EP0237420A1 - Device for reading and distributing cards, in particular playing cards. - Google Patents

Device for reading and distributing cards, in particular playing cards. Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0237420A1
EP0237420A1 EP87400484A EP87400484A EP0237420A1 EP 0237420 A1 EP0237420 A1 EP 0237420A1 EP 87400484 A EP87400484 A EP 87400484A EP 87400484 A EP87400484 A EP 87400484A EP 0237420 A1 EP0237420 A1 EP 0237420A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
card
carriage
cards
reading
transported
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP87400484A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0237420B1 (en
Inventor
Gérard Normand
Michel Persuy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Acticiel SA
Original Assignee
Acticiel SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Acticiel SA filed Critical Acticiel SA
Priority to AT87400484T priority Critical patent/ATE49508T1/en
Publication of EP0237420A1 publication Critical patent/EP0237420A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0237420B1 publication Critical patent/EP0237420B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00—Card games
    • A63F1/06—Card games appurtenances
    • A63F1/14—Card dealers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F1/00—Card games
    • A63F1/02—Cards; Special shapes of cards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
    • A63F3/00003—Types of board games
    • A63F3/001—Board games concerning astrology, religion, or fortune-telling
    • A63F2003/00116—Board games having aspects of the Tarot game
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
    • A63F9/24—Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for
    • A63F2009/2401—Detail of input, input devices
    • A63F2009/2411—Input form cards, tapes, discs
    • A63F2009/2419—Optical

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an apparatus ensuring the automatic distribution of cards, in particular playing cards, which reads the cards as they are distributed, by controlling the mode of their distribution.
  • Apparatuses are known to read cards such as punched cards with 80 columns and to distribute them by friction transport of the card, but such devices are hardly applicable to the distribution of playing cards.
  • optical coding systems known as bar codes, are known, but they are particularly unsightly and, therefore, ill-suited to use on playing cards.
  • French patent 2,186,839 there is known an automatic distributor of card data in which the cards, stacked in a store, are extracted individually and are distributed in a plurality of receptacles by a deflector flap whose position is controlled by a sequential programming and selection device enabling the successive cards extracted from the store to be randomly distributed in the receptacles.
  • a distributor does not make it possible to distribute predetermined deals to the players, and therefore cannot be used in particular during tournaments.
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks presented by known devices and for this purpose it proposes a device for reading and distributing cards which performs an optical reading of the cards to be dispensed without the coding presented by them having an unsightly character, which proceeds to the distribution of the cards according to predetermined deals by ensuring in a simple and efficient way the transport of the cards and their selective distribution, and which allows the reception of the cards distributed in cases of deals, such as the bridgeurs by example receive them during tournaments.
  • the apparatus comprises a tray for receiving stacked cards to be dispensed, means for unstacking these cards, means for reading information carried by the unstacked cards and automatic means for the transfer of each unstacked card.
  • a housing determined according to the information read on this card, and it is characterized by the fact that a horizontal wall of the receiving tray is constituted by a carriage comprising friction means which cooperate with the corresponding extreme card of the pack of cards to distribute, this carriage being moved in a translational movement which isolates said extreme card from the other cards in the deck by passing it through a selection device and, after passing the card in front of the reading device, which transports it to the above said determined housing before returning to its initial position by controlling the fall of the card transported in said determined housing.
  • the trolley constitutes the bottom of the tray for receiving the card packet and it cooperates with the lower card of this packet by at least one friction roller of transverse axis, placed in the center of the trolley and designed to be able to turn only during the return stroke of the carriage, as well as by drive heels arranged in front and / or behind the roller.
  • the movement of the carriage is controlled by a motor acting on a pulley and cable system linked to the chariota
  • the amplitude of the carriage travel is communicated to the motor by an electronic device from the information read on the transported card.
  • the card passes through non-return devices arranged in line with transverse vertical walls corresponding to the successive transverse walls of the card-receiving housings, and the carriage is stopped automatically; ment when the rear end of the card is between the non-return devices corresponding to the front and rear walls of the chosen receiving housing, which has the advantage of avoiding any precision on stopping the engine.
  • the carriage is then driven in the opposite direction (return stroke) and the rear end of the card abuts against the non-return device corresponding to the rear wall of the chosen housing, the card thus being immobilized while the carriage continues to move back.
  • the carriage exceeds, during its withdrawal movement, the non-return device corresponding to the rear wall of the chosen receiving housing, the card is released and falls by gravity into this housing.
  • the apparatus comprises a reading device designed to cooperate with coding indications carried by playing cards to be distributed.
  • the invention also applies to cards, in particular playing cards, comprising at two opposite angles a reading sticker comprising four rows and three or four columns depending on the number of cards of different value to be read and dealt.
  • the first line constitutes a synchronization track always equal to itself
  • the second and third lines serve for the identification of the cards
  • the fourth line serves to control the correct reading of the second and third line.
  • the second and third lines make it possible to identify 64 documents, therefore at least 52 cards.
  • the possibility of identification is increased to 256 documents, sufficient for example for the 78 cards of a tarot deck.
  • Such a reading sticker is particularly remarkable in that its shape fits symmetrically and aesthetically vis-à-vis the conventional identification sticker of the playing card.
  • the apparatus according to the invention may also include a second reading device, designed for the identification of cards presenting information of another kind such as for example information relating to the results of a card tournament, to the content of 'a deal or the answer to that deal.
  • the invention also applies to such cards, which can advantageously be in the form of tickets which can be split in the middle to be reduced to a playing card format and have a plurality of tracks intended to receive a coding.
  • the apparatus has the form of an elongated box which has at one end a tray 1 at the sides of the deck of cards to be received, the introduction of the latter being facilitated by a slot 2 which allows the passage of the fingers of the utility sator.
  • the device has a central area 3 which includes card distribution boxes. As will be seen below, there are four of these boxes in the example shown, but this number may vary depending on the mode of use of the device.
  • an area comprising electrical and electronic equipment of known type ensuring the operation of the device.
  • an orifice 5 which can receive a memory cartridge to increase the capacities of the device.
  • In 6 can be arranged a keyboard, not shown in the drawing, equipped with a diode or liquid crystal display system, but this option can advantageously be replaced by the screen and the keyboard of a microcomputer or of a telecommunications terminal, connectable to the device.
  • a keyboard not shown in the drawing, equipped with a diode or liquid crystal display system, but this option can advantageously be replaced by the screen and the keyboard of a microcomputer or of a telecommunications terminal, connectable to the device.
  • 7 there is shown the location of an optical reader unit, about thirteen tracks, which is located above the first distribution box.
  • a card drawer 8 includes a certain number of boxes (four in the example shown) which correspond to the distribution boxes of zone 3 of the device.
  • In 9 is a direct access zone to the card distribution boxes, allowing to intervene in the event of an operational incident.
  • the bottom of the tank 1 is constituted by a carriage 10 which comprises two drive heels 11, 12 towards the rear, at its intermediate part two drive rollers 13, 14 made made of flexible rubber and equipped with non-return means, and forwardly a heel 15.
  • the carriage is extended laterally by arms 16, 17 ensuring its guidance along longitudinal rods 18, 19.
  • the arm 16 cooperates with the rod 18 by means of an anti-friction bushing and the arm 17 includes a guide fork, thereby preventing the guide system from being hyperstatic.
  • To the arm 17 is fixed a flexible cable 20 which is stretched between two pulleys 21, 22 continuously by a spring 23.
  • the pulley 21 is mounted idly, while the pulley 22 is driven by the action of a motor 24 (not shown).
  • the motor 24 drives the cable 20 by friction and, in Consequently, the carriage 10 is moved more or less far to the right in the direction of the distribution boxes, then returns back from the right to the left to its initial position.
  • the pack of cards 26 rests on the carriage 10 while bearing on the rollers 13, 14 on the one hand and on the heel 15 of this carriage on the other hand.
  • a weight 27 is placed on the card packet between the axis of the rollers 13, 14 and the heel 15.
  • An adjustable cleat 28 is carried by the vertical front wall of the tray 1 and this cleat provides with the heel 15 a space 29 slightly greater than the thickness of a card, thus allowing the carriage 10 to drive only one card at a time (the bottom card of the pack 26) outside from tray 1, the other cards in the deck coming up against stop 28.
  • the axis of the rollers 13, 14 exceeds the axis of the weight 27, so that the pack of cards 26 rocks counterclockwise on the rear of the carriage 10, around a generator of the rollers 13, 14, by improving the contact of the selected card with the edge 34 of the heel 31.
  • the card then flexes slightly while deforming, which maintains the pressure on the rollers 13, 140
  • the carriage 10 then engages in the corridor 35 located above the boxes 36 for distributing the cards, the selected card being pinched between the supports 11, 12, 13, 14 of the carriage 10 and a drop 37 of the corridor, its guidance transverse being provided by the walls 38 of the corridor 35.
  • This corridor 35 has vertical crosspieces 39 delimiting longitudinally the boxes 36 for distributing the cards integrated in the drawer 8.
  • non-return springs 40 are arranged in the upper part of the corridor 35 so as to be on the path of the card transported by the carriage 10. Each spring 40 retracts to the right when it is engaged, from the side of its ramp 41, by the card transported by the carriage 10 moving from left to right, then resiliently returns to its initial position after passing by the card of the vertical rear face 42 of the spring.
  • the control of the carriage 10 is such that the latter is stopped so that the rear edge of the card which it carries is indifferently located between two non-return springs 40, which thus avoids any precision on the engine shutdown.
  • the carriage 10 During the return movement of the carriage 10, the latter carries the card with it until the rear edge of this card abuts on the vertical face 42 of a non-return spring 40. The card then remains in place for that the carriage 10 continues its return movement, the rollers 13, 14 whose rotation is allowed in this direction not adversely affecting the relative movement of the carriage and the card. As soon as i the front edge of the carriage 10 reaches the location of the vertical face 42 of the non-return spring 40 immobilizing the card, the card is released and falls by gravity between the crosspieces 39 to the corresponding box 36 of the drawer 8.
  • the carriage 10 without card returns to the card packet 26.
  • the heel 31 of this carriage is fitted with a ramp 43 which slides back under the cleat 28, under the card packet 26, then under the ramp 33 of the tray 1 to return i to its initial position. In this direction of movement, the rollers 13, 14 are free to rotate under the deck of cards.
  • each card 26 to be distributed comprises at the top and to the right as well as at the bottom and to the left a reading sticker 44.
  • This has four rows and three columns, that is to say say the possibility of writing up to twelve colored dots (red or black) on a white background which are intended for the identification of the card by the device.
  • the first line 45 of this sticker constitutes a synchronization track, identical for all the cards.
  • the second and third lines, respectively 46 and 47 represent 6 bits and make it possible to identify up to sixty four documents, therefore at least the fifty two cards of a conventional deck of cards. In the case of a tarot deck, comprising seventy-eight cards, the reading sticker must include an additional column which makes it possible to identify up to 256 documents.
  • the fourth line 48 is used, by a parity check, to check that lines 46, 47 are correctly read, thereby reducing the risk of error.
  • the reading sticker 44 is remarkable in that its 3 x 4 point shape (or 4 x 4 points for the tarot deck) is symmetrically and aesthetically vis-à-vis the usual identification sticker of the card.
  • the sticker 44 of each card 26 of the package placed in the tray 1 is intended to come next to an optical reader 49 (see FIG. 2) so that the sticker 44 of the lower card of the package is read during movement of the carriage 10 driving this card.
  • the information is transmitted to the electronic equipment of the device (located in zone 4 and not shown or described because it is known in itself), which brings it closer to the list of data established by the device, or by a host or by a given card (or else entered by keyboard) and assigns the card to one of the distribution boxes 36 by controlling by the motor 24 a movement of the carriage 10 which corresponds to the distribution of the card in this box.
  • FIG 8 there is shown at 50 a result ticket, usable in a bridge tournament for example, which consists of two parts each having the format of a playing card and which are connected together by parts to break 51, 52 designed so that the burrs caused by the rupture do not constitute a discomfort for the heels 11, 12 and 31 of the carriage 10 when these ticket parts are stacked and introduced into the tray 1 of the device.
  • tickets 50 printed in red, comprise figures that can be scratched in pencil or blue to be read by an optical reader 53 disposed in the slot 7 of Figure 1, above the first box 36 i distribution
  • This optical reader can include a pad 54 favoring the entry of cards, and a glass 55 preventing dusting.
  • the ticket 50 includes 14 tracks (lines) or 12 result tracks and 2 synchronization tracks.
  • a shift of the 13-track reader 53 makes it possible to recognize the direction of insertion of the card which can be introduced indifferently in both directions. Coding in the margin 56 of the ticket 50 allows the location of the game and the player.
  • the ticket could be printed on both sides and passed through the machine twice to read both sides.
  • the tickets 50 comprising the results of a tournament, are placed in the receiving tray 1 and are brought by the carriage 10 in front of the reader 53, the information of which, confronted with a standard result entered in the apparatus, controls the distribution in a predetermined box 36 of tickets 50 conforming to this standard result.
  • the ticket 50 could include instructions for the machine such as the data of a deal or the answer to the deal.
  • the operation of the device according to the invention is immediately understood from the above description and we will therefore only expose it briefly, assuming a bridge deal to be performed according to data entered in the device.
  • the lower card 26 of the package to be distributed introduced into the tray 1 of the device is driven by adhesion by the carriage 10 to the left of FIG. 2 passing through the space 29 provided under the cleat 28 and having the one of its thumbnails 44 which passes opposite the reader 49.
  • the carriage 10 and the card which it carries move along the corridor 35, above the distribution boxes 36, pushing the non-return springs to the right 40.
  • the electronic system of the apparatus controls, by means of the motor 24, the stopping of the carriage.
  • the drawer 8 intended to receive a deal of bridge, has four boxes 36 with notches 57 facilitating the taking of cards.
  • a folding and folding cover can be associated with the drawer 8 to hold the cards in place during transport, thereby constituting a card case.
  • the drawer 8 should then have five distribution boxes 36 ..
  • the fallout 37 of the corridor 35 guiding the card, cooperate with it at a level slightly lower than that of the carriage so that the card is in a convex ppsition favorable to its transport.
  • the ramp 54 is intended to flatten the card before it passes in front of the reader 53.

Abstract

The device comprises a container for receiving the pack of cards to be distributed, of which the movable bottom is formed by a carriage. This carriage comprises rollers which, when the carriage is moved, drive the lower card of the pack which is isolated by a flange. The pattern of the transported card is read and this information controls the movement of the carriage which releases the card into a determined distribution box. To this end the carriage goes beyond the chosen distribution box while pushing non return springs, then comes back in such a manner that the non return springs immobilize the card above the chosen distribution box into which this card falls by gravity when the carriage has gone away.

Description

L'invention concerne un appareil assurant la distribution automatique de cartes, en particulier de cartes à jouer, qui procède à la lecture des cartes au fur et à mesure de leur distribution, en commandant le mode de leur répartition.The invention relates to an apparatus ensuring the automatic distribution of cards, in particular playing cards, which reads the cards as they are distributed, by controlling the mode of their distribution.

On connaît des appareils à lire des cartes telles que des cartes perforées à 80 colonnes et à les distribuer par transport à friction de la carte, mais de tels appareils ne sont guère applicables à la distribution de cartes à jouer.Apparatuses are known to read cards such as punched cards with 80 columns and to distribute them by friction transport of the card, but such devices are hardly applicable to the distribution of playing cards.

On connaît d'autrepart des systèmes de codage optique, dits codes à barres, mais ils sont particulièrement disgracieux et, de ce fait, mal adaptés à l'emploi sur des cartes à jouer.On the other hand, optical coding systems, known as bar codes, are known, but they are particularly unsightly and, therefore, ill-suited to use on playing cards.

Par le brevet français 2 186 839 on connait un distributeur automatique de donnes de cartes dans lequel les cartes, empilées dans un magasin, sont extraites à l'unité et sont réparties dans une pluralité de réceptacles par un volet déflecteur dont la position est commandée par un dispositif de programmation et de sélection séquentielle permettant de distribuer de manière aléatoire, dans les réceptacles, les cartes successives extraites du magasin. Un tel distributeur ne permet pas de distribuer aux joueurs des donnes prédéterminées, et n'est donc pas utilisable en particulier lors de tournois.By French patent 2,186,839 there is known an automatic distributor of card data in which the cards, stacked in a store, are extracted individually and are distributed in a plurality of receptacles by a deflector flap whose position is controlled by a sequential programming and selection device enabling the successive cards extracted from the store to be randomly distributed in the receptacles. Such a distributor does not make it possible to distribute predetermined deals to the players, and therefore cannot be used in particular during tournaments.

Par le brevet français 2 109 213, on connait par contre un appareil'permettant de répartir des cartes à jouer selon une distribution prédéterminée, les cartes à distribuer comportant des contacts électriques ou magnétiques et chaque. carte étant successivement associée à un organe pilote qui, selon la position des contacts sur la carte, aiguille celle-ci vers une voie d'orientation particulière. Un tel appareil présente l'inconvénient d'utiliser une lecture électrique ou magnétique des cartes, ce qui rend compliquée la réalisation de celles-ci. De plus, le déplacement des cartes s'effectue au moyen de bandes transporteuses et de rouleaux disposés suivant différentes orientations, ce qui est un obstacle à la fiabilité de l'appareil.By French patent 2,109,213, on the other hand, an apparatus is known which makes it possible to distribute playing cards according to a predetermined distribution, the cards to be distributed comprising electrical or magnetic contacts and each. card being successively associated with a pilot member which, depending on the position of the contacts on the card, directs the latter towards a particular orientation path. Such an apparatus has the drawback of using an electric or magnetic reading of the cards, which makes it difficult to produce them. In addition, the cards are moved using conveyor belts and rollers arranged in different orientations, which is an obstacle to the reliability of the device.

La présente invention a pour objet de remédier aux inconvénients présentés par les appareils connus et elle propose à cet effet un appareil de lecture et de distribution de cartes qui procède à une lecture optique des cartes à distribuer sans que le codage présenté par celles-ci ait un caractère disgracieux, qui procède à la distribution des cartes selon des donnes prédéterminées en assurant de façon simple et efficace le transport des cartes et leur distribution sélective, et qui permet la réception des cartes distribuées dans des étuis de donne, tels que les bridgeurs par exemple en reçoivent lors des tournois.The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks presented by known devices and for this purpose it proposes a device for reading and distributing cards which performs an optical reading of the cards to be dispensed without the coding presented by them having an unsightly character, which proceeds to the distribution of the cards according to predetermined deals by ensuring in a simple and efficient way the transport of the cards and their selective distribution, and which allows the reception of the cards distributed in cases of deals, such as the bridgeurs by example receive them during tournaments.

Selon l'invention, l'appareil comprend un bac de réception des cartes empilées à distribuer, un moyen de dépilage de ces cartes, des moyens de lecture d'informations portées par les cartes dépilées et des moyens automatiques pour le transfert de chaque carte dépilée dans un logement déterminé selon les informations lues sur cette carte, et il se caractérise par le fait qu'une paroi horizontale du bac de réception est constituée par un chariot comportant des moyens de friction qui coopèrent avec la carte extrême correspondante du paquet de cartes à distribuer, ce chariot étant déplacé selon un mouvement de translation qui isole ladite carte extrême des autres cartes du paquet en la faisant passer à travers un dispositif de sélection et, après passage de la carte devant le dispositif de lecture, qui transporte celle-ci au-dessus dudit logement déterminé avant de revenir à sa position initiale en commandant la chute de la carte transportée dans ledit logement déterminé.According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a tray for receiving stacked cards to be dispensed, means for unstacking these cards, means for reading information carried by the unstacked cards and automatic means for the transfer of each unstacked card. in a housing determined according to the information read on this card, and it is characterized by the fact that a horizontal wall of the receiving tray is constituted by a carriage comprising friction means which cooperate with the corresponding extreme card of the pack of cards to distribute, this carriage being moved in a translational movement which isolates said extreme card from the other cards in the deck by passing it through a selection device and, after passing the card in front of the reading device, which transports it to the above said determined housing before returning to its initial position by controlling the fall of the card transported in said determined housing.

Selon une forme d'exécution préférée, le chariot constitue le fond du bac de réception du paquet de cartes et il coopère avec la carte inférieure de ce paquet par au moins un galet de friction d'axe transversal, disposé au centre du chariot et conçu pour ne pouvoir tourner que lors de la course de retour du chariot, ainsi que par des talons d'entrainement disposés en avant et/ou en arrière du galet.According to a preferred embodiment, the trolley constitutes the bottom of the tray for receiving the card packet and it cooperates with the lower card of this packet by at least one friction roller of transverse axis, placed in the center of the trolley and designed to be able to turn only during the return stroke of the carriage, as well as by drive heels arranged in front and / or behind the roller.

Le déplacement du chariot est commandé par un moteur agissant sur un système à poulies et à câble lié au chariota L'amplitude de la course du chariot est communiquée au moteur par un dispositif électronique à partir des informations lues sur la carte transportée. Lors de son transport par le chariot, la carte franchit des dispositifs anti-retour disposés au droit de parois verticales transversales correspondant aux parois transversales successives des logements de réception des cartes, et le chariot est arrêté automatique- ; ment lorsque l'extrémité arrière de la carte se trouve entre les dispositifs anti-retour correspondant aux parois avant et arrière du logement de réception choisi, ce qui présente l'avantage d'éviter toute précision sur l'arrêt du moteur. Le chariot est alors entrainé en sens inverse (course de retour) et l'extrémité arrière de la carte vient buter contre le dispositif anti-retour correspondant à la paroi arrière du logement choisi, la carte étant ainsi immobilisée alors que le chariot continue son déplacement de retour. Lorsque le chariot dépasse, lors de son mouvement de retrait, le dispositif anti-retour correspondant à la paroi arrière du logement de réception choisi, la carte est libérée et tombe par gravité dans ce logement.The movement of the carriage is controlled by a motor acting on a pulley and cable system linked to the chariota The amplitude of the carriage travel is communicated to the motor by an electronic device from the information read on the transported card. When transported by the carriage, the card passes through non-return devices arranged in line with transverse vertical walls corresponding to the successive transverse walls of the card-receiving housings, and the carriage is stopped automatically; ment when the rear end of the card is between the non-return devices corresponding to the front and rear walls of the chosen receiving housing, which has the advantage of avoiding any precision on stopping the engine. The carriage is then driven in the opposite direction (return stroke) and the rear end of the card abuts against the non-return device corresponding to the rear wall of the chosen housing, the card thus being immobilized while the carriage continues to move back. When the carriage exceeds, during its withdrawal movement, the non-return device corresponding to the rear wall of the chosen receiving housing, the card is released and falls by gravity into this housing.

L'appareil comprend un dispositif de lecture conçu pour coopérer avec des indications de codage portées par des cartes à jouer à distribuer. L'invention s'applique également à des cartes, en particulier des cartes à jouer, comportant à deux angles opposés une vignette de lecture comportant quatre lignes et trois ou quatre colonnes selon le nombre de cartes de valeur différente à lire et à distribuer. Avantageusement, la première ligne constitue une piste de synchronisation toujours égale à elle-même, les seconde et troisième lignes servent à l'identification des cartes et la quatrième ligne sert à contrôler la bonne lecture des seconde et troisième ligne. Dans le cas d'un codage à trois colonnes, les seconde et troisième lignes permettent d'identifier 64 documents donc au moins 52 cartes. Dans le cas d'un codage à quatre colonnes, la possibilité d'identification est portée à 256 documents, suffisante par exemple pour les 78 cartes d'un jeu de tarot.The apparatus comprises a reading device designed to cooperate with coding indications carried by playing cards to be distributed. The invention also applies to cards, in particular playing cards, comprising at two opposite angles a reading sticker comprising four rows and three or four columns depending on the number of cards of different value to be read and dealt. Advantageously, the first line constitutes a synchronization track always equal to itself, the second and third lines serve for the identification of the cards and the fourth line serves to control the correct reading of the second and third line. In the case of a three-column coding, the second and third lines make it possible to identify 64 documents, therefore at least 52 cards. In the case of a four-column coding, the possibility of identification is increased to 256 documents, sufficient for example for the 78 cards of a tarot deck.

Une telle vignette de lecture est particulièrement remarquable en ce que sa forme s'inscrit symétriquement et esthétiquement vis-à-vis de la vignette conventionnelle d'identification de la carte à jouer.Such a reading sticker is particularly remarkable in that its shape fits symmetrically and aesthetically vis-à-vis the conventional identification sticker of the playing card.

L'appareil selon l'invention peut également comprendre un second dispositif de lecture, conçu pour l'identification de cartes présentant des informations d'un autre genre telles par exemple que des informations relatives aux résultats d'un tournoi de cartes, au contenu d'une donne ou au corrigé de cette donne. L'invention s'applique également à de telles cartes, qui peuvent avantageusement se présenter sous la forme de tickets sécables en leur milieu pour être ramenés à un format de carte à jouer et présentent une pluralité de pistes destinées à recevoir un codage.The apparatus according to the invention may also include a second reading device, designed for the identification of cards presenting information of another kind such as for example information relating to the results of a card tournament, to the content of 'a deal or the answer to that deal. The invention also applies to such cards, which can advantageously be in the form of tickets which can be split in the middle to be reduced to a playing card format and have a plurality of tracks intended to receive a coding.

Pour bien faire comprendre l'appareil selon l'invention, on en décrira ci-après, à titre d'exemple sans caractère limitatif, une forme d'exécution préférée en référence au dessin schématique annexé dans lequel :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil selon l'invention pour la lecture et la distribution sélective de cartes à jouer ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue de dessus partielle de l'appareil de la figure 1, montrant plus particulièrement le magasin de réception des cartes à distribuer et le chariot de transport des cartes ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe verticale longitudinale de l'appareil ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale prise selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 3 ;.
  • la figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale prise selon la ligne V-V de la figure 3 ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue de dessus du tiroir à cartes
  • la figure 7 est une vue de face d'une carte à jouer avec son système de codage à lecture optique ; et
  • la figure 8 est une vue de face d'une carte de résultat de donne avec système de marque à 13 pistes.
To make the apparatus according to the invention clear, a preferred embodiment will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing in which:
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention for the reading and selective distribution of playing cards;
  • Figure 2 is a partial top view of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing more particularly the store for receiving cards to distribute and the card transport trolley;
  • Figure 3 is a partial view in longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus;
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3;
  • Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in Figure 3;
  • Figure 6 is a top view of the card drawer
  • Figure 7 is a front view of a playing card with its optical reading coding system; and
  • Figure 8 is a front view of a deal result card with a 13-track mark system.

En référence plus particulièrement à la figure 1 l'appareil selon l'invention a la forme d'un caisson allongé qui présente à une extrémité un bac 1 aux cotes du paquet de cartes à recevoir, l'introduction de celui-ci étant facilitée par une fente 2 qui permet le passage des doigts de l'utilisateur. Au-delà du bac 1, l'appareil comporte une zone centrale 3 qui comprend des cases de distribution des cartes. Comme on le verra plus loin, ces cases sont au nombre de quatre dans l'exemple représenté, mais ce nombre peut varier selon le mode d'utilisation de l'appareil. En 4 on a représenté une zone comprenant des équipements électriques et électroniques de type connu assurant les fonctionnements de l'appareil. Dans la zone 4 est ménagé un orifice 5 qui peut recevoir une cartouche de mémoire pour augmenter les capacités de l'appareil. En 6 peut être disposé un clavier, non représenté au dessin, équipé d'un système de visualisation à diode ou à cristaux liquides, mais cette option peut avantageusement être remplacée par l'écran et le clavier d'un micro-ordinateur ou d'un terminal de télécommunication, raccordable sur l'appareil. En 7 on a représenté l'emplacement d'un bloc de lecture optique, à environ treize pistes, qui est situé au-dessus de la première case de distribution..Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatus according to the invention has the form of an elongated box which has at one end a tray 1 at the sides of the deck of cards to be received, the introduction of the latter being facilitated by a slot 2 which allows the passage of the fingers of the utility sator. Beyond the tray 1, the device has a central area 3 which includes card distribution boxes. As will be seen below, there are four of these boxes in the example shown, but this number may vary depending on the mode of use of the device. In 4 there is shown an area comprising electrical and electronic equipment of known type ensuring the operation of the device. In the zone 4 is formed an orifice 5 which can receive a memory cartridge to increase the capacities of the device. In 6 can be arranged a keyboard, not shown in the drawing, equipped with a diode or liquid crystal display system, but this option can advantageously be replaced by the screen and the keyboard of a microcomputer or of a telecommunications terminal, connectable to the device. In 7 there is shown the location of an optical reader unit, about thirteen tracks, which is located above the first distribution box.

A la partie inférieure de l'appareil, un tiroir à cartes 8 comprend un certain nombre de cases (quatre dans l'exemple représenté) qui correspondent aux cases de distribution de la zone 3 de l'appareil. En 9 se trouve une zone d'accès direct aux cases de distribution des cartes, permettant d'intervenir dans le cas d'un incident de fonctionnement.At the bottom of the device, a card drawer 8 includes a certain number of boxes (four in the example shown) which correspond to the distribution boxes of zone 3 of the device. In 9 is a direct access zone to the card distribution boxes, allowing to intervene in the event of an operational incident.

Comme on le voit plus particulièrement à la figure 2, le fond du bac 1 est constitué par un chariot 10 qui comporte vers l'arrière deux talons d'entraînement 11, 12, à sa partie intermédiaire deux galets d'entraînement 13, 14 réalisés en caoutchouc souple et équipés de moyens anti-retour, et vers l'avant un talon 15. Le chariot se prolonge latéralement par des bras 16, 17 assurant son guidage le long de tiges longitudinales 18, 19. Le bras 16 coopère avec la tige 18 par l'intermédiaire d'une douille antifriction et le bras 17 comporte une fourchette de guidage en évitant ainsi au système de guidage d'être hyperstatique. Au bras 17 est fixé un câble souple 20 qui est tendu entre deux poulies 21, 22 de façon continue par un ressort 23. La poulie 21 est montée folle, alors que la poulie 22 est motrice sous l'action d'.un moteur 24 (non représenté). Par une commande expliquée plus loin, le moteur 24 entraîne le câble 20 par friction et, en conséquence, le chariot 10 se trouve déplacé plus ou moins loin vers la droite en direction des cases de distribution, puis revient en arrière de la droite vers la gauche jusqu'à sa position initiale.As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 2, the bottom of the tank 1 is constituted by a carriage 10 which comprises two drive heels 11, 12 towards the rear, at its intermediate part two drive rollers 13, 14 made made of flexible rubber and equipped with non-return means, and forwardly a heel 15. The carriage is extended laterally by arms 16, 17 ensuring its guidance along longitudinal rods 18, 19. The arm 16 cooperates with the rod 18 by means of an anti-friction bushing and the arm 17 includes a guide fork, thereby preventing the guide system from being hyperstatic. To the arm 17 is fixed a flexible cable 20 which is stretched between two pulleys 21, 22 continuously by a spring 23. The pulley 21 is mounted idly, while the pulley 22 is driven by the action of a motor 24 (not shown). By a command explained below, the motor 24 drives the cable 20 by friction and, in Consequently, the carriage 10 is moved more or less far to the right in the direction of the distribution boxes, then returns back from the right to the left to its initial position.

Comme on le voit plus particulièrement à la figure 3, le paquet de cartes 26 repose sur le chariot 10 en étant en appui sur les galets 13, 14 d'une part et sur le talon 15 de ce chariot d'autre part. Pour assurer un bon appui des cartes 26 sur le chariot 10, un poids 27 est posé sur le paquet de cartes entre l'axe des galets 13, 14 et le talon 15. Un taquet réglable 28 est porté par la paroi verticale avant du bac 1 et ce taquet ménage avec le talon 15 un espace 29 légèrement supérieur à l'épaisseur d'une carte, en permettant ainsi au chariot 10 de n'entrainer qu'une seule carte à la fois (la carte inférieure du paquet 26) hors du bac 1, les autres cartes du paquet venant buter sur le taquet 28.As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 3, the pack of cards 26 rests on the carriage 10 while bearing on the rollers 13, 14 on the one hand and on the heel 15 of this carriage on the other hand. To ensure good support of the cards 26 on the carriage 10, a weight 27 is placed on the card packet between the axis of the rollers 13, 14 and the heel 15. An adjustable cleat 28 is carried by the vertical front wall of the tray 1 and this cleat provides with the heel 15 a space 29 slightly greater than the thickness of a card, thus allowing the carriage 10 to drive only one card at a time (the bottom card of the pack 26) outside from tray 1, the other cards in the deck coming up against stop 28.

Lors de leur déplacement les galets de caoutchouc 13, 14 du chariot 10, sous la pression du poids 27 et par leur dispositif anti-retour constitué par une lame élastique 30 s'arc-boutant sur le caoutchouc du galet lors de l'avance du chariot 10 et maintenant une friction légère lors du mouvement de retour, entrainent par adhérence les cartes du paquet 26 jusqu'à ce que la carte inférieure, directement entrainée par les galets, se glisse dans l'espace calibré 29 ménagé par le taquet 28, sélectionnant ainsi une seule carte. Un talon arrière 31 du chariot 10, qui dans la position initiale de ce chariot est pressé par une lame élastique 32 sous une rampe 33 du bac 1, se glisse sous le paquet de cartes 26 lorsque la carte inférieure de ce paquet est sélectionnée à travers l'espace 29, et l'arête 34 de ce talon 31 vient éventuellement engager la tranche de la carte sélectionnée en évitant ainsi tout risque de glissement de celle-ci. Lors du déplacement, l'axe des galets 13, 14 dépasse l'axe du poids 27, de sorte que le paquet de cartes 26 bascule dans le sens anti-horaire sur l'arrière du chariot 10, autour d'une génératrice des galets 13, 14, en améliorant le contact de la carte sélectionnée avec l'arête 34 du talon 31. La carte fléchit alors légèrement en se déformant, ce qui maintient la pression sur les galets 13, 140When moving the rubber rollers 13, 14 of the carriage 10, under the pressure of the weight 27 and by their non-return device constituted by an elastic blade 30 bracing on the rubber of the roller during the advance of the carriage 10 and now a slight friction during the return movement, cause the cards of the pack 26 to grip by adhesion until the lower card, directly driven by the rollers, slides into the calibrated space 29 formed by the cleat 28, thus selecting a single card. A rear heel 31 of the carriage 10, which in the initial position of this carriage is pressed by an elastic blade 32 under a ramp 33 of the tray 1, slides under the pack of cards 26 when the bottom card of this pack is selected through the space 29, and the edge 34 of this heel 31 possibly engages the edge of the selected card, thus avoiding any risk of it sliding. When moving, the axis of the rollers 13, 14 exceeds the axis of the weight 27, so that the pack of cards 26 rocks counterclockwise on the rear of the carriage 10, around a generator of the rollers 13, 14, by improving the contact of the selected card with the edge 34 of the heel 31. The card then flexes slightly while deforming, which maintains the pressure on the rollers 13, 140

Le chariot 10 s'engage alors dans le couloir 35 situé au-dessus des cases 36 de distribution des cartes, la carte sélectionnée étant pincée entre les appuis 11, 12, 13, 14 du chariot 10 et une retombée 37 du couloir, son guidage transversal étant assuré par les parois 38 du couloir 35. Ce couloir 35 comporte des traverses verticales 39 délimitant longitudinalement les cases 36 de distribution des cartes intégrées au tiroir 8. Au droit des traverses 38, sauf pour celle d'entre elles située la plus à droite, des ressorts anti-retour 40 sont disposés dans la partie supérieure du couloir 35 de façon à se trouver sur le chemin de la carte transportée par le chariot 10. Chaque ressort 40 s'escamote vers la droite lorsqu'il est engagé, du côté de sa rampe 41, par la carte transportée par le chariot 10 se déplaçant de la gauche vers la droite, puis revient élastiquement à sa position initiale après dépassement par la carte de la face arrière verticale 42 du ressort .The carriage 10 then engages in the corridor 35 located above the boxes 36 for distributing the cards, the selected card being pinched between the supports 11, 12, 13, 14 of the carriage 10 and a drop 37 of the corridor, its guidance transverse being provided by the walls 38 of the corridor 35. This corridor 35 has vertical crosspieces 39 delimiting longitudinally the boxes 36 for distributing the cards integrated in the drawer 8. At the crosspieces 38, except for that of them located furthest right, non-return springs 40 are arranged in the upper part of the corridor 35 so as to be on the path of the card transported by the carriage 10. Each spring 40 retracts to the right when it is engaged, from the side of its ramp 41, by the card transported by the carriage 10 moving from left to right, then resiliently returns to its initial position after passing by the card of the vertical rear face 42 of the spring.

La commande du chariot 10 est telle que l'arrêt de celui-ci s'effectue de façon que le bord arrière de la carte qu'il transporte soit situé indifféremment entre deux ressorts anti-retour 40, ce qui évite ainsi toute précision sur l'arrêt du moteur.The control of the carriage 10 is such that the latter is stopped so that the rear edge of the card which it carries is indifferently located between two non-return springs 40, which thus avoids any precision on the engine shutdown.

Lors du déplacement de retour du chariot 10, celui-ci entraîne la carte avec lui jusqu'à ce que le bord arrière de cette carte bute sur la face verticale 42 d'un ressort anti- retour 40. La carte reste alors sur place pendant que le chariot 10 continue son mouvement de retour, les galets 13, 14 dont la rotation est permise dans ce sens ne contrariant pas le mouvement relatif du chariot et de la carte. Dès que i le bord avant du chariot 10 atteint l'emplacement de la face verticale 42 du ressort anti-retour 40 immobilisant la carte, celle-ci se trouve libérée et tombe par gravité entre les traverses 39 jusqu'à la case 36 correspondante du tiroir 8.During the return movement of the carriage 10, the latter carries the card with it until the rear edge of this card abuts on the vertical face 42 of a non-return spring 40. The card then remains in place for that the carriage 10 continues its return movement, the rollers 13, 14 whose rotation is allowed in this direction not adversely affecting the relative movement of the carriage and the card. As soon as i the front edge of the carriage 10 reaches the location of the vertical face 42 of the non-return spring 40 immobilizing the card, the card is released and falls by gravity between the crosspieces 39 to the corresponding box 36 of the drawer 8.

Le chariot 10 sans carte revient vers le paquet de cartes 26. Le talon 31 de ce chariot est équipé d'une rampe 43 qui se glisse au retour sous le taquet 28, sous le paquet de cartes 26, puis sous la rampe 33 du bac 1 pour retrouver i sa position initiale. Dans ce sens de déplacement, les galets 13, 14 sont libres de tourner sous le paquet de cartes.The carriage 10 without card returns to the card packet 26. The heel 31 of this carriage is fitted with a ramp 43 which slides back under the cleat 28, under the card packet 26, then under the ramp 33 of the tray 1 to return i to its initial position. In this direction of movement, the rollers 13, 14 are free to rotate under the deck of cards.

Ayant décrit le mode de dépilage, de transport et de libération des cartes successives effectué par l'appareil selon l'invention, on décrira maintenant comment s'effectue la commande du déplacement du chariot et, en particulier, comment est choisi en fonction de la valeur de chaque carte distribuée le déplacement du chariot, correspondant à la distribution de cette carte dans une case de réception 36 choisie, pour réaliser une donne prédéterminée.Having described the mode of unstacking, transport and release of successive cards carried out by the device according to the invention, we will now describe how the movement of the carriage is controlled and, in particular, how is chosen according to the value of each card distributed the movement of the trolley, corresponding to the distribution of this card in a receiving box 36 chosen, to achieve a predetermined deal.

Comme on le voit à la figure 7, chaque carte 26 à distribuer comporte en haut et à droite ainsi qu'en bas et à gauche une vignette de lecture 44. Celle-ci comporte quatre lignes et trois colonnes, c'est-à-dire la possibilité d'inscrire jusqu'à douze points colorés (rouges ou noirs) sur fond blanc qui sont destinés à l'identification de la carte par l'appareil. La première ligne 45 de cette vignette constitue une piste de synchronisation, identique pour toutes les cartes. Les deuxième et troisième lignes, respectivement 46 et 47, représentent 6 bits et permettent d'identifier jusqu'à soixante quatre document donc au moins les cinquante deux cartes d'un jeu de cartes conventionnel. Dans le cas d'un jeu de tarot, comportant soixante dix huit cartes, la vignette de lecture devra comporter une colonne supplémentaire ce qui permet d'identifier jusqu'à 256 documents. La quatrième ligne 48 sert, par un contrôle de parité, à vérifier la bonne lecture des lignes 46, 47 en réduisant ainsi les risques d'erreur.As can be seen in FIG. 7, each card 26 to be distributed comprises at the top and to the right as well as at the bottom and to the left a reading sticker 44. This has four rows and three columns, that is to say say the possibility of writing up to twelve colored dots (red or black) on a white background which are intended for the identification of the card by the device. The first line 45 of this sticker constitutes a synchronization track, identical for all the cards. The second and third lines, respectively 46 and 47, represent 6 bits and make it possible to identify up to sixty four documents, therefore at least the fifty two cards of a conventional deck of cards. In the case of a tarot deck, comprising seventy-eight cards, the reading sticker must include an additional column which makes it possible to identify up to 256 documents. The fourth line 48 is used, by a parity check, to check that lines 46, 47 are correctly read, thereby reducing the risk of error.

La vignette de lecture 44 est remarquable en ce que sa forme 3 x 4 points (ou 4 x 4 points pour le jeu de tarot) s'inscrit symétriquement et esthétiquement vis-à-vis de la vignette habituelle d'identification de la carte.The reading sticker 44 is remarkable in that its 3 x 4 point shape (or 4 x 4 points for the tarot deck) is symmetrically and aesthetically vis-à-vis the usual identification sticker of the card.

La vignette 44 de chaque carte 26 du paquet mis en place dans le bac 1 est destinée à venir en regard d'un lecteur optique 49 (voir figure 2) de façon que la vignette 44 de la carte inférieure du paquet soit lue lors du déplacement du chariot 10 entrainant cette carte. L'information est transmise à l'appareillage électronique de l'appareil (disposé dans la zone 4 et non représenté ni décrit car étant connu en lui-même), qui la rapproche de la liste d'une donne établie par l'appareil, ou par un centre-serveur ou par une carte donne (ou bien encore entrée par clavier) et affecte la carte à l'une des cases de distribution 36 en commandant par le moteur 24 un déplacement du chariot 10 qui correspond à la distribution de la carte dans cette case.The sticker 44 of each card 26 of the package placed in the tray 1 is intended to come next to an optical reader 49 (see FIG. 2) so that the sticker 44 of the lower card of the package is read during movement of the carriage 10 driving this card. The information is transmitted to the electronic equipment of the device (located in zone 4 and not shown or described because it is known in itself), which brings it closer to the list of data established by the device, or by a host or by a given card (or else entered by keyboard) and assigns the card to one of the distribution boxes 36 by controlling by the motor 24 a movement of the carriage 10 which corresponds to the distribution of the card in this box.

A la figure 8 on a représenté en 50 un ticket de résultat, utilisable dans un tournoi de bridge par exemple, qui est constitué de deux parties ayant chacune le format d'une carte à jouer et qui sont reliées entre elles par des parties à rompre 51, 52 conçues de façon que les bavures occasionnées par la rupture ne constituent pas une gêne pour les talons 11, 12 et 31 du chariot 10 lorsque ces parties de ticket sont empilées et introduites dans le bac 1 de l'appareil. Ces tickets 50, imprimés en rouge, comportent des chiffres qui peuvent être rayés au crayon noir ou bleu pour être lus par un lecteur optique 53 disposé dans l'emplacement 7 de la figure 1, au-dessus de la première case deidistribution 36. Ce lecteur optique peut comporter un patin 54 favorisant l'entrée des cartes, et une glace 55 évitant l'em- poussièrement.In Figure 8 there is shown at 50 a result ticket, usable in a bridge tournament for example, which consists of two parts each having the format of a playing card and which are connected together by parts to break 51, 52 designed so that the burrs caused by the rupture do not constitute a discomfort for the heels 11, 12 and 31 of the carriage 10 when these ticket parts are stacked and introduced into the tray 1 of the device. These tickets 50, printed in red, comprise figures that can be scratched in pencil or blue to be read by an optical reader 53 disposed in the slot 7 of Figure 1, above the first box 36 i distribution This optical reader can include a pad 54 favoring the entry of cards, and a glass 55 preventing dusting.

Dans la version représentée, le ticket 50 comprend 14 pistes (lignes) soit 12 pistes de résultat et 2 pistes de synchronisation. Un décalage du lecteur à 13 pistes 53 permet de reconnaitre le sens d'introduction de la carte qui peut être introduite indifféremment dans les deux sens. Un codage dans la marge 56 du ticket 50 permet le repérage de la partie et du joueur. Le ticket pourrait être imprimé recto- verso et faire l'objet de deux passages dans l'appareil pour réaliser une lecture des deux faces.In the version shown, the ticket 50 includes 14 tracks (lines) or 12 result tracks and 2 synchronization tracks. A shift of the 13-track reader 53 makes it possible to recognize the direction of insertion of the card which can be introduced indifferently in both directions. Coding in the margin 56 of the ticket 50 allows the location of the game and the player. The ticket could be printed on both sides and passed through the machine twice to read both sides.

On comprend que les tickets 50, comportant les résultats d'un tournoi, sont disposés dans le bac récepteur 1 et sont amenés par le chariot 10 devant le lecteur 53 dont l'information, confrontée à un résultat type entré dans l'appareil, commande la distribution dans une case 36 prédéterminée des tickets 50 conformes à ce résultat type. Toutefois, de la même façon, le ticket 50 pourrait comporter des instructions pour la machine telles que les données d'une donne ou le corrigé de la donne.It is understood that the tickets 50, comprising the results of a tournament, are placed in the receiving tray 1 and are brought by the carriage 10 in front of the reader 53, the information of which, confronted with a standard result entered in the apparatus, controls the distribution in a predetermined box 36 of tickets 50 conforming to this standard result. However, in the same way, the ticket 50 could include instructions for the machine such as the data of a deal or the answer to the deal.

Le fonctionnement de l'appareil selon l'invention se comprend immédiatement d'après la description qui précède et on ne l'exposera donc que brièvement, dans l'hypothèse d'une donne de bridge à effectuer selon des données entrées dans l'appareil. La carte inférieure 26 du paquet à .distribuer introduit dans le bac 1 de l'appareil est entrainée par adhérence par le chariot 10 vers la gauche de la figure 2 en passant par l'espace 29 ménagé sous le taquet 28 et en ayant l'une de ses vignettes 44 qui passe en regard du lecteur 49. Le chariot 10 et la carte qu'il porte se déplacent le long du couloir 35, au-dessus des cases de distribution 36, en repoussant vers la droite les ressorts anti-retour 40. Par comparaison de l'information sur la valeur de la carte transmise par le lecteur 16 avec les données de la donne à effectuer, le système électronique de l'appareil commande, par l'intermédiaire du moteur 24, l'arrêt du chariot 10 dans une position où il se trouve en avant du ressort anti-retour 40 correspondant à la paroi frontale arrière de la case 36 dans laquelle la carte doit être distribuée. Le chariot 10 repart ensuite en arrière jusqu'à sa position initiale pour coopérer avec la carte qui se trouve alors en dessous du paquet à distribuer, alors que la carte transportée est immobilisée par le ressort anti-retour au-dessus de la case 36 choisie et tombe par gravité dans cette case dès que le chariot 10 a dépassé ce dispositif anti-retour.The operation of the device according to the invention is immediately understood from the above description and we will therefore only expose it briefly, assuming a bridge deal to be performed according to data entered in the device. The lower card 26 of the package to be distributed introduced into the tray 1 of the device is driven by adhesion by the carriage 10 to the left of FIG. 2 passing through the space 29 provided under the cleat 28 and having the one of its thumbnails 44 which passes opposite the reader 49. The carriage 10 and the card which it carries move along the corridor 35, above the distribution boxes 36, pushing the non-return springs to the right 40. By comparison of the information on the value of the card transmitted by the reader 16 with the data of the deal to be made, the electronic system of the apparatus controls, by means of the motor 24, the stopping of the carriage. 10 in a position where it is in front of the non-return spring 40 corresponding to the rear front wall of the box 36 in which the card is to be distributed. The carriage 10 then moves back to its initial position to cooperate with the card which is then below the package to be distributed, while the transported card is immobilized by the non-return spring above the selected box 36 and falls by gravity into this box as soon as the carriage 10 has passed this non-return device.

. Comme représenté à la figure 6 le tiroir 8, destiné à recevoir une donne de bridge, comporte quatre cases 36 dotées d'encoches 57 facilitant la prise des'cartes. Avantageusement un couvercle rabattable et repliable, non représenté, peut être associé au tiroir 8 pour maintenir les cartes en place lors du transport, en constituant ainsi un étui à cartes. Dans le cas d'une donne pour le jeu de belotte, le tiroir 8 devrait alors comporter cinq cases de distribution 36.. . As shown in Figure 6 the drawer 8, intended to receive a deal of bridge, has four boxes 36 with notches 57 facilitating the taking of cards. Advantageously, a folding and folding cover, not shown, can be associated with the drawer 8 to hold the cards in place during transport, thereby constituting a card case. In the case of a deal for the game of belotte, the drawer 8 should then have five distribution boxes 36 ..

On remarquera, en référence à la figure 5, que les retombées 37 du couloir 35, guidant la carte, coopèrent avec celle-ci à un niveau légèrement inférieur à celui du chariot de façon que la carte se trouve dans une ppsition bombée favorable à son transport. La rampe 54 est destinée à aplanir la carte avant son passage devant le lecteur 53.It will be noted, with reference to FIG. 5, that the fallout 37 of the corridor 35, guiding the card, cooperate with it at a level slightly lower than that of the carriage so that the card is in a convex ppsition favorable to its transport. The ramp 54 is intended to flatten the card before it passes in front of the reader 53.

On comprendra que la description ci-dessus a été donnée à simple titre d'exemple et que des adjonctions ou des modifications constructives pourraient y être apportées sans sortir du cadre de l'invention définie par les revendications qui suivent.It will be understood that the above description has been given by way of example only and that additions or constructive modifications could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims which follow.

Claims (14)

1. Appareil de lecture et de distribution de cartes, en particulier de cartes à jouer, comprenant un bac de réception des cartes empilées à distribuer, un moyen de dépilage des cartes, des moyens de lecture d'informations portées par la carte dépilée, et des moyens automatiques de transfert de chaque carte dépilée dans un logement déterminé selon les informations lues sur la carte, caractérisé en ce que le bac de réception (1) comprend une paroi horizontale constituée par un chariot (10) comportant des moyens de friction qui coopèrent avec la carte extrême correspondante du paquet de cartes empilées (26) à distribuer, ledit chariot (10) subissant une translation qui isole ladite carte extrême des autres cartes du paquet par passage dans un système de sélection (29) et après passage de la carte devant le dispositif de lecture (49, 53), qui amène celle-ci au-dessus du dit logement déterminé (36) avant de revenir à sa position initiale en commandant la chute de la carte transportée dans ledit logement (36).1. Apparatus for reading and distributing cards, in particular playing cards, comprising a tray for receiving stacked cards to be dispensed, means for unstacking cards, means for reading information carried by the unstacked card, and automatic means for transferring each unstacked card into a slot determined according to the information read on the card, characterized in that the receiving tank (1) comprises a horizontal wall constituted by a carriage (10) comprising friction means which cooperate with the corresponding extreme card of the stack of stacked cards (26) to be dealt, said carriage (10) undergoing a translation which isolates said extreme card from the other cards of the pack by passage through a selection system (29) and after passage of the card in front of the reading device (49, 53), which brings it above said determined housing (36) before returning to its initial position by controlling the fall of the card transported in the edit housing (36). 2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le chariot (10) constitue le fond mobile du bac (1) et coopère avec la carte inférieure du paquet de cartes (26).2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (10) constitutes the movable bottom of the tray (1) and cooperates with the lower card of the card deck (26). 3. Appareil selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de friction équipant le chariot (10) comprennent au moins un galet (13, 14) d'axe transversal disposé à la partie centrale du chariot et des talons d'entrainement (11, 12, 15) disposés en avant et/ou en arrière dudit galet (13, 14).3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the friction means equipping the carriage (10) comprise at least one roller (13, 14) with transverse axis disposed at the central part of the carriage and the heels drive (11, 12, 15) arranged in front and / or behind said roller (13, 14). 4. Appareil selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le galet (13, 14) équipant le chariot (10) est équipé d'un dispositif anti-retour, tel qu'une lame élastique (30) coopérant avec la périphérie du galet, qui interdit la rotation du galet lors de la course d'aller du chariot (10) transportant la carte et permet la rotation en sens inverse du galet lors de la course de retour du chariot.4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the roller (13, 14) fitted to the carriage (10) is equipped with a non-return device, such as an elastic blade (30) cooperating with the periphery of the roller , which prohibits rotation of the roller during the outward stroke of the carriage (10) transporting the card and allows rotation in the opposite direction of the roller during the return stroke of the carriage. 5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de sélection permettant d'isoler la carte extrême du paquet de cartes (26) est constitué par un taquet réglable (28) porté par la paroi avant du bac (1) et ménageant avec le chariot (10) un espace (29) légèrement supérieur à l'épaisseur d'une carte.5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection means making it possible to isolate the extreme card from the card deck (26) consists of an adjustable cleat (28) carried by the wall front of the tray (1) and providing with the carriage (10) a space (29) slightly greater than the thickness of a card. 6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le déplacement du chariot (10) est commandé par un moteur (24) entrainant une poulie motrice (22) sur laquelle circule un câble (20) relié au chariot (10), l'actionnement du moteur qui détermine la course du chariot étant assuré par un circuit électronique de commande sensible aux informations lues par le dispositif de lecture (49, 53) sur la carte transportée.6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the movement of the carriage (10) is controlled by a motor (24) driving a drive pulley (22) on which circulates a cable (20) connected to the carriage (10), the actuation of the motor which determines the stroke of the carriage being ensured by an electronic control circuit sensitive to the information read by the reading device (49, 53) on the transported card. 7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que des dispositifs anti-retour (40), pouvant se présenter sous la forme de ressorts oscillants comportant une face avant verticale (42) et une face arrière en forme de rampe (41), sont disposés sur le chemin de la carte transportée, au droit de parois transversales de guidage (39) correspondant aux logements de réception (36) des cartes, de façon à permettre le passage de la carte portée par le chariot (10) lors de la course aller de ce chariot et à immobiliser la carte au-dessus du logement de réception (36) choisi lors de la course de retour du chariot.7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that non-return devices (40), which may be in the form of oscillating springs comprising a vertical front face (42) and a rear face in the form of a ramp (41), are arranged on the path of the transported card, in line with transverse guide walls (39) corresponding to the card receiving receptacles (36), so as to allow the passage of the card carried by the carriage (10 ) during the outward stroke of this carriage and to immobilize the card above the reception housing (36) chosen during the return stroke of the carriage. 8. Appareil selon la revendication 6 ou la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que la commande d'arrêt de la course d'aller du chariot (10) s'effectue lorsque celui-ci se trouve à cheval entre le logement de réception (36) choisi pour la carte et le logement (36) adjacent disposé vers l'avant de l'appareil.8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the order to stop the forward stroke of the carriage (10) is carried out when the latter is straddling the receiving housing (36 ) chosen for the card and the adjacent slot (36) disposed towards the front of the device. 9. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les logements (36) de réception des cartes sont intégrés dans un tiroir amovible (8) accessible à la partie inférieure de l'appareil, ledit tiroir pouvant être muni d'un couvercle basculable et clipable.9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housings (36) for receiving cards are integrated in a removable drawer (8) accessible at the bottom of the apparatus, said drawer being able to be provided with '' a tiltable and clipable cover. 10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de lecture comprennent un lecteur optique (49) conçu pour lire des informations de valeur de cartes à jouer introduites dans le bac de réception (1).10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading means comprise an optical reader (49) designed to read information on the value of playing cards inserted in the reception tray (1). 11. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de lecture comprennent un lecteur optique (53) conçu pour lire des informations portées par des tickets (50), tels que des cartes de résultat, des instructions de donne ou des corrigés de donne, ayant le format de cartes à jouer.11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reading means comprise an optical reader (53) designed to read information carried by tickets (50), such as result cards, instructions for gives or corrected gives, having the format of playing cards. 12. Appareil selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que le chemin en forme de couloir (35) le long duquel se déplace la carte portée par le chariot (10) présente latéralement des retombées (37) coopérant avec la face supérieure de la carte transportée, ces retombées (37) venant à un niveau légèrement inférieur à celui du chariot (10) pour donner à la carte transportée une position légèrement bombée.12. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the path in the form of a corridor (35) along which the card carried by the carriage moves (10) laterally has fallout (37) cooperating with the upper face of the card transported, these fallout (37) coming at a level slightly lower than that of the carriage (10) to give the transported card a slightly convex position. 13. Carte utilisable avec un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'elle se présente sous la forme d'une carte à jouer comportant à deux angles opposés une vignette de lecture (44) qui comprend un codage sur quatre lignes et trois ou quatre colonnes selon le nombre des cartes du jeu.13. Card usable with an apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is in the form of a playing card comprising at two opposite angles a reading sticker (44) which includes coding on four rows and three or four columns depending on the number of cards in the game. 14. Carte utilisable avec un appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, caractérisée en ce qu'elle présente le format d'une carte à jouer et constitue une partie sécable d'un ticket comportant une pluralité de pistes codées correspondant à des résultats de tournoi, des instructions ou des corrigés de donne.14. Card usable with an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it has the format of a playing card and constitutes a breakable part of a ticket comprising a plurality of coded tracks corresponding to tournament results, instructions, or answer sheets.
EP87400484A 1986-03-06 1987-03-05 Device for reading and distributing cards, in particular playing cards. Expired - Lifetime EP0237420B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87400484T ATE49508T1 (en) 1986-03-06 1987-03-05 DEVICE FOR READING AND DEALING CARDS, IN PARTICULAR PLAYING CARDS.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8603161A FR2595259B1 (en) 1986-03-06 1986-03-06 APPARATUS FOR READING AND DISTRIBUTING CARDS, PARTICULARLY PLAYING CARDS, AND CARD FOR USE WITH THIS APPARATUS
FR8603161 1986-03-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0237420A1 true EP0237420A1 (en) 1987-09-16
EP0237420B1 EP0237420B1 (en) 1990-01-17

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Family Applications (1)

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EP87400484A Expired - Lifetime EP0237420B1 (en) 1986-03-06 1987-03-05 Device for reading and distributing cards, in particular playing cards.

Country Status (8)

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US (1) US4822050A (en)
EP (1) EP0237420B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE49508T1 (en)
CA (1) CA1280776C (en)
DE (2) DE3761409D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2001744B3 (en)
FR (1) FR2595259B1 (en)
GR (1) GR3000602T3 (en)

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DE3147603A1 (en) * 1981-12-02 1983-06-16 Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, 4050 Mönchengladbach Device for outputting individual card-shaped data carriers
FR2540737A1 (en) * 1983-02-16 1984-08-17 Gervis Philippe Playing-card dispensing apparatus, playing cards and data-input card for this apparatus
GB2152018A (en) * 1983-12-26 1985-07-31 Tomy Kogyo Co Card dealing device
US4534562A (en) * 1983-06-07 1985-08-13 Tyler Griffin Company Playing card coding system and apparatus for dealing coded cards

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US2051615A (en) * 1933-06-23 1936-08-18 William C Miles Playing-card dealing apparatus
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US2950005A (en) * 1956-08-10 1960-08-23 Burroughs Corp Card sorter
FR1429348A (en) * 1965-01-11 1966-02-25 Playing card vending machine
US3716238A (en) * 1970-07-13 1973-02-13 B Porter Method of prearranging playing cards for educational and entertainment purposes
US3768813A (en) * 1971-12-13 1973-10-30 W Reynolds Card game with predetermined hands
FR2576518A1 (en) * 1985-01-30 1986-08-01 Boyer Roger Dispensing apparatus for playing cards and/or accessory cards for a parlour game

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DE3147603A1 (en) * 1981-12-02 1983-06-16 Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, 4050 Mönchengladbach Device for outputting individual card-shaped data carriers
FR2540737A1 (en) * 1983-02-16 1984-08-17 Gervis Philippe Playing-card dispensing apparatus, playing cards and data-input card for this apparatus
US4534562A (en) * 1983-06-07 1985-08-13 Tyler Griffin Company Playing card coding system and apparatus for dealing coded cards
GB2152018A (en) * 1983-12-26 1985-07-31 Tomy Kogyo Co Card dealing device

Cited By (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0310516A1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-04-05 Acticiel S.A. Device for the manual distribution of playing cards using programmed data
FR2621255A1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-04-07 Acticiel MANUAL CARD DISTRIBUTOR APPARATUS FOR PLAYING REALIZED PROGRAMMED DATA
FR2689992A1 (en) * 1992-04-10 1993-10-15 Balsegur Xavier Card playing system able to play against person - uses reader to identify cards and equipment to deal and distribute cards according to values
WO1999040981A1 (en) * 1998-02-13 1999-08-19 Acticiel (Societe Anonyme) Apparatus dealing playing cards for producing programmed hands
FR2774919A1 (en) * 1998-02-13 1999-08-20 Acticiel APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PLAYING CARDS FOR PROVIDING PROGRAM DATA
FR2775196A1 (en) * 1998-02-26 1999-08-27 Gemplus Sca Playing card/gambling token/ticket identification
WO1999043403A1 (en) * 1998-02-26 1999-09-02 Gemplus Set of different cards, tickets or tokens each comprising an electronic microcircuit, and arrangement for controlling the course of a game

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE49508T1 (en) 1990-02-15
EP0237420B1 (en) 1990-01-17
FR2595259A1 (en) 1987-09-11
FR2595259B1 (en) 1988-05-06
CA1280776C (en) 1991-02-26
GR3000602T3 (en) 1991-09-27
DE3761409D1 (en) 1990-02-22
ES2001744A4 (en) 1988-06-16
DE237420T1 (en) 1988-06-30
ES2001744B3 (en) 1990-05-16
US4822050A (en) 1989-04-18

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