Card-handling devices with defect detection and related methods

A method of assembling a card-handling device, the method comprising:

• positioning a defect detection system downstream from an input area and upstream from an output area, the input area sized and shaped to receive cards, the output area for outputting at least some of the cards;
• wherein positioning the defect detection system comprises:
• positioning and orienting an emitter to direct radiation toward a major surface of a card as the card moves along a card path between the input area and the output area;
• positioning a detector to detect the radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected from the major surface of the card as the card moves along the card path;
• and
• positioning a controller operatively connected to the detector and configured to correlate a signal from the detector with an identification of a degree to which the major surface of the card has deviated from a reference plane.

A method of using a card-handling device, the method comprising:

• placing cards in an input area of the card-handling device;
• moving cards from the input area along a card path toward an output area;
• and
• detecting a defective card utilizing a defect detection system interposed between the input area and the output area by:
• directing radiation toward a major surface of a card utilizing an emitter as the card moves along the card path;
• detecting the radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected from the major surface of the card as the card moves along the card path utilizing a detector;
• and
• correlating a signal from the detector with an identification of a degree to which the major surface of the card has deviated from a reference plane utilizing a controller operatively connected to the detector.