Patents by Inventor Ernst Blaha
Ernst Blaha has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20140203505Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: SHFL entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, David B. Lopez, Mark L. Yoseloff, Russell Brooke Dunn, Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Patent number: 8757349Abstract: Chip sorting devices and methods of ejecting chips from chip wells are disclosed. In some embodiments, chip sorting devices may include at least one chip ejection unit including at least one finger member selectively movable between a first position outside of at least one channel of a chip conveying unit and a second position within the at least one channel. In additional embodiments, a chip sorting device may include a separating wheel comprising a plurality of chip wells, each chip well configured to hold a plurality of chips. In yet additional embodiments, methods of ejecting a chip from a chip well may include urging a selected chip out of the chip well with the at least one finger member and at least one wall segment of a trailing segmented wall of the chip well.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Publication number: 20140145399Abstract: Playing card-handling devices, such as shufflers, dealing shoes, discard racks and verification systems, are rotatably secured to a gaming table to allow for functional and ergonomic adjustment of the card-handling device, without removal from the gaming table. One end of the device, preferably a front end of the device from which playing cards may be removed, has a structure that extends through an aperture in the gaming table. The device is movable within the aperture. Movement in the X-Y direction, angular movement and rotational movement, parallel to the movement of the plane of the surface of the gaming table, is enabled. The movement of the device about the aperture preferably maintains the base of the device relatively parallel to the plane of the surface of the gaming table.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG.Inventors: Peter KRENN, Ernst BLAHA, Attila GRAUZER
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Publication number: 20140125010Abstract: An automatic card shuffling device for randomizing playing cards is disclosed. The device comprises a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device, and a detection system capable of detecting or predicting a deficiency in operation of at least one component of the shuffling device. The detection system is configured to transmit an indication of a deficiency to a distal location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: SHFL entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Patent number: 8702101Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: SHFL Entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, David B. Lopez, Mark L. Yoseloff, Russell Brooke Dunn, Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Publication number: 20140103607Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Applicant: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Patent number: 8628086Abstract: A shuffling device for playing cards and method of shuffling cards is provided where a first group of cards is moved within the device to form a randomized second group of cards. The device comprises moving parts that assist in the movement of cards within the shuffling device; a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device; a sensor that detects at least one of speed, distance and force of at least one moving part and provides a signal to the processor regarding detection of at least one of speed, distance and force; and the processor containing a program that interprets the signal to detect significant variations in at least one of speed, distance and force of the moving part.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: SHFL Entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Patent number: 8590896Abstract: Playing card-handling devices, such as shufflers, dealing shoes, discard racks and verification systems, are rotatably secured to a gaming table to allow for functional and ergonomic adjustment of the card-handling device, without removal from the gaming table. One end of the device, preferably a front end of the device from which playing cards may be removed, has a structure that extends through an aperture in the gaming table. The device is movable within the aperture. Movement in the X-Y direction, angular movement and rotational movement, parallel to the movement of the plane of the surface of the gaming table, is enabled. The movement of the device about the aperture preferably maintains the base of the device relatively parallel to the plane of the surface of the gaming table.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha, Attila Grauzer
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Patent number: 8544848Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Patent number: 8393942Abstract: Apparatuses for stacking chips include a container for receiving unstacked chips, a carrier comprising a channel for carrying a chip stack, a transport system for transporting chips from the container toward the carrier, and at least one ejector system for ejecting or moving chips from the transport system into the channel of the carrier. Chip stack cutter devices may include an elongated displacement member, which may extend from an actuating lever member movably coupled to a base member configured to slide along a channel of a chip stack carrier. In additional embodiments, the cutter device may include an energy-responsive device configured to selectively move an elongated displacement member for displacing a number of chips in a chip stack carried in a channel of a chip stack carrier.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Patent number: 8342525Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: SHFL entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Attila Grauzer, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, David B. Lopez, Mark L. Yoseloff, R. Brooke Dunn, Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Patent number: 8336699Abstract: Chip sorting devices and methods of ejecting chips from chip wells are disclosed. In some embodiments, chip sorting devices may include at least one chip ejection unit including at least one finger member selectively movable between a first position outside of at least one channel of a chip conveying unit and a second position within the at least one channel. In additional embodiments, a chip sorting device may include a separating wheel comprising a plurality of chip wells, each chip well configured to hold a plurality of chips. In yet additional embodiments, methods of ejecting a chip from a chip well may include urging a selected chip out of the chip well with the at least one finger member and at least one wall segment of a trailing segmented wall of the chip well.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Publication number: 20120267851Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: SHUFFLE MASTER GMBH & CO KGInventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Publication number: 20120181747Abstract: Card handling devices comprise a card handling zone. A card infeed tray is configured to pass cards to the card handling zone and a separate a card output tray is configured to receive cards from the card handling zone. A control system of the card handling device comprises at least one electronic signal processor, at least one memory device in electrical communication with the electronic signal processor, and a computer program stored in memory of the memory device. The computer program is programmed to cause the control system to selectively control at least one of a card infeed system, the card handling zone, and a card output system of the card handling device and to receive an input from a user input to selectively perform at least one of a shuffling operation, a sorting operation, and a dealing operation using the card handling device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Paul K. Scheper
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Publication number: 20120175841Abstract: Methods of delivering groups of cards to a card game and, upon the occurrence of an event, dispensing a bonus card comprise feeding playing cards individually from an infeed area of a card handling device into an intermediate storage compartment designated for receiving playing cards. At least one bonus card may be fed from an infeed area of a card handling device into an intermediate storage compartment designated for receiving bonus cards. Groups of playing cards are selectively delivered. At least one bonus card may be selectively delivered.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Shuffle Master, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Paul K. Scheper
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Patent number: 8210536Abstract: A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG.Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
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Publication number: 20120161393Abstract: A shuffling device for playing cards and method of shuffling cards is provided where a first group of cards is moved within the device to form a randomized second group of cards. The device comprises moving parts that assist in the movement of cards within the shuffling device; a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device; a sensor that detects at least one of speed, distance and force of at least one moving part and provides a signal to the processor regarding detection of at least one of speed, distance and force; and the processor containing a program that interprets the signal to detect significant variations in at least one of speed, distance and force of the moving part.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2012Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
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Publication number: 20120091656Abstract: Card handling systems include shuffling devices, shoe devices, and a card transfer system for automatically transferring cards from the shuffling device into the shoe device. Shuffling devices may include a divider configured to contact at least one card positioned within a compartment of the shuffling device. Shoe devices may include a card loading system for loading cards into a card storage area through an opening in a base of the shoe device. Methods of providing cards during a casino table game play include identifying card information including a rank and a suit of each card in a shuffling device and a shoe device and transporting cards from the shuffling device to the shoe device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG.Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Attila Grauzer, Todd M. Haushalter
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Patent number: 8141875Abstract: Devices for handling playing cards comprise a card infeed tray, a card output tray, and a movable card storage device with multiple compartments. At least one compartment of the multiple compartments comprises a preselected and designated bonus card compartment configured for storing bonus cards. A card sensing system is configured to detect a presence of bonus cards to be transferred into the movable card storage device. A control system is programmed to selectively transfer only bonus cards into the at least one designated compartment in response to detection of bonus card presence by the card sensing system and to selectively transfer playing cards into compartments of the multiple compartments separate from the at least one designated compartment.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Shuffle Master, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Paul K. Scheper
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Patent number: RE44616Abstract: A card shuffler is disclosed having a card output portion that is easily connectable to either a first output card receiver or a second output card receiver. The first output card receiver enables the dealer to remove cards one at a time from the shuffler. The second output card receiver enables the dealer to remove a group of cards at a time from the shuffler.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn