US20190184267A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20190184267A1
Application number: US16/282,448
Authority: US
Inventors: Yasushi Shigeta
Original assignee: Angel Playing Cards Co Ltd
Current assignee: Angel Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-27
Filing date: 2019-02-22
Publication date: 2019-06-20
Also published as: US20180099210A1; US9855491B2; US10245502B2; US20250083028A1; US8919777B2; US20130292902A1; US20160263469A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring shuffled playing cards. A shuffled card ID is associated with the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards. Each card delivered by a card feeder from the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards is inspected. It is determined whether there is a defect in the arrangement of the one or more shuffled decks of playing cards. Upon a condition that a shuffled deck of playing cards is determined to be defective, at least one of discarding the defective shuffled deck of playing cards or preventing a recurrence of a defect found within the defective shuffled deck of playing cards.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/840,351 filed Dec. 13, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/584,878 filed Dec. 29, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,855,491 and is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/936,956, filed Jul. 8, 2013, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,919,777 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/759,510, filed Feb. 5, 2013, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,567,786 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/832,566, filed Jul. 8, 2010, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,983 and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/744,961, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,371,583, was filed as a371 application from International Application No. PCT/JP2008/071569, filed on Nov. 27, 2008, and claims priority to JP Application No. 2007-306173, filed on Nov. 27, 2007. In addition, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/936,956 is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/006230, filed Sep. 28, 2012, and claims priority to JP Application No. 2012-227444, filed Sep. 25, 2012. The contents of all of the above-listed applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to playing cards used for card games, and more particularly, to shuffled playing cards packaged as an individual pack after being shuffled in a sufficiently random manner and to a manufacturing method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

In poker, baccarat, bridge, blackjack, and other card games, a dealer sets one or more decks of playing cards in a card shooter or the like and deals cards to game players by shooting the cards one by one out of the card shooter or the like. In so doing, to ensure fairness of the games, the cards need to be dealt at random. Therefore, a game host has to shuffle the playing cards sufficiently randomly before the playing cards are set in the card shooter.

A conventional card shuffling apparatus used to shuffle cards is disclosed, for example, inPatent Document 1.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-198668

However, when the game host shuffles cards before a game, the shuffling can sometimes take a lot of time, hampering efficient operation of the game. Also, when the game host shuffles, there is a problem of possible cheating such as insertion/removal or switching of cards.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and has an object to provide shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a manufacturing method of shuffled playing cards characterized by comprising: a shuffling step of shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards by a shuffling machine and thereby producing a set of shuffled playing cards; a packaging step of individually packaging each shuffled playing cards subjected to the shuffling step; an ID generating step of creating a different shuffled card ID for each set of shuffled playing cards subjected to the shuffling step using an information processor; an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the shuffled playing cards; and an ID registration step of registering the shuffled card ID in a database by associating the shuffled card ID with information which allows identification of the shuffling machine or a shuffling machine group involved in the shuffling step of the shuffled playing cards affixed with the shuffled card ID.

The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which are a predetermined number of decks of playing cards shuffled and individually packaged, characterized in that a shuffled card ID for use to access information in a database is affixed as an ID code to a package of the shuffled playing cards, where the information allows identification of a shuffling machine or a shuffling machine group used to shuffle the shuffled playing cards.

The present invention can provide shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. Also, since a shuffled card ID associated with information which allows identification of the shuffling machine or shuffling machine group used to shuffle the shuffled playing cards is affixed to the package, if there is any problem with playing cards and it is believed that the cause of the problem lies in a shuffling machine, the manufacturer can easily identify which shuffling machine or shuffling machine group has caused the problem and take quick measures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are perspective views showing appearance of a shuffled playing card set (packaged individually) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shuffling machine used to shuffle playing cards in a manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing part of a manufacturing line for the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a variation of a schematic configuration of the shuffling machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how an image used to check the number of playing cards is shot in the manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the entirety of a card shoe apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a card according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a main portion of a card guide of the card shoe apparatus, with the card guide partially broken, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9(a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a card movement restriction means according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that restricts the movement of cards from a card housing unit of the card shoe apparatus ofFIG. 17 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 9(b) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main portion of a variation of the card movement restriction means according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention that restricts the movement of cards from a card housing unit of the card shoe apparatus ofFIG. 6 as viewed from the side.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relation between output waves from sensors and marks of a card according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a card shoe apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) show cards that have been improperly shuffled according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of shuffled playing cards and manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are perspective views showing appearance of a shuffled playing card set (packaged individually) according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment is sufficiently shuffled playing cards encased in apaper box11 whose lid is sealed with anadhesive label13. A predetermined number of decks (e.g., four decks or eight decks) form a set according to the type of game or the like in which theplaying cards12 are used. Incidentally, although a paper box is used for packaging in this example, the type of packaging is not limited to this. For example, a plastic box may be used alternatively. Instead of a box, the playing cards may be wrapped with a wrapper such as paper or plastic film and sealed with an adhesive label. The point is that the packaging can prevent the seal from being broken open before a game with subsequent cheating such as arranging cards in a different sequence, inserting or removing cards, or marking cards in some way or other.

A bar code13aand specification table13bare printed on theadhesive label13. As described in detail later, the bar code13arepresents an ID (shuffled card ID) which can uniquely identify the shuffledplaying card set1. The specification table13b, which is not absolutely necessary, can contain any information about the playing cards, such as a serial number, a product number, a product name, a color, and a date of manufacture.

As can be seen fromFIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), since the shuffledplaying card set1 has a mouth of the lid of thepaper box11 sealed with theadhesive label13, in order to use the shuffledplaying card set1, theadhesive label13 has to be removed or broken. To prevent cheating, preferably theadhesive label13 is made of a material which, once peeled off, cannot be returned to its original attached state or is configured to be broken at least partially upon application of an external force tending to peel off theadhesive label13.

As described above, since the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment containsshuffled playing cards12 shuffled in a sufficiently random manner and packaged individually in thepaper box11 sealed with theadhesive label13, in order to use the shuffled playing card set1 in a game, it is only necessary to open thepaper box11 and set theplaying cards12 promptly in a shooter. This eliminates the need for a game host to shuffle the playing cards. It also eliminates the possibility of cheating such as insertion/removal or switching of cards during shuffling.

Next, the manufacturing method of the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

Preferably, a manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment is placed under consistent process control from order receipt to shipment by means of a process control system. A manufacturing process which uses such a process control system will be described in the present embodiment.

First, when an order is received from a customer, a manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 assigns and enters an order receipt number in the process control system. The order receipt number may be assigned and entered using any desired method, and may be assigned automatically by the process control system.

As in the case of conventional playing cards, the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment is manufactured using playing cards created through processes in which suit and rank are printed on one side of card base paper, a design is printed on the other side, and the printed card base paper is cut into individual cards on a cutting machine. Then, a predetermined number of decks of the playing cards are grouped together according to the application of the playing cards (depending on what game the playing cards will be used in), shuffled sufficiently randomly, packaged as an individual pack, and sealed to produce the shuffled playing card set1 described above.

Before printing the card base paper, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 enters base paper information (e.g., maker, product name, purchase date, paper lot number, and the like) in the process control system. In a printing process, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 enters printing process information (printing machine number, printing date/time, lot number, and the like) in the process control system. Additionally, in a cutting process, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 enters cutting process information (cutting machine number, cutting date/time, lot number, and the like) in the process control system. Consequently, predetermined information out of information entered in each process is associated with the shuffled card ID in a database of the process control system as described later.

Next, a shuffling process according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a shufflingmachine100 used to shuffle playing cards in the manufacturing process of the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment. As shown inFIG. 2, the shufflingmachine100 includes acard stack holder101, acard feeder102, aslide rail103,feeder travel rollers104, acard delivery roller105, a camera106 (or acard sensor109 described later), and animage processing unit108.

Thecard stack holder101 hasmultiple pockets101ato101g. Incidentally, although in the configuration shown as an example inFIG. 2, thecard stack holder101 has seven pockets, thecard stack holder101 may have any number of pockets.Movable partition plates107ato107fare installed between the pockets. Thecard feeder102 is designed such that when all the playing cards to be shuffled are placed on thecard feeder102, thecard delivery roller105 on the bottom rotates, sending out a card c from the lowermost part of thecard feeder102 toward thecard stack holder101 through a card delivery port provided in a lower flank of thecard feeder102. Also, thecard feeder102 is configured to be slidable in a vertical (up and down) direction along theslide rail103 by means of thefeeder travel rollers104 driven by drive means such as a motor (not shown).

With the configuration described above, the shufflingmachine100 alternately slides thecard feeder102 to a position facing any of thepockets101ato101gand sends out the card c from thecard feeder102 to the pocket. Incidentally, the shufflingmachine100 determines the position to move thecard feeder102 to, i.e., the position facing one of thepockets101ato101g, at random using a random number generator program or the like. Consequently, the cards loaded in thecard feeder102 is sent out one by one in a random order to thepockets101ato101gof thecard stack holder101. When all the cards loaded in thecard feeder102 are sent out to thecard stack holder101, thepartition plates107ato107frecede from the inside of thecard stack holder101 and consequently cards sorted into thepockets101ato101gof thecard stack holder101 are taken out of the shufflingmachine100 as a single stack. However, the receding of thepockets101ato101gis not absolutely necessary, and any alternative means may be used. For example, the cards may be taken out of thepockets101ato101gusing a robot arm or the like. The above is a single shuffling process performed by the shufflingmachine100. After going through the shuffling process, a set of playing cards loaded in thecard feeder102 are shuffled to some extent. If thecard feeder102 is controlled so as to slide in a highly random manner, a set of playing cards loaded in thecard feeder102 can be shuffled sufficiently randomly after the shufflingmachine100 performs the shuffling process only once. However, as described later, if multiple shufflingmachines100 performing such a shuffling process are used to perform the shuffling process in sequence, the shuffled playing cards can be ordered more randomly.

The playing cards are loaded in thecard feeder102 with the face (side on which suit and rank are printed) down (to the side of the camera106). Each time a card c is sent out from thecard feeder102 to thecard stack holder101, thecamera106 shoots an image of the card c. The resulting image is sent to theimage processing unit108. Functions of thecamera106 andimage processing unit108 vary among the shufflingmachines100 depending on the position of the shufflingmachines100 on a manufacturing line described below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing part of a manufacturing line for the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment. The manufacturing line includes multiple shufflingmachines100 configured as described above and arranged in a sequence. Incidentally, although a manufacturing line with two shuffling machines100 (shufflingmachines100aand100b) is shown as an example inFIG. 3, the number of shufflingmachines100 is not limited to this and may be one, or more than two. The shufflingmachine100ais configured as shown inFIG. 2, but the shuffling machine100bis equipped with acard sensor109 instead of thecamera106. Thecard sensor109 has the capability to count the number of cards passing above the sensor.

As shown inFIG. 3, first, a set of playing cards made up of a predetermined number of decks is loaded into thecard feeder102 of the shufflingmachine100a. The set of playing cards subjected to the shuffling process by the shufflingmachine100ais loaded into thecard feeder102 of the shuffling machine100b. The sliding of thecard feeders102 on the shufflingmachines100aand100bare controlled independently of each other. After being subjected to the shuffling process twice by the shufflingmachines100aand100b, the playing cards are shuffled more randomly.

An image of a card surface shot by thecamera106 on the shufflingmachine100ais subjected to an image analysis process by theimage processing unit108 of the process control system which manages the manufacturing line including the shufflingmachines100aand100b, and consequently the suit and rank are detected on the card sent out from thecard feeder102 to thecard stack holder101. That is, on the shufflingmachine100a, each time a card is sent out from thecard feeder102 to thecard stack holder101, the rank and suit on the card are detected, and when the entire set of cards loaded in thecard feeder102 is sent out to thecard stack holder101, it is checked whether or not there is any excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations contained in the set of cards. For example, a set of cards made up of six decks should contain six each of identical cards in terms of the rank and suit combination. If there is any excess or deficiency in the rank and suit combinations, the set of cards is discarded as a defective item. In addition to the rank and suit checking, theimage processing unit108 inspects each card for any smudge and inspects a pattern of a back design and the like as well as inspects whether or not the cards have been cut properly and whether or not each card complies with predetermined standards. Any set of cards containing defects is discarded.

Being installed on the shuffling machine100bwhich performs the shuffling process the second time, thecard sensor109 counts the number of cards passing above thecard sensor109. If three or more shuffling machines are used, preferably thecard sensor109 is installed on the third and subsequent shuffling machines. In this way, the shuffling machine100bchecks the number of cards in the set of cards to be shuffled and thereby inspects the final product for excess or deficiency of cards. On the shufflingmachine100awhich performs the shuffling process the first time, preferably both sides of the card is inspected simultaneously by installing amirror110 as shown inFIG. 4 so that the back side (patterned side) of the card will face thecamera106 or by installing another camera (not shown) which will photograph the back side of the card.

When the shuffling machine100bwhich performs the final shuffling process finishes shuffling, the shuffling machine100boutputs a shuffle-complete signal. Upon detection of the shuffle-complete signal, the process control system generates a shuffled card ID to be assigned to the set of shuffled playing cards completed through the final shuffling process. The shuffled card ID is generated as a unique ID for each shuffled playingcard set1. The process control system associates the generated shuffled card ID with predetermined information out of production information stored in the database of the process control system. Any desired type and volume of such information may be used, but information which identifies the manufacturing line or shuffling machines involved in the shuffling process is particularly important.

Specifically, if there are multiple manufacturing lines, the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 according to the present embodiment assigns a unique manufacturing line ID to each manufacturing line in advance. Then, upon generation of a shuffled card ID, the process control system registers the generated shuffled card ID in the database by associating the shuffled card ID with the manufacturing line ID of the manufacturing line involved in the manufacture of the shuffled playing cards. However, IDs are not limited to such manufacturing line-related IDs. Alternatively, a shuffling machine ID may be assigned to each shuffling machine in advance and the shuffled card ID may be registered in the database by being associated with all the shuffling machine IDs involved in the shuffling process. Incidentally, the database may be provided either in or outside the process control system.

The generated shuffled card ID is printed on the adhesive label as a bar code by a printing machine. Then, theadhesive label13 on which the bar code of the shuffled card ID is printed is used to seal thepaper box11 as shown inFIG. 1 (a).

As a variation of the present embodiment, a process for shooting an image of theplaying cards12 encased in thepaper box11 may be added before thepaper box11 is sealed with theadhesive label13. According to the variation, the set ofplaying cards12 completed by going through the final shuffling process is encased in thepaper box11 with a side face up as shown inFIG. 5. Then, with the lid of thepaper box11 open, an image of theplaying cards12 encased in thepaper box11 is shot by a digital camera111 as shown inFIG. 5. During shooting, preferably the bar code of the shuffled card ID is shot together in the same image. For example, in addition to theadhesive label13 used to seal thepaper box11, one more adhesive label may be prepared, with the bar code of the same shuffled card ID printed thereon. Then, the additional adhesive label can be pasted on an inner side or the like of the lid of thepaper box11 and shot together with theplaying cards12. Image data resulting from the shooting is saved in astorage device112 at least temporarily and then registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID. Immediately after shooting, thepaper box11 is sealed with theadhesive label13. Incidentally, although in the example shown inFIG. 5, an image is shot with the lid of thepaper box11 open, the form of image shooting for the purpose of checking the number of cards is not limited to this. For example, slits or the like may be formed in the lid of thepaper box11 so that the number of cards can be checked even when the lid is closed, and after the lid is closed and sealed, an image may be taken through the slits to check the number of cards. The slits may be sealed after the shooting, for example, using a sealing label other than theadhesive label13 or using an outer lid.

The image data is used to prove later that a predetermined number of playing cards12 (e.g., 416 cards in the case of an 8-deck shuffled playing cards) were all present when thepaper box11 was sealed. Otherwise, if theplaying cards12 are found to be excessive or deficient when the cards are used, it is not clear whether someone with malicious intent cheated by removing/slipping in cards or there were manufacturing defects in the first place. By acquiring and saving image data of theplaying cards12 at the time of sealing as with the present variation, it is possible to prove that there was no manufacturing defect. To judge the number of playing cards from the image data, image processing is carried out. That is, in the case of playing cards used, for example, in casinos and the like, to prevent suit and rank from being seen through the back, each card generally has a multilayered structure with black paper and the like being used as an intermediate layer. Consequently, the total number ofplaying cards12 can be checked by image processing which detects the black paper or a white portion adjoining the black paper using image data. In the case of cards which do not have an intermediate layer or whose intermediate layer cannot be seen from the side, the total number ofplaying cards12 can be checked by performing image processing to detect gaps between stacked playing cards using image data. Therefore, according to the present variation, preferably the image data acquired by shooting has a resolution high enough to enable image processing such as described above.

As described above, by registering the shuffled card ID of the shuffled playing card set1 in the database by associating the shuffled card ID with the IDs of the manufacturing line or shuffling machine involved in the manufacture of the shuffled playing card set1 (and with photographic image data such as described above, is necessary), the present embodiment provides the following advantages.

For example, if a customer who has purchased a shuffled playing card set1 notices any defect in the purchased cards, the customer informs the manufacturer of the shuffled playing card set1 about the shuffled card ID. In so doing, the customer may send theadhesive label13 on which the bar code of the shuffled card ID is printed to the manufacturer so that the manufacturer will read the shuffled card ID using a barcode reader. Alternatively, the customer may read the shuffled card ID using a barcode reader or the like and send the obtained data to the manufacturer via communications means such as e-mail. Consequently, by searching the database using the shuffled card ID, the manufacturer can identify a manufacturing line or shuffling machine that may have a problem. In such a case, the manufacturer can alert customers about the shuffled playing card sets1 manufactured on the same manufacturing line or shuffling machine in the same period and take measures, if necessary, such as requesting the customers to discard the product or recalling the product. Also, by inspecting the identified manufacturing line or shuffling machine, the manufacturer can prevent a recurrence of the defect.

Also, the manufacturer may deliver the shuffled playing card set1 to the customer together with a portable storage medium containing data (shuffled card ID and related information) on the shuffled playing card set1 to be delivered by downloading the data from the database at the time of delivery. Any data structure (format) may be used for the data downloaded from the database to the storage medium as long as the data is readable on the customer's computer. Then, if the customer finds a defect such as a bent card, the customer can read the shuffled card ID of the defective shuffled playing card set1 using a barcode reader or the like and search data on the storage medium based on the shuffled card ID thus acquired. Also, based on search results, the customer can take measures such as discarding shuffled playing card sets1 related to the same manufacturing line or shuffling machine. Besides, even if fraudulent shuffled playing card sets1 are mixed in items delivered to the customer, the customer can check the shuffled card IDs of the delivered items with the shuffled card IDs stored in the storage medium. Then, any shuffled playing card set1 whose shuffled card ID is not contained in the storage medium provided at the time of delivery can be determined to have been mixed for fraudulent purposes. This prevents mixing of fraudulent items by a third party.

Although in the embodiment described above, the manufacturing line ID or the shuffling machine ID of the shuffling machine that performed the shuffling process is stored in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID, information to be associated with the shuffled card ID is not limited to this. For example, in the above embodiment, thecamera106 is incorporated in the shufflingmachine100 and the image analysis process is performed by theimage processing unit108 simultaneously with shuffling to inspect whether or not all the cards are present. However, as a variation, inspection machines including thecamera106 andimage processing unit108 may be installed downstream of each shuffling process, so that the cards having completed shuffling by the shufflingmachines100aand100bcan be inputted in the inspection machines to inspect whether or not all the cards are present. In that case, an inspection machine ID may be assigned to each inspection machine in advance and associated with the shuffled card ID assigned to each shuffledplaying card set1.

Besides, various information can be associated with the shuffled card ID, including an ID of the printing machine involved in the printing process, an ID of the cutting machine involved in the cutting process, an ID of the packaging machine involved in a packaging process, a lot number of the base paper, a manufacturing date, a manufacturing date/time, a card type ID, and a customer ID. In that case, the information can be registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card ID containing the information.

In the above embodiment, thepaper box11 is sealed with theadhesive label13 on which the shuffled card ID is printed as a bar code. However, forms of the present invention are not limited to this. The shuffled card ID may be affixed to the package as a two-dimensional matrix code such as a so-called QR code. Also, the shuffled card ID may be recorded somewhere other than the sealing label. That is, a method which records the shuffled card ID directly on the package may also be adopted. For example, the shuffled card ID can be affixed to the package by laser irradiation or the like. It is also preferable to attach the shuffled card ID to the package as a PFID or RFID (so-called IC tag).

Furthermore, although in the present embodiment, one shuffled card ID is assigned to one shuffled card set1, a unique ID may be assigned, for example, to each carton packed with multiple shuffled card sets1. Alternatively, a unique ID may be assigned to each container used to transport multiple cartons. Even in these cases, if the ID is registered in the database, when any defect is found later, by searching the database based on the ID, it is possible to trace manufacturing and distribution history of the defective product.

For example, in a cartoning process, a predetermined number of shuffled card sets1 (boxes) are packed in a carton. In so doing, by reading the bar codes13aof the shuffledcard sets1 packed in the carton using a barcode reader, the shuffled card IDs of the shuffledcard sets1 in the carton can be registered easily in the database of the process control system. After the bar codes13aare read from all the shuffledcard sets1 in the carton, the process control system may generate an ID (carton ID) for use to identify the carton and print a bar code which represents the carton ID on an adhesive label. The adhesive label, when pasted to the carton, will enable carton-based management. The generated carton ID is registered in the database by being associated with the shuffled card IDs of the shuffledcard sets1 packed in the carton.

When the loading into the container is completed, shipment information (customer name, shipment date, destination, transport company, type of delivery service, and the like) by the pallet or container is inputted in the process control system.

Thus, in addition to attaching the shuffled card ID to packages, if a carton ID or pallet ID are attached to cartons or pallets, the shuffled playing cards can be managed on a carton-by-carton basis or pallet-by-pallet basis. Specifically, for example, if any defect is found in a shuffled card set1, the database can be searched for the IDs of the carton, pallet, and container in which the shuffled card set1 was contained, based on the shuffled card ID of the shuffledcard set1. This also makes it possible to discard all the shuffledcard sets1 in the carton, pallet, or container in which the defective shuffled card set1 was contained.

The shufflingmachine100 illustrated in the above embodiment 1 s strictly exemplary, and concrete configuration of the shuffling machine is not limited to the above example. For example, in the above, although thecard feeder102 is configured to move by sliding, thecard feeder102 may be fixed, being configured such that thecard stack holder101 will slide relative to thecard feeder102. Also, the configuration for sending out the card from thecard feeder102 is not limited to delivery rollers such as described above, and a mechanism such as a robot arm may be used to take out the card.

Also, although in the above embodiment, the shuffling machine100bissues a shuffled card ID in response to a shuffle-complete signal, the timing to issue the shuffled card ID is not limited to this. For example, the shuffled card ID may be issued at any time such as at the end of an inspection process.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described above, and the scope of the present invention also covers the following annexes.

Annex 1

A playing card manufacturing method comprising a manufacturing process including: face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a different shuffled card ID is created for each of the individual shuffled playing cards using an information processor in response to a shuffle completion signal from a shuffling machine which carries out the shuffling step, the playing card manufacturing method further comprises an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the individual shuffled playing cards, and the shuffled card ID represented by the ID code is configured in a database by being associated with information about the shuffling machine involved in the shuffling step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the shuffling machine and involved in the manufacturing process, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the shuffling machine or the production line including the shuffling machine based on the shuffled card ID, the shuffling machine having been involved in the shuffling step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards.

Annex 2

A playing card manufacturing method comprising a manufacturing process including: face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and an inspection step of performing an inspection using an inspection machine during or after the shuffling step to ensure that the individual playing cards in the predetermined number of decks which make up the shuffled playing cards are all present; a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a different shuffled card ID is created for each of the individual shuffled playing cards using an information processor in response to an acceptance signal given by the inspection machine in the inspection step, the playing card manufacturing method further comprises an ID affixing step of affixing the shuffled card ID as an ID code to a package of the individual shuffled playing cards, and the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the inspection machine involved in the inspection step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the inspection machine and involved in the manufacturing process, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the inspection machine or the production line including the inspection machine based on the shuffled card ID, the inspection machine having been involved in the inspection step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards.

Annex 3

The playing card manufacturing method according to

annex

1 or 2, further comprising a step of inputting data which identifies a printing machine used in at least one of the face printing step and the back side printing step, in the information processor, characterized in that the information about the production line which performs the manufacturing process for the individual shuffled playing cards includes the data which identifies the printing machine, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the printing machine used in the production line for the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards, based on the shuffled card ID.

Annex 4

The playing card manufacturing method according to

annex

1 or 2, characterized in that the information about the production line which performs the manufacturing process for the individual shuffled playing cards includes a lot number of the base paper used in the face printing step or the back side printing step, and the database is configured so as to allow identification of the lot number corresponding to the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards, based on the shuffled card ID which identifies the individual shuffled playing cards.

Annex 5

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 4, characterized in that the predetermined number of decks which make up the individual shuffled playing cards is any of 1 to 10.

Annex 6

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 5, further comprising a step of packing a plurality of the packaged individual shuffled playing cards into a transport box, wherein different transport box data is created for each of the transport boxes; the playing card manufacturing method further comprises a step of affixing the corresponding transport box data as an ID code on a surface of the transport box; and the transport box data is included in the database by being associated with the shuffled card IDs which identify the shuffled playing cards in the transport box.

Annex 7

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 6, characterized in that the ID code further contains any of manufacturing date, manufacturing date/time, product type, and customer information concerning the shuffled playing cards identified by the shuffled card ID.

Annex 8

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in barcode format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 9

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in QR code (two-dimensional matrix code) format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 10

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in PFID format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 11

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 1 to 7, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in IC tag format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 12

Shuffled playing cards manufactured in a manufacturing process which includes: a face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting a card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a shuffled card ID created for each individual shuffled playing cards in response to a shuffling step completion signal from the shuffling step is attached to the corresponding package of the individual shuffled playing cards, where the shuffled card ID differs among individual shuffled playing cards, the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the shuffling machine involved in the shuffling step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the shuffling machine and involved in the manufacturing process, allowing identification of the shuffling machine or the production line including the shuffling machine, the shuffling machine having been involved in the shuffling step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards.

Annex 13

Shuffled playing cards manufactured in a manufacturing process which includes: a face printing step of printing rank and suit of playing cards on one side of base paper; a back side printing step of printing a back design on another side of the base paper; a step of cutting the card base paper printed in both the face printing step and the back side printing step into individual playing cards on a cutting machine; a shuffling step of gathering the individual playing cards cut in the cutting step into a predetermined number of decks and shuffling the playing cards to produce a set of shuffled playing cards; and an inspection step of performing an inspection using an inspection machine during or after the shuffling step to ensure that the individual playing cards in the predetermined number of decks which make up the shuffled playing cards are all present; and a packaging step of packaging the individual shuffled playing cards produced in the shuffling step, characterized in that a shuffled card ID created for each individual shuffled playing cards in response to an acceptance signal given by the inspection machine in the inspection step is attached to the corresponding package of the individual shuffled playing cards, where the shuffled card ID differs among individual shuffled playing cards, the shuffled card ID is configured in a database by being associated with information about the inspection machine involved in the inspection step of the corresponding individual shuffled playing cards or information about a production line including the inspection machine and involved in the manufacturing process, allowing identification of the inspection machine or the production line including the inspection machine, the inspection machine having been involved in the inspection step in the manufacturing process of the individual playing cards which make up the individual shuffled playing cards.

Annex 14

The shuffled playing cards according to

annex

12 or 13, characterized in that the ID code further contains any of manufacturing date, manufacturing date/time, product type, and customer information concerning the shuffled playing cards identified by the shuffled card ID.

Annex 15

The shuffled playing cards according to according to any one ofannexes 12 to 14, characterized in that the predetermined number of decks is any of 1 to 10.

Annex 16

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 12 to 15, characterized in that the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in barcode format or two-dimensional matrix code format (such as QR code format) to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 17

The shuffled playing cards according to annex 16, characterized in that the ID code is printed on a label, which is attached to the package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 18

The shuffled playing cards according to annex 16, characterized in that the ID code is attached to the package of the individual shuffled playing cards using a laser beam.

Annex 19

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 12 to 15, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in PFID format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 20

The playing card manufacturing method according to any one ofannexes 12 to 15, wherein the ID code which represents the shuffled card ID is attached in IC tag format to the corresponding package of the shuffled playing cards.

Annex 21

The shuffled playing cards according to any one ofannexes 12 to 20, wherein a tamper-evident adhesive label is attached to the package of the individual shuffled playing cards.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention has industrial applicability in the field of shuffled playing cards and a manufacturing method thereof.

An embodiment of a table game system of the present invention will be described below in detail.FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a card shoe apparatus, generally designated byreference number304, for use in a table game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7 illustrates acard301 that may be used in the table game system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present embodiment. Thecard301 may be used in a table game such as baccarat. Acode302 may be disposed at the upper side and the lower side of the face of thecard301 in a point-symmetric manner. Thecode302 may be composed of marks M that are invisible to the naked eye. Also, thecard301 includes anauthenticity determination code303 made up of coded information that indicates the authenticity of the card. Theauthenticity determination code303 is arranged by printing or the like so as to be invisible to the naked eye, using, for example, ultraviolet reactive ink.

Thecard shoe apparatus304 includes acard guide unit307 that guidescards301 that are manually drawn out one by one from acard housing unit305 onto a game table306, acode reading unit308 that reads, when acard301 is manually drawn out from thecard housing unit305 by a dealer or the like of a casino, thecode302 that indicates a figure (number, rank) of thatcard301, a winning/losingdetermination unit310 that determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of thecards301 sequentially read by thecode reading unit308, and an output means311 that outputs the result of the determination made by the winning/losingdetermination unit310. Thecard guide unit307 includes a card movement restriction means330,340 (to be described later) that restricts the movement of thecard301 from thecard housing unit305.

Next, thecode reading unit308 that reads, from acard301, thecode302 that indicates a figure (number, rank) of thecard301 when thecard301 is manually drawn out from thecard housing unit305 will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 8. Thecode reading unit308 is provided in thecard guide unit307 that guides thecards301 manually taken out one by one from anopening313 onto the game table306, with theopening313 provided in a front portion of thecard housing unit305. Thecard guide unit307 includes an inclined surface and acard guide314 attached at an edge portion of each of both sides of the inclined surface, with thecard guide314 also serving as a sensor cover. Thecard guide314 is configured to be attachable/detachable with screws or the like (not shown) so as to be replaceable. When acard guide314 is removed, asensor group315 of thecode reading portion308 is exposed. Thesensor group315 is composed of four sensors, including two ultraviolet reactive sensors (UV sensors)320 and321, and object

detection sensors

322 and323.

The

object detection sensors

322 and323 are optical fiber sensors that each detect the presence of thecard301, and are capable of detecting movement of thecard301. Theobject detection sensor322 is placed in the upstream side of thecard guide unit307 with respect to the travel direction of the card301 (indicated by the arrow S inFIG. 8), and theobject detection sensor323 is placed in the downstream side of thecard guide unit307 with respect to the travel direction of thecard301. As shown inFIG. 8, the

object detection sensors

322 and323 are respectively provided in the upstream side and the downstream side of the

UV sensors

320 and321. The

UV sensors

320 and321 each include an LED (UV LED) that emits an ultraviolet ray and a detector. The marks M are printed on thecard301 in UV luminescent ink that emits color when UV ray is applied. Thecard301 is irradiated with the UV ray (black light), and the detector detects the light reflected by the marks M of thecode302 of thecard301. The

UV sensors

320 and321 are connected to acontrol apparatus312 of thecode reading unit308 via a cable. In thecode reading unit308, the arrangement patterns of the marks M are determined based on the output signals from the detectors of the

UV sensors

320 and321, such that the number (rank) corresponding to thecode302 is determined.

In thecode reading unit308, the start and end of the reading performed by the

UV sensors

320 and321 are controlled by thecontrol apparatus312 based on the detection signals from the

object detection sensors

322 and323. Also, thecontrol apparatus312 determines whether thecard301 has normally passed through thecard guide unit307 based on the detection signals from the

object detection sensors

322 and323. As shown inFIG. 7, the rectangular marks M are arranged within a framework of two rows with four columns on each of the upper and bottom edges of a card, and the arrangement of such marks indicates the rank (number) and the suit (Heart, Spade or the like) of the card. According to an exemplary embodiment, for each card, a mark M may either be present or absent at each of the predetermined locations within the framework of rows and columns depending on the particular mark and suit to be encoded. When the UV sensor(s)320 and/or321 detect(s) a mark M that is filled in, such UV sensor(s) output(s) an on signal, and when the UV sensor(s)320 and/or321 do not detect a mark M, an on signal is not generated. In this way, thecode reading unit308 identifies the code based on the relative difference or the like between the two marks M detected by the two

UV sensors

320 and321, thereby identifying the number (rank) and the type (suit) of thecorresponding card301.

The relation between thecode302 and the output of the on signals from the two

UV sensors

320 and321 are shown inFIG. 10. It is possible to identify a predetermined arrangement pattern of the marks M based on the comparison results of the relative changes in the output of the on signals from the

UV sensors

320 and321. As a result, in two rows (the upper and lower rows), four types of arrangement patterns of the mark M are possible, and since patterns are printed in four columns, it is possible to form 256 types of codes (4×4×4×4). Fifty two (52) playing cards are each assigned to one of the 256 codes, and the relations of such assignment are stored inmemory12M as an association table. A configuration is thereby adopted in which thecard reading unit308 can, by identifying thecode302, identify the number (rank) and the type (suit) of thecard301 based on that predetermined association table (not shown). It should be appreciated that the assignment of a specific code of the 256 codes to each playing card does not need to be fixed, and in other exemplary embodiments of the invention each of the 52 cards can be freely associated with 52 codes out of the 256 codes to be stored in the association table, and thus a variety of associations are possible. Therefore, it is possible to change the associations between the 256 codes and 52 cards depending on the time or place. Preferably, the code is printed with a paint material that becomes visible when irradiated with UV ray, and placed in a position where it does not overlap the indications of the card types orindexes402.

An association table may be prepared by freely associating 52 codes out of the 256 codes with 52 cards, and a plurality of different association tables (ex. 1 to 10 or more tables) may be prepared in advance. If thecode302 does not match the code defined in the applicable association table, an error is detected and it is determined that cheating may have occurred.

Next, the configuration of thecontrol apparatus312 will be described. Thecontrol apparatus312, thecode reading unit308, the winning/losingdetermination unit310 and the like are realized by a computer apparatus, and in particular a computer apparatus including at least a memory, at least a processor, and at least a non-transitory computer readable medium on which may be stored instructions that are read by the at least one processor to perform algorithms according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The numbers of cards sequentially taken out onto the game table306 are acquired using the

UV sensors

320 and321 in thecode reading unit308, and the numbers of cards thus acquired are sequentially stored in a memory. At this time, information on whichcard301 is dealt to which player is also stored. The number of each card is stored in association with the player to whom that card was dealt. In baccarat, there is a player and a banker. The rank (number) of the card dealt is stored in the memory in association with the player to whom it was dealt, and the ranks (number) of the cards dealt are added for each player, and the winner is determined based on the programmed rules. A “tie” is also judged. The winning/losingdetermination unit310 determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of thecards301 sequentially read by thecode reading unit308 and whether the game of this round is over. When the game of this round is over, an operator or dealer is required to push aresult key360 on the side of acard shoe apparatus304 to let the output means311 output the result of the game.

Next, the card movement restriction means330 that restricts the movement of thecard301 to/from thecard housing unit305 will be described with reference toFIGS. 9(a), 9(b) and11. InFIG. 9(a), the card movement restriction means330 is provided in thecard guide314 of thecard guide unit307 that guides thecards301 taken out one by one from theopening313, which is provided in a front portion of thecard housing unit305. The card movement restriction means330 has a structure by which when acard301 passes through aslot333 between thecard guide unit307 and thecard guide314, alock member334 presses thecard301 to prohibit the movement of thecard301 within theslot333. Thelock member334 is capable of moving in the direction indicated by the arrow M by adriving unit335 composed of an electromagnetic solenoid, a piezoelectric device or the like, such that it can take two positions, namely, a position where thecard301 is pressed (restricted position) and a position where thecard301 is allowed to pass through. The drivingunit335 is controlled by thecontrol apparatus312, and causes thelock member334 to move to two positions, namely, a position where thecard301 is pressed and a position where thecard301 is allowed to pass through. The rules of the baccarat game are programmed and stored in advance in thecontrol apparatus312.

Next, an alternative embodiment of the card movement restriction means330 will be described with reference toFIG. 9(b). According to this embodiment, a card movement restriction means340 has a structure by which when acard301 passes through theslot333 between thecard guide unit307 and thecard guide314, alock member336 protrudes into theslot333 to prohibit movement of thecard301. Thelock member336 is capable of moving in the direction indicated by the arrow M by adriving unit337 composed of an electromagnetic solenoid, a piezoelectric device or the like, such that it can take two positions, namely, a position where movement of thecard301 is prohibited (restricted position) and a position where thecard301 is allowed to pass through. The drivingunit337 is controlled by thecontrol apparatus312, and causes thelock member336 to move to two positions, namely, a position where movement of thecard301 is prohibited and a position where thecard301 is allowed to pass through.

The card movement restriction means330 (340) is caused to function as a result of the

driving unit

335 or337 being controlled by thecontrol apparatus312 to prevent the fraudulent movement of thecard301. The card movement restriction means330 (340) is provided with the

object detection sensors

322 and323 as sensors for detecting movement of thecard301, and has a function of detecting movement of thecard301 with these

sensors

322 and323 to restrict the erroneous or fraudulent movement of a card. In this regard, the card movement restriction means330 (340) may be controlled to prevent the movement of thecard301 in at least the following situations:

- 1) when there is an attempt to draw a card at an inappropriate time. For example, the drawing of acard301 from thecard housing unit305 may be prohibited when such drawing should not be allowed based on the information from the winning/losingdetermination unit310. The winning/losingdetermination unit310 determines the winning/losing of the card game based on the numbers of thecards301 sequentially read by thecode reading unit308 and whether the game of the particular round is over. When the round is over, the dealer must push aresult key360 on the side of acard shoe apparatus304 to instruct the output means311 to output the result of the game. However, the dealer may attempt to withdraw a card after the round is over and before pushing theresult key360, in which case an overdraw error may be detected and the attempted withdrawal of the card may be prohibited by the card movement restriction means330(340). In particular, when theobject detection sensors322 detects a card (FIG. 8), the card movement restriction means330 (340) may be controlled to prohibit the drawing of acard301 from thecard housing unit305 when such drawing should not be allowed. Since there is some distance between the position of theobject detection sensors322 and the position of the card movement restriction means330 (340), there is enough time between when theobject detection sensors322 detects erroneous movement of a card and when the drivingunit335 or337 begins operation to restrict the card from drawing further;
- 2) when the card stands still (stops) at predetermined period of time at the opening of the card housing unit. For example, when theobject detection sensors322 detects a card is being held in thecard guide unit307 for longer than a predetermined time, an error signal may be generated and, based on the error signal, the card movement restriction means330(340) may prohibit further movement of the card. In this regard, a timer (not shown) may be activated when theobject detection sensors322 detect the card, and once the timer reaches a predetermined count, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be controlled to prohibit further card movement;
- 3) when acard301 is inserted from the exterior toward the card housing unit via the opening unit in a reverse direction, opposite to the direction of the arrow S, namely, from the exterior toward thecard housing unit305 via theopening313. In this case, although thecard301 inserted for the purpose of cheating passes through theslot333 between thecard guide unit307 and thecard guide314, the movement of thecard301 in a direction opposite to the normal direction (the direction opposite to the arrow S inFIG. 8) is detected based on the detection signals from theobject detection sensors322 and323. The drivingunits335 or337 may then move theircorresponding lock members334 or336 to their respective positions of pressing or blocking thecard301, respectively;
- 4) when a card is misread. For example, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be controlled to prohibit movement of a card when thecode reading unit308 is unable to identify acode302 on the card, such as when a code is not present on the card or when the code is present but does not correspond to any code within a code association table. A misreading error may also occur when it is detected that the card has not normally passed along thecard guide unit307 or has slipped back;
- 5) when an authenticity determination code detected by authenticity determination code sensor placed in thecard guide unit307 does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. In this regard, acard301 may be provided with anauthenticity determination code303 that is configured by encoding information that represents the group of the card. For example, card sets may be assigned a group code depending on the particular casino, casino group, casino location, geographical areas or countries in which the cards are intended for use. The authenticity determination code may be printed using, for example, UV ink, so as to be invisible to the naked eye, and is provided in the same position in at least the cards of the same set (i.e., all cards to be used at the same casino). Theauthenticity determination code303 is made of a substance or material itself that emits, as a code, light rays of different wavelength spectra when irradiated with light rays. An authenticity determination code corresponding to a particular set of cards used in a card game may be stored in the memory unit and referred to by thecontrol unit312. Accordingly, theauthenticity determination code303 on a card can be read by the code reading unit308 (sensor324) and compared to the stored authenticity determination code. If there is a mismatch between the stored code and the code on the card, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be activated to prohibit further movement of the card;
- 6) when an authenticity determination code detected by authenticity determination code sensor placed in thecard guide unit307 does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. In this regard, acard301 may be provided with anauthenticity determination code303 that is configured by encoding information that represents the group of the card. The authenticity determination code may be printed using, for example, UV ink, so as to be invisible to the naked eye, and is provided in the same position in at least the cards of the same set. Theauthenticity determination code303 is made of a substance or material itself that emits, as a code, light rays of different wavelength spectra when irradiated with light rays. An authenticity determination code corresponding to a particular set of cards used in a card game may be stored in the memory unit and referred to by thecontrol unit312. Accordingly, theauthenticity determination code303 on a card can be read by the code reading unit308 (sensor324) and compared to the stored authenticity determination code. If there is a mismatch between the stored code and the code on the card, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be activated to prohibit further movement of the card.

The drawing of acard301 from thecard housing unit305 may be prohibited when (1) thecode302 read by thecode reading unit308 does not match the code defined in the association table and (2) theauthenticity determination code303 detected by the authenticitydetermination code sensor324 placed in the upstream side of thecard guide unit307 does not match the predetermined proper authenticity determination code. The presence of at least one of these conditions may be indicative of cheating, and an error signal may be generated so that the card movement restriction means330 (340) is operated to prevent further movement of a card.

Upon operation of the card movement restriction means330(340), an error signal output means350 disposed on thecard housing unit305 may provide an external signal indicating that an error has occurred. The error signal output means350 may include, for example, a lamp and/or an audible alarm.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be activated to prohibit delivery of further cards from a predetermined number of shuffled decks of cards when a number of times at least one kind of card appears is more than the total number of shuffled decks of playing cards. For example, the card movement restriction means330(340) may be activated when a ninth ace of spades is detected in a set of cards drawn from eight shuffled decks of cards, indicating that there is at least one more card than would be appropriate based on the number of decks.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thecard shoe apparatus304 may detect an irregularity in the manner in which the cards are shuffled and in some cases generate an alert and/or prohibit removal of cards from thecard housing unit305 based on the detected irregularity. In this regard, the information collected by thecard reading unit308 as the cards are drawn from thecard housing unit305 may be used to determine whether the cards have been shuffled improperly. An irregularity in the arrangement order of the cards will be described with reference toFIG. 12(a) andFIG. 12(b).FIG. 12(a) shows an example where thecards301 drawn from thecard housing unit305 have the same suit (Clubs) with sequential figures (number, rank) beginning from Ace.FIG. 12(b) shows an example where thecards301 drawn from thecard housing unit305 consist of 9 cards with the same rank (3). Generally, thecards301 are shuffled by a random number generator or the like so as to be arranged in a random order. The arrangement of thecards301 shown inFIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) is substantially non-random, thus indicating an irregular shuffling of theplaying cards301. Other examples of card arrangements which may indicate a shuffling irregularity include: (a) a case in which a predetermined number of cards within a set of cards exhibit a pattern in which the rank of a card is larger (or smaller) by one as compared to the rank of the preceding card (for example, 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . K) (as shown inFIG. 12(a)); (b) a case where a predetermined number of cards in sequence have the same rank (for example, A, A, A, A . . . ) (as shown inFIG. 12(b)); (c) a case where the same sequence is repeated throughout a predetermined number of cards (for example, A, Q, 10, A, Q, 10 . . . ); (d) a case where a predetermined number of cards in sequence have the same suit (for example, 13 consecutive cards with Hearts); (e) a case in which a predetermined number of cards in each of two or more sets of cards have the same sequence of suit and rank (A, 5, Q, J, 2, 8, 9, K . . . ). In particular, for each card game, a different set of cards may be housed in thecard shoe apparatus304. A shuffling irregularity may be detected if a predetermined number of cards in a later-used set match the same predetermined number of cards in an earlier-used set in terms of suit and/or rank sequence; and (f) a case where the order of a predetermined number of cards matches an order registered in advance (for example, where the order of the cards matches the order of cards used in a separate card manufacturing process).

Irregular shuffling patterns (such as examples (a)-(d)) as well as the sequence of suit and rank (e.g., A, 5, Q, J, 2, 8, 9, K . . . ) of card sets previously housed in thecard shoe apparatus304 may be stored in the memory312M, and thecontrol unit312 may use this stored information to determine whether irregular shuffling has occurred. For example, irregular shuffling may be determined if the order of a predetermined number ofcards301 within a set matches at least a portion of the stored patterns. In another example, irregular shuffling may be determined if a number of card sets each used in one of a predetermined number of games include a predetermined number of cards that match the stored patterns.

As another example, a shuffling irregularity may be determined when each deck of cards within a set of cards is detected to be shuffled in the same or substantially similar way. For example, a shuffling irregularity may be detected when, for a plurality of cards, the suit and rank of each card drawn are the same as those of the card preceding it by 52 cards. In such a case, shuffling of a plurality of decks has failed for some reason, and instead each of the 52 cards is arranged in the same order.

In general, a shuffling irregularity may be detected when a stored pattern continues throughout a predetermined number of cards. In this regard, a preliminary alarm of irregularity may be generated at some point prior to the stored pattern being detected in all of the predetermined number of cards. For example, a preliminary alarm may be generated upon the drawing of a card that is several cards before the end of a predetermined number of cards. The preliminary alarm may be in a form different from the final alarm, for example, by characters, in a certain color, or with a different lamp. In an exemplary embodiment, if a state does not continue to be irregular throughout a predetermined number of cards and returns to a random state, then the preliminary alarm may be cancelled.

If a shuffling irregularity is detected, a final alarm may be generated and thecontrol unit312 may operate the card movement restriction means330(340) to restrict movement of thecard301 relative to theopening313 in thecard housing unit305.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been described hitherto. However, it is natural that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but persons skilled in the art can alter the above-described embodiment within the scope of the invention.