Patent ID: 8556263

Claim:
A device for forming a random set of playing cards, the device comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface; a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards; a randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set of playing cards; a card collection surface in a card collection area of the randomizing system, the card collection surface configured to receive playing cards one at a time from the card receiving area; an image capture device configured to read the rank and suit of each card before each card is received on the card collection surface; an elevator configured to raise the card collection surface so that at least one of the randomized cards is elevated to a position accessible from the top surface of the device; a processor for controlling operation of the device; a reading system in information communication with the processor, the reading system configured to determine a number of cards received on the card collection surface from the card receiving area; a motor for driving the elevator, wherein an encoder is in information communication with the motor, and wherein the encoder is configured to provide a signal indicating a position of the elevator to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine that a shuffle has occurred based on data from the reading system.