Patent Publication Number: US-2019184267-A1

Title: Shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/840,351 filed Dec. 13, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/584,878 filed Dec. 29, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,855,491 and is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/936,956, filed Jul. 8, 2013, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,919,777 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/759,510, filed Feb. 5, 2013, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,567,786 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/832,566, filed Jul. 8, 2010, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,983 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/744,961, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,371,583, was filed as a  371  application from International Application No. PCT/JP2008/071569, filed on Nov. 27, 2008, and claims priority to JP Application No. 2007-306173, filed on Nov. 27, 2007. In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/936,956 is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/006230, filed Sep. 28, 2012, and claims priority to JP Application No. 2012-227444, filed Sep. 25, 2012. The contents of all of the above-listed applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to playing cards used for card games, and more particularly, to shuffled playing cards packaged as an individual pack after being shuffled in a sufficiently random manner and to a manufacturing method thereof. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In poker, baccarat, bridge, blackjack, and other card games, a dealer sets one or more decks of playing cards in a card shooter or the like and deals cards to game players by shooting the cards one by one out of the card shooter or the like. In so doing, to ensure fairness of the games, the cards need to be dealt at random. Therefore, a game host has to shuffle the playing cards sufficiently randomly before the playing cards are set in the card shooter. 
     A conventional card shuffling apparatus used to shuffle cards is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1.
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-198668   

     However, when the game host shuffles cards before a game, the shuffling can sometimes take a lot of time, hampering efficient operation of the game. Also, when the game host shuffles, there is a problem of possible cheating such as insertion/removal or switching of cards. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and has an object to provide shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a manufacturing method of shuffled playing cards characterized by comprising: a shuffling step of shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards by a shuffling machine and thereby producing a set of shuffled playing cards; a packaging step of individually packaging each shuffled playing cards subjected to the shuffling step; an ID generating step of creating a different shuffled card ID for each set of shuffled playing cards subjected to the shuffling step using an information processor; an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the shuffled playing cards; and an ID registration step of registering the shuffled card ID in a database by associating the shuffled card ID with information which allows identification of the shuffling machine or a shuffling machine group involved in the shuffling step of the shuffled playing cards affixed with the shuffled card ID. 
     The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which are a predetermined number of decks of playing cards shuffled and individually packaged, characterized in that a shuffled card ID for use to access information in a database is affixed as an ID code to a package of the shuffled playing cards, where the information allows identification of a shuffling machine or a shuffling machine group used to shuffle the shuffled playing cards. 
     The present invention can provide shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. Also, since a shuffled card ID associated with information which allows identification of the shuffling machine or shuffling machine group used to shuffle the shuffled playing cards is affixed to the package, if there is any problem with playing cards and it is believed that the cause of the problem lies in a shuffling machine, the manufacturer can easily identify which shuffling machine or shuffling machine group has caused the problem and take quick measures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
         FIGS. 1( a ) and 1( b )  are perspective views showing appearance of a shuffled playing card set (packaged individually) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shuffling machine used to shuffle playing cards in a manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing part of a manufacturing line for the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a variation of a schematic configuration of the shuffling machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing how an image used to check the number of playing cards is shot in the manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the entirety of a card shoe apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows an example of a card according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a main portion of a card guide of the card shoe apparatus, with the card guide partially broken, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9( a )  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a card movement restriction means according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that restricts the movement of cards from a card housing unit of the card shoe apparatus of  FIG. 17  as viewed from the side. 
         FIG. 9( b )  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a variation of the card movement restriction means according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention that restricts the movement of cards from a card housing unit of the card shoe apparatus of  FIG. 6  as viewed from the side. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the relation between output waves from sensors and marks of a card according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram illustrating a card shoe apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12( a ) and 12( b )  show cards that have been improperly shuffled according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1( a ) and 1( b )  are perspective views showing appearance of a shuffled playing card set (packaged individually) according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1( a ) and 1( b ) , the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment is sufficiently shuffled playing cards encased in a paper box  11  whose lid is sealed with an adhesive label  13 . A predetermined number of decks (e.g., four decks or eight decks) form a set according to the type of game or the like in which the playing cards  12  are used. Incidentally, although a paper box is used for packaging in this example, the type of packaging is not limited to this. For example, a plastic box may be used alternatively. Instead of a box, the playing cards may be wrapped with a wrapper such as paper or plastic film and sealed with an adhesive label. The point is that the packaging can prevent the seal from being broken open before a game with subsequent cheating such as arranging cards in a different sequence, inserting or removing cards, or marking cards in some way or other. 
     A bar code  13   a  and specification table  13   b  are printed on the adhesive label  13 . As described in detail later, the bar code  13   a  represents an ID (shuffled card ID) which can uniquely identify the shuffled playing card set  1 . The specification table  13   b , which is not absolutely necessary, can contain any information about the playing cards, such as a serial number, a product number, a product name, a color, and a date of manufacture. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1( a ) and 1( b ) , since the shuffled playing card set  1  has a mouth of the lid of the paper box  11  sealed with the adhesive label  13 , in order to use the shuffled playing card set  1 , the adhesive label  13  has to be removed or broken. To prevent cheating, preferably the adhesive label  13  is made of a material which, once peeled off, cannot be returned to its original attached state or is configured to be broken at least partially upon application of an external force tending to peel off the adhesive label  13 . 
     As described above, since the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment contains shuffled playing cards  12  shuffled in a sufficiently random manner and packaged individually in the paper box  11  sealed with the adhesive label  13 , in order to use the shuffled playing card set  1  in a game, it is only necessary to open the paper box  11  and set the playing cards  12  promptly in a shooter. This eliminates the need for a game host to shuffle the playing cards. It also eliminates the possibility of cheating such as insertion/removal or switching of cards during shuffling. 
     Next, the manufacturing method of the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
     Preferably, a manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment is placed under consistent process control from order receipt to shipment by means of a process control system. A manufacturing process which uses such a process control system will be described in the present embodiment. 
     First, when an order is received from a customer, a manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  assigns and enters an order receipt number in the process control system. The order receipt number may be assigned and entered using any desired method, and may be assigned automatically by the process control system. 
     As in the case of conventional playing cards, the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment is manufactured using playing cards created through processes in which suit and rank are printed on one side of card base paper, a design is printed on the other side, and the printed card base paper is cut into individual cards on a cutting machine. Then, a predetermined number of decks of the playing cards are grouped together according to the application of the playing cards (depending on what game the playing cards will be used in), shuffled sufficiently randomly, packaged as an individual pack, and sealed to produce the shuffled playing card set  1  described above. 
     Before printing the card base paper, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  enters base paper information (e.g., maker, product name, purchase date, paper lot number, and the like) in the process control system. In a printing process, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  enters printing process information (printing machine number, printing date/time, lot number, and the like) in the process control system. Additionally, in a cutting process, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  enters cutting process information (cutting machine number, cutting date/time, lot number, and the like) in the process control system. Consequently, predetermined information out of information entered in each process is associated with the shuffled card ID in a database of the process control system as described later. 
     Next, a shuffling process according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shuffling machine  100  used to shuffle playing cards in the manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shuffling machine  100  includes a card stack holder  101 , a card feeder  102 , a slide rail  103 , feeder travel rollers  104 , a card delivery roller  105 , a camera  106  (or a card sensor  109  described later), and an image processing unit  108 . 
     The card stack holder  101  has multiple pockets  101   a  to  101   g . Incidentally, although in the configuration shown as an example in  FIG. 2 , the card stack holder  101  has seven pockets, the card stack holder  101  may have any number of pockets. Movable partition plates  107   a  to  107   f  are installed between the pockets. The card feeder  102  is designed such that when all the playing cards to be shuffled are placed on the card feeder  102 , the card delivery roller  105  on the bottom rotates, sending out a card c from the lowermost part of the card feeder  102  toward the card stack holder  101  through a card delivery port provided in a lower flank of the card feeder  102 . Also, the card feeder  102  is configured to be slidable in a vertical (up and down) direction along the slide rail  103  by means of the feeder travel rollers  104  driven by drive means such as a motor (not shown). 
     With the configuration described above, the shuffling machine  100  alternately slides the card feeder  102  to a position facing any of the pockets  101   a  to  101   g  and sends out the card c from the card feeder  102  to the pocket. Incidentally, the shuffling machine  100  determines the position to move the card feeder  102  to, i.e., the position facing one of the pockets  101   a  to  101   g , at random using a random number generator program or the like. Consequently, the cards loaded in the card feeder  102  is sent out one by one in a random order to the pockets  101   a  to  101   g  of the card stack holder  101 . When all the cards loaded in the card feeder  102  are sent out to the card stack holder  101 , the partition plates  107   a  to  107   f  recede from the inside of the card stack holder  101  and consequently cards sorted into the pockets  101   a  to  101   g  of the card stack holder  101  are taken out of the shuffling machine  100  as a single stack. However, the receding of the pockets  101   a  to  101   g  is not absolutely necessary, and any alternative means may be used. For example, the cards may be taken out of the pockets  101   a  to  101   g  using a robot arm or the like. The above is a single shuffling process performed by the shuffling machine  100 . After going through the shuffling process, a set of playing cards loaded in the card feeder  102  are shuffled to some extent. If the card feeder  102  is controlled so as to slide in a highly random manner, a set of playing cards loaded in the card feeder  102  can be shuffled sufficiently randomly after the shuffling machine  100  performs the shuffling process only once. However, as described later, if multiple shuffling machines  100  performing such a shuffling process are used to perform the shuffling process in sequence, the shuffled playing cards can be ordered more randomly. 
     The playing cards are loaded in the card feeder  102  with the face (side on which suit and rank are printed) down (to the side of the camera  106 ). Each time a card c is sent out from the card feeder  102  to the card stack holder  101 , the camera  106  shoots an image of the card c. The resulting image is sent to the image processing unit  108 . Functions of the camera  106  and image processing unit  108  vary among the shuffling machines  100  depending on the position of the shuffling machines  100  on a manufacturing line described below. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing part of a manufacturing line for the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment. The manufacturing line includes multiple shuffling machines  100  configured as described above and arranged in a sequence. Incidentally, although a manufacturing line with two shuffling machines  100  (shuffling machines  100   a  and  100   b ) is shown as an example in  FIG. 3 , the number of shuffling machines  100  is not limited to this and may be one, or more than two. The shuffling machine  100   a  is configured as shown in  FIG. 2 , but the shuffling machine  100   b  is equipped with a card sensor  109  instead of the camera  106 . The card sensor  109  has the capability to count the number of cards passing above the sensor. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , first, a set of playing cards made up of a predetermined number of decks is loaded into the card feeder  102  of the shuffling machine  100   a . The set of playing cards subjected to the shuffling process by the shuffling machine  100   a  is loaded into the card feeder  102  of the shuffling machine  100   b . The sliding of the card feeders  102  on the shuffling machines  100   a  and  100   b  are controlled independently of each other. After being subjected to the shuffling process twice by the shuffling machines  100   a  and  100   b , the playing cards are shuffled more randomly. 
     An image of a card surface shot by the camera  106  on the shuffling machine  100   a  is subjected to an image analysis process by the image processing unit  108  of the process control system which manages the manufacturing line including the shuffling machines  100   a  and  100   b , and consequently the suit and rank are detected on the card sent out from the card feeder  102  to the card stack holder  101 . That is, on the shuffling machine  100   a , each time a card is sent out from the card feeder  102  to the card stack holder  101 , the rank and suit on the card are detected, and when the entire set of cards loaded in the card feeder  102  is sent out to the card stack holder  101 , it is checked whether or not there is any excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations contained in the set of cards. For example, a set of cards made up of six decks should contain six each of identical cards in terms of the rank and suit combination. If there is any excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations, the set of cards is discarded as a defective item. In addition to the rank and suit checking, the image processing unit  108  inspects each card for any smudge and inspects a pattern of a back design and the like as well as inspects whether or not the cards have been cut properly and whether or not each card complies with predetermined standards. Any set of cards containing defects is discarded. 
     Being installed on the shuffling machine  100   b  which performs the shuffling process the second time, the card sensor  109  counts the number of cards passing above the card sensor  109 . If three or more shuffling machines are used, preferably the card sensor  109  is installed on the third and subsequent shuffling machines. In this way, the shuffling machine  100   b  checks the number of cards in the set of cards to be shuffled and thereby inspects the final product for excess or deficiency of cards. On the shuffling machine  100   a  which performs the shuffling process the first time, preferably both sides of the card is inspected simultaneously by installing a mirror  110  as shown in  FIG. 4  so that the back side (patterned side) of the card will face the camera  106  or by installing another camera (not shown) which will photograph the back side of the card. 
     When the shuffling machine  100   b  which performs the final shuffling process finishes shuffling, the shuffling machine  100   b  outputs a shuffle-complete signal. Upon detection of the shuffle-complete signal, the process control system generates a shuffled card ID to be assigned to the set of shuffled playing cards completed through the final shuffling process. The shuffled card ID is generated as a unique ID for each shuffled playing card set  1 . The process control system associates the generated shuffled card ID with predetermined information out of production information stored in the database of the process control system. Any desired type and volume of such information may be used, but information which identifies the manufacturing line or shuffling machines involved in the shuffling process is particularly important. 
     Specifically, if there are multiple manufacturing lines, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  according to the present embodiment assigns a unique manufacturing line ID to each manufacturing line in advance. Then, upon generation of a shuffled card ID, the process control system registers the generated shuffled card ID in the database by associating the shuffled card ID with the manufacturing line ID of the manufacturing line involved in the manufacture of the shuffled playing cards. However, IDs are not limited to such manufacturing line-related IDs. Alternatively, a shuffling machine ID may be assigned to each shuffling machine in advance and the shuffled card ID may be registered in the database by being associated with all the shuffling machine IDs involved in the shuffling process. Incidentally, the database may be provided either in or outside the process control system. 
     The generated shuffled card ID is printed on the adhesive label as a bar code by a printing machine. Then, the adhesive label  13  on which the bar code of the shuffled card ID is printed is used to seal the paper box  11  as shown in  FIG. 1 ( a ) . 
     As a variation of the present embodiment, a process for shooting an image of the playing cards  12  encased in the paper box  11  may be added before the paper box  11  is sealed with the adhesive label  13 . According to the variation, the set of playing cards  12  completed by going through the final shuffling process is encased in the paper box  11  with a side face up as shown in  FIG. 5 . Then, with the lid of the paper box  11  open, an image of the playing cards  12  encased in the paper box  11  is shot by a digital camera  111  as shown in  FIG. 5 . During shooting, preferably the bar code of the shuffled card ID is shot together in the same image. For example, in addition to the adhesive label  13  used to seal the paper box  11 , one more adhesive label may be prepared, with the bar code of the same shuffled card ID printed thereon. Then, the additional adhesive label can be pasted on an inner side or the like of the lid of the paper box  11  and shot together with the playing cards  12 . Image data resulting from the shooting is saved in a storage device  112  at least temporarily and then registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID. Immediately after shooting, the paper box  11  is sealed with the adhesive label  13 . Incidentally, although in the example shown in  FIG. 5 , an image is shot with the lid of the paper box  11  open, the form of image shooting for the purpose of checking the number of cards is not limited to this. For example, slits or the like may be formed in the lid of the paper box  11  so that the number of cards can be checked even when the lid is closed, and after the lid is closed and sealed, an image may be taken through the slits to check the number of cards. The slits may be sealed after the shooting, for example, using a sealing label other than the adhesive label  13  or using an outer lid. 
     The image data is used to prove later that a predetermined number of playing cards  12  (e.g., 416 cards in the case of an 8-deck shuffled playing cards) were all present when the paper box  11  was sealed. Otherwise, if the playing cards  12  are found to be excessive or deficient when the cards are used, it is not clear whether someone with malicious intent cheated by removing/slipping in cards or there were manufacturing defects in the first place. By acquiring and saving image data of the playing cards  12  at the time of sealing as with the present variation, it is possible to prove that there was no manufacturing defect. To judge the number of playing cards from the image data, image processing is carried out. That is, in the case of playing cards used, for example, in casinos and the like, to prevent suit and rank from being seen through the back, each card generally has a multilayered structure with black paper and the like being used as an intermediate layer. Consequently, the total number of playing cards  12  can be checked by image processing which detects the black paper or a white portion adjoining the black paper using image data. In the case of cards which do not have an intermediate layer or whose intermediate layer cannot be seen from the side, the total number of playing cards  12  can be checked by performing image processing to detect gaps between stacked playing cards using image data. Therefore, according to the present variation, preferably the image data acquired by shooting has a resolution high enough to enable image processing such as described above. 
     As described above, by registering the shuffled card ID of the shuffled playing card set  1  in the database by associating the shuffled card ID with the IDs of the manufacturing line or shuffling machine involved in the manufacture of the shuffled playing card set  1  (and with photographic image data such as described above, is necessary), the present embodiment provides the following advantages. 
     For example, if a customer who has purchased a shuffled playing card set  1  notices any defect in the purchased cards, the customer informs the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set  1  about the shuffled card ID. In so doing, the customer may send the adhesive label  13  on which the bar code of the shuffled card ID is printed to the manufacturer so that the manufacturer will read the shuffled card ID using a barcode reader. Alternatively, the customer may read the shuffled card ID using a barcode reader or the like and send the obtained data to the manufacturer via communications means such as e-mail. Consequently, by searching the database using the shuffled card ID, the manufacturer can identify a manufacturing line or shuffling machine that may have a problem. In such a case, the manufacturer can alert customers about the shuffled playing card sets  1  manufactured on the same manufacturing line or shuffling machine in the same period and take measures, if necessary, such as requesting the customers to discard the product or recalling the product. Also, by inspecting the identified manufacturing line or shuffling machine, the manufacturer can prevent a recurrence of the defect. 
     Also, the manufacturer may deliver the shuffled playing card set  1  to the customer together with a portable storage medium containing data (shuffled card ID and related information) on the shuffled playing card set  1  to be delivered by downloading the data from the database at the time of delivery. Any data structure (format) may be used for the data downloaded from the database to the storage medium as long as the data is readable on the customer&#39;s computer. Then, if the customer finds a defect such as a bent card, the customer can read the shuffled card ID of the defective shuffled playing card set  1  using a barcode reader or the like and search data on the storage medium based on the shuffled card ID thus acquired. Also, based on search results, the customer can take measures such as discarding shuffled playing card sets  1  related to the same manufacturing line or shuffling machine. Besides, even if fraudulent shuffled playing card sets  1  are mixed in items delivered to the customer, the customer can check the shuffled card IDs of the delivered items with the shuffled card IDs stored in the storage medium. Then, any shuffled playing card set  1  whose shuffled card ID is not contained in the storage medium provided at the time of delivery can be determined to have been mixed for fraudulent purposes. This prevents mixing of fraudulent items by a third party. 
     Although in the embodiment described above, the manufacturing line ID or the shuffling machine ID of the shuffling machine that performed the shuffling process is stored in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID, information to be associated with the shuffled card ID is not limited to this. For example, in the above embodiment, the camera  106  is incorporated in the shuffling machine  100  and the image analysis process is performed by the image processing unit  108  simultaneously with shuffling to inspect whether or not all the cards are present. However, as a variation, inspection machines including the camera  106  and image processing unit  108  may be installed downstream of each shuffling process, so that the cards having completed shuffling by the shuffling machines  100   a  and  100   b  can be inputted in the inspection machines to inspect whether or not all the cards are present. In that case, an inspection machine ID may be assigned to each inspection machine in advance and associated with the shuffled card ID assigned to each shuffled playing card set  1 . 
     Besides, various information can be associated with the shuffled card ID, including an ID of the printing machine involved in the printing process, an ID of the cutting machine involved in the cutting process, an ID of the packaging machine involved in a packaging process, a lot number of the base paper, a manufacturing date, a manufacturing date/time, a card type ID, and a customer ID. In that case, the information can be registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID containing the information. 
     In the above embodiment, the paper box  11  is sealed with the adhesive label  13  on which the shuffled card ID is printed as a bar code. However, forms of the present invention are not limited to this. The shuffled card ID may be affixed to the package as a two-dimensional matrix code such as a so-called QR code. Also, the shuffled card ID may be recorded somewhere other than the sealing label. That is, a method which records the shuffled card ID directly on the package may also be adopted. For example, the shuffled card ID can be affixed to the package by laser irradiation or the like. It is also preferable to attach the shuffled card ID to the package as a PFID or RFID (so-called IC tag). 
     Furthermore, although in the present embodiment, one shuffled card ID is assigned to one shuffled card set  1 , a unique ID may be assigned, for example, to each carton packed with multiple shuffled card sets  1 . Alternatively, a unique ID may be assigned to each container used to transport multiple cartons. Even in these cases, if the ID is registered in the database, when any defect is found later, by searching the database based on the ID, it is possible to trace manufacturing and distribution history of the defective product. 
     For example, in a cartoning process, a predetermined number of shuffled card sets  1  (boxes) are packed in a carton. In so doing, by reading the bar codes  13   a  of the shuffled card sets  1  packed in the carton using a barcode reader, the shuffled card IDs of the shuffled card sets  1  in the carton can be registered easily in the database of the process control system. After the bar codes  13   a  are read from all the shuffled card sets  1  in the carton, the process control system may generate an ID (carton ID) for use to identify the carton and print a bar code which represents the carton ID on an adhesive label. The adhesive label, when pasted to the carton, will enable carton-based management. The generated carton ID is registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card IDs of the shuffled card sets  1  packed in the carton. 
     Similarly, when a predetermined number of cartons are loaded on a pallet and multiple pallets are put in a container, the carton IDs may be read from all the cartons loaded on one pallet using a barcode reader and the acquired carton IDs may be registered in the database of the process control system by being associated with an ID (pallet ID) for use to identify the pallet. In that case, after the bar codes are read from all the cartons on one pallet, the process control system generates an ID (pallet ID) for use to identify the pallet and prints the bar code which represents the pallet ID on an adhesive label. The adhesive label, when pasted to the pallet, will enable pallet-based management. When the pallet is loaded in the container, the use of the pallet&#39;s bar code makes it possible to record which container the pallet is loaded in. 
     When the loading into the container is completed, shipment information (customer name, shipment date, destination, transport company, type of delivery service, and the like) by the pallet or container is inputted in the process control system. 
     Thus, in addition to attaching the shuffled card ID to packages, if a carton ID or pallet ID are attached to cartons or pallets, the shuffled playing cards can be managed on a carton-by-carton basis or pallet-by-pallet basis. Specifically, for example, if any defect is found in a shuffled card set  1 , the database can be searched for the IDs of the carton, pallet, and container in which the shuffled card set  1  was contained, based on the shuffled card ID of the shuffled card set  1 . This also makes it possible to discard all the shuffled card sets  1  in the carton, pallet, or container in which the defective shuffled card set  1  was contained. 
     The shuffling machine  100  illustrated in the above embodiment 1 s strictly exemplary, and concrete configuration of the shuffling machine is not limited to the above example. For example, in the above, although the card feeder  102  is configured to move by sliding, the card feeder  102  may be fixed, being configured such that the card stack holder  101  will slide relative to the card feeder  102 . Also, the configuration for sending out the card from the card feeder  102  is not limited to delivery rollers such as described above, and a mechanism such as a robot arm may be used to take out the card. 
     Also, although in the above embodiment, the shuffling machine  100   b  issues a shuffled card ID in response to a shuffle-complete signal, the timing to issue the shuffled card ID is not limited to this. For example, the shuffled card ID may be issued at any time such as at the end of an inspection process. 
     An embodiment of the present invention has been described above, and the scope of the present invention also covers the following annexes. 
     Annex 1 
     A playing card manufacturing method comprising a manufacturing process including: face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a different shuffled card ID is created for each of the individual shuffled playing cards using an information processor in response to a shuffle completion signal from a shuffling machine which carries out the shuffling step, the playing card manufacturing method further comprises an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the individual shuffled playing cards, and the shuffled card ID represented by the ID code is configured in a database by being associated with information about the shuffling machine involved in the shuffling step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the shuffling machine and involved in the manufacturing process, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the shuffling machine or the production line including the shuffling machine based on the shuffled card ID, the shuffling machine having been involved in the shuffling step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 2 
     A playing card manufacturing method comprising a manufacturing process including: face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and an inspection step of performing an inspection using an inspection machine during or after the shuffling step to ensure that the individual playing cards in the predetermined number of decks which make up the shuffled playing cards are all present; a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a different shuffled card ID is created for each of the individual shuffled playing cards using an information processor in response to an acceptance signal given by the inspection machine in the inspection step, the playing card manufacturing method further comprises an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the individual shuffled playing cards, and the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the inspection machine involved in the inspection step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the inspection machine and involved in the manufacturing process, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the inspection machine or the production line including the inspection machine based on the shuffled card ID, the inspection machine having been involved in the inspection step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 3 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to annex 1 or 2, further comprising a step of inputting data which identifies a printing machine used in at least one of the face printing step and the back side printing step, in the information processor, characterized in that the information about the production line which performs the manufacturing process for the individual shuffled playing cards includes the data which identifies the printing machine, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the printing machine used in the production line for the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards, based on the shuffled card ID. 
     Annex 4 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to annex 1 or 2, characterized in that the information about the production line which performs the manufacturing process for the individual shuffled playing cards includes a lot number of the base paper used in the face printing step or the back side printing step, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the lot number corresponding to the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards, based on the shuffled card ID which identifies the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 5 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 4, characterized in that the predetermined number of decks which make up the individual shuffled playing cards is any of 1 to 10. 
     Annex 6 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 5, further comprising a step of packing a plurality of the packaged individual shuffled playing cards into a transport box, wherein different transport box data is created for each of the transport boxes; the playing card manufacturing method further comprises a step of affixing the corresponding transport box data as an ID code on a surface of the transport box; and the transport box data is included in the database by being associated with the shuffled card IDs which identify the shuffled playing cards in the transport box. 
     Annex 7 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 6, characterized in that the ID code further contains any of manufacturing date, manufacturing date/time, product type, and customer information concerning the shuffled playing cards identified by the shuffled card ID. 
     Annex 8 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in barcode format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 9 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in QR code (two-dimensional matrix code) format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 10 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in PFID format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 11 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in IC tag format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 12 
     Shuffled playing cards manufactured in a manufacturing process which includes: a face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a shuffled card ID created for each individual shuffled playing cards in response to a shuffling step completion signal from the shuffling step is attached to the corresponding package of the individual shuffled playing cards, where the shuffled card ID differs among individual shuffled playing cards, the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the shuffling machine involved in the shuffling step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the shuffling machine and involved in the manufacturing process, allowing identification of the shuffling machine or the production line including the shuffling machine, the shuffling machine having been involved in the shuffling step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 13 
     Shuffled playing cards manufactured in a manufacturing process which includes: a face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting the card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and an inspection step of performing an inspection using an inspection machine during or after the shuffling step to ensure that the individual playing cards in the predetermined number of decks which make up the shuffled playing cards are all present; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a shuffled card ID created for each individual shuffled playing cards in response to an acceptance signal given by the inspection machine in the inspection step is attached to the corresponding package of the individual shuffled playing cards, where the shuffled card ID differs among individual shuffled playing cards, the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the inspection machine involved in the inspection step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the inspection machine and involved in the manufacturing process, allowing identification of the inspection machine or the production line including the inspection machine, the inspection machine having been involved in the inspection step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 14 
     The shuffled playing cards according to annex 12 or 13, characterized in that the ID code further contains any of manufacturing date, manufacturing date/time, product type, and customer information concerning the shuffled playing cards identified by the shuffled card ID. 
     Annex 15 
     The shuffled playing cards according to according to any one of annexes 12 to 14, characterized in that the predetermined number of decks is any of 1 to 10. 
     Annex 16 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 12 to 15, characterized in that the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in barcode format or two-dimensional matrix code format (such as QR code format) to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 17 
     The shuffled playing cards according to annex 16, characterized in that the ID code is printed on a label, which is attached to the package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 18 
     The shuffled playing cards according to annex 16, characterized in that the ID code is attached to the package of the individual shuffled playing cards using a laser beam. 
     Annex 19 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 12 to 15, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in PFID format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 20 
     The playing card manufacturing method according to any one of annexes 12 to 15, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in IC tag format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards. 
     Annex 21 
     The shuffled playing cards according to any one of annexes 12 to 20, wherein a tamper-evident adhesive label is attached to the package of the individual shuffled playing cards. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention has industrial applicability in the field of shuffled playing cards and a manufacturing method thereof. 
     An embodiment of a table game system of the present invention will be described below in detail.  FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a card shoe apparatus, generally designated by reference number  304 , for use in a table game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  illustrates a card  301  that may be used in the table game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present embodiment. The card  301  may be used in a table game such as baccarat. A code  302  may be disposed at the upper side and the lower side of the face of the card  301  in a point-symmetric manner. The code  302  may be composed of marks M that are invisible to the naked eye. Also, the card  301  includes an authenticity determination code  303  made up of coded information that indicates the authenticity of the card. The authenticity determination code  303  is arranged by printing or the like so as to be invisible to the naked eye, using, for example, ultraviolet reactive ink. 
     The card shoe apparatus  304  includes a card guide unit  307  that guides cards  301  that are manually drawn out one by one from a card housing unit  305  onto a game table  306 , a code reading unit  308  that reads, when a card  301  is manually drawn out from the card housing unit  305  by a dealer or the like of a casino, the code  302  that indicates a figure (number, rank) of that card  301 , a winning/losing determination unit  310  that determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of the cards  301  sequentially read by the code reading unit  308 , and an output means  311  that outputs the result of the determination made by the winning/losing determination unit  310 . The card guide unit  307  includes a card movement restriction means  330 ,  340  (to be described later) that restricts the movement of the card  301  from the card housing unit  305 . 
     Next, the code reading unit  308  that reads, from a card  301 , the code  302  that indicates a figure (number, rank) of the card  301  when the card  301  is manually drawn out from the card housing unit  305  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 8 . The code reading unit  308  is provided in the card guide unit  307  that guides the cards  301  manually taken out one by one from an opening  313  onto the game table  306 , with the opening  313  provided in a front portion of the card housing unit  305 . The card guide unit  307  includes an inclined surface and a card guide  314  attached at an edge portion of each of both sides of the inclined surface, with the card guide  314  also serving as a sensor cover. The card guide  314  is configured to be attachable/detachable with screws or the like (not shown) so as to be replaceable. When a card guide  314  is removed, a sensor group  315  of the code reading portion  308  is exposed. The sensor group  315  is composed of four sensors, including two ultraviolet reactive sensors (UV sensors)  320  and  321 , and object detection sensors  322  and  323 . 
     The object detection sensors  322  and  323  are optical fiber sensors that each detect the presence of the card  301 , and are capable of detecting movement of the card  301 . The object detection sensor  322  is placed in the upstream side of the card guide unit  307  with respect to the travel direction of the card  301  (indicated by the arrow S in  FIG. 8 ), and the object detection sensor  323  is placed in the downstream side of the card guide unit  307  with respect to the travel direction of the card  301 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the object detection sensors  322  and  323  are respectively provided in the upstream side and the downstream side of the UV sensors  320  and  321 . The UV sensors  320  and  321  each include an LED (UV LED) that emits an ultraviolet ray and a detector. The marks M are printed on the card  301  in UV luminescent ink that emits color when UV ray is applied. The card  301  is irradiated with the UV ray (black light), and the detector detects the light reflected by the marks M of the code  302  of the card  301 . The UV sensors  320  and  321  are connected to a control apparatus  312  of the code reading unit  308  via a cable. In the code reading unit  308 , the arrangement patterns of the marks M are determined based on the output signals from the detectors of the UV sensors  320  and  321 , such that the number (rank) corresponding to the code  302  is determined. 
     In the code reading unit  308 , the start and end of the reading performed by the UV sensors  320  and  321  are controlled by the control apparatus  312  based on the detection signals from the object detection sensors  322  and  323 . Also, the control apparatus  312  determines whether the card  301  has normally passed through the card guide unit  307  based on the detection signals from the object detection sensors  322  and  323 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the rectangular marks M are arranged within a framework of two rows with four columns on each of the upper and bottom edges of a card, and the arrangement of such marks indicates the rank (number) and the suit (Heart, Spade or the like) of the card. According to an exemplary embodiment, for each card, a mark M may either be present or absent at each of the predetermined locations within the framework of rows and columns depending on the particular mark and suit to be encoded. When the UV sensor(s)  320  and/or  321  detect(s) a mark M that is filled in, such UV sensor(s) output(s) an on signal, and when the UV sensor(s)  320  and/or  321  do not detect a mark M, an on signal is not generated. In this way, the code reading unit  308  identifies the code based on the relative difference or the like between the two marks M detected by the two UV sensors  320  and  321 , thereby identifying the number (rank) and the type (suit) of the corresponding card  301 . 
     The relation between the code  302  and the output of the on signals from the two UV sensors  320  and  321  are shown in  FIG. 10 . It is possible to identify a predetermined arrangement pattern of the marks M based on the comparison results of the relative changes in the output of the on signals from the UV sensors  320  and  321 . As a result, in two rows (the upper and lower rows), four types of arrangement patterns of the mark M are possible, and since patterns are printed in four columns, it is possible to form 256 types of codes (4×4×4×4). Fifty two (52) playing cards are each assigned to one of the 256 codes, and the relations of such assignment are stored in memory  12 M as an association table. A configuration is thereby adopted in which the card reading unit  308  can, by identifying the code  302 , identify the number (rank) and the type (suit) of the card  301  based on that predetermined association table (not shown). It should be appreciated that the assignment of a specific code of the 256 codes to each playing card does not need to be fixed, and in other exemplary embodiments of the invention each of the 52 cards can be freely associated with 52 codes out of the 256 codes to be stored in the association table, and thus a variety of associations are possible. Therefore, it is possible to change the associations between the 256 codes and 52 cards depending on the time or place. Preferably, the code is printed with a paint material that becomes visible when irradiated with UV ray, and placed in a position where it does not overlap the indications of the card types or indexes  402 . 
     An association table may be prepared by freely associating 52 codes out of the 256 codes with 52 cards, and a plurality of different association tables (ex. 1 to 10 or more tables) may be prepared in advance. If the code  302  does not match the code defined in the applicable association table, an error is detected and it is determined that cheating may have occurred. 
     Next, the configuration of the control apparatus  312  will be described. The control apparatus  312 , the code reading unit  308 , the winning/losing determination unit  310  and the like are realized by a computer apparatus, and in particular a computer apparatus including at least a memory, at least a processor, and at least a non-transitory computer readable medium on which may be stored instructions that are read by the at least one processor to perform algorithms according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The numbers of cards sequentially taken out onto the game table  306  are acquired using the UV sensors  320  and  321  in the code reading unit  308 , and the numbers of cards thus acquired are sequentially stored in a memory. At this time, information on which card  301  is dealt to which player is also stored. The number of each card is stored in association with the player to whom that card was dealt. In baccarat, there is a player and a banker. The rank (number) of the card dealt is stored in the memory in association with the player to whom it was dealt, and the ranks (number) of the cards dealt are added for each player, and the winner is determined based on the programmed rules. A “tie” is also judged. The winning/losing determination unit  310  determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of the cards  301  sequentially read by the code reading unit  308  and whether the game of this round is over. When the game of this round is over, an operator or dealer is required to push a result key  360  on the side of a card shoe apparatus  304  to let the output means  311  output the result of the game. 
     Next, the card movement restriction means  330  that restricts the movement of the card  301  to/from the card housing unit  305  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9( a ), 9( b )  and  11 . In  FIG. 9( a ) , the card movement restriction means  330  is provided in the card guide  314  of the card guide unit  307  that guides the cards  301  taken out one by one from the opening  313 , which is provided in a front portion of the card housing unit  305 . The card movement restriction means  330  has a structure by which when a card  301  passes through a slot  333  between the card guide unit  307  and the card guide  314 , a lock member  334  presses the card  301  to prohibit the movement of the card  301  within the slot  333 . The lock member  334  is capable of moving in the direction indicated by the arrow M by a driving unit  335  composed of an electromagnetic solenoid, a piezoelectric device or the like, such that it can take two positions, namely, a position where the card  301  is pressed (restricted position) and a position where the card  301  is allowed to pass through. The driving unit  335  is controlled by the control apparatus  312 , and causes the lock member  334  to move to two positions, namely, a position where the card  301  is pressed and a position where the card  301  is allowed to pass through. The rules of the baccarat game are programmed and stored in advance in the control apparatus  312 . 
     Next, an alternative embodiment of the card movement restriction means  330  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9( b ) . According to this embodiment, a card movement restriction means  340  has a structure by which when a card  301  passes through the slot  333  between the card guide unit  307  and the card guide  314 , a lock member  336  protrudes into the slot  333  to prohibit movement of the card  301 . The lock member  336  is capable of moving in the direction indicated by the arrow M by a driving unit  337  composed of an electromagnetic solenoid, a piezoelectric device or the like, such that it can take two positions, namely, a position where movement of the card  301  is prohibited (restricted position) and a position where the card  301  is allowed to pass through. The driving unit  337  is controlled by the control apparatus  312 , and causes the lock member  336  to move to two positions, namely, a position where movement of the card  301  is prohibited and a position where the card  301  is allowed to pass through. 
     The card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ) is caused to function as a result of the driving unit  335  or  337  being controlled by the control apparatus  312  to prevent the fraudulent movement of the card  301 . The card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ) is provided with the object detection sensors  322  and  323  as sensors for detecting movement of the card  301 , and has a function of detecting movement of the card  301  with these sensors  322  and  323  to restrict the erroneous or fraudulent movement of a card. In this regard, the card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ) may be controlled to prevent the movement of the card  301  in at least the following situations:
         1) when there is an attempt to draw a card at an inappropriate time. For example, the drawing of a card  301  from the card housing unit  305  may be prohibited when such drawing should not be allowed based on the information from the winning/losing determination unit  310 . The winning/losing determination unit  310  determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of the cards  301  sequentially read by the code reading unit  308  and whether the game of the particular round is over. When the round is over, the dealer must push a result key  360  on the side of a card shoe apparatus  304  to instruct the output means  311  to output the result of the game. However, the dealer may attempt to withdraw a card after the round is over and before pushing the result key  360 , in which case an overdraw error may be detected and the attempted withdrawal of the card may be prohibited by the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ). In particular, when the object detection sensors  322  detects a card ( FIG. 8 ), the card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ) may be controlled to prohibit the drawing of a card  301  from the card housing unit  305  when such drawing should not be allowed. Since there is some distance between the position of the object detection sensors  322  and the position of the card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ), there is enough time between when the object detection sensors  322  detects erroneous movement of a card and when the driving unit  335  or  337  begins operation to restrict the card from drawing further;   2) when the card stands still (stops) at predetermined period of time at the opening of the card housing unit. For example, when the object detection sensors  322  detects a card is being held in the card guide unit  307  for longer than a predetermined time, an error signal may be generated and, based on the error signal, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may prohibit further movement of the card. In this regard, a timer (not shown) may be activated when the object detection sensors  322  detect the card, and once the timer reaches a predetermined count, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be controlled to prohibit further card movement;   3) when a card  301  is inserted from the exterior toward the card housing unit via the opening unit in a reverse direction, opposite to the direction of the arrow S, namely, from the exterior toward the card housing unit  305  via the opening  313 . In this case, although the card  301  inserted for the purpose of cheating passes through the slot  333  between the card guide unit  307  and the card guide  314 , the movement of the card  301  in a direction opposite to the normal direction (the direction opposite to the arrow S in  FIG. 8 ) is detected based on the detection signals from the object detection sensors  322  and  323 . The driving units  335  or  337  may then move their corresponding lock members  334  or  336  to their respective positions of pressing or blocking the card  301 , respectively;   4) when a card is misread. For example, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be controlled to prohibit movement of a card when the code reading unit  308  is unable to identify a code  302  on the card, such as when a code is not present on the card or when the code is present but does not correspond to any code within a code association table. A misreading error may also occur when it is detected that the card has not normally passed along the card guide unit  307  or has slipped back;   5) when an authenticity determination code detected by authenticity determination code sensor placed in the card guide unit  307  does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. In this regard, a card  301  may be provided with an authenticity determination code  303  that is configured by encoding information that represents the group of the card. For example, card sets may be assigned a group code depending on the particular casino, casino group, casino location, geographical areas or countries in which the cards are intended for use. The authenticity determination code may be printed using, for example, UV ink, so as to be invisible to the naked eye, and is provided in the same position in at least the cards of the same set (i.e., all cards to be used at the same casino). The authenticity determination code  303  is made of a substance or material itself that emits, as a code, light rays of different wavelength spectra when irradiated with light rays. An authenticity determination code corresponding to a particular set of cards used in a card game may be stored in the memory unit and referred to by the control unit  312 . Accordingly, the authenticity determination code  303  on a card can be read by the code reading unit  308  (sensor  324 ) and compared to the stored authenticity determination code. If there is a mismatch between the stored code and the code on the card, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be activated to prohibit further movement of the card;   6) when an authenticity determination code detected by authenticity determination code sensor placed in the card guide unit  307  does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. In this regard, a card  301  may be provided with an authenticity determination code  303  that is configured by encoding information that represents the group of the card. The authenticity determination code may be printed using, for example, UV ink, so as to be invisible to the naked eye, and is provided in the same position in at least the cards of the same set. The authenticity determination code  303  is made of a substance or material itself that emits, as a code, light rays of different wavelength spectra when irradiated with light rays. An authenticity determination code corresponding to a particular set of cards used in a card game may be stored in the memory unit and referred to by the control unit  312 . Accordingly, the authenticity determination code  303  on a card can be read by the code reading unit  308  (sensor  324 ) and compared to the stored authenticity determination code. If there is a mismatch between the stored code and the code on the card, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be activated to prohibit further movement of the card.       

     The drawing of a card  301  from the card housing unit  305  may be prohibited when (1) the code  302  read by the code reading unit  308  does not match the code defined in the association table and (2) the authenticity determination code  303  detected by the authenticity determination code sensor  324  placed in the upstream side of the card guide unit  307  does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. The presence of at least one of these conditions may be indicative of cheating, and an error signal may be generated so that the card movement restriction means  330  ( 340 ) is operated to prevent further movement of a card. 
     Upon operation of the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ), an error signal output means  350  disposed on the card housing unit  305  may provide an external signal indicating that an error has occurred. The error signal output means  350  may include, for example, a lamp and/or an audible alarm. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be activated to prohibit delivery of further cards from a predetermined number of shuffled decks of cards when a number of times at least one kind of card appears is more than the total number of shuffled decks of playing cards. For example, the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) may be activated when a ninth ace of spades is detected in a set of cards drawn from eight shuffled decks of cards, indicating that there is at least one more card than would be appropriate based on the number of decks. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the card shoe apparatus  304  may detect an irregularity in the manner in which the cards are shuffled and in some cases generate an alert and/or prohibit removal of cards from the card housing unit  305  based on the detected irregularity. In this regard, the information collected by the card reading unit  308  as the cards are drawn from the card housing unit  305  may be used to determine whether the cards have been shuffled improperly. An irregularity in the arrangement order of the cards will be described with reference to  FIG. 12( a )  and  FIG. 12( b ) .  FIG. 12( a )  shows an example where the cards  301  drawn from the card housing unit  305  have the same suit (Clubs) with sequential figures (number, rank) beginning from Ace.  FIG. 12( b )  shows an example where the cards  301  drawn from the card housing unit  305  consist of 9 cards with the same rank (3). Generally, the cards  301  are shuffled by a random number generator or the like so as to be arranged in a random order. The arrangement of the cards  301  shown in  FIGS. 12( a ) and 12( b )  is substantially non-random, thus indicating an irregular shuffling of the playing cards  301 . Other examples of card arrangements which may indicate a shuffling irregularity include: (a) a case in which a predetermined number of cards within a set of cards exhibit a pattern in which the rank of a card is larger (or smaller) by one as compared to the rank of the preceding card (for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . K) (as shown in  FIG. 12( a ) ); (b) a case where a predetermined number of cards in sequence have the same rank (for example, A, A, A, A . . . ) (as shown in  FIG. 12( b ) ); (c) a case where the same sequence is repeated throughout a predetermined number of cards (for example, A, Q, 10, A, Q, 10 . . . ); (d) a case where a predetermined number of cards in sequence have the same suit (for example, 13 consecutive cards with Hearts); (e) a case in which a predetermined number of cards in each of two or more sets of cards have the same sequence of suit and rank (A, 5, Q, J, 2, 8, 9, K . . . ). In particular, for each card game, a different set of cards may be housed in the card shoe apparatus  304 . A shuffling irregularity may be detected if a predetermined number of cards in a later-used set match the same predetermined number of cards in an earlier-used set in terms of suit and/or rank sequence; and (f) a case where the order of a predetermined number of cards matches an order registered in advance (for example, where the order of the cards matches the order of cards used in a separate card manufacturing process). 
     Irregular shuffling patterns (such as examples (a)-(d)) as well as the sequence of suit and rank (e.g., A, 5, Q, J, 2, 8, 9, K . . . ) of card sets previously housed in the card shoe apparatus  304  may be stored in the memory  312 M, and the control unit  312  may use this stored information to determine whether irregular shuffling has occurred. For example, irregular shuffling may be determined if the order of a predetermined number of cards  301  within a set matches at least a portion of the stored patterns. In another example, irregular shuffling may be determined if a number of card sets each used in one of a predetermined number of games include a predetermined number of cards that match the stored patterns. 
     As another example, a shuffling irregularity may be determined when each deck of cards within a set of cards is detected to be shuffled in the same or substantially similar way. For example, a shuffling irregularity may be detected when, for a plurality of cards, the suit and rank of each card drawn are the same as those of the card preceding it by 52 cards. In such a case, shuffling of a plurality of decks has failed for some reason, and instead each of the 52 cards is arranged in the same order. 
     In general, a shuffling irregularity may be detected when a stored pattern continues throughout a predetermined number of cards. In this regard, a preliminary alarm of irregularity may be generated at some point prior to the stored pattern being detected in all of the predetermined number of cards. For example, a preliminary alarm may be generated upon the drawing of a card that is several cards before the end of a predetermined number of cards. The preliminary alarm may be in a form different from the final alarm, for example, by characters, in a certain color, or with a different lamp. In an exemplary embodiment, if a state does not continue to be irregular throughout a predetermined number of cards and returns to a random state, then the preliminary alarm may be cancelled. 
     If a shuffling irregularity is detected, a final alarm may be generated and the control unit  312  may operate the card movement restriction means  330 ( 340 ) to restrict movement of the card  301  relative to the opening  313  in the card housing unit  305 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described hitherto. However, it is natural that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but persons skilled in the art can alter the above-described embodiment within the scope of the invention.