Patent ID: 7461843

Claim:
An apparatus for randomly arranging a plurality of playing cards comprising: a card input unit for receiving and supporting a first stack of playing cards therein, the card input unit defining a first side location adjacent thereto and a second side location adjacent thereto, wherein the first and second side locations are on substantially opposing sides of the card input unit; a random card ejection unit positioned in the first side location for causing at least a portion of a card to protrude from the first stack of playing cards substantially in the direction of the second side location and at a varying position in the first stack; a pair of vertically positioned rollers positioned in the second side location and defining a card receiving space between the rollers for receiving the protruding cards at any position in the first stack of playing cards, said rollers rotatable about a vertical axis and being operable to move the cards by contacting opposing edges of the protruding playing cards wherein at least one roller is adjustable to change a horizontal distance between the rollers to accommodate cards having different heights or widths; a motor for driving said rollers; and a collection unit for retaining a second stack of playing cards, wherein the second stack of playing cards includes randomly arranged cards.