Deal the Cards

Set up the Dealing Machine

• Plug the USB cable into the side of the Dealing Machine and also into the USB Hub next to the computer.
• Plug the power cord into the side of the Dealing Machine and also into the surge protector.

General Guidelines

Clean the feed rollers and optical reader before dealing your first set of cards and then after every two sets you deal.

The dealing machine works best with two decks of cards in it at any time. The process is easiest if you start by loading the machine with the cards from the last two boards to be dealt.

To avoid confusion (both in dealing the cards and when the cards are played) do not load two successive decks with the same backs into the machine. If necessary swap decks to avoid this but be careful to keep your boards in the proper sequence.

Cards which have just been played tend to have fewer problems feeding into the machine than cards which have sat in boards for an extended time.

Hot or cold cards have more feed errors than those at room temperature so let hot or cold cards adjust to room temperature before trying to deal them. Cards which have gotten especially hot while sitting in boards can stick together so badly that you will need to individually separate them to use them.

The dealing machine will not read decks with faded or otherwise indistinct markings in the upper corners.

If you can not use a deck you may want to save it as a spare so you can substitute some of those cards for those that do not work in other decks.

Deal the cards

The following process works best when dealing cards. A list of common error messages and how to respond to them is provided, below:

• Clean the feed rollers and opticical reader (you may want to do this after every two sets of cards you deal)
  • Open the lid of the denatured alcohol can and put a little alcohol on a clean rag.
  • Wipe the wet rag over the feed rollers at the end of the machine turning the rollers until you have cleaned the entire surface. You do not typically need to clean the rollers inside the machine.
  • Use a dry portion of the rag to clean the surface of the optical reader which is just below the feed rollers near the back of the machine.
• Launch Dealer4 from the computer desktop.
• Main Menu: Select File - Load from pull-down menu.
• Open Deal File: Choose the file you previously created.
• Main Menu: Select Deal on the pull-down menu.
• Remove the cards from the last two boards to be duplicated, or as close to the last boards as you can such that the card backs do not match the first deck to be duplicated. Load the decks you removed into the machine.
• If you are using boards that fit into the dealing machine:
  • Remove the card tray from the dealing machine.
  • Open the board to be dealt.
  • Insert the board into the dealing machine. It will automatically start dealing.
  • Load the next set of cards into the dealing machine while it is dealing.
  • When the dealing machine stops dealing cards check to see that the green light on the upper left corner of the dealing machine is lit.
    • If the light is lit, occasionally check the number of the deal shown on the monitor. It should be one higher than the board you just made (it always shows the next deal). If it is not your deals may not be in the correct boards.
    • If the light is not lit, check the monitor for an error message. If you get an error, see below for what to do.
  • Remove the board, close it, put it aside and load the next board. The next deal will automatically start.
• If you are not using special boards:
  • Press the Start button on the dealing machine (or press Deal on the computer for the first board or Deal Next for subsequent boards).
  • Load the cars from the board which is being dealt into the dealing machine while it is dealing.
  • When the dealing machine stops dealing cards check to see that the green light on the upper left corner of the dealing machine is lit.
    • If the light is lit, occasionally check the number of the deal shown on the monitor. It should be one higher than the board you just made (it always shows the next deal). If it is not your deals may not be in the correct boards.
    • If the light is not lit, check the monitor for an error message. If you get an error, see below for what to do.
  • Remove the cards and place them in your board. Check the dealing machine card tray for any cards that you left in it by accident.
  • Put the board aside.
  • Repeat until all the boards are dealt.

When dealing your last board it may help to press on the cards with a finger to simulate the weight of a second deck.

To duplicate another set of boards:

• Dealing Program: Select OK when it asks if you want to go back to the first deal.
• Repeat the procedure, above.

To duplicate more than one board with the same hand:

• Use the procedure, above, to select the deal file.
• Dealing Program: Use the First, Last, Next and Previous buttons to select the deal you want.
• Use the procedure, above, to deal the hand.
• Dealing Program: Use the Previous button to go back to the same hand.
• Use the procedure, above, to deal the hand.
• Repeat as desired.

• Dealing Program: Press Exit.

Error Messages

Card Feed Error

This error indicates that the dealing machine is having trouble feeding the bottom card in the feed slot into the machine. It is usuallly because either the cards are sticking together or the feed rollers have become dirty. Try the following:

• Remove the cards from the feed slot.
• Shuffle the cards a couple of times.
• Replace the cards into the feed slot.
• Press the Start button (or on the computer Dealing Program - Card Feed Error: Press Continue).

If this does not work try cleaning the feed rollers:

• Get the can of Denatured Alcohol and the cloth from the cabinet where the dealing machine is kept.
• Wet a small spot on the cloth with the alcohol.
• Lightly rub the rubber rollers in the feed slot turning them so that the entire surface is cleaned.

If this does not work you will have to replace the deck with one the dealing machine can feed:

• Remove all cards from the old deck from the dealing machine (feed slot and dealt cards).
• Load a new deck into the feed slot.
• Dealing Program - Duplicate Card Error: Press Cancel.
• Press the Start button (oron the computer Dealing Program: Press Deal).

Card Recognition Error

This error indicates that the dealing machine could not read the bottom card in the feed stack. It is normally because the printing on the card is faded or in some other way indistinct. Try the following:

• Remove all the cards from the feed slot.
• Turn the bottom card around so the edge that was on top is now on the bottom.
• Replace all the cards into the feed slot.
• Press the Start button (or on the computer Dealing Program - Card Recognition Error: Press Continue).

If this does not work and you have another deck that you have removed from use you may be able to swap the bad card for a better one in that deck.

If this does not work you will have to replace that deck with one that the dealing machine can read:

• Remove all cards from the old deck from the dealing machine (feed slot and dealt cards).
• Load a new deck into the feed slot.
• Dealing Program - Duplicate Card Error: Press Cancel.
• Press the Start button (or on the computer Dealing Program: Press Deal).

Note: If you think the printing on the cards is good and you are still having problems, try wiping the optical head with a soft cloth to clear any dirt off of it.

Duplicate Card Error

This error indicates that the dealing machine thinks it has seen two identical cards in the same deck. It is normally because the printing on the cards is faded or in some other way indistinct. Try the following:

• Remove all the cards from the feed slot.
• Put the bottom card back into the feed slot.
• Remove all the cards that have been dealt into the output tray and put them in the feed slot.
• Put the rest of the cards you removed from the feed slot back into the feed slot.
• Dealing Program - Duplicate Card Error: Press Cancel.
• Press the Start button (or on the computer Dealing Program: Press Deal).

If this does not work you will have to replace that deck with one that the dealing machine can read:

• Remove all cards from the old deck from the dealing machine (feed slot and dealt cards).
• Load a new deck into the feed slot.
• Dealing Program - Duplicate Card Error: Press Cancel.
• Press the Start button (or on the computer Dealing Program: Press Deal).

Note: If you think the printing on the cards is good and you are still having problems, try wiping the optical head with a soft cloth to clear any dirt off of it.

Other Errors

If you get other errors it is usually best to cancel the deal and start it over again, either with the same cards or a new set of cards.