Playing card coding system and apparatus for dealing coded cards

Apparatus for dealing coded playing cards in one of a plurality of modes, comprising:

• a housing,
• an opening in the housing for introducing at least one coded playing card into the apparatus,
• means for electro-optically reading the coded cards one at a time as they are moved manually past the reading means,
• card guide means operatively associated with the reading means for guiding only one card at a time past the reading means,
• means for selecting one of the plurality of modes,
• means for processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner according to the mode selected, and
• memory means for storing information about the coded cards,
• wherein in one of the operating modes the order in which the coded cards are moved past the reading means is stored in the memory means for later recall.

Apparatus for automatically dealing coded playing cards in accordance with at least one predetermined hand, comprising:

• a housing,
• an opening in the housing for inserting a deck of coded playing cards,
• means for electro-optically reading the coded cards one at a time as the coded cards move past the reading means,
• card guide means operatively associated with the reading means for guiding only one card at a time past the reading means,
• means for automatically introducing the cards one at a time into the guide means, comprising a stationary plate means generally parallel to and in longitudinal alignment with the guide means, a movable plate means generally parallel to the guide means and movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide means, and motor means operatively associated with said movable plate means for incrementally moving the movable plate means toward the guide means,
• means for comparing the code read from each card against the predetermined hand to determine to which player position the card should be dealt and to generate a control signal representative of that player location, and
• distributor means responsive to the control signal for receiving the card from the card guide means and moving the card to the appropriate player location.

Apparatus for automatically dealing coded playing cards in one of a plurality of modes, comprising:

• a housing,
• an opening in the housing for inserting a deck of coded playing cards,
• means for electro-optically reading the coded cards one at a time as the coded cards move past the reading means,
• card guide means operatively associated with the reading means for guiding only one card at a time past the reading means,
• means for automatically introducing the cards one at a time into the guide means,
• means for selecting one of the plurality of modes,
• means for processing the code read from each card in a predetermined manner according to the mode selected,
• display means for visually displaying the mode selected, and
• memory means for storing information about the coded cards,
• wherein in one of the operating modes the order in which the coded cards move past the reading means is stored in the memory means for later recall.