Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2023/036875 PCT/EP2022/074997
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CARD ARRANGING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to devices and methods for arranging, for
example shuffling,
a set of cards, for example one or more deck(s) of cards used for example, for
games of
Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat, Bridge or Skat. The invention relates further to
integrity check-
ing devices and integrity checking methods to determine if a set of cards is
of the correct
composition, for example for a specific card game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When playing card-based games especially in a regulated casino or cardroom, it
is crucial
that the cards are adequately shuffled, and any accidental or intentional
manipulation is
excluded. Further, the shuffling should be conducted as quickly and
efficiently as possible.
To meet these requirements, shuffling devices are known and widely used e.g.
in casinos
and cardrooms. Shuffling devices according to the state of the art, however,
are compar-
atively large, complex and costly devices that further require frequent
routine as well as
extraordinary maintenance. Malfunctions of card shuffling devices are highly
undesirable
since they result in a potentially long and costly interruption of the game.
In addition to
shuffling, it is often required to bring the cards of a deck into a default
order where the
cards are generally sorted by suit and rank.
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In addition to the shuffling of cards, it is essential that the deck is
complete and has the
required composition, i.e. that number of cards is correct, and no cards are
missing or du-
plicated. Further it needs to be ensured that all cards are in the correct
orientation, i.e. the
face side showing suit and rank shows in the same direction for all cards. A
check of
whether these conditions are met is referred to as integrity check and
dedicated integrity
checking devices are known for this purpose. Such devices, however, whether as
stand-
alone devices or realized integral with a shuffling devices, suffer from
similar drawbacks as
shuffling devices. Integrity checking generally is based on capturing images
of each card
and processing such images using image processing algorithms. Typical state of
the art
devices that rely on various explicit pattern recognition algorithms, however,
typically re-
quire a re-calibration for each different type of card deck with different
artwork, which is
cumbersome and time consuming.
It is the objective of the present invention to improve the state of the art
regarding arrang-
ing, in particular shuffling of cards and/or checking the integrity of a set
of cards, for ex-
ample one or more decks of cards used in the game of Poker or the game of
Bridge. Fa-
vourably, one or more of the before-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art are
prevented
at least in part. It is noted in the following that reference is in the
following mainly made to
the games of Poker and Bridge as typically applications for the sake of
conciseness. The use
in the context of further card games such as Blackjack, Baccarat or Skat, as
well as non-
gaming applications is equally possible.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a general manner, the overall objective is achieved by the subject of the
independent
claims, with the dependent claims, the description and the drawings defining
exemplary
and/or favourable particular embodiments.
In an aspect, the overall objective is achieved by a card arranging device for
arranging a set
of cards, the set of cards including a number of cards, in particular playing
cards, in a target
card order.
The cards each have a proximal card front and a distal card front, the
proximal and the
distal card front being parallel to each other. The cards each further have a
circumferential
card edging, the circumferential card edging extending between and connecting
the prox-
imal and the distal card front of the respective card. The distance between
the proximal
card front and the distal card front defines a card thickness. Typically, and
assumed in the
following, the cards, respectively the proximal and distal card front are
generally rectan-
gular having two long card sides and two short card sides that define the
lateral card di-
mensions. In deviation from an ideal rectangular, however, the edges are
typically
rounded. As playing cards, the cards are typically made from heavy paper,
plastic, card
stock, thin cardboard, plastic coated paper, or a cotton-paper blend. They are
in principle
stiff, but somewhat flexible, in particular bendable.
For playing cards, the long card sides may have a length in a typical range of
87mm to
92mm, and the short card sides may have a length in a typical range of 57mm to
65mm.
By way of example, the cards of a deck may have dimensions of 87.5mm x 57mm up
to
90.9mm x 65mm for poker cards, or approximate dimensions of 88.9mm x 57.1 mm
for
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bridge cards. The card thickness, corresponding to a distance between the
proximal card
front and the distal card front, may, e.g., be in a range of 0.24mm to 0.34mm
for a single
poker card and 0.26mm to 0.34mm for a single bridge card, resulting in a
thickness of
12.48 to 17.68mm for a deck of 52 poker cards and 13.52mm to 17.68mm for a
deck of
52 bridge cards. The weight may, e.g. be in a range of 1.4g to 2.8g for a
single poker card
and 1.8g to 2.48 g for a single bridge card, resulting in a weight of 72.8g to
144.56g for
a deck of 52 poker cards or 93.6g to 128.96g for a deck of 52 bridge cards.
The expression "set of cards" refers to a compilation of a number of cards.
The set of cards
may be a deck as generally known and comprises, e.g., 52 cards for the game of
Poker or
lo Bridge (respectively 53 or 54 with jokers), 32 cards for the game of
Skat, or the like. The
set of cards, however, may in dependence of the specific design and
dimensioning be
suited for other set compositions, for example two or more decks of 52 cards
each. Within
normal tolerances, it is assumed that the card dimensions and thickness, as
well as charac-
teristic properties, in particular bending characteristics, are identical for
all cards of the set
of cards. Within the set of cards, each card generally has a well-defined card
position. Each
card can accordingly be identified by an indenture number, for example from 1
to 52 for a
deck of Poker or Bridge cards. The set of cards accordingly is a stack of
cards.
In the typical case of the cards being playing cards, either of the proximal
front or distal
front of each card is a backside of uniform respectively identical appearance,
while the
other front is a face side that is distinguishable between the cards, e.g. by
suit and rank.
The arranging device, however, may also be used for sets of cards that are not
playing
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cards. By way of example, the cards of the set may each comprise an identifier
for a par-
ticular run of a scientific experiment. In the following, however, the cards
are generally
assumed as being playing cards for exemplary and illustrative purposes.
Within the set of cards, individual cards have a well-defined order, with each
card generally
5 having two neighbouring cards (apart from the outermost cards which only
have one
neighbour each). The set of cards may in particular be arranged in a stack-
like manner one
after the other. The expression "arranging a set of cards" refers to the
establishing a partic-
ular order among the cards as defined by the position of each card within the
set of cards.
As discussed further below in more detail, the target card order may be in
particular a ran-
dom card order. The process of bringing a set, in particular one or more decks
of cards into
a random card order is generally known as "shuffling". The card arranging
device may ac-
cordingly be or operated as a shuffling device. Alternatively, or
additionally, the card ar-
ranging device may, however, also be operated in a different manner, for
example for
bringing the set of cards, in particular a deck of playing cards, into a
default card order,
sorted, e.g., by suit and rank for playing cards. If operated in such manner,
the card ar-
ranging device is referred to as a sorting device.
The card arranging device includes a set receptacle, the set receptacle having
a proximal
receptacle wall, a distal receptacle wall and a receptacle ground. The distal
receptacle wall
is spaced apart with respect to the proximal receptacle wall in a distal
direction along a
normal axis by a receptacle clearance. A direction opposite to the proximal
direction along
the normal axis is referred to as distal direction. The proximal receptacle
wall, the distal
receptacle wall and the receptacle ground delimit a receptacle room in which
the set of
cards can be accommodated with the proximal card front of a most proximal card
facing
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the proximal receptacle wall and the distal card front of a most distal card
facing the distal
receptacle wall and with a base section of the circumferential card edging of
each card
resting on the receptacle ground.
While other arrangements are in principle possible, it is in the following
assumed that the
normal axis extends in horizontal direction, transverse to gravity. Within the
set receptacle,
the cards are generally arranged one after the other, each (with exception of
the most
proximal card and the most distal card) having a proximal neighbour (also
referred to as
predecessor card) and a distal neighbour (also referred to as successor card).
Within the set receptacle, the cards are arranged in a common orientation.
Typically, and
as assumed in the following, the cards are oriented such that one of its long
card sides rests
in each case on the receptacle ground. While not essential, such positioning
of the cards is
favourable regarding stability.
While other arrangements and operational configurations are in principle
possible, it is in
the following assumed that in an operational configuration the card arranging
device is
levelled such that the normal axis and a primary lateral axis as explained
further below are
horizontally oriented respectively transverse to the direction of gravity,
which in turn, is
aligned with a secondary lateral axis. In such setup, the generally flat
receptacle ground is
also horizontal. The proximal and distal receptacle wall further extend
typically transver-
sally from the receptacle ground, such that the proximal and the distal
receptacle wall de-
fine, together with the receptacle ground, a U-shape in a viewing direction
along the pri-
mary lateral axis, transverse to the normal axis, with the receptacle walls
defining the legs
and the receptacle ground defining the base of the U-shape. For the before-
mentioned
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typical orientation, the receptacle walls project from the receptacle ground
vertically up-
wards.
The set receptacle is generally not closed at all sides. At a top side it is
generally open to
allow insertion and removal of the set of cards. As explained further below, a
door may
however be present to allow or disable access to the set receptacle. At its
(generally verti-
cally oriented) lateral receptacle sides transverse to the normal axis, the
set receptacle is
generally also open in order to allow interaction with a first and second
pusher as well as
moving cards between the set receptacle and an auxiliary card position as
defined for ex-
ample by an auxiliary card support as explained further below. Further, an
open receptacle
as mentioned is further useful for tilting the cards respectively the set of
cards as discussed
further below in more detail in the context of initial card order
determination and/or integ-
rity checking. Further, the proximal and/or distal receptacle wall may be
discontinuous
and/or have openings, cut-outs, slots, or the like. Also, the proximal and
distal receptacle
wall do not necessarily have identical dimensions. In particular, the distal
receptacle wall
1 5 may have a lower height respectively project from the receptacle ground
by a shorter dis-
tance as compared to the proximal receptacle wall. Such design is favourable
in particular
embodiment to allow appropriate arrangement of further components, such as a
dropping
roller as discussed further below. Further, the proximal and distal receptacle
wall may in
dependence of the design have different length respectively extensions along
the primary
lateral axis. In particular, the proximal receptacle wall respectively a
peripheral proximal
receptacle wall region may extend further and project beyond the distal
receptacle wall in
the first lateral direction as discussed further below_ The proximal
receptacle wall may
along the primary later axis overlap with the card transfer unit as discussed
below and/or
the auxiliary card position. The region where the proximal and distal
receptacle wall do not
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overlap along the primary lateral axis may in particular be used for arranging
the card trans-
fer unit, in particular a pickup roller and transport rollers as discussed
further below. The
proximal and distal receptacle walls are generally parallel to each other
respectively have
parallel inner surfaces as proximal respectively distal delimitations of the
receptacle room.
The card arranging device further includes a first and second pusher, the
first and second
pusher being arranged spaced apart with respect to each other along a primary
lateral axis.
The primary lateral axis defines a first lateral direction and a second
lateral direction op-
posed to the first lateral direction. The primary lateral axis extending
transverse to the nor-
mal axis. The first and second pusher are arranged to project into the
receptacle room. As
discussed further below in the context of exemplary embodiments, the second
pusher, in
particular an outside of the second pusher, pointing away from the first
pusher respectively
facing the auxiliary receptacle, may be chamfered or bevelled. In a favourable
embodi-
ment, the second pusher is along the normal axis arranged and adjusted such
that its distal
end is symmetrically between the transport rollers respectively partly
overlaps with a
change position card. Thereby, the second pusher can push the change position
card back
into the set receptacle at the end of a change procedure as discussed further
below. In
particular the distal end of the second pusher may be in the middle between
the proximal
and distal card front of the change position card respectively have the same
or approxi-
mately the same distance to the proximal and distal card front.
The first and second pusher may for example each be pin- or leg shaped and may
be con-
figured to project into the receptacle room either from proximal towards
distal or from
distal towards proximal. While other designs may be used as well, the first
and second
pusher may in particular project into the receptacle room from the same side,
i.e. either
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from proximal towards distal or vice versa. The first and second pusher are
arranged suffi-
ciently spaced apart along the primary lateral axis to allow cards
respectively the set of
cards between them. For the before-mentioned positioning of the set of cards,
the distance
by which the first and second pusher are spaced corresponds at least to the
length of a
long card side and is typically somewhat larger.
In a particular design, the proximal receptacle wall comprises slots or cut-
outs which ex-
tend from both ends along the primary lateral axis, and the first and second
pusher project
into the receptacle room via such slots or cut-outs.
As explained further below in more detail, the first and second pusher are
used to move
cards along the primary lateral axis by way of contacting the circumferential
card edging,
in particular at one of the short card sides and pushing the card or cards,
with the card or
cards sliding on the receptacle ground. In a possible design, a respective end
of the first
pusher and of the second pusher, in particular a distal pusher end of the
first pusher and
of the second pusher, are aligned with each other along the normal axis. Other
designs,
however, are also possible. In particular, the distal pusher end the second
pusher may be
displaced in proximal direction with respect to the distal pusher end of the
first pusher,
respectively the distal pusher end of the second pusher may be more proximal
than the
distal end of the first pusher.
The card arranging device further includes a receptacle-pusher moving unit.
The recepta-
cle-pusher moving unit is arranged to vary a relative position between the set
receptacle
and the first and second pusher along the normal axis and along the primary
lateral axis.
Position variation is obtained by moving at least one of the set receptacle
and the first and
second pusher unit, in particular either of the set receptacle or the first
and second pusher
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unit, respectively. Position variation along the normal and primary lateral
axis are prefera-
bly controllable independent from each other. For varying the relative
position between the
set receptacle and the first and second pusher along the normal axis and along
the primary
lateral axis, either or both of the set receptacle and/or the first and second
pusher may be
5 moved with respect to a support structure of the card arranging device.
In particular em-
bodiments as discussed further below, one of the set receptacle or the first
and second
pusher is movable along the normal axis only while the other of the set
receptacle or the
first and second pusher unit is movable along the primary lateral axis only.
The support
structure is generally a non-movable structure, for example a chassis or
frame, of the card
10 arranging device.
In an embodiment, the first and second pusher are movable in combination only.
In a spe-
cific design, the first and second pusher are rigidly connected and optionally
formed inte-
grally with each other. In alternative designs, however, the first and second
pusher are
separate elements. In such design, the first and second pusher may optionally
be movable
via the receptacle-pusher moving unit independent from each other. As will
become more
readily apparent below, at most one of the first and second pusher may
interact with the
set respectively with cards of the set of cards at any point in time. The
position of the other
pusher is not decisive as long as it does not interfere.
The first pusher is arranged to push the cards of the set of cards or the
cards of a subset of
the set of cards, in particular a proximal removal subset or proximal
insertion subset as
explained further below, along the primary lateral axis into the first lateral
direction. Simi-
larly, the second pusher is arranged to push the cards of the set of cards or
the cards of a
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subset of the set of cards, in particular the proximal removal subset or the
proximal inser-
tion subset, along the primary lateral axis into the second lateral direction,
opposite to the
first lateral direction. The pushing is done via a contact of the first
respectively second
pusher with the circumferential card edging of the respective cards. The most
distal card
that may be pushed by the first respectively second pusher is determined by
the position
of a pusher end, in particular a distal pusher end, of the first respectively
second pusher
along the normal axis.
The receptacle-pusher moving unit generally includes one or more actuators
such as rotary
and/or linear motors and/or voice coil actuators and may further include
components such
as one or more reduction gear(s), spindle(s), linear guide(s), and the like.
It is noted that
generally the reference to different drives and/or actuators does not exclude
that some
drives may be realized integral with each other.
The card arranging device further includes a card transfer unit. The card
transfer unit is
configured to move a change position card between the set receptacle and an
auxiliary
card position along the primary lateral axis. The change position card is a
card the position
of which shall be changed within the set. When in the auxiliary card position,
the change
position card is generally not in the receptacle room. However, a peripheral
wall region of
a receptacle wall, for example a peripheral proximal wall region of the
proximal receptacle
wall, may in some design be configured to serve as an abutment and force a
proximal re-
moval subset or proximal insertion subset against the pickup roller or a
bending member
as discussed further below. For such design, such peripheral wall region may
along the
primary lateral axis overlap with the card transfer unit, in particular with a
pickup roller
thereof. In dependence of the design, such peripheral wall region, e.g
peripheral proximal
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wall region, may or may not be elastically bendable. Moving the change
position card be-
tween the set receptacle and the auxiliary card position along the primary
lateral axis may
in particular be done by displacing the change position card along the primary
lateral axis
in a linear or substantially linear manner by way of the card transfer unit.
The card transfer unit may in particular be designed to couple, in
particularly frictionally
couple, to the distal card front and/or proximal card front. In certain
embodiments, the
card transfer unit includes one or more rotatory driven rollers as discussed
further below.
In an embodiment, the change position card is coupled, in particularly
frictionally coupled,
to the card transfer unit respectively a component thereof when the change
position card
is in the auxiliary card position.
In some embodiment, moving the change position card from the auxiliary card
position
into the set receptacle may partly be carried out via the second pusher.
Therefore, the sec-
ond pusher may at the same time also form part of the card transfer unit.
The card arranging device further includes a control unit. The control unit is
generally based
on one or more microcontrollers and/or microprocessors that run software
and/or firm-
ware code to control all actuators and optionally process sensor feedback and
generally
execute a card arranging procedure and optionally further procedures, such as
a card ar-
ranging planning procedure, as discussed further below. The control unit may
further in-
clude power circuitry for driving the actuators as well as supplementary and
auxiliary cir-
cuitry, and/or power supply circuitry as generally known in the art. The
control unit may
have a communication interface, e.g. an USB interface for data exchange with
an external
computing device, e.g. a laptop. This is useful e.g. for maintenance, fault
diagnosis, con-
figuration as well as software authentication.
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The control unit may include or be coupled to a human-machine interface
respectively user
interface. The human-machine interface may be used to provide commands to the
arrang-
ing device, in particular power on/off, a starting command, potentially
shuffling / sorting
mode switch commands and/or changing into a cleaning mode. The user interface
may
further output indications, such as status information and information about
any excep-
tional situation that needs to be taken care of, for example a device
malfunction or the
failing of an integrity check as discussed further below.
The card arranging device is configured to execute a card arranging procedure.
The card
arranging procedure may include repeatedly executing a position change
procedure.
The position change procedure includes (a) controlling the receptacle-pusher
moving unit
to move the first pusher and the set receptacle with respect to each other
along the normal
axis into a removal position. In the removal position, the first pusher covers
along the nor-
mal axis a proximal removal subset of the set of cards and does not cover
along the normal
axis a distal removal subset of the set of cards. The proximal and distal
removal subset are
1 5 adjacent to each other. A distal pusher end of the first pusher
accordingly generally corre-
sponds to the position along the normal axis at the interface of proximal and
distal removal
subset, such that the distal pusher end of the first pusher is substantially
flush with the
distal card front of the most distal card of the proximal removal subset.
Alternatively, the
distal pusher end of the first pusher may be set back with respect to the
interface between
the proximal removal subset and the distal insertion subset by less than a
card thickness in
the proximal direction such that the first pusher partly overlaps with the
most distal card of
proximal insertion subset, i.e. the distal pusher end of the first pusher is
along the normal
axis located between the card fronts of the most distal card of the proximal
removal subset
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Generally, it is preferable if a pusher end, in particular a distal pusher end
of the first re-
spectively second pusher is along the normal axis at the middle between the
proximal card
front and the distal card front of a most distal card that shall be pushed by
the first respec-
tively second pusher, i.e. aligned with the card centre along the normal axis.
The first pusher covering the proximal removal subset generally means that the
first pusher
fully extends along respectively spans all cards of the proximal removal
subset with excep-
tion of the most distal card of the proximal removal subset, and fully or
partly spans the
most distal card of the proximal removal subset as mentioned before.
Generally, a pusher,
being it the first or second pusher, covering a card or a number of cards
generally means
that the cards respectively each of the number of cards is covered by the
respective pusher
fully or partly along the normal axis. To put it differently, a pusher
generally covers those
and only those cards that may be pushed by a pusher movement along the primary
lateral
axis.
The position change procedure further includes (b) controlling the receptacle-
pusher mov-
1 5 ing unit to move the first pusher and the set receptacle with respect
to each other along
the primary lateral axis, thereby pushing the proximal removal subset by the
first pusher in
the first lateral direction from a standard set configuration into a removal
offset set config-
uration where the proximal removal subset is offset with respect to the distal
removal sub-
set in the first lateral direction in an overlapping manner. The standard set
configuration
may be an aligned set configuration where all cards of the set of cards are
substantially
laterally aligned, respectively substantially aligned along the primary
lateral axis. Exact
alignment, while it may be given in some embodiments, however, is generally
not required.
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The most distal card of the proximal removal subset is the change position
card. The second
pusher may in this step be moved along with the first pusher and in particular
be fixed with
respect to the first pusher or may not move with respect to a support
structure of the card
arranging device. The part of the proximal removal subset that does not
overlap with the
5 distal removal subset along the primary lateral axis is referred to as
peripheral region of the
proximal removal subset and the respective part of the change position card
(i.e. the most
distal card of the proximal removal subset) is referred to as peripheral part
of the change
position card. The peripheral region of the proximal removal subset,
respectively the
change position card, is accordingly a region along the primary lateral axis
that points to-
10 wards the auxiliary card position, in particular in the first lateral
direction.
The position change procedure further includes (c) controlling the card
transfer unit to
move the change position card from the set receptacle to the auxiliary card
position,
thereby removing the change position card from the proximal removal subset.
The move-
ment of the change position card into the auxiliary card position is generally
a movement
15 in the first lateral direction.
The position change procedure may further include (d) controlling the
receptacle-pusher
moving unit to move the second pusher and the set receptacle with respect to
each other
along the primary lateral axis, thereby pushing the proximal removal subset by
second
pusher in a second lateral direction, the second lateral direction being
opposed to the first
lateral direction, into the standard set configuration. The first pusher may
in this step be
moved along with the second pusher and in particular be fixed with respect to
the second
pusher or may not move with respect to a support structure of the card
arranging device.
Step (d) may not be required as explained further below.
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In an embodiment, the position change procedure includes, prior to carrying
out step (d),
an intermediate step (d0). In step (d0), the set receptacle and the second
pusher are
moved with respect to each other along the normal axis such that the second
pusher covers
along the normal axis the proximal removal subset which at this point does not
comprise
the change position card anymore. Thereby, it is ensured that the second
pusher can push
all cards of the proximal removal subset into the second lateral direction 1-2
in subsequent
step (d).
The position change procedure further includes (e) controlling the receptacle-
pusher mov-
ing unit to move the first pusher and the set receptacle with respect to each
other along
the normal axis into an insertion position different from the removal
position. In the inser-
tion position, the first pusher covers along the normal axis a proximal
insertion subset of
the set of cards and does not cover along the normal axis a distal insertion
subset of the set
of cards. The proximal and distal insertion subset are adjacent to each other.
This step is
generally similar to step (a) as explained before. The insertion position
defines the position
1 5 at which the change position card is to be inserted respectively re-
inserted into the set of
cards. The change position card will be inserted at a position along the
normal axis that is
generally between the distal pusher end of the first pusher and the next
following card in
the distal direction, i.e. the most proximal card of the distal insertion
subset.
The first pusher covering the proximal insertion subset generally means that
the first pusher
fully extends along respectively spans all cards of the proximal insertion
subset with excep-
tion of the most distal card of the proximal insertion subset, and fully or
partly covers the
most distal card of the proximal insert subset as mentioned before.
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In an embodiment, the position change procedure includes, as intermediate step
(e0) that
is carried out prior to step (e), moving the set receptacle and the first and
second pushers,
in particular the second pusher, into the second lateral direction 1-2 into a
position where
they do not interfere with the cards when the receptacle-pusher moving unit
subsequently
moves the set receptacle and the first and second pusher with respect to each
other, in
particular along the normal axis.
The position change procedure further includes (f) controlling the receptacle-
pusher mov-
ing unit to move the first pusher and the set receptacle with respect to each
other along
the primary lateral axis, thereby pushing the proximal insertion subset by the
first pusher
in the first lateral direction from the standard set configuration into an
insertion offset set
configuration werethe proximal insertion subset is offset with respect to the
distal insertion
subset in the first lateral direction in an overlapping manner. This step is
generally similar
to step (b) as explained before. The part of the proximal insertion subset
that does not
overlap with the distal insertion subset along the primary lateral axis is
referred to as pe-
ripheral region of the proximal insertion subset. The peripheral region of the
proximal in-
sertion subset is accordingly a region along the primary lateral axis that
points towards the
auxiliary card position, in particular in the first lateral direction.
The position change procedure further includes (g) controlling the card
transfer unit to
move the change position card from the auxiliary card position into the set
receptacle,
thereby inserting the change position card into the set of cards at a position
corresponding
to the interface between the proximal and the distal insertion subset. The
movement of the
change position card back into the set receptacle is generally a movement in
the second
lateral direction. In principle, this step is complementary to the removal
step (c) discussed
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before. However, when again inserting the change position card into the set of
cards, it is
crucial to avoid any jamming, bucking or kinking of the cards but to insert
the change po-
sition card in a smooth manner. Particular and favourable measures to ensure
smooth in-
sertion are discussed further below. In particular, this step may include
bending a portion
of the proximal removal subset that points towards the auxiliary card
position, also referred
to as peripheral region the proximal removal subset, into the proximal
direction as dis-
cussed further below.
The position change procedure may further include (h) controlling the
receptacle-pusher
moving unit to move the second pusher and the set receptacle with respect to
each other
along the primary lateral axis, thereby pushing the cards of the set of cards,
in particular
the cards of the proximal insertion subset and the change position card, by
the second
pusher into the standard set configuration. After completing step (h), the set
of cards is
aligned like generally at the beginning. The change position card, however,
has changed
its position within the set of cards as compared to the situation prior to
executing the po-
sition change procedure. In an embodiment, step (h) is executed at least part
of step (g)
in an integral manner.
In an embodiment, the position change procedure may, prior to carrying out
step (h), car-
rying out intermediate steps (h01 ) and/or (h02). In a step (h01 ) the
pushers, in particular
the first pusher may be moved in into the second lateral direction into a
position where the
first pusher is displaced in the second lateral direction with respect to the
set of cards, in
particular the cards of the distal insertion subset. That is, the first pusher
is moved into a
position where a gap is present between the circumferential card edging of the
cards, in
particular the cards of the distal insertion subset and the first pusher_
Thereby, the proximal
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insertion subset may be pushed in the shown embodiment into the second lateral
direction
by the second pusher. In subsequent step (h02), the set receptacle and the
pushers, in
particular the second pusher, are moved with respect to each other along the
normal axis
into a position where the pushers, in particular the second pusher covers at
least the prox-
imal insertion subset and the change position card, but not the further distal
cards of the
distal insertion subset.
The steps of the position change procedure as mentioned before are generally
executed in
the order as presented above. It is to be understood, however, that specific
steps may in-
clude a number of sub-steps as discussed further below in more detail and/or
further steps
may be executed between subsequent of the before-mentioned steps. Further,
some steps
may not always be executed in some executions of the position change
procedure. It is
generally assumed that the set of cards is in the standard set configuration
at the beginning
of the card arranging procedure.
Step (d) serves the main purpose of ensuring that the card transfer unit, in
particular a
pickup roller and/or bending projection as discussed further below, can in any
case contact
the most distal card of the proximal insertion subdeck in step (g). Similarly,
step (h) serves
the main purpose of ensuring that the card transfer unit can in any case
contact the most
distal card of the proximal removal subdeck, respectively the change position
card, in step
(c) of a subsequent execution of the position change procedure since.
Otherwise more
distal cards of the proximal removal subset respectively proximal insertion
subset may be
between the card transfer unit and the appropriate card as mentioned,
respectively impede
contact between the card transfer unit and such card. Further, these steps may
be required
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to avoid interference of the set of cards or the pushers with the card
transfer unit in de-
pendence of the design. In some designs, however, steps (d) and (h) of the
position
change procedure are not necessary and may be omitted. In an embodiment, steps
(d)
and/or (h) of the position change procedure may not be present and the card
arranging
5 device may be configured to execute the position change procedure without
steps (d)
and/or (h). Also, the second pusher which is used in steps (d), (h) may not be
present in
such embodiment and any reference to the first and second pusher may be
understood as
reference to the first pusher.
Step (d) may only be required if, in a position change procedure, the
insertion position is
10 more proximal within the set of cards as compared to the removal
position, respectively if
the set receptacle needs to move into the distal direction from the removal
position into the
insertion position. Further, step (h) may in particular only be required if
the insertion posi-
tion is more distal within the set of cards than the removal position in a
next following sub-
sequent execution of the position change procedure, respectively if the set
receptacle
15 needs to move into the distal direction from the insertion position into
removal position for
next following subsequent execution of the position change procedure. The
position
change procedure may include selectively executing step (d) respectively step
(h) if re-
quired but not to execute step (d) respectively step (h) otherwise.
It is noted that all manipulation of the set of cards, its subsets as well as
individual cards
20 generally takes place in two dimensions as defined by the normal axis
and the primary lat-
eral axis. Further, apart from potentially some moderate elastic bending as
mentioned, it
ideally only involves displacement movements along the mentioned two axes, but
no turn-
ing or rotating of cards, while some rotation around the normal axis
respectively an axis
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parallel to the normal axis may occur in dependence of the design and is
acceptable. Rota-
tion of cards about the lateral axes respectively axis parallel to the lateral
axes is generally
impossible and favourably excluded by design. Also, there is in particular no
turning or flip-
ping of cards. This approach allows a compact design of the card arranging
device and a
kinematic arrangement of comparatively low complexity that may further be
realized with
a comparatively low number of components. It is further favourable in view of
a smooth
and reliable operation with low, if any risk of card being marked or damaged.
In an embodiment, an anti-rotation device is present that prevents rotation of
the change
position card around the normal axis when being transferred between the set
receptacle
and the auxiliary card position. The anti-rotation device may be a stop that
is arranged
between the set receptacle and the transfer unit along the primary lateral
axis and serve as
stop for the change position card when rotating beyond a critical angle that
may result in
card jamming in particular of the change position card. By way of example, a
maximum
temporary rotation around the normal axis respectively an axis parallel to the
normal axis
by 15 degrees, 30 degrees or 45 degrees or any value in between may be
acceptable and
define the critical angle.
It has been found that the card arranging device, optionally including
integrity checking
functionality respectively being operable as integrity checking device as
discussed further
below, may be realized with comparatively compact dimensions of, e.g. 242mm x
160mm
X 11 7 m m excluding door arrangement. Therefore, it is particularly suited to
be integrated
into a card game table and be operated for inserting and removing the set of
cards, such
as a deck of cards used for the game of Poker, from above, i.e. from the top
of the card
game table, with the card arranging device being arranged below the tabletop
and
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mounted via the support structure of the card arranging device. Alternatively,
however,
the card arranging device may be designed as standalone device.
In some embodiments of the card arranging device, the position change
procedure does
not necessarily include the steps (a) to (h) as discussed above and/or further
below as well
as intermediate steps. The right for seeking protection for the structure of
the card arrang-
ing device as such is explicitly reserved.
In dependence of how the card arranging procedure is carried out and in
particular the
removal position and the insertion position are determined in each repetition
of the posi-
tion change procedure, the card arranging device may be a shuffling device
respectively
operate in a shuffling mode, and/or be a sorting device respectively operate
in a sorting
mode. When being a sorting device respectively operating in a sorting mode,
the set of
cards, for example a deck cards used for a card game, is transferred from any
arbitrary or
random order into a desired and-pre-defined order, in particular an order
where the cards
of a deck are sorted by suit and rank. If the device can operate alternatively
in a shuffling
mode or a sorting mode, the mode is favourably clearly indicated via a human-
machine
interface as mentioned before. The indication is favourably given in a manner
that it is
clearly visible and unambiguous for everyone at the card game table.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device includes an auxiliary card
supportthat is con-
figured to support the change position card in the auxiliary card position, in
particular
against gravity. The auxiliary card support may be an e.g. elongated support
element that
extends along the primary lateral axis and on which the change position card
may rest with
the base section of its circumferential card edging. In further designs that
are exemplarily
assumed in the following, the auxiliary card support is an auxiliary
receptacle, the auxiliary
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receptacle being arranged offset with respect to the set receptacle along the
primary lateral
axis in a first lateral direction. An auxiliary receptacle is configured to
accom modate a single
card, namely the change position card. An auxiliary receptacle may comprise
respectively
consist of support elements, such as auxiliary receptacle walls which are
spaced apart from
each other along the normal direction by a distance that is suited to receive
a single card
between them, i.e. they are spaced apart by a distance which is generally
slightly larger
than the card thickness. It is noted, however, that the slackness is not
critical in typical de-
signs. An auxiliary receptacle generally further includes an auxiliary
receptacle ground on
which the base section of the circumferential card edging may rest, such that
the auxiliary
receptacle ground supports the change position card against gravity. An
auxiliary recepta-
cle is generally not closed and is particularly open towards the set
receptacle to allow a
movement of the change position card.
If the auxiliary card support structure is formed by an auxiliary receptacle,
the change po-
sition card is, when in the auxiliary card position, in a room that is
generally at least partly
delimited by the auxiliary receptacle and may in particular be at least partly
delimited in
downwards direction respectively in a fourth lateral direction by the
auxiliary receptacle
ground and in the normal respectively distal direction by the auxiliary
receptacle walls.
While an auxiliary card support structure and in particular an auxiliary
receptacle is may be
present, it is not mandatory in dependence of the overall design.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device may include an ejection device,
the ejection
device being configured to move the set of cards at least partly out of the
set receptacle in
an ejection direction into an ejection position. This process is referred to
as set ejection.
Typically, the ejection direction is a third lateral direction transverse to
the normal axis as
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well as the primary lateral axis. In a typical operational configuration where
card arranging
device is levelled, the ejection direction is directed against the direction
of gravity and is
aligned with the secondary lateral axis as mentioned before. The ejection
device generally
includes at least one ejection member and an ejection member drive for moving
the ejec-
tion member under control of the control unit between a retracted ejection
member posi-
tion and an advanced ejection member position.
In an embodiment, the ejection device may be realized by the receptacle ground
or a part
thereof which may be arranged movable along the secondary lateral axis
direction respec-
tively in the ejection direction with respect to the receptacle walls. Here,
the retracted ejec-
tion member position is a normal or default position of the receptacle ground
that is also
assumed during execution of the card arranging procedure, while in the
advanced ejection
member position is offset in the ejection direction respectively third lateral
direction. By
moving the receptacle ground into the advanced ejection member position, the
set of cards
may be lifted and accordingly at last partly ejected out of the set receptacle
by moving the
receptacle ground into the advanced receptacle ground position. Generally, in
the ad-
vanced position, the set of cards projects over the set receptacle walls while
it stays back
behind the receptacle walls otherwise.
In another embodiment, the ejection device includes a number of for example
two to five
ejection pins as ejection members in coupling with an e.g. motorized ejection
member
drive. The ejection pins may, for example extend along the normal axis and be
displaced
with respect to each other along the primary lateral axis. The ejection pins
may each been
movable between a retracted ejection pin position where the respective
ejection is flush
with or stands back behind the receptacle ground respectively its inner
surface, and an
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advanced ejection pin position where the respective ejection pin projects into
the recepta-
cle room. In the retracted position of the ejection pins, a set of cards may
accordingly rest
on the receptacle ground, while it rests on the ejection pins if the ejection
pins project into
the receptacle room and in particular in the advanced ejection pin position.
5 The control unit may be configured to control the card arranging device
to execute a set
ejection to move the ejection member or ejection members into its respective
advanced
retraction member position subsequent to execution the card arranging
procedure, in or-
der to allow manual removal of the set of cards and to control the ejection
member drive
to move the at least one ejection member into its respective retracted
ejection member
10 position for executing the arranging sequence. Further, the control unit
may be configured
to move the at least one ejection member into its respective advanced ejection
member
position for the manually placing a set of cards into the set receptacle
respectively the re-
ceptacle room prior to executing the card arranging procedure and optional
upstream pro-
cedures as explained further below. After placing a set of cards into the
receptacle room,
15 the ejection member or ejection members, for example ejection pins, with
the set of card
resting thereon, may be moved into their respective retracted position.
Thereby, it is en-
sured that the set of cards is handled in a gently and placed on the
receptacle ground in a
smooth manner. This process may be considered as reversal to the set ejection
and is re-
ferred to as loading.
20 In an embodiment with a tilting member as discussed further below, one
of for example
two to five ejections pins may at the same time serve as tilting member
respectively tilting
pin and its actuator as tilting member drive respectively tilting pin drive.
In such design, the
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ejection pins have further in each case a dedicated actuator with the actuator
moving the
ejection pin serving as tilting member also being the tilting member actuator.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device further includes a door, the door
being mov-
able between an open-door position and a closed-door position under control of
the con-
trol unit. In the open-door position, the set receptacle respectively the
receptacle room is
accessible from outside the card arranging device for placing a set of cards
in the receptacle
room or removing a set of cards from the receptacle room. The door may be
operatively
coupled to a door drive for moving the door between the closed-door position
and the
open-door position. The control unit may be configured to generally control
the door drive
to move the door into the open position in each case prior to a set ejection
and move the
door into the closed position subsequent to a set loading. The door drive may
be a dedi-
cated drive or be integral with a further drive as explained further below.
Favourably, the
door is locked in the closed position, thereby preventing a manual opening.
The door is favourably arranged movably between the closed-door position and
the open-
door position in a plane transverse to the direction of gravity or secondary
lateral axis, re-
spectively in a plane defined by the normal axis and primary lateral axis. In
an operational
configuration, the door is generally arranged at a top side respectively upper
side of the
card arranging device. Such setup and movement of the door is favourable in
that the door,
being it in the open-door position, the closed-door position or any
intermediate door p0-
sition, does not obstruct the view of any person sitting e.g. at a game table
such as a poker
table, thereby ensuring that everyone can observe the insertion respectively
removal of a
set of cards. In an embodiment, the movement of the door is a linear movement,
for ex-
ample along respectively parallel to the normal axis or primary lateral axis.
Favourably, the
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door is arranged and dimensioned to fully prevent any access as well as view
on the set
receptacle respectively the inside of the card arranging device in the closed-
door position.
For a setup where the card arranging device is integrated into a card game
table as men-
tioned before, the door may be arranged on the upper side respectively top
side of the
tabletop while the device is otherwise generally arranging into respectively
below the tab-
letop, with the set receptacle being accessible via a cut-out of the table top
in the open
door position, while the cut-out is covered by the door in the closed door
position. In the
ejection position, the set of cards favourably projects beyond the door
respectively the up-
per side of the card arranging device, respectively the tabletop of the card
game table.
In alternative embodiments, the door movement does not make a linear movement
but,
e.g. a pivoting movement. In an embodiment, the pivoting axis of the door
extends parallel
to the primary lateral axis. Such design with a pivoting door is especially
suited for an ar-
rangement where the door is flush with the tabletop in the closed-door
position. Other
arrangements e.g. with a combined linear and pivoting movement, however, are
possible
as well.
For moving the door between the closed-door position and the open-door
position, a ded-
icated door drive may be foreseen, for example a servo drive. Alternatively,
however an-
other drive respectively actuator may also serve as door drive. In such
embodiment, a door
coupling device may be foreseen between for selectively coupling the door and
the drive
or actuator serving as door drive. By way of example, the door coupling device
may be
realized or include a door solenoid under controlled by the control unit.
Further by exam-
ple, a receptacle displacement actuator, for example a voice coil actuator as
discussed fort
below, may also serve as door drive. In such embodiment, the door moves
together with
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the set receptacle if the coupling is activated, with the moving direction of
the door be-
tween the open- and closed-door position being a proximal-distal movement.
In an embodiment, the first and second pusher are rigidly coupled. A pusher
linkage mem-
ber may be provided between the first and second pusher and extend along the
primary
lateral axis between the first and second pusher. In a particular embodiment,
the first and
second pusher are integrally formed with each other and the pusher linkage
member, for
example in a U-shaped form. The pusher linkage member may form the base, while
the
first and second pusher may form the legs of the "U". In a design where the
first and second
pusher are rigidly coupled and optionally formed integrally, they generally
move together.
In an embodiment, the set receptacle is movable with respect to a support
structure of the
card arranging device by the receptacle-pusher moving unit along the normal
axis only,
and wherein the first and second pusher are movable with respect to the
support structure
by the receptacle-pusher moving unit along the primary lateral axis only. In
such design,
the variation of the relative position between the set receptacle and the
first and second
pusher along the normal axis and along the primary lateral axis is divided
into a movement
of the set receptacle along the normal axis and a movement of the first and
second pusher
along the primary lateral axis. This kind of design appears favourable
regarding the com-
plexity of the overall design as well as control. In an alternative
embodiment, however, the
set receptacle is movable with respect to a support structure of the card
arranging device
by the receptacle-pusher moving unit along the primary lateral axis only, and
wherein the
first and second pusher are movable with respect to the support structure by
the recepta-
cle-pusher moving unit along the normal axis only. For such design, the
movement direc-
tions of the set receptacle respectively the first and second pusher are
reversed. In both
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kinds of design, the receptacle-pusher moving unit favourably comprises
separate drives
respectively actuators for moving the set receptacle respectively the first
and second
pusher. In further alternative embodiments, however, the receptacle-pusher
moving unit
is configured to move either of the set receptacle respectively the first and
second pusher
along both the normal axis and the primary lateral axis with respect to the
support struc-
ture, while the other of the set receptacle respectively the first and second
pusher is fixed
with respect to the support structure. It is noted that the card arranging
procedures gen-
erally only involves a relative movement between the set receptacle and the
first and sec-
ond pusher either along the normal axis or along the primary lateral axis, one
at a time, but
no combined movement along both axes.
In an embodiment, the receptacle-pusher moving unit includes a receptacle
displacement
actuator to move the set receptacle with respect to the first and second
pusher along the
normal axis, and a pusher displacement actuator, d istinct from the receptacle
displacement
actuator, to displace the first and second pusher with respect to the set
receptacle along
the primary lateral axis.
In a particular of the before-mentioned type, the receptacle displacement
actuator is a
voice coil actuator, also known as non-commutated DC linear actuator. A voice
coil actua-
tor is favourably in that it is generally simple in design, provides precise
positioning over
small displacements, is robust and favourable for position respectively force
control mode
as discussed further below. In further embodiments, however, the receptacle
displacement
actuator may be, for example, another type of linear motor such as a moving
magnet ac-
tuator or a rotatory motor in coupling with a spindle drive as known in the
art.
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The pusher displacement actuator may be realized as respectively include a
linear motor,
but optionally also designed differently for example as spindle drive. In
embodiments
where the first and second pusher are rigidly coupled as mentioned before, a
single actu-
ator is sufficient. In embodiments where the first and second pusher may move
inde-
5 pendently, separate actuators may be provided, one for each of the first
respectively sec-
ond pusher.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device is configured to control the
receptacle dis-
placement actuator to alternatively operate in a position control mode and a
force control
mode. A receptacle position of the set receptacle along the normal axis is
controlled in the
10 position control mode and a normal force that is exerted by either of
the proximal or distal
receptacle wall is controlled in the force control mode. In a particular
embodiment, the card
arranging device is further configured to operate the receptacle actuator to
operate in a
passive mode alternatively to the position control mode and the force control
mode. In a
passive mode, the receptacle is free to move, without the receptacle
displacement actuator
15 exerting any significant force. In case of the receptacle displacement
actuator being e.g. a
voice coil actuator, the coil of the voice coil actuator may be de-energized
in the passive
mode. In either or both of the position control mode and the force control
mode, a speed
limit may optionally be set. As discussed further below, a speed control mode
may option-
ally also be foreseen.
20 It is noted that different control modes, in particular a force control
mode and a position
control mode as mentioned, may be realized as dedicated separate control
modes, which
however, is not essential. For example, no explicit force control mode may be
foreseen.
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Instead, de facto force control can be realized in a position control mode by
setting a de-
sired receptacle position that cannot be reached due to the interaction of
cards with an
obstacle, e.g. a roller as discussed further below. In this case, the exerted
force will be de-
termined by the control deviation as difference between the set and actual
receptacle po-
sition, as well as the controller design.
The receptacle wall that exerts the normal force in the force control mode is
also referred
to as force-exerting receptacle wall and may be either of the proximal or
distal receptacle
wall in dependence of the design. In a particular design that is generally
assumed in the
following, the force exerting receptacle wall is the proximal receptacle wall.
In the force control mode, the force is exerted by the force exerting
receptacle wall onto a
card that is adjacent to the receptacle wall, e.g. the most proximal card if
the force exerting
receptacle wall is the proximal receptacle wall. The force is countered
respectively absorbed
an abutment that exerts a counterforce. In this way, the cards that are
located between
the force exerting receptacle wall and the abutment are clamped between the
force exert-
ing receptacle wall, e.g. the proximal receptacle wall, and the abutment. In
dependence on
the situation, such cards may in particular correspond to all cards that are
accommodated
by the set receptacle, the cards of the proximal removal subset or the cards
of the proximal
insertion subset.
As discussed in more detail further below, the abutment may in particular be
formed by a
pickup roller of the card transfer unit respectively a part thereof, in
particular a bending
protrusion. Position control mode and force control mode are typically used in
diverse
phases respectively steps of a position change procedure. In particular steps
(a), (b), (d),
(e), (f), and (h) of the position-change procedure may be executed in the
position control
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mode while the steps that involve moving the change position card between the
set recep-
tacle and the auxiliary card position, i.e. steps (c) and (g) may be fully or
partly executed
in the force control mode.
In an embodiment, the receptacle clearance is variable. By way of a variable
receptacle
clearance, the set of cards may alternatively be arranged snugly within the
receptacle
room, with the proximal and distal receptacle wall contacting in each case a
card front of
the most proximal respectively most distal card, i.e. the outermost cards, or
alternatively
have play along the normal axis within the receptacle room. Both
configurations are typi-
cally used in phases respectively steps of a position change procedure as
explained further
below.
In a particular embodiment with a variable receptacle clearance, one of the
proximal and
the distal receptacle wall is a movable wall and the other of the proximal and
distal recep-
tacle wall is a reference wall. In such embodiment, the card arranging device
may further
include a wall moving device, which may in particular include a retraction
solenoid and a
biasing spring member. The movable wall is changeable via the wall moving
device be-
tween a biasing configuration where the movable wall is biased towards the
reference wall
and an alternative clearance configuration where the receptacle clearance is
larger than an
extension of the set of cards along the normal axis. In an alternative
embodiment, the wall
moving device is or includes a wall moving voice coil actuator rather than a
retraction sole-
noid and a biasing spring member. Generally in a design with a movable wall
and a refer-
ence wall, a position of the set receptacle along the normal axis that is
controlled via the
receptacle pusher moving unit, e.g. via a receptacle displacement actuator,
corresponds to
the position of the reference walk
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In the biasing configuration, the proximal and distal receptacle wall contact
the outermost
cards as mentioned before, thereby clamping the set of cards between the
proximal and
distal receptacle wall by way of a biasing force. In the clearance
configuration, the recep-
tacle clearance is larger than the thickness of the set of cards along the
normal axis (i.e. the
combined thickness of all cards accommodated by the set receptacle), such that
the set of
cards has play within the receptacle room.
In a particular embodiment where the wall moving device includes a retraction
solenoid,
the biasing force is exerted by a biasing spring member, e.g. a coil spring or
leaf spring,
that biases the movable wall towards the reference wall. By the control unit
activating en-
respectively de-energizing the retraction solenoid, switching is possible
between
the biasing configuration and the clearance configuration. As a general rule,
the biasing
configuration may be used where the exact positioning of the cards along the
normal axis
as well as the alignment of the cards is crucial, while the biasing
configuration may be used
otherwise, in particular where it is desirable to minimize/avoid friction
between cards when
moving relative to each other.
Generally, the wall moving device is or includes a wall moving drive for
moving the movable
wall as explained before. The wall moving drive may be the before-mentioned
retraction
solenoid. Alternatively, however, the wall moving drive may be any other type
of linear
drive with corresponding actuator, such as a voice coil actuator or generally
a linear motor,
or a spindle drive. In dependence of the design of the wall moving device
respectively the
wall moving drive, no dedicated biasing spring member may be required in order
to provide
the biasing force. In particular, a wall moving voice coil actuator may be
controlled by the
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control unit to provide a biasing force, as discussed in the context of a
voice coil actuator
as receptacle actuator.
In a particular embodiment, the movable wall is the distal receptacle wall,
and the reference
wall is the proximal receptacle wall. In alternative embodiments, however, the
movable
wall is the proximal receptacle wall, and the reference wall is the distal
receptacle wall.
In a particular embodiment, the clearance configuration is a maximum clearance
configu-
ration where the receptacle clearance is maximal. In such embodiment, the
movable wall
may, in the clearance configuration, forced into contact with a mechanical
stop by the wall
moving device, e.g. a retraction solenoid. Such design is particularly
favourable with a re-
traction solenoid and a biasing spring member.
In a particular embodiment with a movable wall and a reference wall, the
retracting device
may include a locking device which may in particular be or include a locking
solenoid. The
locking device is arranged to lock the movable wall in position, thereby
preventing it from
movement. The locking device may in particular lock the movable wall in the
biasing con-
figuration. Operation of the locking device is controlled by the control unit.
In dependence
of the design of the wall moving device, however, a dedicated locking device
may not be
required. In designs with alternative types of wall moving drives, such as a
wall moving
voice coil actuator, no locking device may be required.
In an embodiment, the card transfer unit is configured to interact with the
change position
zo card by way of friction. For moving the change position card, the card
transfer unit fric-
tionally engages respectively couples to one or both of the proximal
respectively distal card
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front by way of friction. In such embodiments, the card transfer unit may in
particular in-
clude one or more rollers, for example rubber rollers with roller axes that
generally extend
parallel to the card fronts. In alternative embodiments, however, the card
transfer unit is
configured to interact with the change position card by way suction or
electrostatic force.
5 For a suction-based card transfer unit, the card transfer unit may
include one or more force
cups or the like in fluidic coupling with a negative pressure device, for
example a suction
pump under control of the control unit. For removing the change position card
from the
proximal removal subset as explained before, the card transfer unit, in
particular a pickup
roller of the card transfer unit as explained further below, couples with the
proximal card
10 front of the change position card in the peripheral region of the change
position card.
In an embodiment, the card transfer unit includes a pickup roller, the pickup
roller being
rotatable about a pickup roller axis by a pickup roller drive. The pickup
roller axis extends
transverse to the normal axis, in particular parallel to the secondary lateral
axis. The proxi-
mal removal subset can be clamped between the pickup roller and the proximal
receptacle
15 wall. In some embodiments, also the proximal insertion subset can be
clamped between
the pickup roller and the proximal receptacle wall. The clamping is generally
a clamping
with respect to the normal axis. Operation of the pickup roller drive is
controlled by the
control unit.
Along the primary lateral axis, the pickup roller is generally arranged in the
peripheral re-
20 gion of the proximal removal subset respectively proximal insertion
subset, such that a di-
rect contact with the proximal card front of the most distal card of the
proximal removal
subset respectively proximal insertion subset.
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The axis of the pickup roller as well as of further rollers as discussed
further below is gen-
erally coaxial with the respective roller.
In an embodiment, the card transfer unit includes a number of transport
rollers, the
transport rollers being each rotatable about a respective transport roller
axis by a transport
roller drive. The transport roller axes extend in each case parallel with the
pickup roller axis.
The transport rollers are arranged offset with respect to the pickup roller in
the primary
lateral direction. In embodiments with an auxiliary card support, for example
an auxiliary
receptacle, the transport rollers may be arranged along the primary lateral
axis between
the pickup roller and the auxiliary card support. Operation of the transport
roller drive or
transport roller drives is controlled by the control unit.
When in the auxiliary card position, the change position card stays favourably
in contact,
with the transport rollers respectively a peripheral part of the change
position card is lo-
cated between the transport rollers, such that the change position card is
clamped between
the transport rollers. The room between the transport rollers may therefore be
considered
as part of the auxiliary card position.
The transport rollers serve the purpose of moving the change position card
into the auxil-
iary card position, e.g. into an auxiliary receptacle in the primary lateral
direction after ini-
tially being moved into the first lateral direction via the pickup roller. The
step (c) of the
position change procedure, Le. transferring the change position card into the
auxiliary
space, may accordingly be a two-step process where the change position card is
in a first
sub-step moved in the first lateral direction by the pickup roller into an
intermediate posi-
tion where the change position card contacts, generally frictionally contacts,
the transport
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rollers. Subsequently, the change position card may be moved into the
auxiliary card posi-
tion in a second sub-step (c2). In an embodiment that allows different control
modes as
explained before, the sub-step (c1) may be carried out in the force control
mode with the
pickup roller serving as abutment for the force of e.g. 3N exerted by the
proximal recepta-
cle wall. As mentioned before, such force control may be done in a dedicated
force control
mode, but also under position control with a non-reachable receptacle
position. The final
movement of the change position card in sub-step (c2) may be carried out in
the passive
mode. In this way, the change position card is correctly aligned between the
transport roll-
ers. Alternatively, however, sub-step (c2) could e.g. be carried out in the
position control
mode with the position of sub-step (c1) being maintained. Prior to step (c1),
a step (c0)
may be carried out as intermediate step where the change position card, in
particular its
distal card front, is brought into contact with the pickup roller and forced
against the pickup
roller.
The number of transport rollers may in particular include a proximal transport
roller and a
distal transport roller, with the proximal transport roller and the distal
transport roller being
displaced with respect to each other along the normal axis but aligned along
the primary
lateral axis. The proximal and distal transport roller may in particular
spaced along the nor-
mal axis by a distance that generally is less than the card thickness, i.e.
generally less than
the thickness of the thinnest ty of playing cards that may be used. Thereby, a
sufficient
contact force between transport rollers and change position card is ensured,
with the prox-
imal transport roller contacting the proximal card front and the distal
transport roller con-
tacting the distal card front of the change position card. The proximal and
distal transport
roller are further arranged along the normal axis symmetrically with respect
to the auxiliary
card position and for example the auxiliary receptacle walls of an auxiliary
receptacle,
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thereby allowing a smooth movement of the change position card in a pure or
substantially
pure linear movement along the primary lateral axis. The proximal and distal
roller are gen-
erally arranged to rotate in opposite rotational directions around their
respective transport
roller axes.
In a variant, only one transport roller is present, and a non-movable guide
member is fore-
seen that extends along the primary lateral axis such that the change position
card contacts
with one of the card fronts with the transport roller and with the other card
front the guide
member which has favourably a low frictional coefficient.
The transport rollers and also the pickup roller are favourably made from
elastic respective
resilient material, in particular rubber, that may elastically deform in
particular radially.
Thereby, appropriate contact and frictional coupling to the change position
card is ensured
over the entire width of the card. Alternatively, or additionally to the
transport rollers being
elastic, they may be biased towards each other by way of a biasing member,
such as one
or more biasing springs. The transport rollers as well as the pickup roller
are favourably
designed not to contact a card, in particular the change position card, along
its complete
width respectively along its full extension along the secondary lateral axis.
In a variant, the
rollers are arranged to contact the card, in particular the change position
card, such that
the centre of contact is displaced with respect to a centre line of the cards
parallel to the
primary lateral direction such that a contacted card, in particular the change
position card,
is subject to a force in the fourth lateral direction respectively in downward
direction (di-
rection of gravity) respectively towards the auxiliary receptacle ground,
auxiliary card sup-
port, and/or receptacle ground. In such embodiment, the centre of contact is
accordingly
favourably above the centre line of the card.
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In a further embodiment, the pickup roller and/or the transport rollers have a
number of,
e.g., two or three, distinct card contact elements that are distributed and
spaced apart
along the length of a roller. Such design may be realized by the card contact
elements, for
example card contact protrusions, having a somewhat larger diameter as
compared to in-
termediate sections between the card contact elements. In this way, a
substantially even
force distribution may be obtained. Favourably, the resulting overall force
application point
is on the centre line of the contacted card and parallel to the primary
lateral axis.
In an embodiment, the pickup roller respectively its card contact elements are
not cylindri-
cal respectively do not have a circular outer contour over their complete
circumference.
Instead a card-contacting circumferential surface of the pickup roller
includes a number of
pickup roller flat sections pickup roller cylindrical sections. Generally,
each pickup roller flat
section is adjacent to at least one pickup roller cylindrical section and vice
versa. Pickup
roller cylindrical sections and pickup roller planar sections may be arranged
in in an alter-
nating manner along the circumference. In a particular design, two pickup
roller flat sec-
tions are present and arranged orthogonal to each other. Generally, the number
of pickup
roller flat sections and pickup roller cylindrical sections may be identical
or different and be
any number as appropriate, including one, i.e. a single pickup roller
cylindrical section
and/or a single pickup roller flat section. As discussed further below in the
context of ex-
emplary embodiments, a pickup roller flat section may face the change position
card as
most distal cad of the proximal removal subset in an initial step of
transferring the change
position card into its auxiliary card position respectively into the auxiliary
receptacle in step
(c), wherein the change position card is forced in distal direction against a
flat section of
the pickup roller. Subsequently, the pickup roller may be rotated to actually
transfer the
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change position card into the catching area of the transport roller a
cylindrical section of
the pickup roller.
Further, a pickup roller flat section roller may face the proximal insertion
subset respectively
its most distal card in the context of transferring the change position card
back into the set
5 receptacle in step (g).
Favourably, the transport rollers are also arranged and used to move the
change position
card from the auxiliary card position back into the set receptacle at its new
position in step
(g) of the position change procedure. Therefore, the rotational direction of
the proximal
and distal transport roller is favourably reversible, thereby allowing moving
of the change
10 position card along the primary lateral axis alternatively in the first
and second lateral di-
rection. It is noted that the transport rollers loose in step (g) contact)
with the change po-
sition card before it assumes its final position in the set receptacle. In an
embodiment, the
intertie of the change position card is sufficient to continue the movement in
the second
lateral direction till its final position after losing contact with the
transport rollers. In another
15 embodiment, the second pusher is used to move the change position card
into its final po-
sition in the set receptacle respectively between the proximal and distal
insertion subset.
Particularly favourable embodiments and aspects of step (g) are discussed
further below.
In embodiments with an auxiliary receptacle, the transport rollers and the
auxiliary recep-
tacle are favourably arranged such that the contact between the change
position card and
20 the transport rollers is maintained when the change position card is
seated respectively
stored in the auxiliary receptacle. Therefore, the change position card
favourably projects
in the second lateral direction, i.e. generally towards the set receptacle out
of the auxiliary
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receptacle respectively the auxiliary receptacle walls when stored by the
auxiliary recepta-
cle.
As mentioned before, the step of moving a change position card from the
auxiliary card
position back into the set receptacle between respectively at the interface of
the proximal
and distal insertion subset pursuant to step (g) is particularly critical for
a smooth and reli-
able operation. In a particular embodiment, step (g) may include first bending
a peripheral
region of the proximal insertion subset in the proximal direction and second
moving the
change position card from the auxiliary card position into the set receptacle,
thereby in-
serting the change position card into the set of cards at a position
corresponding to the
interface between proximal and distal insertion subset. The peripheral region
of the proxi-
mal insertion subset is a region of the proximal insertion subset along the
primary lateral
axis that points in the primary lateral direction and does not overlap with
the distal insertion
subset. The bending is generally about a bending axis transverse to the normal
axis and the
primary lateral axis, in particular parallel to respectively aligned with the
secondary lateral
axis. By bending the proximal insertion subset in this manner, a gap is
created between the
proximal and distal insertion subset that widens towards the primary lateral
direction re-
spectively towards the change position card, thereby supporting a smooth
movement of
the change position card.
For bending the peripheral region of the proximal insertion subset as
mentioned before,
the card arranging device may include a bending device. The bending device
comprises or
includes a bending member that is configured to be selectively activated by
the control unit
and exert a pushing force in the proximal direction onto the proximal removal
subset, in
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particular the distal card front of the most distal card of the proximal
insertion subset in its
activated state.
In an embodiment, the bending device may for example include a bending pin or
bending
nose or the like as bending member. The bending member being movable parallel
to re-
spectively along the normal axis. The bending device may further include a
bending mem-
ber actuator, for example a solenoid, for moving the bending member.
In a particular embodiment, the bending member is formed integrally with a
pickup roller
as explained before and realized by a radially protruding bending protrusion.
The bending
protrusion may in principle be arranged at any location along the pickup
roller or a bending
member is realized as a number of bending protrusions or bending noses that
are distrib-
uted along the length of the pickup roller. In an exemplary embodiment, the
bending mem-
ber is realized as a rim that extends over substantially the full length of
the pickup roller to
contact the change position card substantially over its whole extension along
the second-
ary lateral axis (i.e. typically along the shorter lateral card dimension),
thereby ensuring
1 5 uniform bending into the proximal direction.
In a particular design, the bending member is realized by one or more, for
example one or
two concentrically bending cylinders with the bending cylinder axes parallel
to but axially
offset with respect to the pickup roller axis.
Favourably, the bending member is made from a hard material of low friction,
such as plas-
tics, steel, Teflon or Teflon-coated metal.
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In such embodiment, the bending device can be activated by controlling the
pickup roller
to rotate into a contacting configuration where the bending protrusion points
towards and
contacts the proximal removal subset. The bending protrusion may protrude
transverse or
oblique with respect to the proximal insertion subset, in particular the
distal card front of
the most distal card of the proximal insertion subset. The bending device can
be deac-
tivated by rotating the bending protrusion out of contact with the proximal
insertion sub-
set.
In an embodiment with position control mode and force control mode as
discussed before,
rotating the pickup roller into the contacting configuration may be carried
out in the posi-
tion control mode, with the insertion position of step (e) of the position
change procedure
being maintained in a sub-step (g1). Subsequently, the control mode may be
changed to
the force control mode and a suitable pre-defined contact force e.g. in a
range of 7N to
1 ON between the bending protrusion and the change position card, thereby
ensuring ap-
propriate bending of the change position card in a subsequent subset (g2).
Alternatively,
this step could also be carried out in position control mode. In a variant,
the force control
mode is used for bending the change position card, and the position is
subsequently main-
tained in the position control mode.
As explained before, the pickup roller may also be used for moving the change
position
card from the set receptacle into an intermediate position from which it can
be further
moved via transport rollers. For this process, the bending protrusion should
generally not
interfere with the cards, in particular the change position card. Therefore,
the pickup roller
is favourably designed and arranged such that less than a full rotation of the
pickup roller
is needed to bring the change position card into the intermediate position. In
this way, the
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pickup roller can be sufficiently rotated without the bending protrusion
interfering with the
cards.
Actually moving the change position card back into the set receptacle after
bending the
proximal removal subset may be carried out in position control or in the force
control mode
or partly in the force control mode and partly in the position control mode.
In particular, a
first force may be used in a sub-step (g3) to move the change position card in
the second
lateral direction, i.e. towards the set receptacle, until it is in contact
with the bending mem-
ber, in particular bending protrusion. Subsequently, force control mode may be
used in
sub-step (g4) with a reduced force as compared to sub-step (g3) to further
move the
change position card into the set receptacle. Reducing the contact force is
advantageous
because of reduced friction. Alternatively, in particular sub-step (g2) may be
carried out in
the position control mode.
In another embodiment, a separation device is present rather than a bending
device as
mentioned before. Structurally, the bending device may be designed similar to
a bending
deice as explained before. In particular, the separation device may include a
separation
member, such as a separation protrusion, that may be integral with a pickup
roller. The
separation protrusion may extend in a continuous manner parallel to the pickup
roller axis
at the circumference of the pickup roller or may be split into a number of
separation ele-
ments that are arranged axially distributed along the pickup roller axis. For
example disk-
shaped separation elements may be arranged with card contact elements of the
pickup
roller in an alternating manner. As discussed further below in more detail,
the separation
member generally serves the purpose of creating and minting a gap between the
proximal
and the distal insertion subset in the process of re-inserting the change
position card into
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the set receptacle in step (f) of the position change procedure without
exerting a significant
fore.
In a particular embodiment, a peripheral proximal receptacle wall region is
elastically bend-
ing between a non-bent respectively straight wall configuration and a bent
wall configura-
5 tion where the peripheral proximal receptacle wall region is bent in the
proximal direction.
The peripheral proximal receptacle wall region is a peripheral region of the
proximal recep-
tacle wall that points in the first lateral direction respectively towards the
auxiliary card po-
sition. In such design, the peripheral proximal receptacle wall region may be
made from an
elastically bendable material, such as a spring metal sheet. Further in such
design, the pe-
10 ripheral proximal receptacle wall region is configured to contact the
proximal removal sub-
set and in particular the proximal insertion subset. Favourably, the proximal
receptacle wall
is designed such that it contacts the set of cards and in particular the
proximal removal or
insertion subset over its full extension along the primary lateral axis. In
particular, the pe-
ripheral proximal receptacle wall may contact the peripheral region of the
proximal inser-
15 tion subset over its full extension. In such design, a longitudinal
extension of the distal re-
ceptacle wall along the primary lateral axis may be smaller as compared to the
proximal
receptacle wall, with the proximal receptacle wall projecting in the first
lateral direction
beyond the distal receptacle wall by the peripheral proximal receptacle wall
region.
An elastically bendable peripheral proximal receptacle wall region is
favourable in the con-
20 text of bending the peripheral region of the proximal insertion subset.
The peripheral prox-
imal receptacle wall region is bent along with the peripheral region of the
proximal inser-
tion subset under the force exerted by the bending member as explained before
and pro-
vides an elastic counter force in the distal direction. In this way, the
peripheral region of the
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proximal insertion subset is clamped between the bending member and the
peripheral
proximal receptacle wall region, with the bending member serving as abutment
for the
force exerted by the proximal receptacle wall. Thereby, uncontrolled movement,
vibration,
fluttering or the like of the bent cards is avoided. In other embodiments, a
peripheral prox-
imal wall region of the receptacle wall that projects beyond the distal
receptacle wall and
overlaps with the transfer unit, in particular the pickup roller, may not
especially be de-
signed bendable and have no or little bending flexibility.
In embodiments that allow switching between a biasing configuration and a
clearance con-
figuration as mentioned before, the biasing configuration may in an embodiment
be used
in steps (a), (b), (e), (f) of the position change procedure. The clearance
configuration
may in particular be used in steps (d) and (h) of the change-position
procedure since it is
favourable here if the cards are not clamped respectively do not stick to each
other friction-
ally. In embodiments where the change position card is moved in step (c) from
the set
receptacle into the auxiliary card position, e.g. into an auxiliary receptacle
via an interme-
1 5 diate position as explained before, sub-step (c1), i.e. the movement of
the change position
card from the deck receptacle into the intermediate position may be carried
out in the bi-
asing configuration, while sub-step (c2), i.e. the movement from the
intermediate position
into the auxiliary card position may be carried out in the clearance
configuration in order
to reduce friction. In step (g) of the position change procedure, the biasing
configuration
is favourably used until the change position card respectively its portion
pointing in the
second lateral direction is inserted into the gap between the proximal and the
distal re-
moval subset. Subsequently, the biasing configuration may be maintained until
the change
position card has been fully inserted, or the maximum-clearance configuration
may be
used in order to reduce friction.
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In an embodiment, the change position card is flat and extends along
respectively parallel
to the primary lateral axis in the auxiliary card position respectively when
seated in the aux-
iliary receptacle. In another embodiment, the card transfer unit and/or the
auxiliary recep-
tacle are designed such that a peripheral region of the change position card
is bent, in par-
ticular in an S-shaped manner, in the auxiliary card position. In particular,
a first portion of
the change position card, pointing away from the set receptacle extends, in
the auxiliary
card position, parallel to the secondary lateral axis, while a second portion
of the change
position card, pointing towards the set receptacle, is bent, in particular in
an S-shaped
manner in a viewing direction along the secondary lateral axis as peripheral
portion. The
bending may in particular be a bending in the proximal direction. The bent
second portion
may be a peripheral portion of the change position card and may be
substantially smaller
as compared to the first portion, typically e.g. 1.2mm to 1 .5mm, for example
1.3mm, of
the long card side. For such design, the auxiliary receptacle, in particular
the proximal and
distal auxiliary receptacle wall, may not be simply strait but designed
accordingly provide
the bending. As mentioned before, a peripheral section of the change-position
card may
be located in the card transfer unit, specifically between the transfer
rollers, in the auxiliary
card position. For such design, the bending may be, fully or partly, in a
correspondingly
designed card transfer unit. In a further design, the bending is distributed
between the card
transfer unit and an adjacent section of the auxiliary receptacle.
In an embodiment, the step (g) of re-inserting the change position card is
executed differ-
ently as follows: In a first sub-step (g1'), the set receptacle is displaced
in the proximal
direction, with distal insertion subset being forced against the first pusher
respectively its
distal end. This may be done, in dependence of the embodiment, via the biasing
member
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in the biasing configuration or a wall-moving actuator, e.g. a wall moving
voice coil actua-
tor. As the set receptacle moves in the proximal direction, the position of
the distal insertion
subset is maintained and only the proximal insertion subset moves in the
proximal direc-
tion. Consequently, a gap generally opens between the proximal and distal
insertion sub-
set. In a subsequent sub-step (g2'), separation member, for example a
separation protru-
sion as integrally formed with the pickup roller is broth into contact with
the most distal
card of the proximal insertion subset in its peripheral region. Thereby, it is
ensured that the
gap between the proximal and distal insertion subset is subsequently
maintained respec-
tively is opened in case the card of the proximal removal subset are somewhat
tilted within
the set receptacle and lean in distal direction against the distal insertion
subset. It is noted
that, in contrast to an embodiment with a bending member as described before,
the sep-
aration member generally exerts little or at the most a low force on the
proximal insertion
subset respectively its most distal card. In subsequent sub-step (g3), the
change position
card may be transferred into the set receptacle via the transfer unit, in
particular transport
rollers, as described before. In this process, the change position card passes
between the
separation member, e.g. separation protrusion, and the most distal card of the
proximal
insertion subset. In dependence on the specific situation, the inertia of the
change position
card may or may not be sufficient to move into its final position in the set
receptacle. There-
fore, in a subsequent sub-step (g4), the change position card may be pushed,
via the sec-
ond pusher, along the second lateral axis into the set receptacle. At the same
time, the
cards of the proximal insertion subset are pushed along the primary lateral
axis into the
standard set configuration. In such embodiment, step (4) is accordingly
executed inte-
grally with step (g4), respectively with part of step (g). Step (g)
respectively its subsets are
favourably executed under position control of the set receptacle.
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For carrying out step (g) in the before-described manner, it is required for
the second
pusher to start its movement for step (g4) in a suited position along the
primary lateral axis
to allow pushing the change position card into the set receptacle. For this
purpose, the
second pusher is favourably chamfered or bevelled as mentioned before, thereby
allowing
it to assume a position along the primary lateral axis in the area of the
auxiliary card posi-
tion. Due to the chamfer, the second pusher may interfere with respectively
bend the
change position card out of the way when moving in the second lateral
direction, without
marking or otherwise damaging it.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device includes an integrated weight
scale which
may be realized by or include a load cell in coupling with the control unit of
the card ar-
ranging device. The weight scale is configured to determine a measured weight
of the set
of cards that is received by the set receptacle. In a typical design, a load
cell is integrated
into the receptacle ground such that the weight of the set of cards rests
fully or partly on
the load cell. The card arranging device may be configured to execute a weight
checking
procedure. Such weight checking procedure may include determining a measured
weight
of the set of cards and determining if the measured weight corresponds to
respectively
equals an expected weight. If this is not the case, i.e., if the measured
weight does not
correspond to the expected weight respectively deviates from the expected
weight by
more than a pre-determined weight tolerance, the weight checking procedure
favourably
includes providing a corresponding indication, in particular a warning.
Further in particular
embodiments, the weight checking procedure includes ejecting the set of cards
as ex-
plained before in this case_ The weight tolerance for the set of cards is
favourably set to a
value that is favourably smaller, for example an order of magnitude smaller,
than the
weight of a single card. The weight scale further has generally a precision
and resolution
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that is sufficient to determine the weight of a single card. Thereby, the
weight checking
procedure allows to quickly determine whether, the set of cards is complete
respectively
corn prises an expected number of cards, e.g., the number of cards
corresponding to a deck
of cards used for the game of Poker. In embodiments with biasing configuration
and clear-
5 ance configuration, the weight checking procedure is favourably carried
out in the clear-
ance configuration in order to ensure that all cards rest on the receptacle
ground and the
weight scale with their full weight.
The card arranging device may be configured to execute a weight checking
procedure be-
fore executing the card arranging procedure and also particular preparatory
procedures
10 such an initial card order determination procedure, a card arranging
planning procedure,
or an integrity check as discussed further below.
While an integrity check and an integrity checking procedure as discussed
further below
may also be used to detect any missing card, i.e., if the actual number of
cards corresponds
to the expected number of cards, a weight checking procedure may provide this
infor-
15 mation very quickly. Therefore, the weight checking procedure may be
foreseen prior to
the subsequent and more time-consuming procedures as initial plausibility
check. It is
noted that a weight scale and a weight checking routine may, of course, also
be foreseen
in a dedicated integrity checking device as discussed further below in the
same manner.
The card arranging device may include one or more sensors in operative
coupling with the
20 control unit. Such sensors may be used to control respectively
coordinate and/or monitor
and/or supervise the operation of the card arranging device. In particular,
one or more op-
tical sensors such as a (slotted) optical switches (also known as (fork) light
barriers) reflex
light barriers, and/or tactile sensor, such as a micro switch, may be
foreseen. By way of
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example, slotted light barriers may be used for one or more of detecting if
the change po-
sition card is fully received in the set receptacle, for one or more positions
of ejection pin,
and for an opened respectively closed open door position, as well as a maximum
clearance
position of the movable wall. Further, an optical sensor in form of a reflex
light barrier may
exemplarily be foreseen to detect if the change position card has left the
card transfer unit,
in particular the rollers as discussed before, when reinserting it into the
set receptacle.
Optical and/or magnetic linear and/or rotatory encoders may be present for
various drives
or actuators. By way of example, in a particular design a rotatory encoder for
a dropping
roller drive as explained further below, a hall sensor for a linear motor that
moves the first
and second pusher along the primary lateral axis and a magnetic or optical
relative encoder
for the voice coil actuator that moves the set receptacle along the normal
axis may be fore-
seen. Further, sensors such as optical switches as mentioned before may be
foreseen for
relative encoder homing. Also, the rotational position of the pickup roller
may be moni-
tored, in particular in embodiments with a bending protrusion as mentioned. It
is noted
that one or more encoders may be integral parts of drives, in particular servo
drives, which
allow for direct position control
A user interface respectively human-machine interface as mentioned before may
generally
be realized in a number of ways as generally known in the art and may include
one or more
input devices, such as pushbuttons or switches and output devices, such as
LEDs and/or
display devices. Other input and/or output devices, for example audio cues,
buzzers or
loudspeakers, may also be used. In an embodiment of the card arranging device,
a human-
machine interface includes a single pushbutton for controlling operation of
the card ar-
ranging device, in particular starting a shuffling procedure, selecting an
operation mode
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and ejecting a set of cards after shuffling, surrounded by a ring of RGB-LEDs
to provide a
clear indication of an operational state as well as error messages, warnings
etc.
In an embodiment, the target card order is a generally random card order. The
target card
order being a random card order implies that the set of cards is shuffled, as
typically re-
quired for playing card games, e.g. one or more decks of cards used for the
game of Poker,
the game of Bridge, the game of Blackjack, the game of Baccarat or the game of
Skat. A
card arranging device of this type is also referred to a shuffling device as
mentioned before.
Card shuffling may be achieved by repeatedly executing the position change
procedure
with suitably selected removal position and insertion position as discussed
further below.
In some embodiments, however, the card arranging device may be configured to
bring the
cards into a predetermined non-random card order, in particular a default card
order as
target card order. Such device is referred to as sorting device as mentioned
before. When
used for card games, however, it is noted that the card arranging device is
not designed to
and must not allow to bring the cards into any user-selected order other than
a default or
random one.
Since card sorting and card shuffling only distinguish in the way the card
arranging proce-
dure respectively the position change procedures are carried out, while the
way the set of
cards is manipulated may be identical in both cases, the card arranging device
and in par-
ticular the control unit may be configured for alternative operating in a
shuffling mode re-
spectively sorting mode.
In an embodiment, a specially distinguished card, in particular a cut card,
has a pre-deter-
mined position, in particular, a most proximal or most distal position within
the set of cards
in the target card order. A cut card is a typically uniform card of the same
size as the other
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cards, in particular playing cards, that, however, does not carry a suit and
rank and has
generally simple plain card fronts. Also, the cut card may be coloured. A cut
card is used as
outermost card in a set of cards to prevent that anyone may identify an
outermost card for
which relevant information, in particular suit and/or rank or at least a part
thereof, may
otherwise be visible. If the target card order cut card is at its pre-
determined position as
mentioned before but the order of the cards is otherwise a random order, it is
still a gener-
ally random card order.
To operate as shuffling device respectively in a shuffling mode, the card
arranging proce-
dure may be executed under control of a control unit in different ways as
explained in the
following.
In an embodiment, the removal position and the insertion position are both
random posi-
tions in each execution of the position change procedure. In such embodiment,
an arbi-
trarily respectively randomly chosen card (determined by the randomly
determined re-
moval position) is re-positioned to an arbitrarily respectively randomly
selected new posi-
1 5 tion (determined by the randomly determined insertion position),
thereby altering its po-
sition within the set of cards. By repeating this process a number of times,
an adequate
shuffling respectively randomization of the card order can be achieved. In an
alternative
embodiment that may be favourable regarding the number of required position
change
procedures as well as the level of confidence of randomization, a card
arranging planning
procedure is first executed and the card arranging procedure is executed in
accordance
with the card arranging planning procedure as explained further below.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device includes a hardware random number
gener-
ator. In such embodiment, the card arranging device is configured to determine
the target
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card order and/or at least one of the removal position and the insertion
position, in partic-
ular both of the removal position and the insertion position, of the position
change proce-
dure based on random data generated by the hardware random number generator.
Typical shuffling devices according to the state of the art rely on a software-
respectively
firmware-implemented random number generator as basis for the shuffling, with
the re-
spective program code being executed by a control unit, e.g. a microprocessor
or micro-
controller of the control unit. To ensure a sufficient grade of randomization
as required,
e.g. in regulated casino and cardroom gaming, it is generally desirable and
potentially reg-
ulatory required to reset the respective hardware, e.g. microcontroller or
microprocessor,
prior to each shuffling, to avoid any corruption of the randomization process.
By using a
hardware random number generator, this drawback can be avoided, while ensuring
ade-
quate randomization.
Hardware random number generators are commercially available as dedicated
hardware
respectively semiconductor components as well as integrated into mother
components in
5 particular microcontrollers. They are typically used, e.g. for mobile
communication and se-
curity applications. The hardware random number generator generates a random
bit
stream that is subsequently processed respectively scaled via the control
unit, typically soft-
ware firmware run on a microcomputer or microcontroller of the control unit,
to obtain the
target set order as random order, respectively random removal/insertion
positions
In an embodiment, the card arranging device is configured to execute a card
arranging
planning procedure. The card arranging planning procedure includes
determining, based
on the target card order and an initial card order, the initial card order
corresponding to an
order of the cards within the set of cards prior to executing the card
arranging procedure,
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a sequence of card position changes. Each card position change corresponds to
an altering
of a card position of one of the cards within the set of cards. For each
execution of the
position-change procedure, the removal position and the insertion position are
determined
in accordance with the sequence of card position changes.
5 The initial card order may in principle be known and pre-set, for example
for a new deck
of cards used for the game of Poker, where the cards are sorted by suit and
rank. Typically,
in particular if the cards have already been used, the initial card order is
not known before-
hand. Therefore, the initial card order may be determined by an integrated
initial card order
determination device as explained further below. The target card order may be
a sorted
10 card order for a sorting device respectively a device operating in a
sorting mode as ex-
plained before. For a shuffling device respectively an arranging in shuffling
mode, the tar-
get card order may in particular be determined based on random numbers that
may for
example be generated using a hardware random number generator as mentioned
before.
For this type of embodiment, the target card order which may in particular be
a random
1 5 card order for the case of shuffling, is determined before the re-
arranging of the cards is
carried out respectively before the position of individual cards within the
set of cards is
changed respectively altered. Further for this type of embodiment, the actual
position of
each card within the set of cards is generally known at each point in time.
While this type
of embodiment requires some additional effort in comparison to randomly
altering the po-
2 0 sition of cards within the set of cards, in particular providing and
typically determining the
initial card order, it allows an adequate randomization with a comparatively
low number
of repetitions of the position change procedure, which is desirable to keep
the shuffling
time IOVV.
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For determining the sequence of position changes, different approaches may be
used. The
sequence of position changes may consist of placing the cards sequentially at
their respec-
tive positions according to the target card order, if not already at that
position. For exam-
ple, the card that shall be most proximal respectively most distal within the
set of cards
according to the target card order may be moved to the most proximal
respectively most
distal position within the set of cards, unless it is already at this
position. Subsequently, the
card that shall be at the second-proximal respectively second-distal position
within the set
of cards according to the target card order may be moved to the second-most
proximal
respectively second-most distal position within the set of cards, unless it is
already at this
position, and so forth. Other approaches respectively algorithms that
potentially require a
lower number of repetitions of the position chance procedure, however, may be
used as
well.
The card arranging planning procedure may be executed prior to executing the
card ar-
ranging procedure. For this type of embodiment, all individual position
changes respec-
is the
sequence are determined in advance, i.e. before the card arranging procedure
is
executed. However, it is in principle possible to at least partly execute the
arrangement
planning procedure in parallel with executing the card arranging procedure.
For example,
it may be possible to execute each card position change directly subsequent to
planning it,
one after the other.
In an embodiment, the card arranging device includes an initial card order
determination
device. The initial card order determination device includes a camera unit and
an image
processing unit. The initial card order determination device is configured to
execute an in-
itial card order determination procedure. The initial card order determination
procedure
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includes capturing at least one card image of at least part of the proximal
card front or
distal card front of each card of the set of cards one after the other with
the camera unit.
In an embodiment, a number of card images is captured for each card. The
initial card order
determination procedure further includes determining, by the image processing
unit, the
initial card order from the captured images. The initial card order refers to
an order of the
cards within the set of cards prior to executing the card arranging procedure.
During exe-
cution of the initial card order determination procedure, the order of the
cards is generally
not changed. While a single card image may be used in principle a number of
card images
may also be used to increase robustness.
The camera unit typically includes an electronic video and/or still image
camera unit as gen-
erally known in the art and further includes auxiliary components such as
lenses, lighting
respectively illumination systems, optical filters etc. The image processing
unit is generally
implemented fully or partly by software or firmware running on one or more m
icrocontrol-
lers and/or microprocessors which may be dedicated fully or partly integral
with a control
unit. A card image is an image of a part of either of the proximal
respectively distal card
front that carries card identification information that is sufficient to
identify a card. For
playing cards as generally assumed, the card image is on the face side of the
cards and the
card identification information may in particular be the suit and rank that is
shown on the
face side of each card (with exception of a potentially present cut card as
mentioned be-
fore), typically in proximity to one of the corners.
It is noted that the card image does not need to show the full available
information, e.g.
the full suit and rank, but a sufficient portion thereof that allows
identification, in the fol-
lowing also referred to as card identification information. The arrangement
and the image
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area of the camera unit are chosen to show such information. For determining
the initial
card order from the captured images, the image processing unit is configured
to determine
to which reference image a captured image corresponds. This may be achieved
using a
variety of image recognition respectively image processing methods as
generally known in
the art, for example correlation-based image comparing respectively image
recognition al-
gorithms or using a correspondingly trained artificial neural network. Using a
trained arti-
ficial neural network is favourably in that is rather robust regarding the
card design and
especially regarding card identification information. Training with a
comparable small va-
riety of decks of cards is generally sufficient to enable card identification
of a rather large
variety of cards, including cards from different manufacturers featuring
different artwork.
It is generally required that all cards of the set of cards are oriented in
the same manner,
that is, the face side of each card showing in the same direction (in
particular the proximal
direction), i.e. the face side corresponds to the proximal card front. Whether
this condition
is actually met may be checked in the context of an integrity check as
explained further
below. In a design as generally assumed in the following, the camera unit has
a viewing
direction from proximal towards distal and is arranged proximal of the set
receptacle along
the normal axis. Reversed arrangements where the face side may also correspond
to the
distal face of each card, however, are possible as well. In any case, the
camera unit is ar-
ranged and has a viewing direction to capture the card images as explained
before.
In a particular embodiment of an initial card order determination device, the
initial card
order determination device includes a tilting member. The tilting member of
such embod-
iment is configured to project into the receptacle room with a tilting member
end being
positioned within the receptacle room. Projection of the tilting member into
the receptacle
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room may in an embodiment be selective. The initial card order determination
device may
further include a receptacle tilting member moving unit. The receptacle
tilting member
moving unit is arranged to vary a relative position between the tilting member
and the set
receptacle along the normal axis. The receptacle tilting member moving unit
may in partic-
ular be integral with respectively formed by the receptacle-pusher moving unit
as explained
before, with the receptacle-pusher moving unit also serving as receptacle
tilting member
moving unit.
The cards of the set of cards may in each case assume a levelled card
configuration and an
alternative tilted card configuration, wherein the base section of the
circumferential card
edging of each card rests on the receptacle ground in its levelled
configuration. In its re-
spective tilted card configuration, each card is tilted around a tilting axis
parallel to the nor-
mal axis with respect to the levelled card configuration by the tilting member
pushing
against the base section of its circumferential card edging.
The initial card order determination procedure may for such embodiment
include, starting
from an initial set configuration where all cards of the set of cards are in
their respective
tilted card configuration, controlling the receptacle tilting member moving
unit to displace
the set receptacle and the tilting member with respect to each other along the
normal axis
such that the cards pass the tilting member end and lose contact with the
tilting member
one after the other, thereby moving from their tilted card configuration into
their respective
levelled card configuration. The initial card order determination procedure
may include
capturing at least one image of each card before, while or subsequent to
moving into its
respective levelled card configuration. In an embodiment, the initial card
order determina-
tion procedure includes capturing a set of card images of each card while
moving into its
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levelled configuration and evaluating the set of card images for each card. It
is noted that,
if images are captured while a card is moving, the card identification
information should
move through the field of view of the camera unit. Typically, however, not all
of the card
identification information will be present in each picture. This is not
problematic e.g. when
5 using a neural network for image recognition.
The tilting member, for example an ejection pin or dedicated tilting pin as
mentioned be-
fore, is favourably arranged slightly tilted with respect to gravity
respectively with respect
to the normal axis. As a consequence, also the tilted subset ill lean against
and be supported
by a receptacle wall, for example the receptacle wall, and in any case does
not fall against
10 the dropping roller.
The cards that are in the tilted card configuration form, in combination, a
tilted subset of
the set of cards, while the cards that have moved into their respective
levelled card config-
uration form, in combination, a levelled subset of the set of cards. The
movement of a card
from its tilted card configuration into its levelled card configuration is
also referred to as
15 dropping of the respective card. In the initial set configuration,
before the first respectively
most distal card has dropped, all cards of the set of cards belong to the
tilted subset, re-
spectively the tilted subset is identical with the set of cards. When the last
card has been
dropped, all cards of the set of cards belong to the levelled subset
respectively the levelled
subset is identical with the set of cards. For the card arranging procedure as
mentioned
20 before, all cards are generally in their levelled configuration as it is
given when the initial
card order determination procedure is complete.
In a particular design, card identification is carried out in two steps for
each of the cards in
the initial card order determination procedure. In a first step, it is
detected that a card is
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available for identification. This may in particular be done based on the
images as captured
by the camera unit, in particular determination that a card is non-moving
respectively has
assumed the levelled configuration. Alternatively or additionally, one or more
levelled card
configuration detecting sensors may be provided. A levelled card configuration
detecting
sensor may, for example be an acoustic sensor with corresponding signal
processing that
that detects a characteristic noise of a card hitting the receptacle ground.
Other type of
sensors that may be used as levelled card configuration detecting sensors are
a force sensor
or pressure sensor that is hit by a card upon assuming the levelled card
configuration or an
optical sensor that detects non-movement vs movement of the card. In a
subsequent sec-
ond step an image classification of a captured image is carried out, thereby
identifying the
card. In a favourable implementation, images are continuously captured during
the se-
quential dropping of the cards. The identification of the cards is carried out
subsequently,
wherein only card images of each card in the levelled configuration subsequent
to being
dropped are used for the identification, in particular by feeding them into
the artificial neu-
1 5 ral network as mentioned before.
In a particular embodiment including a tilting member, the tilting member is
arranged to
be movable by the tilting member drive between a retracted tilting member
position and
an advanced tilting member position by a tilting member drive. The tilting
member may be
configured to not project into the receptacle room in the retracted tilting
member position
and to project into the receptacle room in the advanced tilting member
position. Whether
or not the tilting member actually projects into the receptacle room may
depend on the
relative position between tilting member and set receptacle along the normal
axis, as de-
termined by receptacle tilting member moving unit.
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In such embodiment with a movably arranged tilting member, the initial card
order deter-
mination procedure may include a preparatory step of controlling the tilting
member drive
to move the tilting member from the retracted tilting member position into the
advanced
tilting member position, thereby pushing all cards of the set of cards from a
respective 1ev-
elled card configuration into a respective tilted card configuration, thereby
establishing the
initial set configuration. The preparatory step is generally executed prior to
dropping the
cards one after and capturing the card images as explained before. For this
type of embod-
iment, the cards of the set of cards are in each case in their levelled
configuration prior to
the initial card order determination procedure being executed. In alternative
embodiments,
however, the card arranging device may be configured such that tilting member,
in partic-
ular an ejection pin as explained below, is already in the advanced tilting
member position
before a set of cards is initially placed in respectively inserted into the
set receptacle by a
user. In such embodiment, all cards are accordingly directly in their
respective tilted card
config u ration.
The tilting member may in particular be formed by an ejection member, in
particular an
ejection pin as explained before. In a design with a number of ejection
members, moving
only one of them out of its retracted ejection member position into the
receptacle room
and towards its advanced ejection member position, will result in the set of
cards being
tilted by the ejection member, e.g. ejection pin. For such embodiment, the
advanced tilting
member position is favourable an intermediate ejection member position, for
example in-
termediate ejection pin position, between the retracted ejection member
position and the
advanced ejection member position. Further in such design, movement of the
ejection
members is favourably separately controllable, respectively each of the e.g.
two to five
ejection members has a separate ejection member drive. In other embodiments,
however,
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some or all ejection members may share a drive and be movable together.
Further, the
ejection member drive of the ejection member that serves as tilting member is
also respec-
tively formed integral with the tilting member drive. An ejection member also
serving as
tilting member is generally movable independent from further ejection members.
In alter-
native designs, however, the tilting member and the tilting member drive are
separate and
distinct. In any case, operation of the tilting member drive is controlled by
the control unit.
Regarding the receptacle tilting member moving unit, it is noted that it in
principle only
needs to enable a relative movement along the normal axis. In particular
embodiments
where the receptacle tilting member moving unit is integral with respectively
formed by the
receptacle-pusher moving unit, the set receptacle is movable with respect to a
support
structure of the card arranging device by the receptacle-pusher moving unit
along the nor-
mal axis only, in particular via a dedicated receptacle displacement actuator
as mentioned
before.
In dependence of the design, the relative movement between the set receptacle
and the
5 tilting member may be such that the set receptacle moves in proximal
direction or the distal
direction relative to the tilting member for dropping the cards one after the
other. In the
following, it is generally assumed that the set receptacle moves into the
distal direction with
respect to the tilting member. In such design, the tilting member end is a
distal tilting mem-
ber end. An alternative arrangement, however, is possible as well.
For dropping the cards one after the other, an actuator of the receptacle
tilting member
moving unit, in particular the receptacle displacement actuator as mentioned,
may be con-
trolled to displace the set receptacle in the distal direction continuously or
substantially
continuously. In an embodiment, the receptacle displacement actuator may be
operated
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in a position control mode. In such design, the receptacle displacement
actuator, or more
generally an actuator of the receptacle tilting member moving unit may be
controlled to
move the set receptacle and the tilting member relative to each other into a
position that is
assumed when all cards have been dropped, while providing a speed limit.
Alternatively, a
speed control mode is used which may be foreseen in addition to a position
control mode
and force control mode as mentioned before. In a further variant, the position
control
mode may be used, and the actuator is controlled to move into a sequence of
position in a
number of steps generally corresponding to the number of cards that are spaced
by each
other by a distance generally corresponding to the card thickness. The total
moving dis-
tance for dropping the cards generally corresponds to the set thickness, i.e.
the combined
card thickness of all cards. In embodiments where the set receptacle includes
a movable
wall and a reference wall as explained before, in particular the dropping of
the cards one
after the other is favourably carried out in the clearance configuration in
order to reduce
friction.
It is noted that in embodiments where the relative movement of the set
receptacle and the
tilting member, e.g. an ejection member, is achieved by moving the set
receptacle along
the normal axis with respect to the support structure, the tilting member is
generally fixed
respectively stationary with respect to the normal axis. In alternative
embodiments, how-
ever, the set receptacle may be stationary respectively fixed with respect to
the normal axis,
and the tilting member, e.g. an ejection member, is moved. In such embodiment,
the mov-
ing direction of the tilting member is reversed to the moving direction of the
set receptacle
as generally referred to in the description above. What is in any case
decisive is the relative
movement.
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In a particular embodiment of an initial card order determination device of
the before-men-
tioned design, the initial card order determination device includes a dropping
roller in cou-
pling with a dropping roller drive. The dropping roller may have a dropping
roller axis that
extends along respectively parallel to the card fronts and may for example
extend along
5 respectively parallel to the primary lateral axis. In embodiments where
the set receptacle is
moved in the distal direction relative to the tilting member for dropping the
cards as gen-
erally assumed, the dropping roller is arranged to contact and frictionally
engage the distal
card front of the most distal card of the tilted subset, i.e. the distal
outermost card of the
tilted subset. In alternative embodiments where the set receptacle is moved in
the proximal
10 direction relative to the tilting member for dropping the cards, the
dropping roller may be
arranged to contact and frictionally engage the proximal card front of the
most proximal
card of the tilted subset, i.e. of the proximal outermost card of the tilted
subset.
Typically, the dropping roller is arranged fixed along the normal axis. For
dropping the
cards one after the other, the card front that contacts the dropping roller,
e.g. the distal
5 card front of the most distal card of the tilted subset, is forced
against the dropping roller.
In alternative embodiments, the dropping roller may be arranged movable along
the nor-
mal axis and biased against the tilted subset e.g. by a dropping roller
biasing spring.
The dropping roller, more particular its circumferential surface, and the
tilting member end
are favourably aligned with each other such that, in a top view respectively
viewing direc-
20 tion along the secondary lateral axis, are positioned with respect to
each other such that a
gap is present between them with a gap width that corresponds to the thickness
of a single
card. Favourably, the gap width is adjustable respectively tuneable, in
particular in a cali-
bration process.
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It is noted that the dropping roller axis being parallel to the primary
lateral axis results in
the dropping roller being oblique with respect to the cards of the tilted
subset. This, how-
ever, is not problematic as long a sufficient contact surface is ensured. In
principle, how-
ever, it would also be possible to arrange the dropping roller axis
differently, e.g. with the
dropping roller axis extending parallel with the extension of the tilted
subset.
While dropping the cards one after the other the control unit controls the
dropping roller
drive to rotate the dropping roller in a direction such that the card that
contacts the drop-
ping roller, e.g. the most distal card of the tilted subset, is forced towards
its levelled con-
figuration, typically downwards.
While dropping the cards one after the other as explained before may in
principle be based
on gravity only, providing a dropping roller as mentioned ensures a smooth,
properly timed
and quick dropping. Further, dirt such as hand cream, fat, oil or food
particles, or static
electricity may result in cards sticking together, resulting in cards
potentially not being
dropped separately and one after the other if relying on gravity only. A
dropping roller en-
sures that any desired sticking force between neighbouring cards is overcome.
In a favourable design with a dropping roller, the position of the dropping
roller is variable
respectively adjustable, typically manually adjustable, along its axis,
thereby allow a posi-
tioning of the dropping roller in dependence of the card size. In particular
cards used for
the game of Poker and cards used for the game of Bridge may require different
positions
of the dropping roller due to their significantly different size.
In embodiments with a movable wall and a reference wall as explained before,
the movable
wall is in the clearance configuration for dropping the cards one after the
other, such that
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the tilted subset is clamped between the reference wall and the dropping
roller and is
forced in the distal direction by the reference wall, without interference of
the movable wall
and generally without friction.
In a favourable embodiment, rotation of the dropping roller is started in a
configuration
where the dropping roller does not contact the set of cards i.e. the set of
cards does not
contact the dropping roller but is spaced apart from the dropping roller in
proximal direc-
tion. Rotation of the dropping roller may in particular be started before
pushing the set of
cards against the dropping roller.
By tilting the set of cards as a whole and subsequently moving respectively
returning the
cards one after the other into their respective levelled configuration
respectively by drop-
ping the cards one after the other, the card identification information comes
into the field
of view of the camera and one or more images can be captured by the camera
unit for one
card after the other. If, as generally assumed, the face side of each card,
i.e. the side car-
rying the card identification information, is the proximal card front, the
card identification
information is visible for a camera unit having a viewing direction from
proximal towards
distal after and potentially while being dropped, before it is hidden by the
next following
card. That is, the card identification information is visible for the most
proximal card of the
levelled subset.
If, alternatively, the face side of each card is the distal card front, the
card identification
information is visible for a camera unit having a viewing direction from
distal towards prox-
imal before and potentially while being dropped. That is, the card
identification information
is visible for the most distal card of the tilted subset.
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In a particular embodiment of an initial card order determination device, the
initial card
order determination device is configured to determine from the captured images
an actual
set composition of the set of cards, to compare the actual set composition
with a given
expected set composition and to provide an indication if the actual set
composition does
not match the expected set composition.
The expression "set composition" may refer to the total composition of the set
of cards from
generally distinguishable cards as distinguishable in particular via card
identification infor-
mation on the face side of the cards as explained before. The expected set
composition is
the composition of the set of cards that should be given for a particular
application, for
example the composition of a deck used for the game of Poker, with each card
being
unique and distinguishable by suit and rank. It is not essential, however,
that all cards are
distinguishable from all other cards. This is not the case, e.g., if the set
of cards is made of
two decks of poker cards. The expression "set composition", however, does not
refer to the
order of the individual cards within the set of cards.
Typically, the set composition additionally relates to the orientation of the
individual cards
within the set of cards, in particular which of the proximal and distal card
front of each card
corresponds is the face side respectively the backside of each card. The
expected set com-
position generally requires that all cards are oriented in a common and
generally pre-de-
fined way, i.e. the face side is the proximal card front or the distal card
front for all cards.
Further, the actual set composition may refer to the total number of cards of
the set of
cards corresponding to an expected number of cards, for example 52 cards plus
an addi-
tional cut card.
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The determination respectively checking whether the actual set composition
corresponds
to an expected set composition is also referred to as integrity checking
procedure.
A set of cards where the actual set composition meets the expected set
composition may
in particular be a set of cards that is fit for being used, e.g. for card
games. The assessment
whether the actual set composition corresponds to the expected set composition
is also
referred to as integrity check. An integrity check is passed if the actual set
composition
corresponds to the expected set composition and is failed if the actual set
composition does
not correspond to the expected set composition. Further the integrity check
may addition-
ally or alternatively include counting an actual number of cards of the set of
cards and de-
termining whether the actual number of cards corresponds to an expected number
of
cards. That is, the actual set composition may correspond to the expected set
composition
if a counted number of cards corresponds to an expected number of cards, for
example 52
cards.
In a particular embodiment, the card arranging device is configured to provide
an ind ica-
1 5 tion if the integrity check fails. The card arranging device may
further be configured to con-
trol a door of the card arranging device and an ejection device as explained
before to move
a door into the open position and eject the set of cards if the integrity
check is failed, fa-
vourably upon a corresponding explicit command provided by a user. If the
integrity check
is passed, the card arranging device is generally configured to automatically
execute the
card arranging procedure.
It is noted that, when determining the initial card order as explained before,
the infor-
mation required for an integrity check is also obtained as a side effect,
since it also relies on
the same captured images. In some embodiments, however, the card arranging
device is
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also configured to operate in an integrity checking mode respectively operate
as integrity
checking device. In this case, the card arranging device may only execute the
initial card
order determination procedure, including the determination whether the actual
set com-
position corresponds to the expected set corn position, without subsequently
executing the
5 card arranging procedure if the integrity check is passed. Also, if
merely an integrity check
is required, the determination of the actual card order as initial card order
is not required.
Instead, it may only be determined if the actual set composition corresponds
to the ex-
pected set composition.
It is noted that an integrity check respectively carrying out an integrity
checking procedure
10 as well as the initial card order determination does, as such, rely on a
number but not all
elements of a card arranging device in accordance with the present disclosure.
In particu-
lar, the first and second pusher and the card transfer unit are not required
in this context.
Also, the receptacle pusher moving unit is not required with all of its
functionality as men-
tioned before, since it is sufficient to allow variation of the relative
position between the
15 tilting member and the set receptacle along the normal axis, e.g. by
moving the set recep-
tacle, as explained before.
According to an aspect, the present disclosure releases to an integrity
checking device for
checking the integrity of a set of cards, the set of cards including a number
of cards, in
particular playing cards, wherein the cards each have a proximal card front
and a distal
20 card front, the proximal and the distal card front being parallel to
each other, wherein the
cards each further have a circumferential card edging, the circumferential
card edging ex-
tending between and connecting the proximal and the distal card front of the
respective
card.
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The integrity checking device includes set receptacle, the set receptacle
having a proximal
receptacle wall, a distal receptacle wall and a receptacle ground. The distal
receptacle wall
is spaced apart with respect to the proximal receptacle wall in a distal
direction along a
normal axis by a receptacle clearance. The proximal receptacle wall, the
distal receptacle
wall and the receptacle ground delimit a receptacle room in which the set of
cards can be
accommodated with a proximal card front of a most proximal card facing the
proximal
receptacle wall and the distal card front of a most distal card facing the
distal receptacle
wall and with a base section of the circumferential card edging of each card
resting on the
receptacle ground.
The integrity checking device further includes a tilting member. The tilting
member is con-
figured to project into the receptacle room with a tilting member end being
positioned
within the receptacle room. Projection of the tilting member into the
receptacle room may
in an embodiment be selective. The initial card order determination device may
further in-
clude a receptacle tilting member moving unit. The receptacle tilting member
moving unit
is arranged to vary a relative position between the tilting member and the set
receptacle
along the normal axis.
The cards of the set of cards may in each case assume a levelled card
configuration and an
alternative tilted card configuration, wherein the base section of the
circumferential card
edging of each card rests on the receptacle ground in its levelled
configuration. In its re-
spective tilted card configuration, each card is tilted around a tilting axis
parallel to the nor-
mal axis with respect to the levelled card configuration by the tilting member
pushing
against the base section of its circumferential card edging. The integrity
checking device
may further include a camera unit and an image processing unit
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The integrity checking device is configured to execute an integrity checking
procedure. The
integrity checking procedure may include staring from an initial set
configuration where all
cards of the set of cards are in their respective tilted card configuration,
controlling the
receptacle tilting member moving unit to displace the set receptacle and the
tilting member
with respectto each other along the normal axis such that the cards pass the
tilting member
end and lose contact with the tilting member one after the other, thereby
moving from
their tilted card configuration into their respective levelled card
configuration. The integrity
checking procedure further includes capturing at least one card image of at
least part of
the proximal card front or distal card front of each card of the set of cards
one after the
other with the camera unit.
The integrity checking procedure may further include determining from the
captured im-
ages an actual set composition of the set of cards, to compare by the image
processing
unit the actual set composition with a given expected set composition and to
provide an
indication if the actual set composition does not match the expected set
composition.
Further aspects, embodiments and variants of an integrity checking device
according to
the present disclosure, in particular the design of its structural and
functional components
as well as the way the integrity checking procedure is carried out correspond
to embodi-
ments as described before in the context of a card arranging device and may be
used in a
dedicated integrity checking device as well. By way of example, the integrity
checking de-
vice may include an ejection device and the tilting member may also be an
ejection mem-
ber, for example an ejection pin as mentioned before. The receptacle tilting
member mov-
ing unit may be designed as discussed before in the context of the receptacle-
pusher mov-
ing unit and may in particular be designed to move the set receptacle with
respect to a
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support structure of the card arranging device by the receptacle-pusher moving
unit along
the normal axis only. It is noted, however, that the precision and speed of a
comparatively
expensive voice coil actuator may not be required in a standalone integrity
checking device.
Another type of drive respectively actuator, for example a simpler type of
linear motor or a
spindle drive, may be used instead. Also, the integrity checking device may
include a door
as explained before.
It is noted that in particular in a standalone integrity checking device, the
tilting member
may in an embodiment not be movable but fixed. The tilting member may in such
design
for example be a fixed tilting pin or a tilting surface that is fixedly
arranged with respect to
the receptacle ground in a tilted manner and receives the set of cards in the
tilted configu-
ration. As standalone device, such integrity checking device may optionally be
designed to
be place on top of a table. Further, it may optionally be designed for
inserting the set of
cards into the set receptacle by a user and removing the set of cards by a
user from a side,
in particular along the primary lateral axis. Like an integrity checking
device, also a card
arranging device may optionally be designed as stand-alone device.
In a further aspect, the overall objective is achieved by a method for
arranging a set of
cards, the set of cards including a number of cards, in particular playing
cards, in a target
card order using a card arranging device. The card arranging device may be but
is not nec-
essarily a card arranging device as disclosed above and/or further below.
Regarding the
properties and composition of the set of cards, reference is made to the
preceding descrip-
tion. Also terms and expressions are used in the same way as in the preceding
description
as well as the exemplary embodiments.
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The card arranging procedure includes repeatedly executing a position change
procedure.
The position change procedure includes removing a change position card from
the set of
cards, the change position card having an initial card position within the set
of cards. The
removing consists of or includes moving the change position card along a
primary lateral
axis in a first lateral direction. The position change procedure further
includes inserting the
change position card into the set of cards at a target card position within
the set of cards.
Inserting the change position card consists of or includes moving the change
position card
in a second lateral direction. The second lateral direction is opposite to the
first lateral di-
rection. Moving the change position card along the primary lateral axis may in
particular
be done by displacing of the change position card along the primary lateral
axis in a linear
or substantially linear manner. The target card position within the set of
cards is different
from the initial card position within the set of cards. The target card order
may in particular
be a random card order or default card order as mentioned before.
In a further aspect, the overall objective is achieved by a card arranging
device that is con-
figured to execute the method for arranging a set of cards.
Further particular embodiments and variants of the method for arranging a set
of cards as
well as the corresponding card arranging device are disclosed and further
discussed in the
context of a card arranging device above and further below.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The herein described invention will be more fully understood from the detailed
description
given herein below and the accompanying figures which should not be considered
limiting
to the invention described in the appended claims. The figures show:
5 Fig. 1 a card arranging device in accordance with the present
disclosure in a sche-
matic top view;
Fig. 2 the card arranging device of Fig. 1 in a view
corresponding to Fig. 1 together
with a set of cards and further features of the card arranging device;
Fig. 3 an exemplary configuration in a position change
procedure executed by a card
10 arranging device pursuant to Fig. 2 at the beginning of the
position change
procedure;
Fig. 4 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
15 quent to the configuration Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 6;
20 Fig. 8 an exemplary further configuration in a position change
procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 8;
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Fig. 10 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 an exemplary further configuration in a position change procedure,
subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 an exemplary further configuration in a position
change procedure, subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 an exemplary further configuration in a position change procedure,
subse-
quent to the configuration Fig. 16 at the end of the position change
procedure;
Fig. 18 An integrity checking device in accordance with the
present disclosure to-
gether with a set of cards in a schematic front view in a configuration at the
beginning of an integrity checking procedure;
Fig. 19 A schematic side view corresponding to Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 A schematic top view corresponding to Fig. 18;
Fig. 21 The integrity checking device of Fig. 18 in a further
configuration in an integrity
checking procedure, subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 18, in a view cor-
responding to Fig. 18;
Fig. 22 A schematic side view corresponding to Fig. 21;
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Fig. 23 The integrity checking device of Fig. 18 in a further
configuration in an integrity
checking procedure, subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 21;
Fig. 24 A schematic side view corresponding to Fig. 23;
Fig. 25 A card arranging device and/or integrity checking
device in accordance with
the present disclosure after ejecting a set of cards in a schematic side view;
Fig. 26 A schematic side view corresponding to Fig. 25;
Fig. 27 An exemplary configuration of a card arranging device
according to a further
embodiment together with a set of cards prior to the execution of a position
change procedure;
Fig. 28 An exemplary further configuration of the card arranging device of
Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 27;
Fig. 29 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 28;
Fig. 30 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 29;
Fig. 31 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 30;
Fig. 32 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 31;
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Fig. 33 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 32;
Fig. 34 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 33;
Fig. 35 An exemplary further configuration of the card arranging device of
Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 34;
Fig. 36 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Fig. 35;
Fig. 37 An exemplary further configuration of the card
arranging device of Figure 27,
subsequent to the configuration of Figure 36 at the end of the position change
procedure;
Fig. 38 A pickup roller of a further embodiment of card
arranging device in a perspec-
tive view;
Fig. 39 Atop view corresponding to Fig. 38;
Fig. 40 A subassembly of a card arranging device according to a further
embodiment
in a perspective view;
Fig. 41 A transport roller of a further embodiment of card
arranging device in a per-
spective view.
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EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which
are illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are
shown. In-
deed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and
should
not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these
embodi-
ments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal
requirements. When-
ever possible and appropriate, like reference numbers will be used to refer to
like features,
in particular components or parts. However, for clarity reasons not every
feature may be
referenced in each and every figure showing the respective feature. Further,
relative di-
mensions and distances as appearing in the figures may not correspond to the
actual phys-
ical design in the interest of clarity.
In the following, reference is first made to Figures 1, 2, both showing a card
arranging
device 1 in accordance with the present disclosure in a schematic top view.
The shown card
arranging device is in particular a shuffling device but may also serve as a
sorting device.
s The card arranging device 1 has in integrated initial card order
determination unit and in-
tegrity checking device. While major components of the initial card order
determination
device and integrity checking device are also shown in Figures, 1, 2, the
operation of an
initial card order determination device and integrity checking device will be
mainly dis-
cussed further below in the context of Figure 18 to Figure 24. The view of
Figure 2 gener-
2 0 ally corresponds to Figure 1. In Figure 2, however, a set of cards 9
which may in particular
form a deck of cards used for the game of Poker or the game of Bridge is
additionally
shown, while Figure 1 shows the card arranging device as such, without the
deck of cards
9. A most proximal card is referenced as 91p and a most distal card is
referenced as 91d.
Cards in general are referenced as 91, the circumferential card edging as 91E.
It is noted
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that for illustrative and clarity reasons the shown number of cards 91 is
smaller than it
would typically be the case.
The normal axis N, defining a proximal direction p and a distal direction d,
and a primary
lateral axis L-1 transverse to the normal axis N, with the primary lateral
axis L-1 defining a
5 first lateral direction 1-1 and a second lateral direction 1-2 are
indicated by dashed lines and
arrows, respectively. (See e.g. Figure 19 for a secondary lateral axis L-2
which is transverse
to the normal axis N and the primary lateral axis L-1 , defining a third
lateral direction 1-3
and a fourth lateral direction 1-4). The fourth lateral direction 1-4 is
assumed to exemplarily
correspond to the direction of gravity, and the expression "top view" is used
with respect
10 to a viewing direction towards the fourth lateral direction. It is noted
that the exact position
of the axes N, L-1, L2 is merely exemplary. In particular, any of the axes may
generally be
parallel shifted.
The card arranging device 1 includes a set receptacle 11 with a proximal
receptacle wall
11 p and a distal receptacle wall 1 1 d spaced apart from each other along the
normal axis
15 N by a receptacle clearance c to receive the set of cards 9 in a
receptacle room (not refer-
enced) between them. The card receptacle 11 further includes a receptacle
ground 111
(best visible e.g. in Figure 19) on which the cards of the set of cards 9 rest
when received
in the receptacle room. In the shown design, the proximal receptacle wall is
also the force
exerting receptacle wall.
20 The proximal receptacle wall 11 p is a reference wall and the distal
receptacle wall 11 d is a
movable wall in the shown design. The proximal receptacle wall 11 p is
generally fixed (but
in part bendable as explained below), while the distal receptacle wall 11d is
displaceable
along the normal axis N relative to the proximal receptacle wall 11p, thereby
allowing a
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variation of the receptacle clearance c. A wall moving device 17 is foreseen
to allow moving
the distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall from a biasing configuration
where the distal
receptacle wall lld contacts the most proximal card 91d into a clearance
configuration.
For this purpose, the wall moving device 17 may include a retraction solenoid
171 as wall
moving drive which, when energized, forces the distal receptacle wall lld into
the distal
direction d against the force of a biasing spring member 173, for example a
coil spring,
that exerts a force onto the distal receptacle wall 11d in the proximal
direction p. In the
biasing configuration where the retraction solenoid 171 is de-energized, the
set of cards
9 is clamped between the proximal receptacle wall llp and the distal
receptacle wall 11d,
with the proximal receptacle wall 11d contacting the most proximal card 91p
and the distal
receptacle wall lld contacting the most distal card 91d of the set of cards 9.
Alternatively.
the wall moving drive 171 may be a wall moving voice coil actuator. In such
design, the
biasing spring as well as a locking solenoid 172 as explained further below
may be omitted.
The set receptacle 11 is as a whole movable along the normal axis N by way of
a voice coil
actuator 142 as exemplary receptacle displacement actuator in a guided manner.
A first pusher 131 and a second pusher 132 are arranged spaced apart with
respect to
each other along the primary lateral axis L-1. In the shown design, the first
pusher 131 and
the second pusher 132 are formed integrally with each other and connected via
a pusher
linkage member 133 that extends between them, resulting in a U-shape in the
top view.
The first pusher 131 and the second pusher 132 are sufficiently spaced apart
along the
primary lateral axis L-1 to allow the set of cards 9 to be received between
them without
contact respectively with clearance along the primary lateral axis L-1. Via a
pusher dis-
placement actuator that is exemplarily realized as linear motor 141, the first
pusher 131
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and the second pusher 132 may be moved along the primary lateral axis L-1 in
the first
lateral direction l-1 respectively the second lateral direction 1-2 together
with each other in
a guided manner. The voice coil actuator 142 and the linear motor 141 form,
together
with linear guides (not shown in detail), a receptacle pusher moving unit.
In a particularly favourable design, the second pusher 132 is at its at its
side pointing away
from the first pusher 131 respectively at the side towards the auxiliary
receptacle 12 as
explained below (corresponding to the first lateral direction 1-1) chamfered
or bevelled.
This allows the second pusher 132 to overlap along the primary lateral axis L-
1 with a
change position card in the auxiliary receptacle 12.
The first pusher 131 and the second pusher 132 are arranged to project into
the receptacle
room from proximal towards distal via cut-outs of the proximal receptacle wall
llp in de-
pendence of the position of the set receptacle 11 along the normal axis N.
An auxiliary receptacle 12 as auxiliary card support is arranged spaced apart
with respect
to the set receptacle 11 in the first lateral direction l-1, with the set
receptacle 11 and the
auxiliary receptacle 12 being fixed to each other along the primary lateral
axis L-1. The
auxiliary receptacle 12 comprises a proximal auxiliary receptacle wall 12p and
a distal aux-
iliary receptacle wall 12d which are arranged parallel to each other and
spaced apart to
receive a single card between them, i.e. with a clearance slightly wider than
the card thick-
ness. In the shown example, the auxiliary receptacle 12 is symmetrical with
respect to the
primary lateral axis L- 1 .
A card transfer unit 15 is arranged along the primary lateral axis L-1 between
the set re-
ceptacle 11 and the auxiliary receptacle 12. The card transfer unit 15 serves
the purpose
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of moving a change position card between the set receptacle 11 and the
auxiliary recepta-
cle 12 as discussed further below in more detail. The card transfer unit 15
includes a pickup
roller 151 and exemplarily two transport rollers 153, with the transport
rollers 153 being
displaced with respect to the pickup roller 151 in the first lateral
directionl-1. The transport
rollers 153 are aligned with each other along the primary lateral axis L-1 and
spaced apart
from each other along the normal axis N with a gap between them that allows a
single
card, in particular a change position card, to pass between them under
frictional contact.
The transport rollers 153 are arranged along the normal axis N symmetrical
with respect
to the auxiliary receptacle 12. The transport rollers 153 as well as the
pickup roller 151
extend along axes parallel to the secondary lateral axis L-2 and are rotatable
about such
axes. The transport rollers 153 may be coupled to a transport roller drive
(not separately
shown) to rotate in opposite rotational directions with respect to each other
in a reversible
manner. The pickup roller 151 is coupled to a separate pickup roller drive
(not separately
shown) to rotate in a reversible manner. As will become apparent further
below, the pickup
1 5 roller 151 generally rotates by less than a full revolution, in
contrast to the transport rollers
153.
In a design variant, only one of the transport rollers 153 is directly coupled
to and driven
by the transport roller drive, while the other transport roller 153 is non-
driven respectively
passive and rotates due to its contact with a change-position card as
explained further be-
low. The non-driven respectively passive transport roller 153 is favourably
arranged in a
spring-biased manner against the other driven transport roller 153.
The pickup roller 151 further includes a bending protrusion 152 that
exemplarily has the
shape of a cylinder section with diameter that is equal or similar to the
pickup roller 151 as
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such and is radially displaced to the pickup roller axis. The bending
protrusion serves the
purpose of bending a proximal insertion subset in the proximal direction p as
discussed
further below.
In the shown design, the proximal receptacle wall llp further has a larger
extension along
the primary lateral axis L-1 as compared to the distal receptacle wall 11d and
in particular
extends further in the first lateral direction l-1 towards the auxiliary
receptacle 12 by a pe-
ripheral proximal receptacle wall region 11 p. In contrast to the receptacle
walls 11p, 11d
which are in principle stiff, the peripheral proximal receptacle wall region
11 p' is elastically
bendable in the proximal direction p.
In the shown design, the card arranging device 1 further includes an ejection
device with
exemplarily two ejection pins 161, 162 as ejection members. The ejection pins
161, 162
are exemplarily separately movable by corresponding ejection pin drives 163,
164 as ejec-
tion member drives which may in particular be servo drives, between a
respective retracted
ejection pin position and a respective advanced ejection pin position. In
their respective
retracted ejection pin position, the ejection pins 161, 162 stand back or are
flush with the
receptacle ground 111 and do in particular not project into the receptacle
room, while they
do project into the receptacle room in their respective advanced ejection pin
position re-
spectively may project into the receptacle room in dependence of the position
of the set
receptacle along the normal axis N. By moving both pins 161, 162 together from
their
respective retracted ejection member position into their respective advanced
ejection
member position, a set of cards may be pushed in the fourth lateral direction
1-4 to be
ejected. In the shown design, one of the ejection pins, namely ejection pin
161 also serves
as tilting member respectively tilting pin as discussed further below_
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Figures 1, 2 further show a camera unit 22 with a field of view 22', with the
camera unit
22 having a viewing direction from proximal towards distal and being arranged
proximal
with respectto the set receptacle 11. Further, a dropping roller 21 is shown
that is rotatable
by a dropping roller drive (not separately shown) around a dropping roller
axis which ex-
5 tends parallel to the primary lateral axis L-1. The camera unit 22 as
well as the dropping
roller 21 are used in the context of initial card order determination and
integrity checking
as discussed further below in more detail.
A number of further elements are only schematically shown in Figure 2 for
clarity reasons.
A control unit 5 controls the operation of the card arranging device 1 and/or
an integrity
10 checking device 2 as discussed further below in a manner according to
the general descrip-
tion and as further discussed in the following. The control unit is configured
to execute
respectively control execution of procedures such as the card arranging
procedure for shuf-
fling and/or sorting, an arranging planning procedure, an initial card order
determination
procedure and/or an integrity checking procedure. In particular, the control
unit 5 controls
15 the operation of the drives and actuators, evaluates feedback and
general sensor infor-
mation. Favourably, the control unit 5 includes a hardware random number
generator 51.
The control unit 5 may further include an image processing unit 52 for
processing images
as captured by the camera unit 22.
A user interface respectively human machine interface 6 is provided in
operative coupling
20 with the control unit 5. As mentioned in the general description, the
human machine in-
terface 6 may, for example, be realized by a single pushbutton and a ring of
RGB-LEDs.
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The card arranging device further includes a pickup roller drive 151a, for
example a mo-
torized servo drive, for driving the dropping roller, as well as a transport
roller drive 153a
for driving the transport rollers 153.
Further, a communication interface, such as an USB interface, may be present
for the pur-
poses as discussed in the general description. Such USB port or generally
communication
interface may be hidden or locked and accessible only with particular
authorization.
Further, Figure 2 schematically shows an anti-rotation device 7 that prevents
a change po-
sition card from rotating beyond a critical angle as discussed above around
the normal axis
respectively an axis parallel thereto. The anti-rotation device 7 is a stop
that is arranged
above the cards respectively displaced in the third lateral direction with
respect to the card
and is hit by the circumferential card edging of the change position card when
rotating.
The structural components of the card arranging device 1 are generally mounted
to a hous-
ing structure respectively support structure 999 from which a base plate is
visible (see also
Figure 18).
In the following, the operation of the card arranging device when executing a
position
change procedure is discussed in more detail with reference to Figure 3 to
Figure 17. All of
these figures show a top view of the card arranging device 1, similar to
Figures 1, 2. For
the sake of clarity, however, elements that are not relevant in the context of
a position
change procedure are generally not shown. As explained in the general
description, a num-
ber of position change procedures are generally executed in a sequential
manner under
control of a control unit for shuffling, but also for sorting. The following
discussion accord-
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ingly refers to both cases. Movements are indicated by bold arrows as
appropriate. A dou-
ble-sided arrow indicates, in particular for the set receptacle 11, that the
movement may
generally be in two opposite directions in particular the proximal or the
distal direction.
Otherwise, the movement direction is indicated by a single-sided arrow.
Rotations of rollers
are indicated by curved arrows.
Regarding the control mode of the voice coil actuator 142 as receptacle
displacement ac-
tuator, and the configuration of the distal receptacle wall lld as movable
wall, it is as-
sumed that such modes are maintained where not stated differently. Further,
the distal
receptacle wall may generally be locked in position by way of the locking
solenoid 172 in
lo the biasing configuration in situations where the movable wall is in the
biasing configura-
tion during a position change procedure. This, however, depends on the
specific design
and is not mandatory. It is noted that if a wall moving voice coil actuator as
mentioned
before is used, a desired position can be maintained by corresponding control
of the wall
moving voice coil actuator, and the locking solenoid 172 is accordingly not
required.
In Figure 3, the set receptacle 11 (with the proximal receptacle wall llp and
the distal
receptacle wall lid being referenced) has been moved as step (a) of the
position change
procedure via the voice coil actuator 142 along the normal axis N into a
removal position.
It can be seen that the pushers, in particular the first pusher 131 covers
part of the set of
cards 9 along the normal axis N. The cards that the first pusher 131 covers
form the prox-
imal removal subset pr and the other cards form the distal removal subset dr,
with the most
distal card of the proximal removal subset pr being the change position card
91' (see Figure
4). The distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall is in the biasing
configuration and the
voice coil actuator 142 is operated in the position control mode. It is noted
that the pushers
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131, 132 are for this step in a position where they do not interfere with
respectively not
contact the cards of the set of cards 9.
Subsequently, step (b) of the position change procedure is carried out where
the pushers,
in particular the first pusher 131, are moved in the first lateral direction 1-
1. Thereby, the
cards that are covered by the first pusher 131 along the normal axis N are
pushed by the
first pusher 131 in the first lateral direction 1-1. Figure 4 illustrates the
situation at the end
of step (b) of the position change procedure where the set of cards 9 is in
its removal offset
set configuration. It can be seen that the proximal removal subset pr and in
particular the
change position card 91' overlaps with and respectively is covered by the
pickup roller 151
along the primary lateral axis L-1, but are spaced apart along the normal axis
N, such that
the change position card 91 does not contact the pickup roller 151.
For moving the change position card 91' into the auxiliary receptacle 12 as
step (c) of the
position change procedure, the set receptacle 11 is first displaced in the
distal direction d,
thereby forcing the change position card 91' with its distal card front
against the pickup
5 roller 151, as illustrated in Figure 5. This is typically done in force
control mode, but posi-
tion control mode is also possible. This step forms an intermediate step (c0)
as preparatory
step for the transfer of the change position card 91' into the auxiliary
receptacle 12 in step
(c) of the position change procedure.
Subsequently, the pickup roller 151 is controlled to rotate such that it
further displaces the
change position card 91' in the first lateral direction 1-1 by way of
frictional contact, until
an end region of the change position card 91' is located between the transport
rollers 153
respectively is in a catching area of the transport rollers 153, as
illustrated in Figure 6. This
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step forms sub-step (c1) of the position change procedure as explained in the
general de-
scription and is typically carried out in force control mode but could also
carried out in po-
sition control mode. It can be seen that the change position card is now
displaced in the
first lateral direction l-1 with respect to both the proximal removal subset
pr and the distal
removal subset dr in the set receptacle 11.
Subsequently, the change position card 91' is moved, as sub-step (c2) of the
position
change procedure, into the auxiliary receptacle 12 via the transport rollers
153 which are
rotated by the transport roller drive in opposite directions as indicated.
Figure 7 illustrates
the situation upon the movement of the change position card being corn pleted.
It is noted
that, while the auxiliary receptacle 12 is exemplarily shown as having
continuous respec-
tively through-going, plate- or sheet-shaped proximal and distal auxiliary
receptacle walls,
12p, 12d in addition to an auxiliary receptacle ground 121 extending between
them, this
is not essential. Instead, a number of spaced apart support posts and/or a
number of
spaced apart non-driven rotatable rollers that extend parallel to the
transport rollers 153
respectively along the secondary lateral axis L-2 may be foreseen, for
example. Further in
a variant, the proximal 12p and distal 12d auxiliary receptacle walls may not
be present,
but only an auxiliary card support that corresponds to the auxiliary
receptacle ground 121
as abutment for gravity acting in the fourth lateral direction 1-4.
As can be seen, the auxiliary receptacle 12 is shorter as compared to the
cards 91, in par-
ticular the change position card 91' along the primary lateral axis L-1 such
that the change
position card 91' projects beyond the auxiliary receptacle 12 in the first
lateral direction 1-
1. As mentioned in the general description, the movement into the auxiliary
receptacle 12
may be carried out, for example under force control with a favourably reduced
force, in a
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passive mode where the voice coil actuator 142 is non-energized, or in
position control
mode with the position of the set receptacle 11 as obtained in sub-step (c1)
respectively
shown in Figure 6 being maintained. Further, the distal receptacle wall lld as
movable
wall is favourable in the clearance configuration. Alternatively, however, the
biasing con-
5 figuration could be used. In this case, the set receptacle 11 may be
somewhat moved into
the proximal direction p as discussed below. Thereby, it is ensured that the
second pusher
132 will contact all cards of the proximal removal subset pr, since some
distal cards of the
proximal removal subset pr may have moved into the distal direction.
Subsequently, an intermediate step (d0) as illustrated in Figure 8 is carried
out as prepar-
10 atory step for step (d) of the position change procedure. In step (d0),
the set receptacle
11 is moved in the proximal direction p such that the pushers, in particular
the second
pusher 132, covers along the normal axis N the proximal removal subset pr,
which at this
point does not include the change position card 91'. The most distal card of
the proximal
removal subset is referenced 91".
15 Subsequently, step (d) of the position change procedure is carried out
where the pushers,
in particular the second pusher 132, are moved in the second lateral direction
1-2. Thereby,
cards of the proximal removal subset pr are pushed by the second pusher 132 in
the sec-
ond lateral direction 1-2 into the standard set configuration where the
proximal removal
subset pr (without change position card 91') and the distal removal subset dr
are aligned
20 along the primary lateral axis L-1. This step is favourably carried out
in position control
mode with the distal receptacle wall lld as movable wall being in the
clearance configu-
ration. Figure 9 illustrates the situation at the end of this step where the
whole set of cards
9 (with exception of the change position card 91') is accommodated in the set
receptacle
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11 between the proximal receptacle wall llp and the distal receptacle wall
11d. In this
situation, the distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall is moved into the
biasing config-
uration, thereby clamping the set of cards 9 between the proximal receptacle
wall llp and
the distal receptacle wall 11d.
Subsequently, the set receptacle 11 is moved as step (e) of the position
change procedure
via the voice coil actuator 142 along the normal axis N into an insertion
position where the
pushers, in particular the first pusher 131, partly covers the set of cards 9
along the normal
axis N. This step is in principle similar to step (b) of the position change
routine as discussed
before. The cards of the set of cards 9 that are covered by first pusher 131
along the normal
axis N form a proximal insertion subset pi, while the other cards form a
distal insertion
subset di. The distal pusher end of 131d of the first pusher 131 is along the
normal axis N
generally between the proximal front and the distal front of the most distal
card of the
proximal insertion subset pi, for example approximately in the middle between
the card
fronts. The situation after moving the set receptacle 11 into the insertion
position is il lus-
1 5 trated in Figure 10. Prior to moving the set receptacle into the
insertion position, the push-
ers 131, 132 may be moved as compared to the situation as shown in Figure 9,
into the
first lateral direction l-1 into a position where they do not interfere with
the cards when the
set receptacle (11) is subsequently moved along the normal axis N.
It is noted that the rotational position of the pickup roller 151 is, like in
the preceding steps,
such that the bending protrusion 152 does not interfere with the change
position card 91'.
Subsequently, step (f) of the position change procedure is carried out where
the pushers,
in particular the first pusher 131, are moved in the first lateral direction 1-
1, as illustrated
in Figure 11. Thereby, the cards that are covered by the first pusher 131
along the normal
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axis N are pushed by the first pusher 131 in the first lateral direction 1-1.
Figure 11 illus-
trates the situation at the end of step (f) of the position change procedure
with the set of
cards 9 being in its insertion offset set configuration. It can further be
seen that the proxi-
mal insertion subset pi overlaps with respectively is covered by the pickup
roller 151 along
the primary lateral axis L-1, but are spaced apart along the normal axis N.
This step is gen-
erally similar to step (b) of the position change procedure as explained
before. The inser-
tion position, however, is different from the removal position. The proximal
pi and distal di
insertion subsets are accordingly different from the proximal pr and distal dr
removal sub-
set. As explained in the following, the change position card 91' is
subsequently placed be-
tween the most distal card of the proximal insertion subset pi and the most
proximal card
of the distal insertion subset di.
Subsequently, step (g) of the position change procedure is carried out, where
the change
position card is again inserted respectively moved back into the set
receptacle 11 at its
appropriate new position. First, the pickup roller 151 is rotated into a
position where the
bending protrusion 152 points in proximal direction p respectively towards the
proximal
insertion subset pi, as illustrated in Figure 12. However, the bending
protrusion is sepa-
rated from the proximal insertion subset pi by a gap and does therefore not
yet contact the
proximal insertion subset pi. It is noted that the rotational position of the
pickup roller 151
was in all preceding steps such that no interference or interaction occurred
between the
bending protrusion 152 and any card of the set of cards 9.
Next, the proximal insertion subset, pi, in particular the distal card front
of its most distal
card, is forced in distal direction against the bending protrusion 152,
typically in force con-
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trol mode of the voice coil actuator 142. Thereby, a peripheral region of the
proximal in-
sertion subset pi is bent in the proximal direction under the controlled force
exerted by the
proximal receptacle wall llp and the counterforce that is exerted by the
bending protru-
sion 152 and the pickup roller as abutment. Along with the peripheral region
of the proxi-
mal insertion subset pi, the elastically bendable peripheral proximal
receptacle wall region
llp which supports the proximal insertion subset pi is bent in the proximal
direction. A
gap G opens under theforce at the interface of the proximal pi and distal di
insertion subset
at the (generally vertical oriented) side facing the auxiliary receptacle 12,
as illustrated in
Figure 13.
Next, the transport rollers 153 are controlled to rotate, thereby moving the
change posi-
tion card 91' from the auxiliary receptacle 12 back into the set receptacle
11, with the
change position card 91' being inserted into the gap G between the proximal pi
and the
distal insertion subset, as illustrated in Figure 14. In this process, the
change position card
passes under frictional contact between the bending protrusion 152 and the
proximal in-
sertion subset pi and is therefore also somewhat elastically deformed, as
illustrated. The
rotational direction of the transport rollers 153 is opposite to Figure 7. The
step is favour-
ably carried in force control mode and with the movable wall lld in the
biasing configura-
tion.
In a here-assumed design, the rotational speed of the transport rollers 153 is
sufficiently
high to allow the change position card 91' to continue its movement in the
second lateral
direction 1-2 when losing contact with the transport rollers such that it is
inserted into the
set receptacle without a driving force being applied. The configuration at the
end of the
movement of the change position card is shown in Figure 1 5. It is noted,
however that in
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a variant the change position card could stay in contact with the transport
rollers 151 and
be subsequently moved by the second pusher 132, with a preceding movement of
the set
receptacle 11 in the proximal direction. In a further variant the pickup
roller 151 may be
rotated such that the bending protrusion 152 does not interfere with the
change position
card 91', force the change position card 91' against the pickup roller 151 and
rotate the
pickup to displace the change position card 91' in the second lateral
direction 1-2 towards
the set receptacle 11.
Subsequently, two intermediate steps (h01), (h02) are carried out in the here-
described
embodiment that are illustrated, in combination, in Figure 1 6. In step (h01
), pushers, in
particular the first pusher 131, are moved in the second lateral direction 1-2
into a position
where the first pusher 131 is displaced in the second lateral direction 1-2
with respect to
the set of cards 9, in particular the cards of the distal insertion subset di,
i.e. into a position
where a gap G is present between the circumferential card edging 91E of the
cards of the
distal insertion subset di and the first pusher 131. This step is carried out
to allow move-
ment of the set receptacle 11 in the proximal direction in subsequent step
(h02) without
interference. When moving the pushers 131, 132 as described, the proximal
insertion sub-
set pi is pushed in the shown embodiment into the second lateral direction 1-2
by the sec-
ond pusher 132.
In subsequent step (h02), the set receptacle is moved into the proximal
direction p into a
position where the pushers, in particular the second pusher 132 covers the
proximal inser-
tion subset pi and the change position card 91'.
Subsequently, step (h) of the position change procedure is carried out where
the cards of
the set of cards 9 are again brought into the standard set configuration. This
is carried out
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by moving the pushers 131, 132, in particular the second pusher 132, into the
second
lateral direction 1-2, such that the cards of the proximal insertion subset pi
together with
the change position card 91' are pushed into the second lateral direction 1-2
until they are
aligned along the primary lateral axis L-1 with the cards of the distal
insertion subset and
5 the standard configuration is accordingly reached. The resulting
configuration which in this
design given at the end of the position change procedure is shown in Figure
17.
Subsequently, the position change procedure may again be executed as necessary
with
different removal and insertion position. Subsequent to the situation as
illustrated in Figure
17 and the next following execution of the position change procedure, however,
the push-
10 ers 131, 132 are favourably somewhat moved into the first lateral
direction l-1 such that
the second pusher 132 loses contact with the cards.
Figures 18, 19, 20 schematically show an exemplary embodiment of an integrity
checking
device 2 in accordance with the present disclosure in a frontal view (Figure
18) with a
viewing direction from proximal towards distal, a side view (Figure 19) and a
top view
15 (Figure 20). In the shown design, the integrity checking device 2 may be
a standalone
device. The operation, however, corresponds to the operation of an integrity
checking de-
vice as part of a card arranging device 1 and as discussed before with
reference to the
preceding figures. The integrity checking device 2 may at the same time be an
initial card
order determination device of a card arranging device 1 as discussed before,
with the con-
20 trol unit 5 also controlling operation of the initial card order
determination device and card
arranging device. In this case, the integrity checking procedure and initial
card order deter-
mination are carried out along with each other as discussed before under
control of the
control unit 5. If the integrity checking device 2 is a standalone device and
not part of a
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card arranging device 1, no initial card order determination may be required.
Further, if the
integrity checking device 2 is a standalone device, a corresponding control
unit and user
interface of adopted, generally limited functionality are present.
It is noted that features that are features of a card arranging device 1 that
are not relevant
in the context of integrity checking and initial card order determination may
not be shown.
It is further noted that Figures 1, 2 as discussed above, illustrate the
integration of the in-
tegrity checking device 2 into a card arranging device 1.
Figures 18, 19, 20 show an initial configuration, after the set of cards 9 has
been inserted
into the set receptacle 11 and before the integrity checking procedure is
carried out. The
ejection pin 161 which in this design also serves as tilting pin is in its
retracted ejection pin
position, with the associated ejection pin drive 163, see Figure 1, also
serving as tilting pin
drive. The other ejection pin 162 and its associated injection pin drive 164
are not shown
for clarity reasons.
All cards of the set of cards 9 are accordingly in their levelled
configuration and rest on the
receptacle ground 111. The distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall is shown
in its bias-
ing configuration, resulting in the set of cards 9 being clamped between the
proximal re-
ceptacle wall llp and the distal receptacle wall 11d, respectively.
The camera unit 22 is arranged such that it can capture an image of a corner
section 91C
of a card 91, in particular of a most proximal card of a levelled subset as
discussed further
zo below. The corner section 91C of a card carries the card identification
information, e.g. suit
and rank of a poker card.
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Further, a door arrangement 4 with a door 41 and a door coupling solenoid 42
is shown.
By the control unit energizing the door coupling solenoid 42, the door 41 is
mechanically
and generally rigidly coupled to the set receptacle 11, such that any movement
of the set
receptacle 11 along the normal axis N is followed by the door 41. The door
coupling sole-
noid may be arranged auxiliary receptacle 12 any desired location. In a
particular design,
it is for example arranged at the distal respectively movable wall 11d.
The integrity checking device 2 respectively card arranging device 1 is
mounted below the
tabletop 4' of a game table. The tabletop 4' has a table cut-out 4a' via which
a set of cards
can be inserted into respectively removed out of the set receptacle 11
respectively its re-
ceptacle room as explained in the following. Reference 4' may in a further
embodiment
refer to a top side of a housing if a card arranging device 1 and/or integrity
checking device
2 is a stand-alone device, and reference 4a' may refer to a housing cut-out.
Also, the device
may have a generally closed housing that is mounted under the tabletop 4' of a
gametable.
The door 41 is linearly guided in door guide 43, e.g. which may, e.g. include
or consist of
guide rails, along the normal axis N. For inserting respectively loading a set
of cards 9 into
the set receptacle 11 respectively ejecting a set of cards 9 from the set
receptacle, the door
coupling solenoid 42 is activated and the voice coil actuator is controlled to
move the set
receptacle into a position under cut-out 4a' in the tabletop of a game table
such that the
set receptacle is accessible from top of tabletop 4' via the table cut-out
4a'. Along with the
movement of the set receptacle 11, the door 41 moves from a closed-door
position where
the table cut-out 4a' is covered by the door 41 into an open-door position.
After inserting
respectively removing the set of cards 9, the door 41 may be closed in an
analogue oppo-
site manner. It is noted that a door, for example but not necessarily of the
here-described
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design, is generally present also in a card arranging device 1 that does not
include an initial
card order determination device and/or integrity checking device 2. Also, a
door is gener-
ally present in a stand-alone integrity checking device.
As initial step of the integrity check, illustrated in Figures 21, 22 in a
front view and side
view, respectively, the ejection pin 161, which also serves as tilting pin as
mentioned, is
moved by its ejection member drive 163 into an intermediate ejection pin
position where
it is displaced in the third lateral direction 1-3 as compared to the
retracted ejection member
position. As mentioned in the general description, the intermediate ejection
pin position is
along the secondary lateral axis L-2, between the retracted ejection pin
position and an
advanced ejection pin position as discussed further below and corresponds to
an advanced
tilting member position respectively advanced tilting pin position. In doing
so, the ejection
pin 161 pushes against the base section 91E' of the circumferential card
edging 91E, with
the set of cards respectively its cards 91 being tilted in each case and moved
from a previ-
ous levelled card configuration into a respective tilted card configuration
where the base
section 91E' is skewed respectively angled with respect to the receptacle
ground. After
moving the ejection pin 161 as tilting pin into its intermediate ejection pin
position, the
distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall is brought into the clearance
configuration via
the retraction solenoid 171. It is noted that the integrity checking device
could also be pro-
vided with the ejection pin 161 being directly in its intermediate ejection
member position.
Further, the dropping drive 21a (schematically shown in Figure 18) is
activated, resulting
in the dropping roller 21 to rotate as indicated in Figure 22. The dropping
roller 21 is ar-
ranged to overlap with the set of cards when tilted, such that it can contact
the distal card
front of the most distal card 91d (respectively the most distal card of a
tilted subset as
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discussed below), as visible, e.g. in Figure 22. In the configuration of
Figures 19, 20, how-
ever, a gap is present between the dropping roller and the most distal card
91d, such they
are not in contact. As best visible in Figure 21, a sufficient portion of the
set of cards 9
respectively its cards 91 remain located between the proximal 11p and distal
11d to ensure
appropriate positioning of the cards with the cards 91 respectively their card
fronts being
substantially parallel to a plane as defined by the primary lateral axis L-1
and secondary
lateral axis L-2.
It is noted that especially the arrangement of the dropping roller 21 is
schematic and in
particular the extension of the dropping roller 21 along its axis may be
significantly smaller.
Ideally, the dropping roller 21 is dimensioned and arranged to contact the
most distal card
91d only in a small peripheral region.
Subsequently, as illustrated in Figures 23, 24 which generally correspond to
Figures 21,
22, the set receptacle 11 is moved by the voice coil actuator 142 in distal
direction. As
explained in the general description, the (distal) ejection pin end 161e
respectively tilting
pin end of the ejection pin 161 is aligned respectively adjusted with respect
to the dropping
roller 21. By moving the set receptacle 11 in distal direction, the set of
cards 9 is forced
against the rotating dropping roller. Since the ejection pin 161 does not
move, the card 91
facing and contacting the dropping roller 21 loses contact with the ejection
pin 161 and
moves respectively is forced back into its levelled card configuration,
referred to as drop-
ping. The dropping happens sequentially for all cards 91 one after the other,
beginning
with the most distal card 91d and ending with the most proximal card 91p. The
cards 91
that have not yet been dropped form, in combination, a tilted subset 9T, and
the cards 91
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that have already been dropped form, in combination, a levelled subset 9L,
with the lev-
elled subset 9L being distal from the tilted subset 9T.
A corner section 91C (see Figure 20) is covered by the field of view 22' of
the camera unit
22 for each card 91 respectively directly subsequent to being dropped, i.e.
the most prox-
imal card of the levelled subset 9L, since it is not hidden by the even more
proximal cards
which are still in their respective tilted card configuration respectively
belong to the tilted
subset. A card image or a number of card images of each dropped card is
captured accord-
ingly.
This process continues until all cards of the set of cards 9 have been dropped
and the
o spective card images captured.
It is noted that moving the set receptacle in the distal direction and
dropping the cards 91
one after the other as explained, results in the distance by which the
ejection pin 161 pro-
jects into the receptacle room of the set receptacle continuously decreasing.
As the most
proximal card 91p as last card is dropped, the ejection pin 161 does not
further project
1 5 into the receptacle room.
It is assumed that the face side that shows the card identification
information, e.g. suit and
rank shall be the proximal card front. If, for one or more cards, this is not
the case, the card
identification information is not present in the card image, resulting in the
integrity check
having failed. Further, the control unit stores an expected set composition as
explained in
zo the general description and determines from the captured images if the
actual set compo-
sition of the set of cards 9 matches the expected set composition. If this is
not the case
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because e.g. any card is missing or a card e.g. of a particular suit and rank
duplicated re-
spectively present more often than expected, the integrity check has failed.
Only if the in-
tegrity check has not failed, it has passed. The control unit is configured to
determine if the
integrity check has passed and controls further action as appropriate and
discussed before.
If the integrity checking device 2 is at the same time an initial card order
determination
device of a card arranging device, the control unit, in particular the control
unit 5 of the
card arranging device, is further configured to store the card order as
determined from the
card images as initial card order and input for a subsequent card arranging
planning pro-
cedure. Further prior to proceeding with a card arranging procedure as
discussed before,
the ejection pin 161 is moved back into its retracted ejection pin
configuration.
In the following, reference is additionally made to Figures 25, 26 which
illustrate the ejec-
tion of a set of cards from the set receptacle 11 for the purpose of removal.
Starting from
a configuration where the set of cards 9 is accommodated in the set receptacle
11 and the
door 41 is closed, the door 41 is moved from its closed into its opened door
position as
explained before. Subsequently, both ejection pins 161, 162 are moved from
their respec-
tive retracted ejection pin position into their respective advanced ejection
pin position (see,
e.g. Figures 25, 26) via their respective injection pin drives 163, 164 in a
synchronous
manner. Thereby, the set of cards 9 with its cards 91 is pushed respectively
lifted into the
third lateral direction 1-3 and partly passes through the table cut-out 4a'.
In the advanced
ejection pin position of ejection pins 161, 162, the set of cards 9 projects
beyond the tab-
letop 4 to be grasped and removed by a user. The distal receptacle wall lld as
movable
wall is favourably in the clearance configuration to allow easy removal of the
set of cards
9.
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After removing the set of cards 9, a further set of cards can be inserted for
arrangement
and/or integrity checking in the clearance configuration. Subsequently, the
ejection pins
161, 162 are moved into their retracted position, thereby placing the further
set of cards
in the set receptacle 11 and the door 41 is closed.
In the following, the operation of a further embodiment of the card arranging
device 1
when executing a position change procedure is discussed with reference to
Figure 27 to
Figure 37.1n the interest of conciseness, not all steps are necessarily
explained in full detail,
but the description is mainly focussed on particular aspects that differ from
the before-
discussed embodiment. Also the description of the structure focusses on
particular aspects
of this embodiment.
In the here-discussed design, the arrangement of retraction solenoid 171,
locking solenoid
172 and biasing spring member 173 is favourably replaced by a wall moving
voice coil
actuator 171' (schematically shown in Figure 27 only) as explained in the
general descrip-
tion. Instead of selectively energizing the solenoids 171, 172, the wall
moving voice coil
actuator 171' is controlled accordingly to compress the cards within the set
receptacle 11
with an appropriate force as required respectively to adjust the receptacle
clearance c. A
voice coil actuator allows bidirectional movement of the moving wall via the
control signal
of the voice coil actuator.
Regarding the pushers, the second pusher 132 is somewhat longer as compared to
the
first pusher 131, such that the distal pusher end 132d of the second pusher
132 is dis-
placed in distal direction d along the normal axis N with respect to the
distal pusher end
131d of the first pusher. Further, an outer side of the second pusher 132 that
points away
from the first pusher 132 is chamfered or bevelled. Due to the design of the
second pusher
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132, it move into the l-1 and deflect the change position card 91' that is
held between the
transport rollers 153 (see Figures 32, 33), without damaging or marking the
change-po-
sition card 91'. In the vertical direction respectively along the secondary
normal axis L-2,
the second pusher 132 is arranged above the card transfer unit 15 respectively
its rollers
as well as the auxiliary receptacle12, in order to allow its movement without
interfering.
As referenced in Figures 33, 34, the pickup roller 151 has in this embodiment
along its
circumference pickup roller flat sections 151' and between them a pickup
roller cylindrical
section 151" that may in each case contact a card and are made from an elastic
respectively
resilient material, in particular rubber. Between the pickup roller flat
sections 151, a sepa-
l() ration protrusion 152' is present that is generally designed similar to
the bending protru-
sion 152 of the before discussed embodiment but fulfilling a somewhat
different function
as explained further below. The separation protrusion 152' is favourably made
from a hard
respectively low-friction material such as metal or plastics, like in the
before-discussed em-
bodiment. Along the rotational axis of the pickup roller 151, the flat pickup
roller sections
151' and the cylindrical pickup roller section are not continuous. Instead but
are in each
case split into two card contact elements that are such that a resulting force
that is exerted
onto contacting points is aligned with the primary lateral axis L-1 and
corresponds to the
centreline of the contacted card. A corresponding design is given for the
transport rollers
153. The separation protrusion 152' is also not axially continuous but has in
this design
three axially separated segments, each segment being formed by a separation
element.
Further, the auxiliary receptacle 12 is designed somewhat differently as
follows: In a top
view respectively a viewing direction along the secondary lateral axis, the
auxiliary recep-
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tacle 1 2 has an auxiliary receptacle interface section 1 2' that is displaced
in proximal direc-
tion d as compared to an auxiliary receptacle main section 1 2¨. The auxiliary
receptacle
interface section 1 2' and the auxiliary receptacle main section 1 2¨ extend
parallel to each
other. Specifically, the proximal auxiliary wall 1 2p and the distal auxiliary
receptacle wall
1 2d extend parallel to each other and parallel to the primary lateral axis L-
1 (see, e.g. Fig-
ure 2). in the auxiliary receptacle interface section 1 2' and the auxiliary
receptacle main
section 1 2¨. It is noted that the auxiliary receptacle interface section 1 2'
is short as com-
pared to the auxiliary receptacle main section 1 2¨. The auxiliary receptacle
interface sec-
tion serves the purpose of receiving a change-position card from the card
transfer unit 1 5
respectively transfer it into the card transfer unit 15 in a correctly aligned
manner. The aux-
iliary receptacle 1 2 further has an auxiliary transition section 1 2" that is
adjacent to and
connects the auxiliary receptacle interface section 1 2' and the auxiliary
receptacle main
section 1 2¨. In a top view, the overall shape of the auxiliary receptacle 1 2
is accordingly
substantially S-shape and a change position card that is accommodated in the
auxiliary
1 5 receptacle will be bent correspondingly.
It is noted that, while different designs and variations are possible, Figures
38, 39 shows a
pickup roller that may be uses in the context of the here-described
embodiment. Similarly,
Figure 40 shows a subunit of a card arranging device 1, specifically major
elements of the
transport unit 15 and an auxiliary receptacle 1 2, that may be used.
In the configuration as shown in Figure 27, step (a) of the position change
procedure has
been executed, similar to Figure 3 as explained before.
In the configuration shown in Figure 28, step (b) of the position change
procedure has
been executed, generally similar to Figure 4, however, with some difference as
follows:
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The pickup roller 151 is in a rotational position where a flat portion 151'
thereof faces the
change position card 91, with the distal card front of the change position
card 91' and the
pickup roller 151 being spaced apart by a minimal gap. It is noted that no
dedicated elas-
tically bendable peripheral proximal receptacle wall region llp as in the
before described
embedment is required.
Due to the design of the pickup roller 151 in this embodiment, however, an
explicit step of
forcing the change position card 91' against the pickup roller 1 51 , as shown
above in Fig-
ure 4, is not required. Instead, the pickup roller 151 is, starting from the
configuration as
shown in Figure 28, moved to rotate such that its cylindrical portions 151"
contact the
distal card front of the change position card 91' and displaces the change
position card in
the first lateral direction Ii, until an end region of the change position
card 91' is located
between the transport rollers 153 respectively is in a catching area of the
transport rollers
153, as illustrated in Figure 29, with Figure 29 also indicating the rotation
of the pickup
roller 151.
5 The rotation of the pickup roller 151 between the configurations of
Figure 28 and Figure
29 is such that different flat sections 151' (referenced in Figure 34, see
also Figures 38,
39) of the pickup roller 1 5 1 face the proximal removal subset pr and in
particular the
change position card 91".
From the configuration shown in Figure 29, the change position card is
transferred into the
into the auxiliary receptacle 12 where it assumes the auxiliary card position
by rotating the
transport rollers 153 as indicated. The configuration when the transfer of the
change po-
sition card 91' into the auxiliary receptacle 12 and accordingly step (c) of
the position
change procedure is completed is shown in Figure 30, generally corresponding
to Figure 7
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for the before-discussed embodiment. It can be seen that the change position
card is 91'
is bent to an S-shape due to the design of the proximal and distal auxiliary
receptacle wall,
12p, 12d, as mentioned before. In order to prevent the proximal removal subset
pr from
being unintentionally displaced in the first lateral direction 1-1 due to the
frictional contact
with the change position card 91, an abutment is foreseen which is realized in
this design
as a proximal stopping wall 154p that extends along the normal axis N and is
along the
primary lateral axis L-1 arranged between the proximal receptacle wall llp and
the
transport rollers 153. Similarly, in order to prevent the distal removal
subset dr from being
unintentionally displaced in the first lateral direction 1-1, an abutment is
foreseen which is
realized in this design as a distal stopping wall 154d that extends along the
normal axis N
and is along the primary lateral axis L-1 arranged between the distal
receptacle wall lid
and the pickup roller 151.
Subsequently, step (d) of the position change procedure is carried out in
generally the
same way is discussed before. Figure 31 shows the configuration after
completing the
step, where the set of cards is again in the standard set configuration,
respectively all cards
in the set receptacle 11 are aligned along the primary lateral axis L-1. It is
noted that in the
here-described design the intermediate step (d0) as discussed above with
reference to Fig-
ure 8 is not required. That is, the pushers, in particular the second pusher
132 can be di-
rectly moved into the second lateral direction 1-2 without prior movement of
the set recep-
2 0 tacle 11 in the proximal direction p and can further directly push
cards of the proximal
removal subset pr respectively of the distal insertion subset as well as the
change position
card 91, into the set receptacle 11 respectively into the standard set
configuration_
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Subsequently, step (e) of the position change procedure is executed, thereby
moving the
set receptacle 11 into the insertion position. Figure 32 illustrates the
configuration at the
end of this step, corresponding to Figure 10 for the before-discussed
embodiment.
For creating a configuration where the proximal insertion subset pr is offset
with respect to
the distal insertion subset dr pursuant to step (f) of the position change
procedure, the
proximal insertion subset pi pushed into the insertion offset configuration
via the first
pusher 131. The configuration at the end of this step is shown in Figure 33.
The step is
carried out in substantially the same manner as step (b), with Figure 33
generally corre-
sponding to Figure 28. Similar to the change position card 91' in Figure 28, a
flat portion
151' of the pickup roller 151 faces the most distal card 91" of the proximal
insertion subset
pi with a minimal gap.
It is noted that due to the cards being bendable and since the second pusher
132 is cham-
fered or bevelled as explained before, the second pusher 1 32 can enter the
room of the
auxiliary receptacle 12 and interfere with the change position card 91'
without damaging
1 5 respectively marking the same.
The re-insertion of the change position card 91' in step (g) is in this
embodiment carried
out as follows.
First, the voice coil actuator 142 respectively receptacle displacement
actuator is controlled
to move the receptacle 11 somewhat in proximal direction p as indicated. At
the same time,
zo the distal receptacle wall 11d as movable wall forces the distal
insertion subset di against
the first pusher 1 3 1 respectively its distal end 131d. In dependence of the
design, this can
be achieved e.g. as follows: In an embodiment with a retraction solenoid 171
and a biasing
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spring member 173, the retraction solenoid 171 may be de-energized, such that
the bias-
ing spring member 172 forces the distal receptacle wall 11d in proximal
direction. In em-
bodiments with a wall moving voice coil actuator 171', the wall moving voice
coil actuator
171' is controlled to exert a force onto the distal receptacle wall 11d in
proximal direction.
In any case, the position of the distal receptacle wall lld and the distal
insertion subset di
along the normal axis is maintained, and only the proximal receptacle wall llp
moves,
generally together with the proximal insertion subset 11p, in proximal
direction, thereby
increasing the receptacle clearance (c) and generating a gap between the
proximal inser-
tion subset pi and the distal insertion subset di. It is noted that the force
that can be exerted
by the receptacle displacement actuator is larger than the force via which the
distal inser-
tion subset is forced against the first pusher 131 as mentioned. Further, it
is noted that
clamping the distal insertion subset di between the distal receptacle wall lld
and the first
pusher 131 is not mandatory, but found favourable for the subsequent re-
insertion of the
change position card 91 into the set receptacle 11.
Subsequently, the pickup roller 151 is rotated as indicated such that
separation protrusion
152' points in proximal direction. The amount of the previous movement of the
set recep-
tacle 11 in proximal direction as explained before is selected such that
favourably the sep-
aration protrusion 152' contacts the most distal card 91" of the proximal
insertion subset
pi without exerting significant force, or small gap remains between the
separation protru-
sion and the most distal card 91" of the proximal insertion subset pi. In any
case, the sep-
aration protrusion 152" ensures that the gap between the proximal and distal
insertion
subset is maintained and undesired card moments in particular of the proximal
insertion
subset are prevented.
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Subsequently, the change position card is moved in the second lateral
direction 1-2 via the
transport rollers 153. thereby, the change position card is inserted between
the proximal
insertion subset pi, respectively its most distal card 92", and the distal
insertion subset di
under contact with the separation protrusion 152', as illustrated in Figure
35. Figure 36
illustrates the configuration when the change position card 91' has left the
auxiliary recep-
tacle 12 and is largely re-inserted into the set receptacle 12.
In dependence of the rotational speed of the transport rollers 153 and the
frictional con-
ditions, the change position card 91 'may fully move into the set receptacle
11 after losing
contact with the transport rollers 153 due to its inertia as discussed before.
However, in
dependence of the frictional conditions, the movement of the change position
card 91'
may end before. In this case, the change position card is further pushed into
the set recep-
tacle 11 via the second pusher 132 in step (h), as illustrated in Figure 37,
illustrating the
configuration after completing the position change procedure. Figure 37
generally corre-
sponds to Figure 17 for the first described embodiment. It is noted that the
intermediate
steps (h01), (h02) are not necessary for this embodiment.
In the following, reference is additionally made to Figures 38, 39, showing a
pickup roller
151 in a perspective view and a top view, respectively. The pickup roller 151
comprises in
this design two pickup roller card contact elements 151b that are made, at
least at their
circumferential surface, from a high-friction material, such as rubber. Each
pickup roller
card contact element 151' comprises, along its circumference, two flat
sections 151b' that
are arranged orthogonal to each other, while on the further portions of the
circumference
cylindrical sections 151b" are foreseen. The pickup roller card contact
elements 151b ar-
ranged such that the cylinder contours of the cylindrical sections 152b" are
aligned with
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each other and their cylinder axes coincide with a pickup roller drive shaft
155 on which
the card contact elements 151b are arranged in a rotationally fixed manner.
The pickup
drive shaft 151 is coupled to a pickup roller drive 151a as mentioned before.
In combina-
tion, the flat sections 151b' form a pickup roller flat section 151' and the
cylindrical sec-
tions 151b" form a pickup roller cylindrical section 151'.
Alternating with the pickup roller card contact elements 151b, a total number
of exem-
plary three in the shown design disk-shaped elements 152b is foreseen, the
separation
elements 152b forming, in combination a separation member. The separation
elements
152b are made from low-friction material, e.g. metal or plastics.
The separation elements 152b are cylindrical, but a flat section 152b' is
foreseen at their
circumference. The flat sections 152b' lie in each case in a common plane with
a flat section
151b' of each circumferential surface of each pickup roller card contact
elements 151b.
While the separation elements 152b are, like the pickup roller card contact
elements 151a,
rotationally fixed on the pickup roller drive shaft 155, they are arranged
eccentrically and
further have a smaller diameter. As a result, a separation portion S of each
separation 152b
projects beyond the contour as determined by the pickup roller card contact
elements
151b. The separation portions S form, in combination, an axially distributed
bending pro-
trusion 152'.
In the following, reference is additionally made to Figure 41, showing a
showing transport
zo roller 153 in a perspective view and a top view, respectively. Similar
to the pickup roller
151 illustrated in Figures 39, 39, the transport roller 153 comprises two
cylindrical
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transport roller card contact elements 153b' that are arranged axially
distributed on a
transport roller drive shaft 157 in a rotationally fixed manner.
In the following, reference is additionally made to Figure 40, showing a
subassembly of a
card arranging device 1 in accordance with the present disclosure in
particular auxiliary
receptacle 12 and i card transfer unit 15. It is noted that the transport
rollers 153, while
being present and arranged between the pickup roller 151 and the auxiliary
card recepta-
cle 12 and parallel to the pickup roller 151, are hidden in this view. The
pickup roller may
in particular be designed as explained before with reference to Figures 38,
39. The pickup
roller 151 as well as the transport rollers 153 are rotationally beard by
transfer unit support
structure 156.
The inner room of the auxiliary receptacle 12 as defined by the proximal
auxiliary recepta-
cle wall 12p and distal auxiliary receptacle wall 12d is slot-shaped and
generally extends
parallel to the primary lateral axis L1. In a peripheral section of the
auxiliary receptacle 12,
however the auxiliary receptacle walls 12p, 12d are bent in proximal
direction. thereby
forming an auxiliary receptacle transition section 12". In a thereto directly
adjacent section
of the transport unit support structure 156 an auxiliary receptacle interface
section 12' is
formed, that extends, like to main portion of the auxiliary receptacle 12,
parallel to the
primary lateral axis L-1, but is offset with respect to the main portion of
the auxiliary re-
ceptacle 12 in proximal direction. As a result, a peripheral region of change
position card
91' will, in the auxiliary card position, be bent in an S-shaped manner. In
the shown design,
an additional lateral stopping wall 12Iis foreseen that limits the possible
movement of the
change position card in the 1-2 direction beyond the auxiliary card position
respectively be-
yond the auxiliary receptacle 12.Dam ping material such as rubber foam may be
foreseen
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for damping the noise that occurs upon a change-position card hitting the
lateral stopping
wall 1 2d.
Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather
than limitation,
and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from
the spirit
and scope of the invention.
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REFERENCE SIGNS
1 card arranging device
11 set receptacle
11 p proximal receptacle wall (reference wall) / force
exerting receptacle wall
11 p' peripheral proximal receptacle wall region
lld distal receptacle wall (movable wall)
111 receptacle ground
12 auxiliary receptacle
12' auxiliary receptacle interface section
12" auxiliary receptacle transition section
12¨ auxiliary receptacle main section
12p proximal auxiliary receptacle wall
12d distal auxiliary receptacle wall
121 lateral stopping wall
121 auxiliary receptacles ground / auxiliary card support
131 first pusher
131d distal pusher end (first pusher)
132 second pusher
132d distal pusher end (second pusher)
133 pusher linkage member
142 voice coil actuator (receptacle displacement actuator)
141 linear motor (pusher displacement actuator)
15 card transfer unit
151 pickup roller
151' pickup roller flat section
151" pickup roller cylindrical section
151b pickup roller card contact element
151b' flat section of pickup roller card contact element
151b" cylindrical section of pickup roller card contact
element
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151a pickup roller drive
152 bending protrusion
152' separation protrusion
152b separation element
152b' flat section of separation element
153 transport roller
153 transport roller card contact element
153a transport roller drive
154p proximal stopping wall
154d distal stopping wall
155 pickup roller drive shaft
156 transfer unit support structure
157 transport roller drive shaft
161 ejection pin /tilting pin
162 ejection pin
161e ejection pin end / tilting pin end
163 ejection pin drive / tilting pin drive
164 ejection pin drive
17 wall moving device
zo 171 retraction solenoid
171' wall moving voice coil actuator
172 locking solenoid
173 biasing spring member
2 integrity checking device
21 dropping roller
21a dropping roller drive
22 camera unit
22' field of view
4 door arrangement
41 door
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42 door coupling solenoid
43 door guide
4' tabletop
4a table cut-out
5 control unit
51 hardware number generator
52 image processing unit
6 human-machine interface
7 anti rotation device
9 set of cards
9T tilted subset
9L levelled subset
91 card
91p most proximal card
91d most distal card
91E card edging
91 E' base section of circumferential card edging
91C card corner (with card identification information)
91' change position card
91" most distal card of proximal removal subset
999 support structure
receptacle clearance
proximal direction
distal direction
pr proximal removal subset
dr distal removal subset
Pi proximal insertion subset
di distal insertion subset
1-1 first lateral direction
1-2 second lateral direction
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1-3 third lateral direction
1-4 fourth lateral direction
Separation portion of separation element
normal axis
G gap
L-1 primary lateral axis
L-2 secondary lateral axis
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