Survey relating to cards

[emst12]

Hi, we are a small group based off in Minnesota. For a senior design project, we are planning to make a card sorter. We want to know about how many trading cards you have in total and the time it takes to sort them all.

Getting an offer on how much you value sorting would be helpful and any questions or comments would be appriciated.

 

[redsguy]

I have approximately 40,000 cards and for me to go through and sort them all it would take more than a week of non stop sorting.

 

[emst12]

I have approximately 40,000 cards and for me to go through and sort them all it would take more than a week of non stop sorting.

What we're planing to do is make a automatic trading card sorter for a senior engineering class. But first we need replies to have to prove that there is a problem here we can solve. So any feed back is helpful to our project.

So one question is how much would you be willing to pay for a unit like this that is easy to operate (single touch of a button), wont damage the cards in any way and can sort the cards in different colors or letters/numbers all in a small unit that is easy to store.
Anything would be helpful

 

[mintman2]

Are you saying you're trying to build a machine that can sort a stack of cards by card number ? Like if I open a box of cards I can simply put the whole stack in the machine and it will collate them by number ?

 

[potvin48]

I think the main problem would be that people would think it could damage the cards...If you can get beyond that, you might have a good idea on your hands, especially for card shops and case breakers...

 

[JJLevitsky]

It takes me a couple of hours to break and sort a Topps Jumbo box - roughly 500 cards. If you had something that wouldnt damage the cards and could save me some of that time I would definitely look into it. It would all depend on price in the end. Feel free to email or send me a PM if you want more information from me.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[oldmarine0311]

an intresting idea but anytime grading depends on the smallest imperfection of the face, reverse or edge and cornors i frankly dont see how a card sorting maching couldnt damage an unprotected card.

the machine in my opponion would have to opperate with a card holder on each card to show that it wouldnt hurt the card. and not everyone puts every card in a card holder. i know i am sturggling to do it with now 14 4 row monster boxes.

so in short, i hate to be a crumbum but nothing is safer on my cards than my own hands no matter how i sort them.

dave

 

[tim815]

To use the trendy term, I'm somewhat post sorting

A sorting machine would have helped immensely a decade ago. Now, I'm more interested in data entry on my computer.

But, yeah, my cards being disorganized remains a problem.

 

[David K.]

I love sorting my breaks by hand...only break about two boxes at time.....but if you breaking a case or more..A sorting machine might come in handy. Best regards, David

 

[Motown G]

I still am struggling with this idea. Kinda like a deck of playing cards in Vegas that would sort out your cards? How would that NOT damage your cards? The whole idea of collecting cards is to go through them and separate them. That's the fun of it!!! Everyone separates cards differently, how would this machine know how to do this?

 

[Meliah]

I put my cards by player, let's the the sorter do that!

 

[mj23bullsfan]

sounds like a decent idea. definately would help the hand cramping issue.

on damaging the cards: first off, more than likely you would be breaking a box or whatever, presorting into base, seperate inserts, rookies, high dollar etc..., so the problem of damaging the money cards is no issue, since you've already presorted. second, if you put the base cards you want sorted into the machine, maybe a kind of air suction device that picks the cards up individually would do the least damage. run that card over the "number reader" and viola, you got your card sorter with minimal damage to cards you aren't too worried about damaging.

paul

 

[oldmarine0311]

ya know i am recatalogging my cardshere and it struck me as to obvious but i have a sorter already. when i bust a box i want them in numerical order first then i can look into all the special odds and ends. but my sorter is a special made box that has 10 squares in it that allows me to sort any number run upto 900 but it cost like 5 bucks and although its not perfect it does a wonderful job for what i need.

 

[jwj20]

Aside from the damaging issue, how would you read the numbers on the cards? Of course, it is an engineering project, so it can be used to sort things that could get slightly damaged and be very valuable.

You would have to implement an optical character recognition program that can distinguish characters in variable color conditions. Programs exists for specific combinations, but they would rely on knowing the location of the numbers for sorting. You would have to segment the numbers (they do not appear in the same corner in different sets) and then segment the individual numbers within these extracted boxes for ordering.

After that you have to solve the same problem for team by number, team by name or player by year... the other combinations that collectors are interested in.

 

[emst12]

Are you saying you're trying to build a machine that can sort a stack of cards by card number ? Like if I open a box of cards I can simply put the whole stack in the machine and it will collate them by number ?

that would be our end goal, as of now we are planning to start simple such as sorting the cards by sets through color. Once we get a sytems for that going we can focus on numbers and letters.

I still am struggling with this idea. Kinda like a deck of playing cards in Vegas that would sort out your cards? How would that NOT damage your cards? The whole idea of collecting cards is to go through them and separate them. That's the fun of it!!! Everyone separates cards differently, how would this machine know how to do this?

What we are planning to do with our product is have it dispense cards online having 3 points of contact; the back of the card touching a roller that dispenses, the card hitting the wall of the sorting box, and the card hitting the bottom. We believe that this would reduce damage but more reserch by us is necessary. As for how people separate cards, this machine could be use as a pre sort. It can focus on either sorting by color, numbers, or letters.

Aside from the damaging issue, how would you read the numbers on the cards? Of course, it is an engineering project, so it can be used to sort things that could get slightly damaged and be very valuable.

You would have to implement an optical character recognition program that can distinguish characters in variable color conditions. Programs exists for specific combinations, but they would rely on knowing the location of the numbers for sorting. You would have to segment the numbers (they do not appear in the same corner in different sets) and then segment the individual numbers within these extracted boxes for ordering.

After that you have to solve the same problem for team by number, team by name or player by year... the other combinations that collectors are interested in.

We are working with various enginners inorder to solve issues such as what sensors to use. Our initial plan was to include multiple sensors or a single sensor that could move inorder to properlly get every segment. As mentioned before, we are focusing on colors of the card such as borders and the back first and then from there incorperate number and letter recognition.

 

[emst12]

thanks for everyone's comments, we understand that the main problems that we will face will be the protection of the cards and the accuracy. This is going to be a year long project, not some quick fix so we will be do A LOT of testing , but also would you prefer accuracy or speed when it comes to sorting?

 

[mintman2]

thanks for everyone's comments, we understand that the main problems that we will face will be the protection of the cards and the accuracy. This is going to be a year long project, not some quick fix so we will be do A LOT of testing , but also would you prefer accuracy or speed when it comes to sorting?

What good is one without the other ?

 

[oldmarine0311]

thanks for everyone's comments, we understand that the main problems that we will face will be the protection of the cards and the accuracy. This is going to be a yearlong project, not some quick fix so we will be do A LOT of testing , but also would you prefer accuracy or speed when it comes to sorting?

Agreed what is one without the other, but let me reiterate that neither is as good as safety to the cards. Pinch rollers will damage the face of the card and a fast sorter dropping it can damage the edges and corners of the cards. Especially if unprotected. I would suggest that you design it in mind with each card in a ridged holder.

 

[emst12]

Agreed what is one without the other, but let me reiterate that neither is as good as safety to the cards. Pinch rollers will damage the face of the card and a fast sorter dropping it can damage the edges and corners of the cards. Especially if unprotected. I would suggest that you design it in mind with each card in a ridged holder.

you make a good point with the risk cards face when they are being dispensed. Are ridged holders basically card sleeves? We believe having our product use card sleves could make people feel more safe about using the sorter.

 

[oldmarine0311]

sleeves? yes and no, a sleeve is generally penny sleeve a light plastic bag type cover that does very little to protect the card but is alos ued inside a rigid card holder. here are some links that makes it clearer for you.this is the penny sleeve.

http://www.amazon.com/Sleeves-Penny...HI7A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321407325&sr=8-1

this is the rigid card holder...
http://www.amazon.com/25-Baseball-B...ing-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321407403&sr=1-1-spell

and still a different product that may be something that you can use in your sorting machine is this product i use this one in sending out my TTM cards. (through the mail for autographs)

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Sem...ing-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321407403&sr=1-3-spell

hope this helps would like to see a successful product but i am quite frankly scared of a sorting machine though. i would just have to see it sort then see the cards pre and post sorting graded.

good luck dave
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