Patents by Inventor Peter Krenn

Peter Krenn 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).

  • Publication number: 20200086204
    Abstract: A card-handling device and related methods may include a card intake, a card rotation device, and a card output. The card rotation device may be configured to rotate at least one of the one or more playing cards about a minor axis of the one or more playing cards to randomly alter an orientation of lateral edges of the one or more playing cards. A card-handling device and related methods may be configured to recognize unreadable cards and move the unreadable cards to a designated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Colin A. Helsen, Ronald R. Swanson, Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 10583349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Todd M. Haushalter
  • Patent number: 10456659
    Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card shuffling mechanism, a base at least partially supporting the card shuffling mechanism, a shoe to receive cards from the card shuffling mechanism, and a card imaging system configured to detect at least one indicia on the cards, the card imaging system being at least partially disposed within the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 10350481
    Abstract: 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 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 the 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. Scheper, Peter Krenn, Attila Grauzer, Ernst Blaha
  • Patent number: 10255741
    Abstract: Chip sorting devices may include at least one chip collection tube having at least one adjustable wall that at least partially defines an inner diameter of the at least one chip collection tube. The at least one adjustable wall may be at least partially rotatable to define different inner diameters. Chip sorting devices may include a chip hopper having a relief mechanism for clearing chips that become jammed between a chip chamber and a base plate of the chip hopper. Methods of sorting chips may include actuating the relief mechanism to increase a space between a top plate of the relief mechanism and the chip chamber. Methods of setting up a chip sorting device may include adjusting an inner lateral dimension of the at least one chip collection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 10226686
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, 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
  • Patent number: 10220297
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
  • Publication number: 20180290048
    Abstract: Card handling devices may include a card shuffling apparatus and a card output portion having a card buffer area positioned at an interface of the card shuffling apparatus and the card output portion. The card output portion may be configured to move relative to the card shuffling apparatus and alter the orientation of the card buffer area. Card handling devices having a substantially flat card output area may include an interface portion having an at least substantially flat draw surface. The substantially flat card output area may permit playing cards to be drawn from an outlet of the substantially flat card output area in a plurality of at least substantially horizontal directions. Methods of shuffling playing cards may include altering an orientation of a card buffer area and inserting cards into the card buffer area at both a top and a bottom of a group of cards within the card buffer area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
  • Patent number: 10096192
    Abstract: Chip sorting devices may include at least one chip collection tube having at least one of a chip stack alignment cup or a stabilizer positioned over the at least one chip collection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Peter Krenn
  • Publication number: 20180243642
    Abstract: Card handling devices may include a card shuffling apparatus and a card output portion having a card buffer area positioned at an interface of the card shuffling apparatus and the card output portion. The card output portion may be configured to move relative to the card shuffling apparatus and alter the orientation of the card buffer area. Card handling devices having a substantially flat card output area may include an interface portion having an at least substantially flat draw surface. The substantially flat card output area may permit playing cards to be drawn from an outlet of the substantially flat card output area in a plurality of at least substantially horizontal directions. Methods of shuffling playing cards may include altering an orientation of a card buffer area and inserting cards into the card buffer area at both a top and a bottom of a group of cards within the card buffer area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
  • Publication number: 20180207513
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Todd M. Haushalter
  • Publication number: 20180207514
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Todd M. Haushalter
  • Patent number: 9993719
    Abstract: Card handling devices may include a card shuffling apparatus and a card output portion having a card buffer area positioned at an interface of the card shuffling apparatus and the card output portion. The card output portion may be configured to move relative to the card shuffling apparatus and alter the orientation of the card buffer area. Card handling devices having a substantially flat card output area may include an interface portion having an at least substantially flat draw surface. The substantially flat card output area may permit playing cards to be drawn from an outlet of the substantially flat card output area in a plurality of at least substantially horizontal directions. Methods of shuffling playing cards may include altering an orientation of a card buffer area and inserting cards into the card buffer area at both a top and a bottom of a group of cards within the card buffer area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Peter Krenn, Ernst Blaha
  • Publication number: 20180085658
    Abstract: Card handling devices may include one or more features for detecting a deficiency relating to at least one card. Methods of operating a card handling device may include detecting a deficiency relating to at least one card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Colin A. Helsen, Peter Krenn
  • Publication number: 20180075684
    Abstract: Chip sorting devices may include at least one chip collection tube having at least one adjustable wall that at least partially defines an inner diameter of the at least one chip collection tube. The at least one adjustable wall may be at least partially rotatable to define different inner diameters. Chip sorting devices may include a chip hopper having a relief mechanism for clearing chips that become jammed between a chip chamber and a base plate of the chip hopper. Methods of sorting chips may include actuating the relief mechanism to increase a space between a top plate of the relief mechanism and the chip chamber. Methods of setting up a chip sorting device may include adjusting an inner lateral dimension of the at least one chip collection tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Krenn
  • Publication number: 20180043241
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn, Todd M. Haushalter
  • Publication number: 20180036627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 9836909
    Abstract: Chip sorting devices may include at least one chip collection tube having at least one adjustable wall that at least partially defines an inner diameter of the at least one chip collection tube. The at least one adjustable wall may be at least partially rotatable to define different inner diameters. Chip sorting devices may include a chip hopper having a relief mechanism for clearing chips that become jammed between a chip chamber and a base plate of the chip hopper. Methods of sorting chips may include actuating the relief mechanism to increase a space between a top plate of the relief mechanism and the chip chamber. Methods of setting up a chip sorting device may include adjusting an inner lateral dimension of the at least one chip collection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 9802114
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Peter Krenn
  • Patent number: 9789385
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Shuffle Master GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Ernst Blaha, Peter Krenn