Abstract: An apparatus for collecting sheets into sets, having a main supply station (16) and at least two attachment supply stations (17-20). A first one of the attachment supply stations (17-19) is arranged for supplying sheets to a first position on a conveyor track (5) and a second one of the attachment supply stations (18-20) is arranged for supplying sheets to a second position on the conveyor track (5) downstream of the first position on the conveyor track (5). The attachment supply stations (17-20) each comprise a stacking position (46) arranged for collecting sheets, received piece by piece, into a stacked set and for feeding the set. At least the sheet supply track (6, 53-67) of the second attachment supply station is provided with a waiting position, which is arranged for receiving a set coming from the stacking position (46) and holding the received set in readiness while in the stacking position (46) a next set (2) is being collected.

Abstract: In a method for providing physical documents with a signature, a document code is derived from at least a part of a content of the physical document. A signature code is derived at least from the document code and from an identification code of a signing party. The physical document is provided with a signature marking representing the signature code. Optionally, the physical document is provided with a document marking representing the document code. A signature provided on a physical document may be authenticated. During authentication, a signature marking provided on the physical document is detected. The signature marking represents a signature code. Then, the signature code is derived from the detected signature marking. Content data representing at least a part of the content of the physical document is received and a first document code is derived from the content data. Then, a relationship between the signature code, an identification code of a signing party and the first document code is determined.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing physical documents, comprising: at least two processing modules, at least two module control units, each arranged for controlling a processing module. The module control units are each provided with a function memory for storing function data and limitation parameters. The function data represent processing functions to be performed by the processing module. The limitation parameters represent limitations of the processing functions. The module control units are further arranged for receiving function control data and controlling the separate functions of the respective processing module on the basis of the function control data. The apparatus further comprises a central control unit which is arranged for sending the function control data to the module control units.

Abstract: A method for determining a topology of an apparatus for processing physical documents. The apparatus comprises processing modules and a central control unit. The central control unit and the processing modules are connected by central communication connections. A module commmunication connection connects the processing modules in series. The module communication connection has a data flow direction with a predetermined orientation with respect to the processing direction. A processing module upstream in the data flow direction sends first network configuration data. The first network configuration data represents the topology of an upstream part of the data communication network located upstream of the downstream processing module and contains the upstream processing module.