PATENT DOCUMENT

Abstract:
A card shuffler and method in which recovery from a card jam can be performed. Sensors detect a jam and a program directs jam recovery.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/957,665 filed Sep. 20, 2001 now abandoned, which in turn is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/521,644 filed Mar. 8, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,373, which in turn is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/892,742, filed on Jul. 15, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,014, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/504,035, filed on Jul. 19, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,189, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/287,729, filed on Aug. 9, 1994, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices for shuffling playing cards used in playing games. In particular, it relates to an electromechanical machine for shuffling playing cards, wherein the machine is specifically adapted to shuffle multiple decks of playing cards to improve casino play of card games. 
     2. Background of the Art 
     Wagering games based on the outcome of randomly generated or selected symbols are well known. Such games are widely played in gambling casinos and include card games wherein the symbols comprise familiar, common playing cards. Card games such as twenty-one or blackjack, Pai Gow poker, Caribbean Stud™ poker and others are excellent card games for use in casinos. Desirable attributes of casino card games are that they are exciting, that they can be learned and understood easily by players, and that they move or are played rapidly to their wager-resolving outcome. 
     One of the most popular of the above-mentioned casino games is twenty-one. As outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,492 (LeVasseur), conventional twenty-one is played in most casinos and involves a game of chance between a dealer and one or more players. The object is for the player to achieve a count of his hand closer to 21 than the count of the hand of the dealer. If the count of the player&#39;s hand goes over 21 then the player loses regardless of the final count of the dealer&#39;s hand. 
     At least one standard deck of playing cards is used to play the game. Each card counts its face value, except aces which have a value of one or eleven as is most beneficial to the count of the hand. Each player initially receives two cards. The dealer also receives two cards. One of the dealer&#39;s cards is dealt face down and the other of the dealer&#39;s cards is dealt face up. 
     A player may draw additional cards (take “hits”) in order to try and beat the count of the dealer&#39;s hand. If the player&#39;s count exceeds 21, the players “busts.” The player may “stand” on any count of 21 or less. When a player busts, he loses his wager regardless of whether or not the dealer busts. After all of the players have taken hits or stood on their hand, the dealer “stands” or “hits” based on pre-established rules for the game. Typically, if the dealer has less than 17, the dealer must take a hit. If the dealer has 17 or more, the dealer stands. 
     After the dealer&#39;s final hand has been established, the numerical count of the dealer&#39;s hand is compared to the numerical count of the player&#39;s hand. If the dealer busts, the player wins regardless of the numerical count of his hand. If neither the player nor the dealer have busted, the closest hand to numerical count of 21, without going over, wins; tie hands are a “push.” 
     As used in the preceding description and in this disclosure, the terms “conventional twenty-one” and “the conventional manner of play of twenty-one” mean the game of twenty-one as described herein and also including any of the known variations of the game of twenty-one. 
     Twenty-one has remained remarkably popular and unchanged over the years. Because of its popularity, the rapidity of play, and the need to reduce or eliminate card counting by players, twenty-one is usually played with multiple decks that are frequently shuffled. Thus, from the perspective of a casino, the play of a round of twenty-one takes a predictable length of time. In particular, the time the dealer must spend in shuffling diminishes the excitement of the game and reduces the number of wagers placed and resolved in a given amount of time. Modifications of the basic twenty-one game, including the LeVasseur modification, have been proposed to speed play or otherwise increase the number of wagers made and resolved, but none of these modifications have achieved a large measure of popularity, probably because they change the game. 
     Casinos would like to increase the amount of revenue generated by the game of twenty-one in the same time period without changing the game or simply increasing the size of the wagers of the player. Therefor, another approach to speeding play is directed specifically to the fact that playing time is diminished by shuffling and dealing. This problem is particularly acute in games such as twenty-one, but in other casino games as well, for which multiple shuffled decks are used and has lead to the development of electromechanical or mechanical card shuffling devices. Such devices increase the speed of shuffling and dealing, thereby increasing playing time, adding to the excitement of a game by reducing the time the dealer or house has to spend in preparing to play the game. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,969 (Samsel, Jr.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,367 (Howard) disclose automatic card shufflers. The Samsel, Jr. patent discloses a card shuffler having a housing with two wells for receiving two reserve stacks of cards. A first extractor selects, removes and intermixes the bottommost card from each stack and delivers the intermixed cards to a storage compartment. A second extractor sequentially removes the bottommost card from the storage compartment and delivers it to a typical shoe from which the dealer may take it for presentation to the players. The Howard patent discloses a card mixer for randomly interleaving cards including a carriage supported ejector for ejecting a group of cards (approximately two playing decks in number) which may then be removed manually from the shuffler or dropped automatically into a chute for delivery to a typical dealing shoe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,712 (Lorber, et al.) discloses an automatic shuffling apparatus designed to intermix cards under the programmed control of a computer and is directed toward reducing the dead time generated when a casino dealer manually has to shuffle multiple decks of playing cards. The Lorber, et al. apparatus is a carousel-type shuffler having a container, a storage device for storing shuffled playing cards, a removing device and an inserting device for intermixing the playing cards in the container, a dealing shoe and supplying means for supplying the shuffled playing cards from the storage device to the dealing shoe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,453 (Stevens et al.) discloses an apparatus for automatically shuffling and cutting cards. The Stevens et al. machine includes three contiguous magazines with an elevatable platform card supporting means in the center magazine only. Unshuffled cards are placed in the center magazine and the spitting rollers at the top of the magazine spit the cards randomly to the left and right magazine where they accumulate. This amounts to a simultaneous cutting and shuffling step. The cards are moved back into the center magazine by direct lateral movement of each shuffled stack, placing one stack on top of the other to stack all cards in a shuffled stack in the center magazine. The order of the cards in each stack does not change in moving from the right and left magazines into the center magazine. The Stevens et al. device does not provide a distinct cutting step in the shuffling procedure. Cutting is a traditional step taken before shuffling cards and provides a sense of security for card players. In a further departure from “normal” manual or hand shuffling, the Stevens et al. device shuffles cards by randomly diverging cards from an unshuffled stack of cards. Normally, cards are cut and then randomly merged to interleaf them into a single stack of shuffled cards. 
     Other known card shuffling devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,644 (Stephenson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,488 (Plevyak et al.), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,884 and 5,275,411 (the latter two patents issued to John G. Breeding, a co-inventor of the present invention, and commonly owned). The Breeding patents disclose machines for automatically shuffling a single deck of cards including a deck receiving zone, a carriage section for separating a deck into two deck portions, a sloped mechanism positioned between adjacent corners of the deck portions, and an apparatus for snapping the cards over the sloped mechanism to interleave the cards. They are directed to providing a mechanized card shuffler whereby a deck may be shuffled often and yet the dealer still has adequate time to operate the game being played. Additionally, the Breeding shuffling devices are directed to reducing the chance that cards become marked as they are shuffled and to keeping the cards in view constantly while they are being shuffled. 
     One reason why known shuffling machines, with the exception of the Breeding machines, have failed to achieve widespread use is that they involve or use non-traditional manipulation of cards, making players wary and uncomfortable. Although the devices disclosed in the preceding patents, particularly the Breeding single deck card shuffling machines, provide significant improvements in card shuffling devices, such devices could be improved further if they could automatically, effectively and randomly shuffle together multiple decks of playing cards in a shuffling operation which approximates as closely as possible the steps in manual or hand shuffling. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a shuffling machine for shuffling playing cards, wherein the machine is adapted to facilitate the casino play of card games wherein it is advantageous to have intermingled, multiple decks of cards shuffled and ready for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The problems outlined above are in large measure solved by the card shuffling machine of the present invention, which provides for randomly shuffling together multiple decks of playing cards to facilitate the casino play of certain wagering games, particularly the game known as twenty-one or blackjack. 
     The present invention comprises an electromechanical card shuffling machine for shuffling intermingled multiple decks of playing cards, most typically four to eight decks. The shuffling procedure is controlled by an integral microprocessor and monitored by a plurality of photosensors and limit switches. The machine includes a first vertically extending magazine for holding a vertically registered stack of unshuffled playing cards, and second and third vertically extending magazines for holding a vertically registered stack of cards, the second and third magazines being horizontally spaced from and adjoining the first magazine. A first card mover is disposed at the top of the first magazine for individually engaging and moving cards from the top of the stack of cards in the first magazine horizontally and alternatively to the second and third magazine to cut the stack of unshuffled playing cards into two unshuffled stacks. Second and third card movers are at the top of the second and third magazines, respectively, for randomly moving individual cards from the top of the stacks of cards in the second and third magazines, respectively, to the first magazine, thereby interleaving the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffled cards in the first magazine. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an electromechanical card shuffling apparatus for automatically and randomly shuffling multiple decks of playing cards. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromechanical card shuffling device for shuffling cards, thereby facilitating and improving the casino playing of wagering games, particularly twenty-one. 
     Additional objects of the present invention are to reduce dealer shuffling time, thereby increasing the playing time, and to reduce or eliminate problems such as card counting, possible dealer manipulation and card tracking, thereby increasing the integrity of a game and enhancing casino security. 
     Another object of the present invention is to improve the art of card shuffling by providing a card shuffling machine for randomly shuffling together multiple decks of cards, just as the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,884 and 5,275,411, the disclosure of which patents is incorporated herein by reference, provide for the automatic, random shuffling of a single deck of playing cards. 
     A feature of the machine of the present invention is a transparent, machine operated access door for the card shuffling chamber of the machine. An associated advantage is that all the cards are completely visible to players all during the shuffling process. 
     The present invention includes automatic jammed shuffle detection and rectification features and procedures which are operated and controlled by the microprocessor. Another feature of the present invention is an integral exhaust fan or blower system for keeping the interior surfaces of the machine, including slide surfaces and the photosensors free of dust and cool. 
     Additional advantages of the shuffling machine of the present invention are that it facilitates and speeds the play of casino wagering games, particularly twenty-one, making the games more exciting for players. It also reduces the effectiveness of card counting or tracking by players by enabling the shuffling of and play from multiple decks of cards. 
     In use, the machine of the present invention is operated to repeatedly shuffle up to eight decks of playing cards. The access door is opened, and the dealer places the selected number of unshuffled decks in the first, central magazine. The machine is started and, under the control of the integral microprocessor, the machine separates or cuts the unshuffled decks into two unshuffled stacks, one in each of the second and third magazines. The machine then randomly moves individual cards from the top of the stacks in the second and third magazines back to the first magazine, interleaving the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffled cards in the first magazine. The machine automatically repeats the shuffling sequence a preprogrammed number of times depending on the number of decks being shuffled. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent and understood with reference to the following specification and to the appended drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view depicting the present invention as it might be disposed in a casino adjacent to a gaming table. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view showing the invention from the opposite side of that depicted  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the shuffling machine of the present invention with the exterior shroud removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the present invention with the lower front exterior shroud and the clear plastic door of the shuffling chamber removed. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a front elevational view of the present invention with portions broken away for clarity and with the drive motors shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional plan view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional elevation view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional elevation view taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional elevation view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional elevation view taken along line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional elevation view taken along line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram of the electrical control system. 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of the electrical control system. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram of the electrical control system with an optically-isolated bus. 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed schematic diagram of a portion of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the shuffling machine of the present invention showing all of the major component parts or sub-assemblies of the machine. 
         FIG. 17  is a partially exploded perspective view depicting the assembly of portions of the shuffling machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded perspective view depicting the transport assembly exclusive of the transport rollers at the top of the shuffling machine, and specifically shows the shuffling chamber. 
         FIG. 19  shows a series of stages that illustrate the movement of cards in one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a flow diagram depicting the sequence of operations carried out by the electrical control system of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 20   a - 20   e  each show a detailed portion of the flow diagram of  FIG. 20 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     This detailed description is intended to be read and understood in conjunction with Appendices A, B, C and D, appended to the end hereof and specifically incorporated herein by reference. Appendix A provides an identification key correlating the description and abbreviation of certain motors, switches and photoeyes or sensors with reference character identifications of the same components in the Figures. Appendix B sets forth steps in the sequence of operations of the shuffling machine in accordance with the present invention. Appendix C describes the homing sequence, broadly part of the sequence of operations, and Appendix D sets forth the manufacturers, addresses and model designations of certain components (motors, limit switches and photoeyes) of the present invention. 
     With regard to means for fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting the components of the present invention to form the shuffling apparatus as a whole, unless specifically described as otherwise, such means are intended to encompass conventional fasteners such as machine screws, rivets, nuts and bolts, toggles, pins, or the like. Other fastening or attachment means appropriate for connecting components include adhesives, welding and soldering, the latter particularly with regard to the electrical system. 
     All components of the electrical system and wiring harness of the present invention are conventional, commercially available components unless otherwise indicated. This is intended to include electrical components and circuitry, wires, fuses, soldered connections, circuit boards and control system components. 
     Generally, unless specifically otherwise disclosed or taught, the materials from which the various components of the present invention, for example the shroud and the plates for forming the frame for supporting the shroud and other components, are selected from appropriate materials such as aluminum, steel, metallic alloys, various plastics, fiberglass or the like. Despite the foregoing indication that components and materials for use in and for forming or fabricating the shuffling machine of the present invention may be selected from commercially available, appropriate items, the Appendices and the following detailed description set forth specific items and steps for use in the present invention, although it is possible that those skilled in the state of the art will be able to recognize and select equivalent items. 
     In the following description, the Appendices and the claims any references to the terms right and left, top and bottom, upper and lower and horizontal and vertical are to be read and understood with their conventional meanings and with reference to viewing the shuffling apparatus from the front as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4   a  and from the player&#39;s perspective as the apparatus is disposed in  FIG. 1 , which is a front perspective view of the machine  20  as it might be disposed in use at a typical casino gaming table T. 
     Referring then to the drawings, particularly  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  16 , the shuffling machine  20  for shuffling together multiple decks of playing cards in accordance with the present invention has an exterior shroud  24  including a rear cover  26  with vents  27 , lower front cover  28  with vents  29  and top portion  30 . The cover portions forming the shroud  24  are suitably mounted on a supporting framework comprising a flat, generally horizontal base  32  carrying four non-slip feet  33  on its underside and a vertically oriented and extending main base plate  34  fixedly and generally perpendicularly attached to the base  32  and supported by a pair of support brackets  36 . 
     Together the shroud  24  and the framework define the three broad operating chambers of the machine  20 : a rear drive and control chamber  38 , a lower, front door and elevator transmission chamber  40 , and a card-receiving shuffling chamber  42 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 16 , and to  FIGS. 3 and 4   a , the rear chamber  38  houses the control system  46  for controlling and operating the machine  20  and a plurality of stepper motors, as set forth in Appendix D. The motors include a left elevator motor  48 , a center elevator motor  50  and a right elevator motor  52 . A second set or bank of stepper motors is attached to the main base plate  34  and includes a left feed motor  54 , a center feed motor  56  and a right feed motor  58 . A left speed-up stepper motor  60  and a right speed-up motor  62  are also mounted on the main base plate  34 . A door operating stepper motor  64 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 3 , is attached to the front of the main base plate  34  in the lower front chamber  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a  and  17 , in the lower front chamber  40  the main base plate  34  carries a plurality of limit switches, including a left elevator bottom limit switch  68 , a center elevator bottom limit switch  72  and a right elevator bottom limit switch  76 . At the top of the shuffling chamber  42 , a transport assembly, indicated generally at  67 , carries corresponding elevator limit switches including a left elevator top limit switch  70 , a center elevator top limit switch  74  and a right elevator top limit switch  78 . Door bottom and door top limit switches,  80 ,  82 , respectively, are mounted in the lower front chamber  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ,  6  and  17 , a horizontal central, generally flat floor plate assembly  86  separates the lower front chamber  40  from the shuffling chamber  42 , defining the bottom floor of the shuffling chamber  42 . The floor plate assembly  86  carries a left elevator empty photoeye  88  (the term photoeye is intended to be synonymous with photosensor and optical sensor), a center elevator empty photoeye  90  and a right elevator empty photoeye  92 . The floor plate assembly  86  also carries three fans, a left magazine fan  94 , a center magazine fan  96  and a right magazine fan  98 , each including a motor  100  and concentric blades  102 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ,  5  and  17 , the top of the shuffling chamber  42  includes the transport assembly  67 . The outer sides of the chamber  42  are formed by a pair of parallel side plates  112 ,  114 . Adjacent to their upper inside edge, each plate  112 ,  113  carries at least one card stopping groove  115  (see  FIG. 8 ). Preferably three parallel grooves are provided. The grooves help ensure that cards come to rest horizontally and face-down in the chamber  42 . The chamber  42  is divided into three adjoining, vertically extending card magazines, a left magazine  116 , a center magazine  118  and a right magazine  120  by two substantially similar left and right center magazine plate assemblies  122 ,  124 , respectively. Adjacent to the upper edges of the sides of the plate assemblies  122 ,  124 , on the side facing into the center magazine  118  are card stopping grooves  123 . The left plate assembly  122  carries a left outer counter photoeye  128  and a left inner counter photoeye  130 . Similarly, the right plate assembly  124  carries a right outer counter photoeye  132  and a right inner counter photoeye  134 . With continuing reference to  FIG. 17 , and to  FIGS. 8-10 , each of the left and right center plate assemblies  122 ,  124  carries a floating pinch roller assembly  140 ,  142  centered on its top edge. Both roller assemblies  140 ,  142  are substantially identical so only the right roller assembly  142  will be described. The assembly  142  includes a non-driven or idler pinch roller  146  supported on a shaft  148  and by a set of typical roller bearings  150 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the roller  146 , shaft  148  and bearing  150  assembly is received in and supported by a spring block  152 , in turn mounted on a pair of linear pinch roller shafts  154 , each concentrically within a coil springs  156 . This assembly is received by bushings  160  in the upper region of the plate assembly  142 . The spring block  152  also carries a pair of card guides  162  with uppermost rounded shoulders  164 , each being fixedly attached adjacent to the ends of the spring block  152 . Along the forward facing edge of the plate assemblies  122 ,  124 , a wire housing channel  170  (see  FIG. 9 ), covered by a wire cover  172 , is provided to receive a wire (not shown) which operably couples the card gap counting optical sensors or photoeyes  128 ,  130 ,  132 ,  134  to the control system  46 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8  and  11 , as well the assembly drawing  FIG. 17 , the transport assembly  67  is mounted at the top of the side plates  112 ,  114  and effectively closes or defines the upper region of the shuffling chamber  42 . The transport assembly  67  comprises a bearing plate  180  and three card moving pickoff assemblies including a center pickoff assembly  182 , a left side pickoff assembly  184  and a right side pickoff assembly  186 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pickoff assemblies are generally centrally positioned above the open top of each respective magazine. The center pickoff assembly  182 , including a pickoff roller  190  carrying at least two sticky pickoff fingers or tabs  191  one hundred-eighty degrees apart, is connected to a center driven pulley  194  and, (referring to  FIG. 3 ) via a belt  196 , to the center feed motor  56 . The shaft  192  extends through a center pickoff rocker block  198  pivotally mounted on the bearing plate  180 , and its ends rest in an open-topped channel  199  in the bearing plate  180  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     Similarly, each of the left and right pickoff assemblies  184 ,  186  include a pickoff roller  200 ,  202 , respectively, carrying pickoff tabs  191 . The rollers  200 ,  202  are mounted on shafts  204 ,  206 , respectively connected to driven pulleys  208 ,  210  and, via belts  212 ,  214 , to the left and right feed motors  54 ,  58 . The shafts  204 ,  206  extend through rocker blocks  220 ,  222  which are pivotally mounted on the fixed shafts  224 ,  226  of the speed-up assemblies  228 ,  230 . 
     Each speed-up assembly  228 ,  230  includes a driven, floating speed-up roller  232 ,  234 , respectively, fixed on a shaft  224 ,  226 . Each roller  232 ,  234  is above and aligned with the rollers  146  of the pinch roller assemblies  140 ,  142 . The shafts  224 ,  226  are coupled to speed-up pulleys  236 ,  238 , in turn coupled to the speed-up motors  60 ,  62  via belts  240 ,  242 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ,  5 ,  11  and  17 , the transport assembly  67  includes a plurality of leaf-spring card deflectors  248  fixedly mounted on spring blocks  250 . The deflectors  248  are generally over the speed-up assemblies  228 ,  230  and the arms  249  of the defectors extend generally downwardly into the magazines  116 ,  118 ,  120  to contact cards moving in the cutting and shuffling movements described below, thereby directing cards into proper position in the magazines and helping to avert jams in the shuffling process. It should be understood that block-type deflectors (not shown) with appropriately curved or angled surfaces could be mounted on the transport assembly  67  and substitute for or be used in conjunction with the spring deflectors  248  depicted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4   a ,  7 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , each magazine  116 ,  118 ,  120  contains a vertically movable elevator  260 ,  262 ,  264 , respectively. The elevators  260 ,  262 ,  264  are substantially similar comprising a vertically disposed platform mount  270  and a generally horizontal platform  272 . The platform mount  270  for each elevator  260 ,  262 ,  264  is mounted on a pair of vertically spaced mounting brackets  304 , in turn slidably received on elevator track  305 . The track  305  is fixed to base plate  34  in track receiving grooves  307  (see  FIG. 18 ). The platforms  272  of the elevators  260 ,  264  are substantially identical, each having a generally U-shaped relieved area  276  on its forward facing leading edge, but the U-shaped area on the leading edge of the platform of the center elevator  262  extends more deeply rearwardly into the platform  272 . Each platform  272  carries a belt clamp assembly  280  beneath and adjacent to its lower edge. The belt clamp assembly  280  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ) is clamped to elevator belts  282 , as best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 4 . The belts  282  extend around idler pulleys  284  mounted on the main base plate  34 . The belts  282  are coupled to drive pulleys  286 , in turn and respectively connected to the elevator motors  48 ,  50 ,  52  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     With reference to  FIGS. 16 ,  17 ,  18  and  4 , the lower front chamber  40  houses an operating mechanism for the transparent front shuffling chamber door  290 , including the motor  64  operably linked via belt  292  to a door pulley  294  keyed to a door shaft  296  supported by a pair of door shaft bearing blocks  298 . The bearing blocks  298  support or contain a set of conventional roller bearings (not shown). Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , each end of the door shaft  296  carries a pinion wheel  302 . The sides of the door  29  are provided with a plurality of in-line holes to receive the pinions,  302 , respectively, and a pair of door blocks  306  is connected to the T-shaped columns  308  of the framework of the machine  20  to support and guide the door  290  as it travels up and down. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and machine assembly  FIG. 16 , controls  320  for operating the shuffling machine  20  are mounted between the transport assembly  67  and the top portion  30  of the shroud  24 . The controls  320  include an alarm light  322 , an open door command button  324 , a reset command button  326 , and a start button  328 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a block diagram depicting the electrical control system in one embodiment of the present invention. The control system includes a controller  360 , a bus  362 , and a motor controller  364 . Also represented in  FIG. 12  are inputs  366 , outputs  368 , and a motor system  370 . The controller  360  sends signals to both the motor controller  364  and the outputs  368  while monitoring the inputs  366 . The motor controller  364  interprets signals received over the bus  362  from the controller  360 . The motor system  370  is driven by the motor controller  364  in response to the commands from the controller  360 . The controller  360  controls the state of the outputs  368  by sending appropriate signals over the bus  362 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor system  370  comprises nine motors that are used for operating the multi-deck shuffler  20 . Three elevator motors  48 ,  50 ,  52  drive the left, center, and right elevators  260 ,  262 ,  264 ; three feed motors  54 ,  56 ,  58  drive the left, center, and right feed rollers  200 ,  190 ,  202 ; and two motors  60 ,  62  drive the left and right speed-up rollers  232 ,  234 . A ninth motor  64  is used to open and close the door. In such an embodiment, the motor controller  364  would normally comprise one or two controllers and driver devices for each of the nine motors described above. However, other configurations are obviously possible. 
     The outputs  368  include the alarm, start and reset indicators, described above, and may also include signals that can be used to drive a display device (e.g., a seven segment=not shown). Such a display device can be used to implement a timer, a card counter, or a shuffle counter. Generally, an appropriate display device can be used to display any information worthy of display. 
     The inputs  366  are signals from the limit switches, photoeyes, and buttons described herein. The controller  360  receives the inputs  366  over the bus  362 . 
     Although the controller  360  can be any digital controller or microprocessor-based system, in the preferred embodiment, the controller  360  comprises a processing unit  380  and a peripheral device  382  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The processing unit  380  in the preferred embodiment is an 8-bit single-chip microcomputer such as an 80C52 manufactured by the Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. The peripheral device  382  is a field programmable microcontroller peripheral device that includes programmable logic devices, EPROMs, and input-output ports. As shown in  FIG. 13 , peripheral device  382  interfaces the processing unit  380  to the bus  362 . 
     The series of instructions stored in the controller  360  is shown in  FIG. 13  as program logic  384 . In the preferred embodiment, the program logic  384  is RAM or ROM hardware in the peripheral device  382 . (Since the processing unit  380  may have some memory capacity, it is possible that some of the instructions are stored in the processing unit  380 .) As one skilled in the art will recognize, various implementations of the program logic  384  are possible. The program logic  384  could be either hardware, software, or a combination of both. Hardware implementations might involve hardwired controller logic or instructions stored in a ROM or RAM device. Software implementations would involve instructions stored on a magnetic, optical, or other media that can be accessed by the processing unit  380 . 
     It is possible in some environments for a significant amount of electrostatic energy to build up in the shuffling machine  20 . Significant electrostatic discharge can affect the operation of the machine  20  and perhaps even cause a hazard to those near the machine  20 . It is therefore helpful to isolate some of the circuitry of the control system from the rest of the machine. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a number of optically-coupled isolators are used to act as a barrier to electrostatic discharge. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 , a first group of circuitry  390  can be electrically isolated from a second group of circuitry  392  by using optically-coupled logic gates that have light-emitting diodes to optically (rather than electrically) transmit a digital signal, and photodetectors to receive the optically-transmitted data. An illustration of the electrical isolation through the use of optically-coupled logic gages is shown in  FIG. 15 , which shows a portion of  FIG. 14  in detail. Four Hewlett Packard HCPL-2630 optocouplers (labeled  394 ,  396 ,  398 , and  400 ) are used to provide an 8-bit isolated data path to the output devices  368 . Each bit of data is represented by both an LED  402  and a photodetector  404 . The LEDs emit light when forward biased, and the photodetectors detect the presence or absence of the light. Data is thus transmitted without an electrical connection. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a typical installation of the machine  20  of the present invention. Typically the machine  20  will be supported on a pedestal type table, t, located immediately adjacent to and behind a typical gaming table, T. The shroud  24  includes an adapting flange  330 . The flange  330  helps connect the machine  20  to the gambling table, T, to reduce the chance that a dealer standing generally centrally behind the table T with the machine  20  on his left will drop cards between the table and the apparatus  20  to the floor.  FIG. 2  shows the location of the power connection  332  for the machine  20 . 
     The following description of the use and operation of the machine  20  of the present invention should be read and understood in conjunction with Appendix B which outlines the sequence of operation of the machine  20  and correlates the operative steps with the state of the various motors, sensors and other components of the machine  20 . In use, the power is turned on and the machine  20  goes through the homing sequence (set forth in Appendix C). When the start button lights, the dealer loads a selected number of decks of cards, up to eight decks, into the center magazine. The cards should be pushed all the way into the back of the magazine; the U-shaped relieved area  276  in the forward or leading edge of the elevator platform  272  assists the dealer in accomplishing this. The start button is pushed to initiate the shuffling sequence and, after a three to four second delay, the clear plastic door moves upwardly closing the shuffling chamber. 
     The cutting and shuffling operations are then carried out, as shown in the various stages of operation shown in  FIG. 19 . Stage  1  of the sequence shows the cards in their starting position in the center magazine. The cards are initially moved to the left magazine as shown in stage  2 . After roughly half of the cards (e.g., 45% -55%) are moved to the left magazine, the remaining cards in the center magazine are then moved to the right magazine. Stage  4  shows the state of the machine  20  after the cutting phase of the sequence of operations has been completed. 
     A clump of cards (e.g., 5 to 50 cards) from the left magazine is then moved into the center magazine. After this clump of cards moves into the center magazine, cards from the right magazine also begin moving into the center magazine so that cards from both the left and right magazines are simultaneously being moved into the center magazine. The cards are thereby shuffled into the center magazine. The shuffled deck is shown in  FIG. 19  as stage  7 . 
     The clump of cards is moved from the left magazine to the center magazine before any cards are moved from the right magazine to ensure that both the top and bottom cards are buried in the deck after the shuffling operation. Since the card order is reversed when cards are transferred from one magazine to another, the top card in the center magazine at stage  1  will normally be the bottom card in the left magazine at stage  4 . Similarly, the bottom card in the center magazine at stage  1  will normally be the top card in the right magazine at stage  4 . To ensure that these cards are buried in the deck at stage  7 , cards from the left magazine are moved into the center magazine before the top card from the right magazine is moved into the center magazine. This ensures that the bottom card in stage  1  is not again the bottom card at stage  7 . And since cards are taken first from the left magazine, the left magazine will very likely be empty before the right magazine. If the left magazine does empty first, the top card in stage  2  will not be the top card in stage  7 . 
     Stages  2 - 7  are repeated a random number of times (e.g., four to seven times) to ensure that the cards are thoroughly shuffled. For four decks, 4-6 cycles are appropriate, and for six or eight decks, 5-7 cycles may be appropriate. After stage  7  is completed for the final time, the cards are moved into the left magazine (stages  8  and  9 ) for removal. The start light lights again, indicating that the cycle is complete. The dealer presses the start button and the door opens downwardly. Unshuffled decks may be loaded into the center magazine, and the shuffled decks are removed for use. After three to four seconds, the door will automatically close and the machine starts another shuffling cycle automatically. 
     The foregoing sequence of operations is carried out under the control of the electrical control system  46 . The electrical control system  46  controls and/or monitors the photoeyes, the stepper motors, limit switches and display devices. The sequence of operations carried out by the electrical control system are set forth in  FIG. 20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , after receiving the command to begin shuffling, the control system  46  does not commence with the shuffling operation until cards are in the center magazine  118  and until the left and right magazines  116 ,  120  are empty. The control system  46  checks for this condition by evaluating the state of the center, right, and left elevator photoeyes  88 ,  90 ,  92 . 
     The control system  46  then causes the center elevator motor  50  to move the center elevator  262  up into an appropriate position for sending cards to the left magazine. The control system  46  properly positions the center elevator  262  by monitoring the center elevator top limit switch  70 . The control system  46  then commences the clockwise, simultaneous rotation of the center feed pick-off roller  190  and left speed-up roller  232  and the upward movement of the center elevator  262 . This sequence of operations moves cards into the left magazine  116 . (Theoretically, 0.010 inch of elevator travel (i.e., one card thickness) corresponds to one card being transferred.) When the first card goes through the left speed-up roller  232 , the left outer photosensor  128  is blocked. The control system  46  recognizes this and begins moving the left elevator  260  down while the center elevator  262  is moved upwardly at the same speed. The cards from the center magazine  118  are thereby distributed to the left magazine  116 . 
     The control system  46  continues to monitor the left outer counter photoeye  128  to determine when approximately half of the cards have been moved to the left magazine. (Alternatively, a timer, weight sensor, or any other indicator could be used to sense this condition.) After this determination is made, the center feed roller  190  reverses and begins turning counterclockwise. The control system  46  also stops the movement of left elevator  260  and starts the right speed-up roller  234  rotating counter-clockwise. When the control system  46  determines that the left outer counter photoeye  128  is clear of cards, the left speed-up roller  232  is stopped. 
     Two sets of photoeyes (inner and outer counter photoeyes) are used on each side of the speed-up rollers because the cards line up in partially overlapped condition up-stream of the speed-up rollers before they are picked up by the speed-up rollers. The gap between consecutive cards therefore does not materialize until the leading card is picked up by the speed-up roller and kicked out into the downstream magazine. Consequently, two photoeyes are provided for each speed-up roller so there is a downstream counter photoeye that can be used to register the gap in the card sequence, regardless of the direction of travel of the cards. 
     When the control system  46  determines that the first card has passed through the right speed-up roller  234  by monitoring the right outer counter photoeye  132 , the right elevator  264  is moved downward. Cards are delivered from the center magazine  118  to the right magazine  120 , each card passing before the right outer counter photoeye  132 . 
     When the center magazine  118  is empty, the control system  46  will sense this condition via the center elevator empty photoeye  90 , and then stop the center feed roller  190 . The control system  46  also stops the downward movement of the right elevator  264  and the upward movement of the center elevator  262 . After the control system  46  determines that the right outer counter photoeye  132  has been cleared of cards, the right speed-up roller  234  is also stopped. At this stage, the cards are cut: approximately half of the cards are in the left magazine  116 , and approximately half of the cards are in the right magazine  120 . The center magazine  118  is empty. 
     To begin the shuffling phase, the control system  46  begins rotating the left feed roller  200  and left speed-up roller  232  in the counter-clockwise direction. The control system  46  moves the left elevator  260  upward a random distance, thereby distributing a random number of cards from the left magazine  116  to the center magazine  118 . As the first card from the left magazine  116  blocks the left inner counter photoeye  130 , the center elevator  262  begins moving down. The random grouping of cards moved into the center magazine  118  is called a “clump.” 
     After this clump is moved to the center magazine  118 , the control system  46  begins rotating the right feed roller  202  and the right speed-up roller  234  in the clockwise direction. Both the right and left elevators  260 ,  269  are then moved upward in a random fashion to thereby distribute cards from both the left and right magazines  116 ,  120  into the center magazine  118 . When a card from the right magazine  120  blocks the right inner counter photoeye  134 , the left elevator  260  stops. Similarly, when a card from the left magazine  116  blocks the left inner counter photoeye  130 , the right elevator  264  stops. The elevators  260 ,  264  continue to stop and start randomly until all the cards have been distributed to the center magazine  118 . 
     Since a clump of cards is taken from the left magazine  116  before any are taken from the right magazine  120 , the left magazine  116  will generally be empty before the right magazine  120 . When the control system  46  determines that the left magazine  116  is empty when the left elevator empty photoeye  88  is unblocked. The left elevator  260  is then reversed and lowered to a predetermined position, and the left feed roller  200  is stopped. After the control system  46  determines that the left inner counter photoeye  130  is cleared of cards, the left speed-up roller  232  stops rotating. Meanwhile, the remaining cards from the right magazine  120  are being distributed to the center magazine  118 . When the control system  46  senses that the right elevator empty photoeye  92  is not blocked (indicating that the right magazine  120  is empty), the control system  46  moves the right elevator  264  to a predetermined position and the right feed roller  202  is stopped. When the control system  46  senses that the right inner counter photoeye  134  is clear of cards, the right speed-up roller  234  stops rotating. In the event that the right magazine  120  becomes empty before the left magazine  116  does, a parallel procedure is followed that mirrors the one described above. See  FIG. 20 . 
     At this stage, the cards are in a shuffled state in the center magazine  118 . The machine  20  then proceeds to repeat the described cutting and shuffling operations a random number of times (e.g., six to eight cycles). At the end of the final cycle, the cards are transferred from the center magazine  118  to the left magazine  116  for removal by the dealer, and the center elevator  262  goes to its ready-to-load position. The dealer can open the door by pressing the start button. Unshuffled cards may be loaded into the center magazine  118  and the shuffled cards may be removed from the left magazine  116 . After a few seconds, the door will automatically close and a new shuffle commences. 
     Occasionally a jam may occur during the cutting (the movement of cards from the center to the left and right magazines) or shuffling (the random movement of cards from the left and right magazines  116 ,  118  to the center magazine  120 ) operations. The control system  46  is capable of sensing such a jam, and in the event of a jam, a recovery routine is carried out as described below. 
     When the cards are being cut from the center magazine  118  to the left magazine  116 , the left outer counter photoeye  128  is alternatively blocked and unblocked as each card goes through the left speed-up roller  232 . At a known delivery speed, the time interval between the blocked and unblocked states of the photoeye  128  is predictable. The control system  46  can therefore sense a jam by monitoring the left outer counter photoeye  128  for prolonged blocked states. A prolonged blocked state will suggest that a jam has occurred, and the control system  46  then initiates a “left-cut” recovery routine. 
     The left-cut recovery routine commences with the control system  46  stopping the center feed roller  190  and left speed-up roller  232 . The center elevator  262  is reversed and moved down slightly (e.g., 0.25 inches). The left speed-up roller  232  is reversed so that it is rotating in the counter-clockwise direction, and it continues rotating counter-clockwise until the left inner counter photoeye  130  is clear for a short period of time (e.g., 0.5 seconds). The left speed-up roller  232  then resumes the normal clockwise rotation. The center feed roller  190  is rotated in the clockwise direction, the center elevator  262  moves up, and the cutting operation resumes. The left elevator  260  does not move down until a card goes through the left outer counter photoeye  128 . 
     The control system can similarly recover from a jam that occurs when the cards are being cut from the center magazine to the right magazine. The right recovery routine commences with the control system  46  stopping the center feed roller  190  and the right speed-up roller  234 . The center elevator  262  is reversed and moved down slightly (e.g., 0.25 inches). The right speed-up roller  234  is reversed so that it is rotating in the clockwise direction, and it continues rotating clockwise until the right inner counter photoeye  134  is clear for a short period of time (e.g., 0.5 seconds). The right speed-up roller  234  then resumes the counter-clockwise rotation. The center feed roller  190  is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, the center elevator  262  moves up, and the cutting operation resumes. The right elevator  264  does not move down until a card goes through the right outer counter photoeye  132 . 
     If a jam occurs during the shuffling operation, the control system  46  stops the left and right speed-up rollers  232 ,  234  and the left and right feed rollers  200 ,  202 . Both the left and right elevators  260 ,  264  are lowered about 0.25 inches and held in that position. The control system  46  rotates the left speed-up roller  232  in a clockwise direction and the right speed-up roller  234  in a counter-clockwise direction. When the control system  46  senses that the left and right outer counter photoeyes  128 ,  132  are clear, left feed roller  200  and the left speed-up roller  232  resume rotating in the counter-clockwise direction, and the right feed roller  202  and right speed-up roller  234  resume rotating in the clockwise direction. The control system  46  then moves the left and right elevators  260 ,  264  upwardly, thereby resuming the shuffling operation. The control system  46  waits until it senses a card passing before either the left or the right inner counter photoeye  130 ,  134  before moving the center elevator  262  downward. 
     The shuffling machine  20  attempts to recover from jams automatically, without human intervention. However, if after several attempts, the shuffling machine  20  is not able to recover, the control system  46  will suspend the operation of the machine  20  and will flash the red alarm light. The control system  46  will then await intervention. The operator intervenes by pressing the “open Door” button at the control panel. The control system  46  will move the door down and will move the elevators down about two inches. The operator can then manually clear the jam, and leave the cards in the machine  20 . The green “Start” button is pressed to resume the shuffling operation. The machine  20  will go through one complete cycle after manual intervention no matter when in the shuffle cycle the jam occurred. 
     If it is determined that, after a jam, a minimum of three shuffle cycles are desired, the “Reset” push button on the control panel should be pushed. The “Reset” feature is only active after the “open Door” push button has been activated. The machine  20  will go through the homing sequence and, when the green “Start” button lights, will be ready for a minimum of three shuffle cycles. 
     For a complete reshuffle, the power button should be turned off, all cards removed, the power turned back on. The machine  20  will go through the homing sequence and, when the green “Start” button lights, the machine  20  is ready for a new shuffle. 
     Although the description of the preferred embodiment has been presented, various changes including those mentioned above could be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. It is desired, therefore, that reference be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 APPENDIX A 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Identification Key to Motors and Switches 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Reference 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Character 
               
               
                 Abbreviation 
                 Description 
                 in FIGS. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 MOTORS 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Left Elevator Motor 
                 48 
               
               
                 CEM 
                 Center Elevator Motor 
                 50 
               
               
                 REM 
                 Right Elevator Motor 
                 52 
               
               
                 DM 
                 Door Motor 
                 64 
               
               
                 LFM 
                 Left Feed Motor 
                 54 
               
               
                 CF 
                 Center Feed Motor 
                 56 
               
               
                 RF 
                 Right Feed Motor 
                 58 
               
               
                 LSM 
                 Left Speed-Up Motor 
                 60 
               
               
                 RSM 
                 Right Speed-Up Motor 
                 62 
               
               
                 LIMIT SWITCHES 
               
               
                 LEB-LS 
                 Left Elevator Bottom-Limit Switch 
                 68 
               
               
                 LET-LS 
                 Left Elevator Top-Limit Switch 
                 70 
               
               
                 CEB-LS 
                 Center Elevator Bottom-Limit Switch 
                 72 
               
               
                 CET-LS 
                 Center Elevator Top-Limit Switch 
                 74 
               
               
                 REB-LS 
                 Right Elevator Bottom-Limit Switch 
                 76 
               
               
                 RET-LS 
                 Right Elevator Top-Limit Switch 
                 78 
               
               
                 DB-LS 
                 Door Bottom-Limit Switch 
                 80 
               
               
                 DT-LS 
                 Door Top-Limit Switch 
                 82 
               
               
                 PHOTOEYES 
               
               
                 LEMT-PE 
                 Left Elevator Empty-Photoeye 
                 88 
               
               
                 CEMT-PE 
                 Center Elevator Empty-Photoeye 
                 90 
               
               
                 REMT-PE 
                 Right Elevator Empty-Photoeye 
                 92 
               
               
                 LOC-PE 
                 Left Outer Counter-Photoeye 
                 128 
               
               
                 ROC-PE 
                 Right Outer Counter-Photoeye 
                 132 
               
               
                 LIC-PE 
                 Left Inner Counter-Photoeye 
                 130 
               
               
                 RIC-PE 
                 Right Inner Counter-Photoeye 
                 134 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
           
               
                 APPENDIX B 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sequence of Operations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Action 
                 Explanation 
                 Motor 
                 Switch 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1. 
                 Power Up 
                 Machine homes. See homing 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 sequence 
               
               
                 2. 
                 Load cards to 
                 4, 6, or 8 decks are loaded in 
                   
                 CEMT-PE off 
               
               
                   
                 be shuffled 
                 the center magazine. 
                   
                 (blocked) 
               
               
                 3. 
                 Door closes. 
                 Operator presses the start 
                 DM on (up) 
                 START 
               
               
                   
                   
                 button and door moves up, 
                 DM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 making door top limit switch. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Interlocks: 
                   
                 DT-LS on 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 A. 
                 Cards must be present in the 
                   
                 CEMT-PE off 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 center magazine. 
                   
                 LEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 REMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 B. 
                 Left and right elevators 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 have to be empty. If not, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 machine will pause until the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 cards are removed. 
               
               
                 4.  
                 Center 
                 A. 
                 Center elevator moves up 
                 CEM on (up) 
                 CET-LM on 
               
               
                   
                 elevator 
                   
                 until the cards are activating 
                 CEM rev (down) 
               
               
                   
                 moves up 
                   
                 center elevator top limit 
               
               
                   
                 (first cycle) 
                   
                 switch CET-LS. Cards are 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 checked for height. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 B. 
                 Center elevator then moves 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 own (timed move) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 approximately 0.5 inches. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 5. 
                 Cut to left 
                 The center feed roller and 
                 CFM on (CW) 
                 LOC-PE off/on 
               
               
                   
                 (first cycle) 
                 the left speed-up rollers start to 
                 LSM on (CW) 
                 LOC-PE off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rotate clockwise. At the same 
                 CEM on (up) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 time, the center elevator moves 
                 CEM on (up) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 up. As the center elevator 
                 LEM on (down) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 moves up, cards are delivered 
               
               
                   
                   
                 into the left magazine, each 
               
               
                   
                   
                 card breaking the left outer 
               
               
                   
                   
                 counter photoeye. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the first card goes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through the left speed-up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rollers, the left outer counter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is blocked. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left elevator motor is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 then turned on, driving the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator down. Center and left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevators are going the same 
               
               
                   
                   
                 speed. 
               
               
                 6. 
                 Cards are 
                 After half the cards are 
                 CFM rev (CCW) 
               
               
                   
                 delivered 
                 delivered into the left 
               
               
                   
                 into the right 
                 magazine, center feed motor is 
               
               
                   
                 magazine. 
                 reversed (counter clockwise). 
               
               
                   
                 Cut to right 
                 At the same time, the right 
                 RSM on (CCW) 
                 LOC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 speed-up motor starts to rotate 
                 LEM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 counter clockwise and the left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator motor stops. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the left outer counter 
                 LSM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is clear of cards, left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 speed-up motor stops. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the first card goes 
                   
                 ROC-PE off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through the right speed-up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rollers, the right outer counter 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is blocked. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The right elevator motor is 
                 REM on (down) 
                 ROC-PE off/on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 then turned on, driving the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator down. Cards are 
               
               
                   
                   
                 delivered from center to right, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 each card breaking the right 
               
               
                   
                   
                 outer counter photoeye. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the center elevator 
                 CEM rev (down) 
                 CEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 goes empty, the center elevator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 empty photoeye (CEM-PE) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 turns on. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The center elevator motor is 
                 CFM off 
                 ROC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reversed, the center feed motors 
                 RSM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and the right speed-up motors 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are turned off. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The right out counter 
                 LEM off 
                 LET-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye has to be on (clear) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Interlocks: 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 A. 
                 The left elevator motor is 
                 REM off 
                 RET-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 turned off if the left elevator 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 top limit switch is made. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 B. 
                 The right elevator motor is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 turned off if the right 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 elevator top limit switch is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 made. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 7. 
                 Cards are 
                 When the center elevator 
                 CEM on (down) 
                   
               
               
                   
                 delivered to 
                 moves down, the left feed and 
                 LFM on (CCW) 
               
               
                   
                 the center 
                 the left speed-up motors start 
                 LSM on (CCW) 
               
               
                   
                 from left. 
                 counter clockwise. 
                 LEM on (up) 
               
               
                   
                 CLUMP 
                 The left elevator motor 
               
               
                   
                   
                 starts to move up. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 NOTE: The left and the center 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator moves should be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 synchronized. When the left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator reaches the feed roller, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the center elevator should be at 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the optimum height to receive 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the cards. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Cards begin to move from 
                   
                 LIC-PE off/on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 left to center, breaking the left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 inner counter photoeye. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left elevator moves up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 a random distance, delivering a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 random number of cards to the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 center (clump.) 
               
               
                 8. 
                 Cards are 
                 The right elevator upward 
                 REM on (up) 
               
               
                   
                 shuffled to 
                 move is delayed to obtain the 
                 FRM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                 the center 
                 clump. When the right elevator 
                 RSM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                 randomly. 
                 starts to move up, the right feed 
               
               
                   
                 SHUFFLE. 
                 ad the right speed-up rollers 
               
               
                   
                   
                 start to rotate clockwise. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 As the first card from the 
                 LEM off/on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 right magazine blocks the right 
               
               
                   
                   
                 outer counter photoeye, the left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator stops and the right and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 left elevators will be 
               
               
                   
                   
                 synchronized from this point 
               
               
                   
                   
                 on. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The moves will be random. 
                 REM off/on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the right elevator moves 
               
               
                   
                   
                 up, the left one is stopped and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 vice versa. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the left elevator is 
                 LEM rev (down) 
                 LEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 empty, the photoeye is 
                 LEM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unblocked (no cards), the left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator reverses and goes to a 
               
               
                   
                   
                 predetermined position for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 receiving cards. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left feed roller stops. 
                 LFM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left speed-up rollers 
                 LSM off 
                 LOC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stop when the left outer counter 
                   
                 (0.5 sec?) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye stays unblocked for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 approximately 0.5 seconds (to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 make sure cards are out of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 pinch). 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the right elevator is 
                 REM rev (down) 
                 REMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 empty, the left outer counter 
                 REM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is unblocked (no 
                 RFM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cards), the right elevator 
                 RSM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reverses and goes to a set 
               
               
                   
                   
                 position for receiving cards. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The right feed roller stops. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The right speed-up rollers 
                   
                 ROC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stop when the right outer 
                   
                 (0.5 sec) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 counter photoeye stays 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unblocked for 0.5 seconds. 
               
               
                 9. 
                 Cut to left 
                 When the right elevator 
                 CEM on (up) 
                 REMT on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 empty photoeye is unblocked, 
                 CFM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the center elevator starts to 
                 LSM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 move up, the center feed and 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the left speed-up rollers start to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rotate clockwise, delivering 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cards to the left. Cycle repeats 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from 6. to 9., ending with 8. 
               
               
                 10. 
                 Transfer to 
                 After the last cycle, the 
               
               
                   
                 the left 
                 cards are transferred from the 
               
               
                   
                 magazine 
                 center to the left magazine for 
               
               
                   
                 and counting. 
                 removal. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 After the last shuffle (8.), 
                 RFM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the right feed and speed-up 
                 RSM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rollers stop and the right 
                 REM rev off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator goes to a set position 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to receive cards. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The center elevator moves 
                 CEM on (up) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 up. 
                 CFM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The center feed and the left 
                 LSM on (CW) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 speed-up rollers start to rotate 
               
               
                   
                   
                 clockwise, delivering cards to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the left elevator. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the center elevator 
                 CEM rev (down) 
                 CEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 empty photoeye is unblocked 
                 CEM off 
                 CEM-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 (no cards), the center elevator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 is reversed and goes down until 
               
               
                   
                   
                 it makes the center elevator 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bottom limit switch (read to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 load position). 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The center feed roller also 
                 CFM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 stops. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the left outer counter 
                 LSM off 
                 LOC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is unblocked for 0.5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seconds, the left speed-up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rollers are turned off. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left elevator moves 
                 LEM on 
                 LEB-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 down until it makes the left 
                 LEM off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator bottom limit switch. 
               
               
                 11. 
                 Loading and 
                 Operator presses the start 
                 DM on (down) 
                 Start 
               
               
                   
                 unloading. 
                 button. Door moves down, 
                 DM off 
                 DB-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 making door bottom limit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 switch. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Cards are loaded into the 
                   
                 CEMT-PE off 
               
               
                   
                   
                 center magazine. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Center elevator empty 
                   
                 LEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 photoeye is blocked. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Shuffled cards are removed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 from the left magazine. Left 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator empty photoeye is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 unblocked. 
               
               
                 12. 
                 Door closes. 
                 After seconds, the left 
                 LEM on 
                 DT-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 elevator moves up and the door 
                 DM on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 will automatically close in 3-4 
                 DM on ½ power 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seconds, making door top limit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 switch. Before the door starts 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to move, the light will come on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 as a warning. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 A new shuffle cycle begins . . . 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 APPENDIX C 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Homing Sequence 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Action 
                 Description 
                 Motor 
                 Switch 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1. 
                 Power on. 
                 If there are no cards in the 
                   
                 REMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                 No cards in 
                 machine, elevator empty and 
                   
                 CEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                 the machine 
                 counter photoeyes unblocked, 
                   
                 LEMT-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the machine will go through the 
                   
                 ROC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 homing sequence. The door 
                   
                 RIC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 moves down. 
                   
                 LOC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 LIC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left and right elevators 
                 DM on (down) 
                 DB-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 move up and make left and 
                 LEM on (up) 
                 LET-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 right elevator top limit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 switches. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The center elevator moves 
                 REM on (up) 
                 RET-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 down, making center elevator 
                 CEM (down) 
                 RET-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bottom limit switch. 
                   
                 CEB-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 The left and right elevators 
                 LEM on (down) 
                 Timed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 move down to a pre-determined 
                 REM on (down) 
                 Timed 
               
               
                   
                   
                 location to receive the cards. 
               
               
                 2. 
                 Power on. 
                 A. If there are cards in any 
                 DM on (up) 
                 DT-LS on 
               
               
                   
                 Cards in the 
                 of the speed up roller 
                 LSM on (CW) 
                 LIC-OE on 
               
               
                   
                 machine. 
                 assemblies, one or more of the 
                 RSM on (CCW) 
                 LOC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 counter photoeyes blocked, the 
                 LSM off 
                 RIC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 door moves up, the speed-up 
                 RSM off 
                 ROC-PE on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 rollers start up and deliver 
               
               
                   
                   
                 cards onto the left and/or the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 right elevators. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 When the counter photoeyes 
                 DM on (down) 
                 DB-LS on 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are unblocked for at least 0.5 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seconds, the speed-up motors 
               
               
                   
                   
                 are turned off and the door 
               
               
                   
                   
                 moves down. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 B. If there are cards on any 
                 DM on (down) 
               
               
                   
                   
                 of the elevators, one of more of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the elevator empty photoeyes 
               
               
                   
                   
                 blocked, the door moves down 
               
               
                   
                   
                 and the red alarm light will 
               
               
                   
                   
                 flash, indicating that the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 machine is not ready for 
               
               
                   
                   
                 loading. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Take the cards out of the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 machine and press the START 
               
               
                   
                   
                 key. The machine will go 
               
               
                   
                   
                 through the homing sequence. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 APPENDIX D 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Component Manufacturers, Addresses and Part/Model Nos. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Manufacturer&#39;s 
               
               
                 Abbreviation &amp; 
                 Component Description, 
                 Part or 
               
               
                 Reference Char. 
                 Manufacturer Name and Address 
                 Model No. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 MOTORS 
                   
                   
               
               
                 LEM (48) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PX243G01-01A 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 CEM (50) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PX243G01-01A 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 REM (52) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PX243G01-01A 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 DM (64) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK244-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 LFM (54) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK245-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 CFM (56) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK245-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 RFM (58) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK245-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 LSM (60) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK245-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 RSM (62) 
                 Stepping Motor, 4 volt D.C. 
                 PK245-01AA 
               
               
                   
                 Oriental Motor USA Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Torrance, California 
               
               
                 LIMIT 
               
               
                 SWITCHES 
               
               
                 LEB-LS (68) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 N14 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 LET-LS (70) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 37XL31-01 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 CEB-LS (72) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 N14 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 CET-LS (74) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 37XL31-01 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 REB-LS (76) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 N14 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 RET-LS (78) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 37XL31-01 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 DB-LS (80) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 N14 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 DT-LS (82) 
                 MICRO SWITCH, a division of 
                 N14 
               
               
                   
                 Honeywell Corporation, 
               
               
                   
                 Minneapolis, Minnesota 
               
               
                 PHOTOEYES 
               
               
                 LEMT-PE (88) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP265A, OP598 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 CEMT-PE (90) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP265A, OP598 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 REMT-PE (92) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP265A, OP598 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 LOC-PE (128) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP506A 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 ROC-PE (132) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP506A 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 LIC-PE (130) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP506A 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas 
               
               
                 RIC-PE (134) 
                 Optek Technology, Inc., 
                 OP506A 
               
               
                   
                 Carrolton, Texas