WO2002051512A2

WO2002051512A2 - Sorting apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002051512A2
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000900
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Willem Koene; Fransiscus Bernardus Garlacus Wessels
Original assignee: Johan Willem Koene; Wessels Fransiscus Bernardus G
Priority date: 2000-12-16
Filing date: 2001-12-11
Publication date: 2002-07-04
Also published as: WO2002051512A3; NL1016893C1

Abstract

Sorting apparatus for sorting playing cards, comprising an input section (2), into which a deck of cards (1) can be placed, and four output openings (17,18,19,20) via which cards that have been sorted can leave the apparatus. In the sorting process, use is made of a TV camera (21) and a computer (22), in such a way that a previously determined play can be dealt. Moreover, the apparatus may read and evaluate score cards, which have the same dimensions as playing cards.

Description

Sorting apparatus

The invention relates to a sorting apparatus for sorting cards, comprising an input section, in which a deck of cards can be placed, and at least two output openings, through which sorted out cards may leave the apparatus.

Sorting apparatus of this kind are known. In a known apparatus, a transport means feeds the cards along a reading device and through a sorting device. During this operation, cards are easily damaged and there is a great chance that damaged or bent cards lead to a failure.

Starting point for the present invention is that a card should hardly be touched. According to an aspect of the invention it is therefore characterized in that the input section and the output openings are connected by a chute, in which sorting means are located.

A favourable embodiment according to another aspect of the invention, which enables the actual sorting process while touching a card only very little, is characterized in that the sorting means comprise four controllable blocking devices, and that further four actuators and steering means for steering the actuators are provided, in such a manner that always one edge of a card is obstructed while falling through the chute. As a result of this obstruction the card will tip over, which in turn will determine a direction in which the card will fall.

For a predictable steering of a card, it is preferred to obstruct an edge of a card over some length or on more than one place. A favourable embodiment that realizes this is characterized in that the blocking devices are positioned near corners of the chute and that they are activated in pairs .

A favourable embodiment which results in a very predictable tipping over of the cards is characterized in that an activated blocking device shoots out from a corner of the chute in a downward sloping position, in such a way that two activated blocking devices in fact form a slide along which a card slides.

A favourable embodiment according to another aspect of the invention, which enables the sorting of slightly damaged and/or bent cards, is characterized in that a first side of the chute is provided with a single point of support and an opposite second side is provided with two points of support, for supporting the deck of cards.

A favourable embodiment according to another aspect of the invention is characterized in that de apparatus is provided with a first actuator, for pushing precisely one card off the single point of support and with a second actuator, for subsequently pushing the card from the two points of support. Operating the first and the second actuator shortly one after the other results in precisely one card falling down the chute in a substantially horizontal position.

A favourable embodiment according to a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that the apparatus is provided with camera means, connected with the steering means, for observing a card, positioned on the points of support. In this way, a card can be observed just prior to falling after which the steering means can steer the actuators, based upon the observation, such that the card is guided towards the desired output opening. A favourable embodiment according to a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a four sided, pyramid shaped separation device, operationally positioned at the bottom of the chute, on the base of which the output openings are positioned. A card that is slightly tipped over by the actuators will slide then along one of the sides towards an output opening next to that side. In order to prevent the pyramid from blocking the view of the camera means, the pyramid may be made of a transparent material or it may consist of only the four ribs that can be made of metal wire or the apex may be missing.

A favourable embodiment according to a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that the steering means comprise a digital computer, arranged for guiding the cards towards the output openings according to a predefined method. This may mean that the cards are shuffled and dealt, but also that each player is given a predefined hand of cards, for example in order to play a computer guided game, in which the computer may give directions or make corrections.

A very favourable embodiment according to a further aspect of the invention is characterized in that the sorting apparatus is moreover arranged for reading and evaluating score cards and program cards, placed in the input opening. In this embodiment, score cards may be used of which the dimensions correspond with the dimensions of the playing cards, while the results of the game may be recorded by ringing symbols on the score cards with a common writing tool or by closing pre-printed partial rings. In the same way program cards may be used, the dimensions of which substantially correspond with the dimensions of the playing cards, on which one may select a particular type of play by ringing a symbol on the program card.

The invention also relates to a score card or a program card, suitable to be used in a sorting apparatus according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a method for marking a score card or a program card, characterized in that the marking takes place by ringing symbols, printed on the score card or the program card with a writing tool. The advantage is that a ringed symbol can easily be detected by a program in the digital computer.

The invention also relates to a method for correcting a score card or a program card, characterized in that a previously made mark by ringing a symbol is nullified by substantially filling up the ring with a writing tool. As a ring is no longer present then, the program in the digital computer will not recognise a symbol thus corrected. Eor the user, the advantage is that he may perform a marking operation and a correction operation with a single writing tool, like a pencil or a pen.

It is also possible to place the result of a play in the input section, according to a fixed instruction. While playing the game of bridge, one may place the results of individual players for example in the order N,E,S,W in de input section. The computer may register then how the game has been played and may indicate where and by whom a mistake has been made. This can be used when replaying a play, chosen because of its educational value, hich has been dealt by the computer as part of a course. The invention will now be further explained with a reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 represents in a block diagram a possible embodiment of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 represents a possible embodiment of the apparatus in top view; Fig. 3 represents a possible embodiment of the apparatus in a longitudinal cross section; Fig. 4^' represents a possible embodiment of a score card or a program card.

Fig. 1 represents in a block diagram a possible embodiment of the apparatus, in which a deck of cards 1 is placed in an input section 2, such that the cards rest on a single point of support 3 and a double point of support . Single point of support 3 can be controlled by an actuator 5 and next double point of support 4 by an actuator 6, after which precisely one card will fall -down. into a chute 7. Nearby the four corners of chute 7, four blocking means 8,9,10,11 are mounted, which can be controlled with actuators 12,13,14,15, such that always two blocking means are introduced into chute 7, such that a falling card will slightly tip over in a previously determined way. On the bottom of chute 7, a pyramid shaped device 16 placed, onto which a tipped over card will land and slide off to one of the four sides, onto a desired pile 17 or 18 or onto a pile 19 or 20, not visible in this figure.

Underneath pyramid shaped device 16 a camera 21 is placed, which always observes the lowest card of deck 1, thanks to the fact that the apex of pyramid shaped device 16 is missing. Camera 21 is connected to a computer 22, which is provided with software for recognizing cards. If a particular card is recognized, based upon images of all the cards which are stored in computer 22 and based upon a correlation process which is known as such, then the actuators 5,6 are controlled by computer 22, causing the card to fall down into chute 7, and two of the four actuators 12,13,14,15 are controlled, as a result of which the card will land on one of the for example four piles which are formed on the foot of pyramid shaped device 16. Of course one may form two or three piles of cards in a completely analogous way.

Computer 22 is moreover provided with software for sorting the cards in a number of possible ways, for example pseudorandom or for dealing particular cards to particular players, based upon a library of educational significant plays which is present in computer 22. In that case a user of the sorting apparatus may indicate, with the aid of a control panel or with program cards that can be read by the sorting apparatus, in which manner the cards must be dealt.

Fig. 2 represents a possible embodiment of the apparatus in top view, with an input section 2 in which a deck of playing cards can be put and of which, for reasons of clarity the side walls are shown. Moreover, the single point of support 3 is shown, consisting of a metal pawl on which the lowest card rests. Over support point 3 a small metal plate 24 may slide (shown shaded), which metal plate 24 has a thickness that is less than the thickness of a playing card. Moreover, the double point of support 4 is shown, consisting of two metal plates which are positioned perpendicular to the drawing surface, which are provided with a slot, in which a metal plate 25 may slide {shown shaded) , which metal plate 25 also has a thickness which is less that the thickness of a playing card. With the aid of actuator 5, metal plate 24 is moved into input section 2, such that the lowest playing card slides off single point of support 3, while the opposite side of the playing card slides into the slots above double point of support 4, such that it substantially rests against metal plate 25. Next, metal plate 25 is moved towards input section 2 by actuator 6, which causes the card to fall into chute 7. By controlling actuator 6 shortly after actuator 5, one can obtain a card that falls in an almost horizontal position into chute 7. The position of the lowest card is only known at the points of support 3,4 with a high degree of precision. For that reason plate 24 is provided with a tip and plate 25 is provided with two tips, which slide over the points of support and which realize the actual contact with the cards.

Fig. 3 represents a possible embodiment of the apparatus in a longitudinal cross section, with input section 2 in which a deck of cards can be put and chute 7, in which the cards to be sorted fall down. Moreover, the single point of support 3 is shown consisting of a small metal -.pawl on. which the lowest card of the deck rests. Over support point 3 the metal plate 24 may slide with the aid of actuator 5, in such a manner that the card will slide off single point of support 3 and at the same time will slide in a slot above support 4. In the slot, a metal plate 25 is positioned. Next, metal plate 25 is moved towards input section 2 by actuator 6, as a result of which the card falls into input section 2.

Before the actuators 5,6 are operated, the lowest card is observed by camera 21 with the aid of light, transmitted by illumination means 26a, 6b, for example LED's or flash lamps which are synchronized with camera 21. Once the card is recognized by the computer and the decision has been made on which of the piles 17,18,19,20 the card should land, the actuators 5,6 are controlled and two of the four actuators 12,13,14,15 are controlled, in such a way that two of the four blocking means 8,9,10,11 are introduced into chute 7, which causes the card to slightly tip over and next to land onto the pyramid shaped device on the bottom of chute 7 and to slide onto one of the four piles of cards 17,18,19,20 which are formed on the foot of the pyramid shaped device 16. Round the blocking means 8,9,10,11, longitudinally shaped holes are made in the sidewalls 27 of the apparatus. For reasons of clarity they have been left out in Fig. 3.

For the illumination means 2βa,26b it is important that they do not flash into camera 21 due to reflections on a card, because this would hamper the recognition of a card. It is therefore advantageous to locate the illumination means such that they illuminate the card via reflections on a sidewall 27. These reflections tend to diffuse the light and it reduces the chance of reflection on a card. Of course i -is also possible to locate the illumination, means 26a, 26b in the sidewalls.

Fig. 4 represents a possible embodiment of a score card or a program card 28, on which printed symbols 29 are present, which can be selected for representing a score or for programming a play. A symbol 30 is selected by ringing it with a pencil; for a symbol 31 the selection is nullified by substantially filling up the ring.

Claims

1. Sorting apparatus for sorting cards, comprising an input section, in which a deck of cards can be placed, and at least two output openings, through which sorted out cards may leave the apparatus, characterized in that the input section and the output openings are connected by a chute, in which sorting means are located.

2. Sorting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sorting means comprise four controllable blocking devices, and that further four actuators and steering means for steering the actuators are provided, in such a manner that always one edge of a card is obstructed while falling through the chute.

3. Sorting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the blocking devices are positioned near corners of the chute and.-..that . they are activated in pairs.

4. Sorting apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that an activated blocking device shoots out from a corner of the chute in a downward sloping position.

5. Sorting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a first side of the chute is provided with a single point of support and an opposite second side is provided with two points of support, for supporting the deck of cards .

6. Sorting apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that de apparatus is provided with a first actuator, for pushing precisely one card off the single point of support and with a second actuator, for subsequently pushing the card from the two points of support.

7. Sorting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with camera means, connected with the steering means, for observing a card, positioned on the points of support.

8. Sorting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a four sided, pyramid shaped separation device, operationally positioned at the bottom of the chute, on the base of which the output openings are positioned.

9. Sorting apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the steering means comprise a digital computer, arranged for guiding the cards towards the output openings according to a predefined method.

10. Sorting apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sorting apparatus is moreover arranged for reading, and evaluating score cards and program cards, . placed in the input opening.

11. Score card or program card, suitable to be used in an apparatus according to claim 10.

12. Method for marking a score card or a program card according to claim 11, characterized in that the marking takes place by ringing symbols, printed on the score card or the program card with a writing tool.

13. Method for correcting a score card or a program card according to claim 11, characterized in that a previously made mark by ringing a symbol is nullified by substantially filling up the ring with a writing tool.