NZ626929B2 - Portable shuffling device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a shuffling device (1) provided with: a plurality of cards (2) that contain information for determining the authenticity thereof; two card set trays (3) where stacks of cards (2) are placed; and a shared card stocker (4) that stocks cards dispensed from the two card set trays (3) in one place. A dispensing roller (5) and a dispensing roller (6) are provided below each of the two card set trays (3) for dispensing one card (2) at a time from the card set trays (3) to the card stocker (4). A control device (8) has a card quantity-determining means that controls the dispensing means so that cards (2) are dispensed from only one of the two card set trays (3) in order to prevent cards from being dispensed simultaneously from the two card set trays (3), and determines the quantity of cards to be dispensed each time by randomly changing the quantity of cards within a range of predetermined values for the quantity of cards to be dispensed at one time. place. A dispensing roller (5) and a dispensing roller (6) are provided below each of the two card set trays (3) for dispensing one card (2) at a time from the card set trays (3) to the card stocker (4). A control device (8) has a card quantity-determining means that controls the dispensing means so that cards (2) are dispensed from only one of the two card set trays (3) in order to prevent cards from being dispensed simultaneously from the two card set trays (3), and determines the quantity of cards to be dispensed each time by randomly changing the quantity of cards within a range of predetermined values for the quantity of cards to be dispensed at one time.

Description

Description Title of Invention: PORTABLE SHUFFLING DEVICE Technical Field The present invention relates to a shuffling device for one or a ity of decks of playing cards to be used in various card games such as poker, baccarat, bridge or blackjack. Moreover, the t invention may also be used for cards other than playing cards, such as trading cards, and relates to a shuffling device for cards for various games where a set of predetermined cards has to be shuffled before the game or where /improper of the cards has to be determined.

Background Art In various card games such as poker, baccarat, bridge and blackjack, a dealer sets one or a plurality of decks of g cards in a card shooter or the like, draws out cards one at a time, and deals the cards to the game players. At this time, to guarantee fairness of the game, the cards have to be randomly dealt out, and the game host has to sufficiently randomly shuffle the playing cards before setting the cards in the card shooter.

Incidentally, a device for manufacturing shuffled cards is disclosed in Patent Literature 1, for example.

Also in the case of using shuffled cards that are already shuffled in e, there is room for a dishonest act such as removal/insertion or ement of cards before the cards are used on the game table.

Citation List Patent Literature Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. WO 69708 Summary of Invention Technical Problem The present invention is made in view of the background described above. The object of the present invention is to e shuffled playing cards that leave no room for dishonest acts, by reshuffling the shuffled playing cards to be used in a game before the game.

To achieve the object described above, a portable shuffling device of the present invention includes two card set trays for placing stacks of a plurality of cards that are ing targets, a common card stocker for collectively stocking cards drawn out from the two card set trays at one position, first drawing means and second drawing means, provided respectively below the two card set trays, for drawing out the cards into the card r from the card set trays one by one, a motor for driving the first drawing means and the second drawing means, and l means for performing control of selectively operating the first g means and the second drawing means and selectively drawing out a card that is on either of the two card set trays, wherein the device stocks cards placed on the two card set trays collectively in the common card stocker and shuffles the plurality of cards, and wherein the control means es number-of-cards determining means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and controlling the drawing means, where a card is drawn out only from one of the card set trays such that cards are not simultaneously drawn out from the card set trays.

Also, the portable shuffling device of the present invention may further include an proper/improper determination device including a memory storing information about a proper card for determining proper/improper of the ity of cards that are shuffling targets, the proper/improper determination device being for sequentially acquiring information from the plurality of cards that are shuffling targets, comparing the acquired information with the information about a proper card, and determining proper/improper of the card.

Furthermore, a card shuffling system of the t invention includes cards each having information for determining proper/improper of the card added to a card surface by invisible ink or al, and a device for having the cards divided and placed on two card set trays, and for stocking the cards in a common card stocker and shuffling a plurality of cards, wherein the device for shuffling the plurality of cards includes the two card set trays for placing stacks of a ity of cards that are shuffling targets, the common card stocker for collectively ng cards drawn out from the two card set trays at one position, first drawing means and second drawing means, provided respectively below the two card set trays, for drawing out cards into the card stocker from the card set trays one by one, a motor for driving the first drawing means and the second drawing means, and control means for ming control of selectively operating the first drawing means and the second drawing means and selectively drawing out a card that is on either of the two card set trays, wherein the control means includes -of-cards determining means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and controlling the drawing means, where a card is drawn out only from one of the card set trays such that cards are not simultaneously drawn out from the card set trays.

According to the t invention, a predetermined number of cards to be used in a card game may be shuffled on the game table or the like to y prevent occurrence of cheating.

As will be described below, the present invention includes other modes. Therefore, the disclosure of the invention intends to provide some modes of the present invention, and does not intend to limit the scope of the invention described and claimed .

Brief Description of Drawings [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a le shuffling device of a card shuffling system ing to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portable shuffling device of a card shuffling system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Figure 3] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are front views of main portions of a card set tray of a portable shuffling device according to an example modification of ments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

[Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of a card for the card shuffling systems according to Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

Description of ments Hereinafter, a detailed description of the present invention will be given. However, the following detailed description and accompanying drawings are not to limit the invention.

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to a drawing. A portable shuffling device 1 of a card shuffling system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention es two card set trays 3 for placing stacks of a plurality of cards 2 (shuffled cards which are already shuffled) that are shuffling targets, and a common card stocker 4 for collectively stocking cards drawn out from the two card set trays 3 at one on. A drawing roller 5, which is first drawing means, and a drawing roller 6, which is second drawing means, are provided respectively below the two card set trays 3 to draw out the cards 2 from the card set trays 3 to the card stocker 4 one by one. The first g roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 are rotated by a g motor 7. This driving motor 7 uses a stepper motor. The first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 are selectively rotated by the driving motor 7 being controlled. l of the driving motor 7 is performed by a control device 8. The control device 8 includes number-of-cards determining means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and controlling the g means, where the cards 2 are drawn out only from one of the card set trays 3 such that cards are not simultaneously drawn out from the two card set trays 3.

The driving motor 7 uses one common stepper motor, and by switching the rotation direction n left and right, causes one of the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 to e. onally, for this purpose, the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 are provided with a one-way clutch, not shown.

In this manner, with one of the first drawing roller and the second drawing roller 6 being selectively driven, only the cards on one of the two card set trays 3 are selectively drawn out. Cards drawn out from each of the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 are fed to the card stocker 4 by a pair of feed rollers 9 rotating at all times. The driving speed of the feed rollers 9 is set such that cards are fed at a higher speed than the speed of the cards fed by the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6, and thus, the cards 2 are reliably sent to the card stocker 4 by being pulled by the feed rollers 9. The cards 2 which have been fed are detected by a card sensor 10, and the number of cards 2 sent to the card r 4 is counted by the control device 8 based on a signal of the card sensor 10. This ng is performed, and the count is stored, by a ed card counter (not shown) in the control device 8. Also, the total count value of the shuffled card counter regarding the cards 2 sent to the card stocker 4 is displayed on a display 11. In the present embodiment, a card case 4a is set in the card stocker 4, and the cards 2 are held inside the card case 4a while being stacked over one r. This card case 4a is colored to be opaque or black so that the cards 2 cannot be seen from outside, and the cards 2 inside the card case 4a cannot be turned over from outside, and also, extraction of the cards 2 is prevented, and the cards 2 may be securely treated.

The control device 8 includes a function for randomly changing, each time, within a range of a predetermined value (for example, five), the number of cards to be drawn out from the two card set trays 3 at one time, and changing the number of cards to be drawn out between one and five, and controls the motor 7 of the drawing rollers 5 and 6, which are the g means, by determining a different number of cards to be drawn out each time. For this purpose, the control device 8 includes means for ining the number of cards to be drawn out (not . The m value of the number of cards to be drawn out that is randomly changed each time is between one and five, and may be set by a liquid crystal panel (8a) for setting the number of cards, and the means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out (not shown) randomly changes each time, based on the setting, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined number (for example, five) and changes the number of cards to be drawn out between one and five. Additionally, a key switch (described later) is connected to the control device 8, and it is set such that the maximum value of the number of cards to be drawn out that is randomly changed each time cannot be changed without operating this switch.

Also, the number of cards 2 to be drawn out from the two card set trays 3 by the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 is changed each time, and after a several times, the total number of cards 2 drawn out will be imbalanced between the two drawing rollers 3.

Accordingly, the s of cards fed from the two card set trays 3 are compared based on outputs of two card sensors 10 for detecting the cards fed via the respective feed rollers 9, and the control device 8 controls each number of cards to be drawn out in such a way that the difference is within a predetermined number of cards.

This is performed by the means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out (not shown) of the control device 8.

In this , the cards 2 from the two card set trays 3 are not drawn out at the same time, and the number of cards to be drawn out is randomly changed each time, and the cards 2 are alternately sent to the card stocker 4 with the number of cards being different, and thus, the cards 2 from the two card set trays 3 are stocked in the card stocker 4 in a randomly ed state.

The two card set trays 3 each include a nonshuffled card detection sensor 12 (detection means) for detecting and outputting absence of the cards 2. Accordingly, when there are no more cards 2 in one of the card set trays 3, a handler may replenish the card set tray 3 by dividing the cards 2 in the other card set tray 3. With respect to the cards 2, normally, a plurality of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) are used as one set of shuffled cards, and thus, shuffling is med by dividing and placing the plurality of cards (416 cards) on the two card set trays 3. In this case, the driving motor 7 is operated, the number of cards stocked in the common card stocker 4 is added up, the total number of shuffled cards 4 is aggregated, and the shuffling operation is temporarily stopped when a predetermined number of cards (for example, 208 cards) has been stocked in the common card stocker 4.

This is to prevent inconveniences that occur when a ity of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) of cards 2 are stocked in the common card stocker 4 at one time, such as the height (volume) of the cards 2 becoming too great for a handler to easily remove the cards 2 from the card stocker 4 or to hold the cards 2 by one hand.

These operations are programmed by the control device 8.

The handler s the cards 2 in the card case 4a from the card stocker 4 together with the card case 4a, returns the empty card case 4a to the card r 4, operates a start switch (not shown), and ms a further shuffling operation of operating the driving motor 7 again. This is repeated and cards of the number corresponding to a predetermined number of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) are shuffled by a plurality of times (two or more times) of shuffling operations. At this time, a stocked card detector 13 for ing the cards 2 in the card stocker 4 is provided above the card stocker 4, and the control device 8 performs control in such a way that shuffling cannot be restarted when there is a card 2 left behind.

Cards of the number corresponding to a predetermined number of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) are shuffled by a plurality of times (normally, two times) of shuffling operations. The two card set trays 3 each include the nonshuffled card detection sensor 12 for detecting absence of the cards 2. When there is no more card in one of the card set trays 3, the total count value of the shuffled cards 2 of the shuffled card r and the number of cards whose ing is planned (set) to have been completed (for example, 416 cards) are compared, and the number of remaining cards in the card set tray 3 is calculated. When the number of remaining cards exceeds a predetermined value (for example, eight), the shuffling operation is stopped.

When the number of remaining cards is at or below the predetermined number of cards, the shuffling ion is completed without being stopped. After the shuffling operation is stopped, the handler uniformly divides and shares the cards 2 in the card set tray 3 where the remaining cards 2 are with the other card set tray 3 with no cards. Then, by restarting the shuffling operation, the number of cards drawn out from the two card set trays 3 may be made uniform.

When all the cards 2 in both of the card set trays 3 have been drawn out, the le shuffling device 1 stops the shuffling operation. Then, the total shuffled number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance are compared and match/non-match is detected, and match/non-match is displayed by display means 14 (blue lamp 14b and red lamp 14r, or the like). At this time, the total shuffled number according to the shuffled card counter is displayed on the display 11 at the same time. By providing a function for setting in e a predetermined number of cards to be used as authentic shuffled cards (for example, 416 cards in the case where one set of shuffled cards includes 8 decks), if there is an excess or shortfall in the total number of cards already shuffled, y regarding this excess or shortfall is performed on the y 11, and checking of the excess or shortfall and the like by the display means 14 (blue and red lamps, or the like) is enabled (for example, a red lamp 14r is lit).

A DNA sensor 16 is provided at a bottom 15 of the card set tray 3, and DNA information is acquired from a DNA-containing ink ibed later) applied to the card 2. The DNA sensor 16 radiates UV light on the DNA- containing paint (described later) on the card 2 at the bottom through a through hole 15a of the bottom 15, and receives the reflected light of the radiated light.

Group ation of the card 2 on the card set tray 3 is acquired according to the signal of the DNA sensor 16.

The group information is information for determining proper/improper of the card, and the control device 8 includes an proper/improper determination device 17 for determining proper/improper of the card 2 by acquiring the group information from the DNA sensor 16.

The proper/improper determination device 17 for determining the proper/improper of a plurality of cards 2 that are ing targets includes a memory (not shown) g information about a proper card. The information about the proper card used for determination of proper/improper is input in advance from an information input device 18. The group information is sequentially acquired by the DNA sensor 16 from each of the plurality of cards 2 to be shuffled. The acquired group ation is compared by the proper/improper determination device 17 with the information about the proper card, and the proper/improper of the card 2 is determined. An proper/improper display lamp 19 is to flash when a card is ined by the proper/improper determination device 17 to be an improper.

Also, when a card 2 is determined by the proper/improper determination device 17 to be an improper, the l device 8 controls each unit such that each unit operates until the card 2 which is determined to be an improper comes at the top of the card case 4a of the card stocker 4, but then the operation stops in this state. Moreover, there is provided a card removal lock device 20 for preventing removal of the card case 4a of the card stocker 4 and the cards 2 inside when the card 2 is determined by the proper/improper ination device 17 to be an improper. The removal lock device 20 for the card case 4a normally uses a lock operation by a known electromagnetic appliance such as a solenoid.

A key switch 21 is ted to the control device 8, and the control device 8 performs control in such a way that the removal lock device 20 for the card case 4a is not released and the shuffling operation is not restarted unless the key switch 21 is operated by a key (not shown) of a manager or the like. Additionally, as described above, the m value of the number of cards to be drawn out which is to be randomly d each time may be set by the liquid crystal panel (8a) for setting the number of cards, and the l device 8 is set such that this change can also be made only when the key switch 21 (same applies below) is operated by the key (not shown) of the manager or the like. Additionally, in the case the card case 4a is not installed, the control device 8 performs control in such a way that a detector 26 of the card case 4a is operated and the shuffling operation is not started, and the card removal lock device 20 is not operated.

The removal lock device 20 for the card case 4a is operated by the control device 8 also when the number according to the shuffled card counter does not match the number of cards set in advance, and functions to prevent removal of the card case 4a and the cards 2 inside. Also in this case, the control device 8 is set such that the removal lock device 20 for the card case 4a is not ed and the shuffling operation is not restarted unless the key switch 21 is operated by the key.

A time storage device 22 is further connected to the control device 8, and a function for storing the time when the card removal lock device 20 operated and the time when the card l lock device 20 was released by the key switch 21 is provided. These times may be sent to outside such as a ment department by wireless transmission (communication device) 23.

Also, the control device 8 includes, at the top of the main body of the device, a lock state display device 24 for ying a locked state of the card removal lock device 20, and a lock state y device 25 for displaying an unlocked state, and displays these lock states and the power on state independently of power on display, and enables capturing by a surveillance camera placed above in the casino or the like.

A result of proper/improper determination of the card 2 at the proper/improper determination device 17 of the control device 8 may further be output by an alarm sound or the like, or by a sound other than the alarm sound, such as an audio message or a melody. Also, in the case a card is determined to be an improper by the proper/improper ination device 17, or the number ing to the shuffled card r does not match the number of cards set in advance, this state may also be sent to outside such as the management department by wireless transmission (communication device) 23.

Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 2. Structures of a portable shuffling device 100 of a card shuffling system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention which are the same as those of the portable shuffling device 1 ing to Embodiment 1 will be denoted with the same numbers, and a description thereof will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, a card receiver 101 is arranged in a card stocker 4 in a manner capable of being removed, and cards 2 are held inside the card receiver 101 being stacked face-down. A cover 101a that is colored to be opaque or black so that the cards 2 cannot be seen from outside is provided at the front of the card receiver 101. Accordingly, in a state where this card receiver 101 is set in the portable shuffling device 100, no one can touch the cards 2 inside the card er 101, and cheating may be prevented by ting the cards 2 from being extracted, or turned over and looked at from outside, and the cards 2 may be securely handled.

A control device 8 includes a function for randomly changing, each time, within a range of a predetermined value (for e, five), the number of cards to be drawn out from two card set trays 3 at one time, and changing the number of cards to be drawn out between one and five, and controls a motor 7 of drawing rollers 5 and 6, which are the drawing means, by ining a different number of cards to be drawn out each time. For this purpose, the control device 8 includes means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out (not shown). The maximum value of the number of cards to be drawn out that is randomly changed each time is between one and five, and may be set by a number-of-cards set key (not shown), and the means for determining the number of cards to be drawn out (not shown) ly changes each time, based on the setting, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined number (for example, five) and changes the number of cards to be drawn out between one and five. The control device 8 checks whether or not g out of the number of cards to be drawn out has been reliably performed, based on the outputs of two card sensors 10 for detecting the cards 2 fed by respective feed rollers 9. Also, the l device 8 controls the entire operation in such a way that an abnormality (an error) is detected and the operation of the device is stopped when a card 2 is drawn out from the other feed rollers 9 different from the feed rollers 9 instructed to m drawing out.

Also, the numbers of cards 2 to be drawn out from the two card set trays 3 by the first drawing roller 5 and the second drawing roller 6 are set to change each time, and after a several times, the total number of cards 2 drawn out will possibly become imbalanced between the two drawing rollers 5 and 6. Accordingly, the control device 8 constantly compares the numbers of cards fed from the two card set trays 3 cted to perform drawing out, and controls the instructed numbers of cards to be drawn out in such a way that the difference is, at the end, within a predetermined number of cards.

Additionally, a key switch (21 described later) described later is connected to the control device 8, and it is set such that the maximum value of the number of cards that is randomly changed each time cannot be changed without operating this switch. (This change is made by an information input device 108 ibed later).) A fullness sensor 102 for detecting that the cards 2 in the card receiver 101 have d a predetermined number (for e, the cards 2 stop every 140 cards) is provided, and the shuffling operation is thereby arily stopped. This is to prevent inconveniences that occur when a plurality of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) of cards 2 are stocked in the common card receiver 101 at one time, such as the height (volume) of the cards 2 becoming too great for a handler to easily remove the cards 2. These operations are programmed by the control device 8. The handler removes the cards 2 in the card receiver 101 together with the card receiver 101, returns the empty card receiver 101 to the card stocker 4, and operates a start switch (103), and then, the driving motor 7 is operated again and a further shuffling operation is performed. A card receiver sensor 104 for ming detection regarding the card receiver 101 is led at the bottom of the card stocker 4, and is set such that the shuffling ion is not started and a card removal lock device does not operate in the case the card receiver 101 is not returned to the card stocker 4. Also, a card presence/absence sensor 105 for detecting presence/absence of the cards 2 through a hole (not shown) provided to the bottom of the card er 101 is provided, and is programmed to function in such a way that the shuffling operation is not ted in the case a card 2 s at the bottom of the card receiver 101 when the empty card receiver 101 is returned to the card stocker 4 after the cards 2 have been removed together with the card receiver 101. By repeating the card shuffling operation in the above manner, cards of the number corresponding to a predetermined number of decks (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) are shuffled by a plurality of times (three or more times) of shuffling operations.

When all the cards 2 in both of the card set trays 3 have been drawn out, the portable shuffling device 1 stops the shuffling operation. Then, the total shuffled number ing to the shuffled card counter and the set number of cards set in advance (for example, 416 cards in 8 decks) are compared and match/non-match of the numbers of cards is ed, and match/non-match is displayed by display means 14 (blue and red lamps, or the like). At this time, the total shuffled number ing to the shuffled card counter is displayed on the display 11 at the same time. By providing a function for setting in advance a predetermined number of cards to be used as authentic shuffled cards (for example, 416 cards in the case where one set of shuffled cards includes 8 , if there is an excess or shortfall in the total number of cards already shuffled, display regarding this excess or shortfall is performed on the display 11, and checking of the excess or shortfall and the like by the display means 14 (b blue and r red lamps, or the like) is enabled (for e, a red lamp 14r is lit when there is an excess or shortfall in the number of cards).

Also in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, a DNA sensor 16 is provided at the bottom of the card set tray 3, and DNA information is acquired from a DNA-containing ink (described later) applied to the card 2. Group information of the card 2 on the card set tray 3 is acquired according to the signal of the DNA sensor 16.

The group information is information for determining proper/improper of the card, and the control device 8 includes an proper/improper determination device 17 for determining proper/improper of the card 2 by acquiring the group information from the DNA sensor 16.

Additionally, a sensor for reading the suit (type) and the rank (number) of the card 2 is not provided in addition to the /improper determination device 17 for determining the proper/improper of the card 2 by acquiring the group information from the DNA sensor 16.

This is to prevent a problem of misuse or the like that may occur when the suits (types) and the ranks (numbers) of the cards 2 are read by the portable shuffling machine 100 and information about the arrangement of a plurality of cards 2 which have been shuffled is obtained.

The proper/improper determination device 17 for determining the proper/improper of a plurality of cards 2 that are shuffling targets includes a memory (not shown) g ation about a proper card. The information about the proper card used for determination of proper/improper is input in e from an information input device 108 via a communication terminal 109. The group ation is sequentially acquired by the DNA sensor 16 from the plurality of cards 2 that are shuffling targets. The acquired group information is compared by the proper/improper determination device 17 with the information about the proper card, and the proper/improper of the card 2 is determined. An proper/improper display lamp 19 is to flash when a card is determined by the proper/improper determination device 17 to be an improper.

Also, when a card 2 is determined by the proper/improper determination device 17 to be an improper, each unit operates until the card 2 which is determined to be an er comes at the top of the card receiver 101 of the card stocker 4, and then the operation stops in this state. By each unit being controlled by the control device 8 in the above manner, a questionable card 2 is placed at the top of the card receiver 101 and examination is facilitated. Furthermore, as in the case of ment 1, there is provided the card removal lock device 20 for preventing l of the card receiver 101 of the card stocker 4 when a card 2 is determined by the proper/improper ination device 17 to be an improper, and loss of the improper card is prevented.

A key switch 21 is connected to the control device 8, and the control device 8 performs control in such a way that the removal lock device 20 for the card er 101 is not released and the shuffling operation is not restarted unless the key switch 21 is operated by a key of a pit manager or the like. In this manner, the card receiver 101 prevents access from the outside into the card stocker 4 including at a time of the ing operation, and it is made impossible to put one's hand inside the card receiver 101 of the card stocker 4. In this manner, the card receiver 101 is set to stay in the card stocker 4 at all times except for at the time of an operation of removing the cards in the card receiver 101, access to inside the card stocker 4 is prevented, and lation of a camera or the like in the card stocker 4 for an dishonest intention is prevented. Additionally, the entire device is to be stopped in a state where the card receiver 101 is returned to the card stocker 4. In the case the card receiver 101 is not returned to the card stocker 4, the ing operation cannot be d, and the l device 8 is set to perform overall control in such a way that the shuffling operation is not started unless the key switch 21 is operated and the locked state of the device is released, and the card receiver 101 is returned to the card stocker 4.

The removal lock device 20 for the card receiver 101 operates also when the number according to the ed card counter does not match the number of cards set in advance, and functions in such a way as to prevent removal of the card receiver 101 and the cards 2 inside.

Also in this case, the operation of the control device 8 is set in such a way that the removal lock device 20 for the card receiver 101 is not released and the shuffling operation is not to be restarted unless the key switch 21 is operated by the key.

A time storage device 22 is r connected to the control device 8, and a on for storing, when the card removal lock device 20 is operated or when the key switch 21 is operated by the key such as when the card removal lock device 20 is released by the key switch 21, the type of an abnormality and the time is provided.

These times may be sent to outside the portable shuffling device 100, such as a management department, by wireless transmission (communication device) 23 or a wired communication terminal 106.

Also, the control device 8 includes, at the top of the main body of the , a lock state display device 24 for displaying a locked state of the card l lock device 20, and a lock state display device 25 for displaying an unlocked state, and displays these lock states independently from a power on display lamp (107), and enables capturing by a surveillance camera placed above in the casino or the like. In this , removal of the card receiver 101 is locked by the card removal lock device 20 while the shuffling operation is being performed, and an operation of preventing cheating by preventing an unauthorized access to the cards 2 may be guaranteed, and this is red by a ceiling-mounted camera or the like at the casino.

(Description of Pause Function) During operation of the portable shuffling machine 100, l of the card receiver 101 is locked by the card removal lock device 20, an unauthorized access to the cards 2 is prevented, and also, the card receiver 101 inside the card stocker 4 is present inside the card stocker 4 at all times (except at the time of ion of removing the cards), and thus, a state where a r cannot perform a dishonest act inside the portable shuffling machine 100 may be secured. r, the portable shuffling machine 100 is not used constantly in a table game, and is used to shuffle the cards when the shuffled cards to be used in the game (for example, 416 cards in maximum 8 decks) have been used, or when the shuffled cards are to be replaced by new cards during the game. Thus, the shuffling operation of the portable shuffling machine 100 is performed about once every one hour, for example. There is a risk of unauthorized access to the portable shuffling machine 100 during that time, and thus, the portable shuffling machine 100 includes a pause function.

(Description of Paused State) The pause function is realized by operating a pause on switch 110, or by the control device 8 automatically g the le shuffling machine 100 in the pause state after a predetermined time (for example, about 10 seconds) have passed after a shuffling operation. In the paused state, the portable shuffling machine 100 maintains the locked state of the card removal lock device 20, whereby removal of the card er 101 is prevented, and a state where an unauthorized access to the cards 2 is prevented is maintained. Also, the card receiver 101 inside the card stocker 4 is present inside the card stocker 4 at all times (except at the time of operation of ng the cards), and thus, a state where a cheater cannot perform a dishonest act inside the portable shuffling machine 100 may be secured. It is set that this paused state may be released only when the key switch 21 is operated by the key, or when a release operation is med by an encryption key or the like (not shown). Also, this paused state is displayed at the top of the main body of the device by a paused state display lamp 111 (by ng the color of the power on display lamp 107, the paused state display lamp 111 may be omitted). These states are monitored by a ceiling-mounted camera or the like at the casino, and the pause function operation time is stored in the time storage device 22, and the states are sent to the outside such as the management department by wireless transmission (communication device) 23.

Additionally, in Embodiment 2, the card removal lock device 20 is structured to prevent removal of the card receiver 101 by being protruding from a side surface inside the card stocker 4, but in an example modification, the card removal lock device 20 may be provided on the lower part in front of the card receiver 101, and a removal prevention plate (not shown) may be made to move up and down in front of the card er 101 by a id or the like.

A result of proper/improper determination of the card 2 at the proper/improper determination device 17 of the control device 8 is notified to the outside by flashing of the proper/improper display lamp 19, but it may also be output to the outside by an alarm sound or the like, or sound other than the alarm sound, such as an audio message or a melody may be output instead. Also, in the case a card 2 is determined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device 17, or the number according to the shuffled card counter does not match the number of cards set in e, this state may also be sent to outside such as the management department by wireless transmission (communication device) 23.

Next, an example modification of Embodiments 1 and 2 will be described with reference to s 3(a) and 3(b).

In the present example modification, a weight 112 for preventing rising of the cards 2 after the cards 2 have been set in the card set tray 3 is provided. This weight 112 is guided by a guide 3a provided to the card set tray 3, presses the cards 2 in the direction of an arrow W by its weight, and helps the cards 2 to reliably come into contact with the drawing roller 5 or 6 and be drawn out.

Also, at the time of setting the cards 2 in the card set tray 3, the weight 112 may be temporarily fixed at the top (the state shown in Figure 3(b)) by rotating a fixing hook 112f.

Cards 2 to be used in a card shuffling system of the example cation of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention will be described with nce to Figure 4. Group information, which is information used for determination of /improper of a card, is included in ink (DNA-containing paint) used for printing an index 2M (suit and rank) of every card including face cards (J, Q, K). This ink (DNA-containing paint) is coded by DNA. In Embodiment 1, the "suit" refers to the type of the playing card (heart, spade, etc.) and the "rank" refers to the "number" (for example, ace, 2, 3, ..., 10, Jack, Queen, King, etc.), and the "suit" and the "rank" are shown on the face in the case of a playing card. Also, a "back design" refers to the design shown on the back face of the playing card, which is common to all the cards. The type shown on the face is different for each playing card included in one deck. Also, the design on the back face is the same for all. In a normal game using playing cards, only one deck is used, but in a casino, a game may be played using a plurality of decks with the same design.

With the card 2 to be used by the card shuffling system of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, information for determination of proper/improper of the card is added by invisible ink or material on the face where there is the index ng identification of the type, that is, the "suit" or the "rank", of the card.

This ink or material includes a molecule that produces fluorescence reflection, and the /improper of a card may be determined by the reflected light, but under a normal use condition, the ink or material cannot be perceived by the eyes of a human. As an example application, the DNA-containing paint may be used as the ink for printing the index representing the "suit" or the , and cards may be made highly complex by including DNAs whose types are different for each color of the indices.

With the card which is an example application of the present embodiments, the DNA-containing paint may be applied, as the group information, to the card as anchor paint for adjusting the base sheet of the card. Also, the ntaining paint may be applied to the card as the coating paint on the outer side of the card. A structure where the DNA-containing paint representing the group information is applied to a card as at least a part of the paint for printing the back face of the card, or a structure where the DNA-containing paint includes a plurality of types of DNAs and where the group information includes one or a plurality of DNAs among the plurality of types of DNAs is effective in making decoding by a cheater difficult.

An example modification of the present embodiments will be described below. In the present example modification, as a method of applying the DNA-containing paint to the card 2, arent DNA-containing paint (ink or the like) is applied to a blank space 113 (shown in Figure 4) below the index position, instead of including the DNA-containing paint in the ink for printing the index 2M to be applied. er, two types of UV light with different wavelengths, for example, are radiated on the DNA-containing paint, on two spots (P1, P2), respectively, by DNA sensors 16. In this case, ent signals are respectively returned from the transparent DNA-containing paint. The arent DNA- ning paint here is structured to react differently to UV lights of different wavelengths and to return different reflected light. The two DNA s 16 obtain different reflected light from different irradiated light, and thereby acquire different pieces of group information.

With one piece of group information, if by any chance the information is leaked to a cheater, the DNA-containing paint may be replicated and a dishonest act may be enabled, but by radiating two types of UV light and obtaining two different pieces of group information, security against a dishonest act may be increased. The example described above is advantageous also with respect to the cost because the DNA sensors 16 provided to the two card set trays 3 are to each radiate scent (UV) light of a different wavelength.

The group information, according to the t embodiments, as the information for determination of /improper of a card is added to the card as DNA- containing paint, and it is needless to say that the group information may be group ation common to a casino, or that group information different for each table may be used. Moreover, the group information may be group information whose type is different for each card supplier (card shoe or the like), or group information that is ent for each production lot or for each casino may be set. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to apply the ntaining paint as the group information to a card as a dedicated index for group information other than the index representing the back design, the number or the suit of the card.

Next, the invisible ink or material used for adding information for determination of proper/improper of a card to the card 2 will be further described. This ink or material has been developed by nanotechnology and molecular science, and achieves a security function based on an ble molecular sequence (DNA or the like) by forming a sign code or an encryption code by a combination of DNAs. The sign code or an encryption code based on a molecular sequence (DNA or the like) is a complex of chemical substances of about 0.5 to 5 microns, between the sizes of a single atom and a polymer, and there is an almost infinite number of types (about 30 trillion or more), and production or reproduction may be easily performed. Also, to prevent forgery or reading, a proper sign code may be inserted among a large number of improper codes. It is almost impossible for a forger to replicate the same codes, and also, to tell which is the proper sign code, and thus, the security is high. er, since the sign code or the encryption code based on a molecular ce (DNA or the like) is transparent and invisible, even if the DNA or the like is used being mixed in a transparent liquid or ink, normally, one cannot even know r the DNA or the like is mixed.

It is extremely difficult to remove or inactivate only the sign code or the like based on a lar sequence (DNA or the like), or to disable the function.

When the sign code based on a molecular sequence (DNA or the like) is irradiated by specific light such as UV light of a narrow bandwidth, complex light combining specific ngths according to the sign code is returned. By converting this returned light into an electrical signal by an optical sensor (an optoelectronic sensor) and decoding the signal, presence or absence of an ed sign code may be determined. The molecular sequence (DNA or the like) forming the sign code or the encryption code may be used by mixing only a small amount thereof in a target substance such as pulp, ink or varnish. The substance itself is stable, and does not influence the target substance used for mixing, and use of ink of the molecular sequence (DNA or the like) or the like does not influence the normal tion procedure or production speed.

Determination of the molecular sequence (DNA or the like) may be med almost in real time (in reality, 0.01 seconds or less) by using an appliance that decodes the optoelectronic signal that is returned when specific light is radiated on a target object. Conventional methods are antageous compared to the case of using the molecular sequence (DNA or the like) because, for e, a common hologram is visible, and a method of using specific metal particles as group information allows replication even when the particles are not visible.

Additionally, in the present embodiments, molecular sequence (DNA or the like)-containing paint and a molecular sequence (DNA or the like) sensor for ion thereof are used. The group information based on the lar sequence (DNA or the like)-containing paint is an example of group information which cannot be read by the eyes of a human, and which may be read under a predetermined condition. As the lar sequence (DNA or the like) used for coding the group information, natural molecular sequence (DNA or the like), artificial molecular sequence (DNA or the like), or the like may be used, for example. Moreover, any molecular sequence of a cyclic sequence, such as the base sequence of the molecular sequence (DNA or the like), may be used for coding of the group information. For example, the group information may be coded using an amino-acid sequence of protein.

Various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but modifications may, of course, be made to the ments described above by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present ion. For example, the present invention may be used for games other than baccarat, such as blackjack, and the modes of the devices of the present embodiments may be changed as appropriate ing on the game for which the devices are to be used. Also, the present ion may be used for cards other than the playing cards, such as trading cards, and it is needless to say that the present invention is effective when there is a need to shuffle a predetermined set of cards before a game and may be widely used with respect to various games in which the /improper of the cards has to be determined.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that appended claims cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (35)

Claims
1. [Claim 1] A portable shuffling device comprising: two card set trays which is configured to place stacks of a plurality of cards that are to be shuffled; a common card stocker which is configured to collectively stock cards drawn out from the two card set trays at one position; first g means and second drawing means which are provided respectively below the two card set trays so as to draw out cards from the card set trays into the card stocker one by one; a motor which is configured to drive the first drawing means and the second drawing means; and control means which is configured to perform control of selectively operating the first drawing means and the second drawing means so as to selectively draw out a card that is on either of the two card set trays, wherein the device stocks cards placed on the two card set trays collectively in the common card stocker and shuffles the plurality of cards, and wherein the control means es number-of-cards determining means, the number-of-cards determining means being configured to determine the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and being ured to control the drawing means, where a card is drawn out only from one of the card set trays such that cards are not simultaneously drawn out from the card set trays.
2. [Claim 2] The le shuffling device according to claim 1, comprising: pairs of feed s which are configured to send cards drawn out respectively from the first drawing means and the second drawing means to the card stocker, wherein the feed rollers are set to feed the cards at a higher speed than a speed of the cards drawn out from respective g means.
3. [Claim 3] The portable shuffling device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: card sensors which are configured to detect cards fed by the feed rollers, respectively; and a shuffled card counter which is configured to count, by the two card sensors, the number of cards stocked in the common card stocker.
4. [Claim 4] The portable shuffling device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motor for driving the first drawing means and the second drawing means is one common motor, and is structured to operate only one of the first drawing means and the second drawing means by switching a on direction between left and right.
5. [Claim 5] The le shuffling device ing to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of cards that are shuffling targets are divided and placed on the two card set trays, the number of cards d in the common card stocker is added up and a total number of shuffled cards is aggregated, a shuffling operation is arily stopped when a predetermined number of cards have been stocked in the common card stocker, the shuffling operation is performed again after the cards stocked in the common card stocker have been removed, and a plurality of cards included in a predetermined number of decks are shuffled by a plurality of shuffling operations.
6. [Claim 6] The le shuffling device according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: nonshuffled card detection means which is configured to detect and output e of cards in at least one of the two card set trays.
7. [Claim 7] The portable shuffling device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number-of-cards determining means which is configured to determine the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and controlling the drawing means includes a function for restricting a difference between the numbers of cards to be fed from the two card set trays to be within a predetermined number of cards.
8. [Claim 8] The portable shuffling device according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising: output means which is configured to detect whether a number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance match or not, and outputting match or non-match.
9. [Claim 9] The portable shuffling device ing to any of claims 1 to 8, further sing: an ality determination device which is configured to examine a surface or a design of the card.
10. [Claim 10] The portable shuffling device according to any of claim 1 to 9, further comprising: an /improper determination device including a memory storing information about a proper card for determining proper/improper of the ity of cards that are shuffling targets, the proper/improper determination device being for sequentially acquiring, from the plurality of cards that are shuffling targets, information about proper/improper of a card added to the card, comparing the acquired information with the information about a proper card, and determining proper/improper of the card.
11. [Claim 11] The portable shuffling device according to claim 10, wherein the control means includes a function for stopping an operation, when a card is determined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device, in a state where the card ined to be an improper is placed at a top of the card stocker.
12. [Claim 12] The portable shuffling device according to claim 11, further sing: a card removal lock device which is configured to prevent removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where a card is ined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device.
13. [Claim 13] The portable ing device according to claim 12, further comprising: a reset switch with a key; and the control means which is configured to perform control such that, in a case where a card is determined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device, release of the card removal lock device and restart of a shuffling operation cannot be performed without using the reset switch with a key.
14. [Claim 14] The portable shuffling device according to claim 8, r comprising: a card removal lock device which is configured to prevent removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where the number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance do not match.
15. [Claim 15] The portable shuffling device according to claim 9, further comprising: a card removal lock device which is configured to prevent removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where an ality is detected by the abnormality determination device.
16. [Claim 16] The portable shuffling device according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising: a reset switch with a key; and the control means which is configured to perform control such that, in a case where the number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance do not match, or where an abnormality is detected by the abnormality determination device, release of the card removal lock device and start of a shuffling ion cannot be med without using the reset switch with a key.
17. [Claim 17] The portable shuffling device according to any of claims 11 to 16, n a card to which information for determining proper/improper of the card is added by invisible ink or material to a surface where there is a mark allowing identification of a type or the like of the card is taken as a ing target.
18. [Claim 18] The portable shuffling device according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the ink or material includes a molecule that produces fluorescence reflection, and enables determination of proper/improper of a card by reflected light.
19. [Claim 19] A card shuffling system sing: cards each having ation for determining proper/improper of the card added to a card e by invisible ink or material; and a device which is configured to have the cards divided and placed on two card set trays, and to stock the cards in a common card stocker and shuffling a plurality of cards, wherein the device for shuffling the plurality of cards includes the two card set trays which are configured to place stacks of a plurality of cards that are shuffling targets, the common card stocker which is configured to collectively stock cards drawn out from the two card set trays at one position, first g means and second drawing means which are provided respectively below the two card set trays so as to draw out cards from the card set trays into the card stocker one by one, a motor which is configured to drive the first g means and the second drawing means, and l means which is configured to perform control of selectively operating the first drawing means and the second drawing means so as to selectively draw out a card that is on either of the two card set trays, wherein the control means includes number-of-cards determining means which is configured to determine the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and is configured to control the drawing means, where a card is drawn out only from one of the card set trays such that cards are not simultaneously drawn out from the card set trays, and an proper/improper determination device including a memory which is configured to store information about a proper card in order to determine proper/improper of the cards that are shuffling targets, the /improper determination device being configured to sequentially acquire, from the plurality of cards that are shuffling targets, information about proper/improper added to the card, compare the information of the card with the information about a proper card, and determine proper/improper of the card.
20. [Claim 20] The card shuffling system according to claim 19, wherein the l means es a function for ng an operation, when a card is determined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device, in a state where the card determined to be an improper is placed at a top of the card r.
21. [Claim 21] The card ing system according to claim 19 or 20, comprising: pairs of feed rollers which are configured to send cards drawn out respectively from the first drawing means and the second drawing means to the card stocker, wherein the feed rollers are set to feed the cards at a higher speed than a speed of the cards drawn out from respective drawing means.
22. [Claim 22] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 21, comprising: card sensors which is configured to detect cards fed by the feed rollers, respectively; and a shuffled card counter which is configured to count, by the two card sensors, the number of cards stocked in the common card stocker.
23. [Claim 23] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the motor is ured to drive the first drawing means and the second drawing means is one common motor, and is structured to operate only one of the first g means and the second drawing means by switching a rotation direction between left and right.
24. [Claim 24] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the plurality of cards that are shuffling targets are divided and placed on the two card set trays, the number of cards stocked in the common card stocker is added up and a total number of shuffled cards is aggregated, a ing operation is temporarily stopped when a predetermined number of cards have been stocked in the common card stocker, the shuffling operation is performed again after the cards stocked in the common card r have been removed, and a plurality of cards included in a predetermined number of decks are shuffled by a plurality of shuffling operations.
25. [Claim 25] The card shuffling system ing to any of claims 19 to 24, further comprising: ffled card detection means which is configured to detect and output absence of cards in at least one of the two card set trays.
26. [Claim 26] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 25, wherein the number-of-cards determining means is configured to determine the number of cards to be drawn out by randomly changing, each time, the number of cards to be drawn out at one time within a range of a predetermined value, and is configured to control the g means includes a function for restricting a difference between the numbers of cards to be fed from the two card set trays to be within a predetermined number of cards.
27. [Claim 27] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 26, comprising: output means which is configured to detect whether a number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance match or not, and output match or non-match.
28. [Claim 28] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 27, further comprising: an abnormality determination device which is configured to examine a e or a design of the card.
29. [Claim 29] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 28, further comprising: a card removal lock device which is configured to prevent removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where a card is ined to be an improper by the /improper determination device.
30. [Claim 30] The card shuffling system according to claim 29, further comprising: a reset switch with a key; and the control means which is configured to perform control such that, in a case where a card is ined to be an improper by the proper/improper determination device, release of the card removal lock device and restart of a shuffling ion cannot be performed without using the reset switch with a key.
31. [Claim 31] The card ing system according to claim 27, further comprising: a card removal lock device which is configured to t removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where the number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance do not match.
32. [Claim 32] The card shuffling system ing to claim 28, further comprising: a card removal lock device which is configured to prevent removal of cards from the card stocker in a case where an abnormality is detected by the abnormality determination device.
33. [Claim 33] The card shuffling system according to claim 31 or 32, further comprising: a reset switch with a key; and the control means which is configured to perform l such that, in a case where the number according to the shuffled card counter and the number of cards set in advance do not match, or where an abnormality is detected by the abnormality determination device, release of the card removal lock device and start of a shuffling operation cannot be performed without using the reset switch with a key.
34. [Claim 34] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 33, n a card to which information for determining proper/improper of the card is added by invisible ink or material to a surface where there is a mark allowing identification of a type or the like of the card is taken as a shuffling target.
35. [Claim 35] The card shuffling system according to any of claims 19 to 34, wherein the ink or material includes a molecule that produces fluorescence tion, and enables determination of proper/improper of a card by reflected light.