Automatic card shuffler

A method of shuffling cards comprising:

• detecting that a number of cards in a card input unit is less than a theoretical number of cards which should be, based on ideal shuffler operation, in the card input unit;
• positioning the card input unit and a card stack below a selected solenoid and corresponding ejector blade;
• incrementally raising the card input unit in concert with firing the selected solenoid causing the ejector blade to attempt to at least partially eject a top card from the card stack until the top card is at least partially ejected;
• in response to the top card being at least partially ejected, recording the position of the card stack;
• and
• based on the card stack position, calculating the number of cards remaining in the card input unit.

A method of shuffling cards comprising:

• randomly ejecting cards from a card stack by continuously activating one or more ejector blades;
• after each activation of the ejector blades, determining whether any cards are in an undesirable orientation in the stack;
• activating one or more packer arms to properly position any cards in an undesirable orientation;
• determining whether or not the activation of the packer arms has properly positioned the cards which were determined to be in an undesirable orientation;
• and
• automatically adjusting the operation of the packer arms in response to the determination of whether or not the activation of the packer arms has properly positioned the cards in an undesirable orientation.

A method of shuffling cards comprising:

• randomly ejecting cards from a card stack by continuously activating one or more ejector blades;
• calculating a speed of one or more cards as they exit the card input unit;
• comparing the calculated speed with a minimum threshold speed stored in a shuffling machine memory device;
• and
• in response to the calculated speed being below the minimum threshold speed, notifying an operator that the playing cards need to be replaced.