Device and method for continuously shuffling cards

A card handler comprising:

• a card staging area for receiving cards to be handled;
• a plurality of card-receiving compartments, said compartments generally vertically stacked, and the card staging area and the compartments are relatively movable, wherein the compartments translate substantially vertically;
• a card mover generally between the staging area and the compartments for moving a card from the staging area into one of the compartments;
• a microprocessor programmed to identify each card in the staging area and to actuate the card mover to move an identified card to a randomly selected compartment,
• wherein the microprocessor is programmable to deliver a selected number of cards to a compartment;
• and
• means responsive to the microprocessor for moving the compartments.

A playing card handler comprising:

• a generally vertically oriented stack of compartments for accumulating cards in at least one compartment, wherein the compartments translate substantially vertically;
• a microprocessor programmed to randomly select the compartment which receives each card in a manner sufficient to accomplish randomly arranging the cards in each compartment, wherein the microprocessor is programmable to deliver a selected number of cards to a selected number of compartments;
• a card staging area for receiving a stack of cards to be handled, wherein the stack of compartments is movable with respect to the card staging area;
• a first card mover responsive to output signals from the microprocessor for moving cards between the staging area and the stack of mixing compartments;
• and
• a second card mover for moving cards from the compartments to a second card receiver.

A method of substantially continuously replenishing a group of processed cards, said method comprising:

• providing a card receiver for receiving cards to be processed;
• providing a single stack of card receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, said stack generally vertically movable, and means for moving the stack;
• providing a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack and moving cards from the card receiver to the compartments;
• providing a second card receiver for receiving processed cards;
• and
• providing a second card moving mechanism for moving cards from the compartments to the second card receiver.

A device for delivering shuffled cards comprising:

• a card receiver for receiving at least one stack of unshuffled cards;
• a plurality of individual compartments, wherein the compartments move in translation;
• a first card mover for moving each card in the stack individually from the card receiver to a compartment;
• a second card mover for moving cards from a compartment to a second card receiver upon demand;
• and
• a processing unit programmed to control the first card mover and the movement of the compartments, wherein the processing unit randomly assigns each card in the stack to a compartment, and controls the second card mover.

A method of forming randomized cards comprising:

• providing a group of unshuffled cards;
• providing a plurality of mixing compartments, wherein the compartments move in translation;
• randomly assigning each card in the group to a compartment, wherein each compartment receives a predetermined number of cards;
• delivering each card in the group to its assigned compartment;
• and
• delivering cards in a compartment to a dealer upon demand.

A card shuffling apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least two card-receiving compartments, wherein each card-receiving compartment can receive more than one card;
• and
• (b) a microprocessor programmed to randomly select the compartment which receives each card, wherein the processor controls delivery of a selected number of cards to a selected number of compartments;
• (c) a card receiver for receiving a group of cards;
• (d) a first card moving mechanism, operably connected to the microprocessor, for moving a card from the card receiver to a selected compartment;
• and
• a compartment moving mechanism, operably connected to the microprocessor, for translating the compartments.

A method for continuously shuffling cards with a card shuffling apparatus having a first card receiver, a plurality of card receiving compartments that translate, and a second card receiver, the method comprising:

• (a) placing cards in the first card receiver;
• (b) selecting a card receiving compartment to receive a card;
• (c) moving at least one card in the first card receiver to the selected compartment;
• and
• (d) unloading a compartment to the second card receiver when the compartment has received a predetermined number of cards.