Pivoting Arm Mechanism for Playing Card Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card handling systems face challenges in ensuring consistent feeding of cards when the weight of the stack is insufficient to maintain adequate contact with the feeder, particularly during the last few cards in the stack, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate card handling.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting arm mechanism is introduced that engages the top card of the stack when the weight becomes insufficient, using a motor-driven system to apply a constant force and maintain contact with the feed rollers, ensuring accurate feeding. This mechanism is retractable to avoid interfering with card loading and includes sensors to monitor card count and stack height for precise activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the card handling system relies on stack weight to maintain contact with feed rollers, then simple and reliable operation is achieved, but card feeding accuracy deteriorates when stack weight becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a motor-driven pivoting arm that can dynamically adjust its position and apply force as needed, rather than relying on static stack weight. The arm pivots between a retracted position (when stack weight is sufficient) and an engaged position (when stack weight becomes insufficient), allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain feeding accuracy throughout the entire card stack lifecycle.
2Manufacturing precision
If a motor-driven pivoting arm is added to apply constant force, then card feeding accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors stack parameters (height, weight, or card count) and changes the operational state of the pivoting arm based on these parameter changes. When parameters indicate insufficient stack weight, the system transitions from passive gravity-dependent feeding to active motor-driven feeding, maintaining precision across varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor stack parameters and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the pivoting arm to activate at the appropriate moment based on actual stack conditions, ensuring card feeding precision is maintained while avoiding unnecessary activation that would increase complexity.
3Reliability
If the pivoting arm remains engaged to ensure consistent feeding, then feeding reliability is improved, but card loading is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting arm dynamically transitions between retracted and engaged positions based on real-time stack conditions. During card loading, when the stack is full, the arm remains retracted and does not interfere with loading operations. As cards are consumed and stack weight decreases below a threshold, the arm automatically pivots into the engaged position to maintain feeding consistency, thus resolving the conflict between feeding reliability and loading ease.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures consistent and accurate feeding of cards by applying a constant force as needed, preventing unwanted movement and improving the reliability of card handling, especially when the stack weight is insufficient, thereby enhancing the efficiency of card shuffling and handling processes.
Implementation Method 1
A pivoting arm mechanism is introduced that engages the top card of the stack when the weight becomes insufficient, using a motor-driven system to apply a constant force and maintain contact with the feed rollers
Implementation Method 2
The weight of a stack of cards ordinarily provides a sufficient force against the rollers to assure proper movement of most of the cards
Data Source
AI summary
A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.