US2659607A - Card shuffling device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1 3 c. T. SKILLMAN ET AL CARD SHUFFLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1950 Claude Z Ski/Iman Mitchell Kisfner JNVENTORS BY M56109 fiM Nov. 17, 1953 c. T. SKILLMAN ET AL CARD SHUFFLING DEVICE INVENTORJ" and 8m Patented Nov. 17, 1953 CARD SHUFFLING DEVICE Claude T. Skillman and Mitchell Kistner, Santa Maria, Calif.

Application May 11, 1950, Serial No. 161,296

3 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in card handling devices, and more particularly pertains to a card shufiling or intermixing device.

An important object of this invention is to provide a card handling device which will separate a single card from a stack of cards, in a more facile, and economical manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a card handling device which will alternately separate a single card from each of two separate stacks of cards, and deposit the separated cards in a common container.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved means for driving individual card separators in timed relation to each other.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a card shufiling device which is of simple construction, yet durable and efiicient for the purposes intended.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of means for urging a card parallel to the stack of cards by moving it laterally over a discharge opening whereby an outer card is passed through the opening.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a card shuffling device, in accordance with the foregoing objects, in which the means for shifting the stack of cards laterally over a discharge zone while urging an outer card downwardly, also serves to drive a second card separating device.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features, are attained by this device, a preferred form of which has been illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational view of the card shuffling device;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane (-l3 of Figure 2 and showing the details of the roller construction; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the card shufiling device.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be seen that there is provided a card shuilling device indicated generally by the numeral H} which consists of a casing having side walls l2, end walls It and a pair of inter-related card separating mechanisms l5.

As each of the card separating mechanisms are substantially inversely symmetrical, it will be necessary to describe but one such mechanism, it being understood that the other mechanism is driven in timed relation to the first mechanism, in a manner more fully set forth hereinafter. Each mechanism consists generally of a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower rollers l8 and 29 respectively, which rollers are rotatably journaled in the side walls I2 of the casing, and extend substantially transversely thereof. For this purpose the rollers I 8 and 20 are each provided with trunnions 22 which are rotatably received in bores 24 in the side walls 1 2. It is intended that each of the rollers l8 and 26 be provided with registering longitudinally spaced peripheral grooves 26, each of which grooves, as is more readily apparent from a consideration of Figure 3 of the drawings, receives an upper and lower roller encircling belt 28.

Secured to, and formed integrally with the belt 28, is a raised layer surface which extends substantially one-half the length of the belt.

A horizontally extending support member 32 is secured in any desired manner to the side and end walls 12 and I4 respectively, and terminates substantially coplanar with the plane defined by the outermost edges of the upper and lower rollers l8 and 20 respectively. The support member 32 is formed with a slot 34 therein, which slot is spaced inwardly from the inner edge of support member 32 a distance substantially equal to the distance layer surface 30 extends over the periphery of the rollers l3 and 20.

A backing plate 35 is transversely movably mounted between the side walls [2 and the card handling device H3, and is adapted to urge a stack of cards indicated generally by the numeral 38 into engagement with the rollers i8 and 29. For this purpose there is provided a coil spring til which is terminally anchored on the backing plate 3t, and the end wall i l, the coil spring being secured in any desired manner to the mid point of the backing plate. Suitable handles 32 may be secured to the backing plate, and may take the form of the U-shaped hook clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and provide a means whereby the backing plate may be laterally moved away from the rollers to permit the insertion of a stack of cards 38.

It will thus be seen that the spring 46 urges the backing plate yieldingly against the stack of cards 38, whereby the latter are laterally compressed against the periphery of the wheels l8 and 28 which wheels are preferably formed of a smooth material, such as plastic or the like. When one of the wheels is rotated, and the belt 28, and consequently the raised layer 30 also moves, it will be seen, by reference to Figure 4 of the drawings, that the raised layer 38 contacts the stack of cards 33 and laterally shifts the upper end of the cards towards the end wall l4. However, since the stack of cards is laterally compressed, the cards which lie intermediate the rollers and the backing plate cannot slip through the discharge slot 34, but rather remain in frictional engagement with an adjacent card. The outermost card which contacts the rollers l8 and 26 cannot be urged through the discharge slot 34 in that the outer card such as A l, abuts against the support 32. However, as the belt 28 and the raised layer 3!) advance, the stack of cards 38 will pivotally swing about a center point when the leading edge 46 of the raised layer 36 passes the center point of the coil spring it. Since the raised layer 30 is preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material, it will be urging the outer card downwardly so that when the outer card passes the discharge slot 36. as the entire stack 38 is moved laterally over the slot, the outer card will pass through the slot.

The rollers l8 and of the second card separating device are also mounted transversely of the side walls 12 and are preferably positioned parallel and adjacent to the rollers IS and of the first card separating device so that the raised layer or the belt 25 of each of the card separating devices will cyclically and alternately contact the belt of the other card separating device. Thus, when one or" the rollers such as 2% is rotated by means of a crank 48 which is drivingly attached to the trunnion 22 thereof, both of the rollers will be driven in timed relation to each other, the raised layer 30 of one of the belts being at all times going between the adjacent rollers so as to. maintain a driving engagement between the two. Hence, as previously stated the raised layer as extends through substantially one-half of the length of each of the belts, minor adjustments and alignment of the belts will be automatically compensated since the leading edge 26 of one of the belts will contact the trailing edge on the other belt as the belts pass through their cyclic operation.

A common receptacle 5?. is positioned below the card separating mechanisms, and may conveniently consist of a drawer having a base plate 54 or the like, which is positioned in the lower part of the casing, a suitabl knob 56 being provided by means of which the receptacle 52 is moved from the card handling device. To provide a more compact stack of intermixed cards, it is intended that the receptacle 52 be dimensioned as to loosely receive the cards when lying in horizontal position.

In order to guide the cards as they are dropped through the discharge slot 3:3, the end walls of the card handling device are provided with downwardly and inwardly extending guide members 58, which members terminate in vertical alignment with the. side [6 of thercceptacle 52. In order to prevent the cards from turning over as they are dropped into the receptacle 52, it is intended that the central part of the card handling device be provided with downwardly and. outwardly extending guide plates 62, which guide plates may be conveniently secured to the inner ends of the support member 32 and terminate slightly above the support members so as to provide a retaining flange 64. It is obviously de sirable that the distance between the end walls l4, and the guide plate 62 be such that at all times it is less than the width of the cards, so that turning over of the cards in the chute is thereby prevented. A pair of relatively converging plates 66 may be secured to the lower ends of the guide plate 62, the plate 62 further serving to guide the cards as they fall towards the receptacle 52.

As best shown in FigureZ of the. drawings, that portion of the card handling device which lies below the guide members 58 may be suitably apertured as at 68 to permit the insertion of the removable card container 10 which may be pivotally or slidably mounted on the lower portion of the card handling device [0. Obviously, if the containers 79 are pivotally mounted to the base 12 of the card handling device as by the hinge T4, the inner wall ll; of the container '10 may conveniently form a guideway, which, in conjuction with the inner end of the other container will laterally guide the slidably mounted card receptacle 52. As is conventional, suitable rods 18 may be provided on the container 10 to permit the opening thereof.

In operation, the crank 48, or other suitable driving means, is utilized to rotate one of the rollers. The second set of rollers is then driven in timed relation to the first set of rollers, by means of the aforementioned raised layer 30 which alternately serves as a card separating means and as a rollerdriving means, the belts of the respective card separating mechanisms being 50 arranged that when one of the raised layers 39 of one of the units is separatinga card from a stack of cards, the raised layer of the other unit is in contact with the belt of the first mentioned unit, and vice versa.

Thus, the cards are separated from first one stack, and then from the other stack, each of the cards being deposited in the common receptacle 52, so that a common stack. is. formed of cards of alternately the firstv and-second stacks.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the operation and construction of the device will be readily understood, and further discussion is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to that shown and described, but all suitable modifications being resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A card shufiling device comprising a casing, first and second card separators mounted in said casing, each of said separators including a pair of vertically aligned rollers rotatably mounted transversely of said casing, a plurality of endless belts carried by each of said pairs of rollers, a raised layer extending outwardly fromv a. portion of. said belts, first and second card stack supports positioned below said pairs of rollers respectively, said card stack supports each being adapted to receive the edge of a. pack of cards, each ofv said supports having a card discharge slot therein, a resilient device yieldingly urging said stacks of cards against the outer sides of said pairs. of rollers, means for driving said rollers, said yielding means urging said stacks of cards to a position where the cards adjacent said rollers are inward of said slots, said raised layer contacting the card adjacent said pair of rollers and urging said card toward the associated support while moving said stack laterally over the slot in said support, the thickness of each of the raised layers being equal to the distance from the outer surface of the belts adjacent the rollers to the inner edge of the respective slots, means for operating said first and second card separators in timed relation to each other, a receptacle in said casing, means for guiding the discharged cards from each of said separators into said receptacle.

2. A card shuffling device comprising a casing, first and second card separators mounted in said casing, each of said separators including a pair of vertically aligned rollers rotatably mounted transversely of said casing, a plurality of endless belts carried by each of said pairs of rollers, said rollers having peripheral grooves therein, said belts being received in said grooves, a raised layer extending outwardly from a portion of said belts, first and second card stack supports positioned below said pairs of rollers respectively, said card stack supports each being adapted to receive the edge of a pack of cards, each of said supports having a card discharge slot therein, a resilient device yieldingly urging said stacks of cards against the outer sides of said pairs of rollers, means for driving said rollers, said yielding means urging said stacks of cards to a position where the cards adjacent said rollers are inward of said slots, said raised layer contacting the card adjacent said pair of rollers and urging said card toward the associated support while moving said stack laterally over the slot in said support, the thickness of each of the raised layers being equal to the distance from the outer surface of the belts adjacent the rollers to the inner edge of the respective slots, means for operating said first and second card separators in timed relation to each other, a receptacle in said casing, means for guiding the discharged cards from each of said separators into said receptacle.

3. A card shuffling device comprising a casing, first and second card separators mounted in said casing, each of said separators including a pair of vertically aligned rollers rotatably mounted transversely of said casing, a plurality of endless belts carried by each of said pairs of rollers, said pairs of rollers being arranged in spaced parallel position in said casing, a raised layer extending outwardly from a portion of said belts, the raised layers on the belts of said separators being successively in driving engagement with the belts of the other separator for operating said first and second card separators in timed relation to each other, first and second card stack supports positioned below said pairs of rollers respectively, said card stack supports each being adapted to receive the edge of a pack of cards, each of said supports having a card discharge slot therein, a resilient device yieldingly urging said stacks of cards against the outer sides of said pairs of rollers, means for driving said rollers, said yielding means urging said stacks of cards to a position Where the cards adjacent said rollers are inward of said slots, said raised layer contacting the card adjacent said pair of rollers and urging said card toward the associated support while moving said stack laterally over the slot in said support, the thickness of each of the raised layers being equal to the distance from the outer surface of the belts adjacent the rollers to the inner edge of the respective slots, whereby the card adjacent the raised portion is moved through the slot, a receptacle in said casing, means for guiding the discharged cards from each of said separators into said receptacle.

CLAUDE T. SKILLIVLAN. MITCHELL KISTNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 526,282 Yeates Sept. 18, 1894 584,007 Moehn et a1 June 8, 1897 1,014,219 Hall Jan. 9, 1912 1,998,690 Shepherd et a1. Apr. 23, 1935 2,159,958 Sachs May 23, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,427 Great Britain 1891 183,739 Germany Apr. 2, 1907 289,552 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1928

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