Patents by Inventor Robert J. Rynda
Robert J. Rynda 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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Patent number: 9849368Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Publication number: 20170087445Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, James P. Helgesen, Troy D. Nelson, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Colin A. Helsen, Nathan J. Wadds
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Publication number: 20170072293Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
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Publication number: 20170072296Abstract: Automatic card shufflers may include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the card shuffler.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Patent number: 9566501Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, James P. Helgesen, Troy D. Nelson, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Collin A. Helsen, Nathan J. Wadds
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Patent number: 9561426Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
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Patent number: 9504905Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
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Publication number: 20160166919Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
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Publication number: 20160082344Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insert location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insert locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: James V. Kelly, James P. Helgesen, Vladislav Zvercov, Feraidoon Bourbour, Robert J. Rynda
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Publication number: 20160059111Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventors: Robert J. Rynda, Feraidoon Bourbour, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Patent number: 9266012Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
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Publication number: 20160030831Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, James P. Helgesen, Troy D. Nelson, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Collin A. Helsen, Nathan J. Wadds
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Patent number: 9220971Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Rynda, Feraidoon Bourbour, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Publication number: 20150224389Abstract: Methods of handling cards using card-handling devices may involve transferring a set of playing cards into a card storage device of a card-handling device using a card input mechanism by distributing the set of playing cards among compartments of the card storage device. Cards may be simultaneously removed from at least two of the compartments to form a stack of cards using a movable ejector.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: James B. Stasson, Attila Grauzer, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson
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Publication number: 20150209655Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Publication number: 20150182850Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Publication number: 20150145205Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
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Patent number: 8998211Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus may comprise a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2013Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Troy D. Nelson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson
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Patent number: 8960674Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: James B. Stasson, Robert J. Rynda, Paul K. Scheper, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
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Patent number: 8820745Abstract: Card-handling devices include a card-holding area and a card output shoe. The card output shoe includes a card-way for passage of cards from the card-holding area into a dealing-ready area. A movable gate is positioned between the card-way and the dealing-ready area to prevent cards in the dealing-ready area from re-entering the card-way. Card shufflers include a gate mounted to allow movement of randomized groups of cards from card-receiving compartments to proximate a terminal end plate of a card output shoe and to block movement of cards in an opposite direction. In related methods of moving cards, card movement through the card-way to the dealing-ready position is allowed by a movable gate and card movement from the dealing-ready position into the card-way is prevented by the movable gate.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: SHFL entertainment, Inc.Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Robert J. Rynda, Ronald R. Swanson