An Improved Appliance for Shuffling Playing Cards.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Shuffling Playing Cards.
We, WILLIAM Bowx, 308 Summer Lane, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer and GEORGE CAPEWELL, 114 Upper Thomas Street
Aston juxta Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to an improved method for shuffling playing cards
and our improvements consist in providing a suitably shaped bottomless case or
cases or receptacle formed with two or more compartments or divisions into which..
the cards are placed edgeways, the said case or receptacle or divisions are then
made to slide or move over or upon a frame or support or equivalent, which said
frame or support is by preference attached to a pillar or stand. The top or other
convenient part of the frame or support is formed with two or more ledges,
projections or resting pieces or equivalent for the cards to rest upon, a suitable
number of slots or openings also being provided on the top or other part of the said.
frame or support through which the cards fall when being shuffled. Instead of the.
case or receptacle in which the cards are placed moving over the ledges or
projections or equivalent the said ledges or projections may be made to move
instead. Or we may if desired use two or more cases or receptacles and cause
them to move simultaneously in opposite directions over the ledges, projections or
resting pieces. Or the ledges, projections or resting pieces may be formed inside
the cases or receptacles and the said cases or receptacles hinged together.
In order to actuate the parts which cause the cards to drop through the slots or
openings, at the required speed we by preference employ a small air cylinder or
cylinders or equivalent provided with a suitable piston or pistons in combination.
with a suitable weight or weights and balance, or spring or springs or other
suitable means for forcing the piston or pistons slowly into the cylinder or:
cylinders, or we may use a rubber ball, bellows or any other suitable arrangement..
Or instead of actuating the movable parts pneumatically we may if desired employ
magnetic or electrical power, or operate the same by means of clock-work or by any
other well known mechanical movement.
For the purpose of catching or receiving the cards as they drop from the machine.
in the process of shuffling we provide a suitably shaped portable receiver (prefer-
ably lined with rubber or other suitable material) which we by preference form.
with a hook or holdfast or equivalent taking into a corresponding part formed on
The said receiver is also.
any convenient part of the appliance, or vice versa.
provided with a suitably shaped handle or handles.
In order to regulate the cards as they drop through the slots or openings we
place a small serrated roller or wheel or other suitably shaped regulator or
regulators at the extremity of the ledges or resting pieces or other convenient part,
which is caused to revolve or move. by means of the case or receptacle as it moves
slowly along or by any other suitable arrangement.
To prevent the edges of the cards from coming in contact with the ledges or
projections or getting rubbed or damaged whilst being shuffled we provide a sliding
or moving cover or sleeve of silk or other suitable material which is made to move
along with the cards as they drop off the ledges or projections.
"
If desired the above movements may all be arranged so as to work automatically
by means of dropping a penny in a slot or other similar weight.
We by preference make the cases or receptacles or divisions each lean at a

page_text: different angle
place.
so that the cards as they drop will all fall exactly in the same
Dated this 6th day of September 1892
WILLIAM BOWN.
GEORGE CAPEWELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Shuffling Playing Cards.
We, WILLIAM BOWN, 308. Summer Lane, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer and GEORGE CAPEWELL, 114 Upper Thomas Street,
Aston, juxta Birmingham, aforesaid, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement
This invention has reference to an improved method for shuffling, playing cards
and our improvements consist in providing a suitably shaped bottomless case or
cases or receptacle formed with two or more compartments or divisions into which
. the cards are placed edgewise, the said case or receptacle or divisions are then
made to slide or move over or upon a frame or support or equivalent which said
frame or support is by preference attached to a pillar or stand.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood we have annexed the
accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is side elevation of our improved card shuffling machine.
Fig. 2 is plan of Fig..1.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 slightly modified, and
Fig. 4 is plan of Fig. 3.
A is the bottomless case or receptacle formed with two or more compartments or
divisions a, b, into which the cards are placed edgewise, the said case or receptacle A
is made to slide or move over or upon a frame or support B or equivalent by means
of the spring e or any equivalent acting upon the part d as shewn at Figs. 2 and 4.
The top or other convenient part of the said frame or support B is formed with
two or more ledges, projections or resting pieces é or equivalent for the cards which
it is intended to shuffle to rest upon, a suitable number of 'slots or openings also
being provided on the top of the said frame or support B through which the cards
fall when the machine is in action. Instead of the case or receptacle A being
caused to move over the ledges e the said ledges e may be made to move.
Or we
may when desired use two or more cases or receptacles A and cause them to move
simultaneously in opposite directions over the ledges or projections e. Or the
ledges or projections e may be formed inside the cases or receptacles A and the
said cases or receptacles A hinged together.
In order to actuate the receptacle A at the required speed we by preference
employ a small air cylinder g or cylinders or equivalent provided with a suitable
piston or pistons in combination with the spring c. The said spring c bears
against the part & which is attached to the piston h, and also to the receptacle A
by the connection i, by which means the said receptacle A is caused to travel
slowly over the ledges e thus allowing the cards to drop one at a time through the
slots or openings. Instead of using the spring c for actuating the receptacle A
we may if desired employ a suitable weight or weights and balance or any other
means by which the piston his slowly forced into the cylinder g. In place of the
cylinder and piston we may if desired use a rubber ball, bellows or any other
similar arrangement. Or instead of actuating the movable parts pneumatically we
may if desired employ magnetic or electrical power or operate the same by means
of clockwork or by any other known mechanical movement.
For the purpose of catching the cards as they drop through the slots or openings f
we provide a suitably shaped portable receiver C (preferably lined with rubber)
which is connected by means of the hook; or equivalent to the corresponding part k

page_text: formed on or connected to the pillar or stand D (or vice versa) which carries or
supports the machine. If desirable we may place a small serrated roller or wheel
or equivalent at the extremity of the ledges or projections e which is caused to.
revolve or move by means of the case or receptacle A as it travels slowly along for
regulating the cards as they drop through the slots f.
For the purpose of preventing the edges of the cards from being damaged in any
way as they slide over the ledges e we may attach two covers or sleeves of silk or
other suitable material to the bottom of the case A for the cards to rest upon and
it will be easily understood that as the said case A. moves along the cover upon.
which the cards are resting will move also thus preventing the edges of the said
cards from coming in direct contact with the said ledges or projections e.
At Fig. 1 we have shewn the back of the case or receptacle A hinged at m for
the convenience of putting the cards into the said case or receptacle A. The said
back is connected to the lever arm E which said lever arm E is pivotted at n to-
the division o or other convenient part of the machine. When the back is drawn
down or opened the lever arm E causes the division o to tilt or move down also by
means of the stud p which is connected therēto working in the slot formed in the
said lever arm E, a suitable balance pawl and ratchets being provided for the
purpose of preventing the said division o from moving until the said back is.
closed again. The cover or lid t is provided for shutting in the cards. After the
case or receptacle A has traversed the length of its stroke it is drawn back again
to its normal position by means of the handle F and held there by the spring catch u
until released again by the operator. Figs. 3 & 4 shew our invention in a modified
form. In this case we dispense with the lid t, hinged back and lever E and its.
connections for tilting the division o.
If desired the above-movements may all be arranged so as to work automatically
by means of dropping a penny in a slot or other similar weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details as herein shewn and described.
as they may be varied but what we wish to claim is :-
:―
Firstly In a card shuffling machine the travelling or moving case or
receptacle A or equivalent substantially as herein shewn and described.
:-
Secondly In a card shuffling machine the use of two or more moveable or
stationary ledges or projections e or their equivalent substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Thirdly In a card shuffling machine the means substantially as herein shewn
and described for operating the movable parts.
Fourthly In a card shuffling machine the use of the hinged or rising and
falling back 1, the movable partition or division o and cover or lid t and the lever
arm E for actuating same substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fifthly In a card shuffling machine the use of the portable receiver C
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Sixthly In a card shuffling machine the use of a movable sleeve or cover for
protecting the edges of the cards substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of June 1893.
WILLIAM BOWN.
GEORGE CAPEWELL..