Card distribution and sanitizing apparatus using ultraviolet irradiation
AssigneeWynn Resorts Holdings, LLC
InventorEllen F. Whittemore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A card distribution and sanitization apparatus, such as a dealing shoe, may use ultraviolet light to sanitize the surface of playing cards. The ultraviolet light may be directed to an outlet and/or interior cavity of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus and may be configured to emit light in the 200 nm to 290 nm wavelength range. An enclosure of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus may be coupled to ultraviolet light-emitters and may be configured to hold the playing cards and the ultraviolet light-emitters. An associated controller may control operations of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus.
Claims20
A card distribution and sanitization apparatus for disinfecting a set of cards, the apparatus comprising:
- a power supply;
- an enclosure defining an interior cavity configured to support the set of cards, the enclosure comprising a front wall defining a gap configured to allow a card of the set of cards to be removed from the interior cavity;
- a card sanitizing stack-up coupled to the enclosure and defining an outlet configured to receive the card of the set of cards after the card passes through the gap, the card sanitizing stack-up comprising:
- a first light-emitter operably coupled to the power supply, the first light-emitter configured to emit light toward a first side of the card as the card moves through the outlet;
- a first optical diffuser coupled to the first light-emitter and configured to distribute light emitted from the first light-emitter to the first side of the card;
- a second light-emitter separated from the first light-emitter by at least the outlet and operably coupled to the power supply, the second light-emitter configured to emit light toward a second side of the card as the card moves through the outlet, the second side of the card opposite from the first side of the card;
- and
- a second optical diffuser coupled to the second light-emitter and configured to distribute light emitted from the second light-emitter to the second side of the card;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the power supply and configured to control the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to disinfect both the first side and the second side of the card as the card passes through the outlet.
A card distribution and sanitization apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining:
- an interior cavity configured to support a set of cards;
- and
- an outlet for a card of the set of cards to pass through, the outlet positioned at a front portion of the housing;
- a light-emitting stack-up positioned proximate to the outlet and defining an inlet for receiving the card, the light-emitting stack-up comprising:
- a first light-emitter configured to emit light toward the card as the card passes through the light-emitting stack-up;
- and
- a second light-emitter configured to emit light toward the card as the card passes through the light-emitting stack-up, the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter separated by a passage of the light-emitting stack-up;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter and configured to operate the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to administer a dosage of UV light toward the card causing at least a partial sanitization of a surface of the card.
A card distribution and sanitization apparatus comprising:
- a housing defining:
- an interior cavity configured to support a set of cards;
- and
- a gap for a card of the set of cards to pass through, the gap positioned at a front portion of the housing;
- and
- a light-emitting stack-up positioned proximate to the gap and configured to receive the card after the card passes through the gap, the light-emitting stack-up defining an inlet and a passage, the light-emitting stack-up comprising a pair of light-emitters positioned on opposing sides of the passage and configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the card.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.