Patent ID: 7413191

Claim:
An apparatus for handling cards comprising: a card loading area for receiving a group of cards to be arranged within the apparatus into a plurality of randomized sets of cards and each randomized set of cards is delivered to a same single tray to form sets of cards to be used in a card game; a shuffling chamber having a plurality of card-receiving compartments, wherein each compartment is able to receive more than one card within an opening of the card-receiving compartment, wherein the same single tray is separate from an area in the apparatus for the forming the plurality of randomized sets of cards, a card moving system comprising two sequential single card moving components positioned for moving at least one card at a time from the card loading area into a card-receiving compartment, the two sequential card single card moving components comprising a first single card moving component that moves at least a single card from the card loading area towards a second card moving component and the second card moving component receiving the individual card from the first card moving component, and a microprocessor for controlling card movement; wherein the first single card moving component reduces moving forces against the single card when the second card moving component applies moving forces against the single card.