Abstract: The invention describes a document encoder which, in addition to the printing devices for imprinting the document (43) with the encoded values, is also combined with a stack feed (1) and a reading station (44) for already encoded values. The reading station (44) for automatically reading pre-encoded values and the viewing station (45) for visually reading data which are to be keyed in manually are arranged one behind the other, and the documents (43) are driven transversely relative to the normal transporting direction for shifting them from the reading station (44) into the viewing station (45) by means of separate transporting means (32 to 42). The viewing station (45) is arranged in front of the reading station (44) and, together with the reading station (44) and the document single feed (1), forms an additional module which can be employed as a front and lower construction, respectively, of the actual encoding printer.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating documents from one another includes two spaced-apart rollers which define a gap therebetween. The rollers rotate so that the surfaces which face one another move in opposite directions. One of the rollers serves to transport a document in the conveying direction, while the second countermoving roller serves to hold back any additional document which has been fed on top of the first document. The second roller is mounted so as to be pivotable, so that the gap between the rollers can be adjusted in accordance with the document conveyed through the gap. A guide roller serves to maintain the gap between the rollers. A storage container for the documents has movable rearward and bottom walls, wherein the rearward wall is biased by a tension spring so as to exert an essentially constant pressure on the stack of documents.