Automatic system and methods for accurate card handling

A playing card handling device, comprising:

• a card infeed area that supports a stack of playing cards that has a playing card support surface;
• a card removing system that removes playing cards individually from a bottom of the stack and delivers cards into a playing card collection area;
• a playing card collection area where playing cards are received one at a time after being removed individually from the bottom of the stack;
• a card weight comprising an arm pivotally engaged to the playing card handling device and movable between a first position where a distal end of the card weight is not in contact with any playing cards in the playing card collection area and a second position where the distal end of the card weight is in contact with a top card in the playing card collection area;
• a motor to cause the card weight to pivot;
• a processor to provide signals to the motor to move the card weight between the first position and the second position in response to information received from a playing card counting system;
• and
• a playing card counting system that identifies total numbers of playing cards in at least one area in the playing card collection system.

A playing card shuffling device, comprising:

• a card infeed area that supports a stack of playing cards and that has a playing card support surface;
• a card removing system that removes playing cards individually from a bottom of the stack and into a playing card collection area;
• a playing card collection area where playing cards are received one at a time after being removed individually from the bottom of the stack;
• a card weight comprising an arm pivotally engaged to the playing card handling device and movable between a first disengaged position where a distal end of the card weight is not in contact with any playing cards in the playing card collection area and a second engaged position where the distal end of the card weight is in contact with a top card in the playing card collection area, wherein the card weight is automatically movable by a motor;
• a processor in the card handling device to provide signals to the motor to move the card weight between the first position and the second position;
• a playing card counting system that identifies total numbers of playing cards in at least one area in the playing card collection area;
• a pair of grippers for grasping edges of cards within the card collection area;
• an elevator in the card collection area for raising and lowering cards in the card collection area;
• and
• a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the card weight is placed above gripped cards in the engaged position.

A method of handling playing cards, comprising:

• positioning a vertically disposed stack of playing cards into a card storing area of a card handling device;
• providing a card moving system that moves cards individually out of the card storing area and into a second area from a bottom of the stack;
• measuring at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:
• a number of cards fed from the card storing area, a number of cards remaining in the card storing area, a percent shuffle completion and a height of the stack of cards in the card storing area;
• and when a predetermined value of a parameter is measured, providing a force to an uppermost card in the stack in the card storing area, thereby increasing a force between a lowest card in the stack and the card moving system.

A method of handling playing cards, comprising:

• positioning a plurality of stacked cards in a card handling area;
• selecting a location to divide the plurality of stacked cards;
• creating a gap in the plurality of stacked cards at the selected location by suspending all cards above the selected location in the plurality of stacked cards;
• and
• applying a bracing member above a top card in the suspended stacked cards to prevent cards from moving out of suspension.