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different compartments can hold different numbers of cards based on local requirements. The system allows flexible configuration where each compartment's capacity is optimized for its specific position and function, enabling high overall productivity while maintaining good randomization quality in each local area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system can change the number of cards per compartment as a variable parameter. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between shuffling capacity and randomization quality, allowing more cards to be processed while maintaining statistical randomness through controlled distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If card imaging system is added for identification, then sorting accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A card imaging system serves as an intermediary between the physical cards and the control system. The imaging system captures card information and translates it into digital signals that the control system can process, enabling accurate identification and sorting without directly increasing the mechanical complexity of the card handling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical card sorting process is supplemented by an optical imaging system that identifies cards and provides guidance for sorting. This substitution of pure mechanical identification with optical sensing reduces the complexity of mechanical sorting mechanisms while improving sorting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If cards are oriented at downward angle during movement, then card distribution accuracy improves, but mechanical complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecard orientation accuracyVSAvoidmechanical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card output mechanism is designed to deliver cards to compartments at a consistent downward angle, creating an equipotential condition for card placement. This angular constraint simplifies the mechanical design by providing a uniform delivery trajectory that naturally achieves accurate card orientation without complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentUS10864431B2Methods of making and using hand-forming card shufflers

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 LNW GAMING INC

AI summary

Methods of using automatic card shufflers may involve causing playing cards to be moved from a card input area to a temporary card storage utilizing a card input mechanism. A first number of playing card hands may be formed in a corresponding first number of designated card storage compartments of the temporary card storage when a control system of the automatic card shuffler is in a first operational mode. A second, different number of playing card hands may be formed in a corresponding second number of designated card storage compartments of the temporary card storage when the control system is in a second operational mode. The card storage compartments of the second number of designated card storage compartments may be distinct from the card storage compartments of the first number of designated card storage compartments.